I try, I really do. But somehow it just never looks quite right.
What am I talking about? I'm talking about using my own handwriting on my digital scrapbook layouts.
When traditional scrapbooking I've always been an advocate of using your own handwriting on your layouts - ask anyone who took my classes, they'll tell you... I was a hard taskmaster when it came to journalling. So for me when I switched, and yes I've definitely switched, to digital scrapbooking I wanted, really, really wanted, to use my own handwriting on my layouts. But it just doesn't look right. I don't know why, perhaps it's just me.
So I'm working on it but in the mean time I've stumbled across a great site that offers loads of really great hand written fonts. And what's even better is they are free! Yes, free.
Check out Kevin and Amanda. My particular favourites currently are Firefly Castle, Pea Brooke and Grant's Ghosts.
Warning: clicking on the above links may cause you to lose a couple of hours...
Saturday, 17 April 2010
Thursday, 15 April 2010
An Amazing Video
It's hard to believe that with all the advertising that has gone on since wearing seat belts became law that there are still people who don't wear one... it beggars belief.
Monday, 12 April 2010
It's Official - I'm A Runner!
Why? Not because I'm up and running, running 5k, running a mile or even running for any real length of time (although I do know that I will get to this point).
No, I know this because on the days I'm not out training I get this weird feeling come over me. I start to feel 'antsy'. I can't settle to anything. I wander around the house feeling like I should be doing something. And I finally realised what that something was - that I was missing my running training session! Weird, eh? So I guess this officially classifies me as a runner. I am someone who runs.
So how am I going to get to the point where I am running 5k? Well, I have restarted the Couch To 5k programme. I did start this last summer but then went away for 5 days and just didn't get back in to it. No excuse I know (more on this below) but that's what happened. Maybe I was looking for an excuse? However I am someone who needs a target. I work best that way. Something to work for, to aim for, really helps to keep me focussed and last year this was an element that was missing. So after around 3 or 4 weeks of work and managing to just build up to doing week 2 of the programme I dropped out and never got back in to it.
This time though I have a goal. I am going to run the Race For Life in July this year. And I do mean run, not walk, not run/walk but run the whole 5k.
And I'm doing better this time too, despite probably being a stone heavier in weight! Last time it took me around 3 weeks to just fully complete the first week of the training programme (five-minute warmup walk, then alternate 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes, finish with five-minute cool down walk). The idea is you do the same session, alternating walking/running, 3 times in a week, making sure to have a rest day in between, and each week the sessions increase the amount of running you do until after 9 weeks you are able to run 5k.
So, yes, last time I finally worked my way to starting week 2, did maybe 1 or 2 sessions and then stopped. Today though I completed week 3! Yay me! It hasn't taken me as long to get to this point either as I only started around a month ago.
To be honest I don't always feel raring to go and this morning knowing that today was the first session of week 3 I didn't feel overly enthusiastic. I actually felt a bit negative, not sure that I was fit enough to do it (five-minute warmup walk, then run 90 seconds, walk for 90 seconds, run 3 minutes, walk for 3 minutes, run 90 seconds, walk for 90 seconds, run 3 minutes. walk for 3 minutes and then cool down walk for 5 minutes).
But do it I did! And you know what? It wasn't even that bad. I wasn't completely gasping for breath, in fact not gasping at all. Yes, I felt it but also I felt good after it. It's also helping that a couple of weeks ago I picked up a running buddy. It took a little bit of convincing as she really didn't think she could run but this programme is so good I truly believe anyone can do it. And it's good to have someone to run with, to be accountable to, to encourage you when you don't feel like doing it, to enjoy the triumph together when you do!
No excuses. That's what I need to tell myself on the days when I wake up and come up with a million excuses as to why I shouldn't run that day, that perhaps tomorrow will be better... this Nike video sums up those days pretty well:
No, I know this because on the days I'm not out training I get this weird feeling come over me. I start to feel 'antsy'. I can't settle to anything. I wander around the house feeling like I should be doing something. And I finally realised what that something was - that I was missing my running training session! Weird, eh? So I guess this officially classifies me as a runner. I am someone who runs.
So how am I going to get to the point where I am running 5k? Well, I have restarted the Couch To 5k programme. I did start this last summer but then went away for 5 days and just didn't get back in to it. No excuse I know (more on this below) but that's what happened. Maybe I was looking for an excuse? However I am someone who needs a target. I work best that way. Something to work for, to aim for, really helps to keep me focussed and last year this was an element that was missing. So after around 3 or 4 weeks of work and managing to just build up to doing week 2 of the programme I dropped out and never got back in to it.
This time though I have a goal. I am going to run the Race For Life in July this year. And I do mean run, not walk, not run/walk but run the whole 5k.
And I'm doing better this time too, despite probably being a stone heavier in weight! Last time it took me around 3 weeks to just fully complete the first week of the training programme (five-minute warmup walk, then alternate 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes, finish with five-minute cool down walk). The idea is you do the same session, alternating walking/running, 3 times in a week, making sure to have a rest day in between, and each week the sessions increase the amount of running you do until after 9 weeks you are able to run 5k.
So, yes, last time I finally worked my way to starting week 2, did maybe 1 or 2 sessions and then stopped. Today though I completed week 3! Yay me! It hasn't taken me as long to get to this point either as I only started around a month ago.
To be honest I don't always feel raring to go and this morning knowing that today was the first session of week 3 I didn't feel overly enthusiastic. I actually felt a bit negative, not sure that I was fit enough to do it (five-minute warmup walk, then run 90 seconds, walk for 90 seconds, run 3 minutes, walk for 3 minutes, run 90 seconds, walk for 90 seconds, run 3 minutes. walk for 3 minutes and then cool down walk for 5 minutes).
But do it I did! And you know what? It wasn't even that bad. I wasn't completely gasping for breath, in fact not gasping at all. Yes, I felt it but also I felt good after it. It's also helping that a couple of weeks ago I picked up a running buddy. It took a little bit of convincing as she really didn't think she could run but this programme is so good I truly believe anyone can do it. And it's good to have someone to run with, to be accountable to, to encourage you when you don't feel like doing it, to enjoy the triumph together when you do!
No excuses. That's what I need to tell myself on the days when I wake up and come up with a million excuses as to why I shouldn't run that day, that perhaps tomorrow will be better... this Nike video sums up those days pretty well:
Saturday, 3 April 2010
Stage 1 Complete
And to say I'm tired would be an understatement.
I'm on a mission. A mission to simplify. A mission to de-clutter. A mission to make my home a haven not a hell - or should that be a heaven not a hell...? And today we completed stage 1.
Stage 1:
Next comes stage 2. This is a relatively simple stage.
Stage 2:
See told you that stage was simple. Enjoyable even.
Stage 3 is the bit where I balk a little because what I failed to mention is that currently the contents of stage 1 have been dumped in the conservatory so this stage looks like this:
Stage 3:
This does look like a fairly simple stage but believe me it won't be. It will take days. Perhaps weeks but let's not hope months. In fact I could quite easily get lost in amongst the piles of stuff in that room. I should probably inform someone before I start to tackle it so that if they don't hear from me in a day or so they know to alert a search and rescue party.
If I'm brave I may even post a photo of this room... maybe... if I'm feeling very brave...
I'm on a mission. A mission to simplify. A mission to de-clutter. A mission to make my home a haven not a hell - or should that be a heaven not a hell...? And today we completed stage 1.
Stage 1:
- Empty out the children's play room. Completely empty it.
- Empty out my office, including the 2 ram-packed cupboards.
Next comes stage 2. This is a relatively simple stage.
Stage 2:
- Go to Ikea and buy new corner desk (with T-legs), chair and panel curtain.
See told you that stage was simple. Enjoyable even.
Stage 3 is the bit where I balk a little because what I failed to mention is that currently the contents of stage 1 have been dumped in the conservatory so this stage looks like this:
Stage 3:
- Sort out the pile of 'stuff I can't believe one family can accumulate in a short space of time'.
This does look like a fairly simple stage but believe me it won't be. It will take days. Perhaps weeks but let's not hope months. In fact I could quite easily get lost in amongst the piles of stuff in that room. I should probably inform someone before I start to tackle it so that if they don't hear from me in a day or so they know to alert a search and rescue party.
If I'm brave I may even post a photo of this room... maybe... if I'm feeling very brave...
Monday, 29 March 2010
A Layout!
Finally. Finally completed a layout. Finally getting back to what I love doing.
Supplies:
Yo Ho! Yo Ho! - Emily Merritt
Checkerboard frame - mine
I know it's no great spectacular, but I'm back on the scrapping wagon and I'm pleased with it. And that's all that matters, isn't it?
Friday, 19 March 2010
RIP HD
My iMac hard drive is no more...
And just when I was going to start to get back in to my blogging. Ty-pi-cal! Anyway, this is not going to stop me because I've still got my Macbook which, although frustrating sometimes because it's smallish (I did want the big Macbook but budget couldn't stretch unfortunately), is good enough to let me get done what I need to get done.
OK, I've broken the blog silence, phew! Will post a catch up post later today to bring you all up to speed with what's been going on in our abode.
PS iMac is in for repair and will hopefully be back in my loving arms shortly :D
And just when I was going to start to get back in to my blogging. Ty-pi-cal! Anyway, this is not going to stop me because I've still got my Macbook which, although frustrating sometimes because it's smallish (I did want the big Macbook but budget couldn't stretch unfortunately), is good enough to let me get done what I need to get done.
OK, I've broken the blog silence, phew! Will post a catch up post later today to bring you all up to speed with what's been going on in our abode.
PS iMac is in for repair and will hopefully be back in my loving arms shortly :D
Friday, 29 January 2010
Teenager Talk
Having a teenager in the home is a little like visiting a foreign country sometimes. An english speaking country that is but one that does have it's own unique words and phrases for some things that leaves you not a little confused sometimes.
We experienced this a little whilst living in Canada. Life would be running along smoothly and then you'd need to get something or have something particular done. You'd ask someone and they would just look at you as if you've just popped down to earth from the planet Zog!
"Minced beef? Minced beef? No, sorry have no idea what you're talking about."
"You know, it's sort of beef but minced up in to tiny little pieces?"
"Errmmmm...?"
"You can make beef burgers with it?"
"Beef burgers?"
"You know, those round things in a bun, like you buy at McDonalds?"
Oh, you mean hamburgers?"
"Yes! Minced beef."
"You mean ground beef!"
"Yes! Where do you keep the ground beef?"
"Sorry, we're out of stock..." (OK, the bit about being out of stock is a complete fabrication but the rest was true).
So, all this is basically just to say that teenagers have a whole other language sometimes. In fact sometimes I have no idea what number 1 daughter is talking about! And words have changed - yes I know it's been a long time since I was a teenager and so I can't expect to know the current 'lingo' but honestly... apparently you are no longer billy-no-mates but you're a larry (larry the loner).
Anyway, the other night Harriet came downstairs highly amused at the sight that she had seen upon entering our bedroom... (no, don't go there, it's not what you think!)... and found Richard reading one of Kat's magazines du jour - Sugar if my memory serves me correctly. It was research, apparently, to find out whether the content of the magazine was suitable for a young teenage girl (I love this about him, that he takes his role as a father seriously enough to subject himself to the vacuous writings of a teen girl magazine just to make sure his daughter is safe and protected). The conclusion he reached was that he supposed it was 'ok' which then led on to a general chat about the magazine contents, one regular feature of which is the 'Blurd of the Month' - 'cause using two words is so last season.
Basically this consists of blurring/mixing two words together to create a new one. The first magazine we picked up to look at had a word, or should I say blurd, that so accurately describes the state of Kat's room that last year instead of putting the plain cream carpet we were laying in all the bedrooms we considered buying her a carpet with a discarded clothing pattern! And the word?
Floordrobe
Derivative: floor + wardrobe.
Definition: to turn one's floor into a wardrobe by dumping clothes on it.
So a new word has entered our home. "Kat can you take your clean laundry upstairs and put it away properly - not in the floordrobe!"
We experienced this a little whilst living in Canada. Life would be running along smoothly and then you'd need to get something or have something particular done. You'd ask someone and they would just look at you as if you've just popped down to earth from the planet Zog!
"Minced beef? Minced beef? No, sorry have no idea what you're talking about."
"You know, it's sort of beef but minced up in to tiny little pieces?"
"Errmmmm...?"
"You can make beef burgers with it?"
"Beef burgers?"
"You know, those round things in a bun, like you buy at McDonalds?"
Oh, you mean hamburgers?"
"Yes! Minced beef."
"You mean ground beef!"
"Yes! Where do you keep the ground beef?"
"Sorry, we're out of stock..." (OK, the bit about being out of stock is a complete fabrication but the rest was true).
So, all this is basically just to say that teenagers have a whole other language sometimes. In fact sometimes I have no idea what number 1 daughter is talking about! And words have changed - yes I know it's been a long time since I was a teenager and so I can't expect to know the current 'lingo' but honestly... apparently you are no longer billy-no-mates but you're a larry (larry the loner).
Anyway, the other night Harriet came downstairs highly amused at the sight that she had seen upon entering our bedroom... (no, don't go there, it's not what you think!)... and found Richard reading one of Kat's magazines du jour - Sugar if my memory serves me correctly. It was research, apparently, to find out whether the content of the magazine was suitable for a young teenage girl (I love this about him, that he takes his role as a father seriously enough to subject himself to the vacuous writings of a teen girl magazine just to make sure his daughter is safe and protected). The conclusion he reached was that he supposed it was 'ok' which then led on to a general chat about the magazine contents, one regular feature of which is the 'Blurd of the Month' - 'cause using two words is so last season.
Basically this consists of blurring/mixing two words together to create a new one. The first magazine we picked up to look at had a word, or should I say blurd, that so accurately describes the state of Kat's room that last year instead of putting the plain cream carpet we were laying in all the bedrooms we considered buying her a carpet with a discarded clothing pattern! And the word?
Floordrobe
Derivative: floor + wardrobe.
Definition: to turn one's floor into a wardrobe by dumping clothes on it.
So a new word has entered our home. "Kat can you take your clean laundry upstairs and put it away properly - not in the floordrobe!"
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