Getting to Know You

I thought it would be fun to answer some quick-fire questions so that you can get to know me a bit better!

// F A V O U R I T E S

Pet - kittens and Dachshunds (I have two wee kittens called Rhubarb & Crumble)
Colour - grey
Food - dim sum
Movie - The Life of David Gale (although it's tough to pick just one, I have a top 20 here!)
Song - Annie Lennox, Little Bird
TV - For a series that I could watch and re-watch again and again, it would be Friends
Drink - decaffeinated Tetley tea
Cocktail - mojito
Flower - peony
Shop - B&Q

// H A V E   Y O U   E V E R?

Bungee jumped? - Nope
Been in love? - Yes
Had your heart broken? - Yes
Cried? - Quite a lot... I'm a weeper!
Done something you regret? - Yes
Broken a bone? - Yes, I broke both bones in my forearm when I was younger falling out of a tree
Had a near death experience? - No
Had to get stitches? - No (I did fall into an outdoor tap when I was younger and I have a scar on my nose... I was very lucky that I didn't hurt my eye. No stitches needed though)
Found a wallet that someone had dropped? - Yes
Got arrested? - No, but I was put in the back of a police van for apparently going through a red light. I went through on amber but they were adamant that I went through on red. I got points and a fine!

// W O U L D   Y O U   R A T H E R?

Watch Star Wars or Star Trek? - Star Wars
Read a paperback or on a Kindle? - Paperback
Go to the theatre or the cinema? - Theatre
Hike or bike? - Bike
Wear jeans or a dress? - Hmmm, tough one... I think jeans
Travel by plane or train? - Plane
Go to a Comedy club or Night club? - Comedy club
Have a night out or night in? - Night in
Use Facebook or Twitter? - Twitter
Stay in a hotel or a tent? - Hotel

{Life Purpose}

A while back I was part of a focus group with social entrepreneur and Healing Mum, Kelly Niven.

Kelly's website has since changed from Healing Mum and you can now find her at Life Is Now. She has also written a book, The Key to Mental Health. Kelly has a number of posts on her site that I've found interesting, including 14 Important Life Lessons to Teach My Children and The Truth of Finding Happiness. Kelly was a source of great inspiration for me whilst I was going through a very difficult time.

Kelly

Anyway, during the focus group Kelly asked us to reflect on 10 questions to understand our life purpose. I found it really insightful at the time, and the other evening I was clearing out my office space and I discovered these pages with my answers. I thought it might be interesting to share the questions and my answers here. These are my exact answers from 2 years ago, and I thought I could then revisit the questions with my answers from now.

"Despite what you may previously have been led to believe, life is not meant to be difficult, complex or a struggle. Many of us have spent years chasing money or status in the corporate world but what are we giving up in the process? What are we chasing?" Kelly Niven

1. If you didn't need to worry about money, what would you do all day long?

Be there for the school run; have fun with the children; be a housewife; bake cakes; enjoy lunches with friends; work from home

2. What are your favourite activities? When you lose track of time?

Internet shopping; baking; writing on my blog; Pinterest; interior design

3. Who do you love spending your time with the most? What qualities and values do these people possess? You can be sure these are qualities that are developing in you too.

Bex (The Olive Dragonfly) - enthusiasm for life

Claire - very practical and great problem solver. Good at giving advice

Ailsa (Perth Mummy) - fun

4. What makes you feel good about yourself?

After a long run.

Having had my hair and make-up done.

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5. What are your greatest strengths/qualities? If you are not sure, ask those closest to you that will give you an honest opinion.

Honest; thoughtful; friendly; helpful; creative; organised

6. What has been your roadmap to date? What have been the major twists/turns/learning points? What have you learned that you could share with others?

Moving abroad; mum dying; diagnosed with Crohn's Disease; premature baby; marriage breakdown

7. What message do you have to share? What makes you angry or gives you fire in your belly? What would you like to change?

(I didn't answer this one for some reason...)

8. What do you value most in life, what is important to you?

Friends and Family

Happiness

Health & Fitness

(& a designer handbag!!)

9. Who is your biggest inspiration? What do they do or what message do they share that you strongly admire?

Kelly Niven, "Life should be amazing"

10. Fast forward to the future, you are on your death bed and reflecting on your life. What have been the most important things that you have accomplished and achieved? What have been the most important relationships? What is your biggest priority?

Happy & healthy home/children

Biggest priority - children

{ask me anything...}

Kate over at Kate on Thin Ice has tagged me in a meme. Basically I've 11 questions to answer, so here goes...

1. Do you prefer to be indoors or outdoors?

I'm happiest when I'm snuggled up in my bed!! 

That said, I don't mind being outdoors and I do think fresh air is good for the soul. It's all about having the right gear, especially seeing as Glasgow is wet most of the time! I recently invested in a pair of North Face boots (although my feet got soaking in the rain, which isn't ideal...I was under the impression they were water resistant!). I also have a fab North Face parka which is super cosy & I love it!

{Glasgow Mummy on Instagram}

Roll on Spring... It was sunny today & boy did it lift my mood!

2. Housework – love or loathe?

Loathe! I had a cleaner in my old house - I'd much rather pay someone to clean so I could spend more time with the kids doing arts & crafts, baking etc.

Now I can't afford a cleaner but my house is much smaller so it's more manageable anyway... 1 bathroom instead of 4!

It's tidy, most of the time, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's clean :-/ Again, we'd rather be jumping on the trampoline instead of running around with the Hoover!

I had devised a cleaning schedule but haven't actually stuck to it as yet!!!

3. What item would you love to find for a £1 in the charity shop?

The massive gem necklace that was in the movie Titanic... that would solve all my money worries!!

4. Who inspires you?

My children

5. What song or piece of music cheers you up?

At the moment it's song Trumpets by Jason Derulo. Makes me smile every time I hear it on the radio! I also really like Storm Queen, Look Right Through. 

I also love old school classics from the 90s :)

It's well documented that my taste in music is shocking!!

6. Which country would you most like to visit?

Australia and Japan, and they're on my list.

7. What makes you a good enough mum?

I love my children from the bottom of my heart. They think I'm a good mum, and a cool one too! (Although the eldest is going through a phase where he is saying he hates me which isn't so nice!). I'm an active parent... and I think that's what makes me a good enough mum. I get involved in everything that they do & we spend quality time together every day that they're with me.

8. What is the best advice you ever received?

Buy a good mattress (advice from my parents). My bed is from Robinsons Beds in Shawlands and it has been the best investment ever, seriously! Robinsons Beds are a local family business (one of the reasons I chose a bed from them) and they manufacture the beds and mattresses at their factory in Shawlands. It's important to look after your back... It's what keeps us standing!! I go to the dentist every 6 months, but what good is a full set of teeth (minus three of my wisdom teeth!!) if you end up crippled with back problems (advice from Perth Mummy). I try and see my chiropractor every 6 months too & what a difference! I could hardly walk in the lead up to my daughters birth & still struggled after she was born. One session (yes, just the one!) at the chiropractor sorted me right out! I swear by it.

I love my bed!

9. What would make you give up blogging?

Tough one. I certainly don't want to give up blogging. I love my blog & it's my creative outlet. I think the only thing that would make me give up would be if there was some kind of threat on our safety or the like.

10. Which celebrity do you wish could disappear from our television screens?

I rarely watch television, choosing instead to watch films and TV series on Netflix. I also don't read newspapers and rarely read gossip magazines (I tend to catch up on celeb news at the hairdresser!!). Can't think of anyone I'd want to disappear!

11. You have a magic lamp with 3 wishes that can come true. What are those wishes?

To be healthy

To be happy

To be loved

I think I'm supposed to come up with another 11 questions and tag 11 other bloggers, but I'm leaving it open... if you wish to join in then please do, just use the same questions above! (In my defence, I'm feeling rotten - I have dry socket following a wisdom tooth removal. I'm in pain and am on antibiotics. I just want to go to bed!!).

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{Toot toot!!}

So, I said I would attempt Kate on Thin Ice's Jubilee questionnaire, so here goes... *cue Royal trumpet!!*

"The Queen has power and privilege but actually she is just like thee and me.  Don’t believe me?  Try this questionnaire then and see if you and the Queen share experiences, both the joyful and the challenging." Kate

April 21, 1926: Elizabeth Alexandra Mary born in London.

When and where were you born?  What are your middle names?  Who were you named after?

I was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in January 1982, making me 30 years old (eek!). My middle name is Mary and I was named so after my aunt.

Dec. 11, 1936: Edward VIII abdicates, and his brother becomes King George VI, placing Elizabeth next in line for the throne.

Was there an event in your childhood that set your destiny on an unexpected course?  How did you deal with it?

Not sure about this... there have been a number of life-changing events that happened to me during my growing up: as a family we moved abroad when I was 9 years old, returning to Scotland a year and a half later; my mum died when I was 19 years old and aged 21 I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. Not all childhood events really, but I think all these things have moulded my life journey so to speak. Does that make sense? 

October 1940: With Britain at war, Princess Elizabeth records her first public broadcast, a message for the children of Britain.

What is your experience of public-speaking, if any?  How do you feel about it?

I'm not confident at public speaking. I'm happy enough delivering a presentation that I have practiced (& think I come across as being confident but inwardly I'm screaming), but it's the questions at the end that always throw me and I get so nervous. I've given talks in front of large audiences and small, and sometimes it's the smaller audiences that are harder because you can see everyone's reaction to everything you say. 

April 21, 1943: Her first public engagement, a day with the Grenadier Guards tank battalion.

What was your first day at work like?

I'm not sure I remember my first day of work! It was probably rather dull reading Standard Operating Procedures!! My work experience at school was rather amusing though. I was at the Agricultural College weighing out silage samples for analysis!!

Nov. 20, 1947: Marries Philip Mountbatten, who becomes Duke of Edinburgh.

Who did you team up with or marry?  What was it that attracted you to them?

At the moment I'm going solo. My husband has been a silly man and for the moment I'm living life as a single mummy.

Nov. 14, 1948: Prince Charles is born.

How many children did you have and when and where were they born?

I have two children. My son will be 3 years old in August and my daughter has just turned one. They were both born in Glasgow.

Feb. 6, 1952: George VI dies, succeeded by Elizabeth II.

Have you lost a parent?  How was that for you?

As I mentioned above, I lost my mum when I was 19 years old to cancer. It was an extremely difficult time and I miss her every day.

June 2, 1953: Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey, the first televised coronation.

Have you ever had any claim to fame or celebrity status?  Have you ever appeared on the telly?

If I remember correctly I was in the audience for a children's quiz show when I was at school. Can't remember what the show was though...

1953: The Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, falls in love with a divorced man, prompting the Royal Family to veto marriage – the first of several episodes of marital troubles in the family. Margaret marries Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960; they divorce in 1978.

What scandal has rocked your family?

Have a peek at my Broken and Broken, Part II posts...

June 21, 1982: Charles and Diana’s son Prince William is born.

Are you a grandparent?  How do you feel about becoming one?

I'm a long way away from becoming a grandparent!

July 9, 1982: Intruder breaks into Queen’s bedroom; she talks with him until police arrive.

Have you ever being the victim of crime?  How did it affect you?

I was the victim in a car accident the other week. I've done something to my neck and had to see my chiropractor the other day who cracked it back into place *ouch*

Nov. 20, 1992: Fire destroys part of Windsor Castle.

Have you ever had a horrible year where everything seemed to go wrong?  When was it?  What happened?

This has been my year for everything to go wrong, or so it would seem at least.

1993: Queen begins paying taxes voluntarily to assuage public sentiment against the state subsidizing the throne; opens Buckingham Palace to tourists to help pay for Windsor Castle repairs.

What did you do that surprised people most?

I stood up for myself and my children.

March 6, 1997: Queen joins cyberspace, launching British Monarchy website,http://www.royal.gov.uk.

What does the internet mean to you?  How do you use it?

I love the internet, especially for shopping. 

June 2012 - Queen’s Jubilee celebrating 60 years  on the throne.

When was the moment in your life when you felt life was exactly as it should be?

I'm not there yet... watch this space as they say!!

Join in with the rest of the Grooving Mums here:

{February Sunshine Award}

I've been passed on the 'February Sunshine Award' from Kate on Thin Ice and I had thought I better answer the questions asap as today is the last day of February - yikes, how the time flies!

So, here we go...

Favourite colour: grey

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Favourite animal: I'm not a big fan of pets (sorry!). However, I did see the cutest teeny tiny dog at the park on Sunday... and I mean tiny - I could have easily stepped on it if I hadn't been watching where I was going and it was smaller than my shoe so would have been crushed *eek*. In terms of other animals, I think my favourite would be an elephant. I was in South Africa on holiday in 2005 and took an elephant for a walk round an elephant sanctuary that we visited. It was amazing.

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Favourite non-alcoholic drink: soda and lime (favourite alcoholic drink just now is still a mojito, in case you're wondering!)

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Facebook or Twitter: Both.

Favourite number: 14

Favourite day of the week: a sunny one please, preferably on one of my days off!

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Getting or giving presents: I love the process of choosing thoughtful presents for people, wrapping them up to look beautiful and then seeing their reaction when they open them, so definitely giving.

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Favourite pattern: I bought some gorgeous Amy Butler fabric to make a summer dress for my daughter.

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Favourite flower: peony

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I'm not going to tag anyone for this because February is now over... however I think I've been tagged on some other memes so watch this space!

{11 Questions}

I have been tagged by @scattymumofboys to complete the '11 Questions' meme that is currently doing the rounds :-)

Here are the rules:

• You must post these rules *check*
• Answer the questions the 'tagger' listed for you in their post and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
• Choose 11 people to tag and link them to the post 
• Let each blogger know you've tagged them.

Here are the questions I've been set and my all important answers...

1. Do you use real names in your blog for the real-life people who feature?

Yes and no. My real name is indeed Sarah, but I've chosen not to use the names of my children and refer to them as son & daughter or toddler & baby. The other people I refer to occasionally, for example, my sister Alison and my friend Becky are real names too.

2. How long have you been blogging and why did you start your blog?

I started blogging in June 2011. My friend Becky had been blogging about her wedding planning and I thought it would be good to share some of the things that I've been learning on my journey through motherhood. There's a bit of parenting, shopping, DIY, fashion, art & craft... all the things that I love.

3. Facebook or Twitter?

Both. I use Twitter for blog-related goings on and general mummy stuff, whereas I use Facebook to keep up-to-date with close friends and family.

4. Real friends or Cyber friends?

Real.

5. Which is your favourite (or one of your favourite) blogs to read?

There are so many blogs that I dip in and out of when I get the chance. I love Florence Finds for fashion, PuglyPixel for design inspiration, Kate on Thin Ice for grooving mums challenges, Joy the Baker for food ideas and amazing photography....I could list loads and loads!

6. Have you ever had a celeb tweet you?

Lorraine Kelly... in reference to Raa Raa the Noisy Lion!

7. Peanut butter - smooth, crunchy or not at all?

Smooth

8. Tea, milk first or after tea bag?

After the tea bag please! Milk, no sugar :-)

9. What's your guilty pleasure as far as TV's concerned?

I've become obsessed with ER (as anyone who follows my Twitter feed will know!) but I'm not embarrassed by that fact. I'm embarrassed that I've still got 90 episodes in my Sky planner to get through... I just can't keep up!

10. When did you last laugh until you cried?

In January, when I was moving furniture with my sister at my house. It was like the Friends episode when Ross was moving his sofa...'Pivot'!

I did a bit more than cry though... those damn pelvic floor muscles just aren't working after having had 2 children!!!

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11. How many of my 11 bloggers do you think will actually get round to answering my 11 questions?

I'm going to take a wild guess here.... 9!!


Right, now it's my turn to write the questions and to tag some fellow bloggers (I totally won't be offended if you don't have the time to participate):

@Melaina25 / Transatlantic Blonde
@gemmadeeray / Storm in a K Cup
@MishMashMum / Mish Mash Mum
@mummy_plum / Mummy Plum
@theroomset / Making It As Mum
@SEccBla / Identity-Mummy
@haggismummy / WIPMum
@susankmann / Susan K Mann
@thelovebump / My Love Bumps
@mrsmcgregor23 / Mrs McGregor
@helloitsgemma / Helloitsgemma

Here are my 11 questions for you...

1. Have you ever been pulled over by the traffic police?
2. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
3. What is your favourite flavour of crisps?
4. What's the last movie you watched?
5. What is your favourite thing to wear?
6. What does your last text message say?
7. What were you doing at 12 noon yesterday?
8. What is your most treasured memory?
9. What do you think is the single best decision you've made in your life so far?
10. Do you have a pet?
11. What is on your bedside table?

Ready, set... go!