I am finding it very hard to keep up with blogging these days and can hardly post let alone read the hundreds of newsfeeds I am behind on!
So for anyone interested in keeping up to date with how things are going in my pregnancy (I'm 38 weeks now!!!!) most of my posting will be on Two Blue Lines. Its far too complicated trying to post about the same thing in two places!
Thanks for sticking with me!
Posted by Maxine at 09:44 AM | Comments (2)
W led me to these following links which are pretty incredible and very thought provoking. We all know that there is some degree of airbrushing and Photoshop retouching to those super beautiful models with perfect figures and unbelievably smooth skin, but these show us just how far it can be taken. It makes you realise that no matter how much people strive for perfection, the perfect figure, spending far too much on beauty products and diet fads, you just simply can't compete with the magic of Photoshop.
From human to billboard in 60 seconds - Dove Campaign
Photoshop trickery on real jobs
On a bit of a separate note, check out this, its totally amazing! I want one!
A vacuum cleaner that kids can ride.
Posted by Maxine at 07:06 PM | Comments (5)
Thank you so much for all the lovely birthday comments on my previous post, its nice to know that you are still reading my blog and haven't given up on me - especially as there hasn't been much action around here lately!
Today is a day for thank you's all round! Last week my sister in law asked me if she could take Emily for the afternoon to play with her cousins, including providing tea and bringing her back just before bedtime. I completely jumped for joy at the prospect of getting a little bit of peace and quiet. I do love being with my little princess, but I'm afraid mommy hasn't been very much entertainment for a while now - so the prospect of her going somewhere and having fun makes me very happy and eases my guilt at not feeling up to much myself. So she's away at the moment and will be back in a couple of hours.
To top off my day of wonderful surprises and thoughtfulness, my other sister in law, Julie had booked me into a local treatment centre for an hour of pampering, which let me tell you was just sheer bliss. W put the extra towards my treat so that I could extend my hour and have a lovely facial and shoulder massage. I am now feeling very lovely indeed. This is just what I needed.
Thank you so much I am so chuffed to be on the receiving end and I am now going to try my best to ignore any housework that might need doing, make myself a nice cup of tea and put my feet up.
Oh and on a separate note Julie and Paul had a beautiful baby girl on Monday 2nd Oct called Daisy Bella. Congratulations you two and welcome to the crazy world of parenthood!
Posted by Maxine at 04:45 PM | Comments (2)
Firstly let me just apologise for my recent lapse into long posts with lots of images. But this seems to be the only way I can keep my blog going at the moment. Hopefully this will change and I can revert back to more succint and focused posts - maybe even with some crafting! Aaah!
So last week and the past while has been a bit mad. We literally have birthdays everyday for the last week of September and this can take a fair bit of organising, remembering and spending! It was Emily's 3rd birthday on Thursday, I can hardly believe 3 years have passed already. The way I have been feeling I was tempted to cancel, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. In fact it ended up almost double the work as we had a family party on Thursday night and a completely nuts full on toddler party on Saturday. I probably could've also sent out shop bought invites and bought plastic party bags with lots of plastic cheapy rubbish party bag favors, that only get thrown away but I just can't do it. I can't bring myself to buy those things, even if it does make my life easier. I also really enjoy making things up myself so why should I?! I did cheat a bit with the design for invites and used elements that I had previously illustrated (I am sure you recognise them!) and did an updated version of Emily. I would've liked to do something new but hey I had to give myself a break somewhere!
I used the design for the invites on the party bags, but changed the image of Emily to a sillouhette (hubby's great idea). I just bought the paper bags and decorated them with blue or pink ribbon and a little name tag, so it didn't take too long at all.
I always agonise over what to put in the bags. Its silly really, I have to keep reminding myself that it is just a bunch of 3 year olds, who will rip the bag open looking for chocolate. BUt I'm afraid I just can't change my ways! So, in case you are interested, in the bags contained: picture/number/letter stencils and pencils for some artiness, a very small chocolate (can't not really I spose), dinosaur toy ( what kid doesn't like dinosaurs?!), balloon, alphabet cookie cutter - I tried to correspond these with the child's name but it didn't always work out. I also made up a couple of bags for the babies so as not to leave them out and put in either a small car or bath toy, balloon and a baby teddy biscuit.
So here are a few pics spanning both Thursday and Saturday.
I just couldn't face baking this year, with everything else I had to sort out so we opted for the favourite caterpillar cake. Not one but two of course! I certainly can't do this every year.
The face painting didn't go down too well as Emily decided she wasn't happy with some of the boys being tigers and there were a few tears! She is normally the tiger herself but I think it was all a bit overwhelming. We also went out for Sunday lunch with Susan and Gareth, as you can see it didn't take Emily long to eat a huge portion of ice-cream.
Amongst all the madness it was also my birthday on Saturday. Once the party had dispersed and we had cleaned the house I put my pj's on and headed straight for the sofa with a big cup of tea. By the time we had finished opening Emily presents (everyone was so kind and thoughtful) and I started opening mine, it was kinda present overkill. It was lovely but the birthday fatigue had certainly set in.
Amongst all of the lovely presents I received from everyone where these two quirky little numbers. They both just cheered me up no end I can tell you. The bag is just so happy (and says so!) and you ask the little figure questions and it nods or shakes its head. Thanks Sal and Lydia (and Steve and Paul of course but I somehow doubt you had a hand in picking them! hehe). Thanks to everyone in fact, for making my birthday so lovely.
How can I forgot the lovely treats that I got from W. A couple of books including 'Making Handbags' which just looks fantastic, with lots of patterns and great ideas. I can't wait to use it - although it might be a while yet! A new subscription to Readymade Mag, scrummy choccies, a new Madeline Peyroux CD and my favourite present of all - a gorgeous Giclee print of one of Heather Sloane's illustrations - I also got the 1st print in an edition of 100 - how chuffed am I?! He got me the one called 'Hello'. She is a local illustrator and you should definitely check her out.
Phew I am sure you are glad its the end of that post!
Posted by Maxine at 07:42 PM | Comments (11)
I am a graphic designer & stay at home mom, originally from England, now living in Belfast. I love all things handmade & spend my time being creative by either making bags & accessories or producing original prints, paintings, photography & cards.
