La La La La Laces

Super quick one from me today, and I really mean it!! A quick pic of the boots I have on today. The laces in them go on forever. They have to be the most comfy, warm, snug boots I have ever owned - you dont need to wear socks with them (in case you're thinking errr why - they tell you so in the box lol coz they have sheepskin inside)! Must dash folks coz I have tons to do (Christmas party yesterday was a bit of a nightmare but Ill tell ya about it when I have a bit more time), speak soon folks and have a great day!

Thanks for popping by,

Charli

x

Hit and Miss...

...with me at the moment isnt it?

My time away paid off though - I did quite well with my assignment so I was chuffed to bits with that! It was a trickier one this time too. Got another to get under way with though so after my previous blogging performance whilst under pressure to get these assignments done to any reasonable standard, I fear I will be quite rubbish at blogging for a bit.

Just thought Id share this next LO with you first - its of me and my sis a couple of Christmases back, whilst I was preggers with young Shamus and ready to pop at any second. The green hippo remark is due to me wearing a green top, and feeling like a humongous hippo - I was huge when I was pregnant! A massive big and round belly, and I loved it. Isnt it mad how much you miss the bump when it goes (even with your new little baba lol)? Not helped at all by that horrible, feels worse than a blancmange stomach you end up left with. Anyway this LO has some of my first faffings with the sewing machine on - around the heart and on the ribbon. Must remember next time to try not to get adhesive on the needle, doesnt work as good after that lol. Have entered this for the House challenge over on UKS, the theme is Christmas past/present.

Did I show you this Christmas Journal I made? Trouble is Ive been that busy lately that it might turn into Christmas Journal 2008, I havent kept up with it as well as I should have!! I used the friendly felt for the covers and the tree, and some letter tiles from an old QVC set I got ages ago.

Here is my first proper make with my sewing machine - my little pin cushion!! Does anybody listen to Russell Brand on Radio 2? I think its radio 2 anyway, but I think that guy is so funny, really quick witted and clever. If only he didnt wear those tight trousers lol - point of that discussion was, that is where the 'pin pin' thing comes from. Now, the pin cushion is far from perfect, and I really could do to brush up on my hand sewing skills, because the finishing on it is not great. What stitch is best to close a cushion? Havent a clue so it looks a bit frankensteinish on that small section! I want to make another, but theres only so many pins you need - its full of them now. By the way - does anyone know of any good sites to get material from - reasonable money and decent quality?? Would love a link or some addresses please guys?

And now for the scarf. I have decided that it is done since doing this picture. I have crocheted a good few flowers to put on it (as per pattern) but thought that flowers really are not me, and that it might start to look 'antwacky' (as my ma would say) - so the flowers are staying off! Its lovely and warm, a bit on the itchy side yet but hopefully that might get a bit better with wear and a wash. So scrap that very very nearly done title. Done!

And finally for my moonlight picture. There wasnt a chance there was any moon about round our way this morning, it was cloudy so if it was there, it was well hidden!! So I borrowed someone elses moon - they said I could - and layered a pic of my window, taken today, on top of it. I know Im a big fat cheater, but it was the only way!! Ive been dying to get back in the thick of it - so sorry for cheating (i prefer improvising lol) guys!!

Right then, better go. Its Shaun Jr's Christmas party today, he gets to meet Santa (not sure what he will make of that) so will get lots of pics to put up. Got to be careful now though, with people being so funny about pics of their kids and all, with have to do a fair bit of Gaussian blurring and rubbing out!

Thanks for stopping by folks, will get by your blogs tonight - wish me luck at this Christmas party, I think Im going to need it!!

Charli

X

Oh Brother...

See how rubbish I am? Its been a while. I have been so busy with the course and other little bits and bats - I just haven't had the chance to blog, and I have really missed doing it! Have really missed catching up with everyone too.

Here are some catch up pics from me then, I have missed chilly out though!! So I got cards and Christmas into this pic -this is my little crafty corner where I put all my little bits I make and receive - am waiting for Shaun Snr to create yet more shelves to store them all on. They're starting to take over a bit, and leaving less room for stash - not good!! Or maybe it is lol for the purse at least.

I have been really rubbish and haven't filled in my Christmas Journal for Shamus jr proper either, have wrote things down for each day though so just need to transfer it over - dont think that is the point though is it really? *Note to self must try harder* This next pic is my cosy pic - there's nothing as cosy as sitting on the couch cuddling my little man - I could sit for hours just cuddled up to him like this - he can manage 20 minutes, tops lol
Some more Christmas pics - Shaun was having a good ol root through the decs box and....well...decorated himself temporarily. As soon as he saw me with the camera out - he thought better of it and then took all the stuff off himself - he did have some tinsel wrapped round him at one point but I wasn't quick enough to catch him with it on! I wonder if he's catching on to the idea that all these photos will be coming out when he's older and brings his mates round lol
And rather than go for the conventional 'fairy on top of the Xmas tree' set up - we thought we would be slightly different this year and have 'the Xbox fairy'. Influenced by young Shamus, pulling the Christmas tree over, bending it and generally trying to destroy it - didn't think poor fairy would have a chance.
And finally this LO I recently did of my brother Jack's first day at school - I uploaded the pics I took of him to my blog a while back now and have only just got round to scrapping them. Really enjoyed doing this and messing about with the paint - it was for a challenge over on BTYD, the theme was celebrations.
And finally....I am lucky enough to have been blessed with a new brother!! At your age Charl, I hear you shout. But no, it is a brother of the sewing machine kind, and it is fab. If only I could figure out how to work the darn thing properly.....

Right folks, must dash, will try and get round your blogs tonight - thanks for popping by!!



Charli
xx

PS hope to see some of you at the HS:MS meet up?? T'would be grand!

Some grainy pics....

Hello guys - have been absent for a couple of days due to OU caper. And this is a really quick one today you'll be pleased to hear - with much less rambling from me for a change!! First of all, thought Id share with you a LO I did for the latest challenge over on BTYD - a scraplift challenge. Apologies for the really annoying white spot due to bad lighting, and flash usage lol. Obviously of my little man, while we were out walking in our village a couple of weekends ago now - the one were the 'away' pic was from and the SOS ones I uploaded at weekend? And second and thirdly (?) my grainy pics for todays photo prompt over at HS:MS. The first is 'grain on grain' lol - apologies for the rather cacky close up shot of a grain of brown rice upon a slightly grubby, ready for washing chopping board.
And second - and prepare for 'sadness' guys, but this is the latest addition to our 'home corner' for Shaun and the other little people I look after. Its a wooden kitchen, and {I} he loves it!! Ive been dying to get some stuff like this for us to have a play with, and when we went into the ELC at weekend - to get his other bits and bats - there it was, and he was straight in there playing with all the wooden fruit and veg, and wooden pieces of toast and pans and all that stuff. So here it is now, in our front room and getting plenty of use already!! Only trouble is, its rather pink. It does have other colours, blue and yellow, but I think it should be a bit more neutral coloured - as cooking is not just for girls, as my good man found out when he met me lol.
Then these next two cards, the first I made for a fellow DT member and also used it as part of a challenge as it had all the requirements of it - for Shary's bows, buttons, and brads challenge a couple of Saturdays ago.
And this one, rather childlike, I know, but its for our postman Pete, who is retiring on Friday. Pete has been a great postman - i think I like him so much, not just because he is a lovely guy but also because he has brought me so many lovely crafting goodies over the past couple of years!! I have looked forward to him turning up many a day, stalking for my much awaited crafty bits n pieces. So I'll be sorry to see him go!! I asked him the other day 'do you drink Pete?' and he said 'why can you tell!!'. I meant so I could get him a little pressie lol but I did feel a bit of a pillock!!
Right guys, must dash, tea to sort and then its OU all the way tonight. I said yack to my OU course the other day - not because its rubbish but because I am - I have left things a bit late this time and am now in panic stations. But this has been the way I have worked all through Uni when I trained as a nurse, and did my degree modules!! Not good for stress levels but I must need the pressure to motivate me or something!! Weirdo.

And there was me saying less rambling.....have a good evening guys and thanks for popping by!

Charli

x

A quick show off...

Helllloooooo. A very quick upload of my photos for today! Taken last weekend of my little man, two of the very few I got, where he was actually playing ball IYKWIM! You saw the 'away' pic the other day, well thats mainly what he was doing, trying to escape and evasively manoevre out of mine and the cameras way. But I love these pics of him!! I think I have somewhere in the region of 6000 photos on my puter, much more than 3/4 are of him! Is that sad/scary/weird? I have enough photos for a flicker pad of his life so far lol, but I just love having photos of him. I think it'll be great (mind you he probably wont think so for a while lol) for him when he's older, to see how much he has changed and to see himself at all the various stages of his life. We have had a quiet and chilled day today. He has been great - so well behaved and mischief making at the same time, but in a good way! I am going to get my Christmas shopping done this week, for my family. If I can get sorted it'll be great, and minimise the Christmas panic I get most years thinking - what on earth am I going to get for ......
I'll also upload a couple of things I popped (just had to go back and change popped from pooped - i keep doing that for some reason) over on the BTYD blog for my DT post for this week. The first, a little mini book, and the second, a felt frame using some friendly (and it is really friendly lol) felt. Its really easy to use, to pierce for stitching and to punch - stick it through your bind it all - get the crop a dile on the case etc - its great stuff!!

Right guys. OU stuff beckons. Yack. Not into it at all at the minute!! I think my studying days are over.

Thanks for reading - shall check out your blogs quick, and then get on with the OU stuff. Hows that for procrastinating eh? Lol TTFN

Charli

X

The mighty boosh...

Beware!!!! Humongous gob approaching!!

So every Saturday on HS:MS, tis self portrait Saturday. And for a while I became quite sick at the sight of my smiling fromagey mush, which got me thinking about different things I could do - and this, lol, is what i have come up with for this week!! Big, aint it? Lol

We have been shopping for some of Shamus' christmas pressies today, and it was great! Until we had to put something that he had picked up back on the shelf. Ooh he didnt half kick up a right stink!! Im trying to find the Pinky ponk, tombli boos, and higgle piggle. Oh and the ponty pines. Has anyone seen any anywhere? I got Macca pakka and the Ninky nonk today, but the others were outta stock! Darn. They're characters out of 'In the night garden' by the way, in case you're wondering!!

We got him a little keyboard, complete with stand and stool too - he had a play on one they had out in the ELC today and he loved it!! He was banging on the keys like a good un and had a go with the mic too - cant wait to see him on Christmas day!! Thats our entertainment sorted lol and another one of his favourites - Postman Pat. Him and his van - think Jess is in there too.

Now Jonathan Ross wasnt on last night, was it, due to Children in need. I caught a bit of it - and saw the Spice Girls performance. What a load of sh***. I have, at times, felt sorry for Vicky Beckham, but lately there is something about her that really gets right up my nose!! That stooopid face she pulls, looks rather like she is constipated but I think she is trying to pull off sophisticated. And as for the rest of em, chancers now, in my opinion. They were alright once over, but they have well and truly had their day, I think. Take that - glad they're back, though I dont think its for good - ti ti boom (crikey). That rant about the spice girls said though - fair play to doing their bit for charity and all that. Wonder what they're getting out of it though?? Hmmm...

Right, better dash! Have a little something I need to get sorted before tomorrow for my Blog Til You Drop post. I am doing v.v.v. not good with the OU course now. I have two assignments due in in a couple of weeks. Havent even looked at it properly. I think I seriously underestimated the amount of time it would take to get the stuff done for it!! Oh well!! We live and learn.

Au revoir, mes amis, and see yall tomorrow! Shall have a quick peep at your sps's for today, have a fab rest of the weekend!! Its over far too quickly isnt it. Someone should write someone a letter about that, cant we have 3 days for weekend instead of just 2? A bit of collective action, mebbe? Lol TTFN

Charli x

The great escape, actually....

Well and truly stumped for trying to get a fresh brand spanking new pic for today. So here is my little man, last Sunday, getting rather fed up of Mummy and camera, and deciding to throw a spanner in the works. No, mother, I will not pose for you, nor smile, nor do anything you ask of me, in fact! So there! Of course he didn't actually say this, only being 22 months of age, but I could so tell that that was what he was thinking! I did manage to get some good shots of him though, one of which I am planning to use on a LO for this weeks challenge over on BTYD.

Today has been a fraught day with the kiddies. Shaun has scratched t'other baba's face, as she was trying to pull his hat off, and pull his hair, and generally put her hands in his face etc. This does not excuse his behaviour, of course! But the whole shopping experience was hard work. The other day when I went into Lancaster - we went into the works bookshop. What a nightmare! The aisles are far too narrow for any decent sized pram to fit through - I think I would have struggled to get through with the Quinny anyway! But as I leaned over to look at something, I heard a crash, and thought, hmmm...what has he done now. So I turned round to see he had knocked a highish pile of stacked notelets over, and was reaching for a large pile of books on the shelf next to him. So I expertly (or so I thought) swung the pram round and managed to stop him from pulling them over, as I bent down to pick the mess he had made up. As I placed the last notelet on the pile, I heard another crash. Yup, he had pulled something else over. I could feel the eyes of the shop assistant burning lol so I quickly tidied up and then got the hell outta there.

Today has been a similar day! Bless him, he wanted me to give him the car park token to hold, like a good boy, today. Ha! Wont make that mistake again! The last time I did that, he pushed it into the teeniest gap in between the rear bumper of the car. That'll be £10 please love! Said the car park attendant. I don't think so love, its right there, says I. I managed to get it out by dislocating my wrist, and squeezing my gret big banana fingers through the gap, with the aid of said car park guy. Really uncomfortable times, with my hand brushing his frequently, and then the fear I had got my hand stuck. Oh what joy!! And, you have to laugh.

Ha, and there was me thinking I wasn't going to be doing much rambling today. Big liar, I am.

At the moment, I have a grown manchild, whinging about not being able to get a %*'@*#*&% Nintendo Wii as they have all sold out. I swear, if it gets mentioned again, a certain can of whoop ass will be shook vigorously, and then opened. So there you go, that is the long and short of it round our way today!!

Right, I shall skidaddle!! Have a great weekend people, whats going on tomorrow? Oh no!! Its SPS. Will try and get my thinking cap on to do something different, but I fear it shall be CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE! from me tomorrow!! Ne'er mind. There'll be the Jonathan Ross review to look forward to at least!! Lol

Take care cockles.

Mini Me.....

I thought I would have no problem finding lots of cute mini items to capture today, but I was wrong! Initially I was looking for little bits of stuff around the house and having no joy, til I thought - I know a replica of something in a much smaller scale - or at least for now he's on a smaller scale anyway! My little man. 'Cept he is a new, and much improved version - of me!! I'm sure you've guessed that the first pic is me - I do think we look alike in these photos.

He has been full of mischief today - which isn't a bad thing in itself but he isn't responding that well to being told no - as a lot of kids don't I expect though? I mean, he's not quite two yet - I forget how little he is sometimes - he's so clever for a lad of his age, and he looks much older than he is because he is so tall! Sounds daft, that - how can I forget - I'm his Mum!! But I do.

I am excited. Because today, is Thursday. That means tomorrows Friday - catch on quick, don't I? And that means the whole weekend to spend with my boys. I really appreciate my weekends with them, its mad, you can spend a whole day milling around and going from place to place with the people in your life, but not really spend quality time with them. We get that at weekend though; some but its never enough!! We're getting some of Shaun's Christmas presents on Saturday - I cant wait!

Tonight, I will be doing a wee bit with the stuff in my DT kit. There are loads and loads of cool things in there - one is friendly felt - its great stuff and much stiffer than normal felt, so easier to cut and create with it. So shall see how that turns out!! I'm posting on Sunday, so pop over to Blog Til You Drop and have a looksee? There's great stuff being uploaded over there every day so its worth a pop over!

K guys, ta ra for now, and thanks for reading!

Will get round the blogs in a wee while, missed getting there last night as I was playing at being studious Charl, which Ill have to do a bit of again later. Why on earth do I sign up to these things, please someone remind me?????

Collect/hoard/acquire.....

Collect is the word to describe what I do whenever I start a hobby. I try and collect/acquire/hoard as much stuff to do with it as possible!! Below is a collection of my alcohol inks. And a collection of my wool - this is just the top of the box, mind lol

And a few of my pens.......
And collect, is what happens to the leaves at our front door. And in the garden generally - its full of em at the minute, and no sooner you sweep them up - there they are again!! So its not us being lazy (much) lol

Well, yet again, I am behind with my course work for the OU degree I am doing. I have had a million and one other things to do, so it has taken a backseat for the most part. But tonight (I'm sure I said this last night...but I ended up blog hopping instead lol tut tut) I am definitely getting on with it. I have to now!! Anyway, quietish day today - went into Lancaster and got some gloss card and other matt card for stamping onto. Really cheap too - at Uptown Crafts in Lancaster - a fab shop and the girls that own it are lovely - Sandra and Mary. They run a crop there on the first Tuesday of every month - Ive been a few times and its great!! I'll put a link in here to their shop when I get a spare minute!

Right, I am going to beggar off now, finish feeding and watering the childer and be really really productive and get up to date with my course!! Thanks for stopping by, and have a great rest of the day!

Probably the most annoying scissors in the world...

Good evening all! A bit later tonight. Was going to pop this up earlier but I thought I'd wait and let you have a peep at this latest CJ entry I have done. Its for the Another Stamp CJ hosted by 3DJean of UK scrappers. But anyway, first things first, back to the snip pic for today. These are my 'don't use if having a bad day' scissors. They wouldn't cut **** red hot. If anyone knows what I mean there :), don't know where the heck that saying comes from but there you go.

Busy day today - had playgroup this morning, which went pretty well - Shamus was incredibly well behaved! Twas t'other babe, who I look after who was 'tricky'. She was trying to show a small baby a shape cutter, but was getting a little too close to his head! Yikes.

Popped into Lancaster this avo to get some double sided sticky pads from the pound shop. A quid for 320 - you cant say fairer than that! Since I stopped working 'properly' (although I don't think I have ever worked so hard in my life lol) I have turned into Charl, the bargain hunter. Take a butchers at these shoes for example, on this entry I did in Monica's Shoes(passionflower over on UKS) CJ. 2 years BC (before child), when I was Charl, the weekend millionaire, I bought these shoes one night (about 4am actually, nothing like a bit of night shift delirium for getting me spending, I can tell you). Now I get them out, gaze at them lovingly and stroke them from time to time. I would never in a month of Sundays (?) consider spending so much on a pair of shoes. There's just no way. Just couldn't afford it!! So now I hunt around, and if I can save a good few quid, I'm there. I'm waffling and straying off the point probably lol but the pound shop has loads of good crafty bargains anyway, I think that was the moral of that story!Right a quick one before I beggar off then. This altered Circle Journal (CJ) I'm doing. I still don't know if my work is qualifying as altered but I'm giving it my best shot! I'm enjoying it because it is putting me out of my comfort zone, entirely. The stamp for this CJ, belonging to Veronica (or Godiva on UKS) is the fleur de lis stamp top left hand corner of the right page. I used the stamp around the edges of the page on the left too, to give a leafy type effect. The idea of this CJ is that you choose a stamp, and that stamp goes along with your CJ, to the 10 different people in your group, with you ending up with 10 different interpretations of the same stamp. I have seen the second entry in mine, by Annie, and it is absolutely fantastic. I cant wait to see it back with everyone's contributions in it! I can highly recommend having a blast at this CJ business - it is great. Anyway - here it is.......

Oky Doky then folks, TTFN and thanks for stopping by! Shall have a pop and see your blogs for a little bit, then I must get butt in gear and do some more course work, or it'll be coi-tuns fer me!

Not another bloomin scarf...

Yup, I'm on with another scarf!! Now is it me, or do these scarves look fab in the book, then when you see your finished article, it never quite looks as good? lol, well that's how it is for me! It will probably look better when I have got all the other little bits finished and added to it - will update when its done. For those of you who read my blog regular-ish, I was going to give you another autumn watch update, of the empty branch with no leaf on it, but thought it might not make for interesting blogging!

So I said I would share a few of my other bits and bats I have been making - the sketch below is one I uploaded for my challenge last week, over on Blog Til You Drop.

And here is one of the LO's I did for it below, the other one is here if you fancy a peep! There's another fab challenge on the go, set by our Shary - have a looksee! Its buttons, bows and brads - her examples are lovely too.

An altered cigar tin below, used alcohol inks for the tin, which was a lovely shade of blue before, and used some vintage sarapapers from my DT kit, available at Crop Til You Drop.
And last but by no means least - my little man again! A LO with a pic of him from last Christmas - I cant wait for this year - just keeps getting better now we've got him to share it with!

Right, its rant time. What is it with technical support? I lost my t'internet connection last night, and phoned the guys at Netgear to help me out, as I was sure it couldn't be my broadband line. After about 30 minutes of 'press this' and 'do that', which I honestly didn't mind, as I mistakenly thought they were helping me lol, they said - change the adaptor to another power outlet. Now I can understand unplug, to reset etc., but change to another power outlet? What, like a different plug socket will make all the difference will it? Eejits - I don't think the woman helping me had a clue.

And another thing. My accent. I know its Northern. But I do speak fairly clearly when I'm on the phone, and I don't think that its that hard to understand me when I say 3, 4, 5, etc. I think they must have been taking the mick, personally, as I must have had to repeat myself about 6 times. Needless to say, technical support did not support me in any technical way, at all. And I was left to figure it out for myself, which thankfully, I managed today, hence me being here now typing this codswallop! Lol

So thanks for stopping by folks, and I am going to spend the next bit o time i have getting round the blogs, which I didn't manage last night. And all being well, I should get round them all - Ive missed seeing everyone's pics! Have a good day!

Forgive Me Bloggers....

........for I have sinned. It has been 12 days since my last blog post!!

I was struck down by man flu on the night before our Halloween party, transforming me into Charl - the snot nosed witch (sorry). I have been so busy trying to get my OU course stuff done, that I haven't really had much time for anything else! Apart from taking lots of photos of course, always time for that.

So I apologise in advance for lots of photos, and lots of rambling!

I'll upload my SPS from yesterday first of all, then get on with the Halloween pics and share some from Bonfire night, if you're interested!!

Don't ask what is going on with the SPS pic, I just get so fed up of seeing my geeky smiling mush every week that I now try and think of something a bit different to do. And of course, pouting is not allowed is it, according to you know where lol, however, if I had a pout worthy of sharing, it would be thrust upon you like it or not!

So this was me (below that is, just to save any confusion lol), at our Halloween party! Half my makeup came off (believe it or not lol) due to me blowing my nose constantly. I even took the 'tooth wax' off (this cool black stuff you can stick to your teeth instead of actually colouring them in with something, as I was contemplating doing) eventually, because it was slowing down the scoffing/munching process. I made a pumpkin soup, which was lovely, and a pumpkin cake too! Now I was worried about how the cake would turn out, because of my problem cooker, but it worked!! And it was good - did some orange butter icing for it - yum. I was in a mad rush so didn't end up with my broom, left on my 'a bit high tech for a witch' digital watch, and also one hoop earring. I did make a mental note whilst I was doing my makeup and before I had put my witches outfit on, to remove the earring, because I was starting to look a bit like a pirate, but it slipped my mind! And the hat that I so loved. It wouldn't stay on my humongous head, complete with wig. I still think the scariest part of my outfit was my fringe.

Now, as you can see from these pictures below of me and my sis, we absolutely hate Halloween lol, this is us, getting into character.

And this is Shamus Snr. in his home made 'just been attacked' come 'one of the affected from 28 days later' outfit. His makeup was fantastic - he really looked like he had been hurt!! The cuts and bruises, bits of torn skin - ewwww - looked a little too real. Freaky bunch - aren't we? This is my Ma and Ray posing for a pic as Catwoman and Frankenstein - loved both their outfits! Young Shamus was a bit freaked out by Grandpa Ray's mask at first, but he got braver as the night went on.This is Shaun snr below, with his Mum and Dad, and my brother Jack, far left at the front. Note the ghoul that Shaun is holding onto at the back, created by his fair hand, to scare the local children coming for 'Tricks or Treats'. This year, I thought I'd mix things up a bit and get some plastic spiders and worms and stuff to put in amongst the sweets. I saw a few unimpressed faces, when some kids pulled out spiders instead of sweets!! TRICK mwuahahahahaha. Some kids don't really want tricking do they, they actually just want toffees or money. In fact most kids!! I read something on my sisters my space page which made me chuckle the other day - talking about swapping parts of outfits to maximise profits when out trick or treating.



Just have a look at my sisters face on this pic below. She was in character all night, and it was hilarious. Shaun Jr looks slightly worried I think - she looks like she is about to kidnap him!
And this is my little man in his skeleton outfit. Well part of it - he wouldn't wear the rest! He had a load of fun, and was mischief making and making the most of having two sets of grandparents around. My Dad should have made an appearance and didn't bother. Shame that, because he missed a really great night.
And the award for costume most likely to make you pee yourself with laughter goes to......Melissa, my sister. I swear, I was double over with laughter most of the night. She reminded me a bit of that granny of No 42 with the Kumars, and she does a mean impression of her too! Its the teeth that do it! But she was hilarious. There's something about being around my sis, that makes me feel like a giddy teenage girl again.

To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each others hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time. Clara OrtegaAnd here are some of my pics from our bonfire night last weekend. Having a play with shutter speeds and what not - here's my ma .....


...and here's me trying to get an impressive sparkler picture. Check the one after out. Can you see what I was trying to achieve, and failing a bit miserably?

I was trying to write my name in the pic below, but I ran out of space, and only managed 'Cha'. Ay dear... Have a look at our 'hard as nails' friendly neighborhood heron below! Never moved a muscle whilst these fireworks were going off! Might be because he is made of stone lol didn't even notice it when I was taking these pictures!

So there you go. That is it from me today (that's it?? lol), I have got a couple of crafty things I want to share with you but Ill pop them up tomorrow now!! A layout and a few other bits, and another scarf I should be finishing fairly soon too.

I'm really looking forward to catching up with you all - I had a peep at a few blogs last night, but I will get round them all by the end of today! Have a great rest of the day, and thanks for stopping by!

Ay eck...

....can you guess what it is yet? Of course - its my head board! Converted to B & W -I think it looks better this way.

My hat arrived today - hooray! I'm really pleased with it, thought it was great value for money too! I'll give you a sneak peak, and show you the rest after tomorrow!

A couple of problems though. I have been wondering what else I can do to my mush, in order to become more witch like (save it people, I have already thought that - you dont need to do much Charlene etc etc lol). I have had some great ideas from my fellow DT buddies over at the ILHOTP forum!! So far, Im blackening teeth, warts and wrinkles, and white hair with bonus twigs and leaves!

So thats that problem sorted. However, now I have the problem of my big bushy barnet. The hat wont fit on it! So I may have to blow dry my hair straight. I really will look like a witch then - its been a while since I last did it so it could be frightful! Yay - mission accomplished then lol or at least, thats what I'll tell people!

Behold, the hat........

Love the colour of it!

Another short(ish) one from me - now I have handed in my assignment - I only have to start preparing for another one! How dare they! Swines...oh, and decorate the house ready for our Halloween bash tomorrow, and bake some pumpkin scary fairycakes, and finish this LO for my challenge over on BTYD on Saturday, and remove the brush from my butt after I have finished lol its a good job Im a woman isnt it? Lol - only joking - just in case there are any male readers out there today!

Thanks for stopping by folks and have a happy halloween! I might get chance for a quick post in the afternoon prior to our party, then it'll be thursday or friday before I upload the Halloween pics!

Windows.....

...to my soul - ha! Like I am going to show you my not oft enough cleaned windows with all their decoration!! This is turning into how clean is your bloomin house - and I don't like it lol lol lol

So I went off to Preston today to hunt for my Halloween party outfit, and I am very chuffed with what I got - got it from the vintage oxfam shop in Preston. I'm telling you, that shop is fabulous!! The lady who works in there, is just amazing. The window display is brill - that's what prompted me to go there in the first place when we had a potter out to Preston at weekend to meet my Ma for a brew in the city centre. The stuff she has managed to come up with, with things that just turn up in the shop!! Talented lady. And she was so helpful - it makes a real nice change to be dealt with like that. I am so looking forward to our party on Wednesday! I haven't looked forward to Halloween for ages, since I was a kid, and just before it was 'uncool' to enjoy Halloween.

I'nt 'avin kids brillyant (said in a Paul whitehouse fashion...)? Lol - but it is! Getting excited about Christmas again and little things like that - I look so forward to it all now for our little man. I know I'll still be more excited than he is at this stage, but I cant wait!

Shaun's grandparents are coming dressed up too, so I will most definitely be posting lots and lots of Halloween photos. I'm making a pumpkin soup, and I'm going to try my hand at pumpkin pie, though I don't hold out much hope. My rubbish cooker (never did get round to asking Lloyd about that one) can just about manage making good fairy cakes, but chocolate brownies? Bigger than a fairy cake? TURKEY (the turkey is a sore point with me, as it takes longer than a hundred years to cook, I'm sure, and is never ready on time)??? No. But I'll give it a whirl!!

So now I have to beggar off, and get this assignment handed in. Int'internet brillyant....least I don't have to rush in to Uni like a mad woman, clutching said assignment as though it were the very holy grail, after having just finished it moments earlier. Now I can just upload, and go! Fabulous!

K folks, ta ta for now, and thanks for stopping by!

PS has anyone lost a pair of dark suitcases?? They seem to have left them underneath my eyes. Would you kindly collect them please - they 're getting rather heavy!!

Bleepin blogger.....

I'm typing this, whilst I wait for the blogger to (hopefully) upload my pics again. Somehow - I don't think its going to be happening! I keep getting an error message :(

I'll give it one last try and upload the pics to photobucket if it still doesn't work, failing that I will have to ask for help!! Ah - its done it...

So the above photos were taken on my web cam, as I was suffering from cant-be-arsed-erenteritis, a common complaint I believe - and I therefore had no motivation to fanny about with my SLR - I mean, that would have actually involved going downstairs for it!!! Naaaaa...... anyway, the web cam didn't seem to be working properly. I kept clicking on the darn thing and nothing seemed to be working, until I heard a really loud noise that sounded like a gunshot (almost causing me to fall off my chair) because I had my speakers turned up far too loud. Apparently, the camera had a three second delay on it, and took three photos, one of me normalish, trying to figure out what I was doing wrong, one of me getting more confused, and the final one with me getting near peed off, because I couldn't fathom it out. If only it had took another, when the loud noise had happened - would have loved to have seen my scared mush! And on a brighter note, at least it isn't one of those annoying CHEESE!!!! pics that I usually do for Saturday lol
This next one is of my little man - I love it! He was pulling some really funny faces whilst trying to get the lid off his shampoo. I have a few others of him contorting his face into all sorts of expressions. You could be having the cackiest of days, and you just have to look at him and he'll flash you this gorgeous smile, and nothing seems to matter. Discovered yesterday that he is sensitive to something in tomato ketchup, and it cant be the tomatoes because he eats them like apples! Momos, he calls them. His little face came out in a red rash, so shall have to investigate further - it happens with a few other things too.

We went to see our friend's 8 day old baba yesterday - how cute!! He weighed 6 pounds at birth and was teeny, cute chubby little cheeks and he was sticking his bottom lip out!! I was slightly worried that I would get all broody, as us women often do in the presence of cute cuddly wee ones, but no! I mean, I would love loads of kids, but I still remember those early days, well. The ones where my boobs felt like they were going to drop off with the initial pain of breastfeeding and a very hungry baby, the exhaustion of sleepless nights, the pain of going for a simple wee etc. Mind you, it was a wonderful time and I loved it - NO STOP, no more babies for me just yet! Unfortunately, my Shaun is still in the 'getting to know softly' stage, so when he went to stroke the baby on the head, it ended up being more of a hard pat. He then proceeded to ransack the house, pulling off expensive model cars from a table and other mischievous tricks. What fun!

And this final pic, is some of my little man's artwork! He loves painting, getting it all over his face and hands. He ended up with a little streak of green paint under his eye, which ended up looking like eyeliner, with him resembling a young Russell Brand/Johnny Depp in pirates of the Caribbean, minus the facial hair of course - made me chuckle! Only trouble is now - its one of the first things he goes for in my craft room, shouting PAINT! PAINT! And attempting to squeeze it out of the bottles on the floor. Bless. So now, I better go, but not before mentioning its my turn to post over on Blog Til You Drop today - pop over and have a looksee? I'll be doing it shortly, hope the pic upload starts working soon!

Thanks for stopping by - I will catch up with your pics now, and then post my BTYD stuff! Have a good day folks!

I {heart} chalk and charcoal filter...

You know why I use the chalk and charcoal filter for my self portraits in PSE?? Well, its the same reason its being used here - to hide a multitude of sins lol lol

And before you say - blimmin eck Charli - we know why you need all that slap - I keep my empty bottles because when I have six - I can take em back and get a free lipstick! I love Mac makeup - swear by it. If I use normal 'available at Boots' type makeup - I usually end up looking a nice shade of grey, slightly anaemic or if I am about to croak it - a lot of them just aren't made for my 'yellowy undertones' skin. There I go again with the probably unnecessary quotation marks. This is most definitely my favourite corner of my bathroom as it houses all my precious non-craft type items. Sometimes when I feel and look like hell, a good ol coat (lol lol what am I on about, two or three coats) of makeup does the trick, and 'spruces' me (as my sis would say!).

I was hoping for a kitchen pic today, because I got a cracker of my Shaun eating a chocolate biscuit with his uncle Jack. When I looked at them sat there I thought - this is definitely my most favourite bit about my kitchen today - my bro (and his pal too) and my boy, sat there smiling and laughing - cant ask for more than a happy bunch of kids! I'll post the pic another time.

I am finally getting there with the assignment. Just got the finishing touches and I'm done. I have a LO underway too, just cutting my title for it now. Slightly different to my usual - hooray!!

Right gotta go, would be real nice to finish this LO tonight - feels like ages since I last scrapped proper!!

Thanks for stopping by folks, and have a great weekend!! Oh no! Its SPS tomorrow. I feel a bit of C & C filter coming on....

My inspirations....

A quick upload of one of my favourite things in my 'hallway' lol - laughing because it isnt really a hallway, more like an area of space in my front room that almost qualifies. We got this on a holiday in the Dominican Republic,, where we were ripped off by a few of the friendly locals, until we discovered what they were up to and did a little 'ripping off' of our own lol, nuff said.

This is the holiday on which I nearly drowned (twice - really wish I was a stronger swimmer), but saw some of the most beautiful places (also a few of the most dirty, dingy places, with people living in pretty poor conditions). We went to a place where the locals carved these sculptures and stood there after swanning around the Dominican, sunbathing and generally being lazy and soaking up the place, I was overcome by feelings of guilt! These people worked so hard and carved such beautiful pieces for very little money and I couldnt help feeling like I really shouldnt have been just stood there, watching them working.

Anyway.....

I have been blog stalking a number of people, and have been overwhelmed by the talent of people like Louise (my life most ordinary), and Cloclo (the art of teabag staining), Sharon's Fairy Dust Bag Blog and Looby's (Scrap Happy Lou) blog to name only a few!! They have really inspired me to do something different with my LOs/cards, which are getting a bit samey, and not very adventurous. So I am hoping to create something a bit more inspired! Fingers crossed anyway, I have a few ideas but will just have to see where they end up!

Sp I shall say au revoir, and hopefully I might have some good crafty bits to share with you soon! Have a nice day!

UFOs and exploding brains...

A quick pop on to upload my pic for today! My favourite place in my lounge, the corner bit of the couch. Does everybody have a spot on their couch that just feels 'right'? Out of the whole thing, and its fairly big - this is the one place where I am really comfy! When I was pregnant though - I hated the couch! I had to have help to get me up from the darn thing, what with my humongous bump and the fact that you sink right into it. Up above is some of the gorgeous yarn I bought from The Yarn Yard - I'll be popping a link to them in my favourite shops section. Jaffa Merino, and its plush and bright! So starts my next UFO (unfinished object) - I now have two scarves on the go though because I recently received some yarns from Dragon Yarns - also a fab shop!!

I went to post my CJ on Monday and Shaun snr ended up taking the double buggy in his car, so this meant I had to walk to the shop with one child in a buggy and Shaun Jr on foot. The walking part was lovely!! However, when we got into the shop, Shaun decided to grab a sherbet dip bag, biting off the bottom end, and spilling the contents onto the floor, the proceeding to pull and grab at as many things as he could. At the same time the child safely contained in the buggy pulled off some dog food tins onto the floor - needless to say my blood pressure was higher than it was when I first went in there!! The lady serving in the shop was lovely, but you do get some slightly annoying people who look at you as if to say 'control your child, woman!'. These people obviously must forget what it is actually (I'm doing that 'actually' thing there Bobs, its catching!!) like to have young kids, in to everything and anything the can be.

Anyway, nuff ranting!! Sherman is back! Praise that great car God who deemed him fixable, because I have been lost without him! Trying to get two wriggly kiddies and their car seats in and out of a Celica is not good for the vertebrae, I can tell you.

Gotta go now, and I really really promise, I will get round the blogs tonight. Ive been so busy with this course and my impending assignment I just haven't had chance! My ol' brains are about ready to explode methinks!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day - well, whats left of it anyway!

Pink to make the boys wink?

Now I really dont do pink. There are 2 boys (+ 1 me) = 0 pink in my house. Never been a fan! Im just not a girly girl at all! So this is a layout I did of my brothers and sister from a little while back. I had a 'three little pigs' story sack, and they were very bored, so got out the stuff and posed for this pic for me. I love wolfy's (jack) expression and then little piggy to the right (spencer) who looks really worried!! I got the papers as part of a collection from club scrap - love their stuff!! The papers were also perfect for this 'race for life' layout.

I did this earlier this year, for my mum, who had skin cancer year before last. This was a scary time for all of us - I was scared that not only would I lose my Mum, but my very bestest pal in the whole world. It was a horrible time, but my Mum got through it - I was and am so proud of her, the way she has coped - she really is my inspiration. If ever I feel down or generally cack - she never fails in cheering me up. She's the best! So I dedicated my race for her - I scanned in my back sign from the race and included that on the LO. On my back sign, I put 'I race for my Mum' and put an arrow pointing to her place in the race beside me - I was so lucky to be able to do that because many of the people there had lost their loved ones. Myself included - my Mum raced for her Mum, my Nan, and my cousin who was there raced for my auntie. So stood amongst all those people, I realised how lucky I was.

So one day when I was really proud to wear pink. Hey, maybe pink aint so bad after all.....

PS if you read this Ma, when I was walking down to meet you at the race and saw you standing there, I was so choked up! I tried hard to not cry because I was grateful to have you there and didnt want to make you upset, but I love you so much. You mean the bloomin world to me.

K guys, I shall say TTFN, and thanks for stopping by - I will get round your blogs today or later on tonight - didnt get chance last night - was at another tutorial! Have a fab day!

It's only another stamp CJ!!

So my purple for today, is the front cover of my CJ for the 'another stamp CJ' hosted by Jean, AKA nexjr3 AKA 3DJean of UKS! Crikey that was a mouthful!

But it was purplish, before I grubbed and dirtied and distressed it up a bit. Basically for this CJ, you choose an unmounted stamp, which goes along with your CJ, and what you get back are 10 entries, all using the same stamp somehow, but with 10 very different interpretations of it. How cool is that? Fab idea and really looking forward to getting it back next August. It's a quick one from me today folks because the children are calling, and they'll be swinging from the light fittings if I leave them any longer.

Cheers for stopping by and have a great day!

Oh Ive popped back, thought I might as well show you the innards! Now be gentle with me all you expert altering folk, it is my first bash at this, and by the end of this CJ group I should be on my way to being well versed in the altered world!

Show Off Sunday

Howdi folks! Today I thought I would show off some of my pics from the One Big Weekend in Preston. This was inspired by Bobs' fab pics of Brian May from a couple of weeks back! Now these photos are definitely not technically correct in the least - I had had my DSLR for a few days and was just getting to grips with all the settings, and it was the first time I was actually trying to take photos on it without using the auto setting! And without using flash too - I wanted to try and capture the lighting as it was on the day. I had to crank the ISO settings up to 1600 though and so the pics are quite 'noisy'. I had to hold the camera above my head to take the pics to avoid all the heads in front of us so I was a bit wobbly and there was no way I would be avoiding camera shake!! So the guys above are The Fray - who I love. I liked em before one big weekend but seeing them there live was just amazing. Jo Wiley got on stage with them and played a bit of tambourine which was cool - I think she's a fantastic DJ and listen to her in the week on Radio One.
And above, the mighty Kasabian. Now, we had managed to squeeze and push and wriggle our way to almost the front at this point. But when these guys came on the crowd went slightly crazy, and started pushing in their droves - we nearly ended up on the floor, and with 500 quids worth of camera in my hands I was cacking it a bit, to say the least!! But it was brilliant! Me and my sis (who kindly invited me to go to this fab event when she won tickets - how chuffed was I???) departed at this point, because it was getting a bit much and we were getting trampled on. So we went into the next tent. So glad we did because we saw these guys!!

The Gossip - I am a big fan of theirs and Beth Ditto in partic - I think she has a fab attitude, although I'm not struck on the 'flashing her bits' routine. She didn't do this when we saw her thankfully, although she did nearly spill out of her dress a few times when she was dancing for her life on stage. And the mad woman actually climbed into the crowd - no mean feat for such a short lady. The pic above was her shortly before she 'connected' (her words) with the crowd.And then these guys above -one of my favourite groups of all time - Groove Armada. This pic reminds me so much of waiting there, at the very front of the stage, waiting for them to kick off, the crowd going crazy, and just thinking - wow - I'm so lucky to be here!!
And finally, how can I leave without showing off a picture of my boys? This was taken on a walk at Ingleton Falls. Now we didn't take a carrier for young Shamus, so his Dad carried him most of the way - up hill mostly, about 4.5 miles!! And Shamus is a good solid lad - so it was hard work! And he was fed up and kicking off but who could blame him. His Dad was knackered also - hence the sweaty head lol and bear in mind we hadn't even got a quarter of the way through the walk at this point!! But I still think he looks gorgeous, sweat and all. Poor Shamus is not up for looking at the camera, and is probably eyeing up his escape route.

So I shall say TTFN guys, weekend nearly over now, sob sob, enjoy the rest of it wont you?! Thanks for stopping by!

Chickening out again.

Good evening folks! Well, I am late for posting this pic, was supposed to do it earlier but I was told off for messing about, and told to hurry up and get my butt out of the house, so I had to do as I was told (this once, of course)!! So much for me being brave and baring all after last weeks 'hiding behind the altering' discussion lol

So this is me today, with pores like potholes, and eyes squinting from the sun (and not giving someone evils, as it looks).

Today has been a great day so far, things have just 'gone right'. Dare I put those words in quotation marks, for fear of being added to the blog of unnecessary quotation marks?? Had a peep at that the other day - quite funny!!

I am trying my bestest to be productive in the ol crafting game but it hasnt been easy lately - it seems like no matter how much I do, I never seem to be getting much finished!! Never mind, keep plugging on.

Isn't it funny how your tastes change as you get older? Here comes my weekly Friday Night with Jonathan Ross review lol - Take That last night - love em love em love em all over again! Back in the day, I was a Mark Owen/Jason Orange kinda girl, my sis had a thing for Howard Donald!! I used to take the mick out of her but I think she picked the right guy in the end! Second in line to Gary of course - who I now think is lovely. Dont know what it is about him! But there you go.

So, I shall skidaddle now, and try and get some stuff done! Didnt get round the blogs yesterday - its just been mad busy. But I will do, promise!!

Thanks for reading and have a great rest of the weekend!!

Do you know what??? I nearly forgot! I have been nominated for the you make me smile award, by Hazel and Caroline! I should be nominating people now, so here goes, and in no particular order!!:

1. Suzy B
2. Bobs
3. Sharon
4. Fairycakes
5. Hazel
6. Angela
7. Ninnie
8. Mrs B - Mary ann
9. Louise Sampson
10. Pokettiger

I awarded you guys, some because I love reading your blogs, and they really make me smile and cheer me up on the dull and dreary days, and a few of my team buddies from UKS -who are just a talented, fab and supportive bunch of ladies!!

There are loads more of you who make me smile but I could only have ten! Actually, I was nominated twice, does that mean I get another ten??

I've said it once, and I'll say it again, thank {insert your own word} it's Friday!!

Here are my 'blue' pics for today! The first is Shaun snr. I love his eyes. Well I love all of him lol but I think his eyes are gorgeous, and I was quite blown away by them when I first met him, as I still am today! And bless him, I said, I want to take a pic of your eye. What for, he asks, dubiously. For my blog I says, so he reluctantly agreed. And I stand there, camera at the ready, point and press - and nearly blind him with the flash!! Light aint good round our way at the moment so had to use it!

Second pic is of one of my sons humongous feet, with his cool blue sneakers on that his auntie Melly bought for him! Now Mel, if you read this, I hope you will accept sincerest apologies from your dork sister.

Today peeps, has been a bad day. I have been run ragged by the childer. I was supposed to meet my friend today, for a play date with the kids and her niece. On the way down to Preston on the phone to my Ma, I asked our Mel if she fancied coming to meet us and she said she would. We were going to a Wacky warehouse, get a brew and let them have a good play. But things didn't quite work out, when I got to my friends, her niece hadn't been dropped off.So she made a brew, and I duly started running around trying to prevent the kids from eating her flowers/cable card/carpet/DVDs/remote controls and generally anything else that was lying about. Needless to say, I haven't converted my pal over to the motherhood club. But my sis still went over to the wacky warehouse - and I completely forgot!!! I am a total scatter brain at the moment. Anybody who knows me reading this will probably be thinking - what are you on about Charl - at the moment???

It was really great seeing my pal Tammy today though and cheered me up! We've been friends since we were born I think (is that possible? lol) - we lived next door to each other for a while and then went through all of school together. I am so glad to see her happy and settled - she is a brilliant girl with a heart of gold, and we have been through so much together over the years.

I was greeted by my boys with this gorgeous bunch of flowers, on their return from doing the weekly shop. Another thing that has really made my day today. So although it has been a mad one - it has ended on a good note. And we're on curry tonight - what could be better??!!

Note to self: read through posts on threads and such like more, because sometimes things dont quite sound like you intended them too!! I wrote a post on UKS about Looby's latest challenge LO, but it looked as though I was there, bigging my own LO up and giving myself much praise *shakes head* - its the same with text messages, sometimes you realise too late that it doesnt sound at all like you intended it too! Can get you in trouble lol....

K folks, a rambling post from me, so I shall say au revoir and speak to yall soon!! Thanks for stopping by!

I love green, I do!

Hooray!! Green is good for me today, because I finally finished the scarf I was making (I have a few loose ends I need to sort but as good as!!). I love green; along with black, yellow and red (lol) it's my favourite colour. Above is one of Shaun's bears, looking rather dashing in said scarf lol

Now I have a dilemma though - to embellish or not to embellish?? The pic below has a flower I made, the more I look at it the more I think I need to do a neater one. But what do you think? Should I put one on or leave it as is? Its a bit plain without, but plain is good sometimes!! I'm starting a hat for Shaun snr now these cold days are drawing in - I had my arctic weather coat and boots on this morning - along with the above unfinished scarf. Ive got a couple of LO's on the go and a card for my blog post over on Blog Til You Drop tomorrow, stop by and have a peep if you get chance folks! Right, thats all from me now guys, will be back after lunch to check out your green photos for today! Thanks for stopping by!

The winter blues

Hello there folks! I think this cacky weather has well and truly put a dampener on my mood. I have felt quite rubbish, for the past few days now. I could do to hibernate all through winter but I dont think it's allowed, or considered 'normal' for us human beans, so I shall have to soldier on like everyone else lol

I did take my orange pic yesterday, just couldnt motivate myself top get on here and upload it! It was some veggie soup I made, looks a bit radioactive doesnt it? It tastes really good though! Add a bit of extra hot peri peri sauce and bingo - spicy soup heaven.

And this little fella is Eric. A friend bought him for me years ago - it's the little guy off the Levis advert from a while back - even brought a song out *shakes head, but did buy it*.

I shall depart folks, and hope I have something far more interesting to show and tell tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

Another LO

Another 12 by 12 LO that I made using papers and other bits from the October Club Scrap collection. It's my not so little brother (who went out on his first 'date' on Saturday!! Bless him!) with a then best pal, out on one of the many mammoth walks my ma does. This one is a 16 mile walk - they used to go at weekends, they'd do this walk one day, then go and do another big walk on the other!! Super fit or what!?! But I love the picture - they were both muddy as hell (I know I know, hell probably isnt muddy) and I love the male bonding going on there!

Check out the technique with the photo Sue - your tutorials for photoshop are fantastic - photoshop didnt want to play at first but I got there in the end lol. Sue's blog is here, if ever you want to know how to do something with photoshop, and get some fab effects (along with some fab blogging and cool pictures!), then this is the place you want to be checking out!!

Guilty guilty blogger - two posts in one day!!

Naughty Blogger

Good morning folks! Naughty because I didnt get any photos on yesterday, or any blogging at all - tut tut. See, if they guys over at HS:MS aren't around - I start slacking. Terrible.

A quick pop on to upload my red photos for today, and also a 12x12 LO that I did for KTP's 'its only words' challenge over on Blog Til You Drop from last Saturday. The above is using the quote I mentioned from last Saturday's post. Before joining in with the HS:MS prompts - I very rarely scrapped photos of me. But now I have done two LO's in the past couple of weeks, so my book of me scrapbook is filling up quite nicely!! There is a new sketch challenge up from Saturday just passed by Looby here, and its fab - I'll hopefully be having a go at it later whilst the childer are napping. Dont forget - any non DT entries are eligible for our monthly DT competition (the DT can't enter coz we're judging it, and that wouldnt be very fair now, would it?? lol) - you could win a fabby prize! Pop over and have a look see what Rebecca Nash won for September!

This is the t-shirt I am wearing today. And of course, I never leave home without my big bushy red barnet now, do I? So lots of red. Not forgetting my baba's lovely red head too! He is kicking off, however, so I shall refrain from photo taking for now. He has removed the sky card, and folded it in half, chewed it, and now it works when it wants to!! Ay dear. I did have a bit of an excuse for not getting on yesterday - I felt like hell! Women's troubles - sheesh. They dont normally bother me, but they have been steadily getting more and more painful since I had young Shamus. Dont know what is going on there. BUT I DONT WANT TO GIVE YOU THAT!!!! (said in a Chris Tarrant style)

So I shall say good day! Thanks for stopping by, and I shall be popping over to your blogs in a short while!!

Yikes....

.....its self-portrait Saturday again. Well, I have been less naughty this week and actually posted a clearer pic of me, devoid of weird and wonderful colours, shocking pink skin, wild blue hair and eyebrows, etc.

I know I'm not on my own when I say that I'm still not entirely comfortable with this self-portrait thing; I like to hide behind the freakishness of the over-altering I tend to do, to my pics of me. Why is it that it is so hard to take photos of ourselves? The weekly prompts are a good thing, and a real challenge for us I think!

I have received my next pack of DT stuff, and have to say that I am really really (10 reallys) chuffed with it!! Bev Todd of Crop Til You Drop, asked all the DT members to write a wish list, of stuff they would most like to see in their kits, and I can safely say that I got all things on that list, plus a whole lot more. Really looking forward to getting started with them, and I'm going to have a wee go tonight. We have friends coming over though, so I cant spend too long at it!!

We're having 'a drink', which usually means rather more than one drink, occasionally ending up with us singing for our lives on the 'singstar' game for the playstation. Hang on a minute, I think I have some film of Shaun and Mark singing.....just thought again - you wouldn't be able to hear it for my music on my blog would you? I'll have to root it out and get rid of my annoying music for a day or two. We have pizza, and nibbles, and wine and lager. Oh and most important of all - chocolate!! So I will have to get some pics of our shannanigans, and post tomorrow. I don't think they will be my SOS pics though lol

Ok folks, I shall skaramoosh (or whatever the heck it is that he says), and try and get some of this LO done before our mates arrive! Oh and dont forget to check out the Blog Til You Drop challenge, you'll be eligible for the monthly DT challenge competition!! Last months winner was Rebecca Nash, Rebecca regularly enters our challenges, her entries are fantastic - come on over and have yourself a go! There are fab prizes up for grabs!

Errrr....No, cant think of a title for today!

First off, autumn watch - an update on the rapidly deteriorating leaf on the tree in the garden. I am sure by now the woman across the road thinks that I have completely lost the plot - photographing leaves and other things in the garden. Is she right? Probably! lol
And the first of the tongue pics. Trying to capture a photo of a moving child with his tongue stuck out is a little more difficult than I imagined!! I did take a photo of my own, pierced tongue, but it was awful! So I omitted that from today's offerings.
He looks so cheeky, doesn't he? He was dancing around in circles at this point, bless! What a day yesterday. It was fab! Saw Sherree Murphy - the girl who played Trisha in Emmerdale, wandering around with a cute little baby bump. I have seen John Thompson (cold feet, the fast show et al) in Selfridges there too, with his partner Sam. Would love to hear about who of the rich and famous you have seen whilst out and about!

The kids were a bit hard work yesterday - scrapping (and not of the good, paper type) with each other, inflicting scratches etc on each others faces. Look at his picture up there - you'd think butter wouldnt melt wouldnt you? Ha! Dont be fooled by this cute exterior - he is a mischeif maker of the most mischeivous kind!

I started again with the CJ covers. I havent finished them yet but I have started on my entry, which so far I am pleased with. It's totally different to how I usually work, and I really think this CJ group is going to get me working out of my comfort zone, which is great.

I shall depart now, because I am starting to waffle even more than usual, thanks for stopping by and I will get to everyones blogs after lunch, didnt get chance yesterday, I was pooped after a long day, shopping for my life!

Have a great day!

Brain Draining...

A quick upload today cause we're off out to the Trafford Centre!!

My Nintendo DS Lite - I have the brain training games, and as Im sure you can tell, I havent been using them for a while lol....

Will be back later to check everyone elses out, and to show you what I come back with!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Going...going....

....these could possibly be the best rum truffles in the whole wide universe. You see that one peeping cautiously from underneath the wrapper? It had a right to be cautious, it now ceases to exist - as the rest of the packet will do, in about 5 minutes or so!! Dreadful. Shaun brought them back from Somerfield last night - try em - they're delicious! And they're 2-4-1 - bargain basement!

My pic for today is from my garden, I thought I would show you the before and after. I really like the first one because of the reds and oranges in it, but love the effect that the cutout filter has given it in photoshop. I just played around with the edge effects a little til I was satisfied with the final result.

I am very sad to say, that I have now botched the front of my CJ cover completely, and will now have to start again. Frustrated? Uhhh yeah!

Now, apparently, Lloyd Grossman is in Garstang - a nearby village. He is trying to get into the Guinness Book Of World Records, for making the biggest Hotpot ever. Hmmm. I think I'm going to go and ask him which is better for cooking, electric, or gas. If neither, then why does my Christmas turkey never cook when its supposed to, despite having been in the oven for what seems like a hundred years. If its gas, then what can I do (other than get gas or not have turkey lol) to improve the finished bird. Any tips will be most welcome folks!!

I might have to go and check it out and see if I can get some photos for you to have a look at! Other than that, its some painting, then into Lancaster, then feeding ducks, lunch, then aaaaaaaaaaah a bit o peace for me when they have their afternoon nap. And not a playgroup in sight - YAY!

So I shall say au revoir for now folks, have a good day and thanks for reading - do come again!

Don't you just love it when....

.....you 'get it'?

I am really enjoying life as a 'mature' (lol lol) student. The first time round, when I went to Uni - I was really unsure of myself - not confident at all. I would rarely speak up - unless forced into it by some lecturer - you know the ones who 'pick on' the ones who don't involve themselves!! Thank god for those lecturers. I always hate it when they say - so Charlene, tell us a little bit about yourself, and why you've chosen to do x, y or z. I hate being put in the spotlight like that. Now on here, as I'm sure you're aware, I can babble endlessly, but its so easy without an audience right there in front of you!

So last night was a tutorial for the social science course I'm doing. It was tricky at first - I have a spot of performance anxiety (probably the understatement of the year). But it got much easier as the night went on, and most importantly, I involved myself - a lot - and actually understood everything that was being said - hooray! It was such a great feeling to know that I had grasped everything so far. I think I'll really enjoy this course - I might eat those words later on lol but for now, I'm just going to make the most of it.

We went to playgroup this morning, and what a nightmare. Poor Shamus was busy ransacking the place, getting involved with everything - he's the kind of boy who loves to grab everything. They were making these pizzas for their snacks - and of course he's only 22 months old - I thought he did really well. But he was trying to grab the cheese off the pizzas and pick them up and all sorts. It was a bit hard work, because the little girl who I look after was also into everything - as all good kids should be!! And the playgroup leader said - can you just come and grab Shaun - she's lovely BTW - but I thought - aaaargh! I haven't got enough pairs of hands here, I need at least another five pairs lol, so I was mighty stressed by the time I left. Has anyone got any opinions on how often you should take kids to these things? Twice a week is more than enough for me!! But I'd love to know what people thought. I often feel a bit guilty because I don't get to more - but I do take them out plenty everyday. I think its probably all part of the - 'other mums seem to have it sussed much more than me' syndrome.

Well, I have nearly finished my CJ front cover - but me thinks its looking a bit cack, so I don't know what im going to do about that! I might post it up here when its finished and get some constructive (or any lol) criticism on it.

Sherman is still not well. He is going to be fixed - AGAIN, for the third time in 2 weeks. I miss the old reliable Sherman. This new, unreliable let down Sherman keeps deciding to say 'engine system service - urgent', which can't be good news. It smacks a little too much of expensive repairs to me. Yuk.

I have a painting that I must upload too, when it is dry - my Shamus did it for me today at another group we went to. This is one where I can relax with my friend Crystal, and have a brew and a danish, but still keep a good eye on him and let him have a good run about the place - at a wacky warehouse. It's my favourite of all the play places we visit! Also - they let parents go down the slide with the kids - its fabulous - Ill have to get some pictures of us next week for you to frown and tut at lol

Thanks for reading guys - I shall toddle off and get ready for round five with the kids! Have a nice, relaxing rest of the day!