Living Arrows 6/52

This weeks Living Arrows sees Half Term. I am working a week behind. We had such a lovely chilled half term and I am sad that my bigeez are now back at school. We didn't get up to anything major, seeing as we had stayed at the Chessington Safari Hotel for the weekend last week. What we did have though was some real quality family time. I took the kids swimming and to the local parks. Tyler and Sophie also went to an adventure golf place with their Grandparents (my mum and dad) which they loved, and their other Grandparents took them bowling and for Mcdonalds! Lucky Kids.

"You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth" Kahlil Gibran

Dieting for a fussy eater!

I have been dieting now since the start of January, and so far I've lost a stone. (yay go me!) I go to a slimming world class on a Monday eve and mostly follow this plan. However, I am fussy. Not ridiculously fussy with meals but when it comes to snacking I'm not a lover of fruit so sometimes I'm not 100% on the SW plan. I have swapped a fair few things in my diet that have definitely helped me so far though. These being:

• Instead of having a chocolate or biscuits with my evening Tea I will have one of these NAKD bars. My favourites being cashew cookie, and the bakewell tart that is A-MAZING!
• In the late morning between breakfast and lunch I have swapped biscuits or sugary cereal bars for a banana with a cuppa. (try it! it surprisingly tides you over!)
• I have a massive sweet tooth and have found a new love for dried fruit and nuts. A small bag like this from sainsburys is much better than a chocolate bar or a few biscuits.

• I'm trying to not drink fizzy drinks but when I do I have Sugar Free versions.
• Swapped my 2 sugars in a cup of tea to sweetner tablets.
• Limiting bread to once a day.

All of these are just little changes but added together they are definitely making a difference. That alongside slimming world and I have lost a stone since start on January, which isn't bad going right?

I'm learning that everything can be enjoyed in moderation, and just because you may "fall off the diet wagon" with a cheat meal or treat, it doesn't mean you have to stay off. Enjoy the treat, and jump straight back on that wagon. Everything in moderation!

Mrs H x

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Winter Blues

I've said in a previous post how much I have come to hate the winter season. When I say season, I mean the grotesque weather and god awful lack of natural light. I don't mean Christmas cozy pjs and hot chocolates.
I think this winter I have suffered majorly from the "winter blues" and up until now I didn't even know that it was an actual thing.

The nhs website calls it SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder.
"SAD is sometimes known as "winter depression" because the symptoms are more apparent and tend to be more severe during the winter.
The symptoms often begin in the autumn as the days start getting shorter. They're typically most severe during December, January and February.
SAD often improves and disappears in the spring and summer, although it may return each autumn and winter in a repetitive pattern.
Symptoms of SAD can include:

• a persistent low mood
• a loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities
• irritability
• feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness
• feeling lethargic (lacking in energy) and sleepy during the day
• sleeping for longer than normal and finding it hard to get up in the morning
• craving carbohydrates and gaining weight "

I am completely done with dark mornings, dark evenings grey days, the freezing bitter cold and rain. God I hate the rain. I'm done with putting coats on, and hats, and scarves and tiny fingers in tiny gloves. I want sunshine and warmth, and t shirts and flip flops!
The doctor has diagnosed me as vitamin d deficient, and this explains a lot. My tiredness and body aches for example. Along with this I have been in a rut. Stuck in a place of wanting to do nothing. Housework has been getting on top of me and we haven't ventured out apart from the everyday necessary trips to school and dancing, kickboxing etc. Just in a real can't be bothered to do anything mood. But then we had a day or so of clearer, blue skies and it gave me a glimpse of spring. I managed to open some of my windows (all be it for only an hour) and go outside without wrapping the baby up like michellin man. It lifted my spirits so much an suddenly I realised how little I had actually been accomplishing in my days. What a waste of time!!

Spring is just around the corner and I have my mojo back! I've decluttered through my kids room and got nearly all my hoard of washing done so far this week. Thank god for that!!

Mrs Hx

Living Arrows

So I am slightly late on this weeks Living Arrows. I have been absolutely non stop for the last 2 weeks. So glad it is half term now and the kids are off school, and I have a week off of college, placement and afterschool duties!
This weekend I have had some family over from Dublin so there has been lots of quality time spent. I got to see aunties and uncles and grandparents and my kids got to see their cousin and have a nice Sunday meal out together.

Jaxon and I also headed to soft play again where he learned how to do the stairs and slide by himself!! Clever boy! That makes things a bit easier on me, now that I havent got to climb up after him for fear of him stepping out in to the open space like a stunt baby!!

“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth” Kahlil Gibran

Chessington Safari Hotel Feb 2017

Living Arrows 5/52

This weeks Living Arrows, sees the end of January. Thank god, hasn't it been dark and cold!? I honestly have never longed for springtime as much as I am right now. I want to be able to just throw a cardi on and walk out the door, and not worry about hats and scarves etc. I'm fed up of winter bugs and coughs and sneezes, and I'm fed up of uber dark mornings where it still feels like night time!

Anyway enough of my moaning. This week Jaxon had his hair cut as it was getting a bit wild. He hates having it done as he doesn't like to sit still and he doesn't like anyone touching his ears or neck. I was armed with dummies, chocolate buttons, the lot. He's still ended up with a wonky chop, but he is still gorgeous. Glad I decided from an early age not to short back and sides him with the clippers until he gets a bit older as it just wouldn't be doable!

There isn't too much we can do in this cold and dreary weather (I'm moaning again, but can you feel how much I am so done with winter right now?) but we did manage a short trip to the local park, before we all froze and marched home for a hot chocolate!!

“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth” Kahlil Gibran