Take a Moment – Yummy Mummy Set

What is a Yummy Mummy? Actually now I think of it what is a Crummy Mummy?

I’d like to think I’m these things first & foremost:

I am a present Mummy

I am a fun Mummy

I am a wise Mummy

I am a fair Mummy

I am a loving Mummy

I am a creative Mummy

I am a relational Mummy

I am a serving Mummy

I am a faithful Mummy

These are certainly the attributes I want to work hard on anyway.

Rather than feel part of the Yummy Mummy Set I’d like to think I just put my sweet kids first.

What do you think a Yummy Mummy is? Do we (society & individuals) put too much expectation & pressure on ourselves as Mother’s/women?

I’d love to know your thoughts!

Lizzie XOXOXO

Five on Friday – Best Foot Forward Spring/Summer 2014

Holla! How are you on this fine day? (grey UK-side).

My mind is a bit of a muddle today, being up with Sweet Bea in the night has made my brain a bit fuzzy! That’s where blogging is brilliant.  I know that by the time I have these ideas down & out in the blogosphere I will feel better & be able to think a bit clearer.

If you don’t already write, I can tell you writing everything down is free therapy! You’re welcome.

Today FEET!  The part of the body I feel we easily neglect & yet we are on them all day & we put them through a lot.

Here are my 5 tips & product suggestions to help you put your best feet forward this Spring/Summer 2014!!!

O N E – GET A PEDICURE

Even if you only have time for one treatment this Spring/Summer go & get yourself a pedicure, your feet will seriously thank you.

Think an hour or more getting your feet painted is a little too luxurious?  Most salons offer mini Pedi’s which should take around 30 minutes & are a little cheaper.  That’s more than enough to set you up & perk up your tootsies for the warmer weather!

T W O – WASH YOUR FEET

This is a tip for every day not just when your feet are out for all to see.  Even though this seems abit top level, I bet you forget regularly!

Next time you have a shower wash those feet! In between the toes too, no cheating! Dry them properly too, then move onto Step Three.

T H R E E – FOOT CREAM/FOOT BALM

My feet get so hot in the warmer weather & add walking/running around the house/garden a thousand times a day with the Sweet Kids  & they are d-i-r-t-y! Like proper and my ankles hurt too!

Washing your feet, spraying with a cooling spray & moisturising them will cool them down & take care of those tooties.  I love anything with a cooling element to it.

I’ve tried a few products over the years  but lately I’m loving Burt’s Bee’s range.  I was given a tube of Burt’s Bees Foot Balm as a gift .  One for the evening when you have a bit more time, it takes awhile to sink in, but it’s luxury in a tube.  The smell is heavenly, a mix of coconut & mint (although it states just coconut).  You can get this lovely foot balm at various outlets.

Now I’m sold on the range I need to decide between these two beauties when my little tube runs out!

Peppermint

Coconut

You can find the range at John Lewis, Boots, Debenhams or Amazon amongst others.

F O U R – REST YOUR FEET

Ever feel like the kids have gone to bed & you’re still rushing around like a loony trying to tidy up?

Take a break, put your feet up for 5 minutes, read a blog post or two. Have a cup of tea & then I recommend you  read this seriously funny post before tidying the kids toys away for the night.

Photograph courtesy of Hurrah for Gin.

Katie at Hurrah for Gin  will get you into the swing of tidying with style, I promise it’ll set you up for the next day of free play with your Sweet Kids!

F I V E – TREAT YOUR FEET

Every year needs a new pair of sandals.

I’ve scoured Pinterest & the internet for you & fallen for these lovelies for 2014, what do you think? Strappy or strappy? Strappy it is! These are my favourite, the expensive ones of course!

Most likely you’ll find me at buying my next pair at River Island or Topshop although I wish I could afford the Tory Burch pair!

Thanks to my sweet hosts, April, Christina, Darci & Natasha.

Don’t forget to read their lovely posts.

Until the next time friends have a sweet day!

Lizzie XOXO

nb. This post is not sponsored & all thoughts & opinions are entirely my own, LS XO

 

Take a Moment – He is With Us

It’s Monday morning friends!

Time to pause (just for a second or two), reflect, place everything in perspective & move forwards into our day, before the hectic takes over.

Sometimes Monday morning can be the most hectic of all!

Let’s do this together, because we’re family.

Pause
Breathe (in the Holy Spirit)
Focus (on Him/pray)
Give thanks (count your blessings)
Move forwards

Because God wants us to live life to the full.

It only takes a moment. He is with us. It’s promised.

Until the next time friends
Have a great day!

Lizzie XOXO

Five on Friday – ‘Mama Needs a Break’ 5 Pamper Ideas Without Leaving the House

Hey friends,

Linking up again with my lovely hosts over the pond. April, Christina, Darci & Nathasha. Clink their names to see their blogs & show them some love!

Let’s face it lovelies, unless the sweet kids are at School us Mama’s don’t often get a chance to relax sans kids. You’re either looking after children + housework, or out working + running the home.

The Easter holidays, although fun with both kiddos is not a break.  As a Mum that stays home it got me to thinking that actually none of the holidays are relaxing for us Mama’s, in fact they create more work & not less!

So I sat down & came up with ways to have some positive down time during the hectic without a hard hit on the wallet!

1// Take a Bubble Bath

This is actually my number one way to relax & it sounds so simple but if you’re going to have a bubble bath make it count & stay in it for A LONG TIME. Read a book or magazine, get those scented candles out.

You have no idea how often I forget to do this. Such a simple way to pamper yourself, without leaving the house or need of a babysitter!

Takes 20-30 mins, Costs –  Bubble Bath, Candle & Water.

2// Paint Your Nails

I’d love to have my nails painted regularly but it’s just not possible to go to the salon on a regular basis. So a home job in the evenings it is.

I made the mistake of trying to paint my nails while looking after the kids. Orange nail varnish now adorns the side of my sofa. Yep.

Takes 30 mins, Costs – Nail varnish, Nail file Approx. £5-10

3// Face Pack

This doesn’t take as long or cost as much as you think. I like these packs, you can pick them up from any supermarket, just add it onto your shower (or bubble bath) in the evening.

They make your face feel fresh & rejuvenated & come in loads of different flavours, I love the chocolate one, I’m all over that.

Takes 15 mins, Cost £1

4// Get Weeding/Activity

Over the Easter weekend I set to weeding our boarder & around the apple tree we planted for Sweet Harry.  Hubby watched the kids. I could still hear them playing & having a great time together, but I wasn’t responsible for supervising them.

It took over an hour to weed my little patch but I was so pleased with the result & while I was doing it I was so focussed on it I didn’t think about anything else at all!

This is a win/win because my garden also looks great, which gives me pleasure every time I look at it.

Takes 1 hr, Costs – The price of a spade

5// Read

I just don’t plan in time to read even though I love it.  By evenings I’m pretty wacked.  This is where I need to remind myself to read during Sweet Bea’s nap time.  It seems like a luxury when there is always so much to do around the house.  I think it’s important to give your mind a break, a change from the norm.  You know what they say, a change is as good as a rest.

Takes – As long as you want, Costs – Dependant on your book or magazine of choice!

What do you like doing? Plan it in.

Plan in baths, face packs & painting nails in the evenings while the kids are asleep. For reading you may have to put a timer on it so you don’t get so into it you forget to do the laundry! For the weeding or activity you like doing you may need to rope in your partner, parents or a friends help to watch the kids.

Make sure you ask someone you love & trust, they may just love the opportunity to watch your sweet babe’s for an hour to bless you!! Maybe you could do it for a friend too! Share the love.

I hope you enjoyed my 5 this week & that they encourage you!

See you next time!

Lizzie XOXO

 

 

It’s the Little Things – Easter Weekend Recap

Hey friends,

Linking up with Ashley & Jess on this lovely Wednesday!

We have so enjoyed our long Easter weekend.

Being together as a family just filled me with joy.  Also, help with the kids was a godsend after a long two weeks off preschool for Sweet Harry.

We saw both families, ate ALOT of Easter eggs, praised God at Church on Easter Sunday & relaxed at home. Apart from Sunday we’ve had lovely weather, so have been outside most of the time, playing, weeding, planting new plants & having  the first BBQ of the year.

Good Friday was especially fun.  Some quality time together was well overdue so we decided to head out to Montacute House for their Egg Hunt.

We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day & my Mum was able to join us too!

Here’s some photo’s of the egg hunt (sponsored by Cadbury).

We got our trail pack which included a map, pencil & a grid. Daddy, Grandma & SH went round together (while I tramped on slowly behind with SB in buggy + bags) finding the clues & drawing them in the right squares.  There were loads of families doing the trail & it created a lovely atmosphere.

When all 6 squares had been drawn in you got the whole picture.  As you can see it was a bunny!  SH absolutely loved it & when we asked him what the picture was he said it was a donkey!!!  We laughed so hard at that, I guess Mr Somerset isn’t such a Picasso.  Thankfully there is a donkey in the Easter story!

SH then took the picture back to the Trail Start to get his Cadbury Easter egg.  It was so well organised, we’ll definitely go again next year.

What did you do over Easter? I hope you all had a great Easter weekend!

Until the next time friends

Have a great day!

Lizzie XOXO

Take a Moment – Good Friday 2014

Hey friends,

I hope you are all looking forward to an Easter weekend with friends & family as much as we are?!

For me as a follower of Christ, I love Easter. It’s by far my favourite holiday!

I think this is mainly due to the fact that Jesus actually gets a mention here & there, & that warms my heart!

I think Easter is so much fun for children too.

For some reason I’ve been thinking a lot about passion recently. I think sometimes life can seem a bit blah & like nothing exciting is happening.

I believe in those moments of feeling stagnant that it actually may be Jesus asking us to stay still for a little while.

We’ve had a lot of changes in the Somerset ranch lately, lots of extra learned confidence, starting the blog, Sweet Harry starting preschool & Sweet Bea starting nursery. I’ve finally gotten to goal weight at Weight Watchers & feeling great!

So I’m seeing this season as letting things shake down & settle for a bit. Letting go & trusting God.

If I want passion I only have to look to the Cross. To the One who loves me passionately without limits & who knows me so well.

This Good Friday I’m reminded again of His goodness to me everyday, not just on this special day, but everyday where I get to share in the victory of His resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Today we’re going on an Easter egg hunt at Montacute House with the sweet kiddos! Quality family time is what we need.

To Jesus all the honour, praise & fame.

Until the next time friends.

Have a great day!

Lizzie XOXO

Take a Moment – A View of Perfectionism

Perfectionism. Sounds perfect doesn’t it?

A person who has perfectionism must always be top of their game. Top of everything in fact!

Their house must be spotless, beautifully decorated, their kids are polite, well dressed, destined for great things.

They’re successful.
Popular.
Throw the best parties.

They have prospects & aim high!

The problem is they have perfectionism. It’s the core. Trust me, it’s like an illness.

It won’t kill you, it will just make shame part of every day life.

People who suffer with perfectionism are not perfectionists. A perfectionist is someone who is good with the finer points, the detail.

This is much, much more complex.

Perfectionism sees what the world wants you to be, magnifies it x10000 & sets that as the target, if you can’t hit the target? Yep, shame!

The sad thing about it is the person with perfectionism will never reach the lofty heights they set themselves because the high expectations are so high they are literally unreachable!!

They want to be the best. But when the best isn’t possible & they fail again, because it’s exhausting or just totally unacheivable…there it is again, shame.

I’m popping the spotlight on perfectionism today because at the end of last year I realised I suffered with this personality trait. When I read the definition for it, everything clicked into place.

When I had Sweet Harry I was desperate to be a Yummy Mummy. One of those women who looked amazing, had an easy baby, well dressed, house up together, hair & make up beautifully done. I would bake & cook nutritious meals. Clean & decorate. Host coffee mornings & laugh easily with other Mother’s on buggy walks.

Then I had the baby.

The dream that I would be a perfect mother crumbled. Yummy Mummy? More like Crummy Mummy!

Who knew having a baby would
1. Knock you for six.
2. Leave you feeling exhausted, inadequate & totally clueless.

For a person with perfectionism, tiredness was not an option because tiredness equalled failure. If you’re exhausted, you can’t be doing it right.

Ever heard of procrastination? Perfectionism is procrastination just in a prettier word.

I’m at the point now where I know when it flares up & how to control it. But when I didn’t even know what it was or that I had it, it held me back.

If this resonates with you look up perfectionism & start on the road to combat it.

It’s not what God wants for your life.

He sent his son Jesus to die on the cross at Easter so that I can be free. He loves me for who I am, not what I achieve.

For my children He wants a Mother who is THERE & shows LOVE. Not a beautifully decorated home.

For my husband, he asks me to be a PRESENT wife, ready to hear. Not a beautifully made up dolly bird.

For my friends he asks me to PRAY & stand with them in all aspects of their lives. Not to be the centre of attention or the perfect hostess.

Let’s be real. What is perfect anyway? I know now I am enough.

Celebrate the small successes. Count your blessings. Live in the moment.

Let Grace deal with the rest.

Until the next time friends
Have a great day

Lizzie XOXO

Five on Friday – Petite Easter

Hey friends & how are we?

The Easter holidays are half way through & we are still in one piece in body, mind & soul, winning so far!!

Let’s get to it.

O N E – Pintetest is teeming with pastels/eggs/bunnies/food ideas for Easter with our littlies!

I love looking through the pins but rarely do I actually want to do the crafts. I get tempted when I see the beautiful outcome but have you ever, ever used child friendly PVA? It sucks man, it Does. Not. Stick!! It doesn’t!

This makes crafting with a preschooler very stressful for this mama as Sweet Harry doesn’t have the patience yet to wait until all goes to plan & I don’t think super glue would be appropriate for a 3.5 year old!!

So when I saw this on another blog I had to try it. It turned out great!

Lunch. Check! Easter. Check! Easy. Check check check check check check! Ding ding ding, Winner!!! & NO glue.

T W O – Petite Success

I haven’t QUITE made it to my goal weight at Weight Watchers yet but I’m celebrating fitting into petite clothes. See my post HERE!

T H R E E – Being open about Anxiety

I’m telling ya, the more open you can be about your anxieties the easier life is.

I have witnessed this in my own life. I don’t think you necessarily have to shout about it on social media as I do. But I have noticed that in one-to-one conversations it really helps & people really are super nice & quick to put me at ease & offer solutions if necessary. Try it!

F O U R – BIB Awards 2014

If you would have said to me last year I would put myself forward for a blogging award, well I wouldn’t have believed you.

But here we are! The huge surprise when I started blogging wasn’t the confidence it helped bring out of me (although that is totally awesome) but the huge, extremely friendly & helpful blogging community. I’ve never known anything like it on social media. It’s a beautiful thing!

If you’d like to nominate me you can do so until tomorrow! HERE.

F I V E – S-ombré Hair

I had my hair done, at the hairdressers! What a treat.

I took inspiration from Pinterest & decided on an ombré look. Well more like s-ombré really!

Immediately afterwards I had to take Sweet Harry to his swimming lesson, not such sweet planning!

I’m happy how it turned out! Ignore the grumpy SAHM tired look, check out the hair.

Do you have a blog & want to join the Five on Friday party? Just link up through one of these ladies & away you go.

Thanks as always to my lovely hosts!

April, Christina, Darci & Natasha.

Until the next time friends
Have a great day!

Lizzie XOXO

If you’d like to vote for me in any of these categories (or any of the others you feel my blog ‘fits’ into), I would be overjoyed! Many thanks to all who read & enjoy my little blog! I heart you all!!

LOVE LIZZIE XOXOXOXOXO

at the time of publishing the linky for Five on Friday was down, I will link up with the lovely ladies tomorrow xo

It’s the Little Things – Petite Success

Hey Friends,

Linking up once again on this lovely Wednesday (happy hump day!) with my hosts Jess & Ashley.

I am so close to my goal weight at Weight Watchers I can almost touch it, but then it slips slightly out of grasp again.  I just can’t quite get there.

I’d set myself a target to get to goal by my birthday, which has been & gone.

It’s hard sometimes not to get despondent when we don’t reach our goals, but I’m trying not to be too hard on myself.  It’s good to have goals, but sometimes they can change & shift.  The key is not to get bent out of shape about it, re-assess the goals & move on. New goal is to reach goal weight by the end of next term in time for Summer.

I’m still proud of my achievements & it’s good to congratulate yourselves on small goals you’ve achieved!

I now consider myself a petite!!! I’ve had to buy some new clothes as my old wardrobe is too big!  I’ve gone from a Size 14 to a Size 10.  Whereas before I was just short (I’m 4ft 11in), I am now petite & that is huge for me.  A girl who is short & wide is not going to fit into the petite range anywhere trust me!

So I’m celebrating the fact that although I’m still going up & down a bit, I’m fitting into Petite ranges at my favourite stores.

Topshop is my favourite, I just love the cutting edge style, but Next is good too! Both have really good home delivery service.

Check out my latest purchases!

1// Next Jumpsuit

2// Topshop Fringe Kimono

3// Topshop Leigh Jeans

4// Topshop Denim Dress

I can’t find the petite version on the denim dress on line, I got mine in the Bath store.

Here’s me in my new petite jumpsuit on a recent night out!

Love this new lease of life in the fashion department, see my post about my capsule wardrobe HERE.

I guess success can come in many different ways, be positive! Cheers!

With warm thanks to my hosts..

Until the next time
Have a great day!

Lizzie XOXO

Take a Moment

I’ve wanted for the longest time to have a name & structure for the posts which may seem like complete ramblings to some of you.

We all know where we are when I link up for ‘It’s the Little Things’ or ‘Five on Friday’ & these posts will continue. But when I want to write about something off the cuff, it can come across a bit like the blog has lost its way a little.

Let’s take it back to the bare bones.

The blog is here to encourage, to bring light, to inspire, to share our lives.

In order to do this I’m going to give my mind dumping a bit more of a schedule or format. Because that makes us feel warm & fuzzy inside & allows me to pass on the little gems that pass through my mind!

I’m hoping to put a linky up at some point in the future so all you lovely bloggers can link up your own gems to help or encourage others!!

Titled ‘Take a Moment’. It will be about anything that encourages in some way to pause, reflect, re-group & then move on with our day.

See you next week for that!

In the meantime call by tomorrow for ‘It’s the Little Things’.

See you then!

Lizzie XOXO