Real Life
Fresh off the back of my Planning resolution – this week has been all about Evernote; getting my daily tasks done, scheduling new ones, oh and crying. Thanks to sleep deprivation settling in I have cried a lot!
On Sunday I stuck to my schedule and did some food planning and prepping for the week ahead. It’s made such a difference! I’ve cooked what we have and not let it go out of date, and it’s left us with plenty of leftovers for lunch. So, I’d say that bit was a success. I wasn’t as enamoured with the egg and mince cupcakes I made for breakfast – think I’ll stick to scrambled in future!
Monday was my first day back at work, which was fun!
Tuesday Reuben and I had our first day just the two of us and aside from a failed nap, which meant we then walked to the Library (success in itself – although that boy is slow!), we had a great day. Mike and I also finished watching The American Office. I think I’m going to have to write a post just about this milestone in my life – I cried. Like really cried!
Wednesday Reuben’s sleeping is shocking at the moment and it reached an all time low on Tuesday night when he got up 5 times between 2 and 3:30. I would just drift off and then there he was again; slow and agonising torture. So, Wednesday I decided to make a sticker chart with him. We drew some boxes, he stuck a sticker in the first of 5 and then I explained how if he stayed in his bed all night he would get another sticker tomorrow. When he got all 5 he would get a van and I showed him the picture below. I kept reinforcing the idea all evening and then again in bed. He was onboard – it couldn’t fail to work! Then at 8:30pm I went upstairs and there he was messing about at his door and I cried! (there’s a bit of theme here have you noticed?) I then wondered if it’s OK to cry in front of your kids?
Thursday started off pretty bad {what with crying again in front of the childminder about the fact he was up and down again that night despite my best efforts with the sticker chart (he’s even bloody telling people about the chart! What gives man?!?) – I know, I can hear myself and this is ridiculous} but after a fabulous walk on the beach, a coffee (we’re all out – bad planning!!!!) and a good chat with my best mate I was ready to face the world again!
Blog Life
I’ve started a fun new challenge to visit every castle in Northumberland this year – or at least I hope it’s fun!! I’ve written about my 2015 Castle Challenge here, and after going through each castle and seeing more about the place now, I think Reuben and I are going to learn a lot and hopefully meet a few new people, perhaps even make a few friends!
I’m also desperately trying to think of the right tagline for this blog. Mike has been working on a redesign for a while, that better suits me, the personality of the blog and makes it easier to read. So I want a new tagline to go with it. However, distilling a paragraph of something that you’d never say in public because it’s too embarrassing, is tricky! Thoughts on a postcard…I’ll repay you with love xxx
Inspiration
I want to read more – like lots more. However, I’m an insanely slow reader… Not anymore peeps! This week I did this really cool ‘mini-course’ (it’s basically a blog post with some instructions to follow) about speed reading, once I’d finished I could read 247% faster. No word of a lie.
Over to You
This week’s list was phenomenal – 88 awesome links – Aby and I were blown away by the response but hey what better time to join this lovely, inspiring community of bloggers than NY?! Your posts were predominately resolutions and goals and basically my favourite-ist type of post to read.
Featured bloggers
Now that we’re a week into our resolutions I thought The L’s Mum’s post “How to keep your New Years resolutions” was perfect – I’ve got a facial scheduled as my next treat!
If there’s one thing I love more than a list of goals, it’s a list of 40 goals… Kate from Yellow Belly Mum is turning 40 this year and here are the 40 things she’s going to do before it!
I love Gemma The Family Girl’s Look back at 2014 – looking back with photos and by month is such a great way to remember everything and see how much has changed too!
Grab the badge and get linking!
Oh Hannah 🙁 You have been in my thoughts this week, I just knew something wasn’t right. I know that sounds crazy but you know when you get that feeling you need to text someone and then they text you at the same time. I get that a lot. Anyway, hope you are feeling better about everything now. xx
Thanks love xxx I totally get that texting thing too – i must have been sending you vibes! I’m actually feeling surprisingly upbeat but that might also be read as manic, like when you’re overtired! No, honestly, I’m feeling OK but my emotions are definitely bubbling under the surface ready at any minute for a good blub – I’ve been crying at everyone’s resolutions all week!! xx
Aww thank you so much for mentioning my little post. Really appreciate it and I hope you enjoy that facial 🙂
Arrrrrrrrgh, can’t wait for a facial, my skin feels SO dry! Last time I had one was about a year ago and I woke myself up snoring – I’m hoping this year is a bit more dignified!! xx
Hope Reuben starts sleeping better soon – it’s so hard when the nights are so disturbed. Good luck with the blog redesign too and finding the right tagline that fits you.
Thanks love – this too shall pass, right?!? xx
Oh huni, I love you so much. Get a Gro clock, I have hear amazing things about them or use a larger blackmail present 😉 You know if there is ever anything I can do to help I will like a shot xxxx
Thanks love! Please can you have Reuben for the weekend? Ha! Just kidding, that’s what Grandparents are for 😉 xx
Oh hun, welcome to my world re the crying! I cried yesterday as I finished Body Balance because it finished at the exact minute when, 6 months ago, I’d done that final push to deliver Toby! I hope Rueben’s sleep improves, I can totally understand the horror of sleep deprivation (to call it a nightmare seems ironic given you’re not able to sleep enough to have a nightmare!)
Good luck with the castles, what a great idea! xxx
Thanks love! And happy 6 months Toby!! – I was more emotional at 6 months than I was at a year…still so fresh 😉 Yesterday I cried after reading about Walmarts efforts during hurricane Katrina, so my tears are quite far reaching at the moment!! xx
Love to read #thelist each week! I really need to find a weekly round-up format for mine.
Sorry to hear about your lack of sleep, I hope things get better for you soon x
Thanks for hosting!
Oh you poor woman, I remember the sleep deprivation all too well. Up until September last year my Mr 5 was running on about 5 hours sleep. It was a nightmare, especially because he still had so much energy! He started on Melatonin and we haven’t looked back. He’s now going to sleep about 20 minutes after we put him in bed at least 90% of the time. I can’t believe how much of a difference it has made for everyone!
5 hours sleep??!? OK, now that’s put our situation into perspective a bit! Glad you found a solution and you’re all getting a few more zeds now! xx
Hope Reuben’s sleeping improved for you all. The day seems so much harder based on such little broken sleep. I feel your pain!!!
And this reading 247 % quicker sounds amazing – tell me more!
Thanks for hosting x
Follow the link love, it literally takes 20 minutes to do the ‘course’ – let me know how you get on!! xx
I think it’s absolutely fine to cry in front of your kids, especially when your sleep deprived. I’ve done it a few times, it’s bloody hard work at times this parenting thing! I hope he starts sleeping soon. Stick with the chart, he’ll grasp it soon. You might need to have it so he gets his reward the next morning to begin with so he starts to understand the contingency, just a small reward and then once he gets it make it after two stickers etc.
Good luck! Xx
Good call! We actually ended up giving him a sticker for putting his socks on the next day (as his sleep had been so shocking, we just couldn’t justify!) and then the next day he ate a baked potato which amazed us! So we’ve completely confused the poor boy! Will go back to making it just about sleep now 😉 he should get his prize tomorrow all things being well!! xx
Oh no it’s horrible when they won’t sleep isn’t it maybe some sort of growth spurt! That sounds like a great challenge visiting all the castles! X
🙂 I’m really looking forward to it – ask me in 6 months though!! xx
Happy New Year beautiful! Just popping by to give you a virtual hug and to say hang on in there re: sleep deprivation. I feel your pain, I totally do (been up since daft oclock this morning with Elsie) but just keep saying to yourself “it will pass, it will pass”, get some kip if and when you can (even if it’s a power nap) and crack the wine open (always helps doesn’t it?!). As always your blog is a real treat to visit. Hope to see you soon for post Christmas drinks. Let me know when you’re free? Much love xxx
Awww! yes to everything and most definitely that post-Chistmas drinkie 😀 will be in touch xxx
Aww hunni, I’m so with you on the sleep deprivation. It can make you feel like a different person and thinking straight goes out of the window. Hugs. Thanks for hosting.
xxx pleasure! xx
I hope next week has less tears.
I have just downloaded Evernote to give it a go after you mentioned it. I like that I can have it on the laptop and mobile/tablet.
#thelist
that’s what I like Caroline – although I seem to already be making it a bit cluttered so I think I might need a better system! xx
What a lovely week chick, adore that shot of Reuben. I don’t have a list post but wanted to stop by and give one of my fave blogging friends some love! Happy New Year darling x
Loving you back lady xxx
I’m a massive fan of the original The Office and i just can’t bring myself to watch it, is it just as good? You cried so i’m thinking it must be alright, unless they were tears because it was so bad compared to the British version?! BTW ive been meaning to make something similar for breakfast, were they a bit bleak…? x
hehee they actually weren’t THAT bad, the main issue was the sticking to the paper thing! They were meant to be made in a muffin tin but I’m yet to get my arse to Lakeland to buy one. As for your first question – we watched about 3000 episodes since August. I haven’t seen as much of the original office but I can tell you that YES it was good, not as cringe-y though, so it depends what you like! I thought they were my work mates and now I’ll never see them again :'( Aby has been telling me I got in far too deep!! xx
I’ve definitely wondered whether it’s ok to cry in front of a two year old and decided it’s a yes…after it happening more than once or twice! Sleep deprivation is beyond horrendous and it makes me so emotional! Really hope it sorts itself out soon xx
TBH after I found him at the top of the stairs over an hour after I’d put him to bed and he saw me cry, Mike then checked him 15 minutes later and he was fast asleep…perhaps it did him some good!! xx
I haven’t got a list to link up but just wanted to say, I feel you regarding the sleep deprivation thing-Rose’s sleeping has gone beyond ridiculous lately and she will only sleep lying across me, as in across my throat so I can hardly breathe! It’s awful, truly.I feel sick and tearful most mornings aaagghhh! Loving your castle visiting idea-that sounds amaze!! xx
You’re kidding?? You can’t sleep like that love! I’d be crying much more than I am now if that were the case 🙁 I hope that ‘phase’ passes really quickly, like yesterday xxx
Lovely post, I think it’s perfectly ok to cry in front of your children. I sometimes do, especially with the lack of sleep. Reuben looks like a lovely little chap, I bet you’re not thinking that though at 3am! I hope he settles soon! I love the idea of speed reading. I like you love to read but I’m sooooo slow at it! Looking forward to reading about it 🙂
Ooh get on it!! – that course was awesome and last week I read half a book in just over an hour. AND I UNDERSTOOD IT!! I struggle to do it onscreen but i guess practise should help 🙂
Oh, I feel for you with the sleep deprivation – after a week spent up through night with a poorly toddler, I’ve just spent another week on minimal sleep due to my own nasty cough/chest infection that’s kept me awake until about 4.30am each night. This morning I cried because I accidently broke an egg and then I cried because our toaster stopped working… it will pass, let’s hope next week is a better week for the both of us! xx
Aww man, that definitely sounds worse than my situation 🙁 At least when I got ill off the back of reuben’s illness it was Christmas so I was able to take myself off to bed and everyone else could look after R!! Get well soon love and get a new toaster! xxx
Hi Hannah – nice to meet you through The List linky but sorry to read about your sleep issues with Reuben. Tale care and thanks for running the linky
pleasure love!! it’s really no hardship as so many lovely linkers come and join in (like you!) 😀 xxx
O bless you lovely, that many times up and that little sleep must be really difficult. Hope it starts to get better soon.
Last night he slept until 5:30am – he totally got a sticker for that…just need to crack the 7am starts again. I much preferred though 😉 thanks love xx
It’s ok to cry and I have lost count of the number of times I have been in that same position although thankfully not for a while. Broken sleep is pretty sh*t really!
Mums’ Days: Today, tomorrow, every day; a Mum’s day never stops.
Nice!! Thanks for your idea 🙂 I was thinking something similar like “Always on duty” Haha! xxx
Those egg and mince cupcakes look interesting… 🙂 Totally with you on the sleepless nights thing. Arthur’s been a nightmare to get down this week and then has been up and wanting cuddles several times in the night. So exhausting, especially after a new year croup attack! Ah well, here’s to a more restful week this week… Xx
What?? that does NOT sound good. yes, here’s to the phase passing (on to someone else by the sounds of it!) xx
My finger are crossed for a better week for you this week!
Good Luck with your castle challenge! Thats a whole lotta castles!
Ain’t it just!! Sounds fun now but I wonder how I’ll feel in 6 months…?! xxx
Eeek! Sorry you had one of THOSE weeks honey. Sometimes it’s actually really cathartic to have a good cry (I almost typed ‘let it go’ then but I think we’ve probably all had enough of that over Christmas, am I right?). So excited to hear about your blog redesign – can’t wait to see it! x
Ooh thanks love – it’s been a work in progress since about august with several false starts but I think we’re getting there now! I must say I did enjoy crying at the Office. It felt right, and partly it was happy crying because I loved them so much…oh goodness, I must sound like a right loser!! (but I really did!) ha!
xx
Oh dear, broke sleep is horrible, Boo is still not sleeping through the night, I think I have had two nights where she was up at 10pm and then 4am and then up for the day about 6 and those are our best nights ever and she is now practically 13 months. I hope it gets better for us both.
I have seen your Castle post that is such an amazing goal and I can’t wait to have a read and a nosey at your pictures. =)
Thanks Jenni! It should be loads of fun 🙂 You’ll crack the sleeping soon love, it’s much more difficult when they’re little but once she’s in the swing of things they’ll be no looking back … until she’s about 2 and half by the look of things!! thanks love xx
The sleep thing with children, hey? I wonder the year when one can be rest assured that they’ll sleep through! I hope it gets better this week.
I think your site is fab, so I’m really looking forward to the unveiling of the redesin. All the best with the tagline, I’ll DM you if I think of anything.
I’m looking forward to checking out the speed reading post, thanks for sharing; and of course for cohosting! 🙂
My pleasure for all the above!! thanks for your lovely comment 😀 xx
I honestly believe sleep deprivation is one of the hardest things we deal with as parents! I hope this week is better for you xx
Thanks love, so far it’s slightly better but I think mainly because I’ve chosen to accept it rather than fight!! last night we did get 7-5:30 which is a HUGE improvement and he got a sticker 😉 xx
Thank you for hosting the link up. So many great links I cant wait to sink my teeth into. I think its very healthy to cry infront of our children. They need to know healthy ways to show all kinds of emotions. I have cried a few times out in front of the kids and its heart warming when they try to comfort me, give me hugs and get mummy some tissues. I hope the sleep issues are on the way out. i have a 19 month old who hasn’t slept longer than 5 hours since the day she way born. I think being tired has just become a part of my personality! haha
Awww! Just think when you finally get a good night – you’ll not know yourself! Thanks for you lovely comment, such a great way to look at it and Reuben is coming to that age when he’s starting to show concern for people when they are upset. He was cuddling up to Gabby the other day – It’s so cute!! xx