On establishing a new rhythm.

It's hard to believe how fast time is flying by at the moment. I had heard people say that once children are in the picture that the "days are long but the years are short," and I can already see so much truth in that. I can't believe we already have a 9 month old who is growing by the second. We have a pretty set routine by now, which I think is helping us all to keep the rhythm of the house going. Finn especially is thriving in having his patterns and is most definitely a homebird like his Dad! Sometimes it makes our windows of opportunity to go out on trips a little smaller as he loves his naps, but I know that won't last forever, so we are adapting to that and sticking to what works for now. I think it's important to be honest and say that sometimes motherhood in these early stages can get a little lonely, and I don't have the time to give to friendships in the same way that I used to, but Tom and I talk about this a lot and we are going to try find a better balance of that. 

I went back to work part-time when Finn was 3 months old, which was a big adjustment, but it was the right decision for us. I am extremely grateful to have a job that is so flexible and allows me to be at home. I really enjoy working and it helps us keep the household afloat at a time where finances are so stretched. I like the focus it brings me and the feeling that I'm contributing to something bigger than myself. It also helps that I've always truly loved the line of work I'm in, so it doesn't feel like such a chore to be doing it. We are now in a place where I work out of the house one day a week, Finn is at nursery for my half day and he gets to spend time with his beloved "Ninny" (Great-Grandma) for my other day. In order for both Tom and I to work, we have sacrificed some of our time off together as a three - we currently only have one day a week to go out and enjoy family trips, but we are getting better at planning more intentional time off together so we can all make some memories and have much needed downtime.

I think all of the above; life rotating around nap times and feeding times, working, cleaning, cooking - all the things it takes to make our family work, is what is making time go so quickly! Over the last few months, I have taken Finn along to several different classes and groups, but I find that he is happiest when he is in his own surroundings, so for now I am giving that a break. We still go out every day for a walk or we play in the garden as he loves being outdoors, and I still like the chance to sit in a coffee shop for a change of scenery. I really struggle with 'cabin-fever' if I spend more than a day in the house, so I know it's important for my well-being to get out each day, even if for a short time. As we spend more time at home, I'm finding that I have more time to myself as our days together are more predictable, so I have been trying to think of ways to fill those gaps, as well as finding time to rest. 

I keep going through phases of reading, which is a pastime I've always enjoyed. I keep testing out fiction, but it is almost always a memoir that will get me hooked to the point I can't put the book down. I'm just a non-fiction reader! I've been going to a local slow cooker group as part of SureStart, which has been my favourite group so far, and that has re-inspired me to try new things in the kitchen. I find the slow cooker so handy because it takes usually less than 30 minutes to prep everything in the morning, or when Finn is occupied and then it is ready for us to enjoy in the evening. It's also a much more econmical option, as well as there being less to tidy up afterwards! I made a chicken curry packed with vegetables tonight and it was devoured! Besides that, I've been spending time in the garden which is becoming more of a hobby of mine, although most of our pots were almost destroyed in some recent strong winds! I've been learning about which plants I like and disklike, which ones to put together in a pot and which will grow to take up all the space! Our strawberry plant and blueberry bush are doing particularly well this year so that has been quite satisfying.

We will soon be having a week off together just to relax and do some nice, quiet things to help us all refresh and recharge. Tom is going to take over a bit so I can have some time with friends and still get my day out of the house. There are a few workshops coming up in the summer that I'd like to try out to see if I can find a new hobby that might entertain me either at home or as part of a group. I'd like to find something to do with my hands...something crafty or kitchen related. I've seen a bread-making class that I'm tempted by as I'd love to learn how to make some of the more traditional breads found in Ireland, and I know I have a very willing taste-tester in the house!

As I sit and reflect on how much life has changed since our boy arrived, I don't see any of it as a negative. I feel more content now than I ever have, and I love watching Finn thrive in his safe space and familiarity. Our life is slower than I've been used to, and sometimes I can feel myself wanting to be busy instead of making the most of this more peaceful season. But I am truly grateful for everything about this stage we are in, even though it of course has it's fair share of hard and exhausting moments, usually on the daily. But, as I stand and watch the joy on my sweet sons's face as he sits in a swing, with the wind in his hair, it reminds me that those times are what it's all about, and that this is where I'm supposed to be.

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On restoring our space.

I know there's a common message about January, that it lasts about 234,857 days, but for me, this month has flown by. As I said previously, we were working on rearranging the house & it finally feels like that project is about completed. It's funny with things like this, you really see your true personalities coming out. I learnt again that I just want to push really hard & get it all done as soon as possible, & Tom has a much more laid back/last minute (!) approach, which about partway through the project caused us to pause, re-group & come up with a plan to power through. It was so hard to know what to do first because in-between caring for Finn & taking him to classes, Tom working full-time, me working part-time & the rest of the everyday house jobs needing to be done, it was a LOT to manage! Every room in the house felt chaotic to me because there were boxes, bags, clothes, toys & everything else everywhere.
Given that we now have lots of extra toys/clothes/blankets, and all the other "stuff" that comes with a baby in the house, we soon realised we just didn't have enough storage, so that was what we focussed on. We only painted one room, & we decided after originally prepping the small room as Finn's room that it wouldn't be big enough for him, so we did all the work of getting the bigger bedroom ready for him to move into in a few months now before we have a crawler on our hands!! We have now created a small office space & will soon move our beloved changing table away so we can free up the rest of the office room to store other things. I've been going out finding cheap storage options & found some underbed storage bags that are HUGE in Lidl along with other plastic boxes so we can stack everything away in cupboards & get them out when needed. I also found some really cheap hanging storage which we can use for his baby toiletries by the new changing station that sits on a chest of drawers & another will go downstairs somewhere, probably in the kitchen! It just feels a lot more like we know where everything is now & there's a better sense of order. 

My new favourite space in the house is our little corner in the living room by the window with this beautiful rocking chair so I can sit & read there. Full disclosure, our clothes airer has become a bit of a permnanent fixture just next it because at the moment it feels like a never-ending task to stay on top of that! Whilst Tom was building new furniture, I was listing the old stuff online & we did really well to shift everything. Tom did several trips to the recycling centre to take all the cardboard & I did some charity shop runs & still have a few bags ready to go. I recently saw an idea to put numbers 1-30 on separate pieces of paper & put them in a jar - you pick a number out each day & whatever number you choose is the number of things you need to giveaway/donate. I'm going to try that for February; it can be anything as small as a book, a t-shirt, anything you no longer need. I might not be able to donate that number of things, but I think it will give me a good thing to focus on & will help us continue to declutter. Alongside that, I'm going to have a "no online shopping" month. I found that whilst I took a break from social media I ended up opening more emails from different places advertising sales - so I definitely need to kick that habit! I have actually had a number of hiccups with items getting delivered anyway; I am fairly certain that Evri took on a bad driver & my parcel was stolen (I know it wasn't our usual driver because I saw him the today & asked him about it!) & I have a feeling I'm about to get stung on something we needed for Finn because I didn't realise the shop didn't send all their products directly & I've had it before where some companies won't ship to NI from Mainland UK but no-one ever makes that clear. 

For Finn's new room we chose the colour "Nordic Sky" & after seeing lots of winter clothes in the arctic animal theme (which I am SO excited for him to wear!), I found some of the cutest wall stickers to put in places that Finn can see them. I have cried several times throughout this process as I think about how fast time is going (he is 4 months next week!), how quickly he is growing & how he's changing all the time. It's so exciting to see his personality coming out & we loved creating this space for him but I'm sure like every parent, a part of me wants him to stay this little forever! I have just started taking him to the swimming pool as he seems to take after me & is a water baby so I really want to encourage that. I also shed a tear the first time I took him there! For the first few months of taking Finn out, I/we had only been staying fairly local so didn't take loads of things with us but as we are going out more often & for longer, I decided to finally invest in a "mum" backpack which has 18 pockets & is the best thing ever! It fits all our swimming gear & bottles/flasks & everything else we could possibly need! I found it on Amazon (I know not everyone agrees with this!) & it was 20% off but is really good quality.

Doing all this work helped me to see that ultimately with whatever project I come up with, I am always seeking peace. That is why the word "Shalom" is at the centre of our home. I really believe that a peaceful home makes for a more peaceful life & to me it just feels better to have some sense of order about the place. Of course, having toys laying around & the laundry hanging are the things that make it lived in so I hope it will always have that balance. I've noticed lately that when I take Finn out he is so much quieter than when he's at home which shows me this is the place he feels safe & comfortable, so we must be doing something right! 

This weekend I am taking a whole day to myself to go off to the big smoke - I've only had one day on my own since Finn was born that was just for me & that was cut short because I was so worried about getting out of the house quickly before he woke up that I forgot my phone! I keep planning all the shops I'll browse & how many coffee shops it's reasonable to visit in one day. For now, Finn has woken up from his morning nap, the laundry is calling & soon he will be hungry again!

Much love x 

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On finding our place.

I can't believe it's coming up to four years since I moved to NI. The amount that has happened in that time, both good & bad, is impossible to quantify! Having moved around a few times, I've learnt that there are certain things I need to have in place before somewhere truly feels like "home." I'm sure this list would be different for everyone, but it dawned on me this week that I do feel like I've finally found my feet here, particularly in the village we have lived in for almost a year. 

Walking is truly one of my favourite pastimes, not only is it the best way to get to know a place, but I find it helps you notice the seasons more as you watch the colours changing. And now I have a buddy with me! I take Finn on walks as often as I can because it is so good for us both to get out for some fresh air. It's the best time for me to clear my mind & he usually falls asleep as he loves the white noise & being cosy in his pram. We went down the road one day this week & that is what inspired this post. As we set off, we saw our neighbour coming back from a dog walk & he warned me it was a bit wild by the seafront. We also waved at a fellow regular baby-walker (I think he's a grandad) who always wears a flourescent yellow jacket whilst speed-walking with his pram & goes out at a similar time to me. We saw Tom's Nana's knitting friend who likes to look out for Finn as we walk past her house most days & she regularly hears about him & we waved at one of two delivery drivers who love to chat to us when they drop parcels off. The one who I know a bit better asked me this week if & when Finn would be getting a sibling!! Once we got home, I sat & thought about how nice it is to walk around & feel like you know people in your area. For this reason, a regular walking spot is definitely something I need in "my place." 

I have a few different walks that I used to do most weekends by myself as Tom is usually working but I'm only just starting to feel brave enough to do those by myself with Finn. It's a lot to get used to all the extra things you need to take with you & I like to go out as soon as he's finished a feed because that gives me maximum time to relax & enjoy the walk & usually a coffee. Funnily enough, most of my favourite walks end up in a good coffee shop, which I'll talk about more below. But, if you're ever in the area, these are my favourites: 

Bridewell Coffee - Donaghadee // Firebox - Ballywalter // Haptik - Newtownards // Copeland Distillery - Donaghadee // Joxer - Bangor // Lekker - Greyabbey

It will be unsurprising for many who know me, but finding the right 'regular' coffee shop is an absolute must. I was recently thinking about the coffee shop back home that we spent half of our teenage years in - it was always our meeting point & we spent every Saturday in there for years, plus at some point nearly all my friends worked there, including myself. They did such a good chicken & pesto mayo sandwich that I need to recreate! Since then, I've not really had my regular spot. But I stumbled upon one recently (pictured above & below) that I went to with a visiting friend & just knew it was the one. It's pretty tiny but it has a gorgeous view, lovely coffee & locally made treats plus a nice little walk around the grounds that we can enjoy afterwards. We had a visit there yesterday & it was such a sweet little trip where Finn fell asleep so I enjoyed a hot coffee in peace.

There are lots of other things that I think make a place feel like home. I am not really one for getting 'pampered,' but I do love getting my nails done & had my favourite spot in Yorkshire that I loved going to for different treatments. I've been looking for the right place for a while & have finally found someone who is local & does my nails how I like them. She is very reasonably priced & getting my nails done is one of the only times I go out in an evening these days so it's something I want to keep up with when I can a few times a year. I just went recently & decided to go super girly with pink & a glitter top! 

I mentioned in the last post that we are busy making changes in our home to make it more functional. A few different things arrived this week so we are almost ready to start the re-arranging. We need to choose a paint colour for the only room we are painting & then we can start building the furniture. I was able to shift a lot of our other things through Marketplace which has freed up some space & then this week I plan on going to a couple of my favourite charity shops to drop off some donations. I've never used Vinted but I want to sit & put some baby clothes on there & see how that goes! We've just put down the classic foam tiles so Finn can test out tummy-time & laying on his back on there. I bought them before he was born because they were on offer (!) but the health visitor came this week & said he is definitely ready to roll (at 3 months!) so we want to give him a comfortable space to test that out. I ordered one new print with a quote that I have loved for many years & found the cutest design from Violet & Alfie via Etsy (they were all discounted!) so I am excited to find a frame for that & add it to the corner of the living room that I'm imagining will be a bit of a reading nook. 

This week has been a much better pace for me than the weeks that preceeded & I am definitely starting to feel more on top of things. I've enjoyed being back in the kitchen because I've hardly cooked lately so this week I wrote a big list & went out to do the food shop whilst Tom was at home with Finn. It feels like forever since I had a meal plan but this week I made Tom's favourite 'fruity curry,' a beef hotpot & I've put our favourite BBQ pulled chicken in the slow cooker for tonight. We've had some lovely walks but taken it easy after Finn had his 2nd vaccinations this week. I started taking vitamins again & feel like I have more energy, plus it helped me finally kick my sore throat post-Covid! Everything just feels a lot more peaceful, something which I hope will continue for as long as possible. 

Much love xx 

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My day in cups of tea.

My first confession is that this theme is taken straight from a regular feature in my favourite magazine, The Simple Things. I always enjoy reading about how other people live their days & I have been watching a bit more YouTube recently which has probably also inspired this post. I have seen various 'vlogs' or 'vlogmas' series' but some of it goes a little bit too far for me in terms of oversharing! I was watching someone recently who has a baby a month or so older than mine but she shares a daily vlog - I can only imagine how much harder everything is if she is having to film & edit every day - not something I'd like to spend my time doing! But I have taken a break from social media for a while & felt myself drawn to writing again because it is more of an outlet for me & feels like a better use of my time than constant scrolling. I've been thinking too about how much Finn might see me pick up my phone throughout the day & I don't want him to think me sitting on my phone is more important to me than his needs.

I chose to share my day in cups of tea today because we are about to start a new routine. From next week, I will be returning to work part-time but working from home. We have also just begun to re-surface after Covid entered the house, so we had an extended Christmas break with the three of us at home. Upto now we have left things fairly relaxed with the baby & a natural rhythm has emerged. But as we are on the cusp of teething & potentially sleep regression, we thought we would try bring a greater sense of routine to our days in the hope that it would benefit us all. We are all night owls which is a bit unfortunate so we are going to start with bedtime by trialling putting Finn to bed & watching him on the monitor, followed by an earlier bedtime for us to help us get more organised in the morning. So, here goes...

9amOur day started at 3am today as Finn woke up & was hungry. For some reason, he woke up several times before that wanting his dummy back so I had a pretty disturbed night up to that point. Tom did the nightfeed & then we all got back to sleep until about 8am. After feeding, changing & dressing him, I put Finn in his beloved bouncer whilst I made my first coffee of the day. My pod machine was a Christmas gift after I'd had a Nespresso machine before & switched but then I missed it! So I got out my old favourite cup which I used to use every morning when I left the house at 7am to commute to Belfast. How I don't miss those days! Anywho, today was the first time I took Finn to a baby massage class so it was a hectic morning getting everything ready. By the time we had arrived he was fast asleep and didn't wake up until nearly the end of the class, so he only got a very brief bit of massage on one leg! After this I went to pick up a prescription and we had a quick walk along the sea front. Quick being the operative word as it was so windy! 

11:30am

We returned home & I hoped I'd have chance to grab my breakfast after just having a banana before we left. Of course, I took one mouthful of cereal & Finn decided he was hungry again too! I'd just boiled the kettle ready for a cup of tea so I got to sit down & enjoy that after feeding Finn. 

We did used to have a daily contact nap but Finn didn't seem to want that anymore until yesterday when I was stood up bouncing him & he fell fast asleep on me. To my surprise, he did the same thing this afternoon & has stayed asleep which has given me the chance to sit & start this post! Whilst he was sleeping it gave me chance to catch up on some TV; I finished up the new series of Emily in Paris, watched the 1st episode of series two of Love Life (Netflix) & the 1st episode of The Great Pottery Throw Down (Channel 4). 

After I put Finn down to continue his nap, I decided it was time to put some of our decorations back up. I took down all the festive ones right after Christmas, but haven't replaced them yet with our usual things so everything looks a bit bare at the moment! We are in the midst of making some big changes to the layout of the house to create a home office space & move Finn into the bigger bedroom so we will be painting & building lots of furniture! We collected a 2nd hand daybed yesterday & have been selling bits of our furniture that we won't need anymore along the way to clear space. I've been searching the sales & found some really good bargains, most of which arrive tomorrow so that will keep Tom busy as he is the builder of things!! Overall, we need everything to be more functional for us & now seemed a good time to do it before Finn is walking about. Whilst doing my other daily jobs in the house, like cleaning the bathroom or food prep, I've been listening to "Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley," which is an interesting podcast that talks about small changes you could make in life. I've also been listening to "All in the Mind," from BBC Radio 4. 

7pm

As part of our new routine, we are trying out a bath, bottle, bed approach. Finn absolutely LOVES the bath & kicks like crazy when he's in there! I bought a Nuby watering can for the bath & as soon as he sees it he gets so excited. He has very sensitive skin like I do & we've found the best stuff for him is Child's Farm. It can be quite expensive (I always buy it on offer!) but it lasts ages. The scents are all gorgeous & the nappy cream really works. I sit & write this section at 9.30pm where Finn has been asleep now for a good hour & we are sat intently watching him on the monitor & missing him! But, given that he's already having a good rest, we know a routine is what he needs. P.s. I'm now on the decaf!

 

10pm 

I became quite fixated on skincare when I was pregnant & that has become an important part of my daily routine. I'm sure there should be some stuff that would be better done in the morning, but I like to think it will all sink into my skin overnight. I always go to the Boots sale at Christmas & this year I managed to find some nice sets of No7 skincare so I've been using that. I also found the 'Glow' facial brush which is a good exfoliator for me so I've been using that every day too. I got a free pot of Weleda Body Butter with my magazine subscription & it works so well for my skin. As does the Child's Farm handcream which I got free with an order from Boots.

I've also been trying to read again & always compile a small list throughout the year to pop on my Christmas list. I have a good pile now to work my way through, so when time allows I have been diving back into reading. After reading his previous book; "The Diary of a Bookseller," I asked for the follow up title by Shaun Bythell and have been working my way through that. It's a small book so I'm sure it won't take me long! 

Overall, it has been a busy but productive Monday for me! In between Finn's naps, I had to sort out various appointments that start up again this week like his next Health Visitor appointment & vaccinations. It was so nice to have a break from all that during Christmas but the house visits should get less frequent now. The rest of the week will be a similar level of activity but will be my last week at home just Finny & me before things change again. I'm so grateful that I can still be at home with him & he can spend a bit more time with his daddy & other family. 

Thanks for reading xo

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On preparing for change.

And just like that, our first Christmas as a 'three' has come and gone. Plus, my first birthday as a mummy! We had a wonderful, albeit busy, time with family visiting from England and it was special to celebrate it together as it was the first Christmas without our Gran. We have already taken down the decorations so we can spend the next few days quietly resting. Which is now more important than it was a few days ago as we have both been struck with whatever virus is going round & we are trying to protect the baby from catching any form of it. As we look ahead to a new year, I always like to take time out to reflect and to think about what is to come, so this seemed like the perfect time to do that. 

For us, 2022 was the year that gave and took away. We found out early on that I was pregnant so that of course changed the trajectory of everything. I remember sitting down the first week of January getting so organised, writing goals |& thinking of what I wanted to achieve, only to throw them out the window two weeks later. From then, I ended up having to change my job unexpectedly in March which was a huge cause of stress, followed by our landlord sending us a WhatsApp message (!) to say she was selling the house right after we had confirmed that we were going to stay another year. With 3 major things happening at once, it felt like everything was up in the air & I didn't know how we'd get through it. Thankfully, by the time we had our first scans and follow ups, we knew everything was fine with the baby, I settled in to my two new part-time jobs and we moved to a house much more suitable to welcome a newborn. 

The stress began to subside slightly once we had finally unpacked & settled into the house & we had our next scan to find out the gender. In the summer, we were able to travel back to England to catch-up with everyone & to have my baby shower. It was such a special time for Tom to finally be able to meet more of my family and friends & sadly it would be the last time I was able to see Gran in person. We were visiting during a heatwave, so being quite pregnant in 30+ degree heat was not an easy experience & we were pretty glad to get back to a much cooler NI! That was really our only break all year so we hope next year to be able to plan a little holiday as paternity leave did not count as rest!

As I wrote recently, Finn arrived 12 days late but he was perfect nonetheless. Since then, we have been enjoying parenthood & watching him grow & change every day. We got through his first vaccinations which I found harder than he did & his next ones are around the corner. We also had a surprise visit to A&E with him due to a high temperature but thankfully everything was fine & he handled it like a champ! Just a few weeks ago, after her quite rapid decline, we lost Gran. Navigating that loss from a distance, whilst juggling the highs & lows of motherhood & ever-changing hormones has been very challenging for me. It has been so many juxtaposing emotions at once. Such a picture of the realities of life. 

Change is on the horizon again, so I thought now would be the perfect time for me to switch off social media for a while & focus on the here & now. In a couple of weeks, I will be returning to one of my jobs, which admittedly is much sooner than I would've imagined, but it is something I have to do. I am very grateful that my employers are being so accommodating & flexible. It also gives me motivation to focus on establishing a routine with Finn & getting him used to spending time with other people. I've also signed us up to a couple of classes to join together which I think will be good for both of us. We will do everything we can to make our new routine work for us - but the stress of finances is something we don't want hanging over us any more - so as a family we are working hard to eliviate some of that. 

One of the major things I learnt about myself after having Finn was how much I love being home & making it a space that is comforting for us all & is somewhere we can thrive & feel safe. Due to that, we have decided in the new year to rearrange the house to make it more functional for all of us. I am spending time looking for furniture & paint colours that will help us create a small home office & make our spare bedroom into Finn's bedroom for when he moves into his bigger bed in a few months. This will also free up some space in our living room to make it more suitable for guests & give more room for Finn to move about in. He is growing so quickly & I really want to spend time organising his clothes & toys so it feels a bit less haphazard. We have nowhere near enough storage for all the beautiful gifts he was showered with this Christmas! I'm excited for a project to focus on, I think it will be a positive way to start the new year!

Overall, 2022 had some high highs and some low lows but as always, we come out stronger because of it. We have the excitement of watching our boy grow, learn & experience new things & the things we have been through together have brought us so much closer together as a family unit. I couldn't be more grateful to have the support that I do & to have a partner who encourages, listens, communicates, cares & loves as well as he does. Our time together is the most precious thing in the world to me right now & we will strive to find a balance that works for us this year. 

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year. Sending peace & love x

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On creating calm.

As we hit the anniversary of lockdown, a place many of us never imagined we would be, I have been thinking a lot about how to maintain spaces of calm to counteract the external stressors that we are still facing. For all the reading and research I've done into this topic, it almost always seems to come back to one thing: balance. The other thing it needs to be coupled with: kindness. Some days we will get it right, other days we won't and that's OK - we will never be able to completely eliminate stress, and there will always be unforseen circumstances, but we can find ways to make it more manageable. I am certainly no expert in any of this, but I wanted to share some of the practices I have been focussing on lately, and ones that I've used for many years, in order to welcome calm into my life. 

Rituals 

Bedtime

I just finished reading a nice little book I got for 

Christmas called "Seeking Slow" by Melanie Barnes. It's an easy 'nightstand' read and gave some great little tips and reminders. I had already been working on reintroducing a good nighttime routine to ensure a good nights sleep, which this book called a 'ritual.' When it's getting to about 9pm, I've started to unwind and begin my quiet time. The Yogi Tea - Classic brew has long been one of my favourite drinks so I enjoy sitting and sipping on that in an evening. I've also started using a new 'pillow mist' and eye mask for comfort and always spend some time quietly in bed where I moisturise my face and settle in for the night. I have been limiting my screen time by leaving my phone in another room (if I keep missing your calls, that's why!) so that I don't spend every evening scrolling on social media. 

Coffee

I was recently surprised with a beautiful new coffee machine and using that has become my new favourite morning ritual. I am a huge coffee lover but normally have just the one coffee a day now so I love being able to spend the time crafting a lovely drink to kick start my day. I bought a coffee grinder to go with it, so the process involves griding fresh beans, prepping the Espresso machine, brewing the coffee and steaming the milk. It's easy to make this a slow, mindful process to take in all the aromas of a freshly brewed cup of joe to start your day peacefully. I'm sure this would work for other hot drinks if you aren't a coffee lover - but the main point is to find an activity that you can bring an element of 'slowness' to.

 

Cooking & Baking

One of the plus sides of being home a LOT more has been the chance to experiment a bit more in the kitchen. I cook most of our meals from scratch and love the process of creating something that takes time to enjoy. I might not always have the time to put into creating meals that need a lot of prep so I'm trying to make the most of that chance whilst it's here. Some meals have multiple components - I found an easy 'naan bread' recipe which accompanys our curry, a really tasty flatbread recipe which serves as pizza base or cheesy garlic bread for with pasta and I think I've perfected the roast potato! 

Baking has long since been one of my favourite hobbies and it's great to have some willing taste testers around! I've tried lots of new recipes over this past year including; Mars Bar Brownies, NYC Choc Chip Cookies, Millionaires Shortbread, Chocolate Guinness Cake, Biscoff Fudge and Cinnamon Swirls. Most of those recipes are taken from Jane's Patisserie who just annouced a new recipe book which will absolutely be going in my online basket! Whilst I've been busy getting creative in the kitchen, I've found that we've spent more time together as a couple whilst Tom gets more involved in parts of it (though he might not admit that!) so I enjoy it for that, too - a sense of joint accomplishment and to be able to teach him some baking skills!

One thing I've also spent time on is looking for products that are seasonal and grown or created locally in order to support small businesses and artisans in Northern Ireland. This country is bursting with excellent produce and talented makers and I love the process of going to local markets and connecting with businesses, usually on Instagram. Most of my favourite finds come from The Farm Shop at Kylestone, of course!

Yoga Nidra & Meditation 

I first started attending Yoga Nidra sessions a few years ago in Halifax, through the wonderful Natalie at Northern Alchemy Therapies and recently began searching for online sessions again as I have really missed it. Yoga Nidra has been such a calm and relaxing experience for me and the in person sessions I went to were so cosy and peaceful. I learnt a lot from Natalie and joined an online session she did recently which was so special! I have been using online sessions from YouTube to try and find the right type and I've also added this into part of my bedtime ritual as referenced above - these meditations are great to fall asleep to as you quiet your mind and increase awareness of your body. I've also been exploring Guided Meditations through YouTube - I was recommended Tara Brach who does some great sessions. Just 15 minutes a day of this quietness can make such a huge difference. I'm no expert, but I am certainly finding it useful!

Walking & being outdoors 

This will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me or follows me on social media but for me, there is nothing quite like time spent in the outdoors! I am very lucky to live within a stones throw of some absolutely stunning walks and coastal paths and I adore exploring those areas. A sprinkle of sunshine always makes a difference! I always feel better after a walk, as if I can take on the world again. I personally never wear headphones because I enjoy taking it all in - the sounds of the sea, the wind, the birds, the people chatter. That's all part of the experience for me but it isn't for everyone. I have realised recently that I need to make time every day for this, even if it's just a short walk because I can notice that I feel different on the days I haven't been outside at all. I am so excited for the longer evenings that are coming and am really enjoying noticing the changes of the seasons with more colour bursting through. As we still can't sit indoors in cafes or restaurants, I am appreciating that the warmer days make it possible to enjoy a coffee outdoors on a bench without fear of freezing to death! 

Wild Swimming is very popular here and I did that a number of times my first year here but would love to get back into that - I did have a paddle after a lovely sunny walk last weekend but that's as brave as I was feeling! 

Calm spaces in the home 

This is the first time I've had full reign of a whole home and I have loved being able to make it a comfortable space for us both. I have always loved cosy lighting and have candles going every night along with fairy lights, night lights and lamps. I think lighting really sets the tone for the space. During the day, I usually diffuse some essential oils and though I am no expert in this either - I do think it makes a difference to feel the of the place. 

I love Tisserand and have been using these two scents a lot recently - Mind Clear and Total De-Stress. They smell so refreshing and uplifting! I have also used Bergamot, Lemon, Orange and Lavender and have mixed a few of them together. I'm not quite sold on Essential Oils being a magic cure for things, but I do think they make a difference to the living room!

The bath is absolutely my sanctuary and I have always spent a long time soaking in the bubbles. Bath products are one of my only 'splurges' because I know I will enjoy every minute spent in there. The Body Shop Berry Blend smells like actual heaven and it is by far my favourite bubble bath! I sometimes use Simple products as they have no chemicals and are better for sensitive skin and if I'm really in the mood for a pamper, I'll use a facemask and a hair mask. The Body Shop Shea Butter hair mask is my favourite - it makes my hair so soft and it smells divine. My bath tray usually features a book and a glass of wine and during the winter I regularly had candle lit baths for some extra relaxation! As I'm the only one uses the bath, it really is my little space and I love retreating there to unwind. 

The 'Seeking Slow' book I referred to earlier suggests creating such a space that is just for you and I love this idea. Even if you can sneak away there for 10 minutes, it can be your haven and it doesn't take a lot to create that. I keep some plants in the bathroom which brings a bit of nature indoors and I think that makes a difference! 

When I first moved over to NI, I decided I wanted to look after some House Plants. I like having things to take care of, so my friend and I found a local garden centre and I spent way too much money on succulents. However, they have become one of my favourite parts of my space. My 'Monstera Deliciosa' or Swiss Cheese Plant is one of my favourites, it has outgrown it's pot once and just keeps growing. It is currently sprouting two new leaves and will soon outgrow its' home again. I love having natural and seasonal things inside the house and the plants all need different environments to thrive in. My Peace Lily has been somewhat of a headache but I am determined to keep it alive! I was given a Geranium which has grown like crazy and Tom took cuttings of it to grow at the Nursery which I find oddly satisfying. I am running out of space to keep house plants, especially those that need a lot of sunlight, so I may have to go back to succulents - although many of those have outgrown their pots too! 

Recommended Reads

I listened to a Brene Brown Podcast recently - linked here (I think I've mentioned her before, but I am a HUGE fan of her work & have read all her books!) and consequently purchased 'Burnout' by Emily & Amelia Nagoski. I am only partway through, but have already picked up some really helpful tips on ways to have a daily check-in and relieve stress from your body. I can't wait to see what else I learn from it! 

A few years ago I read 'The Art of Hygge' by Meik Weiking and that's really what started me on this journey of cosiness and slower living. The book explores the Danish concept of 'Hygge' and for a while it was a bit of a buzz word, or something that people profited off, but for me it has become a way of living. I adored Meik's follow up book - "The Art of Making Memories," and would highly recommend that. I think it has just this week been republished in paperback! 

And of course, the book that sparked this post - Seeking Slow! 

I'd love to know of any ways that you are embracing this quieter life we now find ourselves in. Of course there are things we desperately miss right now but I'm trying to keep finding the positives where I can. 

Love, 

S x 

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A Walk with My Camera.

We British are so fickle when it comes to the weather. Of course, we are famous for moaning about it, and not so good at appreciating it when it does work in our favour. Well today, I am changing the trend and enjoying every minute of it. When the sun is out, so am I. So this morning I took a nice walk to the post office and went up to the hills with my buttock toning fit flops on my feet.

Everything looks so different in the sunshine so it doesn't require a lot of skill to take a decent picture, I snap away on my Nikon D40 when I get the urge, so here are the results:

I adore blossom trees, these are right at the end of my street.

Barbed wire screams countryside.

My favourite view in the world, just around the corner from me.

My favourite shot of the day!

The daffodils at our front door.

Now it's time for Pimm's in the garden!

I for one am thankful for the sunshine! For me it means picnics, Pimms and flip flops everyday. I hope you make the most of it...

Much Love xxx

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My First Car Boot Sale.

This morning, I did the unthinkable and got up at 7am on a Sunday. That is not where this story ends, though it is remarkable. A few of my friends have been choosing to do this for a while, and each time they have gone they have found some fun things. Though, at this stage of my life it would make a lot more sense to sell things rather than buy them, I found a few things that I couldn't resist. For the first 30 minutes or so, all I could think was 'I cannot believe I am here before 8am' and 'I think I need to kill someone' as nothing was grabbing my attention. We kept walking around and then all of a sudden - I found something Christmas related so I started to feel better.

Meet my first purchase:

I saw the green one and thought it might do to bind some bunting together. Then I spotted the other two and the white one I will use for wrapping gifts and the red one, who knows. I got them all for £2 and they are pretty full rolls. To top it off, they are American. It all went downhill for my purse after this.

I then spotted these, hidden away behind a few things:

At first I saw them and walked away. Then I couldn't stop thinking about them so I grabbed my friends who helped me barter a little and as the lady wasn't that fussed about selling them as she intended to sell them at a vintage fair next week if I didn't buy them - I snapped them up! I will also be going to the vintage fair she told me about. I thought they were so cute. They're in perfect condition and I can imagine using them at future tea parties with scones or something. I love them. I've never loved knives before. Anyhoodle...

The next thing I stumbled upon was this little box of stamps. I actually spotted the little American flag heart one first, and thought after a wash they would be nice for making cards.

My final find were these two retro trays:

They're so bright and colourful...I'm sure they'll come in handy for something in the future and they only cost me £2.50. I am really happy with them! 

The best thing I saw on sale:

I love Yorkshire

All in all, I'm glad I went. If you're willing to search through some of the rubbish and things that you really wont use like the woman who walked past me clutching a giant stuffed tiger - 'cos every home needs a giant stuffed tiger, you can find some treasures as I feel I did. I think we can all agree it's probably better if I don't go again for a while as I don't need any encouragement to buy nice things for a rainy day plus I prefer sleeping. 

Although it was freezing/foggy this morning (I very almost put my mittens on) it has turned out to be a beautiful day

Now, it's nap time. 

Much Love xxx

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