Challenge #86 Spots or Dots

I just love Peacocks. They are such regal creatures as they proudly stand tall with their heads up high and show off the beauty within their colouring.

This week’s challenge, Challenge #86 is Spots or Dots. I really wanted to use the Peacock and Mardi Gras images that Pattie released early January and so themed them up with polka dot ribbon, to tie everything in nicely.

While we only have to make one creation as a DT member, I couldn’t decide on which image to use and so decided to make two creations. I also think it makes the perfect set for my dear friend’s birthday. As these images are so elegant, I really didn't want to overdo it with embellishments. I simply added some gemstones, polka dot ribbon and used my Stickles too. 

Challenge #86 – Spots or Dots

(MUST ALWAYS USE AN IMAGE)

Checkout Pattie’s Creations Design Challenge
Our theme for Challenge #86 is “Spots or Dots”. It is Our Rule that you also include any Digital or Stamped Image on your creation! Stop on over to Pattie's ETSY Shop and have a look at her many images.

Hop on over and take a look at what creations the rest of the DT members have made. You’re in for a treat.

Come join the fun

How about taking part in the March Holiday Card swap that I'm hosting over on Paper Digital Art & Imagesbykim? 

All you have to do is choose a March holiday from the list of unusual holidays, wait until your partner has been assigned and send your card to your partner by the end of the month or in time for your chosen holiday. 

Couldn't be easier than that! Click HERE to be brought straight to the sign up page.

Zebra Cookies

I love baking and so I decided to bake cookies as part of hubby's Valentine's gift. I made Zebra cookies, they get their name from the mixed chocolate buttons on top of them. You'll find the recipe for these cookies over on my Recipe Box page.

Just juicy!!

Well hello everyone and happy Valentine's day to you all. Whether you've got that special someone in your life or not, somebody does love you!!

My hubby knows how much I'm trying to improve my health and that I really benefited from juicing. So today as part of my gift he bought me a Philips Juicer. Fantastic!!! This means that I can now enjoy so many more recipes that I've been trying and I can put my Jason Vale book to full use. He's even jumping on board and going to juice with me too. 

Here's the first juice that I made with it, carrot and orange juice. It was soooooo tasty!!

Move over for Smoothies

As you will know from my post below, I've decided to go back to my routine of juicing and smoothie making. I've been having fun experimenting with foods the last few days, having an Orange & Carrot smoothie for breakfast yesterday, a Nutty Banana Share as a snack yesterday and this morning had a Breakfast smoothie which was delicious and quite filling too. Pop on over to the Recipe Box page and you'll find the recipes there. Enjoy and be sure to leave a comment if you try them out!!

Back to smoothies

Last March I started juicing and smoothie making, following a friend's Facebook post, where in she discussed the benefits of doing such a thing. I lasted 6 months and felt wonderful, increased energy levels, clearer concentration and a well boosted immune system. My routine was knocked when my father sadly passed last August. I lost all focus and the stress of everything caused me to become extremely ill, so much so that I've ended up in hospital twice since. 

Feeling completely and utterly fed up of ill health and a weak immune system, I found myself talking to a friend over the weekend. Not only did she remind me of the wonderful health benefits of juicing and smoothie making but she also gifted me a book called "The Juice Master" by Jason Vale (the juice master himself). This is a brilliant book full of recipes and tells you the benefits of each drink following that recipe. 

Today I got my shopping in, I didn't need to buy too much as you'll see from the photo. I made the first smoothie of my new routine. I already feel more positive and more in control knowing that I'm making positive steps to improve my health. 

This is the smoothie that I made. It only contains banana, honey, the juice of 2 oranges and ice cubes. Simple!! 

How about giving it a try and letting me know how you get on?

Monday is here again

Would you believe it but the weekend is over once more and we've landed at Monday? The weekend's just go too fast, especially when you've been procrastinating.

Yeap, I've been procrastinating once more, as I am doing so now too. You see, I've got an essay to do for a course I'm studying but I keep putting it off out of fear of doing it wrong...that's how much faith the education system instilled me as a child and to this day I still find myself struggling with confidence. That being said, if I ever want to break the cycle, I've got to just do it. I did after all manage to successfully complete a Certificate in Counselling Skills, a Diploma in Counselling Skills, along with Diploma's in Holistic Massage, Anatomy & Physiology and in Aromatherapy. So why should this be any different? Right!!

Wish me luck. It's my second attempt at this essay which I got wrong the first time around. Aha!! I think I answered my question now. The reason I'm struggling is out of fear of getting it wrong a second time but amn't I lucky to get a second chance...yeap I sure am. This time I will approach it in a different way and get it right. I can do this. I will do this. I will succeed!!

Altered Notebook Swap

I visited my old blog earlier today and went through the posts. I first opened it in 2010 when I was really getting into try new things. One of the first "new things" that I tried was an altered notebook, picture below.

I'm a member of the Anything Goes group over on Digital Art & Images by Kym. I'm hosting a Holiday Card swap for the month of February which is now closed. Seeing this altered notebook though, gave me the idea to host an altered notebook swap for this month too. Sign ups are open until the 10th February and you'll find full details for this swap through HERE.

This is a picture of the first ever altered notebook I made, while it's simple, I think it's a good first attempt.