Wish I was there - Photo competition Entry

With January nearly over and the weather horrible, wet and cold I am longing for the start of Spring, and it seems like I am not the only one.

Al Fresco Holidays, who offer an amazing range of family focused holidays,  is also longing for the warmer weather too, and on their blog they are asking people to send in their favourite holiday photographs to be in with a chance to win a £300 holiday voucher or a lovely Nixon DSLR camera.

We didn't get a holiday last year, and so we didn't get to visit the seaside at all, something I missed, and I am certain I will make amends for this year.

In fact it has been a few years since we went to the sea, instead opting for a boat trip holiday around the UK's canals in 2012, which although stunningly beautiful,  just was not the same as a trip to the beach.

It is a beach holiday that I long for this year, the weather doesn't have to be hot, but to be beside the sea even during a summer storm is magical.

A simple family holiday together, escaping from all the stresses of everyday life, is what I am dreaming of.

With finances low, we have never had the opportunity to travel far, but it really doesn't matter where in the world you are when you are together.

Taking time away from all the electrical gadgets and distractions that come with living life, often spending far too much time wrapped up in the moment to appreciate the little things.The little things which are so very important.

A family holiday lets you take a breather, and relax and appreciate life for all its wonder.

Iam entering the Al Fresco -Wish I was there competition as I dream of holidays past - All the photos included in this blog post were taken at Shell Island - Wales in 2011,  A beautiful place by the sea, and that is where I wish that I could be.

The memories in these photos remind me to cherish family time instead of just letting the days slip by, and this summer thats exactly what I aim to do

If you have some summer holiday photos which hold memories making you wish you were back there then
enter them into the Al Fresco competition too - http://blog.alfresco-holidays.com/2014/01/15/wish-i-was-there-photo-competition/

Doodles - valentines printable images

I have been doodling using my Wacom Intuos tablet - and I thought I would share them here.

First I was doodling various shapes and colours and experimenting making them have a 3D effect - this reminds me of the google doodles

I also doodled in black and white centered around the word LOVE with a couple of black birds chirping to each other, then on the love theme I drew some cute valentine images which you could print out to make a great personalised valentines message to the one you love.

A lovely free valentines gift  - to save any of the images here simply right mouse click then select SAVE IMAGE AS you then can print out the image as many times as you require and use them to create your own cards and gifts.

And finally I sketched my beautiful dog - Jackson

All images are my own designs and creations but I am happy to share for personal use, as long as you give credit back when sharing them online and do not claim them as your own.

Happy 2014 - yes, yes I know I'm late!

Well its a New Year! 2014

Wow where did the time go? I have been terribly bad at keeping on top of my blog the past few months so it's beginning to feel alittle lonely and unloved around here, so I thought I had best fix that and post.

Christmas was quiet here, we had a nice day, the children got a selection of gifts they had asked for, and all passed fairly peacefully, the holidays finished in a blink of the ye and now we are well and truly back into the swing of the school runs again and the mad rush trying to find extra hours in the day.

For Christmas I was lucky I got a wonderful Wacom intuos graphics tablet and I do love it, creativity at my fingertips. I am still getting to grips with it but I hope to be doodling all sorts of things in the coming months.

Blog wise I really do feel like I need a change over here, I love my blog and blogging in general has been such a massive part of my life for the past few years, I want to focus on my blog, but I just don't seem to have the motivation to find the time needed to be here.

My blog has a huge 'review' side and I am in two minds of what to do about the reviews at the minute, I do love reviewing items but I really want to focus my spare time on other things. I can't decided if saying no to reviews will simply mean the blog goes even quieter - or maybe it will make me get back to the things I love - photos, graphic design and daily life snippets.

Anyway I hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas and that 2014 is good to you all, and if you're feeling cold on this BlueMonday don't forget to....