~ Xmas Home ~

Is it really xmas??

My little homemade decorated tree in the kitchen

Heart I made this morning,out of a recycled wool cardigan

A white linen tilda bird also made this morning,nothing like last minute makes!

Hope everyone has a very merry Christmas

XX Manda XX

~ Family,Forests,Festivities ~

Back to reality and the real world!!
 Ive been lucky enough to have a little pre xmas holiday with the hubby and kids.Weve done this for a few years now,we like to take ourselves off somewhere remote and quiet ,somewhere were we are away from all the hustle and bustle,usually the highlands of Scotland
 This year I didn't fancy the long drive,so we chose somewhere a bit closer to home.
We chose a place called Keldy Forest,near Pickering North Yorkshire,I must admit It's a great place for just relaxing or long forest walks ,cycling,horse riding  or just sitting back and watching the abundant wildlife,and when we were done with that we had a fab hot tub back at the cabin  were we where staying .
On the wish list of the kids ,when we got back from holiday is their very own Hot Tub,mmm I'm not convinced,I could just see myself strutting across the garden every 2 mins frightening the neighbours to death,now If I had the figure of Elle (the body) Mcpherson It would be totally different.
It was really lovely to spend time,without computers,mobile phones (no signal ) games consoles and to swap these with good old fashioned scrabble ,chess, cards
Now that I'm back home, I am super chilled and feel like I'm ready for the next couple of week's of chaos and festivities
Let the madness begin!!
Take care everyone

Night time fun in the hot tub

XX Manda XX

~Giveaway Winner ~

The winner of my first giveaway Is ; Scented sweetpeas
I picked the winner ,the old fashioned way,names out of the hat(OR IN MY CASE NAMES ON PAPER OUT OF A BOWL)
If you could drop me an e-mail with your address,I will post it
asap.Hope you like them .
Thanks EVERYONE for joining in and leaving such lovely comments

XX Manda XX

~Christmas swap ~

A few weeks ago,I entered a christmas swap over at Hookin'with Laalaa, I was paired with Lynda from Hookin 'with Laalaa here's my little xmas parcels.

I received two handmade gingerbread men, one xmas tree decoration and a little cute gingerbread brooch,and gifts from paperchase,xmas pencils,little red jingle bells,bubble bath and bath confetti and also a gingerbread man biscuit.Thanks Lynda

XX Manda XX

~ Giveaway ~

Well this month I have been blogging a year! WOWZER dosent time fly when youre having fun?
So I thought I would have a little giveaway,but It's a big but ,just has I was about to download my photies of my giveaway,the bloomin camera conked out on me but dont worry,I hope to have photos up and running later today....what a tease arent I ?
x x x x x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
All you have to do Is follow my blog and leave me a comment, easy peasy .
PHOTO'S TO FOLLOW!! ....Slight technical hitch (that's what they say on the telly Isn't it ?)
...update; Camera still not working ,but needs must and I IMPROVISED AND USED MY CAMERA ON MY PHONE,
.I will be giving away a lovely;
China teacup set
Painted wooden teapot garland
Embroidered teacups ,needlework
THE WINNER WILL BE DRAWN A WEEK TODAY....5TH DECEMBER
Feel free to add my giveaway picture on my sidebar to your blog
Many Thanks

XX Manda XX

~Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn ~

I am so looking forward to this week,I don't know whether I have mentioned this before but I'm  a massive fan of the twilight saga ,Ive read all the books several time 's over and can't begin to say how many times I've actually watched these movies.
I know a lot of people who would say TWILIGHT !! teenage movie ,but I would beg to differ It's just pure fantasy ,wouldn't we all like our very own Edward ?
Anyway I'm not the only one  looking forward to the new movie Breaking Dawn, testament to this is all the people who have started camping to secure there place at the premier ,just a few glimpses of the stars of the movies (Robert Pattinson  Kristen Stewart Taylor Lautner )seem to be enough for them to camp for days.
Well it maybe not the premier,but my friends and I are all set for Friday night ,we  have our tickets ,purchased as soon as they were released ,there is 8 of us girlie's going to the cinema complete with our new Team/Edward   Team/Jacob  t shirts 2 Jacobs & 6 Edwards me being of the Edward persuasion.
We aim to have a fab night and can't wait........photos to follow
To any other twilight fans ,hope you enjoy  the movie as much as I'm going too

Photo courtesy of the internet

~ Armistice Day Lest we forget ~



To always remember  the ultimate sacrifice

~SpOoKy WaLk ~

The weather here in my part of the world was lovely today,perfect for  a little afternoon walk.
Now were would you go ?
When It's nearly HALLOWEEN!

Wise Old Oak

Mr Pumpkin waiting in the wings

~Halloween swap goodies ~

A while ago I entered an Autumn/Halloween swap at the Blueberry Heart.
I was paired with the lovely Jodi from Stuff 'n' Bits,my goodies arrived yesterday,so exciting!!!
I LOVE EVERYTHING a big THANK YOU!!! and a special thank you to Jodi's son for the wonderful card ,all the drawing's are fab!!!

Fab card

l  will be making some very spooky biscuits this Halloween thanks to the lovely Halloween cookie cutters I received .And my spooky star is already hanging up.Hope my photo's do Jodi's packages justice, I had to fight the kids from opening everything up.The were totally trying to unwrap the yankee candle when they read it was called Witches Brew
Everything was beautifully packaged in Halloween colours,loved it .

~ 100yr Birthday Celebrations Transporter Bridge ~

Last weekend was the birthday of the Transporter Bridge It was 100yrs old,so of course there was going to be celebrations and party's.

The Bridge was opened on the 17th October 1911,by Queen Victoria's Grandson,Prince Arthur of Con naught.

It Is the furthest downstream bridge across the River Tees,It Is a transporter bridge ,carrying a travelling car or gondola,suspended from the bridge,carrying up to 200 people

One of the celebrations was a parade from the Mi ma Art Gallery to Middlesbrough College my daughter and other children took part in the parade,they had been practising drumming for weeks,the weather held off and the promise of fireworks at the end of there 1 1/2 hr march through Middlesbrough, well they didn't disappoint.

The only downside to it all was the utter confusion of picking our children up at the end of the parade,organisers were not too good at relaying instructions on where and when ,as it was dark and very busy It was worrying,but with a few frantic mobile conversations and a bit of rushing around in the dark,phew we found them ,just in time for them promised Fireworks and also the time my camera died ,Isn't it alway's the way.

I don't know the lady in the picture,just liked the lit up model bridge haha

The kiddo's waiting patiently for the parade to start .

This dosen't give the fireworks justice they were fab.

Bottle Art

Photo courtesy of the internet

Waiting to begin!!