Temps and viruses...

Another week of hot foreheads and calpol dosing for my two. I think the worst is nearly over thankfully as it's been a long few days running between them and keeping them cool. I wonder will they thank me for this in years to come?

Anyway had a good week all things considered. Another 2.5lbs down on WW so that's over half a stone since New Years. I'm still loving my WII fit and have started walking between school runs so feeling the benefit of that too. I gave up the vino for January (as did DH) and we managed to stay off so had our first glass tonight - well it is Saturday and tomorrow is February (haha!). Hope I can keep up my good habits and keep my focus to reach my goal...for the first time in a long time I'm really committed to getting healthy not just for me but for my kids sake too..



So onto crafts - I haven't had a chance to show this yet. My lovely talented pal Caroline made this Noriko Bag for me for Christmas and get this..she ran it up out of leftover curtain material!!! This girl's talent is so wasted - I frequently tell her she should have her work on etsy as it is amazing. I feel so lucky to own this and can't wait to get the dress and shoes to match LOL! If you would like to have a go at making this bag yourself check out her blog here as she has uploaded full instructions. Thank you Carrie XX

I'm a Loser!

...A WW loser that it...It's official -I'm back on the Weight Watchers wagon since last week and I've just kick started by losing 3 lbs. I have to say I'm feeling so much better for all the fruit and veg and leaving out the junk. It's quiet shocking when you stop and count up the points of stuff that gets put away without even thinking about it. Naughty habits that have to go so my new friend is sugar free jelly and pineapple rings.

Since Christmas I've been having so much fun with WII fit - I LOVE how it nags you..'I noticed you didn't check in yesterday (ahem!)'. My BMI is coming down along with my weight so all's good. Well every marathon starts with a step then a mile - so in my case I've just done 3 miles! We had such a lot of fun over Christmas with people in for a few drinks and we had them skiing and hula hooping into the wee hours...very entertaining altogether!

So anyone joining me on WW or WII? Maybe if I'm feeling brave later I'll post up before and after photos - nothing like a birthday deadline to get you motivated!

An historic day...
Today was an historic day for the world - the 44th President of the United States Barack Obama was sworn in. I was compelled to watch the inauguration ceremony - I have never seen such a body of people mass in one place. His speech was powerful, empowering, hopeful, real and from the heart. I don't envy this man's enormous job but I admire his commitment and total belief that he can make it happen...I wish him well - we are all watching from the sidelines!


Check this out - a fantastic 1,474 megapixal photo by David Bergman aka a Gigapan of the inaugural ceremony. Just click and zoom in to see the full details of the crowd...

January Class 'Reflections 2008' Le Cheile, Donnycarney

We were back to cropping for 2009 today and it was a full house. Obviously Christmas has been dampening the creativity so they came back armed with papers to cut (and chocolate to munch)to kick start another year of papercutting... ;-)

Today we made this double interactive layout called 'Reflections on 2008' and I used some delish Basic Grey papers in duck egg blue and chocolate brown (my fav combination!).







It was a good opportunity to use my photos taken recently by Anita Mundt Photography and Design. Thanks to everyone who came along today and look forward to seeing you again on the 7th Feb for a Valentine's Day transparency project...

Concert at the National Concert Hall...


Last night was my 'Gilbert and Sullivan' concert with the Glasnevin Musical Society at the NCH and all the hard work paid off as it was a great success. I've been hoarse all week from rehearsing around the clock - not just officially but in the car and on my ipod at every opportunity (yes I was that crazy woman you might have passed in traffic last week singing along at the top of my voice! ;-)). Even my 2 little group solos went well so phew to that! It was recorded for RTE Radio last night and will be broadcasted at some stage this year. What a great start to the New Year!

Busy Week..

It's all go this week..I'm singing in the NCH tomorrow night and have been rehearsing every weekend and some evenings since Christmas. We're out in studio one RTE tonight with the orchestra which is always exciting as the sound is just beautiful.


This morning I went to Liz's crafty morning in Castleknock and managed to complete 2 LO's and chatted away for a couple of hours...This is one of them - and I used a sketch from my lovely September'08 Kit 'n Kaboodle kit and a photo taken by Anita Mundt Photography and Design. Love the textured velvet of the blue cardstock -almost too good to cut but I managed to somehow. I just love these kits and can't wait to order some more...

Catching up on Christmas Crafts...

I've got my craft mojo back at last and have been busy crafting this week including some sketches over on Creative Scrappers. So I thought it was about time I uploaded all the bits and pieces I've been working on over the Christmas break...

First up is the album I made for my parents for Christmas - we're a big family...so I have dedicated a 2 page LO for every member of the family including her 11 grandchildren. Basically my mum can now carry her whole family around in her handbag LOL!!



I made this 16''x16'' altered canvas in December for my lovely niece Laura who just turned 18. I can't believe where the years have gone as I remember holding her the night she was born. Yikes that makes me feel old!


I enjoyed doing this sketch #33 over on Creative Scrappers, using the photos we had taken recently at Capture Portraits. I absolutely love these photos and I will be scrapping them for years to come.


The next one is for a competition by Sheree, a designer on Creative Scrappers. I designed this using a similar template to the above so they will sit together nicely as a DLO in my album.





I've had this photo for over 8 years now and I was holding off scrapping it until I found the right idea and paper. It finally came together for me this week and I'm happy with it as it's one of my favourite photos of me and Eva. Don't we look alike???

And just before Christmas a friend asked me to design a card for a wedding in Dromoland castle. I made this pull out tag card showing images of the hotel facilities...



TFL
XX

Leurgy fest...

Yuk!!!....it's been a Leurgy fest at our house this weekend. I counted a record of 15 vomiting epidodes in 6 hours for Eva last night - real nice! I have the laundry mountain to prove it! Roll on Spring and the departure of the Winter Vomiting Bug!