Monthly Archives: January 2013

Things I like…frugality!

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Oh I can get myself so excited about a bargain! January is the frugal month, and we’re in a very frugal period as a family as I’m no longer being paid for my final three months maternity leave. Aside from planning to love every minute I don’t want to be fretting about depleting our savings. We’re long term Aldi and Poundland shoppers but have gotten savvy by using the MealPlanner app on my tablet and sticking to it is saving a whopping £30 a week.

An amusing ‘invest to save’ stance has been taken on treats and wine (shhh!), buying in bulk in Aldi to stock up the treat cupboard to prevent those PMT trips to the local convenience shops! I’ve found their rich tea biscuits and jaffa cakes, and Poundland’s excellent bags of Matlow Swizzels treats have fallen onto the weekly ‘essentials’ list – everyone needs a little pick me up, right?

Finally, we’ve planned two ‘no spend’ weekends which is a great achievement and makes me feel a little glow of pride as I’d love for our little girl to be money savvy and we’re starting off family life on the right footing!

Mindfulness and motherhood vs distraction and stress

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I am a self confessed worried mother, one of my biggest worries on my journey as a new mother has been how easily I find it to become distracted particularly by technology. I decided to take the “hands free pledge” – my own interpretation will be to reduce my time on mobile devices and computer to time when my daughter is sleeping. Its a paradox that I fear returning to work, whilst guiltily racking up time spent not living in the moment with my darling girl. I am under no allusions that as an information crazy researcher my thirst for constantly checking emails and texts will be difficult to ignore, but I am determined to master my own way of mindful mothering. This beautiful poem by R Knight, Slow Down Mummy inspired me to write this post http://www.drmomma.org/2012/01/slow-down-mummy.html

So I guess I’m pledging to look into these gorgeous blue eyes more and my computer less, how lovely, now when you put it like that what could be more perfect!?

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Things I like – home, hobbies, lifestyle

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I’m mad keen on magazines and beg, buy or borrow all the big glossies, yes, that’s right, ALL! I love to read and am an OU student so its a big contradiction that I’m the geek reading academia whilst sneaking peeks at Vogue and Gurgle! I’m partial to a cup of Twinings Tea whilst I study and since pregnancy have been working my way through their caffeine free selection!

I love vintage, quirky, handcrafted over mass produced but like a few luxury brands, The White Company and Urban Outfitters to name a few

You’ll never , ever see me without makeup, its fun to play with and I love luxury beauty treats. Faves are Lush, VO5, MAC and lately Illamasqua, total guilty pleasure territory? Try Aromatherapy Associates and Lush`s Gorrilla Perfumes

I’ve a penchant for gold jewellery, doctors bags and shoes, being size 9 isn’t easy but its becoming less of a struggle to find fashionable heels!

Things I like – babies

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I thought I’d start with a daily things I like, so…

I have an eight month old and am off on maternity leave, therefore I like all things baby!

I love simple toys, home cooking all can enjoy, hand me downs, dungarees on girls and funky colours, blankets, slings and most of all, as a fluff bum mam I love cloth nappies!

We like the following brands:

Totsbots – fab funky nappies, great absorbancy, suit my skinny minnie really nicely and the softest bamboo inners make these a winner for us

Cheeky wipes – great money saver, convenient and wash so well, saving the planet from disposable wipes and better for removing everything in one go, no fingers getting messy here!

Frugi – amazing for accommodating a cloth bum, gorgeous quality and design and the friendliest staff you’ll speak to!

Ecover

Jojo Maman Bebe, just snuggable, especially the sleepwear

Silvercross – timeless and finally My Little Patch wet bags, holds in all smells imaginable and the tiny bags are ace for snacks, just don’t mix em up with your nappy wetbags

Generally I go for quality over quantity and comfort over everything else!