How am I doing?

Ok so maybe I havent posted as much as I would have planned. Its been much the same for my action plan.

On the positive we have done brilliantly on our monthly meal planning only changing 1 of the meals following a slight defrosting issue (no I didnt forget to take it out but it was too cold to defrost in time!!) I have the next month's meals planned out and on the plus side the majority is in the freezer already :) I have started a quilt but due to illness and work stress have not got too far - ok so that is a form of procrastination but the kind i cant really control (thats my excuse and im sticking to it). The hall has been a slight non starter. I wanted to start with the very disorganised nightmare coat cupboard and I did get some metal basket things that hang off shelves to store scarfs, hats and gloves as they are always going missing and they are working well. Much time has been spent researching and installing aquarium. A few years before we got married russ' dad paid for us to get a tropical setup. We had loads of fish and it was really successful until we had an outbreak of something which killed the lot including our foot long plec. We decided that we would not refill the tank. That was about 10 years ago and we have looked on so many occasions at new setups over the years but costs and timing have never been right. Over the festive period we decided this time we would go ahead and get a new setup with our christmas money from my parents. We got a really good deal and in the corner of our living room is our new tank. After today's visit (our second for fish purchase) to the aquatic shop, we have 11 fish - 5 barbs, 5 tetra and 1 catfish called Basil. We also have some assasin snails that will eat any other snail that develops. We did have 5 shrimp but they all had a liking for the filter and died :( We are all enjoying it and learning what is working and what isnt. Amelia loves fish and she is learning lots of fish trivia and annouced to mum and dad that the tank needed aorting as the plant was affecting the filter!! Not bad for a 2 year old. All in all it has not been a bad month but I hope that february will mean we move a little further forward hopefuly the weather will be much better than it has been and we can get out and about more. I am also learning to crochet - now those of you who remember my knitting attempts when I was pregnant will laugh their heads off but maybe this is a little less tecnical and straight forward - we will see lol... changing

New Year, New Start

Well I am going to try and give my blogging another go and this post will explain why.

Many of you who know me will know I am the worlds best procrastinator. I have many ideas and plans running around in my head but I never get around to doing anything with them and when I think about it that is mainly due to procrastination.

I have decided that 2013 is the year to kick myself up the bottom and get on with completing things on my many lists. To help me with this I have decided that I shall regularly blog about my plans and ideas so that if I actually put them out there for all (well the few people who may come back and read my blog since most have probably given up its been soooooooo long!) to see I might have to get on and do it! Hopefully I will also be able to look back this time in 2014 and think of the acheivments and moving forward I/we have done.

Firstly I need to get organised - not an easy task but one I must start, to be able to achieve things I want to. This in turn will hopefully enable me to have a less chaotic home and I will be able to get to things and find things a lot easier. Also I may get to relax a little and reduce the unnecessary stress I put on myself.

Organising and planning meals will help with the healthier eating which I started a little of in the 2nd half of 2012 but will also help on the financial budget too. I have started stocking the freezer with meals that I have cooked enough for 2 or 3 meals, eating 1 and freezing the rest. Ideal for a Tuesday now AJ is going to a childminder in the afternoon and so no Granddad dinner - I can come home knowing that I have a proper healthy home cooked meal ready that just needs some re-heating.

On the eating and budget saving front, fresh vegetables & salads are getting more expensive and actually aren't that nice from the supermarket. We had a go at growing our own the year I fell pregnant with AJ but for various reasons we have not continued with it successfully the last couple of years (again procrastination was high on the reasons why!!). 2013 will see the transformation of our flat sunny front garden which has more moss and weed than grass growing on it into our vegetable plot. We are hoping to include some flowers (edible ones if poss of course) to encourage pollination and  to give it some color and "prettiness" (yes I think I am making up words again!). Some may think it odd that we have chosen the front garden but it really is a pain to cut and the fact it is a decent size and flat is a big plus over the back garden. I would also prefer AJ played in the back garden where I know she can go our and play on her own but I can easily keep an eye on her if I am in the kitchen or living room. watch this space to see home grown salads and chutneys next Christmas made with our own produce!

Organisation will also hopefully mean that I can walk in to my house and not have that feeling of "oh what a state this Hallway is". I have had many issues with living in this house even though I moved in with Russell & his Dad 15 years ago in February. If I am ever going to finally get over these issues and love my house I need to do some work to make it work. The Hallway is a major stumbling block with mess and lack of decoration I do think with some time and care I could get that nice homely feeling everytime I walk in.

Energy is definately lacking in this house unless you are called Amelia! I want to continue with my weight loss and get more exercise done so that we can enjoy Amelia's boundless energy. More energy will help me to acheive the other things I want to do. I'd love to do a lot more family walking/bike riding activities - obviously the weather needs to improve A LOT for us to be able to get out and enjoy the beauty we have here but not all of my goals need to acheived straight away.

Key to success in me acheiving what I want is to lower my expectations - sorting the hallway is not going to be a 1 day job (yes it is that bad!!) - it will take quite a few days as it involves sorting other areas too but I must tell myself that if I keep doing it in bits I will win the battle :)

I want us to enjoy our family time which is very precious making the most of everyday we get to speand time together as a family. So much sadness this year around the world has shown that we never know what is around the corner and every moment counts. I want to make sure that more of these moments are memorable rather than mundane.

Finally I want to get some me time and us time for russell and I. This is something that gets pushed to one side when children join you but is really something we need and should not feel guilty about taking. A few hours enjoying this sort of time makes a big difference to other times and so I already have a day booked for Russ & I to spend together which I am looking forward to.

I want to get back into my crafting and sewing, maybe read a book or 2 and do a lot more baking (remembering I can freeze it rather than having to eat it all in a couple of days!).

So after a very long post here is to my 2013 adventure - it is all here for me to look at and remember what the plan was at the start of the year in 12 months time and to see what I have acheived. I will be really disappointed in myself if things have not changed and moved in a positive direction here on 01/01/14. None of my ideas are unobtainable if I stick to less procrastination and more action :)

I send good wishes for 2013 to anyone who has read this post - I promise they will not be so wordy going forward.

Nona x

Why do I have a blog?

At the moment the answer is I don't know! I love the idea of blogging but just do not have the time. I am sure that in the future this will change and so I am reluctant to delete it but when I think of it it is another thing I am just not doing right now.

Oh well it is only a blog and the time I have with Amelia and Russ is so much more important.

I am enjoying 2 weeks off work with Amelia. Mum and Dad are away on their annual month away and so Russ and I have split the months childcare and these 2 weeks are mine.

Christmas seems so far away now but Amelia was really into the Santa thing which was lovely and was very excited to receive a Kitchen from him. She is still talking about Santa every so often but it is very difficult to explain to a 21 month old that he won't be back until December - bless.

Of course she may just get to meet him in November at the most magical place on earth if we feel she is up to a late night during our stay at WDW. Our next trip is booked for us and my Mum and Dad. Hopefully my cousin will also be able to travel from Dallas and stay for a few days too which would just make the trip even more magical. We are all looking forward to it (well Amelia says she doesnt want to go on holiday to visit Mickey Mouse but I am sure she will love it when she is there!).

As far a crafting goes I have managed to make a bag with my sewing machine, I knitted 5 scarfs for christmas presents and I have started the Craftsy Block of the month free class. Each month you will get the instructions (video and written) on how to make 2 quilt blocks and then at the end of the year they will show you have to bind and quilt them leaving you with a lovely quilt. I have completed my first of the January Blocks (my goodness what a nightmare I was with that - Russ says I may have a quilt and no husband by the end of it if all the  blocks cause me that much hassle and stress lol) of course it was all simple things to sort out but at the end of a long day and me being me it was slightly dramatic. I learnt a lot about my machine completing that first block so that is good :) I have also found 2 local patchworking shops one only 8 mins away with owners that nothing is too much trouble and they are very very helpful. I hope to do one of their little courses one day but as they run on a monday it will need me to take a day off or swap my Days. They do have a drop in day once a month where you can just go there to do whatever and that is a thursday so perfect if I can arrange some childcare (daddy has already volunteered!!)

I also want to do some scrapping and card making but one thing at a time lol.

Well blog I promise I will try to get to you as often as possible to leave some kind of waffle to look back on but for now I must sign off.

4 weeks on...

... and I am really enjoying my new job and working for SWAST :) I feel more settled there than I have in a very very long time in my working life. This obviously helps to settle me in my personal life too which is a bonus.

I feel very lucky to have found a job that ticks all the boxes I had in my head for a job. I can use the wide range of knowledge I gained at Aviva in a role linked to something I have always wanted to do and within an organisation I wanted to work for. It is also the perfect hours for me to still spend precious hours with Amelia and of course she and Grandma are loving the time they spend together! I think Grandad is too but maybe missing his afternoon nap he used to have in the chair as Ameila tells him to wake up!!

I can tell I am more settled I have the baking bug back and enjoying making yummy cupcakes and cookies. I have also dug out my sewing machine :o I think I have had it for 11/12 years and never actually done more than think about making anything. I now have the material cut to make a lovely Hamble & Jemima bag before I try other bag, a stuffed christmas tree and maybe Amelia's bedding - watch this space!!!

I'm also on a scarf knitting drive for christmas presents and if the sewing goes well what else could I make for christmas presents!........

Well it has come to the end of the holidays and so all the groups are beginning to start up again. Today sees Amelia's first swimming lesson after the hols and we haven't managed to get any practise in :o I feel a little bad about it but the time has just flown and it is difficult to find a "nice" and warm pool for her to go in as where she has her lessons isn't open to the public :(

Well enough waffle from me - I will sort some pics for next time.

Chat soon

OMG over 7 months since I posted!!!

How bad is that! So much has happened since New years day and I just haven't had time to myself for blogging or much crafting either.

I started as a temp for EDF energy working 3 evenings a week and a saturday morning. Just before my initial six months ended in at the start of July we were put on to monthly contracts and so I started looking for something else more stable. Last week I had an interview at South West Ambulance Service Trust for a position assisting with the running of the fleet - I was successful and yes I will be looking after ambulances ensuring they are fit for the job they are designed to do :) I'm very excited as it sounds the perfect job for me. It is 2.5 days a week (no Saturdays Yipppeeeeee) so ideal with amelia and my dear Mum and Dad are going to have her while I am working so she will be very happy too.

Talking of the little monster, Amelia is now 15 months old. The time has just flown by and she is growing up so fast. She is a very determined and strong willed little girl who definitely knows what she wants! She is running constantly when not asleep so I am ready for bed when she is (hence working evenings not always best for me!!) lol. She completed the Barnardo's sponsored big toddle in June. She had to toddle 1/2 a mile at Pennywell and did it with ease even running towards the finish line raising £40 for Banardos. This pic is of her on her trike at Stover Country Park in May.

No Disney trips planned this year. We are saving our points to take Mum and Dad with us next November which we are all very excited about. Finances do not stretch for a trip to paris so we just have to listen and read about all the cool stuff going on out there in the disney parks at the moment. Even Amelia got excited watching the launch of the new Cruise line and star tours reopening in both Florida and California online - she definately loves the mouse!

Working Saturdays and lack of funds also put a stop to our camping plans for this year so far. We may purchase our tent ready for next year (we brought sleeping bags and camping chairs in last years sales so getting there slowly lol) as we are definately going to do it now I am not working Saturdays anymore (can you tell Im excited about that!!)

I have managed to do a couple of LO's of AJ (sorry no pics yet) but my mojo has just left the planet. Im sure it will be back once we are in a better routine and the house is all sorted.

Well signing off now - I hope to not leave it for so long next time.

Happy New Year!!

Welcome to 2011 and I send you all good wishes for the year ahead.

In true Satterley style we were in bed and asleep for midnight! Neither of us heard if there was any fireworks although there had been earlier in the evening. We had some sparklers we didn't use on 5th Nov and put them in the garden and lit them for Amelia to watch before she had her bath. There was fireworks going off as well so it was like it was midnight ;)

Where did 2010 go? Its been a busy year of changes good and bad here but ended in a more positive position than it started so that is good :)

Of course Amelia's never ending arrival was the biggest event of the year and we are blessed to have a beautiful happy and healthy little girl (well little monster really!!) who brings us joy and laughter every day.

The saddest was our loss of Ben. It was a very different christmas this year and so many things were strange not having him here. That being said there has been so much he would not have coped with since his passing and I know that the time was right for him to move on to rest in peace.

Russ saw much needed changes at his work and although nowhere near perfect and difficult/trying for him they are in a better position than this time last year. With everything going on in the industry and the companies not surviving I think he should be proud of their achievements so far.

I have been a full time mum but ended the year knowing I shall be earning some money from 4th January. I will head to my first evening with mixed feelings and lots of apprehension. I knew my previous job inside out and was generally very confident in the industry but this is a whole new experience. It is only 14 hours a week and I get to spend all the other time with Amelia and that is the most important thing to me.

We had an amazing first family trip to Walt Disney World. Amelia was obviously born with our Disney bug and loved every minute. When we show her Mickey Mouse she gets sooooo and she tells us when he is on the telly lol.

Our plans for 2011? We have lots of decorating to do this year starting with Amelia's proper room which I hope she will move into for her birthday. I hope to do a little more crafting this year - my Mojo is returning and I NEED to make things lol. I did make Amelia's christmas thank you cards (picture to follow) which I was really pleased with.

Ok I need to go and get ready for Mum and Dad coming for lunch.

Did you have a nice Christmas?

We had a lovely first christmas as a family :)

Amelia obviously had no idea what it was really all about but she enjoyed opening and playing with some of the presents Santa delivered and opened a few more today. We still have a few more to open and I have kept a few back for her birthday as Santa got a little carried away not expecting the amount of presents she was kindly given from people outside of the close family group. She is one very lucky little girl!

We went to my Parents for christmas dinner and my Auntie and Uncle are down for a week to enjoy the festivities with us which was lovely. We had a nice chilled day of eating, chatting, laughing and ended by the opening of gifts. I had a whoppie pie cookbook (as well as some other bits) and can't wait to have the time to make some! With Daddy home until 2011 (that sounds like such a long time when it isn't really!) I may manage to get into the kitchen to bake :)

Amelia ate the biggest christmas dinner and I don't think that I shall easily get her to eat a jar of food now (not that I mind that really)! I cut her dinner into tiny chunks and she finger fed herself so we have continued with this for her meals except breakfast when she has nearly a whole packet of "Paw Ridge"!!!

Russ and I agreed not to buy each other presents this year. Money is still a tight and neither of us really needed anything that we would buy each other. We both need clothes and so we may pop to the sales and have a look. I expect that Amelia will end up with more bargins that us as usual!!

Today we have had a chilled day at home (and not just the relaxing kind its bitterly cold here!) opening a few more presents (including her main present from us which was the perfect gift for her it seems!) and playing with the new bits she has had. I also decided to attack the airing cupboard and the growing clean washing pile - I know not the norm for boxing day but I was making the most of Amelia and Daddy playing happily downstairs and quite enjoyed it as it had been bugging me - how sad.

Well she has just woken from her afternoon sleep so better sign off and enjoy some more of the healthy food we enjoy at christmas ;) lol

Hope you enjoy the rest of the holiday period.