Feel Good Friday - feel better by serving someone else...

This weeks sees the start of December, how are you feeling about this month?

Love it, but sometimes feel drained or overwhelmed by the whole thing?

Hate it and find it a difficult time of the year to get through?

Or maybe the festive season brings about an ambivalent state of mind?

I could be wrong but Christmas and the run up to the end of year normally brings about one of these feelings in most of us, so which one do you fit under?

Monday's Moments of Wisdom - Pearl Number 58

I came across this quote again at the weekend, it's one of my favourites!

Last week felt like a bit of a start to a journey for me, I can't really tell you why but something in me just clicked, all I can say is that I feel like I a have a bright light inside of me glowing outwards and it feels amazing - for once I feel completely uplifted and full of joy - about everything and anything!

Though people around me are a bit surprised to hear this, after months of battling with my emotions it feels like I'm on top of it all a bit! Some days it's brighter than others but it just feels like a relief to feel good about life, myself and the future...

I can't guarentee them or myself how long this will last, a while I hope, it doesn't feel like it's going away anytime soon. I think it has come from months of really working hard on how I feel and what I can do to keep myself lifted and moving forward, I wasn't sure I was making progress but in the last week I've had a chance to really reflect on the last year and I've realised how far I've come in the last 12 months despite A LOT of adversity and now I see that those dark and negative experiences can only make myself and my life better and more richer in the long run.

It's helped to have a few good people around me, supporting me and believing that at some point I would find this place, so this week I have made a step, quite a big step actually in really loving who I am and my world around me and I am so excited to see what this new journey has in store for me...

Taking steps to start a new journey can be hard, what helps to make this possible? What hurdles need to be overcome and what expectations are there? Knowing what drives you really helps I think! 

Feel Good Friday - September Gratitude...

We are coming to end of September now and half way through a very busy two months for our family, looking back there has been some emotional lows but some lovely joyful highs and it's always nice and  good for the spirit to reflect back on the good things so here is my Gratitude List for the month...

My husband - he really has been amazing this month and I couldn't of got through with out him, he even went to the supermarket at 4am this week when I was ill in the night to get me the medicine I needed to feel better, I was in agony, couldn't sleep and he was truly my hero!

Blooms - I've had lots of flowers in the house this month, my sweet MIL bought me flowers to cheer me up on what would of been my due date on the 12th. We've had one of the charming little flower decorations place in vintage pots from my SIL's wedding and today LC choose these gorgeous yellow Chrysanthemums from the farm shop today, simple but looking lovely on our fireplace.

Celebrations - there has been so many great things for us enjoy and make the most of and I've got to spend some time with lots of special people who lift me and make some great memories! 

September Sun - we've been quite lucky down here and had lots of warm sunshine, normally my birthday always marks a change in the weather but we are still enjoy nice temperatures and long may it last.

A happy, healthy child - Although this month has been difficult fertility wise what I have reflected so much on is what an adorable, smart, funny and beautiful little girl I do have, many times over the last month when we've had to do some important things she has been our shining light, so well behaved and we are increasingly proud of her.

So how has your month been? What are you feeling grateful for? Leave me a comment below...

True Love Tuesday

This weekend was really special for our family, the whole of my husbands side of the family came together to celebrate his sisters wedding and little miss LC was a bridesmaid! She was so well behaved and the most sweetest as she walked down the isle, posed for pictures and danced the night away, we were incredibly proud of her and she was so thrilled to be asked to be a bridesmaid for her auntie who is also one of her godmothers so it was a very precious day for her.

My SIL was beautiful and elegant and I couldn't stop crying at everything, the cake, the decorations, I cried when I first saw her walk down the stairs in her gown, when they all walked down the isle, when they took their vows and when the have LC and the other bridesmaid their gifts, I even cried when I wrote out their wedding card, I'm such a sucker for love and romance!

For me the occasion was even more enjoyable because my in laws are big on family, they cherish the time they have together and all love each others company especially because they don't all get a chance to be together in one room that often and we all spent the whole weekend just having fun, laughing, eating and drink while the kids ran around and danced together, it felt effortless and relaxing to be a part of it all! 

Myself and my OH also got a chance to have our first dance as a married couple which was a happy moment for me, I'm not sure he was that thrilled but he was very sweet and gentlemanly and indulged me, he made an effort for me to do something out of his comfort zone and put my desires ahead of his own, I adore him for knowing all the little things that are meaningful to me but also for deciding to not let them pass me by, for being responsible for them and investing in my happiness, he reminds me that relationships are some times give and some times take and when you make the effort to find some kind of balance then any relationship can be magic!

Feel Good Friday - A time for Celebration...

“Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers--strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength.”

― Barbara Katz Rothman

Today is the third birthday of my daughter and we are celebrating in such a special way (more to come on Monday's post), I am so proud of this child I, along with her father, have created. I look at her in awe and wonder, how did I create her? As I struggle now with trying to conceive again, creating another person to complete our family, I think about what kind of mother I already am, what kind of a mother have I become and I realise that my darling LC has created the mother I am today. I had my ideas, thoughts and notions of how I would handle parenthood but really she has shaped me in to the kind of mother I want to be, taught me so much about who I am as a woman, what I can handle, where my values are and what I believe in, she has taught me strength in adversity, compassion, self belief and how to have belly laughing induced fun again, what a clever little girl she is, my shinning light, an image of her handsome father but with a delicate girly touch.

I am so proud of this girl, she drives me nuts but I wouldn't change her ever and I thank her for letting me be the best mother I can be...

5 things Im doing more of this month

The other day I was in London (yes, very exciting for a work at home mum living in Somerset!) at a conference, I finished there a few hours before I was due to get my train so made the most of my time and went shopping. I found something gorgeous for LC as a present and proceeded to pay for my item. Whilst browsing in the shop one of the assistance had given me a discount voucher to use at the check out so I handed it over. "Oh of course!" Said the lady behind the till looking at the voucher "It's September now!" She started to discount the item and then turned to me and said "This is my month you know" I knew exactly what she meant and said rather excitedly "It's my month too!" She then followed this with a "Ahhh high five girl!" and put her hand up. I very awkwardly high fived her with my lack of social un-coolness and we then discussed dates, star signs and ages, I also mentioned that my little LC was also sharing this month with us and that the item I was buying would be a birthday present and left with a little happy smile on my face!

So, lovely September, my month, you are finally here! You are set to be filled with joy, a tinge of sadness (my due date was the 12th) a lot of champagne in honour of all things wedding like and some really good memories made I hope and so with out further ado here is more of what I will be doing this month...

Enjoying the ride - September is going to be a busy one, multiple birthdays - LC's is planned to be extra special (do look out for a future Pearl that will detail of the loveliness of her day!) Mine will be well, dull as ditch water, I'm spending the day on my own! (I'm just trying to make you feel sorry for me, but still!) Hen parties, Weddings, lunch and brunch dates and various other meet ups with friends, we literally haven't a day spare! Sounds hectic eh? Well my fabulous fertility specialist is working with me to just chill, not get caught up in craziness and just be present each moment and enjoy it for what it is. Practicing the art of mindfulness is so helpful for this and you can do it too by using a mediation track to listen to, here are some tracks I found on YouTube similar to mine.
Track 1
Track 2
Track 3

Looking after my skin - with the change in seasons I'm aware that my skin and completion need a bit more care once the weather changes, through the summer it's really brightened up and because I have really cut down on dairy in the last month my completion has got so much clearer, I want to keep looking my best once the temperature drops so I will be drinking lots of water still although I like the comfort of a hot drink in Autumn so Green Tea is a good alternative, try it with lemon, cranberries or my current favourite grapefruit, so refreshing! Keeping up with my Vitamin E intake by eating almonds which packed full of antioxidants too, healthy fats and an instant energy boost! With all the partying I have to look forward to I also need to make sure I get in some early nights! I also asked some ladies in the know of all things beauty and this is what they recommended:
Emma who tweets at @CymruEm said "I swear by Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum for anti-aging. I swear it keeps me looking youthful"
Lauren who tweets at @Laurenbakerblog told me "I've been recommending Raw Gaia Floral Rejuvenating Cream with Dr Organic virgin coconut oil to everyone" - products with natural ingredients too is a bonus!
Ami who tweets at @Beautyloves_ reminded of an old favourite "Body Shop body butters are great for keeping your skin moisturised so stops it from drying out in the colder weather"

Feeling happy, not SAD - With natural daylight diminishing in the mornings due to the onset of autumn lots of us suffer with our mental health because of these changes, I know we certainly do in our family, but what can we do about it? Many people swear by light boxes to help with seasonal mood disorders (SAD) and this is something Im going to look in to this year, if anyone use one I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. The NHS website also recommends eating well, sitting near windows when indoors and getting outside as much as possible in the day, so lots of autumnal walks on the beach and the country pack for us then! For more information on how to tackle this do check out their web pages on SAD.

Watching crappy TV - OK confession time! Firstly before I reveal this to you, you have to promise me won't judge me on this, ok? Promise? Uncross your fingers then! September always signals the start of our favourite TV shows and the big favourites in our house are Greys Anatomy and Supernatural - hey I told you not to judge! We have also just caught up on the Game of Thrones series, my OH is trying to convince me to watch Nashville and I am keen to start watching Once Upon time. Whether you like cheesy TV or movies or prefer something else having some down time to look forward to when the nights start to draw in can help you to feel relaxed and uplifted, what's your guilty TV pleasure? 

Monday's Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 50

Today sees us into the second day of a new month and boy what a month it promises to be! September is a pretty big deal in our house because my little girl and I have birthdays this month and with in a few days of each other my nephew is also turning one in the same week, so lots and lots to celebrate!

What also makes this month special this year is that it's the start of our wedding season, I kick off with a couple of Hen Do's over the next few weekends, then my sister in law gets married at the end of the month and then on to two more weddings in October (plus our 1st Wedding Anniversary). 

That's a lot love and and celebration to enjoy in the next 8 weeks and as I watch all these people I love get ready to take their vows and start their journeys as husband and wife I find myself reflecting back over the last year at what marriage has bought me and my relationship. Although myself and the OH have already been together for 5 years now and became parents 3 years ago (can't believe I am a mother of a 3 year old!), our wedding really did seem in a lot of ways like the start of our journey together, like our love story has really only got going.

We've had our ups and our downs, some very silly and some major heart-aching ones too, we can both say there were times when we were ready to give up but we both admit that something just keeps on keeping us together and the most interesting thing, well for me anyway, is that since we've been married its all been so much easier. The relationship seemed different straight away, it's hard to described but I knew I had to take my commitment more seriously and that my relationship with this man was something to cherish, endure at times and put my everything in to, it was something worth making an effort for, not that I didn't before but I knew that in times of doubt and strife instead of feeling like we didn't fit, we needed to work together to find a way that did. Instantly this has made a huge difference to our dynamic, we no longer get worked up over the petty things and if we disagree we  talk things out or reframe our thinking until we can, we always say when we together as a team rather than selfishly against each other we are at our best.

It's still not always easy, there are still times when we rub each other the wrong way, we are still learning but marriage made all the difference to us, it made us become more serious about love and life and I hope we continue to be this successful until we are old and wrinkled.

Do you have a secret formula for marriage?

What do you think makes a relationship successful?

I'd love to hear about your wedding stories, marriage tips and relationship ups and downs so do leave me a comment below, it always makes me smile!

In words we find comfort...

Today seems like a good day to make a gratitude list, you see despite the blue skies we have here things seemed rather grey this morning and my lust for life had all but disappeared. Illness, sleep deprivation, disorganisation and disappointment were all playing major parts in my life story and I was feeling achingly out of control, I really wanted to get back under the duvet and hide there all day! I couldn't though, I had commitments and responsibilities which I managed to drag myself onwards to do, but as I went about my morning something in me started to lift slightly, influenced by the thoughts and kindness of other, I started to think about all the things that made me smile, that I was thankful for and that I know were a sure positive in my life, so here is my gratitude list for today...

1. Well the sky is actually blue and there is lots of sunshine.
2. LC wanted lots of cuddles with me this morning, despite being grumpy.
3. I am going to London on Friday to spend time with lots of people I am very fond of, and I am sure to make some new friends too!
4. I am visiting the V&A museum on Sunday, a place I love and rarely go to these days.
5. I a mere 4 weeks we are off to Portugal!
6. People I love are getting married soon, I am so excited to be a part of their love stories!
7. We are really chasing our dream of moving to Canada, we are actually going for it!
8. I have lost 2 dress sizes in 4 months, I feel lighter and healthier.
9. My husbands kindness and understanding.
10. People around me, in many guises, who get what I'm going through...
11. That we were able to save the baby bird that our cat brought in this morning!
12. I have 4 hours to myself this afternoon...

Now that I've started I could actually go on, I realise that there is much to be appreciative for and writing a gratitude list really helps me to see this, sometimes we all need a bit of help finding the positives in life and writing it down is a useful way of doing it I think.

I also don't want to forget the people around me to who have, unbeknown to them, inspired me to do this today, just by by sharing conversation with them about how I'm feeling what's going on and general chit chat my mind has been provoked to think about some great things happening right here, right now in my life.

So in dedication to their kind spirit and comforting enthusiasm here is a some bedtime reading for tonight...

Twins Tiara's and Tantrums
City girl gone coastal
Mum Ramblings
Mission2Mum
MYCreative

I'm a great believer in Karma so I expect these ladies are all due some good fortune soon or at least something that comes their way to give them a smile...

Have you ever written a gratitude list? What do you do when you need to look on the sunnier side of life?
Do leave me a comment, I would be very thankful for that too!

This weeks Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 34

"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother" - Lin Yutang, Chinese writer

Treats waiting to be given..

Today's Pearl is in honour of our Mums! Whether you are a mother or only have a mother or both, you may have done something to celebrate Mothering Sunday! We had out traditional Sunday lunch out and then indulged in some retail therapy, although it ended up with LC reaping the benefits of that with Granny buying her two new pairs of shoes and I bought her treats from the Disney store!

This last year has taught me the most so far about being a mum, I never knew I could find a limitless resource of love, patience and energy! That my beliefs and expectations of myself could grow and evolve into something I am proud of as each day goes by and that also, in my mid thirties I still need my own mum sometimes....

I constantly worry about being a good mum - am I teaching her all the right things, is she getting what she needs from me, should I be doing this or that, is she healthy and happy? But I know I'm not alone in these daily obsessions and because I do worry and think about this it somehow makes me a better mum because I work hard to understand why these are important to her and me and do my best to fulfil them.

My relationship for with my own mum is still growing and I feel closer to her now than I ever did, she has gone through a lot of hardship in her life and can still see the bright side of things, I admire her so much for that! Plus I still love to give her hugs, not just on Mothers Day but all the year round!

Did you do something special for Mother's Day, what's important to as a mother or what's special about your relationship with your mum? I'd love to know!

How many women does it take...?

This is not first line from a sexist joke - today is International Women's Day and last year I remember writing about what kind of woman I wanted to be now that I was a mother - read more about that here. This year I have been thinking about who it is that inspires me to be that woman, who is my biggest role model, my hero, who has shaped the woman I am and the women I want to be?

After a lot of thought I realised that actually it's not just one particular woman that is influencing me but actually quite a few and they all deserve credit! I'm lucky that I have great mum who has taught me a lot about the kind of mum I want to be and passed on her love for fashion to me! I have some amazing, courageous friends who have shown me what it means to be selfless, who have faced tragedy and survived and who have been there to share the good as well as the bad times too. I'm also influenced by women in the public eye who show strength and confidence in what they do, have a kind of style I admire, take risks and excel in their careers through hard work and self belief, I think Gwyneth Paltrow is a good representation of this kind of woman, I love her style and what she has achieved as a working woman, also I admire her openness about the struggles she has faced as well as her successes.

I am so lucky to have so many awesome women around me, I truly believe that having a diverse bunch ladies in my life is what keeps me going to be the best woman I can be and as I get older I feel excited to keep evolving in to this and to also watch my daughter become the woman she will be as she inherits the foundation of women I have around me!

You can read more great blog posts about International Women's Day at Lulastic and the Hippyshake Blog Link up, do check them out!

Who is your role model as a mother, in your career or as a friend? Who influences your style or the things you like to do? What sort of woman do you strive to be? I'd love to hear your thoughts...

Celebrating one's self!!

You may or may not know that it is International Women's Day today! This has got me thinking about my identity as a woman and what being a woman means to me..............

I have never really felt like "a woman", in fact I still have days now when I feel like a 15 year old girl! But now that I am approaching my 35th birthday and have gone through some major life changes I'm starting to get a bit more comfy with this title.

I think that maybe becoming a mother has helped this and I'm sure others will agree with me on this. Before baby came I still had so many of my girlish ways, playing at life dipping in and dipping out of things, I had made a commitment to this guy who said he wanted children with me but that commitment never really rang true until our little girl arrived.

All of a sudden I wanted to be a better person, for me but for her too, I wanted to set an example, be someone she could be proud of and I wanted her to grow in to this awesome woman who will achieve great things. I knew it was down to me to guide her in to being all she could be as a woman, her dad has all the smarts and will teach her endless amazing things that I will never be able to like maths, how to change a tyre and to burp the alphabet but it was my job to help her blossom into everything womanly.

All these thoughts and feelings still go round in my head about who my daughter will be and motivates me to be all I can be, this in turn has helped me to understand myself more and appreciate how much I enjoy being a woman of this world. So back to my question, what does being a woman mean to me? Well some one who has created life with the man I love, and supports others to do the same in which ever way makes them happy and proud, being able to set a good example to my peers and support them on our journey through life, being a woman means loving every bit of myself, lumpy and bumpy bits included and always knowing that I have the power to be the best I can be, not just for me but for others especially for my daughter because being a woman means celebrating that too with everyone around me!