My Top 5 Achievements of 2015

Firstly,  Happy New Year! Secondly, today marks my 5th blog birthday so Happy Blogoversary to me. For the last 2 years I've marked the new year with my top 5 achievements. This year has passed in a bit of a blur. I've found it difficult to think of it in terms of achievements but I dug deep and this is what I came up with...

1. 365 Happy Days - my picture a day that captures some sort of happiness and joy is still going strong. I started it almost 2 years ago and although it can be tough to keep it going it's really worthwhile. What I've noticed as I have reviewed my photos this year is how much more varied they are. Last year, pretty much every photo was of the boys. Don't get me wrong most of them still are but there are a lot of other things making me happy and fulfilling my life too which I think is a sign on a balanced life. If you fancy checking out my year in pictures you can see it below or you can check me out on Instagram. 

2. Surviving Christmas - speaking in terms of mental health, every year around Christmas I actually lose the plot. It is a tough time of year for everyone and although I enjoy it, it seems to send me to a place where I am anxious all the time and feel pretty down.  Not this year though!! For the first year in a long time I got through it smiling. No meltdowns, no tears and no wishing it would just be over. I dialled my festivities back this year, focused on the kids and stopped rushing. It has worked.

3. Ukulele Orchestra - I was never good at attending clubs when I was a kid. I would be enthusiastic until I got the uniform/equipment then I'd get fed up. I joined the Fife Ukulele Orchestra in January last year and I'm really proud of myself for sticking with it. I've met some lovely people and it's great being part of a community group. My uke playing has definitely improved but I am hoping to focus on this much more in 2016.

4. School Boys - I managed to secure Jamie a place at nursery. He's not supposed to start until next December but he got early entry due to his sight issues. I'm pleased to say he is thriving. John started school in August and I am amazed at how much he has grown up in few short months. He is reading, counting and giving me school boy attitude. Also an achievement for me is only being late to pick him up once!! Anyone who knows me will appreciate this has been a challenge for me.

5. Unsuccessful Dieting - it's been another year of trying to eat well and not really managing it. I tried various things none of which worked or was sustainable but I'm encouraged that I've kept trying. I recently joined a slimming world group run by a high school friend of mine. I lost, I gained then lost again but I kept going. I was honest about my shortcomings and cut myself some slack.  I'm not one for resolutions but last year I focussed on my mental health which I'm pleased to say is in a very good place so this year I will be focusing on my physical health. I don't just mean food and exercise, I'm going to be exploring health supplements for my various ailments, trying to get more rest, making more of an effort with myself and of course an adequate intake of Gin! 

So that's it. It's been a pretty chilled year. Next year my focus is physical health, financial stability and free family days out. My blog posts will reflect this. Over the last year I have chosen not to write much as I was lacking inspiration. This year I am going to write about how we spend our family time, not the sugar coated version with smiling photos but with a focus on real parenting and the truth behind the smiling snaps. We are in the process of selling our old house so we are concentrating on tightening our belts to pay for 2 houses while it is on the market. We are going to try and do more free days out and I will be blogging about the places we go and what we get up to in 2016. Watch this space. 

Thank you to my readers, family and friends for giving me an audience for the last 5 years.

Happy New Year!

My Top 5 Achievements of 2014

Last year I wrote the same blog post and found it easy.  It was a really busy year. This year has been totally different. Much more chilled but here's my best bits...

1. Taming My Black Dog

At the age of 31 I decided it was time to start being who I want to be and not who I think I should be. I decided to get a tattoo on my wrist as a symbol of the changes I was making and I've contemplated breaking out the hair dye although the horrified look on my husband's face made me hold off, for now . I've started speaking up for myself and being more assertive.I make no apologies for being open about struggling with my mental health. People are entitled to share what they feel comfortable to share. I believe that hiding these issues makes it a taboo subject and adds to the shame and guilt you already feel for not coping as well as you feel you should. I've been in counselling a year come next week and I can wholeheartedly say it's the best thing I've ever done.

Taking 1 hour week, every week to focus on myself has allowed me to realise who I want to be, what is important to me and where I want to take my life next. It's been so positive for me and my family. I finally feel like myself again.

2. #365HappyDays

I managed to take part in a 365 project for longer than 100 days without giving up. It started as #100HappyDays but became so much more. I really enjoyed taking photos that made me smile that I've carried it on. I will hit the year mark in Feb. I'm proud of myself for sticking at it. I've taken some lovely photos over the year.

3. New Job, New Start

I was feeling brave. I loved my job before I left for maternity leave but I wanted to drop my hours for a better work life balance. My work couldn't accommodate me so I had to make a choice between staying where I was settled and happy but with full time hours or moving somewhere else for less hours and taking the risk that I would regret the move.

I've settled in well to my new digs and I'm so happy I made the decision to drop 2 days. I get time being mummy and being the old me who was work orientated and career driven. I'm not the same person anymore but it's nice to still keep a bit of that side of things alive.

4. Singing and Strumming

2014 saw me pick up the ukulele and actually play it. I took a course to qualify me to teach it in schools and I fell in love with this little piece of wood. Every time I play it I feel happy. It's the best remedy to a bad day.

I've been singing much more this year. I set up a duo with my friend Fee but circumstances found us filling in as lead singer in a resident band. We job share it so we can both keep a bit of weekend time with the family. It has worked well and I'm really pleased to be working again. We are focusing more on weddings next year but there is plenty work booked in.

5. Surviving a Great Loss

In March we lost our beloved dog Ruby. For a long time after I felt like a huge hole had been torn in my heart. I saw in her in shadows everywhere I looked in the house. She was an amazing dog, one of a kind. She is greatly missed but we survived and moved on.  We remember her and honour her memory. We set her ashes free on a beautiful beach in Skye. We think of her when we laugh about her silly ways, when we talk about how Kaiya is gaining weight as she no longer has to compete for what Jamie drops from his high chair. We felt the loss of her this Christmas when we only put out 1 dog stocking. She wasn't just a dog. She was a member of our family and she lives on in our memories.

So here's to next year. I'm not making resolutions but im looking forward to writing this post next year and seeing how far I've come.

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my posts. It's my 4th blogoversary today. Can't believe I have been blogging for 4 years. Thanks for giving me an audience for my ramblings xx

My Top 5 Achievements in 2013

I haven't taken part in Listography for a while but I have missed it! This week it's a reflective post on my Top 5 Achievements in 2013. It's been a busy year!

1. Biggest achievement was giving birth to a 10lb 8oz healthy boy with nothing but gas n air and hey, no stitches, need I say more! 

 2. I've survived a year in a new job role which entailed moving councils and working across 2 schools. It was so the right decision for me. I love my job and I've made some really good friends within my workplaces. 

3. I purposely didn't make a resolution last year to diet as that never ends well for me but since giving birth in September, I've lost 3 stone and dropped  2 dress sizes. I have done this through eating clean, healthy, dairy free food and regular exercise. I'm very proud of myself and I look forward to continuing next year.

4. I successfully managed 2 summer holidays abroad with a husband who was in a moon boot with a broken leg and an over excitable 3 year old, all whilst heavily pregnant! 

5. We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. We have been together since high school and it was probably seen as one of those 'it'll never last' relationships. But it did and it continues to. It hasn't been easy but nothing worth working for ever is. He thinks I'm an over the top drama queen and I think he's a selfish arse at times but we know each other inside out and still love each other so that must count for something. I've learned a lot about successful love this year and I think that first you need to find love for yourself, I'm still working on this. 

So it's been a productive, hardworking and emotional year. I'm looking forward to watching my boys grow over the coming year and I'm hoping to do a bit of growing myself. Watch this space! 

Hop over to Kate's blog for a catch up and other Listography entries ...