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.

A Different Kinda January.

7th Jan 20207th Jan 2020 ~ lifewithmytribe ~ Leave a comment

I’ve never been one to set any new years resolutions and I definitely don’t buy the whole ‘new year new me’ thing but after finding myself back on anti depressants shortly before Christmas I told myself that I would start 2020 differently to how I have every other year. The first week of January has been a slow one as Lily is only just returning to school tomorrow on the 8th, so there’s been no clean eating or early get ups here as yet, we’ve made the most of duvet days and trashy TV (mainly Gavin & Stacey on repeat x100 – our favourite!) with the left over Christmas goodies (Lil’s found herself quite partial to J2o’s and childrens wine aka Schloer!)

I start buying in the January sales for the coming Christmas as I just find it takes the strain off a little and makes Christmas shopping enjoyable rather than a chore, but at the same time I haven’t gone tooooo mad as I wanted to try something which I’ve seen a lot of people talk about – no spend days. No spend days are pretty self explanatory and whilst you have kids they could prove quite hard to do but there was no better time for me to try this than now as we have all of our essentials stocked up from our big Christmas supermarket shop therefore meals are planned, nappies and wipes are already in and the toiletries/cleaning cupboards are full. As most of you will know we are (slowly) renovating and I have a major soft spot for home decor buying but I’m putting it all aside until February…. even more so because we have Lily’s birthday later on this month and children’s birthdays these days are something else!!

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Talking of Lily, she’s back at school tomorrow and how emotional I feel about it is on par with starting a new school year in September, I really don’t want her to go back. One thing I tried to do more of during Christmas and New Year is reflect, I think it’s super important to do so and this Christmas Lily’s understood more and because of that she’s not just opened presents and that’s that, she’s said thank you for them, she’s shown us she understands the purpose of giving but not giving to recieve, she’s woke up in a morning and asked if Dad’s at work so we can watch a movie as a family with all of the lovely Christmas food and drinks in that we don’t usually buy all year round and we’ve danced around the kitchen like loons to random requests we’ve all given to Alexa (one thing I won’t miss is Lil saying ‘Alexa, play Jojo Siwa’ ha!) I feel like Christmas 2019 was the year that memories were made for her and traditions were set in stone for her and not just us as parents…. if that makes sense.

I’m determined not to put any pressure on myself to feel anything that doesn’t come naturally this year, like I said I don’t set resolutions and things but I do just want to make the commitment to myself to ‘work on me’ and be the greatest, happiest version of myself so that my babies benefit from that entirely. Fully aware I’m going off on a tangent now as ever, so I’ll leave it there. Happy New Year everyone, be kind to yourselves!

With Love,