Sunday 29 August 2010

Busy busy busy

Just lately every day has been filled. Art and craft projects, playing in the park, manic decluttering sessions,rehearsing,family visits and games being played. What a wonderful way to spend your days! And yet today I feel down, I've lost my smile and can't seem to drag myself from my bed. Isn't being a girl fun! Hormonal mood swings that have no actual basis in your real life! So pre menstrual blues GO AWAY! I have no room for you in my packed schedule so find someone else to bother!

Thursday 26 August 2010

More painting fun....












We have far too many rainy days this summer so the paints have been out again :) And I've been using the ice lolly moulds as paints pots.... well its far too cold for ice lollies!!!

Tuesday 24 August 2010

Tired

Late night last night. Rehearsing with the band I've just joined til midnight.and then my daughter woke at 1 .This is going to be tough! But I am LOVING it!

Monday 23 August 2010

A blessing...

Ask and you shall recieve...never quite believed this before but I have had proof that it works this week! I updated my facebook status last week to say I'd really like an itouch. I've just joined a band and need to be able to listen to my music on the go so I can learn the songs. And the Internet access would be handy too ;) . Within the week a friend said she would sell me hers! Result! I could never have afforded one new and my friend wouldn't have known I wanted one. So sometimes it pays to actually TELL people what you want rather than expecting them to mind read! Why don't you try it? What blessings do you need?

Wednesday 18 August 2010

Flubbery Dubbery Dough











I ordered this book, First Art - Art Experiences for toddlers and twos,a few weeks ago and while I have enjoyed reading through the projects I had yet to actually DO anything! But today I took the plunge and went for it... I'll put the recipe here for you to try.. I think I was a bit too impatient as I first of all didn't cook it long enough and then secondly didn't wait for it to cool down... but what the hey the kids had fun and the consistency was cool! lol!
Flubbery Rubbery Dough

125g cornflour
120mls cold water
250g salt
240mls hot water

  1. Mix the corn flour and cold water in a bowl and put to one side.
  2. Put the salt and how water in a saucepan and bring to the boil
  3. Reduce the heat and add the cornflour mix
  4. Stir constantly while it cooks to a pie dough consistency
  5. Tip out on to a a board and leave to cool
  6. When cool knead until smooth
Tegan and Euan are really enjoying pounding stretching and sticking things through this dough . There pieces of art will air dry later!

Enjoy!!

Tuesday 17 August 2010

So true..

Sometimes on the way to a dream you get lost and find a better one

I have a sign that says that by my front door and I couldnt agree with it more. If 10 years ago you had told me I was going to be a stay at home mum I would have laughed you out of town. This is NOT what I had planned for my life. In fact I didn;t like children had no dsire to be married and wanted to travel the world! And most of all I wanted to sing. BUT I love my life and find it more fulfilling than I could ever have imagined. Best of all I am discovering that I don't need to give up on all of my old dreams in order to have these new ones. Life is GOOD!

Friday 13 August 2010

I know some talented ladies..

Just a quick big up to some talented WAHMS...

I've been ordering presents in preparation for my Daughters next birthday (in NOVEMBER ..I know get me being organised!!)

First up is
Dark Star Designs



I know its gorgeous right!! :)

Then from the fabulous NitNac Fleeces I bought these...



Simply FAB!!

And then a cute little dolly from Sew You Dolls.... with a fleece jumper to match Tegans new one!!


Do you think she will like them??

{this moment}


{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

Borrowed from http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2010/07/this-moment-3.html

Thursday 12 August 2010

The value of good friends

can never be undestimated. We had a bad night with the little man last night.Epic tantrum on a grand scale! And today I was not feeling good. But instead of sitting at home brooding about how crappy I felt I decided to jump on the bus and join a group of friends.My natural parenting buddies. And I am so glad that I did.Thank you guys ... I'm beginning to feel human again.

Wednesday 11 August 2010

15 minute bursts..

... in my desparate attempt to organise my life I am decluttering my home. Well I will be once it is tidy enough for me to see whats needed ;) So I am working in 15 minute bursts! Why is it that my 15 min break time goes much much slower than my 15 minutes work time? Still I am beginning to see a difference already...my sink is shiny and the bedroom floors are clear. Thank the lord for Fly Lady!! :)

Tuesday 10 August 2010

Adding a little routine

Left to my own devices I can be a little (OK a lot!) lazy! But give a routine, some structure, some discipline I thrive!! Unfortunately I am my own boss so there is no one to kick me up the butt! So I am hoping to implement a little structure to my day. I have ordered the book Sink Reflections and I am going to try to follow the Fly Lady routines to help me organise my home. And here is a list of a couple of other things I hope to fit into my day - EVERY DAY! lol! Wish me luck.

  1. Check emails... don't just read! Respond , forward or delete too!
  2. Trip to the park. Yes that's right folks EVERY day! The weather is NOT an excuse ...there's a reason we buy wellies and raincoats! lol!
  3. Exercise ... even if its only a 10 mins . I MUST find time!
  4. Make a phone call . Whether its to a family member or the bank! I need to get back into the habit of speaking to grown ups!
  5. Singing/Breathing exercises... if you want to improve you have to practice! FACT!

So thats it to start with... not too tricky I hope!!

Monday 9 August 2010

Oh your just being silly.....

... how many times have we said this to someone or had it said to us? And does everyone feels the same way I do about it? I HATE it!!If I am already upset/angry/paranoid/irrational then telling me I am 'being silly' is very very likely to tip me over the edge! Even if my feelings and thoughts are factually wrong does it really make them less valid? And isn't 'silly' just a slightly nicer word for 'stupid' ? And yet even knowing how I feel about it I still use that phrase when speaking to others? I make a pledge to you, my followers, to try very hard not to say that to anyone ever again.... I'm not going to promise anything tho..well that would just be silly! ;)

Saturday 7 August 2010

My husband ROCKS!!

The triathlon was today and my husband was AMAZING! He came 64th out of 162!! lots of gushy love for my man!! :)

Friday 6 August 2010

OOO the nerves

Hubby is taking part in the London Triathlon tomorrow... he's nervous , I'm nervous and worst of all we are apart as he has already gone to London.

The beds too big without you. So proud of you and can't wait to greet you at the finish line.

Thursday 5 August 2010

Its all about the Fashion...

Can you believe that when I met my husband he actually used to say that.... a lot !! He was very into designer labels and looking COOL. Oh how rapidly things change lol! Nowadays I wouldn't call either of us exactly fashionable...but we do like to look good. I'm not one for lounging about in joggers and T Shirts...but I am a busy mum of two so the old faithful jeans and T shirt combo does come out more often that I would care to admit. What do I like to wear... I like to look funky but feminine. I adore skirts and bright colours.. show me something with a rainbow on and your pretty much guaranteed the sale. I LOVE jewelery (well duh!) and like to wear mismatched beads and earrings.Colour clashes are OK with me too. I also colour my hair pretty regularly...today I have short blonde hair..next week it might be purple! I have been doing this since I was about 15 years old... so much so that people who know me NEVER comment on my hair. They are used to seeing it change so much!
Basically I don't like to look like every one else. I like to think of myself as individually..sadly I often fail! Looking down at today's outfit of dark jeans and green hoody perhaps I need to make a bit more effort!!

Blog inspired by the Bloggy Moms August Challenge
http://www.bloggymoms.com/group/blogchallenge/forum/topics/august-2010-blog-challenge

Wednesday 4 August 2010

Its only a bit of freedom..

From my kitchen sink I look straight out my window to the front of my house. I can see a very busy road...and yesterday during one of my 40 billion washing up attempts I spot a small boy playing alone. He is at most 2 1/2 . I watch him for about 10 minutes and there are no adults or oldre siblings in sight. He has a scooter with him that he is just a little too small for. Then the boy starts crossing the road..back and forth. Its too much , I have to do something. I go outside to help him cross the road. This boy is too young to tell me his name. He follows me back to my house without question. I don't know what to do. I decide to just wait outside with him while I work out what to do for the best.Eventually a older girl on a bike comes round the corner , she is about 5, and say 'oi come on. home' And off the little boy trots. I am stunned. The little boy is clearly just out to play. He hasn't run off , nobody is frantic. He is just out to play. Over the course of the afternoon I spot him out there a couple more times. More than once I run out to help him across the road. The last time he cam out he was barefoot, in pyjamas and wet hair. Hes clearly had his evening bath and then been sent out again. Eventually his mum comes round the corner and takes him home to bed. Again no panic or anger. The boy is just out to play.

I feel stupid for being so freaked out. Am I so out of touc?. Should my kids (2 and 3 1/2) too be allowed such freedom? I never let them out of my sight. I am doing them a disservice? I'm afraid I will be seen as cruel ,mean, crazy. Am I the only one that thinks that children should be kept safe?

London Triathlon

Just a quick post to big up my fabulous Husband who is taking part in the London Triathlon on saturday. He is doing it to raise money for Help For Heroes which I think you will all agree is a fantastic cause.

If you would like to pop over a few pennies for the charity please check out his Just Giving fundraising page :)

http://www.justgiving.com/David-Wyche

Tuesday 3 August 2010

A bit about what I do..

It says in the title that I am a WAHM (Work at home mum) and yet I rarely mention any work! So I thought I would blog a little about the work I am supposed to be doing. I say supposed as I am nowhere near as disciplined as I should be . But around looking after my family, looking after the house and my hobbies I do what I can.

My WAHM journey began when my youngest was just a few weeks old. My husband had been involved in accident at work and had broken both arms. My toddler was not yet 2 and I was struggling to establish breastfeed with the newborn. I had my hands FULL. I looked for something , ANYTHING, that would make my life easier. And one of the things I bought was a fleece pouch to carry my baby. It SAVED us! it meant I could cook, feed, shop, clean basically do EVERYTHING with baby strapped on! :) Result! Man I loved that pouch. Now at the time my Dad had been made redundant. He is an upholsterer and pretty nifty with a sewing machine. Once he took a look at my magically pouch he immediately decided 'I could make those!' And so BampisBabyBags was born! Bampi is a welsh phrase meaning Granddad and when a forum friend suggested the name I thought it was perfect! I bought a website from WAHM and I was off. This business isn't going to make me a millionaire , I don't put enough effort in, but it ticks over nicely and I am very proud of it!

I also run Ret-Row which is really little more than a hobby . While I was sick in bed with Swine Flu a friend send me some beads and finding to have a play with. Before I knew it was hooked! I love making jewellery and coming up with new ideas..I really hope this little business venture grows and grows.

And last but not least I also work for Mama Pack. I am a distribution manager and my role is to spread the Mama Pack love and find people across the UK to distribute our Eco friendly ethical natal packs. If you haven't seen one I urge you to take a look at the website. These little jute bags are packed full of yumminess and a must for any pregnant woman or new mum!

So that me ... fingers in lots of little pies..and LOVING it!!

Following Patterns..


This year I set myself the challenge of learning to crochet. I have to say I am quite pleased with myself... I have mastered the basic stitches and even managed to finish a few projects. My problem is following patterns. I find them horribly confusing and tend to just give up. I can work things out from photos but the patterns just make my brain ache!!

But last month I decided to treat myself to some good yarn rather than the pond shop cheap stuff I'd been using til then. I bought a one of skein in Tulips as part of the Woollywumpkins Pure Wool Appreciation Club. When it arrived I realised it was too beautiful to waste so decided to make the effort to follow a pattern..

And so here it is..my first following a pattern crochet item... and I have to say I am quite pleased!! A couple of change I need to make..but on the whole NOT BAD! ;)

So thank you to Woollywumpkins for the inspiration! You rock!!!

Monday 2 August 2010

Co - Sleeping ..

Co-Sleeping doesn't come naturally to me. When my husband and I first met he joined the army and then later he became a truck river. Consequently I have become VERY used to having a king size bed all to myself. Now though my husband is at home every evening and we have 2 small children. Suddenly I find myself having to share my space...and I'm not sure I like it. As babies both my children slept in moses baskets before being moved to cots. And now they both have there own beds.But increasingly they seem to want to sleep with us. In principal I am OK with this. I much prefer to have them sleep in with us and get a good nights rest than be up and down all night convincing them to sleep in there own rooms. But in practice... I'm not keen. First of all there simply is not room for 2 nearly 30 year olds, 1 almost 4 year old and just turned 2 year old. There just isn't!! My husband normally ends up sleeping in my daughter butterfly bedroom leaving me to fight for the duvet. My daughter then likes to sleep as close as humanly possible to me. Seriously if that child could climb back into my womb she would. My son however would prefer not to share ...he just wants the big bed. He spends all night rocking and rolling, kicking me in the head and trying push his sister out.To make matters worse if anyone ELSE dares move he is immediately is WIDE AWAKE. He wants to chat ,sing and laugh...and he really doesn't care that is 2am.
All of this makes for one tired and grumpy mama. So how do I make this work for us? This is not a rhetorical question , I really need to know?! Is this just another green parenting issue I will fail at???

Sunday 1 August 2010

Its all about balance...

This weekend has just been an almost perfect mix of everything I love...

Friday I spent the day with a good friend of mine and her wonderful children. We haven't really been friends long but already she has proved herself to be amazing. Cant imagine her not being in my life now. She is inspiring, funny and generous. What else does a friend need to be! :)

Friday night I sang at an old peoples home! It was really lovely to sing for them as they were a lovely appreciative audience. I also had the opportunity to catch up with some old friends who I have not seen in ,well, too long really!

Saturday morning I touch my daughter into town for some 'girly time'. We shopped, we drank coffee, (well she had milkshake ;) ) and we ate cake! Bliss. That afternoon I was picked up by my friends and off I went to a BBQ. Fabulous evening! Good company, nice food, Pimms and Singstar...blummin marvellous!!!And I stayed up til well past 4am ! Rock and Roll!! The only thing missing was my husband who had stayed at home to look after the children. Sad as it may sound but I feel miss him when he's not with me and he would have made the evening perfect for me. I do love that man.

And then we all went to a family BBQ to celebrate a couple of birthdays that are all around now. Such a relaxed and lovely event. The kids played, my husband cooked on the firepit and I chatted with my friends. All and all a simply wonderful weekend... here's to many many more!