Well...

it would seem that I managed to let my 2nd blogiversary slip by with no notice at all. So I have to rectify that so I'm doing a giveaway to celebrate 2 years of having somewhere to let my brain splurge, to celebrate the lovely friends I've made along the way and to celebrate the fact that we are now officially into Spring. So if you would like to enter my giveaway please leave me a comment about anything you like really. But I warn you now the prize will consist of at least one of my stencilled shirts (plus other things I find to throw in the bag) so you will have to tell me your shirt size. I will however not expect you to announce that in the general comments section, only the winner will need to let me know. ;)

Just a few examples of things I've stencilled before...







I am also extremely happy to share with you all the lovely things I received from the lovely Steph over at MadMummy I have to say a big huge THANK YOU to Steph, she has some amazing sewing skills and really gave me some gorgeous things. Also a heartfelt THANK YOU to the lovely Catherine at MollyCupcakes for organising the Heart Swap.

Ok with out any further to do here are the lovely lovely things that are now all mine.

Look how pretty everything was wrapped.



WOW! Steph said she'd read about my tattoos on my blog so thought this material would be appropriate. Is it ever!! :D


Pretty pretty things...


My package to her has arrived but numpty that I am I didn't remember to take pictures of everything before I sent it. :( Hopefully Steph will though. :)
We are also partners in Fairie Nuff's Spring Swap so I'm cracking on with that now.

Right still no word from the big job interview so keep your fingers crossed for that no news is good news. This weekend has been a long one especially as I was working Saturday night at a wedding function so that change in the clocks was NOT any fun I can tell you.

Oh I just have to share with you my latest favourite joke.

Q. How do you make Lady Gaga cry?
A. Pokerface (poke her face)

Well ok my 8 year old likes it.

Ladies keep an eye on your partners while out shopping.

Proof of what can happen if a wife or girlfriend drags her
husband or boyfriend along shopping

This letter was recently sent by Tesco's Head Office to
a customer in Oxford :

Dear Mrs. Murray,

While we thank you for your valued custom and use of the Tesco Loyalty Card, the Manager of our store in Banbury is considering banning you and your family from shopping with
us, unless your husband stops his antics. Below is a list of offences over the past few months all verified by our surveillance cameras:

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's trolleys when they weren't looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to feminine products aisle.

4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official tone, 'Code 3' in housewares..... and watched what happened.

5. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.

6. September 15: Set up a tent in the outdoor clothing department and told shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring sausages and a Calor gas stove.

7. September 23: When the Deputy Manager asked if she could help him, he began to cry and asked, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?'

8. October 4: Looked right into the security camera; used it as a mirror, picked his nose, and ate it.

9. November 10: While appearing to be choosing kitchen knives in the Housewares aisle asked an assistant if he knew where the antidepressants were.

10. December 3: Darted around the store suspiciously, loudly humming the Mission Impossible' theme.

11. December 6: In the kitchenware aisle, practised the 'Madonna look' using different size funnels.

12. December 18: Hid in a clothing! rack and when people browsed, yelled 'PICK ME!' 'PICK ME!'

13. December 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, assumed the foetal position and screamed 'NO! NO! It's those voices again.'

And; last, but not least:

14. December 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited a while; then yelled, very loudly, 'There is no toilet paper in here"



I am still alive, the selection process wasn't too bad. The test were fine but I'm not too happy on how the actual interview went. But it was a good experience and even if I don't get the job at least I know that I do definately want to get back into the field I left and now I know I can do an on the spot presentation. :)

A sunny day and where am I?

Stuck indoors at work! Typical, it's just not fair is it, but I did get some washing out on the line before I went to work BUT big one did not think to bring it in when it started raining this evening and I was out at wee one's swim class. Ah well.

I do love daffodils, it won't be long until the local fields are full of them. Big daffodil production up here. I'll have to try to get some good shots to share with you. For now here are the daffs on my mantlepiece.



Do you like my new Converse?

Their brightness has been commented on :) To be honest I wonder if I'm having some sort of breakdown because my main colour of choice is black but all of a sudden I'm going bright! Must be all you lots influence ;)

Nothing much else to report today, work, mum taxi service, long phone catch up with one of my best friends, feeding small people, eating hot cross buns...

So for your visual delight here are a few late 80's early 90's Country Life images...










Sorry they're not the best shots in the world but I hope you still enjoy them. Watch this space as I travel through the months of each decade over the next few days/weeks/months. Actually as a matter of interest it's funny (not so much ha ha) how much Country Life has changed yet stayed the same. The earlier magazines I have seem to have concentrated much more on the actual life of the country, as in animal husbandry, conservation, farming methods while still having beautiful photographs of crafts, houses and wildlife. Even the Country Life show was advertised so differently in one of the magazines there is a whole pull out booklet listing all the stall holders that would be there, times of all the exhibitions and demonstrations and so much more. Ah the days before it was merely a click away LOL

Yesterdays pictures

Ok after bouncing my camera off the wall a few times (not really dear him indoors if you're reading) I have finally got the pictures to download onto the computer. So with no further ado here we have.

Twiggypeasticks giveaway parcel...


The smalls were very grateful for their wee treats, thank you petal.

And look how well does this lovely woman know me...


Here is the beautiful brooch that I chose...



And there's more...

Just what everyone needs lovely smelling soaps and chocolate.

Again thank you so much Mrs Twigs. x


Ok I'm sure you're all dying to see what 20 years worth of Country Life magazines look like aren't you and proof that I really do have them all in my possession. Well they are currently languishing on my living room floor - yep that's really helping with the chaos that my house of clutter is currently in! Anyway here you go.


Now what else did I want to bore, I mean share with you. Oh yes my shelf in the kitchen that did house a tv that no one watched. Well here it is now with my cake stand, some pretty daffodils and a bird house that wee one decorated.

Note how I've taken a very cropped shot of just the shelf, well I'd be too ashamed to post the rest of my kitchen but one day it will house new units and much less clutter ;) Oh the wee keyrack below the shelf is the one big one made at school, I hope to have a few more things hanging from that soon. ;) besides keys that is.

Ok I know enough photos already but last one I promise. I just had to show you the tea towels I bought in Primani (or Primark if you're not so posh) at the weekend.


Right well I'm off out to meet a friend for lunch now - yes I know I'm avoiding the housework again!

All things bright and beautiful

but I can't get my camera to download onto my computer for some strange reason. :(
So all pictures today will be old ones that I've rooted around in my folders for and not the lovely pictures of the gorgeous goodies that Mrs TwiggyPeaSticks sent me Thank you sweetie! or what 20 years worth of magazines looks like stacked up in my living room OR the shelf that I cleared off the tv that no one watched and placed my pretty cake stand and lovely daffodils on. As Father Jack would say ARSE! or more likely something much ruder.



Thank you everyone for all your good wishes and good lucks. I'm trying to keep it all in perspective and I even went to sign up wee one at the breakfast and after school club this afternoon so I don't have to worry about her childcare for the day of my interview. She's very excited as she's been dying to go to the after school club for soooooo long.



Well as my camera is still not playing ball I thought I'd do something that I have done for a good while.


The ings


watching... The film Picture Perfect with Jennifer Anniston just started but I won't be watching it all, far too tired.

listening to... random bangs and slams coming from upstairs, eldest small person is getting ready for bed.

eating... A bowl of Crunchy Nut Clusters.

shooting... lots of pictures of all the lovely things Mrs TwiggyPeaSticks sent me.

buying... today I didn't buy anything :D but as you all know I've been on a bit of a button buying session lately.

selling... nothing just now got swapsie things to make.

gossiping... Me gossip? Nope.

completing... some clearing out, has the spring cleaning begun I wonder?

wondering... how I can fit 8 days worth of things to do into 2 days.

OMG OMG OMG OMG

I got an interview!! Well I had a letter informing with their pleasure that I have been shortlisted and am invited to the selection process. :o But it's not just an interview, oh no, I also have 2 tests to look forward to. Tests! What happened to the days when you just gave the a copy of your qualifications and they asked you lots of questions and then you either got the job or you didn't? Tests! Least I don't have to give a presentation as I did a while back for another interview. That was scary. So I've got a week to read up, research and try and keep myself calm. Oh and get something smart to wear, working part time in a pub and being a sahm means I don't have a lot of suits in my wardrobe :D

They're mine!

I have 20 years of Country Life Magazines in my car! It's been raining since we got home so they'll have to say there safe until tomorrow when hopefully it has stopped raining. It took a lot of boxes and a bit of muscle power but they're all mine...mine I say. MINE!!! :) Only wee one came with me as big one wanted to stay home to sort out her essays. She's sitting her English exam soon and all essays have to be submitted before the exams. Anyway the lovely lady that gave me her magazines was very touched when wee one gave her the bunch of flowers and box of chocs we had taken for her. She said there was really no need but they were lovely. How could I not give her something as a thank you for giving me her collection?

I see my russian doll buttons took quite a lot of peoples fancy.
I bought them from Ebay but the lady runs her own website called www.textilegarden.co.uk there are a lot of buttons there and some real beauties. I guess I'll be seeing the russian doll ones on a few creations soon eh? :D

Right work in the morning so I guess I should go get some sleep, busy day tomorrow what with work, sorting through my magazines into date order and putting some ideas together for my Heart and Spring Swap partner. Oh yeah and I suppose I better do some housework.

Brass buttons, green silks and silver shoes

Warm evenings, pale mornings, bottled blues
And tiny golden pins that she wore up in her hair
Brass buttons, green silks and silver shoes

My mind was young and then it grew
My thoughts known only by a few
A dream much too real to be leaned against too long
And all the time I guess she knew

Her thoughts still dance inside my head
Her comb still lies beside my bed
But the sun comes up without her, it doesn't know she's gone
And it remembers nothing that she said

Brass buttons, green silks and silver shoes
Warm evenings, pale mornings, bottled blues
And tiny golden pins that she wore up in her hair
Brass buttons, green silks and silver shoes
Brass buttons, green silks and silver shoes.

Song Name: Brass Buttons
Artist Name: Gram Parsons


It just seemed appropriate to my post being all about buttons today.
I'm trying to recreate the button box that I used to spend hours playing with when I was wee. Of course I do also intend using 'some' of them eventually.







My arty shot!!!


And my button box so far....

Bring me sunshine...

in your smile
Bring me laughter all the while
In this world where we live
There should be more happiness
So much joy you can give
To each brand new bright tomorrow

Make me happy through the years
Never bring me any tears
Let your arms be as warm as the sun from up above
Bring me fun, bring me sunshine, bring me love.

but at least make it warmer. Purlease....
Gorgeous sunny day today but man it's cold. If you found yourself a sheltered sunny spot then you could just about agree to spring being on its way but in the shade brrrrr forget it. My croci (is that right?) or crocuses (better?) are enjoying the sun and the woofs are more willing to sit outside for a bit longer now before they scurry back inside.

Big one has got a friend over tonight and possible again tomorrow night for a sleepover. I'm already shattered with the thought of the lack of sleep. :)

They're off to a band/singing comp tomorrow so they've had one of their other friends round who plays guitar. They sounded amazing so I'll be very surprised if they don't do well. My excited for tomorrow will be taking wee one to go shopping for some new indoor shoes for school. Yes that's right they have to have seperate shoes for wearing inside the school. Shoes that have never been tainted with the ground of the outdoors. Fresh as the day they came off the factory line! The school is 10 years old and it's a policy that they put in place when the school opened to keep the floors in good condition. Aaah but you may ask do the teachers have separate indoors shoes, the cleaners, the cooks, teacher assistants, visitors? Well no apparantely no they don't. Bizarre. So as wee one seems to have worn her indoors shoes to death, that is the sole of one of them is threadbare (oh don't I feel like a great mum, but to be fair these shoes never come home) we have to buy some new ones.

But on sunday I'm going to collect 20, yes that TWENTY years worth of Country Living magazines. A lovely lady offered them on freecycle and I am the lucky lucky recipient. I can't even begin to imagine what 20 years worth of magazines is going to look like though. Think my car might be slightly lopsided on the way home!

A friend emailed me this today and I thought it would be fun to put here and see if anyone would like to play along. It may look easy but see how long it takes you. ;)

SCATTERGORIES

Rules: USE THE 1ST LETTER OF YOUR NAME TO ANSWER EACH OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. THEY HAVE TO BE REAL PLACES,NAMES,THINGS. NOTHING MADE UP! TRY TO USE DIFFERENT ANSWERS IF THE PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU HAD THE SAME 1ST INITIAL.
YOU CAN'T USE YOUR NAME FOR THE BOY/GIRL NAME QUESTION.

1. What is your name? Tara
2. A 4 Letter Word: Tack
3. A Boy's Name: Tom
4. A Girl's Name: Tallulah
5. An Occupation: Train driver
6. A Colour: Teal
7. Something you wear: Trousers
8. A Beverage: Tea
9. A Food: Trifle
10. Something found in the bathroom: Toilet
11. A place: Tehran
13. Something you shout: Today! (Usually when I've asked one of the small people to do something and it's still not been done)

If I get time tomorrow I'll share some button pictures with you. My latest splurge on Ebay. Which I am now keeping away from until I can order a certain poster from this lovely blogger

Ok time I went to bed, wish me luck for getting any sleep.

So you think you had a bad day at work?

Rob is a commercial saturation diver for Global Divers in Louisiana. He performs underwater repairs on offshore drilling rigs. Below is an E-mail he sent to his sister. She then sent it to a radio station in Ft.Wayne, Indiana, who was sponsoring a worst job experience contest. Needless to say, she won.


Hi Cheryl,

Just another note from your bottom-dwelling brother. Last week I had a bad day at the office. I know you've been feeling down lately at work, so I thought I would share my dilemma with you to make you realize it's not so bad after all. Before I can tell you what happened to me, I first must bore you with a few technicalities of my job.

As you know, my office lies at the bottom of the sea. I wear a suit to the office. It's a wetsuit. This time of year the water is quite cool.

So what we do to keep warm is this: We have a diesel-powered industrial water heater. This $20,000 piece of equipment sucks the water out of the sea, heats it to a delightful temperature, then pumps it down to the diver through a garden hose which is taped to the air hose. Now this sounds like a darn good plan, and I've used it several times with no complaints.

What I do, when I get to the bottom and start working, is take the hose and stuff it down the back of my wetsuit. This floods my whole suit with warm water. It's like working in a Jacuzzi.
Everything was going well until all of a sudden, my bum started to itch.
So, of course, I scratched it. This only made things worse. Within a few seconds my bum started to burn! I pulled the hose out from my back, but the damage was done. In agony
I realized what had happened. The hot water machine had sucked up a jellyfish and pumped it into my suit.

Now, since I don't have any hair on my back, the jellyfish couldn't stick to it. However, the crack of my bum was not as fortunate. When I scratched what I thought was an itch, I was actually grinding the
jellyfish into the crack of my bum. I informed the dive supervisor of my dilemma over the communicator. His instructions were unclear due to the fact that he, along with five other divers, were all laughing
hysterically. Needless to say I aborted the dive.

I was instructed to make three agonizing in-water decompression stops totalling thirty-five minutes before I could reach the surface to begin my chamber dry decompression. When I arrived at the surface, I was wearing nothing but my brass helmet. As I climbed out of the water, the medic, with tears of laughter running down his face, handed me a tube of cream and told me to rub it on my bum as soon as I got in the
chamber. The cream put the fire out, but I couldn't poo for two days because my bum was swollen shut.

So, next time you're having a bad day at work, think about how much worse it would be if you had a jellyfish shoved up your arse. Now
repeat to yourself, I love my job, I love my job, I love my job." Now whenever you have a bad day, ask yourself, is this a jellyfish Bad day?

May you NEVER have a jellyfish bad day

I appear to be following myself.

Is anyone else a follower of themselves or is it just a special talent I seem to have picked up? Very odd. Anyway...
I forgot to share with you the lovely poster wee one had made for us returning from Denmark. It was stuck to the front door and was a lovely sight as we got out of the taxi.

Went shopping today and thought I'd do my bit and get the smalls some of these crazy crisp flavours that have been doing the rounds just lately.
Wee one and I both think these
taste disgusting.
And these ones... just taste of egg. So if builders only eat eggs then I guess that would be right but most builders I know have the full monty and not just a few eggs. Big one refused to try either of them, she's probably the wiser of us all. :)

While I was out and about I called into Matalan to check out this Anthea Turner range that people have been raving about and I ended up buying 2 of the large glass jars and 2 of the smaller ones. Well I say smaller but even the small jars are huge. I meant to take a pic but at the moment they are drying after having a good wash. I'm planning on using them to keep my baking stores in. Now if I could just find a nice dresser. Oh one picture I do have is the added bonus of these that I have safely taken out of the jars and are now safely in with my craft supplies.

And seeings as how I seem to be showing off all the things I keep spending money on, my I proudly present to you my £3 cake stand from the charity shop.


Again with the flowers and prettiness!
I can only assume that I'm becoming attuned to flowers and pretty things thanks to all the lovely blogs I follow.

Still no word from the job that I applied for, the closing date was 20th Feb. Thought I'd leave it till Friday and if I've still not heard anything I'd phone their Human Resources and show a bit of initiative. Or at least put myself out of my waiting misery for the weekend.

Oh and I have actually crafted. Yes let the bells ring, bring on the trumpets, let the people dance in the street. I have crochetted a square AND knitted something. Rejoice, rejoice my mojo has come back to me.