Engaged!

On Saturday I got engaged, finally!

It is something that I have been waiting for and my OH knows that! We went away to Leeds for our first weekend away before I was pregnant, stayed at the lovely malmasion hotel, got far too drunk then he popped the question. It wasn't exactly romantic. He had choosen a ring, was waiting all night to do it, but wasn't sure when. So he asked when we got back to the hotel. By this time though I was worse for wear, the ring was a little tight, we passed out on the bed and when I woke at 3.30am my finger was very swollen! Luckily we were able to swap the ring when we got up on sunday.

I am wanting to get married next autumn. I love autumn. The wedding will have to be a budget wedding. I am going to reduce my hours further at work. We can manage on less money, and it is important that we still have plenty of family time together. I go back next monday, I don't feel as bad about it as I thought. It will be nice to regain a little part of me back, but I will still get full weeks off with H. I am only going to be working 16 days out of 35, hopefully reducing it to 14 days out of 35. Shifts, its too complicated to explain!

Get Well

I have decided to enter the Crafty Card Makers challenge again. I spent ages making the card last night, but I am disappointed in it! It is the glue. I have ran out of my normal glue which I bought off the net with some supplies, so I used to glue from the pound shop, and it's hopeless. The paper and card didn't set properly, and you can really see that on the card! I am however pleased with my flowers. I made them using some cuts that I had in a pack from tesco, I just traced round them and cut them out on my paper. The paper is from my stash from The Works. I have lots of cut outs now, so can make lots of flowers!

The card is for my sister, she went into hospital today, as she needs an operation. I took H with me to visit her as she was so bored. She is having her operation tomorrow, so today was her op prep, which involved Nil by Mouth and lots of laxatives. She wasn't very happy as she had no bed, and was starving, so we sat in the cafe, which probably wasn't the best idea for a hungry paitent.

She enjoyed the company anyway, and H was good. He loves his Aunty F. She text me after I left to say how much she liked the card. Tomorrow I am looking after her poor dog. He has been in all day today as her partner was at work, so I will take him a good walk tomorrow. I also need a trip to the bank tomorrow. Statutory Maternity pay doesn't go far, so looks like I'll need the last of my savings. I'm back at work in 2 weeks on Monday. Where the hell has the time gone!!!

Home Sweet Home

I have been away for the weekend, my first weekend away without my baby. I was supposed to be going on a family camping trip with some girls I know and there families, as we all have babies born in the same month, but it was rained off. I had been asked if I wanted to fill a place on a trip to London a while ago, but had arranged to go camping, so I went to London. I was in two minds whether to go, the baby, I have not been away from him much!! Then there was money, and the fact the girls had planned what they wanted to do so I would have to fit in with the plans.

I went though, it was free travel and accomodation, and my mum helped out with H whilst I was away. I did enjoy myself, but not as much as I would of liked to! I am annoyed we went all the way to london and spent all day saturday looking in shops on Oxford street for a pair of shoes for 1 person!! AHHH. There is so much to see, I didn't see the point of spending hours visiting busy multinational shops which we do actually have up North. I love shoes, but it was hell.

The good points of the weekend though was going to see Grease- it was fab, having a walk through Hyde Park and visiting the icebar, and coming home!!! God I never knew it was physically possible to miss someone so god damn much. I thought my heart was going to break. I am not in a hurry to leave him again! Though me and my other half have a night away planned next weekend!! Its been booked for ages, our first weekend away since the baby, just a shame I'm leaving him again!! I feel like crying, in fact I have felt like it all weekend. On that note I'm going to go and have a moment to myself, sob....sob!

New Arrivals & Death of the Town.

I made this card last night as my friend has finaly had her baby. She had her yesterday morning, Ella, born 15 mins after arriving at the hospital. Lucky thing! I was convinced the baby was going to be a girl so I had made the card a few weeks ago, and finished it off last night. I am always right, sometimes!

So, I am taking this oportunity to enter it into some challenges as well! I am entering it in to The Allsorts Challenge and the Cute Card Thursday Challenge. I seem to have got into this competition entering. Some of the enteries are a professional standard, some people have such a talent.

Today I have been to a local town to the shops. I never go to Spenny shopping as it is the most depressing place in the world, a lot of towns around here are, and I shouldn't have wasted my time today! I looked on the net and saw that there are supposedly 2 craft shops in the town, but there was hardly anything. Most shops are shut down. Its so sad really. Its all our own fault as well because we favour large shopping centres, which have killed our towns. I felt really sad when I came back. I am hoping it is a result of the recession and one day the towns will regenerate but I don't hold much hope. I know myself, everything is cheaper on the net or in shopping centres filled with multinational companies. I don't think there is an easy answer.

Family Holiday Weekends

We have had visitors this weekend, my Mum and Dad and their two dogs, Tia and Tallulah.



The dogs are 11 month old Jack Russell puppies and they attract so much attention wherever we go. We all went for a walk on the beach today, and they ran riot. My mum has had them since they were 11 weeks. When they were tiny they were the cutest thing you have ever seen, they are just so mischievous now.

I have not made any cards this weekend, though I have taken a few pictures. My dad forgot his camera, and said he needs a new battery for it. Though he did say I could borrow it for a bit to try it out. I wont have a clue how to use it! I took some pictures at the beach. I love the beach! Sunderland beach where we went today is not the most picturesque of places, but it is surprisingly nice for sunderland.

This evening I am going to have a glass of wine or two and sort out some craft supplies that my mum bought for me. She buys things where ever she goes for me!

Reunions

I decided to make a card for one of the competitions last night. The theme was Contrasting Colours. I was a bit limited on this one as I seem to have the same colours in my supplies, mainly pink, blue and red. I decided to go for purple and yellow as I had bought some new paper in those colours. The card again has a lot of hearts on it! I seem to do the same theme all the time. The papers are just from The Works, the hearts are from a scrap book set, the rub on from a local craft shop and the ribbon is from an old birthday card. I was pleased with it, but then you look at other peoples cards and feel that yours will never be as good!

I think I just need a wider range of supplies, and this will take a bit of time and money. When I go back to work I can treat myself to a few more supplies! I really want some flower punches, a circle punch, some more stamps- really need a congratulations, and some more proparkers. Though maybe some different pens as the ones I have I don't get on with! I have never had a hobby before but I would say this is it.

I would also love a new camera. My last good one isn't working properly. I would love to splash out on a good one. Saying that, my dad has a really good camera which he doesn't use often. I might ask if I can borrow it for pictures around the house. I daren't take valuable items out of the house as I am very clumsy and can loose things easily.

Today my best friend from Uni has been to visit. She came with her Mum and Dad, as they haven't met H. Her mum was great with him. A surrogate grandma, actually better than his paternal grandma! He had a great day. My friend has been off work for a month now as she has had an operation. She has been trying for a baby for 18 months now, and has come across complications. I hope this operation can be a sucess and her and her husband can have some good luck. This is especially because lots of our good friends are pregnant at the moment. I have a friend due a baby every month now until march! Good job I love making baby cards!

I'll leave you with a picture of my friends wedding from May 07. I was her bridesmaid, (I'm the large one!) and so desperate to catch the bouquet, which I did! It was a lovely day, and it was an honour being her bridesmaid. I hope I can return the honour to her one day soon!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!!!

I can't believe the weather today. I know I keep going on about the weather, but its so depressing. My time off work is fading away, and I'm not able to enjoy the summer! rubbish. I took H swimming this afternoon, and it was packed. We haven't been for a while because it was the holidays but I gave in today and braved all the screaming kids. He has been sleeping soundly this evening as a result though, peace at last.

I have made a few cards in the last few days. One card is for my Mum's birthday next month. It is a A6 card which I bought. I am quite pleased with it, and it looks quite good because it is bigger. The second card is just an experiment with some of the ribbons that I bought from poppicraft, then some embelishments I have been collecting. I am going to put my card making stuff away for the weekend. Unfortuantly I don't have any space to do things so end up on the living room floor. The boxes of things are piled up next to the sofa, very untidy. I am having visitors so I need to tidy it all away! Everything usually gets popped in the garage. We should live in there really.

Anyone know if the weather will be better for tomorrow! Fingers crossed. I need to go for a walk, need some fresh air.