I'm on the move

Hello there

I'm on the move.....

I've created another blog and will not be adding to Apple Thoughts anymore.

.......with each blog I grow, with each blog I change, with each blog I have something different to say.

Go to: http://reasonstostaypositive.blogspot.com/

.....to hear what I have to say now.
xxxxx

Happiness

I find retaining happiness quite a challenge, it comes and goes like the wind.

Today I am skipping from one happy moment & feeling - to the next...riding high on a cloud....delicious!

Other days I find i'm heavy footed, plodding and I seem to have forgotten to open my eyes to the small happinesses around me....

The sun, the dog smiling at me in the morning, my first cup of hot drink for the day, the warmth of my fella's morning kiss, the music in my car on the way to work....

Seriously life is good and i'm starting to realise that the good life is a life full of small happinesses.

Amen to that!

Today I say:     Search out your own small happinesses.... your world is full of them - honest!  

Home grown is the way to go

I just had the most delicous salad for my lunch - I threw in the normal spinage leaves, celery, cucumber, orange pepper and beetroot - but the ooh-ba delicious parts were the stuff people gave me that they had home grown:

- Rocket leaves
- Cherry tomatoes
- Corgette
- Carrott
- Green beans

VERY scrummy indeed with lots of fresh bouncy vitamins for my little body to enjoy too!

Today I say:  Eat, taste and enjoy home grown - you can't beat it!

Lets remember Mary Poppins

Did you know?

That the Mary Poppins character was created in a little Town in Australia?
That the character was created close to 100 years ago?
That the small Town of Bowral, where she was created, are trying to decide on a commemorative statue?

Have your say of what statue they choose by going to:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-Poppins-Birthplace-Statue/136011166439373?v=wall

Then click onto the link on left had side of sceen after the description.

I voted for concept one - I wonder which one you will choose!!

Today I say:  I hope you have a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious weekend!

Text of the day

I got sent this text today, silly I know but brought a tear to my eye.....

A strong person knows how to keep their life in order.
Even with tears in their eyes, they manage to say "i'm ok" with a smile.
Karma saw your sadness and said the hard times are now over.

Then is said the blah, blah, pass it onto 10 people stuff - but essentially, aren't the words wonderful

Today I say: Keep strong, keep smiling and keep going!

I've not been eating enough apples!

Hello there

...think i'd better go shopping at the weekend and purchase some apples as  i've been away from my blog for so long!!

Well,what can I say?  I think to be fair i've been totally pooped out with life... working a dual role job, finishing a management course and the normal home life that's included pain & joy!  ...got me into a bit of a tired spot.

These last two weeks have been different though - I won't bore you with the whys and wherefores but this week has been pretty peachy..... putting aside the stupid tension headachs steming from pain in my shoulders and neck that is.

So, life is doing it's thing and i'm trying to let go of the rails to enjoy it!

I'll write again
xxxx

Joke time!

Paddy gets a letter in the post this morning
it lands on the floor and it says on the envelope:
DO NOT BEND
He's still wondering how he's going to pick it up!

Today I say:  Share a crappy joke every day, they're brilliant!

Look at that - it's still light at 7.45pm

Well at first I was miffed at the clocks going forward because it meant I had one hour less holiday time from work, as i'd got the week off - but what the hell did I know..... here we are at 7.45pm monday evening and it's still light out there - how delicious is that!

Definately worth loosing one hours holiday over - lol

Today I say - always remember to look at the bigger picture!

Last day of my week off - boo!

Hello there

Well it's the last day of my week off, which is always a dam shame - but I have to say that i've had a really fab week:

Monday
Me, myself and I day - totally brilliant to give some love to my home and myself by doing some much needed house work and giving myself some beauty treatments and a long soak in the bath with a good book!
Tuesday
Study day (need I say any more!)
Wednesday
Should of been a study day but spent most of the day avoiding it!  I especially enjoyed the afternoon nap that I had, swoon!
Thursday
Morning with Karen and Harry at Moove (soft play place in Trowbridge).  In the afternoon I had another afternoon nap, delish!
Friday
Morning, long doggie walk with Scoot and then took mum shopping in Frome (stopped for coffee) and then went to Clayton's (nephew's) birthday party at Pizza Hut (15 six year old's in total!) - fab fun
Saturday
Study in the morning (thought i'd better get some more done!) had a sleep in the afternoon (could get used to these) and then out in the evening with friends (7 of us in total) to 3 Horse Shoes at Chapmanslade for meal.  Food was hubba, hubba and company was brilliant.
Sunday (today)
We're off to Wincanton Races with friends and will stop for lunch on the way - should be fun!

Today I say - Afternoon naps should be compulsery, they really should...

Happy Birthday Clayton!

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear nephew
Happy birthday to you

Hope you've had a brilliant day and thank you for inviting me to your Pizza Hut party yesterday - I had a fab time.

Lots of love
Auntie Michelle, Uncle Kev and Scoot
xxx

Today I say:  Family first!

Quote of the day!

Today I say:  Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...but about learning how to dance in the rain!

I'm back!

Hello lovely people, i'm back!

Had a slight set back with me little ole blog as i've been too darn busy at work - i'm seriously going to have to sort that out ya know.  Today is the Thursday of my week off and after a few days rest I actually feel like me again, phewie!

Incase you're wondering 'me again' feels like bubbly pink champagne, cute huh! tee-hee.

I'm off out with a dear friend today and her son to an indoor kiddy play park thingie called Moove.  The lovely British weather won't allow us to do parkie n picinic today.

Today should be a fun day, i'm looking forward to it.  I hope your worlds are treating you well?!

In case I don't see you........good afternoon, good evening and good night!
(yup, caught a clip of The Trueman Show the other night....)

Today I say:  Make room for the important things in life and for goodness sake learn to slow down sometimes.

Long time no blog!

I've got blumin RSI in my right wrist and arm - nothing to do with the fact that I have been:

- Going on facebook
- Dealing with my e-mails
- Writing this blog
- Doing assignments for my course
- Working longer hours at work
- Having computer training at work
- Sending texts

mmm..... hence my disappearence from my little blog for a while!  Hope to come and play again at the weekend.

Today I say: Rest my wrist god dam it - end of!

What is your real age?

Oprah's doctor, Dr Oz has got a website which of course is also recommended by Miss O.  It is also now recommended by me too! 

On the website you are able to take a FREE on-line questionnaire that questions all areas of your life, fitness, health etc and works out how old your body actually is compaired to your birth age!

I couldn't wait to test mine - when I did it told me my real age is 37.8 years old.  I'm actually 35.5 years old!

Then based on the answers you give in the questionnaire, the site provides you with tips and advice that are specific to you of how you can improve your real age.  You are also congratulated on what you are doing right too, which I love! The advice is terrific, it really is!

Go to: http://www.realage.com/

Today I say: Take your real age test and find tips to actually become younger!

Heeding my own advice!

I just had to tell you that i've needed to heed my own advice today. I've found this week to be a real tricky one (lots of reasons) so last night I was so sick of feeling tired and emotional that I had an early night and woke up today and told myself - today is going to be a good day - and do you know what..... it's 11.48am and so far it's been pretty brilliant!

Did study first thing, put dish washer on, had breakie, saw a deer & stag in the field behind my house (lush), took dog on long walk in the sunshine, hoovered downstairs, put bedding on for a wash, tidied lounge and kitchen. ...and i'm now having a much needed cuppa char. scrummy!  I'm feeling better now than I have all week, phewie!

The rest of my day will be study, but i'm determined to cram in a chick flick DVD before Kev comes home from work today. (sofa time, yummy!)  Spag bol and crap TV for this evening - sorted!

Today I say: NEVER forget to heed your own advice, it's usually spot on!

Did you know?

Did you know that elephants sleep standing up?

For more interesting facts about sleep go to: http://www.abc.net.au/science/sleep/facts.htm

Today I say:  Every day I am reminded of how much there is still to learn about life

Mimi up-date!

My life at the moment is really busy and it's making my head spin and want lots of sleep!

1) Management course - working on my final (big) report - deadline 14th Feb
2) New computer system install at work (Westbury) training staff, learning the new system myself, ironing out issues with new system, trying to still do the day job AND while trying to maintain my 'other' job at Bradford on Avon!
3) Being skint and working with what we have.  (...and knowing we can't afford a holiday away again this year - boo!)
4) Healthy Eating - Since 1st Jan I have been on a mission to eat more healthly, which of course takes more time to purchase and to make.  Loving the outcome but it's certainly pulling on my time!
5) Doing the best I can to support my lovely fella while he deals with lots of old and new work things

mmm..... i think that pretty much sum's me up right now.  Inside I am happy but on the surface i'm a tired baby girl.

Today I say:  I love my man, my family and my friends who make me stop when I need to stop and who make me smile when I need a chuckle.  I'm a very lucky girl.

Love Mimi
(ie: me, me - it's all about me!  tee-hee!)

Congratulations!

MASSIVE congratuations go to my lovely Cousin Claire who gave birth to a baby boy yesterday.

 - Alexzander 8lb 2oz

They are both well and healthy - such terrific news!

Today I say:  Nothing like a new life to deliver a lovely bucket of joy into so many peoples lives. xx

RIP Adam. xxxx

My love is with his parents, Kim & Teresa, his brother Jake and his wife Ellie and the children.
....i went to the funeral today.

Teresa read out a loving poem she had written and Kim said some lovely words. 
They were so brave, Jake was so proud and strong.
RIP adam.
xxxxxxxx

Joke time!

Paddy is in the airport with two sacks over each shoulder.  All of a sudden he gets stopped by customs and they search the two sacks.  They find loads of mobile phones in them.  Customs officer asks Paddy "Why does he have all these phones?
Paddy replies "well, while I was on me travels in America, I got a phone call from me mate Murphy in Cork.  He told me that he is starting up a jazz band...........and could I bring back two saxophones"

Today I say:  Share a crappy joke everyday, they're brillliant!

Avatar - the movie!

Last Saturday Kev and I went with a group of friends to watch Avatar in 3D.  The film was totally FANTASTIC!  So brilliant that it's even made its way to my top 5 films of all time!!!

To watch the trailor go to: http://www.avatarmovie.com/

Today I say:  If you only watch one film at the cinema this year choose this one in 3D - absolutely terrific!

I'm so excited

I have just heard that my most favourite book in the whole wide world (Eat, Pray, Love) is being made into a film starring Julia Roberts (out in October 2010). AND the author, Elizabeth Gilbert, has written a follow-up book called 'Committed' which is out now.

OH MY GOD! ........I know where i'm going tomorrow - off to the shops to pick up my copy, oh yes!

If you haven't read Eat, Pray, Love - you really must -it's the most self affirming, warm, funny, empowering and spiritual book you'll ever read (well I think so anyway).

Today I say - Don't forget the little things that you love in life!

Easter Island

Last night I got told for the first time about Easter Island (in the south Pacific ocean). I found it to be so interesting that I found some video clips to learn some more.......

The island has 887 moai statues on the island which are made out of compressed volcanic ash (from it's extinct volcano) and took 5-6 men one year to hand carve by using stone chisels. These statues represented human figures of the islands ancestors and were built between the years 1250 and 1500. They have overly large heads that are three-fiths the size of their bodies.
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Between 1722 and 1868 the statues were toppled (face down) by the islanders. This is thought to be due to the deadly conflict between the once harmonious islanders.

During the time that the statues were made and erected the island was a growing and thriving community. The island was covered mainly by rain forest, the soil was rich & furtile and the ocean provided plenty of fish.

During the time that the statues were toppled the majority of the trees had been felled (it's wood over used by it's people) there was heavy soil erosion (mainly due to over farming and the lack of trees) and 5 species of birds became extinct, again due to the lack of tree's. The fish supply had started to disappear too. These facts helped push the islands into conflict and into disregard for their traditions.

By the 19th Century only 100 or so natives had survived the strong waves of attacks, widespread diseases and destruction.

The island provides us a stark example of what could happen if we do not respect the circle of life or the natural resources that mother nature gave us.

....obviously tree's for example help us breath (by cleaning the air of carbon dioxide), they keep the soil rich and furtile, they help maintain a healthy Eco system (animal, insect, bacterial life, etc) - by thoughtlessly felling them the islanders, in essence, ended their own lives as they knew it!

For more info on this, watch a 7 minute clip of David Attenborough's documentary on Easter Island: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hO-vCPuuQQ

Today I say: For me the Moai statues represent the respect we need to show this earth because if it is not cared for it's beauty and abundance will be lost.

Did you know?

Did you know that cow's are one of the main contributors to the hole in the ozone layer because of the gas they release?

To find out why - go to: http://didyouknow.org/animals/cows.htm

Top facts eh!

Today I say - Mother nature, you've gotta love her!

Treat yourself

Yesterday on the way home from work I trotted to the local shop to pick up food for tea. Not very exciting I hear you say - well, this is where the story gets interesting...... (kinda!)

Once at the till and my goods were being wizzed passed the bleepy thing and I glanced across to the flowers for sale and thought to myself, you know what, I'm gonna treat myself to some flowers!

Went across and chose a nice bright bunch for just £3.00. Bargain! When I got home I stuck them in a vase in the kitchen and didn't see them again until the morning.

I tell ya......what a treat it was getting up this morning and seeing them smiling at me. The same happened when I got home from work too. So lovely! They have now been up-graded to the lounge so that I can see them more.

I've made a decision - I'm definately going to buy myself flowers again, it's such a treat!

Today I say - Treat yourself to something inexpensive & different - it's lovely feeling so spoiled.

Sleep please

I feel really tired today, so tired that it's making me feel cranky! Why is it that I can sleep like a baby all week and then have a fairly busy weekend and end up feeling like I've not slept for a month! What's all that about!?!?

.

What I wish for is to have a 'sleep bank'. One that I could put any extra hours of sleep that I manage to snatch into. Then when feeling as knackered as I do today, I could dip into this 'bank' and use up some of my sleep credits so that I could feel sparkly again. I like it!!

.

........this would be particularly perfect for those of you with young kiddies, who like to keep you up for nights on end when poorly. Wouldn't it be great to tap into your 'sleep bank' and top up your levels, especially once you get to the match stick stage at 3am? ....if only eh guys!

Today I say: Make the most of your sleep when you get it, coz as soon as you have a bad night's kip you'll soooooo feel it!

Results!

Thank you to those of you that voted in the 'fruit & veg' survey.

The results showed 60% of you voted that you ate more than 5 portions of fruit & veg a day and 40% of you eat 3-4 portions.

Well, well, well, I do have some healthy friends now don't I ...and I totally thought the result would be lower than that - shame on me for doubting you all. tee-hee.

Today I say - munch on a stick of celery, all your friends are doing it!

Assignment result

Well I be damned, I just found out that I got 79% in my last assignment - whoop, whoop!

I'm doing a Primary Care Management Diploma, which I started in March 2009 and will finish in May 2010. Boy will I be glad when it's finished! The course has been tremendous in that I have learnt and grown so much, but what with doing a full time job, or should I say more than a full time job - it's been one hell of a self motivator test to get the assignments done.

This weekend i'm doing an assignment on Medical Ethics, which show's how not all the assignments are of a 'sexy' subject! Once i've done this one it will be the end of the assignments, yipee! ....and i'll just have the main project of 10,000 words to complete and an oral presentation to give in May. Lucky me!

Today I say: Test yourself by learning something new and get out of your comfort zone, the self satisfaction is terrific!

Haiti earthquake

Well guys I think i've been living under a rock for the last few days.......

Didn't realise until today that there had been a devastating earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday!

Tens of thousands are feared to have been killed and some three million displaced. They are finding some survivors. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8459090.stm Although time is really running out now......

Medical supplies, food and fresh water are in short supply, aid is having difficulty getting through. Most people in the city will spend another day without aid today!

The mood in the city is getting fractious with people scouring for lost family & friends. I don't know what to say, it's so awful out there for them.......

For more info: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8460547.stm

If like me you wish to donate to the cause go to:

http://www.dec.org.uk/

or visit them on face book:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Disasters-Emergency-Committee-DEC/33268280976?v=wall

The Disaster Emergency Committee are listed in the following article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8460380.stm )

Today I say: Think of the people of Haiti often

A website or two!

I have learned today of two websites that have been created by friends.

Charlie is a model and is one of my bestest friends: http://www.charlottecampbell.web.officelive.com/

She looks really beautiful in her portfolio piccy's and i'm dead chuffed at what she's achieved. xxx

A lovely couple I know, Dan & Paula, have recently set up this website: www.thewikanikos.co.uk

The products look really fab, the site is really informative (....fancy setting up your own organic garden, they can show you how) and how brilliant that all products and advice consider the planet, excellent!

Today I say: Proudly celebrate your friends achievements as if they were your own!

Purple grape juice

I was reading a magazine the other day that was talking about purple foods and drinks and why each one is good for you. I got inspired so thought i'd try Welch's purple juice as it's one of the best sources of antioxidents (three times better than orange, apple or grapefruit juice) and one 200ml glass is equilivant to one of your five a day!

Before I read this article I wasn't aware of the importance of antioxidents in our diet - apparently antioxidents reduce the tendency of platelets in the blood to clump together, helping to maintain the free flow of blood in the arteries - well now you know too!

Even without considering all this science stuff - the juice tastes totally delicious, can't imagine going back to orange juice ever again!

Today I say: Try something new, you never know what little gem's you will find.

Joke time!

A distraught farmer finds all his cows frozen in snow. He prays to God for help .........a woman appears, puts her arms over his icey cows and they immediately defrost

"thank you" said the grateful farmer

"you are an angel sent by God"

"no" says the women

"I'm Thora Herd!"

Sorry! Had to be done, tee-hee!

Today I say - Crap jokes are brilliant, share one today.

I've got my mumma back

Whoop....whoop! I've got my mum back home.

She's been staying in far off Wales looking after my 90 year old grandad while my poor granny has been in hospital all over xmas having an op to remove half her bowel. Got told on Friday it's Cancer. (god dam C word!!!)

Granny came home on Friday afternoon which meant after settling her back in mum was able to come home. Dad sounded so relieved to have her back. Granny will find out at her check-up in 6 weeks time what her treatment will be. Mum's expecting to go back and stay with them again then.

I tell ya what there's no judging this big C ya know! My gran is amazing - she has always gone swimming twice a week, walks everywhere, doesn't eat junk, grows her own veg, looks after her cholesterol and bowel movements and still she's go the big C. That's just nuts, isn't it!

Big love goes out to my Granny, please give a little prayer for her, thanks.

Today I say - give some love to your mumma and grandparents, they won't be here forever!

Results!

Thank you to those of you that voted in the 'me time' survey.

The results showed 75% of those who voted had some 'me time' that same day, while 25% of you selected 'me time, what's that!'.

Looks like the majority of you know the importance of keeping your 'me time' bank filled up. Excellent stuff!

Today I say - Keep your 'me time' bank topped up - no one else will do it for you!

Hobbies

Clicked the TV on this morning and a programme called Jump Nation was showing. It's about kids who have taught themselves to skip, made a routine up and are now competing in a competition. The Kids are flipin brilliant, dancing and skippin their little hearts out, trying to impress the judges to be one of the five groups to join 'the master class' at the Jump Academy. The UK jump team are 3rd in the world and did a routine... they were awesome! Ok, so i'm not a kid anymore but I really enjoyed it.

It was fab seeing the comittment from the kids, especially as all we hear from the media nowadays is how kids don't do any exercise, just sit on 'my space' or computer games and eat junk food!

When I was a kid I did majorettes for 6 years and adored it. Big love to my mum who took me and my sister to competitions/fetes/carnivals every weekend. Every night after school me and my best friend would be outside practicing our tricks and making up new routines. It was a massive part of my life which will always be remember with joy.

mmm.... nowadays my hobbies seem to be eating, watching TV, writing this blog and dog walking. I seem to be lacking a bit of passion in my life, a lack of interest in anything more. I know there is more to life than the TV. I seriously recon I need to give this some more thought you know! ...I think there is only so much of life that should be spent in front of a TV screen! I think satisfaction from achievement is a great gift that we could be giving ourselves (and our kids?!) by doing something else.

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Today I say - Make the most of your life by sometimes ditching the TV and doing something different.

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Goodbye chocolate

Right that's it, it's all over! My relationship with chocolate is finished (for now!!). We've just got through the last box of choc's left over from xmas and boy am I relieved. Every night i've been stuffing my little chops with the stuff and my body is crying out for fresh food, for fruit, for salad for crunch and juice..... mmm.... my mouth is watering!

Today I say - goodbye chocolate and hello good to the good stuff

How happy are you?

While watching the Oprah Show today on TV (....i was also studying - honest!) they were asking the audience "How happy are you?". They gave the audience a quiz. Go to:
www.oprah.com/survey/oprahshow/20070411_tows_happy

This is so that you can score your happiness! I scored 32/35. Which i'm really 'happy' with - tee-hee!

The British doctor on the show, Dr Holden (who has a new book out called 'Happiness Now') said a few interesting things:

1) We were all born happy & he says we've just forgotten this!
2) We all have joy within us, it's our perception that makes us think we are unhappy
3) It's not IF we die, it's WHEN we die - it IS going to happen - so make the most of marvelous Monday and terrific Tuesday etc...
4) Lots of people are 'destination addicted' which are those of us that say "I'll be so much happier when......... I get that house, when I get that job, when I fall in love, when I get those shoes, etc" and then when we get those things we are then onto the next destination of "I'll be so much happier when......... I get furniture in that house, when I get that pay rise, when he asks me to get married, when i get another pair of shoes, etc"

And my personal favourite comment he made:
"Everyone has had enough bad experiences by the time they are 30 to be miserable for the rest of their lives!" He tells the audience to "give up all hopes of a perfect past and appreciate the joy of today, every day"

The other thing he said was that we all live by our perceptions. Our perceptions are programmed to let us be always 'right!' so if we perceive that: our life is awful, tomorrow will be crap, the meeting won't go well with my boss, etc our perception will pick out and notice all the things that happen that makes us believe this to be true.

This is also the same if we perceive that our life is brilliant, tomorrow will be a great day, the meeting will be positive with my boss, etc - our perception will pick out and notice all the things that happen that makes us believe this to be true.

This is all because we are naturally programmed to be proved right! (everyone wants to be right, eh!). Which is why optimists are always right and pessimists are always right!

He says that starting with positive thinking will really improve your life - I don't doubt that he's right you know! I once heard someone say that the mind can only hold onto one thought at a time, so if you tell yourself today will be a good day then your day will be good and you will feel peachy. But if you tell yourself today is going to be a shit day - then it will be and you will feel miserable. Obviously it takes practice - like re-programming a computer - but it works, I've tried it!

Today i say - wake up tomorrow and tell yourself 'today will be a good day'. Every time a bad or negative thought comes your way, bat it back with 'today will be a good day'. Be persistent and I guarantee you WILL have a good day!

Reasons why I love the snow....

• It looks pretty
• It crunches when you step on it
• My dog adores it! ...jumps around like an idiot, bless.
• It reminds me of when i've been skiing....
• ...and when I was a kid making snowmen with my dad
• It made me walk to work
• People said good morning to me as we walked past each other
• The people on our estate have pulled together and cleared enough snow for people to use their cars
• I got to wear my black furry hat with the dog flaps on it
• Looking at all the different size foot prints in the fields from people, pets and animals
• Laughing at my dog who does seem to like to eat yellow snow!
• Seeing the snowmen...love seeing the snowmen

Today I say - Make the most of the snow!

Chilly all over

Well i must say the weather is a bit nippy out there today - some people might even say it's a bit chilly! mmm... talking of chilly - we're having chilli for tea tonight - yummy! Nothing like a chilli to warm ya cockles. Do you see what I did there, chilly & chilli? Yup - I crack myself up!! tee-hee.

Hope you are having a nice chilled out evening! Sorry, did it again........ tee-hee! I'll go now....... but before I do.....

Today I say - cook yourself a chilli, it'll make you feel scrummy and warm all over!

Gain a little perspective

Nothing like a reality check to start the year!

Heard today that a special friend of mine's son suddenly died at the weekend. He was only in his twenties & had three kids. Imagine what his family is going through........ My heart is with them today.

Mmm.....puts the fact that I got cross this morning because I couldn't open my car door, as it was fixed shut by Mr Frost last night, and I wanted to arrive early at work today!

Today I say - remember to gain a little perspective!

Dressing up is fun!

In the last week I have dressed up twice! Once for new years eve and again last night.

New Years Eve theme was 'music stars' at our local pub. Kev and I decided to go as The Pussycat Dolls.

Last nights theme was a Murder Mystery Evening at a friends house. We had to dress up as particular chosen characters from 1912.

Both nights were absolutely FANTASTIC! But it wasn't just the night, it was the getting prepared too, the weeks leading up to the event, planning what we were to wear.

What was also good was how different certain clothes made me feel. Cat woman made me feel sexy, young and slinky! Where as Agatha Eton-Hogg made me feel very much a strong, intelligent woman. mmm....what a difference a couple of days make - I went from a sex kitten to a lady as quick as a flash. So this got me to thinking - isn't that how every woman feels she needs to be; the lady & the tart - all in one!

mmm... while we ponder on that...!!! I would like to make it known that:

Today I say - Dressing up is fun!

Breathing space

Upon waking up today I've had the first hour all to myself. My man and dog are both still in bed. There is no radio or TV on. No sounds coming from outside. Instead it's just me. Just little ole me in the silence and it got me thinking...... how often do we actually take 'time out', how often do we allow ourselves some breathing space?

Life is generally so fast, so busy, so demanding and yet what most of us don't do often enough is STOP when we really need to.

Someone once told me that we all are like Banks. There is only so long we can keep giving out money before we have to find a way to bring some money back it - otherwise the bank will run dry and it will have nothing left to give.

This is so true. How many times do you feel you're knackered and don't have anything left to give!?

Taking a 'time out' is the answer to put some money back into our 'banks'. This can be done by going for a walk and looking at the sky, trees or peoples gardens and by breathing in the cool fresh air. Or by taking a long hot bubbly bath and concentrating on how the warm water feels against every individual body part and how the sweet smell of the soap as it's lathers in our hands.

Or like me today, wandering about my kitchen and lounge acknowledging and appreciating the silence, how the quiet makes me feel and how I've noticed things around me that I normally take for granted - the fridge quietly humming, the light catching my favourite ornament on my mantle piece, the sumptuous colours of the fruit in my fruit bowl or the photo of me and my sister laughing.

So I say today - give yourself a little breathing space!

Family and friends first

I just caught the end of a TV programme which interviews people who are waiting at the airport to collect someone why they are there and what is their story.

There was this Indian guy stood with a bunch of red roses waiting for his wife, who he had not seen for 2 months. She was coming from India to join him in the UK to live. They met when they were at school and fell in love. They then worked together and over time decided they wanted to get married. Due the their culture her parents would not allow this marriage. So she firmly told them that if she can't marry him, she won't marry anyone else! For 5 years she stayed firm and over these years her parents got to know her boyfriend bit by bit - and they finally accepted him as they could see the care, respect and love he had for her. The story touched me because of his obvious love for his wife and how she stuck up to parents, firm and strong for so long!

So there I was with tears quietly plopping down my little cheeks as he was re-united with his wife and it got me to thinking - you know what?! Family and friends come first.......... all the other crap that surrounds us is just that crap, things or stuff!

When we're on our death bed we're not going to be led there thinking of how many shoes we've got, how often we managed to keep the bathroom clean or how we managed to catch every episode of Eastenders - instead we will be thinking about those that we love, how much we love them and how much love came back in return.

So I say today - put family and friends first!