tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65597239463985560452024-03-14T09:12:09.377+00:00Ramblings and woolPoetry, crochet and general ramblings.
Welcome.Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-79131701901472820632013-06-16T19:06:00.000+01:002013-06-16T19:06:14.624+01:00Sweet FA“The message of fat acceptance is that fat bodies deserve just as
much respect as any other body. It’s a surprisingly radical notion.”<br />
<br />
I put this list of links together for a facebook
group I'm part of around health, diet and exercise as I think that
mental health and accepting yourself are key to health in general and I
feel quite lucky in that I've always
been fat and never had incredibly negative feelings about that but I
know others have different experiences. I'm
not an expert in this at all but I have done a bit of reading and I
found a lot of the ideas very very helpful to my self esteem and my
attitude to weight and health.
Obviously I don't follow this way of thinking entirely as I am actively
trying to lose weight but I do try and keep the key things I've learnt
at the front of my mind. For me they are:<br />
<ul>
<li>I am a valid human being worthy of respect regardless of my size</li>
<li>There are far far more important things for me to spend my energy on that worrying about fitting an unobtainable idea.</li>
<li>Fat
itself isn't a bad word- it's a description of my body- it doesn't
mean I'm lazy, disgusting, or any of the other negative things that can
be associated with it. It's just a word and a description and that's
fine</li>
</ul>
I first found out about FA from articles on Fatshion- this one in fact in the guardian which is well worth reading<br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2010/jan/30/fat-fashion-blogs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2010/jan/30/fat-fashion-blogs</a><br />
Some of the blogs are brilliant (<a href="http://www.gabifresh.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.gabifresh.com/</a>)<br />
And I really think it's worth spending some time looking through the flickr gallery<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/fatshionista/pool/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/groups/fatshionista/pool/</a><br />
Because
normally when we see people of fat people they are often headless
pictures of people illustrating the obesity epidemic. We aren't used to
seeing fat people as people with lives and personalities and all the
other good stuff. It's terrifying how normally the only images we see
are very thin photoshopped people and it's good to remember that
actually there are lots of people who don't look like that, are looking
awesome and living their lives.<br />
<br />
I read more about fat acceptance and like the political aspect of it as well.<br />
These blogs are a good place to start<br />
<a href="http://www.therotund.com/?page_id=190" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.therotund.com/?page_id=190</a><br />
<a href="http://kateharding.net/faq/but-dont-you-realize-fat-is-unhealthy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://kateharding.net/faq/but-dont-you-realize-fat-is-unhealthy/</a><br />
<br />
This article about CV fitness being a better indicator of health than obesity is also good<br />
<a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120904193052.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120904193052.htm</a><br />
<br />
I
don't follow all of it but I think treating everyone with respect and
dignity and valuing people regardless of physical appearance (including
yourself) is really important.<br />
Some other great articles about this<br />
<a href="http://blog.twowholecakes.com/2011/10/round-the-mulberry-bush-kids-food-and-the-hierarchy-of-needs/#more-697" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://blog.twowholecakes.com/2011/10/round-the-mulberry-bush-kids-food-and-the-hierarchy-of-needs/</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>#more-697</a><br />
<a href="http://www.xojane.com/healthy/time-i-got-naked-cancer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.xojane.com/healthy/time-i-got-naked-cancer</a><br />
<br />
And Marianne and Lesley are generally awesome and I love their writing<br />
<a href="http://www.xojane.com/author/Marianne" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.xojane.com/author/Marianne</a><br />
<a href="http://www.xojane.com/author/lesley" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.xojane.com/author/lesley</a><br />
And basically anything on XO Jane tagged as fat will be worth your time<br />
<a href="http://www.xojane.com/list/fat" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.xojane.com/list/fat</a><br />
<br />
Especially this about the scales<br />
<a href="http://www.xojane.com/issues/zoe-saldana-star-trek-allure-cover-and-the-radical-possibilities-of-disclosing-your-weight" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://www.xojane.com/issues/</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>zoe-saldana-star-trek-allure-cover-and-the-radical-possibilities-of-disclosing-your-weight</a> <br />
<br />
Re-reading these links did make me wonder about my approach to weight loss and health and the amount of time I've spent these last six months thinking about food and exercise. On one level I feel very selfish and worry I'm becoming one of those people who are dull and obsessive about something that really isn't that important. On the other hand I enjoy exercising. It's good to practise some will power and restraint and the TDEE diet I've found has been really good for me and I haven't felt deprived or hungry and I don't think eating less than I was before but still plenty to keep me going is necessarily a bad thing. Plus being able to buy clothes more easily is nice. I do need to start focussing more on other things too though. Looking back at my new years resolutions political involvement is still alluding me and I know I still spend far too much time on the internet instead of doing things and making things. I still feel like I want a project but I'm not sure what. But reading these inspirational articles is a step in the right direction.<br />
<a href="http://www.xojane.com/issues/zoe-saldana-star-trek-allure-cover-and-the-radical-possibilities-of-disclosing-your-weight" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span></span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span></a>Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-72269798065020424932013-04-10T22:48:00.000+01:002013-04-10T22:48:32.689+01:00Self HelpGrowing up there were a lot of self help books around the house- Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway, End the Struggle and Dance With Life, Life is Short- Wear Your Party Pants. I did then and do now love a good self help book. And while many can be trite and obvious actually they can be very helpful indeed. Every now and again a phrase will float into my mind at the appropriate moment and really resonate. One that I'm trying to remind myself of often at the moment is a paraphrase from one of my favourite books (that sadly I can remember nothing about except (I think) it had a green triangle on the cover). It went something like this: This thing you're worrying about- can you do anything about it? Yes? Then do it. No? Then stop worrying about it. Not exactly reinventing the world as we know it but incredibly useful none the less.<br />
<br />
I have a particular soft spot for the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People too. Yes it's full of marketing wank and exercises that you're never going to do. Yes he makes his family sit down and talk through and write out a family manifesto every year. Yes it's cheesy as hell. But fundamentally it's about being a good person and remembering what's important and getting on with things. And whilst I'd never subject anyone else to it, I did a few years ago sit down and write a manifesto of the person I wanted to be. I read it today and it was good. I'm not there yet (There's a bit about dealing well with change I'm still a long way from) but largely I'm getting there.<br />
<br />
There's lots of things in the world I want to fix. There's lots of things about me that I'd like to change. But it's good to remember every now and again that you can do things to improve both yourself and the world around you. You can mock all you want but you know life <i>is</i> short, and these party pants aren't going to wear themselves. <br />
<br />Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-49299402857074618312013-04-08T22:34:00.002+01:002013-04-08T23:17:08.542+01:00The lady's not for mourningOne of my earliest memories is playing a game with my sister in our kitchen where we tried to put bats up Saddam Hussein and Margaret Thatcher's nighties. It was the late 80s and in our house those figures were the ultimate baddies- bogeymen whom the media and our parents had taught us to hate.<br />
<br />
Later as an adult I asked my dad if he felt bad indoctrinating us to hate Thatcher that much. "Absolutely not!" was the response. As far as he was concerned it was the same as teaching your children right and wrong. Tories were and are to be despised. My dad also taught me the difference between right and left wing "right wing cares about money, left wing cares about people". Simplistic it may be but as I've grown up I've found very little evidence to the contrary. Fundamentally, I believe, this difference of priorities what sits at the heart of political ideologies.<br />
<br />
Growing up in a post Thatcher world I find it hard to conjure the same hatred my parents feel but I've grown up with the legacy she left. The "greed is good" culture and deregulation that brought about the banking crisis, the huge inequality between rich and poor, the lack of housing stock, the horrendous privatised rail system. I've also, it must be said, benefited from a general increase in wealth that the country has seen in the last 30 years. But overall from everything I read about her and modern Tories there is a lack of compassion and a stigmatising of those in situations of disadvantage that makes me furious. I don't agree that "there is no such thing as society" that there are "skivers and strivers" that people have children just to get more benefit money. For all Labour's faults they worked to get children out of poverty, to introduce a national minimum wage, to give more people a better shot at education. And the backward steps we're taking in these areas fill me with rage.<br />
<br />
I disagree with the whole argument that we shouldn't celebrate someone's death because they have friends and family. So does Nick Griffin and so did Saddam Hussein, but I don't see any need to crow or gloat. As a political actor Thatcher lost power a long time ago. As a political ideology her legacy goes on and on. I don't want to celebrate but I don't want to mourn. I want to take this opportunity to remember that compassion is better than greed and that society does exist and it is vital. I want to make sure I'm doing all I can in my everyday life to believe in people not money and work to make things better. Putting bats up tories' nighties is probably not the most efficient strategy but I hope continuing to support and care for people and not buying into their rhetoric means I won't let them win.<br />
<br />
<br />
Edit:<br />
Billy Bragg said it all so much better-<br />
<br />
"This is not a time for celebration. The death of Margaret Thatcher is
nothing more than a salient reminder of how Britain got into the mess
that we are in today. Of why ordinary working people are no longer able
to earn enough from one job to support a family; of why there is a
shortage of decent affordable housing; of why domestic growth is driven
by credit, not by real incomes; of why tax-payers are forced to top up
wages; of why a spiteful government seeks to penalise the poor for
having an extra bedroom; of why Rupert Murdoch became so powerful; of
why cynicism and greed became the hallmarks of our society.<br />
<br />
"Raising a glass to the death of an infirm old lady changes none of
this. The only real antidote to cynicism is activism. Don't celebrate --
organise!" Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-50964086761041480782013-04-05T21:34:00.002+01:002013-04-05T21:34:46.380+01:00Podcasts I've not been very well today. Struggled through work and then wimped out of my kettlebells class.<br />
But while lying in bed feeling sorry for myself I've been listening to some great podcasts I thought I'd share with you.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://answermethis.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Helen and Olly</a><br />
<br />
One of the first podcasts I listened to. Funny and gentle and entertaining and helped me through some serious anxiety filled sleepless nights a couple of years ago. And I want Helen to be my best Friend<br />
<br />
<a href="http://themoth.org/" target="_blank">The Moth</a><br />
<br />
Fab storytelling from a popular US live show. If you can put up with the 2 minutes of sponsorship and adverts it's worth it<br />
<br />
<a href="http://post.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLovePodcast/Page/" target="_blank">Savage Love Cast</a><br />
<br />
Worth it for Dan Savage's acerbic rants in the first 10 minutes but stay with it for the sex stories and advice. Interesting, intelligent and sometimes shocking but always entertaining.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://99percentinvisible.org/" target="_blank">99% Invisible</a><br />
<br />
The brilliantly named Roman Mars delivers beautifully crafted 10 minute stories on some of the most interesting design features you've never noticed.<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnx3" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnx3" target="_blank">The Food Programme</a><br />
<br />
The most interesting half hour on the impact of the EU law on battery eggs or the spiritual implications of fasting you'll ever listen to.<br />
<br />
Any more recommendations gratefully received.Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-49078690336870652922013-04-04T21:18:00.000+01:002013-04-05T21:35:00.305+01:00Things I l Love ThursdaySo today I love Gin. And tonic. And girls I used to work with but I don't see nearly as often as I should. And Gin.<br />
<br />
I realise this is a cop-out post but what are you going to do?<br />
Thought so.<br />
<br />
xxxxxLizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-24266919101903914582013-04-03T22:03:00.001+01:002013-04-03T22:03:40.957+01:00CrushMy secret crush is Iain Duncan Smith<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFchKHJ3tlpFC0DQgknuKZqfyAKbsq3Fl7cMyJ9Oo-FpOZB2ZQs9cZYKCQA7NHOSXOXDSLIJTR0CjovDDd-sKTmhupJ6hYOd2CWH3cCwkTYKeTFRAmMpusjh8_9oUw8NqplVnbJWAUy8/s1600/Iain+Duncan+Smith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFchKHJ3tlpFC0DQgknuKZqfyAKbsq3Fl7cMyJ9Oo-FpOZB2ZQs9cZYKCQA7NHOSXOXDSLIJTR0CjovDDd-sKTmhupJ6hYOd2CWH3cCwkTYKeTFRAmMpusjh8_9oUw8NqplVnbJWAUy8/s1600/Iain+Duncan+Smith.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Look at him. That glinting head, that icy stare, that outstretched hand that you just know can crush a poor person's hopes and dreams in a matter of seconds. Look into his cold dead eyes and tell me you don't find that entire lack of compassion a real turn on. Go on, I dare you (although not too close unless he turns your heart to stone like his). Oh Iain and your insistence on demonising those struggling most in society. That true desire you have to penalise disabled families for having an extra room to frivolously store their hospital beds and necessary equipment. People may accuse you of hypocrisy Iain but I know how hard your life is, how much you struggled before marrying into aristocracy. And why shouldn't people be penalised for being disabled, in care or just plain poor? I know people are mean to you sometimes Iain but I could look after you. I could even come and visit, no-one would know, you could hide me in your 17th-century Buckinghamshire manor, or maybe build me a little flat in your 1300 acres of land. I promise we'll only need one bedroom. Oh Iain .<br />
<br />
Oh no wait, sorry, my mistake. Tricky word crush. I don't have a crush on him. I would like to crush him.<br />
<br />
<br />
And yes I appreciate this is simplistic and insulting and maybe some things need to change. But right now I just want to punch somebody in the face and I'm too angry for subtlety. And not only is their language around "shirkers" and "strivers" lacking in subtlety too, it's insulting and dangerous and means people who have nothing being plunged further into poverty and the rest of the country encouraged not to care. The lack of any voice sticking up for the most disadvantaged in society is making me irate and I just want to shout and scream. So this is my childish, petulant, impotent expression of rage. Fuck you tories.<br />
<br />Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-91287126901477187142013-04-02T22:24:00.001+01:002013-04-02T22:31:50.226+01:00Day TwoI had lots of plans for todays post from long rants against the govenment to the wonders of bondaweb. But it's late and I'm slightly tipsy so I'm going to use the suggested prompt and write some haikus about my day.<br />
<br />
Waiting in for <a href="http://www.saltashconstruction.co.uk/" target="_blank">Saltash</a><br />
They fix some mortar<br />
But I can't offer coffee <br />
<br />
Off to the <a href="http://www.bl.uk/" target="_blank">British Library</a><br />
Drink tea with my dad<br />
Permanent collection- wow<br />
<br />
In Shoreditch with Amnesty<br />
<a href="http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=10079" target="_blank">Arms trade treaty</a> signed<br />
Pride, relief and ProseccoLizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-86246540444393573712013-04-01T23:01:00.003+01:002013-04-02T22:24:52.686+01:00Blog Every Day in AprilSo I've been doing ok on my <a href="http://ramblingsandwool.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/happy-new-year.html" target="_blank">New Years Resolutions</a>. Work is slowly getting better, I did a 10k in 1.09 (ish) and I've lost over a stone and a half. But some things haven't been going so well. My budget for last month wasn't exactly balanced, I've not been writing (as you can see) and the whole "Less time faffing around on the Internet and more time doing things" - not been going so well. In fact I've become a bit internet obsessed. I have two facebook group/forums I could easily spend 8 hours a day on, I track all my food and exercise on apps and websites, I generally faff around on my phone or my laptop at all times. Although actually some of this has been very beneficial- exercise and weight loss have been greatly improved by the amazing and motivating women on my facebook group, I've met people in real life who have been absolutely fab (an evening staying over in Glasgow for work was made loads more fun by an invite from an internet friend to attend an event in their fabric shop) and next Saturday I'm planning an evening in a pub with women I've never met and I'm really looking forward to it. But I do want a bit more balance. So instead of just focusing on facebook and food and exercise I'm going to add a blog challenge into the mix. And yes it is more time in front of a screen but it's also, hopefully, a bit of a kick start back into creativity.<br />
<br />
So this month is<br />
* Drumroll*<br />
Blog Every Day in April!<br />
or BEDA for short<br />
<br />
Now I can't find much online about this initiative but <a href="http://taxidermymouse.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/beda-blog-every-day-in-april/" target="_blank">I half know someone who did it a few years back</a> and their blog list is as follows: <br />
<br />
<b>Day 1:</b> BEDA Intro–Up to you how to intro yourself.<br />
<b>Day 2:</b> Day in Haiku–Write about your day in haiku (short 3-line poem w/ 5-7-5 syllable pattern)<br />
<b>Day 3</b>: Crushes–Celebrity, literary (author/character), musician, actors, intellectual, inexplicable<br />
<b>Day 4:</b> Best Advice–That piece of advice you got that you’ll never forget<br />
<b>Day 5:</b> If I won the lottery–What would you do? Finish the statement.<br />
<b>Day 6:</b> Best Live Entertainment–Describe the best live entertainment (theatre, concert, comedy, etc.) you’ve ever experienced<br />
<b>Day 7:</b> TILT–Things I Love Thursday, BEDA tradition where you talk about what you loved that week<br />
<b>Day 8:</b> Follow Friday–Suggest a blog you follow<br />
<b>Day 9:</b> Photo Essay–No words. Just pics. Tell us a story. Take us on a tour. Show us something pretty.<br />
<b>Day 10:</b> Off Your Chest–Get something off your chest: your pet peeves, opinions, rants<br />
<b>Day 11:</b> Dream Vacation–If you could go anywhere or do anything with anyone..what would you do?<br />
<b>Day 12:</b> Brain Crack Ideas–What are those great ideas or inventions you have but haven’t made happen? Your million dollar ideas.<br />
<b>Day 13:</b> Fave Recipe–Doesn’t have to be something you make. Grandma’s cookies? Mom’s casserole?<br />
<b>Day 14:</b> TILT–Things I Love Thursday<br />
<b>Day 15:</b> Follow Friday–Suggest a YouTube channel or video you love<br />
<b>Day 16:</b> Guest Blogger–Take a day off. Find a guest blogger for the day!<br />
<b>Day 17:</b> This I Believe–What’s your personal motivation in life?<b><br />
<b>Day 18:</b></b> Top Ten List–You pick the topic, then make it a Top Ten List<b><br />
<b>Day 19:</b></b> Book Review–You pick the book, review it.<br />
<b>Day 20</b>: How To (Anything)–You pick the topic, show or tell us how to do it.<br />
<b>Day 21:</b> TILT–Things I Love Thursday<br />
<b>Day 22:</b> Follow Friday–Suggest a Twitter personality you enjoy<br />
<b>Day 23:</b> Interview Someone–You pick a person real or fictional and interview them.<br />
<b>Day 24:</b> Holiday Traditions–You pick the holiday, and tell us your traditions.<br />
<b>Day 25</b>: Ideal Karaoke Mix–You have an entire karaoke evening to yourself, what’s your set list?<br />
<b>Day 26:</b> I Never…–You know the game. What’s something you’ve never done?<br />
<b>Day 27:</b> Movie Ending Rewrite–Rewrite your favourite movie’s ending…for better or worse. Up to you.<br />
<b>Day 28:</b> TILT–Things I Love Thursday<br />
<b>Day 29:</b> Follow Friday–Suggest a website you adore<br />
<b>Day 30:</b> BEDA Wrap-up–Wrap up your BEDA experience however you feel is best<br />
<br />
Now I doubt I'll follow this exactly but it should help with the days when I can't think of anything to say and give a bit of structure. So wish me luck! Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-91821795391269680532013-01-31T21:49:00.001+00:002013-01-31T21:50:03.011+00:00A Poem for Emerson, With His Back Turned<br />
I hold my palm to the small of his back<br />
The last connection before we fall asleep<br />
And through it I feel pulsing<br />
the spoken and unspoken<br />
the heat, the heart, the desire.<br />
I hold my palm to the small of his back<br />
And it burns.Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-63323017455891900772013-01-01T10:24:00.000+00:002013-01-01T10:24:48.067+00:00Happy New YearSo 2012 was actually pretty awesome. I moved in with my boyfriend, ran a half marathon, completed the <a href="http://mycapitalringwalk.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">capital ring</a>, got a raise and a new job, started doing some volunteering that I absolutely love, was in London for the Olympics and Paralympics and also got away to Cornwall to stay in a beautiful yurt and then to Devon to see my stepbrother get married. And although I spend far too much time being anxious about things, I know I'm actually incredibly lucky and I'm very grateful for the people in my life and that I get to live in a time and place where I have so many advantages and options.<br />
<br />
I always do I giant list of things I want to achieve in the next year and this year is no exception. I doubt I'll manage them all but I like having goals and lists and things to aim for so here goes.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Keep exercising. I want to be able to run 10k in under an hour and to beat my half marathon time. I've found it quite hard to motivate myself since I finished my half but I really want to keep going.</li>
<li>Work hard at work. Even if it's uninspiring keep going and do the best I can. Work out what I really want to be doing and make the effort to develop those aspects. Think seriously about a part time research masters. But don't let work take over my life</li>
<li>Keep on volunteering and possibly take on more. It makes me incredibly happy and I want to keep it in my life</li>
<li>Be proactive. Less time faffing around on the Internet and more time doing things. Do more craft, get round to starting a group in Camberwell, join the choir, start a new project, walk the London LOOP etc.etc.etc. I'm happier when I'm out and about doing stuff so DO STUFF</li>
<li>Doing stuff also includes blogging. Write more, create more, share more. Especially write more. </li>
<li>Make an effort with the people in my life. Try to see friends more often, keep in touch more, write thank you notes, invite people to things. I live with my best friend so it's easy to get lazy but I shouldn't. I know lots of amazing people and I want to cultivate that.</li>
<li>Find a way to be politically involved that doesn't break me. I hate our current government and learning about their continued stupidity angers and upsets me and I don't know what I can do. So I've mostly given up. But I need to carry on doing something. My latest plan is to send hand drawn postcards to ministers which isn't much but is at least using my voice.</li>
<li>Keep on top of my finances. I've sorted out a budget and for the moment I'm mostly living within my means and saving and paying off debt. I want to keep this up all this year so by 2014 I can be debt free with a healthy savings buffer. I don't need to buy as much rubbish as I do, so hopefully I can remember that and keep to what I need to.</li>
<li>Lose 3 1/2 stone. I almost hate writing that down. I have such issues with dieting and the obsession women have with their weight and the idea that you have to be thin to be happy and you should be miserable if not. I've never dieted in my life and I really don't want to screw my metabolism over and I don't want to be one of those joyless people who obsess about food and talk about "being good" as if their moral worth depends on whether they order a salad or not. I want my life to be full and happy regardless of my weight and it is. But I also know, despite eating lots of seasonal fruit and veg and cooking from scratch and exercising (although that's slipped recently), I am not nearly as healthy as I should be. There are certain medication the doctors won't put me on because of my weight, I eat far far too much rubbish and have too little self control. I want to eat more healthily and feel better in myself and not eat a whole packet of biscuits because it's there. So I'm actually going to make a concerted effort to lose weight. I'm not going to starve myself of deny myself everything but I am going to eat properly and less and actually make an effort. And by writing it down and putting it here hopefully it will make it more likely to happen.</li>
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I hope you all have a fabulous 2013. Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-59027511963171651702012-12-29T18:09:00.001+00:002012-12-29T18:09:08.121+00:00CushionUnlike last year I haven't home-made much for Christmas this year. But I did make this cushion cover for my sister to match her newly decorated living room. I invented the pattern myself and was very relieved that it worked as I only finished it two days before Christmas!<br />
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<br />Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-20162365096978347122012-12-29T12:19:00.002+00:002012-12-29T12:20:06.607+00:00Christmas Cake PopsWhen I left my last job I was bought a voucher for <a href="http://www.themakelounge.com/" target="_blank">The Make Lounge</a>.<br />
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I spent it on a Christmas cake pop decorating course and below are the results.<br />
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The tutor April made the pops for us and coated them in a layer of white chocolate. Her recipe and blog is <a href="http://www.rhubarbandrose.co.uk/2010/09/wedding-diy-cake-pops.html" target="_blank">here </a><br />
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A basic pop<br />
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a bit of marbling<br />
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Half way through<br />
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All finished. See the wine in the background? Provided as part of the course!<br />
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My favourite<br />
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Cute snowman<br />
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Wrapped up and ready to gift (or unwrap and eat)<br />
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Ready to go home<br />
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I haven't got around to buying anything to replicate these at home but it's good to know how easy thety are to make. I think Easter egg cake pops might be on the cards this year.Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-17820872031552446162012-11-21T20:10:00.003+00:002012-11-21T20:11:41.872+00:00Map wrapI rescued a 1972 road atlas of Great Britain from the recycle bin at work a few months ago fully intending to use it for lots of crafty projects. I've done very little so far, although I've pinned lots of overly ambitious projects to <a href="http://pinterest.com/eliza323/">pinterest </a>and I have a pretty great Christmas gift idea. <br />
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Yesterday though was my boyfriends birthday and while I don't know how much he appreciated it, I was very impressed by the wrapping of his gift.<br />
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Card and book</div>
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Bow made from the amazing route maps at the front of the atlas (also it's hard to wrap a guitar)</div>
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Birthday fun</div>
Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-15024505859453892822012-11-10T10:45:00.001+00:002012-11-10T10:48:05.915+00:00Flat Pack JoyWhen my parents were divorcing my Mum's new house was fully furnished from Ikea. While I loved building the furniture and the ingenious methods by which it fitted together I also hated the shop. And mostly because this advert constantly rubbing salt into my adolescent wounds.<br />
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I have now grown older and wiser and my hatred has abated. And although most of my furniture is from freecycle I do love a trip to Ikea. Plus even when furniture has been in storage for 7 years they will still send you replacement parts! We now have a reasonable size table in our flat and can eat facing each other rather than the window. Plus two new step parents and a pair of step siblings later they were probably right. Happier families all round and stylish Swedish furniture. Everyone's a winner.<br />
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Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-90378413950837102342012-11-05T22:25:00.001+00:002012-11-05T22:40:15.646+00:00Personal trainingI recently joined a new gym. It's close to work, cheap, contract-free and has loads of classes incldung a lunchtime spin class that nearly killed me. Having trained all summer for my half marathon I'm determined not to let me new-found fitness go to waste while it's too dark in the evenings to run. Except every time I go to the gym I'm confronted with this poster and it makes my blood boil.<br />
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I know some of it is me being over-sensitive. That despite how much I like and embrace the Health at Every Size agenda I still feel insecure in my body. That even though I can now run 13 miles continuously I still feel fat and foolish going to do exercise. And every time I see this poster that's what I feel- fat and foolish. And it's no accident. The whole premise of the poster is women are all fat and unnatractive and inherently worthless without other people's approval. All Ladies! need to Lose the Fat! Not just the overweight women- the assumtion is that every single woman in that gym will feel she needs to lose weight. And why? Because Christmas is coming. You're going to go to parties and wear sexy clothes and eat nice food. And it's such a sad state of affairs that instead of that being a good thing it's a cause of anxiety. Here it's a veiled threat- how dare you celebrate and look good and, god forbid, eat, when you are so incredibly fat and hideous. People will judge you and mock you and you can't possibly enjoy any of those things without other people's approval which you will only get when you Lose the Fat! (and pay a trainer lots of money). This advert isn't saying those things explicitly but it's using a shared language of understanding- the way women are meant to talk about and think about themselves- I'm so ugly, I'll never look good, I shouldn't eat nice things. And while this advert isn't responsible for those codes or attitudes, it is perpetuating them. And every time I visit the gym, every time I do something positive for my health that makes me feel better about myself I'm confronted by this advert telling me I'm fat and worthless. And it makes me angry.<br />
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Maybe though that's how they market to everyone? This isn't really a sexist poster suggesting women's only motivation for going to the gym is to look good for other people, it's how they treat all their customers. Or maybe not.<br />
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Men who go to the gym aren't universally assumed to be fat. They are strong, lean and fit and could be even stronger, leaner and fitter. Men you are awesome and could be even awesomer. Why oh why can't women be told the same thing? <br />
<br />Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-13411818973640411492012-11-03T13:20:00.001+00:002012-11-03T13:23:42.371+00:00Knitting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Earlier in the year the lovely people at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StitchBalham?ref=ts&fref=ts">Stitch Balham</a> taught me how to knit. But I still haven't really made anything yet. It just takes sooooo long compared to crochet and it's so hard to correct if you make a mistake. And since I moved house and can no longer go to the group I've done so much less craft of any kind so I've not go very far. But this is the start of a scarf. Fingers crossed I can get in finished in time for when the cold weather really sets it.
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Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-76743011235926208932012-11-01T18:35:00.003+00:002012-11-01T18:39:35.335+00:00Perry and PostersDo you ever have that thing where you notice something, or hear about it and suddenly it's everywhere? That's been happening to me a lot lately. I visited my boyfriends family home and met his parents for the fist time last weekend. Only six months after we moved in together, you know, not overdue or anything. On his bedroom door he has a poster, placed there when he was twelve or so and hasn't been moved in over 20 years. A list of instructions for living, shine your shoes, say please and thank you, never refuse a brownie an other phrases and sayings that when you're 12 seem profound. Less than a week later I found exactly the same list, this time accredited to a 95 year old man bestowing advice to his grandchildren, as opposed to poster designers coming up with lists of what would sell to impressionable teenagers, pinned to someone's inspiration board on Pinterest. The same advice, the same cheesy but reassuring homilies that life will be ok- you just need to eat more cake and mind your manners.<br />
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Another one of those things that's been popping up everywhere in my life is the Perry Preschool Project. A trial from 1960s America where they gave half of the group of poor black children pre-school and half not. And found over the course of the next 40+ years that although the educational benefits weren't lasting the social ones were: kids with pre-school had better relationships, less drug and alcohol problems, less arrests, less time in prison, less unemployment and earned more money. This research, which I should have been aware of in my line of work for several years has recently been popping up all over the place, on the website for my new job, at an All Party Parliamentary Group meeting I was lucky enough to attend recently and today, walking home, on an episode of the podcast This American Life. It's reinforced something I did already know, although I didn't have as much evidence as I should to back it up- that early years is the most vital time for children and where so much more of our time and resources and support should be going. And not just through pre-school but through parental support too. What happens to a child between conception and five is can set the course for the rest of their lives and we need as a society to make sure that is the best experience possible. Not just through better parenting and supporting parents to know what they should be doing (although that's important) but by addressing structural inequalities in our society that mean parents with the least money often have the least opportunities for positive parenting because of the other very real issues they're facing. <br />
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Preschool and parents who have the ability to be engaged and involved in their child's learning and development can transform a child's life chance. Children who are securely attached to their care giver, who know there is someone who can care for them and soothe them and protect them, some one who can teach them life lessons and support them, have the best start in life. Not all of life's lessons are are cheesy as the ones in the poster, but supporting parents to pass them on to their children should be everyone's priority.<br />
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As an aside- I've read that advice three tmes now- apart from the trees and the sunsets it's getting more and more profound each time.</div>
Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-70729468212014343552012-04-01T16:50:00.002+01:002012-04-01T17:04:41.434+01:00FlannelsWhen I busted the ligaments in my ankle I wasn't able to get in and out of the shower. So I crocheted myself a flannel. And since then I haven't really stopped. They are easy, quick and really good for exfoliation.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXF95zqLtz7pS3KV4WCBqw3_eLGLGdE8rkO-sjYhZ6uSvCDNAVLxWT7VVWIcUtkBnJhyphenhyphen88_KhpeyIgWTzJUjWJoCSSJW4xz8lIGk_1LtFx8N1zD_wW5rB61Y9opJGHL6WNYZTYYpKVFcg/s1600/Late+March+007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXF95zqLtz7pS3KV4WCBqw3_eLGLGdE8rkO-sjYhZ6uSvCDNAVLxWT7VVWIcUtkBnJhyphenhyphen88_KhpeyIgWTzJUjWJoCSSJW4xz8lIGk_1LtFx8N1zD_wW5rB61Y9opJGHL6WNYZTYYpKVFcg/s320/Late+March+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726460969692850242" border="0" /></a>I've made flannels for myself, my boyfriend, my mum and then even more for my mum and grandma for Mothers' Day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-8-FT779W6jQL8bYzg9-RH1LuuxXvxwglIu37Tty_hnVdQX8X8oDP1eFGdcLbTTmUyXVPbVhxSsjMrDRAvg8C-ePsKNWzGMVqHABYd1lPiFqyOEnBqGEcg1IUzKMKeaZ8lVHJcmf-q0/s1600/Late+March+005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-8-FT779W6jQL8bYzg9-RH1LuuxXvxwglIu37Tty_hnVdQX8X8oDP1eFGdcLbTTmUyXVPbVhxSsjMrDRAvg8C-ePsKNWzGMVqHABYd1lPiFqyOEnBqGEcg1IUzKMKeaZ8lVHJcmf-q0/s320/Late+March+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726460985592169058" border="0" /></a>My attempt at presentation<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51L2HcJ3-0E6lErTgC1DUmdEdecl3usTvpUnp_K0cNOSOS_xa-Lv8XZ8z-MjULtygTrNpfMFd3bOn75GkvPp7G0xN9VilhsipMGjIOdsf7aEMDJaTnmtoge_Lcaj4CQDo6VxrYSqK0GA/s1600/Late+March+011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51L2HcJ3-0E6lErTgC1DUmdEdecl3usTvpUnp_K0cNOSOS_xa-Lv8XZ8z-MjULtygTrNpfMFd3bOn75GkvPp7G0xN9VilhsipMGjIOdsf7aEMDJaTnmtoge_Lcaj4CQDo6VxrYSqK0GA/s320/Late+March+011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726461000459444674" border="0" /></a>Toiletries and flannels for Mum and Grandma.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XT9ojScLwc7-Zq5jhaxzW00lv1SgHq3SfI-dGS5LMEu7izF9BMdBlUMZ_6Rw1DRbli3TmmTcPLhqBcxvG-5TxaiV9rvV9BpZ5M2pC7IslgsK0N1Cz-SteSewtVqxMwzHuaDkt85SpWw/s1600/Late+March+014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XT9ojScLwc7-Zq5jhaxzW00lv1SgHq3SfI-dGS5LMEu7izF9BMdBlUMZ_6Rw1DRbli3TmmTcPLhqBcxvG-5TxaiV9rvV9BpZ5M2pC7IslgsK0N1Cz-SteSewtVqxMwzHuaDkt85SpWw/s320/Late+March+014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726461019514973250" border="0" /></a>Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-72900417320201008902012-03-15T19:00:00.005+00:002012-03-15T19:12:42.716+00:00Cut it outA couple of years ago, shortly after I moved to London there was a big campaign on the tube advertising plastic surgery. I wrote to TfL to complain:<br /><br /><blockquote>Hello<br /><br />I am writing to comment/complain about advertising on the tube, specifically the advertising for plastic surgery.<br /><br />I actually like the majority of posters on the tube. I like to be told about upcoming plays, I’m happy to be reminded about useful services such as insurance and welcome being told about charities and what I can to do help make the world a bit better. I resent strongly being told that my body is inadequate and would benefit from plastic surgery.<br /><br />I find the recent adverts that have appeared all along the Northern Line (and very possibly other lines too) hugely offensive, offensive to me personally, offensive to women and offensive to people in general. I do not wish to be told on my way to and from work that I would be happier and more confident if I subjected myself to painful and potentially dangerous surgery, that my life would be vastly improved if only my breasts were the acceptable size. I find this message infinitely more offensive than the <a href="http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/naked-venus-banned-from-the-tube-6669016.html">15th century work of art used to advertise the Royal Academy that was banned from the underground last year</a>.<br /><br />I appreciate that this email will probably have very little impact on your policies for advertising but as I walked past the poster for the umpteenth time today and found myself getting angry again, I felt I had to do something, however small, to try and persuade people to stop making money by telling people they are unacceptable and cannot value themselves as people unless they spend vast amounts of money and attempt to conform to an unrealistic and unattainable idea of ‘beauty’.<br /><br />Best wishes<br /><br />Lizzie Poulton<br /></blockquote><br />As expected the response was a typically mealy-mouthed "sorry you felt offended but we aren't going to do anything about it".<br /><br />I was really pleased to see that leading plastic surgeons and feminist organisation have got together to call for the regulation of plastic surgery advertising in the same way as prescription drugs ads are regulated. You can find out more and <a href="http://ukfeminista.org.uk/take-action/campaigns/end-cosmetic-surgery-ads/petition-to-end-cosmetic-surgery-ads/">sign the petition here.</a>Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-32559334489309311452012-03-14T23:15:00.003+00:002012-03-14T23:20:53.590+00:00More baby stuffAlthough I try to avoid making blue things for boys and pink for girls sometimes it just works out that way. Below though is a blanket I made for a christening in purple cream and brown and I think it looks lovely.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jF4N3hR-pBuFMC-zC31eznRVlC8LmLwMcoxIArydv3LTqBuLzIrf4g0zyOdDLs11owSubgkki_GC4OsCGtR4sKsWw8dAHoYmkos2SbD1Jo0nAopicpGKyxNNDxm7HARiTtcYLqf4z80/s1600/January+2012+115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jF4N3hR-pBuFMC-zC31eznRVlC8LmLwMcoxIArydv3LTqBuLzIrf4g0zyOdDLs11owSubgkki_GC4OsCGtR4sKsWw8dAHoYmkos2SbD1Jo0nAopicpGKyxNNDxm7HARiTtcYLqf4z80/s320/January+2012+115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719896689179581618" border="0" /></a>Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-74199700181359557092012-02-27T22:41:00.005+00:002012-02-27T22:59:05.358+00:00Babies in crochet!One of the best things for me about crochet is making things for other people especially when the people I'm making for are as cute as these babies.<br /><br />Here's Nina in Sitges, Spain keeping warm in winter on the beach with her hat and blanket. Nina is the daughter of the beautiful <a href="http://10weeksofplagiarism.blogspot.com/2010/01/love-story.html">Flavia and Gaby</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMhyphenhyphenhnP1xxy6OiKzk6asPVi-e63mQfjcmMHPv5jmZV-xNz0OAXy_LauHLpKwn4Y_03M5K2BUUyHPi41CfYcolD5vZqlJXlTz6UUq_oSQvJmND3vEkhLZoGLI92sOrpgdWqbn9Xxs6JEE/s1600/photo+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMhyphenhyphenhnP1xxy6OiKzk6asPVi-e63mQfjcmMHPv5jmZV-xNz0OAXy_LauHLpKwn4Y_03M5K2BUUyHPi41CfYcolD5vZqlJXlTz6UUq_oSQvJmND3vEkhLZoGLI92sOrpgdWqbn9Xxs6JEE/s320/photo+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713949643724407218" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgSHQ2yeUSFF7xzLZSBzkTmA09qL7SaN0XyI7slC8Edn4u3v9EBk591RbsE78Kcwq2OlrtklXu76ui30Bt6y53k-X1hyCrgX-J1jok6NzrZsDiONXN-Wt37DcZ6_bQJMRPdLBCD4BL8M/s1600/photo+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgSHQ2yeUSFF7xzLZSBzkTmA09qL7SaN0XyI7slC8Edn4u3v9EBk591RbsE78Kcwq2OlrtklXu76ui30Bt6y53k-X1hyCrgX-J1jok6NzrZsDiONXN-Wt37DcZ6_bQJMRPdLBCD4BL8M/s320/photo+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713949640798367250" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnCwXov0QpuREisVq2JRhGGRnH63yYIhNQZHY7cwDnvmbN3_0t1Re7AimBUeIqlgH8iYLkRUD9o2bUEL67QAKTENdnJbgYb7mmgmOw9ZUR1CwqZFWId7K7SCRW8DuWiF1CvEpogn2g4k/s1600/photo+3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnCwXov0QpuREisVq2JRhGGRnH63yYIhNQZHY7cwDnvmbN3_0t1Re7AimBUeIqlgH8iYLkRUD9o2bUEL67QAKTENdnJbgYb7mmgmOw9ZUR1CwqZFWId7K7SCRW8DuWiF1CvEpogn2g4k/s320/photo+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713949649714301394" border="0" /></a><br />Natalie in Maine is the daughter of my prom date Anthony and his lovely wife Jess. Who not only have an <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LsZ36NQaWw&feature=share">awesome wedding dance </a>but also an awesome baby.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpbIfkEfqGK5JUR_waTMq3Ko4alVoa0b7_3JmLFXH4Oeh5jt7W9X935eefyKydy6RKcF_Fm2qzMGv_5ElGchuoZXziSQ3D1Lamfi55_XA2HcVNYTMD1JtUc-6N4GqUdwonqFiM8OaVts/s1600/photo+1+%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpbIfkEfqGK5JUR_waTMq3Ko4alVoa0b7_3JmLFXH4Oeh5jt7W9X935eefyKydy6RKcF_Fm2qzMGv_5ElGchuoZXziSQ3D1Lamfi55_XA2HcVNYTMD1JtUc-6N4GqUdwonqFiM8OaVts/s320/photo+1+%25282%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713949483110643874" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7DypBYamhH4u7I8NRq-2t1Osrx7Mtb8UFdHPOHh1T75c7upv1eDhirUeju0nBiGAdmQULDWkP6mlw__-q9KrWcecKMFD01tSX5PPtC81P8u4uZyUplTzN98I2C5WuNn30EsSU58cGEE/s1600/photo+2+%25283%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7DypBYamhH4u7I8NRq-2t1Osrx7Mtb8UFdHPOHh1T75c7upv1eDhirUeju0nBiGAdmQULDWkP6mlw__-q9KrWcecKMFD01tSX5PPtC81P8u4uZyUplTzN98I2C5WuNn30EsSU58cGEE/s320/photo+2+%25283%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713949491197162962" border="0" /></a><br />And last but by no means least, here's Jamie holding Gideon who's all wrapped up in his blanket in Cheltenham.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiigHnmukyJea4oLo7wsRnfCYG5AHiiUYKxGxTWx5PW7zLO1wGtlwkcxrg_HQV26uCv9IqylNCj_BDq6-FTR9ZjAAnwFmndxHznKZQaR2mg9waLH8_oDSlN1Npb49zcwCNEOtc6zhXGc0/s1600/photo+4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiigHnmukyJea4oLo7wsRnfCYG5AHiiUYKxGxTWx5PW7zLO1wGtlwkcxrg_HQV26uCv9IqylNCj_BDq6-FTR9ZjAAnwFmndxHznKZQaR2mg9waLH8_oDSlN1Npb49zcwCNEOtc6zhXGc0/s320/photo+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713949475158121090" border="0" /></a>Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-89206740054472218362012-02-19T23:21:00.004+00:002012-02-22T22:48:57.854+00:00Valentines Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgope8OGZyVXuTYw2oRAdtqwe7IPVlTQLoOvMpsaMYG_nq5vpvmxpP66CPti2LlWM2wriEl_BZUkcnhK580Z7UzkiE8SNDM5VQ7c5bNPYINBWaCOMVQnFgI-9FtZ8pvAvBdA-0xk5BuE/s1600/Valentines+3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgope8OGZyVXuTYw2oRAdtqwe7IPVlTQLoOvMpsaMYG_nq5vpvmxpP66CPti2LlWM2wriEl_BZUkcnhK580Z7UzkiE8SNDM5VQ7c5bNPYINBWaCOMVQnFgI-9FtZ8pvAvBdA-0xk5BuE/s320/Valentines+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710995197931415810" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eJwsz17KfHzd2r6p_up2qjKCpRnaCAhZhAGpo7CNkfc6MH6OKx0pCV3yT4Q7JBSSPtF8oQ4mN66-Zz8g9akdYVDjw_Xpu6-dORlUPcDuOz0OZWe-3aPxdMn72OEFub60kt9Zr2Wm8Hs/s1600/Valentines+4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eJwsz17KfHzd2r6p_up2qjKCpRnaCAhZhAGpo7CNkfc6MH6OKx0pCV3yT4Q7JBSSPtF8oQ4mN66-Zz8g9akdYVDjw_Xpu6-dORlUPcDuOz0OZWe-3aPxdMn72OEFub60kt9Zr2Wm8Hs/s320/Valentines+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710995225983446914" border="0" /></a><br />I got a bit over-excited about having re-discovered my sewing machine and decided to use it to make some valentines cards. I sent ones to my my family and gave one to my boyfriend.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZW4pRGu2rbkZjUVupO5n-IvgX0p4kUTx-y4dYDdOa7SqGp68kd5RImUHpzJDcqZ2E1Me5jc45_uE7dfvR0wFrZORK4FIybTiwe4W3voLtp84giOUvAYQn0ulINZlrPqzZD4RVD6O9ih4/s1600/Valentines+5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZW4pRGu2rbkZjUVupO5n-IvgX0p4kUTx-y4dYDdOa7SqGp68kd5RImUHpzJDcqZ2E1Me5jc45_uE7dfvR0wFrZORK4FIybTiwe4W3voLtp84giOUvAYQn0ulINZlrPqzZD4RVD6O9ih4/s320/Valentines+5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710995248386782978" border="0" /></a>I quite enjoy valentines day. My boyfriend less so, so this was his card. Happy arbitrary day of love!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrzyXrLriqb2lY-Z6lQ98yR2OR0jRLZtYLNAFH07Tb2ec9cWmcGLmHWdJJfyuNeC9EOtIL0FtoNuqEjAxTsc4Ju25hROdaVeL0_P9qb5v5BRYfaexaV-oyGYBbHtJoEjHbzhFOnm9tC4/s1600/Valentines+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrzyXrLriqb2lY-Z6lQ98yR2OR0jRLZtYLNAFH07Tb2ec9cWmcGLmHWdJJfyuNeC9EOtIL0FtoNuqEjAxTsc4Ju25hROdaVeL0_P9qb5v5BRYfaexaV-oyGYBbHtJoEjHbzhFOnm9tC4/s320/Valentines+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710995210969084978" border="0" /></a><br />In the same way I love Christmas without being religious I think anything that encourages people to be nice to one another and show that they care is a good thing. And yes I know rampant commercialism, why only appreciate someone on one day, making single people feel bad etc. etc. blah blah blah but I'm with <a href="http://theoatmeal.com/blog/valentines_day">the Oatmeal</a> on this one.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittjvw7m0b4062uGc8wY7UsIyMarhGvjfXIjQzPqmmTAyZR1mclkKvDdSsgw4YaosQMQ86OwMG5S2x6N1IVvOdjMCX2iGB01lCWOgIHAdekwhhNTxrPr1y_u3Ml8ABz2c8Dog-XHfUBmg/s1600/Valentines+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittjvw7m0b4062uGc8wY7UsIyMarhGvjfXIjQzPqmmTAyZR1mclkKvDdSsgw4YaosQMQ86OwMG5S2x6N1IVvOdjMCX2iGB01lCWOgIHAdekwhhNTxrPr1y_u3Ml8ABz2c8Dog-XHfUBmg/s320/Valentines+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710995200214921378" border="0" /></a><br />Although from experience and talking to the girls at work I think <a href="http://xkcd.com/">xkcd</a> has modern valentines day pretty much in a nutshell<br /><br /><img src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/valentine_dilemma.png" alt="xkcd valentines" height="500" width="500" />Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-78907225931406899232012-02-08T19:08:00.006+00:002012-02-08T19:36:07.069+00:00Classic CrochetAs part of home-made Christmas my sister found my stepmum a beautiful folder of vintage knitting patterns. Debbie already had this crochet book so donated it to me<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2tUakvl6znrb1X0df153ifNKlfnYWNDK2SJTQLsUofYISLTz6v7K555btGPVYnPh6xCDJg4awVPl6RDh5I0m2s6FL_tb8OQPgJQ1R1MZ5p_A_KZyXqFHhtE34LcGkbEbAAwQZ-VYIe0/s1600/birthday+and+christmas+2011+350.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2tUakvl6znrb1X0df153ifNKlfnYWNDK2SJTQLsUofYISLTz6v7K555btGPVYnPh6xCDJg4awVPl6RDh5I0m2s6FL_tb8OQPgJQ1R1MZ5p_A_KZyXqFHhtE34LcGkbEbAAwQZ-VYIe0/s320/birthday+and+christmas+2011+350.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706847989021079346" border="0" /></a><br />I decided to make this stylish tie.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtlKsoDJmn2DO7CYKt3jRoBHe8pQp2ME3ROugizpFVCHxolMvnQvf80btSs8aYaEJTMRlFWkIuw15HYhcmUj1yzUCMbubLzjXk6_JAjRlJZNKxuDJd1nWlolhZJNc65xFXJjjdS2LZNM/s1600/birthday+and+christmas+2011+349.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtlKsoDJmn2DO7CYKt3jRoBHe8pQp2ME3ROugizpFVCHxolMvnQvf80btSs8aYaEJTMRlFWkIuw15HYhcmUj1yzUCMbubLzjXk6_JAjRlJZNKxuDJd1nWlolhZJNc65xFXJjjdS2LZNM/s320/birthday+and+christmas+2011+349.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706847997622936290" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And here is Emerson modelling it beautifully<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpYz5mP5XBVqN12ty3JXWnxF5Xzz2dVMZzs_PawQ_hKlCwqvl2k9FsJX0zNqaMx_mxu5tCDwM9ZGhHh3-Rgfc16GZqidHHK-wvimgqgIXrGDrmLbcy1x95AysW9UH3MpQNKr_b3bjEgI/s1600/January+2012+024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpYz5mP5XBVqN12ty3JXWnxF5Xzz2dVMZzs_PawQ_hKlCwqvl2k9FsJX0zNqaMx_mxu5tCDwM9ZGhHh3-Rgfc16GZqidHHK-wvimgqgIXrGDrmLbcy1x95AysW9UH3MpQNKr_b3bjEgI/s320/January+2012+024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706849556866609682" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18hKfj78WFdG1agdElHZ13-9Iu-dNO-c1dxf64bzbQMuTuWPkZyfyqNFFGrBRM4NKGpOizVP9oWaY19gGfDZiILcOU1kbooRdaYdkm-KhHpZUMIRYWlgt-L1VpQ70dSqRvybZJtoW34w/s1600/January+2012+022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18hKfj78WFdG1agdElHZ13-9Iu-dNO-c1dxf64bzbQMuTuWPkZyfyqNFFGrBRM4NKGpOizVP9oWaY19gGfDZiILcOU1kbooRdaYdkm-KhHpZUMIRYWlgt-L1VpQ70dSqRvybZJtoW34w/s320/January+2012+022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706849553854177842" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nLEBc_ZstK7qkIL-Wk1CW0dAaraRlNhY034NcEHYn-9jaU38z1Hpn6u98Y_ze-3BiqPoTbZJLGxXVR78hWfe9JLQu8R1BZ6n2x6YH9gTX6S_S5AxNPSKzqBQdluY7ZM3xAngosMo2lY/s1600/January+2012+020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nLEBc_ZstK7qkIL-Wk1CW0dAaraRlNhY034NcEHYn-9jaU38z1Hpn6u98Y_ze-3BiqPoTbZJLGxXVR78hWfe9JLQu8R1BZ6n2x6YH9gTX6S_S5AxNPSKzqBQdluY7ZM3xAngosMo2lY/s320/January+2012+020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706849572300425938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I also submitted it to the wonderful <a href="http://helenzaltzman.com/">Helen Zaltzman</a>'s collection of #shitgift tweets. You can read the whole joyous collection <a href="http://storify.com/helenzaltzman/shitgifts-2011">here</a><br /><br /><a href="http://storify.com/helenzaltzman/shitgifts-2011"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKxBnveai_Ray6jlgixyPAy4K1TxrdjyTg3-C82__inJQH_5cgdtV6n3HJ1yCpTFo-z_pdwx0XC6AyTiyByNeoZMtkQYPcQbcUJDfUJRG6Pb-r6e4eScU01R4eIBEZzn6534xrCo5kNQ/s320/shitgift.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706848003601025698" border="0" /></a>Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-2126647566303931732012-01-29T19:53:00.006+00:002012-01-29T20:08:31.538+00:00BlanketFor my Dad and Step-Mum I made a granny square blanket. I love the colours and I like the way the different patterns worked out together. I couldn't decide how to edge it but the good people of twitter helped me decide and I went for red grannny stripe, brown granny stripe and then a red single crochet to finish. And I also enjoy the badly posed photos :-)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJs9-faxDOttoDgaxzfmhBnxt-gNtKhYraCA5WHAw8dx_4BhRnWSm_HZgomHm8JF9rDUzfy4UvR08SqaBH5vVJS-XFyuY7T9jST0sb4aGeLODh4eTrZwqlHxCZun1ms6uCNZagYbUH1g/s1600/birthday+and+christmas+2011+181.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJs9-faxDOttoDgaxzfmhBnxt-gNtKhYraCA5WHAw8dx_4BhRnWSm_HZgomHm8JF9rDUzfy4UvR08SqaBH5vVJS-XFyuY7T9jST0sb4aGeLODh4eTrZwqlHxCZun1ms6uCNZagYbUH1g/s320/birthday+and+christmas+2011+181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703145889838125090" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHO40xsrMLVlL4WSDQlrIcSkBY0ZzNKCHRSbOqrEWXjzsg40zVq3RdFWHz-P1IBPDfR8y2aNFPmsoT5VJ0Zn4OqewGli2i7EhYQHWr9vkG19SJH-aqy29aPtoOB7SIh6sCtgLjpp-piY/s1600/birthday+and+christmas+2011+115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHO40xsrMLVlL4WSDQlrIcSkBY0ZzNKCHRSbOqrEWXjzsg40zVq3RdFWHz-P1IBPDfR8y2aNFPmsoT5VJ0Zn4OqewGli2i7EhYQHWr9vkG19SJH-aqy29aPtoOB7SIh6sCtgLjpp-piY/s320/birthday+and+christmas+2011+115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703147020449487186" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-4dAC_Pewuf9dnt360ItLdbzFbkwbb4mkzwG41kTIM9K1gLEIznjHtzM3zRfhQoMGcS4iGvrffPEs3Wwv5BQoDU-k-JrVfTE3_WB-LjjcZvx4Crt0x07Knykhr0bMrsSCH_aH8yQDVI/s1600/birthday+and+christmas+2011+361.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-4dAC_Pewuf9dnt360ItLdbzFbkwbb4mkzwG41kTIM9K1gLEIznjHtzM3zRfhQoMGcS4iGvrffPEs3Wwv5BQoDU-k-JrVfTE3_WB-LjjcZvx4Crt0x07Knykhr0bMrsSCH_aH8yQDVI/s320/birthday+and+christmas+2011+361.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703147050589900050" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURjrvnXOOXEqjHEpasHf18RbcpJT6rwrnTj5K1AYurq-fNHd2fbbGl3FZSPyUpoiT6fULXBAI0jqGDCEnPEN39LqaQ09OUcbo1tJzbfKrHZuPEFKTXC2Tp14lst3qZajx4I1lAM21qA8/s1600/birthday+and+christmas+2011+363.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURjrvnXOOXEqjHEpasHf18RbcpJT6rwrnTj5K1AYurq-fNHd2fbbGl3FZSPyUpoiT6fULXBAI0jqGDCEnPEN39LqaQ09OUcbo1tJzbfKrHZuPEFKTXC2Tp14lst3qZajx4I1lAM21qA8/s320/birthday+and+christmas+2011+363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703147032542172706" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrB-WIsq3XVDJP4Ep6jKUMqySxHI_iTGPFGu8ZOarcnYxCwFlOkaQ1wzWuXbfuoxQXX3noDFVc1_-vz2dZOY9yFvymK8P25fzH-K2EFw7L2opeUmmVsio3JDXanpPaTmUaKslvhYg2lSE/s1600/birthday+and+christmas+2011+360.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrB-WIsq3XVDJP4Ep6jKUMqySxHI_iTGPFGu8ZOarcnYxCwFlOkaQ1wzWuXbfuoxQXX3noDFVc1_-vz2dZOY9yFvymK8P25fzH-K2EFw7L2opeUmmVsio3JDXanpPaTmUaKslvhYg2lSE/s320/birthday+and+christmas+2011+360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703147026990620450" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyd5pGTesMkEocVmJeQfiQx8SxmBGwyljjdlX7P46ED3zRIo-BOwMtpdpxy5lkfwan_jzV1jR94TE00OC_Tky2WimkMhKqC8bDzNSZH9p8CJyvl8VOkFrsRPWEny4nJQH_N9zM4F2ssA/s1600/birthday+and+christmas+2011+345.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyd5pGTesMkEocVmJeQfiQx8SxmBGwyljjdlX7P46ED3zRIo-BOwMtpdpxy5lkfwan_jzV1jR94TE00OC_Tky2WimkMhKqC8bDzNSZH9p8CJyvl8VOkFrsRPWEny4nJQH_N9zM4F2ssA/s320/birthday+and+christmas+2011+345.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703145884444958338" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hgrEBSQnijpQDwzUpI9_J0aSpqhe9ZNZzNBtzoA0ve2iCJg_hUBU0X6Qy105zEoKFTy66uQfMjdn9bhlaqm17CR-MbzflpRGkVeJLvFJAv-vwAXJ_nRjhoYjEu5LOkfVKDruP-kdIWk/s1600/birthday+and+christmas+2011+351.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hgrEBSQnijpQDwzUpI9_J0aSpqhe9ZNZzNBtzoA0ve2iCJg_hUBU0X6Qy105zEoKFTy66uQfMjdn9bhlaqm17CR-MbzflpRGkVeJLvFJAv-vwAXJ_nRjhoYjEu5LOkfVKDruP-kdIWk/s320/birthday+and+christmas+2011+351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703145867735141186" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSE-T1IH_5C0mep8nvh_j4CHIDschSI1xMPQqg8k6idI54pGMcFJlMOClcfb1tN1BztPQ2xPG6kMRK8RD9gJgTax0uEUlSy_okg-1C97_Pz8pckXxPsxU4XSpAoDuSEgqn04z2M49fdg/s1600/birthday+and+christmas+2011+355.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSE-T1IH_5C0mep8nvh_j4CHIDschSI1xMPQqg8k6idI54pGMcFJlMOClcfb1tN1BztPQ2xPG6kMRK8RD9gJgTax0uEUlSy_okg-1C97_Pz8pckXxPsxU4XSpAoDuSEgqn04z2M49fdg/s320/birthday+and+christmas+2011+355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703145847880429378" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDr46f2vSljA84kJsCdVxZ0qnh-yMnv750vJiHP7Jolx_R0QDWevnLeFgzCWe90Abky0qHclzrQ5TIO_adxS8DHHKmhKKbh4zsdMHR95XmP1hDgNEfVVP40756J1KJF7fXk3vLeFy7N8/s1600/birthday+and+christmas+2011+358.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDr46f2vSljA84kJsCdVxZ0qnh-yMnv750vJiHP7Jolx_R0QDWevnLeFgzCWe90Abky0qHclzrQ5TIO_adxS8DHHKmhKKbh4zsdMHR95XmP1hDgNEfVVP40756J1KJF7fXk3vLeFy7N8/s320/birthday+and+christmas+2011+358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703145842344965778" border="0" /></a>Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559723946398556045.post-33117468464008447552012-01-09T22:22:00.005+00:002012-02-19T23:21:44.030+00:00Scarves<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9faYz6cKGemvIbCAPHtFeJVNwj4F2lwWIniQSfoV3fGXjVsGT-gGG-Zm-cGBGlyUBZYNCliqCvOdS9pLMK7NT6MU3_Ykgn8tHlAGiafgo2MyY9gmFzpphagtdBXrv9nISBxakSFwzchY/s1600/birthday+and+christmas+2011+301.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9faYz6cKGemvIbCAPHtFeJVNwj4F2lwWIniQSfoV3fGXjVsGT-gGG-Zm-cGBGlyUBZYNCliqCvOdS9pLMK7NT6MU3_Ykgn8tHlAGiafgo2MyY9gmFzpphagtdBXrv9nISBxakSFwzchY/s320/birthday+and+christmas+2011+301.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695762317149006914" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVP117KYJeC1Cy9usFzZQ0C1QG9EQVG5bDKfEfEEaE3yw_K9vyrc1kp9mSdFkM_-1HMjWcnaureP8fK8jvP09198qINPXSO7dAZ3NgVmyai4N88-EnTyRQ2AXnk6dPx_sqN85GkGyD7IU/s1600/birthday+and+christmas+2011+277.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVP117KYJeC1Cy9usFzZQ0C1QG9EQVG5bDKfEfEEaE3yw_K9vyrc1kp9mSdFkM_-1HMjWcnaureP8fK8jvP09198qINPXSO7dAZ3NgVmyai4N88-EnTyRQ2AXnk6dPx_sqN85GkGyD7IU/s320/birthday+and+christmas+2011+277.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695762293059045234" border="0" /></a>Here are Jennie and Jonathan in their scarves. Jonathan's was extra thick and chunky thanks to the front-post back-post rib stitch. I didn't follow a pattern and it was almost too chunky and solid but someone at Stitch Balham taught me the trick of soaking it in cheap hair conditioner to make it wearable. For Jennie's I followed a ravelry pattern and really like the flower drops.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb9A2yD_l7UKfV3xCwuuJIYZF-eAU3fN6iFgUKiCZVRDie88c6gUtwvOPyMmJtqYBNN_08e5-Hsqu-5xLPF1JpsIa2r_j19YYtuhLa199kPvnIGkwQOUd5TByR7S-jVgtDtzyyyy7vW4/s1600/birthday+and+christmas+2011+279.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb9A2yD_l7UKfV3xCwuuJIYZF-eAU3fN6iFgUKiCZVRDie88c6gUtwvOPyMmJtqYBNN_08e5-Hsqu-5xLPF1JpsIa2r_j19YYtuhLa199kPvnIGkwQOUd5TByR7S-jVgtDtzyyyy7vW4/s320/birthday+and+christmas+2011+279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695762302816756754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTC7TPBvFfvl6h8HxgEXTuxIfBliACAkqlLy_U4hf_S5DzLyrS92wV4AVVSnyuuMvMJhvmGWkQJpmqV2fR4raprmQmhFt_LKw_RcMrnc3Ms5Qj9U0SzInxBbKs1x93sbqdMOKb83gZgg/s1600/birthday+and+christmas+2011+285.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTC7TPBvFfvl6h8HxgEXTuxIfBliACAkqlLy_U4hf_S5DzLyrS92wV4AVVSnyuuMvMJhvmGWkQJpmqV2fR4raprmQmhFt_LKw_RcMrnc3Ms5Qj9U0SzInxBbKs1x93sbqdMOKb83gZgg/s320/birthday+and+christmas+2011+285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695762330087079554" border="0" /></a><br />Everyone in their crocheted gifts on Christmas morning.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIgSdf_L5AHXoU2rcxvGR0IhguCH9i4AelkkhcHtNB1N6hDPzti8lwaVyxYyBLRO_6B1m_KwMAA61VqEEwzAfnkgJYgsDzw4ABrD7eZtYBJSIZVvkNER6hHTVIy6am4JDq-b_RBqj8aY/s1600/birthday+and+christmas+2011+262.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIgSdf_L5AHXoU2rcxvGR0IhguCH9i4AelkkhcHtNB1N6hDPzti8lwaVyxYyBLRO_6B1m_KwMAA61VqEEwzAfnkgJYgsDzw4ABrD7eZtYBJSIZVvkNER6hHTVIy6am4JDq-b_RBqj8aY/s320/birthday+and+christmas+2011+262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695762286527439906" border="0" /></a>Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00069218857586985530noreply@blogger.com0