My Rules

I have lots of notes up in front of me.  And lists.  I have just collated them.  as follows

Be engaged, Curious, Vibrant and Brave.
do yoga every day
eat clean food
do art projects
organise parties
create great art
get people together - get people to know each other a bit better
have fun
enjoy life
be grateful
inspire yourself and others to shine
eat outside. eat together
travel
do what you love
help people
make friends
give of yourself
listen
think the best of people
be yourself. don't pretend
seize the scary stuff
do something different
be optimistic
do less
get excited
be uncommon
play
get into the arena
go outside your comfort zone
believe in magic
know when to walk away
trust the universe
buy local

the postive outlook on it

things to be glad about

my beautiful healthy son
a roof over our head with the right amount of rooms for our family
my time which I will have more of
my creativitiy which can start from nothing and bound off into limitless things
i have a studio full of paint
the nhs
living in brighton  - its such a cool place to be
my parents who are such go getters and set me such a great example of living well
my brother is happy again
i am essentially healthy
i can choose how I get to be
i have great friends who are really lovely, beautiful and supportive
i have a great online community which is likewise beautiful and supportive
I am going to Call of the Wild Soul art retreat in September with flora bowley and lisa
I can travel
As bub goes to school in September I will have even more time to create a living and art
invited to Ibiza to stay with good friends
i have a great job (plural actually)
i am loved
i love
i know how to cook great food

attitude of gratitude

I was flicking through Elle Dec this evening.  And pondering interiors, like you do.  Then I pondered generally about the things that 'need to be done' to the house.  Like fix the shower, decide on the bedroom layout, plaster the hallway ceiling and all.....  And I just thought, you know, I am spending a lot of time thinking about what needs to get put right.  And a lot of time thinking about how I want things, and how these wants are generally different to the way things actually are.

And while its good to aim high and sort out the annoying things.  Its also good to stop and smell the roses.

Its time to be a bit grateful.  I haven't done a "5 things I am grateful for" for ages.  So I thought it was about time.  I am aiming for specific things.  There are a lot of general things I could write every day, you know, like; my health, my son's existence, my husband, a roof over my head, music, art etc.  But it would be rather similar every day.  I want to spend some time thinking about specific little things that are already great. Or were specifically great today. 

So, without further ado

Today I am grateful for

My friends who came to visit me in the gallery today and brought me a coffee and stopped for a chat.  I went to univeristy with these guys and we are still friends.  Cool. 

The amazing projection show at the Pepperpot (local landmark) that we popped out to see, which was part of the White Night event taking place this evening.  I am so glad that White Night exists in Brighton.  What an awesome idea it is. 

Hearing how my son joined in and shouted "GHOSTBUSTERS!!" really really loudly with all the other children, you know, when the song asked who ya gonna call??....  I just love that he and Hub went to that kids screening of the film.  And that the staff dressed up. And that it's Halloween tomorrow and Brighton is all excited about it.

My new Jessica nail polish.  It was a birthday present from a friend, a new friend, and someone I really like, and who has a family we all get along with.  We went round for a fabulous Sunday roast last week.  All of us.  Me and Hub and Bub.  I love that we all could socialise together  And its pretty awesome nail polish too.  Its still here after 2 days of hard use.  I have been washing up and everything and its not even chipped.  Impressive.  And dark and gothic and purpley black too.  Good gift.

So lastly, I am grateful for another year here on this planet. And for the fact that I really enjoyed my birthday.  I had a little gathering in the evening.  I feel like I haven't had any sort of gathering, that I have organised, for sooooo long.  Which is really weird because I used to do it all the time.  But people came and I enjoyed it a lot.  It reminded me that I could do it.  And that it was good to do it.  And that birthdays are for sharing and celebrating (however er, *young*, you maybe)

accentuating the positive again

I had a bad day yesterday.  it made me think of ALL the bad things in my life.  And all that happened is that I cried a lot and felt miserable. I drank wine, ate chocolate and croissants and shopping. But I still felt miserable.

I read a post today by Lizzie about her brother in law (you can read the post here) who is from the Middle East. He had never been to London before and was thrilled.  He and his colleagues were SO excited about the prospect of democracy in Egypt.  And their praise for the UK.  He loved the 'system' and how everyone knew how to join in to it.  Not something any of us would come up with really I am sure.  But how much we take for granted.  We live in a country where by enlarge people are law abiding, where we have a democracy, where we have systems that generally work.  Where we can walk safely in the streets.  Where women can work for a living and have rights.  Where there is little threat of bombs or shelling or violence.  We have healthcare and education.  We have traffic that stops at the lights.  These are all things that we just do not even take any notice of most of the time.  Or if we do, we criticise that it is all not working better.  We don't stop to think on how marvellous it is that it is working at all. 

And so I am hauling my sorry arse back into the land of thinking of the positive things in my life, and how lucky I am to live in the UK.  How lucky I am to be healthy. How lucky I am to have a healthy child.  There is much to be grateful for in this life of mine.  And I need to start appreciating what I have and stop having a big old pity party for the things I don't.

I am getting more and more excited by the Handmade Weddings idea.  Its probably being done.... but hey.  I can still think about it. And to be honest there is little I enjoy more than ideas!  Especially good ones.

top loveliness for Monday

Here we go my lovelies!  Today I am writing about my favourite bits of today.  It was Valentines of course.  So we treated ourselves a bit.

Brunch at Bills.  OMI.  I have mentioned this before, but seriously folks "I WANT MY LIFE TO BE LIKE BILLS'  they have hit the nail on the head with everything as far as I am concerned.  Lovely tables, good sized portions of great ingredients cooked well.  Nice wooden tables.  Just ooh lovely.  That was our Valentines outing as Hub is snowed under with work at the moment.  But it was good. 

After that I went for a bit of a wander in town.  Not done this really for years it feels like.  I am usually in a hurry or with Bub.  And I bought myself a dress.  I don't actually have it yet as I didn't have the money on me, so I have reserved it to pick up tomorrow.  Bit of a treat.  And actually a winter dress so won't be wearing it really until next Christmas.  But its a gorgeous velvet tunic style dress in a deep but not quite black colour.  It was on sale,  £65 down from £235.  So a splurge but not a full price one!  It is utterly lovely and I hope timeless in that  - well I think every lady needs a gorgeous party frock.  And it is very evening. I hope that it will last me years and years.  And its tunic style is forgivng.  Not going to be growing out of this one!

I also treated myself to some hemp powder protein and some spirulina.  Not a treat for some lets face it, but I do like concocting my super smoothies and these feel just right for doing it.  Had one for supper.  Apple juice, half an avocado, a banana and a heaped teaspoon of both of the above.  Deelish. 

Bub and I had a rather nice relaxed afternoon with no hideous power struggles (something of a thing, of late) We all as a family went to the Dover Castle for a mid afternoon snack (late lunch following the large late breakfast!).  Hub went back to work after, but Bub and I stayed and spent a good hour or so building 'houses' out of dominoes. 

This evening I went to my Yoga class.  Jim, the main teacher is away and the class was being covered.  I was very inspired by the cover teacher.  She looked kind of like my mum.  As in elderly and very very apple shaped.  Not someone you would think would be able to do the positions she could do.  I guess she is a graduate of his yoga school and she was really really good.  I am so looking forward to being an inspiring old lady like her!

3 favourite things of today (or more maybe it was a good'un

Today was a good day.  Bub and I went up to the Southbank (BRILLIANT PLACE - never went there when I lived in London.... ) to meet up with Amelia (who organised it as part of the Experimental Art Course she runs), Concetta and various other Experimental Artists to chat and do a really fun photography assignment.  36 photos in 36 minutes.  I think I may well have taken more than 36 but having Bub with me kind of helped me lose count.  My excuse anyway. So some favourite bits of today.

1. getting to go to London and discover how cool the Southbank was - and just going on an ADVENTURE with Bub - always such fun

2. Bub's face going on the Jubilee line tube train for the first time ever
3. Meeting Amelia and Concetta in person  - and some other lovely ladies whom I have virtually met only on Flickr; The Rachel Papers, Banky Moon (Leslie Ann) and Beth and Sarah..
4. Lots of fun taking crazy photos and getting very positive feed back on them! 

extra post on gratitude

CAn't help meself.  I have already posted today.  BUT I read this by Andrea about gratitude, and how her son calls it 'remembering his favourite bits of the day' and I just thought, yes, that's it.  Its about remembering the best bits....  And that's important (especially when you had a day like I did today  - already written and deleted for just being too damn whingy 2 posts about today) SO instead.  My favourite bits of today....

Waking up with Bub cheerily saying GOOD MORNING MUMMY!

Bub and M laughing hysterically at breakfast making up songs based on "Hong Kong Pooey"  (Hong Kong wee wee',  Hong Kong bum bum, etc etc) not that the songs were funny, but their laughing was joyously delightful. 

Talking to B about her lavender filled bunting and feeling inspiration to setting up a Vintage Wedding Supplies online store.

Bub running to the park really fast

Making Easy Peasy Pizza with M and Bub (they were SOOO into it and evidently really proud of the results that I brought out of the oven to serve them for their dinner)

Nice glass of wine and a Cadburys Flake

Hot bath

Bed early.  Book soon. 

accentuate the positive

Taking a tip from WHAMH, a blog I love to read, I am going to do 3 things to appreciate and love.  Today. 
1. I loved how when I did the Playgroup today, so many ladies came and complimented me on my husband (who gamely ran the cafe last week while I was away) it makes me glow with warm pride to think of him holding court with the mamas of Hanover and making everyone tea.
2. Given my mission of late, I love the Blue Dog Gallery, who have asked me to step in on Sunday and do another shift.  Aside from the money, Sunday is the shortest shift of the week.  It will hopefully be a bit busy as its the weekend and, I am sure I will still have time to sketch and think about stuff.
3. Am going to go for Hub again today, for looking so spiffing with his big duffle coat on.  Aw. 

I am thinking a lot about how i will need to proper focus on my Yoga in order to come out the other side of this course with the results I want.  This isn't casual.  I am going to have to be taking it very seriously (in a light hearted yogic sort of way of course)  I will have to make time for it.

And I have been thinking about my art. And blogging.  and how, perhaps, if I gave it the forethought it could do with, then perhaps I could make something of this too.  I mean, I love doing it, and I do it in a very unthought out sort of way. And much of it is truly my ramblings.  I just think I could create something proper nice, oh and my website too. I don't think I am generally doing my self justice. 

thoughts.  I am looking forward to the UK blogger meet up though.  That will be very exciting. And I am scheduled to meet Kat too.  Wahay.  Though so far this month my social life has been subsumed by work.  And tomorrrow I am still not getting to London to see my dear friend J and wander around galleries. 

xxM

working working working

Am off tomorrow for 2 days of SOLID work.  These are going to be long ole days.  With commuting.  I a grateful for Hub and my friend S and mummy friend M who will be looking after Bub while I am gone.  I am very happy for all of them know him so very well.  I am relaxed that he will be well cared for.  I am grateful to the Universe for providing me with this opportunity to make some money for our household.  And that it can be in such a fun way too.  The weekend bodes two third birthday parties for 2 of Bub's good friends too.  Whew! Busy Busy.