Quick catch up

Awesome weekend doing very Christmassy things, not so awesome Monday at work, hey ho. To remember before bed time...

Saturday 4th December - Fake Christmas at Hannah and Matts
Sunday 5th December - Christmas cooking
Monday 6th December - decidedly unchristmassy!

Rach xxx

Christmas Craft

Just realised that I haven't shared my Christmas To Do list book that I made inspired by Dawn. I made two, this one for the lovely Kazza and then one for me too which I haven't taken any photos of and looks a bit knackered after having being carried around in my bag. But I love having something crafty and handmade in my bag and it has proved to be useful too! I'm not sure Kazza will use hers much as I spied a few Christmas spreadsheets when I was up there! Bless her she can't help being an accountant :o)

Anyway here's some pics, I didn't buy anything specially, just used scraps lying about (I have a box of Christmassy things.) I started out with the red and white (which is most of my theme this year) and then added some touches of craft, those have ended up being my favourite bits! Didn't like the thread to hold it all together, need to work on some different binding techniques, a bind-it-all for Christmas maybe :o)

Sorry for the rubbish photos but you get the gist!

F-f-f-f-f-friday!

Wohoo the third day of December and it's Friday. With a day off sick yesterday its almost going to be a four day weekend. had a sleepy morning and then the second trip to the mecca that is Westfield in only a week. Was a bit of a shlep with the rubbish weather but had a lovely lunch with Jenny then went round all the usual suspects to pick up some lovely bits for Christmas. A berry wreath from M&S, snowball garland to either go on the tree or to be put up and put on my Christmas bunting, red serviettes, frames for SJs aforementioned downloads, snowflake paper napkins, some metal star baubles and a star for the top of the tree. Not a bad haul :o) We had a lovely pit stop for some naughty treats, here's the lovely Jenny enjoying her vat of hot chocolate! (having a nightmare with my stupid computer, will have to add it later).

Will take some piccies once they are up, I'm so pleased with the frames, I need to get some of those special hooks for picture rails so I don't have to put lots of holes in the wall. Thats Sundays job, Oxford Street, argh!

Quiet night in tonight, couldn't face the trains to go out again tonight. Candles on, scrapping out and a bit of blog reading, nice! Very, very, exciting day tomorrow, more to come....

December 2nd

Trying to get back on track hence three posts in one day, new record! So today was an odd day spent at home with a poorly head. Snuggling up warm on the sofa with the duvet, taking a guilt free day to rest and think about Christmas. London is frustrating but magical at the moment...

Frustrating cause I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to go shopping as planned tomorrow, magical cause, well really you'd be a bit of a misery guts if you didn't secretly love a bit of snow! Trying to remember my last post and that if I don't get out shopping its not the end of the world, I can just chill, decorate, enjoy the flat!

Have been looking for some old Christmas photos to share on days when there are no photos and boy there are some corkers :o) Dodgy haircuts, suspect presents and too many paper hats to count.

Sleep well, keep warm

xxx

December 1st!

A day late already but I figure this is about showing willing more than about timekeeping :o)



Wednesday 1st December descended very, very snowy and cold with a rather interesting journey to work on the bus and tube (rather than my normal overland route). Normal busy day at work with a fun break to distrubute chocolate advent calendars to the team for a bit of light relief. Finished on time for a second date :o) I let slip on my first date that I write a blog (a bit awkward to explain to someone you've only just met - him 'so what do you write about?' me 'hmmm well...' Anyway I digress, was great to get out of work at a good time, have a nice evening out and still be home by half nine for an hour sofa time before hunkering down in bed with hundreds of layers on.



No good photo for today so similar to Shimelle...



I'm thinking a bit about Christmas, about what I want for December and for next year, I dont think I can capture my thoughts quite as beautifully as Shimelle does, although alot of my thoughts are the same....


Enjoy the moment and don't be scared to take a minute, an hour, a day
Spend quality time with the important people
Show love and say thank you
Nourish and care for other people and myself
Give thoughtfully and from the heart
Decorate and nest
Stir, bake, cook
Tell the story
Don't stress
Enjoy the magic


Very telling that its all about slowing down, taking time, looking after myself and my loved ones...I'm determined its going to be a GREAT month

Journal your Christmas/December Daily

So this year is my first Christmas in my own little flat, I can put up as many decorations as I like and they can be as classy or as tacky as I want! With the uni girls and their other halves coming for Christmas Dinner the Saturday before the big day and then Mum, Dad, Ali and Harry here for the big event there is definitely some serious decorating on the cards.

Was at home with a migraine today (very rare, I hardly ever take time off ill) and have felt a bit better over the last few hours so put up some of my massive paper snowflakes hung above the dining table (have seen these in lots of shop windows already) and dug some fairly lights out of the cellar to go round the bookcase. Next thing is a tree and some decorations and something nice for the table to go with the felt runner from Paperchase. I'm sticking with as much white as possible as I don't know what my colour accent will be in this room yet so dont want to get loads of decorations that I can only use for one year. Thinking a bit of red for good measure wont hurt as its generally Christmassy! I've printed off SJs free dowloadables and plan to get some frames for them tomorrow to hang them along my picture rail and thinking I might make one of these sweet garlands and one of these banners. Can you tell I'm feeling crafty!

For the last few years I've been avidly reading Shimelle's take on Journal Your Christmas and Ali Edwards December Daily projects. I love Christmas and this year am going to give a hybrid of the two a go. I have Ali's daily templates to use to try and keep it simple but am going to be inspired by Shimelle not to necessarily do a story a day (I think thats how Elise is doing it too!). With going to work and coming home in the dark five days a week I think taking a daily good photo might be a bit of a tricky order! That being said I have just spent twenty minutes trying to get Ali's layered template to work in Photoshop with my pictures and I just cant do it, arghhhh, I have no patience. So I'm going to have to revert to good only cutting and sticking, nothing wrong with that anyway :o)

Will be trying to blog a bit more to keep me going and update with progress. Have a lovely shopping day tomorrow, hurray for long weekends :o)

Rach xxxx

Blog love

My names Rachel and I'm a blog-aholic! I read ALOT of blogs, seriously alot! I read blogs to give myself a give minute break at work or when I'm eating my Pret sandwich, when I get home from work (even if I've been staring at a screen for over 12 hours all day) and definitely if I'm in for an evening. It started with scrapbooking blogs but now I read blogs of people that knit and crochet (even though I have little interest in either) and also some kooky fashion blogs (even though my dress sense is far from kooky.)

So when Melissa mentioned that her little girl Bella (who she writes about all the time) was in love with London I though for once I'd stop being a lurker and not only comment but send a little parcel of goodies all the way to Oz for Bella to enjoy. So months later - I am such a procrastinator - I sent a few London themed goodies to Bella and this is her post to say she received them! I am so pleased she likes them, and its really cool to be mentioned on a blog that I read three or four times a week.

I need to set up some kind of blog reader so that I don't have to spend hours checking them but something in me thinks that would take the fun away, will there be an update? won't there?

Last year I met a few of the bloggers whose blogs I read all the time at the Scrapagogo retreat and it was like meeting celebrities!

My most recent blog inspiration is from Dawn, not going to post pics as its a little pressie for someone special!

Happy Saturday!

x

Is writing lists

Inspired by this blogger I am writing lots of lists (like I need much persuasion!)

List of what I need to sort out before Christmas
- enough bedding?
- Christmas tree
- Christmas decorations (very excited about this one as I'm starting from scratch)
- where am I going for NYE?
- Is anyone else coming to visit?
- enough tableware
- tablecloth

List of what to eat at Christmas
- for fake xmas
- for xmas eve
- for xmas day
- for boxing day

List of Christmas presents to buy
- Mum
- Dad
- Ali
- Choir secret santa
- Uni girls secret santa
- Sarah
- Uni girls little things
- Hannah
- Bev, Wayne and Hayden
- Sophia

List of Christmas cards to write
- too long for the blog!

List of things for the house
- dishwasher
- paint back door and lobby
- curtains for lounge
- storage for lounge
- wardrobes
- carpet
- decorate bedroom
- choose bedroom color scheme

List of life things i need to get sorted
- driving licence
- credit card
- contact lenses
- claim for damp work
- card for Sophie and Sally

List of people I haven't seen for too long and need to arrange to see
- Hannah
- Jo
- Sarah H
- Helen
- Laura

Sorry if this was long and boring, strangely therapeutic!

I was going to...

Write a 'Currently' post, but looking back at the one a month ago it would be almost exactly the same, not sure if that means nothing has changed in the last month or just if I always do the same thing on a Sunday night!

Its been a week of looking back and reminiscing. I went to Warwick uni for the first time this week since we left over seven years ago, for a work event. It felt a little surreal to be wandering round campus in a suit and not dossing in the numerous cafes, buying bread in Costcutter or rushing to a lecture (or more likely home to watch Neighbours!) Being in Leamington was even more strange for some reason.

Then this weekend has been spent with five of my favourite girls. Team Warwick as we like to call ourselves (although we were down a few members) had an awesome time up in Shropshire staying with the lovely Sophie, aka the hostess with the mostess! Was so much fun getting ready together, doing hair and make-up while drinking sparkles and then hitting Bridgnorth to cut a few moves. Not sure they knew quite what had hit them!

Just trying to put off doing a bit of ironing and work before another early morning tomorrow and another busy week.

I'm really looking forward to a weekend in London and a couple of nights at home for some catching up on life this week.

Off to watch Kylie on the X-Factor - love her!

XXX

Eek!

It's been weeks and I haven't written a single thing in my blog. Sorry, sorry, sorry and I was doing so well. Life has been pretty full, unfortunately of work, work and more work but I did escape this weekend for two days of cutting, sticking and general stroking of lots of pretty stash.

I went on my first scrapbooking retreat last October (2009) with Scrapagogo at Theobolds Park in Essex. I really, really enjoyed it. Met some great people and was really pleased with the pages that I took away. So I decided to go again and the friends that I made last time, Donna and Kirei were there too. I didn't get most of my first choices of classes and didn't take any photos so it was a bit challenging but I still had a good time and came away with lots of lovely stash. I need to get some photos printed this week and finish off all of my pages so that I have something to show for it. Will post photos as soon as I can.

I also got a good way through that 30 things to do before I'm thirty book, its now ready for me to get on and do the challenges! More on that to come I'm sure.

Will try and do some more updates this week!

Rach xxx

Busy

Monday night flight to Glasgow, room service glass of wine at 11pm, 7am in the hotel conference room, training 9-12.30, meetings, emails, phone calls, crisis averted, problems solved, agendas written, work distributed, plane delayed, flight switched, sleepy flight, long and cold train journey, home, tomato soup, blog reading, kazza catch-up, date texts, sofa, sleep...Wednesday

Currently

Sitting...on the sofa with my laptop on my knee and the TV on

Searching...for the ultimate curtain fabric for my newly decorated lounge

Hoping...that this week at work is a little less tough than the last few

Eating...cheese on toast for tea (I really need to start eating properly)

Watching...the X-Factor results show

Dreaming of...a finished flat full of gorgeous things

Looking forward to...a busy couple of months with mum and dad, travelling up to Sheffield and Manchester, a weekend catch up with the girls, Center Parcs, scrapping

Wearing...jeans, white top, coral cardigan and my Tiffanys jewellery

Wondering...what my upcoming dates are going to be like

Reading...blogs, blogs and more blogs!

Loving...all the news of new babies on facebook and a nice catch-up with Mum on the phone today

Scrapping...my 29 things at 29 mini-book and feeling a bit uninspired

Putting off...cleaning the bathroom, I really should just get a cleaner

Planning...millions ofscrapping projects

Feeling...a bit bleurgh and like I need a change

Monday, Monday

Has been a very long (12 hour) day at work but feel like I got a good few things off the to-do list so at least it was productive.

It was a busy weekend in London too. Travelled out to deepest, darkest Essex on Friday night after work to see the Conachers. Matt and Hannah are very, very special to me. I lived with them for a few months a couple of years ago and they took me right into their little flat, no qestions asked and lots of shoulders offered. They moved out to Essex a few months ago to start their new family life with Hannah working for her family business and I really miss them not being round the corner. But there's no point in whinging so we're doing our best to see each other as much as we can and we had a really nice evening watching the first Strictly, brilliant!

Saturday it was home bright and early for the builders to come round and sort out the back door, waiting for the plasterer to come round but its on its way. Then out in the pouring rain to Kirstens for a take away and X-factor, perfect!

Sunday I went over to see Grandma and Grandpa for some lunch with Mum and Dad and then we spent a very happy hour looking through some treasure...

A box full of Grandpas family documents. Mainly his father and uncles war documents...medals, medical docs, school papers and poems they had written! Priceless!

A blood pressure chart from the hospital when Wilfred (Grandpas uncle) went in to have some shrapnel removed from his shoulder (seemingly two years after it went into his shoulder!).

The announcement in the paper of grandpa's grandfather's wedding.
The documents start coming together with some pictures.

A few documents and some very special medals gathered together for a very secret upcoming project :o) More on that to come.

Have a good week

Rach xxx

10 years ago

I left the small rural town of Spalding and started three years of university at Warwick University. I remember my mum and sister dropping me off with the car full of stuff and taking them to the Rootes building for lunch. I remember hearing the Californication album blasting out from Nims room and wondering if she liked S Club 7! And I remember meeting all of my flat mates for the first time, Rob who would go onto be my boyfriend for seven years, Ben who I'm still in touch with now and has been like a little brother, Nim of the Califoonication album who only lasted a year at uni, Kate and her boyfriend Andy who always seemed to be there, Sam and his curtains, Al and his crazy fencing playing and a girl with agrophobia and her carer! That week I went to my first lecture and discovered Top B! And most importantly I sat next to Karen and Charlotte in my first lecture! It was a brilliant three years, failing half my exmas in the first year was not exactly a highlight but going to Revelation Rock Gospel choir, meeting some of my best friends and endless nights out boogying and drinking apple sourz were! I never wish I was back there (the thought of revision or essay writing constantly hanging over your head are thankfully gone) but I have really fond memories of that time.

In the last ten years I have...

Lived in Warwick, Leamington Spa and London
Been to Australia, Thailand, Bali, France, Portugal, Spain, New York, Copenhagen, Budapest
Got engaged and unengaged
Been a bridesmaid twice
Sang in a choir almost every week
Put on too much weight
Bought three flats (including one on my own)
Worked at two investment banks
Managed a team
Developed some awesome friendships
Met my friends lovely babies
Got into scrapbooking
Bought a Mulberry handbag
Grown my hair

Wonder what the next ten will bring???

Happy Sunday, have a good week all

Rach
xxxx

A whole week

Since I got back from the lovely Port Grimaud (5 miles from St Tropez) and it feels like a life time ago already. London is cold, wet and very, very grey and work has been more than a bit manic. Having a quiet at Saturday afternoon at home sorting out my clothes, doing the washing and making the builders cups of tea! Finally 7 months after moving in I am finally sorting out the back door and all the damage caused by the leak from upstairs. Helps that the builders are pretty good looking :o)))

Five nights in the south of France with the lovely Charlotte and Kazza was just what the doctor ordered after the craziness of work and my birthday shenanigans! Unfortunately we really only got four full days but all the same the sunshine, sleep and time with Kaz and Charlotte was a great tonic. Am definitely going to make some kind of minibook (how often do I say that?!?) In the mean time some of the best moments...

Going to St Tropez on the speed boat on the first day in beautiful sunshine, absolutely glorious!
The fat bottomed girls statues in St Tropez

Being on the speed boat, around the bay, on our way to St Tropez or water skiing.


Charlotte all togged up for water skiing, both Kaz and Charlotte managed to stand up (Charlotte was a bit of a pro.) I didn't have a go, was too embarassed to try and get into the wet suit :0( maybe next time.

Yummy al fresco lunches and dinners cooked by Charlotte's mum, they were the perfect hosts. Jo making sure we were always fed and watered (including Jo worrying that I had overdosed on anti-hitamines after I was bitten to death by mozzys) and Chris being the best tour guid in the South of France!The bonkers visit to the vinyard, getting up close and personal with the wine making process!

Spending lots of time with these two gorgeous girls.

Perfect, when can we go again?

xxxx

Birthday Take 2

So in normal Rachel style it was not enough to have one birthday celebration! I had Friday off work and Mum came down to London for the day. We had a lovely few hours wandering round our favourite shop - JL of course and then lunch and a few more hours shopping! Mum helped me start the preparations with some chilli and brownie making. Saturday I took Mum to meet A Grace at Euston before picking up my next visitors, the lovely Kazza and Sophie. We came back down to mine via a quick stop-off in Balham for lunch in Bertie and Boos (of course). Then I set the girls hard to work chopping and washing up and generally getting ready for the party. They were absolute stars! We had a few mishaps with forgotton ingredients in the Banoffee pie (caramel? really?) but all went pretty well and the flat ended up looking cleaner than it has done in ages, thanks girls!
Quesadillas stacked and ready to cook

Then we got our glad rags on and the 23 guests started to arrive!!! It got a little crowded and at times I wish I'd just done crisps rather than a massive mexican feast but everyone seemed very appreciative and it was really fun to have all my choir and uni friends together with a couple of school and work friends mixed in for good measure.

The desserts!

The uni gurls set-up camp in the corner

A few memorable moments...

- Sophie doing endless rounds of washing up
- Opening my mulberry purse, purple patent!!!

- Hannah's birthday cloud of joy

- Alex's margaritas

- Seeing all my friends chatting to each other

- All the choir gurs singing along when a song we sing at choir came on

- Seeing Paddy trying on Jennys shoes!

- My next-door-neighbour practically breaking my door down (not exactly a highlight)

- Sophie and Willies falling asleep on the sofa, ahh bless...

Birthday catch-up

Phew, it's been a busy week and a half! Lots of catching up to do on the old blogo and not feeling desperately creative tonight so going to say it with photos!

Wednesday 15th September (whoops over a week ago) was my birthday and after a fairly normal day at work and a blow-dry at Rush (bit of a treat to self) I met these lovely ladies for a scrummy dinner at Coq D'Argent.

We drank some sparkles and some vino, ate lots of scrummy food including desserts with candles for me and Charlotte :o)

And we gossiped and chatted and laughed like loons!

Got some Clarins beauty flash balm from Charlotte and lovely earrings from Jen and flowers from the girls with promises of a speically couriered package to be delivered last Saturday (it was worth the wait!)

It was a really lovely evening and couldn't think of a better way to spend the evening (might have been nice not to go to work though :o)

Me at 29

En France

Will recommence posting on Saturday!
xxx

29 tomorrow

Only one more hour until I am officially a year away from 30! So while I've still got time...at 28 I am:

1. Living in South London in a one-bedroom flat I bought all on my own
2. Loving Team Warwick nights out
3. Missing Kazza, Hannah and Sarah
4. Planning lots of scrapping but not actually doing much
5. Working too hard
6. Counting down the days till my first trip abroad this year (not sure Dublin really counts as I only saw the airport, the office and the hotel)
7. Lusting over a purple Mulberry handbag
8. Planning to get running again when I'm back from holidays
9. Excited about spending the day with Mum on Friday and enjoying speaking more to my little sister and excited about her possible move to the big smoke
10. Full from a yummy dinner at The Anthologist

Rach xxx

A new project

Last night I decided to stop faffing around and get on and start my book of '30 things to do before I'm 30' (before I take so long thinknig about it I actually turn 30)!

Inspired by elise and her mini book tutorial (that I just finished) to keep it simple by sticking to a few colours. I've gone for black, white and pink as I've got loads of embellishments in those colours and I wanted to keep it graphic and punchy. I followed elise's one handed shuffle technique! Piles of the different colours and patterns in front of me, holding the book in the other hand as I built it. I already have my favourite pages, the pink Hambly transparencies - they will look awesome against the white pages and looking forward to the challenge of keeping some info carefully hidden and letting other info intentionally peak through the transparency. I'm trying to keep to a vague dots or circles theme - the white card has raised dots, the corners of the pages are rounded, the transparency is covered in circles and even the swirly paper is soft curves rather than square.

Next stage will be making the numbers to go on every page and write down my challenges, more to come on that later this week!

Sorry for the terrible photo, iphones don't take good photos in evening light!

On holiday countdown, birthday on Wednesday, last morning in work on Thursday and holiday on Sunday, wohoo!

Rach xxx

Its been a quiet one

A whole weekend in London with not a lot planned! I had thought I made make a last minute trip up to Manchester to see Karen or go home to see Mum and Dad but Thursday night was a late one and I really didn't fancy packing on Friday morning so decided to chill out at home.



Last minute drinks on Friday note (see my McDonalds post!) and a very lazy day on Saturday doing practically nothing! Last night I went out with the lovely Gordon-Stewards for a vegetarian Indian meal in Tooting! The decor was pretty similar to the Indian restaurants of my childhood in Spalding, not sure it had changed for 20 years. The food was awesome though, full of really interesting flavours, definitely one to go back to. Then wandered along to Afters - what an experience. It was absolutely rammed at 10 on a Saturday night and we had to queue for ice cream. Then a few glasses of vino and a little boogie in Exhibit to round off the evening. Another really quiet day today with a couple of hours at choir this afternoon and a night in in front of the tv!



My lovely friends Bev and Wayne posted this on facebook tonight:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=3-Wp8UuvxZ4


Their gorgeous little boy Hayden is very, very special to me and they are teaching him to say Aunty Ra-Ra, love it! Here's a pic of me, Bev and Hayden at my last visit in August. I don't see them nearly often enough.

I'm ready for a busier week, feel like I've had a bit too much of my own company this weekend! I'm seeing friends on Tuesday night then Wednesday is my birthday so dinner and drinks with the uni girls, I've booked a really lovely restaurant so it will be a real treat. Then I've got Friday off and hopefully Mum is going to come down and spend the day with me and Saturday is my birthday party! So think I'm going to get my way and things will be busier this week!

Rach xxx

Wine club

Over the August Bank Holiday I took a few hours off from the hectic decorating schedule to celebrate wine club at Lucy and Rich's house with Hannah, Matt, Katie, Aidan, Lucy, Rich, Cat and Alex a.k.a. the choir gang.



We've done wine club a few times now, with different themes and formats but always involving far too much alcohol and lots of food. The idea is to each bring some wine with some interesting facts about the wine. Lucy and Rich decided we would all bring a different course with wines to match and it worked brilliantly. As usual I went for dessert, chocolate mud cake and lemon plate trifle

The chocolate cake was a bit drier than it should have been I think but the lemon plate trifle went down an absolute storm! Ali made the chocolate covered strawberries! Lucy and Rich's house is gorgeous and we all had a really nice evening.

Hannah and Katie

Hannah opening their house warming pressie

A chance meeting...

In McDonalds, oh dear!!! Ended up going for a couple of impromptu drinks after work with Jenni and Katy last night and somehow we made our way to Abacus. Katy had never been so Jenni and I felt it was our duty to show her the wonder that is Abacus! Unfortunately it wasn't the best choice of evening so we decided to leave at a reasonable hour and head home. Katy lives near me so we stopped off in Balham for a cheeky Maccy D's. There we are minding our own business when Lynch and Graham walk in!!! Ha ha, so funny to see them at midnight in McDonalds. We ended up sitting there for about an hour chatting, random in the least!

Me and Sarah

Graham is a little camera shy!

Katy with her Abacus badge of honour!

Not had a very productive morning and its half twelve already. Must get up and on with the list! Need to add cleaning the flat and do some work too, joy!

Rach x

To do this weekend...

As usual its a long and pretty unachievable list, not sure why I do this to myself!

Book birthday dinner for Wednesday
Sort out insurance/builder for damp damage caused by pesky upstairs neighbours
Sort out some birthday presents and cards :o)
Plan my party next weekend - food, drink and decorations
Find something to wear next weekend
Sort out some photos so that I can start my Document project

Will keep you updated on how I get on!

Rach xxx

Thankful Thursday!

Alot of the blogs I read have a weekly post to give them some structure and keep them going! I've decided mine's going to be thankful thursday! So this Thursday I am thankful for...

1) some nice feedback from some colleagues at work who said I had really helped them with their career development
2) a chat with my little sister - short but sweet
3) winning a new hire for my team who also had some other offers
4) that mum is on the up - slowly but surely
5) looking forward to dinner with Niffer, Lynchie and Willies
6) a possible impromptu visit to Manchester this weekend to see the lovely northern ladies
7) my birthday next week (I love birthdays!)
8) friends to listen on the phone after a tough day
9) an unopened bottle of cold bubbles
10) Niffer's lovely chocolate pots!

xxx

Looking back...Karen and Jonny tie the knot!

Its been a very long day. A big senior management meeting and a couple of team meetings mean I didn't leave till 8, but by some miracle managed to get home and have dinnter on the table by nine - the beauty of left overs! Feel like I've got lots done though, and like things are coming together for the next few months.

While its early days for the blog, I thought I might try and capture some of the stories from this year so far so that I've got quick stories to grab when I do sit down and get some time to scrapbook. I'm not organised to do this in any particular order, but will probably start with some of the biggest stories to tell!

By way of introduction Kazza Wazza is my best friend. We met at uni ten years ago and we talk (or at least text or email) most days. This Summer I was very, very lucky to get the chance to be her bridesmaid as she married the lovely Jonny. I was very involved in the organising, especially making the invites and other stationary and felt like by the end of it I could have picked out exactly the right (matching) shade of purple from a line up - no problem! It was a brilliant day, I absolutely loved being Karen's bridesmaid and being so close to all of the action. I don't even know where to start with all the little things that happened, but start I will...

I want to remember...

The rehearsal the night before - being overwhelmed by how gorgeous the church was on the inside and coaxing Louise down the aisle

Spending the night before the big day chez Wilson, having dinner with Mr and Mrs Wilson and generally getting very excited
Waking Karen up on the morning of the wedding and feeling beyond excited to finally get going
Going with Nikki to have our hair done, getting back to literally cross over with Karen and getting our make-up done before...

Karen arriving home with hair and make up done looking absolutely breath taking, seriously beautiful
Seeing Anne in her dress with her fabby hat on
Seeing Karen in her dress with hair and make-up done - absolutely beyond stunning, I wasn't sure she could look much better than she normally does, but I was wrong!

Me and Nikki getting dressed and having photos in the garden

Arriving at the church and seeing everyone dressed up
Lining up to go in, Lou-Lou walking down the aisle holding my hand
Seeing the uni girls and grinning the whole way down the aisle
Seeing Anne and Kate go up to sign the register
Paula’s piano playing
Helping to organise the photos
Throwing the confetti
Being left till last but getting to go in the wedding car
Seeing the room all set-up with the chair covers, menus and place settings all in place before the guests streamed in with all the matching stationary

My white chocolate bridesmaid chocolate
The speeches - they were brilliant!!!
The awesome DJ

Karen and Jonny doing their first dance to Greatest Day
Dancing to YMCA with Andy
Dancing with all the uni girls and their other halves
Jumping to Hold up a Light and feeling like it was one of the best nights - EVER!
Drinking in the bar till late
Seeing the happy couple the next morning

It was awesome, truly awesome. It makes me smile just thinking about all the preparations and the day itself.

Love ya Kazza!

xxxx