Embellish your World

Cover to Cover

Well I definately fill the brief for this latest Shimelle Class I have signed up for. I have piles of layouts and several albums in need of sorting. As Shimelle puts it I need to put the "book" back in to Scrapbooking.

I am album #3 for my eldest who turns 16 this year and on albums #2 for both my boys, although that should probably be 4 and 3 each respectivly if I got around to filing my completed pages away. I also need a family album or too I think. With tales of our homes, and things we do together, holidays etc. I sure need to take more photos around the home that is for sure, may even help me put that in to some order too, who knows... so watch this space as I hopefully make the most of the course whilst juggling a very busy time at work, preparation for my forthcoming 15k night hike and of course the family, home and our every increasing pet hoard! I did sadly lose one of my hens today though having separated her from the others yesterday when I noticed she was very letharigic and off her food. Despite my best efforts she passed away over night and I have no idea why sadly. The others all look well but from gaining the new chicks on Friday and increasing our chicken total to 14 we are down to 13 now, 5 chicks (2 weeks old nearly) and 8 fully grown girls. Still plenty to keep me busy and a regular supply of eggs though.  Off to sleep now, it's late and I've work tomorrow, so see you all soon x

Happy Bank Holiday Weekend

Seriously how has May snuck up on us already? I have so much to do!! And so much going on these next few weeks too. Last Saturday saw my Swimathon where my money raised is over £500 now! I am so thrilled to be able to contribute this much towards Marie Curie Nursing Care, especially having lost many loved ones to the cruelness of cancer.  Yesterday I taught a layout class at Ecelectic Keepsakes in Marks Tey, Colchester.

We used the lovely Prima Songbird Journalling cards and the Mosaic stamp paper from the same collection, along with some spray ink, flowers and a paint and foam stamped title.  It was a lovely relaxing class, albeit with several worried faces at the inky/painty stages for fear of ruining layouts, but once overcome I was thrilled as always with the array of layouts that the class ladies produces based on my example.

Next Saturday sees me teaching again. locally this time at my own crop where we are creating a soft a romantic page with flowers and pearl beads, washi tape, twine and some inking and stamping again! Sneak peak to follow. Only 2 spaces left at the crop so do contact me if you are in the Enfield (London/Middlesex) area next weekend.

Enjoy the rest of your Bank Holiday weekend everyone, I am off to clean out our newest family members now before entertaining some friends visiting from the North, then perhaps the cinema for the new Zac Efron film later today or tomorrow. Depends if I can drag myself away from our babies!

 

Personal Best

54 lengths in 50 minutes, the furthest I have ever swam in one go and just 10 lengths short of a mile!

I was struggling to get to the 50 mark when I was in the pool, but the closer it got, the faster I seemed to swim, and so with a few minutes left before the pool closed at 10pm and my 50 lengths done I thought I may as well swim another couple! Had a rest day yesterday (apart from plenty of walking and taking the stairs not the lift) and today I have done a Body Combat class and am off out for a late night walk with my neighbour shortly. As well as the Swimathon at the end of April I am also taking part in the second 15k night hike run by the Council I work for in aid of the local hospital and cancer hospice. I completed the 15k last year, over 2 stone heavier than I am now, in just under 2 hours and am hoping to beat that time this year!

Only thing with all this exercise and healthy regime is less hours to scrapbook, especially with work deadlines as well. I have completed Shimelle's January Craft Along project though (just need to print my photos off) and was thrilled she featured my Matt Cardle layout as one of her favourites from last week's starting point challenge.  There is a new starting point today, two infact, and hopefully I will get to play along at the weekend. I have done another layout of the lovely Matt Cardle as part of the ATDML gallery for next month so sadly I cannot share the whole layout just yer, but here is a cheeky little sneak!

Off for my walk now, need to get my minimum 6000 steps in today!