Caribbean Queen

I've got 2 of my favourite people coming for dinner, my friend Fiona and her other half Lee. I've decided to do Caribbean, so here's my menu:

Mojitos & party popcorn
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Corn on the cob
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Jamaican pork
Rice & peas
Pineapple, mint & chilli salsa
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Pineapple in rum
Coconut ice cream
(or possibly coconut creme brulee - not decided yet - will let Fee choose if she reads this)
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Any alternatives gratefully welcome, especially starters

Happy New Year

Can't believe 2010 has come around already - where does the time go?

Hope it's a good year for all (if there are any left) my blog readers.

I don't really believe in New Year's Resolutions, but here are my aims for 2010:

• Lose some weight - I have been trying during December and want to do it slowly, as like living my life the way I do.
• Spend more time on crafty stuff - I know I probably said this last year as well, but I really miss making lots of stuff - just wish my craft room would repaint itself.
• Blog more often - see point above!
  
• Spend an hour or 2 a week decluttering - I realise I should have done this a couple of years ago, prior to Stu moving in, but that didn't happen. Would like to move house at the end of this year or during next year, and would love for it to be a smoother process.
• Stop keeping things I don't need/use/wear - see point above!
• Enjoy life and appreciate how lucky I am to have great friends, a roof over my head, food on the table and a job I love - I do mostly do this anyway, but it's nice to have a little reminder of this now and again.
• Pay off my debts - this one should only take 10 weeks to do :D

Let me know your aims/resolutions if you want to.

Lisa xoxo

Tree Time

Thought I'd take a break from trying to fix the stupid washing machine, which is leaking through the drawer and whilst reading up on washing machine problems, discovered that liquid instead of powder, along with washing at low temperatures seems to contribute to a lot of the problems, as the bleach in powder (along with really hot water) seems to stop them from gunking up.

.. anyways, onto the real reason for this post (as I am sure no one really wants to hear my laundry woes)...

We got the Christmas tree on Saturday. It's a real cracker and almost hits the ceiling. Here's a little piccie:
It's a lot brighter in real life - 300 lights on it.

Here's a little arty dot photo...

...and little close-up too.
Still got Christmas cards to do as well. Must, must, must do them tomorrow.

Started reading Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. Not my normal read, but I always used to make a point of reading the Booker Prize winner, along with most of the shortlist and thought it would be a good habit to revisit.

Although it's not my normal genre (rarely read historical fiction), it's good so far and the author has a good writing style. Might join Good Reads to keep track of what I think of the books I read.

Sure I'll have more to update soon.

Toodles

Christmas is Coming

Gosh, I can't believe it's been so long since I've updated - I have been doing stuff (honestly!!).

Trying to get into the Christmas spirit, as I felt it was lacking a bit last year after all the wedding excitement. Think I'll get my tree on Saturday, let it settle overnight and decorate it on Sunday. Off out on Saturday with a ton of friends to Arisaig in Glasgow -because there's 26 of us, I think we are going to get the whole of the balcony level to ourselves. After dinner, we're off to Maggie May's.

Made Christmas chutney last night - my first attempt at doing anything like this. Had a little teaspoon taste to see if it was nice; it was yummy scrummy. Made plenty for the family, but will probably end up making more for friends as well. Didn't have jars, so ended up buying half a dozen Asda value lemon curds (not exactly a Nigella moment, spooning lemon curd down the toilet dressed in jammies with eyelliner rubbed over my face - so definitely no pic of that).

Here's the finished article - need to go to a fabric shop to get something Christmassy to put over the lid.

It contains cranberries, apples, dates, ground cloves, ginger & cinnamon, with some cayenne pepper for kick.

Thanks for looking.

Hot Spots

I made this polymer clay pendant and bead using the kit I recently purchased from EJR Beads. I wore it to pc class yesterday and at first even one of the instructors thought it was metal, so I was well chuffed. I strung them onto copper tigertail, with copper filligree-style beads and Swarovski bicones in purple velvet.

Went to Manchester for the first time last week and absolutely loved it. Stayed in the Macdonald Manchester which was really nice, as well as only being a short walk from the city centre. On the Saturday we ate at Michael Caines at Abode which was really lovely. We went for the tasting menu and got a really good bottle of wine with it (can also confirm their mojitos are pretty tasty). On the Sunday we went to Chaophraya, a Thai restaurant which was really nice (although Stu ordered the hottest thing on the menu and it was too hot for him - surprise surprise). We travelled down by train which is definitely more relaxing than driving (and probably didn't cost any more than driving as we booked the tickets early).

On the Sunday morning we were walking into town in the rain and saw Ian Brown filming his new video - the things you see when you don't have your camera with you!!!!

The only thing that put a slight downer on the weekend was the killer toothache I had. Luckily managed to get a cancellation when I got home, so started root canal treatment and have another session on Tuesday. I was a bit nervous about it has I've heard a lot of bad things about root canal, but it didn't hurt a bit.

Bead wise, I don't have much to show apart from the necklace earlier in the post. I haven't been doing nothing, but just don't have anything finished. I have started one of the Moroccan-style beads from the Diane Fitzgerald book, have run out of one colour for my beaded box (but almost finished that one - just don't want to pay postage on one tube of beads, so it can wait until I am next placing an order - was going to give it to Stu's nan for crimbo anyway).

I am so lucky to have such a fabby husband - on Friday Stu bought me some new GHD straighteners since I've been wearing my hair really short lately and my thick straightners are too bulky for it and my thin ones were rubbish. He also managed to get a couple of tickets for The Pixies in October (I love love love love love The Pixies and was gutted I didn't get them when they were first released.... well Stewart was checking out Ticketmaster and some seated ones have now been released - might even get to wear my high heels to a gig for a change :D:D)

Don't have much planned for today - footie is on the telly later, so think I will do some clay stuff when that is on. Will also make some yummy cupcakes for hubs.

Oh I almost forgot (how could I!!), anyone familiar with our home will have a huge surprise next time they're round - the kitchen lights now work again!!!!! It's only been a squillion years! Came home yesterday and Stewart's dad had fixed them. They had been wired incorrectly - the people who lived here before must've been trying to create a deathtrap as so many things were wrong, but worked if you know what I mean.

This Weekend

This weekend I started working on one the the little boxes in the book "Little Bead Boxes" by Julia S Pretl (one of the books I posted on Thursday). I decided to do the "Flower" one and give it to Stewart's Nan for Christmas. According to the book the difficulty in shapes (from easiest) is triangle, hexagon, pentagon and square. I decided to jump in at almost the deep end (ha, ha - how unlike me!!) and try one of the penatgon ones. It really wasn't difficult at all, once I read the instructions on how to interpret the word maps (there's no way I'd manage it using the graphical charts).

Anyway, this is what I have done so far (quite a few hours).


I also ordered some Hot Copper glitter powders for polymer clay from EJR Beads


Not had a chance to try this out yet, but hope to in the next week or so.

Off to Manchester at the weekend. Staying at the MacDonald Manchester and going for dinner at Michael Caines restaurant on the Saturday night. Going to try and book Chaophraya for the Sunday night as well.

Murder mystery night went really well on Saturday (although I screwed up the main course a bit). Cooked the chicken to too long and it sort of disintegrated (no wonder I hate doing chicken). Everyone really joined in and only one person (my sis) guessed correctly.

Thanks for looking.

Bookworm

I've always been a bit of a bookworm, as well as a recently reborn bead addict, so today I treated myself to a couple of new books: I really like these little boxes, and although they'll probably take ages, I thought they would make lovely presents for people. I seem to know so many people who are lucky enough not to really "need" anything and find it difficult sometimes choosing presents, so hopefully these will go down well. Should be easy enough to incorporate different patterns into the shapes as well.
I have a fascination for beaded beads, and hope to make some of the Moroccan-style ones from Diane Fitgerald's book soon - just need to get some of those (pricey) galvanised delicas. This book on beaded beads gets pretty good reviews over on Amazon (the main one seeming to be don't pick a book by it's cover, as the ones on the front are pretty ugly).


Everything seems to be in order for my murder party on Saturday.
I am playing a french lady (my vocabulary may become a bit repetitive, as I don't have many French phrases in my head!!)Have decided on meze type starters, followed by djaje belimoune (chicken with orange and saffron) from my Medina Kitchen book. This is actually the only recipe I have made from this book - must make more.

Will do the New York cheesecake from how to be a Domestic Goddess for sweet again, as it was a great success the last time (and can make it tomorrow night, leaving less work to do on Saturday - always a bonus if you can grab a siesta before having visitors).

Seems I'll have a fiar bit on my hands over the next couple of days, but I am sure it won't be that bad.

Lotus Bangle

Remember the lovely pink and purple beads I posted last week, well this is what I made with them. The pattern is by the ultra-talented Jennifer Airs

Also got this book last week, so have started learning shapes because I want to make almost everthing in it - the Moroccan lanterns (shown on the cover) are absolutely stunning, but probably way beyond my skill level at the moment.

Went to the Take That gig at Hampden on Saturday - only knew on Thursday I was going, as G called to say she knew someone who knew someone who could get 2 people in if Stu and I wanted to go. Never ones to turn down a freebie we jumped at the chance. Was a really really good show; obviously a lot of time and money had gone into designing the set and show. The mechanical elephant was fab and Stu and I were singing along to quite a few numbers. One of the support acts, Gary Go, was also really good. The other support was James Morrison, of whom least said the better!

Thanks for looking.

Pinks & Purples

I ordered this delicious section of beads on Monday and they arrived on Tuesday.

The bright pinks are a colour called orchid and I think it just may be my new favourite colour in the world.

I put them to use straight away, starting on this bangle:

It's done in peyote, the same technique I learned for my spiral bangle. Was a little bit tricky at first, but once I had the first "V" done, it go much easier.

At the weekend I went to little Samuel's first birthday party, held at the Boilerhouse in the Hidden Gardens at Tramway in Glasgow. Great venue, really really interesting garden and a glorious day. The birthday boy had a great time playing in the dirt and it was good to catch up with my cousins again.

Think I am going to Take That on Saturday - looks like I managed to wrangle a couple of freebies - still waiting for it to be confirmed though.

Til the next post, bloggy-types.

Poorly Sick

I seem to have some sort of bug and have been off work for the past 3 days. I really really hate being off sick and thought yesterday afternoon I would be able to go back today, but last night and this morning I wasn't as good again. Definitely feel a bit better today, but playing it by ear and going to get up for an hour or 2 shortly. Means I have got nothing at all done all week, even though I had lots of things I wanted to get done.

On a good note, I signed up for my first glass beadmaking course today - it takes place a week on Sunday (21/06) and I am really excited about it.

Super Sunny Sunday

Another beautiful sunny day today. Up bright and early and heading off to Mum's later to take advantage of her garden (the only downside of living in a flat is that, although I have my own garden, it's not very private). Will take up some goodies and maybe make a picnic. Luckily it's not far, so can walk and have a couple of glasses of vino.

I've almost finished my necklace now, just need to make the polymer clay focals (which will be a bit of trial and error) and a little dangly bit then pull it all together. Don't think they'll be done today though, as don't want to be stuck indoors (expecially since there was only about 1 sunny weekend last year).

No new photos to post today, but this is the book I'm reading at the moment (actually I've almost finished it)I've really enjoyed it, but it probably isn't to everyone's taste. I loved her last book too (The Trophy Taker) and there is a new one due out in paperback in August. They're detective novels based in Hong Kong and deal with the (extremely) seedy side of life there (although most of the action in this one is in the Phillipines and London).

Talking of London, Stu and I were planning on visiting for a few days at the end of July, but when I priced it, it looks like being quite expensive, especially as we'd like to the the Rocky Mountaineer train in Cananda not next summer but the next again. So we've opted to do this instead - Jacobite Steam Train, and spend a couple of days in Fort William. I've never been up that way before, so should be fun. Oh, and this is the steam train that goes over the big bridge you seen in the Harry Potter films.

That's about it for now.

Take care bloggy-types.

Lisa xoxo

What Lisa Did

Yesterday I baked some banana muffins using one of Nigella's recipes. I love love love Nigella - everything I make using her recipes just seems to turn out well. These muffins are lovely and soft, yet almost chewy.

For lunch we went through to The Boat House in South Queensferry for a nice lunch. First time we've been there and will definitely be back. Really nice atmosphere and great views.

In the evening we went to see Nickelback at the SECC in Glasgow. Absolutely fantastic - great show. Black Stone Cherry were supporting - they were a lot better than the last time I saw them.

Off to make a start on my new necklace. Also need to do some tidying in the spare room at some point (spare room is like painting the Forth Bridge - it just never seems to be done).

Thanks for looking.

Lisa xoxo

New Seed Beads

These seed beads arrived this morning. It's the first time I've had decent seed beads, as I've tended to do more stringing than off-loom stuff in the past.

I know the bright citrus colours may not be to everyone's taste, but I love them. The 2 oranges in the top row are actually the same colour (the paler of the 2). Once I teach myself how to do the styles I need I'll be able to get cracking on this making these into something.

As I enjoyed adding a couple of my favourite things in my last post, here's another:

This crystal globe was given to Stu and I as a wedding present from a couple of our neighbours. It's absolutely gorgeous - the globe itself is about 7 or 8 inches in diameter.

On a final note, finished my SVQ level 4 in Management, along with 2 enhancement units on Thursday. Really enjoyed doing it, but also really glad it is all done now.

Afternoon Tea, Anyone?

A few weeks back Stu and I treated ourselves to a gorgeous Portmerion Crazy Daisy tea set... and I finally got round to taking a photo! I think it is gorgeous, but let me know what you think.
(Had to squish it into my little pop-up studio, hence rusbbish picture and looking a bit squashed{I love being able to use squish and squashed in the same sentence!!}).

We got the cake stand, teapot, milk jug, sugar bowl, 4 breakfast cups & saucers and 4 mini mugs (which also fit perfectly on the saucer). Coveting the egg cup and toast rack set too (although we'd need one each or there would be tears).

Whilst I was taking the photo I also took a pic of one of my current fave things, which is a little Columbian frog which Mum brought me back from holiday. Here he is........
Ribbit ribbit bloggy-types.

p.s.take a look at James May's plasticine garden at the Chelsea Flower Show.
I loved plasticine when I was little - much better than playdoh (which I wasn't allowed to play with anyway cos the smell made my Mum feel sick).

Tools of the Trade

I'm treating myself to an order for a nice batch of tools for polymer/Art clay today. Hoping to make my own clay beads as have such a desire to get back beading again, but really want to try something new. I got a really good book on polymer clay beads a couple of years ago and also bought a little starter Art Clay Silver kit from someone round about the same time. Hopefully will have something nice to post soon.

Also keen to try lampworking classes, but will have to put that on the back burner for a few months, as still have one VQ assessment to go and then need to spend some time doing stuff around the house.

You Don't Always Realise...

... the good stuff that's on your own doorstep.

A couple of weeks ago we went to the Bo'ness & Kinneil Steam Railway and then to Birkhill Fireclay Mine. We had a fantastic time and it had the added bonus of only being a 15 minute drive away.

Quick Update (and a couple of holiday photos)

Hey bloggy-types. I'm still around and nothing much has changed since I last posted. Still working away at my VQ - hoping in 6 weeks from now I'll be the proud owner of a Level 4 Management VQ though. Working hard at work too, although looking forward to nice summer nights, finishing at 5 and going for a run and stuff (in the car obviously!!) and not starting til 9 the next morning.

Still not gutted/decorated the spare room, although we have made a start on it - can't wait to get my workspace back again so I can start making stuff. Really wishing I had listened to my mum and not got a glass desk though - look pretty but like working over the black hole of Calcutta.

Thought you might like to see a couple of my holiday photos:

Domincan Republic

Tortola in the British Virgin Islands

Antigua

Barbados

Scotland District of Barbados

St Lucia
Miami
Grand Cayman

Cozumel

Boat

Me & Stu

Quick Update

Can't believe it's been quarter of a year since I updated this!! Stu and I are just back from holiday/honeymoon to the Caribbean - was fab - will upload some photos soon (already thinking about where to go next year).

No cards or jewellery to show I'm afraid, as haven't done any in months. I need to redecorate this room to see if that gets my oomph back.

Had a pretty rough start to the year which wasn't a very happy time. Still working away and doing my VQ stuff (halfway there, so hopefully will have it finished in next 6 months or so). Will do a proper catch-up at the weekend.

Here Comes the Bride

Can't believe it's over 3 weeks now and I've still not even posted a picture. Still waiting to see everyone's and get my book back, but here's a couple people have sent me so far.

Now that things are going back to normal, I'm really going to get stuck in about designing some new jewellery. I realy sickened myself of this 2 or 3 years back, when I seemed to just be doing jewellery for people constantly and it did take the enjoyment out of it for me.

I'm still enjoying making cards again, but completely not sweating it if I don't get any Christmas ones done - after all it's not the end of the world is it (also still need to get wedding thank you cards finished and posted).

Looking to get this spare room decorated, as I feel it's too dark, especially as we still have cds and dvds everywhere - got some units arriving on Saturday for these though, so that should make a difference.

Off to do some blog-hopping shortly, as I've missed catching up on everyone's news.

Toodles xoxo

You're my Guitar Hero

Can't believe it's been so long since I posted. So much has happened since September, not least the fact that I got married on 1st Nov!!!! We had a fantastic sunny day and managed to get plenty of photos done outside, which was definitely a bonus we were not expecting.

I was pretty tied up doing all the stationery and favours (as well as being really really busy at work), hence the reason for the posting gap. Beginning to get some energy back now, although so glad we decided not to go on honeymoon until February.

Another bit of great news is that one of my best friends has recently found out she's having a baby, so I'll be an auntie!!!

New Guitar Hero band pack is out tomorrow, along with the new one for the DS, so guess where Stu and I will be heading after work. We've actually got it on pre-order at Game as they were offering a free bass guitar when you pre-ordered. New WoW expansion pack came out today - not got it yet, as I've really let my WoW time slip (so much so I cancelled my subs about a year ago), but hoping to stop working late so often to enable me to free up some fun time for myself - fed up being tired and drained all the time.

Anyways that's my update for the moment - more just to announce my return to blogland than anything else.

See you all soon (if I have any readers left).

Toodles xoxo