The little BIG moments #1

Life is beautiful, but it sure as hell gets muddled up with daily stresses and anxieties.

I've been feeling so tired of late (thanks to a gorgeous teething boy ;) that negativity and general blahness (totally a word ;) have been creeping in. Without realising it this mood of mine is stealing precious moments away from me. One day my boys are going to be fully grown and they are not going to want to hang off  around their dear old mum. Do I really want to look back at this time with regret?

Regretful that I wasn't in the moment, that I was too tired or too busy. Does it really matter if there are toys everywhere? Or that pasta has been served three nights in a row? Or that the laundry pile would have you believe that there are over a hundred people living in this house? None of these things are what really matters. I'm never going to look back on this time and think, woah Claire, you did really good with the laundry, well done you ;)

Granted I need to keep on top of these things to some degree for my own sanity, plus I really don't want anyone in this family turning into a penne pasta tube ;), but I will not let them lay so heavy on my tired mind that it zaps the enjoyment out of everyday life. 

So, I've decided to start a little weekly series on this old blog of mine, to celebrate the little moments in life. The moments that although may seem simple, are to me, some of the most beautiful.

I couldn't think of a better way to start this series off than with these pictures I took of Archie with his great grandparents. 


There aren't words big enough to describe what my nan and grandad mean to me, I cannot thank them enough for everything they have done for us and continue to do. My favourite childhood memories reside in the walls of their home. Memories of baking with my nan, building blanket forts on the washing line with my grandad, not to mention gardening, baking, knitting, dressing up (in all of my nan's amazing 60s and 70s clothes and shoes. I tell you it was a sad, sad, day when I outgrew my nan's shoes!)


It was under that roof I learnt to play cards and numerous other board games (they even indulged my love of Monopoly, now that is unconditionally love right there ;), the list really does go on. The happiest of childhood memories.


I know I hit the grandparent jackpot and I am so happy for Caleb and Archie that they have them in their lives. Seeing them together smiling and laughing, makes my heart burst with love. Simple moments, that are so beautiful that if you're fully present, they take your breath away. Moments that make this life what it's all about. 

The little BIG moments ♥
Sunday, 1 February 2015 Comments: 8
Read more »

CHANGE & GROWTH


Change.

I used to thrive on change. Live for it even. I feared things remaining the same. I always had a feeling that something more exciting was just around the corner.

Now, I'm quite the opposite. 

I want to hit the 'pause' button all the time. Store these precious moments up.

It would appear I'm around that much longed for corner, and I like my little spot. So much so, that the idea of change now freaks me out.

When did this happen to me? I think this question can also be put alongside, when on earth did I become a mother of two??! ;)

I need to remember that although I am happy with my life I don't need to fear change. Change is growth, and I have the perfect people to change and grow alongside.

I have a feeling 2015 is going to be one of my favourite years yet.


Tuesday, 20 January 2015 Comments: 4
Read more »

HEY JANUARY, LET'S TALK CHRISTMAS ;)


A belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!!

Oh Christmas 2014, you were wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.

I hosted.

Everyone survived ;)

Seriously though, I adored hosting. I thought it would be quite stressful, but it really wasn't. I'd made a conscious decision just before Christmas to stop the pursuit of perfection.

Perfection = Killjoy

I chose instead of running around like a headless chicken, or turkey ;), trying to make everything 'perfect', I would instead enjoy our very own imperfect Christmas.

You see there is one thing I'm learning about myself with age, and that is, the more I faff the more I stress, the more I stress the more I mess things up. Perfect moments become missed moments, 'cause well I was too bloody concerned about making them perfect that I forgot to enjoy them.

I started my biggest 2015 resolution early, and I'm so glad I did.

Simplifying and embracing imperfection.

So instead of focusing on fancy gifts and fancy food, I lapped up every second of the boys big smiles. Archie's first Christmas and for Caleb the first Christmas where the excitement well and truly swept him up. I honestly think two years old is the most beautiful age for Christmas. They really see it for what it is, family and love, and although they are excited about the gifts it's by no means their main focus. Once again those toddlers have a way of schooling us in a thing or two ;)

Oh and guess what, turns out when you let go of wanting everything perfect, and embrace imperfection, it turns out to be your very own type of perfect. Who. Knew? ;)

Here are some shots of our imperfect, perfect Christmas...


Caleb and Archie had their own tree in their room this year. This was a little tradition my mum did with me when I was younger and I have the fondest memories of it. Caleb was in heaven, it was such a joy to watch him garishly dress his tree. I think each branch averaged about three baubles! The boy's having their own tree also meant Caleb kept his paws off the main tree in our living room. Yes, Grandma Liverpool, your cunning plan from yesteryear all makes sense now ;)


and then the main event happened....


Christmas Eve bubbles :)


Christmas morning, so many smiles, which sadly I missed, but then not so sad as I was too busy enjoying them to capture them on camera.



Tuesday, 13 January 2015 Comments: 2
Read more »

EASY PEASY CHRISTMAS WRAPPING DIY


Gahh can you believe it's less than two weeks to Christmas?! I'd love to tell you I'm all ready for it but that would be a downright lie, and moi is hosting Christmas this year (eek!), for the first time ever (double eek!). I wonder if my family are as nervous as I am?! ;)

Sooooo, if like me you've still to buy half your presents and wrap them, I thought I'd share with you a little easy, peasy DIY. Do it yourself, you gasp. Like you haven't got enough already to do, right?! But I promise it is so super easy, cheap and a nice little personal touch to your presents.

All you need is a paper roll (mine is from Ikea, a huge roll at just £3), washi tape (also Ikea), bakers twine, and a good ole Sharpie pen.

Oh and on a side note, can I just say how amazing washi tape is when wrapping gifts, GAME CHANGER! None of the endlessly searching for the end of the sellotape and then ending up taping yourself more than the gift itself. A quick tear of washi tape and your present is wrapped before you know it. Oh washi tape, how I love thee.

Anyhoo, I'll stop rambling, if I go on it really will be Christmas.


What makes this an even easier DIY is that you can do it as you wrap your presents, so you kill two birds with one stone. Simply cut the paper to the size you'll need for your gift. 

With your sharpie pen you could create any design you wanted. I personally went for a repeat design of Christmas words and phrases.

noel  /  joy  /  ho ho ho  /  santa baby


There you have it, a simple DIY, with a personal touch. I wish I could claim the tags were my own, but that would be another downright lie, jeez who's got time to make their own gift tag?! ;) They are from Marks and Spencer :)
Sunday, 14 December 2014 Comments: 3
Read more »

FOOD FOR THOUGHT




Hi, my name is, Tired.

Or you can call me, Broken Record.

I'll let you decide, I'm too tired to ;)

Apologies if this post doesn't make much sense, and please ignore my grammar and spelling mistakes. As I clearly do :p

So yep, back to tiredness...

Hardly surprising you might think with a toddler and a baby, although they are a big part of my tiredness I'm actually to blame as well. You see, I've been running on empty recently, like literally. In my rush to make sure the boys are fed, watered and happy, I've been forgetting about myself.

Mama needs to eat too!!!

And I ain't talking about your kid's mushy, slobbery leftovers. I'm talking proper meals!!! It's only been in the last few weeks I've really let this slip, ironically as Archie has started weaning it seems I've put myself on the crappiest diet of all. It's all rushed snacks and cups of coffee. I'm on caffeine, sugar highs and then, you know it, low, low lows. Throw in cracking headaches and I knew I needed to sort myself out.

I used to always meal plan, and that is something I have definitely let go as our busy lives have got busier. So I'm going back to basics. Meal planning done, A cook off in our kitchen like the good old days happened this week. Casseroles, soups, and lots of lovely purees for Archie boy, are all currently taking up our fridge and freezer.

Food for thought. Lots and lots of food!

As a result I've had so much more energy this week and zero headaches. I'm still tired, of course I am, my big cook off does not magically make a toddler and baby sleep through the night, I wish! I do however no longer feel sick tired. My energy levels are so much better, and I don't get to midday anymore and feel completely exhausted, only mildly so ;)

This week has been about remembering that I'm important too. Yes, the boys are my top priority but that doesn't mean forgetting about my own needs also. Balance is key, and I'm on the road to figuring out this new routine of ours.

Thursday, 4 December 2014 Comments: 4
Read more »
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)