Pink Candy by Caroline

Sad news.....

Abi's three dwarf hamsters died yesterday.  At least she found them yesterday and I am guessing they died the night or day before.  Complete mystery.  Haven't a clue how or why all three of them have gone as they were well cared for and loved hugely by Abi.  Both Abi and myself were crying last night as we did love them, they were the cutest three little sisters you ever did see.  They were stick their little pink noses up through their bedding just to say hello and I will miss that.

Tears are welling now as I type this.  I do feel sad about it.  Abi isn't up yet but last night she was truly devastated and it creates a pain in your heart when you see your 15 year old daughter sob.

Here's a piccie........ they really were the cutest of cute.

Tweet, tweet, whats cookin............?!

This week I managed to get my UKS CyberCrop ATC done.  A little bit late but hey-ho.  I had to do April and came up with this:

I am loving my little chipboard birdies and even though I am not a fan of pastel colours I did like how these colours went together.  They were popped in the post yesterday and, fingers crossed, they won't be delayed too much.  Darn Royal Mail strikes......

I've had some exciting news too - I am on a Design Team!!  I am now on the team for Fidgeons Crafts Wholesalers, which is very exciting and I should be getting something to work with through the post at the end of October.

I need a purpose for my crafting I've found.  I can never sit and do things with no aim other than to make something.  If I weren't in swaps or CJ's, that kind of thing, I don't think I would do it just for me.  I would like to, and I really want to get some scrapping done but I guess even that isn't just for me as the aim would be to get it done for my kids. 

I would love to get a book done for them each and it is on my 'to do' list, along with loads of other things, hehe!  I am keen to do a Book of Me too.  Show my children the real me.  Anyway, one day........

Abi has arranged for her sleepover tomorrow night.  We have already had words about her wanting to go on the trampoline.  Its all covered up in preparation for Winter and she wants it uncovered so that her and her friends can go on it.  Now ten teenage girls and one trampoline, however big, is a recipe for disaster I reckon.  I don't want to be fretting about someone getting hurt and I don't want to supervise them either.  We argued about this for ages, which is a surprise in itself because Abi is usually so placid.  She was giving me death stares all evening but I am sticking my ground. 

She had also made plans to do baking in my kitchen!  Another recipe for disaster I reckon and I said no to this initially but I might relent and let them do some muffins or something simple.  It might soften the blow of not allowing the trampoline.

Talking of Muffins - here's my card for the Recipe Card Swap we've started on BF.

Our first swap was Chocolate and I did a Cadbury Muffin recipe which is defo the best muffin recipe I have ever done and it used to be on the side of the Cadbury Cocoa tin until recently.  I couldn't find this recipe anywhere and resorted to emailing Cadbury about it and they sent it to me!  So very pleased about that.

We are doing this swap monthly now and making 6"x4" cards each with recipes of a certain theme.  This months theme now is Christmas, so that we can get some good, tried and tested recipes ready for the festive season.  Put them altogether in a decorated box and you have a fab recipe collection. 

I really enjoyed doing these cards and had some scrummy recipes back too.

Right, I am now going to do some onlike food shopping through Tesco and have a sizeable list of party goodies which Abi wants for her sleepover tomorrow.  Remind me never to say Yes to having this many over again, lol !.............

Abi.......

It was Abi's birthday on Tuesday 9th October.  She is now 15 yrs old.  I can't quite believe it.

Being 15 is the first age I can really remember being myself.  It does seem and I think is quite a bit older than 14, iyswim, lol ! 

I gave her the building society account which I opened for her a while ago.  I have been putting money in there sporadically over the years and to a 15 years old its quite a hefty amount, although not too much so that I have to worry giving that amount to a 15 year old!  It was either give it her now or at 16 and I think she deserves it now as she is wonderful, truly.  Very sensible, level-headed, kind, considerate, compassionate - I could go on and on.  There is so much good about my daughter.  One of lifes really good people.  I do love her so much.

Shes been undecided exactly how to celebrate her birthday and because she has a lot of friends and was unwilling to upset or offend anyone we now have a sleepover half planned for ten girlies.  Just have to settle on a date but at the mo its next Friday.  Given a choice I certainly would NOT have ten teenage girls under my roof but I can see where Abi is coming from when she finds it hard to not invite people for fear of upsetting some of them.  So shes inviting all of them. Gosh........and *eek*.........

I didn't get any crafting done at the weekend as Saturday was taken up with shopping with Abi.  She managed to make a sizeable dent in her building society account and I came home with a big fat zero.  I tried loads of clothes on but nothing really did it for me.  It all seems so 'samey' and 'normal'.  I like to be a bit different but in a system clogged up with whats fashionable, I really find it hard to get clothes I like and that are 'me'.  *sigh*

Tagged - four things......

Thanks Karen and Kaz for the tag - here's mine.....

Four places I've lived:
- Worcester

- Droitwich

- Worcester

- that’s it! – bit of a home bunny I am……..

Four places I’ve visited on hols:

- Cornwall – all over

- Weymouth – went almost every year as a child

- France - Disney

- Tunisia – honeymoon

(not travelled very much abroad – prefer to see wonderful places in the UK first to be honest)

Four places I've worked:
- Solicitors Secretary

- Admin in the Planning Dept of the local council

- Social Services - Home Care

- Craft Shop owner

Four fave foods:

- Italian food – spag bol, lasagna, any pasta dishes

- Fresh bread, proper butter and Cheddar cheese

- Balti – chicken tikka massalla with pilau rice

- Chocolate

Four places I would rather be right now:
- By the sea
- Sat curled up in the front room with a hot drink and a good book

- I liked Rosies idea so I will go with this too - Supermarket sweep in a craft shop
- Creating stuff in my own little craft bubble where time doesn’t exist

Tagged

Oooh, just realised I have been tagged by Karen and Kaz - they looks similar tags so I will have a good look and post replies asap, promise.......

Happy Birfday to me........

I've had a nice day today and its made even nicer by the fact that hubby has had another bang on the head and is tidying and cleaning one room at a time and very thoroughly!  And now he wants to take me out for something to eat - blimey.........lol........

I've had some super cards too and thanks to those who sent one to me, much appreciated.  I do have to be careful though cos when I put them on the shelf I accidentally covered up the one Jake had made me so he promptly moved them all so that his was at the front, bless him.  Must have took him all of ten minutes to make - but its the thought that counts, right?!  haha,  I love it.  I always keep the cards the kids make for me and have a lovely collection from over the years. 

I managed to get some crafty bits done at the weekend although not as much as I would have liked.  I got the BF CJ done, well mostly - managed to finish it off Monday.  Its Black and White and will be doing the rounds for the next nine to ten months........

Every layout is to be Black and White and then an accent colour added.  Looking forward to seeing this one back....

Anyways, Darren has spruced himself up and I think we are heading off out for tea, just the two of us.  It always feels odd that we can up and off out without kids now they are old enough to be left.  Nice, but odd........

a Forum Bubblie is getting married tomorrow, so fingers crossed the weather is good for you Karen.........xx