Reasons to be Cheerful

For more information on what Reasons to Be Cheerful (#R2BC) is all about please check out this post from Michelle at Mummy from the Heart for a full description.

This week's Reasons to be Cheerful: 

1. My exam (and therefore my course) is over! I'm glad to see the back of it. I really struggled with it as there was a lot of information to take in and remember, not good when Anti D's and mental health problems mess with my motivation, concentration, and memory! 
2. My new course started last Saturday, I'm yet to start properly as I need to just let my head stop feeling like it is going to explode, but it's creative writing, so something I enjoy.
3. After the really stressful day on Tuesday my exam (I'm confident with one question! :-0 but its worth 30%), Little Lady gave me a proud mummy moment and walked all the way across the room. She has been standing and taking 2 or 3 steps for a few weeks so it has been coming for a while, but it was like she new I needed it! Aren't kiddos amazing?
4. I had a break from the revision to link up with Wendy at Handmade Harbour for her Midweek Papercraft Party, I did a very basic Halloween card / invite, but it was a great distraction from the stress. I'm hoping to join up with this week's theme of Men and boys. 
5. Speaking of Halloween, have you seen the Alex and Alexa Blogger competition? I have blogged details here. 
6. Because of my exam and revision, Daddy had booked a week off. I like to say we had some lovely family time, but we didn't really, I was too busy. Little Lady has enjoyed spending lots of time with him though. Hopefully, we will do something as a family, or even just as a couple, soon.
7. I am planning a few Christmas posts at the moment, mainly crafty and gift inspired.
8. I put on a LOT of weight this week. I know that isn't a reason to be cheerful and I certainly wasn't. I expected a bit of a gain due to Daddy cooking and me snacking on sandwiches etc. due to lack of time. But it did mean I had a bottle of Rioja and some chocolate! lol Onwards and upwards, I'm back to eating normally again.

So over to you, what are your reasons to be cheerful?

Reasons to be Cheerful

For more information on what Reasons to Be Cheerful (#R2BC) is all about please check out this post from Michelle at Mummy from the Heart for a full description.

This week's Reasons to be Cheerful: 

1. My exam is on Tuesday and I'm really struggling, so will be glad to see the back of it!
2. Although I would have preferred a break, my new course starts today, it's advanced writing and I'm glad to get back to something I'm good at!
3. I lost another 2lbs this week at Slimming World. Expecting a bad week this week as I am using every spare minute to revise, so cooking and having breaks isn't really on the agenda...
4. I had a fabulous night with my best friend on Wednesday, even if it did mean wandering the streets in the rain and contemplating a break in! lol
5. Little Lady is doing well, although I suspect she's having a growth spurt or coming down with something as she's really tired, she not giving in though which is making her (and mummy) cranky.
6. I've found some crafty things I want to make for Christmas presents. One involves using Kiki's old clothes I haven't got around to ebaying, so watch out for some crafty posts (when I find the time).
7. I entered the weight loss tracker I made for myself and friend into Handmade Harbour's paper craft party, and won! Check out my shiny winner's badge on the right side bar :-)
8. I continued with my group and felt a bit more comfortable this week, it really helps me that other are going through the same thing if you know what I mean, obviously I'd rather nobody ever suffered mental health difficulties.

So over to you, what have you been up to this week? 

What are your reasons to be cheerful? Do let me know.

Reasons to be Cheerful

For more information on what Reasons to Be Cheerful (#R2BC) is all about please check out this post from Michelle at Mummy from the Heart for a full description.

This week's Reasons to be Cheerful: 

1. Little Lady is settling in well with the childminder. I really like the childminder too, instantly made me feel at ease.
2. I have made a start on revision for my OU exam, which is good as I only have 11 days left!
3. I lost another 3lb at Slimming World. So I have now lost my first stone, well actually 16lbs so far :) Only another 8lbs to my 10% loss goal.
4. On Friday, I attended a Introduction to Group work meeting at Leeds Mind. I was so anxious the night before and felt so sick, and did my usual trick of babbling away ******** to cover my nerves! But I survived. I think it helps that everyone understands and shares mental health issues. I started the group meetings on Tuesday, and again fought through the anxiety to get there, but felt it helped once there.
5. Both me and Kiki have had cold this week; for Little Lady this meant she struggled to sleep as she couldn't breathe well; for me, I just feel shocking, tired, aching, etc. I have ended up with painful ribs too, I suspect through coughing. I fought through the urge to just stuff my face with chocolate. I did mention I'm a comfort eater, right? So I'm feeling proud of myself for that.
6. Even with my cold crappiness, I have managed to keep exercising. Not as much, I have had two days off though.
7. I gave my friend her weight loss tracker to keep her motivated at Slimming World and she loved it. 
8. I'm still trying to organise my crafty corner, and have started scanning all my patterns and 'how to's'.

 So over to you, what have you been up to this week? What are your reasons to be cheerful? Do let me know.

Cheap Weight Loss Tracker Craft

Whilst browsing on eBay recently, I came across Weight Loss Journey mini chalkboards.

 Now I liked the idea by handmadebyzoe2012 but at £8.50 including postage, it seemed a little expensive. So I did what any crafter does in these situations, I look to see how much it would be to buy the component pieces and made my own.

 Firstly,  I bought 2 MDF plaques with 3 hearts each, for a total of £4.95, figured I'd make one for my friend who is currently joining me a Slimming World. I bought mine pre-cut from agilisltd on eBay.

Agilis crafts & Personalised Gifts do various shapes and sizes, check them out here.

I also bought some chalkboard paint, again from eBay. I chose spray paint as I figured it would be easier to get a smoother surface.

I purchased this from gr8value2you. I actually bought two because I have an idea for the other... 

It was £5.10 including postage.  

 Both sellers dispatched orders next day, so I received with a few days, very happy and will use both again.

I decided to spray the plaques as well as the heart, I thought I could add an inspirational message maybe. Or just write the heart details, This Week, Total, To target.

*hint* lay it on greaseproof paper when spraying, it's easier to clean and doesn't stick.

 I applied 3 coats of chalkboard paint, letting each layer dry for about 30 minutes.

Once dried, I didn't spray the back as they are to be hung up, but you could, I choose some ribbon to attach the hearts. After playing around with lengths, I cut and tied it.

I wrote lbs on to the 6 hearts, 3 for each.

I decided to add cupcakes as the design. I used a free digi stamp from Wendy at Handmade Harbour's shop. Available here.

  

I cropped the stamp to just the cupcake, and then in photoshop edited the banner.

 I coloured the cupcakes in.

I cut out the cupcake, wrote on the banners, This Week..., So Far..., ...'til Target, and applied to a holographic purple card background. I then added several layers of Mod Podge matt to seal it.
As this dulled the holographics, I added a couple of layers of Mod Podge sparkle.

I glued the card in to place, and done!

What do you think?

Reasons to be Cheerful

Hey guys, guess what? My first reason to be cheerful this week is? 

I am on time! Woo hoo!

For more information on what Reasons to Be Cheerful (#R2BC) is all about please check out this post from Michelle at Mummy from the Heart for a full description.

OK so on to this week's reasons to be cheerful:

1.  I have an appointment with a childminder this evening, filled with trepidation,questions, and guilt, but that's because I am a good mother, right?!
2. I'm excited to be involved in something new, Give Mums a Break, a new venture for mums, started by the lovely Kate. Check it out here: Give Mums A Break 
3. I posted on there about childcare and was given lots of advice and support. Nice people, check it out.
4. The lovely Kate also helped me this week with some PR information. I love that the blogging community is always willing to help out.
5. I actually managed to do some crafting this week. I made my friend's birthday card, I think it's cute. What do you think? 
   
   
   
   
6.  I don't get involved with Wobbles Wednesday, #WobbleWednesday  but thinking I should perhaps as my actual Slimming World weigh in is a Wednesday! lol So this marks my first foray in to Wobbliness, although I've been wobbly for many years :)
7. And obviously following that reason to be cheerful, I should tell you my major reason this week... At my Slimming World weigh in, I have lost 6lbs this week! Woo hoo! That's 11lbs in 2 weeks. I was also Slimmer of the Week. I know it's still early days, and I am exercising too, but I know the weight loss will slow and I won't get such great results each week, and there is obviously a long way to go, but go me! I'm proud of myself. And that, my friends, doesn't happen often! 
   
   
   
   

So over to you, what do you have to smile about this week.
Oh incidentally on smile, Wendy at Handmade Harbour is now running weekly papercraft link party and giveaways, this week's theme is smile.