it's going well...

I've been trying to sort my sleep pattern out a bit lately. After being ill so many times recently I could have slept not only for England, but Europe, and in fact the entire universe. When I get up I am still totally exhausted, even after more sleep than I should need. Something is obviously working, as it is getting easier to get up in the morning. I have increased my fruit and veg intake, and also started eating less 'white' foods. Rice is now brown wholegrain rice (tesco do a great one that still tastes like white rice), as white rice is stripped of every single thing that is good for you. So effectively it is an empty food. Bread is now brown too, and I have even bought wholemeal pasta! Not tried it yet (its years since I have tried it) but I think I will mix it up with white to start with! Hey- it's a step in the right direction!
I have been reading one of Gillian McKeith's books I am not dieting as such, but trying to be more aware of what I am putting into my body. Don't get me wrong- I am not following the plan in this book as such, just making small changes for the better. Like the rice thing- what is the point of eating it if my body gets absolutely nothing from it? Particularly when I can eat rice that tastes pretty much the same but is packed full of vitamin B!

Whether I am feeling better because of the food changes, or something else I don't know but I am gonna keep on! It's all good!

A huge toot and a honk for Suzanne and Caz for being selected to go through to the next round in MM Idol So deserved girlies! (had to pimp your bush lol)

So many things to photograph right now, and so little time- so will leave you with a recent layout that I actually love (very rare)

long time no blog!

So I am back (again) and this time I am another year older *sigh*!

PC is still running like treacle, and laptop has now passed away *RIP*

First off some thank yous...for all the gorgeous cards I was sent, and gorgeous goodies too!

From Jen- BPS product playground- loving it!

From Shirl- AMM tote IN PINK! She is all filled up and I have used her every single day!

From Beth- paperartsy stamps and dew drop inks *slurp* have had great fun playing

Ali- thank you for the box of yumminess!

You gals all know me far too well!

I had loads of goodies and was totally spoilt! My Mum, bless her, took the day off work so she could take me for lunch. We went to a fab pub out of town called the house in the tree, we have been there a few times, but not for ages. Always great food, a roaring open fire and happy people! The field mushrooms in stilton were to die for!

Had a lovely morning with Amy and Amelia, and got this gorgeousness to add to my ever growing collection...another person who knows me far too well (I often think Amy knows me better than I know myself)

All in all a lovely day :)

The studio- this is coming along nicely, the floor is laid- see pic-love that guy, who gave up his sunday to lay it for me gratis- and furniture put together, still in a bit of a mess, gonna shut myself in there later and do some sorting out. Will take some more pics when I am straight! (if ever!)

Amelia is totally flourishing! She is a beautiful baby who I adore so very much! She pretty much sleeps through the night every night already- which is fab for a breast fed baby at 2 months! She is a real smiler, and coos away at you when you talk to her. She is at the stage now where she totally recognises who is holding her, and who is talking to her- she turns her head to see you and beams!

and, at last, she has some chunk on her thighs to grab!

Oh and as a last point- thank you to Imagination Project- I won their comp for a fab box of cha goodies! *yay me*

ttfn- hope all you bloggettes are well -x-

at long flippin last!

so after being MIA for a bit- was poorly (again!)- then blimmin blogger was not playing ball! I have been trying to update all week, and finally I am in! Its taken me an hour to get this far though! Ho hums!
So- the scraproom floor is down and is boootiful! Furniture is put together and am slowly organising stuff and getting straight!
Once I am sorted I will get some pics up.
On to better things- the beautiful Jennie bought me a most wonderful pressie- I got the product playground class from big picture scrapbooking! I so wanted to do the class but decided it was too much money to spend when I could be paying off my credit card bills from christmas! Lubs you hunny!
Next thing- I have been tagged by Jo-
6 weird things about me...shouldn't be too tricky!
1- I have double jointed toes- but not my big toes, and I have double jointed fingers but not thumbs!
2- I have obssesive compulsive disorders, that is about as weird as it gets lol!
3- I am allergic to antihistamines (only some- but go figure?!)
4- I am allergic to too much heat- some of my glands shut down and stop working in certain areas if I get too hot!
5- My hair and fingernails grow at a superhuman rate!
6- My eyes change colour with the seasons!

Anyhoodle- will try and update again- hoping to get my pc sorted- am working on the laptop at the mo which could be why I haven't been able to get in blogger, hope you are all well -x-

art journal

If you haven't seen it yet, make sure you check out Emily's art journal challenge- a WHOLE YEAR! And I'm so gonna do it!

Here is my week one and two, and as I got 'spare' cards in my deck, and just happened to find this rub on quote complete with paint splatters I though I would do a cover/intro card, just to remind me of why I am doing this journal, and making changes in my life for the better, a kind of physical version of positiveness :)

the cover/intro card-

week ones prompt was 'was makes you proud?'

I painted the card, added crackle glaze, then rubbed

gold paint on top, wiped the excess off then added

lettering and a stamp.


week twos prompt was 'what is powerful

to you?' To me, love, in all its various guises

is powerful. So after painting this card, masking

a heart off and overpainting (though the colour looks

awful in the scan) I added the 'love' sticker to the

heart and journaled 'if I have love in my heart I can

achieve anything' added a bit of doodling, and scratched

some hearts into the paint et voila.

The bonus being that my little studio is all packed up right now so I am creating using whatever scrappy bits I can find! This is the only way I am getting to craft right now! I managed to find an old cigar box, and have painted that ready for my cards to sit in. I am planning on punching holes in the cards and hanging them on a bookring too so they are all in order!

TTFN blogettes -x-

the most WONDERFUL news...

Last night I received the following email...

"Dear Wild Bird Supporter,Over the last two years, you were kind enough to lend your name to an impressive group effort to get the EU to stop importing millions of wild birds.As of January 11, 2007, I'm delighted to inform you that the EU has decided to do exactly that -- all wild bird imports have been banned permanently. The temporary ban on all live bird imports has been extended until June 2007, and the new regulation takes effect on 1 July 2007. Read more about the ban on our website at: http://worldparrottrust.org/.I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your enthusiastic support of this effort and hope you and your organizations feel proud to have been part of making this momentous decision possible.This ban will spare about four million wild birds a year... forever! Take a moment to picture a flock of four million birds and think of them flying free! Working together, we've all made this a reality.Happy New Year, indeed!Sincerely,James D. Gilardi, Ph.D., DirectorThe World Parrot Trust Glanmor HouseHayle, Cornwall, TR27 4HB "

I have actively supported this cause, and this new ruling is THE BEST NEWS! THANK YOU TONY BLAIR! (never thought I would hear myself say that but i am so so truly grateful to him for his backing).
Bird exportation/importation is a very cruel and barbaric practise.
And before they even get to the stage where they are packed tight in mini cages with no room to move, defecate and even breathe properly (with no food or water), some of these poor creatures have been through the most horrific process.

Take baby african greys for example (this is the same species as simba). They are taken from their nests, way too young for a lot of them to cope without being fed by Mummy, not weaned at all. The poacher then opens the baby birds wings.
and stamps on them so they can't fly away.
Brutal enough yes?

Then bear in mind that some of those feathers may not be properly developed yet. These are called 'blood feathers', and it is like a vein running through the inside of the feather. That baby bird who has managed not to die yet from stress, fright etc can then bleed to death.

If these poor birds have made it to this stage, they are bundled into cages with no room to move- interesting fact here to tie in with this- in the UK it is ILLEGAL for a bird to be housed in a cage that does not allow it to fully open its wing span and totally move around in every direction.
But it is deemed as acceptable to these beasts to cram them in a cage where they can't even breathe properly. All for a measly bit of money.

Ok, so the above is usually the worst case scenario, and generally the illegal importation trade- but having these new rulings means this will be enforced more harshly. No birds coming in, and therefore these shipments of birds will be caught.

At this stage I would like to point out that Simba is 100% British bred in captivity (and lives the life of riley!). We now have more than enough captive birds to breed from in this country, and all of Europe, so really, there is absolutely no reason for any imports, a fact which I am sure will have helped with this ruling. Many species of bird face extinction, largely due to these practises.

As you all know (and if you don't you must have been looking on here with your eyes shut lol) parrots are a topic that I am hugely passionate about. I HATE people who buy a bird without learning about the HUGE commitment they are taking on, and subsequently get rid of the bird, for it to be passed on and on...then it ends up in a very over run sanctuary- this isn't like animal shelters at all, we have hardly any parrot sanctuarys, partly because parrot keeping is so specialised and requires a lot of specific knowledge. the fact that parrots are like little toddlers all of their life. they require an awful lot of work and dedication. and for that, to the people who selflessly open and run these places (usually out of their own money) I am so very thankful. It is these people who have to deal with the wild imports that have been taken on as a pet, and then discarded. Hopefully this move will mean that less birds will be dumped :D

If you got this far- thn thank you! I am so happy I wanna shout this from the rooftops!! lol

Book of love...

Nowt really exciting going on, so thought I would finally show the book I made at our workshop with Emily (huge congrats on your news btw!)- now it does have a few bits to be added to it (I pick it up and add to it when I am in the mood and have nothing else I am *meant* to be doing) and a couple of pages I want to completely redo, but this is how the book is right now, hung on my studio wall. There are loads of pics!

Front cover- large photo overlaid with acetate and pretty stuff!



Family pages- me and my mummy bear...


and my lubberly nan



jasmine making a wish on a 'fairy'



pretty pink flowers- mmmm- this page is really cool, made with masking tape and paint



new shoes and french pedicures


two more god-daughters



my jessicat- this is one page I am redoing


simbadoodle, also redoing this page, I did this one and the 'jess' one at the same time, I must have been in an odd mood I have decided!



Simba's mad tomfoolery


photo collage of lots of things that I love- rubbed over with white paint


friendship page- my best friend with simba, who adores her!



Simba's toes- I adore his toes so much lol! This was done onto acetate- hence the shiny bit!


last, but by no means least- this page is all about my simbadoodly and just how much I adore him. I know you all think I am stark raving- and maybe there is a slight bit of truth in that, but he is my companion and lifelong friend :)

doin' it digi stylee

Yup I lost my digi virginity!

I totally blame Katie fancy knickers (that is what she really likes to be known as!), and Yizz too- who has been on our case for an age!

For those who didn't see it, Kate wrote a fab series of articles for creative scrapbooking mag, and the best part was I UNDERSTOOD EVERY WORD! So, yesterday I bit the proverbial bullet and did my first digi lo! It is a thank you for the articles (even though the bumholio's are ceasing CS mag)

It is a Jen Caputo sketch, and Anne Langpap papers

A huge thanks girls- I really mean it! I know this is a bit of a 'cheat' but it meant I got to grips with the basic functions of digi scrapping!

So- today! You guessed it- another digi layout. Kate gave me a couple of fab pointers today (like increasing the memory allocation for PS CS) which made things way easier, but it is still very slow going- I think a laptop is necessary for this with a stonking huge memory and fancy pants processor. (do you get the idea I really have no idea what I am talking about!?)

So this layout was done from scratch, no sketch to help! *yeeks*

Kit from shabby princess which I found on my poot- I am very good at downloading kits- least now I know how to use them! Very simple- like most of my paper layouts, but other than the pic- I really like it! Just trying to use random 'me' pics from crimbo- that way I don't offend anyone by doing a cacky lo with them in it! mwahaha

I even added drop shadows, although I think I need to learn how to faff them up next, I reckon the shadow line is a bit harsh (admittedly that is more noticable viewing in a larger size)

back again!

I am well aware at just how lucky I have been! The shingles haven't been half as bad as I thought they were going to be. I have seen people so very ill with them- and I really thought I would be as bad.

But I wasn't.

Thank the Lord!

Feeling much better already- totally exhausted still, very itchy still, but the blisters are healing really well- feel a bit fluey, and a bit of pain but nothing drastic- but other than that- fine!

My niece, nephew and sis-in-law all have it- and possibly my brother, so they are all quaratined at their house!

So- Christmas was ok- bit stressful for reasons I shan't go into here, but I survived it! I got lots of yummy pressies, will take some pics of my new dress forms- this is becoming a serious obsession yannow!

And of course, I got my new hat- and just for anna, I have pics! Not the original hat I said I would photograph- but my new purty one I had for crimbly day! (with matching scarf!)-and a big pouty crimbly kiss too!

Had mucho fun playing limbo with the kids on christmas evening.

when I say playing, what I mean is, I watched them, took pics, and laughed at them.

A lot!

It is seriously cool- it plays music, and if you knock the bar- it tells you so! In a wonderfully fake Jamaican accent! ROFL!

The calendar I made for Mum was a hit- she really loved it- will get some pics of that- I was finishing it off at silly o'clock christmas eve so didn't have time before wrapping it!

Oh and I did get one of my God daughters to do a lovely christmas message for you all, but ran out of time and it didn't get uploaded- so a very belated christmas message for you- I have to upload it cos its so darn cute! Sadly as with all the vids I upload it is out of sync- but still cute!

MIA for a bit- back soon

Having a bit of a lousy time at the mo...will try and blog if I can- got crimbly pics etc to upload. On top of everything I've had lots of weird symptoms (hey what's new lol), followed by a huge blister on my face that is so painful it is waking me up- turns out it could be shingles, particularly with the other symptoms I have,and being so close to my eye I may need to go and see an opthalmist. niece was diagnosed with it tonight (been with her all over the festive period) and nephew had it a few weeks ago. I guess my immunity is so low as I am still fighting off this virus that laid my poor Mum up in hosp. You try getting into the docs on a bank hol weekend though! If it gets any worse I will go to the hospital for their emergency clinic (although last time I went they admitted me- that is so not happening again) and see if I am not to late for some treatment
Hope you all had a fab crimbo and wishing you a great new year :)

what a whirlwind!

Yes- my life that is!
The biggest news is that Amelia made her grand entrance to the world last Friday. Exactly one week late and once she decided it was time to come she didn't hang about!
Amy rang around lunchtime to say she was having little pains, more than braxton hicks, but not full blown contractions, since the morning. They went for a walk on the hills, came back, and they got stronger and closer together. So she came round...had several contractions in my kitchen, hall and driveway, and left for the hospital at about 1.30...Amelia was born at 3.09! Nice work kid! She is an absolute stunner, and I love her so very much already! She is a little minxster though- me thinks she may be trouble! Jasmine stayed at mine for the weekend to give Amy a bit of time to get used to the new arrival without a very highly strung 6 year old about, so J and I had a girlie sleepover night- popcorn, crisps, sweets etc and a dvd in bed. Followed by two birthday parties the next day. She was a flippin angel, for saying I have never ever seen her that excited in her life, and she was here two nights- a total darling!
Amelia was weighed on Thursday and is still 8lb which was her birth weight, so that is FAB news! Feeding well, awake a LOT but oh so gorgeous!

J's first cuddle with her new baby sister-


Fairly sorted for christmas now, busy day tomorrow, loads of visitors due, and people round for dinner. Cemetary to visit, pressies to deliver- but at least the majority of the wrapping is done!
Have a fab crimbo one and all :D

back again!

Another manic week at chez rena!

I have been to swindon, worcester, hospital (with Amy- can you believe that baby is STILL in there!), and oh so many other places this week!

Lots of crimbly shopping done- lots still to do!

Finally fathomed what OH wants tho- it seems that this is the 'in toy' for the over 30 man this year with another one winging its way to a friend's boyf!

Yes it is.......

THE NEWLY RELAUNCHED EVEL KNIEVEL SUPER STUNT SET!

I swear to god ladies, if you have a 30-something husband/boyf he will adore this! I casually mentioned to Mart that this had been relaunched and he was beside himself! It is a totally 100% replica of the original 70's version, made by the same moulds they used the first time round...complete wih super turbo launcher *read wind up handle* which Mart was far too excited about than is normal ;)

Got my cards made tonight- shadowy scans but you get the idea!

Had the house all to myself, so I had a nice long bath, got into my PJ's and set about the card making task in hand...

jeepers

where has the last 10 days gone?!
I have been bad at blogging again- so shoot me! That life thing has totally gotten in the way lately!
Lots going on- not all to be shared publicly!
Mart and I are just great, I think I have fallen in love with him all over again- I swear he is hormonal but there ya go! So am I, so that makes us equal lol!
Amy is less than two weeks away from her due date- she had pre-eclampsia with J, and when I went to pick J up from school on wednesday we arrived at the docs to meet her and midwife was coming back out the next day as A's BP had shot up- not good! She ended up being tied up elsewhere so A had to go into the hosp to get it checked- it was up and down and all over the shop- so they did bloods and it seems ok for now. Midwife came back out saturday and BP was still the same, and she is coming back again tomorrow to check it. It is getting so close, and I am way too excited. J and I are very close, and she will be staying with me while A is in hospital, and perhaps a little longer depending on how things go. This is gonna be one hugely adored baby! In some ways I will miss me and Amy having our girly Wednesday's! Since J has been at school full time, Wednesday is generally he day that is 'me and Amy time'. Nothing exciting, just girly chatting, shopping, drinking coffee, whatever, but our time! I will miss that :)

Managing to get quite a few pressies sorted for that big day in December- plus about 372 birthdays before then! Still really stuck on a few!

Am teaching my photo candle class at the weekend, really looking forward to seeing what the girls come up with, and I am gonna make a batch up for presents I think.
Got some more mag work which is fantastic, so working on that this week too. Also had a great proposition from a UK company which was way too good to be refused- I love this company, the people who run it and their products- what more could I want?!

Nec jollies...

Well the nec has been and gone, and I had a blast! So many people to talk to- friends old and new! Big kisses to Ginger, Paul, Orlando, Claire, Lyn and the woman who kept losing her pants! Plus all the other lovely peeps I gassed with! It was way too busy- they seriously need to consider splitting it into more halls- lets face it, they charge oodles for the stands, about a tenner for each person to get in, plus seven quid to park. It's not like they can't afford it. Particularly when lots of the other halls are empty at the time of the show. Did a fair bit of shopping, but hardly anything off my list! Still- it means I can order stuff online, people are wanting christmas pressies to buy me too so shoptastic fun ahoy!

Talking of Christmas- this tree was superb! It stood as tall as the nec hall, and was entirely knitted! How cool is that!?

As usual I stayed until kicking out time- though I didn't need to claim I was staff this time to get away with it lol!

Can't wait for the next one!

pics n stuff

First off- Mel- Amy and I were plotting on how to steal your daughter yesterday (I had bought the bump a pumpkin costume for next year so I showed her the pics of izzy- and we need her) and then we read your comment here about the fireworks pic! Well we nearly died laughing- and I have to tell you why- all throughout the display A and I were discussing the 'sperm' fireworks- we have named them all and picked their qualities- including the 'pissed sperm' (pic to follow) and the 'super 'ard I can get through any contraceptive sperm'! Thanks for a huge laugh!

pics from the weekend-

Some of the band- I went with an open mind, (actually I lie- I went thinking they would be crap) but was actually pleasantly surprised! pics are terribly out of focus-no tripod-lots of lights- night time-fast movement-but ho hum!






And onto fireworks- shame it got so smokey and for saying the camera was handheld I am quite chuffed!

Super 'ard sperm firework-







and finally- pissed sperm firework:

almost human...

almost.
Feeling better today- well, not been sick, managing to eat a bit and feel less wiped out. Except I couldn't get to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription yesterday for fear of barfing in town, so Mum went for me today in her lunch break love her- problem is by this morning my blood pressure was seriously low so I spent all day feeling rather grot still. Took a trek to the postbox and felt a bit better (not been out the house since saturday!) all drugged up now and feeling nearly human again!
Hoping to go to the stables as normal tomorrow- will see how I go!
Anyway just a quickie tonight-
I have to tell you that Land of a thousand words is being released as a single on December the 4th and you MUST GO BUY IT! It is a truly beautiful song, and I seriously hoped this would be the next scissor sisters single- even though they don't seem to do as well in the charts with the more ballad like songs. It is very 'James Bond', and when you see the video- well- James Bond eat yer heart out- it is superb and Jake Shears is looking mighty fine! Ana is looking super slinky too!
You can see it here if you want (and you should!)
There are a lot of theories flying around concerning the single covers- there are appearing to be links from the IDFLD video- my bets are on kiss you off for the next one (after LOATW) another fabulous song (ok I love them all)!
***edit* all my faves rolled into one- found this- I am, as you know by now, a huge SS fan, but I am also a huge Rocky fan too (and I mean horror show not stallone!) check THIS out- sheer genius- this is one of my favest SS tracks.***

Oh and Rood issues- you plus cherubs would be very welcome here next Halloween!

yakkityyak

am poorly with this flippin bug AGAIN!

After a fab night out I decided to go home early- just as well cos I then spent all night blowing chunks! So no Bonfire party for me this eve- think I need quaratining!

Will update with pics when I feel a bit better (I am getting there-just eaten for the first time- so we will see!) but here is one to whet your appetite

Love this pic!

ok I know!

I said I would blog wednesday night but I was just too darn tired by the time I got home! Then yesterday- I dunno what happened- but seemed to be running about a lot not getting very much achieve

So- Halloween!

Another fab halloween this year- somewhere in the region of 90-100 trick or treaters (seriously) we had made up 40+ treat packages (see pic in a sec) and we made more and more and more on the night cos we kept running out!

I didn't really dress up as such, but did make a bit of an effort- spider tattoo on my face, star tattoos on my collar bone, long black dress, and black top with bat like sleeves! Oh and my light up ghost necklace and spider ring!

So I got the pumpkin carved the day before-




It was flippin hard work- and took about 3.5 hours! But worth it I think!



This was the whopper before- by my standard kettle for size ref!





And this is all the insides!



I was very good- and made two huge batches of pumpkin soup (which was seriously yummy) and roasted all the seeds in butter and salt for guests to nibble on.

Oh and of course we had this too:







A real success! These are the treat packs we made up- all wrapped in Halloween tissue, tied with ribbon with a ring attached- we figured this way it stopped any greedy grabbing hands- they get one each and that's it!





Me and my lil witchypoo






and some of the decs from outside the house (we had more novelty things inside- and I have bought more since!)- except all the balloons had been given to the kids by this stage and the garlands and signs taken down!





And one more (out of focus) pic for good measure- our treat bowl- it grabs your hand and says random messages!
This bowl worked seriously hard!





Really busy couple of weeks now! Will be a better blogger though (how many times have I said that lol)!