A-Ma-Zing

This amazing image was taken by Nasa's Terra satellite on Thursday (7th January 2010). Really brings home how cold the UK is at the moment. Truly awesome.

Freebie Friday #5

Back to normal now after the Christmas break.

This week I have a lovely template for you:

Snow Day Portraits

Like the rest of the country we have experienced our fair amount of snow today. It was forecast yesterday evening and Noah was so desperate he prayed for snow last night at bedtime. It didn't look like it would happen though as by the time I went to bed last night we hadn't really had any.

I admit to feeling a more than a little excited at the thought of snow. It really is one of the main things I miss from our time in Canada. I'll even confess that I got in to bed last night but left the curtains and blinds open. Just so I could keep checking if the snow had started whilst I read for a bit before sleeping. I even admit that I read longer than I should have... but there was still no snow before I turned off the light.

Good news though. We awoke this morning to LOTS of snow. Add to add to the children's joy - a snow day! And to add to my joy Richard found my canadian winter boots in the garage so when we went out my feet were toasty warm.

Even though we built a snowman I do not have any of the obligatory shots of it, I do however have some family portrait shots (I've even been brave enough to post a photo of myself even though it's awful and I hate having my photo taken):

What have you been up to today?

I Am Resolute

Resolute: Firm, unyielding, determined.

Yes, that's what I am. Resolute. Resolute that I am not making any new year's resolutions.

I do however have goals... Oh, surely that's the same thing I hear you cry? No. It's not. Obviously.

Goal: A result that one is attempting to achieve.

See? Not the same thing at all. If I make a resolution and don't keep to it then I will have failed in my endeavours to try and keep it but if I don't happen to achieve my goal then it doesn't mean I've failed, just that I didn't reach my goal. All the work and effort put in to achieving that goal is still valid. Still means something. Takes me that bit closer to achieving my goal.

Weird logic? Maybe but it's mine and I'm sticking to it! So no, I have made no resolutions for 2010 but I do have some goals:

• Lose weight, slowly and steadily


• Get fitter and healthier


• Spend more time outdoors


• Find a job


• Try one new recipe a month


• Learn how to use Illustrator


• Finish my brothers album and get it printed


• Drink more water

I'm sure there will be more but that's the great thing about goals. They can change you can add to them as the year goes on.

Happy New Year to all my family, friends (both old and new, real and virtual) and wishing you all a fabulous 2010.

End Of Year Round Up

It's the end of the year and I've decided it would be fun to complete an end of year blog meme. The rules are simple - post the first line of the first post for every month.

• January - That’s what I’m praying for us this year.


• February - Tonight, Richard and Noah were talking during the bedtime routine.


• March - The Ingrid Michaelson album Be Ok:


• April - Yes, Mother’s day was weeks ago but hey, I’m a mum, I’m busy!


• May - No.


• June - Today!


• July


• August


• September


• October


• November - Ok, so I’ve signed up to do Shimelle’s Blogging for Scrapbookers class to try and get my blogging, and scrapbooking, mojo back.


• December - So today is the day.

So what does this tell me? First that I write in short sentences! And secondly I was obviously too busy to blog in July, August, September and October. What was I doing that I couldn't blog? Not even once?

Why don't you look back at the year just gone?

JYC 2009: Days 15 & 16

Only 2 catch up entries today. I'm tired and need to step away from the computer!

Days 15 & 16:

It's funny because this journal was supposed to be a quick easy format for me but by the time I've pfaffed about what photos to use, agonised over my journal, chosen 'just the right papers' well, it doesn't feel that quick and easy.

More tomorrow, I'm hoping to do days 17, 18 & 19. Hopefully if I keep up at this pace I may stand a chance of finishing my journal around the time the class stops... we'll see.

JYC 2009: Days 12, 13 & 14

Still working away trying to catch up on my Christmas journal. I would really like to finish it this year.

So here are days 12, 13 & 14:

A distinct lack of photos on these last 3 entries. I love the first one, day 12. Christmas Past brought back many happy memories and it was interesting to see how some things have stayed the same but that there had also been some small changes.

Richard likes the last one, day 14, and says it has a 'retro' feel to it. I'm all about retro at the moment so that's a good thing. It was weird though as this was supposed to be the entry for the 14th December and so the Yankee Christmas Swap (held on the 16th) hadn't happened yet!