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.....

Happy Birthday Paul xxxx

No your not seeing double, below is my husband Paul, on the right with his serious looking twin brother Colin.

It was their birthday on Saturday and we went away to Hunstanton in Norfolk, staying in a Caravan. They thought that it would be funny to both bring the same jumper to wear when we went out for dinner. We bought the jumpers in Disney in January... they did look like book ends. When they were little they dressed differently. To be honest I know that there are similarities, but I think that Paul looks more like his older brother Tony (unfortunately) as he is an arse (excuse my french)!!!!

We had a good drive in our new family car, the fiesta and it did not drink much diesel, so hopefully it will work out more financially cheaper. The site was quite nice, lots of friendly ducks as our neighbours, they even joined us in the van.

We went to Kings Lynn on Saturday for a browse and I bought Paul some clothes to add to his present, which was a Negative Scanner... it does something with negatives to convert them to be saved on PC.

The top above was a birthday gift too... Paul also chose some Marvel Comic Pants, don't panic I won't be taking any pictures of them.....

The beach at Hunstanton was beautiful and although it was a bit windy when the sun came out it was lovely. I really enjoyed taking photo's and Paul is now getting better at "posing" for me or should i say tolerating my want to have lots of pictures to scrap.....

I just love the sense of distance in the picture below, which to be honest is more luck than anything as I had my glasses on and could not see what I was taking a picture of.

I am looking forward to scrapping the pictures from the weekend, as they are my first lot of decent pictures.

Yummy chocolate fudge cake, Paul and Colin both had after their meal, with a little candle.... I just had a little taste... honest.

But I was not too good with the cookie that I bought for Paul from our little girl.... as I did share it with Paul. We also got one for Uncle Colin.

I made Paul a Maze book using black and white, which he really enjoyed. I will post this tomorrow, as I want to make a slide show with it.

I have got a busy week, Crop tomorrow, Slimming World Thursday (I think that it won't be good news!) and it's a Bank Holiday.... I spoke with my cousin last night and I think that she will be coming to stay xxxx I have booked for an all day Crop next Sunday and the following weekend I will be away for the great Scrapagogo weekend. I feel that I so much to organise, clothes which are a nightmare as nothing fits, which is good as I have lost weight, but don't want to buy too much as I need to loose so much more. I also need to prepare all my photo's for the classes that I am doing and also the pictures and papers for my LO that I will do in between...... ohhhhh.

Well that's enough for now, will pop back soon xxxxx

MAGIC AND SPARKLE

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LO, Car and a Voodoo Doll!

Wow, what a week...... time passes so quickly!

I have managed to complete my LO for the challenge on Scrapagogo I am in the Orange team and they set the challenge based on the fab advert out at the moment for the Orange Network. It show's friends that can go to the pictures on free Wednesday's and one of the friends is a witch, as in the Wizard of Oz.

So the challenge was to use the lyrics from Wicked the musical or the script from the Wizard of Oz, oh you also needed to include Orange in your LO.

I chose one of my favourite pictures of Gabrielle, when she was 3 months old, taken at Great Ormond Street, just before we were able to bring her home. The words are taken from, i think what is one of the most famous song's from musical theatre...

Somewhere over the rainbow.....

"Where troubles melt like lemon drops"

The flowers were a little experiment, with the rainbow colours and buttons xxxx I just love buttons and have not used them for ages.

BOO!

Below are my niece, Ruby and nephew Luke. We had such great fun when they came and stayed last weekend. Watching films, shopping with pocket money, walking the dogs, painting and stories. We have promised them that we will take them camping in the summer holidays.

The card below I made for my aunt, who gave me a book all about flowers and paper crafts. She is a member of a book club and had to pick a free gift, so she ordered me the book. How kind? The card was an idea from the book, I will try it on a LO..... So thank you Jackie xxxx

How cute is my little Voodoo doll named Tinkerbelle, which is my user name on UKS and other little sites. I just love it and it now hangs pride and place on my little tote, which in itself is a work of art as I have added little bits to it for decoration. Some of which are really sentimental to me as they were Gabrielle's. So thank you Smartie xxxxx

So 4 weeks until the Scrapagogo weekend, which means 4 weeks till my birthday xxxxx Next weekend is my DH birthday and we are going away for the weekend to Norfolk, Hunstanton, I will be doing my home work and finding the great places to visit. .. I think that there will be lots of great photo opportunities xxxx more to go in my boxes of photo's to scrap up.. when will they ever invent a 48 hour day.

Oh, my little car below has gone to Fords.... I have a new car 09 plate Fiesta Zetec (diesel). I got it yesterday, it will be alot more cheaper to run and hopefully will become a family car... one day. Oh... big sigh... i loved having the roof down even though i would look like i had just been dragged through a hedge backwards!!!!!

So, going to have a little more play with paper this weekend, I have a little idea for a gift for Paul and Colin for their birthday's... THEY WILL BE 37........ i am typing this as he is looking over my shoulder shaking his head, a head that gets more shinier every day as the hair seems to get less by the day... I think that he would blame me for it!!!!... now he is nodding his head!... oh and i have some revision for my Makaton Tutor Course which is fast apporaching xxx AHHHHHHHH!!!!!

So we are going to go and watch A Series of Unfortunate Events now xxxx

Will pop back soon xxxxx

Sending our love xxxx

Wow were has the time gone, things have been so manic!!!! Working 4 days a week really makes a difference and my Shining Stars Group at work has also started, so I will be working on Saturdays too....

It was the memorial celebration yesterday at Little Haven. Paul attended and was able to let some balloons off from us both. Pauls twin brother went with Paul too....I was at work as we opened our third service. I really wanted to go but there was a mix up and we did not get to know about it until the last minute.....

The roses that Paul took were the same ones as were in the flowers we gave to our little princess at her funeral xxxx

WE MISS YOU SO MUCH GABRIELLE XXXXX

I have made another maze book ths week, for my manager Moira who has left to start work in Thurrock. She has been a real inspiration to me an amazing practitioner. I will miss her, as she really has helped me. Here are a few pictures of the book.....

So we will be going out tomorrow with Luke and Ruby, I hope the weather holds up! Not sure where? maybe the zoo. Mind you would be good to take the dogs out for a good walk. Will bring my camera as I am sure there will be some good photo opportunities xxxx

Off to bed now, as I am shattered xxxxx oh, by the way my total weight loss is now up to 1st 3lb xxx BIG HAPPY FACE xxx but boy i would love to have a big pig out on chocolate xxxxx

Night night xxxx

I hope that your having a great Bank Holiday xxxx