Friendships, fights and fabulous shoes...

It's been a funny old week. Busy, as always with lots of extra things on too meaning me making lots of lists and trying to organise everything inbetween the 'normal' stuff. Lots to share with you so here goes...

Got 2 lovely parcels last week - the prize that I won off of Elsie's blog (Ellie has kept most of the goodies!) and my 1st Kenner Road pack.

Included in Elsie's prize was a copy of Studios, featuring lots of different workspaces, organisational ideas and inspiration for creating an environment to enjoy your hobby. It gave me lots of ideas and couldn't have come at a better time as Paul has come up with the fantastic idea of changing our family room into a craft room for me (and the kids) to use. At the moment I'm upstairs in a teeny room and it's bursting at the seams! We've drawn it all out, planned the storage and Paul's currently working on how to reroute the Sky cable through to the big sitting room so the TV can be moved through there. Can't wait as it will mean I can sit and be part of life downstairs when I'm working on projects - watch this space!!

The Kenner Road February kit is beautiful - my photo doesn't do it justice. I have signed up for 6 months and there are ideas of what to create on their website. They have some great digital kits and some free downloads available too. Check them out.

Fianlly got my 365 challenge sorted out. Took a total change of direction and fancied painting a background instead of stamping. Using Dyan's shading technique that she taught us last year, here is what it ended up looking like...

Cut out some triangles of paper to make bunting for each day...

March is a month full of birthdays and celebrations for us so I like how it's turned out. Plus, when Ellie saw it she said "The world needs more polka dots..." Couldn't agree more baby! Still need to add little bits and pieces and try to remember what I did on the 1st of March...missed that day and there's nothing in the calendar to jog my memory - may just have to draw something pretty!!

Delivered a box of Gingerbread Men to Harry's Playgroup on Wednesday. They were enjoying the Gingerbread Man story as part of World Book Day so I gave them a pile of blank men to paint, then I took them away, added the 'icing', ribbon and their names all ready to take home on Friday. Here's the result!

Hairdressers on Thursday - one of my favourite places to be...even though it took military style organising to get there, it was worth it. A stack of magazines, a gorgeous latte and a big slab of ginger cake - heaven! Have gone much shorter - Paul and the kids didn't actually recognise me when we met for dinner after!

Friday was a strange day. We were heading up to my hometown for my Uncle's surprise 5oth, staying overnight then leaving the kids there as Paul and I were going out back here on Saturday night. I spent the morning trying to pack bags for everyone inbetween Molly being clingy and difficult and Harry taking meltdowns over the slightest thing. About mid morning got a call from my friend in Edinburgh to say her Mum had died in the early hours of the morning. She only lost her Dad 8 months ago and her Mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer just over 2 weeks ago. I can't even imagine how she's coping and I am amazed at her strength. I came off the phone and burst into tears...only one thing for it - kettle on and give up on trying to get anything done for a while. After some quiet time with the kids cuddled in on the sofa, I managed to get everyone's bags organised (except mine!) and it all looked like it was coming together...until another phonecall left me reeling, upset and angry. But it was time for the school run and a weekend of celebrations so I just had to 'glory on'...

The surprise party went without a hitch (apart for the fact I'd taken the camera but left the memory card in the computer at home!) The main surprise was the fact that the birthday boy had figured it all out weeks ago but a good time was had by all and we were home at my Granny Ruby's by 10.45pm as Molly could barely stand she was so tired! I was exhausted too and was in bed bang on midnight which was just in time for the start of my birthday...

Had lunch with all my family on Saturday at a local hotel which was noisy and lovely! Got some lovely pressies too...

From the girls (chosen by Ellie)

From the boys (chosen by James - all by himself!)

Knickers, Thickers, books and baubles from Paul!

Had a great night out with friends that night at the local Indian then onto the pub for some drinks. Wore a pair of heels that I bought a year ago and have never worn...every time I put them on I end up changing them for another pair that never hurt regardless of how far I walk or how much I dance! But I thought they deserved an airing - I swear, my feet were hurting just walking from the front door to the taxi but they looked fabulous! Discovered that they don't really work on cobbles, or the nobbly paving slabs in front of pedestrian crossings but Paul was there to assist so it was all good!

Sunday was our 12th Wedding Anniversary. The traditional gift is Linen apparently but the contemporary one is Pearl...here's what Paul bought for me

So impressed that he went and researched it all...he got me a gorgeous freshwater pearl bracelet with an Eiffel Tower charm - we went to Paris for our first anniversary. Of course, it could just as easily be Blackpool Tower couldn't it?!? Anyway, it was a beautiful gift, thank-you. xx

We left for Dundee at midday to go to Caird Hall for Sticks and Strings - 2 percusionists and a String Quintet playing a variety of instruments and different kinds of music. It was fantastic and the kids were enthralled - really enjoyed it. Went for dinner with some friends afterwards then drove home, exhausted but happy! Did a wee bit of journalling on the way down. Got really sweet wrapping paper on my birthday presents so started cutting it up and making some backgrounds...

The book is only little but I'm enjoying the challenge of the small pages. I'm keeping all the bits I'm using for it in a folder so I can grab it and take it with me if I know I'll have a bit of time to play!

That's about it for now. Harry's 4th birthday tomorrow so wrapping presents tonight and (hopefully) getting him off to bed nice and early! I'll finish with some photos of Miss Molly. She's 18 months old, loves her handbag, getting very independent and insisting of feeding herself now...