What the New Year means to me

Hello everyone and welcome back, I hope your January is off to a nice start. January is always that month associated with dieting and getting fit, however its also the month we all seem to be broke, are depriving ourselves of all the goodies we love and of course the dreaded January blues...Its all indulgence and live for today during December and BAM 1st of Jan and the guilt kicks in. Its seems that everywhere I go at the moment all everyone is talking about is detoxing/tea-toxing, joining the gym, eating right and new year, new me mumbo jumbo. Personally I'm still going strong and dragging out the bad behaviour for the moment, but I have that slight guilt in the back of my head and I'm thinking "oh I'd love to be a bit leaner", my skin looking better and in general to feel good and not tired all of the time. Knowing me and how stubborn I am though I will probably just stay with the bad behaviour :)

To be honest years ago I had decided to not make New Years resolutions (and by that I mean giving something up or taking something on), because I never keep them. Its something I've always been crap at, a few weeks later and I've totally forgotten all about them. Of course as I enter a new year I do wish that certain things change, and also that some things don't. Not everything has to change in your life, somethings are perfect just the way they are, as the saying goes if it ain't broke, don't fix it. However every year I always wish that I could be a better person and by that I mean, more patient, understanding, just better in general. Because I'm a natural worrier and I tend to over think or think ahead too much, bringing in the New Year always makes me anxious, another year gone, another year older and less time to achieve my goals and dreams, to see the world and to spend more time with loved ones. Its stupid I know because time will always have to pass you by but leaving a year behind can hard for some as it closes a chapter. But with every door closed a new one opens and with that it brings new adventures and new memories.

So for me, I will probably lay low for the month of January, I will continue to eat, drink and do the things I love, because I honestly believe that life is way too short to be unhappy or deprive yourself of what you want. I will however continue to blog because I love it and its good for my mind (keeps me sane). Other than that I hope to have a few adventures/nights away, see more of my friends and family and to just enjoy my life. Before we know it we will be half way through the year trying to become "bikini body ready" and living for the Summer. So I hope you all achieve your wishes and dreams for the year ahead and don't be too hard on yourself when it comes to the dieting or getting fit. do what makes you happy and once you have your health that is all that matters.

Luv Lisa xx

What's love got to do with it

When I was young and I imagined my future, I pictured my life and everything that it would be. Meet a guy, fall in love, travel the world, build a home ( with a white picket fence of course) get married and have beautiful babies. Your stereotypical dream life. See I'm the kinda girl that falls in love fast, and I'm also the kind of girl that believes love should be like a fairytale. Just like the movies. But it isn't really, is it? Reality never matches the fantasy. Every love story is different and so is every relationship.

I've been with my partner/fiancé now for over 10 years, and it's pretty fair to say that most relationships have their ups and downs, but ours was one ROCKY start. When we initially met I don't think either of us had planned on anything too serious (but then again no one ever does). We had both been in long relationships prior to meeting, so neither of us eager to get into another one. Only a few weeks (Yes weeks!!!) into the relationship and I (we) became pregnant, a total shock and totally unplanned of course. So we never really had that fun honeymoon period, start of a relationship like others have, because we were hit with a massive dose of reality right from the beginning. Now coming to terms with being pregnant all while getting to know someone is tough. I knew he was a decent guy but insecurities (and hormones) plagued me, thoughts like "was he only with me for the child" caused many arguments. During this time we went through so many emotions and uncertainty, that I wasn't really sure if something that had started off like this could really last. But we were stronger than we thought. Flash forward through the last 10 years and I honestly don't know where they went, so much but so little has happened, and what I mean by this is, we've had 2 kids but not managed a home or wedding (or the travelling the world bit). No matter how hard times got over the last few years, I knew one thing for sure, and that was that I could never imagine my life without him.

How would I describe our relationship? Anyone that knows us, will tell you that we joke about this, we always say "we are just like John and Mary" from Father Ted. We are like an old married couple, bickering about nothing half the time. Nobody and I mean nobody can annoy me like he can, but also nobody can make me smile like he can either. One minute I could literally be cursing him and another minute laughing with him about something stupid. I don't think we take ourselves too serious. We argue about most things that couples argue about, making life decisions, money, the kids etc. We are very alike but totally different at the same time. I hate the outdoors, he loves the outdoors, we have totally different interests, two people you would probably never put together. However we have always enjoyed a good night out and that has never changed in the last 10 years. I can go out and have the best night out with john, as good if not better than any night out with the girls. Now don't get me wrong we are nowhere near perfect, most of the time when he is telling me something I'm not even listening. I have a great knack of zoning out and he is forever giving out to me for my love of social media (he isn't even on Facebook, the big weirdo). But that's us and it just seems to work somehow. 

When I was at home last weekend, I was watching my Mam and Dad. They have always been a very loving and affectionate couple and sometimes a tad inappropriate in public, (For ex. my dad saying "isn't your nana sexy" in front of my kids) but they just seem to be so perfect for each other. Being at home last weekend I realised something though. Love just isn't enough, it matters a lot but it isn't everything. All of their kids have now flew the nest and it's just them now. They are together almost 39 years, which is a big achievement. I wonder what makes a relationship work and sustain for that long? Respect, hard-work, honesty, I'm sure nothing comes easy. When you have kids your whole life and relationship tends to evolve around them. The best that you can hope for, is that when your kids grow up and start their own families, you have a partner you can now enjoy the rest of your life with. It is about finding a life companion, someone to let you be you, to grow and change with you, to challenge you, and most of all a friend, and if your really lucky a best friend.

So what's love got to do with it? A lot? A little? Is it everything? Let me know what you think

Luv Lisa xx