My first non DT work in a month...

Today after all the stress has passed I decided to do a little scrapping...just for me...without limitation. I love my ScrapaGoGo kit and the work I do for them, but sometimes it is nice to do what you want and not worry about whether I am using things that are not in the kit.

I really should be getting on with chores, but decided that I needed some me time.....Anyway this is what I created and I am pretty pleased with the results, and even more so with the photo. I took it with my Nikon D80 (Maz...that bit was for you...) and my new lens. I take all my LO pics in the kitchen. I have 2 sheets A3 sheets of white paper stuck to the wall and then attach using blue tac. Normally I have trouble when the weather is dull and the light poor, as the pictures come out blurred etc. The new lens made a huge difference today and every picture taken was great even without a tripod.

Materials used:Doodlebug papers and glitter rubons, MM chipboard buttons and clear shapes and the title was stamped using Doodlebug foam stamps and black stazon (for "Trick" and "Treat") and Doodlebug stickers for the "or", the stitching effect was done with a black uniball roller.

HS:MS Disturbed

Ok, so todays prompt is "Disturbed", a feeling you get when something unexpected happens. Can you find it through your lens?

I was sitting opening the post, reading emails etc....all of a sudden the cat decided that a knock at the door was scary...so jumped off the pile of magazine he was sitting on and skated across the wooden lounge floor....he really is a scat cat...I wasn't quick enough to capture him...seeing as how my camera wasn't even on....so all I got was the pile of magazines spread over the floor.

**ETA - A couple of you are trying to guess what the mags are...well they are Scrapbook Trends, Paper Trends and a couple of the Cards ones. They are currently my favourite mag producer. In sub to SI and CK too, but these feel like books rather than mags, and they also have a lot less advertising which I prefer.**

Could today get any crapper!!!

Is it just me or does this happen to Mums and Dads up and down the country and all across the world! This morning Georgia was refusing to get ready for school. I heard comments like...I don't want to go to school....Nobody will be my friend at school....I don't like school....I'm too tired...I was up half the night. She wouldn't get dressed, or brush her hair despite me asking her over and over again. In the end we were late for school, since she has been at school (she is in year one, so a year ago in Sept), she has only been late once and off sick once. I ended up having to take her in through the main entrance and saw that she had missed registration, she refused to say goodbye to me despite the Headmaster encouraging her. In the end the stress of this morning had me blubbing in reception and the HM taking me into his office to chat. I told him what I have been going through each morning trying to get her to school. He said that he will get one of the staff to sit down with her and see if they can get to the bottom of things, basically to see if there really is a problem or whether she is just trying to get attention. All I know is that I can't take much more. I am supposed to be working today, but have had to call the client and say that I can't make it, I am so stressed and just can't stop crying....in fact I can hardly see the screen at the moment.

Am I alone, or does everyone go through this sort of thing in the morning....at the moment I feel like I am the only Mum in the world feeling like this....and it is NOT good...I don't think I have ever felt so alone, and I miss my Mum so much, if she were around I could call her and she would put it all back into perspective for me.
Caz

TFI Friday!!!

I am glad we are almost at the weekend, I am feeling pretty knackered this week, although I still have a busy weekend to look forward to. Friday I am taking Georgia to a Halloween party...a little late I know, but the hosts sister was in hospital having a baby a little earlier than anticpated due to pre eclampsia...thankfully both are doing well now so the party is on. I am sure Geoorgia will be a cat....AGAIN.

Sunday is the MKScrappers November Crop, and I am looking forward to getting some layouts/projects completed. This month my intention is to take just projects I want to complete together with the just a couple of extras, as I always take too much. Now whether I actually manage to do that remains to be seen...but at least I will be trying...and I deserve points for that...LOL

Yesterday after school I popped to Jessops and bought a new lens. We wanted a prime lens, something for portraits and that would be good indoors when the light is not always ideal. After some investigation it seemed that all recommendations were pointing at a Nikon AF 50mm f/1.8. So I have played a little last night and it is a lovely little lens, and such a reasonable price too...there are not many Nikon Lenses on the market with a price tag of under £100. So now we have spent our Xmas money from David's Mum and Dad, they always give it to us early so that we can get something we want before Xmas so that we can play with it all over Xmas...just like Kids. So far the results are good, although we still have only had a little play.

I am waiting to see what emotion will be the prompt over on Her Space : My Space, this week has been really difficult capturing emotions through your lens without using faces.

Caz
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HS:MS Anxious

Todays prompt over on Her Space : My Space is Anxious. Whether the word anxious defines that you are worried or eager, try and capture this through your lens and your imagination.

So one thing I am always anxious about is time. There never seems to be enough. I am always rushing from school to work to school, after school activities, you name it. Since I started working for myself I have to be much more aware of the time as I need to get back to school and my clients can be anywhere from a couple of miles to twenty five miles away from school.

Even at the weekend there is never time to fit in all the things that I want to do. I haven't seen my Dad and Sister since the weekend before half-term, and I hate it. I cannot get to see them until the 24th, so it will have been a whole month..usually I see them every couple of weeks but Georgia has a party to go to every Saturday until then...I think she has a better social life that I do.

Caz

HS:MS Confused

Todays prompt over on Her Space : My Space is confused. Show confused in your space.

Well those who know of Milton Keynes know that it has hundreds of roundabouts. This map show a 2 square mile area (approx) and there are 7 major roundabout. Of course there are loads of them that are not showing on this map. When I moved to Milton Keynes from Surrey 19 years ago they confused the hell out of me, I could take a a dozen different routes for the same journey. Now years later, it makes perfect sense.
Caz
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ETA...Just did a Google search and found this info...

How many roundabouts are there in Milton Keynes?

Ah, depends on what you call a roundabout. If you mean a fully formed structure with its own name and grass and flowers, then 300 is a generally agreed number. But if you mean anything which affects the gyratory movement of traffic (e.g. a painted bump in the middle of the road designed to control traffic within a housing estate) then figures as high as 1000 are bandied about.

See...loads...

HS:MS Excited

Over on Her Space : My Space this week all the prompts are emotions, and todays is...

Excited

One of the most happiest of emotions. Whats exciting through your lens?

Ok so without using faces is always a challenge, as face can express so many emotions that we can all easily identify. But my picture today is showing two retreats that I am going to next year. Apart from going to some of the retreats as a day delegate, Bonanza as a volunteer and our local crops first ever retreat I have not been a full weekend guest at any of the larger events...so this year I am going two...maybe even three (funds permitting). So my picture shows the two retreats I have booked....Scrap Fever in April and GoGoGetaway in June....and boy am I excited. Scrap Fever has the amazing Karen Russell (who's products and work I love) and also Shimelle, and GoGoGetaway has Shimelle, Jane Dean, MaryAnne Walters and also Fiona Beckman...so some amazing UK talent there too.

Got to go now, as I am supposed to be working...naughty me!!!

Caz
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HS:MS Sad

This week over on Her Space : My Space they are focusing on emotions and todays prompt is Sad. They prompt you with one word and you translate it the best you can through your lens. Try hard as you can not to use a human face to reflect that emotion. For instance - Sad. A dying plant, a messy corner, mucky windows (we all have them at one point!).

As soon as I saw the prompt I knew what I wanted to do. My picture is of a road side memorial that I pass every day on my way to drop Georgia off at school. These roadside memorials are becoming a common sight here in Milton Keynes and I am sure it is the case everywhere else.

This one is a memorial to a motor cyclist aged 36 that was killed when he was hit by a car during September. I remember the evening clearly as I was on my way back to school for a PTA meeting and the road was closed. Whenever I see these by the roadside it makes me realise how precious life is. I am sure the motor cyclist never knew that would be his final ride. His children will grow up without their Father, and a Wife without her Husband. So next time you are driving past one of these memorials, think of how it would affect your family if you never came home from your journey.

So stay safe on the roads, particularly during the colder months.
Caz
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HS:MS SOS

Ok, so I mentioned Venture and the pictures we had taken a week ago today. Well here is a picture of the frame/range we chose. The pictures obviously aren't of us, becuase this came from the Venture website, but you can see what we have ordered.

The range is called Metro Strata, and come is a choice of 5 (1 12x12 & 4 7x7's) or 9 (2 12x12 & 7 7x7's) we chose the 9 option as we loved so many of the shots.

Today is show off Sunday over on HS:MS and I love this picture of Georgia and one of her best friends Hannah. It was taken over the half term when we went bowling and to see Ratatouille, this was just after 2 games of bowling and the girls were exhausted, but HAPPY!

Caz
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Can I join in...she asked!

Well Georgia watched me taking pictures of myself this morning and wanted to join in. She reguarly uses our old Fuji E550, so I let her have a go. What do you think of what she came up with. She looks a mess as the picture was taken before she had bothered to brush her hair...or even dress.

She looked much cuter when she went off to her party...all in pink, as a girl can never have too much PINK!

Caz
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I've been and gone and booked....

I am going to ScrapFever in April 2008. I wasn't going to go on any other retreats in 2008 as I am already booked into GoGo Getaway in June 2008, and MKScrappers Retreat in September 2008 but as soon as I saw that Karen Russell was coming over to teach, then it was a no-brainer as they say. I love her Narratives range and basically everything she does, so cannot wait to meet her. So my deposit is paid and my place secured...yipeeeee.
Caz
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HS:MS Self Portrait Saturday...

Well normally it is SPS over on HS:MS, but it seems that nothing has been posted yet...isn't that just typical on the first ever day I have actually spent time taking a flippin' picture of myself.

Oh well, here it is. I tried for ages, and this was one of my better attempts.

Not much on today, David is working 7am-7pm and I have to take Georgia to a birthday party this afternoon. If I am lucky I may get a couple of hours to myself as I think for the first time I am not going to stay and help at the party.

Caz
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HS:MS Garden

Todays prompt is Garden, Is there a little corner tucked away for your escape? Do you have a favourite plant or some garden furniture that you are fond of? Share with us you favourite garden shot.

So the light is not that great outside yet, but I have braved the elements while in my PJ's and with wet hair to take this shot. It is my Yucca plant and I love how at night the solar lights come on and light it from beneath.

Today I am training a new employee on Sage Accounts at one of my clients, so I have another dash up the M1 to Weston Favell, but not before I stop off at Interlink to collect a parcel that has been there since Monday...I am sure it is my AMM Albums from Craft Superstore...such a bargain at £12.49 each.

The new Love Elsie Zoe & Noel have hit the UK, and I have just placed my order. I missed out on a couple of bits that I wanted, but will pick them up at a later date.

Off to look at everyone elses garden photos. Caz x

October ScrapaGoGo

Little late with these this month, but here is what I did with the fab October Afternoon papers that were featured in October's Kit.

The kit was crammed full of lovely stuff, I did 3 LO's a card and a CJ, and still have lots of bit left.

Caz
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{{Tagged}}

So I have been tagged twice, and am only now getting a chance to do anything with them...sorry Lorraine & Bex.

Here are the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs

Seven Random facts:
1. I can touch my nose with the very tip of my tongue
2. I am a chocoholic
3. I am a stash addict...lol...like you didn't already know that
4. I HATE cleaning and ironing
5. David & I were married 13 years before we had Georgia...I was too scared to have a baby, although I didn't tell him that at the time
6. I have only cooked dinner about half a dozen times this year...as David cooks
7. I make an awesome Banoffee Pie...

I am now tagging
Lynsey
Ness
Gill
Rachael
Jen
Hannah
Louise

HS:MS Fridge

As things should start to calm down here again, I decided to play along today. So here is my fridge...I think it says everything about our life...crazy, chaotic, messy...to name just a few...

Working today, but not before I pop back to Venture to confirm and pay for our photos.

Caz

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Venture & Halloween

After another hectic day, David and I went to view our pictures at Venture. Now I was totally of the mind set that we would only get the free pic, and at most upgrade to a 10x8 from a 5x7. Well it just wasn't going to happen. The first photo that came up on the wall was one of my faves, and after going through approx 40 images that they had picked, we were down to 18. Now some were in because Georgia looked cute, but to be honest she looked cute in all but one. I fell in love with one of the displays that they had, it was called Metro Strata Collection 9. In it you get 2 12x12's, and 7 7x7's. The display is proud from the wall and are attached to the wall on "mushroom cups" (photographers name for it not mine). So even though we had no plans to spend any more that £100...we ended up spending a fair bit more....but I cannot wait. We have six weeks of waiting now, and I have already given David instructions on which picture needs to me moved to put it where I want it...LOL.


So anyway after all that we dashed to Lynseys for some tea and then trick or treating. Well we had such fun. We were out from 6.30 till a few mins after 8pm. Here is one of the pics that I took of Georgia & Catherine....they were both such cute kittys.

I will post a picture on Friday of all three of the girls together (Georgia, Catherine & Melissa).
Caz
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Bad Blogger..

Sorry for being such a bad blogger, but I promise to try harder.

Last week was hectic but fun. Over half term Georgia went to Gymnastics for a couple of hours Tues-Thurs, which gave me a couple of hours of peace and quiet. Then on Friday David had the day off and we took Georgia plus her friend Hannah, and Hannah's sister Sophie out for the day. First we went bowling for a couple of hours, then onto McDonalds for lunch, followed by a trip to the cinema to see Ratatouille. We all had a wonderful day, and their Mum says they talked about the day all weekend.

Over the weekend we did had a photo shoot at Venture. I vowed never doing one again after spending too much money the last time we went and feeling pressured to spend more. But I entered a competition at the end of the summer and won a free session plus a free 5x7. So off we went on Sunday morning for our 10am shoot, 1 hour later we left tired and happy from running around like nutters. We are going to see the photos tonight at 5pm...fingers crossed there is at least one nice one to choose from. We have decided to put the money from the free 5x7 and upgrade to a 10x8, but are not going to buy anything else. We are however going to spend some time at home getting a lovely shot of all of us, so that we can include it in a Christmas pressie for David's parents.

So this week has been the start of a week of chaos. I feel like I am rushing around all the time. Monday was spent with a client getting a VAT return done, and then rushing from school to shops etc etc. Tuesday was Georgia to school, drop ironing off to be done, drive 25 miles up to Weston Favell to collect paperwork from Client for VAT return, drive back down to MK and to a clients, work until 3.45pm, collect Georgia from her after school French club, home and change for Gymnastics at 4.45pm, and then once we were home at 6pm from all that, I had dinner and went to a PTA meeting at the school at 7.30pm and finally got home at 10.25pm....and who says I work part-time!!!!!

So today is not going to be any easier as I have dropped Georgia at school, and then made a quick dash to Hobbycraft to get things for the school fayre, then off to a client to do another VAT return. After school I have to collect my ironing and then get Georgia home and ready for Trick or Treating, take her to a friends, go to Venture and then back to our friends house to go Trick of Treating with the girls...I am going to rest on Thursday afternoon...as I need to finish another 2 VAT returns...
God I need a holiday!
Caz
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HS:MS Pink

Ok, so I have missed the daily prompts for a week, but what with feeling cr*p with a cold, I didn't have the energy to join in...but (fingers crossed) I am better and back.

So this is a little cheat as it was taken earlier this year when David & I attended a 60th Birthday Ball. We don't go to many of these sorts of things and it is the first time I had ever seen David in a dinner jacket and bow tie. David turned the photo black&white and made the pink of my accessories stand out...and I love the result and have already scrapped the photo.

I will be checking out all the other blogs to see what everyone else has been upto while I was MIA.

Caz

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First Day of Half Term

Well day one of the half term holidays is over, and it was a good day. Georgia and I spent the morning doing odd jobs around the house, and then some crafting together. She made herself a mini book, and added a picture of Daddy & Mummy...she even altered the colours of our outfits with pens....Andy Warhol style.

The doorbell seemed to ring on and off all day. First I had the RM parcel gut deliver a special delivery item...My Bind-It All machine...and it if fab, not that I have had a chance to play. So a huge thanks to Lorraine & Janice. Then the regular postie knocks on the door with a small bundle which included my Scrapbook Trends magazines, some WRMK Designer Eyelets from ScrapMagic, and a parcel from Making Memories in the US. Last month I sent an email complaining about the quality of their new chipboard buttons as the two packs I received were a mess with the epoxy resin stuff peeling away from the button. Anyway they sent me a new pack as replacement. They were out of stock of the halloween ones, so sent me some halloween shimmer brads instead...plus a couple of sheets of rubons as a little extra. It seems I have been reasonably lucky (touch wood) as the only parcel I have had gone missing was my September Jenni Bowlin kit, and that was sent before the strikes and a replacement has now been received..so it's all good.

Anyway I have a picture to share of my nephew Alex. It is hard to believe from these pictures, but Alex is only 16 years old. It sounds such a cliche, but he went away a typical moody teen and came back a young man. he has filled out and matured, which seems such a shock given that he has only been away for just over 6 weeks.

My sister collected him on Friday and drove up with her husband and one of their kids, James who is 8. He has been missing his big brother, maybe more than any of Alex's other siblings. Anyway he has a fantastic time going around the barracks, seeing where Alex sleeps...and here is a picture of him...