Updates!

Christmas is approaching faster than anticipated.. I'm sure the clocks are bugged, the world is spinning faster!  How can you prepare since January and still find Christmas comes from nowhere!?

I'm crafting and creating more then ever, spending amazing time with the kids (who are coming out with some daft things lately!) and yet I hardly get time to blog it all!

So.. Mrs Claus Blogs, I (am in love with) love the background and the title I made, I love updating and recording my frivolities.. but really.. I need all the spare time I can get to make the real thing happen!  So my darling sister blog has now descended into darkness as I put my priorities right and balance work/family time without other dedications chipping in!

I'm scared to death... 47 more days?!  WOW!!

Looks like i'd best crack on then!

P.S - Super fast lunch - Pizza toasts!

We use a nice heart wholegrain bread and spread a thin layer of tomato puree on. Pile high with mushrooms, sweetcorn and onions (I even used chorizo here) and grill with a sprinking of cheese for 5 minutes!  Voila!  The kids love it and we have fun making it together.  they believe they have got a giant mound of cheese instead of vegetables.. everyones happy!!

xx

And the winner is...

It has been a long and exciting journey to the end of DoCrafts Scrapbook Apprentice.  Just the very start of it was enough to bring me into a panic induced heart attack.

From creating with ONLY Coredinations and some bare essentials:

To the brightest, daring colours I have ever used before, completely taking me out of my comfort zone:

But as I said at the beginning of this post.. it was a journey to the END.

Back in August I was chosen by the judges to be the DoCrafts Scrapbook Apprentice.. I WON!! Something I just never thought I could achieve, I never had the confidence in myself.

I would like to thank everyone for their continued support throughout the competition.  I can't tell you how many messages and emails I have had, telling me I was your chosen Apprentice and you love my work.  Self confidence of a frumpy mum is steadily increasing! :)  Thank you, it meant a lot to me.

Most of all, a huge thank you to the DoCrafts team. They have been consistently amazing throughout and sure do know how to set a good challenge.  I have been working as a paid designer there now for a few months and it already feels like a second family.  A special Thank you to Katy Godbeer who is just the most freakin' coolest 'boss' you will ever get to work for..

.. She once got through to the boot camp on X Factor you know!

Thank you for your support and guidance.. Geekchat rules!

SO as this is turning into a speech.. *ahem*  I just wanted to say thank you to my best friend Sunshine who has been a rock to me.  My girls on MSE who have been like team Mel! and lastly, my husband - my inspiration who believed in me from the start... who told me:

'It doesn't matter who wins, what matters is you was in it.. and to me you will always be the best damn scrapbooker in the world.. and you got a great bum'.

So thank you everyone, I am working hard and I hope to live up to your expectations.

Now I need to just go do a screaming dance again... I WON!!!!!

Cards for Alicia - Please help!

http://cardsforalicia.blogspot.com/

One thing that always strikes a huge chord with me, is the suffering and pain of others.  It paticularly hurts me to see a child go through such a hard time as Alicia will be.  Alicia has a low grade glioma in her brain which is potentially life-threatening in children.  The glioma is inoperable but she can and needs to have some treatment to reduce the size.  Unfortunately this involves a trip to the states which the Health care will partially fund, leaving her parents with a 50,000 bill.  I'm sure they have enough worries right now.

If you can help by creating something that could be sold, anything at all.. Please contact them through the blog and donate. 

Myself and all the Docrafts girls I can muster are going to be putting forth our efforts soon :)

Holidays are coming, Ikea agrees!

That has just festived me to the maximum (is that even a phrase?)

Oh and if that wasn't good enough, Ikea just mailed to tell me the whole Christmas shebang is ready instores! Oh sweet mother!!

If you click >Here<

You can view Ikeas Christmas chaos and click on different sections such as:
+ Bags Boxes and Wrappings
+ Advent Calendar Stockings
+ Bakeware

Etc! Oh my goodness I am so there!!  Looks more like heaven than chaos to me.

My Poinsettia has been growing great this year so she needs a beautiful new pot.. Oh and look at that for a co-incidence:

Oh and whilst I am there I might accidentally purchase these to create a layout or four on ;)

SO excited now! MUST take my traditional trip to Ikea for a taste of traditional Swedish Christmas :)

With Love

Mrs Claus xx

Free Christmas Papers to Download and Organized Countdown!

Papercraft inspirations have come up trumps this christmas, with a fabulous paper & topper set to download and use!  Find the full lot of links here:
http://www.papercraftinspirationsmagazine.co.uk/page/papercraft/20091019



Don't forget that tomorrow dawns the start of OrganizedChristmas.coms Christmas Countdown!  Head on over and make the pledge to be organised this year by printing out some sheets and spreading the stress over 6 weeks!  The plans a dream.. oh and soo much fun ;)

My grand plan went down the spout this year due to ill health but the Christmas Countdown has scared the life out of me into joining.. is it really THAT close to Christmas?

Let me know how you get on!

With Love

Mrs Claus xx

Warning: Sister blog gets all the action!

I haven't crafted much lately other then the commitments I have.. so there hasn't been much to say on my poor neglected blog. 

Truth is, I've had a rollercoaster of a year and the past 5 months were the hardest of all.  I just need test results now and then hopefully I can get on with living my life and move on to the future.  So, bear with me!

I crafted today for the first time in AGES!  Bed rest was killing me, I can't stand not being busy and I must have clicked on every blog in the world 32 times over the weekend! SO.. Last resort.. crafting!

** REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION - BACK LATER! **
Journalling reads:
'We were in and out of hospital, tired and desperate for a Christmas.  Eventually we were home, I remember eating bacon from the turkey at 2am - our first meal together in 5 days.  You were worth every second x'

I was looking through old photographs and laughed as I remembered us savagely eating the bacon that had roasted beautifully on the turkey.. no bread or anything.. at 2am!  There was no such thing as a sensible dinner time after 26 hours full labour and our first baby.  I thought times were hard back then but gosh I would love to go back and experience that world again.  That baby is so big now. *sigh*

Oh and GOSH I remember having that Christmas hat waiting for him and crossing my fingers he wouldn't wait till AFTER Christmas ;)

** REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION - BACK LATER! **

Speaking of babies, here's my boy Kiwi who was 2 in September.  Oh how I love my nephew, he is classed as the naughtiest boy on earth by his mum but to me he is the most perfect little angel :)

I'm going to do a bit of stamping tonight and see where that takes me! 

Guys... I think i'm back!!

xx

Nintendo DSi - Can you spot any bargains?

I have been asked today if there are any bargains for the Nintendo DSi. I know Christmas is all about love and family, religion and birth but also when you have children.. it's about magic and the ability to grant their special wishes just once a year.  So, needless to say I got cracking on the DSi hunt!

WINNERS:

Amazon.co.uk have an amazing deal on right now:

Buy a DSi for a 13% saving of 129.99 and choose a selected game for just 5 pounds PLUS an accesory kit for free!  The games are pretty decent too, Star Wars and My Sims Agents are surely winners this christmas!

Obviously as the race hots up towards Christmas you could find yourself faced with sell out news or hold out and there could be some fanastic bargains heading your way.  It's a tough decision to make!

Either way, I can see Mr Claus having a sneaky go on these before they are wrapped up ;)

With love

Mrs Claus xx

Perfect Christmas Music - Just 3.99 at Play

There is nothing that gets me in the mood for Christmas like a good CD.  As soon as I hear the sounds of 'Last Christmas' or the faint hum of 'Holidays are coming' I am instantly transported into nostalgia land surrounded with snowflakes!


If you're like me and love the older classics (such as Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt, It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Perry Como) then this is the CD for you and currentely available at a bargain 3.99 from Play.com

Or perhaps you fancy a blast back to the pop charts combined with a mix of modern retakes?  For 6.99 you can't go wrong with this modern mix! WARNING: Contains Cheeky Girls and Rick Astley...  The best feature on this CD has to be the karaoke DVD.. which will surely only be unveiled after one too many egg nogs :)

What are your Christmas CD recommendations?  I need to get a new one after my favourite CD got scratched to death last year and now refuses to play!

Brr It's freezing - I love it!

Mrs Claus xx

Shopping Fever - Christmas Bargains and Go Go Hamsters!

This week, retail giants Amazon announced there was now no minimum order amount for free delivery!  I already hold this company in good stead after receiving unbeatable customer service and they just get better and better.


On a recent trip to Toys R Us (one of many) Emily finally took a liking to something.. A little furry hamster that squeaked when you press its nose.  Not wanting to show an interest or a hint of a purchase I make a mental note to look online at a later date and watched in amazement as it seemed every person in the store had some of these critters in their shopping trolleys!

Oh and the horror of it all..

.. When my aging brain remembered to look online I realised that this hamster is this years predicted NUMBER ONE selling toy for Christmas!  Oh NO!  They are going for crazy prices on Ebay already.

Cheapest prices:
Of course, price is irrelevant.. stock is more the issue! Some people get lucky in their area though:

For a hamster and the funhouse get yourself onto http://www.argos.com/
They currently offer a deal where you can get the hamster (9.99) for half price when purchased with the fun house (19.99)

All hamsters are 9.99 and 3 for 2 in Boots stores and on http://www.boots.com/ but currentely out of stock.

The manufacturers http://www.character-online.com/ sell the complete range on their website with free delivery over 25.00  I was lucky enough to grab a few sets and accessories on here earlier this week.  Be sure to sign up for the stock notification email.

Be wary of over inflated prices and make sure that if these items are on your childs list, you begin to shop now to avoid disappointment!

Is it just me or are the toy shops packed  and sold-out already?!

Hugs and Cocoa

Mrs Claus xx

Classic Christmas kids film - Home Alone Bargain Boxset!

Grab a BARGAIN to add to your Christmas DVD Stash (if you criminally don't already own it!)

Home Alone 1/2/3/4

The COMPLETE DVD Box Set

Only 8.99 at HMV!

http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=572020&WT.mc_id=101780

(Don't forget Quidco)

Ok so hands up if you had a crush on Macaulay Culkin when you was younger?  Or in fact if you are old enough to have seen this at the cinema on release! 

Home Alone is an absolute classic film featuring an endearing tale of a boy who is left behind by his stressed out mother and has to fend for himself.  I believe the focus is to show the importance of family but I was always left awake at night wishing my mum would accidentally leave me at home and planning what i'd do!

The later films all faced harsh reviews from critics but I enjoyed each one of them and think the stories still hold up well for todays modern age kids!

Oh go on.. just buy it for yourself ;)

Mrs Claus x