Paul got up at normal o'clock to go to work. Boo. I didn't get up. I stayed in bed and did my best to go back to sleep.
When I failed I realised that I should probably crack on with what I intended to do with my day. Which mostly meant making some more Christmas cards!
My little craftin' station on the bed! I got about 12 made when my back decided it didn't want me to make any more. So I lay down under the heated throw...and was promptly joined!
Both kittens were very happy to have me join them for a nap! Well! I'm on holiday! It would be rude not to!
Barney airing the bellydots never gets old!
Paul came home and felt sorry for me in all my back ache. He had had a difficult day in work, which is a shame. So we spent the rest of the evening on the sofa watching tv. Like we do!
Another lazy morning. We made a deal that we would get up at 10 and do chores/get on with our day.
Paul went to make breakfast and I meant to get up and do stuff...but I was disturbed. I was held hostage and what was I to do?!
I had to not work for longer than I had planned to make the most of my cug!
I then remembered I needed to make a birthday card for Chris as it was his birthday on Saturday and I am a bad friend and didn't give him his present before the day. Well...why not make the magic of a birthday last a little longer?!
I didn't take a picture of it but it was awesome. You'll just have to trust me on that one! It would have been more awesome but I was a 'y' scrabble tile short. Meh.
I then decided while I had my craft kit out to make some Christmas cards! Fun fun fun! Except it makes my back hurt a little bit so I had to quit after a while.
I got a few ideas on camera though so I could make them should the inspiration strike again.
Cute Christmas tree, huh?!
We did a little clearing up all ready for #Whedonsday. When Chris arrived we gave him his card and part of his present - a ducky tie! I think it was a hit!
After some tv fun and games, some delicious italian shepherds pie, beer and the usual evening fun, it was over too soon and Chris headed out.
We chilled a little but as Paul's in work tomorrow we called it quits pretty soon.
Paul had a bad night's sleep. Mine wasn't great but not as bad as his. At least we didn't have to be up early this morning but still - not good.
Had a very productive morning in work! The time flew by! I like it when that happens! I don't like to wish time away, especially when the year has gone so fast already, but I was smug with my morning's work!
Then it all went wrong. So wrong.
We had a visitor to the office. I don't even really need to say who the visitor was. An image will do that for me.
Yep - my old line manager and bestest friend in the whole entire world came to the office to drop off some files he had taken. We've only been waiting 3 months for them. This must be some sort of record!
He only stayed for 5 minutes talking to me and I think the hostility came off me in waves so he retreated. Thank goodness. I was not impressed. Still trying to convince the world he's better than everyone else. Nope. Soz, pal, you aren't.
This put me in a funk for the rest of the day. He really gets my goat, even after nearly 2 years of him not working here. Wow, it's actually been that long. Nearly. Madness.
I hurried home after work, not wanting to be in the office any more. We were going to go to the cinema again tonight but figured that it wasn't worth it just in case Paul fell asleep! So I decided to make the card for Lucy and get the glue gun out!
It didn't take long and I hope she likes it in real life as well as in photographs!
I'm quite pleased with it! It's not the variation that I would have chosen myself but that's why I gave her options! I still think it looks ok. I think I might have to experiment with different coloured card behind the hessian in future, as I think without buttons it's a bit bland.
Once I finished, we relaxed and watched some more Stargate over dinner. I have a feeling this is going to be a common theme for the rest of the year!
We decided to try yet another early night in the hope Paul gets a better night's sleep.
Paul still feels ropey so we had another lazy morning. Due to him not feeling well enough to go to the office, he worked from home after giving me a cheeky lift into work! I like getting a lift but I don't like poorly sick Paul. Everyone hope he feels better soon!
Another busy day in work and I wasn't really feeling it but it's one of those situations where you just have to man up and get on with it! So I did. I'm getting very good at manning up. Still haven't got the foggiest as to what I'm actually doing, but I'm brave enough to give it a go! Well done me, I say!
I also got a cheeky delivery in work today!
I ordered these from Little Red's Home made Gifts just after Lucy had little baby B (I've said the name before but will try not to again for privacy's sake) and they arrived today! Looking forward to giving them to her when we get to see them all!
Speaking of Lucy, I started making the card she custom ordered from me last week! All the extra pieces I needed had arrived so no time like the present to get it done! Plus it means I don't have to iron tonight! WHOOP!
Maia helped with the scrabble tiles. She really quite liked the 'A' towards the top!
I basically just needed to arrange the letters into a format that fit and was pretty. There were a couple of options...
I then took loads of pictures of the different decorative options and forwarded them all onto Lucy to see which she liked.
I couldn't resist starting the post with this! :)
I also found a website that would watermark the images, should I decide to put the finished article on line. I started a crafty blog but it's not ready for public consumption yet! I am being urged to market them but I REALLY don't think I'm good enough for that! I just like doing it for me! Saves me finding the perfect card for people when I can make them myself! :)
After I had done as much as I could without Lucy's go ahead we had dinner and watched some more Stargate. Whilst eating, Lucy told me what she liked best (and sent me the cutest picture of A with little B!) and invited us to go and meet him on Sunday! Yay! I was hoping we'd get to go soon, especially as the gifts arrived today! :)
We decided on a fairly early night as we were both so tired, hoping that we'd get a better sleep.
The alarm went off. I got up. Paul got up. We went to the gym.
Cue shocked faces from readers. I KNOW, RIGHT?!
It was good! I went on the cross trainer for a while, did some planking and stretched out well! Pleased with my work!
Then had to get the motivation to go to work. Nope - think I used it all up on getting up and going to the gym!
It was made especially difficult by this:
Barney belly. It got a good kissin', don't you worry. He didn't even kick me one little bit! I call that progress!
Work was busy but I think I did ok. Stuff didn't want to work as usual, but as there was only me to complain to, there was no point in complaining.
Plus I'd brought myself a little something to brighten up my desk.
Pretty! Ok, so it's technically on T's desk, but I'm sure she'd like it too! The stem had broken on it on the bunch of flowers Paul bought me at the weekend, so I thought I'd rescue in and bring it to work for the pretty! I'm glad I did.
After work I went home (given a lift by D from upstairs...yep - she doesn't understand my sense of humour at all and practically jumped down my throat when I mentioned that the cats were on a diet. Get over it!) and spoke with my parents for a little while until Paul got home. We then went to get a few bits from the shops and find ourselves something for dinner.
When we got back I had been commissioned to make a wedding card for a friend of Lucy's. As she liked Boyd's card so much, she asked me to make something similar.
I had used up some of the letters I needed so had to order more, but the basics are there. I'll keep you posted on how I get on!
Not a bad start. Just a little short on Ms!
We watched a couple of episodes of Arrow then headed to bed. We were both tired so bed was very welcome!
I woke up this morning feelin' fine! Which came as a bit of a surprise to be honest. Paul thought it wouldn't be wise to gym and I agreed. So we slept a little more then dragged ourselves out of bed to work.
Work was much more of the same as yesterday. The system was down and really unreliable. We did what we could but it wasn't overly easy. T was getting really frustrated as she goes away for 2 weeks and had quite a lot that she wanted to do, which was proving difficult with lack of connectivity!
After work, I had to make a decision - the massive pile of ironing that needs doing or fashioning a new baby card for Lucy (who had a little boy last Wednesday...can't remember if I mentioned it...) as the materials I had purchased had arrived.
Yeah, the card won out. Figured it was a little more important, plus, quite frankly, more fun!
I had bought some scrabble-esque letters off Ebay and decided to use those!
I spelled out all of the baby's names (first name, two middle names and surname) then arranged then in scrabble style. I then realised I could also fit the word 'welcome' on it too, as it needed something extra on the left hand side! It all came together so well I was really shocked!
I decided that card was a bit too small, so I used a sheet of A4 card I had left from our wedding invitations and folded that in half instead. It's also less flimsy than the pre-packed cards so hopefully will hold the weight.
Just putting the letters onto cream card wasn't working for me. It needed texture. It needed decoration. It needed leftovers!
That's more like it! With a million miles of hessian left, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to use some of it! Plus buttons. Because...buttons!
I got my old friend the glue gun out and a set square and worked my magic.
Voila! Baby card!
I'm really pleased with it to be honest! Far easier than some that I have previously made, but very effective and very me, I think!
I'll get that sent tomorrow.
Instead of doing ironing, I vegetated for the rest of the evening. We watched True Blood, which was good, sent emergency train information to BossMan T (long story) and then went to bed. Fairly yawnsome day but creative!
I had another cheeky lie in this morning! Except for putting the last load of drying on! Paul got up and had breakfast and also watched Match of the Day again. He had a training run to do. Me...not so much.
So while he was out running, I read more of Veronica Mars! And by more, I mean I finished it. Yeah. I do that! I enjoyed it! It was good entertainment!
Paul came home and made himself a full cooked breakfast. I decided that I needed to get making a card, as my lovely friend Stevie became a Dad yesterday morning! Little Toby was born at around 8am, so I needed to get my crafts on!
I can't show you the finished product, even though I think it's the best one I've made so far! I can't show you because as you read this he still hasn't seen it! All I can do is give you a hint...
Blue buttons. That's all you get! :)
In the background I decided to watch some Lost commentaries, because I'm a big nerd and something got me thinking about Lost again! We met Juliet and I can't remember watching them before so it was nice! I do enjoy hearing the actors/writers/directors talk about how they made certain things and how they felt at the time! My all-time favourite commentary so far is the Lord of the Rings cast commentary though. Nothing has beaten that for me yet!
After watching and crafting, I came down for dinner and chilled out with Paul. It was nice! Can't for the life of me remember what we watched on the tv though! That's bad, isn't it?!
Check out Paul's beard!
No idea why I took this, but I'm sure I had a reason at the time!
Another morning, another gym session done pre-7am! Which is always good. Except I hadn't slept well so was shattered and my heart wasn't in it!
We got back from the gym and Paul got in the shower. Me - I lay on the bed and fell asleep again. OOPS.
Still made it to work no bother and no sooner had I got in, I was given jobs to do by BossMan T. Yeah. I was still wearing my coat when I had photocopying thrust at me.
I did it, and was then given the fun task of re-copying a few pieces and going through them taking out names, dates, companies etc. Except that i couldn't just delete them in Word...I had to do it the old fashioned way and get the Tipp-Ex out.
Other brands of correction fluid are available
Yeah. I spent all morning doing this.
From Tumblr
I did feel like bashing my head against a wall. Or a chest of drawers, as in the case above.
We had a ridiculous amount of post come in that the post office had been holding hostage, so I sorted through that, then while at lunch I had to sort out my financial situation with the bank and find out why my card stopped working. Turns out they stopped it as they had sent me a new one with my married name on it. Except I hadn't received it. So they're sending me another one. I then called the credit card dept to find out where my new card was from them only to be told they haven't sent me one as they didn't know I had changed my name. Even though I sent off a copy of our marriage certificate weeks ago. It had got to the debit dept but they hadn't passed it on to the credit dept...ARGH!
At least I have the credit card as now I am currently without cash cards!
I was in a bad mood, then Annabel sent me a cute picture of Edward, and that made everything ok again. Then she sent another one which made things even better!
Then BossMan T came in and spoilt it all again! More Tipp-Ex ing to do this afternoon...
From Tumblr
So I spent the day getting high on correction fluid fumes (I presume...I can't smell) and generally being annoyed. Not a good day.
I came home and decided to restart on Edward's card again, amending it to something a little more simple. I'm far more pleased with it now it's done.
Cute, no? Hartley REALLY didn't want to fit on the card! Stupid 7-letter names!
Paul made dinner and I finished the card at around about the right time for dinner. I have to take my Mum's birthday present to her this weekend, even though her birthday was weeks ago, so I started sorting that, only to find that the online shop I bought it from lied to me and it won't work how I want it to.
That was the final straw on bad days and I got upset. It was bound to happen.
While I was trying to calm down, Paul was sorting dinner, went to move our new frying pan when the handle broke and the pan fell on his foot. It's not a light pan. It hurt. He says it hurts but doesn't think it's broken. If it gets worse over the next few days, I'm taking him to the doctors and we're going to sue. He's got a half marathon in a couple of weeks. This is not good.
We had dinner and watched the latest How I Met Your Mother, then I made pancakes for us. Because it's Shrove Tuesday and that's what you do. Barney was begging for some, but when I offered him some he turned his nose up at it. Brat.
We were going to watch Castle but by this time it had got quite late, so we went to bed instead. I was shattered and fell asleep pretty quickly I think.
Yikes! Can't believe I made it to 600! That's madness!
We got up for the gym this morning despite neither of us really being in the mood. These things Have to be done I suppose.
Then - to work. Yawn.
From Tumblr
I think the above was an accurate representation of me from today! I had stuff to do and it's all boring. Yawn.
After work I headed straight to town to get the few missing items I need to work on my baby card. Except my card got declined. Hmmm. I didn't have my credit card on me but luckily Paul was one minute away and came to pay for it!
We then went to get some pictures enlarged, where his card was declined. Think there's a problem here! Luckily we had enough cash, so all was well. We headed to the supermarket where the cash machine told me that my card had been cancelled. Say WHUT? Paul's card was fine though, so I had to talk to the bank. Except I put it off this evening!
I went to get on with card making, and Paul did some work and made dinner.
The work in progress:
Not bad, right? Well, this is the best it got! I carried on with it as I had envisioned and my vision and reality didn't match up. So I quit. Will sleep on it. Paul didn't think it was that bad but I think it looked like Teddy had made it himself, so I don't think it's going to be the finished article.
I didn't take a picture. That's how ashamed I was.
"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing. That's why we recommend it daily." - Zig Ziglar.
Regular Monday morning, except we didn't gym. Yes, we're rebelling against our own personal norm! Mostly due to the fact that we need a bit of rest so we don't pull any muscles and badly hurt ourselves. I can't lie - I did enjoy lazing in bed!
I did get up and I did go to work but I didn't half feel grumpy. I don't like being grumpy but I was. I don't even know why!
I got through the working day as best I could. I was disappointed that the only option I had for lunch was creamy chicken soup. I don't like chicken soup. It doesn't taste of anything. Especially creamy chicken soup. At least chicken and sweetcorn has personality. But creamy chicken soup is 'blah' so I sulked even more for the rest of the day.
After work, Paul picked me up and I went straight back to my crafting station (currently the bed) and carried on with Mum's birthday card. I glued it down a little better and added another butterfly and a 'Happy Birthday' sign. What do you think?
It looks a little bit plain to me, but it is my first go, and I don't want to ruin it by adding other bits that I'm not convinced about yet. I need to get a padded envelope to send it I think, but once I've written it I think it's good to go! Got to finish A's now though. Hmmmm.
We had dinner (steak) and watched a couple of episodes of The Good Wife, then headed to bed for an early night...
"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." - Pablo Picasso.
Another day for being productive. I lazed in bed, dozing off after not a great sleep but not the worst I've had. There was much demand for breakfast from the fur-babies, as yesterday.
I decided to crack on with the thank you cards that I started yesterday and during that time, Paul got up and went to the football.
I then had my little assistant come to help me...
I should have just used the last one as the cover for the card, shouldn't I? He loved the string and ran off with one at one point. Maia was playing with them too, but I didn't catch her on camera!
I got a fair amount done on them but they aren't finished. I remembered I had pressing matters at hand which needed attention, so I guess I can work on them during the week.
The much more pressing matters are that it's my Mum's birthday on Saturday and A's 3rd birthday a week on Tuesday! I have decided to try to make cards for these occasions, as...well...why not...so I started a new craft technique I've never done before to see if I was any good at it.
Turns out I think I'm ok! For a first go I'm pretty proud of these!
Obviously these aren't finished yet. I have more decoration to do, and they need gluing a little better (and I have to work out how to do it!) but I think it's not bad! I am bias of course. I hope they are ok...they are, right?
Paul got home quite late from the football, so we finished off the risotto from yesterday and I watched some more Veronica Mars (now in the final season...why did they cancel this show again?) which Paul watched Top Gear. Naturally I stopped to watch Tom Hiddleston as 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' because it's Loki and you do as he tells you to.
Then bed. Where I couldn't get to sleep for AGES. Great.
"Saturday, what a day, groovin' all week with yoooooou..." - Happy Days!
*This could be a picture-heavy post. And none of them are of me! Considering I uploaded 81 pics, eek! Not all of them will make it though. I hope!*
A nice lie in this morning! Paul was awake before me despite him coming to bed much later than I did!
After lazing around for a while, I set to and carried on making Ceri's birthday card! Needed to get done in time for her shindig tonight!
Want to see? Well alrighty then!
No idea why it's sideways. Stupid blogger.
Hand-made 3D bunting, handstamped with 'Happy Birthday Ceri!'.
I'm quite proud of it! There are a few things I'd do different but for a first attempt birthday card I say go me!
I spent the rest of the day sorting out a few odds and ends with my crafty stuff with regards to making some more thank you cards from the wedding - yes I'm horrendously behind. Bad etiquette, Cags. Shame on me.
I also marathoned some more Veronica Mars. Yes - I'm hooked now. I need to know who killed Lilly Kane, damnit! I have 2 or 3 more eps of season 1 left to watch and I can't wait!
We then had dinner and got ready to drive over to Bromborough to attend the lovely Ceri's 30th birthday shindig! It was a 90s themed party. We didn't get dressed up. We felt like the odd ones out!
Chris and Ceri as Beauty and the Beast! How adorbs are these two?!
I think the other way this evening could be described is a Spice Girls convention as I think there were about 3 sets of Spice Girls there!
Chris's brother in law cameo'd as Ginger Spice and his Dad was Sporty. Talk about getting into the spirit of things! :)
Then time for cake!
It was Ceri's Dad's birthday a week before so they combined the party (correct me if I'm wrong, Chris!)
My favourite picture of the whole night I think!
There certainly were a few fun costumes around!
I believe the above has a stereotypical 90s scouser socialising with Mario and Luigi. Slash was in the background as well.
Chris's Grandma as Baby Spice. Wonderful!
Apparently there is a massive penchant with many of the guest to like any song that has a dance routine. Macarena...Whigfield. It's painful.
The Macarena. Closely followed by Whigfield - Saturday Night.
Fun for the whole family.
Spice up your life...
And time for some Liam Gallagher impressions...
General family fun!
The penultimate song was a doozy. In keeping with the costumes, we got a bit of Beauty and the Beast for the nearly-weds to dance along to...
(Not sure what the DJ is doing in the back of this one...Night Fever, perhaps?!)
Aren't they just lovely?! Can't wait for the wedding now!
We got home about 12:30am (dirty stopouts) with rather gravelly voices after singing rather loudly to the britpop they played towards the end, and the classic song which makes you put your arm in the air as soon as the intro plays...
Just us?
Fantastic night and completely sober, although probably hyper from the coca cola and icing from birthday cake! 4 weekends off the ale now! It's been easy! Didn't even fancy a drink last night! I've changed!
Headed to bed with a smile on my face and regret for not getting fancy dressed up!
Oh and I put all those pictures on there in case Chris wanted to take copies of them. Sorry if they bored the rest of you.
I need to get a proper camera. Might ask Santa for one next year.
