Happy 6th Birthday Gabrielle xxxx

I firstly want to apologise for my absence..... August and September are the months that we celebrate Gabrielle's birthday and then September is the anniversary of Gabrielle's death... So things have been a little tough and i have needed a little time out....

So what have i been up to... I have been making loads, i have to get photos for you. I feel that i have taken real steps to get Gabrielle's books started. When i found scrapping, it was to place the photo's of Gabrielle's funeral in.... and i know that sounds morbid, but the book is Pink and Green and holds lots of pictures of the flowers and the celebration after, as we celebrated my daughters life..... so I then became hooked on the techniques and the creativity.... buying stash and then realising that i was totally addicted...

So i have decided to start books for Gabrielle's birth, her birthday's, Christmas and holidays etc..... and i am enjoying it, although realising how much i miss my little twinkle toes xxxx

So for Gabrielle's birthday we decided to go to London for the day, spend some time at Great Ormond Street, light a candle and then see a show...

I manage to get some pictures of London.....

We saw the Lion King at the Lyceun Theatre, we decided on this as we saw the Lion King show with Gabrielle when we took her to Euro Disney.... the show was amazing, very emotional at times, i really enjoyed it......

In Covent Garden we found the most amazing cake shop called candy cakes.... it sold the most wonderful selection of cakes, in so many colours... so we bought a cake to share and then a cake to bring home for Gabrielle, as her little birthday cake...

It reminded me of when Gabrielle was in Intensive care, as a tiny baby we would buy a cake every Thursday to celebrate the week with her, as a thank you to her for being brave and strong... we also gave a selection of the cake to the nurses to say Thank you for looking after her xxxx


At Great Ormond Street we spent some time in the chapel, thinking about our little girl xxx We had Gabrielle christened in the chapel, just after her first birthday, it was a very special day to celebrate our little girl. At times when Gabrielle was in Intensive Care a priest would ask us about baptising Gabrielle, we decided that we would wait until we got Gabrielle home... and we are so pleased we did.

We have a Tinkerbel in the chapel, that we leave there for Gabrielle, we got it out from it's special little corner, and tied a balloon to it. We also lit a candle and wrote in Gabrielle's birthday card
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Below are some photos that i took when i went to Burnham On Crouch with Paul. We had a really rough couple of weeks and decided when we were sorting things out that we needed to spend more time together, getting to know one another again, as we had become quite lost....

It was a lovely day, walking and talking.... it's a lovely place and not far from where we live. I can't believe that there are places just around the corner from where we live that we don't know about. We have decide to start exploring them.

So below is one of the things that I have been making, a little maze book for my cousins friend Andrea. Who will be 30 next week.... I had great fun with the colours, using the black card for the pages, the pink and white really stood out xxxxxx

So i am off to do some more making today. I have loads of layouts t share with you... think i will need to get a little slide show ready.

Thank you for popping by, xxxx

Magic and Sparkle xxxxx

so sorry xxxx

This little post comes to you with big apologies as i have been a terrible blogger of recent... but with good reason.....

I went away last week on a Makaton Regional tutor course.... and i PASSED....... so the weeks before i was cramming my signing and symbols....... The course was really intense starting lectures at 9am and finishing at 7pm.. with study and preparation required in the evening.

So I now need to run the second part of the course with another tutor and once signed off and licence purchased i will be able to go solo......

Work is really manic too at the moment and i am really feeling that all eyes are on me... so will see what happens as it is not a nice feeling... i have supervision next week and i will discuss this then.

I have also found facebook... i know a little late as i swore that i was not going to bother, but it has helped as i am now in touch with people that i went to school with and we had a reunion a couple of weeks ago.....

So I am going to get all my photos organised of the making that i have completed..... and i still have the Scrapagogo stuff to share with you....ohhhhhhhh i received the famous yellow box from them just before i went away. I was really confused as i do not subscribe... within the box were lots of goodies all wrapped individually with news that i had won the sketch challenge..... but i had not entered.... so i contacted them and the lovely Janice and Lorraine have told me that i can keep it......... HAPPY DAYS....... it had ribbon, brads, stickers, paper, "SLICE" apron and little stress shape, yellow bicycle bag........ so i am so happy.

So i am off now to try and get organised as beack to work next week and the ironing i have calling me upstairs really needs to be attempted.... then hopefully time for some making later.....

Promise i will pop back with some pictures soon ...... MAGIC AND SPARKLE xxxxxxxxxxxxx

ohhh i have chosen to print this in green as it is the Makaton colour xxx

Pics of me

Life has been really hectic at the moment, both at home and at work. Feeling really demoralised at work.... but I have a weeks leave HIP HIP HOORAY xxxxx

I was really inspired at the getaway and I have been completing lo which will go into Gabrielle's baby book. I have lots of pictures from the getaway of my projects and of the bits I have done at home so I am going to sort them out and post later this weekend.....

So the pictures were taken by CJ, Thank you xxxx I am pleased with them.... will pop back soon with my LO's xxxx

Happy Fathers Day xxxx

Happy Fathers Day, Daddy

With lots of love and lots of angel kisses and hugs

Gabrielle xxxxx

Scrapagogo has gone gone gone, but not for long long long xxx

Below is where I was at the weekend..... for the Scrapagogo Retreat and I had the most amazing weekend............ohhhh and i have booked to go back next March hip-hip hooray xx

I celebrated my birthday making, making, making and it was the best!!!!!. I am going to post pictures of what I managed to make soon, but wanted to share pictures of the place first and as you can see it was beautiful. The treehouse below is just stunning and i did have a laugh climbing it with Lisa (Smartipants).

As you can see the rooms were very classy too... not that I spent much time in it as i did not go to bed till 2.30am and was up again at 6!

The classes we attended were amazing, and made some great yummies. Shimmelle's class was busy and I am yet to finish the book... but hope to do so tomorrow night at my crop. I also had my pictures taken by the majician CJ so I am really excited to see them.

Peekaboo!!!! The apron was a gift from Smartiepants and it is covered with yummy little cupcakes.

Being one with nature.... a little tree hugging.

Ching, ching, Shimelle.... but you really should'nt eat that sparkle......

Gabrielle was never far from my thoughts throughout the weekend, i sent her a princess balloon on my birthday, sent with a big kiss and a hug.

Well, life is really manic, I have just caught up after the weekend and I am off tomorrow night after my crop for 2 nights to attend a conference on Social Stories, which you use with children who have social and communication problems. I am back on Friday night and have work first thing Saturday!!!!! PANIC>>>so much to do.... Hope your well?

Magic and Sparkle xxxx

Unofficial Birthday

I am so excited!!!! I have been awake since 4.30 this morning.....

I am off to the Scrapagogo weekend tomorrow for three days, two sleeps a whole weekend packed full of making, classes from the experts and also I have booked to have my pictures taken.......

The last couple of weeks have just passed by..... so whats been happening?

My weight loss remains at 1 stone 8.5lb and I know that i should be really pleased, but i was hoping to be at 2 stone. I am noticing a change in the way my clothes are fitting, i feel like MC Hammer as my trousers are just hanging off me, which to be honest is not flattering. I also feel that with my jeans on that i look like a bundle of rags all tied up in the middle, as i need my belt tight to keep them up. I have bought a new pair of jeans and some linen trousers to tie my over and i am pleased to announce that they are two sizes smaller than what i would normally buy..... (BIG HAPPY FACE). I don't want to buy too many as hopefully i will be able to go down at least another two sizes... fingers crossed.

My cousin Loise came and stayed with me on the Bank Holiday weekend and we went out so that she could get some bits for her flat. I am really lucky here in Chelmsford as there are several great home/ girlie shops that sell all those "finishing touches" that really make a difference. I am also only a 20 minute drive from Barleylands farm in Billericay that has more home shops and of course the great Sugar and Spice Scrapbook shop xxxxxxxx

I popped back to Louise's last weekend as I have had a hair cut and colour by the best hair dresser in the world.. princess Andrea. My hair is now black with some great dark pink/red slices throughout.

When I arrived at my cousins, I was met with....................

The yummy sweets and cakes below are printed on paper and that was placed at my seat to have my dinner.......and Louise cooked me pasta bake and i had chocolate dessert followed by the marsh mellow cakes. I felt like the queen as my birthday is not until Saturday this week, the 6th......

Thank you, so much Louise and Andrea I had a great time, as always and I am so pleased with my hair...pictures to follow xxxx


Last weekend we managed to get the Bar B Q out and Paul completed the compulsory caveman instinct and cooked up some great chicken, burgers and sausages. We were joined by our dear friends Helen and Lenny with their princess' Amelia and Niamh.

We had a great day as always, catching up and putting the world to rights. They have really stuck by us, since we lost our little girl.. Thank you xxxxx

We hope that we can get to catch up again.

Below is Niamh, pronounced Neeve. We are her proud God parents. It is so scary ti see how she is growing...... As we mentioned at the weekend it will not be long before we are planning her first birthday.

As you can see below, Amelia needed some sun cream.... as the weather was sunny......


So I am now off to get some ironing done and then I have to finish getting packed for the weekend. I also want to pop out and get a balloon to let off for Gabrielle on my birthday as I will not be at home xxxx

I am really nervous about the weekend, as I have never done anything like this before and i have never been away from Paul on my birthday since we have been together.... but i am sure that i will have a great weekend.

I am taking my camera, so watch this space, there may be a photo overload on its way.

I hope that you have a great weekend xxxxxx

Magic and Sparkle x

Little black and white book

Above is the little blck and white book that I made for Paul for his birthday one week ago.... I have been making this weekend on a secret mission for my cousin's friend.

I am getting ready for Scrapagogo which is just a couple of weekends away.... i hope that your enjoying the bank holiday and the sun has come to play too.....