Thursday 30 January 2014

Thrifty Thursday

There's nothing I love more than a rummage around the local charity shops, I've found some bargains in my time, from designer clothes for the kids to books that have only been released. It's amazing what you can find if you look hard enough.

This week was another of my bargain finds:


As I have previously mentioned, Erin has very curly hair and keeps the detangling spray makers in business. I went into my local British Heart Foundation shop and saw these boxes of hair products, 6 bottles of Shampoo/Conditioner and 6 bottles of detangling spray, all for £4.....Bargain!!!

Then I went into the British Red Cross and found these tops:


Perfect for work and just £6 spent.

I was very impressed with my bargain finds, I do love me some charity shop bargains.



Wednesday 29 January 2014

Single life.....5 years on

When my marriage ended in January 2009, it was a very sad and traumatic time and while I wasn't ready to jump back into another relationship in the near future, I never thought for a second that I'd still be single 5 years down the line.

In the months that followed my newly single status, all I was concerned with was making sure that Damian and Erin felt safe and secure, that even though Mummy and Daddy weren't together anymore, we still loved them more than anything. It wasn't an easy time, that's for sure, but with a little perseverance and a lot of love and cuddles, I can honestly say that they are now very happy with our situation. 

Their dad is no longer involved with them, but they know they can talk to me about it, without me getting angry or upset. I regularly tell them that they can talk to me about anything, that it's better to talk about what's bothering them rather than letting it build up. I answer their questions as honestly as I can, giving answers that relate to their age and what they can understand and without them feeling rejected.

I'm not going in depth about what has happened over these 5 years, it'd take me all day to put it into words, so we'll just fast forward to 2014 and how my life has changed for the better.

My children and I have the best relationship I think a mother could ever have with her children. It's been the 3 of us for so long, we do everything together and I don't think we could be any closer. We talk, we laugh, we play. We argue, we cry, we make up. We're only human, but my children trust me that I'll always be there for them and not walk away. That no matter how tough things get, they come home to me and I will try my hardest to make things better.

However, having to be so strong and having no-one to talk to, does take it toll on me. Being the one that has to make all the decisions, make sure that bills are paid and food is on the table, being solely responsible for earning the wage to pay for things. It's very tough, but I take consolation from my spiritual faith and I know things will get better, it always works out the way it should in the end.



On days when the loneliness of not having a partner gets to me, this quote brings me some peace. I would love nothing more than to have that special someone in my life, someone who will love me and be there for me no matter what. But I'm a big believer in fate and know my happy ending is coming, I just have to be patient.


I'm not a person who will be in the wrong relationship just because I'm scared of being alone. I'm very happy in my own company and I'll never settle for second best. It's not fair on me or the person I'm with to carry on pretending to be happy.
 

Like I said above, I believe everything will work out. As the great Supremes sang: 'You can't hurry love'.


I still believe in love and happy ever after. I haven't been jaded and I'm certainly not bitter. After all, what's meant for you wont pass you by.

Monday 20 January 2014

Meal Planning Monday

The general consensus for January is that it's a long, boring month. I tend to agree, after the wonderful month of December, the fun and games of Christmas and New Year celebrations, January almost seems like an anticlimax! Back to reality with a bang.

Most of us, myself included, like to shed those Christmas pounds, so as soon as New Year is over, we get back onto the healthy eating wagon. I've been trying so hard over the years to get down to a healthy weight but I just can't find the motivation to lose the weight and keep it off.

But, as usual, I will start the week off with great determination and intentions. I just don't know how long it will last. I've gone through my cupboards and my fridge freezer and my meal plan for the week is as follows:

Monday - Tuna Pasta
Tuesday - Spaghetti Bolognese
Wednesday - Pasta night at my Mums
Thursday - Balti Curry and Rice
Friday - Chicken & Pepperoni pasta bake
Saturday - Birthday Meal @ Nandos with my Sister
Sunday - Sunday Roast at my Dads

My diet is very carb-heavy, maybe this is where I'm going wrong? Something to think about for sure.


Meal Planning Monday

Sunday 19 January 2014

Gruffalo Crafts

Last month we subscribed to the rainy day box but before I could get to it and blog about it, Erin had beat me to it and started doing the crafts, so I knew as soon as this month's box arrived, I had to be a bit quicker.

Erin and I love doing crafts, it's our favourite thing to do together. When I saw this monthly box advertised online, I knew it was something that Erin and I could enjoy together.

This month's main craft was a gruffalo mask:




The box also contained some monster stickers, a card game and an origami folding craft. Erin loved completing this mask and needed no help from it at all...in fact I felt quite redundant, but I thought she did brilliantly.

She's already asking when the next box will be arriving!!

Linking up with mummy daddy and me

 

*Note - I was not compensated for this review, I paid for the box myself and the views are my own*

Silent Sunday




OneDad3Girls

Erin's Play Room - Share It Sundays

When I was looking for potential houses to rent, I knew I needed 3 decent sized bedrooms to house all our personal belongings, clothes and toys. We all need somewhere to go to, to get away from everything, a safe haven, a personal space. However, what I seemed to find were 2 decent sized bedrooms and 1 box room.

I eventually chose the house we are in now due to the fact that although it only had 2 big bedrooms and 1 very small box room, it also had a dining room area which we wouldn't need to use. It just so happened that the box room was decorated in pink, so it made sense to put Erin in the box room and use the dining room area as a play room for all her toys, leaving Damian and I with a very good sized bedroom. Erin loves her tiny little room which has just enough room to house her bed and a wardrobe. (I wonder how much she will love her room as she gets older??).

Her playroom has evolved over the years since we've been in this house, but I think that we've finally found the perfect outlay for all her toys. But it's encouraging to know that the room is fully adaptable and we can move and arrange things as she gets older and grows out of certain toys.

My vision for the room when she no longer needs it to house her toys, is to turn it into some sort of cosy tv room....cue huge flat screen tv mounted on the wall, a billowing sofa fitted with plenty of cushions and a coffee table to prop up those drinks and snacks.

So, now I've given the room a little intro, I will now leave you with some pictures.

This is the view from the living room door









ohsoamelia

Friday 17 January 2014

It's Friday!!!!

It's been a funny old week this week but Friday is here none the less.


My week has mostly taken the form of these 5.

  1. My all-singing all-dancing super cosy housecoat.
  2. Crosswords
  3. Ritz crackers and chocolate spread - this is fast becoming my favourite snack, the sweetness of the spread along with the saltiness of the crackers....oh my it's delicious.
  4. A cup of tea in my favourite mug.
  5. Charles Worthington Detangling Spray....I have to sing the praises of this spray. Erin has such curly hair and every morning before I even attempt to put the comb through it, I have to use a detangling spray. I've used a lot of sprays, but time and time again I've found you have to saturate the hair before I can get the comb through it, which leaves Erin with soaking wet hair. However, my stepmum gave me this spray to try and all it takes is a few sprays and away we go, and what's better is Erin's hair is not wet.
So that my friends is my High Five For Friday, as always linking up with the fabulous Lauren Elizabeth and also with Darci over at the Good Life Blog, so hop on over and see more High Fives.



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Tuesday 14 January 2014

Wot so Funee

It's been so long since I last linked up and I'm hoping to keep up to date with all my blog-hops.

We were at my Dad and Step-Mum's house for dinner this past Sunday, Erin had taken her doll and some pens and pencils with her colouring in book, while Damian took his Where's Wally books.

I was sat at the table chatting to my step-mum when Damian came up to me with his book and says: 'Look Mum, it's like being at Asda!'


I had to laugh as I'm always saying that Asda is always busy and I think the picture truly represents what it feels like to shop at Asda.

I'm linking up with ActuallyMummy for her Wot So Funee? Blog Hop.

Wot So Funee?

Monday 13 January 2014

My Pinterest Pins: Week 1

I think by now, readers of my blog must know that I'm a little very obsessed with Pinterest. I could spend hours on there, whether it's drooling over the gorgeous shoes, decorating my dream house or laughing over the funny pics. There is something for everyone.

So, I thought, every week I'd blog about what I've been looking at. If you'd like to join along, please by all means leave a comment and I'll hop on over to Pinterest and see your pins.

I'm trying to be extra-organised by looking at some Valentine's Day crafts to do with my children:



 link

I also came across these gorgeous Valentine's Day displays:



I've also been looking into gaining some inspiration when it comes to my kiddos school lunches:


One thing that I really want to do is have a display table in my hallway, one where I can change the display according to a celebration or a holiday or even just to match the season.

For when it's a birthday:

For when it's Spring:

For Easter:

So there you have some pins that I've been looking at, I hope you've enjoyed them and maybe even pinned them for yourself.

Laura Every Day 2014 Week 2

You can find my intro to this challenge here.

Day 6 - Something I wore: I took full advantage of the last day of the Xmas holidays and stayed in my pyjamas all day.


Day 7 - This!! This is what I watched, I watch a lot of these programmes, they are my favourites.


Day 8 - Makes you smile: I keep achievements folders for both my kids and everytime I look through them, I have this crazy-daft-proud-mama smile on my face.


Day 9 - Proud Moment: The days when my 2 children were born were the proudest moments of my life, just looking from when they were born to how they look now, it feel like they've always been here yet I worry they're growing too quickly and before I know it they'll be flying the nest.....Quick, press the pause button.


Day 10 - Favourite: My favourite song at the moment has to be this one, I can listen to it over and over again and it never gets old or boring.


Day 11 - Work: Seeing as it was a Saturday and I wasn't at my normal job, I took a picture of my beloved blog....I think it counts as work also.


Day 12 - Shoes: This is shoe heaven to me. I would love to be able to dedicate a room to my shoes and my clothes. Not that I have loads to show off, just that it would give me a reason to have to go out and buy lots...to fill the room.


Thank you for taking the time to come over and look through my pics, if you are doing your own photo-a-day challenge, please send me a link through the comments and I'll hop over and have a look.

The Simple Things in Life are the Best

Now that we're back in the throes of routine: work, school, homework!! It's tough to find the time to sit down and spend some quality time with my children.

It doesn't have to be an expensive time, you don't even have to leave the house. Just sitting down and talking, playing a board-game, reading a book together, role-play etc....kids just love to have your undivided attention.

So with that in mind, I'm trying to devote at least one evening a week, where myself and the kids can be together with no interruptions.

This weekend, we agreed to have some luxury home-made hot chocolate and watch Monsters Inc. We all had such a fab evening, I'm definitely looking forward to our next evening.


I'm linking up with The Olivers Madhouse for her Magic Moments blog-hop.


And also with Mummy Daddy and Me for her Ordinary Moments blog-hop.


So hop on over and read some other Magic and Ordinary Moments.

Sunday 12 January 2014

Share it Sunday - My Favourite Christmas Presents

My favourite Christmas present of 2013 has to be my new all-singing all-dancing super soft and cosy housecoat. My mum bought me this along with about 5-6 pairs of pyjamas and I have to say I love it.



Now that the weather is cold and I'm trying my hardest to cut down on my gas usage, this housecoat has come in handy to wear instead of having the central heating on all day.

The best thing about it......It's Pink!!!!!!

Erin's favourite Christmas present is her Baby Annabelle doll who she has named Baby Olivia (she already has another Baby Annabelle)

She has played with this doll every day.

Damian's favourite Christmas present has to be his beloved Trashies.


This boy is Trashie-Mad!!
He has 326 of them and knows every single Trashies name and which series it is from (there are 5 series)


I'm linking up with ohsoamelia.com for her Share It Sundays blog-hop, so hop on over and see more Favourite Christmas Presents.


ohsoamelia