And the winner......

Apologies for delay in Sorting this, have had houseguests, holidays and lots of other distractions. For some reason I can't post pictures or looks from my iPad, so will update this post with photo of random generator when I can suss  out the password on my daughters laptop.  She is In Spain enjoying herself right now.

So the lucky winner picked by random generator is..........

Sally Hodder.   Lucky no 7.

OMG. Blinked!

I blinked and it's August already.   Better get my finger out and with random generator for my big 50 giveaway.   Don't hold your breath , the announcement is not imminent but will be today.   And my apologies for lateness, another fish that got away...x

Not so scary....

Being 50!   Not so scary after all.   I don't feel any different.  Reflective? Yes.  But in my head I remain 29.   Why? I have no idea.    A quick look in the mirror reminds me of the years  since then, a road with many ups and downs, but a good road.  It has led me to where I am now.  With a beautiful family, and many precious friends.

This coming month,  the school holidays rate highly, we have no immediate plans as yet, other than my daughter turning 17, and being very excited about starting driving lessons.   The rather large garden pool has gone up, and has been host to the neighbourhood kids.   I love it!   House and garden full of laughter (and water, not so welcomed lol).   Although this also generates a mountain of towels for washing, luckily the weather is good for drying...remains to be seen if they remain white by the end of the holidays.

Happy Birthday!!!

50!  I have been on this earth for 50 glorious years.   Many ups and downs along the way,  All sent to try us as they say.  I have survived this far, so there is a lot to be said for that.
In honour of my 50th birthday, I  have a 50 giveaway, which includes many different things, including some ink pads and a stamp set from Stamping Up, gotta be worth it for the alone. :).  Leave your name below to be in with a chance of winning 50 random items.  Winner will be chosen by random.org at the end of the month.

Good luck and happy days all x

And all of a sudden you are almost there.....

Approaching 40, I thought I needed to do something to change my life, procrastination is a B*****d. Here I am almost 50, thinking the same.    I didn't want to be like this at 40, and I didn't want to be like this at 50.   Am I happy?   Yes I am happy, I have a beautiful family, and some cracking friends.  But I am sad I haven't made the changes I have been promising to do for the past 10 years.  Yes 10 years, where the hell did they go.   Well, there is something I am sure of, and that is that I will not be worrying over it for the next 10 years, life is surely too short.   So as I approach another landmark birthday, I make a promise to myself not to keep putting off the small things I can do, which accumulate into a mountain over time.  And that I will make more time for myself, having spent the past 17 years putting the kids needs and wants before mine.   As they make their own way in the world, I must let them fly, empty nest syndrome? Who knows.  But know seems a good a time as any to find the me, that has been lost along the way.

Winner of the 50 take 2.

Congratulations no 6, winner of the random selection of 50 chipboard pieces, as chosen by random number generator.

1. debs

2. tracy

3 vilinke

4 bella71

5 emma lewis

6 nikkib

7 Judy

8 Francis.

Thank you for taking part and remember next month is the BIG ONE, you wont be disappointed.  Please drop by and take part in next months draw, which will be a selection of items, great for scrapbooking or cardmaking.

50 Take Two

On my fast approach to the BIG 50  here is the second giveaway as promised.

50 Random Chipboards items.    I have an obsession with chipboards and could probably fill a bag with 5 times this amount LOL.   So if you love chipboard as much as I do, leave a comment below, and I will use random generator to chose someone at random to receive this little ensemble.

What a lovely week we are having, I had so many good intentions to do some serious spring cleaning, but all gone by the wayside.  Who wants to do cleaning while the sun it out, not me for sure.

Thoughts are taking me to the holidays, and what I can do with 2 teenagers for 6 weeks.  Any suggestions gratefully recieved.  One boy, one Girl, who rarely want to do the same things.  One is a daredevil, the other just wants to spend money LOL.  So do I risk my life doing some hair brain activity, or risk my life savings on spending.  Mmm difficult one eh?  I sit and ponder.

Only four weeks now to my official birthday, like the queen I like to celebrate in many ways over many days, over the year even.   Looking forward to meeting up with friends, visiting some new places, and learning some new things.

Things I am not looking forward to, are the many horrible jobs I have to complete, like a visit to the dump with the rotting vegetation from the garden.  Nice thought eh?  Might be easier to get a composting bin.

Oh well, I leave you lovelies for now, please leave a comment below if you would like to be in the draw for the chipboards.

Jx

Glorious Bank Holiday Weekend.

What a glorious weekend.   The sun has shone now for 3 days, YES! 3 DAYS.  Can you believe it.
Did some well overdue jobs in the garden including painting the summer house with wood preservative.
Next job, clear it out of all the junk that has accumulated, so I can actually use it for its intended purpose.  Grass has been cut, hedges trimmed, general tidy up font and back, Hope the weather is good tomorrow so I can actually sit and relax. Although I cant complain, shared a bottle of fizzy with in impromptu visitor today :), very nice it was too.   And snuck out for a coffee with a friend I dont see nearly enough.

Kids are off now for the week, so a lovely break in routine, both have study to do for exams, so do expect a bit of a battle with at least one of them LOL.    My other battle is stopping them eating their way through a heap load of junk while they are off.    Trying to encourage them to eat more healthily.  Lost cause I think.

Other half has man flu, why is it when we genuinely need help, its ignored but one sneeze and the male population are rendered useless, and cant possibly do anything for themselves.   One of lifes mysteries.

And the winning number is................

In order of your comments I entered you into random generator.  The order was as follows.

1. Bella

2. Jemm

3. Carole

4. Erin

5. Shazza

6. Tracy

7. Leigh

8. Caro

9. Debs M

10. Suzy

11. Suzanne 2

12. Nikki B

13 Cockney Crafter

14. Tab

15. Lisa

16. Judi

17. Kazza

Congratulations No 16 :) x   Please let me have your Address and I will get in the post on Monday.

Thanks all for taking part, and please look out for June's Giveaway, where I hope you will indulge me once again. xx

50 Giveaway part 1 - Warm Up.

Gloomy Monday Greetings.   When I said I would give away 50 things in lieu of my impending 50th birthday, I didn't anticipate how difficult this would actually be.   I have made a start and have managed to put together 27 items so far, I think this is going to take a little bit longer than I thought.  So, my second thought was , why not have a few 50 giveaways, starting with this

Pretty in Pink with a little bit of glitz.

Just leave your name or comment below, and I will use random generator to chose a recipient.

Sunday...Hawaii 50

Used to love Hawaii 50 when I was a kid, didn't think I would like the new one, but I love it just as much.   Too tired to post much today, and leg aching, but I didn't wan to miss a day :).....

Saturday....Party Time.

Having a lazy saturday afternoon,  one of my friends is turning 50 today, and we have a party to go to later.

Looking forward to getting out after being confined almost to base for the past 2 weeks. Will be nice to have a new view and some adult conversation.   Looking at that weather though, I might have to rethink my outfit,  its a garden party, and its looking decidedly gloomy out there.

Talking of 50, mine is looming up fast, last year I was quite looking forward to it, but now its getting  closer I am not quite so excited.  LOL.

Sooo.  as the topic seems to be revolving around 50 I think my blog giveaway should contain 50 items.  Now that could be 50 brads couldnt it? But that wouldnt be much fun now.   So you will just have to be patient and keep checking back regularly to see what delights will be up for grabs.  I will make sure  I get this sorted for next week.  Waiting for a bit is exciting, but waiting too long is just dead boring....

Totally random, but I love Giraffes.

I am officially addicted.

I am officially addicted to Stampin Up products.  I have some amazingly gorgeous items that I have collected over the past few months, including stamps, inks, papers and embellishments. 
If you are interested in checking out what is available, see the link on the left.  The amazing Carole will be happy to help with orders, enquiries or questions.

Now, having collected all this amazing stuff I have to actually use it.  I am addicted to all things pretty, whether I might use them or not is questionable, I have material, but I dont sew, I have wool, but I cant Knit or Crochet.   This year I am determined to learn to crochet and to sew and have accepted the kind offer from 2 of my friends to teach me.  Lets see how much patience they have LOL.  I hope to share pictures of my progress very soon.

Heres a  little picture of my latest delivery of wall...

I think I am going to need another room, as my rather small craft room is cram packed with stuff right now, and its almost impossible to move in there, if I am honest it is already impossible.  Add to that a sewing machine and a stack of wool, and it doesnt get any easier .....

Comb, not just for gleaming your locks.

Thought I would share this layout again, as I love it so much.  Lisa's class from Gogo Getaway.  So sad this is now an end of an era.  

Using paint and a comb.  Black and white photo, picked out areas to paint with colour.

And you thought this would be a craft blog why?

And you thought this would be a craft blog why?  LOL.   Of course, it is first and foremost a craft blog, with a little bit of everything else thrown in.

I am laying here, leg elevated after Vascular ablation, Hematoma on back of leg killing me.  So leg elevated, massaging affected area in much pain, wondering why, with all my good intentions, I havent kept this blog up to date.

Once again, I am left wondering how to bring people to my blog, and encourage them to stay for a second look,  I am sure if I had more visitors I would in fact make more of an effort, and feel less like talking to myself.  So do I Beg, Steal, Borrow or Bribe visitors.  Bribe, well let me start there,  Cake? Chocolate?
Oooh blog candy.....whatabout a giveaway?   Interested?   Pop back  soon to see what I have collaborated, to give away free to one lucky visitor.

In the meantime, I leave you with a quick little recipe to satisfy a sweet tooth, children or the Dog . I leave it to you.

This is a well known, anyone can do cupcake recipe, with a secret weapon to ensure they really are the best ever.

Vanilla Cupcakes.

200 grms soft butter
200 grms caster sugar
4 medium eggs
200 grms self raising flour
1 vanilla pod or teaspoon of vanilla extract.
2 x 12 muffin tins lined with paper cases.
Piping bag with large plain nozzle (10)

Sugar syrup:- 75 grms sugar, 5 tablespoons water, place in saucepan bring to boil, then lower to simmer until sugar is dissolved.  Allow to cool then add either 1/2 seeds from one vanilla pod or teaspoon of vanilla extract.

I am a great lover of the quick and easy, so you can of course if you prefer do the whole creaming of the sugar and butter method if you prefer, or if like me, you like the quick and easy option, the instructions are short and sweet.

Split the vanilla pod lengthways, remove seeds.
Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix until well combined.
Next Pipe the mixture into the cases (alternatively 2 teaspoons in each case)
bake for 18/20 minutes. or until golden brown and the sponge springs back to the touch

Allow to cool for 10 minutes prick the tops with a tooth pick, then brush the cakes over with the cooled vanilla syrup soaking each one.  Remove from tin when completely cooled.

For cream cheese topping,
200 grms full fat cream cheese at room temperature
100 grms of soft butter
600 grms Icing sugar.

Slowly mix together until light and fluffy.  Then pipe, dollop, or spread over the cupcakes.

These were made for a cake sale at my daughters school in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital.



Enjoy!