I'm half way through the blog everyday in May challenge, and it's really starting to feel tough.

I haven't really been blogging long, not even four months yet, and saw this as a way to broaden my blogging experiences, but I'm not sure if I was quite ready.

The prompts have really challenged me, it's great to take a prompt and think about how to make it fit on my blog, how to put my own spin on it, and I have enjoyed the challenge. I've also enjoyed getting regular posts done, getting things written every day definitely help get the brain working, making it easier to write.

There are things that I have not enjoyed however, things that have made me question why I'm bothering. Some nights I'm sitting looking at the prompt, wondering how to write something meaningful or interesting, struggling to make it my own. There have been times when I've just written for the sake of it, because I've set myself this challenge and don't want to feel like I've failed.

I'm really struggling to keep up with my other blogging bits. I've been dumping my posts on to linkies, then not finding any time to have a look at the other entries. I haven't read many of my favourite blogs this month either. There are some nights when I really didn't want to write anything, on Saturday I had a fab night with the family watching eurovision and just chilling, and then I panicked because it was almost midnight and felt I had to write something so ended up posting a load of waffle.

When I started blogging, I wanted what I wrote to come from the heart, and to be enjoyable, and unfortunately I don't feel like I've enjoyed BEDM.

I love the idea, and the prompts are brilliant, and I do feel a bit annoyed that I haven't enjoyed it as much as I hoped I would, but I don't want blogging to become a chore.

So it is with regret that I've decided not to take part in the challenge any more.

I'm glad I took part, I've certainly learnt from it. I'm going to try and blog more regularly because I've enjoyed that, but I'm not going to commit myself to every night, because some nights you just can't.

When my husband and I first met, we were only together for a few months before I moved in with him. I'd only been living away from my mams house for 2 years when I met him, and hadn't really accumulated much of my own stuff by this point.

He was still living in the same flat he'd been in when he was a student, and all of the furniture and fittings belonged to the house. We didn't add much to it, because there didn't seem to be much point. Once Neil was born, we knew it was time to move out of the student flat and in to something that we would make feel a little bit more homely. We started buying nice furniture, accessories, and general bits to make the place look nice, and I loved it.

The following year we visited my husbands home town in Northern Ireland. We had always planned on staying in Newcastle until the kids were ready for school and then we would think about moving across the water. The holiday over was a big turning point, and he realised how much he wanted to be back in N.Ireland, closer to his family. We set the wheels in motion, and we were moved inside 2 months.

The fast move meant we had not as much time or money to plan things as much as we should have. We couldn't get a large removal van to do the move on our budget, so most of our stuff ended up in a charity shop or skip. His dad came over in a people carrier with the seats down and moved everything we could fit in to the car, which wasn't much. It was quite strange trying to condense your whole home in to the back of a car, but it had to be done.

When we first moved, I wondered if I could ever feel at home again. I was gutted to be leaving Newcastle, and while I knew I would be happy wherever my family were, it was still very difficult.

It took us a few months to find a house. In the August of the year we moved, just after my birthday, a house came up a few doors away from my hubby's dad. It was perfect for us, and we moved in straight away.

For the first few weeks, the place felt a bit bare. Most of our ornaments and artefacts had been left in England, so the only stuff we had in the house was the furniture that was already there. It took a little while, but we soon started to make the place feel likeour own, and it didn't take long before I realised home wasn't about being in Newcastle, or having lots of stuff.

A welcome sight after a long day

They say home is where the heart is, and that is absolutely true. After a long day at work, the sight of my house as I approach the front gate fills me with joy. Just knowing that in seconds I will be stepping through that front door to the sound of the kids laughing, or squabbling, or just shouting 'Mummy's home!'. It's a feeling that is hard to beat.

I often look through catalogues and magazines at the picture perfect, show-home kind of rooms, with not a thing out of place, and some fabulous décor, but to me, that is what makes a house, not a home. Our house is a bit messy, there are toys everywhere, Caitlin has scribbled on the walls in almost every room, my willow tree ornaments have been glued together more times than I can count, but you know what, I love it!

This house feels more like home to me than anywhere else I have lived, we've been here almost 4 years now and we've made so many memories here. I'd be sad if we had to move anytime soon, but it wouldn't be too much of a big deal because where ever my husband and children are will feel like home to me.

I always used to think I was quite stylish. Now that I'm a mum, I often look in the mirror and wonder what went wrong. My clothes are usually mismatched and there are usually food stains on my top, which is no longer acceptable now that my children feed themselves. My hair is always messy, and not in the 'I've just spent an hour making myself look like I haven't made an effort' kind of way, more in the 'I can't be bothered to make an effort' way.

I've definitely let myself go a little bit since having children.

As far as clothes go, if we are out shopping I would rather buy things for my kids than for myself. When I do buy something I like, it always turns in to a huge dilema, because then I start wondering what I can wear it with, and then I get annoyed that my lovely new top doesn't look right with any of my jeans.

I've started to make a bit more of an effort recently. I've realised that it is best to buy a few simple, staple wardrobe pieces that will look good with everything. A few nice pairs of skinny jeans, a nice belt, a few good tops.

Because I can't really afford to be buying new outfits all of the time, as much as I would love to, I've realised it is easier, and cheaper to just buy nice accessories. Can you believe I've only just discovered fashion scarves? I've always just seen a scarf as something to keep your neck warm in the winter. I'd always seen other people wearing lovely colourful scarves but didn't think I could pull it off.

It was only a few weeks ago that I decided to try one on in Newlook, and I was a convert straight away. You can pick up a nice scarf relatively cheap, and there are some fabulous colours and patterns available.


I recently got this neon bird printed scarf and I love it, the colours are so vibrant, and it's perfect for this kind of year where you want to dress in summer colours, but it's not always warm enough for proper summer clothes. I've had it on almost every day since I got it.

I fear I may have arrived a bit late to the scarf party, it is the middle of May after all, so I'm going to wear this to death until it's to warm to do so any more!

Another thing I am loving at the moment are colourful, quirky bags. Something that can really brighten up an old or boring outfit.

The top one is my new owl bag, and I love it. Love love love! It is hard to see the colour properly in the photo but it is a gorgeous colral colour and looks so summery. I've had it on most days since I got it last week, and it looks great, and it's just the right size to fit my pad and keys and purse in.
The bag on the bottom is an 'orange segment' clutch bag from Newlook. I don't own it but I think it's brilliant and would really brighten up a plain summer dress. It comes as a lemon slice too, and is only £9.99 which is a steal!

I think I will be focussing a lot on nice bags and accessories this summer, as they really do change the look of an old outfit.

It is walk to work week this week. From the 12th to the 16th May, you are encouraged to walk to work, for both health, and environmental reasons.

I am very lucky to live and work in the same village, so this whole walking to work business is not new to me, I do it every day!

I have recently installed a step counting app on to my pad, and so thought I would give that a go on my walk to work today.


Here I am at 9.25 this morning, ready for my journey. I decided to take a leisurely stroll this morning and try to take in more of my surroundings. Most mornings I am leaving the house 5 minutes after I am due to start work, and so I end up all flustered and in too much of a hurry to get there. This morning, I left on time so i could enjoy my walk.


My walk through the village is pretty relaxing. There are a few ways I can walk. I chose this particular route today because it allows me to avoid most of the houses in the village, and is generally a nicer walk. I even get a nice view of the sea in the distance at one point.

I arrived at work 7 minutes and 16 seconds after I set off from home, which meant I was only 2 minutes late for work! I'm sure my bosses were wondering if something was wrong.. I don't think it would usually take as long to get there, but I was stopping to take photos along the way, and I was in no real hurry. I took a total of 593 steps, which works out at 81 steps per minute which according to the app meant I burned 28 calories on my walk.

It would be interesting to use an actual pedometer and see how many steps I do in a full working day. I have a feeling I would be way short on the recommended 10,000 steps a day thing. I would try it now but I don't think my pad's battery would last long enough, and it would not be practical for me to carry it round all day.

Anyway, I enjoyed my walk to work today, much more than I usually would. I might start leaving a bit earlier and walking the longer, more scenic route each morning to try and boost my walking.

Will you be walking in to work this week?

Tonight's prompt was supposed to be about World Fair Trade Day. It's been something I've been thinking about all day, and I have decided for the first time during BEDM to not follow the prompt and just write my own thing.

I don't think I have enough to say about fair trade, and any post I produced would not do the topic justice.

It's very late in the evening, and I'm actually pushing it a bit to get a post done in time for BEDM. I can only blame this on the fact that it was the Eurovision song contest tonight, and I've had just a tiny bit too much wine.

I love Eurovision! I told my hubby it was on earlier this afternoon, and he groaned, but he's just spent the last 3 and a bit hours watching it with me, so he can't hate it that much. It is one of those traditions that you just can't shake, as much as you say 'oh god not the eurovision', but you always end up watching.

Every year, you have these little thoughts that maybe, just maybe, this is the year that the UK might do well. And then every year, at about 11pm, you start to feel a bit foolish that the thought had ever crossed your mind, as if the United Kingdom would ever finish in the top half!

Tonight's Eurovision was a little bit strange, a lot of joke references to China which I did not understand, and there was actually a real cringey moment where one of the voting countries told Austria that it was time to shave, which just felt bad.

I'm afraid to say I wasn't feeling the winning song much! I spent my 15p on Denmark, and my Hubby had his bets on Malta, neither of which made much of a splash.

 I'm sorry, but how can you resist the scooby do be dop....?



So that is it for another year. Here's to Eurovision 2015!

Did you watch Eurovision, or even go as far as holding a Eurovision party? Which country were you rooting for?

It's day 8 of BEDM , and today's prompt is Local History Month - talk about your local area

We live along the south east coast of Northern Ireland, which is a beautiful place, rich in history. I have to admit, having not lived here very long I don't really know much about the local area, so it has been fun learning some bits as I've been thinking of ideas for this post. One of my favourite places to visit in the local area is Dundrum Castle, which is situated in the small costal village of Dundrum.

Dundrum Castle was built in the early in 1177 by John De Courcy, a Norman Knight. It was built on the site of a previous Gaelic Fort.


 The castle sits high above Dundrum village, with fantastic views over the Mourne Mountains and Dundrum Bay.


It is a fantastic place to visit. If you are willing to climb to the top of the tower, the views are absolutely stunning. To get to the top you have to climd a very narrow spiral staircase, I've only done it once, I'm afraid of heights so found it terrifying, but it is definitely worth the climb. It's in remarkably good condition for it's age.

There are a few bilding there, most of them ruins but the kids love to run around and explore.


The castle is surrounded by a woodland trail which makes for a lovely walk too, and the kids love it because it feels like you are adventuring down a secret path.






We love visiting Dundrum castle. It's amazing to look around, and take in the scenery, it's one of our favourite picnic spots. I believe they are building a visitors site there soon which will be great, I'd love to learn some more about the place and it's history.

I must admit, I do love gadgets, or any little devices that make life a little simpler. Todays BEDM prompt is Gadgets - Must haves, dream gadgets or things to make your life easier and it's got me thinking a little bit about how lucky we are to live in a time where there's a gadget for almost everything.

I think my number 1, cannot live without gadget is my Nexus 7 tablet, it's never more than about 30cms away from me. I am certainly not one of those parents that ignores there kids all day while they play on their pad, but the thing does come in handy for everything. If we are looking to do something crafty, I can use my pad to get ideas on pintrest. When my children ask me obscure and random questions I use it to ask google, and hey, I don't even have to type my question, I just speak in to the thing and it replies to me. How mad is that man?

It's my personal planner, my calender, my notepad, my dictionary & encyclopedia, my source of evening entertainment, my means of communication, my camera, my music player... I love it!

I was joking that if only my tablet could make a cuppa we'd be winning. My hubby is an awful tea drinker, I mean he's completely addicted. I don't know how it's possible for the human body to hold as much tea as he is drinking. "Will you stick the kettle on please", "Make us a cuppa please" and sometimes he desont even speak, he just makes drinking signals with his hands, which infuriates me.

I feel like I'm always at the kettle. One thing that drives my hubby mad is that he'll ask for a cuppa, and I'll get up and stick the kettle on then sit down while it's boiling, and then totally forget about making the cuppa. By the time I remember, it needs to be boiled again, so I'll switch it on and sit down... You can see the pattern emerging here.

While looking for some interesting gadgets, I came across this little beauty, the answer to all of my problems...

Image taken from http://www.firebox.com

Have you ever fancied a cuppa, but thought Nah I can't be arsed to stick the kettle on? Well this, ladies & gentlemen, is a kettle which can be switched on by your phone or tablet, then when it's boiled you can ask it to stay warm until you go out to make the tea, anywhere up to 30 minutes! It sounds awesome, it even wakes you up with an alarm in the morning and asks if you want the kettle boiled ready for getting up. My mind is blown.

Now you may think I'm lazy for not just getting up and clicking the kettle down myself, but I just love the idea that I wouldn't have to keep getting up and down every time I forgot I'd boiled the kettle, I can just press a button on my beloved tablet and go out to make the cuppa when it's done. So this would be my dream gadget.

Unfortunately, I don't have £100 to be spending willy nilly, on a kettle of all things. I'm not actually that lazy, but I do think it's pretty jazzy anyway.

While we're on the subject of firebox, they actually sell gloves that are bluetooth, and to talk to someone you just put your hand in to the shape of a phone, like you do when you are pretending to be on the phone with your thumb to your ear and your pinkie to your mouth. How daft would you look walking down the street talking in to your fingers?!

What are your must have gadgets? Would you like to control your kettle with your pad? Do you think there are other things that could be pad controlled, or is this a step too far?

Passion Projects - what do you love and would like to make money from.

I've wanted to be many things over the years, and have come up with so many different career ideas it's hard to keep track. Nothing has ever really stuck.

As a child I wanted to be a nurse, then a fire fighter (until I discovered I was afraid of fire), then as I got older I decided I wanted to be a journalist, or work behind the scenes in TV. I did my foundation degree in television and media production, which I thoroughly enjoyed during the two years, but it wasn't for me.

I've worked as a barmaid, a waitress, a sales assistant, not my dream jobs, but then I think that's the issue, I don't have a dream job.

I currently work in a great little place in my village, which is handy because it fit's around my family life. It may not be my passion but I put my all in to it regardless, and I'm happy working there.

It may sound cheesy, but my true passion is my family, my children. Since having kids, I've put my everything in to them and not much else seemed to matter.

Something I've become very passionate about, in the past year or 2, is ASD/ Autism, because of my son Neil. I'm always looking in to ways to improve his experiences, and I enjoy seeing the changes in him when we find something that works. I've recently wondered if I could do some work related to helping my son, and other children with ASD. I've toyed with the idea of starting a support group in the area, I'm hoping to do the half marathon and raise money for autism charities, and I've thought about doing ASD training to possibly work with other children like Neil.

It's still all just thoughts at the moment, but I'm really interested in doing something relating to ASD. It's something I may not make make any money from and if I do it would purely be a bonus, but I think it's something I will enjoy, and I'll put my all in to it because it involves my son, and my family. 

I'm not sure where any of these ideas will lead, so wish me luck and watch this space.