Summer came early for Easter...


Wow what a fabulous day today- the sun was out early so we decided to make a day of it in the garden. First we had some fun on the trampoline and after last weekend's escapades it was just one at a time and well supervised!





Then Annamarie arrived with her family and we had an early Easter Egg hunt using a €5 kit from Tesco which gave hours of fun for the little ones. They insisted on us hiding the same chocolate stash a few times in a row as the chase was more fun than the reward.




While all this was going on Annamarie and I got a chance to scrap a little. I finished preparing my class for next weekend's Easter Party Crop in Le Cheile centre, Donnycarney. I will be teaching a scrapbook layout using Jenni Bowlin's 'Trendy' range of papers. The event will be run all day from 10am -5pm and it'll be a fun packed day with classes, prizes and craic!


Jennie Bowlin 'Trendy' Collection - the kit includes all of the above ;-)

And here's a little sneak peak of what we will be making. It's a double LO with an open theme. You will need to bring just one large photo (5x7 or a little larger in landscape format) to suit the papers. B&W will sit well with this range.



Annamarie from The Scrapbook Store has created a fabulous LO using Pink Paislee Winsome Fascinating papers and they are just gorgeous!




And Caroline Moore will be teaching you how to make a handmade journal. These photos show you a finished journal but the class will involve the making of the journal which you can decorate yourself afterwards. More details of Caroline's class are available on the forum:




And here is a sneak preview of her kit for the class...


If you've any questions about the classes just check out my class thread on the forum or email workshops@thescrapbookstore.ie If you haven't booked your place you still have time to grab one of the last remaining places by emailing workshops@thescrapbookstore.ie or texting 086-2065346.

There are a few ticket options available:

● Shop & Crop Only Ticket - €15.00
● Crop Day plus 2 Scrapbooking Classes (with Annamarie & Lainey), crop space & entry to prize draw - €50.00
● Crop Day plus 2 Scrapbooking Classes (with Annamarie & Lainey), 1 Handmade Journal Class (with Caroline Moore), crop space & entry to prize draw - €75.00
● Shop & Crop plus Handmade Journal Class (with Caroline Moore) - €35.00

For further details or to book a place at any of the classes just email workshops@thescrapbookstore.ie


Happy Easter to everyone!
XX

The Secrets of Success...

I love motivational speakers and I came across this clever 3 minute motivational talk and had to share...

Turning 40...


[Photo courtesy of Anita Mundt Photography and Design]

It's a milestone and I think it should be embraced and not run away from...well that's what I'm doing anyway..LOL!! Today I turned 40 in Temple St Hospital with Lucy Lou and the one conclusion I made of the day is how lucky I am. I have the love of a good man and two beautiful and healthy kids who I can celebrate my birthday today...

So thought's on turning 40 -
1. It's only a number
2. Age is a state of mind
3. Despite what I think sometimes...I have lived, I have traveled, I have done something with my 40 years.
4. You're never too old to achieve your goals
5. I'm so lucky with what I have...so very lucky...
6. I can't wait for the next 40 - bring it on I say!



..And this is how I spent the day - after we left the hospital, I had a lovely lunch in my mums with a large bag of cards and pressies to open. Then a bus ride into town to meet himself and we took the girls to see 'High School Musical'. We had box tickets which was a lot of fun for the girls and for me! Then when we got home the neighbours called in with more presents and a surprise delivery of flowers (thanks Marlen!) and they stayed for a little glass of champers to finish it all..Happy day!

Lucy's Big Break!

It was the end of the perfect weekend - we had a fantastic party on Friday night, my pal Ruthie came up with her kiddies from Cork and we had a lovely relaxing girls night in. Then on Sunday afternoon we went to my sister's house for my niece Ellen's 3rd birthday. The party was just about over and the kids were finishing up the last bounce on the trampoline when disaster struck!

(see the little monkey in the background giving it socks!)

WARNING- If you're squeemish then look away now!!!
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I mean it...it's not pretty...
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We took a quick spin down to the VHI Clinic but they took one look at her and sent us to A&E in Temple St. Fifteen minutes later we were in triage and on a bed down to X-Ray. I just happened to have my camera in my bag as it was a birthday party (well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!!). So here's the damage - pretty impressive and what's more impressive is that apart from a mild bit of whimpering when it first happened my brave little soldier didn't even cry in the hospital. The nursing staff couldn't believe why she wasn't screaming! Neither could I!


We finally got a bed at 1am on Monday morning and it was a long wait til Monday afternoon and she was taken down to theatre for bone manipulation. I have to say I found it hard to hand her over to the orderly to take her down to theatre. However, she came back eventually and the first thing she complained about was that her cast wasn't blue as requested!!! Kids eh! I've promised to alter it for her with sparkly diamonds LOL! So after a 2nd night in the hospital we were free to go. There were so many sick and poorly kiddies in the ward that a broken arm didn't feel that serious afterall. The staff were just fantastic - always a cheeful smile for every child.

Our 80th birthday Bash



It's been a mad week getting ready for the big night last night - our joint 80th Birthday party. We were born 8 days apart in the same hospital so it made sense to do a joint celebration. Friday was a great day -lots of pampering in terms of hair, make up etc (well a girl's gotta make sure she doesn't look her age on her 40th birthday LOL!). We booked a lovely function room in The Twelfth Lock Hotel and Restaurant and it was a great venue. We had over 70 people there and it was so much fun to catch up with everyone who means a lot to you all in one room. We party'd the night away until 5am finishing up with a catwalk fashion show of all the lovely bags I received as presents. What a night - had an absolute ball! The best bit is I'm still technically 39 for a few more days!!




My crafty friend Liz (Littlebit) made this fabulous birthday cake for us showing our favourite passions in life - Liverpool FC and Scrapbooking!

First of the Birthday celebrations...


We spent last night up in Drogheda (Drawhada as we call it!) with our old college crew to celebrate the upcoming birthdays and what a giggle it was...These are the people we meet once in a while and the minute we get together the banter is going back and forth, then along comes the slagging then the reminiscing -it's always a great night out. You appear to forget about your current age and pretend you're 19 again - and there's usually a few photos to prove it! Last night was one of those nights and if you are reading this...and you were there..you know what I'm talking about! Thanks guys - you really are the bestest pals in the world. I think I'm beginning to like this 40 lark! XX