...a wonderful night in.....

Come Dine With Me with friends

Second time around, and we have had a blast. Serious stuff all this, and yes we mark, and yes we all get a bit nervous, but ultimately it is so much fun

The first time round we decided to use the money (each time we meet up we chuck a tenner each into a kitty) to go on a girlie weekend, and we ended up in Christchurch Harbour Hotel, in Christchurch, Dorset http://www.christchurch-harbour-hotel.co.uk/. Shireen had booked us into the Jetty Restaurant, run by Alex Aitkin. We had a wonderful table, and a lovely view of the kitchen. All night we were getting so much attention from Alex Aitkin, asking us if we enjoyed cooking, really spending so much time with us. The staff kept giving us huge smiles, which we all thought a bit odd, and put it down to the fact that we were a bunch of gorgeous ladies!!!. The food was just amazing. Every mouthful, just heavenly. At the end of the meal, one of the waitresses came over, and said

“so which episode of Come DIne With Me, were you in, because one of the cooks in the kitchen has seen all of them, and doesn't recognise any of you”!!!!!

“No we weren't on telly, we did it together, in each others houses, we are all friends”

Her face dropped, and she walked away, and we didn't see Alex Aitkin again either.

“Shireen what exactly did you tell them”

“They asked if it was a special occasion, and I said yes, we won Come DIne With Me”

We just could not stop laughing. It was hysterical. 

So on to this round. Gosh it always takes ages to complete because we are all so busy.  It is just a wonderful way to make sure that we get to see each other. I have know Shireen since I was 16, and the rest for nearly as long.  We adore the laughs, and heart felt chats, because we can be so honest, and true.

Location

Comfy Castle

Sauf Landaaan

The Menu 

Tomato, Mint, and Lentil Soup

Chicken, Mushroom, and Leek Filo Pastry Pie, with Celeriac, and Sweet Potato Mash

Steamed Raspberry Pudding with Vanilla Custard

Sky Lanterns

Proper Laughs

And Heart Felt Chats

Gifts

I love this pic 

Please just watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W86jlvrG54o&feature=share


Living your life through Gratitude, is not one of comparing how you are better than someone else; or Gratitude only for what you own or obtain or achieve.
Living your life through Gratitude is seeing that the world would be missing something very unique and valuable if you were not in it.


Sumner M. Davenport

Namaste!

adore this picture

I took this picture in Cornwall 2 years ago, and it still takes my breathe away. I have never manipulated it...its as it was on the day....enjoy, as much as I do

Chatty Catty

Every weekday morning, DH awakens at about 6am. 

I naturally too awaken at this time just to hear the interaction between him, and our cat Gizzi. 

It is just magical. 

They honour each other every day. 

Gizzi sits outside the shower while Mem is in there, and then talks to him when he comes out. Different levels of exquisite meows. 

Mem laughs so much. 

He sits at the top of the stairs while Mem gets dressed, and together they go downstairs. About 30 mins later Mem comes back upstairs, and following behind is Gizzi.  Another chat in the bathroom, while Mem runs the tap on the bidet for Gizzi to drink out of, before Mem heads off for work. 

I lie in bed listening with the hugest smile on my face, and I know Mem leaves for work with the hugest smile on his face. 

Gizzi is mine, for cuddles, and strokes until Mem arrives home in the evening, and then they are inseparable buddies again. So much love and affection. 

A Memism.....stuff my hubby says..

Had an amazing massage... so came home with a greasy head.......As I walked in DH goes
"so where you been Roobs"
"look at my head Mem"
" the hairdressers" and he was serious!!!!!

First Ever Tag

So after having a cold that I just couldn't shift, and then manifesting back ache, which I haven't had for 6 years, I decided that my body was begging to just be relaxed. And on Friday I decided to cancel everything for the weekend and just stay at home. And it was sooooo nice. I created, and cooked, and laughed with my snotty and coughy Hubby 

This is my first ever tag. I made everything from scratch, so cut the flowers and the tag with Sizzix dies, and then sprayed using Glimmer Mist, and Dylusions Spray. I used card board, and grey board, that I rescued out of the recycle bin, and sprayed some masking tape again to create the ruffled effect.

Stay Blessed

Rubina xx

when we look back at our lives.....

When we look back on our lives we see that we have survived many trials and often to our own amazement.

We have all faced moments in our lives when the pressure mounts beyond what we feel we can handle, and we find ourselves thinking that we do not have the strength to carry on. Sometimes we have just gotten through a major obstacle or illness only to find another one waiting for us the moment we finally catch our breath. Sometimes we endure one loss after another, wondering when we will get a break from life’s travails. It does not seem fair or right that life should demand more of us when we feel we have given all we can, but sometimes this is the way life works. 

When we look back on our lives, we see that we have survived many trials and surmounted many obstacles, often to our own amazement. In each of those instances, we had to break through our ideas about how much we can handle and go deeper into our hidden reserves. The thought that we do not have the strength to handle what is before us can be likened to the hard surface of a frozen lake. It appears to be an impenetrable fact, but when we break through it, we find that a deep well of energy and inspiration was trapped beneath that icy barrier the whole time. Sometimes we break through by cutting a hole into our resistance with our willpower, and sometimes we melt the ice with compassion for our predicament and ourselves. Either way, each time we break through, we reach a new understanding of the strength we store within ourselves. 

When we find ourselves up against that frozen barrier of thinking we cannot handle our situation, we may find that the kindest choice is to love ourselves and our resistance too. We can simply accept that we are overwhelmed, exhausted, and stretched, and we can offer ourselves loving kindness and compassion. If we can extend to ourselves the unconditional warmth of a mother’s love, before we know it, the ice will begin to break. 


By Daily Om http://www.dailyom.com/

Make your own Washi Tape

I was playing around yesterday, and wondered if I could create my own washi-type tape. And I did. I used low tack masking tape, and stamped with Memento, and then tried painting one..and it worked...whoooohoooo. Will get going with sprays next....give it a go. I will create some cards, and put the pics up

I did one

Blisss-i-mo

I have just come back form beautiful weekend in Italiaaaa, ok well not just, last Sunday to be exact. But it has been manic since I got back!!! 

I was at the PACS show in Castellammare Di Stabia, near Naples, 

Since my 'initiation’3 years ago, I have not travelled out of the country on my own. I was doing great until the day before, when panic set in. All those old, negative thought patterns....there they were again....another layer to fix!!!!! I thought that most of my fears had been conquered....oh nooooooo, here was another one. I would have cancelled everything, if this was a 2 years ago. It was a bit overwhelming. I mediated, and took moments of stillness, to process all my thoughts and fears. I knew I had to go on this huge journey. I had to go through this fear, and knew that on the other side I would be clearer, and more settle, but the panic was still there!!!! What if I didn't like it, what if I didn't like the people, was the taxi driver at the other end safe...what if what if?????? Honestly, the mind can make up some sinister scenarios!!!!!!! 

And I was fine....of course, and had a marvelous time. The flight was wonderful, and I captured some amazing shots with my camera. And the taxi driver Giacomo, brought along his girlfriend who was staying with him, and it turned out that she was from the same small town as my Uncle in the USA, and knew him....oh the Angels were really helping me to relax!

 My Sunny Chair in Sunny Corner of the BA Lounge

 Wonderful food on offer, but I only had eyes for Mini Chedders, and a nice cup of Earl Grey

I was staying at the Hotel Dei Congressi. By the time I arrived it was dark, and rainy, and the hotel was very quiet. I checked in, and inquired about dinner, and was informed it would be a 8,and there were 4 guests. So at 8-ish I wandered over to the dining hall. Ok so picture the scene....the dining hall was enormous, maybe about 60 large white table.  All the lights were off at one end, and in the middle of the room, and table set for 6. It was like something out of the Shining. And not a soul insight!!!!! And eerily quiet. So I stood there, straining to hear a sound, and my mind doing overtime!! Then I sat down at the table, facing the dark side of the room hahaaaaaaaaa!! I could write such a good horror movie. Finally, a sound. Paola, and Silvia arrived, who were both Italian, and Paola was one of the teachers. Then Shir, and Yafit, two lovely girls from Israel, and lastly, Donna Downey. Within moments, the dining hall was filled with our chatter, and laughter..our united nations table!!! Food and drink were consumed, and it was so enjoyable. Donna and I just hit it off straight away.She adored my Sauf Laandaaan accent, and I loved her humour...very dry, just how I like it. We laughed so much, because we is both bonkers!!!

When I awoke the next morning, and opened my shutter, I was greeted with a beautiful view of the coast, and a snow capped mountain, and I exhaled at the beauty. Nature just does it for me. I went back down to the dining hall, and the view from there was just as amazing....huge mountains....stunning. I was on such a high, and adoring every moment

I wasn't doing my first class until 4pm, so I hung around in the event hall, which was decorated like a tea room, and everything was crafted from paper, and cloth...twas lovely. I read, gloried at my goody bag and chatted. Unfortunately, because of the snow in Rome, a lot of people got stuck, so the event was quiet. I was enjoying the freedom, and the change of scenery, and being able to just BE!!

My main reason for visiting the Show was do do Donna’s classes. I adore her work. It is LOVE-LY...simples. I adore her use of colours, and the sense of liberty, and tranquility in every piece, So, her class was wonderful. And I coped really well with messy fingers. Paint, canvas, water, letting it all mix and flow, every piece of work so different.

I have such a block when it comes to being this free, and Donna has defiantly helped me heal this. She rocks!!! 

And her translator,Tita, was the spit of Maggie Gyllenhaal!! Such a lovely person. We will meet when she is next in London 

That evening I meet Celine Navarro, who owns a magazine in France, and is a superb crafter. 

The next day I did a class with Manu, and really didn't want her to translate into English. I love the sound of the italian language. Her class was so enjoyable, and I stitched on card for the first time.

After lunch, the lovely Carmine, Simona’s husband...sorry..Simona runs the event, and owns a craft store in town, gave me a quick and very informative tour of Castellammare Di Stabia, in his car. He and Simona owns a beautiful home in the mountains. He took me up there, but OMG, the tiniest road ever, probably about 1mm of space either side of the car...I was breathing in!!!!! The house was stunning, and the views breathtaking.

After getting back, Celine and I ended up have a big bonding session, and talked about nearly everything, and laughed a bit too hard...cruising is all I have to say!!!!!

That evening, after dinner, there was a cake making competition. There were 6 on my table. We had to make a cake out of crafty stuff. I spent so much time laughing with Donna, and Celine, that I made no contribution, and guess what????.....we won!!! Ok they won, but I got a prize too. Plus I was to busy putting the gorgeous paper, we had taken to craft with, in my bag!!!!

Ok and on this night We laughed so much that I still had jaw, and stomach ache the next day...you know that uncontrollable, howling laughter, with tears and all......smashing, smashing time.

And then it was my last day. Carmine, the Superman, Earth Angel that he is, offered to drive me to the airport. I am so grateful to him, because it was above, and beyond what was expected. I said goodbye to everyone, and although everyone was so nice, I was really sad to say goodbye to Donna, and Celine. I experienced a very special time with them. Again meeting people for the first time, and having an instant friendship, that you know will last. I really cannot wait to see them both again. I adore them.

This picture will always make me laugh..Donna the peacock, And Celine with moi!!!!

The PACS team were just amazing. So much energy, and always with huge smiles on their faces. I had the most amazing and joyous time. Italian crafting is just what I enjoy. Not a dirty grungy poop tag in sight. And I made some wonderful connections...my FB friends list has been added too.

The Amazing PACS Team

A very happy lady!!!!

And it was an amazing journey for me personally. I felt blissful throughout. Im so glad my darling Stewart sent me a text on the Saturday night, I really needed grounding,I was on such a high, and he sensed it!!! I leaped over a huge mental hurdle, and I was soooo right...it is so much sunnier on the other side

Stay always Blessed

Namaste