52 ways to look after yourself, challenge 10

Fresh Start



This week i would like you to pick pick a day, probably the weekend is best. Start that day on the right side of the bed- from the inside of course, lol, with a slap up gourmet breakfast in bed.

Make lots of hints to somebody, even go that extra mile whilst out shopping and let a few of your favourite things slip into the trolley, your favourite Colombian coffee, a fancy English tea or some tropical fruit juice. How about something really indulgent such as toasted teacakes lashed with butter to start off with.

Don't let who ever is pampering you get off lightly, hint at the fancy red rose and softly serenading background music, lol, you can but try. And try and squeeze in a lingering hug to start the day of!

So this weeks LO has to represent your favourite indulgent breakfast or if you don't go with the full works every now and ago, describe what you do go for.

I am a toast kinda girl usually. The toast has to go cold, then thickly spread with butter and shreddless marmalade. But DH does a mean full english now and again with black pudding, and cheesy tomatoes, Mm mm yum. But since moving to Scotland i just love butteries with butter and a nice cold glass of tropical fruit juice.

And Carolinez new bon appetite kit would go perfect with this weeks challenge. And this weekend Caroline has 25% off as a forum special so why not sign up now and get your discount

As always the prize box is being added too and is getting quite full. Cant wait to see all your favourite breakfasts, lol

Sarah

52 ways to look after yourself, challenge 9

[B]Early to rise[/B]

This week i want you to get up early and appreciate the quiet. Whether you are already an early raiser or make a point of getting up a little bit early, take time before the daily rush of the day and savour that sweet stillness of a sunrise.

Early morning for me is a magical time for catching up on the little jobs that cant be done with the family around such as checking email, planning college work or quietly reflecting on things to yourself. There's nothing that really needs to be done, no place to be, so enjoy it.

Its free time for you to brew a little coffee, write in a art journal, take the dog for a walk, listen to the birds singing, its up to you. You may want to have a slightly earlier night in readyness for the day.

And for your LO this week you can create a lo about your early start, your feeling, your routine, whether this is a one off for you or a regular occurance.

Enjoy that peace

Sarah

52 ways to look after yourself, challenge 8

Break time: Come fly with me

This week I would like you plan your ultimate holiday. If you are like me, you will have a ultimate destination in mind already for when the kids have flown the nest and you have saved for that rainy day.

You will probably have a dream of flying away somewhere really exotic, be it a cultural tour of the orient, a safari in Africa or a bush tucker tour of Australia.

So take time to plan your dream holiday, go on the net and search out all those tourist hot spots or hunt out those little secret places hidden away. Taylor your plans to what suits you, be it 5 star luxury or back packer hostels way of the beaten track. Make your LO to represent that ultimate dream and one day it just might come true, I hope mine does.



I made my LO about Las Vegas as it is my dream to one day go and have a second honeymoon at vegas. What happens in vegas, stays in vegas, lol. I just love all the glam, glitze, cheese. I would people watch the gambling, show and dinner everynight, csi tours, the works. I also used the Teresa Collins travel collection which you can buy in Carolinez new october kit here for £13.75 or caroline has an offer on so why not take advantage of both bon apetite and travel kits for £25.

So go in, indulge in a little luxury of dreaming and bon voyage

Sarah

52 ways to look after yourself challenge 6

Film Festival



This week i want you to take advantage of the rubbish weather we have been having. Get that heating on, light the coal fire and just chill out for a bit.

Organize your very own private film festival to highlight your favourite actor, comedian or director. If you are doing this as a family, each pick a favourite to watch. If you are doing this alone, go for all those mushy tear jerkers, lol.

And remember, a true film festival is not complete without snacks, popcorn or icecream. Dont feel guilty about it, you need sustenance for all that viewing.

So for your LO this week i want you to create something about your mini festival or your favourite films. Have a think about why you love the same type of film all the time, why it appeals to you. Come up with some lists and again incorperate into your LO.

So here is mine. Yesterday we all stayed in PJ's for the day, got the coal fire glowing and sat like couch potatoes all day. We had a Simon Pegg day and watched " Run fat boy run" and " Hot Fuzz ". We also had a spatering of kids movies and even a christmas film to get us in the mood for the cold coming months. We had plenty of snacks thru out the day.

On my LO i have two hidden journal cards which both list my favourite all time films and why i love the type of films i do.



Cant wait to see what you come up with. Happy viewing

In the prize box this week i will add a selection of blooms. Remember to pop on over to the forum to join in. Link on the right hand side.

Sarah

52 ways to look after yourself, challenge 5

The sound wave

This week i want you to indulge your soul with some music. Take a trip to a music store and pick up a new CD or rummage thru your CD pile and find a good old faithful that you just love to go back to listen too time and time again.

Get swept away in the music. Turn up that stereo: there are just some songs that deserve to be played at full volume.

Once you get started, keep picking out some of your favourite songs and just sing your heart out or quietly remember what you where doing when you fell in love with that song.

For your LO this week you can do a number of things. Make a list of some of your favourite songs. Or be more specific and tell a story about those songs that make you happy in 2008. Another option is too pick your favourite song and make your LO to tell the story of why its your favourite.

So here is my LO for this week.

I got all arty with this one and used basic grey paper with tissue paper, acrylic paint and some sort of attempt at doodling.











And this week i am adding a little ribbon bundle to the prize box.

Cant wait to see what you come up with this time. As allways pop on over to carolinez craftz to post your LO's.

Happy listening

Sarah

52 ways to look after yourself, challenge 4

So here is this weeks challenge, celebrating another of my favourite past times, reading.

Take it literarily

For this weeks challenge I would like you to indulge yourself in some reading. Go to your favourite book shop, the kind that has nice cosy couches and a coffee shop, your local dusty old unusual book shop or your local library.
Spend a few hours in the craft section, wonder around the cooking section, and dream in the soppy romantic section.

Review old favourites or discover some authors. Maybe pick a book that really wants you to read more and go ahead and buy it. If budget is an issue, take a note and look in your local charity shops or ask the library if they can get it in for you.

Whilst you are whiling away your time at the book shop, think about all your favourite books/authors. Make a list.
So for this week’s LO, either take some pictures whilst at the shop or a picture of you reading that favourite book. Try and include that list of favourite books/authors somewhere on the page.

Happy reading

Here is my LO. Its me reading the latest Rebus book by Ian Rankin, one of my favourite authors.







And this weeks prize to be added to the box is a packet of primary coloured flower brads.



So its still not to late to catch up and join in. The prize box gets bigger and bigger.

Bye for now

Sarah

52 ways to look after yourself challenge 3

So here is this weeks challenge. I am so loving these challenges as i am really getting looked after for once.

So here is challenge 3: Paint the town

This week i would like you to spend some time with a loved one, be it husband, partner, Best friend, someone who means alot to you.

Every now and again its good to blow the budget and liberate a few pounds for a splurge. So make a date with a loved one.

Start with maybe a trip out for the day, do a bit of clothe shopping for the date. As for the date, get all dressed up and head out for a night on the town. Start with a trip to the cinema or to see a band and carry on for a nice meal out.

Once home sit all cosy on the couch and chat about nothing whilst watching your fav tv shows until late.

Now for those who have a budget, send the kids away if you can or put them to bed earlyish. Get a take away but lay the table all fancy. Chill out with some nice wine.

The aim of this challenge is to take time out together, chat, relax and have some peace and quite. Its up to you what you do for your date.

Enjoy

Here is my LO. We ditched the kids and hit the movies and a meal and had a great night out.









And here is a little something that is going into the box this week. I just love these 7 gypsies Hudson Valley Card stock pages in 8 x 8, perfect for the album from week 1.



So its not too late to join in the challenge. Head on over to Carolinez Craftze forumz to join in.

Until next week when i will be back with another challenge.

Sarah

Challenge 2

Its slightly late as i was too busy enjoying myself at our fantastic craft weekend featuring Dyan Reavely, but that's a whole other huge post to follow, lol

So here is challenge 2.

This week is all about food for thought. When in doubt, eat cake. Why not take a trip to your favourite bakers or walk to the cake section in the local supermarket instead of taking the alternative route past it like I do!.

Splurge on a fancy fruit tart, go for a full fat triple whipped cream sticky bun or a very fattening double chocolate fudge cake.

Its up to you what you buy as your treat but take a picture of it before you take time to indulge. Create a LO of your chosen cake and describe why its your favourite, and how it feels to take time to eat your treat. Be as bold as you want.

Here is my LO. As you may know I don’t eat chocolate as it causes huge migraines but every now and then I will indulge in a special chocolate cake and blow the headache. I just couldn’t resist buying these little home bakes when I spotted then in a trendy café window.





And here is a picture of the prize that will be added to the box this week. A gorgous little & gypsies matchbook kit, so cute.



I hope you can join in soon. Head over to the forum to see all the rules and info.

Happy eating

Sarah

52 ways to look after yourself challenge 1

Well today is the launch of my challemge over at Carolinez Cratx forumz. Its very important to take time out each week and give yourself a little treat. So whay not combine this with your love of scrapbooking as well.

So here is the first challenge. The first challenge kicks right off with some little pampering of the hair. If you are able to this week, go and make an appointment at the hairdressers and get your hair done. Let a professional fuss over you and maybe go for a new look, get some bright new highlights or a new colour.

If you can’t make it to the hairdressers, give yourself a makeover. Treat your self to some deep intense conditioners or hot oils. Set your hair in curlers overnight, get the straightners out. Play around with the blow dryer and create a new do.
Whatever you do, make it a well and truly me occasion.

Once you are done, take a picture of your new look and create a LO that expresses how you feel in your new look.

Happy pampering

Here is my LO for the challenge. there is no greater feeling than on the day you have your hair done, at least until the next time you wash it and it never goes back the way it was.









Just a few rules to be in with a chance of winning the prize box. And remember i will add a little something each week so the box will be jam packed after 52 challenges. You have to register on carolinez craftz forum and you have to have completed all challenges set to win. If you join in, start your own thread to post your LO's. You can find all the details here

Hope to see you there. Happy pampering

X Sarah X

A brand new challenge

52 ways to look after yourself challenge.

I have launched a new BOM challenge over at Carolinez Craft. Here is the blurb

" We at Carolinez Craftz understand how important it is to look after yourself so have decided to launch a book of me (BOM) challenge with a difference. We want you to take time out once a week and look after yourself.

So for the next 52 weeks we will set you a challenge that will not only encourage some "me time" but will get you trying things that you would never usually have indulged in or scrapped. We will also throw in some crafting techniques and sketches to keep you interested in the long haul.

Some examples of the type of thing you will do are seen here.

Born Free: Its Playtime. Unleash your true animal nature and go wild. Spin around in circles, climb a tree, swing in the park, wrestle with the dog. Let yourself go for once and dont give it a second thought of how silly you may look. Take the picture that represents this playtime and scrap it, include journalling that represents how you felt being free.

Delicious Memories: Pamper your soul by taking a trip down memory lane through your most delicious memories.

Look through your photos of your best holidays or favourite tourist spots that you have visited. Take a peek at warm family and friend moments. Relish in the sweetness of these memories and scrap them.

Does that sound interesting. If so, then pop along to the forum and register as a new member if you are not already a member or just click on the banner on the right hand side to take you direct to the thread.

But here is something else to vet your interest. Sarah will put together a box of goodies for someone to win at the end of the 52 weeks. Each week a new prize will be added to the box and a picture added to the forum for you to see the goodies"

I hope you can join me in this BOM with a difference.

X Sarah X