So many fab people are having giveaways at the moment:

First up we have Becca at Life in Technicolour is hosting a giveaway – the prizes are handmade by her fabulous self. To enter go here and look at her blog answer the question “What’s in your DVD Player at the moment?” and become a follower – and that’s your entry – you can also gain extra entries by blogging and tweeting about it – you can also FB about it if you are friends with Becca.

Giveaway closes at 5pm (BST) on Friday 3rd Sept (That’s Midday for those on EDT).

Second up we have Trisha, she is my lovely german blogging friend.

Visit her blog here to enter leave a comment and for extra entries tweet or blog about it.

Third up is Lauren @ Busy Bee Lauren. You can win one of these fab aprons as made by her sister Sierra

Fourth Up (or should that be next up?!) Lindsay at Pixies and Bears is having a Craft Room De-stash and you can win all sorts of goodies. The list is:

Items include:
-26 8×10 chipboard sheets of multi colored alpha letters
-7 various wooden block stamps
-pack of 24 mini clothespins
-16 foam sheets
-Popsicle sticks
-floss organizer
-binder rings in various sizes
-several packs of vintage ephemera
-several notepads and sticky notes
-10 ribbon spools
-MASSIVE amount of ribbon scraps
-several cello bags
-4 Binder clips
-13 crazy cut scissors
-lace tape
-fabric
-leaf cut out
-erasers
-28 packs of stickers (lots of Christmas/winter ones)
-4 packs of photo organizers
-brand new nail file

And the best bit is that International people can enter too!! Woop!

My 30 Days

Today’s Prompt:

A picture of you and your family.

I’m not sure if I actually have a decent photo of me and my family lol. I have ones with my parents and ones with my hubby but I think my brother may manage to evade the camera so it might have to be a wedding picture or I’ll divide it up so we have my family in multiple pictures.

Mum

Back in July Me and my Mum went to a studio day in London, it’s never something we would normally do as neither me or my Mum are the type to spend ages on our make-up and stuff like that. We had some pictures taken together as well as all our single ones.

Dad

Me and My Dad are like completely barmy when we get together sometimes for example this picture was taken at my Aunt’s wedding. They had a trio singing then a disco in the evening but during the trio it was proper dancing (well I guess disco is proper dancing but this was like partner waltzing ness) So me and Dad started dancing near the door away from other people so that we didn’t crash into anyone but we kept being silly so my brother or That Boy took this picture.

Brother (aka The Stig)

My brother hates having his photo taken – any day he’d rather be the person taking the picture – well I managed to get one of him the other day at the fun day – he had been cornered by The Kiwi to have his face painted. He choose a skeleton – which was funny as he’s 6ft ish tall and was wearing big skater jeans with his hope shirt – he actually looked kinda scary (and reminded us of one of the Bond baddies but we couldn’t remember the name of the baddy) hence the picture. He’s nicknamed The Stig because at a youth event earlier this year he was dressed up as The Stig (from Top Gear) and then the young people had to try and beat him on one of the racing games.

Hubby

That Boy is my best friend (at least most days lol). He’s an adventurer at heart so I have pictures of him climbing walls and making fires here there and everywhere.

The Kiwi

Okay so technically she’s not a relative but she’s been semi-adopted into the family so she’s kinda like a sister anyway so she’s included. Back in February, we went to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at a local theatre. We’d been for a wander round the shops and then went to get some tea – when this photo was taken she thought it was just a coincidence that my Mum, Dad, The Stig and some other friends were there, actually what she didn’t know was that there was a whole plot going on. Following dinner we made a point to walk a funny way back to the car and as we went past the theatre we stopped and her best bud got the tickets out her bag and said about what the whole plan was – she had no idea at all!

On the theme of family, I got an interesting friend request this morning on Facebook. My Grandad has joined Facebook – when I checked at lunch he just has 3 friends but I’m sure he’ll gain some more once people know he’s there lol. He seems to know anyone and everyone lol. Just need him to get a profile picture now lol

Hairband
Originally uploaded by hannypants

Okay so now I actually have to think up proper titles having had a month with titles such as “BEDA Day 5” or “Bonus BEDA Day 24“. I was sat in front of my Mac yesterday evening and gain some inspiration from somewhere so made these funky little fluff balls lol. I got a strip of felt and then wrapped it round to create this funny bobbly thing. I then found an elasticated hair band and sewed them to it in some formation making the above. Ta da! I showed my housemate and she said I should go into business – I could but I’m sure I already saw them somewhere so then it would be copying and that wouldn’t really be fair, if I stole someone elses idea from somewhere (if you make a similar product to the above and would like some kind of “inspired by….” then drop me an email and I’ll add a linky.

BEDA may be over but My 30 Days is continuing I will see you on the other side when it shall be September.

So today is the 31st August that means that today is the last one for BEDA – eek How quickly did that month go by – then again by roughly a whole month of posts you are all probably really bored and actually I am only writing for my cat (well if I had one lol then again next door’s cat seems to get confused as to which house it lives in sometimes lol)

My 30 Days

Today’s Prompt:

A song for every mood.

Anyhoo on My 30 Days today is Day 9 and the prompt is above.

I nearly always have music on – if I’m in the car I have a CD or the radio on, if I’m at home I have the radio or my computer on, if I’m out and about in town I more than likely have my iPod on with something playing. Basically music and me are like best buds – we live in each other’s pockets lol.

I tend to have one or three CDs in the car that I rotate between for like 4 or 5 weeks and then I get bored and switch for something else – I have an iPod adaptor thingy for the car and that plays from my old iPod however I can’t get it to work properly and the frequency that it is set to is fine until I go up the hill where I work because then it can pick up a radio station that broadcasts on that frequency  (I didn’t know there was one till it cut in a few days ago).

I wrote my first draft thingy but decided having seen both Koree and Becca‘s lists

Happy:

• Your Sofa by Becky Higg
• Safe House by Becky Higg
• Hand in My Pocket by Alanis Morissette
• Jesus Freak by DC Talk (Happy mosh round the room)

Sad:

• Thank You by Dido
• Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Eva Cassidy (It was played at my Grandma’s funeral)

Angry:

• One Step Closer by Linkin Park
• You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette
• crushcrushcrush by Paramore (mosh round the room again)
• Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

Romantic:

• My First, My Last My Everything by Barry White (Cheesy I know but I love it)
• Finally Found by The Honeyz

Dance/Party:

• Dancing Generation by Matt Redman (Technically a worship song but it makes me want to dance)
• Anything by Abba

Chill/Calming/Contempletive:

• I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe
• What If I Stumble by DC Talk
• Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez (Yeah it fits under this as well lol)
• At The River by Groove Armada

Sleepy:

• Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez

Also I have a little plug to make….Becca (who came up with the My 30 Days Project) is hosting a giveaway – the prizes are handmade by her fabulous self. To enter go here and look at her blog answer the question “What’s in your DVD Player at the moment?” and become a follower – and that’s your entry – you can also gain extra entries by blogging and tweeting about it – you can also FB about it if you are friends with Becca.

Giveaway closes at 5pm (BST) on Friday 3rd Sept (That’s Midday for those on EDT)

I’ve just noticed that my prompts are in the wrong order doh! Day 8 should actually be Day 6 if you are going by Becca‘s List – hopefully this is the only hiccup!

My 30 Days

Today’s Prompt:

What’s in Your Bag?

At present, I’m using my Criminal Damage messenger bag – it has stars all over it . I bought it at Pulp a few weeks ago. In there I have….

• My iPhone
• My 2010 Diary
• My 2011 Diary (Yup that organised!)
• Two Letters to post (One to Becca and one to Kaelah)
• The bag that came with my diary – both by Irene at 1 Off Handbags
• New Brooch by Maxine at Common Threads Art.
• Chocolate Wrapper  - I couldn’t find a bin lol.
• Pens – I go through stages of having quite a few in my bag
• Keys
• Painkillers
• Deodorant

I started writing this post and then went outside to help That Boy – he set a challenge to see if any of us could light the BBQ using a flint and some tinder – I DID IT!!! The first attempt worked but then burnt out I didn’t let that put me off, I wriggled and pulled my sleeves back up again and then tried again with a fire lighter – I got the tinder lit and then that lit the fire lighter and the rest of the BBQ. This morning we bought one of this Chimenea thingies – we’d been to friends who had them and been nice and toasty while sat next to it.

Photo Girl
Originally uploaded by hannypants

A while back I went for a chat with a company upstairs from my current office – they were interested in my photography skills but I didn’t have the editing skills etc that they needed for a new team member. I installed Photoshop and Illustrator and stuff all at the same time and for one or another reason never got on with actually learning how to use them. Then the trials ran out so I uninstalled them from my MacBook and trundled along without ever learning what to do.

I emailed Kaelah last week to pick her brain over how she edits images, and adds text and things like that – I got a reply and left it in my inbox, while I got on with chores this morning I left my Mac re-downloading the trial and this is my first attempt.

My friend Caz took this picture of me taking a picture a few years ago when we went for a massive walk in Ampthill. I wanted to play with Photoshop and learn how to use it – this is my first experience – I know not very complicated but it’s somewhere to start, hopefully my skills will grow from here and I’ll get better.

My 30 Days

Today’s Prompt:

4 simple short term goals for this month + reasons why you picked them.

1. Complete the Song Lyric Journal for Swap-Bot and get it posted to my partner in time.
2. Read at least 3 (if not 4) books.
3. Create 5 items to put in my Etsy store (and come up with some ideas lol)
4. Complete my A-Z List of Movies (I have three to go so this is kinda the smallest goal lol.)

My 30 Days

Today’s Prompt:

A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you.

This fab couple are my Grandparents on their wedding day. They were married in September 1961. There’s a story that my Grandma tells me about how they were involved in a motorcycle accident a few days before the wedding and she very nearly didn’t make it to the wedding – thankfully instead she was just a little bruised and that meant that they could get married. The following August my Mum arrived on the scene followed by my Uncle a few years later.

To me they have had the biggest impact on me, my Grandma is an amazing woman of God even through dealing with my Great Grandma when she was ill and then dealing with her own illness, she never turned her back on God. We write to each other occasionally – I don’t necessarily have the time to go round (which sounds really sucky) but sometimes I scribble Grandma a note and send it via my Mum just to give her the heads up so that she knows that I’m okay and surviving lol. We also talk about those things that I can’t chat to my Mum about but my Grandma has like 40 years (oooh 50 years next year!!) of marriage behind her and okay so they don’t always get it right but she can give me some form of guidance right?

My Grandad is amazing man of God too. He’s so amazing, so many times he’s come to my rescue because the car broke down or because I needed his help with some crazy project or idea that I had lol. When my parents had their bathroom redone my Grandad taught me how to tile lol. I worked in a DIY store and to learn to tile was really helpful when people asked lol. (Yeah I was part time and that dedicated lol) Also when Grandad installed the new windows I also learnt how to do that lol.

All of my Grandparents have had a massive impact on my life – they have been there through the good times and the bad. When Kewey was sick I left uni that day and some how ended up stood in my Grandma’s kitchen – I had one of those moments where the car just kinda drove itself and next thing I know I’m stood in my Grandma’s kitchen bawling my eyes out. She picked me up and dusted me off and in true Grandma fashion reached for her Bible and we had a pray.

So they are my biggest influence I think, well I think lol. Get me? Who’s had the biggest impact on you?

And….this post is about my Mum’s parents. Today is my Grandad’s birthday  (that is my Dad’s Dad) so…

Happy Birthday Grandad!!!!

My 30 Days

Today’s Prompt:

Favourite superhero + why they are your favourite.

Erm I have no idea lol. I grew up watching X-Men and Transformers with my
brother – do they count as super heroes?

I liked Storm and Rogue in X-Men. I remember how Wolverine had this amazing bright yellow and black costume like a wasp lol. I remember that in Transformers there was Optimus Prime and Megatron but I wouldn’t be able to tell you which side either of them were on (I remember there was the Autobots and Decepticons – haha good memory!!).

I also used to watch The New Adventures of Superman (Lois Lane was played
by Teri Hatcher). I watched the original Superman films but they weren’t as
good in my expectations lol.

Batman and Robin were the other ones I used to watch. I liked the 60s TV show – I used to watch the repeats lol.

I went to see The Dark Knight at the cinema but it wasn’t my cuppa really Heath Ledger did an amazing job as the Joker but I always remember him being the comical clown of a character rather than the psychotic character that Heath Ledger portrayed.

I used to look for female SuperHeroes but the only one I could find was Wonder Woman and Supergirl – are there any others?

My 30 Days

Today’s Prompt:

A picture of you as a kid + 7 facts about your childhood.

Okay so I’m cheating here – I’m double posting today so that I’m posting at the same time as Becca and Koree because at the moment I’m a day behind.

Yup that little dinky is me! This was taken at about 3 weeks – so around when I should have been born.

7 Facts about my Childhood.

1. I was born 3 weeks premmy – Apparently I was a funny yellow colour as I had jaundice. By being early and my cousin being late this made me the eldest grandchild on both sides of my family.
2. I started learning the flute and keyboard in Year 5 (I would have been 9 years old.
3. One of my favourite memories was when it snowed loads and me, m brother and the three kids from two houses across the street had a massive snow ball fight and snowman making session – we were going to make snow angels then realised it was too cold and we’d all end up really wet lol.
4. I wasn’t a Brownie, Girl Guide, in the Girls Brigade or anything like that. I joined and left the St John’s Ambulance within a term as my friend (who I went with) stopped going as well. I went to Sunday School at my church – often it was just me and my brother lol.
5. When I was 8 or 9 I would read GCSE Maths textbooks for fun (yeah I am a geek and it took me most of my teens to realise that I could be a geek and be cool in a way lol)
6. I started wearing glasses at Middle School just to read the board, by Upper School I had to wear them all the time – now without them I can read a book and send a text that’s about it lol.
7. Until I was in my teens we always went on holiday for at least a week in our caravan – I don’t care how much Top Gear diss them – I loved going on holiday in a caravan!