Filo Friday 2

Hi everyone!!

I'm back with the second edition of filo friday. I've been pretty busy this week, although my pages don't seem too full. I've been doing a lot of work on planning for the blog and youtube. In fact I've posted quite a few youtube videos this week so head over and take a look!

The theme worked well..

Close up of the flyleaf

Close up of second half

As you can see this week I went with a Hello Kitty pink theme. I'm really pleased with how these turned out. I was so pleased in fact I went and made a youtube the minute I'd finished! I'm not sure how well you can see them on the pictures (my canon ran out of battery so the pics are iphone only!) but I actually made the hole reinforcers myself. I had been complaining about the lack of cute reinforcers and when I realised I had white and a pen I had a lightbulb moment! I think they turned out pretty well.

So that's week 28 and now I'm thinking of the theme for week 29... 

I hope everyone has a fab weekend! Check back on sunday for the first in my new Love series, where I'll share things I've found this week that I love!

Filo friday 1st edition

Over a month since blogging? Bad blogger, bad.  But that month has given me time to think about my blog, the direction I want to go and how I want to work it! So I've been thinking about regular features I want to run, I'm hoping they will keep me accountable to blog. Silly I need to be held accountable to do something I'm doing for fun but that's just how I am.

So very handily today is the start of one feature, which is Filo Friday! For todays edition I'll be sharing a bit about the start of my love affair and an overview of my week so far. I'll try to do that every week but I make no promises!

I've been using a filofax on and off for years. I love the extra space you just don't get in a small diary. I write a LOT of lists (bet you couldn't have guessed that?) and it also gives me an outlet for my organisation ocd. Until fairly recently I had just used it as it came. Filofax inserts and a pen that fitted in the pen loop. Then a month or so ago I was browsing pinterest and came across a photo that changed all of that...

Amy at Filocuteness
Blog entry this first featured in
Used with permission

So these pages were done by the lovely Amy over at Filo Cuteness (she also has a youtube channel which is fab too!) and they immediately grabbed my attention. The colour, the stickers and the general sense of fun in her pages made me realise my poor filo was sorely neglected! Finally a way to combine my love of crafting with my love of organising!

So I got my trusty filofax out and got to work. Well I say got to work but first I realised my  faux filo was, well, rubbish and not suitable for me! So off to the shops I went! I came home with my first filo in years, a purple malden in personal size.

So now I have set it up and I decorate every week and I could not be happier! For more info on how I set up my filo you can check out my youtube video (my first one! Do I really sound like that??)

So here's my week 27 in my personal malden....

One picture this week as the natural light hates me and my son wanted to steal the camera! I will try to get more organised with pictures for next week.

So I went with an all green theme this week. I used
                                                                                washi tape on the top and bottom
                                                                                Green polka dot hole reinforcers from Staples
                                                                                Green post it labels
                                                                                Green arrows from a set from Paperchase
                                                                                Green pilot frixion pen in 0.5

I normally have more than one colour but I decided to go for it this week and I really like how it turned out. I was concerned it would be too in your face but I think it's looks surprisingly minimalist.
It's been a pretty quiet second half of the week but I have kept busy with things not in my filo!

So that's week 27! I'll be sharing week 28 next friday but in the meantime I might try and do some more videos and of course keep an eye out for the new features popping up over the next few weeks!

Day 17 of blog everyday...

Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why

I have no idea how old I am but this is one of my favourite ever pictures of myself. That little kitty was called Peter Rabbit. I named him after my idol. We'd not long had him and he'd scratched me. :-( I also love that it looks like I'm sitting in a large drawer... I'm not sure what I'm sitting in really! 

That kitty was with us for about 15 years or more and was a little star. I loved him and actually miss him sometimes too. 

Also how awesome was my hair?!

Day 16 of blog everyday...

Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it

Blogging feels very narcissistic today. I'm not one to go on about things difficult about my "lot in life". At least I don't think I am! I always think other people are struggling far more than me and it's egotistical to go on about mine.  However you asked so I'm answering.....

My health. That's hard lately.  When I was pregnant I had quite severe SPD (or Pelvic Girdle Pain if you're picky). I was on crutches from around 24 weeks and it was hard going. The doctors all said it would go away after my little one came along so I was very optimistic!

For the first 6 weeks of Isaacs life it was great. The pain had gone and I felt really good. Usual post birth pains but otherwise good! Then it came back... With a vengeance. My body decided it hated me and my SPD turned into all over pain. Everything hurt. My back, my knees, my legs, my neck, my wrists, my hands etc etc etc etc

So for the past 18 months I've been working with various people to figure it out. I've seen Orthopaedics, Rheumatologists, GP's, Occupational Health and Physiotherapists.  I've had lots of blood taken, which all came back normal and now pointed to one thing. Fibromyalgia. Great. 

If you haven't heard of it before I'd say don't read everything you believe.  Otherwise, like me, you could be convinced it's all in your head or you're a drama queen. That's not true.  I'm very lucky to have an understanding doctor who does believe the condition exists and that she wants to help any way she can. 

I've done a lot of research into the condition. I had also heard of it as my father-in-law and sister-in-law both suffer. I've yet to tell them I got the diagnosis which seems odd. However I don't really like to talk about it and it's the sort of condition that is so different for each and every sufferer I don't want to be comparing. It's one of the reasons I don't want to go to a support group. What works for me may not work for you.

So other than the pain killers my doctor suggested a mild anti-depressent which is used as a painkiller.  At this time though I've decided against it. We'd like to have more children and I don't want to have to stop and start medication, or have the dozy feeling associated with the drug. So I'm working on building up my exercise. By that I mean walking further than 1 street, or gardening for more than 5 minutes. I have physio and I'm learning to manage the pain enough to have a life. Some things are out but I figure I'm here, I can take care of my son. Maybe I can't do as much as other mums but I make up for it in other ways. I'm a fantastic colouring in partner... 

So that's my hard lot in life. It is hard as people can't see I have anything wrong with me so sometimes it seems I'm just lazy or exaggerating. Plus I find it hard to ask for help and admit I'm struggling with everyday things, like loading the washing machine or tidying up Isaac's toys. But I'm working on it. I'm determined it won't run my life. So hey my bad lot isn't all bad. It makes me slow down. I get to sit and smell the roses all day sometimes. That can't be all bad right?

Day 13 of blog everyday...

Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.

I am very aware I've fallen behind in the blog everyday challenge. I've even skipped some. To be honest I've skipped some I can't write. Not at the moment anyway as the topics I'd want to use I don't think I'm ready to nor am I sure I'll ever be ready. I don't want to make a half hearted attempt at using another subject as that doesn't feel real to me.  Maybe one day I'll be able to but not just now.

One of those hard to talk about topics would be an apology. Except I already made it. Years ago I wrote the hardest apology letter I've ever had to write. Have you ever done something so bad you knew there was no apology good enough? Yet you still had to say it? I have and I did. I said my apologies to the people I loved and who would listen. To the one who wouldn't listen I wrote it. I don't think it was, or ever will be accepted, but that's ok.  I've learned that the hardest part is often accepting the apology from, and forgiving yourself. That I think I've done. 


So if you've been given an apology you don't think you can accept remember this. Accepting an apology and forgiving someone is not for them it's for you. Until you forgive people who have wronged you and let it go you'll never be over it. You can hold onto your anger and hatred but the only person truly affected by it is you. So forgive. It doesn't mean you have to forget, or even have any interaction with that person, but it does mean your heart can let it go.

I don't believe the person I apologised to has done this and it makes me sad. They won't know the peace that come come from forgiveness. I do. From both my family and myself and from God. And it feels good.

Day 12 of blog everyday...

Day 12, Sunday: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life...)

So I've missed a couple of days this week. I might catch up with them later in the month but I'm not going to stress about it :-) I've had a couple of rough days to be honest. Nothing too bad but feeling a bit sore and letting things get to me.

In the spirit of that and what do I miss I'm gonna say a few things.

I miss my Gangy. He passed away years ago now but I miss him all the time. He was a very practical down to earth man who could be so much fun. I don't have lots of memories when he wasn't ill but I do remember that even then it never stood in his way. He loved strongly and deeply and you always knew it. I really appreciate that my mum inherited this trait and it even rubbed off on my dad. :-)

Annoyingly I haven't scanned in the picture of him yet, it's on my to do list so when I do I'll post one here. 


I miss the innocence of childhood. However I wouldn't want to go back. I love seeing that innocence in my son. He knows when he cried mummy will be there for him. I can comfort him in his worst moments which are normally very scary things like being unable to reach the biscuits. But I love seeing him discover new things and new feelings. So maybe I can't add this to the miss list as I see it everyday.

I do miss things and people I've lost but in all honesty I don't have a list for this. Missing things implies I want to go back to them. I don't. I am happy with my life. Even in my bad moments and days I am happy. So I don't miss things or times as I don't want to go back. 

Ok maybe I miss Disneyland but I can't live there all year...... Or could I???

Day 9 of blog everyday...

Day 9, Thursday: A moment in your day (this can be just a photo or both a photo and words)

13º in Scotland means a quick trip to the shops and enjoying sitting in the sun eating crisps and reading Disney magazines.  Today was a good day.

Oh also look at all those curls! My boy is a cutie :-)

Day 8 of blog everyday...

Day 8, Wednesday: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.

The best piece of advice I've ever had is to "talk about it". If you don't feel happy or there are things bothering you the best thing you can do is talk about it. When I didn't talk about it and bottled it up it would come out in bad ways. So now if I need to talk about it I talk about it. It's not always easy but it works. 

For some reason today the post isn't waffly or long. I hope I haven't lost my bloggy mojo..... Nah I think I'm just tired! A sleepy baby, crazy dogs and too many errands to run = less chatty me.

Day 7 of blog everyday...

Day 7, Tuesday: The thing(s) you're most afraid of


Yet again a topic I could answer with a list. I love this challenge! :-)

Seriously though I've never been a obviously scared person, however I am afraid of lots of things. I'm terrified of all the usual things, illness, something happening to my family, friends or even more scary, my child. I'm scared of social situations, of making new friends and keeping the old ones. I'm scared of the things my child may have to suffer, even the little things like scraped knees and having his heart broken. 

I've spent a lot of time lately trying to put my fears in gods hands and let him take the burden. It is something I struggle with deeply but I am working so hard at it. It really does make a difference. Instead of taking my fears away it feels like they become a little bit lighter.

I'm still scared of clowns though... I do not understand them at all!! Also spiders, big huge size of my fist spiders. Scary stuff.

Rather than a picture of my fears I figured I'd share our sunny day!!
fyi... there was a huge spider in that shed back there.... :-)

Day 6 of blog every day...

Day 6, Monday: If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question, 'what do you do'?



What do I do? That's quite a deep question really. I wonder about this as I don't have a job in the traditional sense. I'm a stay at home mama to my lovely little man Isaac. That's what I do.

I play. With lego, a play kitchen, Happyland figurines, mega bloks and cuddly toys. I make music with him. On a keyboard, the drums or the various xylophone/maracas we have.  I walk around the house and the garden very very slowly. I watch countless amounts of Disney junior and remember the names of all the characters and the words to all the songs.

I cuddle him when he cries. I kiss his ouchies and wipe away his tears. I hold him in the night when he has unexplained nightmares. I cuddle him to sleep at nap time and cuddle him again when he wakes.

I make his breakfast, lunch and dinner. I bake him cakes, cook him healthy dinners and pretend I don't notice when granny gives him biscuits.

I teach him about the world around him. I name the animals on his wallpaper and do (bad) impressions of their noises.

I photograph every day of his life. The funny, the cute and the ordinary. I document his whole life for him to investigate in the future and for us to remember.

I pretend I'm not scared of spiders or clowns so he won't inherit my silly phobias.

I do an abnormal amount of research into safety measures to make sure my little one is as protected as possible in every situation.

I ferry him to toddler groups, music groups and swimming lessons. I wear an unflattering swimming costume in public to make sure he's safe in the pool.

I tell him stories of family members he doesn't see often or will never see. I teach him about our faith and truth. 

I love and cherish him unconditionally and always will. Nothing can or will ever be done to change that.


I'm also a wife. I've been a mother longer and that just came naturally to me. Being a wife is harder. It involves much of the same...
Showing an interest in lego and computer games..... Ferrying him around..... 

In all seriousness though marriage is a joy that requires work. Relationships have never come easily to me and marriage comes far easier than any others did. I have never been so at peace as the day of my wedding. I knew 100% I was where I was supposed to be. Bringing my family into a little unit in the eyes of God.


So what do I do? I learn. I learn how to be a better mother, wife, friend, daughter. I learn how to live a life of fellowship while living the life I want. I learn how to be a better person every day. So while I teach my son I am always learning. Isaac is teaching me as much, if not more than I am teaching him. 

Day 5 of blog everyday....

Day 5, Sunday: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends. What makes them great? Why do you love them? If you don't have blogger friends, talk about a real-life friend or even a family member

So technically I only have a couple of blog friends and they're people I knew before I knew they had a blog. I do have loads of blogs I read on a daily basis and I love the people behind them in an "internet" way. That does sound strange and I do not want to come across as a creepy stalker type! So I think I will write a little about a cuple of the bloggers I love and why. :-)

Blog 1: Kaelah over at Little Chief Honeybee. I've been reading Kaelah's blog for over 2 years now which is amazing to me! It's been wonderful watching her life grow and change over the years in a similar way to mine has. I feel I can relate to her and see a lot of similarity in our opinions on certain topics. I've had the pleasure of a very small amount of actual interaction with her and can confirm she is as nice as her blog shows!

Blog 2: Jen over at I Heart Organizing. I only discovered this blog around a year or so ago and am in love! I love the organisational skills Jen, and her contributors, have. It makes me aspire to organise my home in a more beautiful way!

Blog 3: Sarah over at Sarah Rooftops. I knew Sarah before she began her blog. However it was only in a friend of a friend sort of way. I'm happy to say that I can now count her as an actual internet friend! Reading her posts allowed me to see that we actually had a lot in common. It also made me braver and able to actually talk via facebook. Remember I said in a previous post I could be strangely shy? Sarah's blog put me at ease and also showed me another side to the city I live in. There are places she mentioned I had never even heard of and I've lived in the area for 26 years!

So there it is a short list (another list! I'm obsessed!!) of blogger love. Pop over to their pages and say hi, I guarantee you won't be disappointed you did. :-)

Day 4 of blog everyday...

Day 4, Saturday: Favorite quote (from a person, from a book, etc) and why you love it


"Just be yourself it doesn't matter if it's good enough for someone else"
"The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World

My favourite quote is from a song by a band I only like two songs by.  I sometimes find it ironic that I don't like any of their other music and yet this one line inspired so much in me and still does.

Most of my life I struggled with depression and self esteem issues. I'm thankful to say after a life changing event around 6 years ago I am a very different person. However this quote really speaks back to then.  

My issues meant I ALWAYS picked the WRONG men. When I say picked I mean embarrassed myself for. I spent a lot of my youth confusing lust and love and expecting to be treated poorly. It's a cliche that until you love yourself you can't be loved but it's a cliche for a reason.

This song was played at pretty much every club/bar/social gathering I would frequent, so was a pretty big deal in my life. At the height of my issues I listened to it and for the first time really heard it. Being something I wasn't (which I was doing every day) was never going to make me happy. I couldn't rely on other people making me happy either as they would never be able to. Even if I found the perfect man, he would have failed because I expected him too. I expected to be disappointed and let down. At that time I was getting tattooed quite a lot and I decided to have this quote tattooed on my ankle to remind me of what I had realised.

It didn't quite pan out the way and things went a bit more awry for me! However, as is true for most people, hitting rock bottom meant I could build myself back up! I learnt, with a lot of work, to love myself. To be happy and realise I deserved to be happy! This quote really came to my mind a lot during this process, helped by being permanently written on my skin probably! But I finally, finally understood what it meant. I understood it applied to men and to all my other relationships in life.

Being me is what makes my husband love me. Meeting him was the true beginning of a new life for me in relationships. I could be myself, bad and good, and it was more than good enough. It was what I needed. It made me use this view in other relationships too.  Sometimes I wasn't working hard enough to understand the people I loved. 

I also learnt to view things the other way. If someones best wasn't good enough for me that wasn't their fault but mine. I can choose to feel hurt by other people actions or I can choose to understand them better and realise a lot of the time they don't even know they've hurt me. Some people may be struggling the way I was and by allowing them to be themselves perhaps I can help them realise what I did. Because it's not about love or sex or men or women or relationships, it's about people. Being yourself is the one true way of being happy. Changing yourself, or pretending you're something different, will only bring you heartache. 

So be yourself. Love yourself and embrace who you are. If someone else doesn't appreciate it or feel it's enough for them then the truth is they aren't enough for you. Life's too short to pretend and far too short to spend time on people who don't love you for you.

Said tattoo..... filters make my legs look fabulous!

Side note: I beginning to think this challenge is less about blogging and more about my stream of consciousness. If you feel I'm waffling I apologise! I'm trying to be very honest to help me find my voice and I hope by not editing my posts I can. Being honest in this sort of forum is very new for me! 

Day 3 of blog everyday...

Prompt: Day 3, Friday: Things that make you uncomfortable


I've debated over this post quite a lot. All day in fact! I'm pretty sure no-one wants to read a long list of the things that make me uncomfortable so I thought I'd see what appeared today and tell you about them. In list form. Cause I love lists. I can't help it and I won't apologise for it! ;-)

1.  Being in a crowd/group of people. Despite attending the same toddler group at my church since Isaac was 3 months old (he's now 18 months) I still feel like the shy awkward new girl every week. I get there early so I can have a chat with the volunteers (my mum and the rectors wife!) but when other mums arrive I can feel myself physicall pull away and try not to catch anyones eye. I never used to be this shy. Back when I had "issues" I was the life and soul of every party. Now I'm happy in myself I'm as shy as they come. Strange but true.

2. Other peoples politics... Expecially when they broadcast them on facebook. How do you respond when half of your friends list "likes" a post you inherently disagree with? You don't. So I spend half my time ignoring people who otherwise are good friends! Just don't talk politics with them and we're fine. The particualr case today was the vote for Scotlands independence..... 

3.  Speaking of things you can't talk about with friends... It makes me uncomfortable to discuss religion with most of my friends. In fact nearly all of them. I've discovered over time that it would appear most atheists I know feel that fact gives them the right to tell me my faith is wrong, maybe not in so many words but the intention is there. Even though I would never presume to tell them theirs is. It makes me uncomfortable that there is this double standard among my generation and that it means most of my friends don't know how important my faith and religion are to me.

4.  Making polite chit chat with a checkout person when all I want to do is tell them they're scanning my items wrong! Stop giving me the shopping all out of order! I put heavy things on the belt first because I want the heavy things first! Don't lean over my large bag of potatoes to scan the bread first. It only means I have to wait to pack said bread and end up looking like I should have accepted your "help" with my packing. Although that would have ended in more than one broken egg I'll bet.

5.  Parking in a very busy public car park. This uncomfortableness has been alleviated somewhat by my lovely car (which I've now had a grand total of 7 months and still love completely) having parking sensors and a rear camera. I still get that uncomfy feeling though that I must be doing it wrong. Especially when someone is watching me from their car....


So judging by this list of things that made me uncomfortable today, I think I have some work to do.  I don't believe my social anxiety will get magically better anytime soon but I am working on it. I think it'll be a work in progress forever.  As for not talking to friends about things I think I'm learning some friends are for sharing certain things with and others aren't.  It doesn't make either group better than the other it just makes them different and I'm ok with that. 

Day two of blog everyday....

Day 2, Thursday: Educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at. Take any approach you'd like (serious and educational or funny and sarcastic)

So I spent a large portion of today trying to think of something I'm good at. I drew a blank. I kid you not. When it came to it I cannot think of a single thing I'm good enough at to educate others in. This made me sad.....

Till I really thought about. I'm good at lots of things but I firmly believe there are people out there better than me at most of it. Therein lies my problem,
and why it's probably a good thing I never became a teacher.

So I worked out there is one thing I better than anyone else in the whole wide world.... That's being Isaac's mummy. It may sound silly. There's lots of mums out there who are amazing and how can I say I'm doing better or I have the right to educate anyone on being a mum?? But I'm not saying I can teach you to be a mum only that I could educate you on being Isaac's mum. Cause I'm definitely the best at that.

Tip 1: Do not close doors. Yep. Leave em all open cause Isaac will want to close them for you. Heck he'll probably have opened it in the first place.

Tip 2: Never allow Mickey Mouse to be cut off mid episode by an annoying tv. Isaac will cry.

Tip 3: Don't sing. Ok you can probably sing but I shouldn't. Again Isaac will cry and all dreams I have of having a nice voice will be dashed.

Tip 3: Download all the free fisher price apps. Isaac will know where they are on the phone but it will stop him trying to email which.com every time he gets hold of the iPhone.

Tip 4: When putting Isaac in an adorable nappy take a picture immediately cause he will almost certainly poop less than 10 minutes later.

Tip 5: If Isaac is quiet and out of sight he's probably fine unlike most toddlers. If however the puppy is also missing and Isaac is laughing hysterically there is trouble afoot. Investigate!

Tip 6: Never leave a chair pulled out from the table. Isaac will climb and be standing in the middle of said table in less time than it takes to turn around.

Tip 7: Cuddles will be requested, demanded in fact many times throughout the day. Always put down whatever you're doing and oblige! These phases may not last.

Finally and most importantly....
Tip 8: Never ever cut Isaac's hair. Those baby curls may have to go eventually but until be insists on it enjoy them!!

There's lots of other things that make being Isaac's mummy the best job I've ever had, and the one I'm best at, but I don't want to give away all my trade secrets... :-)

Day 1 of blog everyday.....

Todays prompt:    Day 1, Wednesday: The story of your life in 250 words or less (or one paragraph... no one will be counting your words... probably)

I do love my parents on trend look...
Although I appear to have been an extra on Little House on the Prairie....

I was born in Birmingham, England in 1981, the youngest of 3 children.  When I was about 4 we made the move up to Scotland. My dad has worked offshore since before I was born and it made sense for the family to be based where he flew from. We've lived in about 3 houses up here and settled in a new build on a farm. I loved living on a farm and have lots of fond memories of rearing baby sheep, chasing ducks and riding horses. Sounds idyllic but remember Scotland is cold!! I did all the usual schooling, primary followed by secondary. Then I went to work for a few years in a bank but decided I wanted to have the university experience and so studied History of Art at Aberdeen University. Not very useful for anything but I had a lovely time. After that I did various jobs and moved away with my then boyfriend for a few months only to return back to the farm. After a big life change I met my now husband. We moved in together about 5 minutes from the farm and I opened a craft shop in the village. After having our little boy in October 2011 the shop became more of a burden and in this financial climate it didn't make sense to continue. So I now spend my days taking care of our son and I have to say this the happiest I've ever been! I always wanted to be a mum but I didn't realise it would turn out to be my calling. I'm loving teaching my little one and cannot wait to see the man he becomes. 

My little family unit. Love these boys

Well that's day one done... Hope I didn't rabble on too much! :-) 
x

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.....

Or in blog land it makes you even more scared?

I've been absent. It's true. I'm a bad bad blogger. I started writing this for me and then I worried about what I should write! I started to think about regular posts, titles, projects etc etc etc........ It scared me off and made me spend my free time (what precious little I have of it!)  as far away from this blog as I could!

Then I had a realisation. When you start doing something for yourself, regardless of who may see it, you should enjoy it! Seems obvious I know but it took me a while to really understand it.

So I was reading one of my favourite blogs in feedly, My Soul is the Sky, when she mentioned she had decided to follow the blog every day in May challenge. I was intrigued so I followed the link to the original post and found Storyofmylife. What a beautiful post! It felt like she was talking to me and easing my fears. So I figured why not give it a go? Now I may not manage one a day but I will try my hardest. I'm planning on doing a photo a day challenge too so May will be a busy month!

So fingers crossed everyone that I manage to write as many as I can and that it will help me find my groove in my little bit of the internet.

Thank you Thursday

Just had to write a very quick post to thank the lovely Kaelah over at Little Chief Honeybee for sharing a link I sent her this week.

I read a lot of blogs, mostly American ones and sometimes a story reaches me which touches my heart. The life of Pearl Joy Brown is so celebrated and her family so filled with faith I can't help but be inspired by them. They have been dealt a tough hand and deal with it with such grace and trust in God.
I feel everyone should read their story and if you can help do so! Even if it is keeping them in your thoughts and prayers every little bit will help. I have the pleasure of knowing a little boy with a milder form of this condition.  I only met him very recently and only discovered it was the same condition today!

Their story has shown me that faith and love can do so much for a child. All children, wether they have additional needs mild or severe or none at all, need the love and care a family can give.

Have a lovely thursday everyone!

I can't resist a picture of my littlest love :-)

Ikea Hacking.....

I love IKEA.  I’m not ashamed to admit it either. I love walking round seeing how they put rooms together and wondering if I could cram all my junk in their furniture.  I especially LOVE the marketplace.  There is soooo much stuff you don’t need but of course you have to have.  A white sheepskin rug?  Totally need one of them.  A child and dogs do not make a white rug a bad idea.  17 different tiny photo frames I have no pictures small enough for?  Yep chuck em in the trolley.  

Our nearest IKEA is over 3 hours away.  I hate this but my bank account is eternally grateful. I spend an absurd amount of time and money when I go to an IKEA.  Typically I travel specifically to Glasgow just to go.  Or on my yearly pilgrimage to see extended family down south me and my mum will stop in Birmingham.  It breaks up the journey you know.  That’s the only reason we stop there.  And yes my mum and I are each others enablers. So while I wait for my yearly trip I browse the website.  I remember when they didn’t have any of their products online.  Those dark dark days are thankfully over and I can make up shopping lists to my hearts content.  

Anyway the point of my post....

I’ve seen a lot recently on pinterest and over the general old internet that people are becoming obsessed with “IKEA hacking”.  Some crafty people claim to dislike IKEA unless they can use their products and change them quite dramatically.  Adding crown moulding, painting and adding or taking away original accessories.

I love me some smash... 

Personally I have no problem with changing furniture if you want. Some IKEA hacks really do make it better! However when it comes to IKEA I have to say I like what they do! I like the clean lines and the amazing amount of storage.  I like being able to buy a box that fits a shelf perfectly without having to measure and go to a million different shops.  Sure I’d sometimes change the box a bit but the convenience for me outweighs that.

A few months ago my little family, and my mum and dad, had to go to Glasgow for a few days.  Now ordinarily IKEA would have popped into my head right away and I’d have made a list there and then.  This wasn’t a regular fun trip though and so I didn’t.  Till my mum said her and my dad might just swing in by as a nice thing to do at the end of a few not so nice days.  I wouldn’t be able to go but I could provide her with a little list and she’d buy me some stuff...  I’ve detailed my little list below.........

Expedit bookshelf (8 cubby holes)

Expedit bookshelf (5 cubby holes)

Plastic expedit boxes x 3

Fabric expedit boxes x 8

Expedit drawer insert

That’s my little list.  Trust me that’s the paired down version of my original list! When I’m stressed making fictional “what would I buy” list makes me feel better.  On this occasion I wasn’t sure I’d get everything on my list but my mum and dad came through! They very generously bought almost everything on my list.  I did only get one fabric box as they didn’t have the colour I wanted and I picked a back up colour which distracted my mum so she never saw the x8 part! Which of course meant we had to stop at IKEA on the family trip in November.  Such a shame. :-) As a side not I still didn’t get the ones I wanted. Is pink really a popular colour??

I had to include my lego pen holder. We're a lego family

I never did a single bit of hacking. I built all the pieces and put them together as directed.  I did all this during one nap time.  One nap time on my husbands day off.  My husband who also napped and then asked, as I turned the last screw, “do you want a hand?”.  Men.  But I now get the added smugness of having built my own furniture for my very own side of the parent cave! My craft corner is built!! Yay!!!  Maybe I’ll actually do some crafting now. Fingers crossed!

I’ve included some pictures of the finished build.  I have yet to put all my crafting supplies in.  Who are we kidding, my garage is full of supplies.  The joys of having closed down my shop does mean I have a lot of personal craft supplies.  Hopefully I’ll have some better pictures when I’ve added more supplies and tidied up a bit.  Not to mention the rest of the room needs a lot of work.  Actually the whole house does. Well I only have 2 hands and a boy who’s just turned 1 who’s taking all of my attention just now!

So who else loves IKEA products?  Do you like to “hack” them?  Or love them as they are like me?

Happy New Year!!!

2012 has gone. It was a very busy year for me and my family. I got married, moved house, had a first birthday for my son (1 already?!?!) got a new puppy and lots more I can't remember right now!

All of this meant many of my hobbies got pushed to the side for the year. I haven't been able to do any crafting in longer than I'd like and of course I neglected this little bit of the internet.

So 2013 is "The Year of Better Living" for me.  This is my one resolution which covers every aspect of my life.  As a few examples (I will expand on the list later) I intend to eat better, work on improving my health without having to resort to medication, have a bit more me time for crafting etc and be more positive. I want to try to focus more on the sort of person I want to be and the sort of life I want to live and not let other people affect that!

I hope to post far more regularly of course and can update you on how well this is going!

Also I was very lucky and got a fabulous new camera for christmas and when I learn how to use it properly, there should be much better pictures on here!

I hope you all have a healthy, happy, blessed 2013.