Friday 26 November 2010

Bargains, snow and xmas spirit!

To begin with, I apologise for the absolutely rubbish photos. lol. The two of my bargains anyway. I couldn't be bothered dragging out the tripod, so the blurriness is the result of my stupid shaky hands. We went to a little sale at Little D's pre-school to raise money for Famine Relief for Orphans in Malawi. The first pic is a Spiderman suit Little D spotted as soon as we got in the door and fell in love with. lol. It was only £1! And the two balls of red wool only cost me 20p! Fingerless gloves here I come!! We also scored 10 Charlie and Lola books, brand new, one with free stickers for 50p. That was for all of them! I plan on wrapping them up as part of Little D's Xmas.
This is one of two gorgeous hessian Santa sacks we got for 50p each! Because there were only 2 and not 3, one for each of the boys, I plan on stuffing them with newspaper or something and using them to decorate around the living room. Little D and I have already sneaked in a little Santa snow globe and a small set of led Rudolph lights. :-) I really want to put up my decorations this weekend, but trying to be sensible and wait until next weekend.
This is the reason for all the Xmas spirit! Little D has decided that as it's snowing, it must be Xmas. And I don't disagree to be honest. It certainly feels like it! We're all enjoying spending time together, it's still going to be a very tight time money wise. But family fun good food, and quality time will be in abundance! Next the plan is to make lots of paper snowflakes with the kids, and string them up, I might just keep sneaking in little decorations until next weekend. OH thinks I'm crazy. lol. Little D is currently running around in his bargain spidey suit, thrilled to bits with it. Nothing like a happy child to put a smile on your face.

Sal. X

Monday 22 November 2010

My very own "Black Dog". Although, this one doesn't cause nearly as much problems!! Have been in a wee bit of a depression episode. Brought on by stress no doubt, (I stress myself out about silly things) but seem to be at the tail end of it now. Thankfully!
Unfortunately, OH was away for 4 days while I was on a downer. And I got myself into a selfish state. I felt like, still feel like, truth be told, everyone else gets the best bits of my family and I'm left with the crap. Sounds awful doesn't it?! It's just, Grandma, Nana, Sisters, they all get to take the kids out and have fun with them, OH was away with his Mam and Sis, to a concert, and night out, cinema, he had a ball! I'm not pissed off because he was having fun while I was sat at home, I'm not quite that selfish! But that we don't get to do these things together often enough. Or with the kids. Yes money is incredibly tight, but I feel like we're neglecting our relationship. I can count on one hand the times we've been out together. And we've been together almost 5 years!
This is/was my dream house. We thought we actually had a chance of getting it, it would have been so perfect for us. But it was not meant to be. I was heartbroken. I love this house!
My friend has just moved away. Not far really, and I knew her living locally was temporary, but I only helped her move yesterday and I'm missing her and the kids already. It was lovely to have someone close by I could actually talk to! I'll get used to it again i suppose. Just still feeling a little sorry for myself really. Still no further forward with the housing situation, I'm finding it a little ridiculous to be honest. It does stress me out a lot all of us being cramped in here. It tends to come in waves. I can cope with it usually, but when the kids are getting narky with each other, and Little D thinks he doesn't have to go to the toilet as he's still in our room, which to him means he's still a baby. That's when it gets to me.

On the plus side.... There was a craft afternoon at the school this weekend, to raise funds for the dance they school puts on to say goodbye to the P7 class before they leave for high school. We had a fun time, just me and the kids, as OH wasn't home until evening. We made tea light holders, (well, the kids basically covered them in glue and stuck tissue paper all over) they're cute! Some window ornaments of Santa, a robin and a snowman, some of those black scratchy art things, but pre punched out shapes. And Little D decorated a canvas bag each for Grandma and Nana with hand prints. He made a Scooby Doo one for himself first though! And I brought home some stocking making kits for the kids to do nearer Xmas. Should be fun!

I still have lots of sewing to be getting on with! An absolute pile of it! Also, OH has been helping someone out with pc issues recently, they've just opened a shop and asked if I'd be interested in doing some crafts to sell in the shop! So I'm excited but also nervous about that. I don't think my bags are good enough to sell in a shop really, but they've asked about jewelry too, they just want "local crafts" so I'll have to have a play and see what I can come up with. Fingers crossed.

Sal. X

Sunday 7 November 2010

The C word...

So, Christmas time is creeping up on us yet again, it's almost a year since I started this blog, when i began, I never dreamt I'd get anywhere near 19 followers! I'm thrilled! Thank you to you all for reading, and especially for persevering when i don't post for a while. Life here is still pretty "up in the air" at the moment I'm afraid, no further on the health or housing fronts. I have a wee idea about the housing bit, but don't want to jinx it so I'm keeping quiet for the time being.


I love Christmas! I really do, but I love it, the way it used to be, before it turned into a commercial nightmare! So for the last couple years we have been trying to bring it back down to real Christmas, not the religious aspect, as we don't believe in it. But the family aspect. It should be about the thought and love someone has put in, not the amount of money they spent. So as such, my Christmas shopping is pretty much done! Only bought things the kids will wear, or use a lot! Like a guitar gig bag for my eldest, something he both needed and will use regularly. The kids are happy enough with the arrangement. They already have games consoles, OH and I have put ourselves into debt previous years to make sure of it. But the older boys have said many times that it's the fun we have and the quality time we have together as a family that make the happy memories for them, not the toys that will lie in their cupboard til next Christmas. So again this year, it's all about one or two thoughtful and useful gifts, lots of homemade gifts, including sweets and cookies, and family time. I cant wait!
If i get my dream, this is the kind of scene awaiting us next Christmas! Fingers crossed!

What are your favourite parts of Christmas? Any traditions you have every year?

Sal. X

Monday 1 November 2010

Such is life.

Happy Halloween! Ours was a bit of a wash out truth be told, we only had two sets of guisers at the door, and when my friend and I took our 3 yr old's out for their first ever guising, hardly anyone even opened their doors! Miserable people. Never mind, I've sent OH off with a bag full of goodies for everyone at work. So they'll be happy at least.

Hopefully our bonfire night will be better, we plan on having a little BBQ at a friends, and letting off some small child friendly fireworks. Baked potato's in the BBQ, sausages in buns, and maybe some soup. Lovely!
How funky is this pumpkin?! OH carved it, it's a geek related thing. lol. Trollface. I think it's fab looking. It's his first ever pumpkin carving, he put a lot of effort into it, I think it paid off!
OH's lovely picture taking skills. lol! Open cupboards, overflowing craft boxes, the lot! He couldn't work my camera very well, so we didn't get a lot of photos. And Little D was hyper so wouldn't stay still for many either.
A very bedraggled but happy little vampire.
How was your Halloween? Lots of fun I hope?!

Sal. X