It Arrived!

Well, you know I was mad to place my first Scentsy order - I chose my burner and then spent ages going back over the samples to choose my smellies. The catalogue said the fragrances came in packs if three, so I was thinking (like most other things you buy) that was three packs of the same scent. Hmmm, choosing one I liked that much was prooving tricky, so I rang Aideen and she told me I could pick any three and so the dilemma contined!

Did I mention how odd about smells I am?

I absolutely  hate artificial smells - fabric conditioner is totally banned in my house, the smell of Juicy Fruit chewing gum is enough to send me over the edge,so I was slightly doubtful that I would like any of these.

However, I found three I really liked and placed my order on Sunday.

 Then I wondered how long would they take to get to her, and then she would have to post it to me, and how much would that cost? All the time dying to test these things...

On Thursday I came home to find a lovely big Scentsy box on the table!! the cost that you pay includes direct shipping and I was really surprised how quickly it got here. :)

My burner is much prettier than it was in the catalogue, and it has lights (I thought I had ordered one without lights) but this has turned out to be a good thing because it means I remember to turn it off!

Here it is sitting on my little table in front of the book shelf - I chose to burn the "Simply Basil" first - I wish this was a scratch n sniff blog because it is sooooo delicious!!

                                                             
                                                                 Told you it was pretty!

I have had this burning everyday since I got it and I don't notice the wax going down yet (when I say burning, I mean heating - there is no flame so its safe to leave on all day) I think it will be more cost efficient then scented candles.
I'm still waiting on the Scentsy fairies to tidy and organize my house..... perhaps they come in a separate delivery??!!
 xxx

Scentsy Post!!

Look what arrived this morning!

My friend Aideen who lives in Galway has just become an agent for Scentsy. I have only heard of this concept from various American friends who mention them on Youtube. You know those amazing house organisational videos with the tidy larders and laundry rooms that aren't full of dust bunnies and odd socks, well those women all talk about their Scentsy fragrances.

So, when Aideen announced she was going to have this product I thought, "Aha! I will have a nice smelling home and the Scentsys can tidy it for me!" (obviously the smelly stuff must have something to do with the tidyness right?)

Being the Sweetheart that she is she sent samples....... and being the fussy bag that I am I said, "nothing fruity, flowery or vanilla" I am impressed that she still had this many to send me!

I think i'm leaning towards Basil, or maybe one of the cinnamon or clove based ones. I have picked out my burner - its one without a light, picking the scent is really hard!

So, if you are in Ireland and want a nice whiff to your home contact Aideen, "scentsational by Aideen" on facebook (and no, she hasn't paid me to say these nice things about her product!!)

I'll invite you all over for a smell when the Scentsy elves have cleaned and organized everything!

Week One of Meal Planning.....

Well, its Monday and I have BEEN SHOPPING!!!! I planned out four meals, (weekends don't count because I don't cook then and one day in the week we eat leftovers, so four meals is enough) because we have both meat and non-meat eaters it is never simple! I took my list to the supermarket (two of them actually) and this is what I brought back........

Those yellow things on the right are tulips, they weren't  on the list but they were pretty!

So, today we are having Shepherds Pie, I have to make two, one veggie, one with real shepherds (!)
Tomorrow is curry and rice, then Lasagna (again two) and then Bangers and Mash (Quorn sausages for me, they insist on Yorkshire puddings, peas and gravy with it which is actually yummy!)

I'm mad impressed that i've gotten this far! There are the makings of a cake in that lot too, if I make it now I can test it with a cup of tea, just to make sure I won't poison them you see......


Here are the tulips so you can see how pretty they are.

January Nesting....

Every January I get this longing to put my house and life in order - I write lists (I do this all year, but especially in January) these lists cover all manner of things, things i'd like to achieve, things i'd like to do regularly. By the end of the year some things have been done, some started and then forgotten and some things just keep turning up on the list because I never do them!

These are some of this years list:

Organize every inch of storage space in my house - this means in the kitchen and the dreaded Cupboard under the stairs.

Learn how to take decent photos so that I can document the progress of the above.

Run a bit more often.

Get my accounts in order - this is one of the re-occurring ones, but this year I have a tip or two to help.

Get to grips with the meal planning that I started and gave up last year and do only one food shop a week*

* - this may be normal to most people but I hate food shopping, I don't plan ahead and consequently end up shopping for each dinner EACH DAY!!!! so my lack of organisation is making my least favourite activity happen more often.
WHY AM I NOT LEARNING FROM THIS???!!!!

Another recurring one - blog more often. If I write about more subjects then I will obviously have more posts to share. ( Am I a genius or what?!) so, I intend to include any renovation projects, maybe the odd recipe, better quality photos and lots of art. These will all be blogged about honestly, so if it goes wrong you will see it, if I'm working all day in my pyjamas with my hair looking a terrible mess, thats the photo you will see, because trying to be perfect is bloody hard work!


So, the "Accounts" one - well, that means both business accounts and household spending. I am a disaster for keeping business accounts up to date, when I started my business I was told " Do the accounts every week" "Of course" I said, and I meant it....... suddenly three months had passed and I had one entry in the book.

Now, thanks to one of my beautiful Youtube friends Marlene I have been inspired to keep up with things  by making them pretty to look at - I know, its a bit fluffy, but she makes everything sooooo pretty. (you should see her house its beautiful! she decorates for every celebration, have a look at her channel, Valentines was one of my favs last year.)
Anyway, if I make a nice binder I bet I do the work more often........ maybe!



Also, I found this on Pinterest today I found this:

I pinned it from honeywerehome.blogspot.ie but it was designed by ahelicoptermom.com 

The idea is that this week you put €1 in a jar, next week €2 and so on and in a year you will save €1,378. Now things are easy up to about week 20 - then it gets a bit hairy, I mean saving €30 - €40 EVERY week might not happen, but if I put €10 away for the first nine weeks I will be ahead of the game. Also, if I have a bonus I could maybe skip to week 30 in February or something. 

I will let you know how it goes! 

So, that is all I have to say today. If you want a serious kick up the bum on the "Organising your house " front then check out Nikki's channel, she is freakin amazing - (I love her videos, I actually turn out drawers and cupboards because of her!)

See you soon!! xxx

Look it!!

I have eventually gotten around to listing the upcoming classes... 
They are over there, see? ------------------------------------------------------------------>>>>>>>>>>
I might even remember to update the list occasionally! 
If you would like more details of any of these then send me an email, a text or call me or Facebook message me or leave a comment...... the list goes on! (all you need to know is in the "contact" section at www.scrapzville.com)

2013 Round Up.

How was Christmas? Did you eat too much? drink too much? yep, me too!

But today i'm trying to make the most of the "Week in between", I was dragged kicking and screaming up the side of a mountain this morning and then made to run down. Now, this is good in one way, a head start on the "get fit" new years resolution.... but bad in another because I would love to spend a full day at home in my pj's, pottering about and it hasn't happened yet! 

Then I decided to open the lovely new paper collection I bought months ago, its Needle and Thread by kaisercraft (I love them more than Prima.... I know, what a thing to say!!) and alter my new diary for 2014. This  years one was Kaisercraft Magnolia Grove and it stood up really well to being used daily and being thrown in my bag, I think the secret is to not add any dimensional embellishments to the front no matter how tempting it is!

Here it is looking all new and lovely!

This photo was taken on Christmas day, all of us, my Mum and the dogs (Boo is in Molly's arms but hiding behind me.) Toby is wearing a paper hat from dinner!

 And this one was taken on St. Stephens day (or Boxing day) while I was out and about in the Hags Glen. Tim was busy climbing Carrontuohill for the 35th consecutive St. Stephens day, ( !!!!!) but I didn't much like the look of the sleety, snowy, cold, slippery mountain so I went for a lovely long, low level walk instead.
( I am officially a light weight!)

This  year has been eventful..... its had ups and downs as most years do, I have considerably fewer fingers then I started the year with..... but it has been pretty good, everyone is healthy and happy.
I have a huge list of goals and wishes for 2014, there will be a good bit of house renovation (I'm getting itchy feet about the hallway, Pinterest is a killer!) some kitchen cupboard reorganising and some vague idea about sorting paperwork properly (if I spent as much time doing it as reading blog posts about it I would be the Queen of organised!!)
There are the usual threats of learning to speak French, of drinking more water and keeping my car tidy. But I think I shall put "appreciating what I have " at the top of the list and that will be a good one to achieve.

Oh yes, my word of the year is.....ABUNDANCE!!

I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. xxxxx

December Daily.

Happy December!!!!!!

I am full of festive cheer - I hope it isn't one of those things that burns out too soon. I don't think it will though, one blast of "All I want for Christmas is You" and i'm bursting with Ho-Ho-Ho-ness! 

Remember I was thinking about doing a December Daily? well, looky here! 

 I was in Athlone for the Create with Kate Christmas party (sooo much fun by the way!) and I had all these different paper collections in my hand.... I couldn't decide which ones to use, traditional or fun? and then I saw this. Its by Bo Bunny (who else?) and it has lime green and red which is my favourite colour combo, its 8x8" and comes with all sorts of cute inserts and dividers and so on.
You should have heard the scorn that was poured on me!..... "you're going to BUY an album???" "You're not MAKING it???" (Yes Midi, that was you!!) so I procrastinated for a while and then thought, Yes, I am going to buy this ready made, just put it together kit because a. its pretty. b. I don't have time to make one. c. This way I might actually complete my first December Daily!
And so far its going well :)


In other news, last Thursday was my one and only craft fair for this year. I wasn't going to do any, but this was a fund raiser for a local school so I did. It was held in the Aghadoe Heights (which is a beautiful hotel, tres posh!) It turned out to be a great evening - there was a cookery demonstration and it was really well supported.

 Thats me (in case you didn't know!)

 Now, when you go to fairs your stall neighbours are very important - these two were the best!! That is Guy Hulbert from Tralee - he makes chutneys and the most delicious vegetarian pate I have ever had (in fairness its the first time i've ever tasted any, but oh my it was FAB!!)  I bought two from him, one was beetroot,cashew and ginger and the other was Harvest pate which has lentils,garlic, thyme,sage, basil..... lets just say, Nom, Nom, Nom!!!!!

 and this is Caroline O'Connor, also from Tralee. she makes Christmas puddings, prize winning puddings with brandy and whiskey. They are so beautifully wrapped that it would be a shame to open them! I'm not a huge pudding fan but when I came home and told Himself about them he was horrified I didn't get one, so I will be down to the food fair in the Outlet centre next Friday to make my purchase!!

Last night was a bit of a do for the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team. It was held in the Beaufort Bar and it was very well supported, (nice to see so many people that I haven't seen for ages) anyhoo, there was a raffle and to my surprise and delight I won first prize!!

This hamper is huge!!! so we shall have a very merry(!) Christmas now, call in for a drink, we have loads!!