What happens at 8pm?

So this weeks theme for the Gallery is 8pm. 

You see the light brown sofa in this picture, that is where I am at 8pm. Usually with a glass of vino in hand and more often than not a big bar of chocolate. 

This room is a child free zone, there are no plastic things that sing the same annoying song over and over again. There are no sticky finger marks all up the patio door. There are no bits of lego to step on in bare feet. This is an adult room, the only adult room in the house and I love it!

This is my little haven at the end of the day where I can sit for more than 5 minutes without having to get up and change a pooey nappy, get someone a drink or referee the latest fight that has broken out over some toy that neither of them have played with in months but now that the other one has it they simple must play with it.

This is 8pm and it's adult time!  

So what happens in your household at 8pm? To check out what happens in others go to Taras blog at Sticky Fingers.

Autumn Love

I feel a change coming, the mornings are getting crisper and the days are getting shorter. Shops are slowly becoming filled with a selection of multicoloured sparkly things and it's soon going to be my most favourite season. 

I love Autumn! I love everything about it.   

• I love the huge array of colour on all of the trees.

Image by Andrew Griffith

•  I love snuggling up next to the fire with a glass of vino and a good book.

Image by Steven.S

• I love Halloween and all of the funny decorations popping up everywhere.

Image by Terry Tyson

• I love fresh Autumn walks through the woods with the sound of crisp leaves under your feet.

Image by Barbara

• I love fireworks night

Image by Bayasaa

• and I love the countdown to Christmas.

Image by Chelsea Oakes

  So many things to look forward to. Bring on the Autumn.

Scary London

Well I did it, I went to London today all by myself. 

It was terrifying! It's just so big, with far to many people and way to easy to lose your bearings and get lost.

I very nearly bottled it and didn't go but I managed to pull myself together in the end and off I went. 

It's not like I've never been to London before, infact quite the opposite (I use to live very near by) it's just that my anxiety levels since having children have sky rocketed. 

Photo by Andor Kish

I have recently been told that I suffer with social anxiety, which basically means I freak out before, after and during any social events for no good reason. It's a nightmare but I've recently started Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to try and combat it. Which is basically a way of re-training your brain to think about things in a different way. 
I've only just started it so we'll see how it goes.

So anyway, I went to London and it all went really well. I had a lovely lunch at the rainforest cafe and met some lovely other mummy bloggers. 

We were there for a new drink product LOL by Heinz. (Review found here). 

Photo by mariosp

 I feel very proud of myself today, despite the major panic attacks I was having about going, I went and I really enjoyed myself. I feel like I've taken a really positive step forward today and I'm on the road towards feeling like my pre children more confident, self again.
I'm now going to chill out with a well deserved glass of vino (or two). x

Image by Danielle Bauer

Yummy Mummy Meme

I have been tagged in this meme by Aimee Sawyer with her blog Everything's Rosey. I haven't done one of these in ages so I thought I'd give it a go.

The rules...
When answering the questions give as much detail as possible. It's all about the finer details people!
Leave a comment on Here (Busybeemummybex blog where the meme was created).
Tag three or more people and link to them on your blog.
Tweet #yummymummy when you share on Twitter.


What is the first thing you do when you wake up?
Moan and think it can't possible be morning again, I haven't had nearly enough sleep. As far as I'm concerned mornings are the work of the devil and should be banned!

Do you shower daily? Are you an early morning shower or an evening bath type?
I try to shower everyday but it depends on how the kids are behaving. If they're in one of their naughty moods I usually wait until they go to bed and then either have a shower or a bath. We have a shower curtain instead of a screen and there's nothing worse then suddenly getting a little hand poking through it, scares me to death everytime

Do you wear make up daily?

Definitely, if I didn't I would imagine that I'd quite easily get a part in the next zombie apocalypse movie. 

I have blonde eyelashes, blonde eyebrows and very pale skin which means without makeup it's not a pretty sight

What's in your make up bag?
Pretty much everything Max Factor has ever made! 

Max Factor colour adapt foundation, Max Factor lash extension effect mascara, Max Factor lip finity brown, Max Factor lip finity red, Max Factor colour elixir red lip liner, Max Factor masterpiece mascara, Max Factor kohl pencil black, Max Factor bronzing powder, Max Factor flawless perfection blusher, Max Factor liquid eyeliner, Max Factor eyebrow pencil and Max Factor vibrant curve lip gloss. Can you tell I like Max Factor?

When your having a slummy mummy day what do you normally wear?
My black Pineapple trousers, a strappy top and my pink Gap hoodie or if it's a really slummy day my pj's (this is normally after a night out with the OH and a bit too much vino)

 

Nails - how often do you get them done?
I have never had my nails done before EVER! I'm not really much of a girlie girl (other than my Maxfactor addiction)

 

Your top tips for tired eyes?
Cucumber slices over them


Are you a Starbucks or Costa Coffee kind of girl?
I don't drink coffee or anything with caffeine in for that matter. I suffer from panic attacks and the caffeine brings them on. I know very boring!


How many children do you have/want and why?
I have two children and would have a million more though I think the OH would have something to say about that. No plans for anymore just yet though


Where is your favourite place to shop for babies/children's clothes?
Here I would love to say Next, Monsoon, Joules, Gap & Fat Face but the reality is more Tesco, Asda, Primark and charity shops. I can dream can't I?


Flats or Heels - Everyday shoes are?
Flats all the way, I just look ridiculous in heels, I can't walk in them to save my life


I am going to tag the following people in this meme, can't wait for their replies...

Rachel at Dragonfly Crafter

Single Married Mum

Chloe at A Twenty Something Mummy

Do all mother's lose their identity?

I was going through some boxes full of old stuff that I’ve collected over the years and came across loads of photo’s of me (pre – babies) and I can’t believe how much I have changed in such a short space of time.

Pre children I was the life and soul of a party, mine was the house that everyone use to hang out at, whether it be a massive party, a big old bbq or a sing song round the fire pit (handmade by me from an old oil drum).  Whatever the group decided to do it would be at mine and looking back through those photos reminded me just how often we use to do things like that.

 

Image by Jason Brown

I never spent a huge amount of time pampering etc but if I was going out for the evening I would always make an effort to make myself feel good , nowadays I would rather choice to stay in than go out at all, mainly because I can’t muster up the energy to get ready, by the time I’ve put the kids to bed all I want to do is die on the sofa with a well earned glass of vino.

 Image by Oliver323

Although looking back through those old photo’s did make me feel a slight prang of longing for my pre baby, single life it also made me realise how meaninless my life actually was. I had bounced from course to course not really knowing what I wanted to do, I’d also bounced from boyfriend to boyfriend not really wanting to be with any of them, and even with all the parties, friends and wild nights I was the most depressed and lonely I have ever been in my life.

Now however, even though I’m tired, constantly look like I’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards and  have a serious case of agrophobia, I have never been happier in my life.

 Image by Peyri Herrera

 I never really get these woman that say things like ‘Just because I have children now doesn’t mean my life will have to change’. Mainly because I don’t see how it is possible to have children and your life not to change. Whether it be having less time to spend on the way you look, constantly feeling tired or it always becoming a military operation just to get out of the house. No one plans for them to take over your life, they just do.

Finding the balance between being the best mummy that you can but at the same time still feeling like a human being has to be the hardest thing about being a mother.

 Image by Darek Zon

So how much have your lives changed since having kids?

Pinterest Party - Heaven

This is my first week with joining in with this so I hope I've got it right.
The theme for this weeks 'Pinterest Party' is 'Heaven'.
This is the pic I have chosen...

Photo originally by Vogue
Re-pinned on Pinterest from If The Lamp Shade Fits

I have chosen this picture because this would be my idea of heaven. I could just imagine sitting out there with a nice glass of white wine, some olives and cured meat and all of your family around you. Lovely.

To check out other peoples entries for this week go over to Moors Mummy blog, you could even join in too.