December 18th

Well this was the nearest I got to having a snowman.

My children would not venture into the garden.They are too old for all that malarkey they say.

So I had to make do with Teddy,me and the snow.

Teddy loved his Santa suit surprisingly It kept him snugly and warm and he was excited every time he saw it.

He thought he’s died and gone to heaven in the snow.

He couldn’t contain his joy.

I didn’t get time to make my LO for today after playing so long in the snow,so I’ll catch up tomorrow.I took my camera and new 50mm lens to my friends and took some beautiful pictures of her daughter and Grandson.

I want one now !!!!!! He was so cute to photograph.

I

December 17th

Its SNOWINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

I hope it settles for tomorrow for some pictures.Teddy can wear his Santa or elf suit.He’ll be so pleased.

Today's JYC prompt had me worried for a while.What could I come up with for a “perfect present” layout and then I remembered my Son’s reaction to his Bose headphones we gave him last year.He was so shocked to get them,that he broke down crying.This resulted in us all grabbing for the tissues and me for my camera.So i made a collage of us all in tears.

It was a bit of luck that I had to print these photos from my old computer upstairs.For whilst I was sat there,I could hear water running in the room that's to become my en suite.I found the radiator valve was pouring water out on to the newly boarded floor.After a quick phone call to my husband to come home and a hastily grabbed jug,it finally stopped.It was amazing I should have been sat there just at that exact moment.There was water running down the walls in the dining room below and it could have been a disaster.

Anyway I am looking forward to the JYC prompt tomorrow,I think its about recipes and cooking at Christmas.

Mmmmmmmmmmmm

Here's a pic of Teddy looking like I’ve just told him off.Ahhh

December 16th

What a lovely morning.I have been watching/listening to Madonna's last tour and now I’ve moved on to Elvis.All while finishing my JYC layouts.

This is a photo of my husband in 1987 dressed as Santa for a Mother & Toddler Christmas party.Sadly Ryan had measles so was at home with my Mum ill.This no doubt will be the one and only time Chris will volunteer to be Santa.He cried throughout the whole experience.He gets a bit emotional at this type of thing.Even X factor.In a pocket are individual tags we have all written about a present that meant a lot to us

I had a clear idea what to do for the page about visitors at Christmas.I wanted a picture of my front door that opened with the journaling behind it.But I had to stand in my front border in the mud with my dressing gown on at rush hour.But never mind it worked.

You may recognise my picture for Day 16 I used Picasa to write the text directly onto the photo.

So I’ve had a very fruitful day except its now 1.16pm and I’m still in my dressing gown!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No photography today as its a dull,wet day here in the UK.But my Husband told me it could snow tomorrow ,so I have everything crossed,as he’s gone and bought for me the Canon 50mm lens I’ve wanted.

So its a goodbye from me for today,thanks for popping in.

And a goodbye from my daughter,Tasmin xx

Beautiful isn’t she……………………….?

December 15th

Sorry,I have been so busy,just with life for a change.Everyone is now home for Christmas,so the house is full.

The tree had waited naked all week,so it was time finally to glam it up a bit,put the Christmas CD on ,Santa hats for all and a full Santa suit for Teddy.

I caught him watching Tasmin decorating the tree .Ahhhhh

Now I can hold myself back from buying anything,except Christmas decorations.I have a house full and boxes of stuff that don’t even see the light of day.Tasmin had even bought me some more of my favourite glittery birds as a present for the tree.

This was one of my favorite pictures I took,with a bit of bokah in the background.

Shame that when we took these photos, we had no makeup or hair done for them.So I’ll just have to have another photo shoot.

Here's one Tasmin took of me.Chris had bought me the tripod I wanted for Christmas so I was supposed to be having a play with that,but it just got in the way.

We are really missing our trips to Chicago.The tree will be very empty this year.None of us what anything much and I usually find lots of great things for Santa to give us in the States.The lenses I want for my camera are half the price over there.Its just not fair.

I was pleased that another one of my photos got a mention on Cheryl's blog.I have got to prepare a collage of my favourite pictures I took for the course,to be in with a chance to win another workshop.

I have also managed to keep up with Shimelles JYC.I have kept my pages very simple.Not much embellishing.For me it has been all about the pictures,memories and journaling and not the art of it all.I am so pleased with how its coming along and although no one is appreciating it here at the moment,I am hoping in the years to come they will be.

For Dec 12th I decided to write about a fun Christmas we had playing a dressing up game.Everyone was involved right down to Chris' Nan.I have included hidden journaling on a the pull out tag and an envelope with lots more pictures of the evening,inside.

How gorgeous do I look as a blond with glasses………..

December 13th was about Christmas music.I included a pull out tag of my favourite songs/hymns at this time of year and our favourite CD we play when decorating the tree.

Day 14 & 15 will follow in the next blog………..

December 10th

My migraine is slowly getting better.

I collected all the washing together and decided today was the day.

There are about 4 loads,so I will be chained to the laundry room today.Poor me .Those Victorians don’t know how lucky they were?

This time last year the laundry room was being installed.It used to be a second manky kitchen for the house.As we don’t need it,it had to go.I designed everything in it and it was a trial run for the kitchen,that was to come.The Kitchen company were a bit frightened to paint such a large cupboard pink.But they agreed in the end that it looks right in our house.

I found this rub on quote in America .It took the both of us ages to put it on the wall above the door.

My JYC layout was a breeze today.I wrote about how fab my Mum was at wrapping presents.So I automatically followed in her footsteps.Making bows and carefully wrapping each present.But only to receive from other people what can only be described as “crappily” wrapped presents in the cheapest market paper,that you can see through.No thought had been put in to them what so ever. So since my Mum has gone,I don’t bother anymore.I like to co ordinate my paper but that's about it now.Oh,don’t I sound like a bar humbug character!!!! Well everyone knows I’m a bit of a scrooge.

Anyway look away now if your a bit squeamish.Here's a snap of Teddy after digging through the washing .He always come out with his favourite –A pair of my KNICKERS!!!!

I can tell you its very embarrassing going to the doctors with holes in your gusset.

December 9th

Sorry I didn't post yesterday ,but I have a bad migraine and I had to have a nap.

I managed to get my JYC layout done before it got to too bad.

the light is hitting the photos as a funny angle so this looks better in real life.All I could think about for the holiday traditions prompt was how each Christmas we spent a day visiting all our family in London.My parents are born and bred Londoners but moved out to one of the New Towns built in the 60’s to start their married life.

I was thrilled to find I had pictures from all 3 stops on this day in 1978.I am 14 in these photos .I can tell by the jacket I am wearing,I remember clearly when and where I bought it.

It started with an early morning drive to London and then a spot of shopping and lunch at my Nan's in Chiswick.We would usually go up on my Granddads Birthday which was just before Christmas Day.This is quite a rare photo in that all my Dads family and my one and only cousin are all at my Nan's.The only person missing is his twin sister,But we obviously popped to her new flat,as the bottom picture is off us together.

My Nan was well known for her fruit buns and pickled onions.So I wrote about this tradition and how my Dad had tried to replicate the taste of her onions with a ton of sugar in with the vinegar.Sadly both her recipes are lost for ever.Not that I think she ever had a recipe ,she cooked instinctively.

Then it was on to Great Auntie Rona's for tea.This was always very boring for us and I would count the minutes until we left.

Well I survived my Christmas meal out with my old friends last night.At one point I was alone in the car with the one person I hadn’t talked to for over ten years.But no one would have ever guessed.Everyone looked much older and most of us were sporting double chins.Me included

It was funny that we all needed glasses to read the menu and any small print,A real sign of old age.I remember their 30th & 40th Birthdays the next round is their 50ths,coming very soon.

I took both my DSLR and point and shot Canon cameras to have a play with in the night.But all the shots were very disappointing as it was so dark in there .The best photos were taken on my PS one!!I was explaining how to take a double chin free photos and this is the result.

Just need to master Photoshop to airbrush the wrinkles out.

Well a day of rest ahead to try and shift this migraine.I’ll get back to my breakfast of shortbread with a can of Pepsi.XXX

PS Hello Uncle George and Pam if you’re reading this XXX

December 8th

I have been busy taking hundreds of photos today.I then whittled them down to just 60.

I was even on a chair taking a picture of Stanley here ,when a friend arrived.But the light was so good.

This room is decorated with reindeers in honour of dear old moth eaten Stanley.He is positioned so he can see the TV.It didn’t seem fair to have him looking at the wall.

Most of the photos were taken for my JYC layout today.All the shots are close ups of various decorations around the home.Luckily I have plenty,as the tree is still stood naked in the window .

I then set about trying to catch up with my Cheryl photography workshop.I must say she is not as good as Shimelle at explaining things.I have found the course very trying at times.It seems to be presumed you already know what you are doing with a DSLR camera ,when I haven’t a clue.Even the manual is like reading mandarin.

So after lots of attempts and reading some other peoples words of advice I finally come up with some shots I like.

Can you tell what it is?

This is using a technique called Bokah.

Here are some more classic Bokah shots of my naked Christmas tree.

Now that I have a rough idea what I’m doing.I’ll have a play in some daylight tomorrow.

Can you just make out the word DREAM in this one?

Well here is my JYC layout for December 8th.There is no journaling on this one,I let the photos do the talking this time

The robin is included in our decorations for the first time this year to symbolise my Dad ,who said he would come back as a robin to see us.So I know it will make my sister smile when she sees him.

And to finish today's blog I have a collage I created for a challenge we were set for Cheryl's class.I think I could have used it as my Self Portrait for the class!!!!!!………

Fingers crossed for me tomorrow.I am out with some friends for a Christmas meal,some of them I haven’t seen or spoken to for over 10years.A few I stopped talking to for my own sanity.So I shall be very nervous,especially as they will remember me as thin and glam.I’m now wider and plainer but much happier………So wish me luck……..

December 7th

I don’t know about anyone else ,but I am not into buying Christmas presents this year.I don’t know if its my Children's ages (22 & 19) or the fact I am so busy completing my JYC,I just want to stay in out of the rain and complete my daily layout challenges.

I am putting my last minute gift buying off to Saturday, when we go to Sheffield to collect my daughter from University.We will hit the shops there,even though I realise its going to be manic.I’ve told my son if I haven’t got his list by then, he’s getting money instead.But like us there is nothing he wants or needs.We are all at that stage where if you want something you buy it yourself!

I have told my Husband to get me nothing this year.I HATE surprise presents as they are usually something I have never wanted and I begrudge the money wasted.I would rather get nothing,than something I don’t like.Saying that my Husband did surprise me once with a Cath Kidston Roberts radio.They cost and arm and a leg,but I have it on all day and I LOVE it.

I am the most annoying, organised person you would ever have the misfortune to meet.I am the Queen of lists.I must take after my Dad as he was definitely the King of lists.I always have at least 3 lists on the go at any one time and I ALWAYS get everything done.In fact a lot of the time I have nothing to do as I am so super organised.Its just how my brain works.Even my clothes are style and colour organised!!!So today's prompt for JYC was a breeze.

I will add my Sons Christmas present list if he ever finishes it.It felt weird to do a layout without a photograph,but I had to remind myself this journal is about the written memories not just the photos.

Are you organised for Christmas?

Oh and I hope you liked George Clooney………x

December 6th

I have finally caught up with JYC layouts.Going to the crop yesterday mucked my system up.As a result I have blogged 3 times over the last 24 hours, about what I’ve been up to over the last three days.So please stick in there till the end.

Its gone 3 and I am still sat in my dressing gown and everyone is unfed…..

Here’s Teddy waiting for his treat from his advent calendar this morning.

He is learning to sit and wait.And is much improved.

My Husband is still drilling and banging about upstairs.My new printer is now covered in dust.

December 6th JYC layout took my thought .The prompt said to journal about a good/bad Christmas.I felt I should use it as an opportunity to write about both my parents.They were both terminally ill during Christmases .So I used a happy picture of my Dad trying on his new Elvis wig.My sister had given it to him to hide the badness from Chemo.

I wrote about my Sisters Wedding in December 2007.

It was hastily arranged so that my Dad could be there.Inside the pocket are pictures of my Husband and I at our first Christmas together,My Mum on Christmas Eve just weeks before she died and my Dad at my sisters wedding

Keep with the following 2 blogs,I promise there is a treat there for my readers.My Husband is often mistaken for George Clooney and there a picture later you’ll love.

December 5th

Well it was off to Crafty Stash’s Christmas crop.I HATE raffles but for once I had to buy some tickets.(Well it is Christmas )So everyone particularly Sue was thrilled when I got 2nd prize.LOL

We had two layouts for the day.At first glance the papers are really not my type.But I just LOVE the layout I came home with.

I used an original picture of my Mum as a little girl.The colours were just perfect for it.

I thought the picket fence for this one was calling out for a home or garden picture.So I used an old picture of my childhood home.

Then it was home to make my layout for JYC.

I designed the flaps to look like advent calendar doors.Inside are pictures of my dogs advent calendar and our Santa countdown stocking to Christmas.

Chocolate advent calendars are still important to my children,even at 22 & 19 years old……..

Its now official the tickets are booked for Chicago. Sandra,Hilary and I are all beside ourselves with excitement.But we have to be patient as its not till June next year.I am particularly excited as it will be their first time to Chicago and I get to show them all my favourite places.

My son wanted me to mention how PROUD I am of him and his football team Stotfold.Yesterday,thanks to Ryan they have reached the final stages of the FA Carlsberg Vase and they may get a chance to play at Wembley.Well I hate football and have rarely gone and watched my Son play ,but I did promise him when he was little.That I would go and watch him if he played at Wembley.But I was hoping to do it from the comfort of a sofa on the Telly.I have missed every goal he has ever scored,as boredom always sets in and I lose concentration.

He has always been an exceptional football player,and he even won a scholarship to a prestigious University in Texas to play for their team.But it proved impossible to get the approval he needed as he was considered to have played at too high a level to go. So his dreams were shattered and he’s now home with us playing for his local team.