tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89998416070929260002024-03-13T18:25:50.812+00:00The Dusty AtticA crafty little place where you can come for a nice cup of tea and talk about all things crochet, thrifting and crafting.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-64041264364197613672015-10-13T10:08:00.001+01:002015-10-13T10:12:02.523+01:00Meal Planning Monday #3Hello Lovelies!<br />
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Hey look it's Tuesday again and I've not posted - that's what no sleep and a UTI will do for you! No fun at all!!<br />
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Still, I managed to do a meal plan and get the shopping in - trying to use up freezer stuff but we bought a load of reduced meat on Sunday so there's that to use now as well.<br />
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<b>Monday: </b><b>Herby chicken tray bake</b><br />
<b>Tuesday: Pork stir fry</b><br />
<b>Wednesday: Beef and Mushroom stroganoff</b><br />
<b>Thursday: Pork and Cabbage hot-pot</b><br />
<b>Friday: Butternut and Spinach cannelloni</b><br />
<b>Saturday: Chilli and rice </b><br />
<b>Sunday: Roast pork/chicken with veg and yorkies </b><br />
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This is my first time doing cannelloni. What do you like to put in yours?<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-6094898135940681912015-10-11T09:55:00.001+01:002015-10-11T09:55:45.060+01:00Silent Sunday 11/10/15Hello lovelies!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-42648709699124424252015-10-06T12:24:00.002+01:002015-10-06T12:28:23.321+01:00Meal Planning Monday #2Hello Lovelies!<br />
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Wow! Week 2 and I'm already a day late posting my meal plan! Argh!<br />
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I'm currently doing Slimming World (more on that on Wednesday) so am trying to stick to healthy meals, but we are also on a pretty tight budget as I'm now on statutory maternity pay only - which isn't very much at all! So a lot of using up what's in the freezer and cupboards as well as seeing what's in the reduced section of the shops and re-planning! That's why I pop the meals onto post-it's so that they can be moved around.<br />
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Actually I was supposed to be doing the pizza ripped chicken on Monday but forgot to get the chicken out to defrost! So I switched Monday and Tuesday around. Simples!<br />
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<b>Monday: Tomato pasta bake</b><br />
<b>Tuesday: Pizza topped chicken with chips</b><br />
<b>Wednesday: Pork chops (or similar from freezer) with mash and veg</b><br />
<b>Thursday: Herby chicken tray bake</b><br />
<b>Friday: Butternut squash risotto</b><br />
<b>Saturday: Chilli and rice </b><br />
<b>Sunday: Roast beef with veg and yorkies </b><br />
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What's your go-to healthy meal? Any of you doing Slimming World too?<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-55705766356700843662015-10-01T11:15:00.000+01:002016-02-22T12:52:44.614+00:00Happy Birthday Miffy!! Hello Lovelies!<br />
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If you haven't already spotted on other blogs and on Twitter, there is a brand new Miffy cartoon starting this Friday evening on Tiny Pop. And I am so over the top excited about this!!<br />
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Ever since I was a little girl I have lived Miffy the little white bunny and all of her friends. Over the years I have acquired books, DVDs, socks, pyjamas, other clothes, bedding, a lamp, a mouse mat, various stationery, and much more that I can't even remember right now. I have about 8 different stuffed toys as well, tiny little ones and one massive one - I'm not even kidding it's the same size as Zoe!!<br />
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I'm thrilled that Zoe loves Miffy as much as I do - in fact the Miffy DVD is at the top of Zoe's request list at the moment and doesn't really leave the player! We love to read the Miffy books together that I had when I was a little girl - we recently re-read 'Miffy and the New Baby' before Emily arrived to help Zoe understand about her new little sister.<br />
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Hmm I've gone off on a bit of a ramble there, sorry!!<br />
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This year sees Miffy's 60th anniversary - in 1955 Dick Bruna was on holiday with his son and to entertain him started to draw a little bunny - and so Miffy was born! She's been in many books along with her friends and this Friday 2 October they will all be staring in a new TV programme - Miffy's Adventures Big and Small - on pre-school channel Tiny Pop.<br />
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The show is airing at 7pm which is the perfect time for us to have a cuddle on the sofa and wind down on an evening ready for bed. There are 52 episodes to be broadcast each 7 minutes long so perfect for Zoe's short attention span. It's actually a CGI animated sequel to Miffy and Friends, the initial stop motion series, which is the ones we have on DVD.<br />
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If all that isn't exciting enough, to celebrate the launch of Miffy's new TV show, Tiny Pop has organised a 'surprise' Twitter party for Miffy, complete with party games, goodie bags and cake too! Join Miffy on her Twitter at <a href="http://twitter.com/miffy_uk">http://twitter.com/miffy_uk</a> this Friday at 1pm to celebrate!<br />
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Do you remember Miffy from your childhood? What was your favourite book?
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-26185040656476678292015-09-30T07:32:00.000+01:002015-09-30T07:32:09.864+01:00Emily's 5 month updateHello lovelies!<br />
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I thought that I would try to start doing monthly updates for Emily. She is five months old today (happy 5 month birthday!) and she is changing every single day. I can't quite believe that in a month I'll be writing her 6 month update - half a year! How has that happened?! In one way it feels as though she's only been here a few weeks but then it also feels like she's been a part of our little family forever!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Milestones:</span><br />
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<li>Emily has been able to roll over for a month or so now, she prefers to for front to back over on her right side - she can go other ways but this is her fave!!</li>
<li>She's almost sitting up on her own now, she needs a bit of support but it won't be long now! </li>
<li>I'm pretty sure she has her first tooth coming through, but she doesn't want me to see it!! </li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sleeping:</span><br />
Emily is a better sleeper than Zoe was at this age, she usually goes down after a bottle on our bed about 7.00pm but wakes again at least once soon after that for a bit more food! Once she's settled I pop her into her crib (which is in our room) and she usually goes to around 2.30am before she wakes for a feed. I bring her into bed with me and she stays there, helping herself to boob if she wants to, until she wakes up anywhere between 6.00am and 8.00am.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Feeding:</span><br />
Ah feeding. I have really struggled this time - it was so easy with Zoe I think I was prepared for problems with Emily!! I introduced a bedtime bottle of formula when Emily was about 3 months old, hoping that it would help her to settle better at night - which it did. However Emily soon learned that getting milk from a bottle was waaay easier than getting it out of a boob so I have ended up combination feeding. Emily has 2-3 3oz bottles of formula throughout the day as well as boob as and when she wants it. She also has a 6oz bottle at bedtime (that she rarely finishes) followed by boob an hour later. She only has boob through the night usually, although a few times she likes to have a 2am party which ends with me giving her a bottle at 5am just to get some sleep!! I'm planning to start weaning at 6 months - more on that in another post soon!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Routine:</span><br />
By no means do we have a strict routine through the day! Emily has around 3 naps a day - one about 9am, one about lunchtime and one mid-afternoon. Sometimes more though depending on the length of the naps. She can sometimes have a 2 hour nap, but usually it's 30-45 minutes.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Weight and size:</span><br />
I last had Emily weighted on 17 September and she was 7.62kg (16lb 12oz). We have been measuring her against the wall at G&D's house so next time we're there I'll measure her!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-84112847010508821132015-09-28T11:28:00.001+01:002015-09-28T11:28:31.183+01:00Meal Planning Monday #1Hello Lovelies<br />
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Welcome to my very first Meal Planning Monday post!<br />
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Martin and my Mum were both ripping me about my meal planning the other day but I find it so much easier to plan the week ahead, the shopping, the family budget, and my diet so much better when I have a plan for the week.<br />
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At the weekend I have a look in the fridge, freezer and cupboards to see what we have and what needs used up. Then I use my planner and post it notes to allocate meals for the week ahead. We tend to have the same meals regularly so using the post its means that I don't have to keep writing the same meals out again and again but it also means that I can move the meals around. So if Martin doesn't fancy pasta one night I can swap it for another meal that I have planned.<br />
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I would like to do a more in depth post about my meal planning so I'll leave it like this for now. Here is the plan for this week:<br />
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<b>Monday: Roast dinner (we didn't have enough time to have this yesterday!)</b><br />
<b>Tuesday: Pizza topped chicken/KFC chicken with chips</b><br />
<b>Wednesday: Chicken and chorizo paella </b><br />
<b>Thursday: Baked fish and vegetables</b><br />
<b>Friday: Out for dinner - it's my Mum's 60th birthday!</b><br />
<b>Saturday: Chilli</b><br />
<b>Sunday: Roast dinner with meat from the freezer</b><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-76839130502859310382015-09-21T08:30:00.000+01:002015-09-29T19:40:32.829+01:00Good things are happening hereHello Lovelies!<br />
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Well it's been a busy time in the Robinson house! Emily is 4 and a half months old now and Zoe had her 3rd birthday last month. We also celebrated our second wedding anniversary in August and managed to fit in a short break in Yorkshire.<br />
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Now that things are starting to settle into a bit of a routine I'm hoping to get back to blogging again - I have missed this! I have been keeping up with the blogs that I follow on Bloglovin (follow me here if you want to - plug!!) - helped by breastfeeding and having a Velcro baby that will only nap on me through the day!<br />
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Here's a few snaps of what we've been up to and hopefully I'll be back very soon with more posts!<br />
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Top L-R: a walk up Binsey - Zoe's first solo ascent and Emily's first assisted ascent!! || Zoe's birthday party- complete with flashing Elsa dress and tiara || a walk up Halin fell - Zoe's second ascent<br />
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Middle L-R: Daddy and Zoe on the merry go round || Building a bridge with Grandad || Fairy Day at the Manor - Zoe got dressed up as a fairy!<br />
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Bottom L-R: A walk up Latrigg - Zoe's third ascent - complete with new walking boots || I've caught the baby-wearing bug - this wrap was on loan but I have my own now! I'm in love!! || the start of our holiday- a visit to St Mary's lighthouse at Whitley Bay<br />
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Linking up with:<br />
<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.zenas-suitcase.co.uk" title="Zenas Suitcase"><img src="http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b635/icklepicklex/myfavourite%20post%20badge_zpsow9fi2oz.jpg" alt="Zenas Suitcase" style="border:none;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-91649608958280967452015-05-30T09:06:00.001+01:002015-05-30T09:07:22.750+01:00A (very late) birth announcement!Hello lovelies! <div><br></div><div>This post is well overdue - a month ago today, on 30 April we welcomed into the world Emily Victoria. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fielztQy8Cs/VWlvb4m-glI/AAAAAAAADpw/bRlH0LiBJmk/s640/blogger-image-1849497098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fielztQy8Cs/VWlvb4m-glI/AAAAAAAADpw/bRlH0LiBJmk/s640/blogger-image-1849497098.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I had an elective c-section at 38 weeks due to gestational diabetes. Emily arrived at 10.01 am weighing in at 8 pounds exactly. </div><div><br></div><div>She is settling in well, Zoe thinks that she's the bees knees, and I'm pretty sure that Emily feels the same about her big sister! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KdZ5g9mRqho/VWlvtk3DRUI/AAAAAAAADp4/FirDRRdfeKs/s640/blogger-image-130744577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KdZ5g9mRqho/VWlvtk3DRUI/AAAAAAAADp4/FirDRRdfeKs/s640/blogger-image-130744577.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>My recovery seems to be taking longer than with Zoe, I don't know if that's because I haven't been able to rest up as much with a mini tornado toddler to chase around! But I'm getting there! I'm looking forward to being able to drive again too! </div><div><br></div><div>Thanks for reading!</div><div>A x</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-41361270727785821452015-03-12T12:43:00.000+00:002016-02-22T12:55:57.696+00:00Pregnancy: Week 31 updateHello Lovelies!<br />
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Wow I can't believe I'm 31 weeks already! Time is going so quickly! Only a few more weeks at work then I'm freeee!!! It's been a fun week (as you may have already read <a href="http://thedustyatticblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/twtwc-3-car-is-on-fing-fire.html" target="_blank">here</a>) so let's go!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Size</span></h4>
Sprout is now about 17 inches from head to heel and weight about 4 pounds. This is the equivalent of a pineapple, apparently. As long as Sprout doesn't come out covered in spikes!! Ouch!!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Due date </span></h4>
Still 14 May. I have an appointment with the consultant on 26 March to discuss the elective c-section so this date may change if they decide to take me in earlier.<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">How far along </span></h4>
31 weeks and 2 days.<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Gender </span></h4>
No idea, it's going to be a surprise! I feel like it's a boy though!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Stretch marks </span></h4>
I don't know what's happened this week but my tummy feels really tight and stretched, so have been slathering on more of my fave Lush Dream Cream to my tummy every night! Zoe came and gave the bump a cuddle after I''d put it on and said 'Urgh! It make my chin wet!'<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Belly button
</span></h4>
Only just still an 'innie' - it's sort of flat now! And it randomly pops if I cough! Martin thinks this is hilarious of course!!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Sleep </span></h4>
I don't seem to be as tired this week, event though it's been quite stressful (see my <a href="http://thedustyatticblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/twtwc-3-car-is-on-fing-fire.html" target="_blank">last post</a>) and busy so far! I had a little nap on Sunday which was nice! I've been able to get back to sleep a bit easier as well when I wake though the night. Zoe has been quite good this week - when she's come in with us she's gone back to sleep pretty much straight away instead of wiggling and faffing about.<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Cravings </span></h4>
Oh my word I am getting through 2 pints of milk a day I think - that's just me, not including Zoe! Strawberry milkshakes are the bomb! <br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Symptoms </span></h4>
Still getting the bad heartburn, and the pain in my back and hips is getting worse - last night I could barely move! Also have pain in my ribs now, I think Sprout like to sit up under my right-hand-side ribs because they ache pretty much all the time. Woe is me!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Movements </span></h4>
Sprout has been a super wiggly thing this week! We had a little fight the other day, I would push his foot back into my tummy from where it had been poking me,and he pushed it back out somewhere else - I spent about 5 minutes chasing his foot around! I ended up giggling to myself - not a good look in the doctor's waiting room though! Sitting poking my belly and laughing to myself!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">
What I'm missing </span></h4>
Being able to eat spicy food without getting heartburn. With Zoe I couldn't get enough hotness in my food. This time even a really mild chilli sets me off!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">What I'm looking forward to </span></h4>
Hopefully getting a new car this weekend! Baby-related I'm at the midwife on Tuesday so am looking forward to hearing Sprout and being able to ask lots of questions! Poor midwife!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Best moment this week</span></h4>
The nurse when I went to get my whooping cough vaccine telling me I looked big for 31 weeks was awesome. Thanks nurse! (can you detect the sarcasm?!). I think Zoe asking me if Sprout is getting bigger, then telling me that my feet are bigger. What?!?! It made me laugh!<br />
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<a href="http://ghostwritermummy.co.uk/" title="Maternity Matters~ Ghostwritermummy"><img alt="Maternity Matters~ Ghostwritermummy" src="http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m19/ghostwritermummy1/db9b02f8-eb24-4438-85af-994e6b67697e_zps8005832d.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-68496585561735694312015-03-10T09:24:00.000+00:002016-02-22T12:57:27.053+00:00TWTWC #3 - The Car is on F***ing FIRE!!!Hello Lovelies!!<br />
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Welcome to the week that was captured #3! I was at work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week - boo!!! But I had Tuesday afternoon off so yay!!<br />
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Once again I'm linking up with Hannah at <a href="http://makedoandpush.co.uk/" target="_blank">Make, Do and Push</a>, as well as with Aby at <a href="http://youbabymemummy.com/" target="_blank">You Baby, Me Mummy</a>.<br />
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During the week I did a bit of baking - I'd been to the Spa one day and they had FREE brown bananas, so of course I grabbed a bag! I made a banana loaf cake and there was enough mix left over to make 6 muffins too. Martin and Zoe didn't like them but I did, as did my colleagues at work - I was very popular!!<br />
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I also had a lovely surprise at work on Thursday - we had a team meeting and at the start I was handed a card and a present - a lovely congratulations on completing my NVQ gift. It was so sweet and so unexpected, I may have shed a little tear - I blame the hormones!!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Friday</span></h4>
I had a super duper productive Friday this week! I basically let Zoe pull out all of her toys from her shelves and cupboard in her bedroom while I cleaned and tidied our bedroom and the spare room. She had loads of fun finding lots of old toys that have been in boxes for months!
I'm trying to make some headway on getting bedrooms moved around, I cleaned and dusted our bedroom and sorted out the 'messy corner' as well.<br />
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We had a rest at 11 to go to Rhyme Time, where we saw lots of our friends, and found out that another of my mummy friends has a bump! How exciting!!
Back home for lunch, then a bit of a tidy in the spare room before cracking out the new (replacement) vacuum cleaner and giving the whole of the first floor a super good hoover!!
Zoe was all worn out after all the cleaning so she had a nap and then Daddy was home! I made Nigella's chicken and chorizo bake for tea, which went down quite well!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Saturday</span></h4>
Zoe and I popped into town early to meet Grandma for a coffee and a play in Tullie House. We had a bit of time before story time so headed up to W H Smiths, where Grandma treated Zoe to the Frozen DVD! Martin would have been in Scotland all weekend so it was more to entertain Zoe so I could have a rest I think!!
Off we went to story time, and last week I'd said how much Zoe likes trains, so they had picked the noisy train, especially for Zoe! She was so excited, and got to press the buttons to make the train sounds!<br />
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On the way home we popped to the shops to get some bits and bobs, home for lunch and a nap, then I went upstairs and ended up falling asleep for an hour and a half - thanks Martin!!<br />
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Martin made his chilli for tea, then when I put Zoe to bed he headed off to Scotland. He'd planned to go up Saturday night, sleep in the car up near Fort William, then set off walking the next morning. He booked Monday and Tuesday off work to knock off some more Monros (3,000 ft peaks in Scotland).
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But this is where all his plans went awry!!<br />
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At 9pm I got a phone call from Martin: "I've broken down, can you phone the breakdown people cos I don't have the number.....and the car is on f***ing Fire!!!" Needless to say this was an unexpected turn of events! Martin phoned the fire brigade, who sent 4 engines (quiet night in Lockerbie then!) as well as the police.<br />
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Martin had been driving along when the engine management light came on and the car started losing power. He pulled over and got out the car to phone me (as you should if you break down on the Motorway - get out as soon as you can and go up the embankment in case another car hits you!!). As he phoned me he noticed flames coming out of the bonnet!<br />
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Unfortunately the car was pretty much engulfed within minutes, so the car is probably a write-off and all of Martin's walking and camping stuff is cinders and ashes. The car was sent off to a garage and Martin was dropped off at a local services where his Dad picked him up from - he got back home about 1am.
So an eventful Saturday night!!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Sunday</span></h4>
We spent Sunday in the house, part of the day was spent on the phone to the insurance people, the other half to clearing out the 'car boot' cupboard.
I stuck a post on freecycle early Sunday morning and someone came within about an hour and basically emptied the cupboard into their car!<br />
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Oh and my Dad and step-mum popped round at lunchtime too with my little niece, which certainly cheered me up - she's such a cutie! Zoe loved having her to play with too!<br />
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So quite an eventful weekend really, but productive too!<br />
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What did you do this weekend? Anything set on fire?!?!<br />
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<a href="http://www.makedoandpush.co.uk/"> <img alt="TWTWC" src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/makedoandpush/twtwcphoto_zpsa9645faf.jpg" height="190" width="190" /> </a> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-79042987579182470732015-03-05T08:48:00.000+00:002015-03-05T08:55:40.547+00:00Pregnancy: Week 30 updateHello Lovelies!<br />
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I feel huuuuge this week!! Only 10 weeks to go though - eek, how exciting! Can't believe how fast it's gone this time around, maybe having a toddler to look after makes time pass by faster - who knows?! Please excuse the grainy photo/messy bedroom below!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Size</span></h4>
Sprout is as big as a cabbage this week! He weights about 3 pounds and he measures about 40cm from head to toe.<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Due date </span></h4>
Still 14 May!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">How far along </span></h4>
30 weeks and 2 days.<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Gender </span></h4>
No idea, it's going to be a surprise! I feel like it's a boy though!<br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Stretch marks </span></h4>
I found a few more since last week so have been liberally applying Lush Dream Cream to my tummy every night!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Belly button
</span></h4>
Only just still an 'innie' - it's sort of flat now!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Sleep </span></h4>
I would like more please!! I had a nap this weekend with Zoe, which was lovely and I felt really refreshed afterwards, but I can't usually nap through the day unfortunately! Night times are getting pretty bad, if I wake up in the night it takes me aaages to get back off to sleep, especially if Zoe is in bed with us being a wiggle bum!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Cravings </span></h4>
I'm still loving milk and milkshakes - soooo yummy and seem to help with heartburn too! I've been craving the taste of Red Bull but haven't given in due to amount of sugar and caffeine in them!<br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Symptoms </span></h4>
Still getting the bad heartburn, and the pain in my back and hips is getting worse - last night I could barely move! Any advice?<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Movements </span></h4>
Sprout had a quiet day the other day which set me off on a spiral of worry, but is back to his usual wiggly self! He moves a lot more on an evening, just after tea and then again when I get into bed. he moves more if I lie in bed on my left side too.<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">
What I'm missing </span></h4>
Red Bull this week, I'm craving that really chemically taste! I'm missing being able to put my socks on without a lot of grunting. Oh and I miss lying on my tummy too!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">What I'm looking forward to </span></h4>
Martin's going away this weekend to Scotland if the weather is nice, so although I'm not looking forward to him leaving us all alone for the weekend (sob!) I usually end up at my Dad's for tea, which is always yummy! Thanks Dad!!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Best moment this week</span></h4>
Quite a few people have said that I look really well, one person even used the work 'glowing' so while I don't feel that amazing, at least other people think I look it!!<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y526/walkthedust/titles%20and%20signatures/thanks-signature_zps76499913.jpg" style="width: NaN%;" />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-73336460939037801242015-03-02T12:56:00.001+00:002016-02-22T12:58:17.020+00:00TWTWC #2 - Date night, Hair-Dos and Drive-Thrus!Hello Lovelies!!<br />
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Welcome to the week that was captured #2! I was at work Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week, it's getting very busy as I only have a few weeks left so trying to get everything done before I finish on 31 March - eek! This week I'm linking up with Hannah at <a href="http://makedoandpush.co.uk/" target="_blank">Make, Do and Push</a>, as well as with Aby at <a href="http://youbabymemummy.com/" target="_blank">You Baby, Me Mummy</a>.<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Thursday</span></h4>
I had a day off work on Thursday (woo!) so I went and got myself a haircut and had my eyebrows tidied up a bit, all ready for our date night on Friday! It was lovely to sit and be pampered and not have to worry about Zoe (who was at nursery). I found it very relaxing!<br />
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I then popped into Sainsbury's to do a bit of food shopping - again, lovely doing shopping without Zoe 'helping' and I treated myself to some new slippers before treating myself (again) to a Maccy D's - yay for payday!! When I got home, Martin's Dad was there putting up our new shelves in the sitting room, so I gave him a hand with those, then we went to pick Zoe up from nursery - she was very excited to see Grandad at the window and demanded that he sit in the back of the car with her! Martin's Dad stayed for tea as well on Thursday. Oh, and I trimmed Zoe's fringe as well! She looks like Joan of Arc now!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Friday </span></h4>
We had a bit of a lazy Friday this week. We went up to Rhyme Time at the Manor and saw a few friends we hadn't seen for a while which was lovely! I like Rhyme Time as it wears Zoe out! After lunch of quiche and chips we had a little nap (well, Zoe had a nap and I watched the final episode of Broadchurch - eeee!!). Zoe was staying over at Grandma's house on Friday night so that Mummy and Daddy could have date night! Grandma came and picked Zoe up about half-five, then Martin and I went out to Nando's for a lot of chicken and then on to Moo Bar which is a real-ale bar in Carlisle. If only they had some non-alcoholic ales for me!! <br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Saturday </span></h4>
I had hoped for a sleep in on Saturday morning without my little Zoe-shaped alarm clock, but I was awake at about 7 anyway! I had my breakfast in bed, then we went to get Zoe from Grandma's house - where she had slept all night in her bed! Off into town for Story Time - this week it was <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1847389767/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1847389767&linkCode=as2&tag=thedustyattic-21&linkId=XYUZWUU5QVBC2ACS">Norman the Slug with a Silly Shell</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thedustyattic-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1847389767" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. Zoe made a silly snail after the story then we did a bit of shopping and went for burger and chips for lunch. Back home for a nap - this time for me and for Zoe! I was worn out!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Sunday </span> </h4>
We were at home all day on Sunday, trying to get the house in some sort of order ready for Sprout's arrival! Martin moved all of the 'big' books downstairs and installed them on our new shelves - but we still need to make more room! I'll do a blog post at some point about the plans for the nursery/our bedroom move - remind me OK?! We got quite a bit of moving things around done and sorting out of things, there's still LOADS to do though!<br />
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Well that was our week! Back to work today, but I have tomorrow afternoon off for no reason really! Hopefully I'll get some blog-related stuff done!<br />
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What did you do this weekend?<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-25336407584006724372015-02-26T09:16:00.000+00:002016-02-22T12:58:45.901+00:00Pregnancy: Week 29 update<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello Lovelies! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I found out I was 'up stick' again, I thought it would be a wonderful idea to keep a record on the blog of each week, how I felt, what had happened, and all that jazz. But yeah. That didn't work, did it? The original plan was to do these update type posts from 12 weeks so let's just pretend I've been doing this all along shall we?! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">Size</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sprout <span style="background-color: white;">weighs about 1kg and he measures about 39cm from head to toe. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">Due date</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our due date was confirmed at the 12 week scan as being 14 May and it hasn't changed since. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">How far along</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">29 weeks and 3 days. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">Gender</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We aren't finding out the gender this time, we didn't with Zoe either. I have a feeling Sprout is a boy, but then again, I thought Zoe would be a boy so who knows?!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">Stretch marks</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been lucky so far in that I've only found a few marks on my tummy. Last time I didn't get any until the birth - I had an emergency c-section with Zoe and it was only afterwards I spotted stretch marks on one side of the scar. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">Belly button</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Still an 'innie' but only just! If I move my tummy muscles a certain way it pops out!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">Sleep</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I usually wake up at least once for a wee through the night, but it's Zoe that's causing more sleep issues than Sprout. Maybe I'll do a post alllll about Zoe's amazing sleep habits! Basically she comes into our bed at some point through the night. Sigh. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">Cravings </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been drinking a lot of milk and milkshakes, and eating a lot of mini eggs (not a craving really, they are just yummy haha!). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">Symptoms</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">How much detail so you want?! I've been getting terrible heartburn for months now, hence the milk drinking! A bottle of Gaviscon is never far away! I've also been feeling some pain in my hips, lower tummy area and 'undercarriage' when walking. I've mostly just been feeling huge and uncomfortable. Also piles. Joy. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">Movements</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sprout is fairly wiggly, the last few weeks I've been able to see him moving as well as feel him. Although the last few days I think he's fashioned a stabbing device out of a rib or something as he keeps jabbing me in the ribs with something pointy! (Probably an elbow but it feels so sharp!!). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">What I'm missing</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Red wine! I got some non-alcoholic wine from Sainsbury's a while ago, which was ok but was basically grape juice. I'd love a proper glass of Pinot Noir! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">What I'm looking forward to</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have a half-day off work on Tuesday so am looking forward to that! My Mum has also promised me a weekend away in Newcastle, including cinema, dinner and shopping! Yay! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">Best moment this week</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Zoe singing Baa Baa Black Sheep and when she's finished the first 'verse' putting her finger up and saying 'me not finished yet mummy!' Before singing the next part! It was so cute! I know this isn't Sprout-related but it was sooooo sweet!!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-17853632572808826192015-02-24T09:07:00.001+00:002016-02-22T12:59:41.211+00:00Weekend Round-up: Soggy Bums and Shelving (TWTWC #1)<div>
Hello lovelies! </div>
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I'm going to attempt to do these weekly sort of round up posts, and link up with Hannah's linky at <a href="http://makedoandpush.co.uk/" target="_blank">Make, do and push</a>. I used to do this a while ago, but haven't for a year or so, so I'm starting again at #1! Oh and I'm also linking up this week with the #PointShoot linky on <a href="http://youbabymemummy.com/" target="_blank">YouBabyMeMummy</a>.</div>
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It was a pretty busy week at work, with a couple of events being held that I had been working on for a few months - luckily they both ran really smoothly - yay!<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Friday</span></h3>
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Usually on a Friday Zoe and I pootle along to Rhyme Time for a sing and a dance with some of our friends, but it wasn't on this week because of half-term, so off we went on the bus to the park. Zoe loves going on the bus, especially going past the castle - she gets very excited if they have the flags out! After playing in the park (and getting soggy bums) we went to Costa for hot chocolate and brownies - Zoe got some marshmallows too!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hVEktfZejhA/VssEO6V8I9I/AAAAAAAAGz0/W_f_27GIc0c/s1600/IMG_8635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hVEktfZejhA/VssEO6V8I9I/AAAAAAAAGz0/W_f_27GIc0c/s640/IMG_8635.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Friday evening my mum and step-dad came round for tea, I was a bit emotional (silly pregnancy hormones!) and burst into tears as soon as my mum walked through the door, but after a cuddle and some fish and chips I was fine!<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Saturday</span></h3>
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Martin's best buddy Tony came to stay on Friday night so that they could get up early and go walking in the lakes. So it was an early start for all of us on Saturday. Once the boys had left, Zoe and I went into town to meet my mum and Zoe's cousins, for coffee (grown-ups) and a play (kiddos). Then we went to story time at the Carlisle Book Shop, an independent book shop in Carlisle that has a free story time session every Saturday, with biscuits, juice and crafts! This week the story was 'All Mine' about a naughty seagull that kept stealing food off a poor little mouse. Aww! Oh, and Zoe sat in a helicopter too! And our hoover broke (again)! Boo!<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Sunday</span></h3>
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Another busy day! Zoe and I popped out for half an hour to get out of the way while Martin was getting the sitting room ready for his Dad coming to put up some shelves. It's musical bedrooms upstairs in preparation for Sprout arriving - we are moving into the spare room, and Sprout will have our old room. But a lot of our books are in the spare room so we need to move all of those out before we can do anything, hence the shelves being installed in the sitting room.<br />
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When we got back, Martin's Mum and Dad arrived, so Martin and his Dad started doing manly stuff with drills - time for us to go! Martin's Mum took Zoe and me out for lunch (yum!) - thank you!! When we got home it was time for Zoe and me to go to Zoe's cousin's 4th birthday party, where we saw lots of family, had cake, and Zoe 'helped' Ashton open his presents. Back home to a roast dinner expertly cooked by Martin before rolling into bed early! Phew!<br />
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Hopefully next weekend will be a bit calmer!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-72324985930326280302015-02-17T13:01:00.000+00:002016-02-22T13:01:38.096+00:00What's been occurring?Hello Lovelies!<br />
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Well I haven't blogged since September - poor effort Anna!! One of the (many) reasons I stopped blogging was that we found out we were expecting baby number 2 in October and the morning all day sickness and tiredness meant that all I wanted to do when not at work was sleep. So blogging took a back seat.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr4pQ1ba-oA/VssEw7bEYbI/AAAAAAAAG2g/5x1Xw_4FPi8/s1600/IMG_7529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr4pQ1ba-oA/VssEw7bEYbI/AAAAAAAAG2g/5x1Xw_4FPi8/s640/IMG_7529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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But that doesn't really explain the lack of blogging happening over here does it? To be honest I sort of lost heart a bit with it all but I'm hoping to spend more time over here on this little bit of the Internet. </div>
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So what's been happening lately? </div>
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Christmas and New Year was lovely!</div>
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I've been nesting, so lots of de-cluttering, sorting, and list making ready for baby arriving in May!</div>
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I got a gorgeous new planner! Post coming soon!</div>
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We've had some lovely days out with family, seeing steam trains and castles.</div>
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Carlisle had lots of lovely snow a while ago and Zoe had so much fun!</div>
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I'll be back soon with a post about our day out at Barnard Castle, as well as a few pregnancy and baby related posts!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-63089323558408954082014-09-12T09:00:00.000+01:002014-09-12T09:00:02.521+01:00The Reading Tag 2014<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello Lovelies!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I saw this tag over on <a href="http://caffrinc.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/the-reading-tag.html" target="_blank">Catherine's blog</a> and as she tagged 'anyone and everyone' I thought that I would do it too! I've seen various book and reading tags floating around for a while now and wanted to do a video, but then I chickened out! Boo!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I certainly don't get as much time to read as I did BZ (before Zoe), but that just means that I really savor those moments I do get a chance to curl up with a book! </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-teGfyIYr980/U6QENmBIg0I/AAAAAAAACsw/V_2ZFdcZa4Q/s1600/IMG_5603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The reading tag 2014 - my to read list" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-teGfyIYr980/U6QENmBIg0I/AAAAAAAACsw/V_2ZFdcZa4Q/s1600/IMG_5603.JPG" height="480" title="The reading tag 2014 - my to read list" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you have a certain place for reading at home?</span></b><br />
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There are a couple of places I like to read - number one is in bed - comfy, cosy, sleepy time! I find that I sleep a lot better when I read before bed than if I go on my phone. The second is in the bath - not that I have time for long baths these days, but when I do I like to fill the tub with the hottest water I can stand, turn myself pink like a lobster, and (if it is the evening time) have a glass of cold white wine while surrounded by bubbles (usually from Lush!). Perfect!</div>
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<centre><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bookmark or random piece of paper?</span></b></centre></div>
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At the moment I'm using a card that I was sent by <a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/newtonandtheapple" target="_blank">Newton and the Apple</a> when I bought Martin's fater's day presnet form Zoe - it's a little card with constelations on that says something like 'You are a star - a super shiny one' and it also says 'thank you anna!' on it - it makes me smile!</div>
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<centre><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter or a certain number of pages?</span></b></centre></div>
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I can usually stop anywhere if I'm tired and then can pick up where I am again quite easily, although if it is a super exciting 'page-turner' type of book, I tell myself 'one more chapter' then ignore myself and keep reading! </div>
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<centre><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you eat or drink when reading?</span></b></centre></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">On the rare occasions I get the chance to have an afternoon read then a cup of tea is my drink of choice. As I said above, bath = booze!!</span><br />
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<centre><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">One book at a time or several at once?</span></b></centre></div>
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Usually one book at a time, although if I get a graphic novel mid-way through a long book, then I'll take a night or two out to read the graphic novel instead. It's nice to have a break sometimes! I would struggle to read two fiction books at the same time though - I have enough trouble remembering the plot of one!</div>
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<centre><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reading at home or everywhere?</span></b></centre></div>
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At home, I don't really have the opportunity to read anywhere else usually. Although if I have to go on a train journey I'll take a book with me (but sometimes it makes me feel a bit squiffy - especially those pendolinos!!). </div>
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<centre><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reading out loud or silently in your head?</span></b></centre></div>
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The only time I read out loud is when I'm reading to Zoe, and then I like to put on silly voices. The mouse in the Gruffalo is always super camp when I read his voice though - and the snake has a lisp! Please tell me that other mums do this too?!?!</div>
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<centre><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you ever read ahead or skip pages?</span></b></centre></div>
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Sometimes my eyes will 'accidentally' skip down the page - especially if it's an exciting bit! I don't like to skip pages in case I miss something exciting, or crucial to the plot. </div>
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<centre><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Breaking the spine or keeping it new?</span></b></centre></div>
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Sorry - I break spines! Does that make me a bad reader? I don't care!! </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><centre><b>Do you ever write in books?</b></centre></span></div>
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No! I did once, a looong time ago - I tried analysing a book like it was some sort of GCSE coursework project. Sad or what?</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><centre><b>What are you currently reading?</b></centre></span></div>
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I'm reading The Tudor Princess by Darcey Bonnette which Martin bought me for my birthday. Or our anniversary. I can't remember! I do have a massive pile of books to read though and I'm eagerly awaiting Insurgent coming out in paperback! </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><b>I will also tag anyone and everyone! Leave me a comment if you do this tag!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y526/walkthedust/titles%20and%20signatures/thanks-signature_zps76499913.jpg" /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-15161887972021522402014-09-05T09:00:00.000+01:002016-02-22T13:02:24.988+00:00Zoe's Birthday Party!Hello Lovelies!<br />
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On 16 August our little Zoe turned two! How did that happen, I do not know! We had a quiet morning opening presents, and then at 2pm family started arriving for the little party. I should have taken some photos of the decorations I did - a yarn-covered number '2', some tissue paper pom-poms in mint green and pink, and a little yarn pom-pom bunting. Very cute!! I also stuck photos of Zoe along the wall which people loved looking at, and finding themselves in the photos too!<br />
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Here are a few photos from the day:<br />
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Zoe taking a little break from opening her presents to sit in the giant cardboard box!</div>
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Zoe's dress was bought by Martin's Mum - it has loads of little shoes and bags on it! She didn't want to wear her pretty party shoes either, but these winter boots - that's some style you got there Zoe!!</div>
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One of her presents was this umberella - she walked around for ages saying 'rain! rain!' and poking people with the brolly! Please note the footwear change to blue mock-crocs with socks - another fashion faux-pas Zoe!</div>
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Blowing out the candles on her Thomas cake with Daddy - who managed to singe her fringe just after this photo was taken! </div>
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We sang happy birthday to her three times - the first time she blushed and went so shy - it was super cute!! </div>
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What was your best birthday?<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y526/walkthedust/titles%20and%20signatures/thanks-signature_zps76499913.jpg" style="width: NaN%;" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-26337997985510726412014-09-02T09:00:00.000+01:002014-09-02T09:00:04.825+01:00What I brought home from Woolfest 2014Hello Lovelies<br />
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Wow, so this post has been sat in my drafts for a while! Remember back in June I went to Woolfest with my most amazing godmother Penny? No worries if you can't (it was aaaages ago!) - you can have a little read about my exciting day <a href="http://thedustyatticblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/woolfest-2014.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Anywho - I said that I would share with you all of the lovely things I brought home with me and here they are!<br />
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First of all I just want to show you all of the lovely business cards and leaflets that I picked up from the various stands and stalls. Aren't they bright and cheery! I love keeping little bits and pieces like these, and if I was a more organised person I'm sure that they would be stuck in a scrapbook. But alas I am not organised and they are in a paper bag on my dressing table. Sigh.<br />
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This was my 'big treat' from the day - I didn't have a lot of money to spend so I wanted to get one skein of yarn that was soft and squishy and bright, so that I could have a go at crocheting a shawl/scarf type of thing. This is the yarn that I picked. It's from <a href="http://easyknits.co.uk/">easyknits.co.uk</a> and it's called Unicorn Dreams. And it sparkles. Need I say any more?!?! It's a 4 ply/sock weight yarn so perfect for a shawl, and I've almost finished it! I'm using this pattern from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AlaSascha?ref=l2-shopheader-name" target="_blank">A la Sascha</a> on Etsy and it's called the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/128122785/windmill-shawl-crochet-pdf-pattern?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=windmill+shawl&ga_ship_to=GB&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery" target="_blank">Windmill Shawl</a>. There are quite a few mistakes in it, but there is no way I'm frogging it back - it's taken me so long to make!! Once I'm finished I will surely do an Attic24-style 'Ta-Da' post for you all!<br />
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This lovely spiral of gorgeousness was my other purchase of the day. Actually, Penny bought me it (thanks Penny!), not so that I could have a go at spinning (as much as I would love to I just don't think I have time for another crafty hobby!), but so that I can use it in my needle felting. I wrote a little post a while back all <a href="http://thedustyatticblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/adventures-in-felting.html" target="_blank">about needle felting</a>, and even <a href="http://thedustyatticblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/book-review-little-felted-animals.html" target="_blank">reviewed a book</a> too. But I really want to use these tops for a flat needle felted picture, that I am imaging I would then stick on a bit of card and send to a lovely person. Whether I ever get round to it or not is another matter! In the meantime I just enjoy giving it a squish whenever I come accross it in my stash.<br />
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I'm planning on popping to <a href="http://yarndale.co.uk/" target="_blank">Yarndale</a> at the end of the month, so no doubt there will be more purchases and another post coming up all about that. I want to meet Lucy from <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Attic24</a> but am a bit scared I will go all fangirly and scare the bejeebus out of her.<br />
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Anyone else going to Yarndale? See you there!<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y526/walkthedust/titles%20and%20signatures/thanks-signature_zps76499913.jpg" style="width: NaN%;" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-72726083495460395752014-07-30T12:32:00.000+01:002014-07-30T12:38:57.309+01:00What's it all about anyway?Hello Lovelies!<br />
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I've been thinking a lot about this little blog lately. About why I blog, what I want to blog about, how I wish I had more time to spend on the blog, about other fantastic bloggers, about the type of blogs I read and why I read them.<br />
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A lot of thinking about things you'll agree!<br />
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I was talking to two of my fellow Cumbrian Bloggers yesterday over lunch - <a href="http://theperfecthidingplace.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Jo</a> and <a href="http://onthedressingtable.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Anna</a> - about some of these things. I always said that I never wanted to do a 'sorry I haven't updated the blog in forever!' style post, because a) I don't think that many people would even realise that I hadn't been blogging and b) you get all kinds of guilty feelings when you start to think like that.<br />
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Jo asked me yesterday "Do you ever not post for ages and then just feel like quitting?" - I know exactly what she means, although I don't feel like quitting. I try my hardest not to feel pressure to blog, but the fact that I actually have a blog is pressure itself, even if that pressure only comes from me.<br />
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In all aspects of my life, I seem to want to do everything. At work, I'm the one who volunteers for everything. Martin has said to me recently that I shouldn't start any new hobbies as I have enough stuff going on already. He was talking about loom bands, which to be honest, I lost interest in after about a week.<br />
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So what is the point of this (actually pretty random and rambly) post?<br />
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I guess it's to say to any of my readers (if I have any) that I'm still about, even though it's like the Marie Celeste over here. I'm enjoying spending time with my family, and enjoying the sunny weather (which now seems to have disappeared), I'm enjoying reading books in bed with Martin, and I'm enjoying spending (some of) my evenings exercising (yes - that's right - me! Exercise! Ha!).<br />
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I'm sure that at some point I'll pop back on over - I have lots of posts in my drafts folder (including some Woolfest related ones). They aren't going to go anywhere though, they will still be sitting there patiently waiting for me to sit down in front of my laptop with a cup of tea.<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y526/walkthedust/titles%20and%20signatures/thanks-signature_zps76499913.jpg" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-45760599439096346272014-07-04T09:30:00.000+01:002016-02-22T13:02:49.824+00:00Woolfest 2014Hello Lovelies!<br />
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Last Friday I went to <a href="http://www.woolfest.co.uk/">Woolfest</a> in Cockermouth (no giggling please!). I met up with my wonderful Godmother Penny and we had a day filled with yarny goodness, chatting and catching up, and spending money! This is a pretty picture heavy post - just to warn you!!<br />
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I've been trying to get to Woolfest for the last 3 years or so, and have been thwarted each year - but not this year!! I was determined to go, so booked the day off work and organised childcare for Zoe (thanks Diane!). And I am so glad that I did.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RK0GfOUIUNM/U7UudgZ2wZI/AAAAAAAACyM/4azUiGzyDUY/s1600/woolfest-survival-kit-whats-in-my-bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="woolfest survival kit - or - what's in my bag for woolfest" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RK0GfOUIUNM/U7UudgZ2wZI/AAAAAAAACyM/4azUiGzyDUY/s1600/woolfest-survival-kit-whats-in-my-bag.jpg" title="woolfest survival kit - or - what's in my bag for woolfest" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">My Woolfest survival kit - peanut M&M's - standard. Camera, business cards, fancy phone camera lenses, notebook and pencil, pennies, lippy, juice. Ready to go! Not pictured: phone, map, excitement, plan of attack.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CrcXc8iFtTs/U7Uuc9-ZtJI/AAAAAAAACyE/e1VHPNLvwH0/s1600/woolfest-fleece-sale-wool-sheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="fleece sale at woolfest" border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CrcXc8iFtTs/U7Uuc9-ZtJI/AAAAAAAACyE/e1VHPNLvwH0/s1600/woolfest-fleece-sale-wool-sheep.jpg" title="fleece sale at woolfest" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">While I was waiting for Penny to arrive I went to check out the fleece sale - it was very strange - people were buying and selling these sacks of fleece, straight of the sheep - it all seemed very interesting, with people bartering and cash changing hands like they were dealing!! </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0CSP5A3s4Bo/U7UuZZP7sPI/AAAAAAAACx8/ATB1k3GlLvA/s1600/woolfest-alpacas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="alpacas at woolfest" border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0CSP5A3s4Bo/U7UuZZP7sPI/AAAAAAAACx8/ATB1k3GlLvA/s1600/woolfest-alpacas.jpg" title="alpacas at woolfest" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I also went to check out the alpacas which I think are me new favourite animal - well apart from owls!! Look at these cuties!!</span></div>
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We started off with a coffee while working out a plan of action using the programme, then we had a 'structured wander' around, before I pootled off to do a workshop on Tunisian crochet. After I learned my new skill we had the yummiest lunch followed by a bit more wander, spending of money and chatting to some of the stall holders.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BLVOzf8ONDY/U7UuTwo4VoI/AAAAAAAACxs/k2wFjznROtQ/s1600/buttons-woolfest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="buttons at woolfest" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BLVOzf8ONDY/U7UuTwo4VoI/AAAAAAAACxs/k2wFjznROtQ/s1600/buttons-woolfest.jpg" title="buttons at woolfest" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Buttons! Hundreds of buttons! (I didn't get the name of this stall unfortunately)</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TDLbcHdufY8/U7UuQ9KWGXI/AAAAAAAACxk/P8nW1T7u95A/s1600/Thread-of-life-tunisian-crochet-workshop-tutorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Thread of Life crochet stand at Woolfest demonstrating Tunisian Crochet" border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TDLbcHdufY8/U7UuQ9KWGXI/AAAAAAAACxk/P8nW1T7u95A/s1600/Thread-of-life-tunisian-crochet-workshop-tutorial.jpg" title="Thread of Life crochet stand at Woolfest demonstrating Tunisian Crochet" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">This is the lovely Helen from the <a href="http://www.threadoflife.co.uk/" target="_blank">Thread of Life</a> stand teaching us all how to do Tunisian Crochet - I picked it up super fast and was showing some of the other people there how to do it! Check out that crochet skirt!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sy--7L571bY/U7UuVttdaDI/AAAAAAAACx0/kYauNoU5Duk/s1600/tunisian-crochet-workshop-my-sample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="my sample of tunisian crochet from thread of life workshop" border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sy--7L571bY/U7UuVttdaDI/AAAAAAAACx0/kYauNoU5Duk/s1600/tunisian-crochet-workshop-my-sample.jpg" title="my sample of tunisian crochet from thread of life workshop" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">And here is my sample of Tunisian Crochet - not too bad! I bought the hook so I can do some more at home, I just need to find some patterns now!</span></div>
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I definitely had my favourite stalls that I have been stalking online since I got back. I wish I had more pennies to spend on wool and stuff! It would be very easy to spend hundreds of pounds at Woolfest! What I will do so as not to bombard you with another three million photos is do separate posts on each of these stands:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fhXxNLMy8Lg/U7UuChiqNNI/AAAAAAAACw4/BRyL8njnYB4/s1600/Easyknits-yarns-wool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="easyknits.co.uk stand at woolfest - bright colours of yarn and wool" border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fhXxNLMy8Lg/U7UuChiqNNI/AAAAAAAACw4/BRyL8njnYB4/s1600/Easyknits-yarns-wool.jpg" title="easyknits.co.uk stand at woolfest - bright colours of yarn and wool" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I couldn't believe how colourful the <a href="http://www.easyknits.co.uk/" target="_blank">Easyknits</a> stand was - it was a riot of rainbow colours! I bought one of the varigated yarns in this photo - can you guess which one?</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYYRQIkiw1Q/U7UuCNuQLiI/AAAAAAAACw0/mPtr0CVYhI0/s1600/H-anne-made-textile-artist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="H-anne-MADE textile art stand at woolfest" border="0" height="498" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYYRQIkiw1Q/U7UuCNuQLiI/AAAAAAAACw0/mPtr0CVYhI0/s1600/H-anne-made-textile-artist.jpg" title="H-anne-MADE textile art stand at woolfest" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I was initially attracted to the <a href="http://annebrooke.co.uk/" target="_blank">H-anne-MADE</a> stand because of Anne's use of maps in her art, but to be honest everything on this stand was beautiful! And Anne herself is the loveliest lady!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3VhjkTrPzFk/U7UuL8TPeFI/AAAAAAAACxU/HdJ2IlpYwVA/s1600/Natural-Dye-Studio-Yarns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the natural dye studio - a wall of colourful wool silk yarn" border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3VhjkTrPzFk/U7UuL8TPeFI/AAAAAAAACxU/HdJ2IlpYwVA/s1600/Natural-Dye-Studio-Yarns.jpg" title="the natural dye studio - a wall of colourful wool silk yarn" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">The beautiful examples of crochet shawls and blankets on <a href="http://www.thenaturaldyestudio.com/" target="_blank">The Natural Dye Studio</a>'s stand is what caught my attention initially, but the yarn was so pretty and squishy and all made with natural dyes (hence the name!). </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-paxJOsoBdH8/U7UuDOeVVmI/AAAAAAAACw8/jZ_ooC1RphA/s1600/Bangladesh-hand-embroidery-sophie-pattinson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bangladesh hand embroidery sophie pattinson" border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-paxJOsoBdH8/U7UuDOeVVmI/AAAAAAAACw8/jZ_ooC1RphA/s1600/Bangladesh-hand-embroidery-sophie-pattinson.jpg" title="Bangladesh hand embroidery sophie pattinson" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"> I just wanted to talk about this fantastic woman - <a href="http://www.sophiepattinson.com/" target="_blank">Sophie Pattinson</a> - who runs Bangladesh Hand Embroidery. This stand had the most beautiful hand embroidered throws, cushions and little lavender pouches. They are all designed by Sophie and then hand embroidered by women in Bangladesh as part of an income generating project to support women living in remote areas of Bangladesh.</span><br />
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So I will add in links to the more in detail posts above when I've posted them. If you stayed with me this long then well done, that was a big post!! </div>
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But if I haven't bored you to tears with Woolfest talk, you can go and have a look at Amanda's post on her blog <a href="http://amandauniquely.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/woolfest-2014.html" target="_blank">over here [click]</a>.</div>
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y526/walkthedust/titles%20and%20signatures/thanks-signature_zps76499913.jpg" style="width: NaN%;" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-4646591052980999382014-07-01T13:58:00.000+01:002014-07-01T13:58:41.639+01:00Sticky9 Giveaway Winner!!Hello Lovelies!<br />
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This morning I put all of the names in <strike>a hat</strike> a spreadsheet and used the random number generator to pick a winner at random. Here's the spreadsheet:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-izdrWJsEkGQ/U7KwL1zekxI/AAAAAAAACt4/wPfhhMutEx4/s1600/spreadsheet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-izdrWJsEkGQ/U7KwL1zekxI/AAAAAAAACt4/wPfhhMutEx4/s1600/spreadsheet.png" height="356" width="640" /></a></div>
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- and that winner is ........<br />
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*drum roll<br />
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<a href="http://theperfecthidingplace.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Lovely Jo from The Perfect Hiding Place</a>!! You were lucky number 5!!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4yRFdYKHRs/U7KwL3KXeXI/AAAAAAAACt0/SOsfI042mP8/s1600/random-number.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4yRFdYKHRs/U7KwL3KXeXI/AAAAAAAACt0/SOsfI042mP8/s1600/random-number.png" /></a></div>
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Yay! Congratulations Jo! Hope you enjoy your Instagram magnets!<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y526/walkthedust/titles%20and%20signatures/thanks-signature_zps76499913.jpg" style="width: NaN%;" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-61334290260442329792014-06-17T13:22:00.000+01:002014-06-17T15:44:20.709+01:0032 before 32Hello Lovelies!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l4yP1dxqgko/U6AyhOlmJeI/AAAAAAAACj0/uaEPKmsAQgA/s1600/IMG_5883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l4yP1dxqgko/U6AyhOlmJeI/AAAAAAAACj0/uaEPKmsAQgA/s1600/IMG_5883.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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So last week I shared my 31 before 31 list wherein I managed to do <a href="http://thedustyatticblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/31-before-31-how-did-i-do.html" target="_blank">12 out of 31 things</a>! I asked you lovely lot to suggest some things to add to my 32 before 32 list, and I've carried over a few from the 31 before 31 list as well, plus a few random new ones too!!<br />
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1. Make a dress for Zoe<br />
2. Bake one of my Gran's recipes<br />
3. Make a video of my Gran telling me how to bake one of her lovely cakes<br />
4. Climb Snowdon<br />
5. Climb Ben Nevis<br />
6. Climb Hellvelyn<br />
7. Climb Blencathra<br />
8. Finish crocheting the rainbow granny square blanket<br />
9. Finish of the crochet bunting for Zoe's room<br />
10. Finish the crochet socks I started in May<br />
11. Walk around Buttermere<br />
12. Go to Woolfest<br />
13. Go to Yarndale<br />
14. Visit Glasgow<br />
15. Visit Bruges<br />
16. Visit Wales<br />
17. Start making a patchwork quilt<br />
18. Start a crochet ripple blanket<br />
19. Find a nice pattern and crochet a shawl with lovely wool<br />
20. Make 20 sales, either on Etsy, Folksy or in real life<br />
21. Update the branding for The Dusty Attic<br />
22. Meet some new fellow bloggers in real life<br />
23. Interact more on-line (commenting and twitter are the main 2)<br />
24. Take more film photos on all my film cameras (and get them developed)<br />
25. Cook a Tagine. From scratch.<br />
26. Make a wedding photo album/photo book<br />
27. Put other photos in photo albums<br />
28. Re-decorate the kitchen<br />
29. Re-decorate our bedroom<br />
30. Expand my shop's product range<br />
31. Go on a craft course<br />
32. Do a life drawing class<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y526/walkthedust/titles%20and%20signatures/thanks-signature_zps76499913.jpg" style="width: NaN%;" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-76919799319735251792014-06-12T09:30:00.000+01:002014-06-12T09:30:00.644+01:0031 before 31 - How did I do? Hello Lovelies!<br />
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Remember I (belatedly) posted my list of 31 things that I wanted to do before I turned 31 (if not you can go and have a read here). Well I sort of forgot about them a bit, so I didn't do all that many of them. But I did do some of them!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4NAkhCMnCVA/U5b-i2qVpVI/AAAAAAAACjU/2ysHNDuO37E/s1600/collect_memories_not_things_by_dwesche-d5d5hak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4NAkhCMnCVA/U5b-i2qVpVI/AAAAAAAACjU/2ysHNDuO37E/s1600/collect_memories_not_things_by_dwesche-d5d5hak.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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(<a href="http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/244/9/a/collect_memories_not_things_by_dwesche-d5d5hak.jpg" target="_blank">source</a>)</div>
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1. Make a dress for Zoe - <span style="color: #e06666;">Nope, I have patterns and some fabric I could probably use, and a sewing machine and overlocker, but not the time!!</span><br />
2. Make a dress for me - <span style="color: #e06666;">Nope - see above!!</span><br />
3. Bake one of my Gran's recipes - chocolate cake or cherry cake - <span style="color: #e06666;">Nope, I think my Aunty has copied them down for me, but I need to get them off her.</span><br />
4. Make a video of my Gran telling me how to make her cakes - <span style="color: #e06666;">Nope, I saw her this last weekend but it was way too noisy to try to make a recording!</span><br />
5. Climb Scafell Pike - <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Yes, I did it!! The day before my birthday, you can read about it in <a href="http://thedustyatticblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/birthday-weekend-in-lake-district-bedm.html" target="_blank">this post</a>.</span><br />
6. Climb Snowdon - <span style="color: #e06666;">Nope</span><br />
7. Climb Ben Nevis - <span style="color: #e06666;">Nope</span><br />
8. Climb Hellvelyn - <span style="color: #e06666;">Nope</span><br />
9. Finish crocheting the rainbow granny square blanket - <span style="color: #e06666;">Nope, still not finished, I need to order some more wool as I have almost ran out, hopefully I can still get it and the colours won't be too different.</span><br />
10. Visit York again - <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Yes, I went in November 2013 with Martin, Zoe, Gene and Diane. I don't think I wrote a blog post about it though. Hmm.</span><br />
11. Walk around Buttermere - <span style="color: #e06666;">Nope</span><br />
12. Take more photos on film - <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Yes, some in Whitby, York and Keswick, and round Carlisle too. And I got the film developed! I'll scan them in and do a little post about it soon!</span><br />
13. Use my film cameras more - <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Yes, I've just realised that this is almost the same as number 12, but I have been using my Pentax, my Lomo and an old 35mm camera that belonged to my great-uncle too.</span><br />
14. Get some digital photos printed - <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Yep! I've been using an app on my phone where you get 40 free prints a month, you just have to pay postage - pretty awesome!!</span><br />
15. Visit Glasgow - <span style="color: #e06666;">Nope</span><br />
16. Go to a craft fair - <span style="color: #6aa84f;">I think I went to a couple, but I didn't go to one as a seller, which I do want to do this year.</span><br />
17. Make some crochet or felt bunting for Zoe's room - <span style="color: #e06666;">I've made the triangles but need to crochet it all together, so I'm calling this one not done, I'll put it on 32 in 32.</span><br />
18. Make a patchwork quilt (or at least start to make it) - <span style="color: #e06666;">Nope, I have some fabric though :)</span><br />
19. Go to a networking event - <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Yes, I've been to quite a few, and also arranged one for work!</span><br />
20. Make 20 sales in my Etsy shop - <span style="color: #e06666;">Nope, only made 8 sales. Sigh. Must Try Harder!!</span><br />
21. Visit Bruges - <span style="color: #e06666;">Nope - and no I don't have a passport this one is even trickier!</span><br />
22. Go to my godmother's house for coffee - <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Even better than going for a coffee, I went to spend her birthday with her and went out for a meal and stayed over! Woop! I mentioned it in <a href="http://thedustyatticblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/insta-update-2.html" target="_blank">this post</a>.</span><br />
23. Have something published in a magazine - <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Yes, I was in our local Carlisle Living magazine, for an event I organised at work, along with Jo from <a href="http://theperfecthidingplace.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Perfect Hiding Place</a>. </span><br />
24. Learn how to use LinkedIn effectively - <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Yes! Thank you work!</span><br />
25. Go bowling - <span style="color: #e06666;">Nope</span><br />
26. Go to Wasdale for a picnic with Martin and Zoe - <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Sort of. We went to Wasdale and had food in the car, so it was sort of a picnic. Blogged about in <a href="http://thedustyatticblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/birthday-weekend-in-lake-district-bedm.html" target="_blank">this post</a>.</span><br />
27. Find all of my baby photos at my Dad's house - <span style="color: #e06666;">Nope, they are still missing - booo!!</span><br />
28. Crochet a bunny or bear for Zoe - <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Yes! I made her a little crochet bunny, no blog post about that yet!</span><br />
29. Re-decorate our bedroom. Because it is U.G.L.Y! - <span style="color: #e06666;">Nope, I've started in the kitchen though!</span><br />
30. Expand my shop's product range - <span style="color: #e06666;">Not yet, but I have started planning some new products, just need to make them and photograph them and add them to the shop...</span><br />
31. Learn how to wet felt -<span style="color: #e06666;"> Nope - I actually know how to wet felt, I did it at Uni, but I want to go and do a little course to refresh my memory!</span><br />
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So I have done 12 out of 31 things - pretty rubbish!!<br />
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I'm working on my 32 before 32 post at the moment, I'm aiming to post it next week, and I want you all to suggest things for me to put on it in the comments! Go!!<br />
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<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/walkthedust/media/titles%20and%20signatures/thanks-signature_zps76499913.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="THANKS photo thanks-signature_zps76499913.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y526/walkthedust/titles%20and%20signatures/thanks-signature_zps76499913.jpg" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999841607092926000.post-7725487672585800782014-06-09T09:30:00.000+01:002014-06-10T13:10:36.949+01:00A Sticky9 Review and a Giveaway for you!Hello Lovelies!<br />
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A while ago I won a giveaway over on the lovely Leona's blog to win a set of Sticky9 Instagram magnets. I'd seen Sticky9 (which used to be called Stickygram) all over blog land, but hadn't really thought about using them (even though we <a href="http://thedustyatticblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/collecting-miscellany.html" target="_blank">collect fridge magnets</a>!!). I'd had a few Instagram photos printed from various other places, and had always been a bit under-awed at the quality.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A2K61ooMaY0/U0-uNmMrh4I/AAAAAAAABeA/EUB60CVmXiY/s1600/IMG_4870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A2K61ooMaY0/U0-uNmMrh4I/AAAAAAAABeA/EUB60CVmXiY/s1600/IMG_4870.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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But not with Sticky9! I tell you, I was a bit dubious about the quality, I wasn't sure if they would print true to colour, and I've also found some prints tend to come out a bit 'flat' looking.<br />
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These magnets are fantastic though! The print quality is top-notch, with a lovely smooooth matte finish (I much prefer a matte finish, don't you?). The colours really popped and were really true to the image - they didn't look flat or dull at all.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V0ZcinxnC0M/U0-vsCxOumI/AAAAAAAABjU/nulNASb_49s/s1600/IMG_4875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V0ZcinxnC0M/U0-vsCxOumI/AAAAAAAABjU/nulNASb_49s/s1600/IMG_4875.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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The process is super simple too - just link Sticky9 to your Instagram account and upload the photos you want - bingo! Super simple, just like me haha!!<br />
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They don't just do the magnets in the photo - they have different sizes, and you can select to have 9 different prints, or one big 'jigsaw' print if you want. And they also do phone cases and iPad cases too! You can view their full range of products on their website at <a href="https://sticky9.com/">sticky9.com</a><br />
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The magnets I won cost £9.99 (bargain!!) and they do free shipping too which totally sweetens the deal!<br />
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<b>Now for the good bit!</b><br />
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Sticky9 have said that they would love to give one of my lovely readers the chance to win a pack of 9 Instagram magnets, and it is super easy to enter! All you need to do is go and visit their website (<a href="http://sticky9.com/">sticky9.com</a>) and then let me know in the comments what snaps you would get printed.<br />
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Will you go for a load of pictures of your loved ones (including the cat), or maybe you'd like to get 9 of your fave #wiwt snaps printed so you can recreate that awesome outfit when you are half asleep of a morning!<br />
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The giveaway is open until midnight on Monday 30 June, it's one entry per person and it's open internationally! Remember to leave me a way to contact you if you win!<br />
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Good luck!<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y526/walkthedust/titles%20and%20signatures/thanks-signature_zps76499913.jpg" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15126823864095277739noreply@blogger.com22