The day I ate beef...

This is my secret for Thursday - I hope you like it. I have so much on tomorrow: looking after kids in the morning, going shopping for boxes, organising my room, making a sewing machine cover, making chutney and then going to a dinner party. Somewhere in between all those things I also need to make myself look beautiful and stunning and just a little less post-christmas rotund. I am wearing this really lovely green dress which will hopefully look nice before, the very distinct probability that, I spill something on it. This secret was created by using a very cool bronze marker pen, a red fineliner and some letter stencils. Enjoy!

The day we came home...

Ooh the metallic glue pens that I used to make this are my new favourite thing. I am going back to my normal art shop to buy some more in different colours because they are so cool. While I was away I read a whole book...which on the face of it doesn't sound that impressive (especially for an English student). This book was, however, the first book in about half a year that I have chosen to read and has not been prescribed on some reading list. There is nothing like the thrill of finishing a book and that is strange for me because often it feels closer to relief. Enjoy!

The day that should have been Tuesday...

Here is my secret for Tuesday. This one was created by using some really fantastic letter stickers I also bought from the art shop (spot the penniless student). Enjoy!

The day that should have been Monday...

I am back. It was really lovely to get away from home but that much quality time with your family can drive you slowly crazy. It is probably a good thing then that I have plans for New Year which don't involve them. Thank you for the lovely comments you left while I was away and sorry for not posting at all. This is my secret for Monday - it was created by using some really stunning hand-painted gift paper from the new art shop. It is sad that I am this happy to be blogging again? only a few days without internet can do that to you. Enjoy!

The day I saw her...

Here is my favourite secret from the sunday postsecrets, go see them at www.postsecret.blogspot.com. I chose this one because it is something I think both about postsecret and about AI. Now I know that postsecret actually has the ability to change things with the huge readership and published books but I would love AI to have even a fraction of the same effect on people. There is a big difference between the two and that is anonymity so while postsecret may be able to change things on a wider scale I think AI has already started to change my life and maybe at some point my relationships with other people. Enjoy!

The day we went to Devon...

Isn't this postcard the cutest? I have had it for ages thinking I would use it for AI at some point but never really getting round to it. I am off to Devon tomorrow with my parents and then to Cornwall a few days later. I should be back on Wednesday, which leaves me with a little dilemma - do I post before hand, post afterwards or try and work out how to do scheduled posts? Probably the latter, but that requires so much effort. I will think about it and come to some conclusion tomorrow morning before we leave. Anyway, I hope you like this secret + are looking forward to postsecret tomorrow. Enjoy!

The day Celia was still in the box...

Here is my secret for boxing day. It is made from some really beautiful kitsch wrapping paper my grandfather used to wrap our presents, isn't it cute? I am in a bit of a hurry because we are going to see family today so this is going to be a bit of a short post. I hope you had a great day yesterday, enjoy!

The day we had champagne and variety cereal...

Here is my Christmas secret, I hope you like it. This secret was created by using a really beautiful card I bought over a month ago. It has this really beautiful cut away design on it which I painted black and printed onto this piece of card. The star is a red sequin and the base is made from a piece of red card. There are so many things I wish I could still believe in, and everything that goes along with Christmas is definitely one of those things. I have started a new book, and as is tradition with the beginning of each new book a new title must be created. Please don't laugh at my poor computer design skills, I tried. Have an amazing day, make the most of the food and the drink and the presents. Enjoy!

The day there was Turkey...

I really hate turkey. A little bit of a weird tradition for my family, but we have our christmas roast on christmas eve. So tonight we are having turkey, bleurgh. This secret was created by using a card I bought from the ashmolean museum. I went to an art shop I have never been to today - it was incredible. I can't go back for a while because otherwise I will have absolutely no money. I hope you like this secret, and I hope you are spending christmas with your family. Enjoy!

The day before Christmas...

So this is really bad, but, a few weeks ago I was given an award by a very lovely fellow blogger...and I completely forgot about it. Which, though not unforgivable, is still very bad. So a big thank you to Shibby (from www.shibbysthoughts.blogspot.com) for the award. I always find it weird being given blog awards, partly because I have no idea how to respond to positive feedback about AI and partly because I have no idea what to do with them. The rules seem pretty simple though - I have to display the award (check) and list seven personality traits (see below):

1. Sarcastic. It is my fall back - an uncomfortable situation, or just any situation really, and I will be there with some wildly inappropriate quip.

2. Clumsy. My mother would completely agree, the first thing I did upon returning home was spill coleslaw all over (and under) the fridge.

3. Introspective. Of course...this one is pretty obvious, you just need to take a look at my blog for a few minutes to see that I spend a lot of time thinking about myself and my relationship with other people (hopefully more of the second one).

4. Happy. I really am happy, most of the time, and I have reason to be. It might not always be conveyed properly via my secrets but generally I am quite a happy person.

5. Insecure. I relate this one to bravery too, I don't think of myself as someone who is brave...although others who read this might argue otherwise. I hope I am growing and developing a fearlessness that could only serve to strengthen the quality of my secrets.

6. Deceptive. Despite being entirely honest with everyone I post on here (I have never posted a secret that was in any way untrue at that very moment) in my day to day life I lie all the time. Mostly just insignificant harmless lies to entertain myself and to confuse my friends - sometimes bigger lies but hopefully not big enough to hurt other people.

7. Lucky. This one applies more than any of the others. I consider myself to be lucky that I have such a great family and an amazing group of friends. I consider myself lucky for the positive feedback I have had for AI and for this award which, although a little bit late, is greatly appreciated.

So I hope that wasn't too dull to read. When I read blogs that other people write I am always fascinated to hear what they have to say about themselves and to find out a little bit more about each person. However, the format of my blog means that you already know more than enough about me, or at least I think so. Now I need to pass this award onto someone else...this is the really tricky part for me because I don't really know that many other bloggers and I don't read enough blogs to know what is good and what is not. So basically I would like to return this award to someone who has previously nominated me for one, Kelley Anne from http://kaleidoscopicrefrains.blogspot.com/. This is a really lovely blog, with incredible photos and really beautiful clothes. I hope you like it as much as I do. Enjoy!