ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY , DARCY'S 52 WORDS, A LAYOUT AND LIFE IN GENERAL

Well can't we tell we're back at work - hardly any chance to blop this week - boo hiss!  

However, it is Friday and therefore it is time for 

I'm going to use some of the beautiful things that happened last week for this - hope you don't mind too much!

Firstly is my hubby - on our wedding anniversary he provided me with the following (remember I didn't have time to do anything, no present, no card nothing, how utterly useless am I - my excuse is work related but you know that).  So what did I get

well first I got this which is a piece of citrine, one of the stones you can use to celebrate your 13th Wedding Anniversary

and then I got this - a piece of lace he'd managed to find when we were trawling the shops in York which is apparently a traditional way to celebrate your 13th Wedding anniversary

And finally he presented me with a silver wrapped parcel - that turned into this when I opened it 

So first thought was it's a book...

then the next thought was - it's a funky journal 

and then I opened it and went gulp....

it's a spa day for the two of us to share a rasul treatment (something about clay) followed by use of the spa facilities at Thoresby Hall - double gulp 

did I cry - nope - why not?  - too much shock - I couldn't believe it - I mean honestly I was absolutely blown over and the joy of the gift because we're sharing it - means that it's a treat for him too!  I did manage to get him a crystal when we were in York but I never imagined something like this!

So a big shout out for hubby today!

Next up has to be the beautiful blue skies weather we've had recently I mean honestly it's been amazing and it meant our week away was even better than expected due to the fabulous weather such as the day we went to Castle Howard

And the time at York Minster (more carvings from the west doorway)

together with the underneath of the screen in the Minster - how utterly gorgeous is this!

then there was this little beasty at the National Railway Museum!

Other things Rocking My World This Week!

Hot milky coffees
My half assed attempt at Weight Watching
Coming home to a tidy house from holiday was enough to make me giddy
Crafting time in the evenings (and free bunting which have really made a difference to a couple of layouts I've been playing with this week)

Right off to work (I know I know but the logics are it will be quiet because everyone will be at home and I'm hoping to be home in time to watch live footage of the wedding!)

but before I go a 12 x 12 layout that I did recently not one of my favourites but it'll do!

and my replicate page with regards to Darcy's 52 words - I really enjoyed doing this page - such good fun! 

And finally Mr Linky - I'm hoping you can see your links this week - if you can see numbers and no links hover next to the numbers and you should see them appear as if by Harry Potter magic - don't forget to leave a comment so I can head over and see what's Rocking Your World this week!

HAPPY TUESDAY (WELL IT WOULD BE IF I WASN'T BACK AT WORK!)

Ooh look at me little miss organised - a quick post (but with lots of pictures) of a gift I made my cousin who got married last summer!

It started out as a Papermania frame that I then disassembled (actually got hubby to disassemble - he didn't like the glint in my eye as I wielded a craft knife LOL) and turned into a book, thus creating the main gift, the colour scheme was predominantly creams and whites and ivories therefore I used lots of pastel papers and inks to really set the scheme off without being overpowering!  I then laced the book back together!

A few of the inside pages - too many to put them all on but you get the general gist

the back of the book

and then with this I also did a set of wooden boxes with little mini books inside so she could put wedding memorabilia in from the day - these are the outsides of the boxes

and these are the books inside I was pleased overall with them and sent the gift through the post apparently she was in tears when she received it because she loved it soooo much! 

So there you have it - I haven't abandoned my mini book making just not done as much as I usually do! 

DARCY'S COSY - AND MAIL ART IN GENERAL...

So here we are on bank holiday Monday and the question is what to do? 

Hubby fancies heading over to Brodsworth Hall and as we are English Heritage members that means no cost anyway - little one - well he just wants sausages - and as we haven't got any he's sulking in the other room getting yet another fix of TV since we got back.  Whilst we were away we banned TV - I am that mean - I don't want my holidays disappearing in the blink of an eye so I ban it when we're away so that mentally I can have complete downtime and as a family we get to share every moment together!  

Unfortunately, it means on our return that said 10 year old needs an ultra fix of TV which is what he treated himself to yesterday - which is why we're off out again today!  I can feel a family meeting coming on - I can I tell you....

Thank you to everyone who replied about my missing followers it made me grumpy initially because I did the whole - why oh why are they disappearing but that said I only have a few that actively leave messages and it's them that I'd miss if they disappeared - and be warned I know who you are so I would come and cyber stalk you!  LOL

Anyway I thought I'd post a few more things on here - my page for cosy according to Darcy's 52 words - I racked my brain for things from my childhood but the home we lived in when I was little doesn't match the word cosy - damp and occasionally mouldy but never cosy (the house was literally falling down, it was damp and cold, we lived in one main room downstairs and in winter one main room upstairs - it was wall to wall beds with my Mum and Dad, me and my brother and sister all based in one room, we had an outside toilet that was freezing and a tiny kitchen and the bathroom floor was so rotten that you could put your feet through it over by the basin - cosy is not the word I'd use) so instead I thought of present day and the one room that always feels cosy is our bedroom and no it doesn't look anything like this but it had a cosy feel to it!

then recently I've been into mail art - well into is the wrong word I've sat and admired from afar I mean - most of it isn't in the style I could do but I can certainly enjoy and sit oohing and aahing over it - as I went rummaging a few weeks ago I found the envelopes to the 8 x 8 cards I bought at Christmas, I used the cards as the base to my 'Journal your Christmas' last year and was therefore left with a ruck of 8 x 8 envelopes which are huge!  Anyway thought I'd have a play and I ended up with several which have now toddled off to their new homes, I enjoyed making the envelopes but then got completely lost with what to put inside them, - so I used a single sheet of 8 x 8 card and made them match the envelope and then I wrote a note on the back and sent them on their merry way 

 The inside had this

Then I made this one - the inside first

 and then the envelope

then this one - again the inside card first

 then the outside with a message to the postman

 do you like the chilliphant

then the envelope

 and the inside

 and the back of the envlope again

and finally one that I know has appeared on Carmen's blog the inside followed by the envelope

 this was one of my favourites

 again with a message to the postie

if you likey leave a comment - if you fancy me dropping one to you at some point in the future and I won't say when (and I can't guarantee it'll be 8 x 8 as I'm running out of those - but it'll be large because I don't do small LOL) - it'll just arrive as if by magic then you need to leave a comment so I can publish it and then another comment with your address on which I promise not to publish, I'll keep your name in reserve and when the moment takes me I'll send you a little mail art - now sssshhhhhhhh don't tell anyone it's a secret between me and my lovely band of Rocking Followers tee hee

ROCKING YOUR WORLD SUNDAY AND WHERE ARE MY BLOG FOLLOWERS GOING?

Well thought I'd come and do a quick update on what I'd guessed at for my Rocking Your World post on Friday to see how close I'd got! 

Time away from work to chill - MANAGED WITH GREAT GUSTO IT HAS BEEN AWESOME AND I'VE ENJOYED EVERY MOMENT

Swimming (if we manage to use the pool) - KIDS MANAGED THIS - TRYING TO SQUEEZE THIS BODY IN A SWIMSUIT WOULD HAVE PUT OFF THE OWNERS SO I REFRAINED LOL

Tennis (if we manage to use the courts) - KIDS AGAIN MANAGED THIS ONCE - APPARENTLY THEY WEREN'T THAT FUSSED A LUMP OF TARMAC WITH A NET AROUND IT SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP THEM ENTERTAINED

Laughter (if we manage to have a giggle) - LOTS OF THIS AND WE ALL NEEDED IT

Art journaling (if I remember to take some paints) - DONE LOADS USING LOTS OF THE PAMPHLETS AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL WE PICKED UP PROMISE TO SHARE LATER

Books (if we get around to reading) - YEP BACK INTO THIS TOO - CURRENTLY READING THE FINAL BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD - OOH AND IT'S FABULOUS

Blue skies (if the weatherman is kind) - WASN'T IT JUST WALL TO WALL BLUE SKIES AND WARM WEATHER - SHEER BLISS

Good company (will manage this regardless) - YEP MANAGED THIS WITHOUT A PROBLEM - MY NIECE IS COMING INTO HER OWN NOW AS SHE GETS A LITTLE OLDER SO WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT CONVERSATIONS PLUS THAT GIRL LOVES TO ART JOURNAL SO SHE WAS MY ART JOURNAL BUDDY IN THE EVENINGS AND SHE WAS SO PLEASED HER AUNTY GINNIE TOOK LOTS OF PAINTS AND SHE ENJOYED TRYING THE NEW 'SMOOSHY' STYLE

Treasure hunts (we've bought two so should be fun) - ONLY MANAGED ONE OF THESE DUE TO THE QUANTITY OF WALKING WE WERE MAKING THE KIDS DO - LOL - WE DID THE INNER ONE AROUND YORK AND FELL OVER TWO OTHER TREASURE HUNTERS ON THE WAY ROUND

Not stressing about dieting (will definitely manage this one - I can almost guarantee it) - ABSOLUTELY MANAGED THIS ONE - WITH SO MANY BEAUTIFUL DELI'S IN YORK IT WAS EASY TO FORGET ALL ABOUT ANY IDEA OF A DIET - TODAY WILL ALSO BE A NON-DIET DAY HOWEVER TOMORROW OR PERHAPS TUESDAY WILL BE A DIFFERENT MATTER AND CARMEN I WILL BE HEADING OVER TO STALK YOU AS WE BOTH TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE AGAIN WE CAN DO THIS!

Time with my man (and we so need it) - YES MANAGED THIS - SOME DOWN TIME 

HE HAD A LOG BURNING FIRE TO PLAY WITH AT NIGHT WHICH KEPT HIM HAPPY AND WE SAT AND READ AND CHATTED AND JUST ENJOYED EACH OTHER'S COMPANY

There were other parts of the week that I want to share but will do that later - just wanted to update you on what we had managed! 

Now whilst we were away I managed to lose two followers - how the hell do I manage it whilst others gather new ones and took them under their arm like a new band of sistahs I manage to lose them and that was with three scheduled postings - I'm seriously considering blog stalking people except now they've gone I don't know who they are - be warned I can be very possessive of my followers LOL!

Right before I disappear thought I'd share this with you - it took two trips to York to find it but it was so worth while!  Adam and Eve in God's hand - found on the West doorway at York Minster - isn't it beautiful!  

Hope you are all having a beautiful and blessed Easter Weekend

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - WONDER IF THIS WILL WORK

So I'm going to attempt to prepare this to see if it will post when I need it to - there is logic to my madness - honestly!  So I'm preparing this before venturing off for a few days with my family

I can't tell what I'll be grateful for in advance - so for now I'm going to schedule it and see how I get on - I'm going to guess at my gratefuls - let's see how close I get

Time away from work to chill

Swimming (if we manage to use the pool)

Tennis (if we manage to use the courts)

Laughter (if we manage to have a giggle)

Art journaling (if I remember to take some paints)

Books (if we get around to reading) 

Blue skies (if the weatherman is kind)

Good company (will manage this regardless)

Treasure hunts (we've bought two so should be fun)

Not stressing about dieting (will definitely manage this one - I can almost guarantee it)

Time with my man (and we so need it)

Wedding anniversary (it's Monday and I've not planned anything - blinking useless I am I tell you - it will be 13 years ago since we tied the knot)

More time to think - this bit I'm really looking forward to being grateful for!  Hope I'll pick up comments as I go on Friday so you can all visit each other!  

Hope you've all have a beautiful and blessed week - catch up with you when I'm back!

Leave you with some journaling out of my A5 journal from the last time we toddled off 

The first one documenting an awesome time at Scarborough!  can you see the Diving Belle

and then another one following our trip to Scarborough, hoping to fill this journal up a little more whilst we're in York!

DARCY PAGES - FOLLOW

Another of the Darcy pages - the word was follow

What you can't see from this picture is the silver glimmer mists on it which I love it gives it quite a muted look in real life! 

If you're liking then grab some craft items and have a go - anything goes it doesn't have to be art journals it can be tags, or pockets, or a mini book or a layout or well pretty much anything!  Want to know more click the button on the right!

DARCY PAGES

Ooh I'm having a lovely time with these prompts from Darcy - and I've finally caught up - makes me sad because it means I only get one a week now - LOL!

This one is one of my favourites for the word - waterworks!  

I'm pleased with the colours in this one it's so vibrant! 

Planning a scheduled post to see how it works!