Party of Five

I have moved

2009-04-12T23:47:00.000+01:00

http://apartyof5.wordpress.com

trying to edit the themes on blogger was rubbish. Am trying Wordpress instead as I am too cheap to pay for Typepad :)

Recently

2009-03-12T11:25:00.003Z

There has been a lots of minor complaints and illness buzzing about the place, a kind of domino effect of one person being ill then getting better, followed by another person being ill and getting better etc etc etc Kind of hangs about a bit when you have 5 in the queue.

But it's nothing major and I cheer myself by saying (to anyone who will listen) that's it's a sign of milder weather and Sprin being around the corner.

I love Spring, I love the delicate blooms of the snowdrops, the brassy showiness of the daffodils and I love not having the wear hubby's jumpers all day (I don't have any jumpers....that fit...and I won't spend money buying any that do fit).

I won't post the video here, but please go to Tara Whitneys site and watch the video - it is amazing, gut wrenchingly amazing, it makes you feel like you need to get this done yourself now, without a moments hesitation. In fact if I don't do something like this with my kids this year I will have failed as a parent. Really. It may not be as beautiful as Tara's but it will capture a moment in time with my family. (Sharon - if you are reading this we should do this for you guys too-I can totally use Movie Maker :) ).

Last Time he's 2

2009-02-16T16:57:00.004Z

The most troublesome member of the household is 3 tomorrow, well he's 3 at 5 minutes past midnight to be precise, but I am not going to be the one to wake him up and tell him that!
We have a small birthday tea for him that involves not much effort from me - cake has been bought, I may hoover.
It's a shame that the enormity of the financial crisis looms over us like Damacles' Sword. No matter how cheaply we try to live, the bills we have to pay do not change, with no money coming in and nothing I can do about it, I wander about the house achieving nothing and just feeling plain sick. I love this house, it's our home, I don't want to lose it.
Being a worrier by nature does not help matters. My fretting which leads to shouting at the kids and other non specific unfairness of treatment is hard to bear. I sometimes feel that if I just sat still and breathed really shallowly my impact on the world and therefore it's impact on me might disappear for a minute and with it all my worries too.

But I am being overdramatic, we'll be ok, a little poorer but wiser. and anyway, how can I be sad when I have this little guy?

or even better when I've edited it

Another Wee Wonderfuls

2009-02-12T15:05:00.001Z

P1010522, originally uploaded by toniann.

I made this for a 10yr old girl for her birthday. Akind of making her first steps in sewing gift. The pile of fabric and notions you see were also included as were tiny clothes patterns, so birthday girl could fashion more outfits for her doll.

The hair was a nightmare and way too short, but I was very late in making this and only just got it to her on the day! Same old story eh?

Knack Warmer made for Sharon

2009-02-12T15:03:00.001Z

P1010526, originally uploaded by toniann.

Even though this is 100% acrylic, this scarf was completely lovely. Easy to knit, and will no doubt be a breeze to wash (apart from the pom-pom fall out that will inevitably happen).

I tried making fingerless mittens to match, but was getting a bit too big for my boots and failed miserable to make even one glove that could pass muster.

Hubby wants one of these now (sans pom-poms) - cheap wool here I come!!

Lotta bag with my junk in it

2009-02-12T14:59:00.001Z

Lotta bag with my junk in it, originally uploaded by toniann.

exactly as it says in the titel :)

Lotta Jansdotter Bag

2009-02-12T14:58:00.001Z

P1010596, originally uploaded by toniann.

This is the garden Tote from Lotta Jansdotters book. It's Huge! 17inches long by 10.5 inches high or so.

very big indeed, but it does hold all my scrapping stuff nicely.

Plan on making one for knitting/crochet but it was a bit of a struggle - so will hang fire til I have more sewing mojo.

Will post again with it full of crap/scrap stuff.

Chaos -as-usual

2009-02-10T14:50:00.003Z

I sit here in utter chaos; cars and toys all over the capet, a bag 3/4 finished on the dining table, a kicthen sink full of dishes to be washed and no doubts beds to be made even though it's afternoon.....instead of sorting all that out I am posting videos and having a aggravating telephone conversation with hubby over what shampoo I want! who cares! (well I will when he comes home with the wrong one.

The chaos of the recent snowing in has more or less gone - I think our little bit of where we live was particularly bad as we still have a lot of snow on the ground, but the sun is out and here's hoping that by tomorrow we'll see grass. Mind you there might still be a bit too much snow for that.

following should be a videos of Munch & Sam hurling themselves down a slope that made my heart beat a bit faster - luckily hubby was there to catch him, as his always is :) love him x

Look!

2009-01-30T19:52:00.002Z

This is the lovely child apron pattern from sew liberated

This is the gorgeous 'kit, louise and chloe' pattern from Wee Wonderfuls.

Although 95% of the credit goes to these awesome pattern designers I think I did a pretty good job sewing them :). Have made more since, will upload pictures soon.

My little christmas houses were 'featured' on Pimp Stitch's Flickr Friday post :) here.

Bye Simple - loved you, kept you

2009-01-17T09:22:00.002Z

Cathy Zielske personifies Simple Scrapbooking for me, I bought her books and still love the design principles she uses. I am sad that the mag is closing, I subscribed for nearly all of it's life, but saw in later issues that it had lost it's edge. Much like me, not that I ever really had an edge, it kind of went from forward thinking, funky, graphic, statement led scrapbooking that not everyone 'got' to being just another style that everyone uses to scrap quickly.

I'm much more journalling led now, well not journalling, but journal. The whole page thing and albums just aren't me at this point in my life, I don't have time for it, I weep for my beautiful American Crafts albums gathering dust and for my half finished layouts needing titles or inpsiration, but where i am at now is sticking something in a book and writing on it or around it. Ali Edwards personifies this style, although I feel sometimes she is too fussy or uses too much product, she is where it's at for me - an achievable scrapbooking style that still looks funky and arty, I also admire her honest photography - sometimes not all in focus or framed perfectly, but reflecting the hectic family life. Margaret Scarborough is also a wonderful scrapbooker - her photography is really spirited and she is a funny lady - her writing style has me in stitches.

The best thing I ever did was chronicle the first year of Pip's life (a Stacy Julian idea) - a few pages a month, no style or format, just freestyling. The love that went into that book shows. I am attempting to retroactively achieve this in yearly journals, I have a good memory for trivial and non-important detail (I can remember who bought every kids present from years ago, I can remember stuff that went on on a particular day at school nearly 30 years ago (eeek i hate that it was that long ago)), so it's really just a matter of getting my big fat round butt out of the chair and getting on with it.

As ever, late to the party

2009-01-07T09:24:00.002Z

I broke my spacebar yesterday in an attempt to get rid of an annoying crumb that was making it 'different' to type- you know, it wasn't impossible, just different from normal therefore annoying and requiring a fix. Sounds like a template for my life at the moment! little annoying niggly things that get a quick random fix then go on to annoy even more than before.

I haven't had much time to reflect on Christmas and New Year, mainly because of my fixation with Tetris Battle+ on Facebook - any spare minutes not cooking, cleaning or watching tv are wasted on this. Stops me from thinking or worrying too much :)

It snowed here about 3 days ago, the pictures are from a random spurt of enthusiam by us parents, taking all the kids up the big hill to sledge. Our tiny 2nd hand sledge wasn't really up to the job, especially of handling 2 boys at once, but it was free and it works! Better than the shopping trolley I saw some kids jackassing their way down the hill on.

I was going to do my new year resolutions and post my thoughts on Christmas, but really it's the same old stuff:-

Resolutions

lose weight (any weight I lost last year has gone back on)
get fit (lost all the fitness I worked so hard on last year)
plan more (meals, making presents)
no processed foods (chicken nuggets/fish fingers/chips etc)

Christmas

don't clean the cooker Christmas Day morning
don't buy younger kid fancy new nintendo without either getting one for older kid or being prepared for some major backlash
don't put crosses in brussel sprouts the night before
don't think no-one will want to eat anything Christmas night because there is always room for chilli and trifle
buy youngest kid every car from the Pixar Cars movie and be done with it - that's all he's played with

Welcome 2009?

2009-01-03T00:45:00.003Z

A good Christmas was had, if a little hectic. All the days merged into a feast of either hyper activity or prolonged sofa sitting. When it was busy it was hellish and many vows were taken to not repeat the performance, although come November I have no doubts that I will cheerily be taking it all on again.

As yet no resolutions have been made, apart from the hazy get fit/lose weight ones. What is really biting at the moment is the sheer horridness of longterm unempoyment and the uncertainty of it all. It's rotten, I hate it and want to hibernate til it's all over. At least we haven't all killed each other yet, living in each others pockets.

Things have not been assisted by a certain 2yr old,soon to be 3, flexing his muscles and really pulling out all those tasty 2 yr old tricks involving biting, hitting, breaking brothers lego models, wrecking the tree,refusing food, running off fast on walks, shouting 'NOOOOOO'on a continual loop, waking up at 3:30am for no reason, drawing on walls, sofas, tables, carpet, refusing to wear a nappy AND refusing to sit on the potty, crying when anyone threatens to leave the room and wrecking brothers room the minute after it has been tidied.

edit: the above was written yesterday which was a hard day small kid wise, today was better but he did bite his older brother twice for no reason which is hard to deal with and not very likeable.

I made a very quick but beautifully pretty and functional fabric 'box' today as a birthday present. The tutorial and pics are here, will post my pics tomorrow. It's a wonderfully simple pattern even though it is pieced and I made it in about 2.5 hours. Hubby liked it so much he wants me to make one for the kitchen top for our keys and phones!!

Just think - I'm going to be saying these things for at least another 15 years....

2008-12-17T09:45:00.000Z

The Mom Song from Northland Video on Vimeo.

Sent to me by a friend - I'm not as nice as this mum!

10

2008-12-16T16:55:00.001Z

IMG_2414, originally uploaded by toniann.

We are always going to know when Christmas is close when the Music School concert dates are posted and I am in a panic as Sam's birthday appraoches too quickly into December.

We always make it with the presents and nativities and the parties - but it's not easy.

Here is my boy - a week away from his 10th bday about to perform in his 1st Christmas concert. Enough to bring a tear to any mothers eye.

Pimp Stich House

2008-12-07T14:28:00.001Z

IMG_2371, originally uploaded by toniann.

This house was just begging to be made, not just because of the deeply cool blog whose pattern this is, but also because it is super easy to make a lot at once and you can embroider them however you like - even subversively!
I am making a bunch of these for the tree and hopefully for friends in lieu of bought gifts. I am stitching the year on as well, so when I get senile at least I'll know what year I've forgotten.
Am planning on making some square shaped houses too, I'd like to play with my darning foot I bought for my machine and it would be a good project to practise with.

Chinese Coin Quilt

2008-12-05T23:21:00.001Z

IMG_2397, originally uploaded by toniann.

After wreslting with this for a week or two......ok for not doing anything with the formed coined strips for a week or two, I finally got to grips with quilting and binding it.
I chose not to stitch in the ditch as I wanted some contrast, so chose a diamond grid instead.
I haven't seen any tutorials on how to mark quilts, but had managed to get a silver Quilters Dream pencil and used that. I should not have basted the top to the wadding and back as it was a total bitch to mark (note for future - mark quilt before basting). The pencil was good, but having to draw lines on a soft surface coupled with having to do it on the carpet does not make for a tidy sharp process.
Anyhoo - got it done, everyone likes it. Cannot wait to start the next one!

Taking Advantage

2008-10-23T12:25:00.001+01:00

21102008023
Originally uploaded by toniann

We've been taking advantage of the Autumnal weather by going for walks and having fun.

The Twins

2008-10-02T09:22:00.003+01:00

I made these cushions on a whim. I found the small piece of fabric at John Lewis in the remnants bin. I never look any further than the remnants bin in John Lewis, it's really out of my cheapskate price range.
Anyway, I saw this fabric and thought "this will look lovely on my Ruth's red leather sofa", then I saw some Amy Butler cushions on Sew Mama Sew that were buttoned and I knew what I had to do.
It was a good experiment in first time covered button making (don't use easily frayed fabric on tiny buttons, you WILL tear your hair out) and first time piping making and sewing (god bless the zipper foot).
I loved how they turned out and so did Ruth. Apparently they are now gracing sofa in style.
It means that I can now replace my tired old cushion covers without worrying about those two particular techniques.
In other news, there is none! Hubby still has no job, the stock market has bombed, kids have stopped asking for 'stuff' every day.

Nearly 8 years

2008-09-29T11:28:00.002+01:00

I have been downloading a lot of old photos onto flickr, more as an insurance policy than anything else. I am up to the year 2000 at the moment. The year Hubby and I married after 15 years and at that point 1 child together. My wedding day was the best day of my life, full of laughter and warmth, surrounded by family and friends all dressed up to the nines.
Looking through the photos it has suprised me how many friends who were there I have lost contact with, friends through work who i spent a lot of time with but as soon as I left work they disappeared from the viewfinder. I am not sad about this, just grateful they were part of my life at the time and hope they are having a good life.

MMR & No Sleep

2008-09-24T11:03:00.002+01:00

I needed multiple hot drinks this morning because of a disturbed night with Pip. He woke around 12:30am about 30 minutes after Hubby said to me (and I quote) "He's been very good considering [he had his jabs today and has been arsey all afternoon]". He did preface this with "I want to say something but I don't want to jinx it", I told him not to be stupid and just say it (which he did) and of course he jinxed it. Pip must have heard through the walls and started crying.
I got up and brought him into our bed to see if he'd settle, no way, my fault really as when he was tiny I used to take him downstairs and put the tv on to distract him so Hubby could get a full nights sleep before work (label me a mug and be done with it). Now when Pip has a bad night the only way to calm things down is to watch the Boomerang Network with him.
I was refused a lying down spot on the sofa with the little prince, even though I had brought my own pillow with me, and had to perch awkwardly at a 45 degree angle on the end of the sofa watching 'Robotboy'. Joy.
I woke at 4am in the same position whilst sleeping prince had spreadeagled himself on all the cushiony goodness. I bit the bullet and took him upstairs, placed him in his cot and ran as fast as I could.
Hubby got up with the older 2 boys this morning, but as it was nursery day I got up and showered just in case Pip was going to nursery (he has to be chauffeur driven there whilst his lesser mortal brothers walk to school). We decided that we would not shake the apple tree by taking Pip to nursery, he has a big lump on his leg where the nurse injected the MMR in and it wasn't worth the worry or phone call to pick him up should he geet unhappy.
he doesn't look unhappy or tired from the lack of sleep does he? I do, hence no pic. Oh and I don't believe in wiping faces very often clearly.

So Hubby is painting the kitchen and I am organsing my flickr photos and uploading old ones. I may even sew today but it will be wonky.

First Day at Nursery

2008-09-09T12:35:00.004+01:00

1. The traditional by the front door photo, just tolerating new uniform 2. The why am I in. the car with my brother so early in the morning photo 3. The post-first-day-at-nursery-having-cried-all-morning photo

He went back a few days later, but isn't happy with us

edit -this was on 3 Sept - he still is driving us crazy when on home turf
.

This kid

2008-09-08T20:31:00.001+01:00

is driving me crazy.

Crazy enough to wish he was 3.5yrs not 2.5yrs

Off to have adventures

2008-09-08T12:01:00.006+01:00

Sam has gone on a school trip to an adventure centre in Norfolk. I hope for a few things from this:-

that he's not sick on the coach
that he doesn't get so homesick he insists on coming home
that he changes his pants at least once
that he throws himself into the activities and doesn't worry about anything apart from having a good time

Hey ho!

Best Holiday Ever?

2008-09-05T22:02:00.004+01:00

After the disastrous Woolacombe holiday we weren't looking forward to The Isle of Man, a little island so close to Ireland you can kiss the blarney stone.

We had a long drive to get to the ferry, then a long ferry ride. We left the house at 8am and got to our destination around 8:30pm.

But it was worth it.

i reckon this is a pretty accurate assessment

2008-08-31T15:34:00.001+01:00

Your result for The Perception Personality Image Test...

HFPS - The Humanitarian

Humanity, Foreground, Big Picture, and Shape

You perceive the world with particular attention to humanity. You focus on what's in front of you (the foreground) and how that fits into the larger picture. You are also particularly drawn towards the shapes around you. Because of the value you place on humanity, you tend to seek out other people and get energized by being around others. You like to deal directly with whatever comes your way without dealing with speculating possibilities or outcomes you can't control. You are in tune with all that is around you and understand your life as part of a larger whole. You prefer a structured environment within which to live and you like things to be predictable.

The Perception Personality Types:

Take The Perception Personality Image Test at HelloQuizzy

more quilt love

2008-08-21T21:58:00.001+01:00

Annabel's Quilt

2008-08-21T21:56:00.001+01:00

Annabel's Quilt
Originally uploaded by toniann.

Took slightly less than a week to make, but was worth it. I learnt to applique, stitch in the ditch and how inaccurate sewing can cock things up.
I am literally itching to make my next one.

Don't let this fool you...

2008-08-10T14:03:00.004+01:00

our holiday in Pickwell, North Devon was so thoroughly miserable I wanted to come home by the evening of arrival. Normally I don't start on my 'I want to go home' rant until the Wednesday.

We arrived to hear the previous weeks visitors had had a week of wall to wall sun and all that entails on a British coastal holiday.

The other added morsel of thrilling relaxation was Pip, 2.5 years worth of abject monstrousness. He is normally ok, admittedly he's the most hard work of the 3 boys but I am figuring that my addled brain has forgotten how hard managing a 2 year old is beacuse I swear on all thing holy that this child is a complete terror. He's a whole ball of needy, non-verbal screaming, proddy, poky, stealing, torment inducing, racing, food refusing, insominacal, brother bating boy. And even though I left his father to deal with him most of the time as I was on the verge of a total mental meltdown, I was close enough to the core to be deeply harangued by it all.

But, being a 2 year old boy who refuses to speak (when asked he can sound out every phoneme, diagraph etc etc but refuses to say actual words) and therefore who cannot tell us by extended non-verbal communication what is going on, it must be hard for him. A new strange environment coupled with extended car journeys must be difficult to deal with. I'll give him his due though, he's great in the car - Sam was puking at Harpenden (10 miles into our journey), Munch was asleep after tiring himself out by doing his 'our we there yet' Simpsons routine from when we left the driveway.And at the end of the day, you can't stay cross with any of them for long because when the truth is told it's not them it's me.

Bend the Rules Sewing Bag

2008-07-22T11:48:00.001+01:00

Bend the Rules Sewing Bag
Originally uploaded by toniann.

I made this bag recently too. It is such a lovely bag, I really really like the material I chose, just right for Summer.

The topstiching reuires you sewing through approx 8 layers at one point (6 cotton layers from the outer bag, the lining and the handles plus 2 from the interlining) - my machine struggled big time. If I did this again I may shorten the interlining and then stitch 2 lines of topstiching to secure the interlining and handles at the top.

Beautiful bag though even though I say so myself!

First Commission

2008-07-22T11:40:00.001+01:00

Brown linen bag
Originally uploaded by toniann.

A friend asked me to make a bag similar to an old leather one she had that was falling apart. I couldn't replicate the buckles and snaps on the original bag without going to some expense and the whole point of the exercise was to be affordable. I made this from soft brown linen with a bright brown and turquoise lining. I stiffened the linen with fusible interfacing, lined the pocket and topstiched to the outside of the bag and used buttons as fastenings.

It was nerve wracking handing it over as that really is the ultimate test of your work. My friend is taking it on holiday with her, I hope she enjoys it! it was a fun bag to make.

Man I sound like some boring clod...

Recently I have

2008-07-22T11:09:00.001+01:00

P1000560
Originally uploaded by toniann.

learnt how to buttonhole.

It took an hour or so........

6!

2008-07-04T11:49:00.000+01:00

Medium child reached 6! Awesome!
He so loved his birthday and the party the next day. In fact I've never known a boy anticipate with so much relish the fact that a birthday was coming up.

Kick my butt please and reinstated

2008-06-27T10:13:00.002+01:00

I haven't run since Tuesday, I haven't been to the gym for 2 weeks. I sit on the sofa miserable and tired. Someone needs to kick my butt.

In other news they reinstated my running blog - shame I haven't done any exercise.

Gone Right Off the Boil

2008-06-19T12:57:00.002+01:00

Haven't run for 3 days and will not be running for the next 2 days either. Hubby is going to Eastbourne for sea breezes, beer and a well earned break so there is no-one to check the little terrors haven't set their bedroom alight or shimmied down a drainpipe using their bedding in the evening.
Not running for the 2 days and my upcoming stint as a face painter at our local school fair is sending me into somewhat of a tailspin, anxiety wise. Although I know it will go ok I am panicking about the details. It is always so busy and there is no let up at all for the 2 hours you are there, it sounds silly to say so, but it is very pressured. I'm not sure I will volunteer next year - this will be my 2nd yr of running the stall and my 4th painting. But no doubt by next year i will have forgotten all this stress and will put my hand up again.
Am going to hop on the bike tonight and cycle me up some mileage to get me out of this funk, I think what they say is true - when you stop running for a while you do feel dreadful.

Twinge

2008-06-17T09:35:00.004+01:00

My 'Mothers Back Twinge' made a reappearance last night, resulting in a 1.5mile Juneathon walk rather than 'slightly faster than walking' jog. I must have picked Pip up whilst he was trying to escape or drive the car - his two most favourite activities.
Other than that the day was uneventful in the way that days are. Well actually it wasn't, having reminded myself by contorting my torso to look at my bulletin board (see above - it's the thing with writing on above the bibs and bags)
I went to Salto - a local gymnastics club that holds toddler sessions, took Pip and he chased a little friend around for 2.5 hours.
Then I went to a parent/child numeracy session at school, which, in my opinion, has come approx 10 months too late. It's supposed to help you work with your child on maths and give you strategies for coping with their problems. What it did was show you a teachers lesson and how column addition and subtraction was taught to the kids and then get you to practise it with your kids, then talk about it without kids for an hour. I've spent a better 2 hours but will continue to go. I doubt very much any child who is above national average standard will gain anything from it, yet 3/4 of the parents there were parents of high achieveing kids, naturally I don't include myself in that group.
I've also been trying to find my friend who commissioned this bag, to give it to her - she's vanished off the face of the earth!

Still here, still Juneathoning

2008-06-12T22:55:00.002+01:00

I have been running each day since the 8th June, just 1.2miles a day but it is movement and it's getting better. Each time we go out we get a few seconds quicker and the last couple of times we have not stopped for a walk break.
Although long term having a rest day between runs is obviously the way to train properly, because we are not running far running everyday isn't a really big deal.
What I have noticed is I feel good after the run rather than wanting to call an ambulance, I feel ok during the run and am not creeping along as much, I am not doing any run 'avoidance' which I had been doing before June.
I have also noticed that my shoes are not comfortable and should I up my mileage I need properly fitted shoes. I am also in need of joggers and t-shirts - but don't want to buy a big size so will wear what I have until it falls off me in shreds!

In other news - have started sewing a bag for a private 'commission' and bought some fab 100% cotton fabric that was £2 a metre! bargains! teachers totes here we come!!

Sunday - the Big One

2008-06-08T11:14:00.002+01:00

Still persuading hubby on camera club thing. Maybe he makes sure his job is safe before his wife starts cavorting with camera lenses and tripods? and maybe i get through June and the juneathon before I commit to something else.

Went for a 2.5miler today, Sam came with me as well as Chappers. We decided a morning run fitted our schedules better (you know, the one with washing, ironing, getting food for family and cleaning up bodily fluids schedule). It was warm with a nice breeze and bouyed by yesterdays good 1 mile we started out good. Lots of walking and poor Sam being injured made out time 37:29. When I looked on my board to see how it compared it was the fastest we'd done it. Even with 5 minutes worth of walking. Obviously I will not be able to walk for the rest of the day now.

So the weight loss thing went ok too - just squeaked in with a 2lb loss, which isn't bad considering my poor eating this week - the usual starting off good and descending into a toast filled nightmare by lunchtime. The running was key to this. Next week good eating will be the key.

Stats
Distance - 2.5miles
Time - 37;29
neighbours talked to - 1
recognised by how many pple in cars - 1
# pple feeling good right now - 1

back on track

2008-06-07T11:01:00.001+01:00

so, after falling off the juneathon bandwagon for 1 day (with a very good non-breathing child excuse), we are back with a 16:20 1.35mile. Maybe it's because I didn't want to leave Pip with his Dad whose expression of terror of being left for 20 minutes with a sick child all on his own did not instill confidence, or maybe it was the rest day, I am plumping with the Galloway Rest Day for my 40 second improvement as I have every confidence in my darling husband.
Anyhow, yesterday was Open Day at the Rec Club where I take the kids to tennis. I knew it was quite big, but when my mouth dropped open in drooling fashion on the way to getting a coffee it was certainly revealing. There were lots of photographs on display and I was basically nose to photo with them ooohing and aaahing. The Photo Club people could see they's caught a live one. So they told me when, how much, how often etc and all I have to do now is convince the darling husband that £25 a year plus club membership (about £35 per year) and freedom from parenting on Tuesdays 8-10pm are the way forward.
I may have roped my darling friend Chappers (Jackie but referred to as Chappers in this house, with great affection ;) ) in as well. Hurrah! I've wanted to do something like this since I was 18, maybe 16. Let's see shall we?

Stats
Distance - 1.35mile
Time - 16:20
Felt - great
maltesers eaten - about 10
cleaned up toddler puke - 3 times in different places

juneathon and excuses

2008-06-06T15:19:00.003+01:00

did day 5 of the juneathon yesterday - a 2 mile walk - had a back twinge that I felt would be worsened by running.
I may have to duck out of day 6 because Pip (my 2yr old) is having severe breathing difficulties and I am contemplating taking him up to the hospital. The Dr this morning prescribed anti-biotics and an inhaler, but Pip freaks out so much at the inhaler it's making breathing a 2nd best to hoarse screaming, personally I'd prefer him to put breathing first so may take up to A&E to see if they can help him.

Juneathon Day 3

2008-06-03T21:47:00.002+01:00

Another miserable rainy day, but god was smiling on me a little during the school run as it didn't start tipping it down until after I got back.
Major lego relocation took up most of the morning (ongoing lego base site struggles with Sam mean everything has to be done when he's not here) coupled with a bit of tidying and 2 yr old charmer/pain. Bought some suede on ebay for bag making, lets see how that turns out.

Went charring at the scout hut which took all afternoon and came back to chaos as the electricity had tripped and left the house without electricity and the aged grandparents panicking. Calm was restored quickly and tea and biscuits were had.

Running wise it was raining again which meant a trip to Jackies garage gym and the treadmill again.

Stats
Distance - 2miles
Time - 27:14
pieces of lego relocated: about 4 million

Another mile down

2008-06-02T23:42:00.003+01:00

took the boys to town today to buy cheap shoes seeing as middle boy had come home from school with the wrong ones and we had no spares.
Having found suitably feet ruiningly cheap shoes and gained a huge headache we came home where I tried desperately to rest on the sofa whilst a lego war waged and a 2 year old jumped on my head.
It's no excuse but the headache didn't go, so I didn't do much apart from containment and feed the tribe.
It was raining later on so I went to Jackies house and ran on her treadmill.
Still have a headache now so I'd better try and sleep it off, hopefully no-one will be jumping on my head this time.

Stats
Distance - 1 mile
Time - 12:41
headaches - 1
cross trainer - 10 minutes
level - 20 for 5 minutes
amount of sweat - 10 pints

8:15am run Ouch

2008-06-01T22:57:00.003+01:00

Woke up around 7am thinking about this whole month of running thing coupled with a month of eating sensibly.
Sam must have heard me get up as he shot up like a sprite, just in case i went without him I suppose.
We left around 8:15 once Jackie arrived, to my eternal shame I was jogging and Sam was just walking fast next to me. He's 9 and 4ft6 (or so). But I plodded on and managed 1.35miles in 17 mins 20sec including a 1 minute walking break.
The rest of the day was spent avoiding kids mess, ironing, reading papers, ignoring loud and whiny 2 yr old, forgetting to do dinner on time and watching the 30mins of Baryard that we did Sky+ about 7 gazillion times.

so, totally ripping off jogblog (do go and read)
Stats
Distance - 1.3miles
Time - 17:20
combined age of companions - 91 yrs (1x42yr old, 1x40yr old, 1x9 yr old)
# of slower pple passed - 2
# times i wished i'd run in the last 2 weeks - about 54

my meme (from domesticali blog)

2008-05-30T23:43:00.003+01:00

my meme (from domesticali blog)
Originally uploaded by toniann.

I love the whole randomness of this (apart from the non-random revision of answers if the 1st page of pics didn't suit)

The concept:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.

The Questions:
1. What is your first name? toni
2. What is your favorite food? chocolate
3. What high school did you go to? sundon park
4. What is your favorite color? blue
5. Who is your celebrity crush? carmine giovinzzo
6. Favorite drink? tea
7. Dream vacation? oregon
8. Favorite dessert? creme caramel
9. What you want to be when you grow up? photographer
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you. loyal
12. Your flickr name. toniann

Toothless

2008-05-30T22:51:00.002+01:00

IMG_1150
Originally uploaded by toniann.

I cannot believe I haven't noted this, but Munch lost his first tooth on Apr 20th. His second tooth was already growing behind it (it's a family trait).
Sadly we do not have that first tooth, Munch was so busy watching tv and eating sweets he forgot about his tooth coming out and swallowed it!

Darn it

2008-05-25T20:41:00.003+01:00

my running blog has been disabled.

Maybe they knew that I really wasn't getting the running vibe going on this time.

I've just had to re-request access. I cannot face having to put in 7 weeks worth of pretty rubbish running stats again. Let's just say I am still fat, have not lost weight and can only run a 12 minute mile...only 1 of them anything more than that and my stats drop to 14 minute miles (for the 1 3 mile run i have done). Rain has stopped play for today in the running stakes but at this rate it's going to take 6 years to run 5k in under 30 minutes.

so i am putting my buckeye outdoors widget on this blog. I don't know how other runners put lots of runs entered into Buckeye onto their blogs but when I do it it'll only do 1. Maybe because I have no gadgets (garmin, nike+ or anything at all except a Special K heart rate monitor watch).

I have been tidying up the garden and am really pleased with it. Have dug up loads of very old shrubs, by old I mean about 10 years old, my garden is small and cannot cope with large shrubs, nor can it cope with 3 boys and numerous footballs/basketballs but at least I can get rid of old shrubs. Will post pictures when it stops raining.

Friday after school, 3 boys and a toy grabber

2008-05-23T21:49:00.002+01:00

Friday after school, 3 boys and a toy grabber
Originally uploaded by toniann

if you didn't guess already I love it that flickr has video now

the only time #2 concentrates and the only thing #3 can say

2008-05-23T18:19:00.002+01:00

23052008013
Originally uploaded by toniann

Munch is able to concentrate for a whole minute on his nintendo. Sadly for his teacher Nintendos are not allowed in school.
Pip is 2, he thinks he is 9 but he can only say 'boo', 'oi', 'no', 'help', 'mum' and 'dad'. He does a nice line in non-specific verbal communication though, accompanied by a dazzling array of pokes, prods and hits.
All our hopes are pinned on #1.

Laying low

2008-05-16T11:14:00.005+01:00

This greeted me on Monday, my poor little guy all puffed up and swollen with an accompanying red rash that made me cry.
After the school run we stood at the Doctors Surgery until it opened and got an emergency appointment. Many tears (from me) and a prescription for Loratidine later we were on the mend. Doc said it was heat rash, Sunday was hot and we went for a long dusty bike ride at Marston Vale (a tale of sore knees and nice cake), and she said it was likely that he was just out in the sun too long.
As much as I like my Doc, I do think she was wrong. The rash was not where clothes had been worn it was where skin was bare and it progressed to cover all his body on Tuesday. The swollen eye was a mystery, but I think the dusty conditions of the bike ride and the high pollen count probably contributed to it, Loratidine did work in soothing the rash and reducing the swelling. I am convinced the harsh sun brought out a non-specific viral rash, he's had them before and will no doubt have them again until he's a little bigger. Munch gets rashes too, Sam gets worryingly high temperatures.

He's better now, esp after a 35p Ikea Ice Cream.

All these following pics are taken pre-illness.
King of the Hill (well Prince of Playground, but a fearful Prince)Asleep in friends car after bike ride - note the shoe in hand and wildly inappropriate car seat for a child his age (my fault not friends).
This is 'dinner refusal but will eat breakfast all day' after the bike ride, photo taken specifically to document the 'non-crust' eating foibles of the smallest child in this house.

I have avoided both the gym and running this week. It's not been a good week and it is continuing to be a very sucky week, Hubby's job is in jeopardy (the reality of working in the house building industry is that we have to ride the waves of recession in a harsh way - he has been made redundant twice in two years).

I am not loving life so much at the moment.

Not Green Thumb

2008-05-07T12:08:00.004+01:00

I enjoy gardening, but not the bit where you are trying to do something (like weed or dig) and you have to keep an eye on:-

the 2year old who still has a penchant for putting stuff in his mouth (stones, cat poo that has been missed from the cat poo trawl before kids are let out of garden (he hasn't done this yet but I am waiting, I am sorry this is so disgusting - but I have worse tales to tell))
the 2 year old who wants to escape through the wrought iron gate into the outside world.
the 5 year old who likes to indiscriminantly dig (nice new plants, shingled bedding etc)
the 5 year old who likes to hit tennis balls. Hard. Over the fence. Tennis balls are not cheap.
the 9 year old who just wants to sword fight with everything that moves (although he is brilliant at making up complicated games that his younger brother joins in with, not so brilliant at fair minded rules)

granted the 2 older ones are at school during the week, but all that means is that I have to handle Harry Houdini by myself. Preferably under lock and key.

So in the hope that I can both keep the kids under control in my very tiny garden and not let them wreck any work that I do we have engaged someone to come and treat our sorely in need of feeding lawn. Our lawn was nice when we moved in, and then we happened, we have no idea how to keep a lawn - patenetly from the photos - and over the years it has been neglected and then neglected some more. The new chap (Green Thumb) is going to get the lawn all better with chemicals (poor poor environment) and all we do is mow it. We've even been doing that all wrong, we're cutting way to short.
So, armed with hope, luck and chemicals our lawn should improve from it's current state.

To further furnish you with details of our sadly neglected outer space there are some photos of tut central (tut being a work we use for rubbish/debris/not useful stuff).

may 08 garden
Originally uploaded by toniann.

Just what I was thinking too

2008-05-06T14:47:00.006+01:00

photo Helen Randall

I was talking to a friend as we were in my car about giving kids sweets, as in letting your own children eat sweet things in the house.
As luck would have it The Felt Mouse Has voiced my thoughts much more eloquently than I could have in her post here.
When I was a kid my Mum tried to limit sweet things because I was a chubby child (just as I am now a chubby adult with major body issues) and a chubby child just did not fit in with her whole visual take on the world, if you didn't look perfect like on the tv or in the papers then you weren't worth bothering with or you needed fixing. She was always trying to fix me but all she ended up doing by denying me the odd biscuit or sweet was creating a pathological desire in me for sweet things. Like any kid I wanted what I could not have. She loved sweet things herself but was slim, she often had a toasted tea cake instead of a cooked meal, esp if my Dad was working away. She hated cooking and always said that if she could take a pill and not ever have to eat again she'd be happy. I think what she meant was she wanted a food pill so she didn't have to cook. My Dad got so fed up with Mum's refusal to embrace the whole cooking thing that he started cooking the meals himself. Don't get me wrong, she cooked meals but just didn't enjoy it - that kind of pushed through to the dining room and the whole family meal ambience. I love cooking, esp when my kids actually eat the food. I love to see them clear a plate and it's worth the effort, and it is a hell of an effort sometimes. The kids know I love food too, so I hope that they understand the meal process and learn to cook for themselves when they grow up and move out (dear God please let them move out when they get to 25)
You know, I don't really know but I think that the denial/reward thing that went on in my parents house is now so entrenched in my pysche that I cannot dig myself out of it. I still sneak and eat biscuits when no-one is looking yet appear to never eat at all. I skip meals and snack all the bad stuff. 42 years of inappropriate eating is a lot of baggage to shift (in all senses of the word).
So, in conclusion (!) if my kids want a biscuit or a sweet and they haven't had seventymillion packets already that day then I let them have one. They don't associate sweets with anything other than a treat that is not a meal. These kids are worked so hard at school, they work hard at home on homework, they do sports during the week and at weekend and are generally a joy to be around (I type this and they then bicker and scrap til blood it drawn) I find it's a reward to myself letting them have something in moderation.
I have found these past few months referring to my parents parenting techniques quite a lot.....and doing exactly the opposite. So my kids get lots of positive reinforcement, very little expectation as long as they are doing some work, lots of encouragement, they get taken places and I do a lot of research to ensure they get a rounded childhood (i google stuff in other words)and oh yeah they get told 'I Love You' all the time. I was never sure I was loved and I certainly am not now by those parents.

Flickr Favourites:- Bags

2008-05-02T23:15:00.002+01:00

Flickr Favourites:- Bags
Originally uploaded by toniann.

1. Tote, 2. lotta jansdotter bag, 3. Flowing Dots Tote, 4. lotta jansdotter, 5. Vintage blue and yellow bag, 6. patchwork pottery & bag, 7. Tree bag, 8. messenger bag 1, 9. Bag, 10. Wallet, case and coin purse, 11. Bag, coin purse and case, 12. more bags, 13. buckle bag, 14. Diaper Bag, 15. Simple Sewing Tote Bag, 16. Zarah's Hand Sewn Bag

Oh how I love bags.

I flciked through flickr, scouting for some inspiration bag wise. Looks like I am drawn to the muddy autumnal palette of olive green, grey, brown. Maybe that's the practical mum of 3 boys in me.

Trip to Kings College Hospital (totally forgot to take a pic of the hospital duh)

2008-04-29T14:58:00.004+01:00

2008-04-26T12:36:00.005+01:00

You know the sun is shining, it's a balmy 20 degrees outside. Lots needs doing in the garden and I would love to just fling open the doors and windows and let some Spring in.
My only problem is this

Harry Houdini is a quiet assasin, stealth and quick gettaways are his speciality. Heights and small opening pose no problems for him. Being outdoors needs more than one person at home and currently there is only one person home and my nerves are frazzled.

Pip saying Boo!

2008-04-25T22:49:00.004+01:00

Pip saying Boo!
Originally uploaded by toniann

He doesn't say much, but he forms his 'boos' perfectly!

I am so gonna...

2008-04-25T10:37:00.003+01:00

are you with us?
Originally uploaded by shimelle.

Plodding along...messily

2008-04-17T10:17:00.007+01:00

Everything tootling along normally here....Pip playing with a dangerous (but not turned on) oven.

Me about to start an ambitious sewing project without the proper equipment.....

This is an awesome pattern by Montesorri By Hand (old blog), Montesorri By Hand New Blog - called SewLiberated. It calls for oodles of interfacing and fabric, but I am hoping it's going to be my new 'big' bag - for 'big' read - Mummy's bag that holds a trillion and one things necessary for going out with kids that also means Mummy doesn't have to scramble around at the last minute trying to find stuff (nappies/wipes/drinks/snacks/toys/wrist straps/hats/socks/gloves etc).

My Old 'goto' bag is worn out and although it breaks my heart to retire it...

It has had its day. It also annoyed the hell out of me for not having long straps - a case of desire over function.

I have decided to use the camera on my phone more for documenting everyday life, because as we all know, taking a memory card out of a proper camera and plugging it into the card slot in the laptop is like way too time consuming.

Must go order topstitch needle for sewing project.

I've had better days

2008-04-11T21:42:00.003+01:00

See the picture above? I can't do that. Especially when on my way to the gym (after a prolonged absence of at least 5 weeks) and with a 2 year old boy who has ants in his pants.

After initally wondering what the big lorry driver man was gesticulating about as I waited at a roundabout, to the slow realisation that the car felt wonky and worryingly bump bumpy as i drove along (cautiously), I knew I was in a bit of trouble. I limped along to a nearby recreation centre car park and got cross and panicked all at the same time. Many phone calls to people who were not in and many phone calls to husband who works too far away to be of any use, we decided to ring the AA. And wait. And because I thought the AA would be a long time I went and got a coffee. Of course when I got back he was sitting waiting for me. He also had a total sense of humour by-pass and was not going to small talk with me no matter how hard I tried and no matter how cute Pip looked in his mock bomber jacket.

Dour AA man told me my car was too dangerous to drive home as my brake pads were virtually non-existent and that my tyres were illegal. Good news then. Then we had a 3 way debate on my phone as to whether I could drive home (which was closer) or drive to garage (via Motorway and further) and get things fixed. Methinks AA man was rightly covering his ass, but I also think my previously friendly mobile mechanic has not done proper services on my car leaving it in a dangerous condition to drive - although we did do about 200 miles in it the week before on holiday I don't think tyres & brakes get dangerous in 200 miles. Especially when I had specifically asked him to check the brakes and tyres not 3 weeks ago. My bad.

So mucho mula will be spent on car tomorrow at Supertyres, where the tyres had better be not just super but super-bloody-fantastic and the brake pads had better not squeak.

We're Back!

2008-04-08T14:27:00.004+01:00

A grand time was had.

Ouch! Damn Power Supply

2008-03-27T11:16:00.004Z

I am posting from my upstairs pc - the one that I loaded a copy of Vista onto for the 2nd time and which now thinks I am all illegal and keeps trying to get me to pay for a new copy of Vista (that ain't gonna happen), but only lets me use the internet for about 15 minutes before going all Big Brother on me.
And I am having to post this from the upstairs pc and not the laptop because the laptop power adapter got fried yesterday. Probably because it's been on permanently since October (how I haven't burned the house down is a miracle), but who knows? All I know is that my ife is on that godamned laptop (Lists & Ideas on One Note and all the photos I have taken (15000 of them) too). I am just crossing my fingers that I have got everything on the external hard drive too, because even though my house is small and there are only 13 stairs to get upstairs, it seems too far to go to back up my photos onto the External HDD every once in a while.
I always tell myself that I'll back up more/organise more/sort myself out more, but at the end of the day there is always a distraction that stops me from doing it, whether it is Pip (2) tugging at my tshirt going 'MumMumMumMumMumMumMum', or Sam (9) fighting with Munch (5) and about to draw first blood etc, or the washing to fold, or the kitchen to clean, or dinner to get, or sewing to do, or blogs to read or more blogs to read. My life doesn't extend much beyond this house and maybe it should and maybe it will, but not before I've found a 'genuine' Dell Power Adapter for the laptop I regret buying but am never off.

Easter Photos

2008-03-26T07:51:00.003Z

Easter 2008
Originally uploaded by toniann.

The pics have a blue cast which means I still have the WB set to tungsten bulb. Nevermind a bit of Photoshop magic and a 28 hour day can fix that.
These are the best of the 30 or so pics that I took, trying to wrangle 3 kids, only 1 of whom has the ability to be sensible for more than 3 seconds at a time, coupled with a husband who was calling the shots thereby making the kids look at him rather than me. The lure of the many eater eggs on the bed also did not help, my steadfast refusal to let them dig in didn't go down too well either.
So with no one photo where the kids are all looking at me at the same time I had to do a freaky photoshop thing and swap out Munchers eyes (that were not looking at me) for some smiley Muncher eyes that were still not looking at me but were generally in the right direction. I like this photo and may even have a keyring made out of it for Steve's birthday. Sad I know but that's all he wants (although he will get a new pair of jeans too as he hasn't had a new pair in about a gazillion years).
We are off on holiday on Saturday, to Eastbourne, let's hope it doesn't snow.

Spindesigns at Etsy

2008-03-22T13:55:00.001Z

I sometimes wish that I didn't have kids, that way I'd be able to afford this and know it would not be destroyed by sticky fingers

Etsy :: spindesigns :: LaLa Mobile

Can I Narrow it down to 7 things?

2008-03-18T13:36:00.002Z

I've decided to jump on the 7 things meme (that's what it's called right?) seeing as it left the dock weeks ago, I've taken the liberty of using the lovely and funny Margarets prompt as in invite and in years to come my kids can look back at this list and shudder quietly to themselves.

I have to have the washing up done and table wiped before I leave on the school run. Even if it means we cut it really fine before the doors close, I cannot bear to come home to it. For that matter I always wash up once our main meal has been eaten because I know that Steve will let it sit there for a while and I CANNOT BEAR THE THOUGHT of washing up sitting up festering. Maybe that's part of the reason I don't have a dishwasher (bar having no space or money for one) - I cannot bear how long it takes those things to wash things up...
It takes 10 minutes to leave the house with the kids, whether it's with just Pip (2) or with Pip & Munch (5) or with Pip, Munch & Tiddly (9). Lots of shouting goes on in those 10 minutes.
I love, love, love US Drama. I don't watch anything else virtually. CSI & CSI New York, Cold Case, ER, Grey's Anatomy, House etc etc I do appreciate a bit of well made British tv, usually BBC commissioned, but to be honest it's a rare beast, but recently my boat has been floated by Cranford, Sense & Sensibility and Ashes to Ashes.
I hate buying shoes, they are expensive and never fit. Hence my skanky feet are always in skanky shoes. I hate buying clothes too and only buy cheap brands. I don't feel I deserve more expensive clothes (I'm too fat and have no money) and Steve never buys anything new to wear, just to make me double up on the guilt.
I loathe washing kitchen floors and cleaning ovens, loathe it. To the depths of hell.
I really wish I had travelled more and tell my kids that they must travel and see the world when they are old enough.
I alwasy feel like my right arm has been cut off when my broadband or laptop isn't working.

I think that's enough insecurity for one day don't you?

BLURGHHH

2008-03-15T16:19:00.007Z

Been trying to use Word 2007 to blog because it's a lot easier to format the text all pretty and stuff. BUT failed miserably and spent all afternoon doing it.
Am giving out my little purselets to friends for 'field testing' - I want to make sure they are hardy and don't fall apart in a heartbeat before o take it any further, although I do have business cards and a stamp - am being a bit previous with myself and not focussed on actually making the things, but I am sure that I'll get there.
I wanted to post a wishlist of things I yearn for, so this is more of a picture spot thing rather than a list, as the list format sucks.

Alexander Henry Kleo in Choc Book Recommendation via Pink Chalk Studio
Beautiful Doo-dad purse by Elisa Lou
Making Memories Noteworthy Journalling book

Sew What! Skirts

Print Gocco from Print Addict Japan on Etsy

Wacom Bamboo A6 tablet

Instead of this gorgeousness I have this:-

Fun Skirt-WG293-Skirts at Boden

2008-03-15T11:52:00.000Z

I like the beige daisy one
Fun Skirt-WG293-Skirts at Boden

Fabric is my new friend

2008-03-08T14:24:00.002Z

I am spending a lot of time gazing in awe at some amazing needle skills. Am not going to post pics as I haven't asked permission because these ladies do not know me and they'd think I'm strange.....but here are some links:-

http://tulapink.com/?p=7 - The Full Moon Forest Fabrics for Moda are wonderful, plain and simple. Like the Green Colourway the best.

http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/03/07/sugar-spice/ - This quilt is fantastic, loving the polka dot on the back, loving the Bento Box Pattern (look at me using all technical speak - just read Kathy Mac's post - it's in there). All the things on this site are fabulous, even the explanation on how to press.

http://www.splityarn.com/split_yarn/2007/06/sew_a_zippered_.html - I nearly wet myself when I found this tutorial on lined zippered pouches. The quality of this lady's work is such that I've ordered one of her coin purses from Etsy.

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=291 - you would go cross eyed and then blind before you found something repeated on this amazing site. This particular page is a round up of things to make for Christmas, but most of them apply to all time of the year. I particularly love the Wellness Bag (earmarked for 2 of my friends birthdays).

http://www.thimble.ca/ - there are always a ton of great links on the posts here. I particularly enjoy the flickr links as I seem patently unable to unearth treasures on flickr.

http://threebears.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/little-boxy-pouch-tutorial/ - this lady doesn't seem to post that often but this tutorial is a real find, it's from one of the flickr links from Thimble.

http://jcaroline.typepad.com/ - awesome and I love , love, love this fabric range and this looks interesting = would make nice nintendo cases for boys.

Must take some pictures, make all this a bit more interesting.

Slip Sliding Away....

2008-03-04T10:34:00.002Z

Time that is, it's time that is slip slididng away (thereby betraying my 70's MOR childhood - a childhood steeped in the genius James Taylor (gosh he looks old now), Carol King (I know all the words to all the songs on Tapestry even though I haven't listened to it in about 10 years - note to self - get Tapestry on itunes - and other less memorable artistes).
Wow that has sucked me into a time warp.
I remember as a kid I only taught myself guitar so I could play like James Taylor (which I can't) and I always desperately wished I could sing and play piano like Carol King (which I can't). Music played an important role in my poor little only child life. It was my friend, my solace and my deep joy. To find my oldest son loving to play and desperate to learn makes me giddy with excitement. I fawn at the music teachers feet, man I am such a creep, but for my boy to find something he loves so much he writes his own music (badly I might add he's no Beethoven) - well it's inspirational.
He plays the Euphonium by the way. Not rock star material, very British brass band stuff.

Visit to D & G's

2008-02-23T21:36:00.000Z

The visit involved much fun some apple almond tart, 2 spaceboys and a quickly eaten birthday cake. Yum!

Nearly 2

2008-02-15T17:56:00.002Z

This little guy is nearly 2. Two days away from being 2 infact. He's a blessed little soul, a suprise who is still suprising us with his adorable nature and his adaptability. His brothers love him like nothing on earth and he wanders around with a glee for life that is infectious and alwasy leaves us with a smile on our faces.
Of course he has his moments, what 2 year old doesn't?, but faced with what could have been he has taken on life's challenges and turned them on their heads.

Jan 2008

2008-02-05T12:21:00.001Z

1. Wednesday Night Tennis,
2. Listening to Music whilst eating,
3. Packed Lunch (healthyish?),
4. Birthday Boys Invites (in Dec),
5. Back from Dell Farm actually having changed pants,
6. Munch finally gets a tennis certificate,
7. fu Man Pip,
8. I think it suits him....,
9. and you think I'm going to eat these?,
10. out of the door on way to Liverpool,
11. Bonkers, and wouldn't change him for all the money in the world,
12. my steamer - thanks Jackie,
13. had to get close to the cuteness,
14. cat love, how Biscuit hides from Pip,
15. I do this 5 mornings a week, twice over,
16. Handmade by Moi
Jan 2008
Originally uploaded by toniann.

so am I going over the top with the whole mosaic thing? no I don't think so either.

Advent Swap Pics - only 2 months late

2008-02-04T16:34:00.001Z

1. Rhonna Farrer Sculpted Papers, 2.early group shot, 3. Autumn Leaves Single Swirl stamp by Rhonna Farrer, 4. Bazzill Sculpted Cardstock, 5. Handmade tags 6. Autumn Leaves Xmas Buttons, 7. Xmas stickers, 8. Bazzill Cardstock, 9. Hambly Overlay, 10. Amy Butler Fabric, 11. beautiful little broaches in a satin pouch, 12. Maya Road Felt birds, 13. Hambly Rub ons, 14. Floral Rubons, 15. Junkitz Alphabet buttons, 16. Plain buttons, 17. Beautiful altered frame, 18. Beautiful xmas card, 19. sketch book, 20. Bazzill cardstock, 21. AC thickers, 22. Rhonna Farrer Swirl stamp, 23. Xmas buttons 24. Maya Road hearts ribbon 25. White pen, 26. 7Gypsies paper 27. Heidii Swapp journal spots, 28. stampsaway bird stamp, 29. Chipboard shapes.

Dear Internet

2008-01-16T14:36:00.000Z

Today blogland sucked 2.5hours out of my day. The tumble dryer has been tumbling dry clothes for at least half of that. Couple that with all morning spent at the gym and hunting for colouring pencils, not a lot has been achieved.

I now have to squeeze 3 hours worth of household things into 15 minutes and combine it with waking up, giving lunch to and taking out the Pipster to collect his brothers.

ebay sucked up a bit of time too in my endless and largely fruitless search for plastic spray bottles with which I can get my whole natural/green cleaning thing going, because as a true crafter - I can't do it if I haven't got new and shiny tools.

and in the words of the wonderful Cathy Zeilske “You must like cheese a lot, because if I didn’t know better, I’d SWEAR that’s what your ass is made of.” Of course she wasn't talking to me.....unless my bum is so big you really can see it in Minnesota.

Update: I now have only ten minutes to get stuff done.

Red Velvet Kit Club January Project

2008-01-14T10:46:00.001Z

What's This?
Originally uploaded by O!Rachew!.

Oh how can you not be inspired by this? there is nothing not to like!

Am going to risk a telling off an am buying regardless of cost/customs/tax etc - if I am lucky that is.

Half Way Through

2008-01-14T10:35:00.000Z

a lot and not a lot going on apart from bad photography, ironing and lots of forward rolls.

I haven't managed to keep up with Anna's 365 blog in terms of pictures, well in terms of anything really, but I knew it would be hard to maintain - even for a month. So instead I am going to commit to simply doing weekly pics, good and bad moments/hair/fatness etc and see how we go. Anyway I started to journal and stick so I have totally wasted a loevly journal if I stop now. Steve asked if I was going to journal how miserable I have been for the past 3 weeks, I am considering it.

I have been sewing and really enjoying it. Blogland is great for inspiring you to move your butt and cut stuff out. Am deeply inspired by these people sewing wise:-

Bling - see other post on red velvet kit club

J - For The Record - one of the Label Tulip designers who also sews wonderful book/album covers/ blankets and other deeply cool stuff. she's the one who has inspied me the most I must say.

Wee Wonderfuls - lovely toys (I have her robots pattern and they are 3rd on my list to make after bday pressie for Sharon and a Nintendo case for Sam)

WiseCraft - oh the fabic flowers are simply divine and incredibly simple. I put these on the bag and pencil roll case I made.

Glittergoods - lovely quilting blog.

and finally

the wonderful Pink Chalk Studio - this lady is simply marvellous, if you can find her pencil roll it will bowl you over.

Looking on Etsy is also valuable for inspiration. I am thinking that when i have some money (January is such a hard month) that I will buy birthday gifts from there if I cannot make them myself. I am all about sustainable, non-commercial, no lead, quirky gifts (in thoughts rather than actions at the moment).

I broke my cheap tripod this morning - just the extra height wind up bit, so everyone i take photographs had better be sitting down or be very short.

The 4th Jan is Missing in Action

2008-01-08T15:04:00.000Z

I think I may change the feet caption to 'I'm all about the pretty (once a year)', I'm not sure about inflicting the feet on the people though.

Pip is very unsettled at the moment - maybe he's got the winter blues too.

Catch Up

2008-01-07T17:18:00.000Z

I am in yet another lazy good for nothing slump. Not helped by my weekend at the spa where all good intentions went down the pan and I did no exercise at all and just mooched about with my friend waiting for dinner!

The spa was very nice busy very very busy. We were always on the watch in the hydrotherapy suite for a seat or a spot in the water. The experience showers did not work once when we tried them (many times) and the only sauna rooms that were free were the ones that smelt like Steve's old footie socks.

However the food was wonderful and the rest of the hotel was very well appointed. Our room was very nice too - no view at all but large and comfortable.

I am trying to do this '365' thing but have missed a day - i may put a placeholder in for the missing day or perhaps just forgive myself and just miss it out. These are the photos processed so far:-

I will stick these in a journal and write down why i took them and maybe the quote from Anna's site.

Planning for a Good Year

2008-01-01T14:24:00.000Z

Nintendo love - I wonder if you can makea career of it?

Time for me. I am going to do Anna Bowkis' 365 day challenge this year. I am going to achieve my goals. I am going to find that there is less chaos and more freedom, but that it has to be planned. I am going to write everything down, straight away not a day later when I've forgotten most of the detail or lost the piece I wanted to save in the newspaper. I am not going to spend money indiscriminately, I am going to plan my spend and save up for things that I want, it will make the buying of them all the more sweet. I am going to run every day.

We've had a wonderful Christmas and New Year, crazy at times and boring at others. The boys are pinging off the walls despite the £££££'s spent on them, despite me taking them out for a couple of miles run/bike ride, despite everything really - if I had girls I am sure they'd be sitting down and colouring beautifully not jumping off sofas, throwing cushions, making constant bombing noises, hurting each other, leaping across rooms, hurting each other, making up stupid swear words and getting all hot and bothered. I think we just need a padded room to close the door on.

Loving the Lazy

2007-12-27T15:40:00.000Z

Well Xmas is over apart fom all of the 'additional' food bought that lies half eaten in the cupboard (chocolate, chocolate biscuits, yule log, xmas cake, stolen (who the hell bought stolen?)). We are all feeling a little bit lazy and cabin feverish but unwilling to haul our butts from in front of the tv to do useful and interesting thing.
Hubby has gone looking for a new car seeing as I wrote off the old one by skidding into it in my car in the rain. The poor thing was so old the insurance company would not fix it.
I am going to do our thank you notes now, before time gets in the way and makes me forget.
I am also going to Whittlebury Hall next weekend for an OVERNIGHT stay. I haven't been anywhere without a kid for a min of 2 years, I hope I remember my manners.
I am also off to play with PS Elements - see if I can get it downloaded onto my laptop - my lovely friend Sharon bought it for me for my birthday and I haven't managed to install it successfully yet.

Is it Over Yet?

2007-12-19T22:24:00.000Z

These are the outtakes. Remind me to bribe them next time. Oh and not to have a 'helpful' art director.

I have managed so far to not hit the shops in a big way, yet at the same time get most of my shopping done. How so? why on the internet of course.

And the internet is also the reason I am so far behind on everything else Christmas related. I have only made about 20 handmade cards this year, last year I made them all. Last year the kids Christmas photo was on the special family cards, this year they are just printed inserts in about 5 cards!

I spend all my time on here looking at everyone elses cool Crimbo preparations whilst not doing any of mine. Ho hum, I still have a few days i suppose.

If I am to get anything done in the future I am going to have to give myself about 3 months lead time.

Lisa Vollrath

2007-12-07T16:00:00.000Z

Lisa Vollrath is offering free Christmas countdown images here. Wonderful stuff for ATC's and altered art.

My Husband isn't like this (much) but my sons are....

2007-12-07T12:58:00.000Z

Is this mugging for the camera?

2007-12-06T12:03:00.000Z

I hate flash, so put a white sock on my camera flash to see if it made a difference. My lens doesn't like this time of year, may have to go back to kit lens. Am wanting pin sharp pic and am getting nastiness instead.

Advent Swap - A Scrappers Delight

2007-12-06T11:56:00.000Z

I am taking part in an advent swap within my little team over on UKS, we've done it for a couple of years now and it's truly a wonderful thing.
Here's how it works......

You list your likes/dislikes
You get a swapee given to you by the organiser
You look at what your swapee likes/dislikes
You go shopping
You panic at how close it is to Dec
You panic you haven't wrapped anything
You panic you haven't got a wrapping/tag strategy (we're talking crafters here people)
You get everything wrapped & tagged but not as you'd wish
You panic you haven't got a box large enough
You panic that your Hubby might see how much you've spent
You fling your kids into the car and hurtle towards the Post Office at dangerous speeds
You Post the Box
You relax
You receive a HUGE box from your swaper
You wait til Dec 1
You unwrap a little present each day til Dec 25 and revel in the gorgeousness that you receive each day and are thankful for being a scrapbooker with even more stash

I'll update my banner every 5 days to show you 5 days of gorgeousness.

I must be an 8 year old boy….

2007-11-29T22:59:00.001Z

Because this movie rocks……

www.transformersmovie.com - Transformers Transformers DVD Transformers Movie Official Site

http://www.transformersmovie.com/

Screen clipping taken: 29/11/2007, 22:51

i was trying to cheat and blog from MS OneNote but it won't let me insert a screen clipping. But blogging from OneNote is so cool I could wet myself. OneNote is a very cool note taking programme that allows my scrambled brain to divest itself and then kind of sorts it out. Saves having hundred of pieces of paper being lost.

stars

2007-11-23T11:30:00.000Z

Lets101 Quizzes - Fun quizzes for blog & myspace

good or bad - does this sum me up?

When I was younger (i.e. <20) I used to devour my stars, I used to actually beleive there was some truth. I bought books, tried to categorise myslef, tried to spot 'me' in amongst all the banal descriptions. But to no avail, when life started getting too busy to bother about trying to second guess my future I left it all behind. I'm still the one who always wants to know what's around the next corner before we get there though.

Fabulous Etsy Shop Find

2007-11-21T15:06:00.000Z

From Every Jot & Tittle. Go look at her stuff - mostly Xmas tags - and drool over the loveliness. I think the shop has been featured in a few US Magazines, and rightly so.

Not much new here in Riley Towers, kids have more homework than they know what to do with and try and squeeze it in between eating, the tv, lego and the new nintendo. Speaking of which my brain age has improved from 70 to 56 in one night! Who said Pavlov was wrong !!!!!!

Must take more photos, I'm not even sure where my camera is - still - (sharp intake of breath by all my friends).

Broken

2007-11-12T14:37:00.000Z

the radiator in the kitchen (it's hot but is leaking water)
the cutlery drawer (our only one - is now being held by masking tape)
the hoover (now at the Henry workshop - back on Friday if it is not terminal - too many years of sucking up lego methinks)
the little handheld emergency hoover (went kaput and smelled of smoke)
my spirit (how much else can go wrong on the two most expensive months of the year?)

Things are falling apart around my ears. let's hope my teeth hang on in there.

no new pics - must find camera, or maybe not - that'll be the next thing that breaks!

Fireworks Night

2007-11-06T21:56:00.000Z

gotta love working out how to control the shutter speed manually!!

Mess

2007-11-01T14:45:00.000Z

I don't know what the hell I am doing, but I ain't doing it neatly.

Getting a bit fed up of mess, tidying, washing, ironing, hoovering, mess, tidying, washing, mess, tidying, washing, ironing, hoovering, mess, tidying, washing, ironing, hoovering etc etc the circle of my life.

Must admit from the state of the ironing pile it looks like I am skipping out on the whole 'ironing' thing in my circle :)

Halloween

2007-10-31T12:00:00.000Z

This is Halloween 'can't be bothered not got any time' style, coupled with 'wish i could find the head of my tripod'. The template is Matthews. Yes I did cut it out but I don't have the right tools and it's not pretty.

Halloween is always fraught with unspoken fears, there's our kids who are not allowed out but can dress up - they are not allowed out because of fireworks and the gangs of teenagers who roam about demanding free stuff from strangers otherwise they let your tyres down, throw stuff at your house etc. You are not sure who to answer the door to. It's great living here.

Traditions are great but as soon as the marketing people get a hold of the fast buck they ruin it and the supposed home spun charm of it.

23rd October 2007

2007-10-29T10:26:00.001Z

23rd October 2007

Playing with Light

Using a 15s shutter speed, a green glow stick and a Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver.

Went swimming - Pip tried to drown himself about 52 times. The toddler pool was so warm I think he thought he was in the bath and was trying to 'pretend swim'.

Munch totally wimped out of swimming in the big pool even though he gave it the big 'I'm going to swim underwater' vibe beforehand.

Me and Sam went into the jacuzzi without realising we had to pay and 'stole' these peoples bubbles! Am still feeling guilty now, but they did not say anything to us.

took Sam and Munch to the Disco, but they both declined to participate and stung their Dad for very expensive glowsticks before coming back and causing some more trouble before going to bed.

22nd October 2007

2007-10-28T22:16:00.001Z

22nd October 2007

Took a relaxed view of 'going on holiday' this time and slowly got ready. Things got a bit less relaxed the closer we got to noon, and we were not helped by the fact that when we left I realised that I had forgotten not only my swimming costume but also my pyjamas.

Compounding matters further was the stupid petrol station pumps not reaching the car and the scheduled but inconvenient stop off at David Lloyd to drop off a cheque for books at the nursery.

If I was organised we'd save so much time, but I would be very frightening and have no friends, it's not worth the sacrifice.

The M1 was busy and slow, the M25 was ok but slow in places, the M3 was good as was the journey up to Fordingbridge.

On arrival we got our lodge, number 303, straight away and were very pleased with it. Steve looked at the static caravans rather sniffily, conveniently forgetting that he wanted to book one in the first place.

We did the normal stuff, unpacked, told Pippy off about 48 times in 5 minutes. Told the boys off for fighting 47 times. Went for a walk to explore the place. There is a really nice visitors centre. A bit like a central plaza, there is Guest Services where you can book activities, ask questions, buy gifts. There is a big posh and probably expensive Bistro, a childrens activities centre with a soft play area for the under 5's, another games place with pool and slot machines. A Spar selling food and other necessities at inflated prices for the convenience. An indoor swimming pool and spa area. Finally there is the Woodside Inn which is also the function room.

We went for a walk to what we thought was the river, and although it was a river in the end, it was a lot longer and steeper than we envisaged. No matter, we went, we didn't kill ourselves, we got back in one piece.

Although the whining about hiring bikes had started, we had silently agreed that we'd only hire the bikes when we had a full day to use them as it wasn't cheap. We'd make very good torture victims as we did not bend an inch to the plaintive requests.

Bedtime came soon enough,but Pippy put up a brave and noisy fight.

I think he's learnt his first word.....

2007-10-27T18:47:00.000+01:00

'Ow'

20 months and a few days, the boys aren't a forward bunch in this family (Sam wasn't speaking at 2 and a half (of course now I wish he'd just.shut.up.) Munch didn't speak til 3 really and still has trouble forming his words properly and is a little behind at school).

My First Big Grown Up Crop

2007-10-17T10:45:00.000+01:00

Got up at some ungodly hour on Saturday morning, picked up Joni & her friend. Drove in generally the right direction to here.

Then we unloaded all our rubbish and scrapped for 7 hours. SEVEN WHOLE HOURS. So how come I only got 3 layouts done? The event raised over £900 for cancer research and was fabulously organised. Gosh it must be hard work organising a really good crop.

Since then it's been hard to muster the energy to do anything at all craft wise. I must get my sewing machine out and hem my trousers before we go on holiday next week. I am so short and round I cannot fit into petite sizes whose leg length would fit me, so i get normal leg lenth sizes and then have to chop the trousers off at the knees! If I had a purely selfish wish it would to be taller. It would make a big difference. Honest. I could actually close the kitchen window without needing a soup ladle to grab the handle. It's given me an idea for a LO thoug so it's not all bad.

We are going to a place called Sandy Balls next week for half term. It provokes much amusement and smirking when I tell people where we are going, I should say we are going to Dubai or Guatalahara or something to shut them up.

oh Man I can't wait until Tuesday 9pm

2007-10-11T09:41:00.000+01:00

Spooks is back

Self Portrait

2007-10-04T09:35:00.000+01:00

[-+ Ugghhhhh - Pip decided that he would not sleep last night, nor would he sit nicely next to me whilst perusing all the channels Satellite has to offer. Oh no, Pip decided that climbing all over my head and whingy crying was the best solution. All night. Steve came down at 6:30am and he was still climbing and whining.
Tiddly said to me today "so are you going to be a bit cross today because you've had no sleep? " - an understatement if ever I heard one.

+

what i learnt on Learn Something New Every Day

2007-10-02T22:48:00.001+01:00

my favourite page is the middle one below of Munch with his tennis racket

just surfing

2007-09-29T23:46:00.000+01:00

I am liking this idea a lot - a rag quilt - seems to me to be a good way to use up scraps.

video phone love

2007-09-28T23:55:00.000+01:00

wow, look at these stamps

2007-09-28T23:47:00.000+01:00

here on Ali E's blog.

My Name is Toni and I am an Internetolic

2007-09-28T09:08:00.000+01:00

I found myself yesterday and most of the night before without internet access. It was dreadful. I kept refreshing my browser and trying to pull mail approximately once every 30 seconds to no avail.

It was so bad I kept busy by tidying up. It nearly came down to actually cleaning as well but luckily Pip kept me busy with various antics. I shoudl start a catalogue of all the things he does that the other two never did. He is a shocker sometimes. When the server came back up (see I even talk like an expert) I trawled the forums trying to find other people moaning about their lack of access but found none so they were all obviously too busy playing catch up. Yes I know I could have tried dial up, but addict or not dial up costs money - valuable scrapping money.

I went to a crop on Sunday - good basic crop where all you do is chat and scrap. No fancy surroundings (an old smelly scout hut), 5 minutes from home, and lots of inane chatter. The perfect get away really. If only the toilets weren't such a fright.

Munch had a Teddy Bears Picnic here yesterday. I blame his Dad who whispered the idea into his little mind conspiratorially one night and the seed grew from there. So I had to bake cakes and tried to lay out a picnic blanket and put the bears all nicely round it. Munch and 2 little school friends plus 2 brothers completed the party. Of course it descended into farce when Pip wrecked it and the kids ended up having their picnic at the table just so Pip couldn't trample it into the carpet. But there were enough squeals of delight to let me know that they were all enjoying themselves.

Your Birthdate: September 3

You are more than a big ball of energy - you are a big ball of hyper.

You are always on the go, but you don't have a type a personality.

Instead of channeling your energy into work, you instead go for fun and adventure.

Witty and verbal, you can have an interesting conversation with anyone.

Your strength: Your larger than life imagination

Your weakness: You tend to be pretty scattered

Your power color: Lime

Your power symbol: Lightening bolt

Your power month: March

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

I'm not sure I'm a big bundle of energy, but the other things are pretty true - although I do choose to be witty and verbal with friends only as others would mistake my wit for insanity.