Fire and Ice

Time has flown by since the last time!  I am now about two weeks away from WDW and I can’t even tell you how much I’m looking forward to it all. I’ve been busily completing the last-minute admin but also keeping up with all the latest news, closures, menus and other fun things.  One thing that I have found incredibly useful at this point of the planning is the Touring Plans app which, full disclosure, was a gift from Len Testa. However, they haven’t asked me to promote it at all and all opinions are my own. Having used both the app and the website for a few weeks now I will say that so far it is worth the money! I haven’t used it in the parks, which I guess is the true test, but so far it has been an invaluable planning tool. Touring plans in general have never really been my thing, as I’ve mentioned before . I just can’t face all the planning and lack of spontaneity that these things entail so I’ve never really been down this road before. This time though I feel so pressured...

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 pass...

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...

This is a beach near Bournemouth (UK) in August: Note the grey skies (remember, this is August!), it was actually chilly enough that day for me to be sitting on the beach with a sweater on. It was very crowded as this was the last weekend of summer holidays so people were determined to get out regardless of the grim weather. Also notice those brightly colored windbreaker things: such a weird thing! My thoughts are, if you need those things you shouldn’t be sitting outside… It didn't deter people though - some children were even swimming in the ice-cold seas and of course you can see all these people sitting out in what is pretty ugly weather. This part of Dorset has some of the few beaches in the UK that actually have sand so at least it was soft to sit on, and not on pebbles which is more common. But the beach is pretty small and everyone is crowded on a very tiny space: imagine what it's like on a NICE day! But anyway, compare this to a photo of Miami Bea...

When we went to Croatia I made sure I took my running shoes as I've grown to really like my runs in other places. Not only does it make me feel virtuous and healthy, it is also a great way to enjoy a few quiet moments enjoying the new surroundings. So I made time to fit in a short and scenic run while I was over there. The run started a little boringly by just running along a road but it was downhill and you could see the ocean in the distance! The road soon turned and I ran alongside this luxurious private villa. It didn't appear to have any guests, which is a shame as it has some gorgeous views on a beautiful day like today. This is the main path I was running on - on the left I had a lot of mountain and on the right a sheer drop into the clear blue sea below. Can you tell that it's a little hilly? Another view of the scenic path, with the Lapad in the distance. Although it was warm this section of the run was quite shady and with a cool breeze so very pleasant. It wasn...

As I’ve said before, I am not one of those scrappers that buys a lot of stash a lot of the time. I used to, though but thankfully this was when I started scrapping ‘properly’ and the variety of materials and tools available isn’t what it is now. So even though I shopped a lot, I still don’t have a huge stash. Through the years, more and more things have become available and I am so bewildered with choice that I shop less and less. The last couple of years I have literally just bought essentials (adhesives, page protectors, that kind of stuff) and had one or two big shops a year. I am trying very hard to use what I have and I think I am winning - and have even had big clearouts where I let go of those things that I just know I will never use, that perhaps came from kits or from some impromptu shopping spree years ago. Last weekend I was putting together kits to take to my Tuesday crop and I must admit I found it a little harder than usual: I am running a little low on stuff. ...

When I booked our holiday to Croatia I knew only a few things about this country: it used to be part of Yugoslavia they have a good football team they also have good tennis players Dr Kovac from ER is Croatian After spending a week in and around Dubrovnik I have now learned a lot more about the country but have also grown to appreciate it’s beauty and the kindness of the people – not to mention the fabulous food and sparkling clear seas. We stayed in Babin Kuk peninsula, in the Club Valamar hotel which was all inclusive (well, it includes all meals) and has a lot of activities on offer. It proved to be an ideal base for us, travelling with a little boy, as it was very easy to get to Dubrovnik on the bus but it was also a nice place to come back and relax in or use the facilities. It was also exciting to wake up in the mornings and find that yet another huge cruise ship was just outside the window! Dubrovnik itself is beautiful. I hadn’t quite ap...

It's very hard to come home, especially when it's been so sunny in Croatia and we've come back to the most awful weather here in the UK. Croatia was beautiful and we had a great time. I will write more in future posts but I'll leave you with this photo for now, to cheer me up on such a dreary, cold, rainy, grey day. Isn't it beautiful?

...or rather, on vacation. I'm heading off for (hopefully) sunny Dubrovnik, for a week of rest, relaxation, family fun and sightseeing. I've never been to Croatia before so I'm really looking forward to it. I will of course be taking photos. Too many photos! So there will be plenty to scrap when I get back and I will add another weird stamp onto my passport. Ah, the advantages of not having an EU passport - I always get a stamp. It makes my passport look used and makes me feel like an actual world traveler. Never mind that most of my travel is to the USA or Western Europe but hey a stamp is a stamp, right? See you when I get back!

I went to my all-day crop yesterday in Olney and had a very enjoyable and productive time. There was such nice atmosphere there yesterday and we all chatted and gossiped and created amazing layouts as well as trying some very yummy cakes) I worked mainly on my Florida album which focuses on all the other things we did while down there in January except for the marathon (because as you know that is the subject of a separate album ). Some of the pages I worked on yesterday are below. I'm trying to stick to a very limited supply list for this album, which makes the job easier as well as creates a unified look. So the patterned paper is mainly DCWV ( Pocket full of posies ), the cardstock is both Bazzill and DCWV , and the chipboard flowers are Maya Road . The Journaling is on Seven Gypsies cards or using Autumn Leaves fantastic journaling stamps. I also used letter stamps from Autumn Leaves and Rusty Pickle and even some Heidi Swapp ghost letters . This first one is simply showing ...