Liebster Award Part 2

Having been nominated and written my Liebster Award post (linked) I put it to one side. I don't know if all bloggers do this, but I like to give myself at least a few hours after initially writing a post to think about it and to re-read it. Just in case there's anything I want to change. So thinking I was all done I sat down to some twitter when a 2nd nomination came through from MummyBexM.  

Thank you MummyBexM for the nomination! I won't do the whole post all over again, I've already given the rules, my 11 random facts, and picked 11 nominees so in this post I'm just going to answer MummyBexM's questions and of course tell you a little bit about her blog!

A relatively new blog and a new mum to her almost 4 month old little boy. She blogs about her life as a mummy, throws in some lovely pictures of her family and also writes some really informative posts to help other mums on things like sleep routines. A really enjoyable read. Be sure to pop over and say hi!

The 11 questions I've been given are:

1) When and why did you start blogging? 

This is a question I touched upon in my first Liebster Award post. I originally started my blog, which was then called 'Just Add Colour' back in October 2012 shortly before my wedding day to share some of the hints and tips I'd picked up along the way for planning a wedding. 

Eventually the wedding posts got mixed in with beauty, recipes and a lot of other random stuff. I eventually took a break from blogging for personal reasons, the break was about 16months. In May 2014 my little boy was born and in October 2014 I decided I missed blogging, but wedding blogs weren't for me anymore so my blog was renamed Blogging Mamma and my lifestyle/parenting blog was born!

2)What recently read blog post have you enjoyed? 

There's a few, especially with all the Christmas posts recently. But one that springs to mind is Plutonium Sox post The Little Things. A lovely mix of getting to know the blogger, some lovely pictures of her two girls and a lesson I stand to learn that children aren't materialistic and Baby R doesn't need half of what I got him, because Christmas told me to!

3) If you could learn a new skill, what would you like it to be?

I'd learn to drive. I wish I'd done it when I had the time and money earlier in life. Would make things much easier now with baby. Especially when I go back to work.

4) If you could have any 5 guests over for dinner who would they be and why? 

My Grandfather and My Nan who passed away many years ago now. But I miss them like crazy and if I could have them over for dinner and have them meet my hubby and hold my son, it would be the best thing ever.

Michael McIntyre because I find him hilarious, and I think there is nothing better than a good laugh with good company.

J.K. Rowling because I am a Potter fan and I'd love to spend an evening with the woman who created my favourite characters.

Brendan Carroll in the character of Mrs Brown. I'd probably eat very little and just laugh all night, but laughter is the best medicine.

5) Who is your favourite fictional character? 

Elizabeth Bennett from Pride & Prejudice or Dumbledore from Harry Potter

6) What question would you like to ask the Queen, if you could? 

If you could have done anything in this world, if you weren't royal so didn't have the obligation to rule the country, then what would you have chosen to do or to be?

7) If you won the lottery, what would your first 3 spends/buys be? 

I'd buy my parents, sister and my hubbys parents & siblings houses.

I'd build my dream home.

I'd pay for a big family holiday for when Baby R was old enough to remember. Make some memories for him.

8) Which is your favourite film and why?

Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistlestop Cafe. It's the perfect mix of sadness, love, humour and addresses big issues like domestic abuse and racism. I just love it.

9) If you were a biscuit, what type would you be?

I'd probably be something like a digestive. Rather plain and boring, but reliable and perfect with a cup of coffee.

10) Where in the world would you like to go/visit? 

If I could I'd love to do a cruise and visit loads of landmarks etc. But if I had to pick one place it would be Sorrento in Italy. I'd love the food, the gorgeous weather, the beautiful town and scenery. Plus it's close enough to go visit Pompeii which is on my bucket list!

11) If you could be in any film, TV or book which would it be and why? 

This is a toughy. There's far too many to choose from. As a child I'd always imagine I was the heroine in my favourite books or films.

I know it's odd but I always wanted to be the Little Princess. To be such a kind and warm hearted person in such dire times. To have an imagination that kept me going, and of course to be reunited with my very rich father. I just love the book, and if you love a book enough you tend to want to be part of it. 

OK so that's my 11 questions given by Mummybexm! As always thanks for reading xoxo

Liebster Award - Discover New Blogs

I was very kindly nominated (Thank you) for the Liebster Award by Yogaberry, a yoga loving mum of two who not only enjoys, but teaches yoga. Her blog is a lovely mix of family life, Yoga and her thoughts on things like being honest to your children, and loads more. Go over to her blog and enjoy!

I had never heard of the Liebster award until I was nominated, but after reading Yogaberry's post and doing a bit of research I have surmised that basically it is a way of discovering new, smaller blogs and for those bloggers to get to know each other. The rules are as follows:

1. Acknowledge and thank the blog who nominated you.
2. Look for an award image that you like, and post it on your blog.
3.  Answer the 11 questions asked by the person/blog who nominated you.
4. List 11 random facts about yourself.
5. Nominate 11 blogs with under 200 followers to receive the award.
6. Let the bloggers know that you nominated them.
7. Give them 11 questions to answer.

Here are the questions I was given -

1. What are 3 things you learned in 2014?
I learnt to make the best of what you have. Things aren't always going to be lollipops and sunshine but that's OK. The happiest people aren't those who have everything, but those who appreciate what they have. Cliche? Maybe! But it was definitely my main lesson in 2014.
I learnt lots of practical things about being a mum. Like how to do things one handed, things that 8 months ago I would never even have attempted one handed. How to change a nappy. How to change a nappy in a rush. How to take a bodysuit off without pulling it over a babies head (envelope sleeves, brilliant invention and very useful when baby catches a stomach bug!).
Finally I learnt the beauty of patience. I've never been particularly patient, but my son has taught me to slow down a bit and enjoy the little things in life. 


2. Why did you decide to start blogging?
I actually decided to blog a few years ago when I was planning my wedding. I fondly called myself a budget bride and set about arranging my wedding for half the cost of your average UK wedding. I decided to share some of those tips. I enjoyed it so much I started to share other things I liked and learnt. I took a break from blogging for personal reasons but when my son was about 4 months old I decided I wanted to record my journey in to motherhood and my blog seemed like the perfect place. So 'Just Add Colour' was renamed Blogging Mamma, and wedding posts were replaced with lifestyle/mummy posts.

3. What is your favourite blog?
I have a few. But one of my favourite mummy/beauty/lifestyle blogs back from before I even started blogging on Just Add Colour is Sprinkle of Glitter. I found her blog, which in turn led me to her YouTube videos. I find her blogging style very relaxed, down to earth and easy to read. Even her longer posts are easy to digest. I like the mix of beauty, mum posts and arty project type posts. There are many blogs I love now, and it's hard to pick a favourite but there's a definite soft spot for the first blog I started reading regularly.


4. What would you do tomorrow if it was your last day?
I would spend the entire day with my family and my closest friends. We'd all spend the morning playing games with Baby R until he went for his nap. Then we'd all have a cuppa and chat/laugh until Baby R woke up. We'd go down the Mumbles (a beautiful area of South Wales) for the rest of the day, eat ice cream, walk on the beach and take far too many pictures then come home and put Baby R to bed. We'd order a takeaway, watch a film and talk until we were too tired to stay awake. I'd go to bed and cuddle my hubby until I fell asleep. Sounds like the perfect day to me!

5. Who do you admire and why?
That's a toughy. I admire a lot of people of course but it's tough to single one out. I'm going to go with my father for this one. I've always admired his work ethic. He's always worked hard, taken opportunities others wouldn't because they involved sacrifice, worked through illness and pushed himself to work his way up the ladder. There were times this wasn't easy for him, that he had to spend a lot of time away from his family for work reasons. Yet he traveled a long way (approx 360 miles each way) to see us almost every weekend. For as long as I can remember he's been learning new things outside of his work life too. Whether it's been organised lessons or teaching himself new skills. But I really admire that. I think it's an excellent quality in a person to have a good work ethic.

6. What is your favourite cake?
Coffee cake.

7. What are 3 things you would like to do or learn if you had all the time and money in the world?
a) I'd learn to drive. It would make life so much easier if I could put Baby R in the car and head on out. Instead I rely on buses or Hubby when he's not in work. We can't afford for me to learn with the average hour lesson costing £18.
b) I'd like to go on a world cruise. Stopping at places like Pompeii, going on Safari in Africa, visiting hot & cold countries. Just experiencing as much of the world as I could. Not everywhere obviously, but to swim in the bluest oceans, lie on the whitest sands, taste different foods. It's something I would love to do if I won the lottery.
c) Build my own home. I've given this whole all the time and all the money thing some thought over the years. See if I got to design and build my own home, decorate it exactly as I want it, have all new furniture and mod cons I'd never need to move house ever again. As someone who has lived in 6 houses since 2007 the idea of never moving again is very appealing. So yes, to build my dream house.

8. What book have you really enjoyed reading in 2014? 
There's two I want to mention. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. An inspirational woman and a story that made me weep many a time. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney. Childrens books are not always the most thrilling to read but I really enjoy reading this one to Baby R.


9. What's your favourite snack?
Yoghurt, toffee or vanilla flavoured are my faves and when I want to feel like I'm being good I'll chop up a banana and chuck it in my yoghurt.

10. What did you want to be when you were a child?
What didn't I want to be? My answer when I was asked was -  a dancer, pop singer, shop owner,  book author, teacher, chef, doctor (who rides a horse to appointments) with children. I even had it scheduled so I could fit all my professions in. I decided I really could have it all! 

11. What is your blog post that you most enjoyed writing so far? (send me a link)
From my Just Add Colour Days - Bully For You It was a very hard piece to write for me. But I really enjoyed the therapeutic nature of saying what was playing on my mind.

From my newer Blogging Mamma Days - Dear Baby R I feel proud of this post and the original paper copy that now sits in Baby R's memory box for him to re-open when he's older.

11 Random Facts About Me

1) I have lost 9 stone in weight in the last 3 years. I hope to loose the final 2 and a bit stone in 2015
2) The first wedding ceremony I ever attended was my own. 
3) I love marshmallows. Prefer flumps, but will eat mini, or pink & whites.
4) I once wrote a poem about pink Yorkie bars. It was for A'Level English and earnt me an A.
5) I have never broken a bone (touch wood).
6) I am deaf in one ear.
7) I grew up in England but am Welsh and now live in Wales again.
8) I love Harry Potter. So much so I dressed my son up as baby Harry for Halloween! Ha!
9) Once I put baby milk in the washing machine and washing powder in the baby bottle. Don't worry didn't give the bottle to baby. Realised what I had done pretty much straight away. Got to love baby brain!
10) I love coffee. I drink more coffee than is advisable and still fall asleep easily at night. Must be immune to caffeine by now.
11) I am allergic to peanuts.

The 11 bloggers I want to nominate are (I don't know that your blogs have less than 200 followers, turns out it's quite hard to find out how many followers a blog has. Mainly due to all the different platforms you can be followed on, so I've gone with the amount of followers on Bloglovin and if you're not on Bloglovin then goodness knows what number I used. I appreciate you may have more than 200 in total but I tag you anyway!) :-

MummyBexM
Plutonium Sox
Play At Home Teacher
Welcome To My World
Stuff Babies Need
FUZZYPEACH
The Diary of an Unexpectant Mother
Academic Mummy
Slummy Mummy
Mummy's Retreat
Dillydrops

11 Questions For My Nominees

1) If you could only ever eat one food/meal for the rest of your life what would it be?
2) What's your favourite, non-blogging, related thing to do?
3) If you could meet any celebrity (living or not) who would you want to meet and why?
4) What is your biggest pet peeve?
5) Main goal for 2015?
6) Link your favourite blog post written by someone else.
7) Link your favourite blog post written by you.
8) Are you a planner or a spontaneous kind of person. 
9) What non physical trait of yours would you change?
10) What made you begin your blog?
11) Tell me a quote or mantra you identify with.

The New Year Tag!

I've been tagged by the lovely Mummybexm to do the New Year Tag so here goes :)

Image courtesy of noppasinw at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What was your highlight of 2014?
Most definitely the arrival of Baby R. 2014 was the year of preparing for Baby R, him arriving and then 7months of creating memories. He was the highlight of my year!

What are you most excited about for 2015? 
Watching the little man learn and grow. He's changed so much in the last 7 months. It's hard to imagine how different he will be this time next year. I'm also looking forward to my sisters wedding, it's going to be an amazing day! The little dudes 1st Birthday. Just so much to look forward to and memories to make! 

Any New Years Resolutions?
Two at the moment.
1) Especially once I return to work, I want to make a conscious effort to enjoy quality time with my husband and son. It's easy to sit together, watch TV together etc. But I want to make sure we spend quality time enjoying each other and making memories we can look back on together.
2) 2015 I will get to my goal weight! Over the last few years I have been on various diets and have lost 9 stone in total so far. This year I want to loose the final 2.5 stone to reach my goal. This year I will do it. Ending the diets and embarking on a lifetime of healthier eating.

Blogging High?
I just enjoy blogging. I find it very therapeutic and I'm just enjoying putting my thoughts in to posts. So my blogging high is that I'm doing something I enjoy so much!

Picture Of The Year?

A picture of me hugging my little man while he slept. He was only just over a month old in this picture. I have loads of pictures I love of my little boy (of course) and nearly all of them are my 'fave'. This Christmas I got quite a few to add to the bunch, but my Hubby & I are wary of sharing pictures of him on my blog. He is referred to as Baby R, and his pictures don't reveal his face. New to blogging and parenting we are trying to find the balance of how much to share with you. As he's snuggled in to my neck we figured this was a nice picture to share with you while maintaining the privacy we are trying to preserve for him.

Who do you tag?

I tag anyone who wants to do this tag! Leave me a comment or tweet me if you've done this tag so I can read your answers!

Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas. Have a Happy New Year and see you all in 2015! xoxo

**The Mummy Tag**

The Mummy Tag

I've seen this tag floating around on blogs I read, and some of the YouTubers I watch have done this too. So I thought it was a fun little blog to do just to pass some time while Hubby is in work and baby is tucked up in bed.

 I tag anyone reading this, who is a mummy. Here goes:-

1) Are you a stay at home mum or a working mum? 

I am currently a stay at home mum while I am on maternity leave, but I will be returning to work next year.

2) Would you have it any other way?

Yes & no. Yes I would love to be able to give up work at least until my son is in school. But on the other hand I would rather work and provide him with everything he needs, than not work and struggle.

3) Do you co-sleep? 

No. Never have and never would. I would be terrified of falling in to a deep sleep and hurting/suffocating my son. Plus I think it's important for your child to sleep in their own bed or space and to be able to get to sleep without Mum or Dad cuddling them to sleep.

4) One must have gear for baby?

Tough one. I have two! First one is the bath seat. My son wasn't too keen on baths to start with. It was quite hot in Britain this summer and warm baths weren't exactly wanted by an already warm baby. The seat meant I could wash him with warm water but he was sat above the water so didnt get too warm. Now he's older it means my hands are free to wash him. Help him play with toys etc.

Second one would be his Elephant Slumber buddy. It's a projector night light that plays lullabies. The light and music switch off after a set amount of time (ours is set to half hour). Now he's a bit older he loves to look at the projected stars on the ceiling and it helps calm him down just after his bed time story and just before bed time.

5) How many kids do you plan on having?

I honestly don't know. My husband would like three but at the moment my son is only five and a half months so I'm quite happy with my little baby. Maybe one day we will have a second. Just enjoying my little boy for now.

6) Date night? How many nights a month?

We don't really do date nights as such, and definitely not every month. We went out last month to celebrate our wedding anniversary, and we will probably do the same for our birthdays and stuff. But we enjoy being at home with the little one, so I don't think date night will become a thing.

7) Your child's favourite show?

He's five and a half months, he doesn't really have a favourite show. He sometimes watches Baby Einstein TV if I need him distracted for me to tidy up or do laundry, and he enjoys it, but he's not that bothered by TV at the moment.

8) Name 1 thing you bought before you had your baby and you never used?

Scratch mittens. He wouldn't wear them or keep them on so the 7/8 pairs I had haven't been used. Instead I started buying sleepsuits with the built in mittens (you roll the sleeves over the babies hands) and they work much better than actual mittens.

9) Your Child's favourite food?

Apple, Porridge or the two mixed together. He's still in the early stages of weaning, but will eat most vegetables and fruit. But baby porridge and apple are definitely his favourite so far.

10) How many cars does your family have?

One

11) Weight gain before pregnancy, during, after and now?

OK so I lost maybe 2lbs during pregnancy? After I lost a further 15lbs and now I am 38lbs lighter than my pre pregnancy weight.

12) Dream holiday with your child?

I'd love to take him to Disneyland (Paris or Florida). I think that would be really magical when he's quite a bit older. But I'd also quite like to take him around the UK to different places. There's a lot for him to explore and do.

13) Dream holiday without your child?

If money was no object I'd love to go on an around the world cruise. 

14) How has your life changed since your baby has been born?

Probably not in the ways I was expecting. I'm lucky, he's an excellent sleeper and has slept through the night since he was about 7 weeks old so I haven't really lost out on much sleep (furiously smacking every piece of wood available to me).

I guess mainly the fact there is someone more important than me or my husband in my life. Leaving the house requires planning and thought. It's like a military exercise and even then it never quite goes to plan.

My washing machine never stops. Not just because of him, but because of the amount of mess I manage to get myself in looking after him all day. He has reflux so there was a time when I would have to change my top 4/5 times a day. Luckily he's much better these days ... but the washing is still ridiculous.

It's changed my relationships with a lot of people. I think there is a new found respect for the other mums & dads in your life, for your own parents etc. Some relationships improve, some not so much and some dissolve the instant you become Mummy. 

Plus you become a bit of a circus act. The amount you can do with one hand is incredible. I was rubbish in the first few weeks, but something clicked and now I can juggle (metaphorically of course) the baby, a hand full of toys, dirty laundry and a bottle if needs be. 

15) Finish the sentence: "It makes my heart melt to see...."

My baby smile and my baby peacefully sleeping. The two things that are guaranteed to make me grin from ear to ear and just want to hug, squeeze & love him!!

16) Where do you shop for your kids?

Sainsburys, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Next, Matalan, Primark, Babies R Us, Mothercare... anywhere & everywhere basically :)

17) Favourite make-up and skin care products?

Make-Up - At the moment I'm in love with BB creams. Rimmel Londons 9-in-1 BB Cream is my current fave.

Skin Care Products - "I Love..." Strawberry Celebration bath & shower cream 

                                     Palmers  Cocoa Butter

18) Huggies or Pampers?

Pampers, but I think I will be trying out some other brands, as I don't think they are worth the money given how often they leak. Have heard Aldis own are good so may well give them a go.

19) Have you always wanted kids?

Yes, I've always wanted to be a mum. Even when I was 6/7 I can remember playing in my room. I played this game where I was a doctor, teacher, author, ballerina, shop owner all in one week. And I can remember pretending to drop my children off at school before I went to work... my child being a teddy bear named 'Cuddles' would then be my patient, student, publisher, dance partner or customer. Very versatile bear!!

20) Best part of being a mum?

That feeling of being totally in love and not knowing how you could possibly love or be any more proud of your child. But yet every day you love them even more and are proud of every little thing they do. The unconditional love between you and your child... and getting to see them grow in to their little personalities.

Ok so that's the Mummy Tag. Hope you enjoyed and as always. Thanks for reading!