The Power Of Bloggers #Healing4Kerry

Every blogger has that moment.

The moment when they want to say something but the words just don't seem to come easily.

This isn't one of those posts.

Although this is a hard thing to blog about, the words flow easy because of the subject.

Kerry.

AKA Multiple Mummy.

Kerry has been a big part of my blogging life right from the start. She started blogging just a few weeks after I did so we instantly hit it off. We entered the world of blogging together and never looked back. Her blog became an huge success because of her being so lovely, genuine and down to earth. We would spend ages chatting on Twitter and striking up an online friendship. Six months later we finally got to meet at Cybermummy 2011.

It's always the same when you finally meet someone you've 'known' online. You wonder if they will be the same lovely person in the flesh as they are online. I've blogged before about how the online world has brought me some amazing friendships - it even brought me a gorgeous husband!

Well, Kerry is one of the many wonderful bloggers who totally live up to their online persona.

She's beautiful, funny, genuine, kind and lovely.

However, something happened this Summer that made me, once again, realise just how precious and fragile life is.

Kerry suffered a brain haemorrhage at the end of July.

The whole blogging community was in total shock.

Kerry was in a coma for some time and continues to have setbacks. Unable to speak or feed herself, Kerry's husband (Multiple Daddy) is doing an amazing job of raising their 3 gorgeous little ones - and managing to keep up Kerry's amazing blog.

Today, Liska (AKA NewMumOnline) has asked bloggers to hand their blogs over to Kerry and come together to pray, wish, meditate etc. to send positive thoughts. I'm not a religious person but Kerry is constantly in my thoughts and my heart aches for her and her beautiful family. I wish with all my heart that her rehab goes well and she does not suffer anymore setbacks. We are a month away from Christmas and the best present ever would be that Kerry makes dramatic progress along her healing pathway.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - bloggers are awesome. As a collective we have the power to make a difference. I've seen it countless times across blogs and twitter, we make make waves for positive change, we spread the word about things, we get our voices heard. Today we are using ours to shout out for #Healing4Kerry. We need to believe that we can make a difference.

So please, join with me and the rest of the blogging community as we join together to make that wish a reality for Kerry. Please spare some time on Twitter at 22.00GMT today using the hashtag #Healing4Kerry and send your wishes or prayers her way.

This post was written as part of the #Healing4Kerry Blog Hop

20 Questions...Well, 11 Actually!

photo credit

You know what? I haven't been involved in a good meme for a long while now. I've been tagged in them but most of them came when I wasn't feeling too great in this pregnancy and I put them off - then it got too late.

Then, the other day the very lovely Emma from A Matter Of Choice tagged me in quite a nice 'Questions and Answers' meme which is fun to do. Emma has written 11 questions for me to answer and then I have to tag some more lovely bloggers and write some questions for them. It's a great way to get to know fellow bloggers so indulge me!

Right, here I attempt to answer Emma's questions.

Would you like to live in a different country?  Why would / wouldn't you?

Yes I would LOVE to live in the US. I've visited so many places in the States and love it so much it would be hard to pinpoint exactly where I'd love to live though.  I won't because I couldn't leave my parents and my sister who live over here (and my closest friends) - it would break my heart...plus it's really hard to get in over there! 

Are you doing what you thought you would be at this age when you were a teenager?

As a teenager I didn't really think about what I'd be doing in my 30's, I think I was too busy just enjoying myself. Damn that cheap white cider!

What is your biggest addiction, and does it worry you?

I don't really have any addictions. I'm not even addicted to blogging or social media - in fact I have only fairly recently re-activated my Facebook account and I'm not on it all the time like I used to be a couple of years ago.  I don't really drink much (can't at the moment anyway) and I don't smoke. I'm pretty boring really *sigh*

Do you speak a foreign language? Would you like to?

I've mentioned on my blog before that I'd love to speak Spanish. I'd also, after visiting Italy for the first time last year, love to speak Italian. My problem is that unless I actually sign up for a course that I have to attend, I keep putting my learning off. My MIL speaks 7 languages and I'm so jealous of that. 

What is your favourite holiday destination?  (either past or a 'dream destination)

Now this is a real toughie for me as I've been to some amazing places that I can't really compare. From A trip across Route 66 in America to a trip to the Arctic Circle to see the Northern Lights - there is no way I can choose. I have been to so many lovely places that I couldn't decide. I have just returned from Orlando and loved it but at the same time I've been to the islands of Hawaii and totally adored them. I honestly don't think I can pick. I know, I know, I'm rubbish!

What most annoys you?

A while back I wrote a post as part of the Listography about my '5 Pet Hates' and I stand by them all but bad manners and people who can't drive on the motorway really REALLY wind me up. Many a time I can be seen yelling at some idiot sat in the middle lane.

What is your dream job?

Being Gerard Butler or Ryan Gosling's personal bather. That's a job, right?  

What are you looking forward to this year?

At last, an easy one! Obviously the birth of our new baby - due 3rd April. Although, someone will probably have to remind me of that when I am propping open my eyes due to sleep deprivation.

How upset would you be  if you woke up tomorrow morning and the internet had ceased to exist?

Although I'm not addicted to blogging or social media I would be a mess if the Internet ceased to exist as I use it a lot. I have a great love of the Internet as it's how I met my fabulous husband, Matt.

What day / period of your life would you like to re-live?

I'd like to go back to when Matt and I first met and re-live those first 6 months. We lived 100 miles away from each other at that point but used to see each other every weekend. I remember only about 6 weeks after we first met he went away for 10 nights to Texas and we missed each other like mad. I knew when he was due back but we weren't supposed to see each other until the following weekend. I remember being out with friends and he text me to ask when I'd be home and to stay safe. When I replied I had booked the taxi he replied "Good, as I'm at your house" (he had a key) and it was the most amazing feeling ever! He'd driven up, still jet-lagged, to see me. It's moments like that.

If you could travel in time (you know, without buggering up the space/time continuum thing) would you go forward or backwards?

I'd definitely go backwards. I'd visit all my Grandparents and spend more time with them as I feel when I was in my teens I didn't spend as much time with them as I should have. That makes me sad.

The Rules:

• You must post these rules.
• Each person must post 11 things about herself on their blog.
• Answer the questions the “tagger” listed for you in her post, and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
• Choose 11 people to tag and link to them in the post. 
• Let each blogger know that you have tagged them.

So, here are the questions I would like the people I've tagged to answer:

1. What's the worst present you've ever been given?
2. If you could go on holiday anywhere in the world where would it be and why?
3. What's your most embarrassing moment?
4. If you won £45m on the Euro Lottery (like that young couple did the other week), what would you do with the money?
5. If you weren't with your partner/boyfriend/husband/significant other (or, if you aren't with anyone right now - bonus!) and you could have one date night with someone else, who would it be and what would you do?
6. Football or rugby?
7. If there was a film made about your life, which actor/actress would play you?
8. Do you prefer a wild night out or a quiet night in?
9. Is there one television programme that you couldn't live without in your life?
10. If you could turn back time, what would you do differently?
11. What's your guilty pleasure?

Here are the fabulous bloggers I am tagging (apologies if you've already been tagged). I would recommend you pay each of their blogs a visit - they totally rock!

Inside The Wendy House

Alysons Blog

Mummy And The Beastie

The Real Housewife Of Suffolk County

Mari's World

Looking For Blue Sky

The Crazy Kitchen

The Syders

Mummy..Mummy..MUM! 

Mummy, Daddy And Me Makes Three

Doing It All For Aleyna

An Awesome 12 Months

I can't believe it's almost 6 months since I attended Cybermummy. I still can't believe I signed up to have my photograph taken by Jay and Tara for the Blogger Calendar.  I hadn't even been blogging 6 months at that point so I was in the 'newbie' section.

The calendar has been produced and it's time to bag me one.

So, what's the inspiration for my blog?

In a word, a photographic word that is, it's this:

My little family (soon to be plus another one). 

I took this back in August 2009 (when Mini Cheddar was only 5 months old).  Little did I know that a year and 4 months later I'd dip my toe into the world of blogging, feel the warmth and love and dive straight in head first! 

As a SAHM I felt I wanted somewhere to jot down my thoughts, my feelings, my ramblings, my journey and somewhere to record my experiences with my new family. I never really imagined anyone would even read it, let alone actually enjoy reading it.

Yes I'm coming up to my 1st blogoversary at the very end of this month. I shudder when I look back at my very first blog post 'Three Little Words'...not only because I cringe at how I started my blog but because I've only really achieved 1 out of the measly 3 things I said I was going to do this year. How rubbish am I? Actually, don't answer that.

I've had an awesome 12 months!

I (somehow) made the finals of the MAD Blog Awards for Best New Blog which was totally overwhelming.

My blog also gave me my freelance work which I love so I can keep my CV rolling (and bring in some money) despite being a SAHM.

Blogging has made me laugh, it's made me cry, it's made me excited, it's made me frustrated but most of all it's made me make some amazing new friends, many I've met personally and have all lived up to their blogging personalities.

Since becoming pregnant my blogging has been a bit quieter but it doesn't mean my passion for it has gone, I still adore it so here's to the next 12 months!  Although there will be little 'events' for me this year - I've had to bow out of BritMums Live or Cybher as I'll be up to my eyeballs in nappies and milk.

This was posted to receive one of the fab calendars kindly put together by Jay and Tara. For more info:

THE (yes, THE) Blogger Calendar HAS LANDED

The Blogger Calendar 2012. Want One?

Fashion Faux Pas Re-Post

THIS IS A RE-POST WHICH I HOPE IS TEMPORARY.  THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED THURSDAY 12th MAY BUT BLOGGER LOST IT (AND ALL MY COMMENTS) WHEN THEY HAD A MONUMENTAL FAIL.  AS THE TOTS100 COMPETITION CLOSES 14th MAY I DIDN'T WANT TO MISS THE LINK UP.

I really wish someone had called the Fashion Police when I was in my teens, I really do.  I've posted before on how I used to resemble Deirdre Barlow when I was younger.  I'm sure Mini Cheddar will laugh her socks off when she sees old photos of Mummy.

The theme of the Tots 100 Blog Hop this month is fashion shame.  I've been wanting to join in with this for a while but I managed to dig out well over 30 photos!  Tots have asked for one.  I had a mammoth task whittling it down to one I can tell you...now that's shame in itself.

So, for my entry I've picked this fashion delight:

It's not just the dodgy perm and the Deirdre Barlow specs...I'm wearing a reasonably okay skirt if I'm honest but I've decided to team it up with braces, a white polo shirt and white stilettos! What? Also, look at the pose...I'm seriously trying my best to look cool.  No Heather, face it...you were in Ibiza with your parents - you were far from cool.

For more dodgy photos from the hall of fashion shame, check out the Tots 100 blog.

Also, because I'm all for embarrassing myself in the name of blogging and I have an abundance of seriously dodgy fashion photos, here are some more gems for your perusal:

Another holiday shot...always been a Depeche Mode fan,
nothing wrong there.  But WTF am I doing with a toy mouse
on my shoulder?  Also note the frizzy hair, complete with bow
and the seriously dodgy cheap shades. What a winner!

Another holiday shot - Turkey I think this time. Not only
did my parents let me sit on waiters knees but they also
let them tickle me!  Or maybe they are taking the pee
because I appear to wearing some sort of white and
pink trouser and jacket combo.  Cool Heather, cool.

More present day this time - my 30th birthday in
Edinburgh.  After a night dancing at Po Na Na I decide
I'm hungry back at the hotel so chuck any random items of
clothing on to make the rather drunk walk to McDonalds.

Deirdre is back and this time she's sporting a rebel
crucifix earring and a rather naval looking jumper.

Giving Warrior from Gladiators a run for his money in the
tanning stakes (in my defence I'd just come back from
holiday).  I'm also giving Simon Cowell a run for his money
with my high-wasted jeans.  Check out my leather jacket and
that awful wooly style top (it was short-sleeved too!).

Mini Cheddar - She's More Like A Sponge Than A Cheese

My gorgeous daughter (Mini Cheddar) turned 2 years old a a couple of weeks ago (11th March) and now when I look back at how much she's grown in the past year since her 1st birthday it's amazes me.

On her first birthday

A year ago and she was barely walking with nothing more than the odd babble.  She was just beginning to properly explore the exciting world around her interact properly with toys and people.

The development journey she has taken over the past year is incredible and being a stay at home mum I've been lucky enough to be able to share every moment of it.

Now she's stringing sentences together, saying her please and thank yous, starting to count, knows all her shapes and colours etc. - she amazes me with something new every day.

World domination?

She loves to play and I love to play with her, encouraging her to repeat words and interact with me whilst she's playing.  The joy and laughter that comes from her play time is enough to melt any heart.

At the age of 1 Mini Cheddar didn't even understand what a building block was really, nevermind its colour and now I watch as she creates entire villages with a running commentary on what she's doing. Watching the thought process develop in her is astounding - perhaps she's like Stewie from Family Guy and plans to rule the world?

Queen of Clean

Watching her starting to interact with her little friends now, building up her confidence and social skills already.

The next Nigella?

She loves nothing more than to "help mummy", as she says, and will follow me around the house with her very own baby Dyson and duster.  I think she would easily give Kim & Aggie a run for their money!  She's clearly a domestic goddess in training like her mother *cough*

Also, she insists she helps me "whisk bowl" whilst baking.  It doesn't seem like playing, as such, but it is and she adores it.  It will help her in the future too - hopefully steering her clear from becoming a fussy eater like her Daddy!

Mini Cheddar has quite a number of toys, thanks (I think?) to generous grandparents but sometimes the simple things in life are the best. Like getting out in the great outdoors for some play time at the park - simple play like this along with fresh air brings a whole new experience.

               

Park Life

It also allows for some more social interaction with friends.  All together now "Awwwww"...

Best Friends For Ever

What was that Grandad?

A simple piece of paper and a pen whilst eating out provides an emergency play time for those 'hungry' moments when her tummy demands food but the waitress service leaves little to be desired!  Her inquisitive mind taking direction from her Grandad, constantly playing and learning in her own unique way.

Here you go Grandma

Grandparents also provide the perfect environment for a toy mountain - Grandma especially!

Whether it's a complex toy or a cardboard box, Mini Cheddar gains so much from playing and constantly learning about her 

environment. 

Amazing what they'll deliver

She loves nothing more than to make a tent in the lounge and play house or play with her little kitchen set, dishing up some plastic food she's cooked specially for mummy. All great skills for her future indeed - these little things going such a long way to develop her skill set.

Tunnel of learning

Her ability to learn so quickly astounds me - she is literally like a little sponge soaking up all the information that she sees and hears. I have no doubt that she is going to grow up to be even more of a delight than she is now - although sometimes I can't see how that's possible.


Put quite simply, we are loving life and loving learning.  Not only is she learning about life each day, I'm learning about being a mother (and a teacher) and I love it.


Note: I absolutely HATE the way I say 'carrots' in this video *hangs head in shame* What is wrong with me?




This post is linked up to the Tots 100 March Blog Hop - Learning Through Play

Liebster Blog Award

I was tagged the other week for this new meme *groan* that's floating around the blogosphere.  I'm not sure where the meme originated so if anyone can let me know so I can credit the OP that would be great.

New Mum Online was the first one to tag me with this Liebster Blog Award and then I received another tag a couple of days ago from Mummy and the Beastie so it's spurred me along to actually complete the meme. Thanks again for the tags and sharing the blog love ladies.

It's designed for people with 'little' blogs (less than 300 subscribers) to share the blog love and spread the word.

The thing is though, I'm a little confused (doesn't take much, I know!) as is this just Google Friend Connect subscribers?  I guess it must be as no-one knows how many other subscribers we all have unless we display our stats.

Anyway, here are the rules of the meme:

1. Post displaying the award, linking back to the person(s) who awarded you.
2. Choose your own blog picks and let them know they're awarded.
3. Hope everyone discovers some new favourites
4. Revel in the blog love!

From my blog picks I'm going to choose some wonderful ladies who I met on a baby forum when we were all expecting our little ones - all due in March 2009.

3 of them I've met in real life and we have remained friends.  The other I hope to meet one day.  3 of them have been blogging quite a while now and 1 is a brand new blogger.

Alysons Blog
Never Found The Plot
Dreaming Of Beer
Mrs Ramble

Go and show them some love!


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Reasons To Be Cheerful...it's a double!

I didn't get chance to join in with Michelle at Mummy From The Heart and her lovely 'Reasons To Be Cheerful' link up.  So, I'm being extra cheerful this week to make up for it but as it happens Michelle has encouraged everyone to be more cheerful = result!  I'm also being extra cheerful as I'm going to do my first link up with Maxabella Loves on the other side of the world.  I love finding new blogs to read so it's a chance to hop around about 'down under'.

1. I love my new 'job'
I say job but it's not really as it's volunteer work. I'm now volunteering at a local Save The Children shop. If you haven't already read it, you should have a little read of my post from earlier this week called 'Born To Volunteer'. It's something I've always wanted to do but always used the 'I don't have the time' line. Well, I find my days are filled to the brim but I've managed to squeeze in some time and do you know what? I love it!

2. It's my daughters 2nd birthday next Friday
I can't believe that 2 years ago on the 11th March she entered this world.  She is growing up so fast it's untrue!  I am loving my time with her right now - she's really starting to talk properly and it's amazing to watch and my husband and I love having little conversations with her about her day.  She was diagnosed with childhood asthma on Thursday, poor little love, so has to have an inhaler before she goes to bed but she's been great with it.  In 6 months time she'll be starting play school.  Where is the time going?

3. My husband has some time off work coming up
He's off the day of my daughters birthday and he's also off the following week.  We have lots of treats and days out planned and I can't wait.  Just hoping he's fit enough to manage it with his ankle injury.

4. I went to the cinema
I can't actually remember the last time before that I went to the cinema it was that long ago.  I went last night with my best friend and we had a really nice time - especially as we went for a meal first too. My friend picked the film called 'No Strings Attached' which was about 'f*ck buddies'. All I knew before we went was it had Ashton Kutcher in it - nothing like a bit of naked eye candy on a Friday night if you ask me!

5. Spring is definitely in the air
It's finally March.  We are through the dull and cold months of January and February.  We are through the lull after Christmas where we all feel like we've eaten too much and are on the come-down after the festivities.  The snowdrops and daffs are blooming, the sun is shining and everything feels so much better!

6. Bloggy reasons
I was approached by a small company to host an advert or run a giveaway on Tuesday.  It's not what I started this blog for but it's nice to get recognition that my blog is being read and enjoyed.  Also, I updated my blog banner.  I know it's not exactly a reason to be cheerful but it made me a little happy on Wednesday night when I did it.  The one I had up before was thrown together in 5 minutes when I first started blogging at the beginning of the year.  This one is much better - and it took me 20 minutes, so worth the extra effort haha!  The photo of my daughter and I on the right was taken by one of my closest friends who runs Claire Penn Photography.  Oh and Lady Estrogen also wrote a funny guest post for me which I posted up yesterday...if you haven't read it then have a little look here and go check her out, she's fab!


What are your reasons to be cheerful/thankful this week?  Join in the hops and make new friends...

D is for...Depeche Mode

Got to love the 80's

Anyone who knows me well enough knows I love Depeche Mode.  I have so many vinyl albums and 12" singles lurking in a box up in my loft it's untrue.

I was well aware of DM from a very early age but I'd say I fell in love with them properly back in about '86 at the tender age of 12. Infact, I think 'Black Celebration' was the first album of theirs I bought with my hard-earned pocket money.

I used to adore them - they were different, they were more edgy than your standard groups at the time. I used to sit and listen to their 'Violator' album so much I'm surprised I didn't wear the vinyl out. Unbelievably, at the age of just 16 I was allowed on a coach trip with a friend of mine to go to the NEC in Birmingham to see them in concert.   How my Mum ever agreed to that, I'll never know.  But, for me, it was the start of something beautiful and I still go to see them live whenever they tour.  Thankfully my Sister loves them too and we've even dragged our husbands over to Prague to see them (although they declined the concert tickets but joined us for the trip)!  

My husband always used to struggle with my love for them...well, at least I thought he did until I discovered he had some of the greats like 'Enjoy The Silence', 'Never Let Me Down Again' and 'Behind The Wheel' on his iPod.  

When they did their 'Music For The Masses' tour it was just breath-taking.  How envious I was of all those people who went to the Pasadena Rose Bowl in California to see that final concert. The 101 DVD is still one I never grow tired of.

I know some people think Depeche Mode are dark and dreary. I myself had a a couple of years in the late 90's when they were a bit too much for me.  Infact, even though I own the album 'Ultra' I can probably count on one hand the amount of times I've listened to it.  I can't even bring myself to watch the 'Barrel Of A Gun' video as it freaks me out.  These are the days of DM I'd rather put to the back of my mind even though I love them for being different.

Dave Gahan = legend

I adored Dave Gahan (and still do).  That man can gyrate and build the crowd up into an incredible frenzy.  Sure, he's had his problems - being addicted to heroin, trying to slit his wrists and his heart stopped once but I'm not going to hold that against him!  He's fast approaching 50 years of age and I only saw DM perform last just over a year ago - the man still has an amazing stage presence.   His live performances are absolutely mind-blowing.  Despite his dodgy past, the man is an absolute legend.  Every time I see DM live I can't speak for two days for singing my heart out and screaming.  Yes I know, a 36 year old acting like some crazed groupie but my Sister is 3 years older than me so she's worse.

I have some very suspect photos of me in my teenage years trying to carry off the 'Dave Gahan' look, wearing black vest tops and pure white tight denim jeans.  I know that when my daughter sees these she will cringe just the way I used to look at photos of my Mum wearing her velvet mini dress in the 60's.  Now I'm older though I look at photos of my Mum and hear stories of her seeing the Rolling Stones in concert, getting up on a table for a better look and to dance and I smile.  I hope my daughter thinks I'm a cool Mum for loving Depeche Mode for so long - at least I didn't give up on them up in the late 80's to decorate my shoes with Grolsch bottle tops and worship the blonde chimp twins that were dross Bros!  Depeche Mode are amazing musicians and performers and I'll always love them.

Part of my A to Z posts

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Also posting this for these great blog hops:  

                            

(yes, killing THREE birds with ONE stone)