So Much Food, So Little Time...

Since our wedding in September I seem to have been in a constant state of hunger. I didn't starve myself before it, or have huge amounts of stress or lose weight with nervous energy. But since, oh my god. Anything and everything thats put infront of me is gone within seconds.

This week alone I have, or will be eating at Gourmet Burger Kitchen, The Outsider, Mother India, Zizzi and possibly The Sheep Heid. On top of this I had an Indian thali delivered on Sunday (x factor final so only expected), had Chinese in London last week plus another GBK plus an Italian before getting the train home. So much in just a few days, not much wonder I've put on so many pounds since Sep.

2010 is going to see a radical change to my diet. Its only been 3 months of crap eating but 3 months too many. Big improvements coming here soon...

I'll just finish these chocolate pennies.

Pretty Pretty Charm Necklaces

So after quite a few months I've finally got round to increasing the Charm Necklaces at SparkleSmith. Made with gorgeous Karen Hilltribe silver from Thailand and a choice of Rose Quartz, Turquoise or Aventurine these are fab wee gifts. Remember all come gift boxed and price includes postage. http://www.sparklesmith.co.uk/necklaces.html to check them out.

Perth Christmas Markets

Perth Christmas Markets were last weekend, unbelievably cold which I think stopped a lot of shoppers venturing out on Sunday, but Saturday was busy busy busy. A lot of people are getting SparkleSmith earrings for Christmas and our cute little rings are also winging their way to many a stocking. Saw a lot of regular market people including chatty Tom soap man, and Carl and Emma with their goodies from Scaramanga.

We made a wee weekend of it, stayed in Perth on Saturday night and had a gorgeous meal at the Glover Arms, highly recommended. Got back to Edinburgh late Sunday just in time for X Factor results with a chippy. Great weekend and just enough time to warm up before the next one.

Drill Hall Christmas Fair, 5th for SparkleSmith

Saturday 5th (when we're there), Sat 12th (bruncheon & live music) & Sun 12th December

11am - 7pm each day, only 80p entry.

The perfect place to buy unique X-mas presents, seasonal handmade decorations and home accessories, in addition to the diverse selection of artwork and crafts, ranging from painting and photography through fashion, textiles and jewellery to furniture and design. This year more than 120 artists and makers will be selling their own work over three X-mas Market dates in the relaxed atmosphere of The Out of the Blue Drill Hall. Mulled Wine, Music & Christmas Cheer!
The Out of the Blue Drill Hall 36 Dalmeny Street

Located just off Leith Walk/Easter RoadBuses 7,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 22, 25, 35, 49
see http://www.outoftheblue.org.uk/ for more details

Rings, Tweets & Perth.

I've been playing around on twitter for a few days and finally starting to get the hang of what all the codes and abbreviations are. Other than spending the vast majority of my time there, I've also been making lots of goodies for the Perth Christmas markets this weekend. Lots of new bracelets, earrings and rings to be seen on Saturday (will get pic up soon hopefully). My fingers are hurting quite a bit from making rings so fingers crossed they are gratefully received by the Perth shoppers.

If you are in the area come along Saturday or Sunday, we'll be there freezing in our layers of wooly jumpers. The market is in King Edward Street, right next to the St Johns Shopping Centre, at the Waterstones exit. See you there.

www.twitter.com/sparklesmith

Flooding in central Cork, Ireland

My friend in Cork sent me some pics this morning of the terrible floods over there. Hightide and 2" of rain in 12 hours has caused disaster for many residents. Sandbags aren't going to be much help when the water is this vicious.

Cancer Research Fair, Edinburgh.

If you live in Edinburgh and haven't managed to get along to the Art Exhibition on Chambers St yet please shuffle along today or tomorrow if you get the chance. There is three floors of Adam House filled with the most amazing paintings from artists across the country. The first floor also has a great choice of jewellery (including me), cool knitted things, bags, cards and pottery. Great Christmas gifts and even a wee tea room with coffee, tea and cakes all under £1. Bargainous and all for a good cause.

Ever feeling down, ever feeling sad??

This is perhaps my most favourite YouTube video ever. If you are ever in need of a quick mood boost or need cheering up watch this, it never fails to make me grin like a loon. Hamish on the left, and Oscar. My pal Karens little men, enjoy.

Sore Heed & Grouches.

Three days without the web, but I've tracked down the weekends Google Doodles. Oscar the Grouch from Saturday is on my favourite par with Cookie Monster. Elmo was from Sunday, and this Monday morning is Count Von Count, never liked him much.


We were in St Andrews for a fair on Saturday, it was a great day with over 1000 people coming through the doors. We are back to St Andrews this weekend for another fair and see the plans for the rest of 2009 here www.sparklesmith.co.uk/events.html.

I have a booming headache today, its been with me since Saturday evening. Hopefully on its way out soon, tangerines are being eaten by the bucketload. xx

Bert & Ernie of course.

Had an awful nights sleep as so many things going round in my head, well mainly one thing that I just can't shake. Spent all yesterday making rings and earrings, finished a few bracelets off also for this weekends fair, Chambers St next week and Cambo. Today the Googlers have given us Bert & Ernie, couldn't really have their own homepages could they?

Big Bird.

Hohoho, turns out the anniversary of Sesame Street isn't until the 10th November. And I have been reliably informed Google will feature a different character every day until then. Here is Big Bird from yesterday, love it.

I love the Cookie Monster.

Great TV. Today is Sesame Street's fortieth anniversary. Very pleased to see Google have paid homage to the Cookie Monster with todays homepage. Definitley their best so far.

Probably Great TV for the wrong reasons. On a different note I can't believe Derek Acorah is going to be doing a live seance tonight to contact Michael Jackson. What a numpty!

Lurgy got me.

Well, I have the lurgy. It's no fun. Am spending most of the day making rings as I ordered about 100 metres of the wrong sized wire, clever me. Now I have no wire to make bracelets with and with the Royal Mail industrial action it might be a while before it arrives. Hopefully not too late as I have a lot of Christmas fairs coming up which I need to build up new stock for.

Anyway away to Mr Hot Potato for a chilli potato to steam the cold out, might just have to put myself through the stress of ordering curry tonight also. Quite a lot of crazy stuff happened this week but still deciding what is a bit too personal to blog about, so for now I'll stick with the mundane stuff. We're off to the emerald isle next weekend, so fingers crossed that this lurgy has left me by then or I won't be able to taste the garlicky chips - disaster!!

The Beginning.

So, the first blog - where to start? Well tonight Gillian is coming round and we are going to order the biggest curry, I love it. Other than curry my life is mainly sparkles and fairs just now. I run SparkleSmith, we are based in Edinburgh. I am married to Ian as of September this year, and also am now thirty, as of September this year. I'm not exactly where I thought I would be at this point in my life, but I am very happy where I have ended up.