According to that well-known song – ‘it’s the most wonderful time of the year’ and whilst the kids seem to agree with that concept, I’m not so sure… I’m still trying to come to terms with our recent loss whilst wading through piles of my late Father’s paperwork, it’s not what I’d class as a wonderful time but I’m hoping that with a decent amount of cheese, a few mince pies and a bottle or two of something sparkly I might just slip into the ‘seasonal spirit’, we’ll see… Despite it being a difficult time, it’s hard not to get a little excited when you’ve got two little ones who can’t wait for Christmas.…
As you start getting more confident with calligraphy, you might want to find some craft projects that are perfect for your new skills. Practising calligraphy is fun on its own, but you also want to put your skills to use and make some things that have a purpose. There are a lot of ways you can apply your calligraphy ability to different types of crafts if you’re looking for some projects. Whether you want to make things for yourself, gifts for friends and family, or even things to sell, beautiful calligraphy only improves your projects. You can even try out different media to experiment with various canvases and different inks and paints.…
God knows why I’ve asked my children to write their letters to Santa so late in the day, thankfully though almost everything that they have jotted down on their lists matches what’s hidden in my attic – can you imagine if it hadn’t? I think I would have suffered a mental breakdown… Our Little Lady Writing Her Letter To Santa Whether J still ‘believes’ or not is debatable, though I’m steering clear of asking any questions or probing his curiosity as his little sister E most definitely believes and I’d like it to stay that way. J Writing His Wishlist With just ten days to go until Christmas, the kids are desperate for school to come to a close so that they can enjoy their holidays and I must admit, I’m quite keen to enjoy a little ‘down time’ as a family following what has been a physically and emotionally challenging year.…
Though I’d never buy a television guide any other week of the year, I have and will always buy a Christmas television guide, most usually The Radio Times – it is a festive must-have! Both the kids and us adults use sharpie pens to draw rings around the programs that we wish to record and to watch throughout the Christmas period, though remembering to actually set the programs to record is another matter… This week marks the final installment of #TheOrdinaryMoments series as Donna (from What The Redhead Said) has sadly decided to bring this series to a close. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Donna for hosting this wonderful series which I have greatly enjoyed being part of throughout the years.…
Welcome to this week’s #MySundaySnapshot post, which is part of a snap-sharing-blog-linky series that you are very welcome to join. Click here for further information and guidelines upon this linky should you wish to take part. Today marks the first time in over a year that Paul and I have been ‘child-free’ for the evening, it felt really weird driving the kids to my Mum’s house knowing that Dad wouldn’t be there… Having enjoyed a coffee and a natter with my Mum, I then left the kids for the night and took a little stroll through the square (where I took this festive photo) towards the churchyard to pay Dad a visit.…
When it comes to getting married, everyone has some kind of opinion on what’s right and what’s wrong. This is something that applies right from the very start. Even before dresses and bouquets and venues, a lot of people will tell you that there is only “one right way” to propose or be proposed to. The problem is that no one can agree on what that one right way actually is. The truth is that the perfect proposal is one that makes both you and your partner happy. So, even if it’s not all that traditional, here are some ways to make sure that your proposal is perfect.…
It never rains but it pours as following my Fathers funeral, poor J came down with a terrible ear infection which required a weekend trip to A & E and two days off school to rest, recuperate, and to recover. Though his ears are still quite red and sore to touch, he seems far more spritely and so we’ve got our bags packed and at the ready to return to school in the morning. Whilst J and I have slept, snoozed and sofa surfed, E is full of beans and raring for Christmas to come, bless her. She’s been busy baking brownies in the kitchen with her Dad this week, although I’d usually consume our little ladies cooking fairly quickly, I’ve barely any appetite at present and so we’ve got tins full of goodies to get through!…
Although it seems that many people have decided to deck the halls a little early this year, ’tis tradition’ in this household that one must decorate for Christmas on the first Saturday of December and we’ve stuck to that. With a brand new 7ft 6 Christmas tree at our disposal, you can imagine that the decorating duties took a little longer this year, though the kids were more than happy to take their time carefully placing baubles upon the tree whilst keeping a close eye upon the symmetry and structure of their handy work. It felt a little strange sitting back and letting the kids crack on with Christmas decor, I didn’t need to lift a finger as between Paul, J, and E the job got done and I have to say – it looks great!…
Welcome to this week’s #MySundaySnapshot post, which is part of a snap-sharing-blog-linky series that you are very welcome to join. Click here for further information and guidelines upon this linky should you wish to take part. Following what has been an incredibly difficult and draining week, Paul and I decided to blow the budget and to splash out on some serious sparkle in order to bring a little festive spirit into our lives. So without further ado, allow me to introduce you to ‘John Deer’ our rocking new reindeer, which along with our brand new 7ft 6 Christmas tree has totally transformed our house.…
Though it’s been a very sad and rather strange couple of weeks for us all, the kids have shocked and stunned both Paul and I with their incredible strength and resilience. J may only be eleven years old but by Jove, he has such a wise head on his shoulders! He reminds me so much of my Dad as he just seems to know exactly what to say at the right time, meanwhile, E, bless her, is all sweetness and sunshine and can light up the room during the darkest of times. They are a pure pleasure and I’m not really sure where I’d be without them!…
November 2020 was just the worst month I’ve ever known, losing my Dad is one of the hardest things I’ve ever dealt with but it’s also taught me a very important lesson – life is incredibly short, shorter than you may believe, thus embrace each and every day, enjoy every moment and hold onto every drop of happiness that falls your way. With that in mind – I will endeavor to hold onto the happier memories and to celebrate the memorable moments, thus here are a few of the things which I have somehow or other #LikedandLoved throughout November 2020. Bonfire Night Despite living through a lockdown, we made the best of bonfire night at home with a few fireworks and plentiful sparklers – though it wasn’t the large display that the kids have become accustomed to over the years, it was still special and made the night memorable.…
The past fortnight has been a whirlwind of emotion alongside none-stop organising for Dad’s big day. I hear that it’s best to stay busy after a loss but in all honesty, there is no other way as there’s just so much to sift through and to sort that there’s very little chance that you’re going to have a moment to yourself for quite some time. In order to keep things as ‘upbeat’ and as ‘normal’ as possible at present for the kids, we’ve joined together as a bubble with my Mum and we’ve been getting together throughout the week, spending time enjoying meals and playing board games as a family.…
Winter is upon us and many of our minds have turned to the festive season and the new year ahead. It’s not all too surprising that many of us begin to neglect our gardens at this time of year. Not only are we distracted by other things, but many of us are reluctant to spend time outdoors when it’s cold, wet and potentially frosty. But it really is important that you keep on top of this space if you want to be able to have a beautiful and usable garden when the spring comes back around. Here are a few tips that can help you to maintain a stunning outdoor space!…
Welcome to this week’s #MySundaySnapshot post, which is part of a snap-sharing-blog-linky series that you are very welcome to join. Click here for further information and guidelines upon this linky should you wish to take part. It’s been over a week since my darling Dad passed away yet still, it doesn’t feel real. This afternoon my Mum and I went to the funeral directors to visit him one last time, it was incredibly sad and very surreal whilst also rather comforting. My Dad was a man of the World, his life may well have been cut short by cancer but what a life he had!…
It feels so very wrong writing a positive post at present, though I know that life must go on and that I must look to those moments, times, and things that bring joy and light to my life. Though he’s no longer here, I know deep down that my Dad would want me to be happy, he’d want me to make the best of and to enjoy my life and so I will write this post for him. Read Though it covered a rather sore subject, I finally completed reading Cecelia Ahern’s ‘Postscript’ this month. It was an emotional but enjoyable read which I would much recommend should you have already read PS I Love You. …
Having recently read with and reviewed ‘The Empathic Oracle‘, I was very keen to get my hands on further work by Michelle Mortuzas. Printed by Red Feather/ Schiffer, The Shamanic Healing Oracle Card deck is a symbolic tool for intuition derived from the concept of Shamanism. Shamanism Shamanism has many interpretations throughout varying cultures. In the past and even the present, people would seek assistance from local Shamans if they sick or troubled, and as a result, these figures were often labelled as ‘witch doctors’ or misguided individuals who relied upon superstitious folklore lacking scientific proof. These days, shamanism is seen as a tool to tap into energies which may assist with the struggles of daily life.…
The winter is here now, and it’s also a good time to go for nature walks and road trips; however, the dry air can be extremely damaging to your skin. It can dry it out and make it crack and look unhealthy as Christmas approaches. Avoid this by using the tips below. They include how to keep your skin hydrated and what products to use to prevent your skin from becoming cracked and sore. Everybody wants to look their best at Christmas time; read on to find out how. Use Lukewarm Water It can be tempting to take a piping hot shower in the morning before going outside or after coming in from the cold in winter.…
As a parent, I make it my mission to protect my kids from harm’s way, and as much as I try to shield them from hurt and from sorrow, sadly there are some things in life which I simply cannot alter nor protect any of us from. Though the kids have experienced the loss of a beloved pet a few years back, I was hoping and expected that losing a loved one would be an issue we would avoid until they are far older. Sadly that is not the case as last week my beloved Father lost his battle to brain cancer and as a result, J and E have lost their Grandad and though they are putting on very brave faces, I know just how much they’ll miss him.…
Whilst I’m a keen tarot reader, I also like to delve into alternative methods of divination such as oracle cards – I often find that oracle cards often add an extra layer of information and clarification to a traditional tarot reading which can prove useful. The Empathic Oracle I’ve recently been reading with The Empathic Oracle, a fifty-six card oracle deck designed and created by Steve Wilson and Michelle Motuzas. Steve Wilson is an ordained Spiritualist Minister Shamanic healer, psychic teacher, and paranormal investigator, whereas Michelle Motuzas is a psychic medium, Shamanic practitioner, and intuitive artist and their combined work has resulted in a very simple but delightful deck.…
This has been the hardest week in my life so far as I very sadly had to say goodbye to my darling Dad. After braving a ten-month fight with cancer Dad sadly lost his life last Thursday. Dad spent his final few weeks with us at home in a peaceful setting, surrounded by his family and we held his hand till the very end. Whilst I’m completely and utterly heartbroken, I’m also rather relieved that his suffering has now ceased. There are simply no words to describe how I feel at present, I can only hope that time may heal my hurt.…
