My happiness project 2014: March -Time Management (part 2)

2016 Update: My happiness project had to be put on hold for a few years as I couldn't take it on as all my focus was on getting our son better and I also had some health issues. 

I will be resuming it in the near future as I still think it would be a great thing to do, so I'll keep ye posted :) 

As part of my happiness project 2014 my March mission was Time Management. During my research for this month I learned a lot, and made a lot of changes,....slowly....hence only writing about it in July. The first part of this process is explained here, in case you'd like to catch up. 

Well, I'm only human, so yes, I'm a few months late. Still, I am making a difference, and slowly but surely I am able to spend more quality time with the kids, be less frantic, and have more of those melt moments when you get lost in thoughts looking at your child that is oblivious to the fact that mummy is totally in love with them. 

So carrying on from the previous post, where I wrote about the first six points of action I took to get my time management to work better, here is the final part of this 'experiment'. 


7. Get storage
A lot of my stress when trying to keep the house tidy came from lots of clutter just piling up in heaps on the floor and on surfaces. Even when the big clear out was done there was still piles accumulating. Well I figured there's a reason. Storage. Lack of it! The clutter that piled up was there because practically I was in too much of a rush to sort it out there and then, but it needed to be put somewhere, and that was alright for now. Well now I've invested in boxes and baskets.
I have small baskets in nearly every room that I just put clutter into when I simply don't have time to tidy it right now. The big culprit was the hallway. A MOUNTAIN seemed to grow there whenever we came back from town or a road trip. Another mountain of stuff seemed to grow in the bathroom after baths & showers. Well I've put a box with a lid in each of these spots. Now with all the baskets and boxes I can just fling stuff in there instead of having it in a heap. I'll get to tidying it eventually, but until then, it looks neater, and like as if its supposed to be there. ha ha :)

The bathroom box

8. Priorities
I'm a fairy. A complete 'list addict, wanna be organised, fairy'. I used to be more focused, but I think having two young kids has for the moment permanently fogged my focus. I start one job and then get distracted. Or I try multi task to the point where I'm actually not getting much done. So my solution was to prioritise. On a list of course :) 
I made a list of everything I needed to do on a daily basis. 
The really urgent tasks got four stars. Torins medication and skin, jolie's playschool runs, feeding the animals, making bread and watering the garden were among the ones that came under this heading. 
Then came the three star tasks that weren't urgent, but I really wanted to do, like one on one time with the kids, Tom time, making soaps & creams and gardening. Laundry and washing eggs were some of the tasks under this heading, not that I want to do them, but I really should, though they're not urgent. 
Next came the two stars, blogging and having a bath instead of a quick shower came under these. I needed and wanted to do them, but they just needed to wait until the three star tasks were done because after all, my family and our homestead is most important.
And lastly, with one star came photography and Facebook. I have a passion for photography, and even a diploma in it, but at the moment my career is on hold, so I rarely dig out the camera unless I have a few hours where I can get creative and have peace and calm. 
Facebook is generally only something I sit at when I'm completely exhausted. For a while there I had the app on my phone and checked it several times a day....any new notifications? any new photos?....what a waste of energy. I deleted it from my phone, and I now spend those free moments thinking of something creative, or talking to people in the same room as me. Don't get me wrong, Facebook is very useful for keeping in touch with family far away, and for lots of things, but I don't make time for it anymore. It just slips in there when I really have nothing else to do, or I physically don't have the energy to do anything else. 
Finally at the end of my priorities list I wrote: 'Don't forget paperwork'. This is an ongoing task that just needs to be address when needed. 
So now, when I start daydreaming when I should be doing something useful, I snap out of it and try get focused. Priority list to the rescue. 

9. Sort out paperwork
The files and boxes of unorganised paperwork from my fiances work and just life in general were taking over the TV cabinet. I had made an attempt before with some folders to organise it all but it just didn't work. I bit the bullet and bought a filing cabinet. I sorted it out, his and hers sections, and the kids got their own folders too. I went through all the paperwork, threw half of it out, and filed the rest. Then I bought an inbox tray. A three tier one. Now Tom and I each have an inbox,and the third is for the kids. Everyone knows it's there, and as soon as a letter enters the house, if it doesn't land in the recycling, then it lands there. The trays are pretty shallow, a good idea, because it's impossible to load them up to the brim. I just HAVE to tackle the paperwork regularly because otherwise it topples over. Sorting paperwork and having it organised makes the whole idea of accounting and letters seem less daunting, and I feel more in control. Less scared I'm going to get some random fine in the post because I lost the warning notices somewhere behind the couch or the bread bin. 

10. Think and chill
Finally, the last step I took in my time management mission was to just have a little think in the evening what I'm doing the next day. As a mum who still has to get up and give my little boy three bottles every night (well Tom and I take it in turns, but either way you still wake up), the morning wake up call is usually followed by my brain trying to remember what day of the week it is, did I wake up late?, and what was I meant to do today?. Well now I just spend 10 minutes in the evening thinking, right, what AM I really going to do tomorrow. Realistically. 
Then comes the chill factor. Life isn't by the book, and if it's too planned it's all so very boring. Organised or not, mostly, my kids, the animals, and the garden decide my time schedule. There's no point in being miserable or cross if I can't get everything done. I'm trying my best, and I'm doing a hell of a lot already. If I can't get it done, or if at this moment in time I'd rather giggle with the kids or have a cuddle with Tom,then so be it. Life is too short. I want to enjoy it. :)




Books read as part of my research:

- Simplify Your Life by Mike C. Adams
- Time Management for Manic Mums by Allison Mitchell
- Time Management by Richard Walsh

Please note I am not promoting any of these books or any products. These are simply my opinions and experiences. 

My happiness project 2014: March -Time Management (part 1)

2016 Update: My happiness project had to be put on hold for a few years as I couldn't take it on as all my focus was on getting our son better and I also had some health issues. 

I will be resuming it in the near future as I still think it would be a great thing to do, so I'll keep ye posted :) 


I know, lol, I'm writing my March Time Management project in June/July,.. that doesnt say much about my time management. Well things are about to change! My monthly projects for this year have been slightly delayed due to simply being a busy mum, being sick, and if I'm honest, also due to naivity believing that I could actually do all that on time! :)

Well for each project (see here or on the Life tab of the blog about my happiness project if this is the first time you are tuning in) I do a considerable amount of research and reading. This of course takes time. I have just finished the last of my time management self help books and I am so happy and looking forward to the future. I am going to nail it! My dreams of making life eaiser, happier, and more memorable are looking more like a reality when I think of putting all these exciting new practices into place to change my life for the better. 

I'm going to share the steps I'm taking with you and break it up into two posts so you don't feel like you've just had to trail through three self help books like me in the search of a more sane you. 

Some of the ideas I realised myself with some thought about how our lives could be managed more practically, and some are ideas I have gathered from the books I have read. (listed below). To say the least, I am inspired! Lets get de-stressed and organised. Lets get cracking!

Please don't get scared off by the initial period of sorting out, scheduling and dumping crap from your life. It'll be all the easier after it's all done. 

One of the things I realised while reading is that a mums time isnt considered important enough. Whether its by ourselves, our partners or family members, or simply the society we live in,...too many people say "I'm just a mum" when they are asked what they do. A mothers job in my eyes is the most important one you can get. You created this miracle. You are shaping the future, creating yours and someone else's destiny, and showing your true colours althewhile loving the most you've ever loved before, in turn making yourself also incredibly vulnerable to loss and pain. 
I have always viewed it as an important role, and love being a mum but I never put a real value on it. Allison in her book 'Time Management for Manic Mums' made me realise that if Tom was to employ people to do the jobs I do then he would have to pay out at least €2,588 per week alone in just wages. That would include a childminder, stay at home nurse, chef, gardener, farmer, chauffeur, psychologist, entertainer, shopper and PA. At that I'm probably even selling myself short. So thank you Allison, my minutes are indeed valuable and I'm giving myself a pat on the back. Time really is the most prescious of all things, never will today come again. Never again will my child be this small and cuddly, the time will come all too soon when I am too 'uncool' for cuddles. That is one mega motivation to get on top of time management. I dont want to wish mine away or spend it stressed, shouting and in a dishevelled mess. 

Right, values done, pat on the back done, ready for action because yes, I am really super-mum. 

Steps I took to manage my time better:

1. What do I want to change? What do I want the outcome to be?

First off I wanted to spend less time cleaning, get less stressed, spend more quality time with the kids, more adult time with Tom, and just feel like I'm human, not a machine. I needed more structure, less chaos. (how very german of me I know :) I need to wake up in the morning and know what I'm doing rather than let the day just happen and overwhelm me. Looking at mess and unfinished jobs causes a chain reaction of constant negative thoughts. 

2. I made a list of daily, weekly, and bi monthly chores in the house so I can keep track of my cleaning. Due to Mr. T's allergies & eczema I have to do a lot more cleaning than a usual household with two kids as I have to keep detergent lint and dust at bay. For more info please go to the severe infantile eczema tab in this blog. With this list I can feel safe that nothing has been left out, and nothing is being done unneccessarily twice. Below is a copy of my chores list, I laminated it and stuck it on the inside of the kitchen cupboard so I can cross off jobs that are done with a chalkboard pen.

3. A mealplan would have been the next step but I already did that for my February happiness project see here. For the sake of making life even easier while the kids are so small though I have decided to actually plan the individual meals, not just the basic idea. I have filled out what meal we will eat every day, and the ingredients needed for it that would usually not fall under the general shopping list. I tried picking meals that everyone likes, and that are healthy & take an hour or less to prepare and cook. Easy ones like roast chicken with roast vegetable would of course be an exception as they take longer to cook, but seeing as there's not much to do once its all in the oven it still stays simple and I can clear the kitchen or play with the kids while its roasting. It's a work in progress that can be altered if anyone gets bored etc. 

4. One of the jobs I hate doing the most is my weekly shopping list. going through all the cupboards checking whats gone, and making a list for the several shops,....it takes me about an hour every week. An hour I would happily spend doing something else. So I made the mother of all shopping lists and I'm hoping I will never have to do one again. Not in the next year anyway. 

I go to several shops every week in an attempt to buy good quality fresh food at the best prices. My food shopping day could consist of 5 different food shops along with another 3 or 4 other shops for errands and animal feed etc. 

I decided the best option would be to print a page with all the usual shops on it. Under each shop title then come all the things I usually buy, with boxes that I can tick next to each item. Then there are also blank spaces for any special groceries needed to the specific meals mentioned in the point above. For example specific fresh veg would go into the blank spaces. Then I print about 10 copies of this list ( enough for 10 weeks to start off with) and hang a new one up in my kitchen every week the day I come back from food shopping. Then over the next week whenever something runs out it just has to get ticked off the list. At the end of the week I simply add the items that are listed on the mealplan if needed and voila! Not more making a shopping list. It just makes itself :) Here's a copy if anyone needs ideas:

5. Make a to do list of everything! Literally everything I want and need to do in the house. Things I think about all the time and then I waste energy trying to remember them when they slip out of my head because someone's just interrupted my thoughts. Trying to keep all those tasks in my head is unnecessary stress. I probably wont get all these things done in the next 12 months, but I always find it frees up your head if its on a piece of paper on the wall instead of gathering cobwebs in your brain. Once the list is made I can revert back to it whenever I get a spare half hour and want to tackle one of them. 

6. I have also decided that in order to fulfil my time management goal I have to just have a day or two without the kids where I can gut the house, empty all the clutter cupboards & boxes and get rid of a load of stuff. Do I really need it? or love it? If I keep tidying something up that isn't mine or part of everyday life, then there must be something wrong. Either someone else isn't pulling their weight and should be tidying it up themselves, or its just unnecessary clutter that, if it was on a charity shop shelf would be a lot better off. I am going to organise these two days in the next fortnight and go crazy decluttering, and storing the things we do need in the right places where they will be used. 
Of course there is an exception, I have a few memoir folders with old sentimental items that of course no one should throw out, so I think they deserve a nice spot where they will be safe. That way they are easy to find when I add some more to them. When I'm 80 I'll no doubt want to shakily recall the good old days, much to the boredom of my kids who have probably heard it all before. Oh well :)

Well that's the first part of my mission, a few more things to combat in the second post :) 
Good luck!



Books read as part of my research:

- Simplify Your Life by Mike C. Adams
- Time Management for Manic Mums by Allison Mitchell
- Time Management by Richard Walsh

Please note I am not promoting any of these books or any products. These are simply my opinions and experiences. 

My happiness project: February - Be healthier (part 2)

2016 Update: My happiness project had to be put on hold for a few years as I couldn't take it on as all my focus was on getting our son better and I also had some health issues. 

I will be resuming it in the near future as I still think it would be a great thing to do, so I'll keep ye posted :) 

So my February happiness project was to be healthier. I did a detox, and came up with a healthier meal plan that suits our family, you can see this post here. On top of that though I planned on excercising more and giving this new fad ; oil pulling a go. I figured those things together would create an all round healthier me. :)

Unfortunately I didn't get as much excercising done as I'd hoped. I just didn't find the time. I'm sure you mums out there know what I mean. Where oh where do I squeeze it in? Argh! I can't get up any earlier,  and during the day it's impossible to get an hour for myself. After kiddie bedtime I feel like a sleepy pot belly pig from dinner and the days running around so no hope of excercise then.

I decided I could only do my best, and that was little spurts here and there, like when I'm supervising the kids in the bath (obviously always staying next to the bath, facing them, in case of accident) or folding laundry. I also started trying to get the kids to do work outs with me. Miss J happily joined in, delighted to be practising counting to 12 and 20 over and over. Mr.T on the other hand decided it was much more fun to sit my head or use me as a climbing frame.

Mr. T deciding excercising was too boring. 

I have always been into staying fit and excercising so I attended Pilates and various different work out classes in the past, and I also went to see a physiotherapist after Mr.T's pregnancy as I had a three finger gap in my stomach muscles called diastasis recti. The work out that I do is my own personal culmination of these excercises as well as some I found on you tube and in a post pregnancy book called Superfit Mama.

Every body shape is different so if you're  planning on getting fit I would advise to attend some classes and do some research as to what suits you. It also of course depends on health and injuries. What current state of health and fitness your body is in should be the first thing you assess. For example I was in a car accident 8 years ago and still suffer from whiplash if I'm not careful so any excercises I do, I bear this in mind.
Well, if you'd like some ideas and would like to read how I went about my excercise plan here goes:

Firstly I measured myself. I have no weighing scales in my house but I'm around 52kg, and 5ft4. That works out at an 'average' though slightly small 30 year old woman. I took measurements of the places I would hope would tone up with the work outs which are the following:

- Bum/hips (widest part of bum)
- Belly (measure at same height as belly button)
- Waist ( thinnest part)
- Bust (seeing as these are still changing and recovering post partum I wanted to   observe change in these too)

Everybody wants to achieve different goals, so what you aim for is entirely up to you, your health, time, and ability. My body shape is rectangular ie. not much curves going on, so not much bum & boobs and not much of a waist, but fairly athletic and though i eat like a horse I rarely put on weight. My goals weren't anything drastic, but after two pregnancies some toning and core strength is needed. You know yourself, exercise results might not be noticeable to others, but it could be the difference between looking in the mirror before you get dressed thinking 'rrrraaaarrrr! :)' or thinking 'hmpf! :/'. Measuring yourself is a good way to stay motivated and know whats happening.

I decided to try the exercise plan in the Superfit Mama book mentioned above. It's basically short 10 minute routines focusing on butt, belly, flexibility and a general circuit work out to cover all areas. That way I could maybe squeeze in 10 minutes here or there. I still have to tell myself: relax! It's ok if u can't get it all done. At least you're doing something. Breath! The time will come.

Obviously I can't copy everything from the book here due to copyright, but I've had a look online to find some similar exercises, and also some videos I think are suited.

So here's some of the excercises I have on my list:

- Hip flexor stretch (tight hip flexors get in the way of seeing results from stomach exercises. A good idea to throw some in)

- Butt work outs, and here's some more :) Just found another one that Miss J always wants to copy: Booty kicks

- Belly workouts: Reverse crunch, Toe Dip, and here's a work out from Tracy Mallet.

- Hoola hooping! I used to steal Miss J's hoola hoop and after 60 seconds of keeping it up I was sweating and my stomach muscles were screaming for help! Great fun too. I now bought myself a hoop that fits me, and one for each of the kids so we can do it together. It's hard work at the start, but great for warming up everything when you haven't got an opportunity to go for a warm up walk. Here's the video I watched to get me started: Beginners Hoola Hooping

I haven't got the opportunity to upload my own exercise routine via video, so I've just come up with that collection by searching for some of my usual exercises online. I mainly use the ones from the Super Mama book mentioned above, which I would highly recommend. (Please note I am not being endorsed for this article). Of course I adapt anything I need to in order to make it work for my whiplash, so please, be careful! Also, not all the exercises and movements above are what I would call suitable, some are too harsh on your body I think, but use your common sense, and listen to your body. You know best. And if you don't, consult a professional trainer or fitness expert. 

Now where do I find the time to fit all this in? I have no idea! I'm a real mum, with a real life, and one of my children needs a lot of extra care. For more info go here.

I basically just do what I can. 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there, and sometimes, god help me, try to do it with the kids :)

Getting everyone ready to exercise ;)

As for the oil pulling. Gosh! I tried and failed. I get up in the mornings between 6am and 6.30am and get the kids ready.....I failed to not talk for 20 minutes. Miss J thinks its hilarious to try make mummy talk when she's nearly gagging on coconut oil. I've decided to leave it for a while, and keep it as an interesting venture to do in a few years time. I am definitely interested in it, but right now, it wouldn't work. You just can't shut me up :)

My happiness project: February 2014 - Be healthier

2016 Update: My happiness project had to be put on hold for a few years as I couldn't take it on as all my focus was on getting our son better and I also had some health issues. 

I will be resuming it in the near future as I still think it would be a great thing to do, so I'll keep ye posted :) 

Yes, it's the beginning of April and I'm writing about my 

February happiness project. I guess my March mission of getting better at time management must have failed. Lol.

Anyway, for those of you that don't know, I have undertaken my own happiness project this year. Every month a new goal on the road to being a happier person. For more details click here.

In January my mission was to sleep more, the basics of any happy person I think. And then in February my goal was to be healthier. This had to start with a detox of course, there was no point in trying to build a healthier me on top of the built up toxic residue in my body I'd accumulated over the years. For more details on my detox click here.

So in the second week of February I did my detox and then I did up a new meal plan. We have a healthy enough diet anyway but I needed to make some changes. Less red meat and gluten, more salads and greens, and generally a more alkaline diet, paying attention to my 8pm treat cravings :) There is so much advice out there on what to eat, a lot of it contradictory, so I've just gone with common sense, and personalised preference. Some say red meat is bad, some say lamb is good, the men in our family say you need red meat for energy,....well, I've decided we're having beef, venison or rabbit once a month, and lamb and chicken once a week.

Fish is something we need to eat more of. With the seas and rivers as polluted as they are, and farmed fish fed on GM food a lot of the time it is difficult to get fresh, safe, fish. I've decided to not opt for cod and net caught tuna but instead mainly to go for my favourites; rainbow trout and mackerel. Not only are they healthier than white fish, but as far as I know they're not endangered. When we sometimes do have tinned fish with our lunch it's usually herring or line caught tuna.

I'm going to focus the vegetarian meals on being alkaline in particular, easy seeing as most leafy greens are alkaline.Salads will be more present at lunch time in particular to get the increased raw foods into our diet.

For the carbohydrates I'm going to try be a bit gentler on our stomachs and not fill them with plain old wheat. Instead of normal pasta I'm now going for spelt pasta or rice pasta (watch out for unnecessary chemical unpronounceable ingredients in gluten-free options :). Instead of normal bread I make my own spelt or rye bread thanks to my bread machine. Rye or rice crackers are also a good snack. We have been lucky enough to get all our potatoes since last summer out of our garden, so these are organic and pesticide free. 

For breakfasts I'm going to have more juices and smoothies than before and also instead of toast and tea it's going to be cinnamon coconut & raisin porridge with a cup of green tea or roibos.

Water, water! Must drink more water! My poor kidneys are of the sensitive kind so I need to treat them better. Luckily we are connected to a well so good quality water is always at hand, so yes. I'm filling up an old 1l glass Schloer bottle twice every day so I can keep an eye on how much I drink, and it's also easier to glug when you're in a rush than politely drinking out of a glass.

I'm going to supplement my diet with spiralina, flax seed oil, evening primrose oil, kelp, lepicol, and wheatgrass. Kelp in the form of tablets every once in a while, lepicol whenever I feel my intestines need a helping hand, and the rest in my breakfast smoothies. Not altogether of course, I'll add them at random. 

Now my only diet problem is my 8.30pm 'cuppa' time. Kids in bed, lights dim, brain fried, and after a few minor jobs it's finally adult time so on goes the kettle and out comes the roibos tea and biscuits or chocolate. Better still, Lindt chocolate! God damn you Swiss, how do you do it! Soooo divine. Well I'm going to limit myself to one bar of Lindt chocolate a week. Will it work? Hmmm. I wonder. If that's gone by evening number 3 I'll resort to rice cakes, melon, or Bombay mix. I'm going to try make some Mr.T friendly cereal bars too which will be handy. I think some magnesium supplement wouldn't go astray either as chocolate cravings is meant to be a sign of its deficiency. Fingers crossed. Time will tell. :)

Here's what I came up with anyway for my meal plan. I tried to make it as balanced as I could. It shows the general direction I'm going in for the month, with the dates, and then it leaves space to write in what exactly which recipe I have planned to cook. I'll fill those in when I'm making my shopping list for the week. There's also three boxes for home made dessert options in the month. I hope the quality of this is ok for other computer screens, I can't seem to upload it at a better quality. If someone would like a copy of it, just let me know and I'll email it to you.

As well as food there's also a few more things I'm going to try change for the positive. Doing workouts again, and oil pulling. But I'll leave that for another blog post, hopefully in the next fortnight. :)

Well, if any of my readers want to live a little more healthy maybe this gave you some ideas. I know it seems as if I am incredibly organised, but believe me, life gets in the way of any schedule at the best of times. So even if my meal plan doesn't go according to plan, it doesn't matter, no sweat. It can be a rough guide, and the next week will probably be calmer and more focused. If anyone else has ideas how to make a busy mums life healthier please share them! Let's get cracking! :) 

My happiness project: January - Catch up on sleep

2016 Update: My happiness project had to be put on hold for a few years as I couldn't take it on as all my focus was on getting our son better and I also had some health issues. 

I will be resuming it in the near future as I still think it would be a great thing to do, so I'll keep ye posted :) 

So for the start of my happiness project, for January, my mission was to catch up on sleep. What a great new years resolution! lol. I thought it would be easy!

Since the beginning of 2009, when I was pregnant with Miss J my only full nights sleep were three luxurious sleeps while on holiday in Morocco in 2011. It had taken me a week to get settled enough to sleep through, but it was great. 

Not sleeping takes its toll after a while, and I've made silly mistakes in the past few years due to tiredness and exhaustion like misplacing everything, careless driving, getting nautious, and my knees giving way. Basically everything gets affected and I'm a good for nothing emotional tired mess when it gets too much. When I ask myself why this or that isn't working in my life, mainly, the answer is because of lack of sleep. Hence I felt this was the main factor of my happiness project that I had to deal with first. 

A full nights sleep was still off the cards, Miss J thankfully sleeps through most nights, but Mr. T still wakes up 2 - 3 times a night for a bottle. Tom and I take night shifts with Mr. T in turns, but as his cot is in our bedroom, even when you're not actually on night shift, you still wake up. Months ago when Mr. T used to have to be restrained from scratching all night one of us always slept on the couch to try get a little peace, but now it's great to be able to sleep in the same bed again. The solution had to be one where we can still sleep in the same bed. We are after all human, and not emotionless machines. 

The kids go to bed at 7.30pm, so by 8.00pm we're usually free....well,....should be. But I ended up cleaning the kitchen, doing laundry or washing bottles and then end up collapsing in a non-functioning, not-ready-for-bed-but-unmoveable mess on the couch. So here was problem number one that needed to be addressed.

GET JOBS DONE EARLIER

This meant dinner earlier. So I moved dinner from 6.30pm to just before 5.30pm. Not an easy feat as even Jamie Olivers 10 minute recipes seem to take me an hour,.....
I got bottles washed during the day, and if a mountain of laundry had to be done and the issue couldn't be sorted in 5 minutes I just took a deep breath and walked past it. 'Leave it for tomorrow'. Ahh, that was nice :)

LESS TECHNOLOGY

This devilish thing drives my brain mad! Instead of sleeping I used to be googling things, checking my facebook, and making to-do lists on my phone. First step, deleted facebook app off my phone. It consumed too much of my life, and it was too readily available. Then, for January, I turned my phone to 'Do not disturb' function and left it in the sitting room. What a relief! A sense of freedom in fact. 

SLEEPY ATMOSPHERE

If my bedroom is tidy, I'll sleep better. I've been actively trying to keep it tidier this last month. I cleared my messy corner, threw a load of stuff out to the charity shop/bin, and sorted some things into boxes. Clutter just clutters the mind. Then I attacked Toms messy corner and cleared that out. I hadn't done it in a few months and realised it hadn't been very dust and Mr.T proof,....too much dust. After a good clear out and steam clean it looked better. 

Thinking back on when I had lovely sleep,... In my teenage years, one thing springs to mind in my memories of peaceful slumber: candles. A candlelit room is beautiful, and great for turning your brain off after a busy day. So I got a candle, and instead of looking at the light from my phone, I had the candle light instead. Much calmer, more romantic, and more relaxing. 


WARMTH!

I needed to be warm to go to sleep so I changed the summer duvet to a winter one, bit late I know, but I never got round to it before. I put it in the freezer first and then hung it to dry. When completely dry Tom shook it, and hopefully that way the dust mites poo in it wouldn't have too much of an effect on Mr. T when he came to bed for cuddles. 
Then someone came up with the genius idea of a hot water bottle! Divine! No matter how warm the bed was I always had cold feet. Bye bye cold feet :)

RESULT:

Well January is now over, and I must say I'm feeling better and happier already. The first half of January before my birthday I was a lot more disciplined and went to bed at 8.30pm. It felt luxurious and amazing. Then after my birthday we had friends over for a few days and things got a little later, but not too bad. Realistically I'm in bed by 9pm now....and to be honest it feels great! Getting up between 5.30am and 6am doesn't bother me anymore, I actually prefer it. 
I also noticed I dreamt again! Maybe I hadn't been reaching that deep sleep you need for dreams before due to all the interruptions. Also my heart palpitations (premature ventricular contractions) went away the first two weeks of January, and then returned after my birthday when my sleeping pattern turned a little slacker and after I'd had a bit of alcohol. Well if sleep can cure that problem, brilliant :)

So, yes, my January mission was a good one, and I may not have followed the rules every night, but I'm happier and healthier now than I was last month, and now I'm looking to February with better energy. I'm hoping to carry on going to bed early, as well as tackle my February mission: Be healthier. That will entail a detox, more exercise, better eating, and focusing on making my ailments (heart palpitations, liver & kidney issues,  and postpartum issues) better with diet and herbs. Roll on Febraury! Wuhuu! 

My happiness project

2016 Update: My happiness project had to be put on hold for a few years as I couldn't take it on as all my focus was on getting our son better and I also had some health issues. 
I will be resuming it in the near future as I still think it would be a great thing to do, so I'll keep ye posted :) 

A few months ago I came across this book named The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and I put it onto my amazon wish list, but left it there and forgot about it. Then, just over a week ago I felt like life needed some changes so I went looking for it again, bought it, and voila! I was hooked!

What a wicked book! Some chapters were a bit tedious, which is understandable as everyone's happiness project is specific for themselves, and some aspects of her project weren't relevant to my life, but I took the ideas I needed from it and have decided to start my own Happiness Project for 2014. 

As the title of this blog suggests, I am a happy person, surrounded by people I love, living in a place that gives me comfort and peace, but there is room for improvement. I'm not quiet the bubbly, confident, outrageous Kathie I used to be, now I understand the majority of that comes from sleep deprivation, exhaustion, and just life, but I am determined to get my mojo back :) Bearing in mind I will be turning 30 in two weeks, I think this is the perfect project. I'm loving the fact of being nearly 30. I've learned so much over the last few years, and had my two babies, who are growing up so fast, and now I feel like a new lease of life, a fresh healthy start, with more wisdom is underway. I have an amazing fiance whom I can share this all with, the idea of a new number gives me a clean page - energy for a fresh start. I'm loving it!!! :)

So, right, my happiness project...I'll use Mrs. Rubins steps as a guideline...ie. I'm going to keep some mantras at hand that I love, and set myself goals. One for each month of 2014. Of course I'd love to do all of them at once, but I know me, so at the risk of getting nothing achieved at all, small steps have to be taken. 

Over the last few days I've been wondering what I need to sort out to become a happier person, of course Mr. T's health issues to go away would be my first and foremost, but we are already doing the best we can there, so here goes my new years resolutions if you like;

January - Catch up on sleep! I haven't had a full nights sleep since Morocco in January 2011! 
February - Be healthier. There's always room for improvement, and ailments can be made better. 
March - Time management. I'm such a spacer at times!
April - Be a better mum. I know I can and should do better.
May - Tom time. After a difficult year we need to have a bit more fun and time together. 
June - Accept my post baby body. A stumbling block for my usual confident self. 
July - Spend more time outside. A great healer for all sorts. 
August - Be a better friend/family member.  I love them all, so it's worth it :)
September - More me time. Where did that go?
October - Attitude. Find my crazy old self and take some new risks. 
November - Career. I don't want to be a jack of all trades and a master of none. Make decisions. 
December - Did it work? and enjoy Christmas. 

Then, I'm going to try hang up these mantras somewhere and hopefully they'll sink into my brain...

- Lighten up.
- Yesterday's history, tomorrow's a mystery, but today is a gift, that's why it's called the present. 
- See the sea.
- Behave as you want to feel
- Laugh when you can, apologise when you should, and let go of what you can't change. 
- Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles, it empties today of its strength. 
- Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive & well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, body thoroughly elated and fulfilled, worn out, and screaming: 'WOO-HOO! what a ride!"

Well I'm excited about this. Even since deciding to do this I'm happier :) I may seem a bit self indulgent and boring to write a blog about my own happiness project, but if Gretchen Rubin hadn't written about hers, I wouldn't be full of excitement and determination now to do my own. A happier me = a happier family & more happy memories. To be happier is healthier, and better fun!

Thank you 2013 for the lessons I have learned, but 2014, I am glad you are nigh, please be kind, and lets have a blast. Have a great new years eve, and good luck to all in 2014! 

Happy Christmas!

I would hereby like to wish all my readers a merry Christmas and a really festive holiday season. Thank you all so much for following my blog, and fingers crossed the next year will bring more good news and experiences. 

As I realised today, Christmas can be a challenge for severe eczema/allergic babies with wrapping paper, plastic, egg filled cakes and biscuits, and plenty of visitors but thanks to Tom and my mother we managed it well and enjoyed the rest of the day. Stay strong folks! Our most wanted Christmas present of a healthy, itch & irritated free baby may not have been granted, but with will, work and wisdom we will get there. :) I've tried to just tell myself to stay focused, calm and strong. It seems like a mind boggling endless puzzle at times but we have come far in the last year. 

May 2014 also be a brilliant year for all. I am hoping to blog more about my ramblings, I find myself 'mentally blogging' a lot. I just have to get it on screen. I have a few projects in mind for the new year, and will hopefully be able to share more gardening stories as well as the usual infantile eczema ideas and updates. A little more positivity and fun! So if you're interested, keep an eye out. 

Well have a good one guys, cherish whom you have to share this time with. Most of us are very lucky to be with such loving family, with such abundant food and warmth. Have fun! I'm off to bed. Christmas dinner leftovers & Jamie Oliver's mulled cider is on the cards tomorrow. Yum! 

A little moment.....

I looked out the window tonight as the last daylight was fading and just stopped. I hadn't stopped like that in months. No one around me, nothing I had to do, just reality and I. I noticed things I hadn't had the time to notice over the last year; trees swaying, leaves green and vibrant, clouds moving, birds singing goodnight, a beautiful moon. 

Wow. It's like stress and being busy keeps you strong. Distraction and constant tasks build walls around you. It's a little scary how it all gets crumbly and starts falling away when you stop for a few minutes. It makes you weaker and the exhaustion seeps in. 

It's crazy though. How lucky am I? I walk past those trees everyday and mostly don't even acknowledge them. Yet they are amazing, we are lucky to live in a land so green and full of life and water. I feel very lucky. How did I get here? 5 years ago my life was very different, since then time has flown, and I haven't looked back. Whatever turn I took to get here in life, I'm bloody glad I took it! :)

From a childhood of turmoil and unease which I thought I couldn't break out of, to a life here in the beautiful remote countryside with an amazing family and amazing friends, a man like no other, and two children that have melted my heart. I feel like karma has given me a great big hug and said 'There you go. You deserve it. ' Well thank you. Thank you very much. The weight of my gratitude right now weighs even more than the weight of the hardship in finding my way here. 

We must not underestimate what we can achieve. The mind is an amazing tool of which we still know little about and our bodies are made of much more than we can comprehend. I'm glad I woke up a little just staring out the window. I'd hate to think life just passed me by. It's very short when you think about it. I appreciate everything and the people around me, and most of all I am thankful for the love and lessons my kids have taught me. There is no better way to learn true fear and unconditional love. 

Lets stop and listen to the wind in the trees every once in a while in our busy prioritised lives and think about the ones we love. Whatever the future holds, you have them - whether in spirit or in body. Shake off the disease that is negativity and take just one step at a time towards karma giving you a great big hug. :)

For the Dads.....

After being seriously sleep deprived  (haven't had more than a 4 hour slot of sleep since September) I eventually started malfunctioning two weeks ago. Making silly and dangerous mistakes, being too tired to stand up straight, and not being able to put together a sentence. On top of that I was battling a throat infection since the new year and had been getting headaches like my head was on fire.  Tuesday morning I got a bit upset and thankfully my lovely Tom came to the rescue. He got me two nights in a hotel in Killarney so I could sleep and relax.

I slept and relaxed and had some well overdue 'me time' and slept some more. The first night I still woke up every two hours as usual and the second night every four hours but at least I could go back to sleep straight away and sleep during the day too.Near the hotel I stumbled upon a tattoo studio and got a new tattoo in honour of having such an amazing fiancé. A rash, sleep deprived decision but sleeping on the idea to see if I really wanted it didn't work because I couldn't sleep. Just kept thinking I want it, I want it :) so I got it and then went back to hotel and slept. After all men like Tom are hard to find. He's one in a million and worth a tattoo for just being who he is over the last 5 years.

The reason I'm writing this is for all you dads out there. In any good relationship both mums and dads need a break every once in a while but I'm only talking about the mums this time round. I'm sure any mum would appreciate two nights away somewhere. Whatever age your kids are, the journey of parenthood is amazingly rewarding but we all need to switch off. Financial struggles and stresses are rife but a two night stay away doesn't have to be too expensive. There's loads of deal sites like Dealrush, Living Social, Groupon, Grab One and Pigsback that offer great deals. I brought our own water as that's really expensive in hotels and I took full advantage of the inclusive breakfast so no lunch was needed. Just a sandwich for dinner and tada! So dads, please do your girlie a favour and treat her to something nice. A happy, awake, motivated wifey will only be happy to return the favour. Two nights away to relax and sleep and use hotel leisure centre if they have one are divine :)

My room