Quick note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links; if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
As a prosecco lover, I was over the moon to be contacted by Say It With Champers to review their Christmas themed mini Prosecco product. I was so excited about it arriving, and was not disappointed with the package when it did arrive.
I don’t know about you, but I do love a personalised product. It gives more meaning to a special gift for someone and shows you have thought about them. These gifts would also be perfect for use in the corporate world. My dad gets a luxury Christmas hamper each year from work and always gives us some of the products from it. What a treat.
The unboxing
The main thing I was impressed with upon arrival of the Christmas themed mini Prosecco was the packaging. When I opened the box, it was wrapped in a cold jacket, which meant it was ready to drink straight out of the box. I find this pretty amazing and it’s something I didn’t expect.
The website also offers Champagne bottles. All occasions are covered and they even sell vegan champagne. Their ready-made hampers also look fantastic.
Who I selected the gift for
I selected a gift for family members, one of which loves prosecco as much as I do! The fact the recipient can keep the bottle with the personalised label and it can then become a keepsake is also a bonus. This would be particularly apt to mark a special occasion or remember a significant event, like a graduation or work-related achievement.
If you’re looking for a great movie to watch whilst your drink your prosecco, check out this post: 25 movies to stream this Christmas.
Final thoughts
Overall I am happy with the product and can’t find fault with the end-to-end process. From ordering to delivery, the process was smooth.
I’ve always wanted a decorative reusable Advent calendar. Something which looks epic on a fireplace and takes centre stage amongst your Christmas decorations. But I think my little one is still a bit too young.
As such, I’m on the hunt for an affordable but special chocolate-free advent calendar for each of us this year. Something to add a little cheer to each day, after the rubbish last few years we’ve all had.
December in our house is also a manic and stressful month, due to our jobs. Therefore any small touch we can add at the end of a busy day, to alleviate some stress is welcome.
A treat a day for a whole month definitely fits in with my new self-care regime.
It was lovely to light a different scented tea light each day throughout December. We love candles in our house. They add to the magic of this season and give my mental health a little, much-needed lift.
Quick note: Mummy Conquering Anxiety is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
Check out my list of quirky but affordable calendars
For the Toddler in your life
My little one loves her cars and would have so much fun playing with any of the below items.
I don’t want the little one eating chocolate every day in December and therefore it has to be something creative or fun.
Any parent will know, this also means we can’t have chocolate. Because all toddlers seek out and steal your food. Hehe!
Perfect for gin lovers, this set includes 12 flavour mixers, two edible pearls, 6 glass rim sugars, and 4 cocktail shimmers. Just add the gin and make the perfect cocktail.
Candle advent calendars
I’ve purchased a Yankee candle advent calendar before and it was lovely to light a different scented tea light each day throughout December. We love candles in our house. They add to the magic of this season and give my mental health a little, much-needed lift.
Make up advent calendar
Who doesn’t love a make-up calendar? I talk all about the Boots No7 calendar in my recent Christmas gift guide. Here are some of the best alternatives I’ve found.
Tea advent calendar
I’ve ordered the Clipper advent calendar and I can’t wait to open it.
For the man in your life
My hubby is a coffee lover and therefore any of these would be the perfect fit. Given the opportunity, he would always want chocolate, but I am sticking to my guns on chocolate-free advent calendars for 2021.
Cheese advent calendar
Who doesn’t love a bit of cheese? Especially in the run-up to Christmas when the cheese board is on the menu.
Pringles advent calendar
How amazing. You can have your favourite snack in an advent calendar. I love the sound of this one.
Alcohol advent calendar
For the man in your life. Get in the festive spirit with a little tipple each day.
Self-care advent calendars for men
A great before Christmas treat, for those much-needed self-care moments.
Menkind advent calendars
Menkind has a range of fantastic calendars. Including these self-care beard oil and a male grooming one.
Final thoughts
I hope this list of chocolate-free advent calendars has provided some inspiration for a calendar for you or a loved one.
Let me know which advent calendars you will be buying this year.
Struggling with what to buy a partner or a loved one? Look no further, I got you covered! Here are my trusted No 7 essentials.
In time for Christmas pressie purchases, I wanted to share with you some of the affordable No7 products I’ve been using for years. Products I wouldn’t leave the house without.
I love No7 products not only because they are affordable, but the Boots points system also allows you to take advantage of offers and eventually spend your points on future purchases.
Quick note: Mummy Conquering Anxiety is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and thinkwould be useful for you.
Product images courtesy of Boots.com
Why does looking after ourselves make us feel better
I don’t wear much make-up, but I do make a little more effort when I go out. It makes me feel special and glamourous. Especially when my normal life is spent tidying up toddler mess and being lucky to have 30 seconds in the car throwing on some concealer.
It’s no secret that the older we get, the more we need to take care of our skin. Having a good skincare routine is a form of self-care and it’s one I intend to stick to.
However, for me and I am sure lots of other families. It has to be affordable.
We can’t talk about my trusted No7 essentials, without, of course talking about the Boots Advent calendar. These are the three bundles currently on offer at the moment.
What an amazing way to countdown to Christmas. By taking care of yourself and having some me-time each day, revealing a new product. Such a treat!
This is first on the list of my trusted No 7 essentials.
When I visited Boots recently, they didn’t have my usual concealer but I am glad because I came away with this amazing product.
Because of the ingredients, the coverage is great and it blends so well on your face. However, it also feels light, like you’re not wearing makeup. As I have fair skin, with a lot of blemishes, it makes me feel more confident to lightly cover these when I go out.
I discovered make-up primer a few years ago and honestly, it transformed my life.
When I go out, it takes my make-up from looking not too bad to absolutely flawless and I would recommend it to anyone. I also find it works well with the addition of the concealer. Meaning I get a flawless finish, but my face still feels like I don’t have much make-up on.
I’ve had the same nude lipgloss for a while now, but I love it. It got me through some work nights out, transforming from day makeup to night makeup. It added a little sparkle when I was having a down day and needed it most. It needed throwing in the bin.
Therefore, I treated myself to a slightly darker nude shade and I love it. I’ve had lipgloss in the past that makes your lips feel dry and you get clumpy bits after a while. Not with No.7. I am so happy I’ve got a new shade to last me through the festive period.
I also treated myself recently to a new lip balm. I previously had the nude colour, but got a slightly darker shade. It goes on like a diluted colour and is very moisturising, but I love the stuff.
When I am pushed for time and can’t spend long with a face mask on, this product works wonders. The mix of mouse and gel textures leaves your skin feeling fresh.
I buy this product as a little treat now and again. If my skin is feeling particularly tired, it’s great to have what feels like an overnight boost and wake up feeling a little brighter.
Final thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading why I love these products.
Do you have a favourite No7 product? Something you just can’t live without or an item that makes you feel a little better on a down day?
It’s time to admit, I am not doing well with the season change. It crept up on me and hit me like a ton of bricks. I previously wrote about how to prevent seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and I now need to urgently put these tools into place.
Anyway, I wanted to write this post to let you all know how I’m feeling. It’s good to keep up to date with our emotions and how they can be impacted by external factors. I always vowed to be honest in my blog posts.
As a solution to this problem, I think I need to fully embrace everything the season has to offer. It will rain sideways in the UK, but I can enjoy an autumn walk.
Quick note: Mummy Conquering Anxiety is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and thinkwould be useful for you.
I’ve heard people joke about us knowing this drastic season change will happen and we should be used to it in the UK. But I am just not ready. Mental health-wise, I am still doing well with my recovery. However, the constant viruses going around and the dark cold mornings do put a dampener on life.
The clock is still wrong in the car and it’s confusing me to the point I panic I’m late for nursery pickups. I still haven’t adjusted. I mean, the hubby and I didn’t even know there was a clock change. Maybe as tried parents, you don’t realise until a big change comes and smacks you in the face.
Is there a solution for me following the season change?
As a solution to this problem, I think I need to fully embrace everything the season has to offer. It will rain sideways in the UK, but I can enjoy an autumn walk. Or a rainy muddy playtime with the little one. A Costa winter drink and of course a festive market. I just have to be wearing the correct clothing and accept it will be cold and windy outside.
It’s strange to think we are not by now accustomed to this season change. It’s drastic going from summer to autumn in the UK, but it happens to us each year. Yet for me, it still came as a shock to the system.
What I did to help myself
Flu jab
The season change means it’s time to start thinking about all the nasty bugs going around. I am the only member of our household who doesn’t receive a free flu jab. Therefore I took the initiative to book a paid-for one at my local Boots pharmacy. I don’t personally like needles, but this would never put me off receiving a vaccine designed to help my immune system fight back. I am glad I got it, even if it did make me feel a little under the weather for a few days.
Bonfire night
This is probably the first time I wrapped up and enjoy the cold dark nights. It did me the world of good. A friend suggested going out both weekend nights. The first one was a girly outing with the little ones to watch some fireworks and I honestly had the best time. Even if we did have to queue for 40 minutes for a drink.
The second night was a village bonfire and fireworks. More family members joined us for this one. Hot dogs, a glass of wine, a big fire, large firework display. Fun all around. I was freezing and muddy when I came home but I did have a great night.
Purchased my SAD light
Because I am struggling with the season change, it was time to make the purchase and try to improve my mental health. I forgot just how gloomy and dark the daytime can be at this time of year. Working from home also means I am stuck indoors for most of the day. Therefore it’s vital I get my daily dose of sunlight.
What else do I have planned to help embrace the season?
Breakfast with Santa
Yes, you heard it right. Check out your local Brewers Fayre to join in on the fun. I can’t wait to see my little one’s face on the day. For the price, you get breakfast, time in the play area, and a gift from Santa.
Nights out
I have a girlie night planned for this week and I am so excited. We all need mummy free time to just be ourselves. I can’t wait to dress up, put some makeup on, have our favourite cocktail. The season change means I will need to wrap up warm for the evening.
Techniques I use to help my mental health
Being organised
I have just purchased a planner and also have a diary and calendar for 2022. I find organising my life takes the pressure off certain areas, such as mean planning, money management, and organising appointments. I can then focus on the more joyful elements of life.
Setting goals
Writing down and assessing whether I have achieved my goals is motivating me. I do this not only for the blog but for my personal life as well. I am enjoying the exercise and I love that it’s keeping me on track.
Final thoughts
I hope you enjoyed my latest ramble.
It’s great to update you all on where I am with my mental health journey right now. If you are going through similar experiences, I would love to hear from you in the comments below.
I’ve had a rough week and due to this, I’ve felt unmotivated when it came to blogging. This is what led me to accept the Behind The Blogger Challenge.
Despite my woes, opening Twitter on Friday morning, I had a lovely surprise with @DTblogs tagging me in his getting to know me post.
I love these kinds of posts. They allow us to get to know bloggers better and it’s fun. I genuinely felt a pang of excitement at knowing this was now the first task on my blogging to-do list for the weekend. What a great way to get back into blogging!
With the week off from my job, I can spend time doing what I love. A mix of blogging and resting. Bring on the daytime naps with the little one. Hopefully this post is the beginning of getting ahead on my blogging tasks.
Here are some things you don’t know about me and I haven’t yet talked about on the blog. Let’s get into Behind The Blogger Challenge
I completed two 10k races
I am no runner. But I gradually worked up from smaller runs. I found running helped my mental health and it became addictive to set my mind free and just go for it.
Conquering not one, but two 10k races, I am immensely proud of myself. It was one of the toughest challenges, simply because it did not come easy to me and in all honesty, I didn’t train enough for either race. But I did it! And I still have the medals on display. My little one plays dress-up with my Race For Life, 5k medals. Who knows, maybe we will dress up and do one together to honour my family members taken too soon by cancer.
All my grandparents were taken by cancer
A grim and scary fact, but something which affects families across the world. My relatives were impacted by different forms of cancer and therefore doctors have assured me the heredity risk is low. However, I went through an extremely angry period in my late teens because I never met my grandma due to this awful disease. It’s probably what prompted me to participate in these fitness events. I have predominantly raised money for cancer charities. I think it’s also why I am spiritual and somehow feel a connection to my loved ones.
I wear glasses
It didn’t happen until I was in my early 20s, but my dad always warned me it would.
Luckily I can still see quite well without my glasses and mainly need them for working and watching television. Or these days when I’m in zombie mode. Your eyes don’t function properly on five hours of sleep and a busy day ahead of you.
These days I have trendy colourful frames and they suit me. I also feel more intelligent when I wear glasses for work. What is it with that perception people have?
I am civilly partnered but we call it marriage
I have a blog post in my drafts all about this, so one day you can all read about it.
The basic gist of it is, we wanted to be a partnership, neither of us like much attention (we were glad it was a restricted guest allowance during lockdown) and we wanted an even, fair legal partnership. Therefore we decided to be civil partners.
You can turn it into a marriage further down the line and if we ever did, I envision an all-inclusive in Mexico for three weeks, with the little ones older and involved. Mexico was our first holiday as a couple and what an unforgettable experience. Whilst I was there I checked out the wedding brochure and it’s cheap to do, compared with UK prices.
I eat raw patatoes and frozen chips
Before anyone asks, I’ve done this for years. Not as a result of pregnancy. Although during pregnancy I completely went off most of the foods and drinks I loved. Strange.
I think the raw potato thing comes from Sunday dinners at home when my mum would leave potatoes soaking in the pan and they looked yummy. I also like the crunch. I can’t explain the frozen chips thing, but every single time I cook them I eat at least 1 or 2 before putting them in the oven.
I volunteered to visit the elderly
I was previously part of a charity that receive referrals for befriending an older person, who may be vulnerable and in need of company. As you can imagine, this was very rewarding and I am always on the lookout for new volunteer opportunities. Unfortunately, due to being pregnant and super busy all the time, I had to stop.
If you’re interested in doing this, check out the Age UK befriending service.
Final thoughts
Honestly, I’ve loved writing this Behind The Blogger Challenge piece and I feel like I was meant to be tagged in it. It’s brought back my writing mojo.
I nominate these amazing bloggers to accept the challenge if they feel able to do so:
When starting a blog, self-doubt is real. I’ve lived with self-doubt ruling my daily life for 15 years. It was a daunting prospect to set up something I’ve created and promote it to the world (hopefully ‘the world’ will eventually see what I write).
Because I consider myself the least technology savvy person you could come across, it is a huge achievement I’ve managed to set up and run a blog by myself.
It’s now time to look back at my proudest achievements and future goals for the blog.
1.a thing done successfully with effort, skill, or courage.”to reach this stage is a great achievement”
Continue reading for a rundown of my proudest achievements
Researching
I wasn’t bad at researching, given my essay writing traumas at University. Also, the fact I love finding out new information helps.
Because I literally started this journey by researching late into the night for months, I became great at it. I felt compelled to start a blog. I couldn’t explain why, but something inside me told me I must do it.
Of course, when I googled how to go about doing this, I was directed to Pinterest. It’s how I know all of us bloggers should persevere with our pins. Even though I know it is tedious. Imagine becoming a brand new bloggers source of information. That’s ultimate #blogginggoals.
When I get an idea in my head, I love researching information to support what I’m saying, or highlight there is a lack of information about a particular issue.
Writing
I’ve always loved writing. A lot of my proudest achievements include writing.
However, I honestly believe the more you do something you get better at it. With the help of Grammarly and Yoast, I am now in the flow of how to write and format a blog post.
And other writing opportunities are also coming my way, as a result of me starting the blog.
I honestly think social media made my existing anxiety issues worse in the past. It fed into the negative voice in my head and increased my innate ability to constantly compare myself to others. Because I’m an introvert, I was overwhelmed by seeing everyone’s whole lives playing out online. Even though they were my friends.
Setting up social media accounts for the blog comes with boundaries. Whilst I genuinely love interacting with other people, this is only in relation to the blog. I can take a break or stand back from social media whenever I choose to. It’s exactly what I’m doing if I need to. I also make good use of the block button when it’s required.
Being organised
I thought I was organised before. Blogging literally involves wearing several hats daily. Therefore you have to be organised enough to focus on one task and set realistic deadlines. You are accountable to yourself and therefore you have to meet the deadlines you set, otherwise, you only have yourself to blame.
Technical knowledge
SEO, Google Analytics, keyword research.
You will have heard these terms, but probably don’t understand what they mean (I still struggle with the technical side).
I slowly worked my way through each of these tasks and all the other technical and analytical tools you need. I am proud that I’ve only had to ask for help on a handful of occasions and the rest I have figured out for myself. There is always a useful blog post or YouTube video to provide vital information for the task at hand.
Working solo
I loved working from home during the pandemic and I would love to do this full time from now on. I am a homely person by nature and being close to my little one and nursery is helpful. Cutting out traveling time is a huge bonus.
Because you are at home, you have to stay motivated. Luckily I am a very self-driven and organised person. Therefore working solo suits me.
New projects
My proudest achievements have probably been managing several new projects at once.
From August to October 2021, I submitted four guest posts to other bloggers. I was asked to write for a charity anthology. I also produced three adverts for brands. This was in addition to posting on my blog and completing two weeks of blogtober.
I will now be moving on to my future projects, which involve more work and can be time-consuming. I am confident it will all be worth it in the end though.
Watch this space.
Ranking
For a while, I thought ranking on Google was a myth. You look at the stats and think how can this be a thing, nobody is viewing my blog. Then one day it happens.
It happened to me following a weekend away with family. I was feeling deflated. I had writer’s block and my confidence was lacking slightly. I checked my DA score in the bar on holiday and it was 9. I was over the moon. It was a pivotal moment where I felt my hard work had paid off.
DA is at 9! Wooooooo hooooooooooo! Can’t quite believe it. But I have worked my back side off since 12 August!! 👍
Armed with this new information (thanks to Google), I was excited to start the big projects in my goal planner. It was a proven fact that hard work pays off. Therefore, my logic told me more hard work was required.
Improving design and photography skills
When I first started blogging, I thought I would use Canva and that would be the end of it. However, there is no avoiding the fact you will be required to take some photographs. I am learning as I go along. Luckily, my hubby has a professional camera and an eye for a great image. He is helping me with the photos and teaching me. Still lots of work to be done on my photography skills. Hopefully, this goal will factor in a future list of my proudest achievements.
Final thoughts
Who knows where this blogging journey will take me next. It’s great to look back at what I’ve achieved.
Let me know in the comments what you are proud of? What have you achieved lately? What are your personal and professional goals?
I thought it was time to share my mental health-related posts so far.
As I started this blog due to a decline in my mental health and because I wanted to help other people. I thought it was a good time to reflect on the mental health-related topics I have covered so far.
August 2021
I released my first post on 12 August 2021. Obviously, a lot of work went on behind the scenes prior to this date. These were the mental health-related posts I released during August 2021:
I still feel incredibly privileged to be speaking about my journey and receiving feedback about the fact this is helping other people. It makes my heart smile.
I’ve saved some of the amazing feedback I’ve received. The reason for saving it is because I feel overjoyed at the incredible support I’ve received from the blogging community. THANK YOU, FELLOW BLOGGERS.
Wow. Tough topic. Had a discussion on this with my in-law, whose opinion it was that we have to move with the times and get kids as young as 3 savvy to technology. I love your stance on this. Sadly only time will tell how much tech, will affect today’s kids.
Honestly, the Twitter blogging community have kept me going during tough times and I am thankful to be part of such an amazing group of people. Shall we share some more love??
#AD – post in collaboration with Poster Store. I was gifted these posters, in exchange for a review. All views and opinions are my own, based on the product I received. Photos were also taken by me.
My personal journey throughout a bumpy year has now coincided with my living room revamp. Both of us have a fresh outlook, a fresh lick of paint, and a new attitude. No going back to our drab, negative, old ways ever again.
Why I opted to create a gallery wall with Poster Store
Our house requires some TLC. Poster Store contacted me at the perfect time. With my transformation this year, following mental health struggles, it was time to introduce some relaxing colours and prints into our home. A wall that will help my mental health moving forward. Therefore, I opted for Nature Posters.
Poster Store has a range of amazing posters. You can buy the posters, or add Scandinavian designed frames that are both beautiful and affordable, in a range of different colours and sizes. The website is easy to navigate and you are offered the correct size frame when you select your poster.
I needed inspiration for designing my gallery wall, and I used this as an opportunity to completely refresh our living room. Poster Store has a large poster selection, including different themes and categories for all tastes and they release a new poster collection every Tuesday.
Even better, all posters are printed on sustainably produced high-quality paper. Who doesn’t love a brand committed to helping the environment? It’s always a huge selling point for me.
The posters I selected
Creating a gallery wall with Poster Store, was a simple process.
The gallery wall section on the website helped me achieve the image I had in my head, of what I wanted our room to look like. I have absolutely no experience with interior design, but this section helps you imagine the posters on your wall at home. We’ve created epic wall art and I love it.
Before checking out this section of the website, I spent a while searching for prints. We finally made a decision, bearing in mind factors like a theme, how the images would complement our wall and what they would look like in our home.
The finished wall
Conducting some research on wall colours, narrowed down my choice. Of course, I had to buy some paint and spruce up the wall, to compliment my posters. We opted for Lush Green and I must say, the colour transforms our living space. I am so proud we managed to create a relaxing vibe. Working from home means I spend a lot of time here. I smile every morning when I walk into the room because it makes my home feel even more homely than it did before.
The colour of the wall, contrasting against the posters, just brings the surroundings to life. My journey throughout a bumpy year has now coincided with my living room revamp. Both of us have a fresh outlook, a fresh lick of paint, and a new attitude. No going back to our drab, negative, old ways ever again.
A run down of the individual posters and frames I selected
Glenfinnan Viaduct Poster
We knew this one would look great on our wall and I picked it from the very beginning of our search. It had to take centre stage on our gallery wall. I love it so much. It reminds me of days out walking and it’s just an epic image.
Summer Sunrise Poster
This poster reminds me of a lovely holiday we had in Devon as a couple. We stayed in a cosy cottage and the view from the back garden was very similar to this picture. I’ve booked those holidays in the past to help destress, try and ease my mental health struggles and stop and take stock of nature.
I now get a similar vibe standing in my living room and it brings back wonderful memories of our holiday.
Sunflower Field Poster
A beautiful image of nature. As a family, we spend a lot of time traveling to soak up the outdoors. With the winter months setting in, it’s a little more difficult to get outside. It’s great I’ve now brought nature inside and I can look at it every day.
Sunflower Poster
What an image. Our little girl was recently gifted a sunflower and it’s growing nicely in my parents’ back garden. This picture makes us smile for that reason and the colours match perfectly with our wall colour.
Sunshine Forest Poster
This one is a close second to the viaduct poster. It reminds me of a beautiful time of day and I can almost hear the birds singing and the rustle of the leaves in the forest when I look at it.
Other areas of the house
Giraffe Poster
I had to purchase this print for my little girl’s bedroom. There is a range of giraffe posters on the website but I fell in love with this one. It complements the current pictures we have on her bedroom wall and is a great addition.
Roald Dahl Magic Poster
This one is for my office. Because I am working from home for the foreseeable future, it’s all about creating a positive work environment, to match my newfound positive thinking regime. I also love how playful this quote is. It reminds me of my little girl and the magic we feel when we see the world through her eyes.
I didn’t purchase this frame from Poster Store, as I intended to do something different with the quote initially.
Final thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading my post. Maybe you feel inspired to reinvent one of your rooms?
If you do, take advantage of the discount code below:
Code: MUMMYCONQUERINGANXIETY40
40% on all posters (except Selection Posters and frames)
Not combinable with other discount campaigns. Valid from 8th to 21st of November 2021.
I would love to hear from you in the comments section below. About our room revamp or any plans you have to do your home up.
I know everyone is talking about Christmas, but I’m not ready to let go of Halloween just yet. Can we keep talking about Halloween?
One last look back at the fun we had before I put the decorations away until next year.
I had big ambitions for Halloween this year. As part of the blogging community, I loved the build-up of autumn-related content and the excitement of the impending spooky season.
But parenting wears you down. I no longer have the energy to preplan Halloween parties and make Halloween-themed food. I wish I did. Maybe next year…
Quick note: Mummy Conquering Anxiety is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
Despite the lack of proper planning or big extravagant celebrations, we did have a lovely family celebration, and to be honest, I loved it more than the big parties. Maybe it’s just our life now. With a toddler running around, there are only limited activities available and she is still a little young to fully participate in everything Halloween has to offer.
A look back at our pumpkin adventure and Halloween activities
Pumpkin picking then decorations
As with everything in parenting, Halloween was a fun last-minute celebration for us.
Following an afternoon of pumpkin picking, we were truly in the Halloween spirit and very excited to carve our pumpkins.
A visit from my family made us even more excited.
Our celebrations were then completely unplanned. We proceeded to get the Halloween decorations out of storage and our little one loved rooting through them.
We put Halloween songs on Alexa, danced around, tried on outfits. We put a few decorations up and then of course we had to watch Ghostbusters. And introduce our little one to the Slimer Teddy we’ve had for years.
It was a fun night.
Our usual fun night outwith family
The following night was spent with my parents. After a few drinks, our little girl dressed in her Halloween outfit with Tutu. We had a walk to the shop to fill her bucket with treats. And then an impromptu meal out, all celebrating together.
A wonderful evening.
HALLOWEEN!!
Sunday was a chilled day, in the afternoon we carved our pumpkins.
My hubby did a fab job and we let our little deocrate the smaller ones. This year we managed to pick up some small quirky ones. I’ve honestly never seen any pumpkins like this before and they add to the decoration in the living room.
Final thoughts
Can we all just agree to treat Halloween like Christmas from now on please? Leave our decorations up, talk about the aftermath, and don’t be so eager to get to Christmas yet. Thank you in advance.
Let me know how you celebrated Halloween in the comments below. Let’s keep the spooky season alive for another, final moment.
#AD – It’s time for me to look back, at both my personal and professional growth. A reflection period, to help my recovery following a mental breakdown and motivate me to reach my goals for the future.
Personal growth
Because my personal growth is inextricably linked with my professional growth, I have to talk about my situation. Two significant life-changing events happened which caused a ripple effect and improved my life. A mental breakdown and redundancy at work made me want to live my life differently. I would never have started the blog without living through these events.
Professional growth
It’s clear to me now, my career taught me a whole host of transferable skills, all of which are required if you want to be a successful blogger.
I’ve achieved a lot in my three months of blogging and I now intend to up my game and monetise my blog. I had my goals recorded on a spreadsheet before I launched the website and now these goals are becoming reality.
Goals for the future
It’s easy to compare yourself to others in the blogging world. But the truth is no two people are the same. We are individuals and therefore cannot be compared. But of course, it’s healthy to aspire to be successful and view other bloggers as role models for your success.
When I talk about blogging goals, there are certain people I have in mind. If in five years I am as successful as they are, I will be happy. Following this path has increased my confidence and now allows me to read other people’s success stories and believe I can achieve the same level of success. Why not? The old me was full of doubt, but not anymore.
These are the goals I want to reach by the end of 2021
Create and sell digital products
There are so many platforms you can use to create and sell your products. It’s great to see additional features on social media, making it easier to sell. One of the first tasks I had on my to-do list when setting up the blog was to gain followers on social media and interact with other, like-minded people.
I am in the process of writing an e-book. In addition to making money to support the cost of running my blog, I want this product to offer valuable lessons to other people and teach them something. Turning my knowledge and experience into something useful for other people is my ultimate dream.
Worksheets and checklists have helped me get through tough times in life previously. I’ve used them to manage my everyday life and during therapy sessions. I want to create a structured way for other people to benefit from this format.
Learning is a passion of mine. The blogging world is a constant learning curve and I thrive on it. My ultimate goal would be to create a course for other bloggers. To communicate in a format that is easy to understand and teaches them something they wouldn’t have known before embarking on the learning material.
To create any of these products, I will be researching and relying on eCommerce platforms.
Continue to produce relevant, engaging content
The main reason I set up the blog was to get my message out there. I am discussing a subject that is of paramount importance and I hope to change the stigma surrounding mental illness. I, therefore, view it as a duty to keep talking openly and honestly about my mental health struggles. My mission is to help other people.
Work with brands
The brands I’ve worked with so far were aligned with my content and purpose. I enjoyed finding out about the products and recommending them to other people. I hope to continue down this path. And of course, I have a list of brands I would ideally like to work with. Who knows what amazing opportunities will come my way. It’s exciting.
Use my skills to create more opportunities
I am currently looking into setting up a second blog and I am excited to create new challenges for myself.
Using the skills I’ve taught myself recently may also bring future career opportunities. I intend to keep learning.
What will 2022 bring?
The pandemic had a lasting impact on every area of our lives. Marketing messages are no different and the online world became our go-to for everything when we were unable to leave the house.
It’s an exciting time to be a blogger and I genuinely enjoy interacting with brands and other bloggers each day.
Now it’s time to put in the hard work required to achieve my goals.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Manage consent
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
