The Year in Books

Over the festive holiday I discovered a handful of fabulous blogs via Instagram and Pinterest.  I actually think these two are modern day versions of Alice in Wonderland as I often fall down the rabbit hole into a pretty world of newly discovered blogs and websites.  Anyway one of the blogs I found was Circle Of Pine Trees.  I love the simplistic design, the typewriter font and the writing style of it's creator, Laura.  Yesterday she posted about wanting to read more this year and decided to create a regular feature on her blog to share the books she reads.  I related to this post so much, also being a English Literature graduate, having previously lost days under a pile of fantastic storytelling.  But like Laura finding time to read the many books I have in my Amazon wishlist or loaded onto my iPad I loved the idea of commiting to reading one book a month. Surely even in my busy life I could manage this.  I have already decided this year to cut back on my magazine reading to make time for more book reading, so of course I decided to join Laura in this mission.

Quickly reacting to the great response for this challenge, Laura has created a badge (see in my sidebar) and a group on Goodreads for us to share and chat about whatever we have chosen to read.  Unlike a bookclub we each choose our own book, with no restrictions on choice.  So for this month I have chosen to read Bonkers by Jennifer Saunders, one of the funniest ladies ever, of course with Dawn French in that Top 5 too. I tend to only read autobiographies of people I like or am interested in so am really looking forward to reading Bonkers.  

Are you a bookworm or looking to make sure you read more this year? Find out more about The Year in Books here.  I will be sharing my book choices here each month and look forward to discovering new writers and indulging in my favourites too.

Until next time, take care.

Zoe

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Happy Jars from The Green Gables

Our Date Jar from The Green Gables

There are moments when I actually think people design products specifically with me in mind.  Seriously, I think about or write about something then bam, a few days later a fab product from a wonderful small business pops into my Facebook timeline or Twitter feed!  Well having written about making time for date days with my fabulous husband and making more time to do things with my children, the amazing Gabrielle of The Green Gables launches a new product that makes the perfect accompaniment to my plans.  Happy Jars are the answer to my dilemmas of affordable ways to have fun that we can all plan, taking guidance from the cute little cards packaged with the little bottles of happiness.

Our Family Activity Jar from The Green Gables

As if these two jars weren't enough excitement for a Tuesday evening Gabrielle has also launched an Acts of Kindness Jar.  Full of fun ideas to make a little difference to somebody elses day.  Now that really makes me smile in our crazy busy world. Gabrielle has written this fab blogpost all about her new Happy Jars.  I am sure many of you will agree, they make a perfect gift aswell as a treat that lasts for a while.

Until next time, take care.

Zoe

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"I'm bored!" - Why Children Should Be Allowed to Say This

"I'm bored!" Oh how any parent hates to hear this cry, when it's pouring with rain and you've got a million and one things to do.  But I actually truly believe that being bored is good for children.  When else do they get the time to ponder, to think, to just be?  Ever demanding homework schedules, after school club commitments, music practice and more mean that they rarely get the time to be bored.  Only in the school holidays do I hear this short sentence uttered.  Yet I relish it, I offer suggestions but allow them to find something to do.  Roller skating, going for a run, digging out the old box of Lego, watching a film they had forgotten they had, drawing, writing a story, making a board game, playing hairdressers, making up a dance show, bake a cake. The list could go on but it is all good for them, to not have a constant stream of organised activities.  

Yesterday Parentdish tweeted a link to an article that suggested we are failing our children by being too pushy.  Of course I replied that we are, that children should be allowed to be bored, to just be.  I have always been of the school of thought that I do not have to ensure my children have a club everyday after school or a constant flurry of events and clubs at the weekend.  They certainly have not suffered from this, they just do the clubs they really want to do, play the sports and instruments that they want to do.  Their extra curricular education has not suffered and I acutally think they enjoy moments to be bored, as it usually doesn't take them to long to find something to do after that "I'm bored" cry.

As for me, I don't have time to be bored!

Until next time, take care.

Zoe

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My Word for 2014 is.....TIME

Well hello 2014!  I never make resolutions and this year have decided to join lots of lovely people in choosing a word for the year.  I have thought long and hard about this and read many other posts from fabulous blogging friends about their choices, including The Start Up Wife and also inspired by Susannah Conway.  I finally decided yesterday that my word for 2014 will be TIME.

I will make TIME -
           for exercise - I was doing so well until clinical placement and commuting got in the way!
           to write cards and letters to send to friends. Snailmail surprises!
           to study - I have several thousand words to write before the end of May!
           for my family - my children are growing so fast.  I also hope for more date days with Andy.
           for trips to the beach - my favourite place in the world.
           for writing - I've had ideas for a couple of books in my head for about three years, I want to start                                     making real plans for these this year.  I also plan to make sure I write here more!
          for being mindful - I am already trying the Headspace app to help me make sure I do this.

So what will your word be?

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
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Farewell 2013

It's time to say farewell to another year. Writing this post kind of feels like writing the last paragraph of a chapter.  And what an interesting chapter it has been.  It started with snow and me questioning if I had made the right decision.  Could I really retrain, take a second degree, be something completely different to before? After alot of contemplation I realised I could do this, still be me and do something different.  So I worked hard and passed my first year.  I also started this blog to keep writing, to have a space where I could be me, dip into my old world.  Once a writer, always a writer!

After a fabulously warm summer spent at the beach and in the garden, treasuring family time I packed my pencil case and headed back for year two.  Now there was no turning back, I loved what I had chosen to do.  Everything was more in depth, less scary and I knew deep down this is what I wanted to do.  Andy and the children had now got used to me studying and commuting and not always being there, which also made the past four months alot easier.  Just as time is a healer it is also a huge factor in change.  The more time we have to get used to this big life change the easier it gets.

So now here we are, getting ready to drink champagne and say goodbye to 2013.  What will 2014 hold? Nobody knows but I am excited to see.

I want to wish you all a fabulous time tonight, whatever you are doing.  Close your chapter firmly and get ready to start a new page tomorrow.

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
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Being Mindful

There seems to be a lot of talk about living in the moment just recently.  I've also read several articles about meditation, being mindful.  Living in a constant whirlwind of activity means we often miss things that are important.  Little moments that should be precious, treasured, swish past.  As a mother I have spent many hours just watching my children when they were little, as they play, sleep, chat.  But as they grow into teenagers and our lives become an endless calendar of events I rarely find the time to simply be, watching these amazing people I helped create.  

So the more I read about mindfulness and stopping to be present in my world the more I want to make this a part of my new year and of course beyond.  I never make resolutions but the past few days I have had time to pause, think, reflect and consider the person I want to be in 2014.  Are you aiming to live a more mindful life next year or have you already been doing so for many years? I really would love to know.  

Until next time, take care.

Zoe

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The Lull Between Festivities

Well that's it Christmas is over for another year and what a wonderful time we had.  Full of good food, festive cheer and fizz and lots of fabulous presents unwrapped.  Now it's time to relax, rest and reflect. I love this time of year, the perfect time to stop, restore energy levels and plan for the year ahead.  Living an incredibly busy life means often things get overlooked, moments to myself are minimal and time to exercise can be hard to achieve.  But the promise of a new year means I can think about what I want to achieve and how I can do it.  

So I am off to drink tea, eat cake and reflect on the past year and consider what I hope to do and achieve in 2014.  How about you, are you ready for some reflection and planning? 

Until next time, take care.

Zoe

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