Welcome to my world JanMary

What's in my makeup bag?

2012-05-30T08:00:00.004+01:00

I am in Rome (20th wedding anniversary, and yes it is amazing) so sharing what makeup I have brought with me. Pics of makeup will follow, but with a view like this from our hotel room, and places like this to visit (see photos at end of post) I have stopped to photograph my makeup!

However I am determined to finish the challenge, so here is a quick summary. I'm not hugely into makeup but I usual have available (but I often only wear a minimal amount unless it is a special occasion)

a foundation (the brand varies - not too loyal)
Bobbi brown eye pallete (usually in brown/neutral shades
Lipstick - love MAC lipstick
Eye liner - usually brown and I prefer liquid liner to a pencil
Concealer - touch éclat or max factor
Mascara - brown/black

For more bloggers and their makeup bags, visit HERE

What's in your makeup bag?

Where I have travelled

2012-05-29T08:00:00.023+01:00

I have had fun remembering some of the places I have travelled - here are a selection

As kids we spent holidays in Portrush (in N Ireland), and Achill Island (west coast of Ireland) and then to "the Continent" with my family - we started in a rented tent in France, then we progressed to a trailer tent (which we towed all the way to the Italian Alps and Venice from N Ireland!), and ended up in a small touring caravan.

As a teen I first flew in a airplane on my first holiday without my parents - 4 cousins and I flew out to America to attend a christian conference, and stay with various church families - we visited New York, Washington, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis/St Paul, Niagra Falls (on the Canadian side), Syracuse and back to New York - it was quite an experience!

My first holiday abroad after I had left home and started work was with a friend to Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

After we were married and before we had kids we travelled extensively in Europe and a few times in US too - particular highlights were gites in Dordonge, villas in Tuscany and some beautiful country inns in New England.

When the kids arrived we managed to travel abroad every other year, usually holidaying with another family, and usually in self catering villas in Dordongne and Tuscany.

Once we had 3 kids travelling abroad became prohibitavely expensive and after a memorable holiday in Florida, in 2006 we bought our holiday cottage on the North Coast of N Ireland. For about 4 years we spent most of our summers and school holidays up there, and it suited us really well.

In 2010 we started house swapping and that has been a great way for our family to travel abroad with affordable accomodation. So far we have swapped our cottage for homes in Dublin, Galway and Donegal in Ireland for shorter Easter breaks, and have had two summer holidays in Boston/Cape Cod and Paris, France.

My husband has been to San Francisco with his work, and as a medical student worked in Kenya, so is a bit wider travelled, but I hope some day we can travel together to California, South Africa and Australia........we'll see!

Where in the world have you travelled, where do you love, and where you dream of visiting some day?

I am scheduling this to post from Rome, but someday I will revisit this post and scan in a few photos from some of these trips before the digital age and blogging!

For more bloggers sharing their travels, visit HERE

What I Am Looking Forward To - Rome!

2012-05-28T08:00:00.008+01:00

Today I am travelling with my husband to Rome for 4 nights to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary (which is actually next month, on 12 June).

Thanks to my willing parents, who are moving into our house with our 3 kids for the week, we are able to head away.

A few things I am really looking forward to:

Our room with a view (hopefully) of the Panthenon, this is the hotel

This photo of Albergo del Senato is courtesy of TripAdvisor

This photo of Albergo del Senato is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Spending time with my husband

Taking photos of the narrow back streets in the Travestere district

The Collessum, Forum, the Vatican, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps .......

and learning to cook with an italian chef! (including fresh pasta!!!)

What are you looking forward to?

This post is part of a month long daily blogging challenge - you can find out more HERE

A Favourite Recipe -Easy Mint Cheesecake (with After Eights)

2012-05-27T21:53:00.001+01:00

Easy, quick and delicious - what more could you want from a cheesecake recipe!

I've been making this cheesecake for years ..... and it is so easy and foolproof

For the base -
200g crushed digestive biscuits
75g melted butter

For the topping -
225g full fat philadelphia cream cheese
125 g icing sugar
250 ml whipping cream.

Crush digestive biscuits, mix in melted butter, press into the bottom of a loose-bottomed spring clip tin
Chill in fridge until required

Beat sugar and cream cheese together
Whip cream and fold in to sugar/cream mixture

Spread mixture over crumb base and chill.

Melt a large box of After Eights (after sampling one just to ensure the quality!) in microwave, then stir in a couple of tablespoons of boiling water to create a smooth runny liquid.

Drizzle the After Eight mixture over the top of the cheesecake.

Return to fridge until the After Eight mixture has hardened.

Remove from loose bottomed tin, serve and enjoy :)

A photo will follow after the next time I make it!

What is your favourite flavour of cheesecake?

For more favourite recipes, check out the other bloggers taking part in the Daily Blogging Challenge for the month of May ...... we are nearly at the end, can't quite believe I have made it this far!!!

Tomorrow I head to ROME with my husband to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary, but planning to schedule the rest of the posts for the challenge.

An Old Sketch instead of An Old Photo

2012-05-26T21:58:00.001+01:00

Today's challenge (the month of daily blogging is nearing an end!) was to share an old photo, but I thought this would be an appropriate post to share a pencil sketch an artist relative (my Dad's cousin, Elizabeth McEwen) did of me when I was about 7.

Elizabeth is more known for her botanical paintings like these ones.

For many years this hung in my parents house, but now I have it. Both my daughters looked quite like me at this age - about 7ish I reckon.

Have you an old photo or sketch or painting of yourself to share?

For more bloggers reminiscing with old photos, visit HERE

5 of my favourite blogs

2012-05-25T23:32:00.001+01:00

It is hard to pick just 5 ..... I have too many in my Google Reader.....and these are in no particular order, but these are 5 which I always look forward to reading

Elizabeth - a lovely photographer from Florida, who is moving to IRELAND next year, so we will practically be neighbours! It is lovely to have met up with her on her frequent trips over here and she has even photographed my family.

A Beach Cottage - Sarah is an English girl now living by the sea in Sydney, Australia and she has an amazing way with white paint and vintage coastal style.

Mrs Miles - we have yet to meet, but some day we will, Mrs Miles lives on the far side of Canada, but she is a great friend and encourager :)

Jen from A Home in the Country.....another blogger who I met, on her trip to Ireland. Jen recently became a mum to the gorgeous Lily and it has been lovely watching her progress. Jen is crafty and practical and is always tackling great new projects.

Melissa from Momcomm and Adventuroo - I discovered Melissa through SITS and it was lovely to meet her at Bloggy Boot Camp in Atlanta last October. She shares lots of practical blogging tips about writing, design and social media.

Care to share some of your favourite bloggers with me? I can always find room for a few more in my Google Reader!

For more bloggers sharing their fave blogs, click HERE

A Sports Shoe Review and Walk to School Week

2012-05-25T07:00:00.011+01:00

From time to time as a blogger I have the opportunity to review products, the company provide me with the product, but any opinions expressed are entirely my own.

When www.sportshoes.com asked me to select a pair of running shoes to review I was spoilt for choice. Their website had lots of advice and filters to help in the selection, and I narrowed it down to wanting a "trail" pair which would be waterproof and very useful for our walks up on the North Coast of Northern Ireland. So in the end I chose the Salomon XA pro 3D Ultra 3 Trail Running Shoes:

Next week we are heading to ROME (yes, I am excited!) for our 20th wedding anniversary so a comfortable and supportive pair of trainers would also be useful for trekking around the sights of Rome.

So how did I find the trainers - supportive, comfortable and yes - I like QuickLace system - so much easier than the traditional laces!

Finally, this week has been Walk To School week for my son, so every morning I have been wearing my new trainers.

Each morning I have taken a photo of our walk with my iphone, and as you can see the weather has been warm and sunny, so amazingly I haven't yet been able to test out the waterproof properties of the trainers!

Are you close enough to be able to walk to your kids' schools?

Please share!

Thanks to www.sportsshoes.com for providing me with the opportunity and the shoes to review.

My favourite Childhood Book - Lotta

2012-05-24T12:56:00.001+01:00

I have always loved this book - Lotta by Astrid Lindgren a swedish children's author who also created Pippa Longstocking.

This is my original copy of the book (see.....hoarding can occasionally pay off!)

I was an avoid reader as a child (before blogs and pinterest were invented!) and could usually be found with my nose in a book.

Lotta is a little girl (about 3 or 4ish), the youngest in her family, having 2 older siblings - which was just like me.

She got grumpy with the rest of her family for treating her like a baby and is always trying to keep up with her siblings. In one part of the book she runs away (to the very nice granny nextdoor) who lets her set up her own wee house in the neighbours garden shed. After "playing house" all day, as soon as it gets dark she regrets her decision and when father comes to see her she asks to come home.

I enjoyed flicking through the book and looking at the illustrations - brought back lots of memories.

So, do YOU have a favourite children's book? Please share it with me.

For more bloggers sharing their favourite book, and taking part in the Daily Blogging Challenge for May, click HERE

My Dream Job

2012-05-23T12:56:00.000+01:00

This post IS about my dream job, but I will start at the beginning, and tell you how I arrived at where I am today.

As a child I wanted to be a teacher, maybe a maths teacher (like my Mum) but I enjoyed Economics at school and wanted to either work for a bank or go to university to do Business Studies.

I never imagined/dreamed I would end up in a creative job (lots of my family are very talented artists, but I never was that good!).

A worked in the bank full time, then part time when my 2 daughters were born. I took a career break when my eldest daughter started primary school, and 6 months later we headed to Bristol in SW England for a year with my husband's job. While in England I did a Teaching Assistant qualification and I planned to maybe do this at some stage in the future. I was not sure what the future would hold for me, but I knew it wasn't banking.

We returned from Bristol a year later and within 6 weeks I gave birth to our son, and 3 years later I was blogging, creating my own jewellery for myself, and enjoying being a stay-at-home mum. Being able to be at home with my kids was/is a privilege and I wanted to start earning some money again but in a way that was more family-friendly than banking.

It transpired that my teaching assistant qualification would not be recognized by our local education authority and I want have to start my training again.....so with the support and encouragement of my husband I decided to give my jewellery go, Janmary Designs was born and it really has turned into a dream job!

I am my own boss
It is VERY family friendly - and if needed my son can attend the breakfast club and afterschool club at school on the odd occasion when I can't do the drop-offs and pick-ups myself. There is no longer a panic if one of the kids is sick - my work can fit around it.
I get to create / play with beads
I've met some lovely customers, retailers, other small business owners
I have got to travel to US on a trade mission promoting our local council
My commute is across the hall to ~~our dining room~~ my workroom
There is a great job satisfaction in seeing a piece I have created being worn at a wedding, or to a garden party in Buckingham Palace!

Perhaps the only thing I would change would be to earn a wee bit more money doing it (!) but for me the advantages far exceed the monetary side of it.

As a child I never imagined I could be so fortunate to be able to be doing my dream job. It took me until my 40's before this happened, and even 5 years ago I would not have imagined it would be a reality.

So......do you have a dream job?

For more bloggers sharing their dream jobs visit HERE

Best thing this year

2012-05-22T10:13:00.000+01:00

Another upbeat post for the Daily Blogging Challenge for the whole month of May.

Several things come to mind -

Business-wise it is having Janmary Designs jewellery stocked in more Northern Ireland boutiques including Momento, Wickerman, Jennifer Kelly Image and Gloonan Gallery.

I was thrilled to have my jewellery shortlisted and selected by a panel for sale in the gift shop at the Northern Ireland Assembly up at Stormont in Belfast.

It has been a great so far, and some of my happiest times have been on the beach in the evenings with the kids and my husband.

I really enjoyed hosting an meetup for IN(RL) as part of a global day of Christian women connecting and building community.

Finally NEXT WEEK I will be in Rome with my husband celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary.....can't wait! Expect lots of photos, and my husband has just recently bought a camera too, so I can feel less guilty about spending so much time taking photos!

For more "best bits" from other bloggers visit HERE

10 favourite foods

2012-05-21T09:32:00.001+01:00

10 favourite foods ...... only 10?!!!

Here you go ...hope you aren't hungry!

Pasta Carbonara - first ate this in Tuscany in about 1994, and still remember it as the best ever, however we are heading to ROME next week, and hope to sample a few more portions. In fact we have booked a cookery class in Rome, and apparently we will be taught how to make fresh pasta ..... can't wait.

Creme Brulee - first had this in Paris on our 10th wedding anniversary - delicious

Fresh rapsberries

Fresh mango

A well done (cremated) steak

A warm chocolate brownie with icecream

Tobacco onions - finely sliced, spicy coated onions (best served in the Ramore Wine Bar in Portrush

My home cooked Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings

Warm apple pancakes from Meadow Bakery, Lisburn

Blooming Onion from Outback (and no, we don't have The Outback in N Ireland - only had it in America!)

After writing this post I found I blogged about it 2 years ago today ...... and the list has only slightly changed!

For more bloggers sharing their favourite foods check out the link up HERE. Can you believe I have managed to keep up with this challenge of blogging on specific topics every day for the month of May? Me neither!

A difficult time - PND / PPD

2012-05-20T18:20:00.000+01:00

Today the blogging challenge is to share a difficult time in our lives.

I don't like to dwell on the darker times, but in sharing I know we can help eachother.... life isn't always perfect........and although we may not always share the scars on our blogs, the lives of bloggers certainly aren't perfect.

So today I would love you to read THIS post on my experiences of Post Natal Depression (Post Partum Depression).

Never having experienced depression before, it gave me just a wee glimpse of the dark and horrible place that depression can be despite the support of a loving family and the gift of a beautiful son.

Thank you to all of my friends and family who stood by me during those dark days.

If you have suffered from PND / PPD, or maybe still are in the midst of it, you have my prayers.

For more bloggers, sharing their hearts today, please visit the link-up HERE

What I collect

2012-05-19T16:41:00.002+01:00

I am rather fond of collecting (as my long-suffering husband will testify to) -

books - I seem to like collecting books, although I rarely read them again, as I remember too clearly what happens in them, so don't enjoy reading them again! I am the same with watching films again - I don't see the point!

recipe books - the one type of book which I do love looking at again and again.

old books - these include recipe books, favourite childhood story books, a few old psalters (the church I grew up in used a split leaf psalter to sing from)

over the years I have assembled a collection of teddy bears - none are very old, but some are significant because of who gave them to me or where I bought them

clutter! I am not great at throwing things away, especially something which might have sentimental significance - so I still have lots of mothers day cards, hand print crafts from my kids, old letters etc.

talking of old letters, I seem to have inherited this collecting bug, as I have this old tin box of letters and cards saved by my grandfather. They make fascinating reading and a glimpse into their lives ..... I suppose future generations will read our blogs instead!

finally I have this excercise book from my great grandmother Maria Allen, dated 1882. Isn't her writing amazing?!

Over to you.....do you collect? Please share.

For more bloggy collectors, you can visit HERE and find lots of other bloggers who are linking up in this 31 Day Daily Blogging Challenge.

The reason for my blog name - Janmary (Welcome to my world)

2012-05-18T09:32:00.000+01:00

When I started blogging in 2007, I wasn't really sure what I was getting into....and I needed a name.

I had been using the online name of JanMary in various online digital scrapbooking forums, and I was planning to use the blog primarily to share my digital layouts, I thought I would continue to use that as my name. Jan is the first part of my real name, and Mary is my middle name.

I used the tagline "Welcome to my world" as it is something I ~~said~~ say often to my husband when he wonders sometimes how I cope with juggling the kids, the house, the chaos and the fun ...... and I always reply "welcome to my world"

When I signed up to blogspot my blog address was www.welcometomyworldjanmary.blogspot.com!!!

Unsurprisingly I bought www.janmary.com and I now have my jewellery business Janmary Designs too.

Thought you might like to read my very first blog posts ever - you can find it here!

And the first photo I ever posted on my blog?

and here he is now (aged 7)

So, if you blog, what is the reason behind your name? If you don't blog ......why not?!!!

For more bloggers participating in the Daily Blogging in May 2012 challenge visit HERE

My most proud moment

2012-05-17T21:40:00.001+01:00

Today's challenging blog topic in the Daily Blogging Challenge is to share my proudest moment(s).

The people I am most proud of are my husband and kids, but they aren't "moments" so I don't get off that easily.

EDITED to add - everyone else is adding pics of their babies when they were born, so I will too - this is a digital layout using images of each of the kids when they were born - they were born 2 years and then 5 years apart - someone looked at this and thought I had triplets!!!

Despite how it may appear I don't find it easy sharing, so when I shared with our church, and here on this blog about my post natal depression (PPD) was a big step for me, but I was proud that I did it. Since then I have been amazed at the number of other women who have been touched by Post Natal Depression.

It seems an appropriate point to insert a photo here of the road at the Dark Hedges, as to me depression has been a journey.

I am also really proud of starting my own business so I can work from home and be my own boss. I get such a thrill walking into a boutique and seeing my jewellery on sale.

I am proud that I had the courage to travel to Atlanta, GA in the US last October, representing my jewellery business and our city on a Trade Mission. It was a great opportunity but I was definitely out of my comfort zone.

I also attended my first ever blogging conference while in Atlanta too, knowing no-one.

Next month I will be attending Brit Mums Live in London and although I have planned to travel with another mum blogger from N Ireland we haven't actually met yet!

So please share, what is your proudest moment?

Top of my Bucket List

2012-05-16T14:44:00.001+01:00

Do you have a bucket list? I must confess I have never made one, but there are a few more things I would like to do:

visit San Franciso

live in Australia - when the kids were younger we tried to do this as part of my husband's training, but in the end we had to settle for a year in England. We loved our time in Bristol, but I think we would still love to spend some time in Australia.

buy a house with a sea view - our cottage is withing a mile of the sea, and we used to have a "sea glimpse" (until the houses behind us were built) but someday I would love us to have a home with uniterruped sea views.....I can dream!

What about you? What would you love to do?

Forcing myself to hit "Publish Post" with adding a photo....it's hard, but I'll try!

Also you may have noticed I am experimenting with only posting a short part of each post on the home page of my blog, and you need to click on the "read more" button for the rest of the post.

Which do you prefer? Let me know :)

A Day in My Life

2012-05-15T16:19:00.000+01:00

Continuing the Daily Blogging Challenge for the month of May, we have reached DAY 15.

This is a typical week day during school term day in my life - welcome to my world!

My day hopefully starts with the alarm clock at 6.50am. I say "hopefully" as we have a 7 year old who tends to wander in MUCH earlier, but we are working on that. Yesterday I bought him his own digital alarm clock, so we will see how that goes!

I head down stairs after making sure everyone is at least awake, if not upright!

I really quite enjoy the first 5 - 10 minutes down in the kitchen by myself, I feed and let out the cat, and start on the sandwich routine.

I have 3 kids, and they all have their own preferences when it comes to sandwiches for their packed lunches. However, inevitabley there are : 1. ham in granary bread 2. cheese in a wrap and 3 cheese in white bread. Soon the kids appear down, dressed in their school uniforms, for breakfast.

We usually just have cereal and milk on week days, and the kids get their own and in theory they put away their dishes too ...... in theory!

My husband leaves for work around 7.30am.

I am all for encouraging independence, and the kids all sort out the rest of their lunches, I just ensure there s a range of fruit, yoghuts, cheese, juice and plain biscuits and they pack what they need - I discovered the contents are much more likely to be consumed if the kids make their own choices from the selection offered. Sometimes they opt for school dinners, but the majority of the time they have packed lunches.

My daughters leave to walk to school at 8am, and as long as my son has done his "teeth-toilet-shoes-hair" (we say it as all one word here) he is free to play or watch TV til 8.30 am when I take him to school. Sometimes we walk, but usually I drive him, especially if I have somewhere to go straight from school.

The rest of the morning varies from day-to-day but will usually include the gym (spin class) or a walk,

some creating of some jewellery,

any errands in town or grocery shopping

some social media and administration work for the business, and preparing the evening meal (love my slow cooker).

Some days I am visiting stockists of my jewellery, or sourcing new beads and designs, some days I meet a friend for coffee!

"Leftovers Lunch" for my lunch (my kids are amused that my lunch invariably means using up the left overs in the fridge) then my son finished as 2pm.

I encourage him to get his homework completed and have a snack soon after he comes home, so he is free to play after that. The laptop is always sitting open in the kitchen, and sometimes I create a bit more jewellery at the table as he works. Once a week he has swimming and sometimes we go to the library.

My daughters are usually walk home by 4pm if they aren't staying late for sport, but if it is wet I will try to collect them.

A few hectic afternoons we have singing lessons, piano lessons etc, but I love a day when we can all stay home :)

I aim to have tea/dinner (we call it either) around 5.30 or 6pm. A few evenings a week will involve some more taxi-ing of the kids to church clubs, guitar lessons, or meetings at school. We try to share the lifts with other families in the area which always helps.

Our 7 year old heads to bed at 7pm.

I try not to make jewellery in the evenings, but sometimes there is an order to complete. I can usually be found multi-tasking on the sofa with my laptop, blogging, reading other blogs etc, helping with homework, listening to piano practice etc.

I try to watch the news at 10pm, and then usually get distracted by Pinterest and head to bed by 11pm.... making sure George the cat is tucked up in the utility room (he sometimes likes to play hide and seek at bedtime)

ready to start it all again tomorrow!!!

I am so fortunate that I am able to work from home, and fit my business around my family. If the kids are sick, need taken to appointments, whatever there is to be done, I can be flexible with my time.

So, what is a day in your life like?

Two years ago on this blog I did a similar post - the basic routine is the same, except my middle daughter is now at the same school as her big sister, so one less afternoon pickup to be done!

I'd love you to share.

All photos today courtesy of a year's worth of Instagram from my iphone.

You can see how other bloggers taking part in the month of daily blogging challenge over at Boy Oh Boy.

The lovely Lisa Jo from Gypsy Mama also shared today how she balances working from home with her 3 young kids - check it out How to work from home without losing your mind!

My week that was / Monday Musings

2012-05-14T16:58:00.007+01:00

As you may know I have been blogging EVERY DAY so far in the month of May. Today's challenge was to blog about "If I won the lottery", but as I have never bought a lottery ticket, and never plan to do so, it wouldn't be a very interesting post. So instead, today I am back to my normal schedule. Daily blogging challenge continues tomorrow.

I have recently been doing my own Monday Musings where I share what's been going on in my world over the past week (well .... my tagline IS "welcome to my world").

However I have just discovered a blog "Mummy, Daddy and Me Makes 3" which hosts a weekly roundup "My Week That Was", so here you go - My Week That Was :

Jewellery

As you know I love creating jewellery, my business is Janmary Designs, and this week I had a special request to make 2 blue items for Jennifer Kelly Image for her new window display. So if you happen to be passing by Gray Hill in Bangor have a look and let me know how it looks.

Family Photo Shoot

Remember back in March my friend from Florida (but soon relocating to Ireland!) Elizabeth Holder, took some photos of our family on the beach? Well she sent the images on a disc - doesn't her wee tin and personalised ribbon look lovely.

Social Media Training

I love blogging and social media, and last thursday I was able to "share the love" and do some social media training with Cherry Townsend from Kilcoan Gardens. Cherry grows organic cut flowers for beautiful bespoke arrangements, and will be hosting workshops on creating hand-tied bouquets and brides are even able to come and pick their own flowers for their wedding.

Cherry made a great start, and has just posted her first 2 blog posts at her new blog - it would be lovely if a few bloggers could pop over for a visit and encourage her.

If you are interested in some one-to-one social media training for your small business or getting started in blogging, then get in touch for a quote :)

Big Beach Clean Up - that wasn't

Last Friday my son and I had planned to take part in the Big Beach Clean Up at Hazelank Beach in association with the Marine Conservation Society and Marks and Spencers. However it was feared that a baby had fallen into the lough on Wednesday, and a major search of the shoreline was underway, so our event was postponed. Fortunately it transpired that a child had not been lost, to relief of many.

Break the Rules Day

However, because my son wasn't helping with the Beach Clean Up he was able to go to school on Friday for "Break the Rules" day. As a school fundraiser, for £1 the kids could go in non-uniform, bring an unhealthy snack, have a longer playtime etc......he was delighted!

It was quite amusing though that there was quite a list of rules about the rules that could be broken! However the kids really enjoyed the concept.

Girls Night Out

I don't go into Belfast in the evenings very often, but 3 friends and I headed in on Friday night to the bright lights of Victoria Square. We had some mexican food, did a bit of shopping, and then had coffee and desserts. It was a lovely evening of chat, laughter and retail therapy ..... and I didn't even buy anything! I spotted a lovely purse in Fossil, but resisted.

I did of course, take a few photos with my iphone - Victoria Sq looks great at night

Forever Blowing Bubbles

For a son who currently loves Moshi Monsters games and Deadly 60 tv programmes, it was lovely to see that the simple pleasure of blowing and catching bubbles can still occupy him for a considerable time in the garden on Saturday.

So there you have it - my week that was.

What were you up to this week?

For more bloggers continuing with the 31 Day Challenge visit Boy Oh Boy

For more roundups of bloggers week visit Mummy, Daddy and Me Makes Three

I love blog comments (hint, hint!) so join in the conversation.

My earliest childhood memory

2012-05-13T19:00:00.001+01:00

A trip down memory lane today - my earliest childhood memory.

We moved from Enniskillen to Ballymena when I had just turned 5, so all early memories are from my Co Fermanagh days.

Not sure which of these is the earliest - so here are a few:

I remember playing in our back garden in Enniskillen, we had a slide and some swings. My brother broke his arm swinging on the side of the frame of the swing and I remember being disappointed there was no blood!

I found a few old photos to scan in, which my brothers are just going to love!

I always remembered the summers of my childhood being warm, sunny and dry, and this next photo is the proof - look at that parched brown grass!

I can remember standing up on the pew in church in Enniskillen Presbyterian Church between my parents, singing a hymn.

I remember going after school to our childminder, "Granny" Ward, and hearing an ambulance and being told later that was my other brother on his way to hospital after being knocked down - I seem to remember the pain of my siblings well!!!

I can remember being at the playgroup my mum and her friend started, having juice and Marie biscuits and The Tufty Club (remember that?)

My final memory to share from that period is the day Dad came home from work to tell us we were moving to Ballymena, and we went singing down the road "We're going to Ballymena, we're going to Ballymena" and someone asking me where was Ballymena and I had no idea (it was about 100 miles away - but could well have been on another planet for all we knew!)

What are your earliest childhood memories? I'd love you to share in the comments below.

For more bloggy memories visit Boy Oh Boy

I'll be back tomorrow with another prompt from the daily blogging challenge.

What's in my fridge!

2012-05-12T18:40:00.001+01:00

In case you are wondering why I seem to be blogging about random parts of my life - I am taking part in a challenge to blog on specified topics each day for the whole month of May. Over 20 bloggers are taking part, and you can join in at any stage.

So.....back to today's topic - what's inside my fridge.

Is it a bit sad just how much I love my fridge. Here we call a large fridge an American Fridge - but it probably seems just normal size to many of my readers.

When we redid our kitchen, one of my top priorities was a large fridge/freeze with chilled water and ice (crushed or cubes) dispenser!

Ta da!

Of course we had all these great intentions that we would not cover the front with pics and magnets, but of course we do! It is the only useable magnetic surface in the kitchen, and it is well used.

So, on to the inside

Top shelf - jam, butter, margarine, salad dressings and mustard

Next shelf - the yoghurts, dairy, mayo, pesto

Next down - ham, bacon, some homemade chicken soup, a box of cheese

Next - pizza (that was lunch for the kids), chicken breasts (that's for tea)

Top fruit/veg drawer - blueberries, tomatoes, fresh ginger, fresh chillies

Next - leeks, courgettes, peppers, spinach

Bottom - lettuce and some cans of Sprite (normally the diet coke cans stay down there too, but I am cutting down on my consumption of fizzy drinks so buy Sprite which I don't like!)

In the door - at the top - eggs and butter

Next - more cheese - cheddar, goats cheese, cream cheese, parmesean

Then down to the milk (semi-skimmed and skimmed), sparkling mineral water and half a bottle of wine. We drink a lot of milk in our family - we usually buy 3 two litre cartons at a time.

I usually do our "big shop" on a Monday, so a bit low on a few things - it appears we are out of fruit juice and low on meat and yoghurts.

So - any surprises in there? What's in your fridge?

To find out what other bloggers keep in their fridges check out the list of links at Boy Oh Boy.

Fifteen favourite things

2012-05-11T12:00:00.001+01:00

After yesterday's post, this one is much easier!

Obviously my family and faith come way above everything else, but here is 15 of the rest ....

Photography - whether with my iphone or DSLR (Canon 500D) I love to take pictures, and even when I don't take a photo, I am constantly seeing potential photo ops everywhere, and taking them in my mind!

The Beach - preferably a sandy beach with crashing waves

My Bathroom - I much prefer baths to showers, and since my bathroom makeover I love them evenmore!

Creating jewellery - I am so fortunate that I am able to do what I love as a job

Christmas - I love everything about Christmas, from the Christmas story of Jesus who came to change the world, to the tree, the lights, the food ..... even the brussel sprouts!

Blogging - when I started my blog 5 years ago I had no idea of how much I would enjoy it. I love the community aspect, the conversations and connections. I have made friends around the world. I am sure my English teachers would be surprised by my love of writing!

Here are a few of my previous blog headers

Just realised I really ought to change my wintery header to something more May-like!

House Swapping - using www.homeexchange.com we have swapped our cottage on the north coast of N Ireland for holidays in Paris, Boston, Cape Cod, Galway, Dublin and Donegal. This summer we are heading to the Cotswolds in England.

Digital Scrapbooking - Not doing as much as I used to, but it was through digital scrapbooking that I discovered blogging. Here are a few of my favourite digi-scrapped images

Diet Coke - love it

Our cat George - never expected to turn into a cat lady - much preferred dogs, but now we have George can't imagine not having him!

Paris - we went there for our 10th anniversary, and back for my husband's 40th birthday.

Our holiday cottage - it is great to get away to the north coast of N Ireland - it is near some great beaches, the Giants Causeway and Dunluce Castle

Pinterest - love it - follow me HERE

Sky + - I love to record tv programmes to watch while I am creating my jewellery.

An open fire. In our first home we had an open fireplace, but here we have a gas fire in the fireplace. At our cottage we recently took out the gas fire there, and now have an open fire.

Being able to work from home and be my own boss - it is a priviledge!

For more bloggers favourite things, visit Boy Oh Boy.

So, do you agree with any of mine - would they be on your list?

Daily Challenge continues - best physical features

2012-05-10T09:07:00.000+01:00

Definitely out of my comfort zone here, so this will be brief.

I would say my blue eyes.....but my husband said when he first saw me it was my smile.

Moving swiftly on ...... back tomorrow for another post from the 31 Day Blogging Challenge.

For more bloggers, who might be a bit more confident about themselves, visit Boy Oh Boy

My worst habits

2012-05-09T09:53:00.001+01:00

Hmmm ..... probably my love of clutter and untidiness of the dining room (aka my jewellery workroom). It looks a real mess, but I can usually manage to find what I am looking for.

I'm a bit of a hoarder ..... I still have lots of momentos from the kids pictures, holiday souvenirs, books from my childhood.....I really need to sort it out and only keep a small portion, but it is a struggle to throw it away..... I'm too sentimental!

Fortunately I am married to someone who much prefers life to be clutter free but is resigned to my ways - I just keep the door of the dining room closed!

I feel the need to insert a picture here, but I don't really want to share my clutter, so instead I will share a picture of George the cat!

For more blogger confessions check out the 31 Day Blog Challenge at Boy Oh Boy.

What's in My Bag

2012-05-08T08:30:00.001+01:00

Continuing with the 31 Day Blog Challenge ..... today what I am sure you've always wanted to know.....what's in my bag!

purse (about a month a go my favourite pink Kipling purse was stolen so this is an old one)
hair brush
Mac Lipstick
Bobbi Brown eyeshadow set
lip balm
small pink notebook (notebooks make me happy!)
a few pens and pencils
some business cards - for janmary designs, some for my blog (great for blog conferences) and some of the new Moo Facebook Timeline cards - (great for friends/family)
a guide book to Rome (will be there in 3 weeks!)
and of course my iphone

Suprisingly there isn't a plastic dinosaur or a hot wheels car!

For more contents of bloggers bags (!) check out Boy Oh Boy

My Pet Hates

2012-05-07T09:33:00.000+01:00

Today's prompt on the 31 Day Blog Challenge is Pet Hates. Here are mine

rudeness
being late - I prefer to arrive at airport HOURS early!
irritating yet catchy tunes on kids tv programmes that get stuck in my head all day
people with more than 10 items in their baskets at the "10 items and under" till in the supermarket
wonky supermarket trollies (I have a knack of choosing them!)
sea-sickness (hate boats)
mould of any sort!
olives
shell fish
chewing gum

There you go! I have turned into a grumpy old woman!

It's raining today, but as we are heading home for the cottage that doesn't matter too much, but I feel sorry for those running the Belfast Marathon.

We were so fortunate with the weather yesterday, it was chilly but sunny. We had Sunday lunch at the Central Wine Bar in Ballycastle followed by a wee dander on the beach.

In the evening we headed out to our new favourite beach - the most easterly part of White Rocks beach. The tide was really far in, and it was cool (about 9 degrees C) but our son was still keen to paddle and play in the water - rather him than me.

Finally, did you see the moon last night? I know the full moon was the night before, and there was too much cloud here, but last night it was beautiful.

See you back here tomorrow for more from the 31 Day Blog Challenge.