Monday 10 December 2012

10 things

Time really does fly! I've moved house and waited 3 months for a transfer. The world has been a little mental and now it's settling. I hope!

I've had 10 things on my to do list for months, I figured it was time to join in so it was off the 'to do' list and give me a reason to continue.

With it being Christmas, I was thinking I should go with, well, Christmas. Then it was pointed out that I haven't shared wedding or honeymoon pics. But I'm afraid you'll have to live with Christmas for this month!

So, my top 10 of Christmas!

Pepperkokar - A Scandinavian spiced biscuit. We've made these pretty much every year since I can remember. They are delicious. and they are NOT a gingerbread! Far more delicate and need to be wafer thin. Add them to your 'to bake' list


Candles on the tree - not fairy lights, proper candles. The Boy and I have a HUGE standoff about this. He is very against real trees and candles, being the Fire Safety Officer. Having said that, my dad was against it originally...


Fenwicks Christmas Window - Every year, Fenwicks have their Christmas window. Instead of showing off their latest products, it's all about Christmas. I remember queuing every year as a child to see it. If you're in Newcastle take a look.


JYC - Well, it had to be in there somewhere. I've done one every other year since 2008. This year, it's a Smash book. I have started, but I'm working on it at weekends due to my current commute. If you haven't heard about it, click the link. Here's mine from 2010... Well the cover at any rate. If you want to see the inside pages, let me know and I'll link them up.


Nisse - These little guys will always be part of my childhood Christmas memories, a bit like the pepperkokar. They are like a household spirit, I'd hesitate to liken them to an English gnome, but it's the best comparison I can manage.


Mulled drinks - Not just wine, but apple juice, cranberry juice. I love the spices that go into mulling and will mull pretty much anything, I'm considering Ribena this year (will let you know how that works out!) You can have it alcoholic (add spirits or use wine) or non alcohlic. And best of all, it's warm!


There are lots of recipies, so have a play.

Christmas Cards - I have a love/hate relationship. I love the idea, hate the doing (making or writing!) I did manage to do digi ones a few years ago, but I've not found a reasonable printing price! Suggestions are welcome.
Nearly there, 10 things is trickier than first expected.

Lights - I've not found a good photo of Newcastle's street lights yet, but I'll keep trying. Instead, here's the one of the tree's in York, I love it when they have no decorations, just lights. They are soo pretty.


Random decorations - Not trees, but statues, this year I'm seeing raindeer, polar bears and penguins - all in GLITTER! If The Boy hadn't put a ban on glitter...



Annnd Finally...

Christmas trees - Yes, this is mose definitly a separate love to the candles on the trees. This year, I've no space for a tree, well, not a big one. So after many points of "We've no room for a tree" from The Boy, I've come up with this compremise. It's 1ft 1/2 and I got some mini baubles from Paperchase. I spent Saturday tying these on. My space with 'no room for a tree' looks like this


So, that's my 10 things on the 10th. Pop over to Shimelle's blog and join in!!!

Thursday 26 July 2012

Another long break

Yes, it's been a while, I know. Weddings totally take over your life. However, the big day has been and gone and I am now a happily married woman.

 
Having DIY'd so many elements I have some tutorials... Yup, you read that right. Just need to put them together! Here's a hint at one


Yes, I made my bouquet. And I've had alot of requests as to how, so I'm putting together a tutorial for this and several other pieces from the day.

 Also, I now have a small mountin of photos from the day itself and our honeymoon in Cuba.
(for those of you on Facebook, you may well have seen some of these). The wedding ones are due to arrive and once I've been through Cuba, I'll be ordering another batch... This means... Scrapping ^_^

So, once I've tidied up the craft room, I will be indulging in some serious stash busting. Watch this space!

Thursday 10 May 2012

Saucer Paws!!

As well as wedding planning, life goes on. One expensive vet bill later, I have one miffed cat with a saucer-sized paw! Poor mite was on a drip for 28 hours! Ok, so I'd better start at the beginning.

Metro

Fluffy, little overweight, small head, legs an paws, BIG tummy.
See, I told you she has a big tum!

So, she's now a smidge under 16 years old. In the 6 years she's owned me, I've had no major dramas *touch wood* with the exception of an overactive thyroid around 18 months ago. Given her age and there are risks associated with removing both thyroids at the same time, we decided to only remove the one. At the beginning of March 2012, there was an increase in her drinking


And alot of not waiting patiently, but noisily by the food bowl.

  
 So, another trip to the VET was in order. And sure enough, overactive thyroid. After 4 weeks on tablets, she was booked in for her op. One of her kidney levels was a little too high, as the medication dosage was rather high, we decided to reduce the tablet strength and hopefully, this would reduce the kidney levels. Two weeks later, no such luck. So, one urine sample to check kidneys are functioning properly and she was put of fluids overnight as dehydraition could have been the cause of the elevated levels.

Roll forward one day, kidney levels reduced sufficently to make the operation 'safe' or at least, less risky. 

 
One kitty safely through the op, not too groggy but certainly miffed. Supervision for 48 hours and a paw the size of a saucer!!!



 Yes, it really was that big! It's gone down this morning, so it's not quite the size of a saucer. And the wound, well, her neck looks really scrawny **look away now if you are squeamish**
 

She's spent the night using me as a hot water bottle and is quite cipper today. Heres hoping for a speedy recovery!

Friday 13 April 2012

It's starting to come together...

At long last! The wedding planning that is. Invitations are being made, bouquets and buttonaires glued & stitched, menu's chosen etc etc.

I'm sure at some point I will actually photograph what I'm doing, but for now, I'll be content with just telling you all!

In the world of paper, there is nothing more pleasing than a box of new goodies. I placed a 2 Peas order & it arrived ^_^ And I didn't take a photo. I know, I'm rubbish.

I have, however been doing some pages for my New Zealand album, which I did take photos of.


There is journalling here, I just hadn't written it when I took the photo.
 It was written by The Boy for our wedding website and goes like this:

Picture the scene if you will.......

Nearing the end of the holiday of a lifetime,
A beautiful lake in New Zealand, with an equally stunning lakeside restaurant.
I had already decided that this was to be the time and the place.

The main course was finished, the girlfriend was perusing the dessert list when I got down on one knee and told her that she was my world, that I loved her dearly etc. In fact all of the things I felt she ought to know before I actually popped the question as it were.......

Around five seconds after I started talking, Jennifer showed her sense of occasion with the words "sit back down you silly bugger, you're making a scene!"

Gladly the situation rescued itself moments later when Jen looked straight down, saw the ring sat in its box in my outstretched hands and I think her jaw hit the floor.

As you may of guessed by now, I managed to ask her without any other form of interruption and she said yes.

Addenum - after saying yes, she immediately burst into tears - she claims tears of joy, I still say they were tears of realisation.

So, one happy restaurant later - we had alot of congratulations and I have a page for my album ^_^


And finally for this evening, Welcome to Hells Gate, yes, the fumes really are visable. The stench of sulpher is EVIL! but it looks amazing and is a barren landscape surrounded by lush greenery.

Now I'm off to sleep. I've a relationship workshop tomorrow teaching me how to communicate with my partner when things ain't working out... I have no polite comments to make here, so I'll suffice with not making one.

Oh, and the cat is snoring. Bless her fluffy paws.




Wednesday 28 March 2012

What a beautiful day!

I hope you're all enjoying the glorious sun! I'm doing my best while being stuck in an office for 8 hours a day! I'm just hoping it holds out for the weekend. *fingers crossed*

I've got one sulky cat, she's been to the V...E...T and has been diagnosed with an overactive thyroid. So, it's 2-4 weeks of tablets then an operation. She's not happy with the tablets.


Funny though, she likes the antibiotics she'll get after the op!

Anyhow, on to crafty stuff. Last weekend, I hauled my ass (and a suitcase) accross to Warrington to Sarah's Cards retreat. I had an awesome time (and spent *WAY* too much money!) Would you believe, I've finished all 6 of the class LO's too! There were a few that were *far* too taxing for last thing Friday night/first think Saturday morning. I can't remember which LO belonged to which class, so you'll have to bare with me...

























Check out Sarah's Cards blog for the who's who's Layouts!

I'm off to do some invitation research, now I've figured out paper roses!!!

Wednesday 21 March 2012

113 days

113 days since I last blogged. I can't believe how quickly time has flown. There's only 108 days until I get married!!!

So, 113 days is a long time, 2,688 hours, 161,280 minutes. Strangely, like hasn't stayed static here at Bond towers. Mum's operations to reshape her feet have been a success, even if she is relearning to walk! I've started heavy duty study again, looking after mum and the family and continued to plan my wedding.

On a slightly sad note, my maternal grandmother lost her battle with Alzheimer's on the 5th March. After 15 years, she's now where she wanted to be, with my grandad.

On a craft related note, you're not going to believe me, but in those 113 days, I've made 3 scrapbook pages. This has GOT to change! And it will, Sarah's Cards retreat this weekend. :)

Anyways, I'm afraid I've no spectacular photos lined up at the moment, I just wanted to give my blog a little love and say hello again!