I've got a new toy!

My wonderful Hubby bought me a new lens for my camera from Ebay which arrived this morning. I've just been playing with it in my MIL's garden and have got some gorgeous shots of her flowers. I can't download them at the moment, but will post them on Monday. Meantime - here she is ;)




It may take a while for me to get used to it, as it's about 20 years since I last used a manual lens. But I'm so looking forward to learning how to again. Now I just need to get myself on a photography course!

posted from Bloggeroid

Catch-up Day

I've got both boys off school with tummy bugs today, so I have an enforced day off work. Rather than waste it, I've locked myself away in the bedroom to escape the germs, have spread my PL goodies over the bed, and am having fun playing Catch-up. At least I'll be able to get the journaling done up here, then it's back down to Lurgey Central to play with photos! Oh the joys of Motherhood lol.

posted from Bloggeroid

Weight Loss Wednesday

Yes, I know it's Friday, but I'm just letting you know that I will be starting a new weekly blog theme - Weight Loss Wednesday.  I have publically pledged (on FB and now on here) to get down to 9st7lb by the time I go to France with the Scouts in August 2014.  I've weighed myself this week and am currently at 15st2.6lb - so I make that 5st5.6lb to loose.

I'll be posting the losses (or gains ;0( ) on Wednesday evenings along with occasionally piccies.  All support will be very gratefully received (and heaven knows I'll need it lol)

Reading Challenge 2013

In January I set myself a challenge to read 26 books in 2013, one for each letter of the alphabet. So far I have read Len Goodman's autobiography 'Better Late Than Never', and I've just finished James Herbert's 'Ash'. I've been an avid Herbert reader for over 20 years, and thus book was definitely up to his usual standards. I won't give too much away, but it certainly makes you wonder where the missing people do go!

A real page turner - it's just so sad that there will be no more fantastic horror fiction from James.

posted from Bloggeroid

St. George's Day POTD

I've not posted one of these yet, so thought it's about time to get my bum in gear and post more to the blog.

James was very excited this morning and couldn't wait to go to school. Why? As it's St. George's Day he is allowed to go to school in his Cub uniform instead of his school one. Well, that just HAS to be a Photo Of The Day ;)

posted from Bloggeroid

April Project Life Celebratory Blog Hop

WOW - I can't believe we are a quarter of the way through the year already! Time really does fly when you are having fun.
 
As this is my first year scrapping a-la Project Life, I really didn't know what to expect ... or where to start.  DH and the boys bought me some goodies for Christmas and my birthday (album, page protectors, core kit etc) and I've been treating myself over the past few months to digi elements to pep my photos up a bit.  And I am having SO MUCH FUN!
 
I can't believe how easy PL is - or that I am actually managing to keep up (almost).  Normally I would have given up on a year long project by now (have you noticed yet my lack of posts about One Little Word??), but PL is just so easy to keep on top of. 
By now, I think my family and friends have finally accepted that wherever I go, the camera goes too - although I think my Dad is still struggling to understand why I have pictures of my shoes and food in a photo album.  But as it's all part of our daily life - in it goes!
 
I am, by nature, a list maker (and procrastinator!) and I like to plan my pages and use those plans to keep track of which photos I'm using, what I'm journaling about etc.  I tried sketching them out on paper, but started stressing about how untidy and amateur they looked (yes, I can be a bit of a perfectionist as well!).  So, I drew out a template for each of the page protector designs I'm using on Excel, and added a space at the bottom for notes, special dates etc. for that week.

I'm mainly using Design A, but also have Designs D, F, G and H dotted around - more may be added as time goes on lol.

Assorted Page Plans





As you can see, the pages aren't always neat and changes are often made - but then hey!  That's the whole point of a plan!  Once I've sorted out my photo storage properly, I'm going to add the file names and locations for each of the photos so I can easily do reprints if family or friends want copies.
I also have a page at the front of my planner file with the dates for each week of 2013, and am highlighting the week number when the pages for that week are complete.

Weekly Tracker Sheet



 
So far, it's working quite well.  I also try to fill in my journaling cards each evening so that the day's events are fresh in my mind.
 
Some weeks we have TONS going on, so I add in an insert page or two with extra photos or memorabilia I want to keep ... others are very quiet so may only have one side of a Design A or D with one side of a smaller page such as Design H.  I also use filler cards, quotes, stickers the kids have been awarded at school etc to fill in gaps.  Having extra pages does mean I'm probably going to need 3 or 4 albums for the year, but I think it's worth it and I do love having the memorabilia such as birthday cards, DVDs, programmes etc with the relevant photos.
 
Week 6 saw the 10th Anniversary of losing my Grandad.  I wanted to remember him in my album, so I used one of my favourite photos of him, and enlarged it to fit into a 4x6 and two 3x4 pockets.  There wasn't much else going on that week, so it fitted in really well.  I think larger photos like this may well feature a lot more as the weeks go by, especially when it comes to holidays.
 

 
I am enjoying the PL system so much that I have also bought the digi page pockets and complete Cinnamon Kit so I can create albums for the boys with photos from birth, as well as a family history album using old photographs which I have inherited from my Grandparents and other relatives.  So, looks like I'm going to be a very busy bunny lol.

I hope my planner has given you something to think about - please leave me some love in the comments then hop on over to Katina's blog for even more inspiration!

Margie      http://xnomads.typepad.com
Maya        http://mayadahan.blogspot.com
Michelle    http://www.table-for-five.com/
Kristy      http://kmstewart.blogspot.com
Michelle R  http://MichelleRoger.wordpress.com
Emily        http://mrscraftyadams.blogspot.com
Barbara    www.maynardpl.blogspot.co.uk  <----- you are here!
Katina     www.lovinglifeslittleblessings.com  <----- go here next!
Michelle B   www.michellebostinelos.com/blog
Tina         http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com/
Nicole       http://nicolemann.blogspot.ca
Marisol      www.mariclaudibenitez.blogspot.com
Brooke       www.graceandlight.typepad.com
Scruptious   http://eversoscrumptiously.wordpress.com/
Rechelle     http://Levanfamily365.blogspot.com
Kelli        http://whimsikel.blogspot.com
Sonia        http://www.craftshandson.blogspot.com
Shay         http://sbookinshay29.blogspot.com
Rebekah   http://istampscrapcraft.wordpress.com/

Project Life Week 8

Half Term and a whole week off work for me, and three days off for Ian.  The weather was surprisingly good for most of the week, so the couple of trips we did were very pleasant.

The week started with a trip to the dentist for Joe - sadly my phone was still in the shop having it's screen replaced so no piccie for the album, much to Joe's relief!

On Tuesday we went to Hever Castle for our first visit of 2013.  I'm so glad we bought yearly passes last year as it's such a beautiful place to visit.  They were holding their annual Snowdrop Trail which was a lovely, if very muddy, walk.  Joe was glad I'd forced him to put on his hike boots!

Wednesday was a very busy day, with a trip to the Southbank Centre for an 'audience with' type event with one of Joe's favourite authors - Derek Landy.  I even queued for 2 1/2 hours after so Joe could meet him, and get his books signed - the things we do for our kids!  But it was so worth it to see the huge grin on his face all evening!

Speaking of the evening, we eventually made it to Sam & Natalie's Wedding Reception to help them celebrate their marriage.  I can't take credit for the photo as I think it's actually one of the official ones, but I thought it was so beautiful I had to pinch it!

Friday was spent with the Little Hawks swimming in Gravesend.  We hired the pool at the college, so had it all to ourselves which meant I could do my big-chief-photographer bit.  Unfortunately, I forgot my camera so had to use Lisa's phone, so the photos are a little blurred.  But I think the collages still look fab.

The week ended at Dockland Scout Project for a training weekend - Ian teaching a Keel Boat Course and me teaching an RYA First Aid Course.  I definitely think I got the better end of the deal.  And of course, there was a little Real Ale Tasting in the Ward Room on Saturday night - well, it would be rude not to lol.

I also treated myself to PSE11 so I'm now able to get far more creative with my collages and photos ;-)

Week 8 LHS main page

Week 8 LHS insert page

Week 8 RHS insert page

Week 8 RHS main page

 

PL products used:- Turquoise Core Kit, Pages Design A & G.

Other products used:- "This Moment" ,"So Much Fun", Sat & Sun overlays by Amy Jaz Designs; Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday titles by Kate Hadfield; "Loving This" Photo Flag is from the Photo Flag PNG set by Cathy Zielske; "Love" & "Happy" Poloroid Frames by Amy Martin, Collages were made in PSE11 using various 4x6 templates by Designs by Lili.