Today I'm feeling positive...like I could take on the world. Things are starting to fall into place and I'm looking at the beginning of 2011 with more enthusiasm. There is a whole world of potential out there and I am excited about exploring it!
Ghostwritermummy has just started the Facebook Friday Meme which made me think that it was time to set up a Facebook Page to support my blog. I have quite a few readers who read my blogs via links on my personal Facebook page, but who don't have Google accounts to follow my blog directly. So I thought it would be a good idea to create a page where I could post my links all nice and tidy and in one place!
Ghostwritermummy wanted us to link an early post about why we all started our blogs. So I have copied and pasted my very first blog post from September 2010.
"I've wanted to be a "blogger" for some time. To have a forum for my ramblings and to document this time in my life on the big old world wide web is an exciting, if not daunting prospect! But here goes...the time is right.
I love the technology available to us mere mortals today. The days of filling notebooks with scribbles to purge your overloaded brain is over. We have laptops, the internet, i-phones. Who'd've thought that at the age of 41, I'd be able to embark on a journey of self-discovery in blog form, but here I am!
As I have written in my profile I do feel that I am blessed. The paths I have chosen to follow have turned out to the perfect route for me (although I would have questioned a few of the twists and turns along the way at the time....what was I thinking??) I've got to this destination without the aid of so much as a Sat Nav...for that I am proud! I have a fantastic family, both nuclear and extended, and am literally full of love for each and every one of my peeps!
So...here begins a new chapter...the Blogging Chapter! I hope to explore things past, present and future. My children, my vegetarianism, random happenings, films I watch, books I read, competitions I enter....the potential is enormous. I hope I do it justice!"
Reading this back, I am amazed at how far my blogging journey has taken me. I am honoured to have followers who aren't even blood related, and who therefore have no obligation to follow me at all! I am hugely grateful to them all and love receiving comments! I have had over 7000 pageviews including 56 from people in Japan (it was the Japanese snow monkey picture that did that!!) I am competing in the Graco Ambassador Competition and enjoying the outlet for creatively documenting this time in Freddy's pushchair travelling days! I've been fortunate enough to be involved in reviewing some fabulous products, including doing some guest Toyology reviews. I have more reviews pending which is really exciting. Meeting and chatting to fellow bloggers has been a wonderful bonus, and taking part in memes has opened up more doors of discovery to new blogs. The therapeutic side of blogging about some personal parts of my life has been really liberating. Writing things down and then releasing them into the ether of the virtual world has been immensely empowering. This is an unexpected positive result from blogging! Even though I've only been blogging for 4 months, I can't imagine life without it!!
Friday, 7 January 2011
"My Favourite Photo" Competition Win
I was really pleased to find out that my photo of four eldest children has been chosen as Asda Smile Magazine's "My Favourite Photo" Competition winner!
Judge Annabel Williams said it was "...a fantastic shot - great composition, wonderful light and the kids just full of fun!"
It is one of my favourite photos of my children and brings back memories of a wonderful holiday in France. The trees are on the edge of a beach in Le Touquet, and I think it is a really magical spot. We had lots of fun exploring and taking photos.
Our photo will be in next month's Smile magazine available in Asda stores!
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Reasons to be Cheerful..1, 2, 3!
Mummy From the Heart has started a fabulous new meme for us bloggers to join in with. We are invited to post three things for which we are grateful for. All the positive energy this generates throughout our virtual world will surely chase away the January blues. In spite of the weather, the economy, the gloomy mornings or the atrocity that is Eastenders...if we can all think of three things with which we are blessed, then we can make our world a happier place!
1: Realising it is Friday tomorrow which means it's the weekend much sooner than I thought!
2: My daughter has got a place in an after school dancing club and has been invited to her first birthday party since moving to her new junior school. Transferring her to a different school was a big gamble but it has paid off. She is happier, more motivated and gaining in confidence. So for me, to see her making friends, joining clubs and cementing relationships makes me extremely happy.
3: My 18 month old son has learned so many new words. Today he was playing with his sister's Mr Potato Head and independently named "eyes", "nose", "shoes" and "mouth". He is becoming such a bright, little boy who delights me everyday. I love watching his developments. He is definitely our last baby (five children is plenty!!) so I'm making sure I don't miss a moment!
I count my blessings and am thankful :)
1: Realising it is Friday tomorrow which means it's the weekend much sooner than I thought!
2: My daughter has got a place in an after school dancing club and has been invited to her first birthday party since moving to her new junior school. Transferring her to a different school was a big gamble but it has paid off. She is happier, more motivated and gaining in confidence. So for me, to see her making friends, joining clubs and cementing relationships makes me extremely happy.
3: My 18 month old son has learned so many new words. Today he was playing with his sister's Mr Potato Head and independently named "eyes", "nose", "shoes" and "mouth". He is becoming such a bright, little boy who delights me everyday. I love watching his developments. He is definitely our last baby (five children is plenty!!) so I'm making sure I don't miss a moment!
I count my blessings and am thankful :)
86% of Women Fail to Lose Weight Long Term on a Diet
Everywhere you look at the moment – the papers, magazines and TV – you see adverts and articles for weight loss through dieting, special foods and pills. It's very positive and encouraging that people are so interested in losing weight at this time of year but it is a sad fact that many of them will be disappointed.
You may, like me, start a diet with the best of intentions, but all the facts tell us that more than 90 per cent of people put bac
k on all the weight they’ve lost. Diets don’t work in the long term.
k on all the weight they’ve lost. Diets don’t work in the long term.
The latest research to come out just before Christmas showed that although one in three British women had been on a diet in the past 12 months, a massive 86 per cent failed to lose any long-term weight.
Our big trouble is that we’re a nation of yo-yo dieters and we’re so accustomed to diets failing that when we start to put pounds back on we just give up and let the weight pile back. Without a change for life, diets are just not sustainable.
That’s the beauty of the Thinking Slimmer method. Because a Slimpod retunes your mind to see food and exercise differently, it doesn’t rely on willpower or determination. You lose weight without making any conscious effort. By listening to the Slimpod everyday, you became more aware of being full and feel satisfied with less food. I began to savour my food much more and felt happy to stop eating when my body said I'd eaten enough. I lost 7lbs in the first two weeks of my trial. Unfortunately, a bad cold followed by Christmas saw my efforts slip. However, as I know that it really did change the way I thought about food, and I saw weightloss, I am restarting the programme as part of my New Year's Resolutions.
Do yourself a New Year favour and visit the website at ThinkingSlimmer.com. You could be taking the first step towards changing your life for ever.
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Back to the Grindstone
Today's rain is a pathetic fallacy...a representation of the damp squib that is engulfing me this morning. I always feel like this after big events. The post party blues feeling that is amplified tenfold following the Christmas holidays.
All that build up, the two weeks of festive fun...and then quick as flash it's all over leaving a cold, wet January in its wake.
School runs are resumed which means an early wake up call. The kids have all been enjoying lie-ins, including Freddy who has happily snoozed until gone nine o'clock. Clearly, this meant I too could lanquish under my 13 tog duvet, without any consequence to the household. This morning I awoke to a dark world. It was grim. Poor Fred was confused as to why he was being wrenched from his peaceful, cosy slumber into this gloomy, uninviting day. His protests were not a nice way to begin proceedings. Thankfully my girls were brilliant, upping and dressing with enthusiasm and injecting some sunshine into my grey mood. Freddy continued his half asleep grizzling, refusing breakfast and resisting his nappy change.
Also this morning, a cursory glance in the mirror confirmed the undoing of all the good work I'd done pre-Christmas with regard to my weightloss. How can the fat cells just all ping back with a vengeance so quickly! I know that my self-loathing fuelled selection box binges are not good...but to punish me so severely and so quickly seems just too cruel.
OK...enough of this self-pity! I will take control again. I will get back into the driving seat and try to control this potential car crash before the collision occurs. I know I am prone to giving into the dark passenger who tries to steer me towards a depressive destination. I've battled with the dark side all my life. I was the soulful, sullen child. I was the self-harming teen. I refuse to be the prozac popping housewife.
So with a drop of Bach's Rescue Remedy on my tongue, a newfound committment to beginning my healthy eating and weightloss plan and a refusal to succumb to this cloud that is threatening to consume me, I will face the day with the reverance it deserves. Because even though it is drab and grey, and even though my precious girls are back at school and not here with me, and even though my jeans are pinching and cutting off the circulation to my legs...today is the first day of the rest of my life, filled with promise and potential that is mine to unlock and discover! My beautiful baby boy is now in a happier mood, no longer shouting for the return of his sisters and dad...he seems content with my company and his box of Mr Potato Heads!
I know I am extremely blessed....sometimes I just need to remember just how blessed I really am and let the brightness chase away this darkness that creeps in. Thankfully, I find it much easier to push it away these days...recognising it before it envelopes me completely. With my fantastic, supportive and understanding husband and my wonderful kids by my side, I can take on the wrath of January and come out smiling!!
All that build up, the two weeks of festive fun...and then quick as flash it's all over leaving a cold, wet January in its wake.
School runs are resumed which means an early wake up call. The kids have all been enjoying lie-ins, including Freddy who has happily snoozed until gone nine o'clock. Clearly, this meant I too could lanquish under my 13 tog duvet, without any consequence to the household. This morning I awoke to a dark world. It was grim. Poor Fred was confused as to why he was being wrenched from his peaceful, cosy slumber into this gloomy, uninviting day. His protests were not a nice way to begin proceedings. Thankfully my girls were brilliant, upping and dressing with enthusiasm and injecting some sunshine into my grey mood. Freddy continued his half asleep grizzling, refusing breakfast and resisting his nappy change.
Also this morning, a cursory glance in the mirror confirmed the undoing of all the good work I'd done pre-Christmas with regard to my weightloss. How can the fat cells just all ping back with a vengeance so quickly! I know that my self-loathing fuelled selection box binges are not good...but to punish me so severely and so quickly seems just too cruel.
OK...enough of this self-pity! I will take control again. I will get back into the driving seat and try to control this potential car crash before the collision occurs. I know I am prone to giving into the dark passenger who tries to steer me towards a depressive destination. I've battled with the dark side all my life. I was the soulful, sullen child. I was the self-harming teen. I refuse to be the prozac popping housewife.
So with a drop of Bach's Rescue Remedy on my tongue, a newfound committment to beginning my healthy eating and weightloss plan and a refusal to succumb to this cloud that is threatening to consume me, I will face the day with the reverance it deserves. Because even though it is drab and grey, and even though my precious girls are back at school and not here with me, and even though my jeans are pinching and cutting off the circulation to my legs...today is the first day of the rest of my life, filled with promise and potential that is mine to unlock and discover! My beautiful baby boy is now in a happier mood, no longer shouting for the return of his sisters and dad...he seems content with my company and his box of Mr Potato Heads!
I know I am extremely blessed....sometimes I just need to remember just how blessed I really am and let the brightness chase away this darkness that creeps in. Thankfully, I find it much easier to push it away these days...recognising it before it envelopes me completely. With my fantastic, supportive and understanding husband and my wonderful kids by my side, I can take on the wrath of January and come out smiling!!
 |
| The sullen child still lurks inside me. |
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Listography
This week Kate's Listography post is asking for our Top 5 Famous Dinner Party Guests. So after careful consideration, here is my list.
1: Clive Barker: Probably the greatest horror writer of our time and the man who gave us Hellraiser. He'd regale us with stories from his unbelievably vivid imagination and share his visions on life, the universe and everything.
2: Russell Brand: I adore Russell Brand. I think he is hilarious with his quick wit. And if Katy Perry wanted to tag along I wouldn't mind at all!
3: Ashleigh Banjo: The most gorgeous eye candy, he is also a lovely bloke and could bust a few moves for our entertainment.
4: Tom Hanks: To have the man who played Forrest Gump, Woody, Josh Baskin (in Big) and that prison officer from the Green Mile at my dinner party would be beyond an honour.
5: Eminem: I'd love to join in with some of his classics...got to love a bit of Eminem. The social poet and bad boy would be a most excellent dinner guest, as long as he minded his p's and q's at the table!
What an amazing dinner party this would be!
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1: Clive Barker: Probably the greatest horror writer of our time and the man who gave us Hellraiser. He'd regale us with stories from his unbelievably vivid imagination and share his visions on life, the universe and everything.
2: Russell Brand: I adore Russell Brand. I think he is hilarious with his quick wit. And if Katy Perry wanted to tag along I wouldn't mind at all!
3: Ashleigh Banjo: The most gorgeous eye candy, he is also a lovely bloke and could bust a few moves for our entertainment.
4: Tom Hanks: To have the man who played Forrest Gump, Woody, Josh Baskin (in Big) and that prison officer from the Green Mile at my dinner party would be beyond an honour.
5: Eminem: I'd love to join in with some of his classics...got to love a bit of Eminem. The social poet and bad boy would be a most excellent dinner guest, as long as he minded his p's and q's at the table!
What an amazing dinner party this would be!
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Our little Jingle!
As the Graco competition draws to a close, I set my 14 year old Ella a challenge. I asked her to write me a little jingle-esque song like the ones used in adverts, extolling the virtues of the award winning Symbio. Bless her for indulging her mother, but she came up with a fabulous little ditty worthy of a Saatchi and Saatchi TV ad campagin! Not only did she write the words and music, she also agreed to perform the aforementioned song on video with little brother Freddy as her backing dancer (whilst seated happily in his Symbio of course!!)
Without further ado, I give you my daughter Ella and her Graco Symbio song!
Without further ado, I give you my daughter Ella and her Graco Symbio song!
Thomas Take n Play Knapford Station...My guest Toyology Review
My sister QWERTY Mum won the fantastic Toys R Us Toylogist prize on Facebook. As a result she received a mountain of toys to review and quickly ascended to the role of favourite Auntie to my children, all eager to help with her Toyology mission!
18 month old Freddy was given the job of playing with the Take n Play Knapford Station set. 20 years ago, my eldest son had some Thomas the Tank Engine die cast engines and track which he enjoyed playing with. So I was quite excited to see history repeating itself as my baby son discovered the joys of Thomas and co.
After a battle with some indestructible packaging, we discovered the self-contained carry case playset to be surprisingly sturdy. It opened up easily to transform into a circular track with a station and passenger pick up point. A lovely die cast Percy train was included with the set.
The set is recommended for ages 3 and up, whereas Freddy is 18 months old. However, he immediately understood how the game was meant to be played and enjoyed whizzing the little train around the track, through the doors and into the station. I love how little boys know how to make the "brmmm" and "neee-oww" noises when they play with vehicles!
I was quite impressed with how the set withstood to Freddy's rigorous playing (including being sat on!!) Only once did it fold itself up in response to being leant on! However, it just flips back into place so that is not a major problem.
This set would be ideal for taking on holiday or on visits to the grandparents. It folds up and clips together with the train inside, which keeps it all safe and secure. Being in one piece means there is no danger of losing bits of track.
The toy retails at £24.99 at Toys R Us. Being a branded toy, the potential to add to the set, buying new trains etc is an expensive temptation, but as a stand alone piece, this toy is well priced.
Freddy gives this toy a big thumbs up!!!
18 month old Freddy was given the job of playing with the Take n Play Knapford Station set. 20 years ago, my eldest son had some Thomas the Tank Engine die cast engines and track which he enjoyed playing with. So I was quite excited to see history repeating itself as my baby son discovered the joys of Thomas and co.
After a battle with some indestructible packaging, we discovered the self-contained carry case playset to be surprisingly sturdy. It opened up easily to transform into a circular track with a station and passenger pick up point. A lovely die cast Percy train was included with the set.
The set is recommended for ages 3 and up, whereas Freddy is 18 months old. However, he immediately understood how the game was meant to be played and enjoyed whizzing the little train around the track, through the doors and into the station. I love how little boys know how to make the "brmmm" and "neee-oww" noises when they play with vehicles!
I was quite impressed with how the set withstood to Freddy's rigorous playing (including being sat on!!) Only once did it fold itself up in response to being leant on! However, it just flips back into place so that is not a major problem.
This set would be ideal for taking on holiday or on visits to the grandparents. It folds up and clips together with the train inside, which keeps it all safe and secure. Being in one piece means there is no danger of losing bits of track.
The toy retails at £24.99 at Toys R Us. Being a branded toy, the potential to add to the set, buying new trains etc is an expensive temptation, but as a stand alone piece, this toy is well priced.
Freddy gives this toy a big thumbs up!!!
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Hilda Oo-gden! A Corrie Comping Win!!
I'm a runner up in the Typhoo OO-Along competition! The prize is to go to afternoon tea with two members of the Corrie cast at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester. That'll be quite an experience I'm sure (although I'm not a Corrie watcher!!! Hope I recognize the actors!) Here's my video!
Silent Sunday Snooze
The excesses of Christmas caught up with 18 month old Fred and big sister 19 year old Megan x
Saturday, 1 January 2011
2011 Resolutions
Waking up to a whole new year of possibilities is an exciting prospect! An opportunity to focus your thoughts, your hopes and dreams and come up with a list of pledges to yourself that if fulfilled will serve to better your life! Ususally, I'd come up with these resolutions and let them slip within days. This year however, things are different...my resolutions will be recorded here on my blog. This will force me into staying true to my written word. There will be evidence that can be sited to force me back on the straight and narrow if I rescind on my promises to myself. I wonder, will these resolutions therefore work better than last years?!
1: I don't drink, I don't smoke and I'm vegetarian...so there is no work to be done in those areas. However, I am pretty greedy! My yo-yo-ing dieting continues to be the bane of my life. In November I started using a self-hypnosis programme from Thinking Slimmer which was initially very successful. However, despite losing 7 lbs in the first 2 weeks and feeling pretty good about myself, the onset of Christmas over-indulgence defeated my changed mindset and I've put the weight back on :( So, resolution number one is to resume my hypnosis and shift the weight and keep it off. I want to lose a stone.
2: My housewifery is sometimes a bit lacking...all this social media is distracting! So I promise to be the ultimate domestic goddess at least once a week! I'll make sure we have at least one weekly sit down family meal with no laptops, mobile phones or TV on! Our year will be punctuated with tasty, newly discovered vegetarian meals...I'll rekindle my joy of cooking!
3: Now Freddy is walking, we will start exploring our local area by foot! I bought a book of family friendly walks in Cheshire. This year I'll use it!!
4: My final promise is an easy one. I started this blog in September and have been amazed at how quickly I have immersed myself into this virtual world. This year, I will continue to explore the potential of this amazing media. I look forward to seeing where this new hobby will take me in 2011!
1: I don't drink, I don't smoke and I'm vegetarian...so there is no work to be done in those areas. However, I am pretty greedy! My yo-yo-ing dieting continues to be the bane of my life. In November I started using a self-hypnosis programme from Thinking Slimmer which was initially very successful. However, despite losing 7 lbs in the first 2 weeks and feeling pretty good about myself, the onset of Christmas over-indulgence defeated my changed mindset and I've put the weight back on :( So, resolution number one is to resume my hypnosis and shift the weight and keep it off. I want to lose a stone.
2: My housewifery is sometimes a bit lacking...all this social media is distracting! So I promise to be the ultimate domestic goddess at least once a week! I'll make sure we have at least one weekly sit down family meal with no laptops, mobile phones or TV on! Our year will be punctuated with tasty, newly discovered vegetarian meals...I'll rekindle my joy of cooking!
3: Now Freddy is walking, we will start exploring our local area by foot! I bought a book of family friendly walks in Cheshire. This year I'll use it!!
4: My final promise is an easy one. I started this blog in September and have been amazed at how quickly I have immersed myself into this virtual world. This year, I will continue to explore the potential of this amazing media. I look forward to seeing where this new hobby will take me in 2011!
Happy New Year and good luck with your resolutions!
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