London, baby!

It seems forever ago already, but last weekend I spent an absolutely awesome weekend in the capital city visiting my bestest friend Sam and discussing the most important matter of her forthcoming wedding - I'm so excited!

After the coach trip down, we spent the Saturday travelling to my fellow bridesmaid's house for my dress fitting, followed by a yummy Italian lunch and then we spent a couple of hours enjoying the glorious sunshine on Blackheath Common. No children to drive me crazy, and ice cream = bliss! On the Sunday it was another hot and sunny day and after a sleep in, followed by as much time as I wanted to shower, dry my hair and do my make-up totally un-interrupted by children trying to steal and apply said make-up (again, pure bliss), off we went for a spot of window shopping in Milton Keynes. Sadly it was soon time to catch my coach home, sob.

I had been looking forward to the trip all month and had been planning on taking some lovely Hipstamatic photos on my iPhone, but very sadly and annoyingly I broke it in the service station on the way there. Grrrrrrrrr. And all I was trying to do was help save the earth by declining another plastic carrier bag and carrying my magazine, crisps, wallet and phone in my arms instead. Big mistake. Someone bumped into me, my phone went crashing to the hard floor and the screen went white. I could just about answer calls but making calls, texting and taking photos were completely a no go. So you'll have to make do with some make-do photos from Google images.

Not up to much this weekend, but I really want to do some scrapping, something pretty that I can put on the wall. Not sure my mojo (or mood) is up for it, but I might give it a go. I probably should try and finish the mountain of more urgent projects I have started first though, like the wedding bunting and the shrug I want to wear for another wedding. Sigh. I'll report back later.

P.S. There was a happy ending to the iPhone horror story. The broken model was swiftly replaced by courier on Monday morning, who brought me a lovely brand new, shiny, non scratched replacement for free, yay!

x

Eventful day!

It has been a busy old day, mainly fab but I'll get to that in a moment!
It started with a 8.30am food shop, which is miraculous considering there are four of us to get ready and because I was out until half midnight last night zzzz (yes, I finally got out, just for a meal and wine with a friend but I really enjoyed it). Anyway, then we went to collect Gareth's new bike, as in cycle, which he has bought through the government cycle to work scheme, so it turned out good value and he is planning to get healthy and fit by cycling every day *not jealous*.
Then it was on to nearby Kirkstall Abbey for a test ride and we had a great time, the boys on their bikes, playing in the fallen cherry blossom *hearts*, climbing on the ruins and relaxing by the river.

After that it was a hop across the road for lunch at the Vesper Gate pub, where the food was awesome and surprisingly cheap, and fast. I had ribs with Jack Daniels sauce, onion rings and chunky chips, mmmmmm, and even the kids' meals were just as delicious (no I didn't steal, I just helped with leftovers!).



















With our hunger satisfied we decided to let the kids play in the abbey playground, just opposite the ruins, and they had a great time...





















... until Alex made a rugby tackle move in the direction of the moving roundabout (he might have little legs but man that little boy is fast!) and suffered a nasty blow to the head *sob*, resulting in a lovely fair sized bump *sob sob*. The cold compress didn't help much and although he seemed fine (he wanted to play some more after the tears had stopped) we decided a trip to A&E was in order, to be on the safe side. Gah. A three-hour wait in A&E, not fun, or so you'd think but actually we had a nice time playing with all the toys, with Alex making some temporary new friends (the place was packed) and charming the pants off all the staff. He was assessed and allowed to come home, phew. Hypochondriac mummy over-reacts again (but better safe than sorry I say).

So I am shattered to put it mildly! Bed is calling I think, although I need to eat first, we haven't had dinner yet and my chef, I mean husband, is asleep on the sofa! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

x

I haven't forgotten!

I'm still here, I've just been so busy in my new job and what a week it has been! We have been busy photographing bumps, babies and beautiful boudoir models, plus a prom dress girl to boost our portfolio. And already one of the shots has won a top award, with others gaining commendations and merits, so exciting! The studio and aftercare service is up and running and the brochures are coming along nicely. And if I really needed a kick up the butt we have booked in to two baby fairs in July so need to have everything ready before then. Phew! I will try and share some photos asap but in the meantime you can check out the Facebook page ABP Portrait Parties.

It has been a better week - Leeds got promoted for starters (about time!) Get in! (I'm talking about football, I seem to have become a fan of late!)












What else have we been up to? A birthday party, me trying desperately to get a night out (and failing miserably, we just can't get anyone to babysit and I seem to have lost touch with my going out friends - don't get me wrong I have plenty of wonderful daytime friends but us all getting out together just proves too much of a logistical nightmare). I also need to get out more on my days off with Alex otherwise two things happen, he repeatedly drags me into the kitchen for yet more snacks (that boy is eating us out of house and home!) or he uses the dining room wall as a scribbling pad!





Thank goodness for wipe-clean emulsion!

A couple more photos before I go, taken at the afore-mentioned birthday party.




















Back soon!

xXx

Is this week over yet?!

It's a bit late to be blogging but it's general election night and the alternative coverage is just too entertaining to switch off - plus it's a little exciting.

Not done any knitting or scrapping the last couple of days as I have been a busy worker bee designing a flyer for the new portrait services/products - it's looking good, just need the models' photos now. We have a newborn and a bump in tomorrow, can't wait!




Anyway, thought I'd pop on to share these picturesque Hipstamatic photos I took earlier of a cherry blossom tree in bloom over my car parking space at a local shopping outlet. It looked so pretty, I love blossom and have a huge canvas photo of me and Harry as a baby peeking from behind blossom-filled branches on my living room wall. I should probably get some pictures done of me and Alex in the blossom before it's all gone.




It has been a mixed week, I have had three lots of wonderful news from three friends but for me it has been a bit crappy with three bad things happening - please let me be done now, otherwise I'm going to my bed and you won't see me til Monday!

Bunting - check!

I got bored of sewing so many triangles the same for the wedding bunting so thought it was high time I made Harry's pirate bunting for his bedroom using this cute fabric I bought in the US earlier this year. It was quick and easy to do, probably because I cut corners by using only one side of fabric for each triangle and not sewing the edges - well I thought it would kook more authentic lol! Anyway I'm pleased to say he loves it :)







And now it's back to my knitting and my lovely pink spring V-neck top is coming along nicely.




I hope to be able to show you the finished garment soon - well, that's the plan anyway!

X

Bank holiday fun

Gosh it feels like a Sunday! Hope you've all had a good bank holiday weekend. We spent the day exploring Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds, which was really interesting, although Harry didn't much like walking through 1840s Leeds (he was terrified!) and Gareth really didn't like reading about surgery in those days either (wimp!). But there was still lots of fun to be had on the exhibitions, including a 'toilet lid' that made trumping noises that kept Alex amused for a long while and the bendy mirrors that made us look ridiculously tall or short - hilarious!







After that we went into the city centre - something I very rarely do - and saw how much it has changed. Gareth spent ages browsing the music and game shops while I waited patiently with the boys and I was allowed a quick peek in New Look, where I bought some really pretty new undies, to much moaning from the males. Why is it they are allowed all the time in the world to look at boy toys but whinge whinge whinge when it comes to a tiny spot of girly shopping. So a whizz round Primark to eye up the pretty accessories was out of the question. Sigh. Anyway, while in New Look I spied a beautiful dress to wear to one of the several weddings we're going to this summer, it's just what I have been imagining I want to find, and I have a £10 off voucher that kicks in next week, so if I can find someone fashionable to take with me and give me their honest opinion and help me team up accessories I'm there!



I still don't have all the photos taken last week during the photography seminar, for which I had to don my wedding dress and pose for about 18 cameras - but I do have a sneaky peek for you. I heart it so much, and the others that I have seen a small glimpse of. Can't wait for those, I think a couple will go in little frames for our new bedroom when it gets re-decorated, re-carpeted and re-furnished this summer.

Anyway, that's about it. I have tomorrow off work as my mum's away still, but I have her Jack Russell Terrier to look after, Pip. He's very cute but a pain in the ass - sorry! He constantly whines and paces up and down and gets under my feet all the time. And Alex is really frightened of him (the threat of being licked I think is what he doesn't like!). Oh and he'll only eat expensive cuts of meat! Thank goodness he's only with us for one day!

x

Mojo gone AWOL

Just popped on to post this layout that I finally finished the machine stitching on this week. I do like it (apart from the small tear, which I credit to my eldest monkey Harry, thank you Harry) but I can't help thinking most of my layouts lack depth in layers and look so bare. I think I need to stock up on embelishments and bit a bit more slap happy, so to speak lol!



To celebrate International Scrapbooking Day yesterday I went off to scrap at Rachel/reward's house, although I only got 1 layout done - quite a come down from the 8 I finished last time I was there! I blame my loss of mojo, not having Rachel to guide me this time and also Rachel's lovely ma-in-law whisking us away to go wool shopping, which was most welcome! I was a bit naughty and bought two balls of a strange ruffle yarn, but after seeing it used to make a gorgeous handbag and the fact they had it in the same colour as a dress I want to wear to a family wedding next month I think the £5.20 was justified!

Talking of knitting, I really need to get some done. I'm supposed to be knitting a beret for my sister's birthday on the 24th, another hat for a secret birthday gift also later this month and I need to knit a shrug for me to wear to the wedding. I've also been asked to make the Order of Services for that, a million metres of bunting for another family wedding in August and shrugs for my best friend's wedding in October (her, me and the other bridesmaid) plus a ruffles bag if the swatch of her dress matches the yarn. Yikes! You might not see me for a while lol!

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