Happy New Year!

Well, Christmas is over, the snow has gone and the usual rythms of our lives are slowly returning to normal (except tonight when all four of us troup round to friends' for a night of festivities!). I could make a list of all the things I want to achieve in 2011 (a long list), and all the things I didn't achieve in 2010 (an even longer list), but instead I've decided to keep it simple this year and only have two resolutions, I figure that the fewer I have the fewer I can break!
My first is obvious and cliched, but with my brother getting married in August and a family beach holiday with friends imminent in May it is a necessary one - you've guessed it - I have to eat less, exercise more (or a bit anyway!) and drop a few dress sizes.
The other resolution has developed over the past few days. At this time of year most bloggers reflect over the previous year and show their pictures, some have done the 365 Photos project (a photo taken every day of the year) which I find fascinating but don't feel I'm up to that sort of commitment! So instead I've decided to post one photo per week for the next year, it should give me a record of the year without causing me to melt down with the stress of it all - there's only so much I can do in one lifetime! I think I'll post random photos, sometimes I might record momentous moments, at other times I might just post a picture of the washing up (thrilling huh?!)
So that's it, lose weight and make my blogging habit a little more regular with my 52 Photos project. If you want to join me in either venture, leave a comment and I'll start up a Flickr group or something.

Hope you have a very jolly time tonight, and that 2011 brings you more love, fun and kindness than 2010!

P.S One short note, I will not be posting my weight at any point on this blog (or indeed anywhere else), that is between me and the bathroom scales!

The 'ta da' moment for my little house!

I finished my little house tonight, and I'm so proud, have a look around (Unfortunately I was so excited, I couldn't wait for good light for the photos!)
Anyway, here's the front:

 One side:

 The back:

 The other side:

 The vegetable patch - I love how the carrots turned out (hopefully other people recognise the carrots!):

 The pond:

 A view of of the indoors and outdoors:

And that's it, my little house will be winging it's way to Scotland tomorrow complete with a Sylvanian Mouse Family, so my little house is now a Mouse House (sorry couldn't resist!)

Homemade presents WIP

I'm having a ball embellishing my little house, have a look:

There's still a way to go, but I'm so happy with it!

Homemade Christmas presents

It's been a while since I've blogged about my 20 Minuters pledge, partly because I haven't had my camera handy and partly because I have to admit I haven't strictly done 20 minutes of craft every single day. But today, I am glad to report, I've more than made up for my lack of crafting.

I have another cold, can you believe it? I felt so ropey this morning that I didn't go to work. Usually I battle on but today I just couldn't. Sitting watching daytime TV was very depressing, so in the end I went to get my sewing machine, gathered a blanket around me, and got started on a project I've been dying to do all year.

I have coveted this little house for so long, but I lack confidence when it comes to using the sewing machine so imagine my surprise when I managed this:

It isn't finished, but I am so chuffed with it I couldn't wait to post it! I'll do a final 'tada' (and show off the cute floor boards) when I've put in the fireplace and doors and windows. This one is for a very good friend's 2 year old, but I want to do another for Little Miss. If you like it, the tutorial is very easy to follow, and there's a Flickr group who offer huge amounts of inspiration (I really love the bird box!)

I also joined a Secret Santa last week, so I crocheted this scarf for some 'lucky' person:

 I'm not sure about it but it's too late now!

Poorly bunnies and chicken soup

There are no pictures in this post, and once you've read it you'll understand why!
I'm sitting under the furriest blanket we own, feeling cold and sniffing (I would say sniffling but I'm past being ladylike!). I should have suspected something was up on Monday evening, when I opened Little Miss's bedroom, to check on her before going to bed, only to find a scene from the Amityville Horror in front of me. A tummy bug was quickly diagnosed and Little Miss was hosed down, as were most of her furry toys, her bedding, pyjamas, slippers, well you get the picture... Then I had to email all the people I was supposed to see at work the following day, cancelling and rearranging meetings, organising conference calls etc and then finally went to bed feeling a bit coldy at around midnight.
Luckily, Little Miss felt a bit better the next morning and we mooched around at home together all day, although I do confess that she did lounge in front of the electronic babysitter rather a lot! This morning she woke up right as rain but school had told us she needed to be quarantined for 48 hours, so daddy took his turn looking after her. Everything should return to normal tomorrow (touch wood!)
Oh, the chicken soup, I almost forgot. I made Little Miss a chicken soup with some steamed carrots, leeks, tiny pasta and stock. I loved it but she wasn't as keen...

I haven't forgotten about crafting, I'm working on something and I will resolve to post about it shortly...Promise!