Thursday 26 January 2012

{Fresh Start}

Yes, it's definitely time for a fresh start Kate! Here's my Grooving Mums update for the week...


I was back at work this week and it actually went rather well. My in-laws took the children on Sunday night so on Monday morning I was free to get ready for work in peace & quiet. Tuesday was a different story, but I managed to get both kiddies organised and off to nursery and was in work for 8.30am! I even managed to put some meatballs and sauce into the slow cooker before I left!! How's that for Supermum, lol! (The meatballs were pre-made from the supermarket and the sauce was from a jar... but it was still nice to come home to a meal that was warm & ready to be eaten! The toddler was not impressed with it though and refused to eat them...nightmare!).


I didn't make it to my Pilates class last night due to lack of childcare but I'll just need to make sure I'm more organised for the future. I did go for a run on Sunday though (5 miles!) and I've got a session with my personal trainer this week too.


I've been doing some more painting and decorating at my house which I'm really enjoying. I'm finding it therapeutic. I've just painted my vestibule and I'll post some pictures when it's complete. It's amazing what a lick of paint can do!


And here are Kate's challenges for this week:



1. Body -  This week, there is a campaign about eating a healthy breakfast for 5 days. http://shakeupyourwakeup.com/challenge. Give it a go and tell us how it goes.
My typical breakfast is muesli, and I do love it (Jordan's Nut & Seed if you're interested!). Now that I'm back at work though I'm finding that I'm grabbing something quick that I can then eat at my desk. However yesterday I picked up a porridge and hot chocolate from the cafeteria - it was yum! Porridge was healthy-ish (it was strawberry & cream flavour...prob not healthy at all!) and the hot chocolate most certainly was not healthy! I am going to be more organised next week and have healthy breakfasts again.
2. Mind – It is Chinese New Year and I have just opened my fortune cookie.  What I want you to think and/or blog about is if you had a guarantee that the fortune in your cookie would come true in the next 12 months, what would you want it to say?  You can do something down to earth, humorous or something obscure and Confuscious like.  It is entirely up to you.
I love Pinterest for finding quotes, inspiration and words of wisdom, so from my 'Words' board here is what would be in my fortune cookie...
"If you do not step forward, you will always be in the same place"
3. Spirit – Sticking with the Chinese New Year, what animal are you?  If you don’t know, look it up for fun.  Does the description of the animal you are ring true?  Which animal would you like to be and why? You can find all the information you need here
My Chinese Zodiac Sign is The Dog.
"While the Dog can be loyal, moralistic and affectionate, the negative aspects of the Dog's personality can be described as judgmental, cynical, quarrelsome and fretful."


Not sure if that rings true or not... I think I can relate to the positive characteristics but I wouldn't say I was judgmental and quarrelsome.


I think I'm more like The Pig... whose personality characteristics are patience, loyalty, sincerity, thoughtfulness and intellegence and negative traits being gullibility, materialism and naivete. Which is funny considering I also picked out Piglet from the Winnie the Pooh characters!! 


4. Blogging – Have you heard the wonderful and rather exciting news?  What do you mean “Yes, I have as Kate just won’t stop going on about it!”   I am now a member of the Britmums team with a great initiative that will make a real difference too.   Read all about it by clicking here.
Your blogging challenge this week is to join Britmums if you have not yet done so and then join the Charity Connections – Blogging It Forward group on there.  Don’t just join but get involved in some of the already fascinating discussions taking place on there.  Have your say at Britmums.
Very proud of your new role Kate - such great news, and yes... you have mentioned it a number of times now! I think I might be a member of Britmums but I'll double check and sign up if I"m not.
5.  Special Days – As I have already mentioned special days in this post, my challenge to you is to make one day this week really special. How you do that is up to you.  Will it be a day out?  Some one-on-one time with your partner?  You decide.
My dad's wife is coming to visit me this week and she's very kindly offered to show me how to make a dress for my daughter as she is a seamstress. She made some amazing quilts for my children - I'll take photos and post them soon. I think that will be my special day - I'll be able to properly check off the first of my 35 at 35 list.
6. The Big Question – This challenge is the one that is aimed at making you think deeply.  Of course, the big questions come to me in all sorts of ways. This one came whilst watching Dancing On Ice on the telly because I am a very deep philosopher lol.  Take it in whatever way you see fit.  Let it mean what it means to you as an individual.  So the question is, have you lost that loving feeling?  Whether that is for yourself, your partner, your child, your job or whatever.  Reflect on it in a way that is meaningful to you.
Yes, I've lost that loving feeling.... everything has been a bit crap and I need to learn to love myself again. At the moment my favourite place is tucked up in my new bed watching ER! Preferably with a hot cup of tea!! I guess that's maybe me avoiding people and places though.
Here are some of my positive thoughts from my Pinterest words board... 





So, until next week.... keep on grooving!

Sunday 22 January 2012

{Fabulous Finds: Valentine's Day Part II}




Tina Gray {dot} Me


I've found a whole host of other Valentine's Day ideas on Pinterest that I'd thought I'd share as a Fabulous Finds post and also Piquing My Pinterest with Tina Gray. You can find my other ideas that I previously posted here.

Love is a Battlefield!

You make my heart bounce!

I'm bursting with happiness that you're my friend

I've got my eye on you!

Of all the fish in the sea I'm glad we swim in the same school

I'm wild about you / I'm bananas for you Valentine

I'd snap at the chance to be your Valentine!

Will you o'fish'ally be my Valentine?

I've had my eye on you!


Thumb-body loves you!

I Wheelie Like You!

I'm nuts about you!

Bear hugs

I'm going to pop a corny question... will you be my Valentine?

You can follow me on Pinterest here.




Friday 20 January 2012

{Grooving Mums}

I'm a bit out of sync with my blog posts but I'm hoping to get into a routine again soon. This post is my weekly-ish update for Kate On Thin Ice's Grooving Mums blog hop.


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I go back to work on Monday next week after 9 months of maternity leave. I'm not sure if I'm ready emotionally for it, but I need to get back into the swing of things and felt that it was the right thing to do. I'll be working part-time, three days a week, so I should have a good work-life balance.


I've been out for a run... just 3 miles... but it was a start at least and hopefully I'll get back on track in a few weeks in terms of my fitness level. We've already raised over £2000 on our Just Giving page and I'm sure that we'll reach our £3000 target. Friends and family have been so generous and I'm extremely grateful for that. I've kept up with my weekly Pilates class and I really enjoy it. I spend the class focusing on my breathing and it gives me an opportunity for quiet reflection.


Here are Kate's challenges or prompts for the week:



1. Body – How are you sleeping? Do you qualify as sleep-deprived? Are you a mum to a baby who just isn’t sleeping through yet? What toll is that taking? Do you have older children creeping into bed with you? What does your bed look like? Is it comfortable and supportive enough? Could you give your bed a makeover in some way perhaps with scented pillows or a colourful bedspread? Could you have a nap at some point in the day? How can you ensure you get better quality sleep?
This I have been working on! I have bought myself an amazing new bed. The divan & mattress (memory foam - it's so comfortable!) arrived on Monday and the headboard will follow shortly. I'll post a photograph once it's complete. 
2. Mind – Our children have reward charts and get stickers when they do well? Could you play with this idea and create your own chart or adapt a child’s one? What are those things that you know you should do but don’t seem to get around to? How can you motivate yourself? In my continuous attempt to get mums to say good things about themselves, why not tell me what you deserve a reward for?
Like Gem over at Storm in a K Cup, I also have numerous lists ongoing in my iPhone. However, I do prefer the old fashioned writing it down because then you can see your progress as the items get crossed off. So I bought myself a 'To Do List' notepad for my Christmas stocking, but with all the upheaval recently I've misplaced it!! It's in a box somewhere and when I find it I'm going to start using it regularly to keep track. I'm thinking of creating some kind of check list for all my weekly tasks as I'm going to have to make sure I keep on top of things now that I'm back to work. First on the agenda is meal planning and making sure I do a regular weekly online food shop. 
3. Spirit – Is the spirit willing? You can respond to this one in whatever way you see fit.
I've been doing some thinking about spirituality recently due to the group I've been attending with Kelly Menzies. We did a guided meditation at the group this week and my mind did wander a few times but generally I was able to focus on my breathing and managed to zone out for a bit. I've now got a few tracks on my iPhone and I'm going to listen to them when I can. 
4. Blog – Have you attended a blogger event? Have you met any bloggers in the flesh? Would you like to do? Why is that? I am speaking at Britmums Live so I hope some of my lovely Groovy Mums will be there to hold my hand.
I've been to a small PR event at a local Mothercare and met a few bloggers in the flesh - it was great to actually meet the mums behind the blogs and put faces to names. Other than that I've not been to any other events.
5. It is the creator of Winnie the Pooh’s birthday this week. So, as a bit of fun, why not work out which Winnie the Pooh character you are most like and why? It might help you to discover what is great about you and also the things that you could usefully change.
I think I'm maybe a little like Piglet... "capable of showing braveness way beyond his diminutive frame of a timid pink pig".  A number of people have commented and been amazed at my inner strength over the past few weeks. Plus, I'd like to think that I'm cute too!! 

6. The Big Question – How is your sex life? Oh, I know we are not supposed to talk about religion, sex and politics but you know me, I like breaking the rules. So how are things in the bedroom (or your venue of choice)? Has sex become a chore? Do you find it difficult to make time for sex? Are you too exhausted for sex? Have you managed to spice up your love-life? Be brave and reveal all on your blog or just do some quiet reflecting on this issue.
I'm going to politely ignore this question due to the recent ongoings!!

Wednesday 18 January 2012

{What I Wore #11}

So, as some of you are already aware - it was my 30th birthday on Saturday.... I'm officially in my thirties - yikes!




I'm linking up with Transatlantic Blonde to share an outfit for the weekly What I Wore Wednesday linky, and I'm going to share my outfit from Saturday night.



Glasses - from Papyrus and part of my gift from my fab friend Claire
Sequin dress - from House of Fraser and was a present from my sister, @the_grey_house
Tights - M&S

I had my hair and make-up done at a local salon and that really did make the outfit complete.

Check out all the other bloggers that have joined in here.

Wednesday 11 January 2012

{My New Groove}

That's right, Im linking up again with Kate on Thin Ice for her #groovymums blog hop. Check us out here and find out what we're all about...


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I had hoped to go for a run yesterday, but I ended up not having enough time (probably an excuse... I should have just made the time!) and I had thought I would go today, but I've been lazy. I am however going to my Pilates class tonight so at least I've done a little bit of exercise! 


Healthy eating-wise I've not been great. I've been eating too many processed foods and not enough fruit & veg. I'm working on that though and I'm sat here munching my way through a fruit salad (pre-packed, but it's a start!).


I'm 30 at the weekend so I have a big night out planned with my girlfriends... dinner, cocktails and dancing! Despite the rubbish time I've been having of late, I will go out and do the best I can to enjoy myself. I can't remember the last time I let my hair down and went dancing (possibly 2 years ago...yikes!!).


I've posted my 35 at 35 list... I'm now committed to achieving all 35 things and I've already started one of them which is redecorating my bedroom.


Thinking a bit more about Kate's challenges from last week, we spoke at my support group last night about negative thinking and how to make changes. I've got some 'homework' that I'm going to do tomorrow - it's a video that I'm going to watch on my phone whilst at the hairdresser tomorrow... It's called You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay and you can watch the documentary here - it might be of interest to some of the other #groovymums out there.


Here are Kate's prompts for this week...

1. Body – Lotions and Potions. What is in your bathroom of the creams and pampering products variety. Nothing. The same old thing or something new? Is it time for a lotions and potions revival?
2. Mind – What are the very best things about you? Try and write down 5 of them. Now stop putting yourself down and beating yourself up. What is brilliant about you? You are reading this for a start but there is so much more to you. Why not let the world see it a bit more? How could you achieve that?
3. It is World Religion Day this week. Has religion featured in your life and if so, how? Have you left it behind? Does it interest you? What can you tell us about your own religious beliefs? Does religion cause more harm than good? Let us know what you think.
4. Blogging – what good could you do with your blog? That’s a really open question so you have plenty of scope to answer it in a way that makes sense to you.
5. Big Question – who can you ask to help you? Who can you delegate some of your tasks to?
Catch up with me next week to see how I got on...

{35 at 35 list}

I decided that I wanted to create some goals to work towards over the next 5 years, and so I've come up with my very own 35 at 35 list. I was prompted by my friend Becky's life list but instead of a Bucket List I wanted to be a bit stricter on the timeline so I'm giving myself 5 years...

After a bit of googling it would seem that this is a fairly common thing to do, and Catherine at Making It As a Mum suggested I look at the Day Zero project too which is a site hosting lists of 101 things you want to do in the next 1001 days. They also have a new project called '7 things x 2012' and it's seven prompts for achievements for the new year. Something to have a look at if you fancy making a list yourself.
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Some of my items are very achievable, and others less so. This probably ties in with Kate's #groovymums posts and as I work my way through my list I'm hoping that I'll find myself and get my groove back!

So, without further ado (drum roll please...!!), here is my list:

1. Redecorate my bedroom

2. Go on a picnic



3. Do something thoughtful for a friend

4. Be a tourist for a day in Glasgow

5. Skydive

I'd love to do something crazy for charity. I had thought I would do something to mark the 10 year anniversary of my mum passing, but I wasn't organised enough.



6. Learn how to use a power drill properly and improve my DIY skills

7. Practice painting my nails and keep them looking nice for at least a month



8. Learn how to decorate biscuits properly



9. Take an advanced driving course

I'm terrified of driving in the ice and snow. I know that I wouldn't cope well if my car started to skid and I am terrified of something happening to me and the kiddies. I'm thinking that an advanced driving course will improve my confidence.

10. Make an amazing birthday cake for my kiddies



11. Go on a holiday alone

12. Spend an afternoon in front of a log fire

13. Wine tasting

I love a glass of wine... but I don't really know anything about wine, just that it gets me drunk!



14. Pay off my student loan and be debt free

15. Sew a dress for my daughter

My mum made clothes for me and my sister when we were little and I would love to do the same for my daughter.



16. Own a designer handbag

17. Have a family portrait session

18. Volunteer for a charity

19. Talk to somebody famous




20. Eat at The Kitchen, Edinburgh

21. Host an afternoon tea party



22. Have dinner at Martin Wishart Restaurant, Edinburgh

23. Visit Japan

24. Visit Australia

25. Take a pottery class



26. Learn about html

27. Do a night class in digital design or something similar

28. Run a marathon



29. Take the kiddies to Disneyland

30. Move house




31. Be comfortable and confident with my appearance

32. Be a model for a day

When I was at primary school we were asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. I had said that I wanted to be a model and I was laughed at. That has stuck with me all this time and I would love to be a model, just for a day.

33. Be genuinely happy



34. Fall in love again

35. Forgive







{Things I'm Loving Right Now}

It's my birthday on Saturday.... the big 3 0 !!!

I'm having a group of my girlfriends to my house for some nail painting & drinks whilst we get ready for the night ahead, then we're off into town for cocktails followed by dinner, and then probably more cocktails and perhaps some dancing. Under the circumstances, I didn't really want to go out and had planned to just have some cocktails in the house but a few friends have said I'll regret it if I don't celebrate my thirtieth properly so we're now going out! My sister, @the_grey_house, has sent me a gorgeous dress in the post with some matching nail polish so I'm all set! (I have to say I'm yet to try the dress on, but I'm sure it will be perfect!).


So here's what I'm loving right now...

Black sequin dress... this isn't my new dress but it's very similar, but I'm sure I'll post a photograph from our celebrations for my next 'What I Wore Wednesday' entry. My sister is extremely thoughtful and it was so lovely to receive such a nice gift in the post {image source}

Me-time... I'm getting my hair done tomorrow at a local salon and then on Saturday I'm going to spend the day getting ready for my night out. The kiddies are going with their daddy for the afternoon & staying overnight at granny & grandpa's so I'll be able to have a relaxing bath without interruptions!! I normally get 2 minutes in the shower if I'm lucky!!! {image source}

Friends... 14 of my close friends are coming along and I'm looking forward to catching up properly with them all {image source}

Mojitos... my current favourite cocktail is a raspberry mojito and I even got a little pouch of syrup in my Christmas stocking for making raspberry mojitos at home! {image source}

Monday 9 January 2012

{New Year, New Me}



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I'm finally linking up again with Kate on Thin Ice for her Grooving Mums blog hop. Please do join us... have a look at Kate's blog here where she's written a little bit about the 'rules' - don't worry, they aren't strict!!

As Christmases go, mine was pretty s**t. I started 2012 as a single parent.

Here are Kate's challenges for the week:

1. Did you over-indulge over the festive season? What can you do to prepare for the life-changing journey ahead in terms of improving your health?
2. What do you need to change your mind about? Have you written yourself off in some way? How can you shift negative thinking patterns?
3. This week, Christians celebrate the Epiphany. Here is one dictionary definition for the word epiphany “a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.” What does this mean to you?
4. Are you aware of all the blogging networks you can get involved with? Is it worth you checking them out and promoting your efforts to sparkle to a wider audience?

Yes, I have overindulged this festive period! I've not been exercising, I've been eating far too many cakes and not enough fruit & vegetables, I've had the occasional glass of wine (I stopped drinking in June and hadn't touched a drop until December!) and with all the emotional stuff too I'm feeling bleugh!!! I plan to go for my first run of the year tomorrow... I'm doing the Edinburgh Half Marathon in May so I need to step up my training. I'm running for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of my mum who died of ovarian cancer 10 years ago. We've set up a Just Giving fundraising page if anyone would like to make a donation (no pressure, but thought I'd mention it just in case).

Despite all the negative things that have happened this past month, I am still making positive steps and looking at changing my mindset and way of thinking. I had started a support group with Kelly Menzies just before Christmas and I'm looking forward to the group starting up again this week. Kelly's enthusiasm is infectious and her aim is to help support mums through change.

I've decided it was time for a fresh start and I've bought new underwear, pyjamas, bed linen, duvet & pillows, a new bed (should arrive on Wednesday this week!) and I've also painted my bedroom with the help of my little sister, @the_grey_house. What colour did I paint it I hear you ask.... grey of course!!

I'm also in the process of compiling a 35 at 35 list (I'm 30 next week, so a 30 at 30 list was not going to work!!) and hopefully this is a list of goals that I can realistically achieve over the next 5 years. Some of them are simple, and I've already started one of them (redecorate my bedroom) and others are longer term (be genuinely happy; be comfortable & confident with my appearance...). I'll post the full list on my blog once I get it finished. I've just got 27 items just now so need to get my thinking cap on for the final 8!

I'm not clued up on all the blogging networks that are around... I'm sure I've signed up for a few but I'm going to try and make the effort to participate more.

That's all for now... time for me to get to bed! It's been a long and emotional week.

Night all.... keep on grooving!!


{Fabulous Finds: Valentine's Day}

I'm linking up with Tina Gray for her Piquing my Pinterest blog hop but thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and make this a Glasgow Mummy's Fabulous Finds post too :-)



Tina Gray {dot} Me

Here are some ideas I've come up with for Valentine's Day cards and gifts for my toddler to give to his nursery chums! We did wooden hearts last year that had the recipients name on and I ordered these from a girl on FaceBook but this year I want to make something myself. So far I'm undecided as to which idea to choose....











Check out the other bloggers posts over at TinaGray{dot}me here.

Beauty with a Conscious

I volunteer most weeks with the Prince and Princess of Wales hospice, located in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, where I deliver a mindfulness m...