Any Other Woman - Stay at Home Dad

I'm over on Any Other Woman today talking about how O is now a stay at home Dad. Would love to hear your thoughts or feedback.

Thanks to the lovely ladies over there for giving me the opportunity to post on their excellent site.

Saying something

I started reading my blog from the beginning. It is embarrassing. I have a strong desire to delete all the posts. I'm so far resisting the temptation.

#bloggingsix Secret Santa

Some of my favourite bloggers and I decided that we would do a Secret Santa. As well as a bought gift we made things for our secret Santa recipient. 

I made something for Zoe, it is on her blog today. Go and have a look. I was a little nervous about it so was very relieved with how it turned out and that Zoe seemed to like it.

aDizzyGirl was my Secret Santa and as well as a lovely brooch I got three jars full of good stuff; salted caramel sauce, peppermint creams and honey roasted nuts. I didn't manage to take any photos before O and I stuck right into them so you'll just need to take my word for it they are scrumptious. 

See another Secret Santa post here 

Blook Club

Did you notice my shiny new badge? Over there, there, down on the right hand side! I'm a member of blook club, organised by the clever and delightful Zoe from Conversation Pieces. 

I say that I'm a member, however I'm unfortunately having to miss the first one. Cannot wait to hear how it went and what everyone thought of the book: How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran.

Enough of me wittering check out Zoe's post. She is much better at explaining.

Birthday Girls

(image via pinterest)

Cass, welcome to the birthday club. Seems to be ok so far.


It was only this morning that I put two and two together and realised it was Lisa Marie's birthday too. Somehow I'd managed to separate the two in my head.


Happy birthday to you both

Blog Birthday 2

(from pinterest but etsy originally)

I've made it through another year!

My sisters and my "real life" friends have moaned about not having the opportunity to make new friends. How it is hard to meet like minded people and start conversations with them.

Inside I'm screaming at them, start a blog, start a blog. You meet the most amazing people and if you are lucky they become truly wonderful friends.

What happens when I lose my blogging mojo?

Weeks, no months, go by without writing anything meaningful. Ideas drift through my consciousness but time passes before I can write them down and they lose their relevance. Weekends of inactivity pass leaving me with nothing to report. Weekends of absolute bedlam pass leaving me with so much to report it is too much to capture and translate. Weeks pass when I sit staring aimlessly at the computer reading your blogs but not being able to pull words together to comment let alone write a post myself. I post endless randomness including photos of toothpaste and towels hoping that my readers won’t completely abandon me. Even the cats have stopped providing a source of bizarre inspiration. I promise myself that this evening it will be different. This evening I will write something, I will schedule a post. I won’t share all of my news on Twitter leaving me nothing to blog about. I won’t post random drivel, I will spark a debate/conversation and capture the attention of my readers. I doubt that I will ever find anything interesting to write about, I doubt that I ever had anything to write about at all. Maybe planning my wedding was it, maybe there isn’t anything to continue with.



But no I can’t abandon my little community, my new friendships I must continue.


I will think of something interesting. I will share my innermost thoughts and fears. I will share the random spare thoughts that sparked all this off in the first place.


I will try harder, I will do better.


Come back mojo I want to continue.


Its not just me right? Everyone goes through patches like this right? 

Wedding bells

(source)

Wishing the lovely littlewifelittlemama an amazing wedding day.

All the happiness in the world on your wonderful day.

If you don't already go and read littlewifelittlemama's blog and follow on twitter.

Give Blood

Welcome to the blogger blood drive.


The excellent Emma and Fiona gathered some like minded bloggers together and asked us to spread the word. 

I love giving blood, not in a vampire esk masochistic way but in a I'm doing my bit sort of way.


Just to reiterate

If you are ever feeling down, glum or think the world is a horrible place then go and give blood. In a blood donation centre people are there of their own free will. They make the conscious choice to go and help their fellow man with no hint of a reward other than a free cup of tea and a biscuit (a huge reward if ever there was one). They sit and queue with the utmost patience.

It warms the cockles. 

I've donated blood less than 10 times. I was a late starter and I'm not really sure why but I've since seen the error of my ways. O got a badge for donating 10 times and I'm close to getting my own badge. My Dad used to donate platelets (he takes too much medication now) when we were young he used to take us to the donation centre with him, it was just across the road from his office. #1 and #2 both donate. Apart from when #2 travels to exotic places that involves immunisations. My Mum is the only member of the family who doesn't give blood. She is however the only member of the family who has received a blood transfusion. After my Mum gave birth to #2 she suffered a severe haemorrhage and had to be given several pints to pull through. She would not be here and hence I would not be here if it were not for the blood donations of other people.


So why do I give blood? A small part is of course is to give thanks for even being here. The main reason is of course that it makes me feel good to be a lifesaver! And every three months I get to eat Tunnock's teacakes without feeling any guilt.

I was shocked to learn that only 4% of the population donates. People who can not donate fall into two main categories; because donating might effect their health or if there is even the slimmest possibility that their blood might transmit disease to the very ill person that will receive their blood. But apart from the people that cannot donate there are still plenty who just don't. Why not?
It is painful? Well it isn't really, I find the most painful bit the prick of my thumb to test my iron levels. There is no denying it is a little uncomfortable but it isn't for very long. Giving blood is not like having a blood sample taken at the doctors - believe me I've had my arms scraped, stabbed and bruised plenty of times by a practice nurse. The men and women who work for the blood donation centre take blood hundreds and hundreds of times they are the experts. 
You're squeamish? Let me make a suggestion - don't look. If you ask nicely the staff at the blood donation centre will put up a screen round your arm so you can't see. You won't know that you are too squeamish unless you try. If you faint too many times you'll be politely asked not to try to donate again.


Give giving blood a go.

For more information and to find your nearest donating centre:

In England visit Give Blood
In Scotland visit Scotblood

Go and visit the other lovely people taking in part in this campaign. Read their stories about why they donate or support those who donate:

Tattybojangles Vintage Hen House

Plans & Presents Wedding & Event Planning

Anna and the Ring

All Wrapped Up Wedding & Event Planners & Coordinators

Emily Jayne Image Consultancy

Fiona Kelly Photography

Mission 2 Wed

Boho Weddings & Events

Hannah Dornford-May Photography

Source Images Photography                                                         

Purple & Pearls

Aisle Rock

Tamryn Kirby

Bride and Chic

The Honeymoon Project

Cake for Breakfast

The Wedding Reporter

Spring may have sprung

(source)

I can not tell you how excited I was to see a snowdrop on Saturday.

Even the daffodils are starting to make an appearance. 

I had very good intentions of posting actual, you know, sensible content this evening. Unfortunately I'm having to work so you get a picture of a flower.

Thank you for sticking with me through this rather quiet period. 

Loveliness

The lovely Lisa Marie has given me this "One Lovely Blog" award and it is high time that I pass it on - rules say to pass it on to 15 lovely blogs.

I've chosen some long time favourites and some new finds.

Take my hand and my whole life too; Anna and the Ring; bunnies 'n' beagles; A Chocolate Lover's Confessions; We Ski Slow; shinyprettybits; the coffee girl; CraftMyLife; Red Boots; Some Vague Utopia; A Daisy Chain Dream; A Dandelion Mind; From becoming a wife to becoming a mama; Cakes and Bunting; Daydreams in Lace

There are many more that I love to read - but I'm always open to new finds. 

So I'll be interested to see who you pass it on to. 

Cee unveiled

By telling me, that my blog did not appear very chipper Cee was not having a go – what she was really saying was “You love writing, you love your blog, and you’re not doing what you love. There must be something taking up a lot of head space going on, what is it and how can I help”

I have been meaning to write about Cee for quite some time – let’s start with the fact that her name is actually Cass but as I’ve changed the names of everyone on the blog that is what she got lumbered with. When I first wrote about Cee as one of my Special Women I mentioned that she had her own blog and that, with her permission, I’d let you know about it. I would really like to let you know about her blog – she is hilarious. In fact, you may have heard one of her stories – the ketchup incident. I think it has become an urban legend. When Cass first phoned to tell me about the ketchup incident, I was home from University on Christmas break, my Mum came into the kitchen to find me on the floor with tears streaming down my face. She very nearly phoned an ambulance and it took a wee while for her to realise that I was laughing uncontrollably.

So what is the point of this rambling you are asking? Go ahead and just link already! Well I would do but I am scared, it goes back to my whole anxiety over anonymity (yes other than the photos of my face). As far as I am aware, no one who knows me in real life other than Cass and O has actually found the blog and I would rather like to keep it that way. Cass on the other hand is very public with her blog; she has sent the link round to all her friends and family and has posted it through her Facebook page. My fear is that if I link to her blog then you lovely people go and read it (and you might possibly mention me) and if her friends and family get curious and link to you, they might find me. Paranoid me? YES big style!

If I do link to Cass’ blog and you comment you have to promise not to mention me (as R or Spare Thoughts).

If you do go and read her blog – you have to promise to be NICE, not that I would expect you to be anything else but I am fiercely loyal.

Dreams of lace

(image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4)

The amazing, fantastic, wonderful Rebecca is getting married today. I can't put into words how excited I am for her and James.

Wishing you both a day and future full of happiness

Enjoy your honeymoon but come back quick and tell me all about it. 

I'm going to miss you!

Details: Internet friends are amazing

Not only did Rebecca from Daydreams in Lace make me this amazing hair slide

She also gave me a hanky embroidered with my name

and allowed me to keep hold of her beautiful pearl necklace while I hummed and hawed for MONTHS about what jewellery to wear and then I didn't even wear it!

(photo by Rebecca I presume

hope you don't mind me posting it)

Rebecca has less than a month to go until her wedding. I'm so excited for her and James and seeing all their details come together. I just wish I was able to repay her kindness.


scheduled post

Blog Birthday

(Image from here)

Oh my goodness! I can't believe I've kept this blog going for a whole year.

and people actually read it

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you

I really couldn't have done it without you all

I'm planning on sticking around but it might take me a moment or so to work out which direction to go next.

after I've finished with the recaps of course

Wellies!!!!!!!!

Wellies and her boy are getting married today. I'm so excited for them!

(photo credits 1. Lillian and Leonard 2. Wellies and Vogue 3. Here via here 4. Here via here)

Recaps/Details: Hair

For those of you who didn't see the very hurried photo I slapped on to Twitter this is the back of my hair.

More importantly this is the hair slide that the very lovely Rebecca made for me. Trying to explain who Rebecca was and why when she is so lovely she still wasn't coming to the wedding (asked myself that question about a billion times) was quite tricky*.

*I may have told a couple of incy wincy white lies to my family

Just finished reading

(image from here)

Bloggers you have to read this book, if you enjoy crime “who dunnit” novels. I’ll try not to spoil the story but the plot revolves around a blog writer, the subject of a blogpost and the comments that the post sparks – a warning not to give too much away on the internet and to watch what you say. So if you want to freak yourself about your anonymity in blogosphere this is the perfect book for you.


If you want more cultured book recommendations, please visit Stacy and see her “I just finished reading” series.

Catching Up

I miss interacting with you all. I’m still occasionally posting and I’m still reading but I’m not finding time to comment on your blogs or to reply to your comments on my blog. Although I’m with Mrs T, I’m not sure the correct etiquette. So I thought I’d give you a quick update on life at the minute and reply to some of your comments in this post so that you don’t miss them. Firstly the reason I’ve been slightly distracted is that the wedding invitations went in the post today! Woop woop. I’m so happy to have them done and in the post. It also makes the wedding feel much more real. Now we might have actual guests there.

This weekend we are heading north to O’s family for a wedding. Can’t wait to see my nephew and we are hand delivering a few of the invitations so that will be nice. I hope people like them.

Now the invitations are posted I'll have more time to do stuff and more head space to comment on your blogs.

Getting back to you:

Cake

@amberdawn – firstly welcome it is lovely to have you here.
Getting someone to decorate the cake could be a blog post in itself. We did have someone confirmed who then had to pull out. We approached a couple of people who wouldn’t do it for health and safety reasons. In case someone got food poisoning and blamed it on the cake icing. We found someone who wouldn’t ice the sponge cakes although they did offer to decorate a couple of polystyrene blocks which we could use as the smaller tiers. We thought that, that was a bit strange and a bit rude to O’s mum. Plus the price they were charging was ridiculous. Finally we found our cake lady and she is lovely.

@Gaynor – I think one of the first photos you posted, one of your friend’s pictures, has you cutting your cake so it stuck in my mind that they are similar.

Mum2 - @Zoe – I think Mum2 might be busy but my Mum classes herself as honorary Mum to all of my friends. She will adopt anyone who is nice to her daughters. I’d be happy to loan her to you for the day or longer if needed.

Cat - @Rebecca – Cat wuvs you too

Hen do - @glasgowbride – The hen do was great. A blog post is coming I promise.

There is going to be a wedding

Today one of my favourite bloggers is getting married. The below poem was the first post of Catherine's that I read. I loved the poem and then I saw her photos and I was hooked.

Catherine, Richard and William I wish you all the happiness possible. I hope you have a wonderful love filled day.

Shores

If we were in Talisker on the shore

where the great white foaming mouth of water

opens between two jaws as hard as flint –

the Headland of Stones and the Red Point –

I’d stand forever by the waves

renewing love out of their crumpling graves

as long as the sea would be going over

the Bay of Talisker forever;

I would stand there by the filling tide

till Preshal bowed his stallion head.

And if the two of us were together

on the shores of Calgary in Mull

between Scotland and Tiree,

between this world and eternity,

I’d stand there till time was done

counting the sands grain by grain.

And also in Uist, on Hosta’s shore,

in the face of solitude’s fierce stare,

I’d remain standing, without sleep,

while sea were ebbing, drop by drop.

And if I were on Moidart’s shore

with you, my novelty of desire,

I’d offer this synthesis of love,

grain and water, sand and wave.

And were we by the shelves of Staffin

where the huge joyless sea is coughing

stones and boulders from its throat,

I’d build a fortified wall

against eternity’s savage howl.

Sorley MacLean