Back in the real world ...

... it always takes longer than anticipated! I kinda forgot all the usual day-2-day stuff that needs to be done, let alone any digiscrapping commitments I needed to catch up on. In fact, there are still a couple of CT requirements that I need to get done, so if any of the designers I "work" with are reading this, I promise I'll get caught up on everything by the end of this week, OK?

Anyhoo, I really wanted to post today so I could share just a few of the photos I took during my recent holiday. Now I appreciate it can be torturous looking at other peoples photo albums (after all that's why we scrapbook isn't it?), so I'm not gonna bore you with all 451 photos(!) ... instead, I've picked just 17 of the images that I hope will wet your appetite ... don't be too surprised if you see these bad boys making another appearance in my LO's over the next few days / weeks / months ...

New kid on the block ...

... OK, so before you all start screaming "I love you Jordan / Donnie / Joey" et al, I'd better clarify my opening line ... my dear friend Tina is opening her store at Little Dreamer Designs today and I couldn't be happier for her! You see Tina is one of the winners of LDD's Apprentice Programme which took place earlier this year, and after a lot of hard work and dedication, her dreams are coming true and her kits are now available for all!

To celebrate, Tina's store is 25% off for a whole week! Not only that, but she's got a super fun challenge of her blog and she's gonna be giving away coupons via Twitter (@tinamarie001) and Facebook (http://ow.ly/28XEq) ... so don't forget to sign-up & follow the coolest, hippest, new {designing} kid on the block.

So relaxed and laid back ...

... I'm almost horizontal! But that's what holidays are for, right? Yet at the same time, I'm really glad to be home. Dorothy was right you know.

So this is just a flying post to say "hi!" and to let you know that once I've tackled the mountain of laundry I've just unpacked, replenished the empty food cupboards in my kitchen and made a dent in the unread emails in my mailbox, I'll be back with the lowdown and to share a selection of my holiday snapshots with you. Just give me a day or two to get back into some kind of routine first, yeah?

Technology free zone ...

... no laptop, no mobile phone (except for emergencies of course!), no internet, no digi-scrapping, no forums, no Twitter ... rest & relaxation here I come!

See you all on Tuesday 6th July 2010!

Holiday destination reveal (& a freebie) ...

... I guess I've teased you all for long enough and anyway, if I tried to drag out the suspense for another week, I reckon I'd be verbally lynched by a number of my friends and blog followers!!! Your comments and guesses over the past week or so have given me some great holiday destination ideas for the future ... thank you! Quite of few of you guessed correctly, including Corinna, Selena, Ella & Nini (on her 2nd guess. LOL!) ... drum roll please ... on Sunday 20th June at 7pm, DH and I are getting on a plane and flying to ... the Maldives.

This will be our fifth visit to this beautiful country and each time we've been before, we've stayed on a different island (Vilamendhoo, Meerufenfushi, Lohifushi & Baros). This time, we're staying on Velassaru island and for the first time, we're staying in a water villa like this ...



Each island is so small it usually takes less than an hour to walk all the way round. They really are idyllic with white sandy beaches, crystal clear warm turquoise waters and if you're into snorkeling or diving, then the Maldives offers some of the best underwater experiences in the world!!! OK, enough of my tourism pitch (if anyone from the Maldives tourism board just happens to be reading my blog, then I'm available for work and I'm willing to relocate!!!)

On to the other big event that seems to be taking over my life at the moment ... yup, the football World Cup tournament! It all kicked off last Friday but Saturday was the big day as far as England supporters were concerned, with their opening game against the USA. Now, it's fair to say the match result wasn't as hoped, but unlike the UK tabloid press, I'm not full of doom and gloom. There are still 2 more games to play in the group stage and England can still make it through to the last 16!

Do you remember Pride & Passion #1 (with the England and Scotland WA)? Well, my friend Yvon left a comment suggesting I make some wordart for Holland, using the Dutch national team colours. Well here you go Yvon, this is specially for you (and anyone else who'd like to download it) ... Pride & Passion #2 ... a set of four bevelled edge wordart (2 with drop shadows and 2 without) featuring the Dutch national football team colours & emblem and the Stars & Stripes of America, especially for the 1-1 scoreline from the England vs USA match at the weekend!

Download here

Well folks, thanks for reading all through this post, it ended up being longer than I'd anticipated. Hope you have a great week ahead whatever you're up to!

I got published ...

... in the latest edition of Photoshop Creative magazine!!! Ha! that got your attention didn't it? And I'm not fibbing either, I did get published ... just not in the way most of your are probably thinking. LOL!

So you guys all know I've fallen for Twitter, right? Well, I responded to a Tweet from the Photoshop Creative team. They put out this simple request: "Photoshop Creative would love to hear about your style in PS! In this limited space, describe it the best you can ...". So me being the sociable kinda girl I am, I Tweeted back and told them. End of story, right? Wrong!

Imagine my surprise when I opened up the latest edition of Photoshop Creative magazine (issue 62) ... I was casually skimming through the content when something on page 11 caught my eye. Is that a picture of me???? OMGosh it is!!! What the heck is my profile picture doing staring back at me from the pages of an {inter}NATIONAL publication?!?!?!?!

Then I remembered my Tweet!!!

How fun is that? So come on peeps I want to know if you've ever been published and if so, which publication & what was the subject matter? Enquiring minds need to know!

The excitement is growing ...

... and my holiday tickets arrived today!!! It's just over 2 weeks until I'll be getting on a jet plane and heading somewhere were the sun shines, the sea is clear, the sand is fine & white and the drinks are always chilled ... sigh ... sorry but I just have to tease you all with a few more photos ...

Just how delicious does this place look? Have you guessed where I'm going yet? I'll give you a clue ... the flight takes approx 10hrs from the UK. I promise I'll stop teasing soon ... well, soon-ish!!!

Hope you all have a fabulous fun weekend, wherever you are & whatever you're up to!