My new stash...

So I went to Barleylands and spent too much money...aniseed balls which are neither here nor there.
Got these lovely flowers...
and these leaf cutters, I was looking at buying the Creative Memories one but at £18 I saved myself a little money, as these were about £3 each.
Also some Disney stickers ready for my birthday LO

New blog...

I've set up a new blog to try and keep my more personal blogs seperate from the crafty things which is why most people come to visit!

It can (I'm sure) be found via my profile...or something if your interested

Just whipped it together...

We have NOTHING to eat at work, I mean fridge is bare and I have no motivation to cook anything really, but needs must!

So I've whipped together an onion and garlic with a tin of chopped toms, added to cooked pasta with mozzarella, olive oil and basil.

I actually feel a little envious of the children who are happily tucking into it, it looks yummy!

Soooooo Proud!

Of my Kev for doing the right thing for us all!
Due to the *dare I say it* Credit Crunch, Kev hasn't been doing so well at work, not many people want to buy a new car, let alone a new Lexus! So poor old Kev is earning s**t all, which doesn't do his stress related hair loss much good as he isn't earning enough to provid for his children.

Well today he went for an Interveiw and was offered the job!

Monday-Friday! Yeh yeh yeh, means we might get some time together too!
Not really sure what he'll be doing, but money is going to be better after the 3 months probation period!

I'm sooooooooooo proud of him for making a HUGE change!

Awwwwwwwww

Thursday...

Today I finished my LO, added just a simple sandy 'frinton' which is where the pictures were taken.
I didn't feel it needed anything else. Here is my 2nd LO 'Lazy Days' , I'm not so sure I like it. The paper was from a Creative Memories set we were given as part of our course. I like it, just not sure it suits the pictures.
The pink square is to eventually add some writing about the day.
Here is the pack we were given today...
I also treated myself to the Creative Memories Powersort box. Just the small one, but enough for my photo's at the moment!

Inside it has 3 large pull put storage compartments and also seperators.

Then this morning I looked out my window again and found this site awaiting me. So last night it was lovely red colours and this morning the sun was appearing from over the trees casting shaddows across the fields with a slight mist over too.

Yeh Yeh Yeh!!!

After the news about Kev having to work Sunday, which is not only our 1st weekend alone together without the childre in about 6 weeks, but also the 1st weekend together, in what seems like FOREVER.
I was obviously a little upset!

I am now MEGA excited we're going to Southend Saturday evening for Chips and Dougnuts by the sea and an evening playing the 2p machines!
I can't WAIT!!!!
This picture was taken in Southend in April. We have had some fantastic night down Southend!

Autumn

DSC02271
Originally uploaded by sarahletch

Tonight I was thinking about the UKS photo comp.

This month it had to be AUTUMN. I wnat you to show me what sums up AUTUMN for
you?
Is it baking apple pies, crunchy leaves, going to a pumpkin farm, or
wrapping up warm and wearing wellies for long country walks. Whatever it is I
want to see your photos of AUTUMN

I've been out in the garden and taken pictures of the trees turning autumn colours and things like that, but tonight whlst pulling my curtains, I saw this...The colours were AMAZING, the photo does it no justice.

Also I'm not really that organised with Christmas, just saw the presents in the sales and picked them up to spread out the cost. I also have a HUGE list of things I have to buy.
I have NO idea what to buy for my Dad, Step Mum, Brother 13 and Step Dad, its a nightmare!!!

I did it!!!

I wrapped my presents up!!

Can you believe it?

I've got a list too!

Will power...

So i gave in, had one :o(
Feel so silly coz I'd done a whole day without one and then managed most of today.
I guess tomorrow I will try to patches, I just wish it was easier, although after 9 years I knew it would be hard!
Guess the stress just got to me...was so looking forwards to spending all day Sunday with K, but now he has to work, means I get a few hours Saturday night, after what 6weeks of having no time together :o(
On the plus side I am off work from 23rd Dec till the New Year! Whooooo! Love my job!!!!

Also its utter madness, I have brough a whole load of Christmas Presents and I'm debating wrapping them...do I need locking up?!!?!?

Smoking...

After nearly 9 years (9years on the 4th November) I have decided to attempt to give up smoking. The 1st time I tried I lasted a few months.

I'm not really sure why i'm giving up, health, money, work...but I'm hoping this won't put me off as usually I need a good reason to stop.

I haven't had one since 11ish last night so we're on 12hours and feeling the cravings.

If they get worse I will resort to using at patch, but at the moment I am going cold turkey...WISH ME LUCK

Monday...

The 1st October meant the 4th edition of Nanny’s Helping Hand magazine, which I am now hoping to have a regular article in.
Last month I had an article about going on holiday with the families, which was a one off, but something I felt I needed to write as so many nannies think going on ‘holiday’ with families will be fun, but that’s not always the case. So I wanted people to be aware of the down sides too.

This month I was asked by the Editor of the magazine if I would write a regular article about facts on the month. This was due to her noticing my love of random fact shared on Facebook.
This month being October, I decided Halloween would be a good start.
The article can be found at
http://www.nannyshelpinghand.com/

I’ve been working on November’s fact file and have found some fun facts about Guy Fawkes and fire works. I have a few more bits I would like to add, as also in November is Remembrance Sunday, but so far its looking quite fun at the moment.
While looking for facts I came across this poem I liked

November woods are bare and still;

November days are clear and bright;

Each noon burns up the morning's chill,

The morning's snow is gone by night..
Helen Hunt Jackson

I maybe should have held onto it till November, but maybe someone might take a liking to it to and use it for something else.

I finally decided after 3 visits to The Paper Mill Shop (in Braintree Freeport) that I was going to buy the Xcut templates and blades, with my Loyalty Card I got £10 off so the 3 templates and the cutter with 2 blades cost me £4.99 BARGIN!
If I don’t get on with them then I shall just buy the Creative Memories one I have been using while doing the course, but at about £30 for the cutters and then an additional £14 for the templates I thought this might be a cheaper way.
I have the oval templates, but the square ones (well sort of they have rounded corners) are only £4.99 so might buy some of those at a later date if I decide I like the Xcut.

I have a busy week ahead of me, sorting out children’s clothes, and I might even try to make a start on sorting the toys out AGAIN…although maybe that could wait till a little closer to Christmas??!!!
I need to get cracking on the ‘create your own calendar’ with the girls as that is Mummy and Daddies Christmas present this year. I also want to make Christmas cards with India for her friends, and need to work on invites for our children’s Christmas Party.
Worked out numbers of about 40 children…going to have to find a way to cut it down, but how do you choose????
This year I plan to make the nannies buy there charges the Santa present and also bring a plate of food. I think it makes more sense as the last 2 years I’ve been out of pocket from throwing a party for all the nannies. I will still provide the activities and host it, but just want people to be more willing to help out!

Saturday.....

Here is my first LO from my Creative Memories Course.
We spent the 1st 1/2 of the lesson learning about boarders, then used more tools then put our 1st LO together.
I'm hoping Eventually this will be a double page spread, as I have a few more pics to join in.
Its obviously missing a title but we're moving onto that next week!
I wasn't overly sure on the colours, but once it was all layed out on the page I felt it was perfect, the sandy colour mouting the pictures and the bright blue reflecting the blue of the sky.

I'm loving the course so much!

Decided 99% sure that i'm going up north for Christmas, It will be the 1st time in about 10 years so really excited about it.
I've also started Christmas shopping...how sad! lol
But in fairness as I get paid the 24th of each month I really only have 2 pay days till Christmas! So Hawkins Bazzar got my hard earnt money today on some fun stocking present type things!

'The Works' had some cool bits and had to resist bying scrapbooking stuff even though it was cheap! Although tempted to buy the HSM scrapbook album for S6....lets hope its still there when i decide!

Still not online!....

Grrrrrr! in the last 3 days I have had the internet for 5mins....last night!
So I drove over to my mums just to steal the internet!
Hoping the problem will be solved by Friday when we get the new BT homehub thing...who knows!

I went into the paper mill shop during the week and i'm debating getting there version of the creative memories cutters...although not sure they will cut through photos...I guess its only £14.99 and I have £10 off voucher. So worth getting for £4.99?!?!?

Had my implant replaced Tuesday, was like being suck in a Saw movie...the local anesthetic was given to me, then the doctor went to make the cut...I felt it! :o(
So had to have more local anesthetic, then doctor went off to give it more time to 'work'
Luckily that did the trick and all the rest went smoothly!
Its still tender today, but don't think i should have got it so wet this morning!

Think that about it...another creative course tomorrow..can't wait! Got my photos ready...all of I3 but i'm sure I could make some good LOs with them! :o)

Ally Pally

TagHalloween stickers

Beautiful transprant paper type things.... Wooden buttons

Halloween Stickers

Paper tearing Ruler...

Pens! More Halloween Stickers!

Disney stickers ready for my birthday dressing up night out!

Shamefully I have left the prices on, but was pleased I didn't spend too much money!

Going to save for the Custom Cutting System™ Mat and Blades, had a play on Thursday and loved them so saving my pennies!!!

Selfish, self centred nannies!

I became a nanny for the love of the job. I have, in a school report, in my personal statement at the age of 10 'I want to be a nanny when i grow up'
And thats what I've done, and I've had good jobs and bad jobs.
For me, if I wanted to earn mega money I would have done something more worth while...a lawer, doctor, not that I really have the brain for it...but would have done if I wanted to earn mega money.

Soooooo here is my rant...selfish, fresh out of college/no expereince so called 'Nannies' who in Essex expect to earn £500+ PER WEEK!

Nannies in Essex are lucky to earn £350per week. Go to London if you THINK you can get more with NO EXPERIENCE...I'd really like to see you try!

VERY few Essex nannies earn PER HOUR for a full time nanny job, it workd on a weekly/monthly wage

GET A BLOODY GRIP!!!!!!

Ahhhhhhh hormones!

Platform 9 3/4

Platform 9 3/4
Originally uploaded by sarahletch

Today myself and a friend E went to London for the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking show.
It was great, got a few nice bits, but think there was too much there to know what to buy!!! ha ha ha
I got a 12x12 case for my paper, halloween stickers and bits, some really lovely wooden buttons, paper tearing ruler, tags and some pens.
On the way home we stopped off at Platform 9 3/4 ....so sad, but it had to be done since we were passing!

All in all a nice day, just gonna chill out this evening and hopefully feel better in the morning!

*Dancing through life*

So this week has certainly had its ups and downs.

I am feeling confused but I know whats the best, and will always stand by that choice.

Been to the zoo again today and poor old I3 was poorly :o(

But managed to get all my jobs done! Phew *sigh of relief!*

I started my Creative Memories course, and LOVE it!!!
I want...no NEEEEEEEEEEED so many of the tools! I can feel myself pending too much money! lol

Christmas round the corner!

Also off to the Ally Pally tomorrow for the scrapbooking thing!

Excitment!

A day of....blah!

Today, today has been a good day…but bad in many ways too.

I look at myself and think…if only.

I’m confused as to who I am and what I’m meant to be doing with life…

I love K, but my feelings for him are ever changing, I miss the butterflies and the excitement of seeing the one person you think about all the time…the checking the phone every 20mins to see if they’ve text and waiting till they ask you out.
I know relationships change, but why so much?
Why do I now feel like this old woman who sits in every night of the week, doing homework and wasting my life with the brain-dead box!
But then there are some nights and I love getting into bed and snuggling, or watching a film with the girls and even feel really pleased they ask for my help with homework…although not sure why me! Ha ha ha!

I don’t feel I have any real ‘friends’ I mean I have friends, and a lot of them, but where are they when you need them?
Maybe it’s just me, maybe I actually am a horrible person, and I mean that’s what people say, so maybe that’s true?
A friend recently asked me why I bothered talking about K to her…and made it very clear she wasn’t interested…and it hurt, but good on her for actually saying it!
Then other friends are there when they need/want something from me. Which is the main reason I’ve sort of pulled away from them all?

Then there is G, and I have no idea where I stand with all that, or what I’m expecting…I was sooo chuffed to have seen him today, but worry that I come over as a complete stalker coz I’m forever at the zoo, obviously looks weird now that I know G works there! But I have always abused the Gold Card…I mean that’s why we have one!! Its not like I’m driving MILES to get to the zoo!
The confusion! (*rolls eyes*)

Found out my mother is still in contact with ‘the other man’ and I’m feeling upset she didn’t talk to me about this before. But maybe ‘understand’ more now than I ever did…

I love my job, but where is it going? This time next year, no doubt I will join all the unemployed nannies, well actually I’ll go back to working at the hospital, and if they don’t want me I certainly would hang around waiting for a job to find me!
I want to do something, something so out of character that it will shock everyone! Just what? I’m too comfortable in my little bubble…not that it’s much of a bubble! Nannying abroad? Travel round the world? Pack up and move up North? Change in job?
So much for the change in life style! Hoping the change of hormones next week will help a little with the mood, or maybe a good nights sleep tomorrow night!

FAO readers of UKScrappers

I did comment on orginal post, but sat here, feeling very bad that I have upset people.

That was NEVER my intention.

As I said on the comment. It was a very important project to me, and I was more annoyed with myself for lack of insperation, than with any help that was offered to me.

I was wrong to say NO ONE had helped.

Sorry xxx

Its nearly that time of year again....

Getting ready for the NTA's!
Whooooop!

I went last year for the 1st time, and totally wasn't prepared. I left my memory card at home, after charging the battery up, and I didn't have a pen or paper to get autographs :o(

This year i'm taking sister C15 and her friend H15, as well as going with L, her brother and his mates.

We're going to be soooooo prepared! Getting there far to early, to get a good patch next to the red carpet, hanging around all day, come rain or shine (hoping for shine!) Pens, notebook, camera, spare battery, mega huge memory card...

C15 is hoping for David Tennant to be there as she loves him! I saw him last year and she was gutted...also hoping for Harry Hill maybe.
Me I don't really know, I don't really watch soaps so I will just go with the flow and see what happens!
I didn't even watch BB this year to know who any of those would be!

Hoping this link works with pics from last year!
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v654/sarahletch/NTA%202007/