Saying no to NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS THIS YEAR

This year l have decided to liberate myself from the pressure of making a New Year's Resolution and then spending January trying to stick with it, and February berating myself for not sticking with it.

So l had a period of reflection of late, as the dark evenings, and gloomy days have taken hold as winter advances. I have thought about what l want to change in my life and am making small changes now to begin changing things.

I like the chance to have a good think about cleaning out the cobwebs and making my life happier for me.
So maybe it is something we can all do together.
lets think of small changes that will make our own lives better  :)

helllllooooo ~December

Hello December. welcome to you.  It instantly makes people think of Christmas, some people no doubt, as we speak, are in the attic getting out the decorations.  Others are not launched into a blind panic about present while others are feeling festive and thinking about stocking up on cinnamon and candles..
Coca Cola and Budweiser Christmas Adverts will dominate our tv screens, those and toy commercials.
The party invites come in, plans are made to meet friends and family.  Tv will start playing Christmas movies every day on lots of channels and the best of .....2012 will start hitting our screens.
"Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas....."

keep it positive

it sounds sooo cheesy l know but having a positive outlook really does help...sometimes we feel like the world is against us and it is so simple to slip into that defeated and defensive frame of mind. its hard to see the good things then, or to enjoy the simple things or see the beauty in the world.

So keep thinking that things will get better, that a bad cycle will pass over you and the flip side of that is positive. That when you really feel like giving up, it will get better, and sometimes you will realise that..oh yes, things arent so bad now and l didnt even realise they were better...but they are..

the other thing is that we are never really alone. we might feel like it but there is always somebody to turn to, always, sometimes they are the most unlikely sources of comfort or kindness but somebody will always step up to the plate so DONT GIVE UP

make christmas more about you ..and less pressure

I start my Christmas preparations in January of each year...may sound mad to you but this is what l do

In the first week or so of January every year stores sell the excess Christmas cards off at a fraction of there cost.  you can pick up all your Christmas cards for the cost of one standard greeting card.  you put them in a box in attic, or top shelf out of harms way.  This is also a good time to pick up Christmas Crackers and serviettes and napkins..
If your budget allows its also a time the stores sell off toys cheaply and clothes. So if you have any kids/relatives with a birthday over Jan - March its a good time to pick up winter clothes for them.  Or also if you want to buy xmas/winter clothes for kids for the following Christmas  just get next size up.  It works a charm.

I bought a beautiful wooden chest that l keep upstairs in my house...Its the present box.  Throughout the year stores will do sales, discount offers etc. I~ might buy one gift a month and box it in the present box.  If there are particulary good offers l stock up on them and they go in the box.  THis box serves me for birthdays throughout the year also.

I keep wrapping paper, sellotape, scissors, ribbon and gift bags in the box too.  if l need a gift in a hurry l am ready to go.

Now, you might be reading this thinking l am a control freak or super thrifty or whatever.  but..l am just a girl who finds Christmas expensive. I am not rich, l do not have the credit card capacity or salary that can take the expense that shopping at the last minute requires.

So take a tip from me, l didnt always do it this way, but over time l came around to this way and no it means l just keep my eyes open all year around.
So get yourself a big box and start in January :)

Christmas looms but it shouldnt mean gloom

Christmas has become very commercial, yes we all know this and yes we have all listenend to so many debates about the true meaning of Christmas and trying to bring it back. WEll times have changed and people are invested in Christmas and Halloween and Valentines Day and Easter and all these holidays that traditionally were linked to religious celebrations and times of significance but now are tied in with cards and gifts and rituals and routines that are not related to the church. However, we can all work towards keeping them family celebrations, times of coming together, times of remembering each other, being kind to each other, and yes...buying each other presents but hey, it need not cost the earth.
Come together, laugh, eat, tell stories, watch movies together, share gifts.
Its all about love xx

My baking adventure

I grew up in a house where my mum cooked and baked wonderfully daily. fresh casseroles, fresh brown and white bread, home made biscuit cakes, pizza, apple tarts and scones...truly amazing.
l think l was afraid that l would not be able to do it so l dabbled and left it...
Then when l had my own kids l decided that baking and cooking with the kids.  the cooking is great but we have been taking a slow and steady approach to baking.
So far we have nailed cupcakes....maybe not so much the icing but definitely the cakes and lovely toppings.
We have nailed bread and butter pudding, chocolate cake and banoffi pie.
And the most recent thing...banana bread, its easy, its tasty AND people who arent related to me have complimented me on it so that is encouraging.

our next experiment happens this week. We are going to try shortbread biscuits..My task for tomorrow is to buy us a rolling pin each and some nice cookie cutters...
I will let you know how we get on,....
ba

Autumn/fall is rolling in now, the evenings are getting darker and colder, it makes me head straight for the pjs in the evening upon coming home from work. it makes me think about evening classes and improving myself, it makes me think of improving my health and taking up yoga or pilates.
it also makes me think of a winter of hibernation ahead. I dream every year of retreating into my shell, and emerging a better, shinier, healthier version of myself in the new year- like a beautiful butterfly emerging from a chrysallis..