Home sweet(?) Home

Well, we have started work on the house. ALL the rooms need to be stripped - these were some of lovely sites awaiting us when we first got the keys. The room with the tasteful orange and blue wallpaper will be my scraproom.

There are also some lovely features though - the cast iron fireplaces are stunning. The house is Edwardian, built in c. 1905. We are going to try to keep the decor in keeping and have already ordered a fab slipper bath, something I have always wanted.

We got the whole of the bedroom and bathroom stripped yesterday, but having come down with a horrid cold virus I wasn't up to anything today except resting and sleeping. Am off work tomorrow so hope I am feeling better.

Progress reports to follow!

Finally, a new place

We finally got the keys for the new house yesterday. It wasn't as much of a scene of devastation as I expected - actually, although it ALL needs stripping down, it is a lovely, lovely house. My scraproom is a lovely size and cosy as it is in the loft. Can't wait to get it done and move in.

I hope this will be our dream house and we will love it...

Pics to follow!

Snow everywhere!

We have about 6 inches of snow here in Malvern, Leo wasn't sure at first but seems to love it!

Not seen so much snow for some time. Had a very long walk home tonight as nothing could get up the hills here! Took about 40 mins but Gus came to meet me, bless him, so didn't have to walk on my own for most of the way.

Malvern looks stunning in all the snow, such a beautiful place, am glad we moved here.

First Scrapajack Crop

Went to the scrapajack crop today with Jo. Had a fab day - time flew! Jo is fab and so easy to talk to, relieved we got on so well. Looking forward to the next one now - 10th Feb.

Karen did a fab class with some yum Gin-X PP, made a wall hanging (Disney - of course) and got my CJ cover done. Will be making another wall hanging of Leo for my scraproom wall :D.

First 12x12 of the New Year

Fittingly is a LO of - what else? - my poochie Leo, having a wonderful time at Christmas.

Am so pleased with this LO and just love that paper!

Moved out!

Up at 5am this morning to meet the removers in Madeley. Finally moved out of the old house - took the camera of course to record for the scrapbook!!! Removals men thought I was bonkers taking pics of the very large lorry which appeared.

Now there is just the small task of completing our purchase and moving into our new home...

New year, new blog

Well, one new year resolution should be to update my blog! So will resolve to do so weekly (we will see if that actually happens!).

Lots and lots gone on since November.

Sold the house finally first week in January, we are due to complete next week. New house seems fine, survey showed nothing of concern so we are pressing ahead. Am already trying to decide what to do with my new scraproom - can't wait!!!!!!

Christmas was good - we had a nice time at Jackie and Bob's, very relaxing, and I was just over the cold enough to enjoy myself.

New Year's Eve was fairly hectic, not to bed until 4am (took me a week to recover). Was coerced into doing karaoke on the Playstation, which was very embarrassing (good job I had a drink or two...).

Need to get back into the scrapping. Got some lovely bargains in Lakeland to inspire me to scrap more, and going to a crop with my new friend Jo next week which I can't wait for!

Really surprised how much I am enjoying work, shame it is only a temp post really, but hopefully I will get until end March at the least. Time I started looking for something more permanent I think.

Other thing I must do right now is lose some weight. Am such a chunker after xmas! Hoping to lose a stone, but half is probably more realistic. If I can fit in my trousers i'll be happy. So, no wine in the week and no snacks. One chocolate treat a week. Wine at the weekend of course ;).

Sooooooooooo fed up :(

Well days pass, with no contact from solicitors and still no indication of a moving date. Meanwhile I am surrounded by boxes and we can't find things cos we have packed them (we think). I am going slowly insane sitting around the house with nothing to do except fill more boxes. Can't get into scrapping because I can't concentrate for more than five minutes at a time. Haven't even got out for more than one walk today because it has chucked it down all day.

Feeling downright sorry for myself :(.

Ooodles of fun and some exciting news!

Well, back from Orlando and feeling incredibly jetlagged. Have slept quite a bit which I expect was a bad idea but I am feeling ill and so tired. Oh well...at least I didn't have to go to work this morning.

Had a wonderful time in Orlando, it was really relaxing and I felt so chilled most of the time which was a nice change for me. We did loads of stuff but didn't push it too much so we weren't knackered all the time. Best bits were Mickey's Halloween Party, Mission Space and Soarin' but the highlight was the meal at Victoria and Alberts - probably the best meal I have eaten in my entire life!

On the last night of the holiday Angus proposed to me - I was expecting it but it was still really nice and I couldn't get a stupid grin off my face for hours and most of the next day as well. Ang's Mum was really chuffed and I was pleased cos I wasn't sure she would be that bothered.

Angus has two interviews to go to so we may be moving sooner rather than later which is fabulous news as well.

Today's Blog Prompt

Today's UKS blog prompt is: Dreams, goals, fantasies, whatever you call them: Describe FIVE things you’d like to accomplish in your (future) lifetime. How do you plan to do them? What are you doing today to prepare for/do each of them?

Right now my only goal is to be happy. I can't focus on anything much except getting through the next day at the moment. With the house sold I hope we can make a new start and put all the problems behind me. Immediate goal is to get a job I like and find a lovely new home. The other thing I want to accomplish is to stop being such a worrier - I procrastinate, I question every decision I make, I fret about little things. And I want to get off these pills cos they make me scatterbrained and forgetful.

Travel Journal

Well, not long now and raring to go! Mell gave me the idea of doing a travel journal to record my thoughts and keep bits and pieces from my week. I had a notebook from Smiths I bought ages ago so I have decorated it Disney style ready to take on my travels. I am hoping this will help me with my journalling when I come to scrap my photos - especially given how long it is likely to take me to finish my holiday album!

I got another wee pressie from Mell today - a really cute little 7gypsies mini-book made with tiny little envelopes. It is sooooo cute!

Had a wasted morning this morning, spending 2 hours doing a film quiz someone posted a link to on UKS! Still managed to get my application for Connexions finished though, so fingers crossed that all goes OK and I get an interview.

Tues Blog Prompt

Today's UKS prompt: What are your scrapbook ‘buttons’? What item(s) do you find you can’t enough of? Have too many of? Can’t find ‘the perfect one’ of? Sets you in a rant about? Disappoint you the most?

Brads, brads and more brads! I just love them, I use them all the time and I can't stop buying them. I have three craft caddies full of them, my favs are MM but I also like the Doodlebug ones a lot. I also love ribbons! American Craft being flavour of the month.

I have way too many eyelets, I hardly ever use them but seem to have millions in every colour of the rainbow.

Nothing makes me rant really, but I am not sure what all the fuss over BG is about and I find the range of stock in my local shop frustrating. One thing I dislike is ready-made embellies - things like toppers - because they take the creativity out of the scrapping experience. That said, I have on occasion used Jolee's so nothing is a no-no where I am concerned!

CJ Day - postie bought lovely things.

Today was the posting day for my Newbie CJ. Mine came early and I got 'True Colours' in the post this morning. I am really enjoying the CJ so far and have joined in the team one as well - theme 1975. Have decided what to do for 'True Colours' already so just need to root through my stash for things of the right colour.

I have got my enthusiasm for scrapping back at last (probably something to do with quitting work!), but I struggled yesterday with my Las Vegas LO. Finished it in the end but not one of my best. Now trying to decide whether to make a start on my Luxor LO today or the CJ or do some more pages of Dyson's album...

I got a lovely present as well in the post today from Mell - it is a little glass plaque that says Friends for Life. I was so touched by it, I haven't got many friends so it meant a lot to me. It's sitting on my dressing table so I can see it each day. Thanks Mell, you are such a sweet person!

My UKS points for this month are my best ever (160) - I think the new team has spurred me on to scrap more.

Need to finish a job application today. Have to go into work tomorrow to hand over which I am not looking forward to much, just want to see the back of the place to be honest.

Also started to pack yesterday - can't wait - I am soooooo stupidly excited. Got some scrapping mags for the airplane and it is such a struggle not to read them!!! Have also been making a shopping list, might spend a wee bit of time

Weight loss so far - a paltry 2 lbs. Can fit in about half my skirts, so I do have something to wear on holiday thank goodness!

I scrapped my shoes!

I was going to chuck away these trainers cos I never wore them, and then I had a flash of inspiration! I had been wanting to try out fabric in my Big Shot (I wuv u Big Shot) so I thought why not scrap my shoes. I am pleasantly surprised how nice they are, I am really pleased with them :).

Welcome to my blog

Well, everyone's doing it so here is my blog! Lots of peeps on UKS seem to enjoy blogging so I thought I would give it a go to record my scrapping efforts and other more boring things.

I managed seven LOs today which is a record for me! Started an album about Dyson (my late bunny) today, only an 8x8 which might explain the speed scrapping! I used the Brenda Walton Neopolitan kit I got free with my Scrapbook Inspirations sub, so it was really a no-brainer. Most of it was already co-ordinated, I just added some brads, ribbon and bits. I used my Nouveau alpha today (the one I got for £13.99 cos Ellison made a mistake on their website) and I must say I really like it.

New team the Bazzill Nuts is going well thank goodness. Setting up a new team was a wee bit nerve-racking so I am glad it all went OK. Seems to be a lot going on and plenty of chat too.

About a third of the way through my first CJ at the moment, and loving it. My latest one is 'Scent of a Woman' which I really wasn't sure about at all when I heard the title but it is really fab. I know what I am doing for it, just a case of getting around it.

Started the diet today and it is hell already - had a headache all afternoon, probably hunger. Had 2 squares of choc but otherwise stuck to it including only half a bottle of wine all weekend (which is what I have allowed myself). Went for a lovely long walk today with Leo at Trentham - over an hour so good exercise for lardy old me. Won't be able to wear my swimsuit if I don't get some of the excess pounds off. Had to buy size 14 trousers for the hols so that was IT - I have promised myself I will get back to a size 12!