I have Taz’s collar & his blanket. I miss him so much
But it’s about time we had some good news…
Thankfully we can start telling people, that we are expecting
Which is a relief because of baby & colitis bloating, I’ve been trying to hide this…
Still far too early for me to be showing (due date is November 21st)! I look forward to when the bloating goes down and I get a proper bump
Monday last week was one of the hardest days. Taz went to the vet as his health has been failing and he never came home as he was put to sleep. My adopted furry little brother is gone
Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.
Making the most of the bank holiday Monday, lots of work to do around the flat. Gareth is repainting the bathroom and the garden needs tidying up too, thank heavens for the gloriously sunny weather.
Finally today the health hazard of a carpet was removed and new flooring put down, I am so excited & happy! (Ah the joys of settling down and getting old, a new Dyson vacuum cleaner and new flooring in your bathroom and you think it’s your birthday and Christmas all rolled into one! HA!)
It’s been quite a stressful few weeks health wise too, and after getting nowhere with the NHS I ended up going to a private hospital in the next town for a check up, and now a letter is being written to my colitis consultant at the regular hospital and I’ve been given the thumbs up, so a HUGE relief! I’m hoping soon enough I will be OK to go back to zumba class but for now I’m quite content lazing on the sofa & taking it easy getting Hubby cuddles
And while lazing on the sofa, I get to catch up on class. I’m doing Cathy’s “Clean & Simple: The Workshop” over at Big Picture Classes. I love it so far, but I am a week behind on the assignments. Bit of catching up this weekend methinks!
Clearly all the changes that had happened thus far in 2013 wasn’t enough for me, and the day before I turned 30, I went a bit loopy…
… and I had all my hair cut off!
Well most of you who know me or my story already will be fully aware that I donate my hair to charity, so little girls with cancer can have a wig from it
Though it’s a BIG difference getting used to less hair, but with everything that had been going on I figured why not cut it all off and have a fresh start?? New job, new year, new hair do… It just seemed rather fitting!
The ponytail was a few inches shorter as they needed a little bit extra there to work with to get the style I was after, so once my ponytail was cut I had a nice bob like I normally had, but I wanted a pixie do!
Gareth has been quite ill lately and in a lot of pain, so my birthday was cut short as I looked after my poorly husband who went to hospital on Monday, and that meant valentines was put on hold as well. But it wasn’t all bad… I got myself 2 Project Life’s to play with! The big 12×12 binder which I am not going to be doing weekly spreads as everyone is doing. Nope, mine is just going to be a regular scrapbook, but the ease of the system was far too wonderful to pass up! Bit gutted Seafoam Core Kit had sold out, but it’s OK… I am going to be doubly sure to get the Midnight edition when it is released. I love Paislee Press, Liz is one of my favourite digital designers! Other favourites of mine are One Little Bird, Three Paper Peonies, and Digital Design Essentials… and speaking of Project life I purchased Seafoam at ACDigitals.com and Traci Reed has a sampler over at her blog, which I adored so much I purchased her version of the templates!
I printed off a bunch of the Seafoam cards and put them in a baggie ready to quickly scrap at a moments notice…
The mini album will be our Disney holiday album which I have been working on using the collab kit “Day Planner” by Paislee Press and One Little Bird
This whole being 30 thing isn’t so bad!
On Friday the snow came down, a LOT. Nobody was going anywhere around our part of the neighbourhood, even the buses weren’t coming up our end and so mum had to walk to where the buses were actually travelling to be able to get in to work but then the office was closed at lunch time. Gareth’s office was closed and my brother couldn’t get his van out either so Friday was a fantastic day! There were snowball fights, snow angels and sledge rides ![]()

Oliver had lots of fun throwing snowballs at us all!
And Elijah got in my sledge so I pulled him around which he loved!
Stewart made a snow angel to which Oli got in the snow next to him and instead of moving his arms and legs, wiggled his bottom which made us giggle!
however the roads by my flat were just sheets of ice, and the paths were no picnic either. I have spent the entire 7 days in wellies, and Gareth slipped on ice and badly hurt & bruised his foot & hurt his arm. Thankfully my car was at my parents house where they gritted the road so I didn’t have to battle with the ice and I was still able to carry on as normal.
So the week after I last updated, I said my goodbyes to my colleagues and worried about my future, but looked forward to a week helping out my dad. He had treatment at hospital and was on crutches, so I drove him to work for a meeting & we had a few bits to get from Morrisons. I liked helping him out
And he needed to rest up.
During that week I had 3 leads on a new job which was a surprise to me. One call was within an hour of leaving my job! The one though came on Tuesday, I was told the company wanted to meet me on Thursday, so I went in, they liked me and I started my new job on Monday. It’s been a great week, and this year so far has been just so overwhelming. A friend told me things happen for a reason, but I’ve always been quite skeptical but my luck has truly switched around and it’s strange how things have turned out for me so far, but I have indeed managed to salvage 2013
Yay!
The Christmas break was just awful. On the plus side it’s all over and though the New Year didn’t start quite as we’d hoped, I get to start over.
We had a package from our Floridian friends which Oliver helped us open. I was so excited to see the American cereals, we’ve had fun trying them all out!
To drown my sorrows I have been eating absolute rubbish. In just one day I ate an entire tub of chocolate ice cream, and my chocolate santa from my brother and sister in law… The hubby was lucky he took his away from me otherwise I’d have eaten his too! But I am going to eat much better from now on!
And I have the best family and friends. Katie sent me a Hanson package in which I have declared my new Hanson bracelet to be my lucky charm, and a friend at work gave me her Buddha to watch over me, as I won’t see her again as my last day is tomorrow, after 8 years in my job.
But it’s still early enough in the year that it’s not a complete write off, I can turn this around!
I apologise for being missing in action, but I got super busy before our trip to Disney World, then spent 2 weeks in Disney World where I got sick as a very bad cold was doing its rounds in the All Stars resort (well it was definitely in Music where we stayed and I’m sure it was in Movies and Sports too!) and Gareth got really sick too. We spent most evenings/nights snuggled up in bed watching American TV and a few days while walking around the parks we just were too exhausted to do much and ended up chilling out at Downtown Disney or back in the room to rest. I should have known we were doomed from the start when Hurricane Sandy turned up, not that Sandy actually caused any issues in Orlando though we did have to take a bit of a detour but at least we could get to Florida!
Then we cam home and I continued to be exhausted and ill, and ended up going back on my inhaler (despite not being asthmatic) as this chesty cough was really knocking me sideways and I was finding it hard to catch my breath and it seemed hard to breathe and for added measure I ended up with laryngitis too. On Monday at work I couldn’t get through to the doctors and a nurse at NHS Direct on Sunday suggested I see one. Luckily I was allowed to just turn up and wait to be seen only I could only be seen by a Triage Nurse who told me: plenty of rest, plenty of fluids, prop myself up in bed with lots of pillows to help with the coughing, and rest my voice. For a week. Uh-oh. So I am getting up in the morning and moving to the sofa as we have more TV channels in here and the arms on the sofa make it easier to be propped up, then going back to bed at night. Except yesterday when I had to get up because of the police being around but I have a feeling that story isn’t finished just yet so watch this space and I can elaborate if you haven’t already read my twitter.
So to top all that off, my beloved 3GS bit the dust. He was giving me minor issues while we were away, however upon our return he just refused to play at all if he wasn’t on wifi and even if he was he was being temperamental. I guess he knew he was going to be replaced soon, I just didn’t figure out it would be so soon!
I love my new phone, all Disney-fied (well I bought the case ready for it as I knew I would eventually be getting one) and bonus it came with D-Tech screen protector – get in! My phone has a FLASH, like a proper camera, though could have really done with that in Florida haha! Only had a quick go with Siri this evening and asked to google Ali Edwards because I just had to play, and even with laryngitis Siri understood me (the reason I hadn’t played sooner!). Impressed! When my voice is better I will have a proper play! Though I want Siri to be a woman and not a bloke.
So for now I go back to Pinterest and carry on listening to my Christmas playlist (I caved & bought Digital Pants vol 1 because it had My Favourite Christmas Sweater, Zombie & Hear Those Jingle Bells on it!) and I heard good things about this year’s xmas song… and I LOVE Hear Those Jingle Bells
So I have last year’s great xmas song, and this years and Snowed In album to listen to. Looking at the positives
Oh and in all that time I only gained 2 pounds. Not bad going at all ^_^
True to my word, as I joked with 2 of the girls in the office this week, the word of the week most certainly was “complicated”. I have excitedly found out my “travel slippers” which was a cute gift from my nan for my honeymoon and have been wearing them, along with my Mickey Mouse earrings. It’s coming around so fast.
Time goes so fast. I remember back in April last year thinking that October 2012 seemed so far away, yet here it is. I left college over 10 years ago, I mean it didn’t seem that long ago, and even one image that has cropped up on Pinterest that reminds me of this:
Source: artpixie.tumblr.com via Kirsty on Pinterest
I have spoke to a couple of my college friends this week which cheered me up (especially when one conversation involved how awesome Max is from Tangled LOL, I am partial to Pascal too he’s adorable!) The other week I had a message from one of my old friends, we hung out a lot back in the day, but there was a misunderstanding that ended in us not speaking for at least 8 years I believe. I had messages before but I simply deleted them as I just wasn’t interested in hearing what they had to say. Probably such a silly thing to do and I realised this, so I finally replied
It’s been a nice catch up over this week, apologies were exchanged, and we have moved on. I feel like a weight has been lifted and it’s nice to know I have my friend back for random gossip sessions & pick me ups. Remembering all the other people we hung out with too & being told how they are doing. It’s been quite a week for sure.
Now it’s Friday night, I have to get some sleep before I have to get up early and have my eye appointment. Last one I hope! Contact lenses are a pain in my rear, and I am still rather fond of my glasses thank you, but I hate not being able to see in situations where I can’t wear my glasses. So when I get a month’s supply that should last me a good 30 weeks I should think! Night night.
Well hello there. Yes I am still here, but to be fair I didn’t think there was much to blog about. I have come up with a few ideas for topics to get on my soapbox about the next time that happens. My car got fixed! I was so happy when it started back up thanks to wonderful uncle!

I have been entertaining all my Facebook friends with old family photographs, and as a result myself and 2 of my cousins have changed our profile pictures to old school ones. Well, all the kiddies are back to school and little Lauren had her first day so it seemed fitting. To be honest talking about old photos is another post in itself and I think I may save that topic for next week if things are the same old, same old.

The weather is certainly changing. I have been happily curled up on the sofa at home, apple & spice candle going with our small lamp on as the night draws in early. And eating beef casserole (Will have to get some part baked rolls for the cupboard!)

I have done a free website mockup class in photoshop which for me was a perfect excuse to have a play learning new techniques that I was doing the long way round so now I know a quicker way. Some of the tips will also help when I get around to doing a few other of my crafty bits (when time & inspiration allows it shall be a freebie kit and some more Hanson crafts). I’ve not scrapped in ages, but I want to focus a bit more on design right now. That’s where my head is at.

I had some fab news at the hospital as well: I definitely have more proctitis and because it’s only affecting 10cm in a few months they reckon I should be off the meds all together and in remission! So fingers crossed
Sat on the bus as I begin to write this post (18.42pm). You would not believe the week I’ve had, and it is going to continue into next week. Right now I just want to savour the weekend and get my car fixed and then wish it was Thursday lol. Actually better still, wish it was the following weekend and get to catch up with Oli.
Tuesday I did my usual morning routine to jump into my car. It wouldn’t go. I have spent the week catching the bus and then walking the rest of the way to work. But on the walk to the bus today I stopped and took a couple of photos which was quite neat.
I haven’t had a weekly bus ticket since I finished college back in summer 2002! Still, I get to rise early on my weekend to try and jump start my car and get it down to Discount Tyres to buy a new battery. As my dad pointed out: it’s the same battery I’ve had since I had the car and it’s the summer. I need a new one. Getting up earlier was a bit of a nightmare, and just 4 days of it and I am exhausted. Tonight I didn’t get home until 7.10pm and I couldn’t be bothered to cook anything and I was tired by the time I got home. Heck it’s taken me almost 4 hours to write this post alone!
And what do you think of the cool print we have up in our living room now…?
Anyway, I am off to bed because it’s really late and I am beyond exhausted!
Wife | Scrapbooker | Amateur Photographer | Crafter





































