I'm Back and I'm Not Cheerful

We've just spent a fabulous 10 days in Ireland.  Aaron and I headed West, to Ireland, and even more West, as it was to the West of Ireland, the home of all of my kin.

Having not blogged the whole time I was there, I wondered what my first post on return would be about, but it was an easy decision after visiting Mummy From The Heart just now.  It's well overdue that I join in with Reasons to be Cheerful.

I am tired from flying back yesterday, I have FLU, and I am stressed about unpacking.  BUT, it is when you don't feel cheerful that it is GOOD to join in, as it forces you to focus on all that is good.  There's always something after all :-)

1. Despite there being an issue with somewhere to stay, my Aunt really put herself out, and accommodated us.  We had a beautiful house to stay in as a result and they laid on super food for us everyday.  My jeans are VERY loose now, just from 10 days of eating 3 square meals a day, and lots of outdoor time with Aaron - even went on trampoline with him a few times too.  I think what lost me the weight while I was there was the lack of snacking. I think the only sugar I had was the wedding cake and the sugar in my coffee.  Whereas when I am at home I have 4 slices of chocolate toast every morning! Oooops!  It was great of her to let us stay with them, considering she was/is mother of the bride.  It was a packed to the rafters, fun house to holiday in.  My only regret is I should have stayed in a B&B on the eve of the wedding so that I did not get under their feet on the morning of the wedding when they were all getting ready.
2. Had a couple of days with my best friend in Ireland, who has 3 boys, so that was fabulous, for me, and for Aaron.
3. The wedding was awesome, and despite not having childcare for Aaron I did manage to dance my little socks off.  My only regret was that I should have brought the hubby, so he could take Aaron to bed, and then I could have stayed up even later.
4. Aaron loved the hotel room we stayed in the night of the wedding - he did make me laugh though as he said that the TV channels were rubbish and not as good as the ones in Thomas Land (he obviously went to his brain archive and found the "last time I stayed in hotel" file).
5. The wedding was awesome and I did the first reading and typed up the Order of Service (which I was proud of).
6. I know some of you would like to see the New Look dress. Well here it is below :-)
7. I went to an awesome Kiddicare blogger focus group last night (blog post to follow).  Yes, I went to it despite flying back that same day.  I am feeling it today, well mainly because I have flu.

Had to have my hair done as I felt under dressed at the wedding in May, when I didn't!

We prayed for good weather for the wedding and God answered with blue skies and an unseasonably warm day that everyone noticed! The above is Aaron on the morning of the wedding before I dressed him. It was so hot he went to the hair dressers with me in the above shorts and t-shirt.  The only day he was able to dress Summery the whole time we were there. Our Gran really did shine down on the wedding with good weather and we even had a rainbow (a full horse shoe) in the sky, the day before the wedding and the day after. Like an open and a close from heaven!

Loved my affordable New Look dress!

Me in New Look and Aaron TK Maxxed!

That's all for now.  What've you all been up to?

Liska xx

Reasons To be Cheerful

Well.... reason ONE just has to be that the host of #R2BC mentioned me AND linked to me this week, so now I am writing this Reasons To Be Cheerful post, while I should be sleeping.

Thanks so much Mich for including me; it means a great deal.

I have been without a computer since Monday but tonight hubby has leant me his and is not prepared to lend it to me again in the morning #violins.

So here I am, cramming in a post whilst I can

1. Covered above!
2. Aaron's had chicken pox last week and this week and today, I can honestly say we are over it. Scabs falling off and everything.  I am very cheerful about the fact that in the whole ordeal there was only one day, one wee day, where he was distressed and out of sorts.  Fab!  He did wake me every night for a few days for 2 drinks a night though (12 oz each) whilst he was running a temperature, but I think keeping him hydrated was part of winning the battle (I thank God that he is still on bottles as hydrating mid-night lying down is easy that way).  Yet again, I am glad I did not listen to others.
3. A huge bonus of chicken pox is it has meant that we have conquered getting out of nappies (they were aggravating the pox on his bum and lower back). 
4. Also despite being out of nappies for days he would not do a poo in the loo, despite doing loads and loads of wees, but today we had our first poo.  Considering some little ones spend months refusing to do a poo anywhere other than their nappy I was very happy with this.  It wasn't easy though - we spent about 30 minutes in the toilet.  I had to chant yoga mantras and everything LOL.  Yes I practically hypnotised him, but it worked!
5. I had a great long weekend at Featherdown Farm with Anya Harris (Older Single Mum).  That in itself is a reason to be cheerful as it was a complimentary holiday due to a competition win.  Please see my last blog post.  It includes a video (that due to computer problems took me a WEEK to make).
6. I have two of my favourite girlfriends coming round this Saturday.
7. I have done LOTS of decluttering thanks to being without a computer.
8. I have really been enjoying the sun.  I made sure Aaron did too despite the pox.  We have some STUNNING pictures I can share with you all, once I have a computer again.
9. I'm really enjoying my new camera - glad I bought it, despite it making me overdrawn.  The great pics are worth it.

Bye for now, I think I should get some sleep.



Liska xx

Reasons To Be Cheerful

Mich over at Mummy From the Heart runs a FAB weekly linky and she is so disciplined at making sure it goes live every Thursday.




Mine this week are:

1. Last Summer, I set myself the fun target of having a minimum number for page views I would aim for each day.  I did it because I had just been made redundant and missed having targets and a purpose.  Anyway, when you do something better and with more focus you often exceed where you expected to go, and within a short space of time I doubled my target.  That lasted from August to February and things slumped off, and I lost my blogging mojo.  I am glad to say, it's all coming back - the mojo and the page views.  Phew!
2. Being broke has its upsides.  I am learning how to budget, economise, negotiate, and haggle.  I haven't had to worry about money for years, so it is a bit of a pain in the ass, but so far, I am managing.  I just need to pray a bit more so that I can tap into what God has in store for me.
3. I am going to Cybher this Saturday and as the husband is off, I can sneak out, leaving them both in bed, and not have to make a mad dash to drop Aaron anywhere.  I hope they'll have a fab day together as I won't be rushing back :-)
4. I am really looking forward to having a chat and a drink and a socialise on Saturday.
5. Aaron's getting cuter every day, and says something dead funny every day.  He'll be 3 in a couple of weeks and we are going to go to Thomas Land for the 3rd time.  He'll be over the moon.
6. I have a free holiday up my sleeve.  Just waiting to hear back from a dear bloggy friend - this is a hint if you are reading this m'dear.
7. Aaron and I are going to a picnic tomorrow. It was postponed from today.  For the 3rd day in a row we have grey skies but tomorrow is predicted to be 20 degrees.  Yeeahhhh.  Can't wait to blog about the picnic - it will be awesome and lovely to see Siobhan and the kids for the first time since we got back from Ireland.
8. I need to revamp a room in the next few days. I am trying to feel cheerful about that ;-)

Liska xx

Reasons To be Cheerful

I am nowhere near as consistent as I ought to be with this Linky.  Not nearly disciplined enough to join in every week.  Would love to though.



I can't think of ANY reasons to be cheerful today but I am going to force myself to, as I think it is at times like this, that the Linky is most needed.  To make you introspective, to force you to reflect on what is good in life or as Mich puts it: God in life.

So let me think:

1. First of all I was without a job, having been made redundant last July, and then eventually, I took Aaron out of nursery.  Because they reduced his hours, their idea, the notice period lasted from January to April.  They said "you'll have found a job by then!" and me being ever so slightly psychic, I knew I wouldn't.  I cried a lot on his last day, as they gave him the biggest "leaving card" I have ever seen and it was full of photos.  I also got an arch lever file full of photos and learnings, that cover 2011, 2012 and 2013.  Anyway, preparing for Ireland took my mind off the fact that he was finished at nursery.  I was doing laundry at a rate of knots and busy packing.  So now we are back, and the week doesn't have as much structure without him going to nursery but the R2BC is that he will be back there from September 15 hours a week, and I am going to enjoy every minute of him until then :-)
2. I guess point (1) makes me a SAHM, and I have always wanted to give that a go.
3. Before I went to Ireland I wrote some cheerful blog posts about how I'd QUICKLY got Aaron a wedding outfit in TK Maxx and me in M&S, and his shoes in a Clarks' Factory Shop.  I did the MOST successful, budget ONE DAY shopping trip I have ever done in my life. I did that target and strike type of shopping men are famous for.  Well it WAS a reason to be cheerful, but then at the wedding I did not at all feel glamourous in my £39 jersery fabric M&S maxi dress, but to be fair it was more about the fact that my hair was not done.  I will NEVER again go to a wedding without my hair being done. Big mistake HUGE as they say in Pretty Woman.  I got a lot of flack from my Dad and his Wife that Aaron was not in a suit or at the very least in a shirt, tie and smart trousers, but what they didn't seem to realise is.... well a few things (1) I don't think that is necessarily right for a 2 year old (2) I didn't want him wearing what he wore to a wedding last August (because the photos are on Facebook and it was the other side of the family) (3) I liked him in what he DID wear, and (4) ironically enough, the smart outfit last year was cheap as chips Primark, whereas the shirt and shorts he wore to the wedding this year were BOTH reduced from £35 to £15 EACH.  People with CLASS can SEE money, and to me, I could SEE that Aaron looked good AND he looked more comfortable than the children in suits (yes there were a couple)....  I guess you want photos right? Well here they are :-)

The other thing I am "cheerful" about, if you can call it that, is that all of the clothes I bought Aaron last year, I bought BIG. That is how I am surviving now this year when I have no money coming in.  All of his clothes from last year still fit, bar a few pairs of jeans which I have had to replace, and yes there are some hoodies that are now short on the arms.  His arms and legs seems to have got longer, but bar that, everything still fits :-)  The me of this year THANKS the me of last year for being clever with her clothes shopping - it is certainly not something I can currently afford to repeat.

And the final reason to be cheerful, is that we are home.  Ireland was quite stressful, and as a result I had about 3 PJ days after we got back Saturday and have only unpacked today. Sometimes it is nice to be home with your creature comforts and not having to keep apologising for Aaron's behaviour.

Oh and to explain the PJ rest days on return, we went by boat which involved many hours in car and boat. I am extremely grateful to my Dad that he let us both accompany him in the car there and back.  It must have been stressful for him doing all those hours of driving (10 hours on 2nd May) and hearing me playing with Aaron in the back - or maybe just maybe it made the time go quicker for him. Who knows.  Anyway, I could not afford the flights so it was the only way that we could attend the wedding.

Bye for now, Liska xx

Reasons To Be Cheerful

Haven't joined in, in a good wee while but here's to trying.


Lately I have just been counting my blessings, not that there are many at the moment.

1. Being out of work seems to be my status quo at the moment so I am learning to go with it, instead of resist it. After all I worked for 24 long years and I will regret it in the future if I don't enjoy this time "in the moment" in a "present" way with Aaron.  That job I was debating over, where I would only pay for childcare, the tax man, and the bus driver, well, I did not get it, so the confusion was taken out of my hands despite a first AND second interview, each of which cost me £15 to attend.  But not getting that job WAS a blessing.  I would be working simply to pay for someone else to look after Aaron FULL TIME (even when I WAS working it was 3 days a week).  So I am looking for the silver lining in EVERY cloud at the moment.
2. Something has shifted.  Whereas I used to be a hoarder and HATED decluttering, I am now decluttering at a rate of knots.  I have dealt with 4 areas, in less than a fortnight, that had all been the way they were for 2-3 years or longer.  Try it.  It seems to remove darkness and bring IN light. I can't recommend it enough.
3. My husband has now moved the mortgage and some of the bills so that they come out of his account, now that all my redundancy money has gone, and I feel like a huge weight has lifted.  I should have asked for help MONTHS AGO.  If you are in a situation where you are trying to do too much, ask for help.  Your pride takes a hit yes, but it is only temporary and the relief is awesome, and relieving :-)
4. I am meeting up with friends more often.  The PND is truly behind me.
5. I am speaking at Brit Mums Live and am very excited about that.
6. I am cooking more often and getting a lot of satisfaction from seeing my husband enjoy the meals.  Yes I have turned into the "little lady" and am getting increasinly domesticated every day, but somebody's got to do it, and having the mind and body of a career woman, who no longer had a career was not working.  Going with the flow is where it is at.
7. I always had an insecurity about money, when I had a great salary.  For that reason I made sure all credit cards were cleared before I even attempted to try to conceive.  Yet now, I have nothing, and am less insecure.  Sorry if it sounds corney but I think I am closer to God.  I am trusting that all will be well.  Don't get me wrong.  I have missed a couple of bloggy events in the last few weeks, due to money constraints, and that is hard, but sometimes lack teaches us what is important.  BUT I would dearly love to have been at Alex's ball - sorry Tamsyn.
8. When I speak to Aaron in full sentences, my husband USED to say "WHAT are you doing, he DOESN'T understand YOU" - like if I said even something simple like "Daddy's in the sitting room" he would say "Aaron doesn't know what the sitting room is".  Now, unsurprisingly for ME, Aaron can name EVERY room in the flat, and his sentences and vocabularly are SUPERB.  The husband knows all those other terms for sentence structure, and says that Aaron does it all, i.e. knows when to use future tense, when you, when me, etc... He can even turn a sentence on its head to reply to you, even if you thought your meaning was unclear, or even if you werent't talking to him.  I wish I could come up with some examples.  I will have to start writing them down.  He comes up with some right crackers for a two  year old.  My husband's Mum recently complimented him on Aaron's speech and then he apologised to me for all the times I have talked to Aaron PROPERLY.  He asked me if I did it because of a book I'd read or because of advice I'd read online. No! My reason for doing so was always the same.  Always simple.  I spoke to him that way because I respected and respect him.  I couldn't talk goo goo ga ga to him.  To me, he is a beacon of light.  A wiser soul than me.  He is my world.  I talk to him like he is greater than an equal.  He is my heart and soul.
9. These last few months, my rock has been my Mum. Despite her being in Ireland we talk EVERY day on the phone.  It has deepened our relationship the support she has given me.  During the administration and resulting liquidation, I simply could not have got through it without her.

I think I will leave it there for now.

Much love,

Liska xx

1. 
   

Reasons To Be Cheerful - DISCOVERY, Mexicans and Mumsnet Blogfest

I am participating in Reasons To Be Cheerful for the 1st time in weeks.

Will insert a key to the photos at the bottom *

I am more spiritual than I am religious, despite being a practicing Catholic (my yoga beliefs dominate), but that doesn't stop me loving Mich's post this week.

She's linked to a You Tube video and this is the "line" from there that spoke to me:

"When I call on your name you answer"

Anyway, WHAT are my reasons to be cheerful?  I really need to think (but that is the beauty of this weekly linky: to MAKE you think).  An attitude of gratitude really can transform the world!

1. I am GRATEFUL to Wildcard PR and Discovery for inviting me to the Supper Club at the @thelondonfoodie which was facilitated by Benito's Hat's Head Chef Felipe Fuentes Cruz doing the cooking, while his boss and co-founder Ben Fordham sat, ate, drank and mingled with us.  WHAT a great night!
2. On that great night I got to meet lots of fabulous bloggers, including The Domestic Goddesque, The Bottom of The Ironing Basket, Transatlantic Mom, Pasta Bites and Rosana from Hot and Chilli Rosana you are great company and SUCH a laugh.  Your stories of setting fire to a menu (via a tea light) had me in stitches as did much of your conversation.  Thank you for taking my favourite photo of the night.
3. I was definitely cheerful when I got home from the above on Tuesday night, as the husband was in a BAD mood (as I outlined in my 24 hours post) and yet I was immune to it.  On Wednesday when I was showing him the many Discovery goodies that I received in my goodie bag, he said "oh so that's why you were immune to everything I said Tuesday night" - doesn't that show when someone is being grumpy they notice if you are absorbing it or not, and yet we never made eye contact (he was putting Tesco shopping away and I was making Aaron's bottle).  That's really given me food for thought actually (forgive all these constant references to food LOL).
4. I am grateful to my friend Jenny, from Gingerbread House (who also writes Treading on Lego) as it was she who told me about Mumsnet Blogfest a couple of months ago, and she told me early enough that I snapped up an early bird ticket and after a great day on Saturday I am so glad that I did.  She was looking RADIANT on Saturday and not one to ever keep anything to myself I told her that too :-)
5. I am grateful that me and the husband are getting on much better - so much so that I have a post entitled Sommersby in my drafts!!!! Need I say more!
6. I am grateful that I had a job interview yesterday.  I inserted the quote above "when I call on your name, you answer" as I now want God to give me a job.  I have poodled through the last few months, but I WANT TO WORK.... I need some mental clarity on what is next for me.  God please give that to me.
7. I am grateful that it is Children in Need this week, as Aaron was able to go to nursery today in his Pudsey PJs that we bought last year in Asda (they still fit him).  When we arrived there was only girls in his room and they were ALL dressed as princesses - bless!  The big TV show will be on Friday - don't let all the drama about the BBC put you off from watching or donating!  As it says HERE there are things happening nationwide!
8. I am cheerful that I have reached 2,000 followers on Twitter.  Last night I offered to French kiss my 2,000 follower but at midnight when I went to bed it was still stuck at 1,997.  I awoke to a tweeted congrats from what I have now found to be a GREAT BLOGGER Best Dad I can Be as I had got to 2,004 while I slept.  What really made me cheerful was that when I offered out the kiss last night I said "I hope they're not a moose" and someone went to the trouble of setting up a Moose Twitter account so that they could tweet me.  I LAUGHED so much I nearly fell off my chair! Thinking about it still tickles me and I still don't know who did it!
9. OH I am VERY cheerful, and happy and grateful that The Bloggess wrote a post about me and the fact that I uploaded a video of her at Mumsnet Blogfest.  
10. Thank you Jenny.  Just to show the power of The Bloggess, when she first published the post, my you tube video all of a sudden had 174 views.  Overnight (time difference) it has now had 4,595 views and 10 likes.  I have decided she is the OPRAH of the blogging world :-)
11. I got Caitlin Moran's book: Moranthology in my Mumsnet goodie bag, and my friend Jenny got The Bloggess's book, so hopefully once we have each read them we can swap.
12. Oh I am also very cheerful that Mich (the host of Reasons To Be Cheerful) has answered all of my questions!

I think that is more than enough Reasons To Be Cheerful for now :-)

Liska x

* Key to photos:

1. Top left is Felipe
2. Followed by the beautifully laid tables, Ben and the menu
3. Then Rosana, and lots of examples of what was in my Discovery goodie bag
4. The bottom photos are me on the way to a job interview yesterday with a couple of snaps taken as I passed through London Liverpool Street (my favourite London station and old stomping ground).

Reasons To Be Cheerful

Mummy from The Heart is back from her bloggy break with this Reasons to Be Cheerful post.

Welcome back Mich.


Here are mine.

ONE
I have a juicer arriving today.  I am cleaning the kitchen like a mad thing (boy did it need doing) to get ready for its arrival - you'd think a guest was on the way :-)

TWO
In August we received our replacement Ikea bed base (ALSARP) and replacement Sultan Hjartdal mattress, and on Monday it was finally all assembled.  We are no longer sleeping on a sofa bed - hoorah!  I absolutely LOVE it and can't recommend it enough!  As you can see on this American blog the storage in the bed base is awesome!  Our previous bed and mattress were NOT these items, so I am not insinuating that these particular products are defective.  The Ikea website says this about our new mattress and I couldn't agree more:

A 4.5 cm thick layer of memory foam in the integrated mattress pad moulds to your body, improving blood circulation to both muscles and skin and enabling your body to relax more fully.

THREE
I am getting my head around the fact that I may do freelance work instead of going back to the 9-5.  We shall see... but a couple of exciting things in the pipeline.

FOUR
What else am I cheerful about?  Shall I say again, my juicer is arriving today.  I am cheerful that this heralds the beginning of a new healthy me.  I shall blog/vlog about the weight loss that will ensue to my heart's content (and the weight loss will no doubt be literally to my heart's content - tee hee!).  Oh and if you have any questions about juicers, ensure you give Mark Snare from Juice Producer a ring on 0208 3745 604.  He is a pleasure to talk to and a real wealth of information.  Quite ironic that this is point FOUR considering the reason I want to get fit and healthy is because the age of 40 is around the corner, and I am NOT leaving it to the last minute, not for a moment!  The last time I committed to a healthy eating plan and lost 3 stone was 2001.  Over 10 years ago.  It is about time I did it again.  I want to look and feel my best.  I want to be radiant and I want to enjoy life and not spend it sleeping/sleepwalking.

If you have enjoyed this post, please read my inspirational people post from yesterday.

Bye for now,
Liska xxx

Reasons To Be Cheerful

Lakes Single Mum is hosting Reasons To Be Cheerful for Mich this week.



It was Kate On Thin Ice tweeting about #R2BC that reminded me it is that time of week.

So what are mine?

1. Spending quality time with my nieces and nephews, Saturday Sunday and Monday. I have already written 2 blog posts about it.  I also spent time with them before going to Ireland.  Aaron loves them so so so much as do I.  They are such well behaved beautiful children.
2. I am so happy that I was able to give them some wonderful memories in what was proving a boring school Summer holiday.
3. Going swimming with all of them Sunday showed me (1) how great the pool in Tottenham Leisure Centre is (2) how much Aaron's confidence in the water has come on, as a result of our swimming trips in Ireland, and (3) how perceptions can be so wrong - i.e. the pool in Tottenham is LEAPS ahead of our 3 local pools - who'd have guessed!?!?!?!?  The above photo does not do it justice as it has a toddler (elephant) slide at the end not shown in the photo which my 2 year old Aaron loved as did my 4 year old niece.  It is so near the edge of the water that you land and splash in just a few centimetres of water which is fun AND safe.  Fun Swim Sessions are available on school holidays Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1.00pm to 3.00pm and 3.15pm to 5.15pm. These sessions are priced at £4.50 for adults and £2.30 for children.  We went to the Sunday 3.15 to 5.15 session and loved it!
4. I am kind of glowing at the moment - don't know why but I FEEL like something good is round the corner.  I am still in a state of limbo though, having been made redundant on 5th July - after working for 24 years it is kind of odd to say the least, and I don't yet know where I am headed next.
5. I am very cheerful that I have found my dowsing crystal this morning.  Since I got back from Ireland Friday I have not been able to locate it, and it is a great tool when I am undecided about something.  I even chose the winner for my Champneys competition using it.  It never lets  me down :-) and always turns out to be correct about things too!
6. Me and the nieces/nephew and of course Aaron are going to Brighton for the day this weekend and we can't wait.  2 of my sister-in-laws are coming too, one of which is their Mum.  It will be a superb day out and I am very excited.
7. What else am I cheerful about?  On the one hand I am gutted that after getting my daily page views up to 1-2k they were back down to 300 a day the other day, due to my neglecting my blog whilst in Ireland, but the good news is the target I set myself is 500 a day (since redundancy) and I am back to hitting that for the last 2 days.  There is no reason for this arbitrary target other than having something to "achieve" now that I don't have a job :-)
8. I am cheerful that I am currently having a quality relationship with my Mum and Dad.  They are both being superb at the moment.  I talk to my Mum about 3 times a day by phone and I could NOT have got through the last few months without her - thank you Mum I love you.
9. I am cheerful that today is Aaron's last day at nursery for the week.  He cried all 3 mornings when I dropped him off (not like him) due to the quality time we've had in the last few weeks (trip to Ireland and nursery was closed for those 2 weeks).  Bless him, I will give him lots of cuddles over the long weekend and he will have quality time with his cousins once again.  We have to enjoy them as they'll be back to school soon.

I think that's enough reasons before I go into double figures :-)

Liska x

Reasons to be Cheerful

Reasons to be Cheerful is being hosted at Seasider in the City this week.  Michelle is taking a well deserved break.  Although she is not hosting the linky she still wrote a kick-ass post! that I really enjoyed reading.... maybe I can relate to the fact that she loves her boy as I love mine, or maybe I just loved the soppy tone of it and how mutually appreciative their relationship is - I can only wish that Aaron grows up to be like JJ :-)

So, my reasons:

1. As per one of my posts this week, I got a new dress for two weddings I am going to in August, and I'm really happy with it PLUS the handbag AND the new purse:-)
2. We are having a lovely play-date with Siobhan tomorrow.
3. The first of the August weddings is Saturday.
4. We go to Ireland Tuesday :-) quality time with Aaron and my Mum.
5. We'll get to go swimming lots in Ireland and Aaron will get great outdoors time/freedom.
6. I am starting to get a bit more clarity in my life.
7. I didn't lose weight for these weddings but am okay with it.
8. My blog is consistently hitting 600 page views a day now - happy with reaching the target I set myself for fun (as I was made redundant 5th July it was fun when I got back from Ireland on 16th July, to set myself a target as a challenge).
9. As per my What Makes me Smile post I have made up with my Sister in Law.
10. With my Dad being back in my life (for nearly 2 years now) that just leaves my cousin Debbie to reach a reconciliation with, but she seems to be a toughie!!! No, that is NOT a reason to be cheerful.
11. The weather is picking up - last Saturday Aaron's nursery had a fun day and I even got sun burned!
12. The Olympics seems to be going well - apart from all the bits where it's not (like the empty seats etc...)
13. I've done loads of housework and CAN see the wood for the trees now.
14. I am going to the Brit Mums event on Monday.
15. That reminds me I got a £39.99 early bird ticket for Brit Mums Live 2013... Go here if you want one as they are only available till 6th August.
16. I think I'll draw a line here - that's enough reasons... :-) oh I will squeeze one in.  Thanks to the recommendation of the Mummy Whisperer (aka Lisa) I am reading Demartini's books and he has something called an Attitude of Gratitude that he recommends.  So I am VERY HAPPY to say that participating in Reasons to Be Cheerful is fully in keeping with my reading of his books, and the internal journey it is sending me on. 

Liska x

After a Few False Starts - Day 1 - Master Cleanse

Despite intending to start the cleanse on Monday, I had various fails, Monday Tuesday Wednesday so therefore am starting properly today.

Also today, I am going to see Gareth Edwards with my husband.  We are going to get Live Blood Analysis.  Last time I had it done was probably 2007 or 8.

I want to see what my blood is like before and after the cleanse.  To see does it really cleanse the body as much as is thought.

I am hoping seeing his blood onscreen will be the incentive my husband needs to change his diet.  The blood needs us to be slightly alkaline and therefore an acidic diet is BAD for us.  As my husband has chronic eczema, I am sure a change in nutrition would benefit him.  I have never been able to convince him of this, but I am hoping his own blood may speak to him...

Despite the fact that I have already started reading The Artists Way I have also now started reading The Gratitude Effect by Dr John F Demartini, as recommended by The Mummy Whisperer.

This book really makes clear the benefits to be had if you can be grateful every day - in fact starting and ending the day, by thinking of the things you are grateful for.  We even have to embrace the challenges.  Gratitude and love makes us expand, and negativity makes us contract.

With that in mind, I want to again participate in Mich's super Reasons to Be Cheerful.

1. The sun is shining - it is hot - in fact it is glorious!
2. I am off work and enjoying the time to think, breathe and grow!
3. Yesterday I discovered there is such a thing as a free lunch and a free dinner after all (regulars will remember my last post on that).  I went to the post office yesterday to post the insolvency forms (yuk) and whilst there bumped into my dear friend Sandra who looked after Aaron for my first 5 months back at work, before he went to nursery.  She invited me back to hers, with her sister and made me a beautiful lunch. I then left to have a shower and collect Aaron and we went back there for a beautiful dinner.  Aaron had hours and hours in her garden and we all enjoyed it - it was like therapy.  He was running, blowing bubbles, being a 2 year old and we were all laughing - fun in the sun.  I loved the synchronicity that I bumped into her.  Also that I bumped into the Canadian church people, on the same day, yesterday.  Dr Demartini I am truly grateful for all my lovely coincidences yesterday.
4. I am grateful that I am going to Ireland again in August - I am already looking forward to it.

Anyway lots to do, so best dash.

Liska xx
New Mum Online

Reasons to be Cheerful

For the 2nd week in a row - yyyeeeaaaah - I am joining in with Reasons to Be Cheerful, but I cannot follow the H theme, sorry.

My reasons, despite NOT being in a good mood right now*, would be:
(* I hope writing the below will cheer me up)...

1. On the Radio, aha aha, on the radio..... I will be tonight.... Won't say where or when until I know it has gone well, but suffice to say, I am excited.
2. I just spoke to my Mum on the phone and she really picked me up.  She reminded me that I can use Angel Azariel to change things.  My issue has long since been "water" and whenever there are issues in the home, they are always emotional (energy that resides in water) and are manifested in plumbing issues in the home, or places where water stagnates.  Asking Azariel for clearance via Arch Angel Michael can clear this, and I will.  I find it VERY interesting that Diana Cooper says that Azariel is the angel for 2012; I already sensed that.
3. There are big issues being uncovered in 2012 and it is a time for enormous spiritual growth if we can work on ourselves and do the personal development required.
4. I am going to revitalise myself my doing the Master Cleanse (AKA lemonade diet) again!  Watch this space as this time I PROMISE to vlog about it.  I have to do it, I am running on empty, have THREE bellies and have a big Irish wedding coming up on 10th August.
5. I am excited that Aaron and I are going to Ireland again in August.
6. I am truly grateful for the time we had in Ireland in July - Aaron and myself both got so much from it.
7. I am learning, hour by hour, day by day, to be at peace with myself.  Given my work situation, it is not easy, but I AM getting there.
8. Hey the Olympics is only 8 days and 10 hours away!

Lots of love,
Liska xxx

Reasons to Be Cheerful

Even though I have just written a post, here I am straight away writing another, and for a few reasons.
One, it is too long since I have participated in R2BC; two, I need to find some reasons to be cheerful, what with the weather, and having been made redundant; three, might be nice to ponder on what has made me cheerful here in Ireland (nice to appreciate the holiday DURING the holiday rather than on reflection at home); and four, Michelle inspired me with her post.






So here goes:

1. Aaron is simply loving the open space, and the many, varied opportunities to get outside.
2. He's loving spending time with my Mum and my cousin Michelle.
3. I am getting a bit of a chance to chill, in the sense that my Mum is doing all the housework, as we are staying with her, so I just have the usual work of chasing a two year old, but without the added extra of domestic "bliss" - oh the irony!
4. I'm in Ireland and I simply LOVE Ireland, having spent ALL my childhood school holidays here, having had my 21st birthday party here AND my wedding.
5. The swimming pool is literally across the road from my Mum's - for obvious reasons I have no photos from there :-(
6. We still have a while yet, as we are not going back till Monday.
7. Despite having been made redundant, I don't feel spooked out at not being employed.  I don't know if God is looking after me, or if I am just being brave, but I thought I would be in a complete panic yet I am okay!  I am enjoying this opportunity to let one phase/era get out of my system before a new one begins.  And although I have ALWAYS been financially independent having put myself through university, it is not spooking me that for the 1st time in 24 years I do not have a job! eeek! no I am okay ;-) 
8. I felt okay before I had the astrological birth chart reading but that confirmed that I am allowed to have this down time before rushing into anything.

Bye for now, Liska x

Reasons To Be Cheerful - anniversary edition

Hi

I don't want to think how long it has been since I joined in with #R2BC, but I know it has been toooo long. This is the badge if you would like to click through and see other entries to this wonderful link up.

So back to me. December was a low month for reasons I do not want to go into on this blog, but suffice to say they were to do with work. It was a rollercoaster but I got through it. 23rd December saw me in tears but by that night I was in Toys R Us. It also meant that hubby put up the decorations by himself - EVEN the tree which in 23 years of being together and 10 years of living in this home, he has NEVER ever done. Me not being good at delegating that taught me a valuable lesson - people CAN do things even if they never have before and even without you showing them how :-)

So back to the reasons to be cheerful.

(1) Numero uno is a big one - I have lost 4 kg, so THAT has inspired me to start Mumentum again (return here Sunday), as I wasn't much of a cheerleader before when I wasn't leading by example. Mich who runs Reasons to Be Cheerful has been cheering me on to get it up and running again, so I will honour her by saying yes! and doing just that. Also I will be more committed to Reasons to be Cheerful as that is the very least I owe my blog chum :-)

(2) I am working tomorrow on my day off as there's a lot on this week, but next week should see the beginning of a new dawn - so let's see what that brings shall we.

(3) Aaron is just getting cuter and cuter and cuter - I have a lot of proud mummy moments to blog about and will as soon as I get a moment.

(4) I NEARLY set fire to the kitchen the other day (I WILL blog about it) suffice to say Weetabix do get HOT - I know their latest campaign is try them hot but I am sure that is not what they meant ;-) Oh, the reason this is a R2BC is that I averted the catastrophe. Just in case that wasn't clear.

(5) I am REALLY looking forward to March, which I feel is close, as I KNOW it will start getting warmer then. It is the only thing getting me through this hell week of weather we are having. The mornings are bloody dark, windy and GRIM at the moment. That did not help when I turned up at nursery Tuesday morning when they had not opened yet - Mummy fail!

(6) I feel that 2012 will be the year for me. I taught Kundalini Yoga for 6 years and like a lot of spiritual disciplines, we believe 2012 will see a year of transformation. I can ALREADY feel very different energy. But it will be challenging for a lot of us, as things will come out to be aired. Like the enormous row I had with my sister in law on New Year's Day. Things don't hide under the covers anymore with this new energy. Karma has to be cleared so we can all be more enlightened in 2012. Go with it and see where it takes you. If you do, it will bring good things - if you feel an inkling to be more spiritual go with it.

(7) I went to mass last Sunday and it felt good as I had missed 3 weeks. I am in the church choir and I love it.

(8) I got a really good deal from Kindle yesterday and am looking forward to my replacement arriving on Saturday. Their customer support is excellent.

I think that's all for now.

Liska xxxxx

As with Mumentum, this a blog hop so the other entries can be seen here.  Hop along:

Reasons to be Cheerful 1, 2, 3

Hi

I am linking up with Reasons to be Cheerful as it has been far far far too long since I have done so...

1. Going to Butlins soon for the Tots100 xmas party - can't wait - will have superb quality time with husband and Aaron.  Also Aaron will love it as the kids facilities are amazing.
2. Work's calmed down a little and some really great things have happened.
3. Aaron's old enough to understand Xmas.
4. I am regularly blogging again.
5. Aaron's learning new words at the rate of 1 a day.
6. I've started making soup again.
7. I've found out who my true friends are and it is a lovely feeling.
8. Husband is off this weekend.

Bye for now

Liska xxx

Reasons to be Cheerful 1, 2, 3 - short and sweet

Hi

I am linking up to the wonderful Mich's reasons to be cheerful.

I am normally cheerful today as it is my Friday given that I am part time but I am actually going in tomorrow so I can't write much as I am going to bed.

1. Took Aaron to a soft play area on Monday and he loved it.
2. Husband is off this weekend - hopefully we will do something nice like finally go to London Zoo.
3. There's been some good news at work.
4. I am starting Thinking Slimmer soon - exciting.

Bye for now (short and sweet).

Liska xx

Reasons to be Cheerful 1, 2, 3

Hi





I am participating in Reasons to Be Cheerful. Click the above to visit Mich who hosts it.

1. All of the redundancies have finished at work than God, so I can take a big sigh of relief.
2. We are going away this weekend for my Husband's Best Friend's Girl Friend's birthday - her 40th no less.  There are lots of other families going so will be interesting to see how Aaron gets on.
3. My Cybermummy post on Talk Talk has gone live.
4. Aaron's walking properly now.
5. Christmas in July on Tuesday was FANTASTIC.
6. I feel comfortable in my own skin on my blog for the first time.  Free speech has helped with that.
7. I feel lonely at the moment, but hopefully I can be cheerful if my blog friends don't ignore me due to point 6.

Lots of love, Liska
xxx

Reasons to be Cheerful 1, 2, 3

Hi

I have missed a couple of weeks and I used to be a faithful follower and participant of this trusty blog hop.




Being quite spiritual I LOVE the concept of Reasons to be Cheerful.

Well I have a lot of them this week:

on his birthday in Little Dinosaurs

Free wooden letters that spell AARON - that's a R2BC

1. Aaron was ONE on Wednesday. Bless him.
2. My free wooden train from When I was A Kid turned up today (I'll add a photo later).  It is letters - obviously the letters A A R O and N
3. I had a whole afternoon in the SAVOY yesterday - free of charge - oh the joys of being a Mummy Blogger.  I wrote about it here - well that's a lie I haven't written much at all yet - I have simply uploaded a video and photos. A lot of people asked us on Twitter, why were WE picked, so the minute we arrived, we asked the PRs that, and they said that they spent a long time checking who was writing about Boots and who was influential, and to be fair I have written about Boots a fair few times.  Just to show that karma works, I had never previously received anything for doing so, but did so anyway, never knowing that the Savoy was my light at the end of the tunnel... :-)  Anyway the reason we were there was so that Boots could tell us about Treat Street and it is a great product for us Mums who quite often do a lot of online shopping and never for ourselves, so the idea of the Treat, is that you use the points to treat yourself.  More about it here.
4. Things at work should start to get better now as the biggest stresses are over.
5. The countdown to Cybermummy has begun!
6. My Guest Post on Talk Talk's blog went live this week.  It was one very proud moment.  It actually went live on Aaron's birthday.  The link is here: Guest Post by Liska on Talk Talk about HomeSafe.

I know Reasons To be Cheerful shouldn't be used for self-promotion, but that really really was a reason to be Cheerful.  When @TalkTalkTips tweeted the link to my post I cried - I know I am a big girl's blouse!

Well I can't believe it's been a few weeks since I did this meme as it's always been my favourite.  I exchanged an email or 2 with Mich yesterday and internally made a resolution that I would take part this week, but just now when I hopped over there to grab the badge code I saw the thing about the Interflora competition, and I'd hate it if she now thinks that is why I am back, when that is soooooo not the case.




Bye for now, Liska xxxxxxx

Reasons to be Cheerful 1, 2, 3

Hi

I haven't participated in a while.





My reasons:

1. I now have a Cybermummy sponsor for my blog: Talk Talk.
2. I am really enjoying connecting with the #mumentum ladies.
3. I am looking forward to meeting everyone at Cybermummy.
4. My week is over and I am now off for 4 days, and the weather is good.
5. I am also going to be a Guest Blogger for Talk Talk which I am very very excited about.
6. Achieved quite a few things at work so might now be able to get back on an even keel.  Couldn't get up this morning so husband looked after Aaron till I surfaced at 10:30.  Haven't had a sleep-in probably since February but I was out of it. He took the good out of it when I got up, but this is reasons to be cheerful so the less said about that the better.
7. Aaron is growing rapidly and is very close to walking.

Bye for now, Liska xxx

Reasons to be Cheerful

1. I don't feel cheerful that it's a long weekend, as I work Tues, Wed, Thurs, so makes no odds to me.  In fact makes me gutted that everyone has the same as me this weekend.... first Easter in my working life where I don't benefit from the BH.  BUT it does mean the husband's off for 5 days which is good.  It's funny, I can sense other people are off, as when I woke it felt like the weekend where it normally feels like a Friday.
2. I've settled into work, and am now really enjoying it.  Feeling very productive.
3. I am really excited that someone at work, may be about to get an internal promotion that I put them up for.  The interview is today and I am crossing my fingers and toes.  Back with an edit.  He passed that stage with flying colours.  One stage left....
4. I'm so cheerful about the good weather and the long bright days. The weather's been exceptional.
5. I am starting to feel excited about Cybermummy but I'd still like to find a sponsor and MUST lose weight before then.

Liska xxx

Reasons to be Cheerful 1, 2, 3

Hi

1. I work 3 days a week so today is the new Friday.  Looking forward to a lie in tomorrow.
2. I got loads done today.
3. Seeing 3 friends this Sunday.
4. Aaron's settled really well into childcare.
5. Aaron's 10 months tomorrow.
6. Enjoying Eastenders right now...

Liska xxx