Here Come the Girls....

It's like the Boots Ad here in the office today. I'm trimming my nails while waiting for my ...slow... computer to transfer some files, hopefully resulting in a less slow computer. You can almost smell the fake tan from around the office and there's nothing but talk of hair appointments and make up and tights versus bare legs discussions...and we are not girly girls. The Office Christmas Party is on tonight. A little earlier than I would have liked and I certainly don't feel 'christmassy' enough to party, but hopefully there will be plenty of 'christmas cheer' about later and will get us in the mood. It's a smaller affair than last year - smaller numbers unfortunately, but we're counting our blessings to employ as many as we do and to still have work for everyone. One week at a time, but there are lots of people in worse positions for sure. We are going for a meal and drinks at 7 and on to a nite club - not sure if I'll remember what to do....

On top of that, today is a pretty monumental one for me. On a kind of an impulse, but decided over the past week, I got my ears pierced today. Not such a big deal to most, but when it's for the first time and you are 31, it was an interesting decision for me. My father didn't have too many rules, but one was that he didn't want us to get our ears pierced until we were at least 16, so there was no Holy Communion earrings for his 4 daughters. As a teenager I played a lot of sport and so the idea of taking in and out earrings outweighed any benefits (add to that I was a teenager in the grungy 90s when the less dressed up you looked the better - the anti-bling, we could now describe it) so I didn't bother. Ditto in college and when I had first baby, the idea of earrings which could be pulled and dragged didn't seem so good either. So, why today? I don't know, but I am now sporting some cubic zircona bling in either ear and seemingly have to leave them in for 6 weeks, which doesn't live up to my expectations of wearing fancy danglers on Christmas morning. One of my best childhood (and teenage and college and post-college) friends was with me - it was our Friday lunch-date with a twist. They asked if I was nervous but I figured after having 2 babies, ear piercing wasn't going to be much on childbirth (although technically I had 2 c-sections...but had labour for 8+ hours....so I think that counts). It all went swimmingly and there doesn't appear to be any swelling (which she didn't warn me about until after the job was done, yet only 7 before the christmas party....). I will post a pic if I can manage to get the old computer going. Must dash to get the hair done. You really might as well give everyone a half day the day of the christmas party; well at least all the girly girls....cos the amount of work that will be done here this afternoon is minimal!

Prompt 3 is going to be a quick one as I will be away from computer most of today. Christmas Cards....

Last year was Eilis's first time to give cards to kids at school and her crafty mum decided what a pity it would be to buy them, and better to make them. I spotted a 'colour your own' christmas card kit in the Early Learning Centre and bought the pack. Of course, between one thing and another the 'colouring your own' didn't start until the week before christmas and I didn't consider how long it would actually take to colour 12 cards! Let alone the handwriting which was required in each one and on the envelopes! So, we cheated. She coloured one, I scanned it and printed off on card and hey presto, we had 12 cards with a click of a mouse. We couldn't cheat on the handwriting so there was still a bit of work there.

It's amazing what a difference a year makes though. This year I bought some packs in Pennys with cad blanks and toppers and lovely red envelopes. An assembly line was created and she got all the cards almost finished in less than an hour. We still haven't written them, but are well on track as it's only the 3rd!

I also decided to make some cards this year and put them for sale in my aunt's craft shop near Athlone. No feedback so far, and as always I'm a bit sick of making cards now, so probably won't get to make my own. Although it's all about keeping it simple. Also time to get the old list together. Here's two of the cards I've made:

Winter Weather

So this year I'm doing Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas again...or at least 'attempting' it. I'm also keeping an eye on Ali Edwards December Daily prompts. I've printed out digi journalling cards from Ali and mounted them onto 6x4 patterned paper (can't get photo to upload for some reason...) and will journal on them at a minimum and also take a few photos each day, so basically will be a combination of both. I think the beginning of the month is easiest. It gets more difficult to keep the journalling up as we get more busy, closer to the big day, but for now, this is my commitment. I did about 8 days last year and they are fun to look back at.

Today's JYC is about winter weather. Don't get me started! After getting 1/3 of Ireland's rainfall in the month of November and being stranded and not able to go to work for 3 days I think this has been an exceptional year....for all the wrong reasons. Lots of homes are flooded (which really makes you appreciate your own home even more) including nearly my aunt, who has been visiting her house in waders for the last week, but thankfully, the water dropped by an inch yesterday and hadn't actually gotten beyond the deck into the house. It's the upheaval more than anything - unimaginable, and especially difficult this close to Christmas. Count your blessings. We don't tend to get much snow here, especially in the city, although a taxi driver told me yesterday that he heard someone on the radio predicting 2 foot of snow in January. Watch this space. We had one saturday's worth of snow earlier this year which was great for the kids. Managed to make a snowman but not affect getting around or getting to work on the Monday. I'm dreaming of a White Christmas....

Christmas Countdown....

And so the countdown to Christmas 2009 begins....

The Late Late Toy show has been watched, the first christmas songs have been played on the radio, the letter to Santy is written, (some) cards have been made :) and for the first time in as long as I remember, we have an advent calendar. Something I always wanted, and always vowed I'd make...or at least buy in the January sales and then I saw this one in Laura Ashley (and didn't even get it on sale :( or 3 for 2) but I think it's great and now it's loaded up with chocolate coins for the days to come.

Blogging Anew

Time to revive the blog…or perhaps start a new one?

I’ve just signed up for Shimelles new class Blogging for Scrapbookers. Hoping to give this blog a bit of a facelift and get into a better habit of updating, etc.

Also now using Windows Live Writer to see if it makes the process a bit easier.

WATCH THIS SPACE….hopefully evolve before your eyes!

Well, if you don't blog on your Birthday....

....there's not much hope for you, is there.

Again, it's been ages since I blogged....busy busy, etc, etc.



Today, as I turned 31 (eek) I decided that I better write a few lines for posterity, if nothing else. In fact, maybe I'll journal my day - A Day in the Life of a (newly turned) 31 Year Old - sounds like a plan.



Eilis stayed in Mam and Dad's last night so she could have a 'lie in'. We get up at 7 normally, so once a week she stays overnight with someone or other...usually Thursdays and usually with my parents. It's like a little holiday for her and she loves it. I think she thinks it's the norm, that everyone does regular sleepovers in close-by relatives houses.



Last night, Tony's mum and sisters called over as they aren't around this evening and we had a few glasses of wine. I am slightly feeling the effects this morning, although we were up and out and in Galway before 8 this morning. Am plugging away at work, but with a fuzzy head. Since I decided not to drink beer anymore (relevation at age 30.5) I don't get headaches or bad hangovers. I think it's either the yeast or wheat as I've tried to cut them out too. Whether or which I can drink again without being a wreck the following day as long as I stick to wine or spirits. This is difficult when you were a die hard, bottle of Heineken fan.....but I'm getting over it.



One of the things I find very strange nowadays is how you get messages on your birthday as emails from things you've signed up to. This morning I was greeted by a 'happy birthday' from boards.ie and earlier this week at Curves 'happy birthday' flashed up on the screen when I logged in. Are we now going to get to a point where our birthday greetings are all from anonymous electronic devices? Scary thought. PG I'll always have my mammy to think of me - even though she only lives 3 miles away she told me yesterday 'there's a card in the post'.



Plans for the day are to pop into town at some stage (most likely on pretence of a 'meeting') to collect some bits as I am heading off (early) tomorrow morning to Co. Louth for my friend Aoife's hen party. I need to get a naughty but nice gift for her and also to get some shoes. Unfortunately I was in town for an hour yesterday and saw nothing...so I don't know how hopeful I am. I don't actually mind what I spend (which seems heresy in the 'current climate') but I want a pair of good, black, classy, high heel (but not too high), comfortable black going out shoe. Preferably with a pointy toe. Is that too much to ask!?!? So as I said, if I had to pay €200 for the perfect pair, I wouldn't mind. I've never come close to spending that kind of money on shoes by the way, just I don't have a black shoe for going out and am at a stage in my life where I need a pair that will last and that are (like the little black dress) easy to just throw on, no thought required. So, we'll just have to see how we get on today. Unfortunately it seems to be all boots now and it was all sandals during the summer.

Anyhoo, maybe this is why I don't blog, cos I get sucked in to writing all manner of slightly irrelevant stuff... although I'm not writing for you, I'm writing for me! Over and out for now....I'll try to keep notes as I go along today.

Rest of plans include lunch with Tina (college friend) and Tony (DH). Home early-ish, shopping, packing and maybe a chinese and a few 'nice things' with my sisters/parents/whoever's knocking around at the time.

Me, The Abridged Version

So I'm taking a course on Big Picture Scrapbooking by Cathy Zielske
It started today. It's digi...if we want it to be and it's called Me, The Abridged Version. Basically an A to Z set of layouts about yours truely. Our first tasks are to compile our thoughts, in alphabetical order. Cathy's also prompting us with emails each day asking questions like - What can't you Imagine Living Without.

P is for Pragmatist, or Pessimist (although I don't really think I am). I just couldn't think of anything I couldn't live without (apart from obvious air and water....scientist in me even saying you could probably survive if you had to....). If you had to live without stuff, or loved ones, or technology, you just would. Obviously I'd prefer not to have to live without my family, friends, television, chocolate, etc, but realistically we don't always have the choice and so it's better to just live each day and not wish for things.

This is a difficult entry - I'm not good at imagining negative things (which is a good thing I suppose). Ask me to imagine winning the lottery or All Ireland and I could write a book!

More soon. Am not going to apologise for not blogging more often, or for the state of my blog, which needs a serious overhaul. It's not going to happen this week.....
I haven't even uploaded photos from June onwards off my camera, never mind put them on blog. Life and stuff gets in the way, but it's all good.