this may be getting a little silly and DARCY'S 52 WORDS - GROWTH

Morning all - how are you this morning - Yes I know a thursday post from me - what's going on with the world.

Well my question is do you think this is getting a bit silly?

What is it I hear you cry - that is the pile of scrapbook layouts that I've done since the beginning of this month - I kid you not!  I spent yesterday evening moving them into albums (and rearranging them again as I insist on doing them in chronological order - I know I know completely insane).  Anyway hubby asked how many I'd done recently because he knew I'd not long since done this job at a weekend taking 4 hours, so to be sat doing it again so soon he was curious, gulp 39 layouts in the month so far - let's say it raised an eyebrow!  Does anyone else scrap at this speed or is it just me LOL - we're running out of photos from day trips out!

Anyway seen as I have so many of these to share, here's one I prepared earlier, its difficult to see on this page, but Shimelle did a layout recently where she took a page with a gorgeous outer border, and cut it into four pieces, trimming slightly so you could see the background paper, and moved the outer borders to the middle swapping around the paper as it were.  This works really well with pages with a border that have that 'almost done' feeling to them which make you run in the opposite direction because you want to scrapbook and not just stick photos to paper.  I found the technique worked with papers that didn't have that border feeling to them just as well. The photo is of said 11 year old and niece feeding the cygnets at Center Parcs

 Up close, these little gems are stickers matted onto card stock and scraps of paper.

And finally... Darcy's 52 words - growth

It didn't matter what I did to this page it did not want to be photographed, usually it's red pages that I fight with but this one is so dark but shiny it was a nightmare to photograph, nevertheless I've shared the rest of the pages with you - it would seem a shame not to share this one.  

The title on this one isn't as strong as some I've done but I like it nevertheless. 

Hope you are having a great Thursday - see you back here tomorrow for Rocking your World posts - ooh must remember the classic line said 11 year old came out with yesterday - completely genius I tell you.  

DARCY'S 52 WORDS - GRATITUDE

I must say this is one of my favourites, the original image has been changed quite considerably but I still like the feel of it, apparently I quite like grey pages with a splash of turquoise thrown in for good measure - who'd have thought it!  A tattooed lady as always! 

Being a weekly blogger of all things that Rock My World this page was fun to do and not at all difficult! 

I have almost finished this challenge but have spent the last month thoroughly immersed in scrapbooking and I usually find that when I'm scrapbooking I can't do art journaling and vice versa - which is weird isn't it!  Really must get back into the art journaling though - particularly when I need to download thoughts - it's a great way of working through things in my mind.  

I can't believe it's Wednesday already - where are the weeks going - hope you're all having a great week! 

DARCY'S 52 WORDS - LISTEN

Now this one didn't turn out quite how I intended, you know the one when you see it in your head but by the time it hits the page it's sort of morphed and despite fighting with it it still doesn't want to change.  Well that's this page, but I find in these that it's best to let the page do the talking, so I included the journaling inside the title letters and just let the page come together on it's own accord.  

We're on Wednesday already people, just got to get to Friday and then a whole week off, still no further forward on the present buying for people but thank you for your ideas - off for a look at a couple of them. 

Hope you're all having a great Wednesday! 

DARCY'S 52 WORDS - SPARK

Oh this one was fun, sometimes you have an image that you've wanted to use forever and get to a point when you never think it will happen and then suddenly - like a spark you know it does exactly what you want it to do.  I thoroughly enjoyed the word, the journaling and the spark it created - simply fantastic!  

Well here I am blogging on a Monday night - what on earth is that all about?  We've got in, eaten, tidied, the ironing pile is screaming at me but I screamed back and now it's sulking.  Strange day at work but home at a reasonable hour, so I've got the evening stretching out in front of me now, so scrapbook layouts here I come. I seem to have done absolutely shed loads of pages recently which I'm loving, will have to have another photographing session of them so I can start getting them on my blog.  Feeling in the need to do some sort of mini/maxi book but not sure what at the moment. 

Hubbies birthday next week and it's a big one which has led me to walk the path of what on earth to buy him, his usual list is mountains of DVD's as he's addicted to films at the moment, occasionally a book will crop up that I know he'll love but he doesn't get the time that he used to, to read these days so he's slower at going through books etc. 

But what do I buy him - honestly?  

Then it's my Mum's birthday and my brother's girlfriends 21st - any ideas for these would be great, my Mum's crafty but better at buying stuff than using it and she's currently in pot until the 22 February.  Fi likes all things creative and she's a great artist, she got Zombie Felties for Christmas and she's loved making things from that since she got it, I'd thought about Steampunk Softies but not sure.  Are there any other great crafty books out there that you know of?  Need to get any online orders done pronto mind!  

Hope you're all having a great start to the week.

DARCY'S 52 WORDS - FIRST

This is one of my favourites from my 52 word journal, using a picture of a ruined Abbey as the backdrop to the words.  The journalled words have been done between the title, which I've discovered is one of my favourite ways to add the journaling to these pages.  The title was drawn free hand in paint straight onto the page.  The bit you cannot tell from the picture is all the glittery pens I've used to create the page.  

Strangely enough we've woken to a similar wintry landscape this morning but without the ruined abbey!!

Having a laid back and leisurely day up to now (well if you ignor the snow clearing we did first thing).  Six nations on again this afternoon so more scrapbooking, I've actually spent an hour clearing my table - I've now got some space to work in.  How's everyone else's Sunday? 

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY a 12 x 12 layout and the word DIRECTION

Aha - I'm going to try and do this as the week progresses, so be warned it might turn into a long one, in which case, grab yourself a virtual cuppa and a biscuit before you commence (actually on second thoughts it might be better to grab a real one LOL).

So here is my

My rocking your world moments how they happened this week

Last Friday was another hypnoslim appointment which was excellent, we got mind gym (which I've not put on my MP3 player yet), a good chat, identifying areas of issue, hypnotism and coming away feeling happier and better in myself prepared for the next week.  I must admit having time to think and relax in a good atmosphere really does make the world of difference.  The morning had started on a chocolate biscuit fiasco (which I won't bore you with but involved me, a chocolate biscuit and an 11 year old - it wasn't a happy discussion - hadn't realised there were claimed rights over food in this house but at that point apparently there were.  You'll be pleased to know this has subsequently changed!).

Debenhams for having my make up in when I needed it.  Because I've got such problem skin I really daren't leave the house without it for fear of frightening people.  However, the unhelpful assistant insisting that the starter kit was what I needed means I came home for a search on line only to find a much cheaper shop that I'll be using in future, so thanks to them for pushing me into finding a better supplier who'll deliver to my door.

Saturday morning - and said 11 year old claiming he was watching "Wall in the Hole" - he did make me giggle apparently it should have been "Hole in the Wall" but he just couldn't swap it around, even though he knew he'd got it the wrong way around.

The gym on Saturday was great, me and said 11 year old and my sister, our programs are all around the same length of time so we went did the session, came home, showered etc and felt much better for it.

Sorting my scrapbook pages out into albums, there were loads and loads and loads (I hadn't realised I'd done so many!)  But there is something deeply satisfying about putting them into albums, the downside was that I ran out of space in my albums so a trip to Hobbycraft to find they do a pack of 10 plastics for £2.99 bargain! I bought three packs and have now extended a couple of albums to get the most out of them, rather than buy another album at the price of £18 grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.  Actually rummaging through I found a part made album that DH started for me an age ago, think it needs a bit of extra chipboard and some papercoverage but I'm sure I can manage this LOL.  Will keep you informed as to whether I succeed and then the other 20 plastics can go in that and keep me going for now.

Which leads onto my next grateful new stock at Hobbycraft - just after Christmas they really didn't have much in that I fancied, so imagine my dismay/shock/excitement when I found the Papermania Portabello Road range - I mean Union Jacks and vintage - really in one pack, blues and reds and whites and stamps and ribbons and embossing folders - I was supposed to be buying plastics but you'll be amazed at what else fell into my basket.

I was unsure of whether to get the embossing folder from the Portabello Road range, but really felt that a simple embossed Union Jack would be perfect for masculine cards which I find a nightmare to create at the best of time.  Saturday night led to me making a few trial cards to see what the embossing folder was like and can I say I'm rather impressed with it.  Now how many other colours can I incorporate when using it because I don't want to use up all my reds and blues!  Probably my biggest problem is that I have a whole side of the family who are Irish - not convinced they'll want a Union Jack card - do you?

The Red Letter Day is booked for Monday, keep your fingers and toes crossed that the weather behaves, it looks like we're going to have to sort someone to look after said 11 year old in the morning too as we're supposed to be there for 9am and it's going to be over an hours drive in Monday morning traffic.

Last Saturday evening we had an evening out by going off to the cinema - so my next grateful is Tom Cruise - why oh why he would want to go climbing on the outside of the world's tallest building really is beyond me - but I have to say that we thoroughly enjoyed MI4 Ghost Protocol - an excellent watch.

A lie in on a Sunday morning, not too late not too early just right, means for a happy person.

Next up on my list of grateful is that sometimes you happen across an artist that blows your mind, Sunday afternoon was just one of those moments.  The artist in question was found via a book hubby was reading and I have to say that the work of Kris Kuksi as a Mixed Media Artist are quite simply breathtaking, approaching such a variety of subjects to create amazing three dimensional work totalling bewildering.  Want to see what I'm going on about - click his name above - but be warned you might be on their some time when you start to see the detail contained therein.  let's put it this way it made me want to find lots and lots of broken toys, little solders, plastic toy guns, toy ladders etc - go see his site to understand why - ooh wait up finish reading this first and then go find!

Well all good plans - yes you guessed it - it's Thursday - haven't touched this since the weekend grrrrr - right what else let me think - my order from Cardinal Colours has arrived safe and sound.  I ordered a DCWV paper pack (these are my most favourite scrapbook paper company, I love the packs, I love the colours and I love the quality of the paper) this stack called Immortal Love click the link to go see the papers - they are gorgeous!!!!! I found out about this because Sian whose part of a circle journal I'm in mentioned them and I wanted them when I saw them, I also got some double sided tape and some flowers from Cardinal Colours too!!

Finally Colmans Bake in a Bag sauces, I'm not one to buy sauces as I tend to do everything from scratch but we discovered these by accident late last year, they are sachet's of powder that create sauces and come with a roasting bag in the top part and basically you throw all the ingredients in the bag, tie the top with the little tie that comes with it and throw it in the oven.  Leave it for the dedicated time and before you know it you've got tea cooked without much effort added to which because it's cooked in the roasting bag you don't have an oven proof dish to clean because it's all cooked in the bag.  They're not badly priced and lead to a tasty tea, we've tried quite a few up to now all successful, Thursday nights is in the oven as we speak cajun chicken with the rice, peppers, tomatoes and onions included in the bag with the powder and water.  No idea what this one will be like but don't even have to worry about a side dish this time as the rice is contained in the bag!

Thursday has also brought a poorly 11 year old to the side of my bed, I knew he'd been ailing all week but come Thursday morning he was completely made up with cold and looked dreadful bless him.  So it's been a duvet day for him and unusually for me my laptop was at work, so I couldn't work from home, I was tempted to head into work once hubby was home about quart to four, but given the amount of TOIL I've got and that said 11 year old is still not well I decided against it - after all it's going to still be there when I get back isn't it.  Why is this on my list of gratefuls you may ask - because it allowed me to put things into perspective - said 11 year old was far more important than emptying my in tray today and I've enjoyed waiting on him hand and foot, providing packets of tissues and food as he's grazed through the day!  Maybe me rebalancing work and home life is starting to come back into balance for the last 12 months it has been pretty much work all the way.

Right that's my list for this week, I'll put Mr Linky at the bottom if you're joining in.  Don't forget the essence of Rocking your World posts, is to pull out the silver linings in your day/week, even when it might seem at first glance that you've had a bad or difficult week, if you dig deep you find those little things that have made the week that bit more bearable.  Once you've identified them pop yourself a blog post together and then link back here so we can come and visit.  It doesn't have to be a lengthy post (but it can if you fancy), it could even just be a bullet pointed list, but if it reminds you of what you've enjoyed then it's worth while!

As always sharing some crafting with you, this is not actually one of my favourite layouts, I don't know why I think it's because I struggled with the background paper, but it's done now.  This one shows DH on the Gladiator Challenge at Center Parcs, he managed both the rope ladder on the left and the other climbing part that he's on in the picture with relative ease!

Up close you can see I cut out some scrabble letters from a page I had (can't remember which stack of papers this comes from) mounted on black and then put it on the page on raised foam pads.  Likewise the words off to the left were from one of those pages with lots of words all over it which I cut out, mounted and stuck to a tag.

I'm also nearing the end of Darcy's 52 word challenge too this one is the word direction and was completed not long after I suffered with a fairly awful bought of vertigo - the word was extremely apt at the time.  I used a stamped arrow as the journal blocks.

Mr Linky for my amazing Rockettes (and Rockers if we ever get one LOL). 

ROCKING MY WORLD FRIDAY AND DARCY'S 52 WORDS - CRAYON

Morning all - what's been Rocking Your World this Week - have you had a light hearted fun week full of positives or are you going to have to dig deep for your Rocking moments - mines a mix!!!  So without further ado it's

First up is my hubby who came to my rescue last Friday when my car decided not to work (again).  It decided that regardless of what my foot was doing with the brakes - it actually wanted to apply them constantly for me - which meant there was a strong smell of burning rubber and quite a lot of smoke LMAO!!!! And before you ask it's not a sports car - it just wanted to pretend to be one for the day!  £110 later and she was sorted - let's hope she can manage the journey I was trying to make last Friday this Friday!

Next up is hypnoslim, I'm still learning about this and I'm not sure if it will do what I want it to do but I'm soooooooooooo bored with dieting and not enjoying my food and limiting the types of things I eat and being on a diet one minute and off the next - I had my first meeting last Friday which was really good and I came out feeling really positive, second meeting today - let's see if we can make some progress - I'll let you know how I get on!

Right on with a photo of a Rocking moment when dropping said 11 year old off at breakfast club on Monday I was treated to this beautiful sky - isn't it gorgeous!  It made me feel fairly giddy even if I was on my way to work!

Visiting old work mates, this was a sort of happy accident but I really enjoyed meeting up with two old work colleagues earlier this week, it's been 8 years since I saw them last - that's never right is it!

Jigsaws - yes you heard me - jigsaws have rocked my world, my sister bought said 11 year old a jigsaw for Christmas, as a child I loved jigsaws, I had two favourite Disney ones when I was little that had shaped pieces in them, I used to do the jigsaw and then take it apart and do it upside down, one day my Mum saw fit to glue them to a piece of cardboard to hang them as pictures in my room - never did get over how devastating that was.  Anyhow, after we finished said 11 year old's first jigsaw, we picked up a Sheffield one from Waterstones with about 300 pieces and that promptly got finished too.  So I thought, let's go the whole way and buy a 1000 piece jigsaw, so we're on with that now, (it was a bit weird because after we bought it from Hobbycraft we discovered elements of this cartoon jigsaw that are a bit naughty, like the naked couple on the cartoon and the misbehaving rabbits (I kid you not) because it's such an intricate design we never noticed when we bought it), but it's proving fun and interesting and we're all joining in with doing a little bit more on it each night.  Biggest problem is that I might have accidently sucked up one of the pieces into the dyson but only time will tell - we have to finish the jigsaw before I empty the Dyson - I'll keep you posted.

Hubby and said 11 year old helping tidy Thursday evening, house looks liveable just in time for the weekend.

The gym, I hate getting ready to go but I really enjoy it once I get into it as it were, no idea if its helping - although I am less breathless at the top of the stairs than I was a couple of weeks ago - so we'll see.

Teen gym for said 11 year old, he is really enjoying being in the gym at the same time as us which is great, let's hope this continues!

Right I think that sums up some lovely rocking moments I've had this week - how's about you?  If you fancy joining in do yourself a blog post and come and link at the bottom so we can come and visit, feel free to take the Rocking Your World Button on the side of my blog if you fancy.   I promise that life takes on a lot more positive a note when you start acknowledging the positives in life - don't believe me?  Give it a try!

Finally, here I am again with another layout from Darcy's words, this one was the word crayon - not something I possess but I do possess lots and lots and lots of paints so that's what the page got, I enjoyed the vibrancy of the layout.

Mr Linky for you

ARGHHHHHHHH & DARCY'S 52 WORDS - AUTHOR

Evening all - well the weeks are just racing by now, work is back into full swing, which I don't mind but it means I'm wrecked when I get home, rebel against the idea of sitting in front of a VDU (because I've done that all day), then I miss my blog buddies grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH - the word vicious circle come to mind LOL!

Anyhow - enough moaning I'm here now with a picture from Darcy's 52 word book (yes I'm still on with it but determined to complete it - I am I really am!!!!!!)

However on the plus side - rebelling against the VDU has meant that I've been sat at my craft table more - not necessarily doing a lot (hubby keeps putting decent TV/DVD's on and I get easily distracted) I'm also managing to get to the gym so as a family we are proving a little more active than we were last year - hurray!!!!  However, tonight I was getting slower and slower and slower on the exercise bike - I'd kind of given up by then because I was absolutely shattered (been up since 6 today, travelled 160 miles, worked, caught up with work when I got home, collected son from school been to gym, showered, tea cooking at the mo) wow busy day wasn't it - how was yours?  Hopefully slightly less busy than mine because mine in hindsight was a bit well crazy!

I didn't know if the word Author that Darcy chose was going to cause me trouble, but in all honesty it didn't I really went for the journaling, writing and writing and writing some more, with different pens and different colours, adding stamping and colouring and really going for it using an image that I didn't think would be possible to use.  Simply magical

How's everyone's New Year Challenges coming along?  Are you enjoying them?  Bitten off more than you can chew?  Behind but enjoying regardless?  Hope they are proving fruitful on your creativity.

ROCKING YOUR WORLD AND THE PAGE 'RELEASE'

Morning all how are you this morning?  It's Friday already 'Rocking Your World' time and the first Rocking  post of 2012.  Time to take stock, look back reflect and give thanks for the week behind us - if you don't think you've had a good week - try and dig deep to find the silver lining as I find very infrequently is there a whole week without a silver lining - so have a think - possibly a phone call that made you smile?  A comment?  Sharing time with someone you love?  Curling up with a good book?  Whatever it may be no matter how small or insignificant think about that moment and smile, hold that thought that positive right in the front of your mind so you can appreciate life for what it delivers you and if it's been a tough week then these silver linings need to be noted!

My week has been OK if I'm honest, nothing sparkling (literally now the decorations are down and away), but a thorough tidy and clean through means the house is resuming normality.

New Year at my sisters is always fun so that's a grateful, listening to her and said 11 year old singing on Singstar is something not to be missed - they both thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

Lazy mornings in bed as we neared the end of our Christmas break (I can appreciate and grateful for these even more now that I'm back at work - I miss having a lay in - I miss not having to wake with an alarm!)

The gym - yes don't frown at the screen, I am grateful that I've managed two gym sessions this week with a third due today and said 11 year old has managed his first session in the gym, he seemed to enjoy it and is looking forward to having a program set.  I'm looking forward to having mine re-done if I'm honest!

Being back off the wine (2nd attempt at a teetotal year LOL - going well so far) has meant better sleep at night - such bliss if I'm honest being able to enjoy my sleep - hadn't realised how much I'd missed proper sleep!

Lovely blogs and lovely blog posts talking about challenges and things that others are joining in with and challenges people have set themselves!

One pot meals and slow cookers, there is nothing nicer after a long day at work than walking into a house full of the aromas of a home cooked meal.  So here's to more one pot family friendly meals (said 11 year old is trying new things - lasagne - gasp, shock horror, chicken in white wine (using up the wine from Christmas LOL), beef bourguignon (more wine being used up LOL).

Hubby spending time messing around with aerials and splitters and all sorts of other electrical things means we now have a free view box and TV piped into our bedroom - now don't frown because sometimes to be able to head up to bed and watch half an hour of 'normal' TV before we settle down to sleep has proved quite nice if I'm honest.

And my final grateful this week has to be the fact I'm here, that I'm alive, that I have a great family great friends both those I know in person and those I know through my blog!  Thank you for being part of my life!

So there we go my first list of gratefuls in 2012, if you fancy joining in then please post a blog post on your blog and then head back here to link up so we can come and visit you, if you don't have a blog or don't have time to post a blog, leave a comment (I lurve comments) about what's Rocked your world this week!!!!

Now following on from my question earlier in the week - here is the page I did for Darcy's 52 words - the word being 'Release' I was unsure of whether to share or not given that the photo is slightly risque!  But given that you all felt quite happy for my post here it is!  You'll have to forgive the image but it was found in a Sunday paper so can't be all bad.  The word for this page was Release, it was quite a simple page to do, I've found it intriguing how my art journal pages really suit simple colour schemes, in this case black white and grey, more finger painting on my part, giant journaling, tattooed ladies and hand drawn title all fun.

And finally Mr Linky for Rocking Your World Posts

HAPPY NEW YEAR - A QUESTION AND DARCY'S 52 WORDS - INVOKE

Good Evening one and all and a very big welcome to you to my blog in 2012, I can't believe I've not posted yet in this year, I'm not sure why?  I'm not sure what I've been waiting for, but after a little flurry of activity reading blogs tonight I thought I'd happen along and say hello to you all.

The decorations are down, the first day back at work is complete, the house is tidy and here we are once again with a clean sheet spread out in front of us.  As always in the new year, I think of things I want to achieve, I start planning (and plotting I'm like that) I sit back and admire what everyone is doing, all the challenges they are involved in, all the plans they have and think - I should do that, but then think I need to maintain a balance.  So that's what I'm going to try and do.

Now the word balance is a curious one, I spend a lot of my time trying to work out what it exactly means, I'm the striver, the instigator, the noisy one in this household, said 11 year old and hubby often listen to me go off on a tangent and before they know it I'm moving the idea forward and we're on our way to sorting it, but often this means a singular, focused task and this year I need a little bit more balance.  So I'm going to try balancing - it's probably going to turn into juggling and I'll probably drop the ball but balance is what I'm going to try and achieve.

So this weeks balance looks a little like this

1. Go to the gym - 3 times
2. Eat healthier (that's a whole other blog which if I get my finger out will come to fruition on a more regular, positive and spontaneous basis).
3. Spend time with family 
4. Have more family walks
5. Manage my crafting
6. Blog a little 
7. Work enough to achieve but not enough to kill me off
8. Improve my outlook by looking after my mind and soul a bit more (not sure how this is going to be achieved but it's a work in progress).

So there you go, a glimpse into my world at the moment, I'll let you know how I get on.

I'm still trailing behind on Darcy's 52 words but I intend on finishing this challenge regardless of how long it takes me.  A bit like my Journal your Christmas which I've done in 2 sittings and is almost with the exception of yesterday and today up to date (I kid you not).

Now this is the word Invoke and quite honestly isn't one of my favourites in my book, but it's done and completed I think it's the fighting colours, or maybe the images, or the stamping - ah can't quite put my finger on it!  But it did get me journaling the word!

Finally my question is - dare I share the word 'release' with you, I like the page but the picture is a little more risque than normal and I don't want to offend.  

Let me know what you think?

ROCKING MY WORLD FRIDAY - DARCY'S 52 WORDS - DESIRE

Good morning my amazing blog friends how do I find you this morning?  How's the weather - stop pulling faces ours is just as bad!!!

Yes it's time to reflect, give thanks, raise our heart a little and find the silver linings in our week!  It's time to find out what has been Rocking My World this week

Despite the strangeness in the run up to Christmas, Christmas day proved to be just lovely, we weren't up too early (although said 11 year old was up from 4.30am onwards), we finally dragged ourselves out of bed about half seven.

We enjoyed a slow opening of presents, with many exclamations of happiness from said 11 year - the biggest of which was for his electric guitar and amp - I kid you not!!!!  We've had many new renditions of his new 'songs' since - don't know what the neighbours with their new born baby are going to be saying in the new year.

The usual hustle and bustle sorting out food on Christmas day but we were cooking for 10 and I always get to a point where things are just that bit mad - I usually start looking slightly frazzled by this point.

This year, present opening was after main course because when it's before main course it causes chaos with the timings (they were mildly better this year).  We had lots of talking, chats and giggles and everyone left thoroughly full and laden down with the exchanged presents that had been opened. So my first biggest grateful is that despite the strangest build up to Christmas, Christmas day itself was about as 'normal' as we could get which was blissful!

Boxing day at my Mum's with home made food - my Mum is such a great cook!  My hubby started to wind her up mid evening - trying to get her to dial a taxi with a wine bottle opener, then a mobile phone which she didn't want and finally with a hot dog sausage - much giggling as you can imagine.

27th of December was a blissful day when we all showered and then chilled and relaxed for the day, I scrapbooked, the boys played on the Wii, watched TV, played with new toys etc.  Absolutely fantastic fun and a thoroughly enjoyable day.

I also loved my Winter Walk this year which was just around the nearby Mill dam, with my sister, my hubby and said 11 year old, it was blowing a gale but we enjoyed the fresh air and blowing the cobwebs off!

Thursday has brought our first session at the gym - yes this is on my list of gratefuls - I didn't think it would actually happen if I'm honest - it didn't quite go according to plan, but we've taken the first step!!!  I'll keep you updated on how this proceeds!

My other grateful has to be finding the The Happiness Project - click the link find out more!  - I found this via a link on UK Scrappers and it was a gift from the universe to me at a time when I was looking for just this sort of website.  You see 2012 to me is a crucial year, I need and want and will be making changes, I've pretty much ignored the help my body needs and have treated it to over sized portions, wine drinking in recent months and lack of exercise.  But rather than making the usual resolution of "I must lose weight" I've come to realise in recent months that it's more than that, I have seen so many people join a slimming club and achieve great success to only then see them revert back to 'old ways' and put the weight and a bit more back on - it's a pattern I've followed for most of my adult life, so I don't want the approach to be just eating healthy and exercising - it's no good looking after just the body if the mind and soul need to be dealt with and looked after too!  So on Wednesday when I was trying to find ways to adjust and help my mind and soul I found the Happiness Project - someone who has a good life, with a good family but wanted to be happier and wanted to know how to become happier - this notion, this idea is right up my street - I have a good life, I adore my hubby and our 11 year old son, we aren't overly wealthy but neither are we on the bread line, I have a busy hectic crazy job - which I love - my life is good and I know it - I have a good family and although I don't have many friends the ones I have are amazing - in fact most that I have are my blogging friends - many of whom I've never met in person - doesn't mean that I don't know them!!!  But I want more I want to be happier - so the Happiness Project is going to help me to achieve this!!!!  So finding this little gem is one of my gratefuls!

Finding out my Secret Santa which was fabulous because I got to thank her properly!!!

So there we have it my list of gratefuls this week - joining in - link with Mr Linky at the bottom - no blog?  no problem - just leave a comment including your gratefuls and I'll post to my blog!!!

Now as always some crafting!

Yes sometimes images just speak to me and this was one of them.  This page documents how much I still adore and love my hubby after 21 years together our desire for one another has never diminished and I feel it's part of the foundation stone of our relationship, now don't ask me why I saw fit to use the colour pink on this one, I've no idea but I did lots and lots of pink finger painting LOL, added the journaling with little stamps and also some gorgeous Art from the Heart stamps that I've had forever and still love like a new stamp, they always lift a page completely but then Dyan has such an eye for gorgeous detail it doesn't surprise me that I drag out her stamps over and over again!

So there we go the last Rocking post of 2011 - 2012 looks set to be a brand new year that we can make our own if we so choose!!!  May you have a beautiful and blessed New Year and I'll see you for my first post in 2012! 

DARCY'S 52 WORDS - UNIQUE and boxing day

Well this was a great word for me to work on in my journal, the world Unique, I had a great image that I'd struggled to use previously but then this word comes along and before I know it I've got the journaling done, in amongst the tribal like verging on tattoo like paint on the individual!  It was a dark layout to do but I like the texture and feel of the image once I'd finished it!

Yesterday was boxing day which means it was my Mum's turn to do the cooking and my Mum is a great cook, not great just amazing, she just doesn't get the time like she used to.  She served up homemade quiches, homemade coleslaw, and real homemade chips which said 11 year old demolished and then she made him some more, I've always sworn that I will never ever ever own a chip pan or fryer because I'm big enough without adding to my hefty bulk believe you and me, but I can appreciate good food and mighty fine company!  

My sister, my brother, his girlfriend, my Mum, me, hubby and said 11 year old all clustered around in my Mum's kitchen chatting and laughing and giggling and well it was just blissful - so Mummy thank you for an amazing Boxing Day where I didn't have to cook.  

Today well - today I will be mainly doing whatever I want to do, posting on my blog, making scrapbook layouts, trying to finish my 52 word challenge before Darcy's new challenge.  Catching up on Christmas TV I've missed, eating chocolates and planning - ooooh yes time to start the New Year plan - it's formulating in my brain as we speak - I don't know what it's formulating but it's definitely formulating.

Now final question - which challenges are you doing next year?  I fancy some challenges as come the 6th January 'd' day arrives - that's right focus the moment I have to padlock the fridge and starting to lose some of this mahoosiveness - I know I know - you'll be saying - why bother - but honestly 2012 has to be the year of getting fitter because - gulp 2012 will be my 40th year - gulp gulp (did I say that out loud?) so I'm looking for things that can mentally keep me busy, I've spotted the stashbusting in 2012 thread on UK Scrappers which I think I'm up for and I've got my eyes on Darcy's new postcard challenge, I'm considering whether I could possibly manage the 365 day diary - but in the past two years I've started it twice and not managed to complete it - not sure if it's because it's not arty enough for me?  Not sure?

So what other things, challenges, classes are you doing that I could join in with? 

Hope you're having a great day.

ROCKING MY WORLD FRIDAY AND DARCY'S 52 WORDS - TRIBAL

Well I'll be - it's Friday again - how did that happen?  But it is - so tis the time to say what's made me smile and made me happy and made me just a little bit lighter in my heart! Fancy joining in - do yourself a post, link to Mr Linky at the bottom of this post and we can come and visit, no blog?  No problem - just put a comment telling us what rocked your world this week!

So things that have made me smile this week, shopping trip with said 11 year old was might fine earlier in the week, just a little bit of time with little man was great.

Being off work - that's definitely rocked my world, just time away from the madness to take time out and just let my mind quieten has been really enjoyable, even if it's been a bit odd.

Catching up with my journal your Christmas, even if I'm behind again now has to be a positive.

Chats with my sister in amongst the cleaning the other day also proved a positive this week.

But my favourite day has to be have been Thursday, first day that hubby has been off work and we all ventured to Chatsworth, said 11 year old said he didn't want to go, he was grumpy and tired, but after a little mental tussle I said tough and we went anyway.

First up we stopped at the carriage restaurant when we got there and had a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich, well said 11 year old soon brightened up - quite honestly beaming from ear to ear - said it was the best bacon sandwich that he'd had - ever!  Fact!  So that put him in a good mood.

This is one of the giant canvases around the restaurant and I love how the stars have cast fabulous shadows on the same.

 Then the ceiling with gorgeous lighting and more stars!

We had a two for one voucher so managed to save £13 on the entry ticket and headed down to the house in time to hear a talk by one of the guides on the history of Chatsworth, it made for a great intro into the house and told us quite a few things that we didn't know, like after they'd done three sides of the building they discovered that the house was several feet wider at one end than at the other and so they had to have a curved frontage in order to deal with the issue!

The house inside was spectacular with Christmas ornaments depicting favourite Christmas carols, each room playing the Carol in question.  From While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks By Night

Including the humorous take on the song! 

To this gorgeous setting in the Chapel, the silhouette could be found in the shop as a star book called the First Noel all silhouetted pictures!

Up close

The area where we put Christmas messages was already full of previous visitors wishes - but we added our thoughts just the same!

 This is always our favourite room at Chatsworth, but was even more special all dressed up!

 The dining room - honestly do you think - actually they could seat 20 to this table and we manage 10 at our house, think they should have managed a few more chairs LOL!

 I liked this silhouette on the way round, hubby says it would make a great stencil and I thoroughly agree!

 The statue gallery was all lit with strange colours bringing the statues to life!

 Outside we had chance to enjoy the gardens in the slightly balmy weather if I'm honest, 11 degrees this close to Christmas in the middle of Derbyshire did seem a little extreme!

The harsh winter sun making for some very atmospheric landscapes today!

It was also nice because the gardens were quiet, usually we visit during the summer or during the Beyond Limits exhibition when the gardens are full of people and picnics etc, but today it was much quieter!

The far end of Chatsworth has finally come out of it's scaffolding cover and we got to see the gold windows - real gold leaf apparently - not paint!

There's only one side now to be de-scaffolded and then she should be back to her former glory, next summer!

Hubby took this shot of me and said 11 year old - I love it - little man had just asked for a hug and we were having a great chat, hadn't realised Craig was photographing us!

We stayed til late, had to find the Farm Shop on the way back so said 11 year old could have some bacon, then hubby decided on the scenic route via Bakewell, got to Bakewell turned round and before we knew it we were back on the normal route, ne'er mind, we got back safe and sound despite the traffic which was mighty heavy through Woodseats at that time of night!

So there you have it, family time is probably one of my main positives this week, albeit that it's been a bit sporadic.

Discovering a present that had been sent by a certain mischievous person via stealth this week also had me giggling - Carmen is a very naughty girl but I will get her back tee hee, yes she had me utterly confused in amongst my present wrapping, I couldn't fathom out who I'd bought the items from and then thought I'd started ordering off my own list (it wouldn't have surprised me given the kind of month I'm having) but no it was Carmen being naughty - thank you hun you certainly surprised me and made me smile!

Cards from far and wide arriving this week have been lovely, the ones with the added bit of detail really have made it for me this week and Jo's handmade card is utterly gorgeous my favourite so far this Christmas.

Right well in a couple of days it'll all be over and done with, we'll be kicking the turkey around the garden and wondering what all the hassle was about, we'll make promises about not leaving things as late next year and cutting down on the money, not doing the headless mental shopping routine, or saying blow it we'll have an Indian take away like Carmen, but before all those thoughts cross your mind it's time to settle and try and enjoy the season.  After learning about the Jesse tree I'm seriously considering a memory tree, you know a place to remember all those that aren't here any more, using symbols as reminders of them, similar to a Jesse tree, it might be a new family tradition.  So in amongst the Christmas festivities or the bah humbug moments try and remember what it's actually all about and enjoy the time you have with your family and friends, cherish the moments for these are the memories we will look back on, I hope and pray that your Christmas is filled with happiness, that you get chance to spend time with people you love and that you have time to just be yourself and be happy.  Sending you all my love and happiness this Christmas remembering those who are no longer with us and those who have less than we have and hoping to share around a little Christmas spirit.

Now it wouldn't be a Rocking post without some crafting so you get one of my favourite pages from my Darcy book it didn't start out that way... but well perseverance

This page was done on holiday - following a trip to Warwick Castle - the word was Tribal and although painted by hand with no visual prompt (I'm no artist) I really didn't like it and it sat in my book for quite a while before I looked at it in a different light

This is the page duly changed, images added, clocks, bigger title and journaling in between - now this I love!

 Just goes to show when you get something that you don't like you just need to persevere and keep adding the layers until you finally feel that it's just right!

Mr Linky for my beautiful Rockettes

DARCY'S 52 WORDS - BARGAIN

Darcy's words - the word Bargain, not one of my favourite - but done whilst we were on holiday and the essence of the word - the calligraphy set we bought whilst away which I used to complete the entire page, quoting chunks of Shakespeare which is what the whole week was about

This is not one of my favourite pages if I'm honest, but with limited supplies and documenting a moment in time it is part of my year this year!  

Yesterday was a strange one, went to my sisters for a cuppa and stayed to help her clean, we managed a couple of rooms by the time I came away at midday.  Took hubby to his Christmas do, then sorted a few calendar pages at home ready for the new year (not very exciting but essential method of keeping track of what everyone is doing throughout the year).

Then picked hubby up from his 'do' and played Harry Potter Lego on the Wii with said 11 year old - honestly I'm utterly useless I spent half the time asking which character I was, said 11 year old kept screaming the button letters that I needed to press which made no sense and because he was faster he was managing to get through the game without my intervention if I'm honest, so I passed the controllers to hubby and headed for a shower!  Made a nice tea (which surprised me given I wasn't in a cooking mood) and then chilled in front of the TV (again) with a glass of wine (again) and fell asleep (again) - this is becoming a habit! 

Today?  Well who knows although we are considering Chatsworth for the day - maybe that's where my Christmas festive spirit is hiding I'll let you know tomorrow if it is LOL! 

DARCY'S 52 WORDS - DISCOVER

Darcy's 52 words challenged us to the word discover and this is my layout, I love the image and had fun using spray inks - yes this one was done in summer outside, now the other day I commented that I struggle with spray inks because they are messy and then proceeded to say I paint with my fingers, to which much confusion has since reigned - spray inks are awesome because they are quick - I grant you that, but they also like to spray everything around them, even with paper and card around the outside of said item I've found that not only the page gets treated to an ink job but also the paper and card surrounding it and then my laminate floor!  So this is why I claim they are a bit on the messy side, I love them but I love my flooring too - so when I use spray ink it's usually outside on the grass which doesn't mind when it's turned blue and red and yellow and orange and purple because I can simply mow it the following week and it disappears the same cannot be said for laminate floors LOL!  I use my fingers to paint because I get to blend the paints on the page much easier and I like the overall effect, now yes this is a messy method, but the only mess is on my fingers which with a quick blast of water and some soap are magically back to their original state (unless I use prussian blue in which case they are dyed forever).  As well as the spray inks I stamped butterflies and wrote scrawly journaling pages to bring it all together

Hope you don't mind the image too much but it totally spoke to me - she looks completely liberated covered in black paint don't you think?

Yesterday saw us venturing out for a wander around the retail park, I got pumps for said 11 year old and was told by the retail assistant that they don't go above the size of foot that he has now (5 and a half) so basically if he needs pumps for indoor PE (which I'm now reliably told he does despite being told at the beginning of the school year that they didn't need pumps this year) that his feet aren't allowed to grow between now and July - what are the chances of that?  Also managed to bag him a pair of Clark's shoes for the bargain price of £9 which given the last time I bought the same pair for him in a smaller size they were £30. 

Wandered around a few other shops, said 11 year old drove himself slightly nuts in Game which resulted in the purchase of yet another Wii game, I wandered around the magazine section of WHSmiths and was disappointed at the selection of magazines.  Wandered into Morrisons for some ready roll icing and some caster sugar as said 11 year old had decided he wanted to bake - well actually he'd decided he wanted to ice which meant baking grrrrrr.  

We thoroughly enjoyed our couple of hours out that weren't too fraught or stressful and headed home late morning to enjoy the rest of our day.  This meant baking, I thought (in my infinite wisdom) that biscuits were the way to go before said 11 year old informed me he doesn't like rubbing in the butter because it's messy, so before we knew it I was making the biscuits this is despite the fact I'm having a baking ban following the successful conclusion on not making gingerbread this year!  So shortbread biscuits were made and then liberally covered (in some instances entirely covered) in ready roll icing!  

Then the final hurdle we braved the supermarket for our Christmas shop, now I'm technically a Christmas person but I'll be honest the words Bah and Humbug very almost escaped my mouth last night, I was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo not in the mood for buying loads and loads and loads of food for a single day but that's what we did, we were then 'helped' by a local scout who was helping pack on the tills who then managed to give a running commentary on our purchases, he was the only highlight of the shopping expedition, I'm getting to the point where maybe in future years we won't want to be going to these extremes but not sure when that will be.  Oh so if you've seen my Christmas spirit can you send it this way because it's been missing for the duration of December and I really could do with it back before the big day! 

DARCY'S 52 WORDS - COMPROMISE and breaking a tradition

Another page with reference to Darcy's 52 words - the word Compromise - not something I'm actually very good at - I don't like to compromise as I feel it 'waters down' the real thing so that's what I documented about, another extended image with paint - much fun, and tattooing ladies again - I love images like this that actually talk to me!  The image speaks the "I don't care - this is who I am" attitude which I love

Not that I'd be brave or daft enough to do what the delightful lady is doing - yes smoking is bad for your health LOL! 

I'm in one of those moods today - you know the daft, silly stupid moods - well that seems to be where I'm at!  I had a chat with my sister yesterday who braved Meadowhall with my Mum and wondered why it was so busy LMAO! 

I however am going to brave the nearby retail park today - better get myself in gear otherwise it will be heaving before we get anywhere close. 

Felt a bit low yesterday - no one specific thing just an accumulation - this Christmas has been a hard one on so many levels, so I spent the day catching up with my Journal Your Christmas - yes 19 posts in one day I did in my book - which now resembles a book rather than a load of cut paper!  Maybe getting back into that will mean I get back into the 'spirit' of things. 

DH last full day at work today, tomorrow he's got his Christmas do! 

And finally we've decided to break with tradition and it feels quite 'freeing' - that's not the word I'm after but you get my drift - in the last few years we've done a gingerbread challenge for Christmas day and created a huge gingerbread centre piece for everyone to admire, it takes a huge amount of money to make (all butter gingerbread ain't cheap), a day of cooking, a half day of putting together and that's without the sweets to decorate and after lots of deliberating we decided that - well we decided we weren't going to do it - we'll find some other fun activity for the break between main course and dessert and say sod it!  So that's where we are at, I don't have a full day of baking to look forward to - result!  Means I can actually breath and enjoy the day with my hubby and son! 

Right off shopping - no idea what for just want to get out of the four walls LOL! 

DARCY'S 52 WORDS - SMILE and MONDAY MORNING

Another page from Darcy's 52 words - this was a hard one because life was complex at that point in time so I wrote about where I was at, I loved extending the image and tattooing the lady, I'm not good at heritage scrapbook layouts and often blame the muted tones and colours, but I love the sepia tones of this double page!

My book has lots of depth to it and documents moments in time for me so I'll always remember where I'm at, it's one of my favourite reasons to art journal because I can deal with the tough stuff, scrapbooking is always about happy occasions for me, very rarely will I document tough stuff, occasionally in the past when I've lost a loved one I do a reflective page but predominantly is documenting happy times in this household, my art journal is good for whatever emotion I'm going through but it comes into it's own when I'm worried, or stressed, when things seem to be getting to me and I'm struggling, sometimes I use the page as a way to rant with no intention of ever re-reading what I've put so I don't put it in order (it would seem like utter drivel if you read it 'normally') but sometimes I just jot notes down on my page to remind me of the time and the emotion I was feeling.  

I haven't really touched my art journaling for a while, there are loads of examples in magazines of art journaling these days but the trend is more often than not very brightly coloured using lots of spray inks which I always find utterly messy, my favourite medium for my pages is good old fashioned acrylic paints and more often than not I use my fingers to paint with - not brushes.  My art journaling has become more of a picture based diary and I have utterly loved the words that Darcy has provided, she's also given a heads up as to what to write about but I've simply used the word as a prompt.  It's probably the first long term commitment that I've made on my art journaling side, I've started the 365 day diary twice and lost it - maybe because I don't really 'get it' I started Shimelle's document a day per month a couple of years ago but the last couple of entries are far from enthusiastic, but this one has stuck with me, I've got behind, I've caught up, I've got behind again, there's been no pressure to do the pages by a certain date or point and that is what I've loved about it.  So a big thank you to Darcy for providing such a great challenge that I've thoroughly enjoyed and now as we look towards 2012 she's doing a postcard challenge, now this one should be interesting - dare I join in again?  

So here we are at Monday morning DH toddled off to work, so I got up for a shower then faced a rather untidy house again, we'd managed to use every piece of crockery in the drawer, dishwasher full of pots, tumbler going full blast and a basket full of ironing not exactly the happiest start to a Monday morning.  But I'm going to get it all sorted so the rest of the day is mine (just having a little blogger break - as you do). 

Said 11 year old has discovered the joys of Wii fit again so has just jogged through the dining room in his pyjamas of course!  Rest of the day?  Well not sure yet, got some more wrapping to do and may pop to my sisters.  What's your Monday looking like? 

DARCY'S 52 WORDS - WILDERNESS

Another page in Darcy's words this one was hard to pull together but persevering with paint and merging the images in meant I was eventually happy with the finished page

Today has been a strange one up to now, stopping in bed til gone nine then a mad dash to the shops to sort MIL a pre-lit Christmas tree out because hers is from the 1960s and DH is worrying it won't be flame retardant, then Morrisons to buy icing sugar and marzipan for the cakes, back home and a quick breakfast and now plans for the rest of the day, we've been playing with the Christmas food list, which is always interesting because we spend so long sorting that out and spending on that that we have no money left to buy food for the rest of Christmas - crazy stuff.  

Still umming and ahhing over the gingerbread challenge grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr another painful task if I'm honest which I swore we wouldn't do again but I keep thinking maybe we will?

Finally said 11 year old and his funny comments 

The first this morning when he got in the car

"Dad have you used that stuff that kills ice?" 

also known as de-icer to you and I

and on leaving our estate and following a tractor pulling a trailer full of hay which kept falling on the car DH said "It's snowing" to which said 11 year old said 

"No Dad it's haying" 

Bless I love these funnies much fun!

Hope your weekend is fun too

ROCKING YOUR WORLD AND DARCY'S 52 WORDS - COMMUNITY

Crikey I hadn't clocked that it was Friday this morning - honestly - I've been really good recently and remembering to prepare my Rocking post in advance but not this morning it's going to be done on a wing and a prayer!  So here goes

First up has to be the KS2 presentation at school and church this week, said 11 year old played Moses (the story was the Jesse tree before you get confused) and we thoroughly enjoyed both evenings, he was a tad stressed about it despite it being a non speaking role but I know from when I was that age you get to a point where you don't want to be doing things like that any more and I think he's approaching that time now.

Then there is the Panto at Sheffield Lyceum Theatre on Sunday - the Dame stole the show as always he - sorry she - is amazing - thoroughly enjoyed it, laughed and giggled our way through the whole show, some of the innuendos by passing the kids whilst entertaining the adults!  It's always a fabulous show and I suppose it's becoming a part of our Christmas tradition.

Hubby preparing a gorgeous tea on Monday was lovely, particularly given that I'd had a difficult day at work, coming home to a home cooked tea is always lovely - so thank you sweetie it was gorgeous!

Wentworth's Christmas Craft Fayre and Farmers market last night was great, particularly the hot mulled cider and as I wasn't driving managed a nice cup full of that, said 11 year old managed a buffalo burger for his tea, we bought some tasty sausages and some baklava's, we looked at some gorgeous hand made quilts and bunting, admired the sweeties in the sweetie shop, wandered around the garden centre and had a thoroughly enjoyable evening despite how cold my feet were (why oh why didn't I wear my hiking boots - will I never learn).  We met up with some of my family whilst there and had a bit of a chat at the same time.

And finally hubby stopping in bed a bit longer this morning meant we had a little lie in beyond the usual 6am - which if I'm honest given how tired I am was much needed!

Today is said 11 year old's last day and thankfully we haven't woken to snow, it should also technically be my last day but if you believe that you'll believe anything - I am actually hoping to get enough done to be able to down tools and get into the Christmas spirit of things, I need to have a thorough clean and tidy this weekend and I can't remember the last time I did any crafting - so that's another plan for this weekend of what I want to do.  There is nothing on our Christmas calendar this weekend so we should be free to just get on with things!   I daren't even visit Toni's blog this morning because i'm fairly sure the countdown to Christmas has just reached single figures the word gulp comes to mind - anybody out there actually ready?

So there you are another Rocking post for another week completed.  What's been Rocking your world this week, it might only be one thing, one tiny comment, one phone call, one moment but if it made your heart lighter and made you smile then you have something to be grateful for!  Mr Linky at the bottom for anyone joining in to come along and point us in the direction of their post so we can come and visit but firstly a bit of crafting.

Now you'll have to forgive me because I've been releasing these pages one at a time and although the post above is positive my choice of picture for the word community completed in the summary isn't that positive - but I can't give you the posts in the wrong order must be the Virgoan in me - sorry!

Another post on Darcy's 52 words - you can see when this one was done - the word that week was Community and I found it was a time to reflect on the week as a whole, I painted in a make shift Union Jack and included the journaling along the red and white - as I've said before it reflects the time I was living in at that point!

It also allowed me to question what the word community actually means.

Mr Linky below for you