You'll be missed...

Twelve years ago you turned up on our doorstep in need of a home. You pushed your way in and became part of the family never straying far away and at times following us to a destination close to home. You loved being outside all night getting up to mischief with the other cats.

 

You were always a sick little individual but you survived the odds and continued to battle your many colds but it got to the point where your health was getting so bad that my mum was worried about taking you to the vets because they would put you down. Then on Monday you decided it was time to head back out in to the big wide world, never to return! We believe you have finally gone to the land of happiness and good health... RIP Dear Kitty!

Colours of the Rainbow!

Ever since I discovered Etsy some 5-6 years ago, one thing I have always loved is browsing all the wonderful items with no intention of buying them...  Its a shame to just sit and look at them myself so I'm sharing some of them with you....

6010

amyawalters

nicoleporterdesign

I am really in to my bright colours and uplifting items which is the complete opposite of my dull life! Who knows maybe one day I'll have all the colours of the rainbow under one roof.

 

Enjoy your week!

Bottle full of Happiness!

This year one of my plans is to stay positive which is helped by this little jar. I'm going to try and write all the happy things that happen down on paper and put it in the jar.

 

I'm going to be positive and know that I will do this as I have to admit so many things have happened so far that are pushing my boundaries and buttons... I won't have something for every day but I hope to at least add a little something in at least two to three times a week. I'll have to be on the look out with eyes like saucers for something great to tell you about at the end of the year.

 

Do you think you could start something positive like this?

Are you buying some?

I know it has been a while since I last blogged but I just don't know where the days and time has gone. Plus I still aren't feeling 100% so I'm finding I don't want to be sat at my laptop for too long. Today though I came online to find a lovely e-mail from Angoo-Mart offering 20% off to all their customers so I had to share it with you as you know how much I love tape but also I know some of you are just as equally as insane in buying as me!

 

I did take advantage of this offer and it really has to be my last order now until I've used up a lot more rolls....

Majority of these tapes are from there, my order today will be my third one this year! but my previous one was in 2010 and most of these tapes are from then so are almost finished. You can still get some of them but not all of them.

With Love....

On Instagram I have received a couple of offers from people to write letters but unfortunately I haven't been able to take people up on it as I worry about not being able to write back. One person though I decided to become a postcard pen-friend with as I've read about it on a few blogs and liked the idea. We agreed to create our own postcards but to send them in an envelope which meant I also had to decorate that which is fun.

As you can see I decided to follow the theme of what I created for make my day with this one too as I was having so much fun. I can't wait to think of new themes to create for her if she decides to continue with these exchanges.

This postcard is smaller then the ones I created for make my day but it didn't matter with the word being shorter... I nearly cut up these tickets to remove the words but now I'm glad that I waited before doing it. I really wanted the tickets but didn't like the choice of words on them which I didn't pay so much attention to when buying it. These rubber stamps are now half price compared to when I bought it (£3 a complete bargain if you ask me). I have since bought some blank tickets so won't be chopping these ones up.

I managed to squeeze only a small amount on the back about myself which was hard as I'm used to rambling for England in my letters but it also makes it quite a challenge to see what unfolds over time in our postcards.

I decided to go a little further and add some extra love in the envelope with these origami hearts and some half made origami lucky stars which she'll have to squeeze herself to create the stars. All those stars are one of each design of my paper strips that I own. I will soon need to buy some more strips as I'm starting to run low but I'll wait some time before doing that as it will only tempt me into buying some stationery from Janet Stores.

 

If this goes well that I may ask some of you if you'd like to do a handmade postcard exchange too on a regular basis.

Do you do a regular postcard  exchange?

Only in Wilkos

Today I needed to go into the city to sort some things out at the bank again. So on the way back to my car I decided to go in and have a look at wilkinsons stationery for some gift ideas and I ended up falling in love with all their ranges that I could have bought the whole lot back home. I really need to find some journal projects so I've got an excuse to buy some note books at least.

Here are the ranges they have on offer...

Photography

I bought the playing cards as they will be great for ATCs if I ever make any as you'll have that image on the back of each card.

Sweet Shop

Nostalgia

Skyline

I even liked the Cats and Dog Range

Have I got you tempted too? Like I said I wanted it all but thankfully I was good. I wish these were there when I was looking for a journal a couple of weeks ago even if I would have been spoilt for choice.

Bursting with Excitement

Do you ever have those moments where you can't wait to do something and your going to burst with excitement?

1. When I come home and there is a letter waiting I can't wait to sit down with a drink and see what's inside. Today I received this envelope and the card inside is really nice and quite different to what I have had before.
2. With letters comes great packages too, whether its something a friend has sent or something I have bought there is still that excitement of rummaging through and seeing exactly what you have.
3. Something new,  as it has such a lovely feel and smell to it.
4. Something old. Usually with footwear I can't always wear out mine due to the weather not being appropriate so its like discovering a treasure trove all over again of my fabulous collection when I do get the chance. With clothes I don't have many so wear them all which is why they don't look their best.
5. Re-discovering childhood favourites, whether its a movie, a sweet or something else. It feels like being a kid all over again.
6. Seeing an advert for a house that I'd love to view and hoping just hoping that this one might be mine.
7. When I had the author of a book review I posted actually stop by to comment on it. That was really something! :)
8. Looking at craft and stationery items, I just love looking at new ranges and discovering new places to shop from.

What things make your burst with excitement sometimes?

Fly Bird Fly Designs

I have no idea how to make fancy banners, icons and other such things. I wish I did as I have so many ideas of what I'd like to do with them but wouldn't know where to start.

In my quest of looking for great banners I came across flybirdflydesigns and requested custom orders. Its always brilliant waiting so anxiously to see what she comes up with and so far I've always had such positive praise on my blogs because the banners are just so uplifting. For someone who always used to change their layouts, I find I don't want to as it just looks fresh and rewarding each time.... maybe its just me!

flybirdflydesigns is really friendly as she keeps you up to date with whats going on. Its only this time with my Strawberries and Buttercups banner did things take a little longer because there was a slight mix up and then I wanted her to recreate a different banner to what she did make even though I really loved the one she made. So now I have a banner, reading rating which you can see used on all my book reviews and a profile image.

Lastly have you noticed I found my burstofbubbles banner. I searched high and low for this banner and did not find it which is why I decided it was time for a new blog but I've really been missing it despite this blog taking off nicely. Well last night I was moving things around in my inbox into folders and tada, there were all my banners, profile pictures, buttons and what not... oh how irritating but wonderful too as I took my blog out of being deleted and added the banner back. After lots of thinking I've decided to have a third blog, oh my! I've no idea how I will cope with that yet but I decided it was time to separate my projects from this blog as most of my projects require a daly posting but are stuck to only being posted on a Friday and then things end up so photo heavy that it won't load properly. I hope to do a project a month so keep your fingers crossed that I do that and if you see any wonderful projects that I can try let me know.

Liebster and Book......

Awarded to me by Yoshi

About the Award: • The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.
• The Meaning; Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.

The Rules:
1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you plus create 11 questions for the people you've tagged to answer.
3. Choose eleven people and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them.
5. Remember, no tag backs!

I better get started and tell you 11 things about me....

1. I'm a person who mostly drinks water. It partly comes with having severe asthma as a child and fizzy drinks used to make it worse especially coca cola. Now it doesn't bother me but I don't like the taste, on very rare occasions I will drink fruit juices or diluted juices.
2. People try to stereotype me because I'm a Pakistani female and I dress traditionally. They always get a shock because I'm opinionated and they don't like it, also I like the more adventurous things. When I went to Nandos a couple of weeks ago one of the servers came over and joked with me about only wanted my chappattis and curry. When I went to the counter to order the lady was first shocked that I asked for a vegetarian burger, then I was going to ask for orange juice (as it was included in the price) and she just handed me a glass and told me everything was over there! It turned out it was all fizzy drinks and hot beverages, when they bought our food, I mentioned it and they nearly fell over themselves wondering what I was moaning about. Most families you will find have bottles and bottles of coca cola... not mine though.
3. I only learned to drive at night, even after all these years I still find it really uncomfortable to drive during the day... I think its one of the reasons I struggled to pass my test. It hasn't got anything to do with rush hour as the roads are pretty much the same, its just that I'm an evening/ night person.
4. I suffer from anxiety which is probably why I suffer from tiredness and stomach aches (but some things I think are medical too). I think I may have always suffered from it but its more noticeable to me over the years as I had a myomectomy operation, my dad died six months later, getting married, started a new job and then my granddad passing away all with in 2 months.... I notice it more now though because I imagined I'd get a house within months of my husband coming to England only its just over 5 and a half years since he came. I didn't look for about 2 years as he didn't have a job and I couldn't buy a house in the price of my mortgage and deposit. I just imagined life to be so different to what it is but its my own fault for not just doing things instead of waiting until I had a house.
5. When ever I go into the city I always have to make sure I go to WHSmith, Poundland and Bobs.
6. We grew up eating tonnes of fruit as well as junk food, so now I can't go a day without eating some form of fruit. Someone at work once said for my lunch I eat more fruit then they eat in a month. There are still so many pieces of fruit that I haven't tried and I can't wait to discover them.
7. My favourite colour is yellow and its something I'd wear even though my family can't cope with it, thankfully for them I hardly wear it. I actually saw some yellow footwear yesterday that I was going to buy but then didn't. I am mostly drawn to bright bold colours but then there are times when I like pastel colours.
8. I can never understand why when I say my sister, people say oh your sister-in-law and when I say sister-in-law they think its my sister. A few people have done this every time they speak to me and usually its the same people. I have 4 sister-in-laws (2 in Pakistan, 2 in England) and 1 sister.
9. I never write a shopping list as I usually know what I need but once at the supermarket my niece drives me insane with wanting to see the toys that I end up forgetting things and have to go back again the next day or a couple of days later.
10. My sister and I didn't get along until she moved out. There are still moments when I find her irritating and I've stopped going out shopping with her every weekend.
11. The more I want to save money, the more I seem to be spending it. They are things that I can use but I don't have a desperate need for them.

Now on to Yoshi's questions for me, these are tough but I'll try and answer them.

1) If this were your last day to live, what would you like to wear (a dress, your fave clothes,..) and what would be your last words?
Hmm... something colourful and uplifting. My last words would probably be Oh my god!

2) Which fantasy world would you like to live in?

Moomin Valley
3) What's your craziest quirk?

Some days my husband may bring something to eat on his way home from work. No matter how much of it I may have eaten or how full I am I always have to have a biscuit.
4) About what are you very picky?

Anything to do with meat, it something I don't enjoy but eat to make things easy for myself as otherwise I'd have to cook 2 meals. I don't like meaty take aways either so its always hard in what to buy when we have our take away once a week.
5) If you could change one small thing in this world, what would it be? (just a small one!)

Giving people the option to die if they are serverly ill and will die anyway, like cancer sufferers. In some countries its allowed but in most its not. I think the option should be given to parents with serverly disabled children even though some may see it as selfish if the parent took that option. I would say that it should have a minimum age through like 8 years old as you can't tell as a baby how that child may develope, it may surprise some people.

6) If you were allowed to wish for one talent, what would you choose?

To be able to draw, its something I always wish I could do.
7) What's the most important thing in life for you?

Being content with what I have.

8) If you had all the money in the world, but were only allowed to spend it in one day, what would you do?

A house for all 4 of us, the house will be decorated from top to bottom with everything to new, a car for all 4 of us, an unlimited supply of stamps, all the books I want to read and own,  I'd book a couple of holidays, buy a lot of items to give away on make my day, buy all the fancy craft gadgets, I have so many charities I want to give to this would be a great opportunity to do it.

9) If your life were a book, what would be the title?

What can I say....?
10) Tell 3 bad habits of yours.

• I rub my tongue on the top of the inside of my mouth when I am sleeping. I think I do it because of irritating sinuses.
• I've always irritated people for wiping my nose too much, one person even went as far as hiding the tissue box! I thought it was better then sniffing as my nose isn't actually snotty its just that blocked feeling at times.
• I'm loud when I talk, I know it annoys people but I don't always notice it at first. Its because I think my mum is a little deaf even though she's never been tested for it and was always loud so we've just picked it up from her.

11) Write one word (or more if needed) to each of the following words, that immediately comes to your mind (Like I say "Flowers" and the word that immediately comes to my mind would be "Colorful").

- Boyfriend~ companion

- Sweets~ cravings

- Crazy~ Nutter

- Best~ friend

- Meme~ fashion

- Black~ berry

- Strawberry~ delicious


Also received this one

From Everyday Lifes

 

Thanks so much!

 

I won't pass either award on as I know some people don't like getting them but if you would like them, I don't mind you awarding yourself and others it.

Project: 30 Day Journal Challenge

As I mentioned last week I'm going to for this month post the 30 day Journal Challenge pages that I've done.  I've tried to stick to a similar theme throughout the journal, especially with using an ink pen as my writing is quite small and this helps it to stand out and be quite fun.  Anyway I hope that they are all in place now as the journal is on its way.

Day 2: What is the BEST part of your day? Is it working out? Is it "quitting time" at work? Is it dinner with the family? What is it? You can write about it, draw it, sketch it, doodle it, anything you like!

I also decided to add What is the Worst part of your day for this one too.

Day 3: It's always nice to share with someone why you love them. Today, I want you to draw a picture, doodle, sketch, of a person who you love, or admire. Then, write that person a letter telling them why they mean so much to you! If you are intimidated at the idea of drawing a portrait of someone, draw objects that represent that person or draw their name in a creative way

You knew I'd choose her for this one of course!

Day 4: What does your heart look like? It can be literal, it can be symbolic, it can be broken and need fixing...anything!

Letters, crafts, sweet things, chattering, sunny, music on my mind, day dreaming, broken, disappointed, tired and empty....

Day 5: This page is dedicated to your favorite blogs!! What are they? Are there any blogs that you can't go a day without checking?

These are all fantastic blogs worth following, I have of course since doing this page added many more to my favourites. A lot I lost when blogger decided to get rid of all blogs not part of it in my following list but recently lately I realised I can add them all back again, I don't understand the point of that... Why not leave it as it is in the first place? I've tried to add a little picture of what I've picked up from your blogs in the time I've followed them. Some I've been following for years but have hardly ever commented.... so a silent stalker. Since doing this page, I've been making an effort to comment too.

Day 6: It's time... It's definitely time to do something. It may be a new season for you in your life, or a time to make some goals, or it may just be time to relax (because it's Saturday right?). Draw something that represents the word time and then make a list of things that you need to do at this time in your life, or day, or week

Day 7: Today is an easy one... How are you feeling today? Sometimes it's really good to reflect on your feelings and try to figure out why you are feeling a certain way.

Day 8: Today, I want you to illustrate an "inside joke." I want this to be a page that only you and a few other people would get. Inside jokes are always fun (well, when you are a part of them I guess).

I really could not think of an 'inside joke' to share here, I now think that maybe I should have shared just a couple of jokes in general. Never mind!

I hope that you have enjoyed these entries so far.

Are you working on a project at the moment?

Childhood Plants...

Did you have fun with plants as a child? I sure did.....

1. Checking under your friends chin with a buttercup to see if they ate lots of butter.

2. Daisy Chains

3. Peeling twigs to reveal the whiteness underneath which was so smooth, lovely and definately relaxing....

4. Cooking spinach and other such green vegetables using plants

5. Picking all the lilacs off their stem and threading them to make necklaces. I can smell them even now.

6. Cress sock heads

7. Growing plants at school

8. Blowing Dandelions so that your wishes came true.

9.Grass/Leaf Blowing so it makes a sound.

What do you remember about plants from your childhood?

Project: Photo A Day

Here are the next lot of photos which I had so much fun thinking of what to post for each theme. I wish I had more time for each one as I may have done something completely different but I hope you enjoy them anyway....

Day:12 Something that makes you HAPPY!

Day 13: Mum

Day 14: Grass

Day 15: Love

Day 16: What I'm Reading

Day 17: Snack

Day 18: Something you made

I've been booked...

I was tagged by Marta to take part in this question and answers about books, I'm going to find some of it really hard but lets see how it goes....

The Rules:

1. Post these rules

2. Post a photo of your favourite book cover

3. Answer the questions below

4. Tag a few people to answer them too

5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you've tagged them

6. Make sure you tell the person who tagged you that you've taken part!

It says to post a picture of your favourite book cover but its been so long since I chosen a book that I don't have one even though usually when I go shopping its a book cover or title that catches my eye but nothing right now stands out. So I decided to show you one my favourite author and illustrator, I think Quentin Blake gets a little over looked sometimes due to Roald Dahl being so popular.

What are you reading right now?

I've just started 'Tiny Sunbird, Fly Away by Christie Watson', it seems like a really nice book so far and interesting too as its set in Nigeria Africa.

Do you have any idea of what you'll read when you're done with that?

No! Not yet as I'm almost a quarter of a way through the one I've started. I keep thinking that I should start one of my classics as I have bought a couple of collections but for some reason end up choosing one of my modern day books. I guess with classics you just need time as they are so long and when I'm tired after work I just want to feel like I've accomplished something by finishing a book and seeing those percentages going down.

What five books have you always wanted to read but haven't got around to?

1. To Kill a Mockingbird which at the moment isn't available on my kindle.
2. Famous Five and Secret Seven.
3. The Magic Far Away Tree (2 and 3 I've bought the complete collection for my niece so I will be reading them before she gets them)
4. The Chronicles Of Narina
5. All of Charles Dickens and The Wizard of Oz books which I have at the moment

What magazines do you have in your bathroom/lounge right now?

You probably can't believe this but we don't have any magazines in our house. They aren't really my thing to buy even though if I came across a true life story one or a craft one I'd never say no to reading it. Our bathroom is so small there is just enough space to walk to the toilet so definitely no chance of having magazines there, I'm not one for reading in the bath or on the toilet either.

What's the worst book you've ever read?

Oh! That's so easy, 'The Most Wanted Man by John Le Carre'. There was nothing exciting about it, the whole book felt dark and depressing and nothing to pull you in so your always sat on the outside looking in to a comical act of the author trying to fit everything in only leaving it to come across as disjointed. This was the first and only book I will read of Le Carre.

What book seems really popular but you actually hated it?

Hates such a strong word which has made it really hard for me to think of a book... I would have to say Pride and Prejudice. For me it was such a dull book and the setting only seemed to be between 4 places where nothing all that happened except ideal chatter. I still don't know what I missed with it as everyone always says how great it is... I've of course watched the drama and actually quite enjoyed that.

What's the one book you always recommend to just about everyone?

I haven't recommended books to anyone, my friends ask what I'm reading and I mention it but I've never actually mentioned books that they should try. After my own experiences of having books recommended and then not enjoying them as much as I thought I would due to their enthusiasm I don't think I will.

What are your 3 favourite poems?

Oh! Its been such a long time since I read a poem, when I was in my teens I used to borrow them from the library.

My favourite childrens poems as a child were...

1. Please Mrs Butler by Allen Ahlberg (I loved his Happy Families Range as a child and now have the complete collection).
2. Revolting Rhymes By Roald Dahl
3. Cat in the Hat by Dr Seuss

Where do you normally get your books?
In the past I used to go to the library or my sister used to lend me them... on the odd occasion I'd buy some from WHSmiths. Now as you know I read on my kindle so can only buy from Amazon.

Where do you usually read your books?
Any where but my absolutely favourite place was my bed where I could read into the early hours of the morning until my eyes couldn't stay open anymore or wake up in the morning and just lay reading. Unfortunately thats a thing of the past now as my husbands in bed for around 8pm.

When you were little, did you have any particular reading habits?
I guess its what I just mentioned of staying in bed and reading.

What's the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn't put it down?

That would have to be the Blue Suitcase by Marianne Wheelaghan as I wanted to know how it ends.

What was your favourite book when you were a child?

That would have to be The Jolly Postman by Alan Ahlberg, I just loved opening all the envelopes even then.  It was one of the books I bought my niece when she was born along with The Hungry Caterpillar and We're going on a Bear Hunt. I still want to get her The Gruffolo and Winnie The Witch.

What book Changed your life?

The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night by Mark Haddon. This was a book someone gave to my sister who gave it to me to read and it made me understand children/people who are unique in their own way because they were born with autism, aspergers etc... I'm much more understanding of their needs even though they are not so easy to work with.

What was your favourite passage from a book?

Unfortunately I don't keep track of passages I like in books, even with my kindle and having the chance to highlight things I forget in my haste to keep reading.

Have you ever faked reading a book?

No I haven't as all books I ever read in English Literature I really loved. The only book I didn't complete though was Wuthering Heights as the teacher disappeared in college and the person teaching us loved the book so much he just told us what happened.

Have you ever bought a book just because you liked the cover?

I haven't bought any paperbacks because I liked the cover but I have choosen books in the library because the cover caught my eye first and then I've read the blurb and it sounds good. Often I have been in WHSmiths and books on the shelf have caught my eye so I've come home and looked it up but very rarely I've bought it.

Who are you top five favourite authors?

1. Catherine Alliott
2. Jill Mansell
3. Roald Dahl
4. L.Frank Braum

I have tried reading more books of the same author if I enjoyed the first of their books but as you know that hasn't worked out so well as I didn't even the others as much. In my teens I tried to read as many of Danielle Steels books but eventually got tired of them as they felt so repetitive.

I've bought the complete collection of Charles Dickens, Bronte Sister and Jane Austen so I'll have to see if I enjoy any of those.

What is your favourite classic book?

I would have to say Dracula and Jane Eyre

What book has no one heard about but should read?

The Blue Suitcase or The Weight of Water which are book in my book reviews.

What three books are you an 'evangelist' for?

I'll tell you the answer to this when I have read much more variety of books.

What are you favourite books by a first time author?

I read books but I'm not sure if it is their first book or if they have written more...

Five other notable mentions

1. Phantom of The Opera
2. Bitter chocolate by Lesley Lokko
3. Jane Eyre
4. Rosie Meadow Regrets by Catherine Alliott
5. Staying at Daisy's by Jill Mansell

I won't tag anyone as I'm not sure who would like to take part so if you would just poach the questions and start answering....