Finding Happiness on the Road to 40 {Musing on a Monday}

I sat here this morning, in my quiet house alone, feeling a bit lost with the children back at school. So I did the only thing that I knew would clear my head, and feel like I have returned to the back to school normality, and went for a run. I blew the cobwebs off my runners - not worn for 4 weeks - laced them up and headed out for a gentle 5k to ease me back into it. Following the Norwich 10k I decided to rest from running, transferred my September half marathon place and spent the time, not worrying about training and fitness, but making summer memories with my family. And it was a good one. 

Now, as my thoughts turn to the reality that we are well and truly in September, comes the realisation that my 40th is just around the corner - it's so close I can see it smiling at me. But I am ready for it. This time last year I was more than just a little freaked out about turning 39 but I turned that worry into something positive. Come the new year I made a list; a fun stress free list of 40 things to do before 40. It was a list of ideas; things that were achievable and things that if I didn't do them it wouldn't be the end of the world.

Here's how I did.

1.   Run in a 10 k race - Yes, three of them; Longleat, Broughton Gifford and Norwich
2.   Run 10 miles - Yes, in order to...
3.   Complete a half marathon - Yes, two of them; Bath and Hackney
4.   Run a total of 400+ miles - Yes
5.   Save £100 in my running jar (£1 a run) - Yes, but spent some of it on...
6.   Get a meaningful tattoo - Yes
7.   Have a girl's night out - Yes
8.   Have a husband and wife night out - Kind of - a day and early evening in Bath!
9.   Go and see some live music - Yes, my favourite band, James.
10. Go to the cinema with the children - Yes, to see Snoopy & Charlie Brown
11. Go to the cinema without the children - Nearly went to see David Brent but decided to go to the pub instead!
12. Watch the sunrise - Sadly, no.
13. Watch the sunset - Yes
14. Visit the family in Norfolk - Yes
15. Eat fish and chips on the beach at Wells-next-the-sea - We ate fish and chips in Norfolk and went to Wells but didn't combine the two!
16. Run in Norfolk - Yes, Norwich 10k
17. Go on a long walk by myself - No, but lots of long runs by myself
18. Go on a big walk from Lulworth Cove - Have yet to get back down to the cove
19. Buy a lottery ticket - No, I may have been a millionaire by now!
20. Write a letter to America - No
21. Write a letter to New Zealand - Yes
22. Take the children to London - Yes, so I could run Hackney 10k!
23. Introduce the children to the Indiana Jones films - Have yet to do this
24. Lose 7 lbs - Yes, and it seems to be staying off
25. Meet up with an old friend - Yes, two of them!
26. Learn to cartwheel again - Yes, I persevered with this and faced my fears with help from my girl
27. Eat out as a family - Yes, fish and chips al fresco!
28. Go camping - Yes, at our favourite site
29. Read my subscription magazines cover to cover - Sort of, I dip into them now that I have sorted them out
30. Read more books - Lately, yes.
31. Practise more yoga - A big fat YES! Including taking myself solo to a yoga festival!
32. Use my DSLR properly - Sort of! I started to follow an online course then got distracted but I am remembering more when I do grab it
33. Get the children together with their English cousins - Sadly not yet but they are due to visit this October
34. Take a train ride somewhere - Yes, into Bath
35. Teach myself to knit again - The wool is still in its bag
36. Visit a new town/city - Not yet
37. Visit a new National Trust property - No, we haven't been to many of our favourites this year - I fear the children have moved on!
38. Go fruit picking - No but we'll be hitting the hedgerows soon for blackberries and sloes
39. Walk along a pier - No
40. Ride the dodgems - No

So about 65% successful with some added bonuses.

This time last year if someone had said I would be taking myself off alone to a yoga festival I would have laughed at them but this year I have changed my focus and outlook quite a bit. Life is out there for living and finding new adventures and facing up to being 40 has finally made me realise that. Don't get me wrong I have no plans to be off skydiving and base jumping every weekend but my eyes are wider open to life's possibilities. If I see something I like the look of I will now think, 'Yes I can do that.' Rather than, 'I like the look of that but it will be a little scary to do it.' I'm now turning this way of thinking towards some new life goals; to learn something new, to try something new, to do something that makes me happier in my work. This sits with my new outlook on priorities and what is important. I am more accepting and thankful for this precious life and have come to discover that happiness lies in many things and it isn't necessarily going to be found in a bulging bank balance and big house. 

It's been the little things this year that have made me happy; time with my precious little family, a rare day out alone with the husband, camping out in the lounge watching movies with the children, doing yoga in my quiet space at the back of the house, pitching a tent solo with success in the wind and rain, talking to strangers and finding new things about myself, spending days on end in a field with my family under the sun covered in glitter, getting fire in my belly, running through my home city and getting a little bit emotional, an evening out with a great friend, making plans for a chilled end to my 30s, making plans for my future, finally being happy and content in who I am.

x x x

Crafting Parties

As I am swiftly approaching 40 I have been thinking about how to celebrate the big day. I am aiming to get a balance of something in the morning for friends, afternoon for family and children and evening for those that want to continue partying. Crafting parties can provide a creative and fun activity that anyone can have a go at with no experience needed. These parties are suitable for all ages and there is a huge variety of activities to choose from suitable for a range of occasions; birthday, baby shower, hen party, Christmas party and many more.

Crafting is a brilliant group activity and ideal if you want to do something indoors and alcohol free. No falling into mud or drunken arguments here! Just lots of creativity and laughs to be had as you help each other make lovely keepsakes to remember the day.

So the big question is which crafting activity to choose? Here is a selection of the most popular and enjoyable crafting parties – you are guaranteed to have a great time with the group here!

1.      Chocolate Making

For all you foodies out there why not take a chocolate making class. During the class you can taste a selection of delicious chocolates before learning how to make the chocolate, starting right at the cocoa bean. You will be guided through the whole process and at the end you can take your homemade creations away with you for others to try – unless you eat them all first! This would be a good one to organise for someone who absolutely loves chocolate and would be a fun surprise for them. Prepare to get messy!

2.      Flower Crown Making

How about putting your hands to crown making? Think summer festivals and girls wearing pretty floral headbands – this is what you can make from scratch in this crafting party. This is a lovely activity to do with the girls, maybe for a hen party or baby shower. You will be provided with materials such as faux flowers, leaves and berries so you can get creative and make a beautiful crown. What is great is that you can take your crown home with you and wear it whenever you like! Take a group photo modelling your crowns for a cute keepsake to frame.

Source: The Crafty Hen

3.      Cocktail Ring Making

For all you jewellery lovers a cocktail ring making party is for you. Get together with the girls and each make your own unique cocktail ring. You will be provided with pearls, rhinestones and beads and learn all about wire construction and beading techniques. When you are happy with your ring you will be given a pretty box to keep it in, then you can take it home to show off to all your friends!

Source: The Crafty Hen

4.      Perfume Making

Perfect for a special occasion such as Mother's Day. At this party you can learn how to make your very own unique, individual scent. You will be guided through the creative process by a professional perfume maker and blend a variety of smells to create your perfect scent. Then give your scent a name and take it away to enjoy. You can really get creative at this perfume party and you will all come out with your own individual creations.

5.      Bunting making

Have a bunting making party and create some lovely bunting to put up at parties or for a brides wedding venue. Each person will be taught how to make bunting and you can make as many as you want, which is great if you need quite a few for a party. Lots of different materials are provided so you can create your own personal styles of bunting.

Source: The Crafty Hen

Give one of these parties a go for your next special occasion! You can host them in the comfort of your own home or in places such as cafes and bars.

x x x

Life's simple pleasures - when you're six.

Woah, I just realised I haven't blogged for nearly two weeks.
What's up with that?

Working and tiredness I think are to blame.

Time goes too quick sometimes.

For example this one here is now six for goodness sake:

Edith chose a day out for her birthday with her best friend.

I was more than happy with this plan.

A six year old doesn't always need a huge expensive party to have a good time.

We built some lovely memories with a day out in Brokerswood, Wiltshire.
And I realised a few things...

...Life is good, particularly when the sun shines in the back garden on your big girl's birthday.

Edith loves Grandma's knitting.

You don't always have to take the obvious route...

...as demonstrated by Edith's bestie!

A picnic in the woods is one of life's simple pleasures.

As is ice cream.

Alban can finally climb unaided.

And discovered he loved the "twirly slide".

It's the simple things in life isn't it?

x x x

#ISpy........something beginning with T

When I first saw that this week's #ISpy letter was T the first things to jump into my head were images that I am NOT putting on this blog. I can however guarantee that someone probably has - naming no names here!

So I am keeping it clean and in fact keeping it green as this week I have recycled some images from my blog that come together to make T.

You can't actually see it, but it's there. In the pictures.

What do you think I'm spying here then?

For more #ISpys just click!