tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71091727030440260532024-03-12T22:03:51.190-07:00The RealestUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-7329268767734274872015-02-19T05:57:00.002-08:002015-02-19T06:18:55.292-08:00Mumsy.It takes a lot to get me raging these days unless you're my husband and you are incapable of doing the fucking washing up, that leaves me ready to lose my shit big time. But yesterday I read something about being 'mumsy' that had me scoffing in disbelief. Apparently, if we read household product reviews that makes us 'mumsy', <i>whatever that means.</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Or ten when you read crap that sets you off...</span></div>
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As a mum, I thought being mumsy meant <i>being a mum</i>. Looking after your children, limiting the amount of time your head is up your own fucking backside. My underwear being 'extremely comfortable' doesn't make me mumsy. Who even wears uncomfortable underwear these days unless you're a stripper or a massive dickhead. Comfortable <i>can </i>equal sexy too. Having conversations about steam mops isn't mumsy either. So some of us take pride in a clean house, SO WHAT?<br />
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Mumsy is also not the same as being a bore. We take pride in our children, we like to talk about them. What's the point in having kids if we aren't allowed to talk about them? If you'd rather talk about the new hipster joint that's just opened down the road then fine, but that doesn't make you cool. Just like us talking about household appliances doesn't mean we are bores.<br />
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Since when was it ok to slag other mums off for things that take interest in? Knitting, crocheting... I've heard people get called grannyish for doing it. It's a fucking skill and one I wish I had! Some may not think it's cool but it's not mumsy. Popping to your local deli in Hackney isn't mumsy. It's also not cool, IT'S A THING THAT YOU DO. <br />
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I googled the word 'mumsy'....<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">Giving an </span><a class="w translation" href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/impression" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.4s ease, background-color 0.4s ease; background-color: white; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25.6000003814697px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.4s ease, background-color 0.4s ease;" title="Meaning of impression">impression</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;"> of </span><a class="w translation" href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/dull" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.4s ease, background-color 0.4s ease; background-color: white; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25.6000003814697px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.4s ease, background-color 0.4s ease;" title="Meaning of dull">dull</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;"> </span><a class="w translation" href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/domesticity" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.4s ease, background-color 0.4s ease; background-color: white; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25.6000003814697px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.4s ease, background-color 0.4s ease;" title="Meaning of domesticity">domesticity</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">; </span><a class="w translation" href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/dowdy" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.4s ease, background-color 0.4s ease; background-color: white; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25.6000003814697px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.4s ease, background-color 0.4s ease;" title="Meaning of dowdy">dowdy</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;"> or </span><a class="w translation" href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/unfashionable" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.4s ease, background-color 0.4s ease; background-color: white; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25.6000003814697px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.4s ease, background-color 0.4s ease;" title="Meaning of unfashionable">unfashionable</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">.</span></span><br />
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Bahaha! What a crock of shit, who writes this crap? There is absolutely nothing dull about me cleaning my house, I crank up the music and shake my butt while dusting to Beyonce. And isn't dowdy a word that died in the early 1900's? As for unfashionable... nobody has the right to label anyone unfashionable, just because you like your black dungarees, doesn't mean everyone else who has a vagina and a baby does too. I think it's time we redefined the word...<br />
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Mumsy: Being a mum. Regardless of your opinions of household appliances or what Grazia are saying you should be wearing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE_7oV8FD4E7jrdi078-IsSDOEr7D32y2ppOJGgkLfOPBqav-Ietv15_7QuVRRmj1C77cNh3SVWfk2-0TNENsxl5w14d-GxZc9kfkXCy7iRuwT08J8Hh8-pP0DBemW9B3uDr-Crdmspx5/s1600/FullSizeRender+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE_7oV8FD4E7jrdi078-IsSDOEr7D32y2ppOJGgkLfOPBqav-Ietv15_7QuVRRmj1C77cNh3SVWfk2-0TNENsxl5w14d-GxZc9kfkXCy7iRuwT08J8Hh8-pP0DBemW9B3uDr-Crdmspx5/s1600/FullSizeRender+(3).jpg" height="293" width="320" /></a></div>
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What this labelling does is make mums who like to use Pinterest or sing along to Frozen songs in their head feel like shit. We are all different and we are all mums. Let's stop bashing each other (I'm actually fucking repeating myself for the god knows what time this year) and just get on with our own lives. We are all cool because we are all doing the hardest job in the world, so let's just leave it at that.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-66199017864292066822015-01-28T09:28:00.000-08:002015-01-28T09:28:15.528-08:00Age Defying Double D's?I have a love/hate relationship with make-up. My skin is super sensitive and I can never find a foundation that doesn't either look as though it's been shovelled on because it's really thick or one that just slides off my skin after an hour. I'm not quite at the stage where I'm confident to go out without make up on (I'm very... fair) for fear of looking dead, the struggle is REAL.<div>
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I've tried BB cream and could never find one that my skin liked and then CC cream and that just didn't work for me. Colour correcting my butt! When I heard that Green People were bringing out a <a href="http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/age-defy-tinted-dd-moisturiser-medium-mix"><span style="color: orange;">tinted DD moisturiser</span></a>, I rolled my eyes. Another joke. But after giving up with my most recent foundation purchase, I was ready to try anything.</div>
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I've always been a huge fan of Green People products. We're a very sensitive-skinned family so we don't just put any old crap on our bodies and always aim for natural and organic where possible. I knew this new wonder product would be good on my skin because I've never been able to find fault in Green People and as soon as I opened the sachet and applied it to my face, I was immediately surprised.</div>
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DD stands for daily defence (and perhaps your cup size too if you're in the big boobie club) and is an anti-ageing product (BIG FAN). The solution stimulates cell renewal, reduces age spots and moisturises the skin (winning). It contains natural SPF15 protection (if you read any beauty blogs you'll know this is very important) AND colour correction. It glided onto my skin, giving an even tone (YES, FINALLY!) and covered up the red patch on my nose (damn you winter).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P1wuUotsIOFNRoSxhHEyrdLGZbhyCsSVTgkGexrGB-a0V823CKa19GsD2mfX-hi__YFA1YzgVuRcBXu2BmnQCvWUecRQtm8slgIC0_1iVpi0oycOBaaJF0_eRGIzuvgizDyOn9LjeY5W/s1600/IMG_2698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P1wuUotsIOFNRoSxhHEyrdLGZbhyCsSVTgkGexrGB-a0V823CKa19GsD2mfX-hi__YFA1YzgVuRcBXu2BmnQCvWUecRQtm8slgIC0_1iVpi0oycOBaaJF0_eRGIzuvgizDyOn9LjeY5W/s1600/IMG_2698.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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I spent about thirty means dicking about trying to find some natural light on a miserable day and just as I was about to give up, the sun came out. Not the best photography but you can just about see a glow to my skin (ignore the unruly eyebrows and semi-wet hair). </div>
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You know I'm a no-bullshit kinda gal and I won't just sing the praises of something if I don't genuinely LOVE something. Well I GENUINELY love this product. It went on evenly and I didn't even need that much. I didn't expect to be bowled over by a DD cream, that's for sure. I can happily say I'd leave the house in just that, I wouldn't really need anything else on (my face). Thank you, Green People, for getting something <i>so</i> right (again)... you've made my week and my make up bag.</div>
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I'd recommend this to <i>everyone</i>. If you're looking for something with good coverage that doesn't look as though it's been caked on and is gentle on your skin... this will do the job. </div>
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(Fair skinned ladies like me, you'll need the light version although you're given the choice to select both colours in sample size to try if you aren't sure)</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 14.5px;">Age Defy+ Tinted DD Moisturiser is made without petrochemicals, methylisothiazolinone, methylchloroisothiazolinone, synthetic colourants and preservatives to bring you the purest DD cream that nature can offer.</span></div>
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You can find out more about the Age Defy+ collection <a href="http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/shop-for-products/collections/age-defy-collection"><span style="color: orange;">here</span></a>.</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I was sent a sample of the Green People Tinted DD moisturiser to review and as always all opinions are my own. </span></i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-938369381010441822015-01-20T09:11:00.000-08:002015-01-20T09:11:02.195-08:00Mummy takes a time out.We don't use the naughty step or time out in this house. That's not to say we haven't tried it, it just didn't work for us. But I'll tell you who it does work for... me.<br />
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Today I called in sick. I work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and every single day of the year. Like all mums. I haven't taken a sick day in the almost four years I've worked for my daughter and I haven't taken annual leave either, that's not to say I haven't wanted to. Often.<br />
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When you're running on not a lot of sleep, sleep that might seem to your partner as long 11-7(ish) when in actual fact is pretty much nothing when it's disturbed the whole time (the sleep I get), you slowly (dripping tap slowly) start to lose your mind. And when you start to lose your mind at one of the most depressing times of the year, you're heading for a meltdown. Three year old style.<br />
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Last night was hard, I was tired(!) and she spent the night coughing and snotting everywhere. At twenty to three she woke up and so we went and ran the shower for a while to help clear her nose. And then she didn't want to go back to sleep because according to her, it was morning. So the whining (her) and shouting (me) continued until five twenty when she decided that actually, she was tired. Until six thirty when my husband took her downstairs. I slept on and off until half eight and then decided that I was going to follow through with my 4am threats to him, I was having a day off.<br />
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I got up, showered and dressed and went out wearing pink lipstick because last week I wore it and had a really good day (I'd like to think it was the lipstick that did that). Not bothered that Tuesday's are busy and important in <i>his</i> world because <i>My</i> world was about to explode. I could sit here and write a 3000 word essay on how he simply cannot begin to understand just how I feel but a friend pointed out I couldn't possibly understand how hard it is for him either. She has a point.<br />
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What I did this morning was remove myself from a situation I could feel turning unsavoury. It could've gone two ways: I was either going to pack a bag and leave or a have a really messy meltdown that wouldn't have been that nice to watch. I'm glad I took some time out, I went shopping and met a friend and laughed and forgot about the shitstorm that was heading my way. Then I felt relief. Because we are all going through this, together. Every other mother has <i>felt</i> this way at some point. It's part of being a parent.<br />
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And then I got home after four hours and that horrible knot in the bottom of my stomach came back. The dread of getting through another night without drowning myself in a bath of vodka. So I gritted my teeth, locked myself in the bathroom for half an hour and cried until I didn't want to scream anymore and now it's time to carry on as usual. Dinner, bath, bed. Because tomorrow is another day.<br />
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Except tomorrow I'll be wearing a new pink lipstick.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-22098164284652514462015-01-12T07:27:00.001-08:002015-01-12T07:30:25.392-08:00Pounding FlowersIt doesn't sound so nice, does it? But it's actually a great way to make pretty pictures out of flowers that are about to get chucked out or ones you picked on your walk. And it's a fab activity for kids.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfywRyZcE_0Wp41Xd3QokTJaj4fQv_OeDyEoi5NiW_tZP8UXOo7tHo0yNW-HjXTHUcFt6iK0PaH6iScwdf5CbOjgihc7DdOChmSpMMAdOVidMKB8QTG95vardNSd4xOuQjRXL2CWvjvlsT/s1600/IMG_2399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfywRyZcE_0Wp41Xd3QokTJaj4fQv_OeDyEoi5NiW_tZP8UXOo7tHo0yNW-HjXTHUcFt6iK0PaH6iScwdf5CbOjgihc7DdOChmSpMMAdOVidMKB8QTG95vardNSd4xOuQjRXL2CWvjvlsT/s1600/IMG_2399.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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I came across this idea in a fab book called <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tinkerlab-Hands--Guide-Little-Inventors/dp/161180065X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421076040&sr=8-1&keywords=tinkerlab"><span style="color: red;">Tinkerlab: A Hands-On Guide For Little Inventors</span></a> and it's full of experiments to help nurture creative thinking. </div>
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You need a selection of flowers, some waxed paper, some watercolour paper and a big stone (she used her wooden toy hammer).</div>
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It's pretty simple... let your little one arrange the flowers on the watercolour paper, cover with waxed paper and bash away. Peel back the waxed paper and flowers to reveal their work of art!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8mAhMwm-YnpnHDG0FSHkIbELwBexr-rxdkFaLEtA6XM47u4SLAH0vwpS3xwC3AYfOnqv4tvAYXEwjrncJqksS7zWz_XRvzBx0V2K-z9YrDvUGOgbzFg0FCubcrgjuB4mA8j5JEe0du8f/s1600/IMG_2403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8mAhMwm-YnpnHDG0FSHkIbELwBexr-rxdkFaLEtA6XM47u4SLAH0vwpS3xwC3AYfOnqv4tvAYXEwjrncJqksS7zWz_XRvzBx0V2K-z9YrDvUGOgbzFg0FCubcrgjuB4mA8j5JEe0du8f/s1600/IMG_2403.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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It probably doesn't look much to you but she was super happy with it. And I'm going to frame it. Next time we'll go rambling to find a better selection of flowers.</div>
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A great idea for Mother's Day pictures and general spring-y crafts. Spring, oh spring... hurry up!</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-40328376579383325542014-12-28T08:56:00.002-08:002014-12-28T08:56:28.203-08:00School.MEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR (that's supposed to resemble a foghorn) IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT, IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT... you have two weeks left to submit your child's school application.<br />
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Fuck. How did we get here?<br />
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Before I even needed to think about schools for my daughter, I said to my husband "I won't be one of these psycho mums who moves house just to get into the best school, I won't frantically read through ofsted reports everyday in the run up to the deadline, I won't turn crazy... I won't" PAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I got crazy.<br />
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There are two schools I'd be happy for her to go to. And another that I would love for her to go to. One of these we haven't viewed and I KNOW, you're all like WHAT THE FUCK?! <i>I know</i>. Thing is, we don't live anywhere near these schools and because I've been changing my mind every twelve seconds about when we are going move to the area the schools are in, I've kinda messed up and left us zero time to view the one we haven't seen yet. It's not the end of the world, I know. It's a great school (according to their website) and I got a good feeling from their website and I KNOW that's not the same as us viewing it and getting the same feeling but like I said, I messed up.<br />
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Anyway... I said I wouldn't get crazy. Every time I try to talk to my husband about it, he glazes over which is a great help. I think he's tired of neurotic mum who is now obsessed by this whole process (I've even read up about the role of parent governors, brainstormed ideas for the PTA fundraising events and planned what talks I'll do in the school... see... CUCKOO). I've befriended (kind of) the head of one school and can see us sitting down for coffee in her office and her asking me to come in and teach art. So basically I work there now. In my head.<br />
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It isn't just me, is it? Oh god, it is.<br />
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I want to be relaxed about the whole thing but I just have the most awful memories of school. I hated it. And I really don't want that for her. I'm sure it won't be the same (providing we get one of our three choices, which I'm pretty sure we will... OH GOD DID I JINX IT?), it's just hard. Nursery turned out to be such a traumatic time for her (she's still getting over it) and it's scarred me.<br />
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But there are always cash bribes, right?!<br />
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Cuckoo, cuckoo.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-52145727282641885132014-12-27T14:45:00.001-08:002014-12-27T14:45:40.407-08:00A Post About The New YearBecause it's standard.<br />
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This past year has been a lot shit and a bit good. I'm still alive and so is my child so obviously I'm doing something right. I feel blessed, that much is true.<br />
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I won't bore you with the shit that went down this year, go read my other (old) blog for that, plus... it's history. I don't want to dwell on all the bad stuff. As the New Year approaches I've been thinking about the things I'd like to achieve as I am hurtling towards 30 (yes, I'm still a baby, blah blah blah). Everything is magnified, every decision, every thought (although that could well be down to my exhausting anxiety that just keeps coming back and punching me in the face to remind me that it's there). I have some MAJOR life decisions to make (that's right, M A J O R) as well as changes and the usual crap we promise ourselves just before the clock strikes 1st January (gym, diet, etc).<br />
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Where am I going with this post? Er... ah! I read something someone shared on Facebook - 15 ways to be happier in 2015 and something stood out so hard, I didn't actually need to put my glasses on to read it (I have major 'scowl' lines as my husband calls them, I beg to differ... they are actually SQUINT lines mother fucker) and it went something like this:<br />
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8. STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR NOT LIVING OUT YOUR DREAM etc etc.<br />
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And I'm mighty good at that, making excuses. I'm lame, I have all the excuses. But especially good ones for <i>not</i> doing what I've always wanted to do. And at the start of a year I promise myself the same thing... Stop worrying about upsetting other people with the decisions you make, be more selfish, do what you want to do... all of that baloney. Except baloney it ain't because at the end of that year I kick myself for having made a hundred excuses for not doing what I said I wanted to do.<br />
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So, CHARLOTTE, just fucking do it (soz, Nike). Do that thing you've been droning on about for so long, <i>just cut the crap and do it.</i><br />
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You too though, yeah?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The anxious little prick that sits on my left shoulder is telling me not to post this because I'll die in my sleep tonight or at least die before the start of the New Year. "But don't leave it in your drafts either because you'll die and someone will find it and it'll be such a waste". What a horrible little shit. A small peak inside my deranged mind right there - don't say I never treat you. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-14113537455072199962014-12-10T06:50:00.000-08:002014-12-10T06:57:25.035-08:00MAD LIFE<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.madlife.co.uk/">MAD LIFE</a></span> sounds about right for 'Mum & Dad life', also an events and communication company set up by megababe mums Kirsti and Emi. They bring all the good shizz to the table for busy parents in the form of events, campaigns and digital communications.<br />
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They've also just made their first short film about becoming a parent, but an honest version. No rose-tinting, no bullshit. Because this is what these ladies are about.<br />
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/Auf-AWyQ_ks/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/Auf-AWyQ_ks&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/Auf-AWyQ_ks&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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WHAT ARE YOUR THREE WORDS????</div>
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For more information about MAD LIFE and to find out about any upcoming events go check them out <a href="http://www.madlife.co.uk/"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">here</span></a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-11845397962433261982014-12-08T04:00:00.001-08:002014-12-08T04:00:59.401-08:00Musings on mum fluBefore Child, I was unbreakable. I would go to work even if I was dying (either from flu or a hangover, mainly because it meant if I didn't I'd miss out on boozing that night) and just bloody well got on with it (with the occasional whine). Once, after a four hour drinking binge at my works Christmas party and an hour solid on the bumper cars (woo - NAMCO!), I woke up the next day unable to move. A trip to A&E and a HUGE lecture later, I was told I had whiplash. But even that didn't stop me, I was back on it the next day. What a warrior!<br />
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These days, a standard cold wipes me out (let alone a hangover). What is it about having a child that means you can't even go about your day with a bloody snotty nose? It isn't just me, is it? I know it isn't.<br />
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If you didn't already know, I have mum flu. While it isn't an actual <i>thing</i>, it bloody well should be. I ache, my sinuses are raging, my nose running, I can't stop sneezing and my throat hurts. A pretty standard cold but made a billion times worse because I'm a mum. I can hardly find the energy to do the washing up let alone go to work (I don't have a job) or look after my child (ipad and crisps for her). WHY? I used to rock the shit out of a cold. Today I look a cross between Uncle Fester and Rudolph. WHY?!<br />
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Has having a baby really shot my immune system to shit? Almost four years on? Really?<br />
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This bout of mum flu has, however, made me realise just how much I take things for granted. How lucky I really am. Take the shower, for example. Hot, running water. A ten minute shower, just standing there for ten whole minutes (I know, it's bad... but I'M ILL) is bliss. I'm SO grateful for that luxury. And for having a husband who doesn't mind getting up with my early riser and keeping her quiet so I can sleep in until ELEVEN AM. I needed that, clearly, although I felt no better for it. But THANK YOU! And cups of tea, strong and sugary. I'm so grateful for you. And my bed, soft and bouncy. And so warm and cosy. There are people who don't have any of that. I am so grateful. These are the simplest of luxuries that we all take for granted every day. We moan when that bag we've been lusting after is out of stock or when the tube is over-crowded. But really, we have it so fucking good.<br />
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Think about it next time you have a moan. Think about all the things that are normal to you but to others are alien. And then be grateful.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-57925142316783351992014-11-18T05:35:00.000-08:002014-11-18T05:35:01.575-08:00Baily the bag lady.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
NEED A NEW BAG?????? Of course you do!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1Xbjthax8wLxkcyBeSDLeAVAZvk1B8da7zFo3R8Cj1239Ochzklx93TnVzumBPHjTuVLErv788lvPPYjxWu8PX3TDiL0ynxlQbGRY36VYBHko20_fqWGuy53g5uV3KRNWViGeHin_73V/s1600/leopar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1Xbjthax8wLxkcyBeSDLeAVAZvk1B8da7zFo3R8Cj1239Ochzklx93TnVzumBPHjTuVLErv788lvPPYjxWu8PX3TDiL0ynxlQbGRY36VYBHko20_fqWGuy53g5uV3KRNWViGeHin_73V/s1600/leopar.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Who doesn't want this <a href="http://sarahbaily.bigcartel.com/product/melody-morton-clutch"><span style="color: red;">Melody Morton Fold Over Leopard Clutch</span></a>? Answer: not me. WANT IT.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzYGGWjFYX_bul3_mMcqxAoDJckTiqeXNF7S9OqoDlnpqOk-wNbPP8BzEbgobBu375105jLx9QvTKgT03jakJgxaya0HMibUb-VXUqYoeXaIdZc4ZqwSEMIRj23gb4SuNPViq3-_i_0dS/s1600/STRAP_BAG_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzYGGWjFYX_bul3_mMcqxAoDJckTiqeXNF7S9OqoDlnpqOk-wNbPP8BzEbgobBu375105jLx9QvTKgT03jakJgxaya0HMibUb-VXUqYoeXaIdZc4ZqwSEMIRj23gb4SuNPViq3-_i_0dS/s1600/STRAP_BAG_.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Need to go hands-free? How about <a href="http://sarahbaily.bigcartel.com/product/mini-messenger-bag-silver-black"><span style="color: red;">this</span></a> then? YES!</div>
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These lovely bags are handmade by the even lovelier Sarah Baily. Don't know who she is? Read about her <a href="http://sarahbaily.bigcartel.com/about"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>. She makes the coolest bags that are super slick and will never ever go out of fashion. Perfect for Christmas (AHEM, dear husband) or y'know.... <i>just because. </i>Sarah also makes cushions too which are equally as cool as her bags. I'd check her out sharpish because CHRISTMAS IS A COMIN' and because they are handmade they take a little time (around 10 days) so GO GO GO. But if you cant wait then you, my sexy lot, need THIS....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXI9cv18DG2095WPWUXbEmb661A2WAWIFptpuCGxoBMton70zUKzz4CKbUsj-IVPPbSVu5LvnZuUFfRmmL3h_1o-Zzwqb2RXw6Cpq9oxyUk52IQa3FDrIXyPe7z9gQYLE4Z-Cgg2E-Y8N/s1600/SB_invite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXI9cv18DG2095WPWUXbEmb661A2WAWIFptpuCGxoBMton70zUKzz4CKbUsj-IVPPbSVu5LvnZuUFfRmmL3h_1o-Zzwqb2RXw6Cpq9oxyUk52IQa3FDrIXyPe7z9gQYLE4Z-Cgg2E-Y8N/s1600/SB_invite.jpg" height="640" width="449" /></a></div>
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Cocktails AND bags AND jewellery. Sounds like my perfect night. Happy shopping!</div>
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P.S Don't forget to support the independents this Christmas and forevermore.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-19762688708990819162014-11-12T07:36:00.001-08:002014-11-12T07:36:09.896-08:00It's not a competition you jealous, bitter bitches.It's a shame I have to write about this. Again. But it's really starting to piss me off. <i>Again</i>. Women are the biggest fucking bitches, evil and spiteful and vile. And I will hold my hands up... I used to bitch like the rest of them but since having Lil I've found myself bitching less and less. I don't want my daughter growing up thinking it's ok to slag other people off. I don't judge, I can honestly say that with my hand on my heart, at least 99% of the time anyway. I'm only human.<br />
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Just recently, I've noticed just how <i>fucking awful</i> women are. Those with kids and those without, oh yeah.... being a massive bitch doesn't stop once you squeeze a baby out of your vagina / have a child pulled from your abdomen / sign the adoption papers and finally, after a long wait, are blessed with your angel. OH NO. And those without kids don't stop bitching about those with kids either. And they hate, they are jealous and they are BITTER. WE ARE ALL FUCKING BITTER.<br />
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I mean, what's the point? We should just shut up and live our lives, whether it's the life we want or not. Only <i>we</i> can change things if we are unhappy but being bitter and slagging people off for the lives <i>they</i> have isn't very nice. SHAME ON US / YOU / THEM. And anyway, it's NOT a competition.<br />
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I have started writing a mental list (yeah that's right, a fucking list) of people I really don't want in my life anymore. I don't want them and their toxic bullshit invading my happy (most of the time), positive space. I don't like being made to feel like an idiot for the decisions I make, regardless or whether they are right or wrong. THIS IS MY LIFE / YOUR LIFE / THEIR LIFE, let me / you / them get on with it and everyone else can just do one.<br />
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Remember The Sisterhood? Remember that? Oh, you do! Remember GIRL POWER? How about us vaginas all support each others decisions / life choices and be happy for each other, no?<br />
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Let's try it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This post was sponsored by a recent hormonal surge resulting in quite a large period of rage. Normal service will be resumed... sometime in the future.</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-54947601632984559792014-10-24T05:26:00.000-07:002014-10-24T05:26:27.697-07:00SumangashiOr marbling, if you can't speak Japanese. I remember doing this as a kid at school but it wasn't until I stumbled across <a href="http://tinkerlab.com/marbled-paper-suminagashi/"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Tinkerlab</span></a> that I remembered so I set off on my mission to do this with Birdie.<br />
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Skillz</div>
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I bought <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scola-MI25-6-A-Marbling/dp/B000MNMLFW/ref=sr_1_6?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1414153089&sr=1-6&keywords=Scola"><span style="color: orange;">these marbling inks </span></a> and used an old roasting dish. You can use anything that fits a sheet of paper or card. And once you have your inks, off you go. It kept her entertained for an hour and I didn't have to worry about the mess because there wasn't any. It's a great alternative to normal painting and waaaaaaay more fun because you just don't know how each piece is going to turn out.<br />
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So now we have over thirty sheets of marbled paper to use. That's our Christmas card crafting sorted!<br />
I'd also recommend the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tinkerlab-Hands--Guide-Little-Inventors/dp/161180065X/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1414153340&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=tinkerlab"><span style="color: orange;">Tinkerlab book</span></a> - it's brilliant. Full of fab ideas for you and your little one.<br />
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You're welcome.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-61557049399414454842014-10-22T03:22:00.000-07:002014-10-22T03:28:28.786-07:00Dinovember<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 35px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">'Every November, children in more than forty-five countries wake up to discover that their plastic dinosaurs have come to life and made mischief while the family slept. For thirty days, milk is spilled, eggs are cracked, and walls are colored by crayon-wielding claws. Childhood is fleeting—let’s make it fun while it lasts.'</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://dinovember.tumblr.com/"><span style="color: orange;">Photo credit</span></a></div>
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Last night I was thinking about Christmas and how exciting it is to be a child at this time of year. Halloween, Bonfire Night and then it's the countdown until Santa arrives. Oh to have the imagination of a three year old when you're a cynical (almost) 29 year old. I was convinced as a child that my toys came alive at night and it was a bit scary but also wonderful to think of them having their own adventures.</div>
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You may or may not have heard about Dinovember. For the entire month of November, those plastic dinosaurs that you can find at the bottom of the toy box come alive. Not forrealz, unfortunately, but the kids don't need to know that. And it's fun because you get to be a part of this adventure while behaving like a total kid. Then every morning when your little ones come downstairs, SURPRISE! Those naughty dinosaurs have caused absolute chaos.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQ7qPupdYnOdpiqbMUq1Jiu4s9fBmxZ7SVGVYAtlvp612cJEGUUXxPytGl3mC7zCzm7u75pDpWOFJmWC3Yqpya9KO1ExLxorB9PKHLRV8rfQGUN0UHzrFmnK6i3D_FA9SN2DEoUMU3DZh/s1600/tumblr_mduf76qUrL1rl2q3to1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQ7qPupdYnOdpiqbMUq1Jiu4s9fBmxZ7SVGVYAtlvp612cJEGUUXxPytGl3mC7zCzm7u75pDpWOFJmWC3Yqpya9KO1ExLxorB9PKHLRV8rfQGUN0UHzrFmnK6i3D_FA9SN2DEoUMU3DZh/s1600/tumblr_mduf76qUrL1rl2q3to1_1280.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Absolute genius. Find out more about it <a href="http://dinovember.tumblr.com/"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">here</span></a>. And just you wait until you see what our dinosaurs are going to be getting up to...</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-1667448991317580252014-10-15T07:39:00.000-07:002014-10-15T07:39:07.603-07:00Home is where them fuckers ain't.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I can't remember how I came across Leigh. But it was probably during a three hour Etsy binge, you know... where you sift through all the amazingness, adding to your wishlist and occasionally (or often in my case), buying. Anyway, I bought my first piece and hung it proudly on the wall. It's called 'cunt'.</div>
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On her work...</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"I’m self - taught and always worry that I’m doing everything completely wrong. I started embroidering while at uni on a fine art course, I wasn’t taught how to, I just thought embroidery was the most suited medium for the project at the time. I was studying the definition of femininity, the roles of women and traditional crafts that are classed as feminine. I could go on forever about all that, but probs best I don't. When I finished uni I didn't make much art work as I helped set up a design led shop in Liverpool in an amazing gallery. Though I found myself feeling inspired again and the mini cheeky cards and prints were born. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">After a customer in the shop spotted me embroidering a skull to pass time, I had my first commission. I was actually embroidering the skull on a vintage hanky for an exhibition to raise awareness about domestic violence. The juxtaposition between a masculine object and a feminine craft/masculine subject of death on a feminine and pretty fabric created something I wanted to explore more. So, the embroidery continued mainly for myself as a way to keep the concept artist in me ticking along. Meanwhile, the cheekier the </span><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Intwosandthrees?section_id=12055302&ref=shopsection_leftnav_1"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">cards</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> I made, the more they sold. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">I made friends with a vintage clothing owner and helped as her seamstress. This meant I could get my hands on some beautiful fabric while learning more about cottons and thread etc. I then, quite suddenly, decided to move back home from Liverpool after a family loss and getting ill. I wanted to be closer to my family. For a year I didn't really make much. I set up an </span><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Intwosandthrees"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Etsy store</span> </span></a><span style="font-size: small;">online to sell the little cards and began embroidering again, more to keep myself sane while I was poorly. I embroidered a portrait of Mick Jagger simply to see if I could after getting a little bored of embroidering skulls. Then, through the power of Instagram, I had people asking what else I embroidered. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">I had a shit tonne of vintage fabrics that needed some tlc and after working with my friend at her vintage store, I loved the idea of altering items to make them modern again and re-loving fabric that might have gone to waste. The cards seemed to be selling ok, so I took a saying that was selling well and embroidered it onto a hanky (I’d actually embroidered quotes onto hankies about domestic violence for that exhibition I mentioned before, so it seemed kind of natural to embroider text again). Well, that seems now like the smartest move I’ve ever made. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">Through Instagram I’d gained some momentum for these embroidered quotes and sayings - I guessed mainly, probably, because they were pretty rude or had topical sayings. I tried to stay down with the kids and embroider the latest it-word. Now, I wasn’t daft. There’s a big world out there full of crazy talented people and I knew I wasn't the only one doing this. I kept on top of what other artists might be creating so as not to step on anyone’s toes and to make sure I was actually making something original. Vintage fabric wasn’t being used in the same way I was re-using it and it seemed there was no one else embroidering the word 'cunt'. Those embroideries were my best seller and the prettier the vintage fabric, the better. I dabbled in quotes about love and kept up with commissioned pieces but wanted to swear more - the crudeness of a terrible word made pretty on your grandmas vintage linen just tickled me too much. Hence why, the word 'cunt' was the ultimate in contradictions and a perfect word to embroider on the floral, sometimes twee, fabric. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Trying to keep my Etsy shop fresh and original led to me coining a phrase ‘home is where them fuckers ain’t’ (also, after having a hard time with settling in back home with some pretty shitty ‘friends’ and missing my friends back in Liverpool). Well, for some reason, someone blogged the image of my embroidery on tumblr with a link to my shop. Within a day, it had been re-blogged over 100,000 times. Cue a load of commissions and a load of tears out of the shock of it all. Around this time, I tried my hand at <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/181856397/custom-embroidered-pet-portrait-5?ref=shop_home_active_4"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">pet portrait</span></a> embroideries as a gift for a few family members. I’d seen a lot of different styles for pet portraits and so played around with it myself. After I’d made a few I listed them on Etsy to get some feedback, I'd decided if I didn't sell one in a month then I wouldn't continue them. I sold 2, cried again and now I’m making at least one pet portrait commission a month. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It’s only really, since the tumblr post, that my work seems to be going mad. I’ve had a steady flow of work for the 2 years that I’ve had the Etsy shop running, but in the last 6 months, things have picked up speed. I still don’t understand why people buy my work. I enjoy embroidery so it doesn’t take me long to make something. That’s probably something I shouldn't share, but it’s true. I’m self taught and only really started the embroideries to see if I could. Though, turns out I can, and now I’m trying to keep up."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white;">Visit Leigh's store <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Intwosandthrees"><span style="font-size: large;">here</span></a>.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-82885925699480069102014-10-14T01:31:00.000-07:002014-10-14T01:31:02.380-07:00Anixety and The Grim ReaperIt started at the beginning of the year. I'd read someone's sister had died and she was the same age as me. Cancer. And then it spiralled out of control.<br />
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What if I've got cancer? What if I drop dead? What if Lil gets really ill? What if I lose someone I love? All these 'what ifs'. Then one night I woke up, not knowing what was happening to my body, my heart was thudding so hard I could see it trying to burst through my chest. I felt hot and dizzy and wanted to throw up. I screamed for an ambulance, I was dying. This was it, everything I'd previously feared, it was all about to end.</div>
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It didn't get better, I just learned how to control it. The panic attacks. The heart palpitations were not the start of a heart attack, I needed to remember that. I was put on medication to control the physical effects but then I fell pregnant and had to stop. After a painful month of discovering it was an ectopic pregnancy, methotrexate to finish it and surgery to remove what the drug hadn't achieved, I woke from the operation free from anxiety. No acid reflux, no chest pains. No attacks. I could finally be free of that horrible black suffocating grim reaper that lurked in the doorway, waiting to smother me. It came with a price, of course, but the feeling of that anxiety lift was something to grip onto.</div>
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And then came tragedy. I walked into the room my uncle resting in and saw a different person. The cancer had stolen his body and he was full of disease, it was impossible not to react. How something so silent could change someone, destroy them. That night, the dark monster came home.</div>
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Propranolol only helped the physical effects of an attack. It didn't, couldn't change my mindset. Every twinge had me questioning if it was cancer, if I was dying. An outsider, someone who can live free from anxiety, may think that it sounds ridiculous but every thought had me petrified. Wondering how bad an attack would be if I wasn't on the medication. Would it send me over the edge? These thoughts, these feelings, sometimes made me wonder if it wasn't just better for me to end it. I could feel my family getting irritated at my over the top thinking and I was slowly driving myself insane. It's a very dark place to be when anxiety takes over. It rules and ruins your life. But although I sometimes had suicidal thoughts, I would never have done anything about it. I knew that it would get better, I just didn't know how.</div>
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I started <a href="http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Cognitive-behavioural-therapy/Pages/Introduction.aspx"><span style="font-size: large;">CBT</span></a> with an open mind. I didn't know what to expect to be honest and I left the first session livid. Angry at my parents for everything that had happened while I was growing up. I had to talk about my childhood and it brought back a lot of painful memories, so much so that I wanted to lash out at everyone. But as the weeks went on, all the anger faded until it left my body. I practised the exercises I was given, spoke about loss which helped to heal wounds I thought were closed and learnt new things about myself. It felt good, I felt better. I was supposed to have another session today but felt I didn't need it and my therapist agreed so I cancelled. Together we'd worked so hard to get to this place, I felt relief and sadness. She was like my comfort blanket.</div>
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I'm not fixed, I still feel anxious a lot of the time. I still worry about what's going on inside of my body, the twinges I get. But I'm working on that with my doctor, looking after myself better, cutting down on the things that aren't so great for me. I haven't felt hopeless for a while, so overwhelmed by my anxieties that I thought perhaps it would be better to not exist anymore. I'm a work in progress.</div>
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CBT is something I can't recommend enough. It isn't for everyone and you have to find a really good therapist in order for it to work for you, but if you're suffering from crippling anxiety then speak to your doctor about it. Grab it by the balls and don't let it control you, because that's what it does. And although I think I'll probably suffer from it for the rest of my life, there are things that I can do to control <i>it</i>.</div>
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You can find out about anxiety and other mental health issues <a href="http://www.mind.org.uk/"><span style="font-size: large;">here</span></a>.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-44562618552810727802014-10-13T02:10:00.002-07:002014-10-13T11:13:14.397-07:00The coolest<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px;">I continue to maintain that everyone is cool, no matter what shape or size, likes or dislikes, whether you work or don't, have kids or not, wear designer or buy from charity shops. Each and every one of us is cool. Whatever your quirks or sense of humour, we're <i>all</i> cool. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px;">Top of my cool list, though, is my daughter. I'm not sure if it's down to me or she just manifests this shit all by herself but people tell me she's cool, they very rarely call <i>me</i> cool. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">Take Saturday, for instance. She got invited to and attended the Mr Men Little Miss x House of Holland launch in Liberty. And she met Henry Holland, you know... Of </span><span style="background-color: white;">'DO ME DAILY CHRISTOPHER BAILEY' slogan</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"> fame (he's known for other cool stuff too). She got her hair and nails done, as well as a little miss tattoo (fake, haters, FAKE) and then went and bagged herself a shitload of goodies. SHE'S THREE AND A HALF for christ sake. <i>I am jealous of my own child.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Lusting after this bomber</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px;">Her clothes are cool, her toys are cool and her mates are cool and her attitude.... Well it's a mix of garbage truck and... Cool. 'Mum can we sack off nursery this week and go to London instead' those were actual words that came out of her actual mouth. I don't even know who she is anymore. I feel like I'm not worthy of the child I tried and failed to birth out of my vagina. She's just too damn cool for me.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px;">But she's not alone. Turns out her generation are all like this. Her mate R has got shit hot style, she totally out outfitted me at a recent party and shrugged the whole thing off. SHE'S NOT EVEN FOUR. And then there's B, so much sass with the best dressing up box and she just pushes the trolley around the supermarket filling it up with shit she wants. SHE KNOWS what she wants. How do these tiny little people know what they want? <i>I</i> don't even know what I want.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px;">But the whole time my child is outwitting me, out dressing me and filling her calendar with social events, <i>she</i> still thinks <i>I'm</i> cool.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px;">So the moral of this story is, you might think so and so is cool, but I bet they think you're cooler.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">You can see the new HOH Mr Quiffy collection </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.houseofholland.co.uk/collections/mr-quiffy">here</a></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-41653699351808184422014-10-10T06:10:00.000-07:002014-10-10T06:10:41.190-07:00When you lose your shitIt doesn't happen often but last night I lost my shit. One of those days where everyone was moaning and being negative and I had a kid off sick from nursery and a fuzzy head still lingering from that full moon x eclipse x mercury retrograde AGAIN. I was hungry and tired and blah.<br />
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WAAAAAAH MY NAIL POLISH HAS COME OFF FIX IT NOW RIGHT NOW MUMMY, FIX IT <span style="font-size: large;">RIGHT NOW</span>. That was the final straw and I screamed back. These fucking kids now just which button to push when spirits are down and everything is getting on your wick. And then they make you feel even worse because you lose it and they go all sad eyes as though you're the wicked witch who stole Christmas and birthdays and sucked the joy out of everything else when really, the reality is, they've just sucked the life out of you that day.<br />
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And the guilt you feel after... why don't they feel that guilt after being horrible little shits all day? It sent me into a boiling hot shower to cry and let the snot run down my face just like it did hers before (although she didn't have a boiling hot shower).<br />
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The guilt is still there. I tried to eat it (in the form of a takeaway and biscuits) but that didn't work. I couldn't online shop it away either so I did what I do best when I (rarely) lose my shit, buy her a giant chocolate muffin and cover her in kisses. 'I'm sorry I was mean to you yesterday at bathtime, I'll try really hard never to be mean to you again' (let's be realistic here). 'I'm sorry I screamed Mummy, I was just so upset that my nail varnish had come off.' Maybe you should get gel nails next time babes? (I JEST)<br />
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And then all was right with the world again, except now I'm 3lbs heavier.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-52164982626922722472014-10-09T08:38:00.001-07:002014-10-09T08:38:16.682-07:00Fuck the system.I'm really annoyed at her nursery because yesterday, when I picked her up, she was in a right state. She had dark circles around her eyes (that she didn't go to nursery with), a red puffy face and was scream crying. Her 'key worker' or whatever they call themselves didn't know I was walking up the stairs and was shouting at her to calm down. When the woman saw me she smiled and said she'd been ok on and off all morning. I sent her in with a cold because you're allowed to do that and if you weren't then she'd never be in nursery because every single week she has something wrong with her. <i>I know</i> that's the way it is, that it's germ ridden and that she'll get everything under the sun. That doesn't make it any less frustrating. And if your kid isn't like my kid then lucky you.<br />
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Anyway, she was a mess. I was annoyed they never called to have me come pick her up because it was very obvious she was a mess (which she wasn't when I dropped her off, she cried but that's normal for her... what can I say, I'm clearly way more fun than that place). I never took her in today because I didn't want to, I want her to be better and healthy ready for next week when she picks something <i>else</i> up from all the other snotbag kids. So I called the office and was told, abruptly,<i> ok that's fine thanks for calling bye</i>. Whatever.<br />
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And this afternoon I was thinking about whether or not I was going to send her tomorrow. And I'm not. She's still snotty and battling a viral infection (which is acceptable to send them in with OF COURSE) but she's happy enough, being at home with me. Learning and crafting and having quiet time. She could go in, she'd kick and scream because that's what <i>some</i> kids do, I did it and so did her dad, but fuck nursery this week. I'm still really fucking pissed off and I'm going to raise this with them next week when I don't want to knock their heads off.<br />
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I hate her nursery, less than any others in the area but still I hate it. I hate that she'll be getting homework next year when she starts school (something I'll be challenging her headteacher about), that she'll have to wear uniform and that slowly she'll be turned into a little robot. I hate it all and it makes me sad, makes me want to rebel and go against the norm, homeschool her and teach her all the things they don't get taught by the system.<br />
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Having a child is one of the best things in the world (alongside sleeping and eating) but slowly, as time flies by, they become yours less and less and I'm not ok with that. So I'm going to get away with rebelling as much as I can in the meantime, while she's still all mine.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-12473546009544974232014-10-08T04:07:00.002-07:002014-10-08T04:07:32.927-07:00MR MEN LITTLE MISS X HOUSE OF HOLLAND<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO THIS SATURDAY?? DON'T FORGET TO RSVP!</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109172703044026053.post-42163977545960355862014-10-07T13:40:00.000-07:002014-10-07T13:40:36.515-07:00I just couldn't stay away.<span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">Starting a blog (again) is a bit of a pain in the arse. It's all well and good having lots of things to write about but a blog without a name is just a no go. I've always thought I was quite good at coming up with names(!) so when I started thinking about this blog, I found myself writing down some pretty poor ones. I guess <i>this</i> name is kind of a piss take. I think. I don't know if it's meant to be. I'm definitely a realist but I'm also the realest... Y'know... The Realest. I think Iggy Azeala raps it. As well as other rappers. I'm assuming it's like 'I keep it real' which I do, but it could also mean something else which would mean this blog is actually a load of old bollocks (which it might well be), I haven't done my research because sometimes taking myself seriously makes me cringe*. But anyway... It's a blog about life in general, I suppose. But without all the fluff because I swear and write about life how it is and definitely do not sugar coat anything. Except for pancakes. And sometimes strawberries.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">Why did I decide to write a new blog? Because I outgrew the old one, I outgrew blogging in general. But for the past few weeks I've found that sleep won't come easy to me because my mind is whirring with 'blog posts I'd write if I had a blog'. I started thinking in blogposts. And if that, to you, isn't a sign I should have a blog again then well... Don't read it. I haven't started a new blog because I want to show my life off (it isn't <i>that</i> interesting) or because I want to get a shit load of free stuff OR because I want to get paid to write about stuff</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">. I love writing, that's it. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm not going to bore you with all the shit I used to write about (if you didn't read it before), you can see for yourself </span><a href="http://onlysayingwhatyourethinking.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="font-size: large;">here</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">. I won't bore you with what I'll write here, either, mainly because I don't actually know. Just know that I'll be keeping it real and only saying what you're thinking.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">*After writing this post I googled 'realest' and it turns out it does mean what I thought. Honest, truthful, raw. YES!</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6