Hello Again and Thank You

Apologies for my absence, everyone. I have been struggling with the most awful head cold for over a week a now and whilst I am still coughing like a habitual smoker and sniffling away, I have been brought back to my Blog by Sandra at Rosedale.

Thank you. thank you, thank you for my lovely Belated Birthday pressie. My DH was very sceptical when a parcel arrived from New Zealand and wanted to know "What have you been spending money on now? and Don't they sell it in this country?". I assured him I hadn't ordered anything but was very intrigued.

When I saw the lovely wrapping paper, I actually cried and exclaimed, "Oh, how absolutely amazing is that!".

I was even more delighted when I opened the gift and the card to find some very beautiful specialty yarn, (not sure what I will make with it yet, but having fun looking at ideas) and a fabulous Australian cardmaking magazine. There is definitely plenty of interest to me within its pages, Sandra. Will share my makes with you soon.

My DH remarked, it was slightly odd that a close member of my family hadn't managed to send me even a card yet, and an almost stranger had sent me something personal from half way across the world.

Sandra, I am extremely touched, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Diolch yn Fawr.

Lots of Love Arwedd xx

Birthday Girl

Well, despite my numerous hints about favour vouchers, I didn't get any from the Boys. So you might want to know what I did get for my Birthday: -

*4 bars of Chocolate - not really going to help the figure, but Hey ho!
* a bottle of wine - that won't last long
* a £10 gift voucher
* a copy of the first volume of the Art of Crochet new magazine 99p edition

                       (I'm keeping the magazine pages for the patterns but the "Getting Started" 

             DVD covers the basics which I already know, so if anyone would like it

 I can send it on for you to have a go at "Getting Started". )

* a lie in - my DH mumbled when the alrm went off this morning that he would take youngest Son to school for me.
* lunch with DH in the local Cafe
* tea made for me by the Boys - hotdogs on bread. Plenty of Ketchup (they're addicted to it)!!!
* a text from FM with a voucher for lunch on her, very kind of you FM.
* and a Ticket from my SIL to go to the Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts Fair this Sat coming. I'm already giddy with excitement about it, but MUST be very strict about a budget for buying anything I see that I like.

No card or message from some close family members but maybe that was too much to expect?
Just glad I got some nice things at all. 

Off to scoff chocolate. Nom nom nom.

Lots of Love Arwedd xx

Frugal Birthday gifts

There is nothing I need for my Birthday. Of course, there are always lots of things I would like for my Birthday, most of which are craft stuff, bits of ribbon, wool, etc, etc, but we just don't have any money at the moment.

When DH asked me, "What do you want for your Birthday?". I said, "Wrap up something I already have and give that to me", but I have thought of something I would really love from my boys......

..... Vouchers. Not the expensive kind, for some clothes store or record shop, but the free kind that look like this:-

As I have hardly ever had hugs from my two baby boys, they are just not the huggy type, and as I just live for Hugs, I will need plenty of these, but I'd also quite like:

* a Breakfast in Bed Voucher
* a We'll cook the Tea Voucher
* a Back Rub Voucher
* an I'll tidy my Bedroom Mom voucher
* a You Can have Control of the Remote voucher
* and a couple of Coffee vouchers, (not the Starbucks or Costa** kind), just the sit down and we'll make you one kind. **other brands are available.

What free Birthday gifts would you love to receive?

Lots of Love Arwedd xx

Good friends are like.....

...... Diamonds, precious and rare.

and it is so wonderful to spend time with them.

Yesterday I was lucky enough to be invited out to Elevenses by my friend for her Birthday. She took me and another friend, S, to the Royal William Bakery. I've never been to the Royal William Dockyard before, but they are some stunning beautiful buildings.

The Bakery itself is one section next to the River Cottage restaurant that Froogs blogged about, not that long ago.

It was a rather unusual system as you took a block of wood for your plate.

 Then if you choose the toast option you could cut yourself unlimited bread from a lovely choice of handmade breads. In fact the smell of freshly made bread was the best bit about the whole place.

 There was also a choice of pastries which all looked rather yummy.

Then  you unhooked a coffee mug from the rack above your head and took this over to the coffee machine to get the hot beverage of your choice. You can see them above this lady's head (don't know who she was!!).

One thing I would say, it's no good if you're a bit squeamish about communal food sharing as the butter and jam were in big pots for everyone on the whole bench to share, some of whom are complete strangers.

However, I'm not squeamish and I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast, especially the part where I didn't have to pay.

I was also amused by the door to the toilets.

We three then went into the Town Centre for a bit of very girly shopping, where I was bought another present by my friend.

Today, I was treated to another lovely meal by the gorgeous Frugalmummy. Thank you ever so much FM for picking me up and dusting me off, yet again, and for the lovely pressies, but most of all your amazing company.

Gosh anyone would think it was nearly my Birthday ......  well, what do you know, it is nearly my Birthday, and I have been given a great idea for a very Frugal birthday present my 3 Boys can get me ..... more on this tomorrow.

Lots of Love Arwedd xx

P.S. Welcome new Follower Vicky, nice to see you and for Sam who emailed me, I will definitely share the very beginner instructions for the Chocolate Cake soon and you definitely can't be a worse cook than me, so we can learn together.

Oh, Oh, P.P.S. - I nearly forgot - This was the friend I made the Granny Square Cowl for here, and when she opened it she thought "Oh no, I can't wear wool!", but she put it on and it didn't itch. She couldn't believe how soft it was and she LOVES it and the colours exactly match the other pressies she had. Hooray!!!!!

He is Risen

Why is it with children that on days when they are likely to receive presents, i.e. Christmas Day and Birthdays, they are able to spring fully awake at the crack of dawn, and yet when you try to get them up on a normal school morning or even weekend, it's impossible? First to Arise today was the Birthday Boy!!

No.2 Son, after going to sleep incredibly late for a 7 year due to over-excitement, still managed to wake at some unearthly hour, expecting everyone else to spring into action and start the present opening session with joy and enthusiasm.

 All cards and presents duly opened and Ooo'ed and Aaa'ed over, we went to Church to celebrate the more important rising, from the dead no less, of the "man" who truly loves us. 

I can't imagine going through life without the love of my Savior.  Reading through Matthew this week has reminded me of the incredible sacrifice he made for me, and every other person ever created.  He died so that we could have eternal life.  He was rejected by those he came to save, and he chose to love each of us anyway.  What an incredible day to celebrate that our God is not dead, he's ALIVE!

So, in linking to http://ajourneytoadream.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/vive-le-revolution.html  today and writing 10 things which make me happy, number 1 "Reasons to be Cheerful" has to be:-
(in no particular order)

1. Jesus Loves Me - no matter how 'rubbish' I am!!

2. My Sister- in Law makes great chocolate cake and after having some for pudding at the family birthday party today, I got what was left to bring home, yippee!!

3. Friends - I don't have many of them, very few in fact, but what I lack in quantity, I make up for in quality. Indeed, one of my bestest friends is an Angel here on earth. She inspires me to be a better me and she lights up my world, especially at its darkest, and (if it's not too creepy?) in the words of One Direction, "You don't know you're beautiful", but we all see it.

4. I live in a lovely part of the world, just five minutes from this. The view from the top of this Tor looking down is even more spectacular than looking up at this Tor. God's creation is Amazing!

  5. Today was a Good Day for me and I didn't have that feeling of walking through treacle and moving forwards in slow motion today.

6. I wasn't given loads of Easter Eggs/Chocolate/Sweets today. I have 8 stone to lose and I really don't need the temptation. Instead I received a £5 Amazon voucher, which I can use to buy a book for my lovely Kindle, which was much nicer.

7. The weather has been lovely today so the boys could play out with the big present of the day, a radio controlled truck. This not only gave them pleasure, but kept them out of everyone else's way, a bonus. (I do love them really!).

8. I got lots of hugs today!! Hugs keep me Alive.

9. The CDs my Dad sent me in the post to play while driving around in my new car.

10. Seeing my lovely niece on Skype and realising its not that hard to do, so maybe my Sons could Skype with their Grandparents, which would spread the happiness a lot further.

Happy Easter!

Lots of Love, Arwedd x