15/31 Timeline of you Day

8.00am
Little Miss will come into our bedroom with kisses and hugs while Little Man will be playing in his cot. We're very lucky to still get this kind of lay in and don't plan on changing it until the summer when we have to get ready for the new school run! Why not!?
8.15am
Little Man will be having his bottle and change while Little Miss will be eating her breakfast. Other Half and I get our breakfast around 9am or whenever we fancy.

10.00am
Little Man goes down for his first nap.
10.30am
Little Miss usually watches a film with us for a while before getting ready for school
11.00am
Little Miss gets ready for nursery, bag checks are done, hair is brushed and teeth are cleaned.
11.30am
Little Man usually wakes up so he'll be bundled in the buggy for the school run. He gets really teasy waiting in his pushchair but as soon as the door opens he gets really excited.

12.00pm
We have the 15 minute wait at the gates which gives Little Miss a chance to play freely with her school friends before being called in and gives me a chance to have a natter with some of the Mums (sometimes!)
12.30pm
Casual walk home with Little Man after the drop off. Sometimes I'll go to town or sometimes just go straight home to Other Half.
1.00pm
Lunch for Little Man and something to nibble on for me!
1.30pm
Little Man goes down for his second nap so from now until 2.45pm I'll tidy, read, blog, watch TV or just do whatever I fancy until school pick up

3.00pm
I'll walk to school to get Little Miss come rain or shine we're kept waiting out there! Little miss will run out and dump all her things on me before taking my hand and leading the way.
3.30pm
We'll be home, Little Man will be awake waiting for his big sister (very cute) they'll munch some biscuits or a little treat before tea time.
4.30pm
I'll put tea on around now and say goodbye to Other Half as he leaves for work.

5.00pm
Dinner time! Usually a battle. I don't know why Little Miss won't eat a decent home cooked meal but still we try.
6.00pm
Little Man has his milk and change for bed. He'll be settled giving Little Miss and I the chance for some quality time.
7.00pm
Little Miss has her story, change and bed. We have some cuddles and kisses and then I'll settle Little Man down again. He always wakes around now as if to call his sister to bed.

When the children go to bed that's when I blog, do a bit of exercise or even bake something. Currently I'm between watching films or The Inbweeners and painting my kitchen. I like to not just sit and stare at my computer screen and I must admit that cutting down on Twitter has really helped!

What do you get up to in day?

CupcakeMumma

Day 31 Why Do I Blog?

After I had Little Man I had really bad anxiety. Eventually I received help and from there on I felt stronger, like I could do things I always made sure I would never do before. Simple things like wearing make up, paying for items or even going out on my own.

I discovered blogging in August 2011 when it seemed to be the topic all over the magazines. I thought how cool it would be to blog, but I didn't think i could write anything..after all, I always thought I was really boring.

With my confidence building I realised blogging could like a dairy. Just a less personal one and one with plenty of pictures to look back on. I started to not worry about that fact some people might find me boring and enjoyed seeing my followers build up.

So I started blogging for me. In September 2011 and I haven't looked back since! I love CupcakeMumma and I'm really proud of it.

Cupcake x

Day 30 What's in my Make Up Bag?

I don't actually wear make up but for some reason I still have a make up bag. Okay, I wear it occasionally but literally I curl my lashes and pop on a bit of mascara!

In my bag I have:

* Nivea face/hand cream

* Cuticle shaper

* Eyelash curlers

* Several mascaras neither of which help my stupidly long eyelashes stay curled!

* Nivea lip balm

* Several different sized tweezers and waxing strips

Nothing exciting and actually I have more in there just the above are my most used. I can't believe we're nearing the end of the challenge, I know it's been different from my usually posts but after a month of not really knowing what to blog about it's kept CupcakeMumma going.

                                                            

Day 29 Where Have you Travelled?

I bet I'm going to be so very boring compared to a lot of the bloggers participating in this challenge! I have only travelled out of the UK twice and that was, on both occasions, to France.

I went when I was very tiny on a big family holiday and I don't remember a thing. I was probably about 3 but have been informed I ate frogs legs. How gross.
I also went to Brittany when I was in year 7 with my school year so I was 11 then. We stayed in a convent, had only 5 minutes to shower to get through everybody, there was a lot of sun burnt teens and not much to do. I came back with a few items from the Hypermarche. I don't have the items I bought but I did recently find the receipt from this trip in my memory box which I was delighted about! I spent most of this trip pretty bored to be honest and kept falling out with my best friend too so what could have been an exciting and educational trip to France was spoiled and I don't think that well planned considering I don't remember a sodding thing!

Otherwise I've only ever been to Sussex for a funeral, Devon where my Aunt and Uncle live (and that was years ago) and Cambridge which I love and cannot wait to visit again. We went to My aunts house where they hold a music festival some years, it was fantastic!

Live music!

A lot of kegs!

I wouldn't mind seeing America but I don't think we'd ever be in that kind of position financially, still you never know. I would also need to get over the fear of planes which is pretty bad! Otherwise I have no desire to go abroad and just want to explore my country so much more.

CupcakeMumma

Day 28 Something I'm Looking Forward To...

I'm looking forward to a few things both big and small. I'm looking forward to Father's Day where I've planned a unique gift to make for my Dad and I'm looking forward to crafting with my 2 Little Ones for their Daddy.

I'm looking forward to this weekend where we are having a little BBQ to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, how exciting! I'm planning party games, a ball pool and lots of blue! There's only the 4 of us and my sister but I think that it's going to be lovely.

I'm looking forward to dressing Little Miss up as a ladybird this Thursday and making her all patriotic for Friday at nursery. They're having two parties this week and I think she might be a bit excited!

I'm looking forward to starting my workout and loosing a bit of my 'Mummy Tummy', I'm looking forward to our Big Day in August and seeing lots of family we haven't seen in years or just a long time! I also look forward to Christmas as I always do, but don't worry, I'm not planning just yet!

Finally, I'm hoping to plan some trips in the half term for Little Miss as a surprise and near October time I'm really, really hoping I can plan a trip to see the Harry Potter Studios!

What are looking forward to?
CupcakeMumma

Day 27/31 A Favourite Recipe

I cannot believe we're nearly at the end of May now, that has gone surprisingly quick! For today's prompt, I have to choose a favourite recipe of mine. I do a bit of cooking but find it a bit of a chore if I'm honest. I prefer to bake things but even then I find it hard to muster the motivation required!

However, a few months ago I made a vegan cheesecake which was really, really tasty. If you want to see how I made it, please click here as I blogged about it for my Pinaddicts Challenge.

Below are some photos of this tasty treat. I made it for my Vegan Aunt, but I myself have a various dietary requirements so this is also gluten and wheat free. Berries are my favourite topping but I must try some more. We're having a Jubilee celebration this weekend coming so maybe some tasty ideas for a new topping?

Day 26 An Old Photo

I had a good look around for this photo on Facebook as my cousin had posted a lot there on only recently. This was lucky because all the old photos I have are either on my (broken) laptop or at my Mum and Dads house.

I love looking through really old photos from my childhood mainly because I cannot believe what the fashion was years back, although seriously, bright pink cord trousers are NEVER okay!

Anyway, here is my offering for Day 27 (yes a day late i know) a picture of myself and my lovely cousin who is also not far from 23 years of age either. How sweet we looked once upon a time!

CupcakeMumma

Day 25/31 Blogs i Love

Today is a nice one, a bit of sharing the blog love. There are so, so many bloggers out there who are brilliant writers, are witty and funny. Some post wonderful photos of their life and families and some share the most amazing stories. Most of all they are welcoming and friendly. That's how lucky I've been anyway.

I'm sticking to the rules today and listing 5 of my favourite blogs but there are so many more than five!

1. The Syders

Mama Syder (as she is affectionately known) has a wonderful blog full of fantastic photographs. She is thrifty and crafty and a dab hand with her camera. I always enjoy reading through Mama Syder's blog. Besides, I've said it once but I'll say it again, she has some lush areas of her home which make me positively envious!

2. Ready Steady Mummy!

Natalie has become someone I converse with a lot these days. You can read all about her gorgeous little man and what they get up to as well some really interesting posts. 

3. The Content Notebook

A nice easy reading blog that I love to catch up with. Jenni writes about her goings on and any thoughts that come to her. She is also taking part in the 31 Day blog Challenge so please pop over and say hello.

4. Leopard Print Mommy

Lucy is lovely (and she loves Harry Potter which makes her just that bit more special ha!) She can be found blogging about her lovely family, days out and goings on. A really good read.

5. BabberBlog

I'm a very new follower to this blog but already I'm hooked. Lewis a first time Dad but blogs about much more. I find some posts thought provoking, some funny, interesting and others are just great reads.

There you go, if you see a blog here you haven't heard of, why not check them out? 

p.s All these bloggers can be found on Twitter too! Get Tweeting!

CupcakeMumma

Day 24 Favourite Childhood Book

Matilda is my favourite book of all time. This book was probably one my first full reads cover to cover all by myself and it instilled my love for the great author Roald Dahl. The illustrations are cool and I just love the story of this young girl coming up trumps against all the grown ups of this world!

Another favourite would be any book featuring The Large Family. I remember my Mum reading these books to myself, my brother and sister and we all loved them!

Day 23/31 Dream Job

Ah, my dream job. Sitting on my arse or laying in bed all day. What? I can't choose that as a career you say? Damn.

I am actually studying anatomy and physiology at the moment, I'm only on sections 3 and 4 now but I await my course marks then I can start revising. I'm doing a home study course and look forward to hopefully taking a practical course next year which will be a one day, intense practical study of massage.

I've always wanted to be a massage therapist and there is room for either employment or even working from home. I have a fear of driving so I'm never going to be a mobile therapist but hopefully i could afford to run a little place of my own. just me, my table and some happy customers.

CupcakeMumma

Day 22/31 Best Thing This Year

Nothing stands out so far this year so i'm looking to the future for this one. Although seeing the Olympic Torch was pretty great actually.

On the 18th August myself and Other Half are tying the knot which i'm hoping will be a really great day.  I hope everyone will get on and mix well. I'm seeing family I haven't seen in a very long time and I'm really excited about that. 

Buttonholes from Posey.com for Dad and Brother

CupcakeMumma.

Blog Challenge Days 18,19 and 20!

Oops totally late with this challenge after all the Olympic Torch excitement I was too tired yesterday and on Friday I had a blinding headache so decided staring at my laptop screen wasn't such a good idea.
All excuses over with I'll move on to the challenge!

Day 18/31 My Blog Name.
CupcakeMumma really is as simple as that. I'm a Mumma who likes cupcakes! I bake a few here and there but they're not anything amazing and before you say anything, there's always one good one and that's the one that will get the blog fame! I'm just a bit obsessed with them to be honest. I have cupcake books, a cutting board, ornaments oh blimey all sorts!

Day 19/31 What Do You Collect?
I collect postcards so if you're ever feeling so inclined to post one to me then well, I'd be very happy! I have a tin box under my bed getting nicely full with postcards from around the world (thanks to postcrossing.com) some I pick up to remember days out and a few of my favourites have  been picked up from the local market and have been written on years ago, I have some from the 1930's and 40's which I adore.

Day 21/31 A Difficult Time in Your Life
I wrote the other day about my anxiety and PND which are by far the worst moments of my life and the worst for my poor Other Half too who still suffers with my mood swings and pretty low dips. Hats off to him and anyone else who lives with someone like me, it sure isn't easy sometimes!

The most difficult time in my life was when we moved from the countryside to a little cul-de-sac in a town. It felt like things were going to be okay but it soon turned out otherwise. Above us lived a young man who had his mates over every Saturday night, sometimes Friday too. He would play extremely loud music, wouldn't turn it down, his friends threatened Other Half on two occasions and they would smoke drugs throwing their butts and cans out of the window so when I opened the curtain on a nice sunny morning after a hideous night I was greeted to a pit of a back yard. It wasn't my back yard, but I still had to look at it!

This was difficult because it really felt that no one cared. My anxiety, which previously hadn't bothered me for a good couple of years came out of no where and i hated living in my new flat. Because nobody else had to live there they really didn't understand our desperation to leave. We were lucky though that most weekends for pretty much the whole time we lived there I stayed with Little Miss at my Mums place or we all went to Other halve's parents.
The final straw came when, after a lovely birthday dinner i came home and ended up crying down the phone to my Aunt who lived near by. We all stayed with her that night and it was the last time I was going through it. Other Half and I even considered separating, me leaving with Little Miss and my bump, I was a total mess!

Luckily for us, the landlord wasn't happy about the situation at all and got us the 2 bedroom house we are currently living in. The process of anti-social behavioural orders is a very long one and the estate agents dealing with the man above us were not very sympathetic. Needless to say it's all the past now but I really, really feel for those living with nightmare neighbours and I never want to move because I'm too scared of going through it all again!

CupcakeMumma

Day 17- My Proudest Moment

I'm going to take a slightly different approach to this prompt because even though I am of course very proud of myself for bringing my two babies into this world with the help of my Mother, Other Half and a birthing pool, I am more proud of the fact that i overcame my post natal depression and that I continue to fight my anxiety.

With help from my partner I overcame my post natal depression but sadly it wasn't until Little Miss was just over 1 year of age that I began to feel 'normal' and connected with her, something no mother should have to feel with their own child,

With my anxiety I suffered alone for years. I grew up with social anxiety and would skip any lesson that involved standing up and speaking in front of the class. I was bullied, laughed at, whispered about and generally made to feel useless and pathetic. This started in primary school and would see my through to my final year of secondary.

It wasn't until I had my son in 2011 that I plucked up the courage to speak openly to my new GP about what I had been going through at that time and everything before. I soon found myself having a chat with a lovely lady from the surgery who recommended some CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and this began to change my life.

Social Anxiety is no longer a huge problem in my life and for that i feel a huge sense of relief. I feel that in the future I'll be able to feel calm and confident about such things as interviews for jobs and parents evenings, even talking on the phone feels like a much easier job these days.

My General Anxiety is still something I fight against. I'm still on medication to help me as if I don't take them I find that my mind goes into overdrive and I just won't leave the house. I have periods where I want to stay in all day but knowing I have to do things in order to not let my anxiety win keeps me going. I'll still get a bit anxious about meeting certain people which can lead to panic attacks and worrying about not having enough change to pay for something is enough to push me over the edge- although having said that, I was 85p short today but instead of freaking out I calmly and confidently asked if i could have something taken off...I didn't really need those chocolate bars after all! I didn't blush, I didn't feel awkward, just apologised, paid and moved on...Oh and felt proud of myself!

Cupcake Mumma

16/31 My Bucket List.

I've only just started jotting things down and calling this list my 'Bucket List'. If you look up there ^^ you'll see 'Project Zero' which is a whole list of things that I have until 2014 to complete. A Bucket list is a series of more bigger ideas I have thought of, ideas that perhaps need saving up for and certainly ideas that need more planning than seeing 5 films in a cinema!

Top of my list at present is going to London to view the Harry Potter Studio Tour. We're hoping to do this this year after our wedding which would be great but it's pretty expensive and difficult when you don't drive! Although we'll take the coach up there most likely there's a lot more to sort out. However, I have to see the studio because I'm such a big fan.

I'd also love to go to and have a tour of Kensington Palace and also The Tower of London. I want to go to wales for a family holiday and i really want to have my photo taken outside Buckingham Palace. I'm also on a misson to photograph the Olympic torch so watch this space!

Cupcake Mumma

(Day 14) If I Won the Lottery..

We played the Lottery for the first time last Saturday. We didn't win anything but then we didn't expect to, I don't think anyone does really which is why when you do see the winners in newspapers they are so overjoyed.

However, if we did win the Lottery i know exactly where my money would be spent, but I'd have to win a lot!

* I would buy a big 4 bedroom house with a lovely big garden. I would love to own my own home, something I could leave my children and the garden? A huge bit of lawn, a trampoline and a Wendy house complete with a slide that my pants little garden cannot possibly accommodate! I don't even have a lawn (yet- you wait garden!)

* I would love to buy my parents a house. They are the only ones in my family to own their own home and I'd love them to have that security as they grew older.

* I'd buy Other Half driving lessons that he's desperate to do.

* Then we'd buy a VW Campervan- dream!

* Finally a bit of shopping, use it to explore some of London which I really want to do (history freak) and of course I'd have to donate some to a couple of my favourite charities and the rest (if there's any left!) would simply be left to grow for the future for us as a family or for my children.

13/31 What is your earliest memeroy?

This is an easy one for me. I think I wrote it earlier on in a blog post so apologies to anyone reading it all over again.

I grew up on a stud where my Dad was the groom. This stud was home to mostly race horses who were well looked after and taken care of, taken to and fro for their big races and they'd come back again. I loved walking around the stud because you'd be led to lanes under huge trees and massive fields which led to a small lake surrounded by trees. It was beautiful.

Anyway, of course this is my earliest memory, I grew up there but one memory stands out in particular and that's a night spent at the stud with my Dad. There was a horse who was due to foal at any time and so Dad and I sat in the office with said horse just next door in her warm and comfy stable.

It must have been quite late when Dad told me to come to his desk. I remember jumping up onto his chair and kneeling on the desk which was under a small window (you know like they have in houses where you can slide the door open and shut) and well, I watched this mare give birth to her foal. The really wonderful thing was coming back the next day to see this pretty little foal all unsteady on her legs with her 'mummy'.

That's a great moment to look back on.

Cupcake Mumma.

Day 12/31 What's in your Fridge?

I don't know why but I love seeing these prompts! We do our food shop on a Thursday so my fridge isn't looking its usual sorry self.
I don't know about anyone else but after just a few days my food items seem to dwindle dramatically and I can't keep up with the stocking up of the fridge essentials these days!



 Alright then, here we have:

- A few eggs I predict are out of date (oops)
- Lemon juice from Pancake Day
- Dairy free mayonnaise
- Fruit juice
- Dairy free custard
- More juice and soya milk
- Whole milk
- A lonely tomato for a pizza
- Apples
- Courgette for my pizza
- Bowl of peas
- Huge tub of dairy free butter
- Strawberries
- Lots of ham
- 2 tubs of dairy free soft cheese
- Plenty of cheese
- Puff pastry
- Random open yogurts (thanks Midge)
- A whole shelf of yogurts mini ones for the children, dairy free ones for me and Muller Rice for Other Half
- Big stash of eggs
- Rice noodles
- Bag of herbed potatoes (i love these)
- Carrots
- More apples (old for a pie)
- Black bananas (for a cake)

So there you go. Now i'd like to leave you with a good saying for when you look in your fridge and cupboards for food on less well-stocked days (which are common in my home!)

' Look in the fridge- No food. Look in the cupboard- No food.'
' Lower standards, and look again'

Good motto I think!

Cupcake Mumma

Day 11/31- 15 Favourite Things:

1. Family trips

2. My Fuji camera

3. My iPhone

4. The countryside

5. Cats

6. Pink

7. Nail polish

8. Crafting

9. Chocolate

10. A good catch up

11. Other Half's homemade fish and chips

12. Pinterest

13. Snuggles

14. The Inbetweeners

15. Books

I nearly wrote more then! Damn! There are my 15 favourite things, in no particular order i.e. 'Chocolate' would blaintently be higher and I love snuggles more than most things in this world.

Please click this badge below to be taken to some more wonderful blogs.

Cupcake Mumma

Day 10/31- Best Physical Feature

First of all I'd like to apologise for lack of blogging to any regular readers (thanks for not unfollowing by the way) and also for my seeming lack of interest in the challenge. I'm not disinterested I'm just so tired and have had 2 poorly (one teething) children for a whole week. My anxiety has also reached a frickin point of hideousness where I am in danger of becoming a total recluse.

Anyway, onto today's prompt: What is your best physical feature?

I love my eyes. They are one of my best features I believe but only when my lashes are curled. I have such long, straight eyelashes that just go right back down despite curling and mascara (this is where you bestow on me your amazing tips for me!). But yes, when the lashes are curled I look wide awake and much better!

Also my feet. I love feet and when mine are not all hot and swollen I think they look nice! Especially with some nice pink polish, can't beat a nice bit of foot pampering. I think you should really love your feet, I'd hate to loose them.

Cupcake Mumma

Day 9/31- Your Worst habits

Oh this is an easy one, i have a few bad habits i'm afraid. 

- I constantly click my back. I love to turn half way and back again just to click my lower back. Temporarily this feels good (i get lots of aches, would love someone to stand on my back!) afterwards I wonder why i did it...

- I pull my hair or make knots in it when i'm bored or tired, i don't usually realise i'm doing it.

- Often, after i've cleaned my teeth or if i'm just bored I'll use a needle or something similar to clean right between them, not great but hey!

And that's all you're having. 

Cupcake Mumma