{JYC 09 Day 3}

Last Christmas I had high hopes of making all my christmas cards. But this time last year I was lying in a hospital bed, about to be given a lumbar puncher! So Christmas cards where not exactly top of my list!!

I think that's why this year I tried so hard to get my cards made! As previously posts of how i put my cards together so I won't go into that again!! But I Am really pleased to put one of my cards I my album for years to come!



Right must go cook some dinner and catch up on america's next top model!! Lol!!



Lx

{JYC 09 day 2}

Today I'm ahead of the game, I have a midwife appointment today so had a little extra time this morning to put my page together!!

I would love to experience a white Christmas like in movies! When it snowed back in feburary it was so pretty and cosy being able to wrap up warm.

It has gotten cold all of a sudden, very chilly! It's a bit of shock as our new place is bigger than the last so it seems to be more cold than usual. My current routine when I get in from work is put heating on, cook dinner, make a hot water bottle and wrap on the sofa with a blanket. It's so comforting.

Here's my page 2 for today with some snowy pics I took back in the febuary snow day we had.





Enjoy your day people and wrap up warm- it's rainy here!! Oh well.


Lx

{JYC day 1}

Today marked the start of the holiday season for me! Journal your Christmas prompt in my inbox means Christmas is on the way!!

So I opened up at work and wrote my journalling! That I thought would be me for the day, and I was not going to worry about this. If all manage to do each day is te journalling or take a picture then so be it- the pages can come later. I have learned that this approach is better for me. I learnt this last year, as mentioned in my previous post I was sick last year but I still managed to do my journal up until boxing day. I think that was quite impressive if you ask me?! Lol. This year I will just take my time and enjoy the process of creating!

But to my suprise I had the time to put my page together this evening. I'm using a real mix of stash- ok the pages may not be the best in the world, the important thing to me is to record the memories.

This year I decieded to do an 8x8 album. In the past I have done a 6x12 and 8.5x11. And I love both of them!!!

Here it is page 1 of the album done and dusted (my album is till undecorated?! Oh well)



Thanks for the comments on the last post, let me know if you bake those cookies would love to see the pictures and here about it! I'm on a real creating Christmas bug! Seen a reciepe for some chocolate shards too- real simple, melted chocolate and you sprinkle with toppings I.e dry fruit, nuts or cake decorations! And leave to go hard then you break up!! Will let you know the outcome!

Over and out bloggers! Mwah!


Lx

{Cookies Galore!}

I love recipes! Especially baking ones. So when I saw this little blog train asking for volunteers I thought why not! So me and some lovely ladies are gonna share some cookie recipes, check out Lois' blog for a full list of all the ladies taking part– perfect for this time of year. Make a batch as gifts, or take them into work or school to spread a little Christmas cheer.


My recipe comes from this fantastic book by Nigella Lawson – Nigella Christmas. Its full of yummy recipes and gorgeous photos. With great ideas for over the holiday season (or any other time!)
I bought this book last Christmas and baked these cookies – they went down so well, over the Christmas period I baked 3 batches!

The recipe states you can make 24 biscuits – but I must make mine a little smaller because I end up with tons – which is a good thing!

Ingredients
250g soft butter
150g Caster Sugar (I use Vanilla Sugar!)
40g Cocoa Powder
300g Plain Flour
½ Teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 Teaspoon baking powder

Preheat the oven to 170c/gas mark 3. Line your baking trays – I use non stick grease proof paper.
Cream the butter and sugar together, once combined add in the cocoa powder and mix. Then add the flour, bicarb and baking powder.
I use a electric mixer to get most of combined. It will look a bit dry – almost like breadcrumbs. Once like this use your hands to combine into a dough.
As the mixture is quite sticky, I wear latex gloves to pull of small parts of the dough (size of a walnut) roll in my hands, then squish out on the baking tray.
Bake them for about 10-12 minutes – they will feel soft to touch when you take them out.
Leave to cool – then you can ice and decorate.

Icing Ingredients
2 x 15ml tablespoons of cocoa
175g Icing sugar
60ml of boiling water, from kettle
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Put all the ingredients in a small saucepan and heat on a low heat and whisk until all combined. Leave the icing to cool for about 10 minutes.
Spoon the icing onto the biscuits – I lay out a length of baking paper and spread the cookies out on this. I ice and decorate on this. Put the icing on about 6-8 biscuits then put sprinkles on otherwise icing can go too hard.
Ta-da! (Sorry for the dodgy pics - camera still sick!)
That’s it, they really are yummy!
Now go check out Marg’s blog for some more yumminess!!
I can’t wait to bake some of these other yummy recipes!
Lx

{Christmas Cards!}

So the other weekend I sat down and began making my Christmas cards. By the time the weekend was over 50 cards were made! Pretty Impressive me thinks!!

First I stamped out the images onto kraft cardstock. I had 4 different christmas tree stamps, from an old hero arts set - so for each 12 x 12 I stamped one image in black stazon.

Then I added some stickles embellishment - I used 4 different colours and just added dots or filled in the pattern. Then cut the images out, and outlined the edges in black pen.

Stamped Merry Christmas on the cards and outlined the card in black pen.
Stamped a greeting insideFoam padded the Christmas tree topper on. The tied ribbon round the edges. The ribbon I bought from Ribbon Mad.Plus I have lots of images and ribbon left over to make some larger cards for the parents/grandparents etc!!

So have you made or bought your cards yet?? I must admit I'm amazed I'm so far ahead!! Let me know! Very excited as JYC starts tomorrow - anyone else playing along this year?

Also check back later here for some fun, of the baking kind!

And thanks so much for the lovely comments left on my last post! {{{hugs}}}}

Lx

{A year ago…}

A year ago I was sick. I’d spent a whole week in bed with a headache . I then spent 4 days in hospital having MRI and CT scans and a lumbar puncher. I was diagnosed with intracranial hypertension – which is a build of pressure in your head. In my case it caused headaches and caused my optic nerve to swell which affected my vision.

I no longer suffer with the symptoms but there is a chance I could get ill again.

I remember being scared. Scared of losing my sight, of never feeling well again and scared that things would get worse.

They didn’t, I was diagnosed quickly and was able to start medication. I am still under observation but things look positive.

I never thought a year ago I would be where I am now.

I am happy, carrying my first child and no longer feel unwell (with those symptoms at least)

This year has been crazy but it amazes me to look back now at where I was and to be so thankful for where I am now.


This reflecting back inspired me to put together this layout! I reallt pleased with the way it came together!
Have a lovely weekend bloggers! x

{Doing Something Nice..}

This blogging for scrapbookers class has really opened up my blogging world. The result has meant my google readers is now huge!!! I found lots of lovely blogs and people,

One of these lovely people, Meghann, has given me a little blog award! So in the spirit of playing along with the blogging world I thought I would take part!

The rules of the award - list 5 random facts about me and link to 5 other blogs.

My 5 Random Facts!

1) I'm a big tea junkie but during my early pregnancy I could not drink a single cup!! as it made me feel sick. I am now finally able to drink a cup of tea yay! Decaf though I may add.

2) I love my iPhone - especially all the apps you can download. My current fave game on the iPhone is Bewjewelled2 which links the scores to my facebook page! It is very addictive but I just cannot beat my mum's scores!!

3) I'm enjoying being pregnant. There are times when I find it hard and times when I'm scared but overall i'm happy and looking forward to the future

4) I love crime drama - Poirot, Miss Marple, Midsummer Murders, CSI, NCIS - though my love of these is a bit strange as I'm also quite squeamish!!

5) I love to flick through food magazines and cook books. I have a shelf full of cook books!! and have even asked Santa for some more!

The blogs I'm giving this award to are Sally, Chey, Sarah, Anne and Claire. These are all recent blog finds for me!!

Thanks so much for stopping by - I promise to be back soon with some creative pursuits! I have a few things in the pipeline - including a few little blog hops with some lovely ladies!!

And it's almost that time again - Journal you Christmas woohoo!!

Lx