2nd of DeeCember

‘My Christmas Schedule’ 2006

I’m going to design my own calendar for the Christmas Season. I will add in details of things I need to remember such as special dates, deadlines, appointments. I’m hoping to create it in such a way that I can add to it as the month goes by, and so will design little stickers or embells that I’ll include in a pocket or something for future addition. This schedule will also allow me to look back at an overview of what I get up to over the Christmas. I need to create a bookmark for this page also to ensure that I can look back as the month goes on, and as a reminder to fill in things that I need to remember. This might be a double pager!




Here's a pic of the changes made to my cover (stamped corners with a free corner stamp from SI mag a while back, and embossed in gold). There's also a pic of my entry no. 2 - signs of christmas....I need to add some pics. That main panel has journalling behind....a work in progress!

Today I'm working on a secret santa gift, and some advent challenges over in the Bumbleberry Crafts Cafe. Fun times....

First of Deeecember

So, here's the first Christmas Journal Prompt....

Signs of Christmas

Signs of Christmas – What are the first signs? Is it about the commercialism of it all, songs on the radio, ads on the television? There have probably been lots of signs before now, but I am going to journal my signs of Christmas….how do I know it’s coming…
Im going to take some time out today to notice the signs that are all around me....and maybe even take some snaps.

 

My initial thought sare that for me, some of the signs are the decorations, children talking about Santa, talk of Christmas Party’s and holiday time at work. One of the main signs of Christmas in Galway for me and one of my favourite things about Christmas are not so much the lights in the City as the lights on one of the hotels….The Great Southern. Every year they hang garlands across the front of the hotel. It has to be the classiest and most classic decoration in town. It is now a tradition. This year I spotted the men in the crane putting up the garlands on the 21st of November and even got a photo. I’m not sure when they turn the lights on, but it’s a real sign of Christmas. We have arranged our office Christmas party for the Thursday before Christmas, the 21st. We like to have it as close to the time as possible, rather than months in advance. Gets you into the festive spirit. We’re having a dinner for staff and their partners, then on to drinks in a local in Salthill and maybe on to a nightclub. We did the whole ‘hotel’ arranged do last year, but this year wanted to wing it a little, see if we have a better time.

Ads on the telly I love are the ‘Ho ho ho’ Cornflakes ad, Pennys got a whole lot of things for Christmas and Holidays are coming – Coca Cola…. 

Lucky Week

Did you ever think....wow, it's been an interesting week? This has certainly been one of the strangest weeks of the year so far....in a good way. Thinking it through here are some examples...

I went to a chiropracter for 'enlightenment' for the first time.
Met a guy who's going to help some of us in the company with our 'leadship' and other skills...including personality testing.
Counted out about 300 yoyos in small change I had in a box...which should be pretty handy coming into christmas.
The creche decided that they were going to not charge for the days over christmas, so the bill is 130 yoyos less this month.
Got a letter from the taxman saying I have overpaid 350 yoyos in tax and will be reimbursed as soon as possible.
And yesterday I found 20 quid in my pocket.

We don't dwell on money in our house btw, I don't think we're too extravagant - we don't need for anything, nor are we over indulgent, but that's a fair bit extra to have in the pocket in the run up to the most expensive time of year.

Today, I went downstairs to a company that's going into liquidation....they (or rather their liquidator) were selling off all their stuff - and the nice liquidator man gave me a load of kiddie costumes for free. Said they were no good to him, and he was likely to dump them. All the better for my DD who will think that they are fab! And I am just after getting a phonecall from a client I never met to ask me out to dinner next week, as he is bringing all his 'professionals' out to dinner before christmas. How much better can this week get?

I'm not trying to draw bad luck on myself by listing my good luck, because to some this wouldn't be that big of a deal.....but maybe, just maybe, my enlightenment is making me more appreciative thereby better things are happening. And it's only Thursday....at 11.45am

One day to go...

...to the beginning of the Christmas Journal project. Here's a pic of my front covers....it's BG urban couture...not Christmas paper per se, but certainly I wouldn't mind using it as wrapping paper if I had that kind of money! Anyway, it's getting a little more christmassy and tomorrow it will be ok to say it loud and say it proud...they'll be playing songs on the radio, and there'll be signs of christmas everywhere. Maybe this is a hint to what my first topic is!
Meanwhile back at the ranch (or office, as I like to call it) I think it's time to do our secret santa draw....and the first of the christmas parties has been arranged for next week. It's for the building we're in, so should be fun....it's interesting that a couple of beers will give you the courage to talk to all the people you see in the building every day but wouldn't normally speak to. We are young scientists in a technology centre, so don't really fit in! No harm, we know we're the life and soul of the party. (this is the royal we I use a lot when talking about our company!) Fun times ahead.

  

ooops

Ooops, I clicked publish. Anyway...here's another pic of the bits I have been pulling together for my christmas journal. Plenty of seasonal ribbons, rub ons, brads....anything goes really. I have decided on the overall topics for each day and am beginning to journal little thoughts that come to mind each day. I might even go so far as to make a template for the journalling on one block and then make a LO beside it....hmmmn I'm thinking....and very much making it up as I go along. Thanks to the ladies who commented....I'd love to see your fabby work and think it will be a great project.

I'm off now to take my christmas avatar pic for the bumbleberries and work on a circle journal to be done by (ooops) tomorrow! Think I'll be burning the midnight oil!

  

Mind your back

Have now had two more sessions with the Chiro....scary stuff that table! He has also laid out his costs for a year's worth of sessions....I must review and make a decision...and it's not cheap. But how much is your overall health worth?

Anyway, enough of the tough stuff....wanna see my christmas journal preparations....


 


This is my pile of Christmas stash.....scrummy! 

Christmas Journal

I have decided to keep a Christmas journal as inspired by Jane Dean in Scrapbook Inspirations November issue and Shimelle Laine’s journal classes. I’m not doing it as a class, rather making up my own rules. If you’d like to play along, by all means keep an eye out here for daily prompts.

Preparation…. I’ve got all my spare Christmas bits together and put them in a box – this included scraps of cardstock, paper with a Christmas/winter feel to it, ribbon, brads, etc. Anything that’s a little bit red, green, white, silver, etc or any other seasonal bits.

I’m going to make my journal from scratch so have covered two pieces of chipboard with festive paper. I’ve also ensured I have book rings to bind the finished product, and have started cutting cardstock to fit (mine will be an unusual size – kinda slightly shorter than an A4 landscape size – no particular reason, just that I had chipboard that size). I’m using different coloured cardstock and am not sure yet whether my pages will be double sided or not…. I’ve also been pulling together smaller scrap pieces of cardstock that I can have with me to journal on as I please, for incorporation into my journal entries. I’ve decorated some already, doodled on a few….just to get me started.

I’m going to keep my journal with as much journaling as possible, rather than it becoming a scrap album. I do intend to scrap Christmas too, just not in this journal (well that’s the plan for now). I’m going to use acid free stuff, but not as diligently as for my scrapbooking. Also, I intend this to be a journal that works for this Christmas, but also triggers memories of Christmas past. It might end up being something I add to every year…..we’ll take it as it comes….

So if you want to join in with me….

…. The first challenge is to think about the cover for your journal. It will be added to every day, so the final cover will not be finished until Christmas Eve. You can do as little or as much as you want to at the beginning, but the plan will be to add some little thing each day….almost like an advent type cover page! (you could just add 25 ribbons, one by one!).

btw I’m gonna try and keep it till the 6th of January….so that’s 37 days

Chiropractics

Today I had my first chiropractic experience. At 28 it's a little daunting, but wasn't so bad. I'm just back (pardon the pun) from my visit and am feeling all out of alignment. I've been having back pain for the past few weeks and it's not going away so I bit the bullet and said I'd suss out a specialist. There's one about 5 mins from my office, and he had an appointment for 4pm so off I went, not knowing what to expect. Of course there was the obligatory form filling exercise and a tour of the torture chamber.....it's the table that makes noise....they told me.

So it seems I'm completely out of alignment (what else would they say, says the cynic inside me....remember I'm a scientist) but when he put me standing on two weighing scales I thought...maybe there's a little science in this. So, not giving away my weight (although I'd love to, if someone wants it) I was about 5 or 6 kgs heavier on one scale than the other. It couldn't all be down to the small change in my pocket and I assume they have compensated for any vital organs on one side of the body....but anyway, staring into the mirror at my head and body (which lean to one side....it seems) I began to see what he meant. Any of you who know me.....I don't think I'm terribly deformed looking in real life, but if you did notice WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME, instead of leaving it to a young aussie chiro named Ben?!

Onwards to the review of the accidents in my life. I know that I have been in more than the average number of car accidents (not all my fault btw - actually only the one my fault) but when you have to list them to a perfect stranger it makes you out to be A. a really bad driver B. stupid for getting in the car with really bad drivers C. really unlucky (including the fact that you managed to be in a crash while travelling in a taxi) or D. all of the above. I walked away from every accident I was ever in, and didn't seek medical attention (when it's not broken, why try to fix it ...... WAS my motto) however this didn't seem to get the response I was hoping for. So maybe these accidents are the reason why I am bent out of shape? The nice administrator was surprised when I said I had never had any serious falls.....but just because you've been in 5 car accidents, broken two wrists and twisted numerous ankles and knees playing camogie, etc, doesn't mean that I'm clumsy enough to fall out of a tree. I was beginning to reconsider being honest ever again!

Finally, some x-rays. Ah, the science bit....
This I like. Something definite. Something that I can look back at and see the results after I've deposited my life's savings to these people.
Tomorrow I get the results and my first 'adjustment'. Stay tuned!

Christmas Dinner.....in November

I didn't manage to log in over the weekend till now, because for some reason I couldn't log in at home in Mam and Dad's house.... I'm back now in galway on my laptop and everything seems fine. My title may seem unusual, but the inlaws decided to have Christmas dinner today because D is off to Oz on Tuesday and won't be around for the real thing. I made my usual garlic potatoes and we all stuffed our faces. yum Yum I'm not a potato fan, but Lena does some mean roast spuds.....and my garlic ones weren't too bad either, if I may say so myself.

Saturday I made a little mini book card thingy for D to bring with her with some family pics....the cover is in the pic. I used some of the fabby November kit from Bumbleberry Crafts .... I'm a guest design team member this month. Have had great fun with the kit I have to say....and hope to get a few more cards and maybe a layout out of what's left.

Claire and I brought the little woman to Athlone to buy some shoes....her old ones (well as old as a two year old child's shoes are!) had got quite scuffed and I said it'd be nice to get new ones for Christmas. She's gone up to a size 8 even though they are quite big. We also looked around a toyshop and decided what Santa might bring if she is a good girl. There are so many bits and pieces now for kids, but she was soooo good, only looking at things - I don't think she realises yet that you can actually buy things....long may it last LOL! Came home, had dinner and went out for a few drinks with T's sisters who were home for the weekend. Up early to make my garlic potatoes and have a family dinner.

We've also introduced a new 'thing' at work whereby there's a rota where everyone has to bring in something homemade for everyone to have with their coffee on a Monday. I drew the short straw for tomorrow so spent this afternoon baking. I would have no problem cooking up a dinner for 13, but baking is a different story. Luckily, there are some excellent chefs on the Craftsupplies forum who had shared a few fool proof recipies so I made chocolate brownies ala a recipie from Sabrina and also a chocolate biscuit cake as a contingency plan. BOth worked out ok. Not wonderful, but not bad for a first attempt which will have to be shared in public. Hope they like chocolate.....and no one is allergic to nuts!

So, that was my weekend. Horrible night again tonight with wind and rain. Saw someone has their outdoor christmas lights on already...this evening on the way in. That has to be a record. A little early for me I think - I'm more of a mid December type of gal! Over and out for the night...