#30Lists: If I could do it over again...

• Looking back, my biggest regret is not knowing what I wanted to do as a career. If I were to start over (say, from leaving school), I would have got an apprenticeship and got myself fully trained up in something, before life and responsibilities got in the way! 
• I would have started a pension earlier.
• Started saving money regularly, rather than spending it on going out, clothes, drinking etc!
• I would have had children sooner.  
• Found out what exercise I truly loved and developed a lifelong habit rather than something I just dip in and out of. 

If you had the chance to do things again, what would you do differently if you could?

#30Lists: My morning routine

• I have a Philips Wake up Light, like this one, (except mine was a total bargain at £6, brand new, in the charity shop. Best Buy Ever), which makes a huge difference to me in the morning. 
• I'm not a morning person and it takes me a while to get going and I always follow the same routine: shower, get dressed, make up, hair. 
• Grab a drink (used to be tea, now more likely to be fruit juice or water). 
• Try to have breakfast.
• Check emails and have a quick read of the paper on my phone. 
• Get going for the day!

#30Lists: Confessions

• I wash my hair daily and don't feel ready to face the world if I don't.
• I'm a blubber - I cry when I'm happy, angry, sad or frustrated and often to my annoyance (particularly when I'm trying to hide how I feel!).
• I'm a homebird. I'd rather be at home than anywhere else.
• I try not to keep chocolate at home as once I start eating it, its gone. 
• As much as I love our animals, I hate cleaning them out. Since finding out I'm pregnant I've had to wear a mask when I'm outside as the smell of them makes me sick (you really wanted to know that, didn't you?). 
• I'm surrounded by fabric and other supplies and yet I've not made anything new for ages. I'm either too tired or have other things to take up my time. I'm worried I've lost my mojo! 

Nothing major here, I'll save that for another time ;)

#30Lists: With an extra hour in the day I would...

• I would tackle the current craft room and tidy the various piles of 'stuff' I have everywhere. The above is just one of such piles. 
• Adjust the length of the ever-increasing pile of trousers next to my desk. 
• Sleep! 

#30Lists: Favourite memories

• Walking around this lake in Snowdonia National Park and feeling so proud of myself after!

• Passing my driving test. Once I'd been dropped off at home, I picked up my brother and we drove to visit my grandparents in their new(ish) home and I promptly managed to scrape my car against their neighbours - I always laugh when I think about it as it was within an hour of passing (Don't worry, the neighbour's car was fine!).
• Moving in with my boyf.
• Getting chickens for the first time! I was so nervous and scared of them, I didn't even want to carry the boxes they were in incase they pecked me through the handles.
• Visiting Portchester Castle as a child. There's a church inside the grounds and we would often watch the weddings taking place. 

#30Lists: Family traditions

• When I lived with my Mum and brother, my brother and I would always decorate the tree whilst Mum put the Christmas ornaments out and watched us. 
• Living with my boyf and in-laws, now the Christmas tree is done by me and MiL. We always discuss the decorations I dislike and MiL will usually hide them at the back of the tree because she likes them (and they can't be seen that well where they are!).
• Rumour has it that William is usually given as a middle name to the boys in our family - its certainly been given to the last 3 generations.  

At the moment, I can't think of any other traditions we have. I can't wait to start new traditions with my family. 


What family traditions do you have?

#30Lists: My favourite days of the year

• Holidays!
• A day spent doing something different to the norm.
• Any day spent near the beach.
• The first days of the new season - that reminder or what the sun feels like or autumn looks like. 

And this year, some to add to the list: 

• Today, because we should find out whether we will have a niece or nephew.
• A day in April when we should find out whether we are expecting a boy or girl!
• A day in August when our niece or nephew will be joining us.
• And a day in September when our baby will be joining us!

I can't put into words just how excited I am. I can't wait :)

#30Lists: Pet peeves

Oh dear, is this a good idea? It could go on forever!

• Bad table manners.
• Bad drivers - tailgating, overtaking on junctions, slow drivers (I'm talking 40mph in a 60mph - its just dangerous, other people get impatient and take risks), using their mobile whilst driving, etc.
• Vanity. 
• Arrogance - people who think they are always in the right or know better than anyone else.
• Negative people that always put a downer on anything you have to say, regardless of how big or small it is.

I think we'll leave it there! Do you have any pet peeves? Share them in the comments below!

#30Lists:10 Years ago I...

• Was 20 and working as a Legal Secretary. 
• Had no idea of what I wanted from life, I was just living in the moment. 
• Was travelling by train to and from Norfolk to see my boyf every other weekend, a 3-4 hour journey.
• Looking back, I don't think I was a very nice person. I was fairly oblivious to everyone and everything around me. 
• Lived with my mum and brother. 
• Couldn't drive. 

#30Lists: Superpowers I'd like to have

• The ability to click my fingers and everything be tidied up and in the right place.
• Enough money to live life without money worries and being able to do all the things I want to do -I know its not a proper superpower but it sure would make life easier (and I could help make other people's life easier too!).
• To be able to click my fingers and be where ever I wanted to be. Overnight stay in Mexico? No problem! 
• Knowing what is the right thing to do, even when I'm unsure.
• Invisibility! Every now and then I'm sure it'd be handy!

I think that's all.... for now, at any rate.

What superpowers would you like to have? 

#30Lists: Right now I am

• Today's not been a great day. I think its possibly the worst I've felt since being pregnant.
• I'm doing as little as possible.
• I'm trying to stay awake for as long I can, having been awake on and off since 3.30am.
• I'm feeling tired, feeling sick, being sick and I have a thumping headache, which I think is more likely a migraine. 
• From this post, I'm evidently rather whingey. Back tomorrow when I'm not feeling sorry for myself ;)

#30Days: Today was awesome because ...

• I went shopping.
• I managed to get 2 new pairs of jeans. I had to get the next size up because I'm struggling to find (reasonably priced!) plus size maternity wear in my size. Far more importantly though, whilst big, they're far more comfortable than my usual size which I've already got too big for.
• I had a voucher to spend from leaving my old job and managed to get myself lots of nice 'smellies' to treat myself.
• I had a hot chocolate in Costa and the smell didn't make me ill (result!).

#30Lists: Happy Places

• Home.
• Anywhere with my boyf.
• In the garden with the animals.
• In North Wales
• Anywhere next to the sea, or water, doesn't mater whether its warm or cold, calm or choppy. 

Blakeney, North Norfolk

Secluded beach on Anglesey

Snowdonia National Park

#30Lists: Things I need to say no to

• Impulse buying - although I've totally cut down I'm still guilty of getting caught out now and again.
• Negativity, from myself and others.
• Worrying needlessly, whether its things I can or can't change.
• Feeling guilty. 
• Tea and coffee, not only am I avoiding caffiene but the smell of both is currently making me feel quite queasy...

#30Lists: I am inspired by

• The change in seasons, particularly from Winter to Spring when the sun stays out that little longer and its starting to get warmer and flowers are popping through the ground.
• Nature.
• People who manage to juggle several things at once. 
• Being with people I love.
• Hard work. 
• Happiness in the face of adversity. 

#30Lists: Things to collect

Things I currently seem to be collecting:

• Stamps - for decoupage.
• Beer labels - for decoupage.
• Fabric - as if this needs explaining!
• Lipbalms - I get through TONS of this, only a specific brand (from the Body Shop, if you must know) and recently I've been buying it when I've had vouchers and seen it on offer. Always a must-buy item though...
• Meakin. After my two purchases last year though, I've not seen any that I want to buy. Typical! 

What do you collect?

#30Lists: Words to live by

Ever since I can remember I've loved to collect quotes. Not masses, but the odd few will stick in my mind and growing up one of the first things I did when I got a new diary was add my favourite quotes to it.  I can't remember now what they all were but one of the first to be added was "just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't meant they don't love you with all they have.

I still save the odd quote or words that jump out but I really love Pinterest for this.  My board "Quotes and words to remember" is where I add those that make me think or laugh or just mean something at the time I see them. I thought I'd share a few, I've tried to credit them where possible:

via Ashley Lindemann

Via vampgirl - Quotes for Fun (originally weheartit.com)

Via Karen Nelson on Pinterest

What's your favourite quote?

#30Lists: Things I'll put off until tomorrow

So many things! 

• Hoovering. 
• Taking up my trousers.
• Clearing out items and for charity shop, eBay and family.

What are you putting off until tomorrow?

Fabric, Fabric and More Fabric

My fabric stash has increased somewhat over the past few weeks.  

Because my family live so far away it often means that we're late in exchanging birthday and Christmas presents, which isn't so bad as it means you get a nice surprise sometime later.

Cath Kidston and a chicken print from my grandparents. 

The next few were from my Mum. 

And my MiL picked these up for me whilst she was out shopping one day. 

And I picked these up when we last popped to Ikea. Some linen staples, stripes and of course the blue floral. 

Now, to find somewhere to store it all.....

#30Lists: Recipe for a perfect weekend

• A slow paced start to the day, waking up to a cup of tea in bed.
• There's two ways I could spend a perfect weekend - either going shopping and finding lots of fabulous bargains in the shops, stopping for a coffee and cake; Or going for a nice long walk along the seafront. Sunglasses on and wrapped up snugly against the brisk wind. 
• Coming home to curl up on the sofa with magazines and the TV on. 
• Enjoying a nice meal, without having to wash up afterwards. 
• A warm bubble bath before bed.

#30Lists: This month's goals

This is going to be my new studio. Lots of work still to be done and I feel a bit useless because I'm supposed to be careful with lifting etc.  The biggest goal for this month is to make progress with this.  That makes it sound as though we've made no progress at all - we have. Well, mainly my boyf has.  He's already fixed and painted the window (can't see in this pic), pulled an old defunct chimney breast down (not in photo) and this room was choc-a-block with 'stuff' which we've cleared out. 

Last weekend he pulled the old ceiling down, which had fallen in parts. This weekend he's concentrating on cleaning out the rubbish you can see and taking nails etc out of the wooden beams. 

Other goals for this month:

• More sleep! I'm going through a spell of waking up for 2-3 hours during the night and I'm well aware that I need to make the most of what sleep I can get!
• Eating better. If I thought it was bad before.... Ha! The sickness has really kicked in now. I'm either not eating very much of I'm not choosing the healthiest options. Lets be honest, neither are great.  
• To adjust the leg length of 3 pairs of new trousers. They've only been sat by the side of my desk for me to do since Christmas. I know, shameful!

What are your goals for the month? 

#30Lists: Challenges to accept

• Taking part in 30 Days! Life has been a blur over the last few weeks and the combination of new job/pregnancy/tiredness/heartburn/sickness/etc has slowed me right down.  
• Becoming a Mum. Challenge accepted!
• Becoming more organised. Connected to the above, I have a ton of outstanding chores and various things I'd like to do but just haven't got round to doing yet. 
• Getting my making and blogging mojo back. I think the 30 Days challenge should help on the blogging front, the making side is an ongoing work. 

I think that's all for now.... I'm sure the organising challenge is something that keeps cropping up. That and the mojo. 

What challenges are you accepting? 

30 Days of Lists

Last September I took part in 30 Days of Lists. This is my post from last year explaining why I wanted to take part. 

When I saw the chance to be a sponsor I leaped at the chance but - and this is where I hold my hands up and apologise - life has got in the way and I've not been a particularly good sponsor to date! (Oh the irony - if you read the previous post and why I never usually take part in these things). As you know, I've recently started a new job and found out I'm pregnant and life has generally been a blur. So before I go any further: Kam and Amy I'm sorry if I've caused you any extra work or hassle with juggling things around, thanks for being so understanding. 

So, 30 Days of Lists. What is it?

Not everyone can make a mini scrapbook every week or an art journal page every night.

30 Days of Lists is our encouragement and challenge to you that you CAN journal just something every day – even something as small as a list.

Every day through the month of March we will be posting a list prompt – anything from weekend goals to celebrity crushes. At the end of the 30 days you’ll have a collection of entries creating a small snapshot of your life right now.

Only 5-10 minutes per day are really needed. While you’re waiting for someone, or when you’re the passenger in the car. Download one of our kits so you have the topics ahead of time and just write.

That’s all.

Just write.

There’s no wrong way to do this and if you don’t like a prompt on a certain day, just change it.

There's still time to sign up, follow this link. My first list will be coming up soon - in the meantime if you're looking for some new reading material (or even if you're not!) do make sure you check out Kam and Amy's gorgeous blogs.