I think I'm losing the plot! I arrived in Olney yesterday to visit my best friend, Alex, and her boyfriend in their new, lovely house, and yet I have zero crack.

I'm not sure if it's because I've just waved Mike off for his 2 week 'work trip' (he keeps accidentally referring to it as a holiday!) to Sri Lanka, you know the place with tsunamis, earth quakes, civil unrest, and food that could give you the shits? Or if it's because I'm going to be living out of a suitcase for the next 2 weeks bunking at my parents, or if it's the state of the house and the fact that when we get back there's still 2 more weeks of living out of 3 of our 8 rooms (kitchen, bathroom, spare room). Equally it could be my self imposed deadline for a first draft of my work's report, which

Read More

My knick-knack sorting I started yesterday is far from over but I'm taking a quick break to do an ode to Sailor Girl (my old business) and some of the things that will forever remind me of the lovely office we created and the fun we had. Here are some of the knick-knacks...

Clockwise from the teapot...

We loved our spotty teapot and matching mug set from Whittards and somehow I managed to talk Alex into letting me keep them! At one point one of the handles fell off a mug and for some reason Katie (@ktttt) stuck it back on with spray glue, then it got put away, then Alex ended up with the handle in her had and a mug of hot chocolate in her lap. Ah, happy memories (although not for Alex).

We went through a Marie Antoinette phase and we bought this lovely metal jug and fake carnations to

Read More

I mentioned in my first post my 'mission' for the months leading up to the arrival of my first baby, so before getting stuck in I thought I'd elaborate a wee bit to explain my plan and priorities.

a) being healthy and happy in time for the arrival of my baby in August

This is my number 1 priority and my plan is pretty simple to be done daily:

1. Exercise for 30 minutes a day - I'm not talking back breaking sweat-out but studies show that exercising when pregnant is good for me and baby. I'm not a mega exerciser but I did exercise before I was pregnant and I enjoy it. Plus, I'm hoping it'll help with 'The Ultimate Issue' (TUI) of having a healthy pregnancy and baby, AND not gaining too much weight...I'll be sharing my exercise plan, put together with advice from my doctor and my gym BUT Remember if

Read More

January 2012

My name is Hannah Parker, I'm 28 and I live in Blyth, Northumberland (originally from the midlands, if you'd told me 10 years ago - or 3 come to think of it - that I'd be living in a small, fairly rundown seaside town in the North of England, I wouldn't believe you) with my husband, Mike, and step daughter, Gabriella, who is 5.

I have recently found out I'm pregnant and I have (about a week ago) decided with my friend and business partner, Alex, to close down our business. It is for exciting reasons but nevertheless I am also unemployed.

In true New Year fashion, my mission for the next few months is to sort my life out so that...

a) I am healthy and happy in time for Bday (mid-August);

b) I have made some money/got a job so we are not completely skint; and

c) I have streamlined my life

Read More