January Blues?

Hello everyone and welcome back to my page and my online ramblings :) We are half way through January (everybody's favourite month of the year) and I'm having a serious case of the January blues. I, unlike many others have decided to NOT par-take in "dry January" or any healthy living or lifestyle changes of any kind, mainly because I actually think I'd go insane if I deprived myself of what little bit of joy I have at the end of my day or working week. I'm not as strong as the rest of you and I need my guilty pleasures. But a massive well done to everyone and keep going

After the wind down of Christmas I always find myself re-evaluating my life, I get like this every so often but especially in January. I think its because I have more time on my hands to think or should I say over-think. I get frustrated with myself because another year has gone by and I haven't achieved half of what I thought I would at this stage of my life, or I doubt the decisions that I have made, am in the right profession? should we have another baby? will we ever own a home? will we get to set the date this year? will I get to travel more? etc etc.... I have this streak in me to always want to achieve more or to do or be better. I'm extremely driven and this can make me restless. Do you ever feel like you have done so much in the past year but so little at the same time? Like your always busy but you haven't a clue why? Time passes by far too quickly and the older I get the less time I seem to have do what I want or have planned to do, it scares the living life out of me. 

One things for sure this year, I want to make lots and lots of memories with fantastic people around me. I tend to consume myself with stupid and trivial things that never seem to matter in the end, but this year I am honestly going to try and live by the motto, "work to live". I couldn't care less if I haven't a penny to my name as long as I am spending it on what makes me and my family happy. No more putting off plans, I find myself having conversations with friends that go a little something like this "yeah I haven't seen you in ages, we may meet up soon" Soon often becomes weeks, even months later or in some cases not at all. I'm sure we are all a little guilty of that sometimes, making false promises. But NO not this year, I have already started planning nights out and trips away, memories will be made this year.

So is it just me? Does anyone else feel like this? or am I just having a serious case of the January blues? Let me know your thoughts.....

Luv Lisa xx

Back to Reality

Hi everyone. I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year ahead. It's all starting to slow down now, and to be honest as much as I love Christmas I'm kind of happy for it all to be over.

I'm currently lying in bed at the moment and I'm completely restless (nothing to do with the fact that I was drinking yesterday) so I said I'd put my thoughts on paper, so to speak. The past month has been a crazy one to say the least. I work in retail (as most of you prob know by now) so it goes without saying that we were completely hectic for the month of December and November. So much so, that this year I really struggled with work/life balance. Obviously my priorities are always going to be my kids but it goes without saying that my job is very important too as it's the hand that feeds us (if I've got that saying right). It was tough balancing the craziness at work and daily life, plus the extra bits like xmas shopping, school plays-activites and my blog etc. I became quiet forgetful this year, it was like I had way too much going on in my head, I even forgot the tooth fairy 2 nights in a row. I know, I know, how could I? But the reality of it is that I'm certainly not perefct and sometimes I get it wrong. I'd like to think that I'm not the only parent.

Every Christmas you could spend an absolute fortune. I don't know about you but I feel like I never have enough (money) at this time of year. When Christmas day comes every year I feel like "Santa" could have been a little bit more generous. Now I know it's totally ridiculous because the kids have so much and got everything they asked for, however when I go on facebook and I see pictures that other parents have posted of sitting rooms full (and I mean FULL) of toys I feel kind of guilty that I cannot afford to be that extravagant with my kids.

I didn't get to go home ( to Cork) for Christmas this year and I haven't been able to for a number of years now, 10 years to be exact i think. Because of the nature of my job it just never works out that I have enough time to visit. It's sad and this year I really felt it, I would have loved nothing more than to go home and see everyone because it is really what Xmas is all about (being around your loved ones and family) but at least I will be lucky enough see my family early in the new year.

I really really do love Christmas but I'm ready now for some peace and quiet at the start of the new year. I know January can be a month that most people dread, as we are all broke and depressed from the over indulgence of Christmas. But for me this year I think it will be a month for some "time out" and some "me time" that I feel I really do need.

So a Happy New Years to each and everyone of you. I hope you celebrate in style. I'm excited to see what 2016 holds for us all xx