Fire and Ice

Tweetcloud Aug-Oct

2011-10-31T17:00:00.003Z

Very cool cloud of my previous 200 tweets... thanks to Tweetcloud!

100 things about me

2011-10-23T18:31:00.000+01:00

A few months ago a very popular meme was making the rounds on Twitter, where people were telling us a few interesting things about themselves and everything had the hashtag #100thingsaboutme. I liked the idea but thought that actually, Twitter was not the right place for me to publish a list like that, so I decided to write a blog post instead. This way I could elaborate on some of the more interesting items, while keeping the 100 things all together.

So I started writing a list. I got to 50 pretty quickly but then things slowed down. Turns out, it is actually quite hard to write 100 interesting things about me! But I persevered and whenever I would think of something for the list, I'd add it so that gradually my list grew. It did take a few months though and that is my ~~excuse~~ reason for not having updated the blog in a while!

Here is the list. You will notice that I haven't actually included 100 things about me, but am a few short. This is because I know that someone will read the list below and think of something about me that is pretty interesting but that I have somehow forgotten... so if this is you, send me your suggestions.

Over the next few months I will be ellaborating on some of these things - and have included links below on the things I have actually already discussed in the blog before. Hope you find something interesting in this very, very indulgent project!

My favourite fruit is watermelon
Cheese is my weakness
I once had 6 fingers in one hand
I think Kate Winslet has the best boobs
I’ve never been a bridesmaid
I have completed a marathon
… and a few half marathons
It takes me a while to focus on something
I’m pretty lazy
I love sleeping
If I could, I would Zumba every day
Billy Joel rocks
I wanted to be a journalist when I was little
I am neither a morning nor an evening person
The music from Soarin’ is my favorite on any Disneyattraction
I prefer dark chocolate to milk
I love the taste of fired clay
For a couple of years I had blue eyes
I would love to be able to sing
There aren’t enough days in the year to wear all my clothes
I prefer non-fiction to fiction
My hair is my strength
I can count from 1 to 10 in Japanese
Someday I will write a book
I love musicals – proper ones
I love astronomy
I wish I could speak a third language
Fruit isn’t dessert
There is no way I will wash up without gloves on
I can’t always remember what language I dreamt in
I loved school
When I’m dancing, I’m happy
I’m not a baby person
Mickey Mouse is my absolutely favourite Disney character
I hate being late
Reading is my passion
I love Disney songs
I don’t always forget work when I’m not AT work
Data can be so exciting
I have pretty feet
I have zero patience
Monterrey will always be my home
I am terrible at drawing
Life without music is not life
I’m allergic to shellfish
Disney commercials on TV make me cry
I’m a big city girl at heart
Wish I had freckles and blue eyes
I am very, very tidy
…But I hate cleaning
Apollo 13 is one of my favourite movies
Favorite food: pizza!
I love to buy blank notebooks for some reason
I am not a dog person at all
I know all the words in “The Princess Bride” by heart
Talk radio really, really distracts me
I am obsessed with Starbucks Caramel Frapuccinos
I don’t like talking on the phone
If I could, I’d go back to Tokyo in a flash
I have been to every continent at least once except forSouth America
London is my spiritual home
I love driving alone
I will never get a tattoo
There never is enough time for cooking
I run (and zumba) in skirts
My left knee is my weakest
I love baseball
My hair is naturally wavy – not straight or curly
I think girls should never wear football shirts
I judge fat people
Men look much better in winter than in summer clothes
I love curry but hate hot food
Gentlemen should open doors for us – and we should let them
I really miss heat and sun
What I miss most about Mexico: friends, food, fun
I actually like airline food
When I was young I read whole encyclopaedias
I can’t stand Bryan Adams or Tom Cruise
The older I get, the more high maintenance I get
I hate bra straps showing
If I could live in one place in the Star Wars universe, itwould be Cloud City
My prescription is so high, without my contacts I can’t seeto the end of my arm
I used to do horoscopes for people, now I’m not sure Ibelieve in all that stuff
Poor grammar and punctuation irk me
I don’t like fish but I do like sushi
I love being a girl
My favorite color is purple
I can recite most of the periodic table of elements
I know the names for clouds
I don’t own any apple products
I have never seen a single episode of Eastenders orCoronation Street…
…or Dr Who
I used to bite my fingernails
I have had lessons in Hawaiian dance
For some reason I find it easy to remember car licenseplate numbers

My journey to the Olympics begins

2011-10-20T21:13:00.002+01:00

On 15 September 2010 not only was I getting ready to celebrate Mexican Independence Day but I also submitted my application to be considered a volunteer for the 2012 London Olympics. It was a long application, which actually took me a few days to complete, and I had to provide quite a lot of detail on myself, my skills, my interests, my strengths and of course my personal details. It was pretty complicated and I had to keep finding out stuff like my passport number and so on.

Ever since that day when London was announced as the venue for the 2012 Olympics I knew that I had to try my hardest to be a part of the event, somehow. Being a volunteer (or Games Maker as they are known) was the most obvious choice so I made sure my application was as thorough and detailed as I could make it. I finally submitted it on that September day and crossed my fingers that it would be good enough to get me an interview.

It was a long wait but finally I got the news I was hoping to get in March 2011 - I had an interview to be a Games Maker! The date took some coordinating as I was actually away on the first suggested date but after a few phone calls, the date was set: 1st June and I would have to go to the Excel Centre in London. I was actually looking forward to the day out!

I worked half a day and then made my way to East London for the interview on what was a gorgeous sunny and warm day. The selection event itself was, in my opinion, very well organised and after registration and a short wait, we made our way to watch a short video with more details on what it means to be a Games Maker (I hope this video is made public someday, it was pretty funny!) and then we went to our assigned cubicle where we had a 20 minute interview. The interviewer - a volunteer himself - was very nice and kept the interview moving along while asking all the required questions. It was here that I found out what team I was interviewing for: the Afterwards we made our way out - via a shop, very Disney! - and had a chance to write a message on a wall, for posterity.

I left the venue feeling that I'd done my very best but, was it enough? I know that I am a pretty good candidate and I have a lot of relevant experience but I also knew that the competition would be tough, so I didn't want to get my hopes up too high. So I prepared myself for another long wait...

In late September 2011 we had an email saying that offers were starting to go out for those lucky Games Makers that had been selected, so this made the wait even more agonizing, knowing that anytime now I could get the good news. But a few weeks went by and nothing.

Finally, I got the news I was waiting for: just this week I had an email offering me the position of NPC assistant, based in the Athlete's Village during the Paralympic Games. In English, this means that I will be volunteering for the National Paralympic Comittee of a specific country (don't know which one yet) and will be presumably at their beck and call. I will have to complete quite a lot of training (including driver training as I will be in charge of a vehicle!) and there will be further detail on the role in the next few months.

So I am of course thrilled, excited beyond belief and can't wait for the fun to start. I know it will be awfully hard work too (just like WDW was) but the rewards will be so worth it. I will get to meet lots of people from all over the world and will take part in what is a once-in-a-lifetime event. I hope to create amazing new memories and I promise to blog about it as much as I can.

All that time I spent filling out the application form was worth it in the end!

Is there anything good about the colder weather?

2011-09-19T21:21:00.004+01:00

There is a definite chill in the air: a change of season is upon us and fall is on its way to be followed by dreary winter and months of cold, dark and rain.

I rarely welcome the coming of fall because it means that the weather gets colder and colder, something that I definitely don’t enjoy. But instead of whining about how I hate the cold, how I miss the sun and how I can’t bear to have to dress like an eskimo, I am going to try a different approach. I need to focus on the positive side of this colder weather, so for example things like these:

October moons
Admittedly, this one is short lived but it is an awesome and spectacular sight: there are fewer sights as beautiful as the sight of the full moon in October. I’m sure there is a perfectly sound reason for this amazing sight but it doesn’t make it any less spectacular.

Harvest vegetables
The fall is also the time of year when one can find the tastiest, yummiest vegetables which also happen to be my favorites: sweet potatos, butternut squash and sweetcorn. These three are delicious, good for you and at their absolute best at this time of year.

Fall TV shows
The summer tv schedule is full of utter shite, too much reality tv or a bunch of re-runs. Now that the summer is over, all the great stuff I like to watch is trickling back: Glee, Desperate Housewives, An Idiot Abroad, QI, Mock the Week and other great shows. Yay!

Layering
With the colder weather comes the need to dress warmly. In general I much prefer summer clothes but I do find that I look smarter in the winter. Skirts, tights, boots and layers all look dressy and can be put together too look quite funky too. An added bonus is that when I get my clothes out from storage, invariably I find more than one garment that I’d forgotten about, which feels almost as good as getting new clothes.

Surprise money
Another thing that comes out of storage is all my coats and jackets which of course I haven’t worn in a few months. More often than not I find money in the pockets of a coat and THAT feels so good that for a few moments I actually love the change of seasons!

What are your favorite things about fall and winter?

London, the Brand

2011-06-13T16:49:00.004+01:00

Lately I’ve been spending a lot of time in London.

(No, this isn’t my excuse for not updating my blog in a while. Well… maybe it is)

Although I don’t live in London, I’m close enough to go there frequently. I do find myself there very often because of work, but I also like to go there to play. The more time I spend there the more I realize that perhaps I should be an honorary Londoner.

One thing that really fascinates me about London is about how it appears to have a Brand. Somehow the brand revolves around buses and the Tube, both forms of transport. Well, there are also red telephone boxes and the Queen’s Guard but for now let’s focus on the Tube.

Not only is the signage for the tube almost universally recognized as a London icon, but so is the famous tube map by Harry Beck. Not to mention the gorgeous underground posters and the phrase: “Mind the Gap”.

I can’t think of many other cities in the world that are defined by their transport, and defined so well, following the principles of Branding. All I need to do is see a tube sign in the distinctive New Johnston typography and I know I’m in London. I like the Paris Metro or the NY Subway but I can’t now recall any unique iconography. (Before I get blasted, I’m sure Parisians and New Yorkers differ in this assessment, which is fair enough as they live there). In these places the trains are used as a mode of transport between tourist attractions – not an attraction in itself. Does the Paris Metro have a gift shop? Are the NYC subway posters an art form in their own right?

This means that London Transport can make some extra money flogging us every possible trinket that either has the Tube map on it, or the roundel or even fabric designs from the train seats. The branding is so sharp that underground stations and bus stops are easily identified because of the distinctive typography and colors. These design elements work beautifully together in the other parts of LT like the Docklands Light Railway, River transport, London Overground services and even the Barclays cycle hire. There are of course extensive rules about how the elements should be used, to ensure consistency.

It all works so well. I am consistently impressed by how well this branding works and how well it adapts to new uses (like the cycle hire elements, which are not that old at all). It all feels like it’s ALWAYS been there, because it’s so faithful to the well-loved elements.

I have spent a lot of time admiring all these elements of London iconography. I love the fact that they are clear, simple, timeless and modern. I love that they help me find my way, help me find stations and various modes of transport. I love that they look very, very cool.

I think I’ve been spending too much time in London.

Word cloud (again...)

2011-03-18T12:16:00.006Z

I haven't done one of these for a while...

It's interesting how the focus of the words has changed quite a bit from the previous time. 'One' is now my biggest word!

created in Wordle

Japan person finder

2011-03-11T15:38:00.002Z

In case you need to find someone in Japan or have information about someone:

My thoughts are with the gentle people of Japan and all other Pacific Rim countries in these scary times...

PhotoFit me

2011-02-24T11:47:00.004Z

This is very cool!!

Let me know what you think...

Music - the great motivator!

2011-01-26T16:54:00.002Z

Few things motivate my workouts more than kick-ass music. It seriously is the difference between an ok workout and an awesome one and I have been known to cut runs short if my music suddenly dies on me!

So making playlists for my workouts has become something of a necessity – I even have a playlist just for races! My playlists are very, very long and sometimes I include tracks that don’t always work out as well as I thought they would so there is a lot of editing to do, to save me from having to find the NEXT button on my MP2 player. I am always trying out new things but I do have a bunch of tracks that are my reliable ones and any workout playlist will include all of these. So, in no particular order:

My life would suck without you

I have two versions of this song (Kelly’s and Glee) and they are both awesome, with a great beat that perfectly matches my comfortable running pace.

Telephone

I have a bunch of Lady Gaga’s songs in my workout playlists but this one is my fave without a doubt. Never fails to make me push a bit harder and try to keep up with that wicked bass line.

Unbreakable

Michael Jackson is another artist that features greatly in my playlists but this track is a lesser-known one, with a brilliant beat that makes me want to run and run.

Maria/ She bangs

Two Ricky Martin tracks that I simply love. Beat-wise they aren’t always perfect (I have about 3 versions of each song, all mixed slightly differently) but it makes me feel like dancing.

Far from over

A little obscure this one, by Frank Stallone and featured in Staying Alive, the film sequel to Saturday Night Fever. It is an awesome dance track with inspirational lyrics. Love it.

Don’t stop me now

I think there’s a rule somewhere that all running playlists will include at least one Queen track! Well, this is my favourite and as a happy bonus, the beat makes me hit a lovely tempo pace.

La vida es un carnaval

Yes, I do occasionally listen to music in Spanish! I love Celia Cruz and this track is not only uplifting and fabulous, it has some great lyrics.

Hush hush

Another dance-inspired track, by the Pussycat Dolls. Whenever I exercise to this, in my head I am dancing away like a pop diva!

Come sail away

An oldie, this is one of several Styx tracks that I like to listen to while exercising. The rock feel to it makes me think that I’m not devoted to Pop, and it has some amazing lyrics. It also has a good running beat.

Dame

Another Spanish song, this time by J Lo and one of my favourite ever songs. This is one that makes me want to dance and has the advantage of having a great running beat.

Jai ho

This song is just full of energy! From the “Slumdog Millionaire” soundtrack, this song never fails to make me go a little bit harder.

Vivimos siempre juntos

A Spanish track by Mecano, with great energy and some lovely lyrics. I love running to this, definitely one of my all-time favourites.

Everytime we touch

Cascada’s album of the same name as the track is pretty much my perfect running album. Nearly all the songs have the same exact beat and it happens to be an excellent beat for my pace so this is one of my very favourites. I picked this particular song as I love it, but it was also playing in Epcot when I ran through the park during the WDW 2008 marathon and since then, I always think back to this amazing race when I hear this song.

California screamin’

This track is the background music that plays on the roller coaster of the same name at Disney’s California Adventure, which also happens to be one of my all-time favourite rides anywhere in the world. Although technically the songs in this post aren’t in any particular order, I did leave the best for last. Simply THE BEST running song for me, with faster sections where I can push my pace while in my mind I pretend to be a roller coaster, with some slower sections in the middle to catch my breath. The only downside is that it is so short, so I always play it two or three times in a row for some kick-ass intervals or when I’m feeling energetic. Fantastic track, I simply love it.

So there are a few of the songs on my running playlist. I’ve left lots and lots out, so maybe I will do a future blog post on some more music that I have in my workout playlists.

Thirds

2010-12-31T13:16:00.010Z

I turned 39 this year.

(don't worry - this isn't an 'OMG I'm nearly 40 post... that will come another time!)

Shortly after my birthday I must have been bored or something because I realized that with that number I could neatly divide my life into thirds. What's more, the whole of the last third is my life in the UK, as I've been living here 13 years.

So surely there is a blog post in there, right?

I've been thinking about this for far longer than I care to admit so yes, I guess there is a blog post in this numerical curiosity...

So what about the other two thirds of my life? Well, the first one is probably what is considered the formative years: birth to 13 year old. The stuff that happened then is the usual growing up stuff, you know... it is still fairly impressive that in a relatively short time one goes from a helpless infant into a somewhat opinionated pre-teen but I can hardly be the only one! So let's say that those first years happened and quickly turn to the second third.

This is probably the interesting one - when I go from a fairly yucky teenager into a somewhat acceptable 26 year old young lady. This third is where EVERYTHING happened! I went to high school then university, I did all that theater stuff, I met most of my oldest friends, I developed my own personality and sense of style. I became more and more independent, I moved to the USA for a year and had the time of my life... let's say that this third is where I explored the options and made choices.

The last third is the one where I settled down. As I mentioned above, this covers the last 13 years when I've been in the UK but it also covers the 13 years I've been married. It covers my (more stable) jobs, the time when we've owned property and of course had our kids.

Gradually I suppose this last phase will outlast the other two and I would have spent a larger proportion of my life in this stable, steady, familiar stage. The perfectionist in me doesn't find that appealing: in order to keep the numbers even, I should be starting a NEW stage! But to do what?

It is of course pure nonsense to want to move on to new things purely based on a mathematical curiosity, not to mention the fact that I am happy where I am and I don't want things to change! But the thought is there, nagging at the back of my mind... that I should try and keep the symmetry going just for the sake of itself.

Maybe this is how a mid-life crisis starts...

Moving

2010-11-07T11:08:00.000Z

Moving is indeed one of the most stressful things you can do - I think I was on the verge of tears at least 3 times on moving day even though our move was as smooth as one can get!

Once we had a definite move date we could start packing away a few things. We had decided to go for a packing service so there was no point in packing too many things but I did pack my most precious things myself: my scrapbooks, my Disney books and of course my personal items (including jewelery).

On the day of the move, our house looked so empty:

When we got to the new house, it looked empty only for a few minutes, eventually almost every room had at least a few boxes, some random furniture and other stuff in it. I really can't stand untidiness so this was breaking point for me:

Gradually we've worked our way around the rooms and we are about 80% there. Sure, there are still pictures to put up and the kitchen cupboards are not really sorted in any way that is functional but we can at least live there and I don't feel like having a nervous breakdown every time I walk in the house. The kids bedrooms in particular are nearly there:

The guest room, however, is another story:

But my scrapbooking things (including all my albums) have found a happy home!
So we are slowly getting there... I'll keep you updated in about a month or so when it should all look even better!

Bye-bye my lovely closet...

2010-11-06T16:30:00.000Z

Some of you may know that we moved recently. It’s been a busy couple of weeks but things are starting to settle down and we are winning the war with all those boxes.

The new house is lovely and I’ll go into more detail on a future post, but I wanted to talk about the old house first… the one we left. Although it was starting to feel a little small for us, there is nothing absolutely wrong with that house and there are in fact bits about it that I will miss, like the enormous garage (with automatic doors!), the lovely windows and our gorgeous French Doors that lead to the garden.

All of those things we can eventually incorporate into our new house and are indeed already looking into replacement windows, but there is one thing that I had to sacrifice and will not be able to replace.

My walk-in closet.

Yes, in my old house I had a walk-in closet and it was a proper one, with lots of space for all my clothes and shelves for shoes, sheets, bags, and lots and lots of other things that haven’t quite yet found a home in our new house. For those that may not know, these closets are rare in houses in the UK - at best you would get what is called a 'dressing area' but it is often not as large as having a whole room for just clothes!

While we do have a great big built-in wardrobe in our new bedroom, it just isn’t the same as a walk-in. We are also struggling with space a little bit as I have a LOT of clothes. It is a case of getting a carpenter to make some adjustments to the rails so it isn’t all bad news (and when we bought the house I was aware that we had some challenges there) but BOY do I envy the people that now live in my house, who own my lovely closet.

I loved making this place functional and organized: all my clothes are sorted by color (can you tell?) and the rails were placed so that my clothes would fit and not hit the floor but still be low enough for me to reach. I had even some space for longer dresses, which was a great foresight as maxi dresses suddenly came back and I had the perfect place to hang them. I also bought quite a lot of boxes so that things on the shelves would not just remain dust-free but would look much tidier. There was a mirror in there that was where I would make sure that the day's look was working and I even had some really useful hooks where I could hang the outfit for the next day.

The whole room was bright and sunny and although sometimes I wished the window was smaller (hence giving me a bit more wall space to hang stuff from) it kept the room feeling spacious and airy. We also wallpapered one wall (the one behind the clothes) and I would get glimpses of this great paper when I was looking through my clothes. This wall suddenly looked very obvious when the room was empty:

Ah, yes... I miss my walk in closet. I do love my new house but this closet will probably never be beaten.

Incredible - a scrapbooking post!

2010-10-21T15:30:00.000+01:00

Yes, it's been a little while since I posted about scrapbooking... thing is, so many other things have been going on (races, courses, life) that I was not spending a lot of time with my photos and pretty papers and things. Other than my monthly crop I wasn't really doing much more than trying to keep up!

That changed when I went to my annual scrapbooking retreat with the lovely MK Scrappers - a whole weekend doing nothing more than scrapping, chatting and laughing with friends. These are some of the layouts I made that weekend:

I do love it when two of my 'worlds' collide and a great example are some of my layouts documenting my most recent race: the Disneyland 1/2 marathon in September:

I still have much work to do to complete the Disneyland album but now that I've started it, I feel like I've got momentum and will eventually complete it (much like I felt in the actual race!) I plan to also scrapbook photos about the rest of my trip to Disneyland and to include the vast amount of ephemera I brought back with me... I've also been given a lot of embellishments and papers from generous friends back in the USA (you know who you are!) and I am loving them! It's so nice to be able to produce such a Disney-fied album for a change, with all the Mickey cutouts, papers and lovely borders. Thanks guys - you are so kind and I am very, very grateful.

At the end of the second day, I'd produced quite a few layouts. When we are done, we put them up in boards around the room and I must say I was taking over one of them, as you can see here:

Thoughts on Disneyland

2010-10-07T15:13:00.001+01:00

The last time I went to Walt Disney World was in January, 2008. Before that, it was November 2007 and before that, November 2006. I can go back in a similar vein for over two decades, when I’ve been to WDW on average every other year, and if I look at even further back in time, I probably hit those parks around once a year. I’m not even counting the time when I spent a whole year there!

I’m telling you this not because I’m showing off, but because every one of those visits is burned into my memory and I can recall almost to the day what we saw, where we went and what we did.

However, when it comes to Disneyland – I can barely remember anything. I know I’ve been before but other than vague memories about being there as a small child (one or two years old) maybe once more when I was a teen (or twice?) and a visit to Disney’s California Adventure around 12 years ago, I can barely recall details. Even for my latest visit I can’t even remember what hotel we were in, how long we stayed in Anaheim or anything! I do remember the park though, but the visit itself is pretty fuzzy in my mind.

So when I arrived in LAX last September and got on the bus that took me to Disneyland, it was pretty much a brand-new visit for me. I knew that the likelihood of returning to the Disneyland resort was pretty slim, so I wanted to make sure that I made the most of the time I had and planned to spend all my downtime (when not racing or with friends) inside a park. I spent 5 days visiting the parks and it was a wise decision.

Disneyland is an interesting park for me – not so much for the attractions themselves (as almost all of them exist in a slightly better version in another Disney park somewhere) but for the history it has. Disneyland is after all the world’s first theme park, the first Disney Park and the only one that Walt actually visited. So as much as I think Disneyland Paris is beautiful, Tokyo Disneyland is unique and Walt Disney World is amazing – Disneyland is like no other.

But when I had visited Disneyland in the past, I was totally unaware of any of this and merely walked around it like it was any other Disney park, merrily ignoring the layer of historical significance I was to find so amazing a few decades later. It is fair to say that in my last visit I fell in love with Disneyland and all that it means.

When Disneyland was being built, there was no template to draw from and the Imagineers wrote the rule book as they went along. They didn’t know the huge numbers of guests that would need to be accommodated so the walkways are narrow, twisty and very charming. Disneyland is full of nooks and crannies, every one with its own personality and a joy to discover. Main St is almost my favourite place, because it just feels like a real place, somehow, because these shops have been here for such a long time and they have that slightly cramped feeling that is very ‘real’.

Disneyland also gave to the world some classic attractions that aren’t really based on anything the studio was working on at the time, which is a drastic difference from what happens now. There was no Haunted Mansion movie, no Jungle Cruise show, no It’s a Small World tie-in. The attractions are all great, and not because they included characters that people already knew (hint, hint). Going into the Disneyland Tiki Room, for example, is a totally different experience than it would be in WDW, simply because these Tiki Birds were the First Ones. I got chills down my spine with the thought that Walt possibly sat in this very same room and sang “like the birdies do”. These Tiki Birds are the originals – all the others are copies.

I could say the same for so many other attractions, especially Pirates of the Caribbean. This ride has gained in popularity thanks to the movies but when the ride opened in Disneyland, no one knew these pirates and loved the ride nevertheless. I love the fact that all subsequent Pirates rides in other parks also include the drops: but in Disneyland, the drops are an essential part of the ride layout, as it allows for the boats to drop below the berm and onto the enormous show building on the other side.

I had the luxury of time (and being on my own) so I spent a lot of time just wandering the park, absorbing its atmosphere and history, taking hundreds of photos and taking it all in. I saw every show I could, saw every parade, cried at the fireworks show (complete with pirouetting Tinker Bell!), was amazed by Fantasmic (even sans Dragon) and generally spent time committing every square meter of the park to memory. I tried to eat in different places every time (although the Mahi Mahi wrap in Tomorrowland Terrace was hard to beat!) and I just enjoyed being there.

Disneyland’s Tomorrowland feels smaller than it’s twins in other parks, but somehow this creates a sort of kinetic energy that works very well. Everywhere you look in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland you see something moving: rockets, boats, cars and the occasional monorail (HOW I loved those monorails!!) If the TTA was re-instated it would be even better as it would be yet another thing that is moving around this land. I also love the retro-futuristic architecture and the knowledge that on Opening Day in 1955, Tomorrowland was barely there and yet now it is more than complete. This is probably the place that has changed the most since then but it still retains that air of history.

But by far my favourite place was The Disney Gallery, which was FULL of amazing drawings, sketches, paintings and images by various artists, all interpreting the classic Disneyland attractions in their own style. I literally spent hours looking at all the art, the models, and the displays, reading every single word and wishing I had more money so that I could buy some of these works of art. I felt like this place truly encompassed what Disneyland is for me – a living museum full of treasure.

After spending all this time in Disneyland it was almost like rediscovering an old friend that you’d sort of forgotten and taken for granted. Disneyland is a quaint and charming place holding some of the most valuable Disneyana artifacts around, including what are in my opinion the coolest of the Disney monorails. It is a living museum of pop art, a literal monument to what happens when people work hard to make their dreams come true, and a place no true Disney fan should miss. It really does feel like a place where Walt walked and 'plussed' constantly and I think his spirit is still felt in this park more than any of the others.

I hope to return someday and, when I do, I will definitely remember what I did the last time and how fantastic the experience was.

Disneyland half marathon photos

2010-09-24T16:30:00.002+01:00

The last time I did a Disney race, I took a disposable camera. This means I got a limited number of photos from race and while I love those photos, I always thought I should have carried my digital camera instead.

For the Disneyland half marathon I learned from experience and took my digital camera, which means I have literall hundreds of photos from the races! It has been a real challenge to narrow them down to these, which tell the story of my race and are quite fun too. Hope you enjoy reliving the memories with me!

The start was early and it was a foggy morning, which made for a lot of blurry photos. When we were eventually allowed to start, I took this photo of the start line and the palm trees in the fog.

Pretty soon we were getting into California Adventure and these guys were there to welcome us:

I just HAD to stop for the photo op with the kids from the High School Musical show!

The money shot in any Disney race is a photo with the castle. This race was no exception and here I am with my two running buddies Crystal and Dana. Don't you love how we color-coordinated our outfits?

Princess Tiana and her posse were out, looking very appropriate in New Orleans Square.

The Roundup Gang! I just love Toy Story so just had to make the most of this photo op!

Wicked Stepsisters and Stepmother going round and round on the carousel. They are in for a long ride, as it must have taken hours for all the runners to go past!

Into Tomorrowland and here comes a Stormtrooper...

Even the monorail was out to cheer on us! I think Disneyland has the coolest monorails, I love them so of course had to take a photo.

Little Einsteins! This one was for the kids... (but where's Quincy?)

Going backstage is another mild thrill I get from Disney races. I just love how reality is completely blocked by fantasy, as this shot reveals.

We left the parks and out into Anaheim city streets. They weren't very exciting but at least we had some entertainment, like these kids in Mexican costumes.

We also had Hawaiian dancers...

Eventually we got a bit bored of the course and started playing the game "what were you thinking?" and took photos of outfits that were... well... not a good idea, shall we say? Here is our first contestant:

We went through 4 miles of pretty much nothing to look at, when we eventually made it to the area near the Honda Center. The course took us through the back and probably the worst running terrain ever: small gravel. I did a lot of running on this stuff in France so I know I hate it, and I know other runners had trouble with falls, slips and even blisters from the gravel that got into their shoes. Not a great section of the course.

How very exciting - an overpass. If you look carefully, you can see the homeless asleep in there...

Finally something to look forward to: Angel Stadium. There were hundreds of kids lining up the entrance and I thought these guys were making a great effort.

Running through the stadium was fun - but a bit crowded and with very little room to stop. I managed only a quick photo before I had to move on...

After Angel Stadium we had 3 miles to go, most of that on boring city streets again. So while on the lookout for stuff to photograph, I just had to take this photo of an empty freeway. How often does THAT happen?!

We were fairly tired by now, so that's probably why I found this sign funny/inspiring:

We haven't forgotten the "what were you thinking?" competition and here is another worthy competitor:

Not quite LAPD but a gang control vehicle is a good reminder that we are NOT in Disneyland yet!

Ah! In the distance we can see the Tower of Terror... nearly there... and the sun also wants to come out...

Ladies and gentlemen: the winner of the "what were you thinking?" competition:
Where the HELL is the finish line?! It's just around the corner, apparently... I loved the music these kids were playing but I did miss the choir that we get at the WDW races. Nearly there!

The finish line!! And look - the sun is coming out at last!
My official finishing time was 3.18 which is pretty good considering all the times we stopped for photos and also a couple of bathroom breaks and even a chat with friends at mile 6.5. I was pleased with my time and, as I've always said, I like to get the most out of these races so I like to stay on the course as long as I'm allowed, to maximize the cost per hour :)

I am now the proud owner of a Mickey medal and have another set of great memories (not to mention great photos!)

PS. You can still sponsor me on http://www.justgiving.com/claudiadoesdisney

2010 Disneyland half marathon weekend race report

2010-09-24T09:05:00.016+01:00

I think that all the races I’ve done (so far) can safely be divided into two groups: Disney races and all the others. There is something so special, so magical, so fun about Disney races that they simply can’t be categorized with any other races – at least not the ones I’ve done, in my somewhat limited experience.

Earlier this month I flew to LAX to take part in my second Disney race – this time a half marathon in Disneyland. I had been training somewhat hard and had definitely been looking forward to this race since I booked a place in January. I have also not been to Disneyland for at least 20 years AND I was going to meet my imaginary friends from ROTE so the whole experience promised to be unforgettable.

This turned out to be exactly right.

Seeing as I was already flying thousands of miles to be there for the half marathon, I decided to give a bit more money to Disney and also registered in the 5k that was the day prior to the big race. I thought this would not only be fun but would make a good last minute training run, and also would help me tweak any final issues with clothes or equipment in the California weather. So the morning of the 5k race I found myself in the start in a sea of red, surrounded by friends I had only met in person the day before. The day promised to be sunny and warm and so we were in a good mood as we set off.

Although I didn’t want to go ‘fast’, I certainly didn’t want to walk the entire race either and luckily I found a friend that had the same idea as me, so we set off together. The start was pretty crowded so it was hard to get into any sort of running at the start but soon the crowds spread out a bit more and gave us some room to settle into any sort of pace.

Before I expected, we were in Disneyland! I had only arrived a few days before and hadn’t had a chance to visit any parks yet, so I was terribly confused as to where I was. I can’t remember many details of the actual course except that it felt like we were going round and round the same places over and over again. However I was LOVING just being in the park, looking at all the stuff that was familiar yet strangely different and of course, enjoying the sunshine and the company.

Eventually we left Disneyland and ran across to California Adventure (DCA) where I did recognize a few more things. I’d been to this park more recently, about 12 years ago, and the main layout hasn’t changed much so I felt a little less lost. I also found that we were keeping a relatively good pace and was actually really enjoying the race.

Suddenly, the finish line appeared and it was all over. The elation over having completed the race quickly disappeared when we discovered that they had run out of medals – all we got was a piece of paper saying how sorry they were and how we would be contacted to get those to us. Much has been said about this so all I’ll say is that I was very disappointed, not so much for the medal, but because I always thought that this sort of thing wouldn’t happen at Disney and it did.

The rest of the day I spent mainly on my feet, walking to bag pickup, walking in the park or walking to the hotel. It was a fun day (very hot!) but based on what I know now, walking around theme parks all day, prior to a big race is probably not a very good idea... I eventually came to my senses and was in bed relatively early, getting some rest before the big day.

Sunday came all too quickly (I think we set our alarms for somewhere around 3am or something) and I was able to get out of bed without too much effort thanks to my lingering jet-lag. Eventually all my roommates were up too and we were all getting dressed, preparing our kit and hoping for a good day. We were soon out the door and walking to the start, which took about 20 minutes (it was about 2km away – I checked!) and quickly noticed that it was a fairly chilly morning.

The previous day had been very, very hot. I knew I could cope but somewhere inside I was a little worried as I hadn’t really done any training in hot conditions, other than a few runs in France. I was concerned about glare, so much so that I bought a pair of sunglasses to run with, even though I have never run with sunglasses before (and hence breaking a cardinal rule of big races: never run with anything you haven’t tried before). So the fact that this Sunday morning was looking to be cooler than the previous day was not entirely bad news and in fact probably did us all a favour.

We finally made it to the start, found our corral and waited and waited and waited… finally the time to start the race came, the anthem was sung (beautifully) and… we then waited and waited and waited again. It took 20 minutes for those of us in corral E to finally get moving after the race had started! The runners were released in waves which was probably a good idea but it did make it a bit long to wait.

Once again I was running with my friend from the 5k, as we’d established that we had similar pace and another friend joined us for the first few miles also. We were doing intervals of 3r/1w and once we had enough space, we started our intervals. We were keeping an easy pace and chatting along as we went, which made the first few miles fly by.

Soon enough we were in DCA and running a route very similar to that one we did on the 5k. I of course wanted to stop for photos pretty much every time I saw ANYTHING (so apologies to the girls for slowing them down!) and I was in running heaven. I think I barely felt the miles go by as we ran through DCA and then eventually across the esplanade and into Disneyland.

Once in Disneyland the highlight is of course “running right down the middle of Main St USA” (where I stopped for photos of course) but the fun didn’t stop there. I think I loved every second of running in the parks and took enough photos of everything: rides, characters, people… it was bliss.

All too quickly we literally ran out of park and were in backstage areas and getting ready to hit the streets of Anaheim. Suddenly, everything is SO much different. I can see why Disney lay out their courses so that parks are run through first but it is a huge letdown to suddenly get out into the real world and know that for the next 5 miles, there is hardly anything worth looking at. After the noise and excitement of the Disney parks, anything is bound to be a disappointment… it was also still pretty cold for me at this point because the sun hadn’t quite broken through the clouds yet.

What the city streets lack in excitement they make up in width: there was plenty of room for us to spread out and to try and get some serious mileage done. Also, without the constant appearance of characters and other fun things, there was much less stopping so we were moving along. Don’t get me wrong: there are lots of people out on the course cheering and doing their best to entertain but I think there was room for plenty more.

The next milestone on the route was Angel stadium. I know this was a big deal to a lot of people and while I enjoyed running there and welcomed the excitement, it certainly wasn’t on a par with the Disney parks for me. The most important thing for me about this was that if I made it past here without being swept, I would be able to finish the race as this is where the last checkpoint is located.

After the stadium, I think we were ready to finish the race. We had a couple more miles of boring city street to get through before that was the case though, so we tried to get moving. By this point we had done around 10 miles so my legs were starting to ache a little. I still felt pretty good though, but speed was not something I could call upon at this point. When we saw the sign for “Disney Way” I knew we were getting closer to the finish!

We were getting closer and closer to the finish but I know from prior experience that the last mile in a half marathon is the longest mile ever – and of course one has to add .1 to it before one can see the finish line! It was also at this point that the sun finally decided to shine for us, so at least that last mile I had the sun on my face to cheer me up. Eventually though the finish line was in our sights and in spite of all my best intentions to sprint the finish, the best I could do was keep jogging until I crossed the mat.

This time there were no medal shortages so we got our lovely Mickey medals and continued on through the chutes and on to the end, where we found all our ROTE friends. There were photos, hugs, congratulations and kind words all around. The race was now finished.

I was on a high all the rest of the day and once we’d showered and eaten something we hit the parks big time. We walked and walked all day (except for the rest we got while watching the Aladdin show in DCA) and probably covered at least another 13 miles slowly during the day. I consider that my cool down and stretch and it probably worked, as I was not too sore the next day (or was that the Tylenol?)

It was an awesome experience and I think it was as much due to the company as it was to the scenery. The atmosphere is electric and the route has so many highlights that it is difficult to not enjoy it. The course is also blissfully flat (unlike WDW, with its many cambered roads and overpasses) which suits beginners like me. However, I don’t think I’ll do that race again, at least not for a very long while, mainly because it really is a long way to go for a half marathon. My next Disney race will probably be the Princess half at WDW one of these years, if life works out in such a way that I can fit this in.

My time in Disneyland was unforgettable and a big part of it was the races, of course, but I also enjoyed meeting new friends and even having time to myself once everyone had gone home (and I will write about that in another post!) The experience confirmed that Disney races are definitely unlike any others and I only wish I lived closer to the magic so that I could do more of them. I wonder if there ever will be a race in Disneyland Paris… hmmm…

PS. You can still sponsor me on http://www.justgiving.com/claudiadoesdisney

The world in my home

2010-08-05T17:37:00.003+01:00

As part of an activity for my Design Thinking course (U101), we had to create a map with markers to indicate the countries of origin of various items of food, clothing and others. This is my map:

It was so interesting to look through labels and find out where things come from! I knew we'd end up with a lot of stuff from China but clothes from Hungary? Trousers from Jordan? Books made in Dubai??

I did have a few non surprising items like maple syrup from Canada, a hawaiian print dress from (where else?) Hawaii and toys made in China but it is still very interesting and something to think about...

(The full map with details is here.)

Another long weekend run

2010-08-01T16:45:00.010+01:00

With just over a month to go until the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon, my training is now becoming serious, with the distances covered becoming more and more ridiculous.

This weekend's run was a 15k run, which took me two hours to complete. Because I'm out there for such a long time, I need to make sure that the routes are at least interesting - it's all part of the mind games I play in order to get through the boredom of long runs. As before, I took my camera to practice and also because I knew this was going to be a pretty run.

So come with me on a virtual run! We start at Willen Lake - where a lot of my runs start, purely because that is very near my gym. It's nice around Willen Lake too, and I used to run loops of it until I got bored, but I always add at least a loop of it to my long runs (if I'm going in the right direction) because it's an easy way to add distance:

Before long we get to the Medicine Wheel which is on the north part of Willen Lake.

And very quickly after that is the Peace Pagoda. I really like this building and the setting - I've even run up the stairs on some runs, but not today as it appears there are some people doing yoga at the base of the pagoda.

The north part of Willen Lake is a lot quieter, but it is a lovely place to run...
Eventually we leave Willen Lake behind and head out towards the Ouzel Valley Park, a very pretty linear park that joins Willen Lake to The Open University campus, where we're heading today. The park has a lot of turns and is pretty varied and also well used, so it is a great place for a long run.

Can you see the church in the distance, below the trees on the right hand side? It is a reminder that Milton Keynes is not all new - some stuff has been there for a long time!
The linear park has a lot of different paths, all heading roughly in the same direction but it does add variety to the route. There are also a number of bridges, like this one, that add some elevation to what is generally a very flat terrain.
If you pick a certain path, there will be lots of gates like this one. They are a bit annoying as I have to stop and open them, but on some days I am quite happy to have an excuse to walk a bit :) Why are the gates there, you ask?
Because there is cattle in the park! Normally there is also sheep in here but not today for some reason - but the cows are here. Thankfully they kept away from the path and I didn't have to get too close to them. They may be tame but they are still bigger than me and make me nervous.
I didn't cross this bridge but if I had, I would have been in The Open University campus. I run around here a lot, during lunchtimes, but I also like to include the OU in my route as there are toilets and water fountains in the cricket pitch that I can use. Today I don't need either and my route will take me around campus, so no visit to the OU today.

I run around campus and get to the village of Simpson on the other side, towards Caldecotte Lake. I intended to get to the lake and turn around, but instead found myself running in the village as I'd never really been in it before. Just like during my last run, I found these weird early 80s houses in the village. I don't think they were intended to be used as solar houses, but the sloping roofs are very unusual.

I suddenly turned a corner and saw a typical Milton Keynes sight: the old mixed in along with the new. This thatched cottage is clearly part of the original village of Simpson, but you can just about see the new houses directly behind it. The houses with the sloping roofs are out of the photo, just to the left. It makes for an interesting mishmash of architectural styles, and I'm not sure the combination worked.

Here is another view of the village, where you can see that the combination of different house styles is a little bit odd...

After Simpson I quickly found my way to the Grand Union Canal - another favorite of mine. I can always find it, because of those tall trees that seem to line the entire path and can be seen for miles. It is also usually a varied journey and entertaining enough to avoid boredom.

After a while I got off the canal towpath and went into the village of Woughton Park, where I saw this lovely house that used to be a school:

Eventually I made it back to the canal path and thought this picture was also typical Milton Keynes, mixture of old and new bridges:

I then ran past the Peartree Marina...
... and saw quite a few canal boats around the pub. It's the summer holidays so there are a lot of people making the most of the time off and they hire these to go around the canals. I can't imagine doing something like that, as it would drive me nuts, but it is a popular activity.
The canal path takes us off the canal for a bit and throws us into the middle of the green in Woughton on the Green. It is SO quiet here, even during the middle of the day! You wouldn't know that less than 10 minutes away is the shopping center and all the business of the downtown area. It feels so rural here, so peaceful, and things probably haven't changed much in this village for a few hundred years - it's just the city that's sprung up around it.

Back on the familiar canal paths, with these tall trees. I wonder what they are called? They remind me of France.
To add mileage I leave the canal for good this time and head on back towards the Ouzel Valley Park, along lovely paths like this one...

I am very close to Willen Lake now and took a picture of this strange bridge that goes nowhere. It has been there for a long time and I always wonder where it came from and why it's there? This whole area has a feel of 'backstage' as it is literally behind Willen Lake and there are all those logs and just stuff that feels someone will use someday soon...

In this area there is also this weird road that goes nowhere. I guess at some point this was an actual road (you can see it was accessed from the road that goes over it, in a sort of loop) but it is now closed to traffic and it just peters out into the back of Willen Lake park. So this is another thing that adds to the feeling of 'backstage' here.

AH back in Willen Lake and nearly at the end of this very long run!

Because it's the holidays, there is a summer fair in the Willen Lake area, so I had to run through all the attractions... it's not quite Disney but it did remind me of it! :)

At the end of my run: is that a castle spyre I can see in the distance? Unfortunately the castle is the same color as the sky (gray) so it's hard to make out but it's there and it's from Gulliver's Land.
Here is a photo of me at the end! Don't let the smile fool you - if I hadn't been holding on to that tree I would be a wobbly mess...
So that was my run. I hope you enjoyed it and didn't feel too tired at the end... and now it's time to cool down, shower and take it easy for the rest of the day. Don't forget to refuel!

Weekend training run

2010-07-22T15:08:00.005+01:00

Last weekend I went for a long training run... well, it only was 11k but it still was the longest run I've done to date this year. As runners will attest, long runs are a very important part of training - not only because they allow our bodies to get used to being out running for hours, but also because this is a way to trial kit, fueling and other elements that also are important for a long distance race.

So last weekend's run was important not so much because of the distance, but because it was the first long run when I was actively testing kit, specifically my fuel belt (which I haven't used in a long time) and my fueling strategy (which mainly consists of SIS Gels).

Seeing as I'm training for a Disney race, another thing I need to practice/test is taking photographs. Yes, I don't really do these races to break any speed records and I want a visual record of everything I see along the way. Last time I used a disposable camera which worked well but I was sorry when I'd used all the film up, so this time I want to try running with my normal digital camera. Last weekend I got the chance to do this (as the camera fits quite nicely in my fuel belt anyway) and seeing as I was carrying my camera anyway, might as well practice the photo-taking too!

Here are some photos of my route that day. I started from my gym and then ran alongside the Grand Union Canal for a lot of my route towards Gt Linford. The canal route is very pretty and has some very high trees along most of it, making the route easy to spot from a distance (useful when I get lost) and is paved most of the way. There are also some gentle slopes when the ground slopes up a little to meet a bridge that crosses the canal, like here:

The route does begin to get a little boring after a couple of kilometers of the same view, so I turned into one of the lanes I've never been on and suddenly found these:

I stopped only long enough to take the photo but not to read the informative board nearby so all I gathered is that they are some sort of oven and they are 'fairly old'. (I promise to read the board next time!)

Not far from those things is a marina, full of canal boats:

The path goes very close to the canal here so it was quite pretty and the sight of the marina broke the boredom of the canal route.

I then turned away from the canal and towards the village of Gt Linford, which is one of the old villages that is now within Milton Keynes. Earlier in the day these same redways had seen the runners from the local Half Marathon go by, as evidenced by all the gel packets on the road! I was flagging a little by this point, so this sign cheered me up:

I was getting closer to one of the prettiest parts of my route, which is a cluster of houses in what appears to be a tiny village which in reality is completely within the modern city of Milton Keynes:

You wouldn't know looking at this photo that the city center is less than 15 minutes away! This is a lovely setting and I always like running through here when I get the chance. This is also on the route of the MK half marathon and it was one of the (few) highlights for me in that race.

I carried on running through the village and along one of the many, many parks in the city:

And past a nice thatched cottage (not that I would ever live in one, but they do look cute)...

But it's not all old buildings around Milton Keynes - not far from the cottage is a road called Solar Court, can you guess why?

I am not sure if it's true any longer, but when these houses were built they were apparently held up as an example of future use of solar energy in the home. I would guess they were built in the early 80s, guessing from the architecture and somehow they always remind me of the lofty ideals around EPCOT back then... and just like the park, these houses only really have a name (of the street) to remind everyone what the grand plan was way back then.

Not long after Solar Court I entered this avenue of trees:

It was an overcast day so it was pretty dark under those trees so it was both atmospheric and spooky. On a sunny day though, this 'tunnel' looks lovely with sunlight streaming through. Eventually I ran to the other side of the trees and onto open fields:

This is about halfway and the point where I started turning back towards the gym, but not before crossing the canal:

Unfortunately at this point my camera's battery died so I couldn't take any more photos! However, it did remind me that if I take this camera to the race I need to make sure the battery is fully charged as I probably won't be carrying the spare.

It was a pretty good run, even though I started off very tired but I gradually got more energy as I went. In part this is probably due to my gels (the best I've ever had, and I've tried them all!) and the weather which was overcast and fresh. My fuel belt worked very well and I will probably use it on all my long runs from now on. So look out for more photos of my training routes in future - and this time I promise there will be one of me at the end!

Disneyland 1/2 marathon: 9 weeks to go...

2010-07-02T13:46:00.005+01:00

Time sure has flown! It is now 64 days (9 weeks) until the big day and the Disneyland ½ Marathon!

Apart from the fact that the practical issues of travelling now need addressing (mainly transport, accommodation and how many park tickets do I need?) I have also stepped up the training and started ramping up the mileage.

It has been a challenge as there are always things that get in the way of a scheduled run (such as illness, work, weather, forgetfulness and, why not, laziness) but as the date looms closer and closer, these issues somehow become smaller and the need to pound the asphalt for a couple of hours becomes larger.

So the training is going as well as it could. The travel planning is also coming together. What about the fundraising?

As you may remember, I’m not just doing this race for fun, as an excuse to see my imaginary friends or to get to play in Disneyland… I’m also doing it for UNICEF. It seems appropriate as this is a cause very close to my heart and Disneyland is all about young and the young at heart.

So I am begging for donations now. My JustGiving page looks a bit empty right now so won’t you help me get started? Any amount is welcome as a little goes a long way for some of the neediest children in the world. I may not be able to take them all to Disneyland with me but at least I can bring a little hope and dreams into their lives by helping them get the basics that they desperately lack.

Also, by sponsoring me it means that the responsibility and accountability increase. So the next time I have a scheduled run and feel like coming up with an excuse NOT to do it, the thought that so many people are giving me money for a good cause will definitely get me into my running skirt and out there. The power to get me off my butt is in YOUR hands!

Please, please, please give me as much or as little as you can and help me help UNICEF continue with the amazing work they do. The children of the world will be eternally grateful.

How I keep sane during hay fever season

2010-06-09T10:22:00.003+01:00

I have often said I much prefer being too hot than too cold. My theory is that I can get rid of hot in various ways, but not get rid of cold. So it goes without saying that warm, sunny days are precious to me, especially since I moved to the UK, where the most common weather conditions are cold and dark.

Summer is all-too brief in the UK, with perhaps two months that have the possibility of ‘nice’ weather (i.e. sunny and warm) but rarely is the weather good for anything longer than a week or so. Things quickly revert to the more usual conditions of cool and cloudy, if not actually cold and raining.

So for someone like me, that really doesn’t enjoy cold days, the very few nice days are something to cherish, to make the most of, to really enjoy to the max… except that these same warm and sunny days are also the days that bring out my hayfever.

AH isn’t that a kick in the teeth?! So basically I suffer so much on these gorgeous days that sometimes I find myself wishing for some rain to settle all the pollen and give me relief. How ironic is that? Not to mention annoying and extremely inconvenient…

I have only suffered from hayfever in the last 6 years or so, and I’ve been pregnant twice in that time, which meant I’ve had to learn how to manage it without medication and so far I think I’ve done pretty well. I am often asked about the remedies I use so finally, here they all are in one page where they are easily found:

1. Medinose

This is probably the most successful of all my hay fever solutions and it is easily the most bizarre one. How does a little red light that goes in my nose two or three times a day make a difference? I honestly don’t know. I have read something about the science that goes on behind this but I must say that even after I started using the machine I wasn’t sure what was going on. All I can say is that it seems to work. It sounds ludicrous, the claims impossible but trust me, and it’s made my life bearable. It doesn’t get rid of 100% of the hayfever but it has made my eyes far less itchy and the symptoms are more tolerable. Try it and you may find it works for you too.

2. Haymax

This is basically a little pot with what can only be described as lavender-scented Vaseline, which should be applied to the base of the nostrils. This then traps pollen and prevents it from entering the nose. I don’t know if it works or not but it smells lovely, makes my nostrils soft and I can use it at the same time as the Medinose plus so why not?

3. Sunglasses

Surprisingly, this has been a very effective tool against feeling that annoying itch in my eyes that comes from hay fever. I am not a big sunglasses wearer so it has taken a while to get used to putting them on whenever I’m outside, but I do feel that it has made a difference.

4. Closed windows

Again, this may sound obvious but it is worth mentioning. Whenever the day is nice there is great temptation to drive around with the windows down, but I quickly realized this is a recipe for hay fever disaster so begrudgingly I use the a/c instead. Also, I make sure that windows and doors are closed at home, especially during the late afternoon hours when I’ve noticed my hay fever gets worse. It is annoying for the rest of the family but not as annoying as the terrible mood I’m in when my hay fever’s at its worst!

5. Wash hair every day

I read this tip somewhere and although at first I was sceptical, I soon noticed that it does make a difference, especially when sleeping. I have long hair which means that a lot of pollen could get caught up in it, so it makes sense to wash it every day, at the end of the day. It isn’t great for my hair, as it really doesn’t like frequent washing (and it always looks so much better one day after being washed) but the fact that I get sleep more than makes up for my bad hair days. Another tip is to keep hair pulled back and away from the face, which also seems to help.

6. Local honey

This tip is so well-known now that I feel that I don’t have to mention it, but will do anyway. I am lucky enough to have a farm that produces honey about 3km away from my house so I don’t think I can get much more local than that! The trick to make the honey work, for me, is to start taking it a month or so before I can expect the hay fever symptoms to kick in – sometimes I start taking it even earlier. It is no sacrifice as I do like honey. I don’t know if it works or not but combined with the other methods listed above, the symptoms appear to be under control.

I have tried many other things which haven’t worked, like acupuncture, homeopathic remedies and nasal sprays. I have even tried actual medicines like Piriton and Claritin which don’t get rid of the symptoms at all and make me feel horribly drowsy (and yes, they are the non-drowsy formulas!) So I’m sticking to my remedies as they seem to do an ok job. They aren’t perfect and some days are worse than others but at least I know that it won’t be long before I get a rainy day and get some relief from hayfever.

Why I won't be going back to Dubai

2010-06-01T17:03:00.002+01:00

As I’ve told you, I kinda liked Dubai because the city is bonkers, the weather is nice and it was a nice place to spend a few nights. I also briefly mentioned that I had to get a visa for Dubai and glossed over the detail because I was willing to let that one slip…

I hold a Mexican passport (YES, even after all this time) and this document certifies me as a Mexican citizen and general undesirable in most countries in the world. Yeah, that’s right – but it’s ok, I have grown used to being treated like dirt (or, when I’m lucky, just merely ignored) so I wasn’t surprised when I learned that I’d need a visa for Dubai.

The Dubai visa system is a little different from others I’ve experienced: it mainly requires for someone to sponsor me for my visit – luckily this can be done by the hotel you’re staying in. So once the hotel is booked, they send over a bunch of documents that need to be filled and a list of requirements. I dutifully filled out the form and sent copies of my passport, my photo and my credit card… scary as it sounds. The reason for sending in a scan of the credit card is that they not only take payment from that (around £200 I seem to remember) but they also take a fee of around £1,400 (around USD$2,060) as a deposit on any ‘fines that the visitor may incur.’ Yes, you have to hand over money for fines you haven’t even incurred!

At the time I thought this was cheeky and annoying but did it as I had no choice if I wanted a visa. So I sent over all my stuff and waited for the visa to turn up – which it did and I was able to visit the UAE. Besides, I would get the £1,400 back once I was out of the country without incurring in any fines. I thought it was a bit steep as my overall credit card limit is £3,000 so this meant less credit was available for shopping. In all, a minor inconvenience… or so I thought.

The real kicker is what’s happened on my return. The £1,400 fee is actually taken from the credit card (not simply held) which means that when the statement turns up, the charge is there. So now I have to pay £1,400 in order to clear the balance on my credit card?! When my statement turned up with the highest balance I have EVER had, I passed out and then called the hotel immediately – where was my refund? I finally got an email the next day confirming the refund had been done and the slip from the bank machine to prove it (however, I did notice they did it on the day I called, not the day I’d left Dubai 2 weeks prior.) The refund itself would then take a further 7-10 days to appear on my card.

In the meantime, what to do? If I don’t clear the balance interest will be applied to my card and if I pay it I will then have to somehow get it back from the bank (not to mention finding the £1,400 to pay the card in the first place!) After numerous calls to the bank, we worked out that the refund should be in just in time to make the payment date. So we just paid the rest of the balance.

Next month I get another statement confirming the refund but – and this is the irritating part – because of exchange rate fluctuations, the amount refunded in AED doesn’t match the amount originally charged in GBP! So the refund is not quite enough to cover the balance but also, for some reason I got charged a transaction amount for BOTH the original charge of £1,400 AND the refund!! So as the refund didn’t clear the balance, I also have to pay interest on the whole statement amount… anyway, the whole thing has cost me an additional £250 on top of the £200 to pay for the visa, not to mention time and effort in trying to work it all out (and to date we are still trying to work something out with the bank).

I realize that this isn’t all just Dubai’s fault – my bank has been pretty cheeky too in applying charges to refunds and in the fact that the buy and sell exchange rate amounts are different… but I wouldn’t have had to go through all that if the UAE government didn’t have such ridiculous rules in the first place. Also, the way the timings are worked out means that it is impossible for the credit and the refund to happen in one statement period - even on a quick trip like ours. So everyone presumably gets the same inconvenience as we did.

This has now been enough to put me off returning to the UAE. The hassle is simply not worth it and it’s a shame because I think it would have been a nice place for a family holiday but NEVER AGAIN.

I'll be walking (running) down the middle of Main St. USA...

2010-05-05T11:05:00.004+01:00

Today is the 5^th of May* – an important day. Actually, more of a milestone. In exactly four months’ time I will be lining up with thousands of my friends to run the Disneyland Half Marathon.

I signed up for this a while ago and since then, to be honest, I’ve been dabbling with the training. I had plenty of excuses: “it’s snowing”, “I’m sick”, “I hurt my knee, need to rest it”… and so on. In the last month or so I have actually started following a training plan and most of the time I do the runs I’m supposed to be doing.

But now that the race is only four months away, the training needs to become serious: no more dropping out mid-run because I’m bored, no more skipping runs because I can’t be bothered… mileage needs to start increasing, long runs become longer and short runs become faster. I need to start planning my fueling strategy, need to start running with the gear I am planning to use and need to start putting together a killer playlist. The fundraising needs to get started too. (Want to help me with this? Sponsor me today!)

I think that 4 months is sufficient time to get ready for the half marathon (and even though I've been only dabbling for a while, it has been consistent and given me a good mileage base). I am of course not going to be breaking any land speed records and my only goal is to finish with a smile (and a ton of good photos) so it is perfectly doable… but it would be nice to beat my previous half marathon time, wouldn’t it?

So the time has come to get serious about training. I just hope it doesn’t snow.

*Yes, I’m aware that in most of the USA today is a big drinking holiday loosely based on a Mexican historical event. For the record, most people in Mexico wouldn’t consider today that big a deal – our independence day is in September and THAT would be the bigger deal!

Flipbook

2010-05-04T16:36:00.004+01:00

This is pretty cool...

(view the animation here)

A bit of fun but also part of my U101 Design Thinking course. Even though I am struggling to keep up, I am really enjoying the discovery process and also finding cool little toys like this one!

Dubai: city of superlatives

2010-04-19T13:09:00.006+01:00

I wandered around, getting lost a few times… this shopping center sure is big! I popped into H&M and bought a lovely new top, then into Next and Debenhams just to check things out. Eventually I got a bit weary and headed for Starbucks and a Dulce de Leche Frappuccino (my favourite!) and walked out of the mall and into the bright sunshine: when straight ahead of me I suddenly noticed this simply enormous building:

Yup, I was in Dubai. I had only arrived that morning but already I was having a look around what is supposedly the world’s biggest mall: Dubai Mall. Besides the usual UK high street brands and popular US shops they also have a bunch of real high-end designer shops and even some more Middle Eastern shops along with hundreds of others… the place sure feels big. And extremely clean, flashy, upmarket and opulent. Pretty much like the rest of Dubai.

Our trip was sudden but it had been in the cards for a while. It really was a business trip for my DH and he’d been trying to work out a date when we could go but leave the kids behind with grandparents so the Easter break worked out best. However, I had a few work commitments that clashed a little, so the timing was crucial. Once the trip was confirmed at his end, it was time to book my flights and cross my fingers that the visa turned up in time.

Ultimately all systems appeared to be go and before I knew it I had my visa, my ticket and my annual leave all booked. In a few days I’d be in Dubai! And I might finally see some sunshine!

My flight was on the Saturday from London Heathrow and I was at The Gadget Show all day – in Birmingham. This meant I had to take a train from the NEC in Birmingham down to London, cross the city and then head out the other end towards the airport. We had it all planned down to the last minute and initially it all appeared to work well… until an accident disrupted the trains and my travel suddenly slowed down. At 5.30pm I was supposed to be nearly at the airport but instead I was still in Milton Keynes!

It was a frustrating and stressful journey, to say the least. I had no idea what was going on as train staff didn’t seem to know themselves and I really did think I wasn’t going to make my flight. Thankfully I was in constant contact with my DH who was in Kent at the time, dropping off the children at his parents. He had a bit of time up his sleeve so he told me he would come and collect me from one of the stations on my route. In an epic journey worthy of Top Gear (I could imagine the little map in my head, with little dots representing each of us, getting closer and closer) we met in Watford with unbelievable timing: the minute I stepped outside the train station, he drove up!

After this ridiculous journey we eventually made it to the airport and to our flight. We arrived in Dubai at 7am and after the usual immigration and baggage collection and stuff we found our way out of the airport – one of the most OTT airports I’ve ever seen, btw. We got to our hotel very quickly (due, in part, to the taxi driver’s crazy driving, which we later found out is the usual way taxi drivers get around here!) and were pleased to note that we had a great view of the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world) from our room. In fact, we were almost opposite the Dubai Mall and if it wasn’t for the complex roadworks between here and there, we could have walked to it.

The city itself is quite impressive: tall buildings everywhere, with wide highways between them and tons of building works and road works everywhere. The impression I have of Dubai is mainly that it is a huge building site, a works in progress. Whatever is already there is amazing and very impressive but also verging on tacky and sometimes ridiculous. I mean, the fountains outside the Burj Khalifa (the biggest fountains in the world) are clearly impressive and amazing but let’s not forget this is the middle of the desert – is this a little bit of a waste of resources? There is a metro system which is clean and easy to use but isn’t it a bit much to deck the stations in marble, to have escalators and travelators in every single one and to air-condition the whole lot?

After a few days I realized that this place reminded me a lot of Las Vegas, minus the gambling of course. And with a beach. There is the obvious similarities of being deserts, of having enormous hotels and manicured gardens. But also there was the feeling that you could really be anywhere but, at the same time, nowhere else. It was crazy – in a good way. I enjoyed looking around The Palm island, the Atlantis hotel, all the Jumeirah properties around the beach, the numerous malls around, the Dubai Creek, the gold Souk... there was lots to see.

Much has been said about the people and the amazing service one gets everywhere. This was indeed very true but I must say (patriotically) that I find the same great service at most Mexican resorts and indeed a lot of US hotels too. What was noticeable is that the mix of people is like none I’ve ever seen before: there was literally everyone from everywhere. It was just as easy to spot typical tourists in shorts and strappy tops (which are not really allowed in public places, btw) as it was to spot women in amazing saris, men in national costume or girls decked out in black from head to toe, carrying fabulous designer handbags. I really liked that – it was almost like wandering around Epcot World Showcase, but for real.

I only spent 3 nights in Dubai but it was enough to convince me to come back for a little longer next time, and bring the kids. It is a pretty weird place but it is also very friendly, full of superlatives and very, very sunny. I may just wait for them to finish building it all though.

Me on another blog!

2010-04-14T16:47:00.003+01:00

My story is on another blog!

You all probably already know most of the story but what do you think?? Like the photos?

Incidentally, I'll be back on the blog soon as I have adventures in Dubai to share... watch this space!

This one's MY baby!

2010-03-23T18:09:00.003Z

Let's play this game again: here's a recent photo of Jessica (aged 1):

And here is one of me, roughly the same age:

So who does she look like now? Shall we consider this game over?

The slow run to the castle starts here

2010-03-19T14:45:00.000Z

Last January I signed up for the Disneyland Half Marathon which takes place in September. I was very well organized: I booked the race, the flights and even a place to stay. I’ve told all my friends and am hoping that at least some of them can join me that weekend. I’ve even had thoughts as to what I’ll be wearing on the day!

However, there is one thing I haven’t done. I haven’t been for a run in MONTHS.

Sure, I’ve been to dance classes, dabbled in cross training, even messed around with weights. But no real running outside, for any considerable length of time.

How do I expect to complete a half marathon in 24 short weeks if I don’t train?

Thing is, I tried to start training in January. But the weather was awful (cold, snow, ice) so there was no chance of doing it outside. I have also been incredibly busy at work so fitting in a gym visit at lunchtime wasn’t really working out. Then I got a really terrible cold that meant I could barely breathe and THEN I went and hurt my knee really badly which then meant I had to do my R.I.C.E. for weeks… While I was resting I tried to find my training plan to re-familiarize myself with it but remembered that I only had one digital copy and that was on the work laptop which had been stolen a few weeks before.

So those are my excuses. But no more. Even though I am on the verge of getting another cold and even though my knee is still a little bit fragile, training starts Monday. I have a 24 week training plan (I had to go and re-create it from scratch, as it is a combination of a few standard training plans available) and this plan needs to start Monday in order for me to be on track. I am a bit obsessive about following a training plan; it gives me focus and really works in terms of motivation.

In order to add accountability to all this, I am blogging about my resolve – which means now that you all know, you are entitled to nag me about getting my butt out and running! And feel free to do so often, seriously.

I know that in a couple of weeks the training schedule will become a part of my routine and I won’t need quite so much cheerleading. I also have a couple of new items in my running wardrobe that I can’t wait to wear, so that will keep me happy. Another plus is that the weather is improving so it is actually a pleasure to get out for an hour or two and just enjoy the hazy sunshine (or lack of rain at least). I will also be adding a bunch of new Disney songs to my running playlist to keep me motivated and focused on the end goal. I will start my fundraising soon too, which always makes me feel like I now have an obligation to all those people that have given me money.

If only my knee trouble would go away, then I wouldn’t be so scared of going out there and really kicking some asphalt…

Objects I love (as posted to U101)

2010-02-21T11:44:00.009Z

As part of my Design Thinking course, I had to take photos of objects I like and then submit them to the Online Design Studio. They are intended to act as practice for taking and uploading photos which I already have lots of experience on… but I still took a while to do it. Why? I just couldn’t decide on only 3 objects to photograph!

In the end the three things I chose probably say a lot about me, so I thought it would be fun to share them with you and explain my choices further.

The first object that I chose was a Smart car. I chose this pretty quickly because it is something that has always made me smile. I used to own one and even though I have nothing against the car I have now, if I could I would go back to my Smart in a second.

The second object took a bit longer to pick. I was looking around the kitchen for inspiration and considered my blender (which I love but not THAT much), my slow cooker (which is great but let’s not get carried away) and finally settled on my Beaba Babycook.

I first got one when I had my first baby (of course) and quickly found out that this was probably the best way to make quick, healthy and cheap baby food. The little gadget steams, chops and defrosts vegetables so that you can quickly make baby food. It is also small, can fit in the cupboard, it’s easy to clean, it looks cute and is incredibly easy to use. Anyway, the gadget is amazing and even though it is expensive, it is well worth it. In fact, we carried on using the steamer even though the ‘baby’ was now a little boy as it was so useful for things like asparagus or small portions of veggies. Now with the new baby in the house it has once again come into use and once again I can rave about this useful little gadget.

The last item was proving difficult. As the course is all about design I wanted to choose an item that has made my life easier somehow because of the way it is designed. I thought of the obvious electronic gadgets (mobile, camera, MP3 player) but they weren’t exciting enough for me to ‘love’ them. I wanted something relatively simple but that has really made a difference to my life… and as I wandered around the house trying to get ideas I suddenly got inspired. Of course – a running skirt!

I have of course gone on and on about these things but they are truly objects that I love and that have changed my life. In my life before discovering these, I used to wear running clothes that were functional but didn’t make me look or feel good. Sure, some of the tops were cute but in general I didn’t love wearing any of that stuff. When I discovered running skirts I finally found an item that was still functional and had all the technical stuff for running but also made me feel pretty. Which meant I wanted to wear them a lot so I started running more. Which meant I got fitter and my life started to really improve. So when I say running skirts changed my life, they really did! But skirts aren’t only cute and functional – they are practical. Skirts usually have one (or two) pockets which are great for carrying the MP3 player, spare gels, keys and all those other little things that make running and life easier.

Once I uploaded my photos and thought about the choices I made, I realized that two out of these three items I’d already blogged extensively about so that validated my choices. It may seem superficial, it may seem a little materialistic but these three things are things I love, things that are well designed and things that bring a smile to my face.

What three things do YOU love?

Travels around the (World) Showcase - Canada

2010-02-11T10:25:00.004Z

It’s been a little while, so shall we continue our travels around World Showcase? We’ve already visited

and

. In honor of the upcoming Winter Olympics, today our little tour will stop in our neighbor to the North – Canada.

When I was living in Florida I had a US work permit and part of the rules of that permit were that after 6 months I had to leave the US and get it renewed. Most of my fellow cast members would take that opportunity to go home for a few days back to Mexico, get the required stamp and return to work. But there was a little group of us that thought that was a bit predictable so we decided to go to Canada instead.

We took 4 days off work and flew off to chilly Quebec. Chilly? Actually, it was more than chilly but actually literally freezing. We had the bright idea to fly there at the end of January – possibly the coldest time to go. Bearing in mind that at the time I was living in sunny Florida, the weather was an absolute shock to the system.

So much of the trip was determined by the weather, something new to me (but sadly something that has now become a part of my life since I moved to the UK). None of us were used to having the weather determine everything and as such, the trip to Canada will alwaysbe remembered as ‘that time when I was freezing cold ALL the time.” For real.

But we did venture out a bit. We walked a bit around Montreal – or make that under Montreal. We were so impressed with all the underground tunnels and shops! We even emerged every once in a while and would have a look at all the nice buildings and stuff but sadly I can’t remember their names or anything. We barely stood still for long outside, as we were so, so cold. We spent a lot of time indoors as a result: in our hotel room drinking and chatting, in restaurants, in shops trying to warm up. And of course we visited the US consulate, which I’m sure is everyone’s ‘favorite’ stop when visiting Montreal!

We also took a bus to Quebec City and it was enchanting, surreal, covered in snow and ice and incredibly cold. But it was nice to sit inside the bus and look out at it. Besides, for most of us snow and ridiculous cold was a totally new experience. Other than experiencing it when skiing, I’d never really been out and about in such conditions.

So sadly I can’t really report on much actual sightseeing when we were in Canada. But I do remember one thing very clearly: the people in Canada are amazing. EVERYONE is so nice, so funny, so friendly. Canadians really and truly do rock and since that trip I have only had this belief reinforced as I have yet to meet a grumpy or impolite Canadian.

I think that the Canada pavilion in Epcot is a bit like my experience of the country: few people may remember the names of the shops or much detail about the buildings presented but the sunny disposition and friendly manner of the cast members is what makes this pavilion shine. It could be so easy to walk past Canada and miss it all, but there always seems to be some cast member either at the carts or doing crowd control that is always friendly and engaging. I will even go out on a limb and say that Canada has the nicest people – whether that is the pavilion or the country, my experience has never been anything but positive.

I hope to go back to Canada someday and this time, actually give the country some respect and do things properly: pay attention to what I’m looking at and maybe even learn something. But the main reason I want to go to Canada is because Canadians are such amazing people, I want to be in a place where there are lots of them. With such welcoming and friendly citizens, I am not surprised that the Winter Olympics are being held there. I am sure that all who visit will have the time of their lives!

"Her name was Lola..."

2010-02-02T19:53:00.004Z

Remember that course that I blogged about a while ago? Well, I signed up. I am now the proud owner of my very own U101 box and am on the initial part of what I hope is a journey of discovery. Already I am very impressed with the way the course is presented, the use of technologies like videos and podcasts, and the cool software we can download to share our work with other students.

The forums are already buzzing and officially the course hasn't even started! The course materials box has caused quite a stir among the students and there are even reports of some students going out and buying some of the items in the box (like masking tape, metal ruler, pencil, etc) so that they don't have to use the ones provided as they are so pretty... I bet some of those students are also scrapbookers and want to have some U101 stash to stroke :)

It's quite exciting to be on a course for its first presentation and I will try and blog about my experiences as I progress. My only worry right now is the fact that this course is so cool and could take up so much of my free time, that I'll end up struggling to juggle that and training for that half-marathon in September... I shall have to become the very image of multi-tasking!

PS. the title? It's a sort of in-joke among students of U101, can you tell why?

What is your 2010 resolution?

2010-01-04T14:00:00.005Z

A couple of years ago I made a New Year’s resolution that I actually stuck to.

That statement is so rare, so amazing that I am going to write it again: I made a New Year’s resolution that I actually stuck to.

How many people can say that? In fact, to this day this remains my ONE resolution that I even remembered a few months down the line, never mind actually stuck to.

I am thinking about this as I think about resolutions for this year. Last year I was too busy trying to remain graceful about being 9 months pregnant so resolutions and all that stuff kinda passed me by. Then the baby came and my resolution was probably to survive life with a newborn without resorting to alcohol. So this year I should make a resolution and I’m going with what worked for me.

My resolution for 2010 is to log a total of 1000 km running. It sounds like a lot but I should be able to do it as I’m signing up for another one of those life-changing long distance races. I will be attempting to (mainly) run the Disneyland Half Marathon in September 2010.

I must admit that the training, as such, hasn’t started yet. I plan to start gently – after all, I have 9 months to get ready – but I will start soon. Time hasn’t been on my side during the past holidays and not only have I not run since September, I barely exercised these last couple of weeks. So this is a good kickstart to the routine and a way to keep the focus on the goal.

My last half marathon experience was atrocious and it remains the worst race I have ever done but I DID complete it and with a time that I am now aiming to beat. (3:08 if you must know). It would be nice to be able to complete the Disneyland Half sub-3 hours but we’ll see how things go as training progresses.

This coming weekend is the fantastic WDW marathon weekend and I really, really wish I could be there. There were numerous factors that meant I simply couldn’t do this race (time to train while caring for a baby is one, cost of transatlantic flights was another) but that won’t stop me from being moody all weekend. My mind will be over in Florida where some of my best imaginary friends will be taking on the challenge and I will be wishing that I could be there. So maybe knowing that I will be doing another Disney race later in the year will lift my spirits a little. I must now work hard to get my prize – a fantastic medal and a great weekend at Disneyland in September.

Hopefully this will be another New Year’s resolution that I will stick to and remember in the years to come.

Wordle

2009-12-21T13:14:00.003Z

Very cool wordle created from the words on this blog:

Never thought the word 'sentences' would be so large...

(created on wordle.net)

How to improve your journaling skills

2009-12-17T14:41:00.009Z

(A few years ago I was in a design team and, as a part of it, I had to write articles regularly. I saved all the articles I wrote then and never added them to my blog... until now! This one is particularly special as it tackles what is possibly my favorite part of scrapbooking: journaling. Enjoy!)

Journaling is the heart of your scrapbooks. Without it, the little details may be lost, the emotions forgotten and the moment incomplete. Some layouts only need a few written details, like names and dates, to be complete, but others demand a bit more attention.

You may have read fantastic journaling entries by other scrappers: stories that really grab the moment and make you wish you could write like that. How do they do it? Well, generally the follow some easy pointers that come from the world of journalistic writing. These pointers come from the legendary “Elements of Style” by William Strunk, Jr., which is required reading for anyone that wishes to write better, clearer and more efficient sentences - and you don't have to be a journalist to benefit!

Use simple sentences

It may sound fairly obvious but when journaling, keep your sentences simple. Long-winded, convoluted sentences only confuse the reader and make the message get lost among all the words. A rule of thumb is that each sentence should convey one thought. When you need to change to another thought, start another sentence!

Use plain English

The best way to achieve this is to write as you speak. Basically, it’s all about avoiding jargon and using language appropriate to the reader. It isn’t about over-simplifying words, only using short ones or talking down to your audience, but about making sentences readable. Why write “we had a discussion about the matter” when you can use: “we discussed the matter”.

Use the active voice

Now, don’t worry – I’m not about to launch into a grammar lesson! But we do need to talk about it a little so that this concept is clear. An example works best:

Passive: Our trip to Spain will always be remembered.
Active: We will always remember our trip to Spain.

It's easy to note that the active voice is more direct and forceful and also sounds less complicated than the passive voice. Passive sentences often make the sentence clumsier, more long-winded and weaker. Of course there are exceptions, when it is necessary or simply sounds better, but in the main, keep them active whenever you can!

Use short paragraphs

By now you know to use short sentences to keep things readable. The theory is that a paragraph is a series of related sentences, held together by a common thought. Whenever you change a thought, you should start a new paragraph. A good rule of thumb is that a paragraph should not be more than four or five sentences long.

The “Elements of Style” indicate that each paragraph must have a topic sentence (that is, a sentence that indicates the purpose of the paragraph) and the following sentences simply support that thought or summarize it for the reader. I don’t think it’s necessary to stick to these rules strictly when journaling in your scrapbooks, but it might be a helpful tool to use when organizing your writing.

Keep statements positive

In writing, as in life, things seem better if they are presented in a positive light. Negative sentences may also be clumsy, weak and non-committal, as can be seen here:

Negative: He was not often on time.
Positive: He was usually late.

The over-use of “not” can sometimes lead to using lots of words when one will do:

Not honest BUT dishonest
Did not remember BUT forgot
Did not pay any attention to BUT ignored

Omit needless words

I love the English language because it is precise and to the point, as opposed to Spanish which can be a bit long and flowery. So it always surprises me when people mess around with the simplicity of English and add unnecessary words to their writing. This is done maybe to seem cleverer but I find that it just adds clutter to the text and makes the reader’s job harder. Consider these examples:

he is a man who INSTEAD OF he
in a hasty manner INSTEAD OF hastily
this is a subject which INSTEAD OF this subject
His story is a strange one INSTEAD OF his story is strange
the fact that he had not succeeded INSTEAD OF his failure
the fact that I had arrived INSTEAD OF my arrival

When you adopt active writing over passive, you will find that a lot of these extra words will disappear, and leave you with clear, pure, meaningful text.

Use groups of threes

When scrapbooking, you may have noticed that using embellishments in groups of threes (often creating a triangle) is the most pleasing in terms of design. The text equivalent is to use groups of threes, especially when describing things. Your daughter might be beautiful and clever, but saying that she is beautiful, clever and adorable lends a certain rhythm to the words and makes them more pleasing. A wet and windy day is fine, but a wet, windy and dark day tells us more and sounds better.

Try it – you will find this makes your writing more polished somehow. I’ve been using groups of threes when writing the article above, so look back now and see if you can spot some. I bet you didn’t notice them the first time, but did notice the pleasant rhythm created by the groups of threes. It’s an easy, simple and effective technique. See? A word of warning, though: don’t over-use it as it can become tiring. Keep it to when it will really make an impact and your writing will take off!

With these few guidelines and a bit of practice, you should be able to create journaling that is clearer, more effective and compelling. This will make your scrapbooks a truly cherished heirloom. Good luck!

sad day

2009-12-07T14:04:00.002Z

It can now be said…

I nominated Milton Keynes to be Walt Disney World’s first twin town and, although I was shortlisted, in the end we lost out to Swindon. I am bummed because, deep down, I know that I was very, very close to winning this and I was really looking forward to it. I made a good case but of course it wasn't good enough to win. Maybe next time...

Sad day indeed! (but, I guess, happy for the folks in Swindon!)

Could Milton Keynes be Disney World's long lost twin?

2009-11-30T14:30:00.001Z

I live in Milton Keynes. For a while, I also lived in Walt Disney World (yeah, really). I know these places inside out, backwards and forwards and can therefore say with some authority that they are twin towns. Let me present some evidence:

Milton Keynes was officially designated a new town in January of 1967, placed in the middle of England and with lofty ideals of modernist town planning in mind. A month later, a press conference was held in Winter Park, Florida that would announce to the world the creation of an “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow” in central Florida. In this conference the now-famous film of Walt describing his beloved Epcot was first shown publically.

As both towns were being built – out of nothing – more similarities emerged. Both towns have their fair share of manmade lakes and parks, as well as roads and other infrastructure required. New technologies were extensively used in the construction and both are glowing examples of the New Urbanism movement sweeping the world at the time.

Because both construction projects were literally breaking new ground, new governance structures had to be put in place to run them: WDW has the Reedy Creek Improvement District and Milton Keynes had the Milton Keynes Development Corporation (now English Partnerships) who oversaw these now massive projects.

Today these two towns are vibrant communities and visited by people the world over. Maybe Milton Keynes does not have the tourist numbers that WDW has, but it does get thousands of visitors coming to enjoy the many facilities in the town. Both towns are like no other place on Earth: WDW with its magical theme parks and attention to detail, MK with its unique architecture and almost magical feeling of being in a ‘city in the forest’. Both places appeal to families and have plenty of facilities to keep everyone of all ages more than happy.

Just like WDW has some iconic structures that are known around the world, MK isn’t that far behind its twin brother: just like Spaceship Earth’s unique geodesic dome MK has the unique pyramid of Bletchley Leisure Centre, The Point and the iconic Xscape building. Both towns even have fairytale castles: WDW’s Cinderella Castle and MK’s castle at Gulliver’s Land!

But it doesn’t stop there; in both places you can find pagodas, windmills and ultra modern buildings – as well as lots and lots of parking. In terms of transport links, both places have great roads, lots of buses, boats, trains and an airport not too far away. WDW of course has a monorail and guess what? There is even room for a monorail (or a tram) in Central Milton Keynes.

What about characters, you ask? Well, MK’s concrete cows may not be as famous as Mickey Mouse around the world, but they still delight children and have become a symbol of the town.

So are you with me? Do you agree that Milton Keynes and Walt Disney World are twin towns? I am sure that there are many more facts that I haven’t included here that make these two not just twins but identical twins. If you needed any more clues, notice that MK even shares its initials with the Magic Kingdom.

I am sure that if Walt were alive today and visited Milton Keynes, he would be happy knowing that the ideals that built Epcot are very much alive in places where he never would have imagined!

Sometimes removing customer choice is a good business idea

2009-11-18T16:30:00.000Z

Every week, on a Thursday, I get home and have a surprise waiting for me. It is a box of lovely organic veggies and it gets delivered while I’m at work. So I get home and it’s almost as if someone gave me a lovely gift.

I take my box inside and almost can’t wait to see what we got this week: lately it’s been yummy courgettes, sweet carrots, fantastic pumpkins and the best sweetcorn I’ve ever had. Sometimes I even get a vegetable I can’t identify and I have to use the included leaflets to learn what it is, how I store it and what to do with it. It is all terribly exciting.

The organic veggie box scheme is one of my weekly thrills, not the least because of the element of surprise. I have little choice of what goes in the box, other than basic decisions (what size? All veggies? Some veggies, some fruit? etc) the whole experience is one where I have very little control. And I wouldn’t want to change that.

I have noticed that there seems to be a rise in the amount of “no choice” schemes available lately, and they cover various areas in my life. Another lovely parcel I always anticipate is my scrapbooking kit from Sarah’s Cards. Again, I have little choice into what comes in the box but I haven’t failed to be delighted every time I open the pizza box. I get the usual favorites, some fashionable items and some things that I would probably have never chosen or, more likely, haven’t even heard of. And it’s great!

My latest parcel in the series of “no choice” parcels is a graze box. The same principles apply here: I get a regular delivery of yummy nibbles that I have little control over and is a complete surprise when I get them. There is of course a mechanism where you can tell the supplier your preferences in terms of content (for example, I hate cherries so have told them never to send me anything with cherries) but the actual contents are a total surprise.

Examples like these I’m sure are many and you probably have a couple in mind right now (Lovefilm springs to mind). They all operate on the same principles of regular deliveries of items where you may have little to no control over. One would think that this lack of control sounds horrendous and goes against the mantra of “I want what I want” that we seem to have adopted in these consumerist times. Yet these schemes are doing very well.

What is it about this apparent “no choice” that makes these propositions so appealing? In my personal case, not only is the lack of control a small price to pay for convenience (I get the veggies delivered and don’t have to worry about going out to buy them) but actually I like the surprise element. It is like getting a gift and the excitement is sometimes as much! Okay, so I don’t necessarily skip around the kitchen or anything, but I do love the anticipation of looking through my box and finding what we got this week. Or looking through my scrapbooking kit and finding the gorgeous papers and embellishments I got this time.

Relinquishing control also means I have discovered new things, effortlessly. I had never heard of a romanesco until one turned up in my veggie box. Now it is one of my favorite vegetables (and one of the prettiest!) I had similarly never used any Cosmo Cricket paper until some turned up in my kit and now I wonder how I scrapped without it. I had no idea brazil nuts mixed with dark chocolate and cranberries could be so delicious, until I had some in my graze box. And so on.

Could it be that these “no choice” schemes are a great antidote to our lives, already filled with too much choioce, too little time? I always wanted to try new vegetables, for example, but whenever I was grocery shopping I would just get what I always got, being too rushed to try and work out which of the other, untested, vegetables would be nice to try. Now someone else tells me what to try! I may not always like them, but at least I can say I’ve tried it.

I love having no choice. Not only do I get convenience, but I also get variety and delight in opening parcels that I have no idea what they contain. I didn’t think it could be possible but it certainly works for me.

What do you think: wave of the future or passing fad?

Frugal scrapbooking

2009-11-17T17:12:00.001Z

(A few years ago I was in a design team and, as a part of it, I had to write articles regularly. I saved all the articles I wrote then and never added them to my blog... until now! Here is the first one of those - enjoy)

Happy New Year scrappers! I hope your holidays were filled with great times, memorable moments and great gifts. Now that it is all over (at least for another year) many of us find that the finances are a bit tight. To help us all along, I’ve compiled this short list of tips that can help us all save a bit of money while still enabling us to create memorable pages.

1. Use what you have

I know that a lot of scrappers have huge stashes so what best way to save money but to actually USE what you have already? You may not remember exactly what you own, so spend some time organizing your stash and you may find that you have quite a few things you’d forgotten about. Try to create pages using only what you have – think of it as a design challenge and you may be surprised by how creative you become!

2. Keep pages simple

Simple doesn’t have to mean boring but the careful design of pages that consist of little more than paper, cardstock and pen makes them elegantly pleasing to the eye. Ali Edwards and Lisa Brown Caveney are high-profile examples of scrappers that create simple yet beautiful pages.

3. Use patterned paper as embellishment and use more cardstock

This follows on from the previous tip a little. Patterned paper is almost always more expensive than cardstock so if you use less of it you will spend less money and the patterned paper will go further. So save all your scraps and USE them!

4. Use your handwriting more

Besides the fact that it should be an important part of your scrapbooks, handwriting means that you don’t need to resort to pre-made letters, which can be expensive. Besides, using your handwriting on your layouts (even for titles!) means that no one will have the same “font” as you do, you can complete your pages faster and it fits in perfectly with the freestyle trend that is all the rage. If you must use pre-made letters, try using stamps instead as these can be used indefinitely. Or use your chipboard letters as templates so they go further.

5. Use everyday materials as embellishments

This one can be quite controversial if you are a 100% acid-free scrapper but it can save you money anyway. Try buying buttons from haberdashery shops rather than scrapping ones, which can be cheaper. Use ticket stubs and leaflets to embellish your vacation layouts (using an acid neutralizing spray if you’re concerned or keeping them away from photos). Or use plates and cups as circle templates. My favourite is using the ribbons that come on the inside of tops and dresses and are meant to be used for hanging the garment – I never use these ribbons so cut them off and use them for scrapbooking! If you start looking around, the possibilities are endless.

6. Buy quality tools

It may seem counter-intuitive but the more you spend in tools often means that you spend less money overall. My personal experience has been with trimmers: I started out with a very cheap one that didn’t last very long. I now have a more expensive trimmer but, as it’s the last trimmer I need to buy, it will eventually save me money. Another way to save money on tools is to buy only those that do more than one job, tools that you know you will actually use and to share tools with your fellow scrappers.

7. Buy only what you know you will use

How many of us have bought papers because they are gorgeous? Embellishments because they are so cute? Storage because it looks cool? And then we are afraid to use these things because we will run out or “spoil” it somehow? Buying pretty things to look at is nice every once in a while but will not help your finances. Buying only those things that you know you will use makes better financial sense.

8. Buy in bulk

Cardstock and adhesives are the bread and butter of our craft. Sometimes buying these things in bulk can save you money – but only do it if you know you will use them up. Or what about buying cardstock packs with friends and splitting them? Or spools of ribbons or bottles of flowers? We don’t always need the thousands of flowers or brads that come in one pack, so split them amongst your fellow scrappers and share the cost. That way everyone gets pretty things but splits the cost.

9. Take advantage of sales

If you absolutely must have that paper collection, then why not wait for the sale? This time of year everyone is discounting prices so you can grab a bargain if you are a savvy shopper. Shop around and use the power of the Internet to your advantage by comparing prices (don’t forget to include the P&P) and maximising the sales. Just don’t be tempted to buy too much that you don’t need!

10. Lay off the shopping

Simple but true – the easiest way to save money is to stop shopping. It isn’t always easy with all the lovely stash available to buy but think of all the money you’ll save!

I hope these tips help you in becoming a more frugal scrapper. Remember – you don’t have to spend a fortune to create meaningful pages and sometimes the simple pages with heartfelt (and handwritten!) journaling are the ones that mean the most to your family.

Design Thinking

2009-11-13T14:03:00.002Z

I don’t often intersect my blog and my work so allow me the indulgence – because it really is worth it!

There is a great new course at the OU that is so good not only am I considering signing up myself but I think everyone that likes design, creativity or thinking in new ways should. Really. I don’t think the OU has ever offered such a cool course and I just want to shout it to the world!

The course is U101 Design Thinking and starts in February. It is a Level 1 course (60 points) and looks like seriously good fun, as well as fascinating and engaging. From my point of view, the best part of the course is the course materials offered.

If you are at all familiar with the OU you will know that the courses are conducted over distance (“supported open learning” in OU parlance) and all materials are included. For most courses this means a good supply of books, CDs, DVDs and even quirkier things like lab supplies. However, no other course has course materials like U101. They must be seen to be adored!

I don’t want to say too much about the course materials (called The Welcome Pack) themselves, because part of the course is discovering what they are and what you can make out of them, but I will say that they are unlike anything the OU has ever done. It is fitting that a design course has materials that have been carefully designed. The Welcome Pack is part fun, part education and is something tangible that will certainly impress students with its quality. In a way I wish I didn’t know so much about it, because I won’t be as giddy with surprise as registered students will be when they get their yummy box in the post.

The course itself is also fantastic and promises to change the way you think about the world around you. It is all about creativity, problem solving and interacting with other students. Basically, it is all fantastic and I’ll let you learn more about it. Maybe you’ll even want to sign up!

Travels around the World (Showcase) - Norway

2009-11-09T15:43:00.003Z

(This is probably going to be the longest-ever blog series in ANYTHING at the rate I’m writing it!)

As we travel around the virtual World Showcase we have already stopped in Italy, Japan and France. Today it is the turn of Norway – one of the newest pavilions and one that inexplicably hosts Princesses these days.

Norway is probably one of the most unusual countries for the average US tourist. It doesn’t have the heavy cultural weight of somewhere like China, isn’t accessible to them like Mexico or Canada and doesn’t have the effect on the imagination of France or Italy. It probably doesn’t figure on most US citizens’ “must visit” list and they probably know very little about it.

I must admit I was the same. I knew nearly nothing about Norway other than it was probably very cold, it was somewhere up north and had Vikings in its history. I could probably only name Leif Ericsson but no other famous Norwegians. I had no idea about the culture, industry, architecture or food from there.

As soon as I arrived in WDW as a cultural representative I had a crash course in Norwegian culture: it may seem odd but Norwegians and Mexicans are generally very good friends in the International Program – the pavilions are together and cast members from both countries share a cafeteria so that is probably why. As a consequence people from both countries become fast friends and there have been more than a few Mexico-Norway couples that have gone on to get married, have kids, etc.

But anyway, the thing is I suddenly knew more about Norway than I ever thought possible and not only because of my fellow cast members (and my incredibly gorgeous Norwegian roommate) but also because of the pavilion itself. I, like countless other Epcot visitors, can suddenly learn all about this country in the pavilion. We can discover their knits, their trolls, their industry and that beautiful stave church. They have some of the yummiest pastries in World Showcase and one of the few dark rides in the park, including probably the highest number of hidden Mickeys. The film presented is a bit dated and weird but it is also quite informative – especially to those of us that knew nothing about Norway!

Being one of the newest pavilions also means that it has a very nice layout, well thought of design and arguably the most gorgeous cast member costume in the park. It also had – until those Princesses took over – the most exotic restaurant experience in all of World Showcase. Where else do you know that does Norwegian food? And you know what? It was delicious!

A few years ago we had the chance to go to Oslo for a few days, to visit one of those Mexican-Norwegian couples I mentioned before. We had a great time – and great weather! – and it was nice to once again have the chance to compare the real country to its Epcot counterpart. So how do they compare?

As always, the Norwegian pavilion doesn’t really manage to convey the beautiful scenery that is prevalent in the country but it does a great job, I think, in portraying what the country feels like. Not just the architecture but the costumes and the goods in the shops all can give visitors a glimpse into what Norway is all about. I do think the film is very dated but it does go someway to show the landscape that Norway is famous for, and is very difficult to recreate under the humid Florida sunshine.

This pavilion is one of my favorites now, not just because of the ride and the yummy pastries but because of the way it ‘feels’. I think that most visitors to the pavilion have no real preconceived ideas of what Norway is like and in this case the pavilion works well. As always, Norwegians think that it is too full of stereotypes and inconsistencies but that is a feeling that all natives felt about their own pavilions.

The definite best part of the Norway pavilion was its food and I can not write a post without saying that I think it is a travesty that the native fare has been replaced with more ‘theme park’ stuff and filled with Princess character dining. It really doesn’t fit (which Princess exactly is from Norway?) and detracts from the authentic experience that World Showcase is trying to create. But I understand that the more typical Norwegian food is still available, just not all the time so if that is the case, I guess it’s better than nothing.

Overall, I think the Norwegian pavilion is the perfect example of one that is truly a ‘commercial’ for the country it represents. It really made me want to go and visit there someday and see all these amazing places, as well as enjoy the warm hospitality of the people. I am glad we went and hope to visit there again someday.

Of roundabouts and 4-way stops

2009-10-08T17:12:00.000+01:00

When I first moved to the UK (almost 13 years ago) I had to learn a lot of things all over again. One of the most useful was to ‘learn’ to drive UK-style.

As you probably already know, the UK driving is on the left – and of course I learned to drive on the right. It’s not just a case of sitting on the other side of the car and going though, think about it: all the controls are in the ‘wrong’ place and the mirrors too! Thankfully the foot pedals are the same but things are different enough that I really did have to take lessons and stuff.

I had been driving for more than 10 years when I had to do all of this. The actual mechanics of driving were the easiest part – the challenge was learning the new rules and driving decently, at least during the test. (Those that know me will agree that I drive like a lunatic with lots of bad habits. I drive pretty decently now, until I get back home and then all those bad habits and lunacies make an appearance!)

Anyway, one thing that was different was roundabouts. In Mexico these are treated like any junction so one road will have the right of way over the other. But here, the rules are different and we give way always to the right (so to those cars that are already in the roundabout). The whole thing felt very weird to me, but thankfully at about that time we were already thinking of moving to Milton Keynes – possibly the world capital of roundabouts. So on our frequent house-searching expeditions, I got a lot of roundabout practice.

The thing about roundabouts though is that they may seem a bit complex but once you grasp the basic rule – give way to the right – they are simple to navigate. There is a clear rule, so the issue of who goes and who stops is non-debatable. It is binary: you either go or you don’t.

Back home we are more familiar with 4-way stops. These junctions work differently – the apparent rule is that whoever gets to the junction first has the right of way. But more commonly, the drivers will actually make some sort of gesture to indicate their preference: usually letting the other car go first. It’s an effective way to negotiate a junction, I think. But the rule isn’t as black or white as it is for roundabouts: some human contact is required to make a decision. I like 4-way stops.

Whenever we are back home and my husband is driving, he trembles with fear at the thought of a 4-way stop. Thing is, he says, he never is sure what to do: who goes first? How does it all work? Why is it always different? I tell him that it’s a matter of simply looking at the other driver and establishing contact. He finds it all very amusing and rather scary.

Roundabouts and 4-way stops are good metaphors for the cultural differences between the UK and America (and I mean this in its correct, Continental sense). Brits like things to be clear and not ambiguous; they will follow rules and do so gladly. Roundabouts are all about rules and clarity. Whereas Americans are more comfortable with human relationships and a bit of confusion, so 4-way stops are perfect for them.

In my case, after much practice I got really good at roundabouts. I like them a lot actually, and embrace the fact that Milton Keynes is famous for its roundabouts. But I am also very capable of navigating through any 4-way stop with ease, and in a way prefer them to roundabouts as they involve human contact, which is always nice.

Does this mean I am a perfect cultural blend? At ease both in the UK and in America? Or does it simply mean that I am a better driver than I used to be?

The haircut that changed my life

2009-09-30T12:00:00.000+01:00

I hadn’t even intended to get my hair cut that day.

I did, however, have an appointment to get my hair styled for my friend’s wedding. This was back in Mexico, where one simply does not attend a wedding; much less a good friend’s wedding, without spending a couple of hours and some money getting our hair professionally done.

So there I was, in the salon on a Saturday afternoon, along lots of other girls who were there doing the same thing I was. The place was buzzing and full of the smell of hairspray, the sound of happy chatter and hair dryers. I was being prepared and suddenly my stylist breezed in, took one look at my hair and said:

“I can’t work with this.”

She was dead serious. But instead of being offended, I actually agreed with her. I couldn’t remember the last time I had my hair cut, other than some trims here and there. I am always so disappointed with haircuts here in the UK – they are expensive and hardly ever do I feel that they helped. I feel that I have to tell the stylist every little thing, when all I want is for someone to use their experience and expertise and tell ME what I need to do with my very thick, very dark, kinda curly hair.

So anyway, this stylist then asked if it would be okay to cut my hair. I agreed – after all, she couldn’t “work” with the mess in front of her. So off she went (presumably to work on someone else) while I waited for the roaming haircut lady. She was with me soon and without asking me what I wanted done, simply said that my hair was in need of layers and without missing a beat she started chopping most of my hair off. Very quickly she was done, then she blow dried it straight and already I could see that she had worked magic. My hair looked amazing!

The stylist then returned and did some amazing things with my hair. It was kind of half up, half down, curly and messy and looked fantastic. I enjoyed the wedding very much and had a great time.

However, it wasn’t until the next morning that I actually realized just how GOOD the haircut was. I washed my hair, dried it as usual and WOW. I had been given the best haircut EVER. The layers were just right that they make my hair still long, but removed all the weight and even enhanced the curl, making my hair much curlier and much less wavy. I loved it.

This haircut really has changed my life. For once I am happy with my hair and I can wash it and not even dry it, and it looks good. I can leave it down and it looks great. I can pile it on my head and it looks pretty. I can play with the curls, making them ringlets or just sexy waves. I can even go to sleep with damp hair and have to do very little to my hair in the morning before I go out. In short, I finally have the hair I always dreamed of – and it turns out I always did, I just hadn’t had the right haircut!

It's all about personal style

2009-09-10T14:13:00.001+01:00

As a scrapbooker, I am generally very restrained. I don’t shop for new stash very often, I don’t get seduced by the latest thing and I make the best of the stuff I already have. I have gone for as long as a year without buying anything new, except basics like adhesive and cardstock when they ran out. Yet my pages are, if I may say so myself, pretty acceptable and in some cases, actually very nice.

Why can’t I be the same way when it comes to clothes?

I am almost the complete opposite when it comes to clothes shopping: I am always buying something new, love getting the latest thing (if it suits) and sometimes do not make the most of what I already have. I have a lot of very pretty things hanging in my closet but, because there are so many things in there, I miss them and never wear them!

How can I convert my scrapbooking resourcefulness into the fashion world? What strategies can I learn from one to apply into the other?

First of all, I should stop the shopping. Just like my stash, my wardrobe shouldn’t grow every day. I should only buy things when I really need them or when I really, really love it. Ideally that item would also complement what I already have and it doesn’t lead into further shopping because I need shoes to go with it or whatever.

I should also do a full inventory of what I already have and what works together. Just like my scrapbooking papers, I should focus on trying to find what works with what and what outfits I could put together with what I already have. When I’m scrapbooking I take great pride in those pages that I managed to pull together from scraps, and this normally works because almost all my papers go together because I only buy things that suit my scrapping style. So in the same way, I should be able to find some fantastic outfits that can be pulled together with what I already have.

After the inventory I may well end up with garments that I definitely do not need – either because they don’t fit, are worn or simply were a mistake from day one. These items should be given away or donated, to reduce the number of pieces I have and make room for the outfits I definitely wear. This is exactly what I do with my stash: I don’t buy too much because I find that this makes choices much harder.

Can I go a whole year without buying any new clothes? I am not sure but I guess it’s worth a try. Limitation may make me even more creative and, who knows, I might end up looking pretty amazing too.

"Meet the Reader"...

2009-08-27T13:06:00.002+01:00

I have been a subscriber to Scrapbook Inspirations since it launched and while I think the magazine is not as good as others, I still subscribe and read every issue I get.

In terms of actual scrapbooking inspiration, well I don’t actually get that many great ideas from the magazine (so much for the title!) but there is one little section that I always read and enjoy. It’s called “Meet the Reader” and it features questions and answers to one of the magazine’s readers. I don’t know how they are chosen and I would love to be in this section. However, I think my chances are slim so as a complete indulgence – and because this is MY blog – I am going to make my own “Meet the Reader” slot right here!

How long have you been scrapbooking?

I actually don’t remember ever starting to scrapbook so in a way I have always done it. I remember way back in the early 90s I started purchasing some supplies specifically designed for scrapbooking and I also remember when paper piecing was THE big thing. So yes, I’ve been doing it forever. And I have the layouts to prove it - in over 25 albums!

What’s your most frequent scrap subject?

My son Samuel, but he is quickly being overtaken by his baby sister Jessica! I also scrap a lot of our holidays and days out.

How much time do you get to scrap?

Not as much as I’d like. I used to do it two or three evenings a week but when I started running I just couldn’t keep up this schedule. Also, the arrival of a baby didn’t help so these days I’m lucky if I get an evening a week. I work full time so evenings are the only available time for me. This means that I have to be an efficient scrapper so that I can make the most of my time. This means I keep my layout simple, use lots of photos and journaling and don't dwell on the little decisions - stick it down and on to the next one!

Do you do any sociable scrapping?

Oh yes! We have an all-day Sunday crop once a month and also meet one evening during the week, also once a month. We also have a retreat once a year when we do nothing but scrap all weekend, away from home and it’s coming up very soon so I can’t wait...

What camera do you use?

I use a Minolta 8 megapixel digital camera which I use the most. I have toyed with the idea of getting an SLR digital but I am not actually sure I would use it much, as the Minolta is so handy and small.

What do you most love about scrapping?

The creative outlet it provides. I like making things and making them look pretty and scrapbooking is one of the things I do to get this ‘out of my system’. I also like the way I can record memories and use my photos creatively, rather than just leave them on a PC or a photo album. I also really enjoy meeting people through crops and sharing our hobby.

Which tool or gadget couldn’t you live without?

I have very, very few tools and gadgets as I’ve been scrapping for a long time and always managed without all the fancy gear! I do love my MM trimmer though and I definitely can’t live without my Zig pens, which I use all the time to journal. And of course my adhesives - can't do much without them.

What technique haven’t you given a go yet?

Anything to do with stitching, fabric or getting my hands dirty. I also don’t use my PC much for scrapbooking, I guess it’s because I’m all about getting pages done quickly and simply and these techniques just take too much time and extra equipment.

Have you tried digital or hybrid scrapping?

I had a little dabble and while it does appeal – especially because I do spend a lot of time with my PC – I think I’m just too attached to the real thing. Besides, I have got too much stash and I need to use it! Maybe I will give digital a try again a bit further down the line but I don't think it is for me.

Tell us a scrapping secret!

I am probably the only scrapper in the world that still attaches eyelets with a hammer! I just can’t justify getting myself a new gadget when my old tools still work just fine...

Copacabana: mystery solved

2009-07-15T09:42:00.003+01:00

It is no secret (perhaps it should be!) that I really like Barry Manilow's music. So I was listening to Copacabana for the millionth time today and I remembered something I've pondered for a long time: why can't anyone figure it out?

If you know the story - and you know you do - we have Lola and her boyfriend Tony who both work at the Copacabana. Rico turns up, starts flirting with Lola and the boys fight. Then "there was blood and a single gunshot, but just who shot who?"

This is the part I don't get. I mean, it works out as a lovely rhyme but it really shouldn't be that difficult to work out who shot who! There was a single gunshot and we know from the song that Lola "lost her Tony" so surely Rico shot Tony. Another possibility could be that both guys ended up dead, in which case the body that has the GSW was shot by the other one (and in that case, how did the non-shot person die? Punched to death?)

For some reason EVERY time I listen to this song I end up a bit cross with it because it's so obvious to me what happened! Or am I missing something?

Thoughts?

PS. YES I should really be spending my time thinking of less trivial things but that's what happens when all I have to think about is baby stuff...

The lost art of letter writing

2009-07-13T12:55:00.000+01:00

Considering how much I like technology, it’s always been a little bit puzzling (at least to me) that I don’t have an electronic diary. Rather, I have a paper one and quite enjoy writing my appointments on it – with pencil in case I have to erase them! I used to have an electronic diary but somehow didn’t ever get on with it, even though it was quite a lovely gadget, but I ended up back on familiar ground with a paper diary and a pencil.

I feel the same about letters. I mean, I love email, as anyone that knows me will attest, but when it comes to writing from the heart, it’s just gotta be on paper and using a nice pen. There is something so different about writing paper letters that just can not be equalled with email.

Email is of course quick and very convenient. I am also a very quick typist so I can write reams and reams in no time at all. However, there are times when I just feel better sitting down with some paper and a pen and pouring my heart out to someone. Or just letting them know that we are all okay. Or even just a quick hello to a friend I may not have seen for a while. Paper letters are lovely and should not be forgotten.

The great thing about mail is that rarely do people complain about having to read a letter – by comparison, how often do people moan about email? Even if the handwriting is not perfect, there is something so personal about people taking the time to sit down and put pen to paper. Nobody ignores a letter. Getting a letter also means that you get something you can keep, something tangible, unlike an email which you could print out of course but isn’t as personal as a letter.

I have a friend that always sends me letters. We’ve lived apart for around 15 years now and she still finds the time to write to me, send me photos of her children and sometimes even tucks in a bookmark or some other gift into the envelope. I always write back, because I love getting her letters so much and it’s only fair that she gets the same joy from me. Letters take forever to get to us so in-between letters we still email but it’s somehow not quite as nice. I love getting the envelope, looking at the stamp, at the postmark and then settling down to read it when I get a moment’s peace.

Considering I’m a paper crafter I really should write MORE letters but I don’t. I make all these cards and things and then almost have no one to send them to so I’ve started sending letters out to my friends. They say that the best way to get letters is to send them, so that’s what I’ve started doing. Even though I email pretty much everyone these days, I have made a vow to send more letters and to always reply to the ones I do get. I spend time making a card or decorating notepaper and then I sit down, put pen to paper and write...

It may feel quaint and old fashioned, like a paper diary, but letter writing is such a nice thing to do and we should all do it more. So start writing – and if you send me one rest assured that I will definitely write back!

He was here to change the world

2009-06-26T08:31:00.003+01:00

Millions of words have already been written and, no doubt, million more will be written about the sudden death of Michael Jackson. He touched so many lives (not always in a good way) and he was simply the most famous person on Earth. He was also a part of my life in many ways.

When I was a teenager I idolized the man, like mostly everyone else did in the 80s. One of my first scrapbooks was all about Michael Jackson! My dream then was to see him in concert and I would have done except for my inability to get good grades in Math (long story...)

When my family finally got satellite TV and I discovered MTV, the very first video I saw was Thriller and I was amazed. It set the bar very high for all other videos and I remember at the time being very disappointed that other videos weren't 15 minutes long and had movie-style credits at the end. And the dancing: WOW. I loved the whole thing and of course bought the Thriller album, like millions of people did.

His connections to Disney are well documented and of course his most famous was the Captain EO 3D video that played for a long time in Epcot. It was some amazing piece of film - directed by Coppola, written by George Lucas and starring music by Michael Jackson himself. How cool is that? I know that a lot of people didn't quite rate the video but I loved it. I also remember watching the "making of" show on the Disney Channel more than once.

I could identify with his Disney obsession, after all, if I had the money I probably would also try to build Disneyland in my back garden! Recently there was that auction that never really happened, of items from MJ's house and within it there were hundreds of items made by Disney especially for him, like a gorgeous Peter Pan installation that was designed especially to fit the space on the inside of the house, with characters flying all around the ceiling - I loved that. I was also so jealous that he owned so many priceless pieces of Disney art!

As I got older I suppose the obsession tapered off to appreciation and while I still loved the music, I didn't quite get the person that he was turning into, with all the weirdness and the court cases. It was the mid 90s and was then when I moved to Florida to work at WDW for a year. I did in fact see Michael Jackson while I was working in Disney, in his disguise as an arab woman and while I wasn't allowed to approach him or even show that I knew who it was, it certainly was an exciting day for me. I was also struck by how small he was in real life. And how big his entourage was.

While living and working at Disney I met a lot of lovely people and among them was this guy who was very cute and also happened to like Michael Jackson. On a trip to the mall he bought the History album (2 disc set) and as he didn't have a CD player, I suggested he come round to mine so that we could listen to the album. It turned out to be a memorable evening, where we heard the whole thing twice (remember, 2 disc set!) and talked about everything and anything. That night things changed and we went from friends to a couple... all because of a Michael Jackson CD.

We got on so well that we eventually got married and I moved to the UK to be with him! One of the first things that we did when we moved to the UK was to go to Wembley and see Michael Jackson in concert - finally! It was an amazing show and I am almost embarrassed to admit that I too cried when he came out, just like you always see his fans do on every concert... it was very emotional and the show blew me over.

So Michael Jackson has always been there, sort of moving my life along. Every year we celebrate our 'anniversary' on the 25th June - the date that we got together to listen to History. We celebrate by listening to the album again and chatting like we did then... and we were doing just that last night... and then woke up to the sad news that the dude is gone.

So lots and lots of words will be written, some good, some bad but there is no doubt that Michael Jackson was a talented artist and perhaps a little bit weird; he was the most famous person in the world and also the most famous Disney fan of all; he was Captain EO and the father of 3 children. He was weird and wonderful and, like it was said of Walt Disney when he died, we shall never see his like again.

RIP Michael and thank you for the music.

Teacher presents

2009-06-17T11:16:00.004+01:00

It will soon be the end of the school year and time to get creative and put together something nice for my son's teachers... and this year I am trying to be organized so I've done them already!

I always try to make something (rather than just buy it) and also try to get my son to participate or at least to have some sort of input into what we're doing. This year I had the idea to make photo note cards but I thought that using a photo of my son would not make these note cards incredibly useful to the recipient. I mean, my son is cute but why would any of his teachers want his smiling face on a note card?

So instead I scanned a picture he made in school, which had his name written on the front, and used that as the artwork in the note cards. To make my life simple, I simply uploaded the image to the Kodak Gallery and ordered the note cards there, as I bought quite a few they were very reasonable. But I could have also simply ordered prints and then glued a photo to the front of a blank note card. Or even cheaper is to make my own note cards and envelopes but to be honest, I was into saving time.

Once the note cards arrived, I had to think of a clever way to present them and I had the idea to make some sort of note card holder. After some searching I found this video tutorial on how to make a very cute and easy note card holder (the tutorial also has instructions on how to make cute postcards for the inside, which is another cute idea). So I quickly whipped up a few of these holders using supplies I already had and voila! Teacher presents all sorted out. All I need to do now is slip them into some clear plastic wrappers, add a nice gift tag and present them to the (hopefully delighted) teachers.

I'm very pleased with how they turned out - they are all different as I'm using different papers and ribbons so the one pictured on this post is just an example. I think I may use this idea more often as it makes lovely presents that are easy to post!

The 80s are back! Or are they?

2009-06-15T13:14:00.003+01:00

Last week I was in the shopping center and when I went to one of my favorite stores, I was amazed to find an incredible amount of neon clothes - just like I remembered from the 80s! They had the lot: the legwarmers, fingerless gloves, bangles, head bands... everything in bright pink or orange or yellow. It sure took me back to my younger days.

I know that the 80s are big right now (and I'm not looking forward to shoulder pads again, but apparently they're on the way back) and like all fashions, it will eventually give way to another revival and that will go and another take its place... and so on. In fashion everything old is new again, eventually.

In the scrapbooking world it is often the same thing: trends come and go but somehow the 80s never really come back. I know not many scrappers remember those heady days when we cut photos into shapes, used bright patterned paper for everything and put together paper piecings. Sure, the trend for brighter colors seems to be making headway into the scrapping world, but what about the more embarassing 80s scrapbooking trends? Were they really that bad (like poodle perms) and bound never to return? Do I have to get rid of my Paperkins and page toppers?

To be fair, horrible 80s trends like blue mascara and enormous hair are NOT making a comeback, at least not this time around and the trends focus instead on a more 'refined' version of what we wore in the 80s. I guess as time goes by, we pick the good bits and leave the bad ones behind, and scrapbooking is simply doing the same. But I would just love to see someone cutting photos into cutesy shapes again!

I went into my pile of old scrapbooks to find an authentic 80s layout to use as illustration on this blog post but, like my embarassing 80s photos with huge hair and blue lashes, I think it's best to keep them where they are...

Sainsbury's vs. Marks & Spencer - the battle for nostalgia

2009-05-26T16:55:00.004+01:00

It appears that the latest marketing trend is to look back nostalgically at the 'good old days'. For example, Sainsbury's latest TV ad is all about heritage and history. The theme is "Trying something new for 140 years" and takes the viewer on a visual journey across the company's main milestones in these years.

Marks & Spencer, a competitor, have a very similar campaign out there also, celebrating 125 years. In this TV ad they have Twiggy going back in time on a visual journey across the company's milestones in these years... sound familiar?

I wonder what the marketing teams in both companies think about these very, very similar campaigns!! I also note that both commercials include the mention of avocados and the claim of having 'introduced' them to the UK...

The ads are so similar that I wonder what happened there - coincidence or something more sinister?

Which one do you like best?