Getting crafty and part two of the Free Series

Hello again,
pheew....I'm sweating buckets...not only do I have a nice piece of pork in the oven, but I'm also busy melting wax to make my own candles. Already 3 finished and cooling down , and the smell is lovely. I have chosen Vanilla and cinnamon as fragrance oils this time. These are very easy to make as you just need a candle wick and pour the melted ,coloured and fragranced wax into the jars, -which I have collected together from sauces , jams...or baby food jars are good as well.

Later on when the wax has hardened the jars and lids will be decorated , and voila ....you have a nice little gift for someone.
I told about working on one of Reggie's presents, I have completed the first one...I cannot show the full result for obvious reasons, but here is a little sneak peak ...a birthday card which is something else,lol...

And Kyra...I am getting a bit "" softy romantic"...always have been, but I actually quoted Reggie in my last post.... because as much as he likes to look and play the cool man, he has a soft, romantic side as well....pssst...I didn't tell that,lol. Hey , he's a Libra... they are known for being the most horny but also romantic, hahahaha...
No seriously, a mix of naughty and romantic is the best, and it's part of what I love about him.
I was also lucky picking up a bargain yesterday. A full 16 piece dinner set for only $12.00. I had looked around for one a couple of months ago, but wasn't prepared to pay too much. And the ones I liked were all too expensive. So yesterday walking through the store I  passed the display and thought:"hmmm...that's quite nice". Imagine my surprise when I saw the price, I had to look twice because I couldn't believe it. Needless to say I snatched it up ! Now the old and chipped 10 year old stuff can go ! Aztec design ...

And I tried another southern recipe...Dirty Rice -I found a Bojangles copy recipe -and grilled chicken.Yummie ! ...minus the Iced Tea,lol... or "liquid crack "as Reggie calls it... I have never seen anyone put away so much of a drink !
 -Anyway, before I finish this post and go back to work tomorrow I will give you the next part of the freebie series.
Here it is.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?nxt35sou1l1e8hs
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?fvbr2ite37nbr2h
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?3s9e7977knysv8c
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?stfzkv90coe04u4
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?bg1v0ww6dknl5sh

 That's all for now, I'll be back when I have the time and something to post/show -Hugs Snowy

Working on new kit...

...and it's turning out rather dark and Gothic. Morning peeps.... thought I check in before I head to bed for my beauty sleep.
Just read the messages left on my last post and Edna writes:" Just catching up on your blog. You've been busy! I love your wall decor and will check out that printable site. You'll like the winter weather when you come back to the states. It's not as wintery in the Carolinas as it is up here. Now I'm off to get a bit of work done here. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B."
That site is fantastic if you are into other paper crafts. There are quite a few projects I want to try , but first I have other priorities.
My Libra man's birthday is in September , so I have to get Reggie's present ready until then... and it's something which takes a while to complete. Obviously cannot show it before , he has this blog address and could pop in any time to see what I am up to,lol. Plus I have two more dreamcatchers to make and want to create an album with the pics I made ...the traditional way-not just digital !
Oh ,I have been told they can get quite a bit of snow as well in NC .... I actually hope there will be some. Reggie told me it looks absolutely magical by the river when everything is white and covered in snow. I would love to see that. Although he prefers warmer weather,lol... being from Texas and cold weather affects his old bones ( ughhh...good job he can't slap me for that,lol)
Last night was the start of a Dart season with a new team, so I'm itching to hear tonight how it went.
Yesterday was "Spoil Shaun Day". After being spoiled myself with so much yummie food across there by Reggie ,I searched the Internet for Copycat Restaurant recipes and found many I want to try. So yesterday afternoon I made the first one. Cajun Chicken Pasta  http://southernfood.about.com/od/chickenbreastrecipes/r/spicy-cajun-chicken-pasta.htm , but I added bacon to it , as we had it in the restaurant.
Shaun said it's "fucking lovely" ...hah, it was a winner !

For afters I slaved more in the kitchen and baked brownies. Those,still warm, topped with Vanilla Ice cream, cream and chocolate sauce were yummie !
I think Shaun is now totally convinced that he will have to come on a visit with me.Plus he loves the t-shirt I bought him over there and is nosey about the store it came from...but more about that another time. 
New designs.... I had to stop myself from becoming too dark and Gothic , and added some lighter colours to it. Here a few qps and a layout.

Gosh, can't you see I'm all loved up? These designs were inspired by the photo taken in the Restaurant ....and by the red roses.This man is definitely the best thing that came into my life this year !

So yeah, the kit is coming together nicely. Let's see what else I come up with. But for now it's night shift recovery time. Good night ...
Hugs Snowy

Freebie time

Good morning ,
ughhh...I didn't want to get up this morning ! It's grey ,miserable , wet and windy out there....and it was so nice warm and cosy under my quilt. Well ,I had a good excuse for staying in bed longer and being lazy....my night shifts start tonight , so I need to be well rested,lol.
My poor Reggie has had a migraine for the past days, but is slowly feeling a bit better. Of cause the time we can chat are the highlights of my days.
So what's new? Not much really... nothing much happens while at work. But I have seriously developed a taste for Cajun food while in North Carolina. My friend True, who is from New Orleans is sending me some spices across and I will be trying some new recipes. I swear, compared to this the traditional English cuisine is boring!
I will be putting up a collection of botanical themed backgrounds and elements over the next weeks. These were the results of several months of challenges and I have never published them before.

They are great to mix and match and perfect for summer. Ughhh... whenever it arrives...it's more like October here !

Here is a layout with some of the parts.

Kyra, I am not that much interested in the Olympics-I'm more looking forward to next month when the Football season starts again. I have already marked Patriots and some Raiders games on my calendar (Reggie's team are the Raiders) and will stock up the fridge with some drinks and snacks for the days I am off work and can watch the games.
And I hope to book the flight tickets for December next month before prices go up , as they will for the holidays !
Enough for now though....here are the first links for the botanical designs, I have also made some cards for some of the elements.
Here is part 1 ....5 folders full of goodies! Hugs Snowy
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?5d16x4tokgfebho
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?nlijlwkoa1vj5wt
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?528an9ik9pggy29
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?1xd66oy5b0yne6q
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zknlzas28dr3dc6

Wall transformation with Decal and free printable Butterflies and Paper Rose

Hi all
Just another one of my little projects I'm showing after I told you about the Wall Decal in my last post.
It's on the wall,lol. I had a few difficulties to overcome as the wall is slightly textured , but I got it to stick.

Then I started adding some decor...I love butterflies , so I found a site where you can print these Watercolour butterflies out for free.
http://www.ellinee.com/blog/watercolor-butterfly-spring-decor-printable/
Also from there is the Paper Rose which I made.
http://www.ellinee.com/blog/freebie-friday-diy-paper-rose-templates/
And the finished result looks like this.All is only blu tacked , so I can easily take it off and change the decor, for example if I want to put up some Fall decor instead.
Cute hey ?

Apart from that I have treated myself to a Pandora black leather bracelet. The idea is to collect charms and give the bracelet a theme... something to remember. I'm creating one that reminds me of our 6 mile walk along the river Eno. As my first charm I chose a turtle.

I already have a butterfly,frog,snake and owl bookmarked , which I will add to this one by one.
Stay tuned-tomorrow I will be posting a new freebie ...till then ..
Hugs Snowy

Back to normal...

...or rather what is normal for me,lol... Yup, yesterday was cleaning day, but I also started to scrap some of the pics I took each time I had a break.
And while cleaning I also needed to find a space for a picture Joe made for me. He does some awesome art and I love the pic of the red rose he made for me. So it had to go on my wall and I found a great place for it.

I also bought some "wall lettering"...decals to rub onto a wall for decoration when Reggie took me to Michael's , plus some new frames are waiting to be filled ...the words will look great on the wall above the frames

Deb gave me the idea for it when she did some on her wall , but no matter how much I searched over here, I just could not find this in any of our shops....so I had to wait and buy one across there. I'll show the finished result once it's done.
But here some layouts now I made with Pics I took.These two were done with the last freebie kit,apart from adding some bits on the first one from new designs.The pic with Wes on was taken by Jennifer. Wes is an school friend ,he and Reggie have not seen each other more than 20 years prior to this meeting. Wes just moved to South Carolina from Texas after meeting Jennifer over the internet as well.

I love that Butterfly pic I took during our 6 mile walk along the river Eno, so it had to be scrapped.all my designs as well...kit Summer Breeze...not published yet,lol

And more new designs....I'm designing as I go along to fit the photos I have, and this one required something romantic with roses.Memories of a private booth, great 4 course fondue,Yin Yang cocktail,Champagne, red roses from Reggie and a fantastic unforgettable evening.

 And yes, I am counting again-24 weeks until next flight and time with Reggie.But that's all for now. It's back to work tomorrow , have some shopping to do to fill the fridge again and will get a new freebie ready soon for you. Until then -Hugs Snowy

Back in the UK

Hi all,
returning and arriving in London this morning was a temperature shock...brrrrr...I was actually cold after the super hot days in NC. And I really, really hate saying good bye ! Yup, I admit I had a lump in my throat and could barely keep the tears back when I saw Reggie walking away at the Airport. I know I will be there again in December and will talk and see him on Skype, but it's not quite the same after going to sleep and waking up with him for a couple of weeks ..."sigh" ...but there are things we both have to get done.So it's back to counting the weeks until the next visit.
Kyra and Edna- he laughs and smiles all the time, just when the camera comes out he puts this serious face on,lol.... but I have made it my mission to catch him out eventually ! And he knows it ! Here is another failed attempt from the way to the Airport.

Return...hmmm..yeah....doing the dishes is definitely NOT Shaun's favourite thing.... the kitchen was full of dirty things and the cupboards and drawers empty !

My plants are another thing...a few of them look dried out....I just watered them and will see if there is still any life in them.... but it's not too bad , most are still okay,lol. ...I wonder what he used to do the laundry with.... I have the suspicion he used the Calgon tabs (only).... the washing he did does not smell or look as if it had a good clean ....????
lol, will have to ask him when he comes back.
So have a guess what I will be doing tomorrow? Yup, it's cleaning day !
But I already did the dishes and a machine of laundry has just finished. You know me.... I get things done while I'm motivated , and I needed at least a clean knife and cup for coffee and to make a sandwich.But for now it's chilling out, having a bath and then catching up with Reggie on Skype a little later, the rest can wait till tomorrow. I have quite a few projects planned for the next weeks and months...pics need to be scarpped, some printed to go into some new frames on my wall. I need to get busy with Reggies birthday present,2 more Dreamcatchers to be made and Christmas presents will have to be planned and made ....at least all that and work should take my mind off things... but I'm missing him already. Anyway.... more soon ....for now the bubbles are waiting -hugs Snowy

Last post from North Carolina

Hell, time has gone too bloody quick.... tonight I will be on my way back to cold and rainy England....baaah! It was hot again here yesterday,but it was quite comfortable at the Eno River festival under the trees.The irony .... a band from Scotland was playing,lol....here a few pics.
Gorgeous owl ..

 ...inside the old mill

 ..and listening to the music under the trees at 107 degrees...

...by the way...he says that's his smiley face,lol....till next post, from home in England again.
Hugs Snowy

Happy late Independence Day

Yup, I am a day late...but better late than never,lol.

We were late back last night after spending the evening in Raleigh to watch the Fireworks. Here a few pics from the celebrations there.

Firework , Budweiser and hot dogs,lol....I don't know how he keeps a straight face and makes me laugh at the same time ...apparently it's a metal musician thing - it's not cool to smile in a pic ...huh? Haven't I heard that before from Shaun? This "look mean and serious" thing must be a "Man thing ". And yet you wouldn't think it hearing Reggie and Shaun talk...not sure who is worse, but I almost pee myself laughing hearing the banter of the two talking on Skype !

Oh yes,I'm adding a 3rd State to my list after we went for Dinner across the border to South Boston/VA.
That's all.... I better have breakfast. We need to get the garden cleared of  the small branches and other tree debris before the "Lawnmower man " comes,lol....we already got rid of some larger fallen braches the other day.
Hugs Snowy

Checking in again from NC

We're back from a fantastic weekend in Concord,with LaNita Herlem,Ivy Denise Laine,Jussi Laine,Wendy Konzelmann and some others , plus a great meeting with Wes Griffin and Jennifer O'Shields. Thanks to all of you , WWRY and the peeps at the party for a great time;)
But hell, it's hot here! Trust me to be here when a new record for June weather is being set,lol...we had up to 107 degrees here over the past days.But I have no problems and got used to the heat pretty quick.We either go out early in the morning or in the evening when it gets cooler, and spend the hottest part of the day inside with AC and cold drinks.
Here is a pic Nita posted from the party, Reggie and me with LaNita...

 and more party pics ....with Ivy and Jussi ...

Captain Morgan mood,lol

The Dance Troupe at WWRY-fantastic show!

And last Thursday at the Firm...the pub where the tournament took place...yes, Reggies team won again and they are through to the finals...whoohooo !...love that pub, friendly staff , cold drinks and great company .... here w're having a break outside in the smoking area

I have one week left here and  so far everthing has been positive, people I have met very friendy and welcoming , the whole area is beutiful, I love being out here in the sticks, Reggie's house is out in the country surrounded by woods ...and of cause the man himself,lol... he keeps spoiling me. Today we met up with Wes and Jennifer at Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Reggie ordered a Margerita for me to try, I tried chillie and had the best and biggest steak in my life so far....I will need to go on a diet when I come home ! He also took me to Michael's ...Crafters heaven ! ...and another day we went to a place where I tried some New Orleans Chicken and pasta ... yummie ! I'm really geting a culinary education here from him,lol.Anyway, it's late and bed time , so till next time again
Hugs Snowy