School’s Out For Christmas!

18th Dec 202019th Dec 2020 ~ lifewithmytribe ~ Leave a comment

The uniform is washed, ironed and hung back up in the wardrobe, the Christmas nibbles are making an appearance and we plan on living in nothing but our pyjamas for the next couple of weeks. This year is so different for everyone, and because of that it hasn’t really felt like Christmas to me until today, I mean, I love being festive and we’ve had the tree up since early November but I guess it’s just been a fake it ’til you make it situ for me until now. Anyone would think we’ve spent enough time at home this year but the break from the school routine was much needed for me! I’m starting to think a lot about this year now it’s coming to an end and I’m really digging deep to think about the things I’m grateful for and things I/we have achieved this year – the ultimate being that we are all here and healthy obviously, but when you really sit and think about it there is so much we can all be thankful for.

I’ve panicked and stressed over this Christmas more than I usually would which has done me no favours at all, but now I’m in a much more positive place with it all. I think it’s just been the uncertainty of it all, would we be able to see our loved ones? will the shops be open so I can buy gifts? is everyone going to stockpile again? I’m always quite organised anyway when it comes to Christmas so in hindsight I probably didn’t need to stress as much as I have done but that’s easy for me to say when my anxiety isn’t rearing it’s ugly head, I think not just as parents but as human beings in general we can be so harsh on ourselves sometimes and although I don’t ever make new years resolutions as such, in 2021 I want to be kinder to myself and stop beating myself up over the tiniest of things.

I cannot wait to get the big Christmas food shop done and indulge in the ‘special’ things that we don’t get all year round, and being all cosied up on the sofa watching the kids pester Ash for a screwdriver and the battery box with a Christmas Special of some kind on the TV. I could waffle on for an age but I haven’t yet wrapped a single present of the kids so I best crack on. Whatever you find yourself doing this Christmas just go easy on yourself, reach out if you need too, embrace how different this year is and strip it back to what really matters.

Merry Christmas,

Our Book Advent.

25th Nov 2020 ~ lifewithmytribe ~ Leave a comment

Hey everyone!

Anyone that knows me will know just how much I love books, I’m a bookaholic and I get just as much enjoyment buying books for the kids as I do for myself so I wanted to try something different this year in terms of the kids advent calendars because as much as they love chocolate they already have a chocolate advent calendar off relatives so to switch it up I’ve decided to make them a countdown to Christmas using books, this way I feel like the countdown and excitement lasts all day as they’ll have their chocolate advent in the morning and can choose a book to unwrap and read at bedtime, and we all need that added bit of magic this year don’t we? I’ve seen some book advents in shops but I didn’t want a themed or branded one as I’d seen so many different story books based around Christmas that I really wanted to make our festive book collection unique to us and special for when Lily & Teddy are parents themselves and can pass the books on.

Now, I am SO sentimental so I’ve decided to start from scratch with ours and buy each book from new however there is absolutely no need to do that as there are various different ways you can keep the cost down.

Visit charity shops –

A lot of people are clearing out toys and books that their own household have outgrown in time for Christmas so you may stumble across some Christmas books in there, all whilst doing your bit for charity – win win.

Use books you already own –

Don’t feel the need to go out and buy 24/25 brand new books, start with the ones you already have and bulk it out with a few new additions, this keeps it exciting and makes your book collection grow year on year.

Look for book offers and deals –

With our advent I’ve had some brilliant offers with the books. The Works have a three for £5 deal and a ten for £10 and I feel like they have a super range of books, some traditional, some meaningful, some funny and some based on TV characters (I picked up a Topsy and Tim one in my deal). I know that The Works have some bundle deals online but if you go in to a store you can mix and match yourself which I found helpful. I have also picked up a handful of books from Home Bargains for 79p each and they’re so relevant and suitable for the age Lily and Teddy are at, it’s always worth a look in there and other bargain shops too.

It’s always a good idea to get an extra roll of wrapping paper in if you’re going to do a book advent, as I really like the idea of not knowing which one you’re going to pick out to read that night. I do plan on doing the elf on the shelf too (crazy I know!) but every couple of days he’s going to leave a prompt for us whilst we read our books such as make festive hot chocolate, grab a festive blanket, put the tree lights on whilst you read tonight, etc etc. I’m going to put the already opened books on display for the rest of the festive season so that the kids can revisit them as I think Lily would really like that, plus some of the front covers are way too pretty to be stashed away in a book box.

We have one special book for Christmas eve which is in Lily’s Christmas eve box off my mom, little does she know that she also has the same book in her Christmas eve box too (we do one for my mom in return) so that she can read it to them via facetime on Christmas Eve as we’re still deciding to keep mixing to an absolute minimum over the festive period in the hope that we can make up for it good and proper next Christmas.

Book Review | Some Kind Of Wonderful

5th May 20205th May 2020 ~ lifewithmytribe ~ Leave a comment

Some Kind Of Wonderful – Giovanna Fletcher

Fiction.

When the love of your life says you’re not The One, what next?

“After celebrating a decade together, everyone thinks Lizzy and Ian are about to get engaged.

Instead, a romantic escape to Dubai leaves Lizzy with no ring, no fiance and no future.

Lizzy is heartbroken – but through the tears she sees an opportunity. This is her moment to discover what she’s been missing while playing Ian’s ‘better half’.

But how much has Ian changed her, and who is she without him?

Lizzy sets out to rediscover the girl she was before – and, in the meantime, have a little fun…”

I’ve just finished reading this book and I love love love it. It’s my second Giovanna Fletcher book (the first one being Happy Mum Happy Baby) but this is a whole different kind of read mainly because it’s fiction, however it’s made me want to collect and read the rest of her collection. Being in lockdown with two young children and home learning with one of them it’s much harder for me to get stuck in to a book as much as I’d like; over Christmas I was reading one book a week because my other half was at home but it’s not that easy with him being a key worker, but still, I’m reading as much as my littles allow me too.

Anyway, from the get go Giovanna Fletcher has a way with her writing which just makes you feel as though you are Lizzy’s friend living in her world, watching everything unfold before her eyes. I found myself wanting it all to go right and work out for her and couldn’t wait to see what happens next.

I’ve always found Giovanna Fletcher to be so relateable in terms of motherhood but she also manages to imply this in to Some Kind Of Wonderful too and that makes me super excited to read her other books. One extract that really rang true to me was this: “I just want him to look at his life every now and then and reflect on how lucky he is. He might never be the richest, the smartest or the most good looking, but nothing comes from comparing. I want him to do things because he wants to do them, not because he feels like it’s the right step to getting somewhere else. I hope he realizes that his life already contains some kind of wonderful and embraces it.” – how beautiful are those words? I feel like she’s relateable as a writer not just as a mother but as a female and in this instance a young woman and anyone who’s at a little bit of a loss as to who they are or where they belong in the world.

It’s a book that certainly puts you through the emotions as the characters themselves go through them, it’s full of twists and turns meaning that you really do struggle to put the book down, and you as a reader do really want the best for Lizzy. I found it sort of empowering myself too read about Lizzy rediscovering herself and trying new things which I think is what we all need a bit of during these uncertain times. It oozes girl power, sass and is just such a refreshing read overall.

I can’t wait to carry on reading Giovanna Fletcher’s books after this one!

****/5