Welcome to my Lifestyle Parenting Blog, where I explore topics related to chronic illnesses such as ME/CFS, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia while embracing a passion for yoga, books, and blogging.
Please don't blame yourself
"why doesn't she want to see me anymore"
"why doesn't she like me anymore"
"I think I annoy her"
"why doesn't she love me"
these are some of the questions Summer asks again and again.
The first few months, when her mum decided to blank us completely - 12-months ago,
2017 - The Worst Year of my Life
2017 was not only the hardest year of my life, it was the worst.
At the start of the year, we lost my brother-in-laws dad, he had passed suddenly. My husband and his brother-in-law are very close, they are best friends. We are a family, including the outer family that are very close. It was devastating.
2017 was already looking to be a rubbish year, and then...
My dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer, given just months to live.
My Son Turned 18
This month see the celebration of my sons 18th Birthday.
Eighteeeeeeeeenn......
how did that happen?!
It seems like yesterday I was bringing my first baby home from the hospital, bursting full of an array of new emotions, mostly a mix of fear and pure love. I think I spent many
Rosemary and Garlic Shoulder of Lamb #HealthyRedMeat
As a parent, I want to make sure that my children are eating a balanced diet, because, eating well is so very important; they need to grow, develop and explore and eating well will help them flourish. No single food contains all the essential nutrients needed, and that’s why we need to make sure our kids are consuming foods from each of the main food groups.
It's easier said than done if you have a fussy eater and providing a balanced diet for your little one can be quite an uphill challenge. But, as long as they eat well most of the time, they will be getting plenty of nutrients and they will also slowly learn healthy eating habits.
Ben 10 Twitter Party
Last month was a really hard month. My dad passed away after battling cancer for 7 months and all our lives changed forever. The kids don't have their grandad anymore and they're finding it very hard. I've desperately tried to keep things as normal as possible and to keep them occupied, especially as it was the school holidays too. One thing I had forgotten was we were invited to host the Ben 10 Twitter party, so when the big box of Ben 10 toys turned up, I took the opportunity to give the kids something to look forward to. We invited close family and friends around. It was a nice afternoon, the kids enjoyed it, and I tweeted and chatted away.
Choosing The Right Bedding for the Bedroom
Over the past 2-months, and whilst hubby has been laying the dining room floor and painting downstairs, I've been slowly, bit by bit redecorating our bedroom. First I bought new bedroom furniture, next I painted the much-needed bedroom walls and then ordered myself a new mattress (which is my best buy ever! expensive, but oh so comfy which makes it so hard to get out of bed in the mornings). My next step is to purchase myself new bedding for my lovely new bed. I've had my current bedding for a couple of years now and its dark grey and red - it looks as dull and horrible as it sounds. Thus, I want bedding that is new, fresh, and pretty
My Dad's Cancer Diagnoses
At the start of the year our-lives were thrown upside down. My Dad, my happy, healthy, big hearted, beautiful and much loved dad was diagnosed with stage 4 small bowel cancer. Months, not years, months.
Reed Diffusers
As much as I love my candles, I'll only burn them when the kids are not home, which is not very often. This is why I love Reed Diffusers. They are not only effortless in their quest to spread a beautiful aroma, they are also are elegant, and they enhance the room. I have quite a few in my home.
Reed diffusers will give you a scent that’s longer-lasting than a candle and, with no flames to worry about, especially if you have children and pets in the home, they are more practical. They also look much better.
8 Ways to totally Re-Invent your Bathroom
Whether it’s an issue with lighting, problems with the hot water, or a drippy tap driving everyone crazy, something always needs fixing in the bathroom. Sometimes, when it comes to decorating or transforming your home, the bathroom can often slip down to the bottom of the priority list, which is funny, because when it comes to home necessities, it is probably the one room that we all need the most (without going into too much detail). For a space that we spend a lot of time in, it can be a bit depressing if it’s dated, dull or shabby. There might even be some of you that have had a spur of motivation, begun a complete bathroom overhaul and then life got in the way. Your bathroom may now be half tiled, have bare floorboards and no storage and some of you might be all too familiar with a cold shower. If this is you, it is definitely time you did something about the situation.
Our walk - Herringfleet
We've not been to Herringfleet in a few months - it's one of the kids favourite walks to go (because of all the tree swings in the wooded area). The main reason we've avoided it is, when we last visited in January the village owner put a note up warning they were placing cattle in the field. Which means we won't be able to allow our dogs to run free. And so we avoided it. Hubby drives past it everyday to go to work and he mentioned that the cattle were gone, and so, off we went. And, we had a great day!
Our Walk - Walberswick
Walberswick is a small and idyllically secluded village on the coast. It's beautiful. It has the beach, sand dunes, marshes, history and so much more. I've not been to Walberswick beach for many years, my kids have never been and we were excited to go - it's a popular place to visit, especially as it's perfect for crabbing, taking walks and spotting wildlife.
Jacob's Dream Pet with PetPlan
Jacob was given the opportunity to design his very own dream pet. Jacob's favourite animal are Pandas.
He knew what he wanted to draw for his dream pet instantly and got to it. He drew what he called his 'perfect Pet Panda'.
My Top Tips To Help My Kids Feel Better When They Are Unwell #VicksTricks
Last week, leading up to half-term the kids were ill, one after the other. It wasn't very nice, I hate seeing them poorly - the kids feel like rubbish and I'm stressed out about them feeling like rubbish. I just want to make it better.
Our Walk In Photos
Our family walk.
We were back to Fritton Woods this week - it's our new faouvite place for walks. But, this week we stuck to the paths.
This time mother in law came along, she does a few times but hadn't since Christmas, and we love it when she comes, the kids especially love it and she loves it too. She has her wellies especially, and a ramblers walkers stick which helps her. Even better I managed to get Lewis to come with us - being a teen it's harder and harder to get him to come out with us.
Dear Darling.. I Let You Down
My darling little girl, I am truly sorry. I let you down.
When you came to live with us at just 5-months old I promised I would protect you. You had ended up in foster care at just 3 weeks old, and from day one we fought to get you out of care and at home with us. When you finally came to live with us, I made a promise, a promise that I would protect you.
4 years on, and I have let you down, and to see how your little heart is hurting, it breaks my heart too.
Your birth parents came in and out of your life,
Roasted Vegatable Couscous #NowCookIt
Now Cook It is a new website that's just launched and includes a range of recipes to help get people cooking. As part of #NowCookIt campaign, I was sent a mystery box of items and a recipe for me to make. In the box included all the items need to make a Roasted Veg Couscous - which is one of my favourite things to eat!
We've Been Out and About Again - Our Walk
We'd only gone and left Jacob's wellies in the garden since the weekend before, hence, they were soaked when he went to put them on - (we had a half an hour of trying to find them before we checked in the garden!) So we had to make a detour to the shoe shop to purchase him new ones before our walk.
He had his "I don't want new ones, I want my ones" grumpy head on, so it took a little longer in the shoe shop and convincing him to pick new ones then we had wanted, but then kids are great at being a pain in the butt.
Our Walk
Every weekend, we take the kids and the dogs out for a walk, no matter the weather, come rain or come shine, we love to venture out. I love to take my camera and capture as many moments as I can. That same evening I will sit down and upload all the photos I took and go through each one. With this post, I'm sharing my favourite photos from our walk last weekend.
National Handwriting Day
I am a very sentimental person and I love to keep my memories, especially the memories I have of my children.
I keep all the kid's drawings, birthday cards, school work and anything to keep as a cherished keepsake; a collection built up over the years as they grow. Not only do I keep items that they themselves loved and cherished, but also items that remind me of them. Something I store safely away in the loft, memories being stored.