{#JanuaryJoy - clear out}

It's the last Florence Finds #JanuaryJoy prompt, which is 'clear out'.

Over the last few years I've minimised my clothing & accessories and successfully completed Project 333; I've decluttered the house (including the kids toys and my kitchen) because last year I moved from a sizeable 5 bedroom mid-terrace property into a more reasonable 3 bedroom semi and in the process I've sold a number of pieces of furniture on Gumtree and still have a few more things to clear out. I also gave a number of boxes of 'stuff' to my dad's wife Jo who has taken everything to a car boot sale for me.

I actually don't think there's much more for me to clear! Yay!!

One thing I know I need to work on is my digital hoarding... I have so many photographs it's unreal and I could be done with spending some time to ditch the rubbish ones and organise the good ones. *Adds digital decluttering to the to-do-list.

So, that's it... I hope you've enjoyed reading my #JanuaryJoy posts. I've certainly enjoyed writing them.

Can you believe it's nearly February already!!!??!!

{#JanuaryJoy - refocus on your career}

Today's prompt from Rebecca over at Florence Finds for her #JanuaryJoy series, is to 'refocus on your career'.

Regular readers will know that I have a PhD and I'm a part-time scientist... and my blog is my creative outlet that I write in my spare time.

I've dipped my toes into other careers over the years... retail, hospitality, photography... but science was always my strong subject and it seemed sensible to pursue a job in this field.

I don't know many people who have swapped their career, but one person that sprung to mind was Steve over at Cherry Tree Films.

Steve was the videographer for my wedding, and the wedding films he creates are just amazing (I'd definitely recommend them, and a few of my friends have since used Steve for their weddings). Anyway, Steve has a degree in Biology and worked for 8 years in the pharmaceutical industry before turning his hobby into a business.

I'm not saying I want to completely change my career... I spent 8 years training to do what I do (5 years at uni for my first degree, and then another 3 for my PhD) and so far I've only been working in the 'real world' for 6 years.

My current employer is brilliant and I've been so lucky in that respect. My hours are flexible and at the moment I'm working part-time.

What concerns me are the next 2 years whilst I juggle nursery & school runs with the kids dad. I'm hoping it will become easier once they're both at school, which will be August 2016.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a lottery win (what are the chances??) and then I can pursue one of my dream jobs, like opening a cupcake cafe/gift shop or working on the CBeebies show 'Nina & The Neurons'!

Nina & The Neurons

{#JanuaryJoy - have a social media sort out}

Today's prompt for #JanuaryJoy is to 'have a social media sort out'.

Instead of reducing my social media of late, I've managed to increase it by downloading Spotify to try. You'll find me as Glasgow Mummy, and then you'll have all the evidence that you need to confirm my rubbish taste in music. Here's hoping Spotify helps rectify that!

I'm active on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest... Details over on the right ----->

Cath Tate greetings card!

I also dabbled with Vine, but quickly gave up - it really wasn't for me and I was finding it tough to keep up with them all!

I've gone through phases of reducing the number of people I follow but I don't think this is as important as having a social media strategy. First up, I'm going to try a Daily Social Media Checklist... like this one:

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How do  you keep on top of your social media platforms?

{#JanuaryJoy - treat yourself}

This weekend I treated myself to a new sofa from Marks and Spencer. It was the last weekend of their sale, and I didn't want to miss out so I headed into town to make my purchase.

I was in dire need of a sofa bed for my living room as I don't have a spare bedroom in the new house as it's much smaller. I was perhaps being a bit fussy though as I didn't want any old sofa bed... I wanted one that was going to match in with my current soft furnishings (I can't afford to change the curtains, which are a brown flock design) & furniture (I have a pink/purple feature armchair in the room) and I also needed one that was going to be comfortable to sleep on for my guests.

I chose the Fenton Medium Sofa Bed in Plum, reduced to £909 from £1299.

It's not the grey chesterfield sofa bed that I had originally dreamed of, but this sofa bed is practical (colour is dark enough to mask any stains from grubby kiddie handprints!) and I think it was reasonable in terms of cost versus comfort. It's so nice to sit on in comparison to the Ikea one I'm currently borrowing from my sister. And it will tone nicely with the armchair that I have from made.com.

Next on my list for the living room is to paint the walls a slate blue colour (my sister gave me B&Q vouchers for my birthday this month) and the next big purchases will hopefully be a carpet and a log fire!

{#JanuaryJoy - tidy up}

Today's #JanuaryJoy prompt is to 'tidy up'.

I'm taking this to mean a few things...tidy up the house & get organised...tidy up my mind & get motivated for the year ahead...and tidy up my appearance.

Here are my thoughts on each:

1. Continue to declutter the house - in particular tackling the main areas prone to getting messy...my desk, my walk-in cupboard, the shed/out-house and on top of my microwave (dumping ground for mail etc!). I bought two pieces if furniture from Gumtree last week & as such I've now got a few extra drawers to store my bits & pieces.

My £15 mahogany chest of drawers

My £10 mahogany tall boy!

The mess that has collected on top of the microwave!

2. This month I ended my relationship with my counsellor. After 7 months, I feel ready to go it alone.

Lots for me to think about & one thing I am going to take on board is writing stuff down in a book rather than e-lists. Hopefully it'll let me keep a clear head!

Susan's parting words to me were 'Enjoy Life' and I intend on doing just that.

3. I'm currently sat at my desk feeling like a plucked chicken! I hate getting waxed - it hurts like hell, but as awful as this may be, I do feel more confident when I'm waxed, nails polished & hair done. I've been a bit rubbish at keeping my nails done, which I'm annoyed about because for a while I was really good and kept my nails looking lovely for ages (as part of my 35 at 35 list).

My recommendation would be Stephanie at Beauty in the Basement, Kano. I occasionally get gelish nails done and Stephanie is brilliant. She's the only beautician I have used who's gelish nails last for over a week, sometimes 10 days. Other places I've been to, at least one of the nails starts to peel off after a couple of days. Stephanie's spray tans are also brilliant. She also does 'Tuesday Treats' and runs some really good deals. Definitely one for Glasgow Southsiders to check out :)

I'm also linking up with Kate on Thin Ice's #groovymums blog linky... making small steps to improve my life.

{#JanuaryJoy - try a new trend}

Florence Finds #JanuaryJoy prompt for today is 'try a new trend'.

I'm not really one for trends, preferring to stick to classic pieces or looks.

However, in the hamper I received for winning the People Loves Glasgow Instagram competition, I found an orangey-red lipstick.

It might not be a new trend, as I'm sure neon orange lips have been on the fashion scene for a while now, but I thought I'd give it a whirl.

Neon! {image source}

Here's the lipstick I got, from Cargo Cosmetics in the colour Sedona:

Sedona is a bright coral colour, but unfortunately I'm not sure this photo represents the colour all that well!

And here I am wearing it, again it looks more red in the photo when in actual fact it's more orange. 

I have to say I'm not convinced... but that's possibly because I never wear bright lipstick. I would either have neutral lips or possibly at a push a plum colour.

I think my pout is sizeable enough without drawing attention to it with a bright orange colour!

I'm not ruling it out completely, but I'm just not sure of it... yet.

What are your thoughts, orange lips - yay or nay?

{January Joy - 31st Jan}

So I've made it to the end of Florence Finds #JanuaryJoy and I did a blog post for each and every prompt that was set. I'm very pleased with myself! Today's prompt is to 'reflect'...

I set resolutions for the year in the first post, and I'm delighted to be able to say that thus far I've stuck with them. I'm more organised, I'm crafting & baking regularly with the kids (we made shortbread for the first time for the 25th Jan prompt, we plan to bake some bread today as per the prompt for the 28th Jan and I'm all set for making Valentine's favours) and this week I met with a financial advisor to start getting my money in check. 

As part of my resolution to get organised I started meal planning. The downside to this is that because I've been eating the exact same as the kids (lots of white pasta, potatoes, bread) I've managed to put on a stone. This is not good. Although I do realise that the ice cream and cakes I have indulged in, on a number of occasions, will not have helped!

I thought it was never going to be possible, but I did manage to fit in a hair cut & colour even if I did have to take a day off work and I also had a luxury back massage and facial too on my birthday! Becky, Claire & I hit the cinema to celebrate my birthday and we went to see 'The Impossible' - gripping film but way more graphic than I had anticipated. There were lots of tears.

My birthday cake!

I'm also pleased to say that my skin is finally beginning to clear up. Phew! Let's hope it stays that way!!

I even managed to finish my new book, 'the five people you meet in Heaven', and I can highly recommend it. My friend Kath also sent me a book in the post which is next on my list, 'Ursula, Under'.

The house is really starting to come together and I'm starting to have a clearer picture in my head of where I'm going. I reckon I will be selling up and moving on this summer, which also ties in with one of my 35 at 35 list items.

I think my favourite post was the 18th January which gave me the opportunity to share my story of becoming a mum, which in itself was a chance to reflect.

Ok, so that's the positives, how about the ones I didn't quite manage...

I'm yet to go on my getaway and I'm still waiting to confirm dates with the kids dad, but hopefully I'll be able to have a wee break soon.

I also didn't try a new exercise class as I had intended to in this post. Now that I'm being sensible about money, I've didn't renew my gym membership and instead I will start running more often - it's free after all!

Music has also been one of the prompts which I failed to follow through on... you'll still find me dancing about my kitchen to Will.i.am and Britney (I love it!) with the kids jumping about beside me! I will download some new tracks soon - promise!

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Worst of all I failed to have a week without cakes and chocolate. I barely managed a day. This is not good and definitely something I need to work on. 

I've thoroughly enjoyed taking part in #JanuaryJoy and Rebecca's prompts have been superb - a really good mix! What was your favourite post of the series?

Make Something Naughty to Eat

I've been looking forward to today's prompt, 'make something naughty to eat' , since the start of #JanuaryJoy.

I love ice cream, and as a child I used to love knickerbocker glories or banana splits. Yum!!

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I try to steer clear of ice cream in the supermarkets as I'd end up buying a big tub, and demolishing it in minutes (yes, you read correctly!).

Today I've been really good at work, which makes a change! I'm normally wolfing cakes like there is no tomorrow. Yesterday I started off the day with a Twix bar and a cup of tea then throughout the day I ate 5 or 6 mini yum yums (with more tea!) and a bar of tablet. Then once home I had a massive bowl of ice cream with chocolate drops, butterscotch sprinkles and marshmallows which I ate whilst in the bath as per yesterday's prompt to have a home spa! (Our guests at the weekend left ice cream in the freezer and it would be rude not to eat it, right?!)

I'm going to have a very small bowl of ice cream once the kids are asleep and that will be my treat. 

It's pancake day soon (12th February) and I've ordered chocolate sauce and maple syrup in my supermarket order this week so that I'm sorted for making pancakes with the kids. I will try and save myself until then and limit the cake intake...

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Making Time for Yourself as a Busy Mum

Today's #JanuaryJoy post is to 'have a home spa'. 

I love a bit of rest and relaxation, especially when it involves pampering. Life can be so hectic at times, that it's nice to just put your feet up and have a moment to clear your head.

On the drive home from work I had lists running through my mind of all the things I have to do, trying to prioritise which ones were more urgent and determine what I can realistically achieve this evening. 

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I've decided to scrap the plans (I will do a few of the items, but not all of them) and instead I'm going to have a long relaxing bath and I'll finish the new book that I started - the five people you meet in Heaven as recommended by my good friend @ScumMum.

Perfect!! 

-----------------------------------

Are you a mum in business, struggling to find time for yourself? 

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{January Joy - 28th Jan}

Today's #JanuaryJoy prompt is to 'bake some bread'. 

I was very lucky to have a lesson in baking bread last year from Mr Olive Dragonfly. You can find his tried & tested recipe here. 

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However, despite having had a lesson (and also buying the ingredients after my lesson!) I haven't actually baked any bread myself. I've also since discovered during a recent clear out that my ingredients are now out of date. Whoops!

So I will be adding this to my meal planner for the week and when I'm off work I will bake some bread with the little ones. I know they'll really enjoy it.

Pop over to Florence Finds to see Rebecca's recipe for a quick and easy wholemeal loaf.

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{January Joy - 25th Jan}

The #JanuaryJoy prompt for today is 'do something/go somewhere you have never been before...'. 

Hmmmm..... this certainly got me thinking!!

What could I realistically do that I haven't done before?? *puts thinking cap on* (and wheesht you all with the dirty minds!!!!)

Today is Burn's Night and I've never hosted a Burn's Supper before, but it's sort of short notice to organise something... next year perhaps!

I'm reckoning I should try and do something Scottish to celebrate Robert Burns so I think this morning the kids and I will bake some shortbread. This is something I've never done before, but it's one of my resolutions to bake/cook more with the children and I've managed quite a few things in January so far.

 

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We're also going to a friend's for lunch so it would be nice for us to have something homemade to take with us. 

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If we can get a recipe that works, perhaps this will solve the problem of what to put with the heart straws for our Valentine's Day favours!

Next week is the last week of Florence Finds #JanuaryJoy - I've really enjoyed it and Rebecca's prompts have certainly got me thinking. Just 4 more to go... can you believe January is nearly over already!?!

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{January Joy - 24th Jan}

Prompt for today's #JanuaryJoy is to 'have a clear out (cupboard or whole room)'.

For me this is a work in progress. I am reckoning that I will be selling up and moving house this summer and with this in mind I'm in the process of tidying, organising and decluttering everywhere.

I tackled the dining room, back porch and bathroom a while ago, and have since organised and updated the kitchen, my bedroom, son's bedroom, my daughter's bedroom and I've even improved the garden. I've also now changed the dining room into a playroom which has been fantastic. I now have a grown up living space which is toy-free and the kids are free to make a mess in their own lounge.

One other area that needed some attention was the utility space. Here are the before shots:

Note the mouldy blue carpet :-/

So first up was the carpet had to go. I decided to replace it with some linoleum.

Kids running around in the aisles!

Carpet up!

Without the carpet.

I also removed the white metal shelving that you can see in the above photo. I wanted to make better use of the space and decided to build some Ikea shelves instead.

The new lino

The shelving, that I built by myself!

It's still a work in progress, but I'm getting there.

I desperately need to clear out the attic which is next on my list. I have so many old children's clothing that needs to go to a new home. I currently have piles for charity shop, eBay and for passing onto family. If I keep plugging away at it, hopefully I can have everything sorted and looking nice for the house going on the market. It feels good to make progress with the decluttering.

{January Joy - 23rd Jan}

'Make some memories' is the prompt for today's #JanuaryJoy Florence Finds.

Sometimes the smallest of things can make the best memories... like spending half an hour in the kitchen baking cakes with my kiddies and watching my three year old son try to crack eggs or going to the local cafe for ice cream cones after a trip to the park. 

The best bit - licking the bowl :-)

Whoops - flour everywhere

Baking biscuits

The all important mixing...just keep it in the bowl!!

I'm forever taking photos on my phone of my adventures with my kids and this has prompted me to do something with them.

I was very good initially at printing photographs and putting them in date order into a photo album, but I've become so busy that this is low on my priorities. As such it hasn't been updated in well over a year.

I've decided that I will combine some of the best photographs with some photographs of their artwork and nursery creations and make them into a coffee table book. I realise that this will take some time but I know that the result will be amazing and something that I will treasure for years to come. I'm also thinking that I can print some extra copies which can be used as gifts for the grandparents.

{January Joy - 22nd Jan}

Today's #JanuaryJoy prompt from Florence Finds is to 'make something crafty'.

I'm always pinning amazing craft ideas and have great intentions of actually making stuff, but life kinda gets in the way and I always have other things that take priority on my to-do-list.

My current project is Valentine's Day favours for my kids to give their nursery friends.

I'm copying this idea:

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I've designed a tag to seal the bags on my computer and have personalised it with a message from my kids. I purchased the cute milk & cookies clipart from Etsy and I also bought the most adorable paper heart straws from Pipii.

Tag, designed by me :-)

Red Heart Straw from Pipii

I was going to bake heart shaped cookies, but this is very much time dependant and I'm not sure I have any! So I might just buy little snack packs of Oreos or other similar cookie.

Does that count as crafting? I hope so! 

The favours look like I've gone to a lot of effort, when they're actually really simple. I shared my Snowman Kisses tag as a printable before Christmas and if I have time I will share this one also. Watch this space!

You can find other Valentine's Day ideas in my previous posts here and here.

{January Joy - 21st Jan}

Today's #JanuaryJoy prompt from Florence Finds is to 'try a new vegetarian dish (or week)'.

I was at a Pampered Chef party fairly recently and purchased the round stone for baking pizzas, bread etc. At the party we were shown how to make a vegetarian pastry ring and I was amazed at how simple it was, and the end result was pretty impressive (I was slightly distracted by the children, but think I'll be able to recreate it).

Here's the recipe:

Mediterranean Vegetable Pastry Ring

{Ingredients}

1 tin/jar roasted artichoke hearts, chopped

1 small red pepper, seeded and chopped

2 spring onions, thinly sliced

50g sun dried tomatoes in oil, drained and snipped

50g pitted black olives, sliced

60g feta cheese, crumbled

125g mozzarella cheese

2 tsps dried Italian herb seasoning

1 clove garlic, pressed

2 x fresh ready to bake croissant dough

1 egg white, lightly beated

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{Method}

Preheat oven to 190 deg C.

Combine artichokes, red pepper, spring onion, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, mozzarella cheese, herb seasoning and garlic and mix well (if I remember correctly my Pampered Chef consultant blitzed the ingredients in a food chopper).

Unroll croissant dough and arrange on the stone  with the widest edge towards the centre of the stone and the narrowest points hanging off the edge.

Add the filling onto the pastry ring.

This is the Turkey Cranberry Wreath, but it shows you how to lay out the croissant dough

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Bring the outside points of the dough triangles up and over the filling and tuck under.

Brush egg white over the top of the ring using a pastry brush.

Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown.

Serve with salad.

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