A month of Sundays - December

A snapshot of 2010

Erica at Littlemummy did a great post this week of her 2010 in pictures. It was a great post and I loved that because I have followed her all year I knew what a lot of the pictures were all about. I thought that I would do the same but I have decided to pick a photo a month that I used on this blog.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

I really enjoyed doing that. A great way to look back at the year. So much has changed and so much more is due to change in 2011.

Happy New Year everyone. See you in 2011.

Silent Sunday #6

Silent Sunday #5

Thoughtful gifts

I have been grumbling about something for the past few weeks and I just haven't managed to get it out of my head and onto the page. This time of year is not conducive to blogging at all, other than the millions of posts that seem to be filling my google reader with however many days of Christmas from Next. I am afraid that I have simply skipped past most of them.

One thing that I have liked to see are the various posts with suggestions for unusual and interesting Christmas presents. I was quite organised this year so some came too late for me, such as the great stocking filler suggestions from Bambino Goodies but I have made a note for next year. Littlestuff's blog have done a great Bestest Christmas Gift Ideas series of posts and there were many things that I coveted, like this wonderful hot water bottle and although I am a grown up I want a Maileg Mouse it it's little matchbox so much. I love these gift guides as they direct me to internet shops that I have never heard of and there is always so much choice of interesting gifts for everyone in your life.

I don't know about you but there is one thing in the run up to Christmas that I hate so much. The dreaded call from friends and family asking what we would like for Christmas. It was bad enough when it was just Mr C and I but now with Piran as well it makes me want to scream. I get joy at Christmas by spending time thinking of the people in our lives and what they like and then finding something that I hope will make them smile when they open their present on Christmas Day.

Whatever happened to gift giving? In my life it seems to have become a sort of barter agreement. You get me this, Mum can get me that. I know that it is very likely that on Christmas Day there will not be a single surprise for me at all. Please don't misunderstand me, I am grateful for the gifts that I receive and I do need towels and the other things that I have asked for. But would it have been that hard to spend some time thinking about what I might like. Something that isn't necessarily needed or useful. Something beautiful that will make me smile, something special that every time I use I will think of you.

This year I picked most of the presents I am giving without any help from anyone. I thought about each person and I have bought something that I hope they will like. I have remembered meals where someone remarked how much they liked something I bought so I have tracked it down for them. I have crocheted my sister a scarf as she had admired the colours of the blanket I am making. I have bought her a metre of Jaffa cakes because she likes them. I remembered that when I went to visit my SIL she only had a pint glass to put flowers in so I have bought her a vase. My brother is getting a book I read that I think he will like. None of this was expensive, none of this took huge amounts of time. I would have liked to have made more presents this year but pregnancy and toddler taming made me realise that something had to give and that was it!

As I shopped online and wandered around town I have seen so many things that I could have given, or that someone could have given me. Perhaps next year I will just refuse to say what I want and see what happens. I hope that everyone likes the presents that I have chosen for them. Perhaps they won't and I can laugh at their acting skills as they open them on Christmas Day. Either way I know that I am proud of the gifts that I have chosen.

Now I just need to wrap them all.

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For some other great Christmas related posts please check out the other Christmas carnival entries:

Cass at The Diary of a Frugal Family shows us how she makes snowglobes.

Nova at Cherished By Me posts her family's Christmas traditions.

Jenny at Gingerbread House writes about her new family's Christmas traditions.

Jax at Making it Up writes about the Season of goodwill.

Maria at Fab Mums posts a Christmas poem.

Chris at Thinly Spread writes about her family's Christmas traditions.

Jessica at Jessica Milln's Blog writes about Round Robin letters at Christmas.

Ella at Notes From Home posts her family's Christmas traditions.

Review: A Year In Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem

Initial thoughts: When I opened the parcel containing this book it was like traveling back in time to my childhood. I don't remember the stories I used to read by the illustrations are still as enchanting, detailed and interesting as they ever were. We dived straight in that night with the first story.

We liked: The stories are charming and the characters interesting but for me the illustrations make the books. As Piran gets older there is so much to look at and discuss that I think these books will be a favourite for a long time.

We didn't like: Very little! The only thing I found was that the first story in the set, Spring story seemed a little disjointed but it was introducing all of the different characters and I didn't get the same feeling of any of the other three stories.


Overall: A great set of books that will give us lots of use I am sure. The stories are magical, the snow ball is beautiful and the descriptions of Summer weddings made me long for warm Summer nights! It comes in a box set which would make it an ideal gift for someone. The RRP is £12.99 but I have seen it on Amazon with a good discount.

Further information:
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Brambly Hedge with this exquisite slipcase in a delightful new livery containing the first four classic picture books - perfect for the nostalgia market.

The mice of Brambly Hedge have many adventures but they always have time for fun too. All through the year, they mark the seasons with feasts and festivities and, of course, the mice never miss an opportunity to meet and celebrate.

This beautifully designed slipcase contains four classic stories following their adventures throughout the year.

In Winter Story a heavy snowfall means the mice can hold a Snow Ball for the first time in years. In Autumn Story Primrose makes friends with the harvest mice before losing her way in the chestnut woods. Wilfred gets a birthday surprise in Spring Story, when all the mice club together to organise a fantastic picnic for him; and in Summer Story, Poppy Eyebright and Dusty Dogwood get engaged and a wonderful wedding is planned by all the mice of Brambly Hedge.

Disclosure: We were provided with a set of these books for the purpose of this review.

Homebase Vouchers Winner!

I have used my trusty random number generator and the winner of the Homebase Vouchers is:

@kemcaflipflops





I will be in touch shortly. Congratulations!

Silent Sunday #4

#reverb10: Day 9

My eighth post for reverb10. 


Party. 
What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans.

Simple. CyberMummy and our very own 'after-party'.

I am far too tired this evening for new words so I give you old words and dodgy pictures!

#reverb 10: Day 8

My eighth post for reverb10. 


Beautifully Different. 
Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful. 

This prompt is making my brain hurt.
I just don't know what to say.
I don't think that I am different.
I don't think that I ever wanted to be different.
I think I have probably spent my life trying to make sure I am not different.
I have spent my life trying to blend in.
Because that isn't as scary as standing out, being an individual.
I don't want people to notice me.
I like to be quiet and alone.
There is less chance of making a fool of myself that way.
Of being stupid, offending someone, making myself feel small and frightened.

But, thinking about it I am different today than I was a year ago, two years ago, five years ago.
I am less selfish.
I am more understanding.
I am more patient.
I think of others before myself.
I have better empathy.
I have developed a conscience.
I have learned what it means to compromise.
I am braver.
I am stronger.
I believe in myself more.
I think I am worthy.

So perhaps what makes me beautiful is not what makes me different from other people, but the differences between the person I was then and the person I am now. I know I am a nicer person. I know I am a better person. That spirit is what makes me beautiful, at least to myself.

I found this prompt really hard to write about so I just started and let it come. It has turned out quite different from what I expected but I think I like it.

The Gallery: White

I was going to try and think of something different and clever for this week but I am tired, I had a long day in London and actually I want to blog these pictures as I have never seen this much snow where I live! So here is a picture of me in the snow last week.

#reverb10: Day 7

My seventh post for reverb10. 

Community.
Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?

Oh this has to be Twitter. I have always felt a sense of community with blogging but it is just so much more with Twitter. It is so quick and simple and easy to connect with people. There is always a friend with kind words of support when you need it. People reach out to me and it takes away the loneliness of long sleepless nights and days with a baby. I couldn't have coped with night feeds without Twitter. I would not be as confident a mum without it either. There is always someone there to help or advise or to share their thoughts and experiences. There is always someone there to laugh at something I have found funny that day. You are all there when I want to show off my little boy. I was overwhelmed by the response I got when I told everyone that I was pregnant again.

And the best part is all of that connecting in 140 characters or less has developed into real, true friendships. I can follow one of my friends as she travels round the world with her family. Others I will get to hug tomorrow as we meet up for lunch. Our babies play together, grow together and we share the highs and lows of life together. I cosider myself to have many more friends than I ever did before Twitter.

I know a lot of people don't 'get' it and that is fine. I get it and I love it.

(I am @Kellyfairy on Twitter and have a policy of following back anyone who connects with me so come and follow and chat. I would love to meet you. If I know you and follow you already, well you guys are the best).

CyberMummy 2011 here I come!

I have mentioned before that I am a Huggies Mummy and this week they sent me an email that made me squeal with delight while I was at work. Not a lot ever makes me do that!

It was the wonderful news that they will be sponsoring me to attend CyberMummy in June next year. They were very generous and paid for me to go last year and I had such an amazing experience so I am thrilled that I get to go again and see how it has changed and grown.

And this year the chances are I will have my own little bundle of joy in newborn Huggies nappies to accompany me. It will be the perfect opportunity to introduce the lovely people we work with at Huggies and Biss Lancaster to the newest Huggies Baby.

I realise how lucky I am that I have a sponsor and I hope to see all my blogging buddies there again next year. If you are worried about being able to afford a ticket perhaps you would like to check out the 100 Club that Sian @ Mummytips is trying to set up to get seven people a ticket.

#reverb10: Day 6

My sixth post for reverb10. 

Make.
What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it?

The last thing that I made were my gingerbread biscuits. I love baking and these are one of my favourite things to make. I am going to make a big batch to take to work instead of Christmas cards. It is a really easy recipe made with store cupboard ingredients and is great any time of the year, not just for Christmas!

My next project will be Christmas cards. I have a plan, using cut outs of Piran's hands (I cannot face the mess that paint creates!) to make angels. I have to find the time though. Maybe tomorrow, although I always think that. I had better get a move on soon though or Christmas will be here already.

#reverb10: Day 5

My fifth post for reverb10. 

Let Go.
What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why?

I've been thinking about this all day and I keep coming back to the same thing. This year I realised that to survive as a mum I needed to learn to let go of my absolute need to control everything in my life. Part of my coping strategy to deal with my anxiety and panic attacks has been that I needed to always know where I was going, when, how, what I would be doing. It meant that I would have time to make contingency plans for if something went wrong. For years I have arrived early for every single appointment, function, day out.

With a baby the best laid plans go awry, sometimes before you even get up in the morning. A bad night can have implications for days. I have had to learn to revise plans, think on my feet and it turns out it's not the end of the world. That was a shocking thing for me to realise.

Piran has always liked a schedule, but not a strict one. We would potter along for a few weeks until something started to feel a bit wrong and I would realise that we needed to adjust things in some way. I would take a deep breath, find a free day and then just trust my instincts and spend the day at home with him and just let him show me what he needed. Looking back that was one of the best decisions I made as a mum and it has done me the world of good. We did it a few times in total and it always made everyone happier. It made me realise that not only could I do this but perhaps I was good at looking after this person too.

Some habits die hard though. I still leave very early for things, but usually there is a nappy situation or something that pops up and delays me slightly so more often than not I turn up on time!

Silent Sunday #3

#reverb10: Day 4

My fourth post for reverb10.

Wonder. 
How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year?

Simple. Just by spending time with Piran, watching him go from a baby to a toddler. Seeing him watch and learn and discover new things, new experiences. I had no idea small children were like this. He amazes me every day. Just watching him reminds me of the wonder in this world.

Competition: Homebase Vouchers

Even though I get grumpy when Christmas things start appearing in the shops in October for Christmas there is a point, around this time of year when it switches from annoyance to wonder and I get to spend hours browsing in shops looking at all of the sparkly things. I love sparkly things, and shiny things and twinkly lights. Turns out Piran is a huge fan of twinkly lights, which makes me very happy!

Anyway, today I have a great competition for you to win £50 of Homebase vouchers. They can be spent on anything in store (hopefully you have more restraint than me, as I would spend the lot on Christmas decorations!). So if you have a room in need of a face lift perhaps you would like to spend them on some paint. But really the world is your oyster as the official Homebase website has thousands of products available to buy online. Choose from kitchens, bathrooms, decorating, furniture, homewares, lighting, flooring, tiling, heating, cooling, building and decorating materials, hardware, tools, gardening, outdoor living and home electrical.

 There are two ways to enter:
1. Leave a comment on this post telling me what you think you would spend the vouchers on if you won (please ensure that there is a way of contacting you - Twitter ID or email address where possible).
2. Tweet: I'm entering @Kellyfairy's competition at A place of my own http://bit.ly/6S5eU to win £50 of Homebase Vouchers.

Small print: The competition is open for one week until midnight Saturday 11th December 2010. It is open to UK residents only. The winner will be picked by my glamorous random number generator. The winner will need to provide me with their name and address which I will pass to the PR company for the purpose of sending the vouchers.

Disclaimer: I have been provided with reimbursement for running this competition.

#reverb 10: Day 3

My third post for reverb10.


December 3 – Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors). 

Our Simply Magical Afternoon

Autumn, warm, bright, fresh, soft breeze, clear blue skies. 

Two people spending quality time together.

Our first time engaging with nature together.

An exciting adventure.

Collecting conkers, helicopters, feathers and leaves.

Filling our pockets and tricycle buckets.

Wind in our hair, sun on our faces.

Playing on swings and looking at strange, wonderful fungi.

Apples on trees and free sweets in boxes.

 The sound of Sunday silence mixed up with the birdsong.

Feeling alive, excited and happy.

Sharing our laughter and joy and each moment.

#reverb10: Day 2

My second post for reverb10.

Writing.
What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it?

These days I am not really writing but I am blogging and trying to blog more often and continue to make my blog something that I am proud of and also something interesting for people to read. So I am looking at this question from a blogging point of view. What do I do each day that doesn't contribute to my blogging? And when you ignore the mechanics of day to day life, the stuff that I have to do, the only thing I can think of is watching too much rubbish TV. I am quite the TV addict and will happily watch repeats of shows that I have seen before.

So perhaps that is the key. I say I don't have time for blogging some times but maybe if I pick up the laptop instead every time I start to watch something that I have seen before perhaps that will be the time that I need.

#reverb10: Day 1

My first post for reverb10.

One Word.
Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?

ACHIEVEMENT

What a year this has been. Thinking about it there is so much that I should be proud of. I have learned to be a mum (well started to learn) and you know what? I think I am actually quite good at it. I found it hard to write that, I am not very good at blowing my own trumpet so to speak but I am a good mum and no one will hate me for recognising it.  I think I have learned to be a better wife, how to get along when tempers are frayed and sleep is lacking. I understand much better what a compromise actually is. I have developed my creative side, with writing and blogging and sewing. I have created things that make me happy and have made others happy. I have taught myself new skills. I have gone back to work, and apart from the odd wobble I have worked really hard to get a good work / life balance. I have done well since I have returned to work. On a personal level standing up and reading a blog post as part of the crowdsourced keynote at Cybermummy was one of the most amazing things I have ever done. And finally we have managed to make another baby which is the greatest achievement of all.

And onwards into 2011............I will pick SURVIVAL.

Managing the second part of a pregnancy, my second labour, the arrival of a new baby turning our life upside down, trying to find a little time for me, learning how to function as a family of four, dealing with whatever the terrible twos send our way. It will be an adventure I am sure.

The Gallery: Celebration

This picture is from my wedding in September 2008. I always knew that I would like to get married one day but I didn't know how important it was to me until I met Mr C and realised that this was the real thing. I was so excited that day, I couldn't sit still all morning. I just wanted to stand there with all of the people in our life and celebrate this wonderful man and the love that we had for each other. It was such a wonderful celebration too, I still get all emotional just thinking of it!

I love being married, I love being a wife and I love my husband more and more every day.