The search is on.........for an engagement ring!!

Anyone that knows me will testify that i love jewellery. I love diamonds...but cant afford it (as a result of my 'stash' addiction LOL). the next best thing for me is QVC's 'zirconia' range.....diamonique (another addiction of mine LOL). Well my brother obviously knows this and called me yesterday to ask for my advice. He, along with my parents, recently emmigrated to Cyprus. Since emmigrating, he has found himself a lovely girl, and they've really hit it off. They are gonna make it official soon of their intentions to get married, but my brother wants to surprise her with an engagement ring (she really isnt expecting a ring bless). He went shopping yesterday in Cyprus to find a ring, but he couldnt find anything he likes. Hes also used to UK prices, and in comparison, the rings over there are really expensive. So he has asked me to get her a ring. he trusts my judgement so i'm now searching for 'the' ring. Its alot of responsibility for me, especially as i've never met the girl. mind you, she and her mum are over in the UK for a couple of weeks, so i will be meeting her soon. I've been told its got to be white gold, and a little unusual without being to 'out there'. hhmmmmm, this may be harder than i thought. i've included a few possibilites above.

Retail therapy.....boy i need it!!

After a terrible week, full of emotional rollercoasters, and with another horrible week ahead (my uncles funeral), i'm in desperate need some of cheering up. One way that always helps cheer me up is retail therapy, so i ordered an 'SEI scrapbook in a box' kit. I've always admired these kits, but never actually got round to getting one-until today that is LOL!! I've ordered the 'Garden' kit which will be perfect for my little girl.....cant wait til it arrives!

Yesterday 'Fathers Day', was very emotional too. I'm so glad hubby had a lovely day, he got spoilt rotten but he thoroughly deserves it. My aunty and cousins were constantly on my mind too. In terms of my own dad, its been my first 'Fathers Day' since they emmigrated too, so that was hard. We always spend the day together. My lovely mother in law invited us in the evening to dinner, so most of the family were there. My niece Christina in particular, always cracks me up, so she managed to put many smiles on my face! So all in all, it was a bitter sweet day

Happy Fathers Day!!

We paper crafters love days like today, where we can make cards, gifts, scrapbooks etc, for our loved one. My little girl and I spent a day last week trying to find my hubby some little gifts to fill a big cupboard box (the box incidentally housed the last QVC TSV lol!!). As I've been busy recently, we really took advantage of the day, and got Daddy some nice little gifts. Amongst them were a keyring and pen set with 'Daddy' engraved on it, a 'Super Dad' mug, an Elvis DVD (an idol of my hubbys), some mint chocolates, a couple of tops, and a dog tag 'Dad' pendant. My little girl and I had so much fun wrapping them (as you can see, she helped wrap them LOL_. Hubby has been spoilt rotten today.....he had a long lie in, had breakfast in bed, loads of pressies, and is now watching the Stella Artois tennis final. He deserves it though bless. He has really helped me over the last few days, following the death of my beloved uncle. My cousins are also heavily on my mind today as its not only been two days since they lost their dad, its the first fathers day without him, and that is so difficult to come to terms with.

I've uploaded some photos of hubbys Fathers day, including a photo of a card i made him. I was inspired by a gorgeous card i saw in the recent copy of Complete Cardmaking. I think the designers name was Christine.

Happy Fathers Day to all dads!!

In Loving Memory of My Uncle,May he rest in eternal peace

It is with a very, very heavy heart that i write that my favourite uncle Andy passed away yesterday morning. Apparently he passed away peacefully, and is now at rest. He suffered immensely, especially in his last months. Eventhough we knew his passing was imminent, its still shocking and heartbreaking. I went to see my auntie and cousins last night, and they are in shock at the moment. The next few months will be very, very hard for them. This Sunday is also Fathers Day, which is gonna be terrible for them. I pray for God to give them strength.

I need to do some crafting.....i'm going crazy!!!

Papercrafting has become a huge part of my life since i discovered it 2 years ago. It went from a hobby to an obsession. How I thank God for helping me to find this fantastic hobby, as its become my saviour in many ways. Apart from creating handmade gifts/cards for people, papercrafting has helped keep me sane, and in times of stress, i find it the perfect way to unwind.

Also after a hectic few weeks, i'm finally able to take some time out to do some blogging. Eventhough i've only been blogging for a few weeks, i've missed it immensely. As a stay at home mum, i obviously spend loads of time with my little girl. As much as i love her to bits, i do crave some 'me' time and an outlet for my thoughts and emotions on not only papercrafting but life, so this too has helped keep me sane. So in a nut shell, papercrafting (and now blogging) is my saviour.....and i plan to do some this weekend.

My poor uncle is still suffering. I went the other night to see them at the hospice, and its heartbreaking. A month ago today, we were all told that he had just days to live. He's hanged on for much longer than we thought, which is obviously comforting to us, but for him, he is really suffering. I cant even really begin to imagine how my auntie is coping. To see her husband of 35 years, go from a fun loving, active, well loved man, to a bed ridden, stricken with pain, shell of his former self is agonising. Shes been at his bedside 24/7, and in recent days, she has been scared to even have a quick shower, as she wants to spend every last moment with him. We, the family, are trying to ensure they have someone with them all day, as when the horrible time comes, shes gonna need all the love and support she can get. They were such a great, fun-loving couple, so this obviously makes it much harder.

I got my first official scrapagogo kit yesterday, and its gorgeous!! Got a few layouts planned for my husband with this kit. hopefully i'll be able to do a layout over the weekend. fingers crossed!

I promised earlier this week that i would post some photos of the engagement gifts i got for my brother and his girlfriend. got them both pendants with their names on. on my brothers i got his girlfriends name Kristal engraved, and on hers, i got his name engraved. I hope they like them.

So thats pretty much it for now.......gonna go and take the little one out for a bit, but hope to blog more later. fingers crossed, i'd be able to do some crafting too

Another Quick Summary-i hope to be back soon LOL

Well since i've last blogged, a few things have happened. With regards to my uncle, he is still hanging on. He is now, very literally, skin and bone, due to the fact that he hasnt eaten or drank for weeks. the morphine has made him really hallucinate over the last week too. Apparently it can do that, so hes tried a couple of times to get out of bed, forgetting the fact that he has no strength, and hes fallen down. My poor auntie is very drained too, as she is constantly at his side, day and night. its obviously very difficult for her to see him like that, and where she normally tries to hide the emotions, shes started to break down. Its a terrible, terrible time at the moment. I hope to go down later on this morning for an hour.

Other news, my mum went back to Cyprus last nite. she didnt want to go and leave her sister and brother in law (my poorly uncle), but she had some urgent things to sort out. shes comin back next month so its not too bad. i always get depressed when she leaves, especially now under these circumstances, it was harder saying goodbye.

Papercrafting news-Not much to report really. havent had time to make, order, buy or read about stash, over the last few weeks. I had a confirmation email from scrapagogo saying that my first 'official' kit is on its way. so thats something to look forward to. Hope to blog more later on when i have more time. til then, take care.

A quick summary

Since i last blogged, i've not really done much do to the fact that i've been feeling unwell. went to the Dr's last week and was given antibiotics, but they havent worked much, so i'm going to the Dr's again this morning to hopefully sort it out. i've been feeling lethargic, and generally unwell for a week or so. they said it was a urinary infection, but it hasnt cleared. Hopefully i can get a stronger antibiotic today.

My uncles condition continues to deteriorate, but he continues to fight it. He has lost even more weight, and cant speak much now, if at all, due to the fact that the medication is wearing him out. he also hasnt drank or eaten much for days. Will hopefully be popping down later to see him, if all goes well at the Dr's.

On a scrapping front-i'm now gettin really excited about my first 'official' scrapagogo kit as a member. not only that but i'm also expecting their charity kit too........just got to find time and strength to do a layout now. its even harder witht the scrapagogo kit, as the papers are so lush!!!

My brother and his girlfriend in Cyprus have unofficially become engaged, so i did manage to make them a card, and get them both pendants with their names on it. will try to upload a piccy later....the pendats are sooooo cool!!! Very bling!!

Anyway got to go now, gonna get ready for my appt. fingers crossed they can sort it, as there really is nothing more important then health!!