Many Steps Sideways

Late night education

2012-03-04T21:47:00.001Z

My man is doing his PHD in physics. He has, for reasons unknown, and yet useful to me, decided to impart his physics wisdom and teach me to code. Yeah. Computer code. Starting with C++.

I don't think it will be easy; I'm not a great listener. More of a read it to learn type of person.

But, when it results in using the white board, being explained the whole schrodinger's cat thing very late at night, it is highly entertaining.

I can't even remember how we got onto the cat... The bunny in the corner is my contribution! But I do now understand the concept. Somewhat at least.

And yes, my life did dissolve into a 'big bang theory' comedy sketch last night.

Bazinga.

Have a happy Sunday night folks. May it be calming and educational to you all.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Happy Saturday

2012-03-03T22:19:00.001Z

What makes a happy Saturday?

- A long lay in, complete with snuggles!

- A meal out (in lieu of no anniversary or valentines celebration).

- Touring the antiques fair and bazaar and having to forcibly restrain yourself from buying vintage cameras!

- Taking a long nap.

- Watching a old school detective style Castle episode.

- Putting together my first ever cushion cover. Will do the other one tomorrow!

- Ordering a whole bunch of threads online to get the next stitching project underway! Yay!

Friday Night Crafting

2012-03-02T22:12:00.000Z

So I decided to actually do something tonight, rather than my normal moping on a Friday night!

I've been meaning to make some cushion covers for my bargain 50p cushions.

I figured this fabric would make fabulous mismatched cushions! :D

I hate this ironing board. It's all we really have space for though, but it makes sewing a nightmare. I tried to iron my quilt top on it the other day; complete nightmare. Anyone else have to deal with a tiny ironing board?

I got to use my Cath Kidston pins for the first time! :D

And ta da: A cushion cover:

Well, almost a cushion cover. I need to sew it all together in the morning!

Have a happy weekend!

Where's my mojo? Have you seen it?

2012-03-01T21:12:00.001Z

I feel like I've lost my mojo. My enthusiasm. My ability to do anything.

(Except cross stitch.)

But having finished one project, I'm not ready to move back to the rocket ship tonight.

Not really ready to do anything.

I need some crafty motivation.

I'm missing photo taking, but I know I don't have the energy for a 365 again.
I've barely picked up my camera since January. I need to find a way of taking pictures again, without it becoming a daily chore, but something I enjoy.

I need to learn to be bothered of an evening.

Does anyone else have this problem of returning from work and just not doing anything? Of just vegetating on the couch and becoming a flat blob who can't move? Just me? Shared shatteredness?

It might just be this week. Back to work after time off is always hard.
But.
I need a project. Or something to work on photography wise.

Suggestions?

Tuesday Treasury: Time for Tea

2012-02-28T21:07:00.001Z

Time for an evening cup of tea.

I love a hot cup of tea in the evening.

Winding down from the day with fingers curled around a mug of steaming tea.

Milky white. No sugar.

Maybe a biscuit or two (or three, as I stole one of Pip's!)

Monday Blues

2012-02-27T18:52:00.000Z

It goes to show how tired I am tonight, in that, when titling this post, I wrote 'Munday.' Forgive me for any further grammatical and/or spelling failures.

It was my first day back at work in two weeks today. I had 16 days off. I was away for some, sick for others. But I didn't have to get up and head into work; bliss.

Today wasn't actually so bad. I woke up a full hour before I had to leave (following Campfire Chic's advice) giving me enough time to wake up properly and get myself breakfast and a non-rushed cup of coffee. That may have been the best thing about getting up earlier. I also made sure I had something yummy for lunch (rocky road), as well as a new book to read on my lunch break.

These little things really helped.

It also helps that in 11 or so weeks I will either be transferring and reducing my hours, or leaving for good. I may or may not be actively counting down. I know very little money will be hard. I know it will be excruciatingly difficult to find a decent job, but I am ready to go now. Ready to move on and take that step.

11 weeks.

wow.

hope it flies by.

So I'm at home now, PJ'd up and admiring my lovely paper stitches over my arm. I'm about to put on some trashy TV from 40D and get to finishing my dinosaur.

Hope everyone had a happy (or not too bad) start to their week.

Sunday stitching

2012-02-26T22:08:00.001Z

Sunday stitching., a photo by Lost Star on Flickr.

Getting there with the dinosaur. Slowly filling him up!

Sunlit Saturday

2012-02-25T21:50:00.001Z

Don't you just love it when the sunshine comes out at the end of February, and you are reminded that Spring is just around the corner? I do; totally puts a smile on my face. Do not get me wrong, I love the cold weather. But after all the grey, some sunshine just perks everyone up.

To celebrate the sunshine I made lemon drizzle cupcakes with a left over lemon, and poured a lovely cup of tea!

Colour is also appearing on my dinosaur cross stitch which has been black and white for so long! Can't wait to get him done now!

Rounding Up the Week

2012-02-24T22:38:00.001Z

It's been both a busy, and a completely not busy, week.

If that makes sense to anyone.

I spent Monday through to Wednesday fighting a cracking headache that lingered until this morning. So I spent Monday in bed and Tuesday on the couch.

Throughout my hiding out in the flat I sewed this dinosaur whilst watching a mixture of QVC and 'Making Space.'

Tuesday was pancake day!

Wednesday I was at the Doctors for my cough and asthma (turns out I was on a child's dose of medication and it got doubled) and hanging out with Pip taking a crazy long nap. I also bought this fabric on my way home:

Thursday is where it got busy as I completely cleaned out the top half of the kitchen and did some general organization around the place.

Today was another trip to the Doctors, where I had my implant out.

Which now hurts like a little bitch.

It was voluntary though, so I guess complaining is not allowed.

And I can't take the big bandage off until tomorrow;

and the little one can't come off until Monday. :(

This fellow made it home with me after I stopped off at the shops. I needed some cheering up!

Hope everyone has a happy, headache free, weekend!

xxx

Wednesday

2012-02-22T20:06:00.001Z

Slowly stitching during headache manageable times, a photo by Lost Star on Flickr.

Still with the headache.

Still with the cough. But now with stronger inhalers.

Feel very down as feel like I have wasted my time off by being ill.

Only 4 more days then it's back to work for some 12 weeks. Then it is into the unknown.

Tuesday Treasury

2012-02-21T21:29:00.002Z

I couldn't figure out a way to embed from etsy, so here is the link: Storage and Stuff

I've been curled up on the couch with a headache all day again today, watching QVC's US craft day. Do people actually buy from the telly still? Everything seemed to sell out very quickly. I did learn quite a bit about papercraft though. I guess mindless TV has to be useful for something! There was some cool stuff I will admit, but nothing I would not prefer to look at in person before forking over money for! The Tim Holtz (Is that his name?) stuff looked pretty awesome!

Anyhoos, hope everyone has had their pancakes today! Have a happy Tuesday evening!

Grown up?

2012-02-20T18:07:00.001Z

It's amazing how professionals, in this case a doctor, can make you feel like a child.
Like you haven't spent a long time making the right decision for you.
Like you haven't thought through all the potential consequences of your decision. (Getting my contraceptive implant out.)

I get that there are things you must be asked.
I get that you may know better and want to run tests about some of my problems.
That's fine. Do that. It would be nice to know some answers.
But it won't change the other reasons I want it done.
This is not taken lightly.

It's serious. It's a "Grown Up Decision."

Thankfully, it is my right to stop using a particular form of birth control.
It doesn't feel right for me anymore, even if there is a 'good two years left in it.'
I was pretty firm with the doctor about it. A lot of women talk about having issues getting their doctor to remove it. I think, if I hadn't been so sure and having a pretty hard tone with her, she wouldn't have booked me into getting it removed. It would have been tests this week and 'we will see'. I'm pretty dubious about what she will say to me when I actually go on Friday too...

But I mostly know what I want now. My side effects are not the worst I could imagine, but with it out, I can regain a sense of what is normal for me. The headaches, the mood swings, the crying; what of that is me, and what of that is hormonal? After four years on it, I want to come off of hormonal contraception and sort myself out. (Not apparently, a good reason for its removal.)

But I still feel like I am being told I am making the wrong choice, because I choose to remove it rather than live with the side effects. This wasn't explicit, but in the tone used, and the having to persuade her that whilst I would have the tests, I still wanted it out, it was implicit.

Does anyone else have problems with Doctors getting what you want/need?
I guess I should just be thankful we have the NHS right now at all and deal with them in a nice, grown up way.

But this:

Silent Sunday

2012-02-19T21:15:00.001Z

Rawr!, a photo by Lost Star on Flickr.

When Saturday's are good..

2012-02-18T23:19:00.001Z

... You have a fabulous lay in, with breakfast and coffee made for you.
... You get a cool magazine in the store, and still come in under budget.
... You have an awesomely good two hour nap to make up for the previous nights crummy sleep interrupted by ridiculous itchiness of the back.
... You order Chinese take out and eat whilst watching lord of the rings.
... You can relax in bed sewing cool dinosaur mottos.
... You make rocky road and it is really easy.

You know things aren't quite right when...

... You can't stop coughing.
... You drop your lunch, spill tea everywhere and break the plate.
... After making a second lunch, (on a plastic plate) you drop half of that too.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend and not dropping too much food!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Catching Up

2012-02-17T19:57:00.000Z

Opps. Sorry for the lack of posts.

I'm back home now, and slowly getting into the swing of it. Was pretty out of it with a headache all day yesterday, and have been coughing a lot today so it looks like I have a cold. Again. I seem to keep getting them this year. Ick. Booked in with the asthma nurse for next Wednesday, earlier if anyone cancels; hopefully she will be able to tell me how to keep on top of my asthma with my newer inhaler. I seem to be struggling every time I get a cold right now, which isn't a great feeling.

I'm also booked in to speak with the Dr (on the phone, how cool is that) on Monday morning about having my implant out. Fed up with the headaches and general craziness of it all. This one's been in a year and quite frankly, we are not in agreement. Hopefully she will agree to let me go on something different that will make me less emotionally batshit crazy and crappy feeling. I guess we will see what she says. I think I should not have had this second one in. I had enough blah with the first one. Giving it another go for a year is enough for me.

In other less medical related news I tided just about everything today, including the underneath of the bed, the entire bathroom, the wardrobe, and the paper suitcase. The only thing left is the kitchen which needs a really good clean, and the bookshelves, which need a bit of a sort out.

I also watched a whole lot of 'Big Fat Gypsy Wedding'. Highly amusing. But also one of those things you feel really bad watching. The weddings are INSANE. I mean, these women can barely walk in the dresses...

Last, but awesomely, I'm stitching a 'Rawr! Means I love you in Dinosaur' picture right now.

It's so cute!

Have a happy weekend all.

Dreams of the weary

2012-02-13T16:33:00.001Z

I've been having a whole series of crazy weird dreams over the past few nights. Most odd. Seem to hit me at my weariest.

Highlights include dreams about my tongue swelling up at work and not being able to breathe, as well as the classic (for me anyways) not handing in essays on time. Oh, and last night was that, as well as being unable to get anyone to start a craft group... All at uni. Which I left over a year ago.

I'm sure that essay one is indicative of something, as I continue to get it, even knowing that I have my degrees. It's very odd in that, it always take me a few moments upon waking to realise that no, I don't have any work due.

Do you still have these kinds of dreams after studying? Do they ever go away? What's your weirdest dream?

Sunday

2012-02-12T15:39:00.001Z

I'm at home this week. I'm also now off of work for two weeks, so once I'm feeling better (totally run down right now) blogging should re-commence!

For now, and so it doesn't look like I have completely abandoned my blog, have some pictures of my weekend so far!

My little brother, who keeps getting older. Crazy.

Still stitching up my rocket ship. I'm currently doing the laundry room!

Coffee cupcakes for my mum. Actually, it was supposed to be a cake but it collapsed in the oven! Weird.

Some traditional family entertainment in the form of a board game! I lost dramatically. Damn those forgeries.

My cutie panda from hobbycraft. I was very restrained and just bought this and some aida. So I can get some more random stitching down!

Anyways, I'm off to spend more time sat sewing on the couch.
Hope everyone is having a lovely Sunday!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A favourite stitch

2012-02-08T19:59:00.001Z

Obviously, cross stitch is just one of those ever occurring trends!
I'm still working on the space ship waste pipes. Hope to move onto other parts of the ship soon!

Fighting a cold and stitching whilst tucked up in bed.
How are you spending your Wednesday?

Tea for the Weary

2012-02-07T20:28:00.001Z

We are failing to fight a horrid stuffy cold here.

Tea is soothing us during the battle to stay awake and upright.

But to be honest, I'm heading to bed after drinking it!

I need to get back to being healthy. Not being able to breathe properly sucks.

This is one problem of working in a place with the public, as well as not being able to take sick days.
Everyone comes in ill, and it just seems to be an endless cycle of colds and flu.

Anyway, I'll stop having man flu now and go sew some, before crashing.

Hope everyone else is successfully keeping the colds at bay!

Molskeine Monday

2012-02-06T19:29:00.001Z

Silent, stitching, Sunday

2012-02-05T21:57:00.001Z

(Pathetic) Snow!

2012-02-04T19:14:00.000Z

So we finally had some snow. Not much, and it pretty much turned into some leathel ice by the end of the day.

They think more is on the way tonight, but we shall see what comes of it.

Keep warm if it is cold where you are! Duvets, hot coco, and movies are your friends this week by the looks of it!

Friday Night Buttons

2012-02-03T21:37:00.001Z

I am not feeling it tonight. Just a little fed up. Mooching around by myself. Wholly unsatisfying dinner. You know. Everything is a little blah.

So I got the button tin out. The start of my button tin. I'm hoping to grow it.

Everyone else always play with your mum's or grans button tin when you were little?

How if your Friday night progressing? Are you suitable relaxed?

How not to follow a chart

2012-02-02T21:55:00.001Z

So, I tend to watch a lot of tv on my iPad. Especially when I am sewing. I think, since I started sewing, I have watched more tv than ever before. It's not all justifiable either. Some of it is really bad tv.

I would prefer to listen to audio books, but they are pricey, and tv is free. Mostly. We won't mention that £40 that went towards the tv license today.

Today I have watched 'one born every minute', and 'fifteen kids and counting'. One born is actually rather entertaining, the other though, I watch that solely for the sheer shock factor of that many kids. I mean, really, that many? Jeez.

So in my shock today, whilst I was sewing a fat cat, I made some boo boos. Some of these were totally not noticeable. However, look below and see what I managed to do...

Yup. I missed the eyes. *face palm*

I feel more than a little stupid. Charts are there to be looked at, not ignored. Must remember than in future.

It was obviously the shock of childbirth and fifteen kids that did it...

Have you ever goofed whilst sewing and not paying attention? Let me know. Might make me feel a little less of an idiot!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Mess: The Manual of Accidents and Messes

2012-02-01T22:33:00.000Z

Keri Smith has a good set of books for creative destruction.

I am currently randomly plodding (at some ridiculously slow pace) through "Mess."

I really do recommend picking up any of her books. Wreck this Journal is especially fun!

Take a look at some of the pages.

Monday Molskinary

2012-01-30T20:18:00.000Z

Tuesday 24th January: Broken Bowls

Wednesday 25th January: TV and Sewing

Thursday 26th January: Cake Night

Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th January: Cranky and Decorating

Sunday 29th January: Painting and Decorating

Monday 30th January: Brr

Silent Sunday

2012-01-29T19:08:00.001Z

Painting, decorating, and moral support

2012-01-28T22:41:00.002Z

We are at Pip's parents house this weekend. Purportedly to help them finish decorating their living room. To be fair, all the wallpaper is now up, but I didn't really personally do very much.

I provided the moral support and the documentation!

The living room will mostly be finished off tomorrow, with some furniture moving back in.

Here are some of the photos.

I also provided tea.

Everyone needs tea during decorating.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Stand-to birthday cake!

2012-01-26T21:19:00.001Z

January had not one, but two parental birthdays. Pips mums is tomorrow. My mums is next week. Cards are made, presents are sorted (although, sorry mum, there is no way I'm posting your present. You can have it when I visit. You also get your cake then!)

But cake is needed. Easy, tasty cake. Cake that can be made by someone not entirely with it after work. This cake is an awesomely easy, awesomely tasty cake. Coffee cake. Nom nom nom.

It comes from one of my favourite recipe providers; the BBC. What would I do without them.

Here goes. Make one. Make it as coffeey as you like! And do add the jam. I know it seems weird, but it really works. With apricot jam too!

Ingredients
150g caster sugar
150g butter or margarine
3 eggs
150g self raising flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp hot water
1 tbsp instant coffee (add more if you like it strong)
For The Icing
225g icing sugar
100g butter or margarine
1 1/2 tbsp instant coffee
1 tbsp hot water
Strawberry jam (optional)

Method:

1. Preheat the oven at 160C, 325 F,gas 3.Baseline and grease two equally sized sandwich tins. Add the sugar and the butter to a bowl and whisk until very fluffy and a pale cream.

2. Whisk the eggs in a mug with a fork and then add them gradually to the mixture with 1 tbsp of flour each time. Make sure you don't use all the flour.
Add the rest of the flour and the baking powder to the mixture and fold it in gently. Dissolve the coffee in the boiling water and add to the mixture still folding. Divide into the sandwich tins and cook for 30 minutes

3. Meanwhile Cream the butter and the icing sugar until light and fluffy. Dissolve the coffee in boiling water, making sure you don't add too much water or the icing will be runny and add it to the butter and icing sugar. Whisk and leave in the fridge until the cake is done.

4. Once the cakes are done and have been put onto plates spread the icing on the bottom of one of the cakes (leaving around half of the icing for the top) and spread the strawberry jam ont the bottom of the other. Spread the remaining icing ontop of the cake. decorate with cherries or walnuts.

(recipe taken from http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8421/creamy-coffee-cake)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Dubbed

2012-01-25T23:11:00.000Z

Watching Borgen tonight.

Love the show.

Don't love the failure of their English accent for the Prime Minister. Dubbed (I presume) with a completely British English accent. Everyone else spoke with a Danish accent. It was terrible. So obvious.

This irritation probably stems from my hatred of dubbing in any form. Give me the original language and subtitles any day. It detracts so much from the original when speech is dubbed. I find you loose a lot of the meaning of it. Also, the Danish language kinda sounds awesome!

Can you handle dubbing, or do you prefer listening to the original speech intonation?

This post was brought to you by late night TV watching.

Half-baked

2012-01-24T21:21:00.001Z

Half-finished; half-baked; not yet ready.
But getting there.

Everything is beginning to look like the end of an era.
Moving on from a life made here. Moving on after university. At last.

It's waiting for the change. But its moving to the unknown.

It's months to go, and yet, feels like it is just around the corner.
Both scared, and confused; eager and willing.

Caught in-between the emotions of both the end and the start of something.

Half finished, but also halfway to starting over.

Hopefully to someplace better.

Thoughts are flying all over today. It may be a sideways step indeed that I am about to embark on. But at least it realigns me to be moving forward.

Happy Tuesday all.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Monday Molskienery

2012-01-23T20:32:00.002Z

May tomorrow be a better day right?

Sunday Stitchery

2012-01-22T17:09:00.000Z

I've been getting stitchey with it. Teapots are fun!

Teapot

Bad Puns

Almost Done

Done

Now to just get me some more cross stitching material. :(

Shopping on a Budget

2012-01-19T20:58:00.001Z

This is week two of the no-spend, food budget in place year.

It's actually going well. We have come in just under budget both weeks. £38 pounds out of £40 for the weeks food shop, including loo roll and coffee. We were not sure that we would do it. But hey presto. Magic.

The standing around adding things up feels awkward though. So we have been writing prices down, then finding a quiet place to add it up.

If you don't have budget, give it a go one week and see where you come out! Knowing how much you are spending does wonders for spending less and not throwing all sorts of random goodies in the trolley.

Now, how did those hobnobs make it in?

(seriously, tea and hobnobs. Delicious.)

But I haven't bought anything outside of the food shop this week, so I'm looking good on the no buy plan! I do have to renew my railcard this month though, which is somewhat annoying. Saves in the long term though!

Have a happy Thursday!

Emergency cookies

2012-01-17T21:27:00.001Z

Sometimes, just sometimes (and maybe more than just sometimes) you really need some chocolate. Something sweet. Even more so when you are trying to loose weight.

This is my stand-too cookie recipe. Today I mixed it up by taking out the syrup and adding coco powder instead. Chocolate cookie heaven. I ate quite a lot of it raw. I don't usually use smarties. Chocolate chips work great.

Opps.

The recipe originally came from a good food magazine, probably almost 7 years ago.

Smarties cookies

100g butter

100g soft dark sugar

1 tbsp golden syrup

150g s/r flour

3 tubes Smarties

Pre-heat oven to 180c.

Beat butter and sugar together.

Beat in the syrup.

Work in the flour.

Add your sweets.

Make into balls. Or make one huge cookie. That works pretty good.

Cook for 12 minutes until pale golden on the edges. Cool.

Go on. Make some emergency cookies.

Enjoy.

Monday Moleskinery

2012-01-16T19:01:00.001Z

It was a great weekend. Got lots done, as well as lots of totally relaxed time out.
But, as always, back to work today. It's fairly quiet at work (January, so of course) but that makes the time drag!

Watched quite a bit of telly too. Is anyone else watching Borgen? It's like a Danish West Wing. I love it! If you like WW, give it a whirl. BBC iPlayer!

Living for the weekends right now. Counting down!

Silent Sunday

2012-01-15T20:12:00.001Z

Days gone by in Polaroid.

2012-01-14T19:56:00.001Z

I don't have a polaroid camera.

I wish I did.

I do however have an app for that.

Photos range from 2008 to 2012. Watching the years go by.
Is that me growing up? No, it can't be. A very scary thought. H
ow do you cope with the idea that time is moving so quickly?
It terrifies me that this year I will be 25! Where did those last 7 years go?

Alas, one can do nothing but look back at the memories and try and focus on the good that comes of being older, wiser, and more mature. Right?

Now, where are my crayons...

(This post brought to you by spending some time browsing through iPhoto.

Boy, do I have a lot of photos.)

Ice Cream

2012-01-13T22:24:00.002Z

Your love
Is better than ice cream.
Better than anything else that I've tried
And your love
Is better than ice cream
Everyone here knows how to cry

And it's a long way down
It's a long way down
It's a long way
Down to the place where we started from.

Your love
Is better than chocolate
Better than anything else that I've tried
And oh love is better than chocolate.
Everyone here knows how to fight

And it's a long way down
It's a long way down
It's a long way
Down to the place where we started from.

Thanks for being awesome Pip.

Thanks for putting up with my incredibly un-wonderful crankiness.

And for letting me take over your desk with cross-stitch stuff.

(even if you don't know it yet)

(but there is no thanks for your inability to use a washing basket.)

(love you.)

(yes. more than ice cream and chocolate.)

Thursday Things

2012-01-12T20:32:00.000Z

Beautiful sunrise this morning; made the whole room go pink.

I won some tea from Pia, gingerbread tea. Smells divine! Tastes nice too!

And I just had to share the awesome stamps that posted said tea. Aren't they cool!

Well, I think so.

Hope everyone is having a lovely day. It's Friday tomorrow folks.
Cannot wait!

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-11T20:32:00.002Z

Doctor Who Love

2012-01-10T20:59:00.000Z

I've been watching some Doctor Who tonight. I do love me some Who.

I'm also organizing some stuff that has just been shoved in drawers for god knows how long.

But that is boring right now. So have some geeking out! :D

Source: globalgeeknews.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Source: craftster.org via lost_star on Pinterest

Source: society6.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Source: geeksaresexy.net via lost_star on Pinterest

Based on this.

Monday Molskineary

2012-01-09T19:42:00.000Z

Mondays are brutal on the soul are they not?

So much resentment to having to get up out of your pajamas and into work.

I'm still processing the day, and the SCARY THINGS to come, so i'll leave you with some of the first days of January as seen through my moleskine.

Have a happy week folks.

Budget like you have never budgeted before

2012-01-08T16:14:00.000Z

Source: todaysnest.typepad.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Scary things abounds. In less than five months, the lease on this flat expires, and due to Pip heading back home to finish his PHD, I will too be abandoning this place and going with him.

There are several reasons for this. Firstly, I cannot afford to rent by myself, on my salary, secondly, I don't want to live away from him; and thirdly, I need to get myself a better job, even if it means leaving my current one to do that; working full time has left no time or ability to look, or get to interviews. Pip's folks live much closer to London, making it easier to commute for interviews, and hopefully for work.

It sounds stupid in my head to leave a reasonable, if low paid job, for complete insecurity and nothing in line. But I'm beginning to loose myself and my sanity in staying. I'm hoping that I may be able to transfer on a part time basis to the store near where I will be, but I need to talk with my line manager about that. That would give me some cash to pay bills, and the cash to get to interviews.

However, if I can't do that, If I end up completely unemployed, I will be completely without income. There is no help if you walk away from a job, even if it is because you are moving 3 hours away to live with the folks as you won't be able to afford your rent.

So, in order to cope with this, I am budgeting now. I am resolving to not purchase any unnecessary items; probably for the foreseeable future. Let's say for at least the next year. I don't need anything. I could do with buying less.

I am planning on putting at least £200 each month into my savings. Unless anything goes horribly wrong, this should be doable. Assuming I work as long as possible, that is £1000 to live off of for a while. Fingers crossed and all that stuff.

Income: £800pm

Expenses:

Rent - £258pm

Council Tax - £78pm

Groceries - £20-30pw

Bills - £50-?pm (Oddly, I am not sure on this one. Need to work it out. Plus, still waiting on a huge gas/water bill.)

Phone - £20pm

So I need to figure out a way of doing this, in a way that won't leave me enticed to buy stuff.

Step One: Don't take my card with me.

Step Two: One weeks thought on any extra purchases. Do I need it?

Step Three: The envelope system? Does anyone do this? Does it work? I don't drive, have kids, eat out, so I would have pretty few actual envelopes...

Pinterest has some pretty pictures of people using it. I might make some just for fun!

Source: justimagineheaven.blogspot.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via lost_star on Pinterest

What do you do to budget or stop yourself buying things? Let me know, I'm going to be needing some help.

Saturday soul resting

2012-01-07T20:07:00.001Z

A day for lounging around in bed drinking tea.

A day for crafty bargains.

A day for chores and finally measuring the quilt, and realising how ridiculously huge it is. A day for soul resting and becoming more human.

- Lizzi

Man flu

2012-01-05T20:24:00.001Z

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm not doing so good. I'm fighting a definite case of man flu. Whilst I have been suffering through work, I am definitely not being that 'has a cold yet does it all irritating as hell women' on the Boots advert. Or her friend. I'm pretty much down with the staying in bed sewing/sleeping once I'm home and letting pip do all the work. I'm fairly sure he is over that though. I need more sympathy damn it. The only thing I've managed this week is one lot of laundry and have taken the decorations down. They are however still sat in a large pile on the floor.That said, I'm just going to lay here with a pillow over my head, hoping the headache of doom will pass.Have a happy Tuesday elsewhere folks!- Lizzi

January Clean Up

2012-01-03T19:37:00.005Z

Source: google.com via Robyn on Pinterest

If you are anything like me, then the festive season has meant you are pretty behind on keeping the house clean, or you just haven't had the energy to put anything away. Perhaps you are better than me though and have started the year out with lovely clean houses.

Either way, perhaps some charts like the following can help you keep your place clean and fresh in the new year, giving you some breathing room. (A clean place makes me much more motivated than a messy one!)

Good for making sure everything gets done at some point during the week...

Source: evelynkatedesigns.com via lost_star on Pinterest

This one is a nice simple list. Although, I wouldn't do many of these daily. I'm fairly lazy on a day to day basis. Maybe that should change...

Source: areal-lifehousewife.blogspot.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Source: kamleylane.com via lost_star on Pinterest

For the more motivated types...

Source: tyrashow.warnerbros.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Source: dotdotdotthis.blogspot.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Source: designfinch.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Or, there is always the option of displaying this by your front door!

Source: erineverafter.blogspot.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Reality Bites

2012-01-02T19:23:00.001Z

I'm hoping work will calm down soon and I will feel human again in the evenings.

I don't feel much more than a mindless drone right now.

It was an effort just to cook and eat my dinner tonight.

I'm going to curl up in bed and read.

I promise to get back to some form of coherent blogging soon.

Just ask people to make less refunds after Christmas please. Endless returns are now my nightmare.

It's the End of the World as we know it.

2012-01-01T17:06:00.000Z

So, it's 2012!

Saw the year in with copious amounts of cocktails and hugs and laughter.

Good way to start.

Spent the day recooperating, napping, bread making, napping, cleaning the bathroom, and more napping.

So, 2012? Where to even begin.

I need to find another job, if only for my sanity. Preferably something in the London area.
I want to get healthier, start running again, breathe easier.
I will be more willing, more challenging of myself in terms of creating. I will finish my quilt.
I will try to stress less. But this year is probably going to be fairly stressful.

What do you want from 2012?

365 Days of 2011

2011-12-31T16:04:00.003Z

Done. Complete. Finito. 365 photos of 2011.

January:

February:

March:

April:

May:

June:

July:

August:

September:

October:

November:

December:

It's been a get through it year this year. I don't seem to have acheived anything, or gone anywhere.

At least, not in terms of 'carreer progression' or 'sorting my life out.'

I've created a lot.

I've learned about what I want, and who I want to be.

It's now a matter of getting there.

And staying sane in the mean time.

2012 is going to be full of big, scary things.

Life is moving forwards.

At least, I hope it is.

There will be no large photo projects in 2012.

This year in pictures began to drag.

I need a break from forcing myself to take a photo of something.

Time to breathe.

Time to enjoy.

Happy New Year to all.

May 2012 bring you what you need it to bring.

A Long Week

2011-12-29T20:15:00.002Z

This week has been bad.

I mean really bad.

Crazy times at work. I work on refunds and we are talking queues of ten plus people all for me and one other till. Which went down. So just for me a while there.

Today was better. I had better support. The engineer came to fix the tills.

We were still buried by mountains of clothes to hang up though.

Taller than me piles. Like I said, crazy times.

I'm hoping it calms down soon. The end of January is like the dead zone. Might get caught up on some stuff! Just need to get there.

I had a good nights sleep though, despite all my aches and pains, and I'm feeling better tonight (albeit better with a cold on the way). So there has been laundry, and washing up done. And tea made.

Now I get to sit and catch up on some TV. And actually blog. Hi. Are you there reading? *waves*

If you didn't make it though all that moaning up there, never mind. If you did, here are some random photos from the past week or so.

Finished the Bowties are Cool cross stitch. I had SUCH fun doing this. I need more!

Creating order in the chaos of my sewing.

glitzy Christmas shoes!

And my man, who isn't with me this week, and whom I miss like crazy!

2011-12-26T19:36:00.001Z

tired.

so tired.

back soon.

christmas is kicking my butt.

The big Christmas debate.

2011-12-24T10:38:00.001Z

Sorry for being so absent this week. What with the run up to Christmas, and my working in a shop, I've been pretty crazily tired upon getting home!

However, it's the weekend, and I'm lying in bed on christmas eve morning, drinking my coffee, with no immediate plans to get up. Oh, and I have new Christmas socks on! Yeah! Life this morning is good.

The big debate is happening though. When is Christmas? You see, pip, with a German mother, an English father, and having been raised on the continent, has VERY different ideas as to Christmas.

Apparently, and this, to all the Brits and Americans reading, is where it gets weird; father Christmas came LAST NIGHT. You heard right. Presents are already under my tree. Stockings are stuffed. It's Christmas!

But they are not opened in the morning in a fit of crazy present opening. They can't be opened until the evening. Poor little kids have to wait all day for them! Pip says it teaches them patience! I say it's a little mean!

So, in absence of compromise between Europe and the uk at a political level, I've compromised on Christmas. Presents were put out late last night, there will be German sausage and mulled wine at the German market later on (oh boy, do I love currywurst!) and there may be some present opening later (although I'm not convinced by this so they may wait). Tomorrow there will be stockings, there will be feasting, and there will be, if I get out of bed to make it, Yule log!

When does father christmas come for you? (heh, that sounds so very wrong)

Anyhow, have a rather wonderful Christmas eve, no matter when you celebrate christmas!

Xxx

Radvent Day Eighteen: Style

2011-12-19T20:22:00.002Z

Style? What style?

Yikes, I really have none.

At home I am a pajamas or jeans kinda girl.

So that's most of the time.

I love the vintage look, but have no idea how to wear it.

I live in converse or boots.

I have one bag and a rucksack.

I'm in desperate need of a small purse bag.

And some more girly shoes.

Let's see some of my rocking clothes from the last couple of years.

Radvent Day Seventen: Music

2011-12-19T19:41:00.001Z

Since finishing my degree, music has stopped being a daily occurrence.

I bike to and from work, and so don't even listen on the commute.

Pretty much only one set of music has dominated my year in a recordable way.

Of course that is the amazing amanda fucking palmer!

Saw her live back in september.

ukulele inspiration!

I'm just going to make a playlist of some of my favourite songs/stuff I am listening too right now.

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

In Dubious Absence

2011-12-16T20:29:00.002Z

Sorry to have abandoned you blog.
I'm sure to be back soon.
I just have limited energy and motivation right now.
Busy at work.
Exhausted at home.
No sunlight for days.

Recovery in progress.

Except for laundry and housework.

Radvent Day Sixteen: Rhythm

2011-12-16T15:33:00.000Z

7.30am. Get up.

8am. Leave for work.

9am. Start work.

5pm. Finish work.

5.30pm. Get home.

6pm. Dinner prep.

6-7pm. Dinner

7pm Onwards. Time off for whatever.

10-12pm. Variable bedtime.

That is Monday to Friday.

Evenings depend on whether Pip is home or not.

I like having structure.

I like knowing what has to be done and when.

Although a little more flexibility would be nice for a change.

The weekends involve much less schedule.

And much more sleep.

I have to be at work earlier this week, so that will mess me up a bit.

But yay, Christmas so very soon!

Radvent Day Fifteen: Success

2011-12-15T15:06:00.000Z

My definition of success has definately changed over time.

Pass GCSEs.

Pass A-Levels.

Graduate.

Twice.

Successful.

Find a decent job.

Failing.

Having done so well in academics now only matters to me.

It hasn't helped me find a better job.

It hasn't succeeded anywhere like I was promised when I started.

Success is now getting out of bed in the morning.

Making it through work without going insane.

Getting home.

Cooking dinner.

Doing something for myself. Reading, watching TV, snuggling.

Sleeping.

Day in. Day out.

Success is being happy and living with Pip on the day to day.

Success is looking to the future and figuring out where to go from here.

Success is learning not to worry about what is to come.

Success is making it through the months.

Creating something pretty.

And yeah, I am bitter about the success of others. A bit.

Depends how hard they have worked.

Working so hard and getting so little sucks.

Luckily, I don't know any hugely successful people I guess.

Radvent Day 14: Pride

2011-12-14T14:43:00.000Z

Canterbury is a fairly awesome place to be.

Although, I don't have 'pride' in it, as it were.

Not enough roots here, or indeed, anywhere, for that.

I've been here 6(?) years now.

And I still love the feeling of history that surrounds it.

I love walking past the castle and the cathedral every day.

I love the boutique shops on Kings Mile.

Best place in town? The Sewing Shop.

I am struggling with this response though.

As I lack the roots, or sense of community that comes in being in the same place for so long.

So much will change in coming times that making roots has seemed pointless.

I don't know where I will be this time next year.

I guess I will have to wait and see.

Radvent Day Thirteen: Performing

2011-12-13T20:26:00.001Z

I'm not all that sure how to respond to this prompt.

I'm not really into acting, or roles.

I'm just me.

I guess I 'perform' my job role everyday.

Even when I know that my job doesn't in anyway make me who I am.

I'm counting down until Christmas now.

Firstly for the fun.

Secondly because it means that the crazy shoppers will be over.

And it will quiet down in mid-January.

Phew.

I'm off to read and doze.

Radvent Day Twelve: Creating

2011-12-12T20:24:00.000Z

I've always liked to create.

But there is always that fear of not being any good.

I like the distinction between creative and artistic.

I am definitely creative.
I am not very artistic!

I'm still having huge doubts about finishing my quilt.

I think I may have to try and take a class.

I want to create some form of 'Create and Bitch' group for Canterbury.

I can only find stitch and bitch, I want something more general.

For crafty types to bring a project down and work on it with some company.

No idea where to start, where it could be held, who might be interested.

Has anyone ever started something similar?

Tips?

So that is scary.

Need to plan and put my mind to it.

Radvent Day Eleven: Resting

2011-12-11T16:04:00.001Z

Gosh, I wish this post had been on Friday.
I've played catch up with all my missing radvents, and then this post comes along.

So, in leiu of anymore writing today, and because I have to go get on with getting ready for the work Christmas Meal.

I give myself permission to rest because it is Sunday, and life is full of endlessly, needlessly, busy times.
I need rest because I work in retail and it is almost Christmas!

Radvent Day Ten: Writing

2011-12-11T15:15:00.001Z

I've always excelled at writing for academic reasons.
I've never been much of a writer outside of assignments and now, blogging.

I have countless unfinished diaries.
Started with enthusiasm, and then abandoned.

I did go through a phase of poetry writing.
Princess Lasertron suggests going back to old writing, and sharing that.

I was even going to.
Until I realised how bad it really is!

I would love to write more.
There are so many stories inside my head, but I struggle with writing them down.
I find writing incredibly easy when it is academic and formed around presenting arguments.
When it is my thoughts flowing, that is sometimes easy too.
But morphing that into the conversations and thoughts of others in fiction,
that presents problems for me.

Something to try and get better at.

Taking a break.

2011-12-10T21:45:00.001Z

I will be back to radvent soon enough.
I've been pretty busy today, topping that off with some crazy emotions.
Not in a blogging place. More in a going to bed and hiding place.

See you soon.

- Lizzi

Radvent Day Nine: Influence

2011-12-09T19:14:00.001Z

List five of your greatest influences.

1. My Mum

My Mum is completely awesome, and totally inspires me! She has always been there for me. Her influence on everything I have done in life has made me the person I am. Her completely laid back attitude to parenting as I grew up has just let me get on with what I want to do, learning who I am in my own way. I'll never forget how you have looked after me, and everything you have done for me.

And if I ever have kids one day a million years from now, I will inspire to be as awesome to them as she has been to me. Love you Mum!

2. The Internet

I can pick a few names off of the top of my blog roll, julockha, Kitty Pink Stars, eklektick from over at flickr, and of course, Princess Lastertron who is running radvent! These guys have been so influential in my online life, and my crafty one. From Wreck this Journal, to blogging, to sewing a quilt, to just being an awesome friend, these folks show nothing but kindness to a random person floating around online.

3. Pip

How could he not influence me in so many ways. Having been together for almost 4 years(!!!) he is truly always a part of my life and everything I do. His laid back attitude is a complete 160 to my frantic stressing. He calms me down and usually knows what to say to make it all better. His decisions and thoughts have influenced me so much; making me a better person for it.

4. Keri Smith

Author of such awesomeness as Wreck this Journal, Mess, This is Not a Book, Keri Smith led to me becoming much more crafty and aware of a whole online community of like-minded people. Without my finding out about her work, I would never have made the friends I did on flickr, or stick around the site like I did!

5. Me.

Is that allowed? For surely, our own pasts influence who we become? If I didn't want to do the things I do, I wouldn't be doing them right?

Actually, that last one is mostly a cop-out, as really, I don't really have a fifth influence.

I am pretty much a loner in real life, with few friends outside a close circle of uni friends.

I think in the new year, I need to find, or perhaps even start, some form of craft group.

Find some like-minded people in real life.

There have to be some right?

Time to start making my own mark.

Radvent Day Eight: Comfort

2011-12-08T19:08:00.001Z

Two things outside of your comfort zone that you would really like to try.
- Finishing my quilt. I think I have stalled because I am so terrified of completely messing up the quilting part. I need to just get the material together and jump in.
- I would love to try and find, or even start, some form of craft group. I wouldn't know where to begin though.

What are some of your most boring comfort zones?
- Clothes. I tend to wear only the smallest amount of things in my wardrobe. I need to wear less jeans and t-shirts, and start cracking out slightly better clothes.

- Not doing things. I am so comfortable at home, with the internet and TV, that I don't go for things. I am stuck in my world of 9-5 work, coming home, cooking dinner, lounging around, and going to bed. Rinse and repeat.

I need to sort my life out.
But actually. I'm content, and there is a lot to be said for that.

How do you challenge and question them?
- I work in a frigging clothes shop, so I do try out clothes I may not immediately feel comfortable wearing. But, I'm pretty happy in my comfort clothes. Pajamas rule the world. I'm also pretty happy in my 9-5. I just wish I got paid more, and was slightly more intellectually challenged. I feel like my brain is going to mush some days.

Radvent Day Seven: Travelling

2011-12-07T21:04:00.001Z

I thought I was too tired to blog today.

But I'll give it a go.

What would you pack if you only had one bag to live out of?

My first question would be, for how long?

A few weeks, a month, a lifetime?

Let's assume for a lengthy time shall we.

First off, camera, iPad2, phone, wallet, essential cables etc etc.

A notebook and pen.

Three pairs of jeans.

Converse and Dr Martins. Summer/Winter.

Jumper. Cardigan.

5 t-shirts.

Underwear, one weeks worth.

Wash bag with essentials.

Ukulele. But I could sling that on my back.

Write about a place that taught you something unforgettable.

I think my most unforgettable teaching holiday was my 3 day trip to France and Belgium.

It was an English trip, to visit the trenches and war memorials of the first world war.

It was moving and completely shattering. Spirit and body.

Another school trip was to Berlin, and that one was pretty damn unforgettable too.

We did things like witness a pretend nuclear attack and visit a concentration camp.

That sticks with you.

I have also been lucky enough to visit many other places.

My family have been amazing in taking me to places.

Both in a caravan in this country, and abroad.

- America. Utah, to be precise.

- Tunisia

- Malta

- Canary Islands

- Germany (Berlin)

- France

- Belgium

- Scotland

- Wales

Still on my list of places to go:

Anywhere along the East coast of America.

DC and Boston out of it all. For the history.

Munich in Germany.

Venice.

Ireland.

Japan.

Moscow.

Norway.

Iceland.

And many others!

How far away are you comfortable going?

As far as it takes. I really have no problem travelling.

Although, I haven't really had the chance to travel far recently!

Radvent Day Six: Starting

2011-12-06T20:26:00.001Z

I'm not really starting anything right now.

There are things I want to do. Sure.

But nothing about to be started.

I'm not feeling up to starting today.

It's been a long day.

And i'm ready to quit.

Everything is partly done.

Job applications, cross stitches, the quilt, my candy cane wreath.

My cup of coco.

Maybe tomorrow i'll get to start something new.

Then again, maybe not.

My goals are pretty far fetched.

Radvent Day Five: Drawing

2011-12-05T20:50:00.001Z

Now, i'm NOT, by any stretch of the imagination, good at drawing.

I used to have my mum do my art homework and I would make 'additions.'

Art was so painful for me.

I wish I could draw, I really, truly do.

I can't.

These are my attempts at drawing Pip below:

Yes. That is meant to be Pip and I.

Not the best drawing in the world

Radvent Day Four: Caring

2011-12-04T13:59:00.001Z

Be around people today. Observe them.

What are other people taking care of?

Sunday's are day in days for me. We rarely do anything.

The only person I am really around is Pip.

Which is a good thing.

As Sunday's are not always a great day for me.

I tend to get stressed out and highly strung for no reason.

I do the cleaning in a fit of anger.

I get stressed that I have to go back to work.

Then I crash out and calm down some.

Blogging helps.

Pip helps.

He takes care of me.

He tries not to get annoyed at my attitude.

He calms me down.

He will hug me as much as I need to get my head into a better space.

He will make me tea.

What are two things you began caring about this year? What inspired that?

I began caring about learning to sew and embroider.

Inspired by the amazing things found on the internet,

and coming from a family of cross-stitchers.

I began caring about what we eat.

How to make more home-cooked food.

Making our own bread, making our own pizza, and lunch snacks.

It's a challenge, and one that doesn't always work.

But there has been some definite improvements.

List things you don't give a shit about.

I give too much of a shit about everything.

Even in a lousy paid job I care too much about it.

I don't do half arsed.

I don't do not caring.

I'm a natural worrier.

I need to be in control.

I want to learn to let things go.

To not get too worked up.

Something to work on in the new year.

I think I told myself this last year though.

We'll see what happens.

Radvent Day Three: Fascination

2011-12-03T15:12:00.001Z

Interview Yourself.

These are the questions I often think about. I'm not even sure that I can answer them, but they are there. Tucked away in my head. I don't like the interview myself, as really, I don't want to be that honest about myself and those questions. Not out loud. Just tucked away inside. Does anyone else feel that? That some questions shouldn't have answers, that even if I do have answers, things won't change so why tell? Who knows? Maybe I'll come back to this one day and want to answer them. For now, those first two at least, are far too close in my mind as to confront. Perhaps my desire for those questions to be asked, and for my lack of willingness to answer them out loud, is a strong indicator of my mind, of perhaps, why I might be interesting?

How do you keep yourself interesting?

Interesting question. Sorry, couldn't resist that.

I keep myself interesting to me and mine by reading lots, watching people, creating new things and learning new skills. By being my own brand of weirdness in an often sterilized world.

But really, in all honesty, I am just averagely passing through life. Nothing interesting to see here. Move along.

Only please don't go.

Sometimes, I wish people would listen to what I say. Life has to have a point, and one of those is to find like minded people and be interested by them. I just need to find those people, and then maybe being interesting is easier?

This brand of morose introspection brought to you today, by me.

Radvent: Day Two

2011-12-02T19:18:00.001Z

How do you do it all?

This one is tough. I don't feel too unbalanced, not in getting everything done. Work does stress me out, but it is only 38 hours a week, and I get the weekends to myself to unwind before the start of the new week! The one thing I would say, is when having to do things like appointments or job apps, it is much harder when working all week, as there is no office hour time left to get stuff done.

My to-do list is pretty laid back, not having to look after kidlits or anything (I don't know how people can cope with that and work etc!). I do have a Pip though, and I take care of all the laundry, but he does most of the cooking. We pretty much balance chores out.

What are the three most important things to do today? (Only do that.)

Being half ten at night, today is pretty much over. The three most important things to do today were:
- go to work
- put the christmas tree up
- take a bath

Everything else can wait until tomorrow. A list which includes: food shopping, laundry and some baking.

Radvent 2011: Day One

2011-12-01T18:38:00.000Z

What is challenging you the most right now? [And how can you be grateful for it?]

This year has been tough. There has been a distinctive lack of moving forwards after university.
I thought I would be somewhere by now really. I'm not sure where, but not quite in precisely the same situation (albeit with a full time contract now). But i'm pretty much in an identical position as I was at this time last year. Just in a different house.

I want a job that I enjoy. So i'm being pretty picky about my applications. Jobs I really want only. Everything else is too much stress. If I was more desperate, it would be every job under the sun.

And that is one of the problems. I'm comfortable right now. There is too little pressure to take that step away from where I am. I can only hope that when the right job comes along, I jump at it and hope for the best.

I am challenged by the ideas floating around in my head as to what I want to do. How can I find a job that gives me the skills I need to work for myself? How do I break into self-employment, and in WHAT?

I can be grateful though, and indeed, I am grateful for many things. Especially the fact that I have a job when so many do not. I am grateful that I am supported in my more ad hoc job search for something that I love. I am grateful that I have a roof over my head. Maybe I am selfish in wanting more.

Reflect on one challenging thing in the past year that you kicked butt at. What would you have told yourself?

I honestly cannot think of one substantial thing that I have kicked butt at this year.

Work: it kicks my butt. and doesn't pay me well for that privilege.
Home: I sleep all the time due to work kicking my butt.

I need to kick more butt at challenging things.

One thing I did manage however, was to learn to sew zippers, and to make Christmas stockings. Next year I promise to myself that I will learn to quilt and finish it. The new sewing machine has made all these things less of a challenge.

Inspiration Boards

2011-11-30T20:16:00.001Z

Having finally put my inspiration board up after moving (five months ago), I thought I would share some of my old ones, along with some pretty awesome ones from pinterest!

I like to have a board up on the wall, usually a pinboard, on which to have postcards, photos, paraphernalia from life, on which to look and contemplate, and I guess, inspire.

I have had a poster board/inspiration board/pinboard on my walls since I was at least in my early teens. The first one was pretty much a shrine to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But they have grown since then into something much better. Except for a couple of items, which have remained on my wall since I got them pretty much.

From back in 2009.
A pretty mess of things.

Some spring happiness.
Yellows.
Florals.

Desk Thursday.
Colour and Studying.

Inspiring photos.
Musicals.
Bunting.
Random inspirations.

From this week.
joyriding aliens.
sleep.
butts.
cameras.
tea.
Eclectic tastes.

Source: ohhappyday.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Hallway.
Amazing amount of space.
Love the flowers falling.

Source: Uploaded by user via lost_star on Pinterest

So much love here.
Natural and sewn.
I love the odd peacefulness of it.

Source: racheldenbow.blogspot.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Clipboards.
Such an inspiring idea.
For an inspiration board; that kinda works I guess.
I want to try this one day.
See it working fabulously in a kitchen/diner.

Source: paragraphcove.com via lost_star on Pinterest

It's bunting time.
Happy time.

Source: everythingetsy.com via lost_star on Pinterest

This one is such lovely colours.
Maybe that is the wall?
But I like the personal touches!

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Seasonal planning?

Source: afancifultwist.typepad.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Some nostalgic touches.

Gearing up for Christmas

2011-11-28T20:23:00.001Z

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot Chocolate with extra marshmallows and a good dash of irish cream.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Wrapped. How is it fun otherwise?

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Both. Mine are all white though. Prettier.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
I have once, when Innocent Smoothies sent me some. Other than that, no.
My Mum hangs fake stuff.

5. When do you put your decorations up?
The 1st of December. Or the 2nd this year probably.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
Gammon. And all the chocolate in my stocking.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
Sneaking open our stockings (myself and my older brother Tom) at god know what time in the morning, sealing them back up, and opening them again later! :D

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I'm not too sure, but I think there was something about a video my Granddad recorded gave it away, when he pretended to be Santa!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
We always open just one gift on Christmas eve. Pip's family actually do ALL their gifts on Christmas eve.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Ohh, with lots of stuff. I haven't decided yet. Come back Friday!

11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
Love it! This time last year we were under the stuff. This year, freaky warm weather is holding it at bay alas.

12. Can you ice skate?
Oddly enough, and considering how much trouble I have even walking upright and in a straight line, I'm actually not bad on the ice.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
A knitted SAUSAGE string. That one is pretty memorable.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
PRESENTS.

NO. wait. That is wrong. Family, and food! Getting to cook up and eat a ridiculous amount of food!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Yule log. I hate Christmas pudding.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Christmas stockings. I adore them. :D

17. What tops your tree?
A lego santa and a tin fairy last year. Not sure what is doing the job this year!

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Giving. I like picking out/making presents. And I LOVE wrapping!

19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum?
Yum!

20. Favorite Christmas show?
As in TV? Hmm. Pass. Well, muppets.

21. Saddest Christmas Song?
Hmm. Tough. Depends on different versions of different songs.

22. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Yorokobi no Carol (Joyful Carol)
The Christmas Song - The Ravonettes
I Hear the Bells - Mike Doughty
Christmas at the Zoo - The Flaming Lips

Not to be beaten by: Little Drummer Boy, Bing Crosby and David Bowie

Desk Appreciation Day

2011-11-28T18:00:00.000Z

Monday. Back to work. I don't work in an office, but if I did, I would want one from this selection! Heck, if I could get my desk space right now looking like one of these I would be beyond satisfied. I just can't seem to hide or let go of all my stationary and general clutter!

Source: google.com.au via lost_star on Pinterest

Keep Calm and Carry On; now a staple for any office/living space.

I have Keep Calm and Drink Tea.

And Keep Calm and Eat Cupcakes.

Which I am.

Source: downandoutchic.blogspot.com via lost_star on Pinterest

I love this desk so much. I mean the actual desk.

But the set up is pretty lovely too.

Ampersand.

Source: unplggd.com via lost_star on Pinterest

I often wonder what it would be like to have a desk face outwards.

All my desks have faced the wall.

A new perspective?

Source: smallplacestyle.blogspot.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Adorable wall space and built in style.

I like the pegboards too.

And the bins. They rock.

Source: thepleatedpoppy.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Inspiration boards of awesome.

Mine finally went up on the wall yesterday.

It will be redone soon.

Source: freshome.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Again with the lovely wood desk.

Source: livelaugheat.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Dual desks.

Pip and I have ours in a line right now.

This way could be cool.

With a little hatch to say hello.

Source: sarahrichardsondesign.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Cute little space carved out of a nothing space.

Source: zsazsabellagio.blogspot.com via lost_star on Pinterest

This is love.

Adoration.

An amazing space.

Cubby hole love.

Source: whimages.blogspot.com via lost_star on Pinterest

A little nook.

I would love a nook.

To curl up in.

Away from the world.

Loserville (A Not So Silent Sunday)

2011-11-27T17:43:00.001Z

I feel like such a loser right now.

I hate it.

I can't seem to get my head around where I want my life to go.

I don't want to be stuck in the same crappy minimum wage job for the rest of my life, but nor do I want another crappy job that sucks the life out of me. Even a better paid one. I want to still be me.

I don't know where to look for jobs, because I don't know where I will be or what I want to do. I don't care for many career options open to me. I can't seem to get my head around these graduate numerical and logical reasoning tests.

I want to work with books, with crafts, with something other than a bland 9-5.

I am stuck. I am trapped by indecision and the unavailableness of any job I might have considered. I would make a fabulous librarian. Damn recession.

There are statistics all over the place for young people not in education or employment. NEETs they call them.

What about those of us trapped in low paying jobs below our education level because of the recession. No talk of us. No mention of help. Year after year of graduates consigned to competing for too few jobs.

Two degrees and working in a shop.

21st Centruy England.

Whining, bitching, moaning.

Could be worse.

Could be one hell of a lot better.

I just need to find the right opportunites for me.

But where are they?

help.

(EDIT: Pretty much emotianlly unstable today. But writing this, and getting on my therapists couch via Keri Smith has helped. I have no solutions, but at least I have pinterest, tea and hugs to look forward to. More than many have I think.)

Saturday Summed Up

2011-11-26T20:21:00.001Z

A little reading of books, the newspapers, the christmas good food magazine, some fanfiction to inspire the mind.

A little building of drawers and putting away of clothes.

A little wrapping of presents in bizarre ways.

A little cooking of fondue to please hungry tummies.

A little lounging around in bed to take away a weeks weariness.

A little Irish coffee of an evening and some Internet browsing.

A little of everything to make us all happy after life's stresses.

Happy weekend to all.

- Lizzi

Friday Night Life

2011-11-25T19:58:00.001Z

How do you spend your Friday nights? Tea and a book? Party night? Sleeping exhaustedly after a crazy week, which in my case included dealing with Christmas shoppers all week, tetanus shots, hits to the head (or as the accident book puts it, striking a stationary object) and having our room upside down in getting a replacement chest of drawers.

This is how tonight's Friday Night has rolled so far:

I whacked my head at work in my last half hour, it's throbbing still.

Pip's folks popped by on their way home from Germany with a whole lot of delicious French and German food! I may have eaten vast numbers of pain au chocolates fresh from the last French bakery on their way home. I also have an advent calender from Aachen which contains some form of unknown to me local delicacy from the region! Can't wait!

I have a cup of tea and whilst making it I witnessed a couple in a building opposite have some kind of dramatic moment, followed by much smooching; curtains people, curtains!

I am now sitting down to surf the interwebs and possibly build some drawers. If my head feels up to it. If not, I will settle down with Mr Stephen Fry's autobiography!

Friday night as it stands in my world. Excitement huh!

I've never been a going out person. Not really. I like Friday's though. The working week is over and there is so much potential for the weekend. So many plans. So much time! Until Sunday rolls around that is!

Have a happy Friday and a great weekend!

The Grand Exchange!

2011-11-24T20:39:00.001Z

Let's spread some cheer and good will to all across the land with a Christmas card!

Want a hand made card to land in your postbox where ever you may be this December?

If yes, leave a comment and I will get back to you with a request for a snail mail address to which to send a card!

Want to exchange cards? Let me know! I'm all to happy to receive as well as send! ;)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-23T20:04:00.001Z

(But shh, a word or two: Come back tomorrow for the Christmas Card Post!)

Get Organised: Blogging

2011-11-22T18:30:00.000Z

I have been noting down blog ideas on a print out for the last week or so. I find it much easier to blog this way, to keep track of what I am sharing or doing. I am inspired by the day-to-day, but like to have a back up if I can't decide what to write about.

Below are some of the blog organization printables I have come across. See if there is anything you can use in your day-to-day blogging.

1. From perideaudesigns

This one strikes me as being more for a blog in which you are advertising a business, or for the very serious blogger. For me, it is somewhat too constraining/demanding for an ad hoc blog!

2. From livinglocurto

Now this is the planner I have begun using. I like it's simplicity, with the option of to-dos and notes. It let's me make a small amount of advanced planning, without any constraints. I'm not sure what blog parties actually are, so that box is pretty blank!

3. From ohthelovelythings

This one is gorgeous. I love the feel of it, and if I had a colour printer I would use it. There is one with a bird on too at the site. Definitely worth a look.

4. From princesslasertron

This one is great if you just want to jot down a title, or a note, on what you want to post about. I love Princess Lastertron's blog. Such a cute mix of fashion, business running and some beautiful felt bouquets!

5. From theprojectgirl

This one is quite open about planning your blog posts. I like that there is an option for random!

6. From printablesyourway

Just a useful sheet I found for anyone who blogs in html!

How do you blog? Do you fly like a leaf on the wind? With a big plan of attack? Let me know!

In the Kitchen

2011-11-21T17:30:00.000Z

I'm a huge fan of trying out new things in the kitchen.

These are some of the things on my to-do list as found on pinterest!

Source: melskitchencafe.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Source: bakerella.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Now these, I've actually done. They are delicious! I highly recommend making a batch for yourself, and then for everyone else!

Source: willowbirdbaking.wordpress.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Yeah, I eat cookie dough. Sue me. It's delicious! Especially in ice cream!

Source: blogs.babble.com via lost_star on Pinterest

This must be worth a go. Anything to make nutella slightly healthier! To think, two years ago I wouldn't touch the stuff!

Source: luuux.com via lost_star on Pinterest

I'm actually off to make this right now. I am having some seriously huge chocolate cravings. What diet is it that I am on again?

Source: joythebaker.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Pip would love me forever if I made him this. Maybe over Christmas!

Hope you enjoyed this little list of sweet kitchen treats! What are you cooking?

Sunday Gift Giving

2011-11-20T17:51:00.001Z

So, my giveaway has been drawn, and the winner (as pulled out of the purse by Pip) is Julochka!

She is the lucky(?) winner of this small pile of goodies. Including of course, the Christmas stocking!

If you can email me your address, I will have it winging its way to you!

Happy Sunday everyone!

saturday love in

2011-11-19T18:07:00.001Z

Source: tumblr.com via lost_star on Pinterest

For Pip, who agreed that we could make a blanket fort one of these days. Just need to find the right movie.

Source: google.co.uk via lost_star on Pinterest

For Pip, who is growing a mustache in support of movember, after a small amount of nagging on my part.

Source: uk.movember.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Want to support Men's Health? Then please support my man in his mustache growing and donate here.

For Pip, who is just completely awesome and who would totally survive the zombie apocalypse with me!

Source: and-design.no via lost_star on Pinterest

Love you.

Ukulele Anthem

2011-11-18T21:18:00.001Z

Learning to play amanda palmer's ukulele anthem.
Such an awesome song. Pick up your ukulele and play. Badly. Loudly. And with good cheer!

Seriously, despite the pain, Ukulele playing is good for the soul.

sid vicious played a four-string fender bass guitar and couldn’t sing 

and everybody hated him except the ones who loved him 

a ukulele has four strings, but sid did did not play ukulele 

he did smack and probably killed his girlfriend nancy spungen 

if only sid had had a ukulele, maybe he could have been happy 

maybe he would not have suffered such a sad end 

he maybe would have not done all that heroin instead 

he maybe would’ve sat around just singing nice songs to his girlfriend 

so play your favorite cover song, especially if the words are wrong 

‘cos even if your grades are bad, it doesn’t mean you’re failing 

do your homework with a fork 

and eat your fruit loops in the dark 

and bring your etch-a-sketch to work 

and play your ukulele 

ukulele small and forceful 

brave and peaceful 

you can play the ukulele too it is painfully simple 

play your ukulele badly, play your ukulele loudly 

ukulele banish evil 

ukulele save the people 

ukulele gleaming golden on the top of every steeple 

lizzie borden took an axe, and gave her father forty whacks 

then gave her mother forty-one, and left a tragic puzzle 

if only they had given her an instrument, those puritans 

had lost the plot completely 

see what happens when you muzzle 

a person’s creativity 

and do not let them sing and scream 

and nowadays it’s worse ‘cause kids have automatic handguns 

it takes about an hour to learn how to play the ukulele 

about same to teach someone to build a standard pipe bomb 

YOU DO THE MATH 

so play your favorite cover song, especially if the words are wrong 

‘cos even if your grades are bad, it doesn’t mean you’re failing 

do your homework with a fork 

and eat your fruit loops in the dark 

and bring your flask of jack to work 

and play your ukulele 

ukulele, thing of wonder 

ukulele, wand of thunder 

you can play the ukulele, too 

in london and down under 

play joan jett, and play jacques brel 

and eminem and neutral milk hotel 

the children crush the hatred 

play your ukulele naked 

and if anybody tries to steal your ukulele, let them take it 

imagine there’s no music, imagine there are no songs 

imagine that john lennon wasn’t shot in front of his apartment 

imagine if john lennon had composed “imagine” on the ukulele 

maybe folks would have more clearly got the message 

you may think my approach is simple-minded and naïve 

like if you want to save the world then why not quit and feed the hungry 

but people for millennia have needed music to survive 

and that’s why i’ve promised john that i will not feel guilty 

so play your favorite beatles’ song 

and make the subway fall in love 

they’re only $19.95, that’s not a lot of money 

play until the sun comes up 

and play until your fingers suffer 

play LCD soundsystem songs on your ukulele 

quit the bitching on your blog 

and stop pretending art is hard 

just limit yourself to three chords 

and do not practice daily 

you’ll minimize some stranger’s sadness 

with a piece of wood and plastic 

holy fuck it’s so fantastic, playing ukulele 

eat your homework with a fork 

and do your fruit loops in the dark 

bring your etch-a-sketch to work 

your flask of jack 

your vibrator 

your fear of heights 

your nikon lens 

your mom and dad 

your disco stick 

your soundtrack from “karate kid” 

your ginsu knives 

your rosary 

your new rebecca black CD 

your favorite room 

your bowie knife 

your stuffed giraffe 

your new glass eye 

your sousaphone 

your breakfast tea 

your nick drake tapes 

your giving tree 

your ice cream truck 

your missing wife 

your will to live 

your urge to cry 

remember we’re all going to die 

so PLAY YOUR UKULELE

credits

released 31 October 2011 

Written and performed by Amanda Palmer 

Artwork by Shepard Fairey 

Recorded at Mad Oak Studios (Allston, MA) on 10/21/2011 

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thursday Woolgathering

2011-11-17T20:33:00.001Z

My giveaway ends tomorrow. Post is here so why not give it a go!

For today's post. A trip down memory lane. To my first date, with my first, it never went anywhere, boyfriend (Charlie?). Inspired by my current watching of Signs on iPlayer.

We went to see Signs, back in 2002. He was a goth. I was in a marginally goth phase. Clothes, not make-up. (Just had to pause the movie. Jeez. It didn't creep me out this, holy hell it just unpaused itself. Argh. Re-paused. Yeah. It's creepier watching it alone.)

There's a photo of me somewhere, very skinny, wearing my amazing long black denim skirt, with crazy long hair! Must find it to add to the post.

EDIT: Here! I had a copy!

We met up, I discovered he smoked, very unimpressed by this, as things go, this will turn me off of anyone almost immediately. I'm judgmental like that. We watched the movie, with a bunch of younger kids behind us being irritating. I mean, as date movies go, choosing a cheesy alien flick probably wasn't the best start to proceedings. No romance at all.

We held hands on the way back to his house. This is where it all pretty much went horribly wrong. His room was so boy, I mean, yeah, he was a boy. But still. Urgh. And then he shoved his tongue down my throat on my first kiss. As that goes, it was pretty terrible. It pretty much ended there. He walked me home (I think his Dad suggested that) and we had an awkward few days where we tiptoed around not saying how terrible it was, and how it wasn't ever going anywhere. We pretty much never were friends again.

That was my first and only date with Charlie. I'm 99% sure that was his name.

It was just so awkward. That word again. I think that at 14/15, relationships really are weird. You are too awkward with yourself to not be awkward with a guy. There was maybe one solid couple in school at the time. Everyone else was just trying it out. Seeing what dating was. Still learning that guys don't have cooties.

Awkwardness is abounds at that age. I think that to an extent, it continues throughout life and throughout relationships. But you move on from it, getting to know yourself better. Knowing what you want and how you are in orbit around others. All new relationships have that moment where things click and come together. Pip and I, together for almost 4 years come the new year, know what we need, and how to act together. Orbiting bodies. When you are new to dating, to a relationship, or even a friendship, that hasn't settled.

This seems to have kind of got away from me. But I think that anyone who knows of adolescent awkwardness, will know exactly the kind of feeling I am talking about. Or not.

Do you have a terrible first date experience? I can't be the only one right?

Now, back to freaking myself out...

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-11-16T20:30:00.001Z

Life, Realism.

2011-11-15T18:16:00.001Z

So over at moments of perfect clarity Julochka is having a moratorium on the perfection that seems to dominate so many blogs and photos online. This is a fabulous idea, as it allows us a glimpse into the parts of people's lives that are often kept hidden; tucked away like a horrible truth that will make us bad people, if anyone ever knew it.

But we need to know that not every life is perfect. Life isn't perfect. It is full of imperfections. Imperfections that make us human, imperfections that make life humorous and worth living.

A little honesty from everyone will make everyone feel better about their messy homes, their failed craft projects, and those things that are just not so. damn. perfect. in their lives.

For another great post on this see c is for cape town!

In light of this, and inspired by seeing the mess over at house Julochka, I thought I would share the honest reality of rental living. Bland, no uniqueness, After six months, there is still nothing hung on the wall. Washing up needs doing, breakfast mess still there, floor needs sweeping. Etc Etc Etc.

My Desk, after dinner.

Kitchen on an average evening!


Room side one!

Room side two!

Living Room

Why not join in on the truth in blogging. Share your day-to-day life honestly. Have fun doing it.

Crafty Roundup: The Doctor Who Edition

2011-11-14T20:44:00.000Z

Monday Morning, back to work.

I'm pretty into Doctor Who right now. Being a lull in new episodes, I've been re-watching the old episodes. All this Doctor watching over the last few days has inspired me to look into geeky Doctor crafting!

Here is a roundup of Doctor Who crafts I love/want to try out!

Source: blog.craftzine.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Source: thezenofmaking.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Source: wendymoondesigns.blogspot.com via Leah on Pinterest

Source: bakingdom.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: bethgorman.wordpress.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Silent Sunday

2011-11-13T19:37:00.001Z

Holiday Crafting

2011-11-11T17:23:00.001Z

So, it is Friday already. I can't believe I have already been off a week. I need another week now. Sadly I am back at work on Monday. Next time off is not until February. Gonna be a long time until then.

BUT! I have not (entirely) wasted my week. Except for the vast quantity of sleep.
I have:

- Bought a bike

- learned to sew a zipper

- made a few purses

- done a few cross stitches

- made Christmas cards,

- put together the families Christmas pressies

- generally endeavored to recharge my batteries. Lots of TV watching. Learning to play a ukulele song until my fingers ache.

I also got rejected from a job I kinda wanted. I am looking at applying for a couple others tomorrow. Just need to get my head into a place to write the cover letters.

So yes. Not to shoddy a week. Lots of crafting. Lots of sleep. Lots of R'n'R. I'm off to make pizza.

Spreading Christmas Cheer

2011-11-10T11:54:00.000Z

Wow. Most underwhelming response to a giveaway ever. Two people! Well, they are in for a good chance of winning!

Seriously though, please feel free to enter. You can pop your name in the hat by commenting on this post!

You can win this hand-made Christmas stocking, as well as a few other bits (like this) and pieces (other stuff) that I will throw in for fun!

The Rules:

1. Post a comment on this post with your favourite Christmas tradition, making sure your email is in the field for it.
2. Giveaway will close on November 18th at midnight and I will draw it on November 20th.
3. You can enter wherever you live.
4. Follow me please! (Not actually a rule!)

Note. That stocking is stuffed with carrier bags. It won't be full, but it will have some bits in.

Wordless Wednesday (Crafty Version)

2011-11-09T19:55:00.001Z

Silent Sunday

2011-11-06T22:25:00.001Z

How (not) to ride a bike.

2011-11-04T22:09:00.002Z

My bike and I. We have had some fun times.
- childhood biking in Kent. Miles and miles of learning to ride on the rode without wobbling all over the place.
- biking to Whitstable for cream teas.
- weekly, and then daily, trips to get to work.

We have had some not so fun times.
- weekly, and then daily, trips to work in the pouring rain.
- the pedal falling off whilst I was on a roundabout.
- the breaks not being reconnected after a tire change.
- flat tires galore.
- the brakes failing on me.
- the gears changing of their own accord.

The latest of these events was today. I was approaching a roundabout. Brakes didn't really work all that great, so I squeezed the brake harder. Only, the front brake popped out of place. Stopped, on the roundabout, having to shuffle backwards with a not turning front wheel. Luckily no one ran me over. I managed to pop the brake back into place, but now, every time I use my front brake, it does the same thing. I did get home in one piece thankfully!

But. If Pip can't fix it for me, it does mean I will have to raid the nest egg to fund a new bike. I was planning on this anyways, but over a couple of paydays, rather than in one go. If the brake is screwed, then I will have to bite the bullet and go for it.

This is the one I am planning on getting:

Source: cyclesuk.com via lost_star on Pinterest

Isn't she lovely! :D

So yes. It's goodbye to my some 14(?) years old bike, and hello Gracie! Or you know, another cool name.

Oh yes. I'm having a giveaway. Go and put your name into it. There are only 2 folks in it right now! :D

A Book Long Read

2011-11-02T21:27:00.001Z

I purchased this book for £2.99 back in my third year at university.

I'm not sure why I picked it up, other than for the price, and the fact that it was in the bloomsbury 21 section with a few other's I also purchased.

I started it back then. I stopped pretty shortly in favour of other, easier books to read.

I restarted it about 3 months ago. Now. 3 months is for me, a pretty long time to read a book. But this one was at times sluggish and requiring of too much attention.

But, it was well worth the effort.

After overcoming my issues with Owen's belief in God and his place in the world, the characters became rather enjoyable. Despite Owen being so odd, one cannot help but like him. He is so otherworldly and different, and such a strong character that he is a marvelous construction.

The plot was also fascinating, watching the war in Vietnam unfold through a different medium to the history books and films I had become used to whilst studying.

I enjoyed the book. I'm not convinced I liked it though. There were parts that had me laughing, a comedy some say, but the discussion on religion and war left little to laugh about by the end of the novel.

It was incredibly well written and the time streams well interwoven; but the general idea that fate is so set in stone, and that all those things Owen does throughout are at God's will to become God's hand, is something I struggle with. I think you are meant to struggle with it.

Two quotes from the end of the novel that had me thinking a lot of thoughts. And these from the steady churchgoer John.

How could Owen Meany have known what he 'knew'?
It's no answer, of course, to believe in accidents, or in coincidence; but is God really a better answer? If God had a hand in what Owen 'knew,' what a horrible question that poses! For how could God have let that happen to Owen Meany? (591)

Watch out for people who call themselves religious; make sure you know what they mean - make sure they know what they mean! (591)

A pinch and a punch

2011-11-01T19:11:00.001Z

It's the first of the month.

Today didn't start out so well. Work is cranky making. I have some weird stabbing pain in my leg, along with a huge bruise from something I can't remember. Worrying. I'm sure it's fine.

But, it's officially November, so I will leave alone the grumps and try and make the rest of the month better than the frankly lousy first day!

Time to go cross stitch a TARDIS.

X

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T19:12:00.000Z

Happy Halloween Everyone!

This was going to be a post about John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany, but to be honest, it's been a long day and I would really like to not think. I just want to admire my pumpkin! :D

Silent Sunday

2011-10-30T19:14:00.001Z

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Tucked up in bed.

Many Steps Sideways

Late night education

Happy Saturday

Friday Night Crafting

Where's my mojo? Have you seen it?

Tuesday Treasury: Time for Tea

Monday Blues

Sunday stitching

Sunlit Saturday

Rounding Up the Week

Wednesday

Tuesday Treasury

Grown up?

Silent Sunday

When Saturday's are good..

Catching Up

Dreams of the weary

Sunday

A favourite stitch

Tea for the Weary

Molskeine Monday

Silent, stitching, Sunday

(Pathetic) Snow!

Friday Night Buttons

How not to follow a chart

Mess: The Manual of Accidents and Messes

Monday Molskinary

Silent Sunday

Painting, decorating, and moral support

Stand-to birthday cake!

Dubbed

Half-baked

Monday Molskienery

Sunday Stitchery

Shopping on a Budget

Emergency cookies

Monday Moleskinery

Silent Sunday

Days gone by in Polaroid.

Ice Cream

Thursday Things

Wordless Wednesday

Doctor Who Love

Monday Molskineary

Budget like you have never budgeted before

Saturday soul resting

Man flu

January Clean Up

Reality Bites

It's the End of the World as we know it.

365 Days of 2011

A Long Week

The big Christmas debate.

Radvent Day Eighteen: Style

Radvent Day Seventen: Music

In Dubious Absence

Radvent Day Sixteen: Rhythm

Radvent Day Fifteen: Success

Radvent Day 14: Pride

Radvent Day Thirteen: Performing

Radvent Day Twelve: Creating

Radvent Day Eleven: Resting

I give myself permission to rest because it is Sunday, and life is full of endlessly, needlessly, busy times.I need rest because I work in retail and it is almost Christmas!

Radvent Day Ten: Writing

Taking a break.

Radvent Day Nine: Influence

Radvent Day Eight: Comfort

Radvent Day Seven: Travelling

Radvent Day Six: Starting

Radvent Day Five: Drawing

Radvent Day Four: Caring

Radvent Day Three: Fascination

Radvent: Day Two

Radvent 2011: Day One

Inspiration Boards

Gearing up for Christmas

Desk Appreciation Day

Loserville (A Not So Silent Sunday)

Saturday Summed Up

Friday Night Life

I give myself permission to rest because it is Sunday, and life is full of endlessly, needlessly, busy times.
I need rest because I work in retail and it is almost Christmas!