What are you reading

As Revenge Wears Prada is out in the shops I thought I'd reaquaint myself with the first book so I'm re-reading The Devil Wears Prada

Andrea Sachs, a small-town girl fresh out of college, lands the job “a million girls would die for.” Hired as the assistant to Miranda Priestly, the high-profile, fabulously successful editor of Runway magazine, Andrea finds herself in an office that shouts Prada! Armani! Versace! at every turn, a world populated by impossibly thin, heart-wrenchingly stylish women and beautiful men clad in fine-ribbed turtlenecks and tight leather pants that show off their lifelong dedication to the gym. With breathtaking ease, Miranda can turn each and every one of these hip sophisticates into a scared, whimpering child. 

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA gives a rich and hilarious new meaning to complaints about “The Boss from Hell.” Narrated in Andrea’s smart, refreshingly disarming voice, it traces a deep, dark, devilish view of life at the top only hinted at in gossip columns and over Cosmopolitans at the trendiest cocktail parties. From sending the latest, not-yet-in-stores Harry Potter to Miranda’s children in Paris by private jet, to locating an unnamed antique store where Miranda had at some point admired a vintage dresser, to serving lattes to Miranda at precisely the piping hot temperature she prefers, Andrea is sorely tested each and every day—and often late into the night with orders barked over the phone. She puts up with it all by keeping her eyes on the prize: a recommendation from Miranda that will get Andrea a top job at any magazine of her choosing. As things escalate from the merely unacceptable to the downright outrageous, however, Andrea begins to realize that the job a million girls would die for may just kill her. And even if she survives, she has to decide whether or not the job is worth the price of her soul.

Weekly scrapping round-up

So this week I have three layouts to show.  I have another one on the go but can't get the motivation going at the moment so maybe it can wait till next weekend or the week after when I'm off work.
First up is one about the Teenager wanting to know if he was taller than Granny.  No problems nowadays as he's waaaaaaay taller.

Then there's one about him shooting clay pigeons at a friends range back in 2011.  His hood is up because there were too many wasps and bees.

and finally there's a shot of the Teenager at the wildlife park near Aviemore back in 2010.

Just goes to show how long it is since I've scrapped any photos of him.  They seem to be stacking up.

Scavenger Hunt 2013

A few more items managed this week.

# 21  -  A photo of you using an artistic tool.  This was me last weekend using one of my many punches for the first time in a long time.

# 9 - Something or someone that is out of place or doesn't belong.  This is the "Hawk Lady" who brings her Harris hawks to school to scare off the seagulls that are making a mess on the new astro turf pitch.  In the back of her van she had this little fella.  She'd found him/her on the side of the road when she stopped to see if his/her mum was still alive after being hit by another car.  Unfortunately mum died so the little fella is now living with her.  Not something you usually find outside the front of the school.

# 12 - A cloud in the shape of something.  I think this cloud looks like the head and mouth of a shark.  It looked a lot more like one earlier, but by the time I had the camera out it had moved.

#18 - Your local pub/bar, coffee house or tea shop.  Mum and I popped in here for coffee after work  one day whilst she was visiting.

Wonder what I'll find next week.

Right Now

I'm feeling a little fed up.  Don't know why.  Just am.
I still have a snotty nose after the virus two weeks ago and I've been feeling really tired.  To the point that one night last week, after making tea and doing the ironing I was in bed by 7.30pm.
I'm really busy at work and with one week to go before the holidays it doesn't look like it will slow down any time soon.
I'm trying to watch Wimbledon but have to contend with hubby moaning about how boring it is and flouncing out of the kitchen every time it's on.  It's a different story when he wants to watch the football on the big TV. Sometimes I really do wonder who the child is in this house.

I'm busy getting ready for our holiday which amazingly is in 16 days time.  How on earth did that happen?  I have everything we need, I just need to sort it out and get it into a case.
I'm not worrying about where to go each day when we get there because as Julia Roberts says in Pretty Woman "I'm a kinda fly by the seat of my pants gal".
I'm trying to finish a few layout ideas I have going at the moment and hope to do some this afternoon.  (Laura Robson has just won her match so I'm free to scrap).
I'm looking forward to a nice steak dinner that hubby is making later and the glass of wine that will go with it.  BBQ tomorrow if the weather holds  :0)
I'm looking forward to mum coming back up again the week before we go away and I'm busy planning things to do everyday.  I'm hoping it's going to be too nice to stay in.
I'm hoping that I feel more up-beat tomorrow as I hate feeling down.
and finally
I'm taking a leaf out of Carrie @ Rosalind Revival's book and turning off the comments on my blog.  Not because I don't like getting them, because I do, but because I want to love blogging for me.  It's hard to explain but I know what I mean.

Scrapping Update

It seems that scrapping is a bit like riding a bike.  You don't forget how to do it, you're just a little rusty until you get back into the swing of things.

Here's  a few layouts from the last week.

@15

Photo Shoot

i-pad fun

This last one is my favourite.  Only because every time I look at the photo it makes me laugh.  We had a great time taking photos on the i-pad and I laughed so much I cried.  People were beginning to stare!!

All layouts were made using stash I already had and I even got my Sidekick out and blew the dust of it so I could cut a title.  When it comes down to it, you can still make good layouts out of old papers.

WOYWW

Wow it's a long time since I played along with this.  My work desk has been completely empty for the last few months with the only crafty thing being done was some bunting.

I'm so out of touch with scrapping at the moment I can't remember where to buy stash, what Washi tape is or what papers are in fashion.
I'm still counting on Shimelle to keep me right with her weekly sketch and I thought that seeing as these photos were taken 11 months ago it might be an idea to scrap them.  It all needs sticking down and a few more bits adding to (or not) and I'll be able to say I've produced something  :0)

Thanks to Julia over at Stamping Ground for hosting this every week.

What are you reading?

After finishing My Temporary Life by Martin Crosbie, which I have to say was a really good read and not nearly as serious or depressing as the blurb made out, (I'm now looking for the next book to find out how Hardly is doing),

 I'm now reading

The Case of the Pig in the Evening Suit by RR Gall.  I bought it for two reasons:
1.  It was free on Kindle
and
2.  How could I not with a title like that?

It turns out to be a book about a Scottish detective too which makes it all the more readable.

An ordinary man. A far from ordinary detective. A topical thriller.

The Case of the Pig in the Evening Suit is the first book in a trilogy of murder mystery thrillers.

In the Scottish town of Dumfries, people come to Jin Johnstone with their problems - but this can lead to problems of his own.

A missing son, a beautiful, enigmatic woman, a pig in an evening suit: it is the swift start to a deadly turn of events.

Simply a Moment - June 13

Tuesday 18 June 2013.
9.56am

I'm off sick today with a sore throat.
I'm waiting to go and see the doctor.
Whilst I'm waiting I think about looking through my scrapbook albums.  If I'm honest I don't have that many and most of my layouts are in a box somewhere.
I find the one that my Mum made for Samuel.  It's all about his "Grumps".  His Grandad,  My Dad.
As I'm looking though the photos and smiling at how much of a family resemblance there is, I feel my eyes welling up with tears.  Not sad tears.  Tears of happy memories.

It would have been Dad's birthday today.  He would have been 71 years old.

Thinking of Dad makes me happy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dad

I L♥ve You

Simply a moment is hosted by Alexa over at Trimming the Sails.  Why not pop over and see what other Simple moments there have been this month.

Hello Monday

Hello to feeling as little better this week.  I've felt like chewed string since Friday as I've had a really bad throat and have been generally stuffed up.
Hello to getting back to work tomorrow.
Hello to seeing more of these cuties.

Hello to seeing more sunshine.  It's been nice having it around the last few days.

Hello to it being 4 weeks today until we go on holiday.

Hello to friends getting married on Friday and us going to the Wedding Dance.

Hello to doing some scrapping.

Hope you all have a good week. 

Holiday shoes

There was one thing I decided that I would not scrimp on when it came to our holiday to Florida.  I was going to have comfy shoes.  If I'm going to be on my feet all day they have to be comfy.

I checked out all the usual shoe haunts locally, in Aberdeen and on-line until I found these.

They are made by Rieker and are so comfy they're like wearing slippers.  Oh happy feet.

As you can see I've been road testing them at work and so far all is well.  The test will come once I get to warmer places.  Not had too much sun up here recently.

I love the detail on the front.  It's so me and so scrapbooky.  How could I refuse?

Daisy Rachel update

For an update on how sweet Daisy Rachel is doing please pop over to my sister Ruth's blog.  It saves you having to read the same thing twice  :0)

Hello Baby Girl

In the early hours of Tuesday morning my cousin's daughter gave birth to this little beauty.  Her name is Daisy Rachel and she in at weighed 8lbs.

She has a few medical problems that are being sorted out as we speak but hopefully it won't be too long before she can go home.
Her arrival meant a new Grandma, a Great, Great Auntie, a new Great Grandma & Grandad, a few Great Aunties, a Great Uncle and a few cousins several times removed.
I might have to wait until October to see her but I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.

Scavenger Hunt

Being out and about yesterday gave me the perfect opportunity to start this years Scavenger Hunt hosted by Rhinda over at Gallo Organico

So far I have #8 A tower.  This is the tower at Brodie Castle.  A place I have visited many times in my 24 years up in Moray and never get tired of visiting.

I also managed to get #10 A bench that is outside.  This is one in our local village garden where famous Fochabarians are remembered .  I love the glint of sun through the trees as it shines off the river Spey.

and finally for this round #13 A fence.  This is a fence that acts as a backdrop to a 1200 year old Pictish stone at Brodie Castle.  It's the first time in all my visits that I've stopped to look at the stone.

Fancy joining in the hunt?  Pop over and see Rhinda.  You'll find a lovely welcome at her place.

A Sunday stroll

Mum arrived yesterday and is staying for the week.  Unfortunately we are all at work/school so today was the only full day we had together.
I tried my very best to get the boys to come out with us for the day but it was like pulling teeth so Mum and I headed off to Brodie Castle for a wander around and to visit the tea room.

The weather was lovely.  Possibly one of the warmest days we've had this year.

We saw some unusual art work.  I think this is a smiling fish but I could be wrong.

The gardens were colourful.                               

and we had a giggle trying to take a self portrait.  It's not as easy as it looks.

On the way back from Brodie was stopped at Califer Viewpoint which looks out over the Moray Firth.  Unfortunately for us there was a haze today so you couldn't see as far as normal.

This is looking out over Findhorn Bay. 

After sitting there for a while and enjoying the view we had to head home for one of John's waist widening dinners.

It was nice to be out just the two of us.  I think we may have to do it again when Mum comes up next month.

A tea-time walk

Before supper tonight I managed to get the Teenager to come with me to walk Moss.  It's sometimes the only way to get to speak to him other than the usual words OK and Fine.  It was his first day back at school today after his exams and he had his first S5 induction day.  Tomorrow they have another full days induction before starting the new timetable on Monday.  Turns out that when stuck with his mother for a while it's easier to answer her questions than not.

We wandered off to the pond to see Mr & Mrs Swan and their 7 babies.  On the way we saw these two lurking in the long grass.

At first it looked like there was only one who was trying out his "If I stand really still and stare they won't notice me" pose.  All was going in her favour until she waggled her ears and she ran off taking her friend with her.

Round at the pond the sun was shining and the sky was blue.

We eventually found Mr & Mrs Swan but even me with my limited maths could only count 6 babies today.

At some time in the last 24 hours one little one has gone missing.  I'm really hoping that the others survive as last year all 5 babies were lost.

Scavenger Hunt

The list for this years Scavenger Hunt has been release by Rinda over at Gallo Organico.

It's the first time I've played along.

This year I thought that, as I'd be in Florida for two weeks over the summer, I would have more chance of finding something that fits the bill.

It's on from 1 June to 21 September 13.

What are you waiting for?

Why not pop over and take a look.