Paris Bound

I have a lovely friend 'J' who has had a really really tough time lately 

(read past couple of years).

She is a friend to many with a, erm, wacky persona shall we say!

She has just ended her marriage of 30 years. 

Since a young age she has been in a partnership which two years ago she 

decided she no longer wanted to be part of.

It has taken until last Friday for her divorce to come through 

enabling her to leave the family home. 

Her  name was not on the mortgage of the house she had put so much in to, 

therefore English Law says that if she left she relinquished any right to the property, 

so she has had to stay in the house in an estranged relationship, until the Courts granted her 

what is rightfully hers.

So to today - 'J' stands on the precipice of a happier life, her own home, a puppy!!!!

 answerable to herself only. 

She is brave, is going to have to continue being brave, but has the 

support of her Son's, friends and family.

She has belief and people believe in her - she has come so far but has to keep looking forward. 

She is happy, elated even, but so frightened. 

Many people stay in far from perfect relationships, because of fear, 

I am so happy that 'J'
 made her choice and stuck to it.

So, we are off to Paris (in 2 hours!!)- not to celebrate her divorce - 

 this trip was booked when it was looking like everything was going to be over with seven months ago - but, hell yeah, to celebrate with 'J' the start of her new life and rediscovery of herself.

On a side note 'J's Son & Daughter-in-Law had a beautiful baby boy yesterday!

Double Champagne!

Au Revoir!

XX

Moroccan Argan Oil

I have very thin, fine hair - cue envy of women with luscious locks 

and lots of hair, especially if wavy!!

A couple of weeks ago I had some slices of colour added to my hair

 - red, blonde and bleach.

Since then, no matter what shampoo or conditioner I have used I look

 like Wurzel Gummidge when I get out the shower.

 I then proceed to literally DRAG a comb through it before adding a handful of hair to the bin!

Yesterday I COULD NOT face doing this again and remembered I had a sample bottle of  Moroccan Argan Oil.

I was a little dubious, because of fine, thin hair and my hair ending up a greasy mess, 

but WOW - its fantastic, my hair is so silky soft, the comb slid through no messing,

 no greasy mess and my hands were so moisturised too! My hair looked so *healthy*.

I know this is a popular product but had no idea why!

Who else uses Argan Oil?

XX

Crafty Makes

I do like to be creative, always have, for me this blog, the writing 

and the curation of photos allows me to do that. 

On Sunday I had some spare time, so decided to make a simple gift for some special people.

I have made these before in a larger format, they are easy to make but can take a while to do.

You could make it easier with ready painted frames.

To start I have an old Atlas of The World (good old Reader's Digest!), 

a foam heart, some thick coloured card and a box picture frame.

The Range

I painted the frames with some lovely gold paint I had lurking.

I then draw around the country (using the heart) that means something to the person I am making for - in this case Portugal and the United Arab Emirates.

 I found in the Atlas a Cairngorm Mountains heart forgotten about, but know someone who would like this - so I need to go and buy another frame!!

Next I mount them on the card using crafting spray glue :-) 

place a dozen heavy books on top for 24 hours to dry and hold in position!

Et Voila - 

A simple gift for a beautiful couple!

Whilst the paint brushes were out I decided to give a quick coat of 

varnish to a typography I had bought.

These have been a popular home accessory for a while and until now I hadn't succumbed -

 but this one sang to me and shall be hung in the bathroom (hence the varnish).

I will show it properly hung in its new home ;-)

LOVE productive weekends!

How about you?

XX