School days

'Something someone told you about yourself that you'll never forget'

You know how cruel children can sometimes be at school? Well, unfortunately for me I always seemed to be the odd one out. I think this was due to the fact that I spent a lot of time ill as a child and never had the chance to build those first friendships. Being shy, sensitive, quiet and having an unsettled home life didn't help.

I have never told anyone in my adult life about this so writing this post is a way of release for me, well that's what I'm hoping!

There was one particular girl who made my school life a misery. She took an instant dislike to me and I didn't know how to handle it as I had no self-confidence at all. I remember this all started when I was seven and continued until I was thirteen. Talk about dread going to school! Some Sunday evenings I would be sick, because I was worried, so my mum would think I had a stomach bug and keep me off school the next day.

My parents were not the easiest people to talk to and part of me thought I must have done something to offend her and that's why she was being so horrible. So I kept it to myself. She came up with names for my lips and long hair and this stuck right through school. It was mean and cruel and I have never forgotten as I was called it by lots of girls. I was much taller than the rest of the girls in my class as well and started stooping to look smaller.

Isn't it silly that I still have difficulty saying and writing down the names she called me. It was incredibly personal and I began to believe what she said was right. I remember having an operation and being off school for six weeks. The first thing she said to me on my first day back was 'I wish you had died.' Lovely!

I put up with the bullying for years. One day, at the age of thirteen, she called me the usual names that I was known as. But instead of getting upset, I turned around and asked her what she wanted me for. She was stunned, shocked and didn't know what to say. I walked away and never looked back.

After that day she never called me those names again, I remember thinking if only I had been brave enough to stand up to her when I was seven! I know to some this might sound trivial but it really did knock my confidence and it took me a long, long time to regain it. (Still working on this.)

Have a lovely weekend

my three worst traits

Well, this topic isn't a difficult one for me as I can easily reel of three traits that I am not proud of. Unfortunately, I do lend myself to being more negative than positive about myself #MustTryHarder!

My worst trait has to be my perfectionism. I find it incredibly hard not to be overly critical with myself in a lot of things I do. Over the years, this trait has held me back from trying new things. For example, learning to drive, going to dance classes and turning down good job opportunities due to my lack of self confidence.

As I have got older I have got more self-confident. I think this is partly due to having a wonderful partner, who is supportive and makes me feel good about myself as well as realising that, 'if you look for perfection, you will never be content,' as Leo Tolstoy said.

I won't go on to tell you all about the OCD issues I have, including making sure all the labels are facing the right way and checking I've locked the door, numerous times.

Someone once told me to give myself a break and not to be so hard on myself. She said, 'You would
never think those awful thoughts about another person, so don't think them about yourself.' This is a piece of advice I've never forgotten.

I am so not a morning person! I cannot start my day without a cafetiere of coffee to rid me of my morning drowsiness! I am grumpy and my partner has now got used to my groan as he says good morning to me!

My snooze button is my friend; I must hit it five times before I manage to squint out of my eyes! Then I have to try and remember what day of the week we are on! Not good am I?

But what can I say? I am so in love with my duvet. I believe there should be duvet days built into the week!

I have a terrible addiction to Haribo Starmix sweets. I never get sick of them! I get excited when I pull a sweet out of the bag, wondering which one it will it be.

Will it be the cola bottle, the egg or the jelly teddy?

I know that they are bad for me, what rubbish goes into them and I know I need to cut down. I put it down to the sugar rush!

Do we share any traits?

how to budget

Things that you've learned that school won't teach you.

This has probably been one of the hardest life lessons I have learned. In fact, I still struggle with budgeting. Lessons on money management would have made me aware of budgeting instead of thinking 'money grows on trees.'

As a child, I didn't think about how my parents paid the bills; I just took it for granted that we would always have a roof over our heads.

We didn't have holidays and I had a lot of hand-me-downs so I knew they didn't have a lot of money.

This was more of an issue to me as I became a teenager. When I wanted the same things as my friends, I was the typical selfish teenager blaming them for not having much money.

When I left school and started to look for a job I had rather a rude awakening! Firstly, I had no idea how to present myself into the world of work, never mind budget!

I have to say, money burned a hole in my pocket and would still if I didn't keep a check on my spending. I have always found it so easy just to keep swiping my card and lose track.

I had to learn the hard way about budgeting. Getting out of debt was a really difficult part of my life, and I don't want to be like that again, so I have tried to pass the importance of this onto my girls.

My eldest daughter is a bit like I was regarding money. She spends it all and then struggles for the rest of the month. However, my youngest daughter is excellent at budgeting. She knows exactly how much she has got in her account and spends wisely. I have always tried to teach them the value of money, giving them pocket money for chores they have done and opening them savings accounts from an early age.

To keep on the straight and narrow, I have learnt a number of useful tips to pull my finances into order:

I made a spreadsheet on the computer and I put everything we have to pay for on it.

On payday I see how much everything will cost for the month and if we have a little spare, which is not very often, we treat ourselves to maybe a meal out or a night at the cinema.

I started writing everything I was spending down in a daily diary.

If I go on a night out, I leave my bank card at home and just take a certain amount of money and stick to it.

Planning meals for the week and taking a shopping list when I buy groceries has been very effective. It avoids waste and makes impulse buys less likely.

Having said all this, as it's nearly payday, I think I deserve a treat for having blogged every day of this challenge ... just a little one.

my ten pet peeves

my girls getting make up all over the floor!

my partner pushing more rubbish in the bin even though it is overflowing!

my partner not putting the top on the toothpaste.

people talking loudly on their mobiles at the next table.

people who scrape their teeth with cutlery when eating.

when my personal space is being invaded.

when men wear socks with sandals, get the style police in!

people with bad manners.

when my daughter cracks her knuckles.

people who say they haven't got any pet peeves!








What are some of your pet peeves?

my favourite posts

These are a few of my favourite blog posts from over the past year. I started writing this blog just over a year and I am thoroughly enjoying the experience. Connecting with other like minded bloggers has been a highlight of this challenge for me.

I hope you like my favourite posts. I have chosen two style posts, two recipe posts and two DIY posts.

trampling through a field in topshop

I love the colours in this post, so vibrant and fresh.


lace and nude

This dress always makes me feel good, it has a very sixties feel about it!


mojito cheesecake cocktails

You have to make these, such fun and so tasty!


stuffed chicken breast wrapped in pancetta

This was part of a three course meal we cooked for Valentine's Day.


around my home - bookshelves in an alcove

I adore these bookshelves that we made, a brilliant use of an alcove in our living room.


how to make a decoupage jewellery box

I got this box from a friend who was having a clear out.  It is one of the best things I have recycled, I love it.
(See here how I transformed it.)

Have a great Tuesday

thinking of others

'Share something you are struggling with right now'

Wow! It's day 20 already; I can't believe how quickly this month has passed by. What am I going to do with myself when the month is over! Today's prompt asked us to 'share something you are struggling with right now.' 

Since starting this blogging challenge I have been offered a little window into the lives of other bloggers taking part. I've been really touched by some of the issues that some bloggers are dealing with and problems they are facing.

I have mentioned a couple of my own woes in two previous posts (here and here). Rather than going over similar grounds again, I want to say to all the bloggers out there facing challenges, some of which you have shared with us, thank you for being a source of inspiration. I sincerely wish you the best possible outcomes.

Have a lovely day 

five of my favourite blogs

It was hard to choose just five of my favourite blogs as there are so many good blogs I like to read. I've chosen a few that have inspired and encouraged me over the past couple of years to start my own blog.

The Sartorialist

The first blog I really fell in love with was The Sartorialist. I was looking for ways of changing my style and the way Scott Schuman took photographs of street style really opened my eyes up to the way I could revive old clothes in my closet and give them a breath of fresh air.

S bought me his book one Christmas and I devoured it, the pages are looking worn now as I return to it for style ideas all the time. I check his blog on a regular basis to see new street style he has posted.


Late Afternoon

I am so in love with Late Afternoon by Liz, I have been drooling over her stunning outfits for a couple of years now. Some of the clothes she wears are from high street shops like Zara and H&M, so I have been able to recreate a few of her outfits myself. Her photographs are absolutely beautiful, so well taken and in perfect light.


A Beautiful Mess

A beautiful Mess is written by two sisters called Elsie and Emma. Their blog is a lifestyle blog full of all things beautiful. Stunning photographs, fantastic content and a great style of writing. They share crafts, decor, recipes, fashion, beauty and photography. I would advise anyone to check out this wonderful blog.


What would you Wear If...

Meet Cassie and Jenn from What Would You Wear If. This blog always makes me smile when I read it as it is full of hypothetical scenarios from What Would You Wear If ...You Were Going Back To The Future to my favourite, which is What Would You Wear If ... You Were On A 14 Hour Road Trip With Ryan Gosling? The girls put polyvore outfits together to match the scenarios, I love it! Pop over and check them out.


Code It Pretty

Code It Pretty is an excellent source of information that I have recently come across.

It is full of technical advice for blog design and adding functions, and is written by Maria Mosley.

This is probably the most easy to read and well presented site of it's kind that you could wish to find.


What are some of your favourite blogs?

Have a great day,