Kool Kitty Musings

Sigh

I hate coming to the end of a good read, I really do...

Finished Rachel Gibson's "See Jane Score" today, which is kind of a prequel to "The Trouble With Valentine's Day" which was her latest read... that was such a good book, and this one featured ice hockey players with rather imaginative tattoos again... oh yes, I really loved it and hated turning the last page! :o(

So moving on from the post-story trauma, I had Veronica Henry's latest (An Eligible Bachelor) to hand so I could do a quick swap! Phew... only a chapter into it, I really loved Wild Oates so hope this one is just as good!

In other news my luscious Little Red Scrapbook kit finally arrived - it must have got stuck somewhere and someone tried to have a neb inside, as the box was ripped open at one end, but thankfully everything still in tact!! Phew... look forward to playing with it once my mojo returns.

Coming to you live from Santa's Grotto!

Sort of..

Well it certainly feels that way, as I have made a big dint in the KI Winter 2004 papers - although there are still plenty scraps left!

Here are a few favourites from today:

And this one - an oval just for Tree, but well within my limits - as it ain't on a LO!!:

And this one based on a sketch by Becky Fleck - rather cool as the other half of the circle cut out can be used on another card! :o)

Anyway, so that makes 32 cards so far... eek!

Whilst having a dur moment updating my gallery, I had the biggest time laughing at Top Gear as they tried to get those super cars out of that Paris underground parking garage... omg... hilarious... snigger...

Right, I am set to use up some Queen and Co. and Carolee's on the next set of cards me thinks... give the KI a bit of a rest. LOL

maybe

Little Britain repeat coming up so, am off for a snoop online. :o)

Dashing through the snow...

Well as the more festive weather threatens to arrive, it looks like today was a rather productive one at the crop. :o) Thanks for the lift Jean and the amazing Malteaser's cake! Yum!

Just a few of my favourites from the day - typically they are mostly KI:

Some more KI:

And a smidgen more hehe:

Alas my Queen and Co and Carolee's Christmas/Winter papers didn't arrive in the post in time before leaving this morning, but naturally - as is usually the case with the mail - they were waiting for me when I got back! The laws of stash shopping eh?

But imagine my surprise when I got back to see this thread on the Self-Addressed forum. Wow, I am totally gob-smacked and pleasantly shell-shocked! Thanks so much Netty and all those who commented... I had no idea I was to blame for so many kit addictions... oops LOL or more importantly that people liked my stuff like that... wow, I was truly shocked and you've really made me smile today, so thanks you guys!

I have always had a strange love/hate relationship with anything I've made. Especially cards, where oftentimes I will really like what I've created, but the next day, nope... not liking it at all. It's not usually that way for scrapbook pages, strangely, but it has always been that way for cards - so it's probably a good thing I get to send them to people and have a go at replacing them with something else. hehe Otherwise I'd be hanging onto them or something, and we can't have that! LOL

Well the day has ended rather well, with the Journey South boys through to the next round of the X-Factor, oh I was doing the happy dance, and waving my poster about, even if it was from the comfort of my chair! I believe that tonight was the last night where an act was voted off by the judges, so it's hotting up now until the final on the 17th!

Right, I'd best attempt to get some sleep and at least have a go at a lie in in the morning... bliss... If it's not too cold!

Eek, I'm it!

Cherry's tagged me - hehe although reminiscent of PE at school, I don't feel like the last girl picked for the netball team... LOL

So here we go...

2 names you go by: Natty and Natalka
2 parts of your heritage: Acrobats and a naptha lamp
2 of your everyday essentials: MSN and noise
2 favourite bands or musical artists: Sarah McLachlan hands down and, at the mo, Madonna
2 favourite songs: Trainwreck (live - Sarah McLachlan) and Sorry (Madonna)
2 things you want in a relationship (other than real love): Honesty and fun
2 physical things that appeal to you in the opposite sex: Eyes crinkled with a smile and strangely nice hands...
2 of your favourite hobbies: Scrapbooking/cardmaking and reading
2 things you want really badly: To have greater means to live within (I want my own house!!!) and tick a few things off the Great Life Plan
2 place you want to go on vacation: Cuba/Buenos Aires and Seattle
2 things to do before I die: Learn to dance the Argentinean Tango (and be shit hot at it and svelte of course!!), travel the Rockies from Vancouver to Calgary and further on the Rocky Mountaineer train route...
2 ways you are a stereotypical chick: Collector of pink things, and a dangerous fondness for pretty bags/shoes
2 things you are thinking about now: All that stuff I packed for the crop tomorrow, will I really use it?! and where oh where is all my post!!
2 stores you shop at: Amazon & A Million Little Things
2 things that scare you: Skeery movies when alone and it's dark (and there is always a strange sound...) and heights (OK yes, I did the Capilano suspension bridge... but it was NOT fun)
2 people you would like to see take this quiz: Jill and Jennifer - it's over to you now girls!

OMG, note to self...

DO NOT leave book at work on desk when leaving the office for the day... grrrr...

I had over an hour's worth of time to pass waiting to get home, with NO entertainment or distraction but for looking out the window...

Never again I swear... and it was at such a good part too... grrr...

However, thanks must go to Tree today for helping me in my hour of need on some Harry Potter facts for an urgent German translation this morning... you definitely knew more than the German journo! And I am very glad I spotted the typo I originally had in shape-shifting before the final draft... oo-er!!

Anyway, I had high hopes of doing something constructive tonight (like Christmas cards - a total non-starter), but am feeling very drained and of course have NO book to read to return me to a happy-happy defrosted state... so will pop Madonna in the CD player again, yes I know by all rights I should have worn a hole on the CD by now... :o\

Tonight's track is Push... well it's a toss up between Push and Isaac as I am really loving the beat in both of them... like seriously digging it, it's a shame I can't turn it up louder! hehe

Nothing constructive doing tomorrow night, my uni pal is driving down from Newcastle for tea out at TGIF's or somewhere... :oD

A funny from Ma...

Courtesy of mother dearest... Oh yes, I shall provide a translation.

Turkey 1: Achoooo!!

Turkey 2: Ha-bloody-ha...

This post has been brought to you courtesy of the Polish comedy train...

Oops I did it again…

I managed to sit down on the bus in front of a couple of girls, one of whom decided to tell her friend at length every single spoiler for the Harry Potter film in her shouty voice, not her inner monologue voice… hm, I know, you're wondering how the heck can you be wanting to see the film but not read the books? Well I tried reading the books, I got through 6 chapters of the first one and never went back… it just didn't totally grip me, which is odd since I like the films, and I liked reading Artemis Fowl… but I digress… I now know every spoiler for the movie I have yet to see, bugger….

Oh well, I suppose there is 2 hrs 40 minutes of the thing, unlike TV shows I hate reading spoilers for films - it's a paradox I know…

But Dr McDreamy tonight can sooth the angst tonight. :sigh:

New book started today, another Rachel Gibson, so far so good… Another break with my guilty pleasure... hehe

I really need to start wondering about what I will do at the crop this Sat. I think it's going to be inevitable that it'll be Christmas cards.

I might crack on with some more tonight, if I can pull my finger out. Have put Madonna on as that album was very effective with the creativity Sat.!

Fave track of the week, or at least Monday's track, is Like It Or Not:

You can call me a sinner
You can call me a saint
Celebrate me for who I am
Dislike me for what I ain't

Put me up on a pedestal
Or drag me down in the dirt
Sticks and stones will break my bones
But your words will never hurt

This is who I am
You can
Like it or not
You can
Love me or leave me
Cus I'm never gonna stop
No no

Still ticked...

It's not corrected despite lots of tweaking... sigh...

Anyway, back from the lights - and just knocked back some ibuprofen as it looks like a cold is on the way :o(

So no proper photos, the crowd was huuuge, we stood for 40 minutes before they were due on and we were no where near the stage, so by the time they came on I basically had to wave my camera in the air and hope for the best. LOL

Here they are:

What do you mean am I sure I was at the right place??

Look it was them, honest!

Well, you'll just have to trust me on this one!

They sang Angel of Harlem and Angels, much to the delight of the crowd, then Andy announced he was off in search of a huge parmo! Nothing new there then! hehe

It looks like they were signing photos beforehand. But the crowds were hard to get through afterwards and it looks like the lads were whisked off afterwards to catch their flight back down. TV cameras about so wonder if they were Look North or X-Factor. :oD

Well, I'm off to rustle up a hot chocolate.

Hm it's ticking me off...

Why don't the colours of the side bars continue down the page like they used to, instead they are stopping at the end of the lists - is there a setting I need to have enabled/disabled to make that work, as it's really annoying me now! Such a niggly thing... anyway, best get ready to go to town and watch Journey South switch the lights on, oh yes need new batteries for the camera too!

Seasonal colours

Well I have been tinkering, after my creative spurt with KI Christmas papers yesterday, my blog is now an ode to the colour scheme.

Hope to create a suitable banner one day as I had to relinquish the dark green border for the middle column to be fluid - shame... but will need to include it somewhere :D

Right, time to actually have my shower and get dressed since it's almost lunch time!! Shocking!

I'm dreaming...

of a Whhiiiiittteee Christmaaaaaaaaaas...

:cough:

Sorry...

Yes, Christmas time is here in the scrapping zone. I have finally made a concerted effort to start the Christmas card making... not a bad tally for the day. And it's amazing what you can actually do with just a  few things, as the cards with KI Winter papers are made from scraps - no chopping of new sheets!

I'd promised myself that I would use KI Christmas papers as my main stash for Christmas cards this year, and use up old stuff wherever possible, so decided to get rid of some pearlescent card blanks that were just ideal for frosty snowflakes and all that.. afraid I am running out of pastel papers though... hm...

But yes, really chuffed with the results of KI Christmas love the bold colours so a break from the norm for Christmas this year, it's a Kool Yule! hehe

I ended up having to create a Yuletide play list on the PC for all my Christmas songs, so have had Holly Cole playing intermittently, well that was when I wasn't (re)playing Madonna's album and boogieing on doooown! Excellent album, even better than Ray of Light which was my favourite before.

What else... hm... great performance from Journey South on X-Factor, don't think they can top their acoustic performance of "The first time ever I saw your face..." - that was pure magic - but they are excellent performers and I think they really deserve to go far. Hopefully will be off to see them switch on the Christmas lights in town tomorrow - got to go to the new Borders and Paperchase first hehe...

Also I saw the Tango performance on Strictly Come Dancing results show, of the world's best Tango dancers.... my god that couple with the girl in the red dress - AMAZING, totally AMAZING... I really have a soft spot for the tango, it's just beautiful and so captivating to watch. I have always wanted to be able to dance it... but alas my initial attempts at lessons didn't come to much - if only I had the talent and perseverance.

Anyway, off to watch the tail end of Parky then "Shall We Dance" is going in the DVD player...

But maybe another spin of Madonna on the dance floor... "Time goes by... so slowly..."

Could it BE any colder?

Goodness me, I am only hopping on here as I have what seems to be my 6th mug of hot chocolate today... and I am STILL defrosting... blimey it's nippy today, I may have to wear my super furry thick coat to work tomorrow, alas it sheds fluff a bit on certain tops, and can get really, really warm - like really toastie! So only worn at extreme temperatures and never to work so far... At this rate though... Oh and I burnt my tongue on mug number 4 of hot chocolate, so add to that I have lost my sense of taste - what's new there then! ;o)

Well my book is going swimmingly, I am just taking a break - when Isobel Woolf is on form, her stories are seriously gripping... I seriously disliked the trials of tiffany trot and was not keen on the making of minty malone, but the rest since then have been top notch!

Well I'd best go huddle under the duvet with my book until the new series of Little Britain starts... yes! :oD

And the votes are in

Well I finished Adele Park's "Husbands" today... wasn't so taken with it until about 2/3rds into the story then it got totally gripping, then I got misty eyed on the bus and before I knew it - The End!

So the dilemma now is - what to start next?

I say this is a dilemma because I have 2 Rachel Gibson books and Madonna's new CD coming from amazon tomorrow - but post arrives after I have left for work. Actually I saw her on Parky and the clips of her new documentary were hilarious - so I would love to see that too. hehe

But I was most ticked off that amazon has the Nora Roberts' Garden series but only the last book is cheap, the other two are almost full price... I can't go on like that buying books full price and reading em only once. Am only having marginal success on bookcrossing of late as everyone I seem to contact for a trade either doesn't answer my e-mail or doesn't want to trade... Never miiiiiind!

So, what do I go with starting tomorrow, I could dive into Zoe's book bag... or I could finally crack open the new Isobel Woolf, yep I think that's the answer! :oD

Small confession

OK I got slightly worried when I saw the Hippie Chick extras had gone down in stock... so I ordered those papers, the Aunt Gertie add-ons, some Queen and Co. Christmas/winter papers, Carolee's Christmas/Winter - that was it... honest...

I officially have winter and Christmas covered this year... I just need to actually make the cards...

And within monthly spend budget on non-kit items! I just need to not spend more than £3 on any more scrapping stuff this month.*

:end of weekly confession:

Oh and still waiting for the KI to come in, shame I couldn't wait on my order, but that Hippie Chick was disappearing - I was getting skeeered.

* This statement excludes all purchases of KI Christmas and Winter - see previous confessions of love for KI Christmas and Winter 2005 papers... you can't touch me on this one!

It's Monday night

And you know whta that means...

The Dr McDreamy Hour coming to your screens in less than an hour!

I'd best heat up the kettle for a big mug of hot chocolate. Mm-mm-mmmm.....

Time flies...

When it's your free time! hehe

As intended I spent yesterday working on a scrapping project between games of Bejewelled, listening to my new CDs and browsing new items on a certain retail site..

X-Factor last night - great performance from the guys again, but what a hoo-ha with the results show! Eek my heart was in my throat when Kate said they were going to a commercial break. Didn't see any of Strictly Come Dancing really, as it was difficult to gauge when the boys would be on the other side... But I saw a few bits here and there, shame I missed Patsy's and Zoe's dances... Never mind.

We watched Meet the Focker's last night, finally the wait list on amazon rental was down and I'd caught up on my DVD watching. Oh so class... and Little Jack - such a way with words! And poor Moses the blue dog, oh dear hilarious!

Went out for Sunday lunch with Ma this afternoon - had to don the shades despite the wintry weather. Had lovely roast in Café 85 - beef was the best I've ever had when out (can't beat home-made) but the buttery swede and carrots were divine! I never thought I'd ever say that about anything with a swede in it... But yum!

Have made another half-hearted attempt at a Christmas card this evening and scanned in a number of Journey South news clippings for friends and colleagues abroad - since they are all routing for them from afar.

Time for some carrot cake now! Dr McDreamy tomorrow though... mmmmm...

Strange how things work out...

Had a half day at work today and left early, got a bit more reading of the Adele Parks in on the bus home, and just after the Ozzie chick in it mentioned "roots" I had a flashback to the hilarious conversation we had with Hattie in The House about roots and thongs and Ozzie lingo... well low and behold, not two minutes later, Hattie gets on the bus on her way to an appointment for a hat thing... Asked if I had time for coffee - well of course... so I snooped about the shops until her appointment was over then we went for lunch in The House... really nice. Strange how things come about isn't it?

Anyway, I managed to dodge the rain getting back and set to work selecting some photos to print for the weekend, but I must seriously get a grip on the Christmas card situation!

Also read in the local paper today that Journey South will be switching on the Christmas lights in Middlesbrough, will have to ask Michelle if she has more info so we can go along (groupie moment). They are singing Living on a Prayer tomorrow night -YESSS!!! I love their Bon Jovi numbers - :o)

Brrrr...

It being such a cold day today, as I found out when venturing for a browse round the Continental Market at lunch time, I was inspired to have another go at playing with shapes, paths, and text in Photoshop, and chose the snowflake as my next experimental shape! Took a while until I worked out tracking filled the gap letters couldn't. So I turned it into a print on vellum then attached it to a card with some ancient KI in my collection - nice to be using it up sans guilt! :oD

So a few more Christmas cards and I may need to open a new gallery here for just Christmas cards... or at least for the Winter season hehe...

I really do need to get on with the Christmas cards - a bit of scrapping this weekend methinks, but need to pull the Christmas stuff out the loft.

Looking forward to a cinema trip soon, Harry Potter but also In Her Shoes, read the book and loved it so look forward to seeing what they've done with Jennifer Weiner's story... Always strange to see a book on screen - don't think I've ever been in the position of reading it first then seeing it, always seems to be t'other way around.

Finished my book this morning and started on another from Zoe's collection - The Adele Parks - still hard to believe the woman went to the same school as me (apparently, well that's what Helen said anyway, and she's read more Adele than I so I defer to her higher knowledge!). Am also on a Madonna retro kick right now, with Ray of Light. In anticipation of new CDs arriving tomorrow YESSS!!!!

It it's not shoes

It's bags!

Well I had the afternoon off work today so went for a little shopping spree with ma! It's not as dangerous as it sounds, but I spent a rather tidy sum on a new bag... now come on, put this into perspective, it's been over a year since I "bought" my last bag...

And after a lot of trawling and comparing, I was most taken with this number from Fiorelli in Binns:

 

It's a lovely chocolate brown, huge inside (well big enough for umbrella, keys, wallet, phone, book and walkman) and also has an optional shoulder strap as I've never got used to carrying a bag unless it was on my shoulder!

There were some seriously lush furry mauve Fiorelli's so nice, but likely to get wet in the winter weather, but I totally adored the lilac and cream snowflake key pulls on them.

Low and behold there was a cream key chain on sale separately, so ma bought me it together with saying she'd gift me £20 towards the bag as an early name day present! Yes!! So only had to pay £30 out of my own pocket for my lush new bag...

In more boring news, I have stocked up on more soups to try... I have no idea what is going on, but I am on a complete soup fix (accompanied by a nice buttered crusty roll - mmm cheese focacia today).

Looked at lots of boots but nothing I fancied or could afford... am happy to stick with the the old pair for now, and will have to give the Foscatti's a miss tomorrow as my feet are killing after pounding the streets!

Where is the time going...

Time flies and all that...

I got lost last night trying to get things sorted out, and before I knew it it was time for Grey's Anatomy... managed to finish off the Chris Manby book while watching the new BBC Shakespeare thing - très bon!!

Well I started another guilty pleasure this morning on the bus, another Rachel Gibson, with the way the traffic is on a night at the moment it takes over an hour to get home, so I made some head-way today...

However, I have been weak - I ordered 2 CDs off amazon (free postage of course!) - the Kaiser Chiefs, have been umming and ahhing over that CD - and I really like their latest single especially - This is the Modern World.... And the other is the Madeleine Peyroux that I have been contemplating buying off and on since around Easter... I just love "Dance Me to the End of Love" and I believe it's been released as a single... Check it out

Right, best go see what's what in the line up to Medium at 11!

Quick update

Right well I am off for a lovely hot soak in Molton Brown, accompanied by Yankee Candles and some as yet to be chosen CD!

But in the meantime here's this weekend's creative outlet - mind you I spent a disgusting amount of time playing Bejewelled and the same on MSN... hm... not ideal.

So first up, a card from yesterday using this month's SA kit which arrived yesterday - speedy or what!

The next is a LO of a pic of Kayah I was e-mailed (there is at least 1 more destined for the scrapbook since I've already printed it out on the HiTi!). Decided to look back into my oooold KI stuff. I had it all stored up as I really liked it but have only the odd sheet from collections - like this one - Beautiful Collection III paper. Anyway, I really wanted to use my KI letter stickers, but didn't have enough to use on the title as well... grrr... so hand-cut Chewey Stewey the font used for the alphas - but it is chunkier than it appears on the letter stickers, so need to perfect that some how. Anyway, isn't she a cutie eh? :grin:

And lastly, using up some scraps from that LO plus the co-ordinating vellum (not sure what I will ever do with the vellum as it so isn't my product of choice any more!

A touch on the bright side there as the orange seems more vibrant on the scan - anyway cut out circles of the pink cardstock overlaid with the vellum, add a few blue prima flowers, black brads and some stickers - hehe

Right then, I'd best go hop in the bath! Monday again tomorrow, my it comes around quick.

How hard can it be to boil an egg?

Further proof that I am just not cut out for a life of domestic goddessness! So up I got this morning craving a soft boiled egg with soldiers (and Marmite mmm), punched an air hole in my egg with little gizmo #1, got the egg timer out to ensure optimum runniness of yolk, and sat back preparing my soldiers until the egg timer ran out, then fished said optimally boiled egg from the pan into my snoopy egg cup and reached for little gizmo #2 - the "egg top slicer-offer". Having done this a million times, I applied the same amount of for as usual, however unfortunately this shell seemed to be less hard than most and I managed to slice but also crush my hot soft boiled (optimum runniness of yolk) egg... resulting in it exploding in my hands and a huge splatter flying over my glasses and into my hair - now it's a good job I was wearing me specs and not contacts eh!

Honestly I was howling with laughter after the initial shock wore off... blimey... egg white and yolk all over the place in the kitchen - much of it all over me! So second attempt ended up with yolk being below optimum runniness - verging on hard boiled egg, and little gizmo #2 was relegated to the drawer that time... My poor Marmite soldiers were cold too. :o(

Next week, I'll try something simpler like pouring milk on my cornflakes! And now you wonder why I defer to a higher being for bringing dishes to crops, etc.

Calm, calm, deep breaths...

Well in my anger last night I forgot to post the nicer news. It was the first of the month, this is usually a much anticipated day in the world of kits, as it's the day the LRS spoilers go up...

No pics yet, but after much debating and browsing via google, I decided that the add-ons were essential... now I just need to find enough pics to go with pink and green. What a chore!

I tell you, the November kit is an ode to my blog! :oD

So something to look forward to.

I'm still ticked off about The Closer, ya know... but am tempted to rally the viewers and invade the Channel 4 offices thanks to Katie's suggestion! Who's with me aaaaarrrr!! hehe

The militant TV viewer isn't such a good look on timid little me.. :o\ but if I don't hear otherwise I'll be dropping them a line!

Off to finish Sophie's bakery for the broken hearted... watched some of Rome on BBC2 - god... a bit graphic for me, there's portraying reality, and then there's reality... shudder... the bull thing was all a bit much for me! Oh and crucifixions... nono...

Oooh I am so mad...

Channel 4 you've ruined my Tuesday nights! Just as I come in from work to set the TV schedule I find that there is no sign of The Closer at 10 p.m. not a sausage... Just another of those dreary 100 greatest whatever-we've-run-out-of-decent-ideas shows so I goes online to see what the problem might be. And low and behold, I see from the horses mouth that you've decided to not show the rest of the series... and have no immediate plans to do so!

WHAT??

Are you mad? What's the point of that? You've invested in buying the rights to show it, but instead you'll show half, decide it's not your cup of tea for a few viewers, and not show the rest... stupid... absolutely stupid. It was cat and mouse in the ratings with season 2 of Nip/Tuck. But I had no idea The Closer existed until 20 minutes before the first episode as there was absolutely no coverage for it at any prime time viewing slots. I have to say I've lots a lot of faith in Channel 4 shows. It used to be one of my favourite channels, so much to offer, and you'd always know when it would be on, as shows weren't moved about like on BBC2 for snooker, or ITV where it was pot luck what night something would be on. But now? The only thing they seem to show is The Simpsons and Lost...

It's only got 12 episodes in the series, what is the harm in actually showing the poor people who had the carrot dangled in front of them the rest of what you tempted them with.

Grrr... well thank god Grey's Anatomy is back and I still have the wonderful Medium. But oooh it's made me so mad! And it is just a TV show for gawd's sake.

But it's the principle of the thing!

I was having such a good day too. I wore the Lea Foscatti's to work, first time in over a month as it has taken that long to break them in. And my feet weren't ripped to shreds this time - yey I finally have broken them in, I can walk in them!!!

But this whole thing with The Closer has taken the wind right out of my happy-shoe-news sails!

Looks like I will be missing Bleak House Thursday night in order to schmooze and mingle and eye up expensive out-of-my-league-potentially-lethal shoes.... Ah well

In other news I started one of Zoe's kindly lent out chicklit's yesterday - half way through it now, so must update the reading list. Sophie's Bakery for the Broken Hearted. So far so good - not long left to go, but it has had some comical moments in it despite the subject matter... no blubbing on the bus yet! ;o)

Deja View by Lisa Armstrong, it was OK, but if it had been the first of her books I'd come across I don't think I'd have been in a huge rush to read another... :grin: