Mothers day 30th march 2014

Happy Mothers day MUM, I know your not here physically but your always here with us in our hearts and minds.  Today is the 9th mothers day without you.  It doesn't get any easier.  We love you always. RIP Mum. x

My mum. x

And thank you to my lovely boys and hubby for my cards and presents.  Each of the boys made me a card at school, I know i've moved "up north" as the card from my youngest says MAM not MUM. 

my cards

Happy mothers day to all my mummy friends and the mums everywhere.

indestructible boys school shoes???

DO such a thing exist???  I'm starting this post of the thought of NO they don't!!!  And I have very good reasons for believing this.  Read on.

My middle son is 8years old, he seems to be dead set on destroying EVERY pair of school shoes we buy him.  He has gone through 10 pairs since September 2013, two of which he has ruined THIS WEEK ALONE!  I wouldn't mind if he was outgrowing them or they were generally worn.  BUT he either sits and picks at the stitching/material on the top of toes so he gets a hole or he is skidding and playing football on the concrete playground and making holes in the sole.

We have had shoes from George, Next, Tesco, Shoe Zone and Brantano.  All of which have ended their life very quickly and gone in the bin.  I can't say that I remember which particular brand lasted the longest but none have been very long.  Admittedly, I don't buy expensive shoes but this is for the reason that he will do the same to them as he does the cheaper ones.

BUT is it any wonder when most of the sole are almost smoothe and have very little tread to start with and are plasticy synthetic???  Where are the thick, chunky rubber or leather soled soles of a few years ago???  Yes, that would be right they cost more money to produce, so our kids have to suffer.  Now don't get me wrong I know my son is wrecking his shoes but what use are these plasticy non grip shoes if the weather turns icy???  No use at all!!!

I have just about had enough of it.  I started a google search under "indestructible school shoes" and was very pleased to see pages after pages of mums in a similar situation to me, desperate to find a solution to their children ruining school shoes, some in the same way as my son, others through scuffing of general wear and tear. 

Well I kept reading and eventually came to a post from an American forum and the suggestion believe it or not was "Skate trainers/shoes!"  Not something I had thought of I must admit, but when I started looking and reading more on the subject the soles are much thicker and chunkier than normal school shoes for the reason when used on a skateboard they need to be thick to withstand the pushing motion on concrete!  BONUS just what I am after.  And even better is when I can find them cheaper than I have been paying for school shoes.  They will be being ordered asap.

So as you can see in the space of this post my opinion of "indestructable school shoes" has changed a complete circle from not believing they exist to finding a solution.  Lets hope that they work!!!  watch out for the update.

1week in......

......on the slimfast diet and I have lost 3lbs so far. :D

The first 3days were absolute hell, I was constantly hungry and craving everything that I would normally eat - cakes, chocolate, crisps etc.  But I was good and stuck to what i'm allowed and drank loads of water. 

I found out that almonds are low calorie and allowed as a snack upto 100grams, but instead of having them all in 1 go I have picked at them when I have felt abit hungry.  It seems to be working ok.  The only thing I have had to do is add in an extra snack as I was feeling very cold and light headed on the  1200cals a day that they suggest.  It was after a google search that I found that this could be far too low for my body and to add an extra snack.

I'm pretty sure i'm peeing for England and that this is a big factor in loosing the weight as I am going up and down stairs alot!

I've also started doing more workouts on the wii and have found some that I can do with my bad knee and they dont hurt it too much.

Fingers crossed it keeps working for me.

Facebook no-make-up-selfies for cancer awareness

I am fully aware that I will probably be shot down over this blog but I really don't care.

So over the past few days there seems to be a new thing that has hit facebook, whereby ladies are asked to take a selfie wearing no make-up to raise awareness of breast cancer and then tag some friends to do the same.  It has also been posted that this week is breast cancer awareness week, now I know that breast cancer awaness is the MONTH of october, not this week.

I for one don't see how this is actually helping breast cancer as they are not getting money for you to do it.  The following comment was posted on a friends wall "taking the no-make-up-selfie is like buying a red nose for comic relief, it is the whole "awareness" that will make a difference."  Again I don't agree with this because in order to get a red nose you have to BUY one and therefore the charity gets the money, you are NOT paying to take a selfie, so the the cancer charities are not getting money.  There is a total mix of emotions and feelings over this and everyone is entitled to their own opinion on it.

Cancer research did make a facebook post saying  that it is not linked to them but they are grateful for the amount of people taking part, and have added a text number and message of "text BEAT to 70099 to donate £3 to help us beat cancer".  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152338923534474&set=a.385681134473.162742.7950759473&type=1&theater

If all of the people who have posted selfie's donated the £3 that would be great.

I have donated my £3 and I also added a picture of how to check your boobs for oddities which is much more useful than a selfie. 

I regularly buy the breast cancer pin badges and shop in the cancer charity shops because cancer is very close to me - my Mum battled breast cancer for 22years before it turned to secondary bone cancer and combined they killed her.  I can't afford to donate every month but I do it as and when I can.

I know I am not alone in saying these type of status games effect me, I have friends who have had family member suffer from cancer and although these are meant for the good they don't always end up that way and can cause upset.


PLEASE if you are reading this stop and think about what will be of more use - a picture of you with no make-up on or picking up your mobile phone and sending the message to donate £3. 

1st step towards.....

.....loosing weight.

I've signed up to the slimfast 3-2-1 plan and ordered some slimfast milkshake powders and have a list of new meals and snacks that I can eat.  No idea if it is going to work or not, but worth a try. 

Really glad that boots had the powders at less than half normal price.  IF and a big if, I like them and they are still on offer on tuesday I will get some more and stock up.

the main problem I have is that I am limited as to how much exercise I can do because of my knee injury, which is half the reason i've put on more weight!

New "toy"

Today my Dremel multi tool has arrived :D

I have had a small play with it on a few small stones, but I need to get some more diamond drill bits to engrave as only 2 came with it.

It's certainly not as easy as I thought it was going to be and my lines are quite bumpy, not sure if its the stones or an unsteady hand or combination of both.

But I am not going to be beaten by it as I have some ideas that I need it to work for!  Watch this space.



UPDATE 8th march

I ordered the flexi drive shaft for it so that I have more control.  I Ordered it on next day delivery and it has arrived.  Had a play and I can do much neater finer lines.  Now to get some more rocks and get on with what I hope to do.

MORE easy to make costumes

I have started another page for the costumes as the other one was getting really long with all the outfits and pictures.  Most of these I haven't actually made but have been easy ideas I have.

• GHOST - A white sheet folded in half and the sides stitched leaving space for the arms to come out of,  cut out the eyes but outline them in black and draw a black mouth on.

• PIRATE - Wear a stripey top, you can rip the bottom to look more raggy if you want to, use a piece of spotty or stripey material or a triangle bandage as a bandanna, get an old pair of trousers and rag the bottoms, you can wear a belt over the top if its big.  You can make an easy pirate hook with a plastic coat hanger (broken) and covered in black/silver tape.

• LEGO BRICK - Get a big cardboard box, cut a head hole in top and open the base, attach egg boxes to the front (for the raised bits of Lego), paint all 1 colour and wear matching colour trousers and long sleeved top. Add straps to keep it on shoulders.  You can also make a matching hat using a small box and egg box bits, tie on with elastic or ribbon.

•  DIAMOND - Get a big cardboard box but turn it at an angle, cut a head hole in the top and open the base. Paint the whole box white, allow to dry and then re-paint using a clear glitter paint.  Add straps to keep it on the shoulders. Wear white or sparkly trousers/leggings and long sleeved top.

• HARRY POTTER - Wear a Halloween cape, a white shirt and a pair of grey trousers.  Use the frame from a pair of old glasses (remove the lenses), draw a scar with make up on your forehead and use a long thin twig as a wand.

• BUNCH OF GRAPES - Wear either a green or deep purple/burgundy top and trousers, attach blown up corresponding colour balloons all over the top, add a small tree branch to a headband as the stalk.

• BUBBLE BATH - Wear pink or peach top and trousers, cover the top with small white balloons and stick a mini bottle of shampoo (empty) onto one shoulder, add a shower cap to your head.

• BEDTIME - Wear your PJ's and dressing gown and slippers with a teddy beady and favourite book.
   
• OCTOPUS - Use a purple (hooded if possible) jumper (a few sizes bigger), get 3 pairs of purple socks and stuff them with pillow stuffing, sew the socks onto jumper 3 each side under arms down to the hem.  Add white circles to the base of the socks and under the sleeves to make suckers.  Wear dark coloured trousers.

• ARTIST - Use a mans old shirt and wear it back to front but. Cover it in paint marks of different colours.  Make a paint palette made from a piece of cardboard and get a paintbrush.   You can add a flat cap and easel if required.

• ODD SOCK BASKET - Get a plastic wash basket from £1 shop, cut the base from it, attach ribbon to both sides so it stays on the shoulders and is all the way round you, add lots of old odd socks to the basket front and back and to the top you are wearing (try and get the top the same colour as the basket.) 

• SNOWBALL/SNOWING - Get a large pale blue jumper, a pale blue woolly hat and white leggins or trousers.  Buy a bag of cotton wool balls and stitch or glue them all over the jumper and hat.

• MUMMY - Wear white trousers and top or dress, stitch bandages (or strips of material) in a wrapped around fashion.

• BLACK CAT - Wear black trousers and a black long sleeve top.  Make a tail from an old black sock and stuff it with pillow stuffing but not too thickly, make a pair of pointy ears from cardboard, paint them black and attach to a headband, paint your nose pink and add whiskers.

• CORN ON THE COB - Wear a green top and yellow/brown trousers.  Attach some egg boxes to the top (painted yellow) and add a couple of green paper leaves over the top of the egg boxes so its only the middle showing.
• GREEK/EGYPTIAN BOY -  For Greek boy - Wear white 3/4 trousers and large sleeveless white top and sandals.  For Egyptian boy -  as per the Greek but you will need a fancy piece of neck and wrist jewellery (as most were rich).

• BOXER - Wear a pair of shorts, a loose dressing gown and pair of boxing gloves.
  
• WILLY WONKA - Get a long purple coat, a purple waistcoat and bow tie and a pair of brown trousers.  You will also need a walking stick/cane and a brown top hat (this could be made from cardboard and paper marche).

• MERMAID BRA - Get a bra or bikini top in your size in a plane green/teal/turquoise/blue colour.  Using shells (bought or collected from the beach) and a few sequins/gem stones glue all over the bra/bikini top.  Allow to dry.

• RUBIX CUBE - Get a large cardboard box and cut a hole for the head and arms, open up the base.  Add straps so that it will stay on your shoulders.  Paint the whole box black and add coloured squares in rows of 4 over each side of the box - mix up the colours.  Wear a black top and trousers under it.

• SHERLOCK HOLMES/DETECTIVE - Get a beige or grey skirt that you can cut up, this is going to be your cape.  On the side opposite the zip stitch a /\ from the hem up to the waist band, you can cut out the middle section as this is not needed.  You will now have a cape shape that you can get over your head by undoing the zip and doing it up once on.  Get an old flat cap for your hat.  You also need a magnifying glass and a old pipe.

• ROBBER - Get a black and white stripey top (or make one using a plain white top and adding black stripes), and plain black trousers.  You also need a pair of black gloves and a black beanie hat and a mask that covers your eyes (make from cardboard and elastic or craft foam).  You can then make a simple swag bag from a white pillow case tied about 1/4 way from the top -  fill it with clothes so not heavy and draw a £ or $ sign on the front.

• TY BEANIE BABY - This is ideal for a small baby.  Wear an all in one fluffy coat suit with hood (or fluffy onesie).  Add a small ribbon bow of the same colour as suit to left chest and make a TY taggy heart from cardboard and attach to the ear of the hood.

• WHERE'S WALLY - Wear a red and white stripey top, a pair of blue jeans/trousers, a pair of glasses with no lenses in, a red and white stripey hat and a walking stick/cane.

• MINION - This is very easy to do.You need a long sleeved yellow top or jumper and a pair of dungarees.  Add a pair of black gloves and paint your face yellow, wear swimming goggles.

• TRAFFIC LIGHTS - Get a large cardboard box and cut head and arm holes, open out the base.  Paint it all black.  Make a red, amber and green circle and stick to the front of the box.  Wear a black top and trousers with it.

• MARIO/LUIGI - You need a pair of dungarees to which you need to make the buttons yellow (sticky label), a red or green long sleeved top and a red or green hat with a M or L on the front.  Draw a moustache on your face.

• BARBIE DOLL - You need to get hold of a long box ideally from a freezer.  Cut arms holes in the sides and remove a window section from the front, paint the whole box pink and add a barbie logo.  Dress in your best dress and heels and step into your box.

• HARRY & HIS BUCKET OF DINOSAURS - Wear a red and yellow top and blue jeans, have a blue bucket (sandcastle type) and put toy dinosaurs in it.

• GNOME - Where black leggings and a long sleeved long top plain in colour.  Add a belt over the top.  Make a beard from wool or use a pre-bought one.  Make a red pointy hat from thin cardboard.  Get a long stick and add string to it as your fishing rod.

• CRAZY CAT LADY - Acquire some toy cats, more is better.  Attach them to a dressing gown.  Wear dressing gown and slippers over pyjamas or leggings and top and wear slippers.

• MEDUSA HEADBAND - Buy a pack of toy snakes and a cheap headband.  Glue the snakes to the headband using super glue.  Once dry, spray paint all of it gold. 

•  MONSTER FEET - Get a cheap pair of crocs in your size and a can of expanding foam.  Fill the crocs with newspaper.  Spray the foam all the way round the edge of the crocs and add 3 pointy toes at the front.  Slowly build up the layers of foam going over the top of the crocs so that they are completely covered in foam.  Allow to dry and then paint. 

• CATERPILLAR - You will need 8 green pillowcases (doesn't matter if all different shades of green or if green patterned-  you need to make sure that they come in pairs though).  Lay the 1st pillow case down so that it is the way the it would be on a bed.  Next lay another pillow case above it so the long edges are touching, stitch this edge together.  Repeat this for the next 2 so that you have 4 stitched together.  Make sure that you stitch the remaining 4 in the same order.  You need to add some green ribbon to both of the top pillow cases so that you have like this /\.  This is the caterpillars body.  Get a red hat and add two big white eyes to the front.  Add Pillows to the pillow cases and your ready to go.  ***You may need more or less pillow cases depending on how big the person is that is wearing the outfit.***

•  CLAWS - Buy a pair of brown woolly gloves, and some yellow felt.  Cut the felt into 10 long triangles.  Glue or stitch each yellow piece onto the end of each finger in the gloves.