Groovy Mum's - The Challenges

As most of you will be aware I like to participate in the initiative, over at Kate on Thin Ice called Groovy Mums.  It encourages everyone to make positive steps, however big or small, towards making the changes in their lives that they feel would be beneficial.  It can be anything, working towards a career change, losing weight, renovating or improving where you live, regaining control of a situation.  Blog posts can be linked up, where for moral support, you can read how other people are getting on with their own quests. 

I usually link up my 'The Plan' posts, however, Kate also provides prompts or 'Challenges' with which you can participate to get yourself 'Grooving'.  I have not done this before, but this week, the Challenges do all tie-in with what I have been doing / achieving over the last few weeks (besides packing of course).

So this weeks Groovy Mums Challenges are :

1. Body – What new ways can you find to take exercise? Check out what is offered at your local leisure centres and community venues. Is there something you could do at home to increase your fitness?

I have got a little buzzing bee flying around my mind saying 'Run the 2013 Marathon'.  I did it in 2006, and feel super inspired to do it again.  I even have the added incentive of one of my very oldest friends being inclined to do it with me. 

This has obviously kick started the running, and I have signed up for races in June, July and October currently.  Because running is tough on the knees it is always good to do a lesser impact form of exercise as well, so I have got out the exercise DVDs (always a good cold, rainy day option) and the Yoga one (have been wanting to do Yoga for a while now). 

I have even worked out the weekly schedule so that I can fit the runs in, and have enlisted the help of The Hubby to assist with the fundraising side of things.  Just waiting for the Charity Entry to open for the charity we would like to run for now.  All very exciting.

2. Mind – It is Depression Awareness Week. Have you experienced depression? Do you know how to spot the signs of depression in your loved ones and others? Check out http://blackdogtribe.com for information and support with mental health issues. They are also asking for your stories.

I, just last week, published a very personal account of my experience with depression after my son was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at a little over a year old.  I had such an amazing response to this that I am now writing a series of posts on it, outlining why I ended up with depression, how I responded to it and how I slowly, but surely saw my way though it.  You can find them here : Dark Days Part One and Dark Days Part Two.

3. Blogging – Did you know http://britmums.com publish round-ups of good posts on certain issues such a food, politics, special needs, green issues, health and more? Why not promote your posts to the editors of these round-ups and raise your profile?

Strangely enough I just discovered the Round Up on Special Needs and submitted some Disability Diaries posts.  I will most certainly be checking it out on a regular basis, it is amazing where gems of information can come from.  Special Needs is such a vast and expansive subject that sometimes it is difficult to know where to start to look for the right information for you - so this is a great starting point.  Any forum that brings together a support network is also good.

4. Special Days – This week saw us marking St George’s Day. Is there a dragon that you need to tackle in your life?

At the moment my dragon is fitting our entire house into boxes again!  The first part of packing is easy, you can box all the things you are not using or needing to use.  It is the stage we are at now I struggle with, where I can't box up what we are using, but there still seems so much left to pack.  I will be most glad when next week arrives and the move takes place.

5. Charity Connections- Get shopping online and hundreds of retailers will give a percentage of what you spend to a charity of your choice. Click here http://www.give.as/kateonthinice and register for free for Give As You Live with your name and email address. Do it today! You don’t have to spend any money now but it means when you do shop online you can ensure some of the money goes to a good cause. Why wouldn’t you? When you click, you will see poppies because I am personally raising money for the Royal British Legion but you can register here and then when you shop, you can select a charity of your choice.

I am going to look into this for sure.

6, The Big Question – What has the last year brought you? Are you happy with it?

This last year has been hectic and fast paced, as it is with all families with young children I think.  Overall I am very happy though, the children are developing and progressing amazingly well, we are just managing to keep our head above water (not easy in this economic climate) and The Hubby seems to be on the mend after a few health scares at the end of last year, with the important thing of he is now on the radar to have a closer eye kept on him.  For me, life as a SAHM is still good, and with J2 getting a little older I am starting to be able to keep on top of the housekeeping (i.e ironing and cooking properly) with less of a degree of difficulty.  I just yesterday posted a round up of the best points of the last four months to J1 and J2 (Dear Boys - Letter of Life 4) as I think it is a great way for them to keep a record of life as we know it.

If you are inspired by Groovy Mums, sign up to the new Groovy Mums networking site here

Groovy Mums (an inspiration by Kate on Thin Ice)

Many of my posts mention that I am participating in the Groovy Mum's initiative over at Kate on Thin Ice.  This is a positive and inspirational link up for mums that want to take steps to change, improve, move their lives forward for themselves and / or their family and have support from other mum bloggers whilst doing so. 

Participation is as much or as little as you like, you can link up posts outlining the steps you have started to make, would like to take or are looking for inspiration to take and reading other peoples progress and success is a massive spirit lifter.  On the other side of the coin, on occasions progress you had hoped to achieve has not been made it can be a source of positive reinforcement not to give up or if you ask nicely, even a kick up the bum if you feel one is required.

It is great to have a place to, kind of, report to especially if you have a nature like mine, and have to have lists to get by and like to keep a running report in your own mind of what you have managed to achieve.  I worked like this when I was in full time employment and years of this tried and tested approach still works for me as a stay at home mum, and yes, it is also a way for me to remind myself that my role at home is as busy as the one I ever held in the World of Work, which is easy to forget when you trade money-making for home-making.

At the beginning of the year I decided to list my Aims and Hopes (of achieving things) for 2012 and broke them down to a few per month.  These are my posts that I have been linking up with Groovy Mums, I found that I made much more effort to actually succeed and fulfil what I set out to do at the beginning of each month so that I could report back and get a good old pat on the back (or when lack of effort prevailed, kick up the buttocks!).  By doing this I have made some great new blogger acquaintances, who always take the time and effort to catch up with my blog and more importantly comment their support and opinions.

In addition to providing a place for the fantastic link up, thus support network, Kate also goes to the tremendous effort of providing 'Challenges' for anyone that maybe struggling to come up with their own inspiration to move forward.  These Challenges look at various areas of life (for example Mind, Body and Soul) and ask you to think about how making a change in this area in your life could be positive for you.  Again, participation is completely optional, but some of the Challenges have certainly got me thinking, and recently saw me getting involved with helping Charity close to my heart.

If you have been 'thinking' about checking out what this is, whether you are a blogger or not, it is so worth going to visit Kate and some of her wonderful Groovy Mums, I promise you will come away smiling and inspired.  I have.

The First Quarter & The April Plan

I always remember my mum saying to me that as you get older, time goes faster.  Those six weeks holidays that stretched for miles as child, full of promise and playing anticipation now pass by in a flash, as my own children enjoy them.

Now we find ourselves in April.  A whole quarter of 2012 is now a bible of memories in our minds.  I have to say that on the whole the year has started off well for us and for that I am very thankful.  We have only had one event of sadness, when my Dear Uncle, decided he had had enough of being held hostage by Alzehimers and kissed us goodbye to go and be with our other loved ones in Heaven.

I started off the year with a list of 'Hopes and Aims' that I outlined in a post The 2012 Plan.  It was quite an extensive list and I did wonder if I had perhaps 'hoped' for a bit too much for one short year, however, I decided to break those things down into monthly aims and to date I haven't done too badly (various posts entitled The Plan - Month outlines individual progress).  Participating in the Groovy Mum initiative over at Kate on Thin Ice has helped massively with this as it has been great to have goal point to look to for getting those things done.

Now, having looked at what has been achieved already this year I am confident that, with good health continuing with everyone I will succeed in fulfilling my Hopes and Aims for 2012.  With this positively in mind I now don't feel so bad that March and April have been surrended to just one aim - to find a new house and move!  As we are hoping (everything crossed) that this will be completed by the beginning of May I am already thinking about which 'Goals' I will be looking to achieve in May and June.

So just for continuitities sake my Hopes and Aims for April are :

* For the house exchange to go ahead without any issues

* To pack up entire house without losing my marbles

* To move!

As always I am also continuing a good majority of all the 'Goals' achieved in the last quarter (I think the only *fail* has been getting to the Spa!  So technically I think I should do 2 sessions in the next quarter *wink*.

If you are making positive steps to make changes to your life, join in with the Groovy Mum's initiaitive over at Kate on Thin Ice, the support you will find is amazing and a great driving force on occasions you might not be feeling so positive.

Grooving my way through February - How did I get on?

Frankly I am not getting on as well as I was in January, and refer to my blog post F is For ... February, Frustrating and Freezing for more details on that!  However, as we draw to the end of F-F-February I thought I had better face up to my poor show (I am all for the good, but just as much admitting the bad and ugly) and take stock of what I need to improve on in March. 

So for inspiration to get my groove back on track I am going to be linking up with Kate on Thin Ice and the Grooving Mum's initiative, because like Kate says, nothing like asking other bloggers to give you a kick up the backside, in a nice, positive way of course.

My aims for February were :

Family

- Be more vigilant with J1's home physiotherapy, even though he complains

OK, this one has been achieved because there was no wiggle room.  More vigilant day to day physiotherapy has been incorporated into our routine (with complaining no less) and I have also kept up my badgering the school to ensure he gets all physio / massage / floor work time he should do whilst at school.  So big gold star on this one.  Alas, I think this will be the only one, but it was the most important.

- Start weekly swim sessions with J2 again

Illness / Viruses / Bugs and most recently Mumps has seen this one off.  So swim bag is still packed and ready to go, once J2's neck resumes to normal size.

- Do house filing once a month and keep on top of it all

Can you hear laughter where you are?  Yes, that is me.  Obviously moving this one onto March...

Personal

- Start notes on book idea

Well in fairness I did get down the initial stuff that I wanted to but haven't progressed further but I wasn't expecting to either.  I have also purchased a guide to help with novel writing and understanding publishing.  Baby steps.

- Continue to try and make an effort with my appearance as it is making me feel better

I would say this is being achieve 60% of the time.  If I can get my hair washed and straightened, it is much more likely to occur.  And days I am indoors for the duration it is a pleasure to have 'comfy clothes' days as well.

- Treat self to a spa afternoon once every 3 months

As I suspected back in January, this has made it to the 3rd month but as it is a once every 3 month item, still not failed as yet...

One item that should have also been on the 2012 plan was to see and catch up with friends more.  I am pleased to say that this has been and is in the pipeline to happen.  I have made a concerted effort to get dates in the diary, and due to various baby arrivals I have got numerous baby showers and 'first visits for a cuddle' to attend.  It is easy to forget how brilliant you feel after seeing 'other walking, talking adults' that are not the parentals or husband every now and then!

Now to start thinking about what the aims for March are going to be...

The Plan - February

In January I decided to break down my Hopes and Aims for 2012 into bite size chunks over the year (full list can be viewed on post 2012 Plan) and to try and achieve those in conjunction with the Grooving Mums initiative over at Kate on Thin Ice.  Every week you can link up your posts about how and why you want / need to achieve certain things in your life, and it is a great place to read how others are 'finding their groove' to get inspired.

I pledged to attempt to start to achieve two or three items from my Personal and the same from my Family list in January (The Plan - January) and was steaming along nicely until this final week when I was struck down with a nasty bug that put me into bed for half a week and made me very grumpy and tired for the remainder of it, thus the lack of blog posts this last week.

However, being almost back to normal now (just a snotty cold to shift and energy levels to get back up to full speed...) and trying to find 'the silver lining' in being unwell and forced to bed has allowed me some time to think about what I would like to try and work on throughout February.  Of course I want to continue to achieve the things I was working hard on in January, keeping up with cooking at least four 'real meals' a week, baking something at least once a month and getting at least three blog posts out per week and I am confident that I will be able to and I am now aiming to also get cracking on the following :

Family

- Be more vigilant with J1's home physiotherapy, even though he complains

There is a very serious reason for this one to be put up to red alert, a recent visit to J1's hip doctor this week has proved a little anxious, we have to go see him again in two months, with recent (i.e to go and get done) xrays as there is a possibility the hip is slipping out.  This is bad news if it is.  This means more surgery.  Bad, bad, bad all round, fingers crossed this is not the case.

- Start weekly swim sessions with J2 again

This was all planned to be started this week, but illness saw it off.  However, our swim bags are all packed and ready to go for next week.  Under 5's sessions here we come (well as long as we are not snowed in of course!)

- Do house filing once a month and keep on top of it all

Ha ha, once I have cleared the back log (do not enjoy the prospect, but once it's done it's done I suppose...)

Personal

- Start notes on book idea 

And this is not the children's book series, those are being worked on too, but I have also started a little file up on the ideas that have been bashing around my head for the last few months too on other possibilities.  I have found that I have been building characters in my mind of late and so want to get all those details recorded down, before they fall out of my ear.

- Continue to try and make an effort with my appearance as it is making me feel better

I was doing well with this pre-christmas, and it's fallen by the wayside again (I tend to find it does in the depths of winter, I go out much less (not a lover of the cold and all) and so don't need to but on spotting an almost mono-brow situation this morning I thought this should probably get bumped up the list.

- Treat self to a spa afternoon once every 3 months

Yes, this was on the list last month and not achieved so it's on again as it is a 'once every 3 months' item.  I am ever hopeful.

I am pleased to say that part of one of my other 'Aims' has also been achieved :

- Continue to learn about gardening and possibly go to The Chelsea Flower Show

My dear mum called very excited the other day to ask if I would like my birthday present to be a ticket to the Chelsea Flower Show with her?  YES PLEASE AND THANKYOU!  The other part of this 'aim' - well that will be a March / April, as I am a fair weather gardener!  However I have managed to locate my little collection of gardening books to try and have a look at soon, so that is a start.

I am pleased to say that the whole point of these posts, and the encouragement of hooking up with the Grooving Mum's, is to help me realise that I am achieving a lot when sometimes it really feels like I am not, and on days or weeks when I may not have much momentum and be in the possible situation of 'falling into a rut' (easy to do in winter with children, just stay in and play in PJ's), this encourages me not to do that. 

This week, with being under par that has been necessary (staying in and being in PJ's I mean) but I am soon fed up with it, and intend to get back out there in my grooving shoes (or maybe snow boots, brrr chilly).

Grooving My Way Through January - How am I doing this week?

I have to say that I didn't think I was doing that well with my grooving progression but having made notes to sit and write this post I am doing much better than I thought, go me eh?  Am laying down foundations for things without realising it!


As I said, I decided to break down my Aims and Hopes for 2012 bit by bit.  My choices to try and get up and running with for January were outlined in my blog 'Grooving My Way Through January' and it's that time to review how I am doing so far :

Personal


* Publish at least three blog posts per week, and if I can get really super good write extra and 'programme' (go me) them to publish themselves throughout the week

I have managed to continue to do this and have started carrying my 'pink note pad' around with me again to make notes / keep ideas in when I am not able to get to the laptop. 


* Fit two runs a week in and see if I think I will be get up to standard for the half marathon I optimistically booked myself on to back in October (which is March - sorry just picking myself up laughing off the floor) but at least I will have tried

Yay!  I did get that run in on Saturday and it was delightful.  I did not get the Tuesday one though, or last Saturdays.  So, my compromise is if I can't get out to run, to help get my fitness levels up to help with the running I am going to crack out the old 'fitness DVD collection' and when I can't run, do that instead.  Watch this space.


* Fit one afternoon spa session in - it's January, it's miserable and cold and a little indulgence might go a long way

Still 'planning' on going next week...

Family

* Start reading with J1 again and try and find out the best way of helping him start to learn to read, rather than just remembering the whole story from memory, although that is pretty impressive too!

I have got an appointment with J1's class teacher tomorrow to review some school bits and pieces and to ask about the 'Starting to read' idea.  Continuing with the evening reading, and he has started to ask for story time when he has his 'chill out sessions' (stretching out) on his bed.  All good.

* Continue to encourage J2 to sit on the potty first thing in the morning and before and after bath time

I am stunned and pleased with the progress being made on this one.  We have had numerous puddles left in the potty and J2 does enjoy a big round of applause!

* Cook at least '4' real meals a week

Yup, Yup, Yup, Check, Check, Check, just call me Delia... well... maybe not quite Delia yet (the food processor still hasn't ventured out of the cupboard yet).

However, as pleased as I am with the continued progression with these targets, it is the additional ones I have found myself beaming with pride over.  In the chaos of life in this household the following steps have been mustered :

- Try and find new and suitable activities for the whole family to participate in at weekends

We started this last weekend.  As it is still thick winter, and needing indoor activities we suddenly remembered how much enjoyment J1 was getting out of bowling last year.  We assessed the 'danger' level for J2 of this and decided that between the two of us we could probably keep him from; running up the lands, crushing his fingers in the balls, trying to pick up the balls, running away (the list goes on).  We armed ourselves with drinks and snacks and only booked for an hour.  I would say for three quarters of that hour it was a success, the other 15 minutes were J2 hell, so overall a good trip out!


- Start weekly swim sessions with J2 again

All ready to go this Thursday, to an under 5's only session.  I love this session, the children are too little to be diving on your head and the pool put out appropriate swim aids to try.  Also everyone is in the same boat when trying to get the children dressed, ie. they are running around and you are attempting to catch them.  Can happily not have to endure the 'pity' looks from other, childless swimmers.
- Bake something new with the boys at least once a month

Excelling in this one!  Not only was a successful Lemon Drizzle cake planned and baked last week, but this week we have the ingredients for Chocolate Covered Butter Shortbread.  Yummy, yes please.


- Write first draft of my series of childrens books

Files set up on my computer, and all my scrappy handwritten notes / ideas transferred into sensible, legible data.


- Plan one weekend away a year, just Hubby and Me

I think our plan is to take our weekend away to go to the Bullies Out Charity Ball in Cardiff again this year, as it was so awesome last year (this combines with spending the weekend with our best friends so doesn't get better than that!).  But we have also discussed the possibility of going out for a meal Valentines, and we need to decide what we are going to do to celebrate our first wedding anniversary in March. 

I am also going to BritMums Live this year, and we have worked out that we could have a lovely night in the City in a lovely hotel together combined in.

Wow, anything is possible!  To see what other fantastic bloggers are surprising themselves by achieving head on over to Kate on Thin Ice and check out the other Grooving Mums.

Grooving My Way Through January (linking with Groovy Mums @ Kate on Thin Ice)

When I wrote my monster list of Aims and Hopes for 2012, I wrote them with optimism, of course, but sense that they might all get done?  Not so much.


However, since linking up with the Grooving Mums initiative over at Kate on Thin Ice, I think I may have just found a way to help me break those targets down into bite sized pieces and ...dom-dom-dooooommmmmm...achieve them.  Which is pretty damn nifty.


I decided to break the goals down, aiming for a couple a month.  Of course some are on going, but some are one off things that I will spread over the year.  I have to say though I am grooving on pretty well with the ones that I set for this month, and, have even dared to look at future ones to see if there is any ground work I can lay down now to make them more achievable. 


By keeping this written log of my aims and progress it really is proving to be a great help, there is nothing like the feeling of getting things crossed off of your 'to do' list to boost you up, and the outstanding things you can sweep up into a nice, neat new pile to start working on.  A list system was ALWAYS going to work for me!


So my progress report thus far for my January aims is as follows :

Personal


* Publish at least three blog posts per week, and if I can get really super good write extra and 'programme' (go me) them to publish themselves throughout the week

So far 'check'.  Somehow I have managed to get a couple written and published this week, even though J2 has been 'super' attached to my leg.  I even managed to sort out a couple of 'Silent Sunday' posts and schedule them to post themselves - got to love technology!


* Fit two runs a week in and see if I think I will be get up to standard for the half marathon I optimistically booked myself on to back in October (which is March - sorry just picking myself up laughing off the floor) but at least I will have tried

Have got my first run scheduled in for tomorrow afternoon when The Hubby gets in and he can look after the children.  My second run I am hoping to squeeze in on Tuesday...


* Fit one afternoon spa session in - it's January, it's miserable and cold and a little indulgence might go a long way

Originally the plan was to go Wednesday just gone, but that didn't happen.  I can't see it happening this week as Business Accounts are due, but fingers crossed for the week after (is that still January?)

Family

* Start reading with J1 again and try and find out the best way of helping him start to learn to read, rather than just remembering the whole story from memory, although that is pretty impressive too!

Yes, I am pleased to report that books are back in this house.  'Peppa goes Swimming' and 'Peace at Last' are still the firm favourites but I am trying to sneak a couple of new ones in too.

* Continue to encourage J2 to sit on the potty first thing in the morning and before and after bath time

Am also pleased to say that I am doing very well on keeping up with this one too.  J2 is more than willing to sit on the potty but we have only had one actual puddle to date, but as he isn't 2 yet am just trying to get him used to the idea of using it when we need a 'weeeeeeeeeeeeee-weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee' as he puts it, and so far, he is happy and so am I.

* Cook at least '4' real meals a week

Taaaaaaaaaaa-Dahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Have managed to do this and can say I have seen a marked improvement in J2's eating quantities, which makes it all worth while (J1 is a star when it comes to eating so J2 and his lack of eating has come as a bit of a shock).  Must say that having a dishwasher has been a big encouragement to do this too.  The next stage of this master plan, get the super-duper, all singing, all dancing (scares the crap out of me) food processor out and crack out Jamie Oliver's 30 minute meals book.

I am also very proud to say that along with these chosen Aims from the 'Monster List' I have managed to also achieve the 'Bake once a month' goal too.  Chocolate Chip Muffins were baked and devoured, with possibly Lemon Drizzle Cake on the menu for next week.

For now though the only thing left on the menu for me is some sleep, but if you are not sleepy head over to Groovy Mums to read how other fabulous bloggers are doing with their own Aims and Hopes for 2012.

The 2012 Plan (Grooving Mum Project with Kate on Thin Ice)

Having reviewed the good, the bad and the ugly (although in fairness there wasn't too much bad or ugly in 2011, it was a pretty damn good year overall!) it is time to think about what I would like myself and my family to achieve in 2012. 

I am going to do this as my first post linking to the Grooving Mum's movement over at Kate on Thin Ice as this is one of my 'blogger' aims for this year.

2012 Aims

Family

- Continue to encourage J1 to try new activities and adventures to help with his fine and gross motor skills and his speech

- Be more vigilent with J1's home physiothearapy, even though he complains

- Help J1 school fundraising group

- Try and find new and suitable activities for the whole family to participate in at weekends

- Potty train J2

- Start weekly swim sessions with J2 again

- Cook 'real' meals at least 4 times a week and re-start my favourite receipes folder

- Bake something new with the boys at least once a month

- Start some basic learning plans for J2 for towards the end of the year

- Do house filing once a month and keep on top of it all

- Start saving for a big family holiday

- Child - proof new garden for the kids to use in spring

Personal

- Try and find a bit more personal time to do the following :

- Make at least 3 blog posts per week

- Write first draft of my series of childrens books

- Read at least 1 book a month

- Start taking more photographs and learn how to edit them

- Try and run twice a week, establish some safe routes

- Continue to learn about gardening and possibly go to The Chelsea Flower Show

- Continue to try and make an effort with my appearance as it is making me feel better

- Enjoy any available one to one time with Hubby and take opportunities to go out

- Treat self to a spa afternoon once every 3 months

- Plan one weekend away a year, just Hubby and Me

- Try and stop being so Gung-Ho with 'No' to new ideas and suggestions (although I do normally come round to them eventually)

- Try and be more positive on believing in what I can achieve

- Start action planning again, always achieve more that way - this is a good start!