Stocking up and Baking.

Before the frosting. Derek even bought he exact cake tin I wanted. The frosting was used in the middle and not on top..to discourage fingers from helping themselves! Yes even teens do it!!

I am sure you can forgive me for thinking the worst ;) ! I sent Derek out to get some shopping and added a new torch, matches and a portable camping stove to the list. Lots of people in East Anglia have been without electricity for a few days and in this weather , i can't think of anything worse. Even though we have gas heating, it wont work without electric. Anyway there are all ready ..just in case :)

I spent some of the afternoon making a fab carrot cake found HERE. I changed two things: 1, the walnuts, Dan hates nuts in thing but doesn't mind if they are chopped up small and i had some chopped hazelnuts so added them instead. 2. the cheese, i used low fat philly as i already had lots in the fridge and prefer to use that because of Megs diabetes. I am very happy with how it turned out ( as are the rest of the family!) I also made a couple of sticky date cakes to be eaten with hot butter Scotch sauce and ice cream for another day.

You couldn't make this stuff up!!

Those who have read my blog recently, know that I have had a few problems with my car :) It went to the second garage yesterday and I FINALLY found out that a sensor needs replacing. I was really happy as i had thought that was the problem and it cost less than i was expecting. It has just been serviced and MOT'd but not picked up. Anyway really pleased to finally be able to pick it up this week.
I had a phone call from traffic police at 10.30 last night asking if i owned a citron belingo, reg no etc etc...i was getting worried...was it involved in a robbery before i bought it? I only bought it in April !! No..was it parked on the forecourt of a garage in Diss? ...yes. A drunk driver took a turn too fast and crashed into a lamp post ( he was fortunately not injured and has since been arrested) but the lamp post fell on your car Mrs Jones!!! I had visions of my poor car with a lamp post embedded in the middle of it.!!
Derek went to look at it this morning and it is not a write off .......thank heavens!! But i somehow don't think i will be picking it up just yet!! I know its not funny but i can't help giggling ..do you think i have finally flipped?!

Cold Monday

Still making the mini calendars. Finished this one this morning and am half way though another.

Had to get up at a normal time today as Nats went back to the workshop. The other two should be back to school tomorrow but I got a call saying that the teacher training day at our school tomorrow is cancelled and to go in on Weds. The head has given everyone ( staff) an extra day off..cool!

My car is booked in tomorrow afternoon, so i should hopefully find out whats wrong by Weds.

Had to bake a load more muffins as the others had all disappeared. This time I made raspberry and white chocolate. We also had a lovely warming beef stew and dumplings for tea and for once , they ate it all.

See ya later xx

Still Housebound!

We were supposed to go see my sister today but the children wouldn't get up before lunchtime and then reused to go out. Even though they are old enough, i just cant leave them home alone together as they all fight so much. Plus with Meg being diabetic and not looking after herself at the moment, i just couldn't trust them. Sigh. It would have been okay if i had my car as i would have popped over by myself. I am phoning the garage tomorrow, so please cross your fingers that when they hook it up to the diagnostic machine thingy, that it is something very simple and VERY cheap to fix.
I don't have to go into work until Tuesday and that will just be to sort out my desk and maybe help re arrange the office.
Today I made some banana and choc chip muffins ( a brill way of using up the bananas that no one will touch) Check out Debbies Blog for a great weekly recipe challenge.


I have also made three mini hand bag calendars. I used this site to print out the 2010 calendar and the just used scraps of card and paper to make them up.


Rubber stamps, glitter, rubons and stickers embellish them.

They are all different as i get bored too easily.

I still have Dollys class to do for this week her first prompt is up. It will a difficult one for me as so many horrible things have happened over the last 10 years that i don't want to journal about too much. I will concentrate and the good stuff :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We managed to stay up till 1am ...all of us. I have to say that the Asti Derek bought for the children was blinkin awful! Thankfully they all thought so too.

I woke late with a headache, surprise surprise! and the boys went shopping, not that there was much open today.

Not going to make any promises for the coming year...carry on as normal and TRY to be better :)

Anyway if you are reading this i wish you a WONDERFUL new year and new decade xxXXxx

Quick update

Sorry no photos..forgot to take some Christmas morning!!! I have some of more decs that i made and Meg building half a snowman- she got fed up half way though LOL
Nothing much going on here except loads of chilling and getting up late. The children were all very happy with their presents and i have hardly seen them. Derek and I tried to cut down on our spending but still bought each other the same present..an Ipod docking station/radio. LOL
Derek is back at work and I still have no car but hope to sort it out next week :D:D
Will be turning the dinning room back into my scrapping room over the weekend and am going to to Dolly's Project this year as it is a big year for me.
Will update when I have some photos ..Until then HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

This is my IACW Star..I am afraid that i just couldn't get the back to go as well as the front , but you cant see it anyway. I may have another go next year but with out the thick card.

My Christmas banner. I still have another to do :)

I quite like it with the lights behind.

I have spent most of the day sorting and tidying Natalie's room. It was like a black hole. She really isn't able to keep it clean and tidy by herself and i haven't been in for ages! I took three bags of clothes and rubbish out. I also sorted out her PC so that she is now online ( hopefully will not want to use MY PC anymore!)

Rubbish on TV to night , i might watch "The Wedding Singer " though :)

House bound

In the snow! As you know , my poor car is waiting till i can afford to sort it out (after Christmas), so , with all this snow, i haven't been out of the house since Friday. The thought of two weeks stuck in with MY family is already driving me slightly crazy! I am hoping for a little thaw so i can at least go for a walk ( preferably on my own ;))
Derek is off work now for a week. We have some food shopping to do on Wednesday at Asda ( hope its not too busy!)
Been making some Christmas banners to day, will photograph tomorrow.

Back Tracking

Our Christmas Meal last Thursday. Just a few of the WONDERFUL women who work in the SEN department at school. ( there are 16 of us - 15 now i have left )I will miss them dearly next term when I am at the other end of the school but will continue to gate crash any parties!

I was presented with a very large beautiful Orchid from Lou ( who started the same day as me) and a beautiful silver necklace and a scrapbook album to fill. I also got a fab secret Santa gift ( We had to open them on the night) - a set of 6 women's fiction books - one called "How to kill your husband and other household tips" LOL , I shall read that first ;)

Holiday!!!

Actually , it started a little sooner than expected yesterday. I went into school as we were still open but the children were sent back home as quite a few teachers couldn't get in. So i missed my last day as a teaching assistant LOL. When I go back in January, I shall be part of the behavioural support/pastoral care team.

Got up late today..its still thick snow outside and very cold. Watched ( and cried to) Jack Frost.

I made some mince pies and sausage rolls. Need to cook some more tomorrow, Choc log and sweetie gifts.

All my boxes have homes now. I will make some more in the new year. I haven't done a layout for over a month now and am getting twitchy!

Labour of Love

First, I have only just finished this so sorry about the quality of photos ....its DARK here!
I have copied the whole thing from Elaine . I didn't have a leaf punch so drew and cut out my leaves. I made the tropical leaf stamp in the same way she did. I still love hers much more than mine but it was fun to do. My box is also a different size. I have made it for my secret Santa at work for a lady from Australia..hope she likes it.

Elaine sells the ladybugs and the butterfly stamp at her shop. The flowers were made using my slice and a punch.

I intend to make some more but probably not till after Christmas now ( as they take a bit of time and i make such a mess!!)

Last week at work before Christmas and also my last week as a teaching assistant. From Jan I start my new role in the school as part of the pastoral care team. I shall miss being in the classrooms but will get chance to spend more time with the pupils.

Till next time.

More from last weekend

A fairy box! Meg has already earmarked this one!


The stamps (incl. the fairy ones are from Lavinia stamps )
And one from a stamping up set.

I am half way though another for a friend and made a small order from HERE

so i could make some of the other boxes as Elaine and her Mum Janet also have a shop

and design their own fab stamps.

In other news..WE HAVE A CAR!! Yes Derek's is back ( cost us a fortune !!) It is still a bit damp and we have had problems with the alarm going off, just hope that the more he drives it, to dryer it will be. It doesn't help that it is so cold. Can't afford to get mine looked at till after Christmas now, but at least Derek can get to work and a hosp. appointment on Monday.

Not put our tree up yet ..possibly tomorrow..maybe ..LOL

Finally something to look at !

I have Had this Lady's Blog saved in my favorites for ages now and last night i though i would actually make one of her MAGIC boxes. While it isn't a patch on hers, i am quite happy with how it turned out. Go look though her blog , you will be amazed! I found a tutorial on there too to make the box.

I am half way though my second one and Meg wants me to make some for her friends for Christmas presents.

These are a few Christmas cards i have made over the last few days/weeks.

All quite simple and using up scraps

Painting spare chipboard letters and then using crackle paint over the top.

Using the slice machine.

Scraps of Christmas paper.

snowflake stamp to make a tree.

I DO love this making memories sparkly paper.

Things aren't much better here as BOTH our cars are still in the garage. We are supposed to go Christmas shopping ( if we have any cash left!) on Tuesday, so, cross your fingers that we have a car to use or we will be staying home.

Right back to crafting with the odd it of tidying thrown in so i don't feel too guilty :)