Photo a Day - Day 4- The View From Here

Day 4- The View From Here 

This is my view when Matthew lays on me!  

Im always taking pictures of my back garden so thought I would take a different perspective on todays theme for a change!

x

Photo A Day - Day Three - Heart

Day 3 - Heart

This heart is made of porcelin and comes from a jewellery box my friends gave me as an engagement present.  It so precious I hardly use it in case I break it!

xx

Pinning Posts - Its back!

Right, its back!  Last year I came up with a weekly post idea where I write about and showcase my favourite pins from Pinterest because I am so addicted to this site!  I only managed a few weeks but I have decided to give it another go, plus week 1 was one of my most viewed posts of last year so it works!
  So here are my five favourite pins from the last few weeks:


1 - Yarn bombing!

 from cutoutandkeep.net

I am loving this new craze!  And this is one of my favourite images, its so colourful and so clever!

2 - Tattoo

tricksterss.tumblr.com

I am always looking for new inspiration for my next tattoo and one day I hope to get an unusual one with a music note, perhaps something like this minus the birds.

3 - Doctor who

25.media.tumblr.com

Loving these Doctor Who shoes, one of David Tennants doctor and one of Matt Smiths, I would so wear these!

4 - Organisation

stephpea.typepad.com

This is an idea that comes from Project Life, where you use journalling cards and these are all neatly stacked and organised which is inspiring to start organising anything else in this way!

5 - Project Life

cherisheveryday.com

I came across this, Project Life which is a 52 week scrapbook using journal cards and your photos.  I have been so addicted to looking at other people's projects on Pinterest but now I am finally ready to make my own!

xxx

Photo A Day - Day 2 - Something New

Day 2 - Something New

Matthew has been more fluent with his hand co-ordination but today was the first time I have seen him grab and hold anything in front of him.  He did this a few times and looked at it before proceeding to fight against his afternoon nap!

Photo A Day - Day One - Today

Welcome to one of my new projects for 2013!

I came across this from Shell Louise blog who led me to the founder of it, FatMumSlim where every month she gives us prompt words to take a picture of.  I originally began as part of my Day Zero Project, a 365 Day Photo Challenge, and got to take 202 photos!  The reason I stopped unintentionally was because I got to 6 months pregnant and did not have the motivation or thought process to continue!  By the time I wanted to carry on with it, I did not see the point of starting from 203 as it would not have been a true interpretation of the challenge and would feel like cheating having missed all those days out!
  So, starting the new year, Im excited about doing this project because of the prompts.  Originally, I did the other challenge without any prompts so it was just a case of taking a picture.  At least there will now be more thought and meaning behind each picture I take!

Here is day one and the topic is:  Today

This represents our day!  We spent a few hours clearing up the remains of last nights festivities!

Check back tomorrow for the next prompt!

xx

Goodbye 2012 - My Aims for 2013!

To finish off my highlights of 2012, this post will conclude with my aims for 2013 but first lets look at those aims that I made in a post from last year!


I have stated that I don't make new year resolutions as I don't have any vices plus they are pointless!  If you're going to quit something then do it when you want to and not wait for a brand new year!  My aims last year included wanting to go to Paris with my best friends, completing over half of my Day Zero Project and to have a baby!  I had my son in September so that was my biggest aim and I went to Paris in February.  I have not really completed half of my day zero project but am just over a quarter of the way there so at least I have not given up i completing it!
  The aim that makes me laugh the most is - I wanted to have a healthy and happy 2012 whilst ignoring the Olympics!  Because surprisingly, and like most Brits, I turned my nose up this event when as a matter of fact I had a ball watching it for two weeks!  And in a sad way I miss it!
  I wanted to hit 60 more likes for my blog but only managed to get another 20 which is partly my fault because I had been slacking on the blog front whilst being pregnant.  I just did not have the energy or motivation to post anything.
 
So with these aims in mind, and knowing that at least I do achieve some of them, these are my new aims for the year 2013 -

• To complete my Project Life and Photo -a-day projects on my blog
• To keep promoting my new business and hope to have many bookings throughout the year
• To be organised and have a routine in the household 
• To attempt to go abroad with my children and fiance
• To craft a lot more, finish scrapbooks, and take on new projects such as crocheting.
• To keep my blog going!

May I take this opportunity to wish my readers and followers a very happy new year and many thanks for sticking with me even when the posts were lacking!

xx

Goodbye 2012 - My Top 10 Moments

2012 is a year to remember!  What with the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee, plus I spent all of it pregnant lol!  Well, it certainly felt longer than 9 months anyway!
  So seeing as I was pregnant for most of 2012, this did not hinder the fact that I could still have fun!  Here are my top ten moments of the year which occurred in my life and all of which I took part in with my bump or baby!

10 - Our Spa Weekend - This was a lovely treat from my son's grandmother for after I had our baby.  We travelled up to Leicester for the weekend, and on the Saturday evening, me and Dean had 5 hours in Ragdale Spa.  We enjoyed a massage each. investigating many different sauna rooms, a warm pool that took us outside, steam rooms and jacuzzi.  After being pampered, we had a three course meal in a posh dining room and it was the first glass of wine I had had in 9 months!

9 - My 29th Birthday - Ah, my last year of my twenties, and I was 6 weeks pregnant.  We went out for a lovely meal with my best friends and Dean took me to London to see Rock of Ages which was so much fun.

8 - Vintage Day out in Brighton - On a very windy day in April, me and the girlies travelled to Brighton to a vintage fair at the racecourse and then ventured out in Brighton town.  I love days like this where I can ooh and aah over unique and original items.  Brighton is one of my favourite places to be and I am always discovering new things every time I visit.  Me, Kate and Jenni had some good old fashioned fish and chips on the beach and took many photos!

7 - Seeing the Maccabees at Alexander Palace - I miss days like this, it was a warm sunny evening travelling to London.  I have been to many venues for gigs but have never been to Alexander Palace.  I liked where it was, open air and beautiful grounds.  The palace itself was impressive but I dont think it was the best venue for a gig.  The Maccebees blew me away however with their Given to the Wild album being so successful.  The sound was really good and the production was awesome with very minimal performance which did not need it.  They played all my favourites and I definetely want to see them again but perhaps in a smaller venue.  This was perhaps just a bit too echoey and large for a small band.

6 - An Olympic Day Out - I was very surprised at myself for thoroughly enjoying the Olympics in the end, after being so dismissive of it beforehand!  So when the events finally kicked in, I really wanted to soak up the atmosphere like everyone else!  We had not intended on going anywhere so we missed out on tickets for the olympic park but we still decided to venture out to London even though I was about 8 months pregnant! Despite the boiling hot weather and many crowds, I still had a good day but it was tiring and hard work!  We popped to Westfields first which was crazy, and got as far as the entrance to the Olympic stadium before we had to turn back as we were not allowed in without tickets!  We then hopped on a train to Hyde Park which was a great alternative.  It was free to get in and we took a blanket so we could sit in front of the screens and soak up the atmosphere that way. It was a bit uncomfortable for me to be sitting on hard woodchip with a blanket and so low down on the ground!  I had a few grumpy moments where my back was hurting but me and Jacob played some ball games, (with me sitting down!) and I enjoyed the free concert, seeing Temper Trap and Ocean Colour Scene.  We walked to Bond Street to grab a McDoanlds then headed home.  It was a fabulous day and Im glad we did it however much pain I was in!

5 - Harry Potter tour - One of the best days out I have ever had!  The tickets were very expensive but they were so worth it!  Again, it was another hot day but inside was cool and again I was quite pregnant and had shooting pains down my leg!  But I got through it and thank goodness I did because I wouldn't have missed it for the world!  We explored the Great Hall, all the sets, the props and the best bit was outside seeing the Knight bus and where Harry Potter lived!  I would definetely pay money to go again.

4 - Seeing Coldplay live at the Emirates - Me and Dean saw Coldplay on the same day as the Jubilee concert.  We got there early to get some seats and had a good view, we then enjoyed some support acts before the main event.  And what an event it was!  Coldplay's most spectacular gig to date involved balloons, glitter, pyro-technics and even some tears from me!  We also had wristbands which lit up in time with their music and was a big highlight especially when it got dark and everyone's lit up at the same time.

3 - My Baby Shower - I had never hosted a baby shower for me or my friends before so this was a perfect opportunity to do one at 7 months pregnant.  My fab friends, Kate, Jenni and Claire got together to help me host a shower with a vintage tea party theme in my home and I had such a fabulous time!  There were cupcakes with my scan picture on, cake stands, vintage tea cups, nappy cakes and presents plus I made some games for the entertainment!  It was a memorable event to treasure forever.

2 - A Weekend in Paris with my best friends - In February, me, Jenni and Kate went to Paris on the Eurostar for three days and we had a brilliant time.  We saw all the sights including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Sacre Cour, Moulin Rouge, Arc d'Triomphe and the Louvre.  We had such a laugh and one trip I will always remember. xx

1 - Having My Son - So after walking around Paris, London, my home town and dragging myself everywhere pregnant, I finally had my biggest highlight of them all!  Matthew Zane was born in September and was the best thing of the year!

Goodbye 2012 - its definetely been a memorable year!

x

Goodbye 2012 - My Top 10 Photos

Continuing my run down of the year, here are my top ten favourite pictures of 2012!

10 - Taken at a vintage fair, I love the colours in this picture!

9 - I wanted this picture to look like an old seaside postcard and hopefully I have achieved it.

8 - Aww my new addition, Matthew at about 2 and a half months old smiling one of his first smiles.

7 - I am always taking pictures of the field behind my home and this was a haunting, mystical view.

6- Seeing as I spent most of 2012 pregnant, this was one of the nicest ones of me and my bump.

5 - This portrays my son and fiance's hands on my bump whilst lying in bed, the baby was kicking just after this was taken. x

4 - Another view from my kitchen window, it was a cold, winters afternoon with the horses.

3 - One of my favourite photos ever, taken at the Harry Potter Studios, I love the way this picture was gloomy before I vamped it up using Instagram!  You can see the detail in Hogwarts a lot clearer.

2 - Another picture taken from a day out in Brighton, I have emphasized the front wave so you get the feel of it still coming towards you.

1 - My favourite photo of them all, taken at the Emirates whilst watching Coldplay play live.  The mixture of colour, glitter, and balls plus the crowd makes a wonderful rainbow!  i most probably will get this put onto a canvas and put it in my living room!

If it was not for Instagram, I dont think half these pictures would look as good as the way they do!

xx

Goodbye 2012 - Top 10 Favourite Songs

Last year on my blog I said goodbye to the year by writing a number of posts of my highlights of the year.  So I am doing it again this year!
  First up, we start with a list of my top ten favourite songs of the year.
Its not been the best year for music for me, nothing really stood out for me and I only went to four gigs which is about a quarter of what I normally do!  But the bands that I am a huge fan of have not disappointed me in 2012.  Coldplay continued to tour their 2011 album Mylo Xyloto and I was lucky enough to see their amazing show at the Emirates on the day of the Jubilee show so the atmosphere was electric and the show was full of glitter, balls, fireworks and smoke machines!  The band were constantly on our screens throughout the year and my favourite highlight was them closing the Paralympics ceremony.
  Steps made their long awaited comeback and I am not ashamed to say how pleased I was!  I loved them ten years ago and this was a great opportunity to reminisce my teenage years, so I saw them at the o2 in London!  It was the ultimate cheese fest and I thouroughly enjoyed dancing to all their songs and surprised myself at how I remembered all the moves!
  Muse brought out their 6th studio album, 2nd Law, as well as writing and performing the Olympic song.  Their album is full of experiments and heavily influenced by Queen in places as well as some dubstep thrown in!  I got to see them with last minute tickets sold to me and it was an amazing light and laser show!
  My favourite christmas song, the Power of Love by Frankie goes to Hollywood, was covered twice at the end of this year.  It was used in the John Lewis advert and sang by Gabrielle Aplin, a beautiful and haunting version which sent goosebumps down my spine and made the nation weep with their portrayal of two snowmen in love!  Then James Arthur covered this version on the X Factor with a slight dubstep beat thrown in!

So with this in mind, here are my top ten tunes of 2012!

10 - Spector - Friday Night

  9 - Walk the Moon - Ana Sun

  8 - Two Door Cinema Club - Sleep Alone

  7 - Noel Gallagher - What A Life

  6 - Coldplay - Princess of China

  5 - Paloma Faith - Never Tear Us Apart

  4 - Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait

  3 - Gabrielle Aplin - Power of Love

  2 - Muse - Madness

  1 - Maccabees - Feel to Follow

                                                                                 x

Crafty Creatives Number 6 - What's In the Box?!

I missed out on blogging about box number 5 as I have been so busy and even my blog has suffered because of this!  But I have managed to find time to get crafty, so see my post on Crocheting which came from the Nostalgic Christmas box last month.
  This month's box theme is Ice.

Very blue!

I was intrigued when I opened it as it was heavier than usual!  This is probably due to the creative kit this month which is to make a bath bomb!  Very inspiring and I cannot wait to make mine!  What I love about this project is the different themes and the kits that come with it every month.  It means I get to learn a new skill and craft which I may not have taken up previously and I am so excited about this!

The big fluff of wool will be used for a project I have in mind but in the meantime I could not help but make a pom-pom for my christmas tree!

I have not made one of these in years!

Also in the box were these mini packs of beads and dangly bits!  Plus a choker which Im not going to use for jewellery but for something for a lampshade I have that needs decorating! Watch this space for that challenge!

These gorgeous and nicely packaged hearts are one of my favorites from this months box but Im not sure what I will do with them yet!

I love badges!

And these with the Crafty Creatives logo on will probably go on my bag so I can show off to the world that I craft using their amazing boxes!

Thank you Crafty Creatives for making my freezing and miserable winter a lot more warmer and brighter!

xxx

My First Attempt at Crochet!

Thanks to Crafty Creatives box number 4, I have taken up Crocheting!  But it was not without trepidation and almost giving up!

Their kit came with a ball of wool, a crochet needle, stuffing and instructions which made no sense!  By the power of youtube and blogging however, I managed to translate the gobble and three days later found myself following it line by line to come up with my finished product!

To begin with, I had to practice and this took several attempts -

In order, the first attempt was a little scraggly to say the least but it was my first chain and I was determined not to give up on the first attempt!  My second string was a chain into a single crochet making a double row and I was proud of myself for learning this!

Not quite sure what happened with number 3 as there seems to be a round chain in the middle and I think I got a little confused as to where I was linking up!

But by my fourth attempt I had it nailed and a much better outcome, I completed two rows of single crochet and it looked so much better!

So, after this result I thought it was about time I began creating my crochet mouse using the instructions from my kit and with help from the Crafty Creatives blog.

The first line of instructions still made no sense to me as it was different to what I had taught myself.  Instead of creating a chain, I had to make a round circle with my stitches and I had no idea what to do!  But after experimenting I finally got there and was on my way to creating this above, which appears to be the mouse's bottom and tail!

At this point I got very excited as I could finally see I was making something out of my ball of wool!

So, the more rows I made, the more my mouse was taking shape and eventually I got to a point where I could start stuffing the inside to make the body stay full.  This was even more fun than the crochet part!

The finished article!

Well, just the body complete anyway!

But I just had to show it off before I finished the whole thing because I cannot believe I have successfully crocheted!  I almost gave up when my brain would not connect with the stick, my hand and instructions but I got there eventually!

I will finish the mouse any day now, just have to do the ears, nose and tail and then I will put pictures on here to show you all that it can be done even if you think it can't!

An Update to my Day Zero Project

Thought I would write a post just to update you all on my Day Zero Project as I have completed 31 out of the 101 challenges so far and it has been 14 months since I began.  Considering some of the challenges I set were near impossible, the ones I have completed I am extremely proud of achieving such as meeting David Tennant and going to a Madonna gig!  Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever believed I could achieve that but it just goes to show if you put your mind to it anything can be done.

My latest challenge completed, which you can read about on my Completed Challenges list, is setting up my own business which has been so time consuming that my blog has been neglected!  But it meant that I could set up another blog to support the business too.

I have a few ongoing challenges that I knew would take a while to complete such as listening to every album I own!  I started this challenge a year ago and I'm just over half way through. I also need to attend 50 gigs, so far I have been to 12 and I need 18 more notebooks to get to my 50 mark!  The challenge of reading 50 books and then another 50 recommended to me is proving a difficult one since having a baby as I just do not get time to read any more!  But I hope to make time and fit it into my busy life!

So I have a year and a half to go to complete the rest of the challenges and although I know I wont complete all of them due to lack of time or money for certain challenges, I know that I am going to have a lot of fun next year achieving some of the more adventurous activities such as flying in a hot air balloon and going to a football match!