Lets get organised!

Since I became a mum of 3, 16 months ago, my life has become chaotic and unorganised. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't change my little family for all the neat filing systems and empty washing baskets in the world but I do always wish my life was a bit more organised. Purely for the fact that if everything was planned in advance and in order, then I would have more time to spend doing the things that my children and I love to do. Somehow though, every time I try to get order in my life I always end up back where I started. I have enlisted the help of some fellow bloggers to make myself ( and you!) a list of tips to keep on top!

• So, firstly, from Jen over at Just Average Jen "Write coffee at the top of your to do list and then it is easy to do at least one thing."
• Rebecca, over at The everyday mummy says "get things prepped the night before"
• Mummy Gummie Blog's Lisa says "write a list with only three things a day, that way it isn't daunting and you get the satisfaction from having a completed list"
• Birthdays and parties are always sorted last minute in my house. When I say last minute, I usually mean a mad dash to the supermarket half hour before the party starts! Hannah from The Amphletts buys cards in bulk, including a variety of aged and plain ones so that she never gets caught at last minute like I always do!
• When working or getting important stuff done, Louise over at A strong coffee to go says " don't have Facebook or twitter on! So easy to get distracted!"
• Lastly, Hollie from thrifty mum says "Before bed, visualise the next day and write a list, get out anything you can prepare in advance and then get a good nights sleep. You'll feel mentally and physically rested that way and therefore more able to take on the day."

With all of this in mind I have made packed lunches and laid out uniforms and bags and coats for tomorrow morning. Here's to an organised week!

Mrs Hx

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 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

2017 bucketlist

I don't think we will afford an abroad holiday this year. We already have a camping trip booked and maybe we will squeeze in another short caravan holiday somewhere, but apart from this it will be days out for us instead over this year. Places I would really like to visit are

• Richmond park to see the deer.
• Chessington World of Adventures, the older kids love it there!
• London Museums.
• Bournemouth Beach.
• West Wittering Beach.
• To take the kids to see another show of some sort as they loved Disney on Ice at the 02 arena.
• Longleat zoo.
• Hyde Park.
• Battersea Park.
• Box Hill Nature trail.

These are just a few I can think of. As you can tell I love to be outdoors with my children and we all love a nature trail! so much fun to be had and I cant wait for some warmer days.

Mrs H x

This was us last year at our local ecology centre on rold dahls BFG dreamjar hunt!