Mister Linky

Just testing out my Mister Linky form, and also trying to decide if I might not just defect back to blogger if they will have me!

As long as paragraphs problems are a thing of the past, and apparently my Mister Linky has a box round it, just can't get that on WP....which is mega annoying.

I'm on the move

my new blog can be found here.

Please bear with my whilst I move things across.

Yawn, yawn, rowing stats

boring, but I need to write them down, and this is the easiest method:

16th November - AM - rest period

16th November - PM - 518 reps/32.11 cals/13:55 time/(1) 2626 TTR

17th November - AM - 550 reps/34.10 cals/15:09 time/(1) 3176 TTR

17th November - PM - 383 reps/23.74 cals/10:08 time/(1) 3539 TTR **what a pussy, I could't do any better for some reason.

18th November - AM - 505 reps/31.31 cals/13:06 time/(1) 4064 TTR

18th November - PM - 551 reps/34.16 cals/ 14:04 time/(1) 4615 TTR

Hello Card

this seem to be a bit of a favourite colour combo at the moment, orange, blue, gred and limeish green - I think it might be the time of the year.

Quick card one of my friends ordered. She's having a baby any day, and this is a card to accompany the present that the new baby is sending to her big sister. Inside the card it just says in lime green rub-ons "big sister".

Supplies: Orange Bazzill, SEI frame & tab, WR Memory Keepers flower paper, Stamp: Magnolia, COPICS, gold perlidoodles, orange check ribbon (SG-me! spring release) and green stickles.

I love this Magnolia image, I ordered it last week with my Sugar Nellies. Talking of which, I can't mount them as we're out of stock on EZ Mount, so can't play with them until later in the week when it comes back in stock (shame really as I can't wait to have a go).

I've also ordered a few more Magnolia new release stamps today - had to check with Guy that they weren't ones he'd ordered, which thankfully they weren't - so more lovely Magnolia should be on their way to me soon. I'm also working on my SU order for Caz.

Guy was questioning me today about how long Mangolia take to deliver, so I guess that he has put in his order for the rest of my birthday and Christmas gifts. This is very good news, as I will have a craft embargo after Xmas in readiness, 'cos we need to pay for Tobago. He did mention today (when he caught me Magnolia shopping) that the idea is NOT to simply have a huge spend now in the hopes that I can get through it..........seems like a plan to me though.

Whoops, put the wrong card in the envelope

stupid mare that I am! I got so carried away listening to Jon & Russell, that before I knew what I was about I'd written the one with Tilda and flowers - sorry Burn, I know that you're not keen.


Just going to have to put the real one in the post as well.

Very uninspring photo, but this is my new bike

it's a lovely ice blue colour.

Guy took me off this morning to choose one, and after much debate - this'll be coming home later on this afternoon. Finger crossed it will fit in the car, or that we can get they cycle rack sorted, otherwise I will have a long ride home.

Apparentely though, I am not even allowed near it until my birthday in early December.

I've dropped a dress size

it would seem in the last month since I started rowing. It dawned on me yesterday lunchtime for the first time.

I went to the local sports shop (somewhere I do not feel comfortable going generally), to get a sports shirt to row in when I venture outside (which won't be long), and had a tiny panic attack, all the labels only went to 16. Still, I ventured to actually try something on, and the 16 swamped me..........I put it down very much to the fact that probably sporty type sizes are different to real life...........and bought the lovely white with pale pink detail long sleeved top, which is breathable no less, and made a run for it.

After the success of the lunchtime foray, and with Toodles going away last night to the outlaws, I decided I would pop to M&S and try to compound on my retail therapy and buy a sports bra. So Parental Control and I rushed off through Friday evening traffic to Tunbridge Wells.

No only did I come away with 2 sports bras, but several white vest tops, a lovely pale pink cloche hat, but also.....................tahhhhhdaaah size 16, and very tight fitting I might add, tracksuit bottoms and roll neck jumper in black with white detail down the sides. It's looks really quite nice on, and I can't see any huge rolls of flab either. That with the fact that our cleaner at work said I looked very pretty yesterday morning, and one of the girls commented on how toned and full of energy I am recently, made it a very nice Friday. Clearly the cleaner is blind or desperate, but it's very nice to get a compliment anyway!

So you see, I might bore you to death with my rowing stats, but it's working - and I'm seriously considering venturing out on open water (hence all the sports clothes buying). There is a rowing club at Ardingly Resevoir in Sussex which has club days on every second Sunday, and they welcome newbies to go along for a trial row to see if they like it. I've also sourced a rowing club in Maidstone (which is not too far away from here), and once I know that I can actually be in a real boat and not panic, I will join. Apparently, you have to have changes of clothes with you before they even let you in the water (I'm assuming they fall in a lot), and also wear layers to peel off whilst you row. I also need to swim 100m in light clothing, so now I need to hit the swimming pool with Toodles on a Wednesday again to practice. I also need to do this for me Scuba trail dive next year, so two birds with one pool!

Anyway, back to craft, this is the card that I made for Angel, who's just had an op. I particularly love this Bella stamp. Paper is by WR Memory Keepers.

Blog Candy Bags stuffed and ready to go

finally, I hear you all cry.

Supplies: Chloe's Closet & Basic Grey Paper; Pink Pearlidoodles, Stamp: Teddy by Magnolia and Circle Sentiment by Aud; COPIC markers (there's a surprise); Prima Crazy Daisy "Aylssa" & "Jasmine" packs.

They are 2-5-7-10 bags, which are super easy to make, with the image coloured and cut out, and then added to the front.

I want this T-shirt - brace yourself more stats

14th November - AM - 445 reps/27.39 cals/12:26 time ** / (1) 713 TTR (** take off at least 30 seconds to un-strap myself, run across the other side of the room, turn off my alarm, run back and strap myself in again)

14th November - PM - 460 reps/28.52 cals/12:34 time/(1) 1173 TTR

15th November - AM - 467 reps/28.95 cals/12:53 time/(1) 1640 TTR

15th November - PM - 466 reps/28.29 cals/12:19 time/(1) 2107 TTR

I was enlivened on this morning's row by my recorded version of the Jon Richardson and Russell Howard Sunday show - especially hearing about purple boxers and rowing machines and organising drawers - did me no good at all I can tell you!

Hint to my Darling Hubby or random family and friend, I would love this T-shirt in white (unfortunately no purple option) ........pretty please!

By the way, you can't believe what a challenge a rowing session can be, especially when you are trying to direct the oldest child to his lunch and out the door, help the youngest do her homework, and send off your darling hubby with a nice warming snog - all of this without breaking your stroke on the machine, and trying to knock half a minute off your personal best - it's achievable, but only with supreme timing.

SU day arrived

I spoke to Caz today, and she is a Demonstrator for them. So anyone in need of an Enabler tell her I sent you. I'm currently working on a rather large list for her myself.



It's going to be a non-crafty post again, sorry 'bout that - I have been crafting, but it's currently drying. This time a quick card for poor Bernie who had an operation yesterday. Spoke to her snuggled up in her sick bed this morning, and she's bearing up well considering what a nasty op it was.


As she can't really struggle to the computer yet, I can post a picture of the card tomorrow, before it goes in the post, and she won't see it. Anyhow, sending her loads and loads of cyber hugs and get well wishes (even though she can't see them).


I need to row my little boat now, and then have a snuggle with Toodles - she's still poorly, but on the mend, and may go to School tomorrow, we'll make the decision in the morning.


Night, night all, sleep tight.

Woooopeeeeeedooooooooooooo

my Sugar Nellies have arrived..........and another Magnolia - why, oh why, oh why does new rubber make me feel so dang good?


Can't wait to have a play, I've just got to pop to the Post Office to send off some orders, and then on to Toodles parent/teacher meeting - and I'm then free to have a bit of a play. Can't wait.



Just by way of a moan, what is it with blogger and it's loathing of paragraphs - bloomin' thing just like to squish it all up together, and I hate that. I need to try and work on a tiny image that I can upload to separate the paras - damn the OCD yet again.

Sorry if you don't love Magnolia, another one

this is the card I made with yesterday's uploaded image. I won't go into a huge long supplies list, as I don't know what colour the case cardstock is - just generic kraft'ish, and the matting is Razzleberry Dark Prism and a bottle green cardstock. Pattern Paper by by AMM.

Image, as usual, coloured with COPICs, and a sprinkle of Sakura on the flowers and the hearts on the small stamp image.

I've also discovered Karen Foster's Loopy Brads - had them forever....but never got them out the packet........they are fabbie things, and great for threading with thread or ribbon, and then hanging images from - a la this card.

Little stamp image is from Aud's Circle Sentiment Sheet (I need to get some more of them in stock).

Actually, I think that I'll just add some of the jade self-adhesvie pearls to the other three corners of this.

I'm just about to start working on a project with my Bind it All - had it for ages, and not even used it in anger - so watch this space.

SU is coming - 1 day to go - whoooohoooo and

from a brief conversation I had with Guy on the phone today, when he was enquiring what I'd done with my Magnolia Wish List (it's a big 'un too), I do believe that he may have ordered me some more of the precious things.

I coloured this last night, just need to pop it on a card. As usual life's thrown a spanner in the works and my Toodles is really poorly, so I doubt it will be tonight. I have bag stuffing to do though (that must be done).

It's been another hellish day at the Kingdom of Blahhhh, but I just about meandered through the whole ghastly experience. Now, stifle a yawn, here are my rowing stats for the last couple of sessions (just remember I have borderline OCD!):

11th November - PM - 418 reps/25.91 cals/11:48 time/8983 TTR

12th November - AM - 425 reps/26.35 cals/12:25 time/9388 TTR

12th November - PM - rest

13th November - AM - 440 reps/27.28 cals/12:40 time/9828 TTR

and I am particularly proud of the next one, as the total trip went right to 10,000 and re-set.

13th November - PM - 440 reps/27.28 cals/12:22 time/10,000 (1) + 268 on the re-set = 10,268 TTR

see.........getting, quicker and fitter all the time.........the whole thing really is not a task at all (I secretly love the rhythm and mindless nature of it) and just look at all the lovely calories I'm burning. BIG PLUS, not putting them in the top end too much either - not bad for a fat lass.



I am now also harbouring a secret longing to have a go in a real boat - you know, skull down the Thames on a misty summer morning...........mmmmmmmmm, one day perhaps.