My husband can bake…….

I've been with Mr T. for 13 years and not once have I seen him bake anything. Tonight he produced some mediterranean bread, he made it himself and….. He didn't have any scales for measuring. I have to say I'm impressed. I love a man who can bake. I must say it was amazing



Lisa x

 

Ps I know it's been ages since I posted anything I am suffering with another cold/chest infection. Normal service will resume shortly. Currently being forced/made to watch euro vision, hope everyone's having a lovely week-end.

 

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A big pile of stress

I ended up at the GP's surgery this morning having an ECG and copious amounts of blood taken. I'd been having what I'm calling a few funny turns over the last few days. My heart went a little funny, I had chest pains and felt like I was going to pass out. The first time it happened I was out for a walk on my own it really frightened me.

Basically I've been told to slow down or I'll be heading for a breakdown. My body has been giving me not so subtle hints to take it easy. I've seen it coming for a while and have ignored it. I do way too much, I have trouble saying No to anyone.

Not that I’m blaming all of my stress on Sophie but Modern parenting has a lot to answer for, One of the reasons we as parents are so exhausted and stressed is the copious amount of information out there, about the kind of parents we should be. It makes us parents over anxious and insecure about how to raise our kids. In a recent survey, 88% of the interviewed parents say that parenting for them is causing major stress and fatigue. So yes sometimes when I have loads to do and Sophie’s having tantrums I can’t wait until she’s in bed just so I can sit in peace and have a cup of tea, this doesn’t mean I’m a bad parent. I think there’s a taboo with parents admitting that parenting isn’t all fun and games its hard work and difficult at times.

There’s a quote I found “You can do anything, Not everything” I now have it as a wallpaper on my phone to remind me that I may think I can do it all but I can’t and its ok to ask for help.

Today was a real kick up the bum for me, so from now I'm taking more time to relax and prioritise the important things in life. Yes I may get a little bit selfish but I desperately need to find…… well Me again! I've seemed to gotten lost in a big cloud of stress and constant running about.



Lisa x

 

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Review: Walkers Hoops and Crosses

We arrived home on Monday from our little break to this gorgeous monkey called Monty waiting on us. He was holding a packet of Walkers Hoops and Crosses for us to review. Sophie loves the monkey and it now goes to bed with her.

As it was mad Tuesday at my mums the next day I thought I'd take them with me so I could have more taste tasters.

We got the beef to review but they also come in salt and vinegar and prawn cocktail. They are all suitable for vegetarians even the beef which I found slightly strange.

 

 

 

 

 

It's safe to say they all loved them! Mr T tried them as well as me and i have to say i thought they tasted slightly like monster munch. I'll probably buy them again.

 

Nutritional Information

Each bag has 85 calories

Hoops and Crosses are made from wholegrains, have no artificial colours or preservatives

They come in three flavours – all suitable for vegetarians (prawn cocktail, roast beef, salt and vinegar)


Disclaimer: this is a sponsored post however all opinions are my own.


Ps I've been shortlisted for the Family category in the BIBs, would love for you to vote for me. Clicking the badge below will take you to the voting page.



NOMINATE ME BiB 2013 FAMILY

 

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A sneaky little peek at Heaton’s new kids collection

 

I was privileged to get an exclusive peak at Heaton’s new Summer collection for Kids this week, before any of it went to the media. Here’s just some of the bits I love from the collection. Sophie has already picked out what she wants!

Lisa x

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Style Friday – His and Hers

Style Friday with a twist, Mr T seen me doing my style post last night for today, he wanted a go, I was a bit apprehensive at first, with good reason it started off with 3 beanie hats, and some slippers. His final effort is actually ok, that’s why I’ve allowed it on the blog. He does have expensive taste though, the satchel bag is over £1200 but I wouldn’t mind if he bought it for me!

 

Mr T’s Style picks

 

Lisa x

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Good Life Festival

 

 

On Sunday we took ourselves off to the Good Life festival at Oxford island, on the shores of lough Neagh.  The Good Life festival is a fun-filled weekend for all the family, with the best of music, theatrical performances and lots of hands-on activities for the kids and the young at heart. There were lots of talks on  self-sufficiency, and alternative therapies, not that Sophie was going to sit long enough for me to go to a talk, she was too excited by the thought of making a magic wand or petting the sheep and pigs.

There were also lots of demonstrations on crafting, up-cycling furniture and even some lovely rails of vintage clothes, and not forgetting the amazing food on offer. The Barn stage provided great music while we walked around. Mr T even learned a little about bee keeping and boat building. All in all a great day out even if the weather wasn’t great.

Some photos from the day (not great quality as the weather was rubbish)

These guys are amazing, so amazing they are even playing Glastonbury this year. They are The Armagh Rhymers, If you get a chance you should check them out. I was worried about them scaring Sophie, it doesn’t take much, the people on stilts had her hiding behind me screaming. She loved them, and was even up dancing at one stage.

Lisa x

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Really are you sure?

I don’t know how it happened but I have made the short list in the family category of the BiBs (brilliance in blogging) awards. I found out yesterday and still can’t quite believe it…. I may have even done a little excited dance around my living room when I found out. It didn’t feel real until I got the email earlier this afternoon confirming it.

I love writing and I have loved watching this blog grow over the last year and a half. It gives me a purpose in life other than my role as a mum and a wife.

I would like to thank everyone who nominated me, you have made me one very happy woman.

If I could please ask you to vote again so I could have a go at making the final 6. Voting closes midnight on the 12th May, you can vote either by clicking here or clicking the BiB button to the right.

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Thank you all again for making my week

Lisa x

 

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The Truth about Motherhood – Part one, conception to 10 weeks

 

I found out I was pregnant on Thursday 22nd January 2009 at 4pm; It came as a bit of a shock. Even though we were TTC I was expecting (maybe naively) for it to take a few months not just 2 attempts So, I never expected to see that second blue line come up when my period was just 2 days late. I was so in shock that I called my husband at work to tell him, he didn’t say much…. the shock probably, and the fact that he worked in an open planned office.  Then the panic set in, you see the week before the 10/11th January to be precise I was in Manchester having way too many cocktails.

I remember us joking about the restaurant we were in giving a free main course to pregnant woman, little did I know!

The next day was Friday and there was no way I was waiting all weekend to get it confirmed, so I took a trip to the open surgery at my GP. He didn’t even ask me to pee on a stick, he just took my word for it that I was pregnant (oh…. ok then!)

Later that day we decided to tell the parents, I was 28 not like they were going to be shocked. I remember sitting in the living room and Mr T made the excuse that he was going to make coffee, obviously afraid that he was going to be hit over the head with m mums slipper (it wouldn’t have been the first time!, what can I say? He annoys her)  So It was left to me to tell them, they were over the moon.

To be honest it was telling his mum that got me worried, she had warned us for years not to get pregnant it…. was too soon. I shouldn’t have worried though, surprisingly, she was the happiest I’d ever seen her and started calling herself granny (Nana as it is now) straight away.

She works in the local shop, so by the time the weekend was over I think the entire village knew.

The symptoms of pregnancy for the first 8 weeks were pretty non existent to the extent that I bought even more tests just to be sure!

But there on week 9 was the SICKNESS, the only think I could eat was ready salted hula hoops and oranges, poor Mr. T starved  for a bit as I couldn’t face cooking.  Week 10 brought stomach pains that made me worry… after a phone call to the maternity hospital they suggested I came in for an early scan.

Everything was fine and we walked away with out first picture of Sophie.

10weekscan

 

 

Next part coming soon.

 

Lisa x

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