Its been over a week...

...since i last updated my blog!   Where has that time gone!

Well, the 3rd Creative HeART & Soul retreat was this weekend and we had a fabulous time - the house was like a maze at first and I did wonder if we may lose someone along the way, there were a few treks up the wrong sets of stairs, going out one door and coming in another and being in completely the wrong place and one group of ladies getting locked in their room (too funny sorry!)

We had gorgeous cupcakes from Lydia, the teachers (Monique Jacobs, Lida De Witte, Jen Starr and Tracie Hudson) were as fantastic as ever and im quite sure everyone has gone home with projects they loved!  It really felt like they all had a good time so I can finally collapse in a heap and grab some sleep! lol  Im on an adrenalin high all weekend so when it finishes my head usually explodes with a horrid headache which can only be cured with copious amounts of darkness and pills!!  A little lie down and I was fine - now we start the countdown to the next and my excitement about all the prep is back up on a high again! LOL

I did have one issue on the way down though which knocked me for six!   I had 2 very large cases with me (well, one case and one wheel on trolley) which the guards at Durham helped me get on the train.  I got to York and a woman walked past the window with MY SUITCASE!!  OMG my heart has never dropped so much in its life!

I tried to get off the train but people were getting on and it was a little shovey!! I stood hanging out of the door as i didnt dare get off incase the train took off without me (my other case was still on the train!), so i waved over the guard and said THAT woman just stole my case......it was as though i said i needed to sneeze, he couldnt have been less interested!!   I jumped off and ran over to another guard who asked if I had any other cases, they made me go and get those BEFORE we even went after the woman!  Who by this point has dissapeared! 

So, thats me stuck in York for 3 hours, sobbing knowing I now have no clothes, straighteners, all my cake decorating goodies, clipboard with schedule/lists/instructions etc for the weekend ahead!! 
I sat in the office and the lady asked if i needed coffee,  I said I was ok thank you and she said....

'What I mean is you cant stay in here - go get a coffee!'

I ambled out of the door to be confronted with packed platforms all staring at the freak sobbing her heart out!  NICE!

The police said i had to wait 48 hours incase it was mistaken identity and she had taken my case instead of hers - there were no other cases so im pretty sure it was clear from the start it was theft :(

Anyways, got back home yesterday and spent 45 mins on the phone filling in forms with the traffic police so fingers crossed im either covered by the insurance or I can get it back.....all those pretty clothes gone :(  I know its only stuff and to be honest im a lot less stressed than I was when it first happened but I think what gets me most is that someone had the gall to do it in the first place!

Tesco have some pretty clothes in now so I grabbed a couple of bottoms, tops, pjs etc and managed to do ok all weekend! lol

WOWZA almost 900 followers!!

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Sheesh that a lot!!

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Giveaway for number 900 and then a chance for all of you to win something!

YES - 2 giveaways! :)

This post is not sponsored by Tesco!!

Im a firm believer in not having to pay a fortune for something good!

Im a bargain hunter and that branches out to every aspect of my life....even cooking family meals...ok so I dont rummage in the discount bit but I do look at the value ranges and see that, a lot of the time, they are just as good as the named brands!

I was doing an online order with Tesco recently and noticed their new Value range - all supposedly made with store cupboard ingredients and a lot cheaper than the branded alternatives. (Youve seen the adverts!)

My basket soon filled up - 199 items to be precise!!  This included fresh meat, veg etc that were not from the value range....total shopping came to just under £160!  I was really pleased with that and even more pleased when it turned up as you couldnt see the kitchen floor for bags! lol

Putting away the shopping is one of my favourite things to do - sad i know but i love to see all the shelves full, the fridge packed and the freezer loaded with goodies!

We have managed to get through 1 week+ without having to go out and top up on shopping - this alone is a miracle in this house!!

I like the fact we can make the meals into something special too...

For example - we had pizza one night

4 large pizzas @ £1.10 each
2 packs mozzarella @ 44p each
cherry tomatoes @ 69p
ham @ £1.19 (large pack which has done us two lunchtimes worth of sandwiches too)
cheese @ 99p

The pizzas were plain margerita but looked a little light on topping, I filled bowls with the mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, ripped up the ham and grated a little more cheese.  The boys were then told to 'build their own 1/2 pizza' - they were huge so shared a whole one between 2.

Result was 4 fully loaded pizzas and 7 very happy and full people for a £8.15!! Take off the cherry tomatoes, ham and cheese that were left over and not used as topping and we paid less than £1 per person!!

So happy!! :)

***this post is honestly NOT sponsored by Tesco - i just wanted to pass on a bargain post***

Coffee Time!

A hectic bank holiday weekend means Im about ready to crash with a cup of coffee and a mini raspberry and white chocolate loaf :)

Normal schedule with resume once the boys are back to school - in the meantime, we are baking up a storm!!

My little helper!  *love*

Guess whos book is available to pre-order??

So excited!!

Happy Dance!!

OMLord I am officially marked as author so it must be real!!

LOOK!!

The winner of the designer K Bag is.......

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

27

Timestamp: 2012-05-01 11:38:05 UTC

The winner is Jen!

You have won the fabulous K Bag!

Huge Congratulation and if you could email me debbie(at)countryheartandhome.com with your postal address i will arrange for your prize to be posted asap :)