Do you ever have one of those days? Where you have every intention of being focused, planning ahead, getting on with things etc. etc....and it for whatever reason it doesn't happen? Today is turning out like that for me. Usually it would upset me but recently through mindfulness and meditation there has been a realisation that we need days like this. Sometimes you need the dust to settle before you can dust?
There is a massive prep list for everybody at this time of year, getting ready for winter, or summer (Hello southern hemisphere), the change in Seasons has a big impact on the human body and its not always kind. Winter Solstice/Christmas can be hugely stressful especially if you are alone, on a tight budget or simply overwhelmed!. Today has become about lists, 'Things to be done', it may not be happening today but planning can make a difference. if you include things you already do everyday like 'walk the dog' 'cook tea' or 'school run' then you know you have achieved something. Life can become easier if you can check off even the little things when your not expecting it. So happy list making and do the dusting tomorrow!
4 Comments
Yesterday we made soap! Why I hear you all ask? Little Green wanted to make something for Christmas presents this year. Little Green really likes to make things.
Don't get too excited we did not make it from scratch. After reading up on it a bit I felt nervous of the chemicals involved, so we bought large blocks of soap base to add our own lovely things to. As a starter point this was great and luckily we have lots of lavender, mint, sage, geranium, roses (petals) etc. in our garden. We picked some last week and dried them out in bunches or in kitchen paper over heaters. We use aromatherapy oils quite a lot in the house medicinally, for cleaning and for relaxation so they were very handy too. The blocks of soap that we used were Stephenson Personal Care Crystal Argan Oil, SLES SLS & Paraben Free with no scent. This was important for me as recently it has been difficult to find any soap, shower gel or shampoo that does not set off some kind of allergic reaction. It melted very easily and all the ingredients we added mixed in evenly. The best thing was that everything we added was natural including some lovely organic herbal teas. It made some very nice soap that did not cause any allergic reaction for me. We used silicon moulds for our soap but you could use silicon cupcake cases or a even a loaf tin and cut soap slices. It is a very simple process. Cut off the amount of soap you want to make from the block. Weigh or Guess-timate your choice! Pop it in a pan. Keep it on a very low heat. Add your ingredients. (For this batch we used Chamomile Tea & Lavender) Once it is completely melted and your ingredients are stirred through, Pour into your moulds a little at a time, Layering up and trying to split soap evenly between moulds. It sets really quickly. More specific instruction should be enclosed with your soap or they are available online at Stephenson Personal Care. You cannot buy direct from the supplier (unless bulk) but a selection of their products are available on Amazon and HobbyCraft.
What do you on your day off? Thankfully today was beautiful, always helps. sun shining, leaves turning golden and being blown off the trees in the breeze. The only place I wanted to be was outside. But how do you balance that with family life, three loads of washing to catch up on, dishwasher, bills to pay and only school hours to fit it all into. You don't!
Sometimes you have to make a choice. There is never a day where you don't have to do family things if you have a family. Always a chore, always an errand. Up until recently it felt that being tidy, organised and exhausted was the most important thing, to prove that I was a good mum and wife. It is false ideology, how can a stressed exhausted parent with no time for themselves be a good parent. 'Me time' is what gives us the strength to keep going, to love more, care more and give our very best to our families. So next time you have a day off or have a child free moment do something nice for yourself. Whether its a coffee with a friend, a catch up with your favourite soap, a yoga practice or like me a walk in the sunshine, do it! Do it, do it, do it, you deserve it. Looking for inspiration
http://www.radiotimes.com
https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walking
Can't believe its the 5th of November already! Guy Fawkes Night, do you celebrate? The near miss of the murder of King James I and the destruction of the House of Lords in 1605 by the Gunpowder Plot seems a funny thing to honour.
Do you think we would celebrate if they had succeeded? Why is it then so many still participate? Tonight will see the country light up with bonfires, fireworks, sparklers, torches, as communities come together to revel in warmth and glow. Bonfire Night is not about Guy Fawkes anymore, its more about coming together with neighbours, friends and family to celebrate outdoors at a time when the dark nights are getting longer and more often we spend them inside, shut away behind doors and curtains. It is a beautiful thing to see the sky lit up with explosions of light and colour, hearing the boom, then the gasp of the crowd, the smell of burnt sulphur in the air, the bonfire crackling, And when you stop to look at the faces and not the fireworks you see a contentment and awe and a unity. It is one of my favourite times of year. It is important to mention that supporting your local community event is the best way to celebrate as they should have made all the correct safety checks with regard to humans and nature, so those in the neighbourhood with pets can make them safe and secure knowing times and dates. If you do choose to have your own bonfire please check it for wildlife on the run up to and on the day, let your neighbours know even if you are not inviting them, they may have pets or they may not share your love of adventure. |
|