Friday, April 18, 2014
Monday, April 14, 2014
Most perfect rose, thanks @flowerfactorysoton / on Instagram...
Most perfect rose, thanks @flowerfactorysoton / on Instagram http://ift.tt/1qwEoYp
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Saturday, April 12, 2014
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Monster, Baby
At the checkout desk:
Toddler #1 [holding a DVD]: “I like baby monster. I like it a lot.”
Toddler #2: “I like baby monster, too.”
Mother [to me]: “They mean Baby Mozart.”
Toddler #1: “Baby Mostarrr.”
Toddler #2: “Baby Monzter.”
Me [to toddlers]: “I like it better your way, little guys.”
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Friday, March 28, 2014
"“How to talk to your daughter about her body, step one: don’t talk to your daughter about her body,..."
“How to talk to your daughter about her body, step one: don’t talk to your daughter about her body, except to teach her how it works. Don’t say anything if she’s lost weight. Don’t say anything if she’s gained weight.
If you think your daughter’s body looks amazing, don’t say that. Here are some things you can say instead:
“You look so healthy!” is a great one.
Or how about, “you’re looking so strong.”
“I can see how happy you are – you’re glowing.”
Better yet, compliment her on something that has nothing to do with her body.
Don’t comment on other women’s bodies either. Nope. Not a single comment, not a nice one or a mean one.
Teach her about kindness towards others, but also kindness towards yourself.
Don’t you dare talk about how much you hate your body in front of your daughter, or talk about your new diet. In fact, don’t go on a diet in front of your daughter. Buy healthy food. Cook healthy meals. But don’t say “I’m not eating carbs right now.” Your daughter should never think that carbs are evil, because shame over what you eat only leads to shame about yourself.
Encourage your daughter to run because it makes her feel less stressed. Encourage your daughter to climb mountains because there is nowhere better to explore your spirituality than the peak of the universe. Encourage your daughter to surf, or rock climb, or mountain bike because it scares her and that’s a good thing sometimes.
Help your daughter love soccer or rowing or hockey because sports make her a better leader and a more confident woman. Explain that no matter how old you get, you’ll never stop needing good teamwork. Never make her play a sport she isn’t absolutely in love with.
Prove to your daughter that women don’t need men to move their furniture.
Teach your daughter how to cook kale.
Teach your daughter how to bake chocolate cake made with six sticks of butter.
Pass on your own mom’s recipe for Christmas morning coffee cake. Pass on your love of being outside.
Maybe you and your daughter both have thick thighs or wide ribcages. It’s easy to hate these non-size zero body parts. Don’t. Tell your daughter that with her legs she can run a marathon if she wants to, and her ribcage is nothing but a carrying case for strong lungs. She can scream and she can sing and she can lift up the world, if she wants.
Remind your daughter that the best thing she can do with her body is to use it to mobilize her beautiful soul.
”
-
(via ittaco)
wow well this made me fucking bawl my eyes out
(via bewarethefrozen-heart)
This
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Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Lent 22: Laughing
Dear Friends,
It had been a hard week. Church politics, busy times at work. I'd been feeling drained. So tired.
So I wasn't really looking forward to being polite all evening whilst I sat through more board games.
But,
You're all so welcoming, so eager to make me feel included. The food was tasty and gradually I started to unwind.
Then you brought out the trump card. Cards Against Humanity.
This is definitely a game you can only play with good friends. It is not, and I repeat not, one to play with your parents.
If you've not played it before, well, how would I even begin to describe it? The card czar reads a question like " I was late to work because..." from a pile of black cards and we have to use one of our ten white cards to finish the statement, or answer the question. One of the very first white cards I picked up was "Queen Elizabeth II's immaculate anus" And that's one of the cleaner ones.
Everyone submits their answers face down, and the card czar then reads them out in turn, picking a winner. The winner gets points, the most points wins. The card czar rotates each round, so we all had a turn at reading out the stupid, crass, rude and hiliarious statements.
And how I laughed. Laughed and laughed and laughed. Tears streaming from my face as the statements got closer to the bone and sillier and sillier. We were certainly spoilt by having two very good mimics in the group, who when card czar would put on great voices to read the statements.
I think I fell off my chair laughing.
It was certainly what the doctor ordered that week.
So thank you nice friends.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Lent 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Plan a party
Tom and I were talking about this just the other day. Where he's been away, we've not done our usual gamut of entertaining. But I like to think our predilection for it is rubbing off on others. Friday often see us traipsing around Southampton to a different friends house for food and games and laughter.
It doesn't have to be big, or fancy. It's normally a simple pasta bake or takeaway. But I love being with people.
I'd still like a party later in the year though. I'd like a summer afternoon garden party, where people can drop in and out. Where the BBQ is going and the pink fizzy wine is chilled and people are laughing and lazing outside.
Will work on that.
Lent 18: Listening
Listen to your inner child: what does she want to do today?
I want to play with a friend today. Fortunately, this will happen, as Nicky is coming over to learn how to knit, and I have the ingredients all ready to go for a Greek feast for dinner.
What do you hear when you hear silence?
There's the buzz of computers, and the chatter of typing and the whirr of a strimmer outside.
I can just hear birds chirping too.
Lent 19: Sharing
This prompt suggesting sharing one of my blog posts with someone else and discussing it. I think I've already covered this one, as some of the lovely ladies at church have found this blog through Facebook and have been reading along - *waves*
We talked about children's books and which ones I loved that they had read to their children.
Lent 20: Charming
Be your best self and turn on the charm to make someone feel extra special.
I love charm. I think it's underated. It's like the oil that keeps the wheels of the world running smoothly. When I think of all the people who annoy me, it's usually because they have no charm, tact or diplomacy.
I know honesty is the best policy et al, but I think you can be honest in a charming way.
I will never be a great beauty, or a have great power, but I know how to use charm to work a room, and control a crowd. Charm helps when consulting with people, charm helps when in a meeting to bring people with you and get what you want.
But how to be charming? It's being gracious, listening to others, smiling, thinking before you speak, paying attention, observing and responding in a way you would want others to respond to you.
Lent 21: Surprising
This prompt wants me to surprise the neighbours. I don't know if I'll manage it tonight, but I like the idea of leaving flowers on their doorstep!
Friday, March 21, 2014
Marsha Smith @ Nottingham Contemporary TEDxLacemarket #tedxlm
Marsha Smith @ Nottingham Contemporary TEDxLacemarket #tedxlm
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Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Feeling loved
Thanks Todd and Adam for evening of food, laughter and figure skating movies. X
Lent 16: Giving
What is the most surprising gift you’ve ever gotten?
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Lent 14: Reading
Lent 15: Receiving
List some things you received today. Did you consciously accept these gifts?
Monday, March 17, 2014
Lent 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
I love creating. I love making. I want to own the title 'Maker' I like how it feels to make it myself. I astonished myself when I made my King and I dress - mum bought me the fabric, patterns and notions and said - you can make this, and I did. It involved elasticated puffed off the shoulder sleeve with the elastic hidden from view. My first piece of serious dress making.
I astonished myself when I made a patchwork quilt for the first time - how satisfying it was to make, how lovely it looked when I finished. It was one of the first things I made where the end product was as satisfying as the process. I wanted to keep the finished object.
I astonished myself with Tom's Robin costume - it came out looking so good! So professional.
What have I learnt? To take things slowly and concentrate on the finish. Bind the seams. Pink the edges.
Lent 9: Inspiring
Lent 10: Loving
Write some affirmations for yourself. Post some pictures of those you love.
I am loved. I am working hard. I have lots to give. I have happiness.
Lent 11: Dreaming
What is your personal dream? What would happen if your dream came true? Have you ever had a dream come true? Have you ever had to let go of a dream?
I dream of a big house filled with friends and family eating. If it came true, I would be very happy indeed. We would need to move to make this dream come true, and possibly start our own family.
I can't think of a specific dream that has come true. There are fragments here and there. Drinking prosecco in a lakeside cafe in Italy. Driving along in a soft top car with the roof down with big sunglasses on. Dancing all night in a swirly skirt to a live band.
I let go of the dream of doing post graduate study. When I was at university, I thought this would be my future. But when the time came, I didn't have the money, I didn't want to move to Durham. So I stayed in Southampton and got a job. Whilst I didn't enjoy every day of that job, it gave me the skills for my current job, which I adore, and am good at. And so it feels like everything worked out.
Lent 12: Procrastinating
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Lent 7: Playing
I was so glad I did. She and my dad were really pleased to see me, and I was another person who'd dropped in like many others that day to say hello to Mum on her birthday. I'd stopped for cake when I filled up the car with diesel, and ended up bringing profiteroles, crisps, beetroot dip and hummus to the party.
One of Mum's longstanding friends and her daughter joined us much later in the eve, and we had a lovely evening jabbering away and helping my dad with his essay.
I'm very very glad I didn't clean my kitchen. I love my parents very much.
Lent 7: Playing.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Lent 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Lent 2: Organising.
I'm fairly organised in terms of real life planning, especially after the invention of Google Calender et al, that remind me on my phone about things and let me share plans with Tom.
I'm rubbish at keeping my house clutter free. I know roughly where everything is, but I just end up with piles and piles of stuff.
I've made a start by clearing out some clothes that don't fit or I no longer wear from my wardrobe, after spending a year using the "If I wear it put it one end of the wardrobe, put things I don't wear the other" It made choosing easy, just looked at the left side of the wardrobe and went, "Nah, doesn't fit, don't like it...." so if you're a 12 - 14, and want first dibs, let me know, otherwise it's all going to the charity shop.
I'm going to deep clean the kitchen tonight when I get in too - I know, so glamorous.
Lent 3: Writing
Write a love letter to yourself in one year
This is the kind of thing I find very hard, because like most people I think, I'm not that fond of myself most of the time.
Dear Alex,
You are loved. Whilst I can't predict how 2014 went for you, I know you will have been loved. By your husband, your friends, your family.
I know that you don't feel like you work hard enough or achieve enough, but I want you to know that you will have always tried your best, even if it doesn't always feel that way, because you care deeply about doing the right thing.
Take some time to plan an epic party with all your friends, because nothing makes you happier than eating and drinking and chatting and laughing with those you love.
Love
Alex.
Lent 4: Forgiveness
Who and what are you ready to let go of resentment towards?
Again another toughy. I like to think of myself as a person who doesn't hold grudges. But here it goes.
I want to let go of my resentment towards old school friends who've had children. Just because I'm not in the place to have kids yet, and I don't know if I can have any doens't mean I should feel resentful of their lives. Given how little I talk to them, and how little I know about their lives, I don't know if they chose to have kids, wanted them and so on and so forth.
I want to let go of resentment towards friends that have decided they don't want to see us anymore. There are a couple of people in particular who don't keep in touch, or want to come out any more, and it hurts. I want to reach a place where I'm ok with that, and be happy that they're happy doing new things.
Lent 5: Rocking out
Sounds of my year so far.
Blog, you know I'm not one for music. I shall give you but one song.
Lent 6: Adventuring
This is about doing something new - depending on what time I get, I may go adventuring this evening on my own, or I shall try and do so this week. I shall report back. Hold me to this.
Thursday, March 06, 2014
Wednesday, March 05, 2014
Lent 1 Remembering
March 2009, I was living in the Palace, working for the web design company. Tom had just asked me to move in with him. I was creating lots. I was nervous and excited about the future.
March 2010. I was living at the Curry house and planning our wedding. Still working at the web design company. Trying to raise money to save the chaplaincy and starting to get involved at Church. Still creating.
I don't remember much detail. Long hours at work, cycling across Southampton, plenty of parties, travelling to France, redecorating the Curry house, marveling at building a home with Tom. Deciding the world of sales wasn't for me. Having three jobs at one point.
Some very painful moments. Some very proud moments.
Saturday, March 01, 2014
knittedart: Four projects knitted by our very own Ángela Gómez...
Four projects knitted by our very own Ángela Gómez Ortega / Quatre projets tricotés par notre Ángela Gómez Ortega
Love this
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