THE GLASS IS HALF FULL 2017

THE GLASS IS HALF FULL 2017

Is it too late to wish you a Happy New Year?

It's still January (just!) so I'm going to go with it. Happy New Year!!

Does anyone else feel like 2017 has snuck up on them? Not that I'm particularly sad to see 2016 go, it was a strange, weird, and damn right awful year for many, but all of a sudden it's January again, just like that, and never has it felt so good to have a fresh start.

One thing I'm very glad to be leaving in 2016 is my driving lessons! On the 29th December I took my driving test for the second time, I reasoned with myself it was a good time of year to take my test as I will have been preoccupied with Christmas and the upcoming New Year celebrations (which we were hosting), turns out I was absolutely right. I was nowhere near as nervous as I was previously and the test ran so smoothly. A pass!

I've already nicknamed 2017, year of the car, year of freedom!!!!!

In all seriousness though, driving is a game changer for me. Since moving house I've been restricted on where I can go because of Caleb's nursery times, I could only ever venture so far or rely on others that could drive who had room for us. It didn't help that I'm actually the worst person when it comes to asking for help too.

The day after I got my car I went to a good friend's for lunch, nothing major, but before I was unable to as it would have meant two buses and not enough time around nursery schedule. I stood there in her kitchen, us chatting away, and I just burst into tears. Don't worry, they were happy tears. I was just so happy to be stood there.

It made me realise just how hard 2016 had been in many ways. Throughout last year I would focus on and tell myself repeatedly all the good things I had. So for example, when we moved I told myself.....I love our home, I love the area, I love the nursery, I love that the boys are settled, I love that Michael loves it, I love the lovely people we've met so far, all I need to do is pass my test......

It's taken for me to pass my test to finally admit that not being able to drive has been isolating and frustrating. It's like a rush of emotion keeps coming over me every time I think back to last year. It's the one time in my life I can say I'm truly proud of myself. Proud for passing, but mostly I'm proud that I kept strong with my positive outlook, besides a few weepy outbursts that my poor husband had to contend with ;). My glass remained half full.

I have to say there's nothing quite like passing your driving test to give you a positive outlook for the new year ahead. I feel refreshed, recharged and ready for 2017.

This will be the year I focus on more personal goals, remain positive and simplify. I said goodbye to a lot of clutter when we moved house and I now want to continue that in all aspects of our life. I've said goodbye to a lot of hard feelings I've been holding onto as well, they serve no one, all they do is harm me more. I choose JOY. Cheesy as that may sound, but it's true.

I wish you a wonderful 2017, and maybe some of you are in a place in your life that's particularly hard or not what you expected just now? I'm certainly no expert but remaining positive and looking to what you do have served as a lifeboat to me. Keep telling yourself your glass is half full, until it actually is, and then go blubbering to a friend over lunch about how hard things actually were and now you're crying because you're happy ;). It worked for me :)

Thursday, 19 January 2017 Comments: 2

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Decorating This Little House For Christmas

Decorating This Little House For Christmas

This time last year I was going through the motions. My Grandad was seriously ill. We had just moved into our new home with the norovirus. I was hanging on by a thread. I made sure I put the tree up for the boys but my festive spirit was nowhere to be seen. 

Here we are a whole year later, it's crazy how time just sneaks up on you like that, and I don't want this time of year to be melancholy for our family. My Grandad would not want that, he loved Christmas. I have the best memories of my nan and grandad's house decorated for Christmas, they'd have the coloured flashing lights that played music, the mismatch coloured decorations, we'd make paper chains, anything festive I made at school they would proudly set out. I loved it. I distinctly recall making a candle holder with cones and far too much gold spray and glitter, you know the sort of thing you as a parent would be proud that your child had made but wouldn't want it anywhere near your gorgeous festive decor?! Yeah, that sort of thing. That's when grandparents come into their own though, isn't it?! 

Then there was my mum's house, all beautifully decorated with her gorgeous, perfect tree. I remember one year staring in horror as she dressed the tree with blue and silver decorations (long before it was deemed cool)  Where the hell was the gold and red!?! Where were my multi-coloured lights?! Ahead of her time my ma. I now smile every time I see the blue and silver combo anywhere at Christmas.

So this year I wanted to pay homage to my mum's stylish decor with my nan and grandad's homemade approach, and this is the result...

I've admired the tradition of stringing popcorn and cranberries but have never done it before, after a little research I found that dental floss is in fact the best thing to use as it's strong and super easy to thread with. So enticing my mum, who was visiting, with mulled wine we got threading, and in no time at all we had some lovely garlands. I had picked up battery operated wire fairy lights not fully knowing what I would do with them, it turned out because they're so delicate and easy to manipulate they've been perfect with the garlands. Needless to say I went on to buy more!

Next up we dried orange slices for garlands and present tags. I sliced four large oranges and baked them in the oven. Have you ever baked oranges? If not, do it immediately even just for the smell alone. The scent is Christmas! It's quite a nice thing to do if you're in for the day as most guides I found suggested 4 hours at 65 degrees celsius, mine still weren't dried properly after that time so I bumped the oven up to 100 for a further hour but careful not to burn them.

Inspired by @karenmcrobbie85, I threaded them onto my wire lights, and as a final touch I added some eucalyptus.

For Christmas my Nan has given the boys money so I decided to use some of it to buy the boys little potted Christmas trees that can be planted in the garden after. I know my Grandad would have loved this, as they'll now each have a tree in the garden from their great-grandparents which will grow as they grow. 

Now I couldn't find musical lights but you betcha I got multi-coloured ones, and it would have to be handmade decorations all the way! We made salt dough decorations as the boys are play dough fanatics just now, plus I liked the idea of their little fingerprints being on them.

I wanted the salt dough to be super white for Christmas and I came across this recipe here. However for all my British readers, if you fancy giving these a go I've popped the recipe below to avoid confusion with the American cooking terms and temperatures.

1/2 cup (I used a small china tea cup) of Cornflour 

1 cup Bicarbonate of Soda

3/4 cup of water

Put into a saucepan on medium heat until it bubbles.

Stir until it looks like a smooth consistency.

Remove from the heat and roll into a ball, if it feels really sticky just add more cornflour, but we didn't need to do this.

Place in  bowl and cover with a damp cloth and leave to cool.

Roll out and use whatever cutters you like, making sure to pierce a hole to thread the string.

Place on a baking sheet and pop in oven at 80 degrees celsius for 45 minutes.

Once out the oven and cooled we painted with craft glue to seal and we added glitter. Its ain't Christmas without a little glitter ;)

The boys loved making these decorations and hanging them on their trees. It is definitely going to be a little Christmas tradition of ours from now on.

Oh and fyi all the fir on the staircase, garlands and presents was cut directly off a tree we pass every day on our way to nursery. Yep, that's right I've become that person who carries garden shears around with me.

Seriously though we've had so much fun making our Christmas decor this year. It's been a family affair and it has cost next to nothing.

I'd love to hear any Christmas decor traditions you have and why?

* The boys pj's (that glow in the dark!) are from Fatface and can be found here.

Thursday, 15 December 2016 Comments: 4

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IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS with FATFACE

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS with FATFACE

Last weekend was one of those really lovely weekends, you know that weekend when you start to feel all Christmassy but you've yet to feel any of the stress of it? I've got that light festive feeling, not yet consumed with what presents I need to be buying or menus I need to be planning. It was just a bust your new knits out, get all wrapped up and finish the weekend off with a lovely Sunday in the city.

Thanks to the lovely people over at FatFace, who gave me a little sneak preview of their winter collection this season, I'm feeling well-equipped for the quick change in weather. I love their Catherington Cable Jumper, to me it's not winter without a big chunky polo neck and I love the button back detail on this one. My absolute favourite item though has to be their Cumbria Longline Puffer coat. Have you ever had major coat envy when it comes to your children? I do, every year when I wrap them up in a good coat with a big fluffy hood. I've been on the hunt for a decent coat (that doesn't cost a million pounds) for. ever. Well the search is over, the child coat envy is over, I have my very own one, and it has a massive hood which actually covers my head when it rains. Tall girl problems ;)

I really like FatFace's ethos, they believe in good quality clothes that are made to last and with each wash just get better and better, which can only be a good thing when kids are involved ;). NEVER have I washed my clothes as much since becoming a mum.

Caleb asked for a picture with his branch and of course, I obliged. He really has that model staring off into the distance look nailed, doesn't he?!

We decided to head over to Stockbridge for a nice little walk and to have a mooch around their Sunday market. If you've not been it's definitely a must, lots of lovely yummy food cooked there and plenty of fresh supplies to take home with you. I did hope to capture some pictures of it but it was absolutely rammed (with good reason) and a little too busy to see everything with the boys. Mikey and I both had the same thought, ditch the kids one sunday and come back to really sample all the offerings.

We left the market and headed over to Comet & Blitzen, a new Christmas pop-up bar in the area. Now anywhere that sells good wine and has a Christmas-inspired menu is good with me. The atmosphere is chilled and welcoming with an elegant nod to Christmas, the perfect start to getting into the festive spirit. As we sipped on prosecco and the boys coloured with the crayons and paper quickly supplied by staff we decided what to order.

Archie gasped when he saw the presents and cried, 'Santa!!', quickly followed by, 'For me?'. Eh, no son, not for you I'm afraid. Something tells me Christmas morning is going to be a whole lot of fun this year though.

We decided on the Big Christmas Sharer, Brie and Spiced Cranberry open sandwich, and macaroni cheese for the boys, and a side of thick cut chips. Everything was delicious with lovely attention to flavours. You will not be finding dry turkey and soggy veg at this establishment. I'm hosting Christmas this year and it really has me inspired for cooking classics with a little twist.

The meal wouldn't have been complete without the chocolate fondue. We actually missed the fact it said chilli chocolate with the fondue, huge parent fail potential right there ;) Thankfully the staff doubled checked with us and then offered that they could do it without the chilli element for the boys. It was the boys first chocolate fondue and a huge hit. 

Michael and I are always on the search for places like this. Somewhere where you can get a nice drink, some good food, and feel comfortable with your kids there, knowing they'll be welcome and well catered for. This ticked all the boxes and has kicked off the festive season good and proper.

I just had to include this shot. Daddy, Archie and the big giant red peppermill. A picture taken by Caleb. I may have found myself a new chief blog photographer ;)

Can we just take a moment to all hail the hood. Seriously, I will not miss the front of my hair getting wet every time it bloody rains. Happy, happy girl.

You can find my new love, aka 'The Coat' here. The jumper I'm wearing is here, along with the scarf and mittens.

*this post is in collaboration with FatFace, all opinions are my own. Thank you for continuing to support the companies that help make this blog possible.

Wednesday, 30 November 2016 Comments: 0

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OCTOBER IN NOVEMBER & EMBARRASSING STORIES

OCTOBER IN NOVEMBER & EMBARRASSING STORIES

Who doesn't love some pumpkin pictures in November? This is so me and my life right now, forever playing catch up. All good intentions but the time just gets away with me. You know I'll be the person talking about Christmas and sharing pictures in February ;)

So October, it was a bit of a whirlwind month. I took my driving test. Failed. Turns out I'm an overall good driver but when I mess up, well, I go big. In truth I didn't feel ready to pass and then drive around with my two boys in the backseat. The idea of driving doesn't freak me out, I actually quite enjoy driving, but the thought of my babies in the car with me makes me feel sick. When you're learning to drive (and doing so correctly) you realise just how many people drive like it's wacky races. I know it's a confidence thing and I'll get there. For now though it's more lessons for me and throwing even more money at the situation, joy :/

Halloween was a huge hit with the boys this year. Before now it's been an occasion that has pretty much passed us by. I remember our first ever experience of pumpkin picking being very anticlimactic but this time the boys loved inspecting all the different pumpkins until we made our final selection. We had to laugh though, they were still more enamoured by the apples rather than the pumpkins. Well I guess you can eat an apple right there and then. Pumpkin Shumpkin.

This was also the year the boys discovered trick or treating. Before now we didn't live in an area big on trick or treating, Caleb used to hate dressing up, Archie was too little, and so it was a holiday that would just pass us by. Fast forward to now and Caleb absolutely adores dressing up, we planned to do a quick trick or treat in our own street with the young kids living there, but once we went out we bumped into lots of other people we knew and ended up out around the neighbourhood. I was curious as to what the boys would make of trick or treating. Out after dark knocking on houses they didn't even know. The penny dropped by the first house though that sweets were involved, and right there two Halloween converts were born. It once again has made me feel so happy we made the move when we did. Can you believe come the end of this month we will have been in our home a year?! Crazy. Especially since I still have boxes I haven't even unpacked, ha!

October break meant some much needed time spent with our family in Liverpool and celebrating my cousin's birthday and my sister's 30th too. I love how excited the boys get at the mention of going to Liverpool, Caleb now proudly tells me he has two beds. One at home and one in Liverpool. He even asked if he could stay in Liverpool. Ahh making this mama's scouse heart proud.

Talking of Caleb and his various chats recently, I've come to realise that due to his speech delay I've gone fairly unscathed when it comes to the embarrassment brought on by your children loudly declaring something in public that makes you cringe to your very core. Well, rest assure I think my time is up, and Caleb may make up for it two fold now. He's yet to embarrass me in public but oh the questions he has asked me recently!!! The one that tops them all off has to be when we were in the Marks and Spencer's disabled and baby change toilet (thank god we weren't in the public cubicles). As usual we all piled into the toilet, complete with Archie's pram. As Caleb finished up washing his hands I decided to have a quick toilet stop myself. Oh the days of peeing alone, I miss them, like REALLY miss them. Usually the boys don't bat an eyelash, because well of course they see me peeing often enough as solo peeing is not allowed. This time however I could see Caleb watching me curiously. He was about to speak, I braced myself for the usual questions....'Have you had a poo or a wee?'....'Can I see?' (eh no you bloody can't!!). But oh no, not today, today he would ask....'Mum, why do you have a beard?' (As he intently looked at my nether regions)

Yep, that's right. Now I have a four year old slating me for not being more attentive to that poor area. I felt like replying, 'Mummy has a beard there because mummy has two kids and no time to herself!'. But instead, I laughed, I laughed hard, which let's be honest is never a good thing to do if you'd prefer your child not to repeat 'said' phrase. Caleb starting laughing too, 'Mummy, has a beard'. Then Archie joined in. I then had visions of the world (more importantly his nursery) being told, 'Hey my mummy has a beard down there.'

Someone please dig me a big hole to crawl in, or better still book me a bikini wax.

Oh and feel free to share your embarrassing children stories with me, come on, make me feel less alone out on this ledge here ;)

Annnnnd on that note, I'll say goodbye for now, and happy November!! I'll schedule in my November update for January ;)

If you want to read about our first ever pumpkin experience you can find it here. Classic case of a parent being far more excited then their own child. It would also seem I have a thing for posting pumpkin pictures in November too ;)

Also I know this post would have been more helpful in October for those locally looking for pumpkin picking, but if you're thinking for next year we picked ours at Craigie's Farm.

Thursday, 10 November 2016 Comments: 7

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TRAVELLING WITH KIDS featuring STORKSAK TRAVEL

TRAVELLING WITH KIDS featuring STORKSAK TRAVEL

Remember those pre-kids days? You know, back when the world revolved around you?

Take packing to go away for example. You can guarantee I'd have two weeks worth of outfits for myself even though I was just away for a weekend, because well you never know what you might need?! 

Then you have kids. Forget outfits. All of a sudden you can't leave the house without taking the house with you. My family are in Liverpool so we are well versed on short haul travel. I still laugh when I think back to what we packed in the car for a our very first visit to Liverpool with Caleb. We couldn't see out of the back window, everything was strategically placed to not squish our precious cargo (Caleb ;)) before we even got there.

I would crave (still do) my visits back to Liverpool, but the packing would literally bring me out in a cold sweat. I packed like my mum didn't have a washing machine or like Tesco wasn't just around the corner. For some reason I felt a years supply of nappies was needed, oh just in case there was an unexpected shortage at the other end. Packing became silly and stressful, and the irony would be I'd be lucky if I had a clean pair of knickers for myself. Ahh how the times change.

Then Archie came along, and I thought how the hell will we get to Liverpool. Hire a mini-van?? So I decided to do the exact opposite. I finally learnt to not pack like a crazed lunatic who thought she was never returning home again. I now only pack the absolute essentials for short haul. 

There's also companies like Storksak taking the hard work out of packing and travelling for us poor pack horses, I mean parents, too. They've just launched their new travel range, all thoughtfully designed with busy, travelling parents in mind. Their new cabin carry-on couldn't have come at a better time for us as Edinburgh airport have started flights back up to Liverpool again. We live super close to the airport now too which makes flying our easiest option. 

So to give you a better look at the bag I thought I'd so something highly embarrassing and upload a little youtube video for you. You. Are. Welcome.

Or well actually maybe it should be me apologising to you. So, yeah. I'M SORRY.  I'm super awkward in it, I say, 'erm' about a thousand times, and my accent is a weird mix of Liverpool and Scottish. I know what you're thinking, youtube sensation right there. But honestly, I find these types of videos useful when researching an item I'm after, and hey, it's good to step out of our comfort zones every now and then, isn't it?! Please say, yes ;)

So if you watched the video you will see the clever insert that is included with this bag. I love that at the other end you can simply take the insert out and pop it on a rail. I think this also makes the bag a cracking candidate for a hospital bag too. You can pack and have everything organised so it's easy to find, plus it has wheels. Which makes life so much easier when you leave the hospital with your newborn in a carseat, still in shock by the fact that they are really allowing you to leave with your baby on your own ;). I tell you this fact was not lost on me second time around either. 

Another positive to this range by Storksak is it's one for the dads too. The bags are stylish, well made without leaning towards a particular gender. I'd actually recommend the cabin carry-on to everyone not just to parents.

Ahh look at my two goof balls! Caleb is going through such a funny stage just now, he's all about playing jokes and making people laugh. Which as you can see Archie laps up.

* This post was in partnership with Storksak, all views and opinions are entirely my own. Thank you for continuing to support the select brands we work with which help make this blog possible.

Tuesday, 4 October 2016 Comments: 2

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