Throwback Thursday | It's My Birthday!!

It's my birthday!  Yeayyy!!

 

I like to pretend its my 21st. It's been my 21st for the past 12 years now. Wow I'm officially old. Really old. 

Throwback Thursday could only be one thing on my birthday - a look at a birthday past.

These pics are from my 6th birthday way way back in 1988 (as you can probably tell by the fabulous 80s party dress I'm wearing) 

My cake looks like a computer with a unicorn on the screen. I didn't even think we had a computer in 1988! Maybe we didn't, maybe I wanted a computer for my birthday and this was the nearest thing I got to it.  I'll have to ask my mum.

Seeing as I say each birthday is my 21st I couldn't do this post without throwing in a picture from my actual 21st.  This was taken in Kardamena, Kos.  I'd just split up with my boyfriend of 4 years and went on my first (and only) girlie holiday.  It's a pretty fair assessment to say I don't remember that much about that holiday apart from sun, sea, cocktails and bunch of fun.
 

 

Dad's Pandora Bracelet

I have a love of charm bracelets, in particular Pandora  I've collected Pandora for many years. I go through stages of buying loads then not buying any for a while.  I like to make up special themed bracelets such as a summer bracelet or a fairytale bracelet.  A very special bracelet that I made up nearly 3 years ago is my 'Dad' bracelet.

My Dad died of cancer almost 3 years ago at the ripe old age of 60. In the passing months I wanted to make a bracelet about all things Dad.  It was easy.  I looked at my collection and started putting together some charms that mean something to me about my Dad.  I starting browsing the internet for meaningful charms.  It was actually good fun and probably, in a way, some form of therapy for me.

 

My Dad in Paris

 

 

 

Each charm has a very special meaning or holds a fond memory.

Text Book - My Dad loved to read. Simple as.  There's also a wise old owl on one side of the books. My Dad was probably one of the cleverest people I've ever met.

Inner Strength- My heart is full of admiration for how my Dad dealt with dying.  We found out in January and by mid August he was gone. In those short 7 months I didn't hear him complain, whine or moan.  Inside he must have been completely ripped apart, he was prodded and poked and was clearly in a lot of physical pain but he had incredible inner strength to deal with it all.

Black Friday 2011 - This charm has 2 meanings.  2011 as Dad died in 2011 and Black Friday as come Black Friday you could always count on him being on Amazon looking at Black Friday deals each year.  I learned about Black Friday from him.

Aeroplane - he loved to travel.  Being on holiday was where my Dad was happiest.  As a family we have a little villa in Spain and my Dad loved that place.  In fact, when he was dying I think he had about 4 holidays out there in 6 months.

 

 

 

Lucerne Clips & Lucerne Dangle - These are the breast cancer charms. Ok, I know my Dad didn't have breast cancer but I was using my creative license.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alarm Clock - He was a lazy sod in the mornings! I remember when I was younger our house was always manic in the mornings (4 girls AND my mum was a childminder) There were kids everywhere but my Dad clearly slept through all the noise.  He would stroll down around 8:45am and slump in the chair looking like he'd been dragged through a hedge backwards.

Red Grape - He used to like the odd glass a bottle or 2 of red wine.  He'd get so drunk coz he'd drink lager then move onto red wine later in the evening. Disaster. Never mix grape and grain Dad. First rule of drinking.

Suitcase - Again, this goes back to his love of holidays. There's also a Paris label and Eiffel Tower picture on the suitcase.  For my 23rd birthday he bought me tickets to go to Paris.

Gold Heart (Christ Charm) - This is a rare charm so it's on there because my Dad was a rare breed himself.  The poor man had 4 daughters and a pain in the butt wife (sorry mum). That must have been hard work with all those hormones raging around the house.  He was completely selfless and would literally do anything for anyone - a genuine heart of gold.  This was also a German exclusive charm and my Dad was half German.

Virgo Starsign - Self explanatory I think.

Dad - My mum bought me and my sister these after he died.

Forget-Me-Knot - The title of this charm says it all really.

 

August Birthstone Flower - My Dad was born in August.  I think he spent almost all of his birthdays at the villa for the past 20 odd years.

So that's my Dad's bracelet.  I might continue it if more charms are released that I feel are fitting or I might leave it as it is.

Happy Fathers Day Dad

Do you have any charm bracelets? Do you style them for sentiment or simply what looks good?

Hasta Luego Sparkly1s

Gemzicle Sprinkles

xoxo



Welcome to the window into my little world

Hiya :) My name is Gemzicle Sprinkles.  Hehe, of course not.  I'm Sara, what's your name?  I live in the UK, in a small market town where I grew up.  I am mummy (or mum now) to a gorgeous 9 year old boy.

This blog is dedicated to...well, LIFE really.  There are so many fashion & beauty blogs, cooking blogs, parenting blogs etc etc but this one is going to be about all the things I love - my life & the people in it.  I love cooking, architecture, organisation, fitness, being around children, travelling, learning new things, interior design... the list is endless. This is MY LIFEstyle blog.

By profession, I am a Childminder, which is something I started quite recently as I wanted to be able to pick my son up from school & be there in the holidays & as a single mum I didn't want to (& couldn't really afford to) rely on expensive childcare.  I am a qualified Primary School Teacher & have also worked in adult education & I've tried my hand at being a fitness instructor as well.  Some may say, I'm a jack of all trades, master of nothing but I like to say I enjoy new experiences & challenging myself to do something different!! :)

I became a 'YouTuber' at the beginning of the year and this has opened my eyes to the world of blogging.  The original plan was to vlog (video blogging to any of you who don't know) but this just seems like too much effort right now. 

I've started a YouTube channel dedicated to my love of computer games - specifically Minecraft at the moment.  I'm LOVIN it so much.  If gaming is something you're interested in - go check it out.

I look forward to getting to know you all so please post comments on my blog - what you like, don't like, tell me about yourself...

Hasta Luego Sparkly1s

Gemmy Sprinkles

xoxo