New wardrobe items & sale bargains

Hiya all,

Ive been a bad blogger again havnt i :( im sorry, i hardly get time to do anything lately. I have however stolen some time to do this post. Please dont think this is a 'look at what ive brought' or its me bragging, far from it. Its as the title says about a few bargain wardrobe items thats ive picked up over the last few weeks, i love a bargain so thought i would share them with you.

First - this midi dress i brought from ebay, it was a shop page on ebay and got it for £7! Its not the best quality but its a really lovely dress and very comfy too. I wore it out to a restaurant last Saturday and it was great that finally there is some nice sleeved dresses out there. (ive included there picture too as mine doesnt do it justice)

 

Next up, as i have mentioned on twitter, im off on sunday to do a 10 mile walk for Charity in Birmingham. (ARRRHHHH WHY DID I AGREE TO THIS?????) I didnt own any actual trainer that would stand up to walking 10 miles, so i had to buy some. I was very lucky and when visiting my loacl JJB thats closing down (been taken over by sports direct) they were still trying to get rid of all the old stock, so i got these Reebok easy tone trainers for . . . £12.50! I couldn't believe it, i snapped them up right away. They may be bright silver but i do love a bit of bling.

 

 

On to primark

 

I have my friends hen do on June 1st in London. Im planning on being a builder, and not one for out of the bag costumes, i have put mine together myself. I am wearing denim dungarees, hard hat, fluorescent jacket etc. I picked up my dungarees for £12 which is a bargain as in newlook and matalan there £25!

Also in good old primark i got this studded vest on sale, was £5 and i got it for £3 it has gold studded shoulders and goes well under the dungarees.

 

Onto asda sale. On Thursday we were going to asda to do our food, as we walked in they were setting up there sale so we had pick of the items, there were loads of lovely items. My mom got trousers, jumper and a few tshirts too for under £20!

I got this white peplum top il be wearing for going out Saturday night with friends for food. It was £12 reduced to £6

 
With the top il be wearing this striped skirt that was £8 but reduced to £4. Ive tried it on together and think it looks rather good for a £10 outfit. (il try and remember to get a full body shot at the weekend)

 

Finally onto things i picked up for Harry. Its that usual problem ive moaned about before, when it comes to sales, girls rails are full to the brim, yet boys rails are half the amount, whats that all about shops? sort it out!

 

Anyway, from primark i got him this dinosaur tshirt, he LOVES dinosaurs, and i love this faded wash its got on it. It was £4.

 

Again from asda we got these Disney Mickey mouse jeans. They have the elasticated waist which is a must these days now hes not longer in nappys, they have to be easy for him to get on and off on his own. They were meant to be £9 but reduced to £6 which isnt bad at all for Disney items. im sure if they were in the Disney store they would be more than twice the price.

 

Again asda, we got this shorts and tshirt set, they are really lovely bright colour and great quality. They were meant to be £6 which i think is a brilliant price for a set, but i didn't actually see them in store at this price, else i would of got them then. Luckily for me i got them for £4 in the sale

 

You may be thinking what lovely items, but what about poor old Gareth! (im pretty sure none of you actually thought this) well don't worry, i didn't leave him out!

 

novelty sandal socks, surely everyone needs a pair?! and for the price of £1 whats not to love!!

Anyway, sorry this was a bit of a random post.

Hope all my lovely blogging friends and there beautiful children are all ok. Il blog again soon

Love Lucy x

dear beautiful 3 year old bobo

Dear bobo,

Mommy is a little late with this letter, you turned 3 in March, and dont we just know it. Most days since you tell us, 'My Birthday' and we have to explain how you only get one birthday a year. You are not too struck on this idea, maybe you need 2 birthdays like the queen.

You have done amazingly with your toilet training, you are completely dry through the day and have been since before your birthday, were so proud of you doing this. Night times will come in there own time, no rush.

Fireman Sam, bob the builder and Thomas the tank as still your passions. You have taken more of a shine to disney now especially wreck it ralph and of course toy story. The way you role play and shout 'FIRE' in a welsh accent is so funny. Just like when you shout 'NORMAN PRICE' and tell everyone how thats you, and Dilis is me. Thanks for that crazy boy.  Your imagination never fails to make me laugh, like when you ran out from the other living room into me, shouting, 'Mom im a knight!!' looking like this:-

Jigsaws are still a passion of yours, you can do them so quickly. You still love your numbers too and letters, pointing out what each of them are. Singing the alphabet, and phonics songs pass your days.

You love helping nanny feed the dogs and fish, but you wont leave the 'big shark' (plec) alone, trying to stroke him through the tank.

The girls are your world, i can see you all being so close as you grow older together. You do crazy things with Jess 'tess' like this:-

and love playing with 'hiya' Evie, singing meatloaf on karaoke and football.

Technology is no match for you, your so tech savvy, using mine and your dads phones with ease. Using apps and watching videos.

Daddys brought a new bike and you were more than happy with it as its bright yellow! even though when we asked what you would like when your older, you said 'a red car' good choice Harry! Mom and Dad better get saving.

Nursery starts for you in September, when you will be joining all the other boys and girls. Im dreading it, but i think you will love it there. Auntie annie works there as does nanny and auntie ellen, most of the staff know you and are awaiting your arrival there. Were very lucky as the school is opposite our house, wont take long to walk there in a morning.

Food, thats dreaded stail mate we have each day with you. You will eat a very small selection of foods, and hardly ever agree to try new food. You did however ask to try grated cheese a few weeks ago and now ask for grated cheese for a snack, i was so so excited this day. You made mommy very proud, i text daddy at work to tell him. We never force you to try new things, we offer and 9/10 times we get turned down but Im assured you will slowly get there with eating and trying new foods, i cant wait!

Mommy and her friend are very close to opening a new business, its been alot of work and still needs more work but we are geting there and hopefully it will be all worth it as we will have more money to do fun things with.

Your great great grandad sadly passed away in march at the age of 97. He loved you very much and we will tell you tales of him and storys he used to tell us, you will never forget him.

Clothes and getting dressed, your pet hate. You will gladly spend all day in your underwear (or less) if we would let you. You hate being dressed, and try and be all independent and dress yourself, you dont do a bad job at it but you drag the process out as long as you possibly can.

This year is zooming by and with each day you amaze us all a little bit more with your funny clever cheeky ways, life without you in it seems like it was lightyears away, you brighten up our darkest days and we love you more than we could ever explain to you.

Lots more fun and adventures to come, i cant wait.

Love you Harry bobo

x x x

i would go out tonight. .

but i havnt go a stitch to wear!

Hiya all,

everytime i have a dilemma on finding a outfit, i find myself singing the same old Morrissey tune.

I hate clothes shopping for myself these days, i would gladly spend all day buying for Harry and even Gareth, but for myself in dispare as i never find the perfect outfit.

My very good friend is getting married in June and i have yet to find anything to wear. Harry is one of the page boys for the wedding, so i want to make him, Gareth proud by looking good.

I don't know which way to go dress wise, i no i want something classy, nothing that looks like im off to party in ibiza, but equally dont want to look like im off to prom either. I think colour is more of a issue, what colour do i go towards?

The wedding theme is black and fuchsia pink, so i obviously want to stay away from those colours as those are the colours the wedding party are wearing.

These are a few options, but i still dont no if in this list there is 'the one'.

 

So that's where you lovely blogging community comes in, which would you choose?

Luckily shoe choice is very easy, im very much a shoe person, so i know i can get shoes to match pretty easily, they have to be wedges due to the floor at the place shes getting married, so that makes it even easier still.

Any advice would be great.

Lucy x

Sun is shining but black clouds decending

Hiya all,

If you remember reading my post about Gareth and his depression you will know what this post is about.

It seems we're back under those black clouds again and the dark days have returned. It's tough. The horrible illness has stolen my happy funny crazy partner yet again.

 

His great grandad passed away in march and I think this may have been the trigger this time, he keeps beating himself up that he didn't get to the hospital on time to see him, he had been there the whole day the day before, the next day he was at work and got a phone call to go to the hospital and he left work to head to the hospital but got there 2mins too late, something that's played on his mind ever since. No matter how much we all tell him there's nothing you can do to stop time and the world working in its mysterious ways, he still blames himself for not being there in time.

Work, he works bloody hard, but his place of work are also pushing him to the limits, he has been asked to do 8am til 8pm monday o friday and 6am til 12noon saturdays to try and get a big order done. This is killing him because he doesn't get time to see Harry so he's been finishing 5/6pm but then work are not happy (he's only meant to work until 4:30pm so anything after is over time and doing the place a favour so he's not actually doing anything wrong by leaving before 8pm)

He's sold his motorbike in the hope of getting a better one so I'm currently being his taxi which I don't mind at all, but I think it's annoying him as its taken away his independence, he likes to just have a ride around and clear his head but he can't do this and he can't find a bike that he likes to buy.

His family are having money problems due to funeral and expenses that come along with it, and Gareth being the kind of man he is, try's to make everyone happy and would give a stranger his last penny if they asked for it, so he's trying to fix all there problems but by doing this is pushing himself further into the darkness, he looks after everyone else's problems but neglects his own.

Last night I found him doing a mental health assessment on his phone from the nhs website and it said he needed to consult a doctor, which I've told him to do over and over (he had a counsellor before but stopped going). I'm hoping he will reconsider going back again.

He's going to spend a few nights at his nans house and I'm hoping this time on his own there will be for the better, time for him to clear his thoughts and time for the clouds to start to lift I hope.

This is very very selfish of me I no, but I'm finding it so hard. He's so distant and not with it, it's exhausting to be around him I no that sounds awful but I want to be honest. I always like to fix things and make them better but this is something I can't fix with a plaster a pot of vic and some savlon, he needs to help himself I no, and that's hard for me to deal with. I have so many happy exciting things going on and it's upsetting because I can't share my excitement with him, because he's not actually in the right frame of mind to talk about anything.

I had such lovely comments on my other post I'm so greatful to everyone who takes the time to comment, I no this post is another woe is me post and I'm sorry but I just needed to get it out there.

Thanks for reading if you have

Lucy x

ex smokers are unstoppable

Hiya all,

Smoking - my pet hate

I have NEVER smoked myself, not even tried as a teen.

 

Note the theme in all these pictures?

No its not the bad 90s hair and outfits.

Smoking!

My parents both smoked when i was younger and up until i was 12. My mom had a health scare and that was it, a switch clicked in her brain and she stopped. Followed by my Dad who also quit to support my mom. From that day to this, they have never touched another cigarette.

The smell, that's what sticks in my mind, the smell after they quit, it was a smell id never noticed before but id smell it when we were out or at other family members houses that did smoke. I couldn't work it out, then i realised, it was smoke i was smelling. Until my parents quit i couldn't smell it, which made me think i must of smelt that way too living in a house with 2 smokers, but just never realised it.

I hate smoking.

 

So i ask myself, why on earth did i choose a partner that smokes?

My parents quit smoking with nothing but the help of a pack of mints, but its not always that easy for others.

Gareth for example, has no wish to quit, much to my disgust, and me telling him numerous times of how awful it is for him. Hes not aloud to smoke in the house, he has to go outside, no matter what weather or time of the day, he has to go out of the house to fill his horrible habit. I think you have to mentally want to quit before you can.

That's whats so unusual about a new app ExSmokers icoach. Its help for those who are not yet ready to stop smoking along with those who are. With a brief questionnaire, icoach can determine your stage and fit a program to the you.

Icoach is based on pioneering research, practical clinical experience, and includes advice from psychologists and communication experts

 ExSmokers is available in both appstore and google play store and is a free!  It doesn't matter what level you are at, there is help on there to guide you through all the process to quitting smoking for good.

 It is available in 23 official EU languages. iCoach has been proven effective. More than 30% of people who used iCoach quit smoking.

Theres are so many benefits you get from quitting, not only the health ones like looking and feeling better in yourself, but your bank balance will be healthier too.

So if your not yet ready to quit or already on the road to becoming a ex smoker, icoach is the idea way to help you along the journey.

Love Lucy x

*sponcered post*

no it stinks

Hiya all,

Ive always been lucky that Harry's never had a issue with getting dresseds or an issue with what he wears he loves fancy dress and wearing just about anything with no fuss at all, this was until a few weeks ago.

I now have a 3yr old who HATES getting dressed and clothes of any sort with a passion.

To try and ease the kicking and screaming that we have to deal with on a daily basis, i try and buy funky clothes with his favourite characters on so it eases the arguments and fights we have to get him dressed.

Last week, i brought him this tshirt:-

He loves toy story, (as does his father!!)

gareths buzz lightyear tattoo

So i thought he would love this tshirt and enjoy wearing it too.

Boy was i wrong.

I laid it out one day last week for him to wear and his reaction was at 1st, 'wow' then he went on to name all the characters, as i went to put it on him, his said 'err no it stinks' and refused to wear it. He often uses 'it stinks' if its something he doesn't like, or something he doesn't want to do.

Fair enough i thought, maybe just having one of those days, so a few days later i tryed to get him to wear it again, i put it on, and as soon as he looked down and realised what it was he started saying it again, 'er no it stinks' and he actually took it off himself.

Ive tried again since and got the same reaction, when he saw the tshirt on the top of the washing he took it off, screwed it up into a ball and hid it behind the curtain.

Now before anyone thinks, maybe it is because it does smell, i can assure you it doest its been through the wash even though hes not worn it and hes still rejecting it.

Has anyone else experienced this with there kids, im hoping its just yet another one of those crazy phases, i no they do get fussy about what they wear however i didn't expect it at 3, 5 or 6 maybe but not yet.

In june Harrys a page boy for my friend at her wedding, he will have to wear a suit and actually go and be fitted for it in the next few weeks, i can jsut see him having a meltdown when we have to do this. Which will not be fun.

Any advice greatly appreciated :)

Love Lucy x

our brave boy

Hiya all,

Something I've not shut up about over the last few weeks is Harry's op, its helped to write things down and talk about things on twitter with you all.

Sunday came and i felt sick all day, we went to visit Gareth's nan and grandads house, came home had dinner, i took my mom and dad to church for my uncles memorial service and me and harry went to my brothers house to see there new rabbit. I tried to keep busy to keep my mind off Monday, it helped a little. But it was still looming. Sunday night we packed Harry off to bed, and i just felt like the worst parent in the world, he didn't no anything of what was going to happen the next day really. We packed our bags, bits and bobs he may need in the hospital (as usual i over packed) When we got into bed, neither me or Gareth could sleep, we eventually nodded off but woke to see each hour that passed.

6am we were up.

As with most anaesthetic, you cant have anything to eat for 6 hours before (maybe more) Harry was nil by mouth from 12 midnight, but he last ate at roughly 7pm on the Sunday night, then only water from 12 midnight to 7am. Then he was not aloud nothing at all after. He asked for breakfast and a cup of tea as usual when he got up. We told him that he had to drink some 'magic water' because we were going to the hospital for the Dr's and nurses to fix his eye, and that the magic water would help. And that when we got home later on he could have a big bowl of breakie (it is amazing how you suddenly just roll off this stream of lies when your under pressure)

All week we had been talking about it with him, how he would be going to the hospital, explaining that the Dr's would be looking at his eyes and fixing the poorly one. He was happy with that, even asking if they could fix his poorly knee too (he fell down on a walk and scraped it in the week)

It takes about 25mins to get from our house to the hospital and we got there about 7:30am. We got out the car and headed inside. The hospital was nice, it was the eye centre at city hospital in Birmingham, it was a nice separate centre specialising in all the eye treatments.

We headed for the day surgery unit and booked in, then sat in the waiting area. We had been told that on the children's unit it goes on age who goes down 1st for procedures. Me and Gareth were looking round and there were 4 other 'kids' i say that because 3 of them were not actually kids, but teens, and one was about 4 which meant Harry would be 1st.

Harry was pretending to be asleep, his favourite trick every time we go to a hospital or Dr's. Then a nurse came and asked for all the children and there parents to follow her to the children's ward.

Walking through a doorway covered in stars, i was very shocked at how nice and bright the children's ward was. Each child had there own bed and area, there names were above the bed, and on the bed the nurses had placed toys and games specially for each child's age range, Harry ran right over to a little table and chairs by his bed and started playing. There was a tv playing cbeebies (much to the older teens disappointment).

 

As soon as we had taken his coat off the nurse was there to put on his anaesthetic cream, they put blobs of cream ontop of each hand, and cover it with a clear plaster, it numbs the skin, so when they put the iv in the children cant feel it. They also attached a wristband, which the nurse pretended was a magic watch. Harry then continued to play.

The next lady round was the anaesthetist, she was very nice and noticed from Harry's notes that it had just been his birthday, she asked what he had for his birthday, but he was rather shy and just replied 'big toe cake' we then had to explain what a 'big toe' cake was (mushroom from super Mario!) She explained that they would try and put a iv in to put the anaesthetic in, but as his veins may not be easy to get to on his hand they may use gas 1st.

Next along was the surgeon, who didn't really say much to us, just that they were going to probe his tear duct, then flush it through to try and remove the infection or blockage which ever it was that was causing the problem. He said Harry would be 1st down as he was the youngest. He asked if we had any questions but i couldn't think of any at the time (isn't it always the way!)

The ward had 5 beds in and a desk where the 2 nurses worked from. As the ward was so small, we could hear all the conversations that were going on, and especially if your extremely nosey like me, you can definitely hear everything. There was a fuss being kicked up by the surgeon because there was some of Harry's paperwork missing, que the nurses frantically calling all over the hospital to all different departments saying how they need his paperwork urgently, they were told some of it was at our local hospital so they would need to send a taxi to go fetch it, and that he would be pushed to bottom of the list because they couldn't do the surgery without the full paperwork, or maybe even cancelling it to another time if they couldn't get it in time. I was about to say il go and fetch it myself, when a rather puffed out lady appeared at the doorway clutching Harry's records, she had raced from the children's hospital over the way and got them and ran back, they had been sent to the wrong ward! arrrhhh.

Because of all the fuss, Harry was changed from 1st to 2nd in the surgery list. The little boy went down 1st, then it was time for Harry to have his gown on. We were told to take everything off  him and just leave pants and socks on under the gown. He was less that happy about this, he just wanted to play. We finally managed to get it on him, and then the phone rang to say it was his time to go down.

Gareth carried him down the corridor and into the side room where there was bed waiting for him, he was carrying fireman SAM with him, i was holding his 'shlur' (manky blue blanket, that he calls shlur) He didn't want to go onto the bed, so Gareth held him all the time. A male nurse came out and spoke with us, asked a few questions and then said it was time to go, only one parent is aloud in the room when there put to sleep, Gareth looked at me and said 'il take him, dont want you getting upset and then worrying him' i was very proud of him for making this decision, he was so right. As soon as they walked off through the door i was in tears.

I was outside the door, waiting for the screams if I'm honest, him refusing to co operate etc. I however didn't hear any. They asked him if he would like to play hide and seek, Harry said yes, so they told him to close his eyes and as he closed his eyes, they put the mask by his mouth for him to breath some gas in they told him to count, and he got to 2 and was fast asleep. Gareth kissed him and laid him on the bed. He and the nurse then came out to me, and we walked back to the ward, the nurse and Gareth both telling me how brave he was and how he didn't make a ounce of fuss at all.

This eased my worry, for the next 20mins i clutched Harry blanket as we waited to go collect him, i cried, but i tried to hold it together, after about 25mins me and Gareth walked down to the surgery area from the ward and waited to be called in. The nurse from our ward came round the corner with one of the teens who was due to go down next, she took Harry's blanket out my hand and took it through for us so it would be there for when he woke up. Another 5mins and the door opened, 'hes awake, come through' i practically pushed the male nurse out the way to get to my boy. Gareth wasn't aloud in due to one parent only rule (rather annoying and unfair i think).

Harry was sobbing his heart out, i cried again, the nurse had him on her lap cuddling him, i grabbed him right up and squeezed him so tightly i was so relived to see him. The nurse let me sit where she had been sitting with him and i rocked and cuddled him.

The nurse explained the reason why he was so flustered was that normally children (and adults too) come round from anaesthetic slowly and wake up very sleepy and gradually work themselves back up to strength which gives the nurses chance to let the parent back in so there there when the child's coming round, not Harry, nope, he had woke right up from it and tried to get right up, and seeing me or his dad wasn't there he panicked.

Within a minute or so i had talked him round and told him how he was the most amazing boy in the world and how he was so very brave and how he had lots of surprises at home waiting for him. All he kept asking was to 'go play with toys' which meant back on the ward. They had to make sure his heart rate was ok, so they tested a few times and was happy with it. They made a special exception to the 'one parent' rule and let Gareth back in, and Gareth carried him back to the ward, all the time Harry was pointing the way saying 'go play with toys in there' pointing to the ward.

We got back to the ward and the 2nd nurse even remarked 'has he even been to surgery, hes very lively' A few minutes of cuddles later and he was playing with the toys, back to his normal self. He had a mark on his eye, and some iodine stains, but apart from that you couldn't tell anything had happened.

 

Harry was given juice, toast, biscuits and a cake, to eat and drink. He enjoyed a bit of everything and then asked to go for a wee wee. So Gareth took him to the toilet, when he got back, the nurse said he could get dressed, so we put his clothes back on. Before they discharge you, they have to see the child, eat, drink and wee. Because Harry had done all this he could go home. He had been 2nd down but 1st to be discharged

The nurse gave Harry a award for being so brave, i was so proud. They gave us our paperwork and said we would have a follow up appointment in 6 weeks for a check up and we were free to leave.

 

It could not have gone any better if we wanted it to. I was so proud of our brave boy and so very grateful to the amazing staff at the hospital, they treat the children and there parents amazingly and make a worrying experience so much easier on everyone. They were stars.

on our way home

Back home Harry was very spoilt with a goodie box me and Gareth had made up of little bits. My sister in law then came to see how he was, and brought him 2 new trucks.

A lovely surprise was waiting for Harry too, i cant thank the very lovely Emma (and seb & alex too) enough from 'they grow so quick' she had very kindly and thoughtfully put together a parcel of goodies and sent them to Harry, a fireman Sam activity pack, sweeties, and a lovely personalised card. All wrapped up in a spotty parcel bag. This was such a lovely gesture from her, and i cant say thank you enough. Harry loved it.

Ive had lots and lots of lovely messages, tweets and comments for both me and harry regarding the op and i am just so grateful for them all. I no Ive not got round to replying and thanking you all separately, but it honestly made the whole thing so much easier and was so lovely to know that you were all thinking of us and sending wishes. Thank you again.

I would also like to mention a book i brought for Harry, its a usborne book, 'going to the hospital' and it arrived today (bit late i know) but i would definitely recommend it for any children facing a op, it tells the story of Ben Bell who has to have a op on his ear, and it shows all the different process, from going to the Dr's, being refered to the hospital, going onto a ward, having anaesthetic and then recovering and going home. Harry enjoyed reading it today and we discussed how it was like what happened to him yesterday.

Once this week is over, I'm hoping the blogging may become more frequent.

Thanks for sticking with me and readings, i didn't realise how much i had wrote, but i hope this can help someone else who's facing there child having a op.

Love Lucy x