Feeling particularly inspired

Hey everyone!

So I know it’s been a while since I last wrote and shared anything with you all… again and I’m not here to make a ton of excuses for that. I mean, how many times do you need to hear me say ‘I’ve just been too busy to write anything.’ Which I guess is sometimes kinda true, life can be hectic sometimes and some days there’s simply not much time for anything else other than the kids but as I sat just thinking about the things the other day, I realised that when we don’t have the time, we make the time for the things that are important to us and writing, as I’ve said many times before, is important to me for many reasons so I should make more time for that. So here I am giving it my best shot to write something once again. I guess I’m still just trying to find a balance for everything and I’m not very good at that. But writing for me makes me feel better and I wanna make more time for the things I enjoy.

So seriously, no more excuses from me.

Right now, life is really good for me and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve started a circuit class, something I never believed I’d be able to do, my relationships are the best they’ve ever been and I feel like I’m in a really good place in all areas in my life. Things couldn’t be better. I hope you’re all well and that life is treating you good too.

Lately I’ve been feeling particularly inspired to write and I can’t wait to catch you all up with everything that’s happened since we last spoke. There’s quite a bit too! You’re in for a treat!

So if you’re still around and you fancy a catch up, I hope you’ll stick around for my future blog posts that will be coming soon. And that’s a promise.

I’m sorry that this was just a short one, I just wanted to pop on here to give you all a quick update and to let you all know that I’ll be back very soon with lots to talk about and share with you all.

As always, thank you for reading and take care.

Kirsti, xo

Kory’s first football game

Yesterday we took Kory to watch his first ever football game. It was actually mine and his dads first time going to a stadium to watch a football game too!

The team we support (Manchester United!!) were playing and some tickets to go and watch them play became available at R’s work (perks of the job!) which meant we had the chance to go, but not just that, we had the Executive Club tickets (very nice!) and as a first time experience for us all, we didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to go.

Before heading to the stadium to watch the game, we grabbed something to eat at Wagamama’s and then made our way over there.

Once there we made our way to our Executive Club Suite which had a bar area, food, free tea and coffee and window seats looking out into the pitch. We even got to see some of the footballers warming up! We were shown to our seats and then waited for the match to begin. The atmosphere when you walk out into the stadium is just absolutely incredible, everyone was cheering and it actually took my breath away. I never anticipated to feel that way and I was so happy that Kory was getting to experience this with us.

The match kicked off at 7:45pm and Kory was asleep by 8:15pm LOL but from what he watched of the game, he really enjoyed it. His face was a picture when the crowd was cheering and clapping and although Manchester United didn’t win the game or even score a goal last night, it was an amazing experience, one that we will all remember.

I’m not a die hard football fan, if Manchester United or England are playing a game and I happen to catch it on the tv then I will watch it and root for my team to win but as far as being a fan of the sport itself, that’s as far as it goes really but I have to say, I actually enjoyed going to watch the game a lot more than I thought I was going to. So much so, that me and R have actually agreed that when the tickets next become available – we will jump at the chance to go again!

Thank you for reading this blog post! Do you like to watch the football? Have you been to a football game? Would you like to go? Please let me know by leaving me a comment below…

Kora turned 2!

On Monday, Kora turned 2 years old. As I write that out, it still doesn’t make it seem real to me. My once teeny tiny 6lb 3oz baby girl is growing right before my eyes and I only wish time would slow down so that I could soak it all in that bit more.

To celebrate the birthday girl, she had a Blippi themed birthday party on the Sunday before her birthday with a Blippi bouncy castle, food, birthday cake and family and friends to help celebrate. This girl absolutely loves Blippi so it only seemed appropriate that she’d have a Blippi birthday.

Kora’s party was wonderful and we were lucky enough for the rain to hold off too. Although Kora slept for most of it and she was a little too afraid of the bouncy castle to even get on it at first, I’m proud of her for eventually getting on there and enjoying herself with her friends.

The next day was Kora’s 2nd birthday. Kory actually woke with what seemed to be a bit of a cold that morning so we gave him the day off school which meant that we all got to spend the day together. Kora was gifted with lots of lovely presents, cards and money from us and all her family and friends. She had a wonderful morning opening everything and enjoyed spending the rest of her day playing with all of her beautiful new toys and gifts.

She is a well loved, lucky little girl. She deserves the world and more.

I just want to take this time to wish you Kora, our beautiful, clever, funny, kind, loving, sassy and very much independent little girl who brings us so much joy and happiness every day and who is just so pleasant the most amazing day on your 2nd birthday and every day that follows. I don’t know where those two years have gone, to me it feels like it was just two minutes ago since you were placed in my arms but no matter what, you will always be our baby girl no matter how big you get. You are so special to us and we hope that you loved your birthday as much as we loved watching you.

We love you all the world, Kora Robyn. Here’s to celebrating you.

All my love,

Mum, xo

Returning to school

Last week Kory returned to school after what I think was actually a really good 6 weeks summer holidays. Does anyone else feel like some of the days throughout the holidays were really slow but the weeks were just so fast? I mean, how has it been 6 whole weeks since Kory was in reception class and now he’s beginning a brand new year in year 1.

It just blows my mind.

I was worried about how I’d fill so many days off together with things to do and places to go to avoid any boredom and being stuck in but we did go to some nice places and we even had a week away but the kids were quite good at entertaining themselves on those days when we were just at home too. Kory is a bit older now and he likes to play out with his friends and Kora is very much independent and will quite happily play with her toys by herself too so all of that helped make that worry quickly disappear. We did do so much together as a family during the summer and made so many new memories that I really feel that our summer was well spent, even when we were just at home, we were together and that’s what matters.

After a break away from school and learning, Kory was more than ready to return to school when September soon came around. I think a mental and physical break is crucial sometimes, even for kids. In fact, especially for kids. And I was actually on the ball with preparations this year too, no last minute rushing to the shops to find uniform for this mum! And it felt good knowing that everything was taken care of.

I actually thought Kory would have been a bit more reluctant to returning to school after being able to do pretty much whatever he liked (within reason of course) over the summer (I’m talking later bedtimes, staying in his pjs all day) but I was surprised at how excited he was to start back at school. Which of course is a good thing – no complaints here! Kory was excited to see all his friends again, to meet his new teachers and to begin his new adventure in year 1. And as much as I had not missed having to set an alarm in the morning (don’t worry, the kids still woke me early enough) or the mad morning rush trying to get everyone ready and out of the house for the school run and make it to school on time and as nice as it was just being able to take it day by day and not having to rush, I did miss having some sort of routine I’ll be honest.

It’s nice not having to do things but it’s also nice having to do things too if that makes sense? Of course I love when we’re all together as a family, I love a lazy day as much as the next person but the kids’ bedtimes were getting later and later despite them not sleeping in any later the following morning, which meant it was harder for me to find the time to do things that needed to be done, like the housework, which I try to do in the evenings so my days can be spent with the kids instead and the kids were getting grumpier simply through being tired. Everything just seems to run much more smoothly in our household when there’s a sense of order going on. But that break from the mundane every day is definitely appreciated, just every so often.

But yeah, back to the original point of this post – I guess I rambled on a bit there, didn’t I. Kory’s back at school in a brand new year and he’s loving it and I’m happy to have some normality again.

Just you watch, in a few weeks I’ll be ready to do f%ck all (whatever that is when you’re a parent anyway!) again and feel like throwing any routine out of window. I just can’t win.

Anyways, thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. I hope you’re all well. Have your kids returned to school yet after the summer? If so, how are them and yourself finding it? Please let me know by leaving a comment. Thank you!

Kirsti, xo

Kory turned 5!

I know I’ve been quiet on here for a while but as you know, I started my new business – Power Crystals a month ago and it has been more successful than I could have ever imagined! Since opening I have been so busy with orders (which is a good thing!) and within my first month I have had over 60 multiple orders. I’ve just been busy, busy, busy and I’ve been wanting to get back to blogging and documenting Kory’s birthday seems like the perfect excuse to do so.

Blogging for me is a way for me to write down any thoughts and feelings I have and to get what I’m feeling off my chest. I love my blog and I always have, it has helped me in so many ways and it’s also a nice way for me to look back at some of the memories I have documented here of me, my family and my children over the years.

I’m really just trying to find that balance so that I can hopefully get back to blogging again more regularly soon.

Anyway – back to the point of this post…

Yesterday Kory turned 5 years old. Yes, you read that right. A whole 5 years old. I can’t believe it either! On the Saturday the day before his birthday Kory had a gaming party at our house. It was awesome to say the least and he absolutely loved it. The party was hosted by a company called Adaptive Gaming – you can find them on Facebook. They come out to your house and set everything up there. Inside the Marquee that was set up in the garden there was all sorts of games for Kory and his friends to play from Fortnite all the way back to some of the more retro games like the very first super Mario game. The two hosts that hosted the party were amazing with all the kids, it was the first year we had ever really hired some sort of entertainment for a birthday party as we usually just do the entertaining ourselves – by entertaining I mean running around after all the kids attending but it was nice not having a hoard of children charging round our small house for the duration of the party for a change! All that was left for us to do was to sort the birthday cake, the food and the party bags. Despite the rain that day, Kory had a fantastic 5th birthday party.

Sunday was Kory’s actual birthday and the rain still hadn’t stopped. (Fun fact – this was actually the first year that it’s ever rained on Kory’s birthday.) After the eventful party the day before, Kory was more than happy to spend the day at home after opening his presents and to just play with all of his new things. And so that’s what we did. We had a day of playing on his switch together, running around the house, having nurf wars with his nurf guns, helping Kory to try out his new skateboard and roller skates and then finishing off the day with a takeaway of Kory’s choice.

It might not sound like much to some but to us it was a lovely day.

And so that was our weekend and that was Kory’s 5th birthday. And just like that, my special little boy, the one who this blog began with, the one who made me mama, the best little boy and the best big brother turned 5 years old. It seems like just yesterday since he came into our lives, changing them forever and blessing us with his existence. When they placed that teeny tiny 4lb 7oz baby boy in my arms, I never knew it was possible to love someone that much. I have watched you grow from that tiny baby into the funny, caring and clever boy that you are today, Kory and what an experience it has been. You are amazing and mum, dad, Kora and all of your family and friends think so too.

We all love you all the world, Kory George.

Thank you for the best 5 years of my life. Thank you for choosing me to be your mum and for bringing me on this journey with you.

* This is not a sponsored blog post. *

I did a thing

I know that I have been quiet on here for a few days and the reason for that is because I did a thing.

I started my own business!

I first became interested in crystals and their various powers after reading many health and wellness books and beginning to wonder about the other ways in which we can all help our minds, bodies and souls through love and positive thinking.

Crystals can be a great source of healing and love, amongst many other things and this inspired me. This was when I first began to make my own crystal jewellery for myself and then I felt ready to share my beautiful crystal creations with the rest of the world.

Thus, Power Crystals was born.

I make crystal bracelets, keyrings, necklaces, crystal jars and hopefully soon rings too in a wide range of different crystals. Each crystal has their own unique meanings and powers. I always say to choose the crystal you intuitively feel drawn to. If you are interested in purchasing one of my crystal creations or you’d simply just like to know more. I hope you will have a look at my page: Power Crystals and feel free to ask me any questions.

So yeah, I did a thing and so far it’s going rather well. I’m hoping to have a website and an Instagram page up and running soon for Power Crystals also. Right now, you can find us on facebook. I’m looking forward to continuing to work on Power Crystals alongside my blog and seeing what happens.

Thinking of doing something you’ve always wanted to? Make the move today! You never know just what might happen…

Thanks for reading,

Kirsti, xo

We’ve made it through another day

Not that I drag myself through every day, but it’s no secret that some days can be harder to get through than others. Some days require more patience and effort, patience and effort that we don’t always feel we have and the minutes can feel like hours as they slowly pass by.

For me, today has been one of those kinda’ days.

Despite actually getting quite a lot done this morning, time just didn’t seem to be going anywhere. I would look at the clock and think to myself, how is it only dinner time? I felt like I’d been awake for 10 hours already. (I don’t think Kora being offside and waking the night before helped with that.) Unable to go anywhere as Kora now has the chickenpox and Kory is isolating from school due to a positive Covid case in his class, the kids were bored and fed up and so was I and the day just seemed to be dragging.

There are only so many hours of tv, school work and playing you can do before you run out of energy and even ideas of what to do next. Kory is sick of home learning, I’m sick of trying to be teacher and shouting and Kora just wants to cling to me. The kids were starting to get on each other’s nerves and then in turn, on mine but nevertheless, we made it through the day.

Parenting on any given day is unpredictable. You just never know what to expect. Is your kid gonna wake up in a good mood or are we starting the day with a tantrum and seeing the rest of the day go down hill from there? Will they eat what we make them for dinner or will they complain about every. Little. Thing? Will the kids get along and play nicely or is it going to sound like WWE Smackdown is happening right in your own living room.

Who knows.

Nobody knows and all any of us can do is just take it day by day, hope for the best and make it through the day. Some days we sail through smoothly and others we have to drag ourselves along but we do it.

We always do.

Just like we made it through today, we’ll make it through tomorrow.

We’ve made it through another day.

You and me both.

One of these days I will catch a break

We’ve had a pretty, crazy few weeks in our house. Sure, things could be a lot worse but I feel like life has been kicking our butt a little lately.

Needless to say we’ve had a lot of unexpected things thrown our way. I’m not even sure where to begin…

I’ll start with the car, that had to be taken to the garage for a repair, then R had to have some work done at the dentist, Kory was then sent home from school with the chicken pox, after returning for just 1 week he’s now off school again because of a positive Covid case in his class, and now Kora has the chicken pox. Throw in trying to home learn a bored, fed up child whilst taking care of a poorly one as well as taking care of everything else in general and it’s safe to say it’s been quite a costly and stressful time. I feel like I’m just about keeping my head above water at this point.

I accept that there’s little I can do about the unexpected other than do what I can and keep pushing on. Except I can change my outlook on it all. Not that I haven’t been discouraged by everything that’s happened because yes, it sucks but things could also be a lot worse. For one, I’m thankful that our car is working as it should be again. I’m thankful that R isn’t in pain with his tooth anymore. Yes, they were expenses we could have done without having to fork out for but it’s just money. I am glad that Kory has recovered from having the chicken pox and although Kory is home from school again because of a positive Covid case in his class, I am thankful that we haven’t tested positive for Covid and that we all have our health. I hope whoever has tested positive for it is okay. It makes me sad to see Kora with the chicken pox as it did with Kory but I am sure she will make a speedy recovery as her brother did too. Trying to home learn Kory while also trying to nurse Kora better is difficult but Kory is allowed to return to school from Monday so we’re already half way there. We can get through this.

Life happens and it usually happens all at once like it has for us but everything is going to be okay. I’m sure of it. Call me foolishly optimistic but I always choose to believe that tomorrow will be a better day. It took me a really long time to accept that things aren’t always under my control but I am in control of how I react to the problem.

That’s not to say that I’m not exhausted because I feel like I could really do with a break right now but I realise that in light of other peoples problems, mine are simply but a flicker. There is always a reason to be thankful and stress will only ever make things worse. One of these days I will catch a break but for now, I’m just going to continue doing what I can and find a way to relieve what stress I have in any way that I can. For me, writing this blog post helps.

What helps you when you’re feeling stressed? I hope life is treating you well.

P.S. While I am not advocating struggling and going it alone, it’s a reality that some people don’t have much help.

As always, thank you for reading this post.

Have I done enough today

Do you ever sit down at the end of the day once the kids have finally gone to bed and think to yourself ‘have I done enough today?’

I do.

I always ask myself have I done enough today and could I have done more and I do this regardless of how much i’ve actually accomplished on any given day. Granted that some days I may or may not accomplish more than on other days but I always ask myself that same question, as though what I have done is never enough. Don’t get me wrong, there are days when I go to bed feeling great because we’ve all had a really good day on that particular day but most of the time I go to bed feeling like I could have done more. Like I should have done more.

I ask myself, could I have played with the kids that bit longer? Could I have been more patient? Have I done enough for my kids today? And before I know it I’m beginning to question if i’m even a good mum at all.

I know that I’m not perfect. Sure, there are some days when I probably could have done more. I could have tidied the house more, I could have stayed more calm when the kids were misbehaving but have I done enough?

Absolutely.

Are my kids fed? Safe? Listened to? Are they happy? Yes, yes, yes and yes. So yes, although I COULD have done more. I have done enough today and every other day and so have you.

I need to remind myself of this more often. Whether I am a good mum or not should not be determined by how much I raised my voice that day or how much or how little I played with the kids and their toys for. Being a good mum is getting up every day and taking care of your kids even when you might not feel like you want to get up out of bed. Being a good mum is listening to my children and making them feel safe. Being a good mum is making sure my kids know how much I love them. Not by how many tasks I tick off my to do list that day.

I am not asking for credit or expecting praise for doing what is required of me which is being a mum and taking care of my kids because that is what we as parents do every day regardless but I am promising myself that I will appreciate myself and what I do more because being a mum is hard. Some days are harder than others and I don’t need to value myself on how much I’ve managed to get done in a day. Some days I might not do much other than watch a movie with the kids and other days we might be up, dressed and out of the house all before dinner time ready for a day filled with fun but neither day makes me any less of a mum. On those days when I feel lousy and that I haven’t achieved much, if my kids go to bed knowing how much their mum loves them I’ve already achieved more than enough for that day.

It’s because I care that I worry whether or not I’ve done enough for my kids and wonder whether or not I could have done more because I want the absolute best for my kids of course but the very fact that I worry about this type of stuff proves that I’m a good mum already. So I will no longer be punishing myself at the end of every day. It’s easy going to bed feeling good about yourself when you’ve had a positive and productive day but what I need to work on is being okay with not always being able to do everything and accepting that doing that is still doing enough.

I’m still a good mum and so are you.

I have wrote this blog post for myself and for anyone else who might wonder whether they have done enough or whether they are enough and I’m here to say that, I have done enough, I do more than enough, I am enough and you are too.

P.S. yes, even on the days when you and the kids don’t even bother to get dressed and even on those days when you’re pushed to your limit and you might shout more than you’d like to.

Remember that you’re still a good mum, that those kids of yours still love you anyway and that you’re doing enough today and every day for you and your family.

Happy anniversary

Yesterday marked mine and R’s 12 year anniversary and boy has that flown by.

Me and R have been together since the sweet age of 15 and we’ve been together ever since. We’ve basically grown up together, grown from teenagers to adults who are now responsible for our own little people who we made. Juggling work, home life and all other responsibilities. It’s crazy how much has changed over the years and how much we have changed as well. We don’t always get it right, we make mistakes but one thing that’s for sure is that we’re a team.

We have been through so much together. House moves, engagement, 2 kids later, our wedding being postponed (twice!) and many ups and downs over the years but the good has always out weighed the bad. Whatever challenges may have been thrown our way, we’ve got through them together and we always come out the other side stronger than we were before. We have always been there for one another and I really do believe that that’s why we are still together now, happily I’d like to add too and more in love than ever.

I never thought I could love R any more than I already did. He’s an amazing partner. He’s caring, he’s kind, he isn’t an asshole (ok, only sometimes… LOL Jk) he’s always there for me and he really is one of the good guys. He makes me laugh when I don’t even feel like I want to smile, he makes me feel beautiful and he’s my very best friend. I count my blessings every day that I get to call him mine and I love what we have together. I’m proud of the life we have built together. But then I watched him become a dad to our children, I seen the kind of dad he was and how good he is with our kids and I fell in love with him all over again and so much more.

The thing is, relationships aren’t always going to be easy. There are going to be disagreements and obstacles throughout but it’s how you face them together as a partnership that matters. Things aren’t always perfect but as long as you love and respect one another nothing else matters.

Looking through my pictures I realised that we don’t have many pictures together but that we have 1000s of pictures of the kids. It seems we don’t even have the time to even take a picture together these days and although life can feel a little hectic sometimes, I love R and the kids and our crazy but happy life we have built together and I wouldn’t change a thing.

There is no one else I would rather go through this crazy ride called life with.

Thank you for being in my life then, now and every day to come. Here’s to the next 12 years.

I love you.

Kirsti, xo