* Simply Homemade *

Happy Monday to you ! I hope you had a good weekend!

So, it was back to school today and aware that I have neglected the housework just a litle bit (ok, a lot!!) over the half term holiday, I have made myself a list of jobs to do. I always feel better when I have a structured list and can happily tick tasks off once they are done .... very satisfying!

So, first thing was the grocery shop...Asdas first thing on a Monday morning...Tick!!

Then I popped into our local WHSmiths to grab a coffee in Costa which is conveniently located on the top floor of the shop, passing by the magazine aisles this new magazine caught my attention!



So, having been really good and not bought a magazine for a while I gave in to temptation and treated myself. So pleased I did...it's FAB!!!! Full of stuff to make ... from recycling an old pair of jeans by turning them into a bag, knitting cushion covers, making note paper and "post it note" holders, making a lovely Amy Butler apron...and lots more. I've only had a quick flick through but can't wait to read properly. The instructions look fairly straightforward and step by step which is just what I need!! I can see the problem will be deciding what to make first.

Anyone else seen this new magazine yet? What do you think of it?

Right, I'm off to tackle the next job on my list, clear out, declutter & spring clean the porch ~ How it gets so full of so many coats, scarves, hats, shoes, wellies, scooters, buckets & spades I don't know!!

Before I go, just wanted to say Congratulations to fellow blogger & Scrapbooker Anne on the birth of her beautiful baby son Dillon!

Have a great day!
x

* Another Page!! *

Our half term week has been madly busy with a trip into town for some girlie shopping and several coffee shop stops .... Daddy took her to the cinema to see Tangled ..... visiting friends to play and chill out ...... Pizza Hut for a very yummy tea and yesterday we went to a local farm to see the all the animals and H had a ball playing in the Adventure Park and going on tractor rides!!

Busy days means my scrapping time has been seriously rationed but I have at least managed one page.

"Play Time"

A very quick one! Photos are when H was about 6 months old and show her playing with her toys. I am working my way slowly through some of the photos from when she was younger and scrapping them as I have so many pages from the last couple of years and not so many showing her as a baby and toddler as I wasn't into scrapping then.

In other news we are progressing well with painting the lounge and should be ready to lay the new floor down soon!! Exciting!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

* Saturday *

Woo hoo.... it's Saturday, it's the weekend and it's half term holiday!! Happy Days!

And I actually scrapped last night!!!

I'm trying to use up some of my older stash before I order more.

This layout uses some Girls Paperie papers and flowers, Fancy Pants Roadshed, Jeni Bowlin chipboard and a few others bits that have been in my stash for a million years!!

The photos were taken last December on a walk along Highcliff Beach. H spent nearly the whole time "rock climbing" along the rocks and pebbles on the beach. H's name is blocked out on the journal tag.

So, Saturday evening is curry in front of the TV for us! Whatever you have planned this weekend I hope you have a good one!

* MIA *

Sorry I've been missing from Blogland for a while. Life has just taken over and crafting and blogging have had to take a back seat for a few weeks.

The re-plastering work in our lounge took most of last week, the new door and radiator were fitted yesterday, now it's just the painting, flooring and skirting boards! Fun!

I plan to clear the dust off my craft desk and resume normal craftiness very soon!!

* Wordless Wednesday *

Sunday Afternoon walk on the beach.




I first saw this on Laura's blog ... the idea is every Wednesday to post on your blog a photo of the week with little or no words alongside it. Like it!!

* Christmas Journal *

Hey Bloggers .... it's Friday ...so glad the weekend is here!

I know the end of January is almost here but I'm still on Christmas and making my pages for my Journal. I'm determined not to give up on it, I didn't finish it in 2008 or 2009 but I do love looking back at the pages that I did do, so to have a whole complete journal will be awesome.

Anyway here's the 4th:

This page is about advent and documents how the "Young One" opens the door and eats the chocolate before breakfast, despite my protests that it's breakfast first!!

The 5th ~ Craft Fairs We went to see a friend who had a stall at a craft fair and on the way home stopped for dinner at a lovely little country pub and I got some fab pictures of the swans on the lake in the grounds with the snow laying on the ground.

6th December ~ As we put our tree up on this day I wanted to scrap this. Love this pic of the "Young One" hanging the decorations!

And the 7th, not entirely happy with this one so may re do it.

Have a great weekend whatever you have planned!

* Slow Progress *

Hello Bloggers!


Hope your Monday has been good!

Update on the lounge....Unfortunately the wallpaper stripping is not making as fast progress as I would like. I didn't get much done in there last week as everyday life (and a fast approaching deadline for submitting my tax return!) got in the way but this weekend we got a fair bit done.

Apart from a family birthday outing on Saturday afternoon to the New Forest (more on that another day) we spent most of the weekend stripping the paper and did quite well, just the last few bits left now!

Here's the Before Pictures .....

Oh how I hate that fireplace.... it is horrid, don't you think?!!

Love that my cat had to get in the pic!!!


This is the only room we have done absolutely nothing to since we moved in over 5 years ago so this makeover is well over due.