Target weight… hooray!

I (heart) SW, do I need to say any more?

Blaming my medication for an under active thyroid seems to have been my 'reason' as to why my weight has steadily crept up over the last 10 years, that and being put on HRT last year. When weighed last year, the scales read 10 stone 5lb, the heaviest I'd ever been.

January 2014 arrived and enough was enough, I was going to loose weight. 

I think everyone who has ever dieted can relate to needing to be in that mindset and my mind was made up.

So I joined a SW group - to my dismay, the scales now read a heavier 10 stone 101/2 lb, which made me even me determined!

The weight loss has been steady, most weeks losing between 1 and 2lb, interspersed with a couple of gains and a couple of 'maintains' along the way…

Low and behold, a few weeks ago, I stood on those scales to see I had got to target. I was so happy with this achievement, but to be totally honest, was more pleased when I stood on the scales a couple of weeks previous to that to see them read 8 stone 13lb!

Now I am maintaining, which is actually freaking me out more than trying to loose - random I know, especially for all of you trying to lose weight, but trying to stay within a boundary of 3lb either way is tricky… I'm still discovering 'what I can get away with' versus 'plan'.

To say this diet is AMAZING is simply not enough. Last Monday after our mini break, weigh in declared a gain of 2 1/2lb, which by the way I totally deserved! Today, after being mostly on track whilst away for the weekend, apart from enjoying a lovely piece of coffee and walnut cake and the most wonderful parma violet and blackcurrant and aniseed ice-cream, only made with double cream, and boy did we know it, weigh in showed a 2lb loss!

So if you're contemplating joining this amazing journey, which has honestly transformed me, I can wholeheartedly recommend SW.

Happy Saturday!

So this weekend I'm teaching at a lovely venue in Wanborough…

This will be my third time teaching at this venue and what a room these ladies have to scrap in and I have to teach in, beautiful high ceilings and fantastic facilities surrounded by lovely friendly people…

Sheena and I are doing two classes each with a M&T on the Saturday evening.

My first class on Saturday, in all its glory…

Such pretty, pretty colours and loving the combination of an oversized photo against the smaller ones…

And my second class on Sunday… lots of painting involved in this one!

So I hope the Wanborough ladies enjoy making their layouts as much as I did creating them!

Anyway, must dash, got some crafting to teach!

One week ago….

One week ago today we boarded the Queen Victoria, a three night cruise on one of Cunard's ships, bound for Brugge and Cherbourg...

We travelled as two couples, and although I hadn't spent much time with Denise until the trip, we got on so well, even setting sail in near identical clothing!

We took a taxi from the port into Brugge…

Day 2 and Denise and I were in matching denim jackets!

Brugge is such a beautiful place, we had a few hours to explore and taste the local delights of moules and frites (which we categorically told we couldn't share - orders of the owner!)

Can you have a foursome selfie?

Friday and Saturday night saw us hit the ships' nightclub…

Apparently I an has the 'moves like Jagger as well as the lips!'

Saturday day and we explored Cherbourg… Denise and I even managed a bit of shoe shopping (not matching I hasten to add!)

Roll on our next weekend together, wherever it may take us!

How time flies...

I knew I'd got a bit lapse at blogging lately, but I didn't realise just how bad!

Over six months has past since my last post, this is my first post for 2014 and it's exactly six months until Christmas Day 2014!

What's changed? I'm a year older and two stone lighter, but rest assured my love of scrapping hasn't diminished!

In fact, as well as having been on numerous retreats already this year, I have also taught at the GoGoGetaway and at a venue in Swindon back in February on behalf of GoGo.

This Friday sees Sheena and I wending our way to sunny Swindon to meet Lorraine and Janice and the lovely ladies of Wanborough for Aquarelle Adventures… And what a weekend they have in store!

I'm teaching two double page layouts and whilst I can't reveal the full image yet, I thought that I'd share a peek or two with you to whet your appetite…

Using the rather delicious Prima Free Spirit range, we start with the first class 'Nature's Complement'

Equally pretty but more vibrant is 'Aquamarina'… And this is the last class of the weekend on Sunday afternoon - no doubt the weekend will fly by and Sunday will be upon us all too soon, but I'm sure with many a giggle or laugh along the way!

Roll on Friday at 3.00pm!

Not all jobs are boring!

And mine definitely isn't!

Having recently been given the responsibility of Social Media at my place of work, Utopia Bathroom Group, we have been discussing various ideas over the last few weeks, banding suggestions around and deciding on a plan…

Last Monday was a fairly busy day at work, no different to any others in that respect, but that was soon to change! Having had an idea to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas, with some giveaways, a brainwave in the night developed this idea into becoming the 'Twelve Daves of Christmas' as along with one of our joint MD's and another Director, we have a total of 13 people named Dave who work at Utopia.

Again, you may ask is that really that remarkable? As a company of 160 employees, I personally think nearly one in 10 is!

And so the campaign was hatched! What you can accomplish in such a short space of time once mindset is in place is actually quite remarkable!

Tuesday saw the design, Wednesday saw the sign off of the campaign and teaser FB posts and today sees the launch!

What can you win?

There will be a series of prizes which increases day by day and accumulates the possible entrants who will be entered into the overall prize to win £1500 worth of Utopia Bathroom products. Today, as it is the first of the month, sees a Sap day for two up for grabs, tomorrow you can win two electric toothbrushes and so on, until 12th December, where will be giving way 12 duck radios!

Then on 13th December, all 78 lucky winners will then enter to win the overall prize of £1500!

Kinda cool even if I do say so myself!

What's more its free to enter so pop on over to Utopia's Facebook page, like and share the word and who knows - it could be you!

What a great weekend...

How fast time flies when you're having fun and there was plenty of that last weekend at the 11th GoGoGetaway...

I taught four classes over the weekend, starting with a simple one for the first class on Friday night!

We decorated the cutest pegs, covering them in musical tissue paper print and did masses of intricate cutting... the Prima papers are way too pretty not to!

Rose Inca Gold was also used to embellish the page - gotta get me some of that stuff!

After assisting Nicola in her canvas class and Janice in the prettiest class where you decorated a tailors dummy, it was time for my second class...

I'm personally very into white backgrounds at the moment and loved this class, with yet more intricate cutting... We used model magic by Crayola to create some Prima style tiles, which were stamped into and left to air dry.

The last class on Saturday evening was so cute, creating a wee nest for the birdies to lay their eggs in...

Sunday morning saw my last class 'Tashtastic'

Such a fun layout to finish on after such a busy weekend...

Ladies, I had a blast and if you enjoyed yourselves half as much as I did then you'll have a brilliant time indeed!

Cats... and not the musical!

Having been asked to be the Special Investigator for October over at CSI, case file 94 was right up my street!

As a lover and owner of seven cats, I had never heard of the book 'I could pee on this and other poems by cats' written by Francesco Marciuliano. The cover of this book was the inspiration for the case file.

With my eldest cat Cuthbert being a Ginger Tom and the book being such an obscure title, I ordered it from Amazon for my husband, on the basis that he would take a photo of Cuthbert reading the book and I would then scrap it!

After many attempts, we hit upon the perfect shot, although Cuth wasn't too impressed!

I used some Project Life cards that my friend Julie had given me and embellished them with rub-ons, ribbons and a button.

One of the CSI prompts was to journal from your pets point of view... something I thought would be really tricky to do actually flowed quite freely!

Cuth is now 15 and whilst he's getting those tell tale old cat signs such as a bony spine, he's still a cutie and I love him to bits!