What a Scrappy Life

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Wednesday 31 December 2014

Happy 17th Birthday, James

Today is my lovely son, James 17th Birthday








he is growing into a truly handsome young man, full of cheek, teenage moodiness but most of all, he his full of love and happiness.

I want to wish him the happiest of birthdays today, and hope he has a fab day.

Happy Birthday Son, we love you more than words can say.


Mum & Dad x

Saturday 27 December 2014

Surprise 50th Birthday Weekend - 6 December 2014

At the beginning of December, my lovely friend Julie organised a fantastic birthday weekend for my 50th.



The only things I was told was to have an overnight case, and pack a few crafting things - as if I was going to a crop and that was all.




So the day arrived, and Julie picked me up at 9.30



and gave me an itinerary, on route I tried to get out of Julie where we were going, what was planned,  etc, but all she keep saying was 'wait and see' - I didn't even know who was going to be there.





So I just had to sit back and enjoy the 'mystery tour'.  



Our first stop was at the Heart of Country outlet shops, this is when meet the girls - yeah !!!  They had kept to so quiet - I'm amazed.  We started off with coffee and then some shopping, before going for lunch at The Barn.



Then it was onto my 2nd destination, again I didn't know where we where going but just sat back and and looked forward to what Julie had planned.  We ended up at Barbara's - OMG !!! I was stunned, they had worked really hard to in preparation of this weekend.


We each had a place setting - we lovely goodies


Extra at my with my lovely wine glass.


But we each had a box full of stash - OMG!! Julie had organised us to have a scrapbooking kit that she put together for each of us, and it was crammed full of loveliness, paper, stickers,paperclips, stamps, card stock, project life cards, embellishments - it was all in there - totally fab.





One of the presents I received over the weekend was this absolutely fantastic quilt, handmade by Sue and Barbara - I was chocked - I would never in a million years thought that I would get an handmade quilt from anyone for a present - the time and effort that has gone into making this is without doubt much appreciated - I truly love it, the colours; the design; but what I love most about it is, the thoughtfulness and kindness that my lovely friends made this just for me.  Words cannot express how it has made me feel.  Love it so much.  Thank you again girls - much appreciated.



The beautiful quilt.



and on the Saturday evening whilst watching some TV, Julie and Barbara brought out this lovely cake, and they all sang Happy Birthday to me, I was stunned - Barbara's sister had make it for me.





A close up of the cake - can you guest the theme of the weekend - yes New York City - to say I'm slightly looking forward to my planned trip there next year is an understatement and yes ! I'm slightly obsessed with it and I'm not ashamed to admit it.



Morag - had got these paperclips for us all to add to our kits.



and this was Morag's card to me - fab !!!



I hope these written word can express how much I appreciated every single second of this weekend, and I thank each and everyone of of my lovely friends for this surprise and the effort of organising it. 

My biggest thanks goes to  Julie from the bottom of my heart for getting it just right  - and yes it was worth your sleepless nights - you certainly did my proud and I love you so much.  Thanks for being my friend.

Big thanks to Barbara for putting me up for the night and opening your home to us all, thanks also to Andy (Sue's husband) for our Sunday breakfast - yummy !





Let the celebrations continue ….

Wednesday 24 December 2014

Jackie is 50 …..

Yeah!! today I'm the grand young age of 50, yes 50 - I truly don't know where the time has gone.






I'm not going to or no! time is flying by too quickly - I'm embracing each and every day that I have, and looking forward to my next chapter in my life.

I've truly celebrated my 50th birthday with my family and friends and I don't intend to stop next year, so it will be a case of celebrating well into my 50th year, and beyond.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all my family, friends and online friends for your kind word and best wishes each one is very much appreciated.  All the lovely and thoughtful gifts I've received have left me truly speechless and so gratefully received.

Thank you

Have a good one ! I know I will





Friday 12 December 2014

Christmas Markets in Brussels - 28 November 2014

What started off has a thrown away comment about visiting a Christmas Market in europe with my cousin, ended up with 5 of us planning and going over to Brussels for the weekend, and what a weekend we had.


So our adventure started at London Heathrow - Terminal 5


James with his cousins


me and Jame on the plane



Our hotel - which was lovely




and round the corner from the European Parliament



Having brunch a local cafe




On the Saturday, we took a train to Brugge (yes it is spelt like this) and the crowd were just what we expected, which just added to the enjoyment of being there.


Brugge


Stopping for lunch - I just had to have a large beer !!!




Now which is the right way - lol x


Do any of the UK readers remember C&A back in the day !!! couldn't believe it still going strong in Belgium.



Love the look of the roof tops around the square (Brugge)




James enjoying a wraffle !




Back in Brussels - on the hour from 5pm to 11pm they have a fantastic light and music show at the Grand Palace, it was truly magical and one I want to see again !




On the Sunday morning, we got a taxi back into Brussels and the taxi driver was good enough to stop so that I could take a photo of the Palace.




James at the famous Manniquin Pis statue in Brussels.  It only a small statue but the whole area was crowded and worth seeing a local attraction.

We had a fab time and wanted to spend longer.  The Christmas market is very similar to the large one that is here in Birmingham, UK, there are a few different stalls but they seems to have exactly the same products in both.  It was a lovely experience and Brussels is definitely a place I want to visit again.

I trying to get my blog posts unto date before the end of the year, so expect a few over the coming week.

Thanks for stopping by.

Thursday 27 November 2014

Surprise Birthday Meal - 14th November 2014

OMG! OMG! OMG! where do I start with this post, I will try and start at the beginning.  A few weeks ago Juile said she was taking me out for a meal for my birthday, which is not till December but due to all the Christmas hype we where going out earlier, which suited me just fine.  That was all she told me, she said it was going to be a suprise and that she would pick me up and not to have any tea.




So I was completely in the dark about where we were going! who was going to be there etc, etc.

So when she arrived I even tried to get it out of her where we were going but she still didn't say anything.

Anyway, we arrived at ASK Italian and to my utter surprise the gang was there, I really don't know how they managed to keep is so quite is beyond me, but they did and I'm so glad they did.

I was with Sam and Sheena the week before and had talked about Julie taking me out for a meal, but they didn't say a word and it was just lovely seeing them there, and being part of my birthday celebrations.

So after the shock of they all being there we had a lovely meal and a laugh.




 So after the meal we order dessert and the waitress brought me this





The lights went down and the whole restaurant sang me happy birthday.


Then Julie said let go over the road for a coffee, so we crossed the road and ordered some coffee, and we where just settling down and them Julie gave me a present and said it was from everyone.  





It was a struggle getting into it. but as soon as I took the paper off I started to cry, it was a album -





- why cry at a album you ask??  - well each one of my lovely friends had done one or two pages about our friendship.




Now people who have met me know I love to talk, but truly I was speechless, I wanted to run and hide and have a good cry, a very, very happy cry, but I wanted to cry, well I did cry but I kept it contained, but at the same time I wanted to hug and kiss each and everyone of them for this album.

It was Julie's idea and she has done me proud, this is just spot on, something that I would never have done myself or even thought of, but somethings that they each had a hand in doing.

I remember reading somewhere about the power of having handwritten journalling on your layouts … and to be honest I never really understood it, but sitting here and reading these little notes … I now know what they mean … these messages are very personal from each of them just to me and they all have true meaning … I'm so grateful for these friends.





Love this photo of Sam and I at a Scrapagogo retreat



and Julie had even added some photos of my Preston friends, which was just lovely.

Whilst there I couldn't read any of the words has I know that they came from the heart and would be very touching, so when I got home I read and cried and looked at every photo, embellishment, sticker etc with the delight of knowing I have made some true friends that I will treasure for ever and ever and so thankful that they feel the same way about me.






Both Jon and James enjoyed looking at it and they loved it, not as much as me, but they both said it was fab.

It now has pride of place in my living room, it won't be in my craft room, because I need to look at it and ponder from time to time, and also show it to everyone who visits - lol.

I thank Julie for my night and planning and all the hardwork in organising it, I thank all the girls for sparing some time to celebrate my birthday, but most of all I thank each of them for being my friends.

I end with this lovely photo of Julie and I - thank my love, it was very much appreciated, you are a star and one very special lady, thanks for being my friend, love you loads xxx






I will share a few of the pages shortly.


Tuesday 18 November 2014

SCR@P Retreat - 7 - 9 November 2014

Well what a weekend I had at the beginning of the month.  It was only a short journey over to Coventry for a weekend of crafting fun.




Ansty Hall, Coventry





Jean Dean, Tracie Hudson and Celine Naverro - our lovely teachers for the weekend




A lovely place setting - it was full of prima flowers





Not only did we get the table place box, but Kirsty had made these lovely bags that holds loads and again was full of goodies




Lovely stash ...





A welcome glass of bubbly





and if having the goodies bags and all our kits wasn't enough then we had Jane and Charlotte from Crafty Charlie bring their lovely shop.




These are my table buddies, and what a laugh we had - I meet them all at the Moxley crop so it was good to spend more time with them and more so have a really good laugh.

As usual the weekend went far to quickly and before you know it its over till the next time.  I will be taking photos of my layouts, well the ones I've finished and hope to upload next week. 

Till the next time.