Very overdue update!

Well hello there!

It's been a very long time since I've written any posts and I'm not really sure why I stopped! So here I am, dipping my toes back into the water so to speak.

I thought I would do a little update about things and I will try to post more often again as I always found it such a good outlet and very cathartic.

So my not so little girl is almost 10. Double figures. How did that happen?! It feels like I blinked and suddenly I have this grown up person who was once my tiny baby. She will always be my baby though and she knows it (even if it does make her cringe)!!  She has grown up so much and she's still a kind, caring and hilariously funny girl.  She has me in hysterics laughing most days and as she always has been, she's the best medicine!

She plays for a girls' football team now and I am so proud of her. She loves it and they are doing really well but she's also made a new group of friends so that's a nice bonus.

We are so close and although my health is still the same (i.e rubbish!!), we love spending time together chilling, crafting or playing games. Uno brings out both our sneaky sides and I take no prisoners!! Some may say she gets her competitiveness from me ;-)

She loves lego and likes it when I find the pieces she needs next, although she flies through building them and doesn't really need my help!

She loves reading. She is a total bookworm. I never thought she would be as she never seemed too keen but I'm so glad that changed. I have also got back into reading after many years of not doing so I think she's inspired me!

Over the last year we managed to do some really good stuff which makes me happy to think about.  There were actually lots of highlights so I'll pick out a few!

In March 2018 we had our second trip to Disneyland Paris for little Miss' 9th birthday.  We had totally caught the Disney bug on our previous trip so booked again and it was amazing. Pure magic!

In May it was my 40th birthday and we went on holiday to my favourite place, Puerto Pollensa in Majorca, having booked a year prior.  Turning 40 was a big thing for me and I felt a bit weird about it in the lead up (especially considering I feel more like 20 and act more like 16!!!) however it was a perfect way to spend a special birthday. Some lovely memories.

My sister also threw me an afternoon tea with some of my favourite people.  Sadly some of my friends who are dotted all over the place couldn't make it but they were there in thought :-)

In the Summer we had work done on the house which was a lot of stress and mess, but it has made such a big difference so was definitely worth it. Decluttering has been a priority and for someone who doesn't like getting rid of stuff, I have done well being ruthless! Storage baskets are my new best friend and I'm all about organising drawers into sections.  There's something therapeutic about seeing everything all tidy isn't there?!

My health is still the same and most days are either bad or worse! I have to keep plodding and do what I can.  Resting lots is still a necessity and moving to Spain is my next plan. Joking! (But I would love to!).

I pick and choose when to do stuff worth using my very limited energy on. If it's worth the payback for several days of hell after, I do it. If not, I don't! I have learnt over the years to be more assertive and not be afraid of saying no. Saying yes more (as I did a whole previous post on HERE) is important too, but we should never feel pressured or obliged to do stuff if it's not beneficial and especially not if it will be detrimental to our health.

Anyway I think that's quite enough for now.  I had forgotten how much I talk when I get started!

If there's anything you'd like me to write about please feel free to contact me.  Thank you for reading and I look forward to getting back into it.

Stay sparkly,
Ali xx