Craving Change

Things are changing and for once I am embracing the shift with open arms.  Normally November is filled with frantic crafting for Christmas, visiting Christmas fairs and drinking Mulled WIne.  This year there doesn't seem to have been time for any of that but that's ok.

This year is all about starting afresh with new traditions and this year I can't to spend Christmas with the people who are most important to me. Yay.

There are changes in other aspects of my life too - shifting perceptions and plans.  I am craving a fresh start, to start over and that desire is spilling over into my creative life too.  For years I have existed under the "Little Tiny Pieces" umbrella and whilst that is important for my business I feel like I need to move away from it a bit - branch out.

My business will of course continue and I have a lot to focus on career-wise at the moment but I feel like on a personal level I want to get back to concentrating on the things I enjoy doing for me.  I want to write for me, craft for me, create for me and I can't do that as LTP.  So I think it might be time to go back to my blogging roots and start afresh.  I'm excited by the prospect of a new identity, a new blank webpage to develop and make my own.  New projects to document, new photos to capture and share.

Thankful

I am a little jealous of my US friends as they get to experience that lovely autumnal holiday, Thanksgiving.  It has such a good sentiment to it - one day a year where everyone stops to consider whatever they have to be thankful for.

I am thankful today.  It has been a tough (understatement) week, during which I almost lost everything that is important to me and so today I want to take time to think about what I am thankful for.

I am thankful for being here, in this moment
I am thankful for the man I have by my side, a man who loves me even when I least deserve it and despite all of my messyness.  A man I simply never want to be without in my life
I am thankful for being a part of this family I have inherited
I am thankful for this new day and the opportunity it gives me to start over.  To forget what has gone before, to change what isn't working
I am thankful for beginning this journey to "finding myself" again, to reconnect with the things that make me tick and rediscover the things I am good at
I am thankful for things finally falling into place, for finally seeing things clearly and in perspective

Current observations

I still get amazed by the way in which we can be transported back into time, just by hearing the faint wisp of a song.  There is a small selection of songs that make up the soundtrack to my life so far and whenever I hear one I am back there - old school discos, driving across the desert in Arizona, revising for uni exams.  All the key phases in my life are defined by some sort of musical theme song.  Each song brings to the surface certain emotions, bubbling up once more.  Some reflect a sadness and melancholy, others suggest hope and excitement.  And then there are the ones that bring me back to a place of complete and utter ridiculous... they remind me of those "did I really do that?!" moments. 

This week, on the wings of Florence and the Machine and Addicted to Love, I travelled back to my early twenties - to walking the 3 miles to work in the early winter sunshine, bouncing along to my iPod and oblivious to the world whizzing past me.  I loved that hour of each day.  I was new to the world of work and still so full of hope and optimism for the life that spread itself out in front of me.  I was invincible.  

Today, older and ever-so-slightly, wiser that optimism is still there - albeit a little tarnished round the edges.  The problem is I need to figure out what to do with it.  10 years ago I knew what I wanted and exactly how I was going to get there (even if it didn't go as smoothly as I hoped), and get there I did.  Now I know what I want but no idea how to achieve it.  

So what was my secret then?  Well as the song says...

I had focus, I had a vision and above all I had a no-one can stop me attitude.  I was told not to move to London, yet I did.  I applied myself, I think that is the difference. I had an idea and then I got on with implementing it, it didn't matter what other people thought about it - if I wanted it I went for it and almost always got it.  

Well here I am, I have a vision.  I am hungry for it.  I don't know how to get there but I will. 

I.can.do.this. 

Home time

I never thought I would say this but I am actually going to miss the doggies when I head back home later today.  They have been a pain with their constant crying in the night but I am pleased with how lovely they have been too.  They are both very affectionate and it has been nice to have them to cuddle up with in the absence of Mr L.  

I am however really looking forward to getting home and spending some time with Mr L before chaos commences with the return of the kids from their holiday.  

One thing I have done this week is to create a new 6 month plan for my business - not a traditional business plan but more of a visioning exercise to help me clarify my goals and stay focused over the coming months.   Lots of things have changed lately and my old plan no longer seems to fit so it's good to have a clear idea of where I am headed.  

Morning calm : some thoughts

After a somewhat restless night with the dogs barking and refusing to settle, it is nice to have a moment of peace.  

Nothing to accompany my thoughts except the faint snoring of a dog and the sound of seagulls flying overhead. It amuses me how that sound used to annoy me so much when I lived here, yet now I like it as it reminds me of the sea.  Another thing I disliked as a child but love as an adult.  

Sometimes I am really compelled to visit the seaside, not for Fish and Chips or an Ice Cream but to walk along the coastline or sit and let my thoughts roll in and out with the tide. There is something so soothing about the motion, which is odd because I am so afraid of the water.  

I'm feeling quite homesick now. It is strange being back here and I miss my home and Mr L.  In some ways hardly anything has changed since I left here 10 years ago and in other ways things are so different.  There is a "greyness" about it all now, bleak is the word I am looking for I think.  I had a happy childhood in this part of the world and yet I am so grateful I managed to "get out".  

Off to do some work whilst things are peaceful and dogs are sleeping! 

Time Out

I am away for the week, dog-sitting for my sister whilst she is on holiday.  I have to admit I wasn't looking forward to it, not only was I a bit uncomfortable with the two large dogs but also with spending a week in the bleak little town on the north-east coast where I grew up. Luckily, my Mum has tagged along to keep me company.

Despite not looking forward to it, I had set my mind on trying to enjoy a week in a different environment, away from the four walls of our office.  I had plans to get lots of work done and take stock.  It doesn't seem to be happening though, it's hard to concentrate with two dogs bounding around.

I'm also missing Mr L, it sounds silly as we have only been apart for a few days but I am missing him being around, his silly jokes (although don't tell him) and curling up on the sofa with him at the end of the day.

New Routine

Last week Mr L and I set ourselves a new challenge (well really it's my challenge but Mr L was being lovely and supportive).  A while back I used to run almost everyday, it was my daily exercise and an opportunity to get outside and clear my head.  I loved running in the morning as it set me up for the day but then an old knee injury took hold and, alas, that was the end of my running routine. 

Since then, I have to be honest and say that exercise dropped off my radar.  Aside from the occasional walk I have been doing very little.  Add into that setting up a new business and some days I am so engrossed in what's happening on my computer screen that I don't leave the house. 

*Hangs head in shame*

Enter the new routine.  It was decided that whilst I can't run, I can walk so that is what I would do each day.  Every morning, before starting work I would get outside and go for a walk and to show his support Mr L would come with me.  Day one of this new routine arrived and at 6.30am off we trotted (in the dark!) for a 5km walk.  As we were nearing the end, the sun had risen and we stopped to watch a flock of Geese come into land at our local wetland.  Lovely start to the day.  

The week continued in a similar way and I managed to clock up 24km in total!  I also had a gym session with a friend which even involved a little light jogging on the treadmill.  Not only I am proud of setting this new routine in motion, I have really been enjoying having the time to get outside, breathe, and clear my head. 

This week I definitely intend to continue, despite the dismal weather forecast, and I hope I will continue to feel inspired and refreshed. 

Morning Thoughts

Grateful for cosily dozing as the sun starts to come up.  Grateful for the rise and fall of each breath.  Grateful for the sharing of dreams, for the hot cup of Green Tea, for the hand that squeezes my shoulder as it passes.

Sometimes (most of the time) I forget to take stock of the present, I am hurtling too far into the future or buried deep in the past.  I had heard people talk about "being in the present" but I hadn't understand until I began the practice of taking stock this week.  The practice of starting each day with a deep breath, feeling the life in my lungs, feeling alive.  It's such a simple exercise yet one we are all too quick to abandon.  

There is nothing special about this morning, it is ordinary in every sense and yet I can feel the fog lifting, as my tea kicks in and I slowly wake up to face the day.  My eyes are opening to this world, to me, to you.  Things are shifting, perspectives are altering, barriers are being broken.

I am here, in this moment.

On...where this blog is going

I'm enjoying this little space.  When I first started blogging six years ago I wasn't bothered by page views or the number of comments, I didn't care if I was the only person to ever read my words.  Over time I began to connect with my readers, I discovered an online community and my blog began to open up so many opportunities resulting in my business being created, all of which I am eternally grateful for.  The price of it all though was that my blog focus was required to shift from the personal, thoughtful posts I would often write in order to provide my readership and customer base with the factual content they were seeking.  In short, it stopped being my journalling space.

That isn't a bad thing, I love creating useful content and connecting with my clients through what I write.  I love being asked to produce guest posts because my words actually have value to someone and I love how my blog is opening up new opportunities still for my business.

But oh how I have missed a personal space.  I journal in the traditional sense, with paper and pen, almost every day but somehow the words seem to flow so much better when I am typing.  Is that just me?  I also like the way having a virtual journal allows me to connect my written words with photography in such an easy and seamless manner.

So, that brings me to this little corner of the interweb.  It started as a way to reconnect with my original blogging aims but I can feel slowly evolving into something more.  A platform for me to record this journey of self-discovery I am on, a place to store my inspiration and record my everyday.  I closed the comments section because I didn't want to write for others, only myself but I realised that in doing so I was in fact destroying my whole ethos on blogging - the sense of community, the ability to find others who share your opinions and relate to your experiences.  It is apparent (ok, yes I have peeked at the stats) that there some people out there reading my words and so I am offering you an invitation to connect, to share your stories and to let me get to know you by opening up the comment section.  I can't commit to posting regularly and I will still be writing for myself - this is my personal space.  But let's just see how it goes.

Happy Pinning

I decided to undertake a fun exercise today - I spent a couple of hours browsing back through my old pins on Pinterest, rediscovering the things that I am drawn to and inspired by.  It was a really good exercise in understanding who I am (just what I needed after my recent mini identity crisis) and the things I love.

I decided to take the exercise even further by creating some new pinboards and making them into collages focused around home, heart, work and self.  It helped me to clarify what I actually want from my life and what changes I need to make in order to get back to being myself.

Whilst I feel a bit guilty for spending time on a frivolous activity, I'm glad I did because I feel like I have gained some clarity and focus!

Style Makeover

Image Sources: 1 2 3 4

As part of my whole journey of rediscovering myself I have been thinking a lot about my personal style.  I used to  have quite a distinctive sense of style and I used to love shopping but these days I have to be honest and say I make little effort with how I dress.  I think it largely comes from working at home and partly from not having the same level of self-confidence I used to have. 

So, in an effort to rework my style I spent an hour pottering about on Pinterest, repinning the fashion images I was most drawn to.  It was a fun exercise and I discovered trends amongst the images I liked.  I'm feeling quite inspired to put together a stylish winter wardrobe now! 

Image Sources : 1 2 3 4 

Expectations and Judgement

There are certain things I have always thought would happen in my life, certain "life goals" to achieve and this week I discovered that it is very unlikely that one of those goals is going to happen.    I have to be honest and say that it has completely thrown me into a place of turmoil and confusion - not because I'm not going to get what I thought I wanted but because in reality I no longer know if I ever wanted it in the first place.

As I sat and explored what it would now mean for my life and my future I realised that I could easily live without it ever happening, at least in the particular form I had always expected it to.  Had I ever really wanted to achieve it anyway or was it on my list because that is what I am expected to do in my life?

There are milestones in life that we are taught to try and reach - leave university with a good degree, have a solid career path, get married, buy a house, have children.  From an early age I had those things impressed upon me - parents, teachers, television programmes all stressing their importance to living a happy and balanced life.  I left university with a good degree and yet I never felt like it was quite good enough - the harsh reality of entering the "real world" meant that lots of other people also left university with a good degree and the competition for a decent job was immense.

After a while I secured a job with a good company and a decent salary and for 7 years I battled my way up the corporate ladder.  I spent every Sunday evening with a knot in my stomach, I closed my eyes and tried to breathe deeply during every hellish commute and I worked hard to get promoted because that is what I was supposed to do.  Wasn't it?

It was a pattern that was reflected in other areas of my life too - I stayed too long in relationships I should never have been in to begin with, I went back to college to study Law and I attended church every weekend because that is what was expected of me.  Something was always missing, nothing was ever quite right but I couldn't change any of it because what would people think?

What would people think.  That is a sentence that should be deleted from my vocabulary,  permanently.

Here I am today, my "life list" in tatters - no stable career, no marriage or children (there is still time for that one) and it's not all that bad.  In fact I would even go so far as to say it is great because what I do have is a business I am creating and I share my life with a man that is my best friend, in a relationship that brings me joy, passion and security.  I have friends and family and my health. I look back on decisions I have made, the ones that didn't work out and that left me questioning my ability to make a decent choice and I realise now that I never made any of those decisions based on what I wanted, but always on what I thought was expected of me, on my fear of being judged.

This realisation brings with it a sense of confusion - I don't really know what I want anymore, all I know is that somewhere deep down is the woman I am supposed to be.  The adventurous, passionate, spontaneous, beautiful, free soul just waiting to show herself to this world once again.

I am reminded that I am a work in progress, always and the best thing of all?  I am free to take this journey of discovery, to make the changes that I need and want to.  To choose how to live my own life.

Challenges

I stumbled across this quote earlier in the week and it just seemed to ring true with where I am at the moment.

Confidence (or lack of it) is something I have been thinking about a lot lately, the sheer fragility of it.  It only takes the tiniest of occurrences to shatter it and yet can take an age to repair.  Why is it sometimes so hard to believe in ourselves?

This week has been challenging for me - I have had to push myself to do two separate things that were both, in different ways, terrifying.  Ok, so I am not talking jumping out of a plane or abseiling down a skyscraper but I am talking about things that to me, to the person I am today, seemed as difficult as climbing Mt. Everest.  Other people could probably have done them without so much as a second thought but for me it was far more difficult. I wasn't sure I would be strong enough, I was afraid of being judged, I worried that I wouldn't be as good as other people and I was frightened of what doing them might open up.

It would have been very easy to talk myself out of doing them, but I didn't.  I knew deep down that carrying through with them would be good for me.  I might not see that result straight away but somewhere down the line I will and in the meantime each little step I take towards my fears, the more I grow.

The more strength and courage and confidence I gain.  And it feels good.

When did I stop asking questions and start assuming?

I have always asked questions, even at school when my classmates were too self-conscious about asking a question I would go right ahead. My first boss used to laugh because my catchphrase was "why?", not because I was being rude or obstructive but because I really wanted to understand how the business worked.

Asking well thought-out questions is a good thing - it helps us to understand, gives us a deeper insight. Yet somewhere down the line I seemed to have stopped asking questions and started assuming instead. I assume someone thinks a certain thing or feels a particular way - I don't ask what they are thinking or feeling. I assume everyone else wants the same things I do, I don't ask them what they want. And the thing is "assuming" can have a negative impact, on myself and those around me.

Sometimes in life asking questions can be a scary thing because we might not get the answer we would like or expect but I think it's a greater risk to make incorrect assumptions.

A work in progress

Meet our office cat

Exciting times.  Yes indeed, work life is full of excitement at the moment, I now have a new business partner on board and as we move towards becoming a limited company I can't help but feel like I am really starting to achieve my business goals.

I'm finding it very hard to switch off at the moment, not only do we have two big projects on the go but I also have countless ideas to help move the business forward.

I attended MADE festival last week and it has spurred me on even more, it was hard not to be completely inspired by both the speakers and the other entrepreneurs I engaged with.  I still think it sounds funny to refer to myself as an entrepreneur or even a business woman/ business owner but in reality I am now all of those things.  I love it.  It's hardwork and challenging and an immensely steep learning curve (I am very quickly learning what I am capable of and what I am not) but I feel alive with it and I know this is what I am meant to be doing with my life.

I'm also very excited to have Mr L on board as my business partner, I don't think there is anyone else in this world that I would trust with that job.  It's great to have him to bounce ideas around with and it works so well because he balances me out in so many ways.  I also love that we are building this vision together.

As things move forward and I let go of what has passed I am feeling lighter, more free somehow and although I think there will be some difficult times ahead I know that whatever happens, things are getting sorted and it will be just fine in the end.

*It would be nice however if I could just have a little more sleep!

Launch Day!

It's finally here!

Yes this afternoon, after months of work, I finally launched the new business venture and website.

It's so exciting to be able to finally share it with my blog reader over at Little Pieces and I am feeling a mixture of relief, excitement and happiness at finally getting it done.  I just know that this is the beginning of an even bigger and more successful phase of my business.

The initial response has been so positive and affirming and I am really grateful for all the support of my family, friends and blog readers.  Mr L has been especially supportive even on the days I have been tired, grumpy and frustrated by slow progress!

I'm off now to enjoy a glass of wine before I get back to marketing plans, Twitter campaigns and blog post writing.  No rest for the self-employed!

Tired

Tired today, which is unfortunate as there is so much to be done both at home and work.  I think I am starting to feel the pressure a little now as the launch of my new business steadily approaches.  It's also hugely exciting.

I'm already planning the next project in my head- I always do that but this time I need to slow down and concentrate on the present for a while.  It's good to plan ahead but right now it's not what I need to be doing.

I also want to take some time to learn - there are some key things I would like to brush up on in order to grow and improve my business and autumn seems like the perfect season for this.

Holiday

Yesterday we arrived home from a week long break in Devon.  It was a week of Cream Tea, walks in the woods and trips to the Cornish coast.  The weather was by no means perfect although luckily the sun made an appearance once or twice.  I even went horse riding with the little lovelies - overcoming my fear of horses and discovering that it is an activity I would like to try again!

It was nice to have a break, I think it's the first full week I have given myself off since I started my business in January - normally I refrain from doing any big projects whilst on holiday but instead spend time plotting and planning.  This time however, I didn't even let myself do that.  So I have returned refreshed and ready to embrace Autumn (one of my favourite seasons).  I'm easing myself back into work with a couple of days devoted to visioning and planning autumn goals.  Quite possibly one of my favourite business activities.  Yay.

this I know

This week my copy of This I Know by Susannah Conway arrived.  I knew I was going to love this book the moment I opened my Amazon package and held it in my hands. I had considered buying the Kindle version but boy am I glad I didn't. 

This is a tactile book.  From the weight of it in your hand to the thickness of the pages, everything about this book screams "touch me!". In fact I spent the first five minutes with this book just flicking through and stroking and sniffing the pages.  I'm not the only one who does that right?  There is just something about that new book smell.  

I have been reading Susannah's blog for a few years now so I am familiar with the bones of her story. I have never felt grief in the way she writes about her experience but the beauty of this book is that is full of thoughts and wisdom that can be applied to many areas of life.  I defy you not to take something away from it.  Each sentence is carefully crafted, there is no filler content here - every group of words has been chosen for a specific purpose. 

Normally I can read a novel in a few hours but this isn't a book to be rushed.  I find I need to settle down with a journal and slowly work through Susannah's story, meditating on her words and applying them to my life, going back and re-reading the bits that leap out at me.  

And oh boy, is it already resonating with me... I had a total eureka moment today. 

I was standing in the shower reflecting over Susannah's experience of grief when it hit me.  I don't feel like that anymore.  Ok so I have never experienced grief in the way she describes but I could identify with the blackness, the depression.  For most of my twenties I had suffered from it, in fact it had defined me and yet here I was shampooing my hair and suddenly realising that things had changed.

How had I missed this?  Looking back the turning point came in the last year, it was around the time I made the decision to leave London and before I met Mr L but my relationship with him was a definite catalyst for recovery.  It wasn't what I expected though, I had heard stories of people waking up one day and suddenly feeling fine.  I didn't have an epiphany moment, I felt a little cheated.  

But I also feel excitement.  Suddenly  all of the things that were missing for so long are present once more.  I live in a house filled with laughter, my relationship is passionate and fun and secure, I am still figuring my career path out but with that comes the freedom and creativity I have always craved.  Oh yes, this is definitely a new phase in my life.  Gone is the despair, anger and fear and in their place is hope, freedom and an ever growing strength.  

I am unravelling…and it is awesome.  

Birthday reflections...

It's my 28th birthday today. 28 years old…sometimes I feel much older, other times I can hardly believe I am at this stage of my life already.  Don't get me wrong I am not freaked out by it (I'm leaving that until I hit 30!), it just seems in some ways that my twenties have zipped by without me noticing.  I'm not a big birthday person and this one is going to be quiet, it's always an awkward week as the bank holiday means friends go on holiday or have plans already, so it will be a quiet day with Mr Lovely.  Perfect. 

Yesterday I took some time to review the past year - it's the one annual tradition I have.  It was a big year, full of change, new experiences and shifting relationships.  I started my business and even better I made money from my business.  What had been a dream for several years became a reality and although I have a way to go to craft it into what I want, I'm doing it.  I also became clear about the direction I want my main blog, Little Tiny Pieces to take which resulted in setting up this personal blog for my general ramblings.  I met with a fellow blogger, reached out to others in the community through button swaps, advertising and guest posts and began to develop my strategy.  It's a work in progress, as always. 

I wrote a lot this year.  Blog posts, emails and letters, journal pages, pages of my future book, ecourses and workbooks.  Hundreds of blank pages filled with my scribblings.  I learnt to love the process of letting my words flow onto the page and the satisfaction of a story forming.  It's a sort of therapy I guess, a way of staying grounded and connecting with others.  It's slowly becoming a bigger part of future plans. 

I fell in love.  Mr Lovely came into my life and my world was turned upside down (in a good way).  I learnt what it really means to be in an adult relationship, I learnt to let go of the past, I learnt to let someone love me.  Not always easy, but always worth the effort.  I have laughed, cried, kissed, cuddled, talked.  I became part of a family and I am so thankful to have Mr L and two amazing children in my life, I feel so privileged they have let me be a part of theirs. I moved and began to feel settled once more. 

I tried new things and made new memories- baking bread, wine tasting, coding a website completely from scratch, eating a burger in the rain in the middle of Green Park at night. I did things I hadn't done for a really long time - visited the Cinema, started scrapbooking again, rekindled a love for tomatoes, visited the seaside, remembered how much music is a part of my life.  

Of course, the "big family thing" happened, it's not fair to talk about it here as I have to respect the privacy of those involved but I learnt a lot from it.  I learnt to let go of unrealistic ideals, I learnt that I value those who take their responsibilities seriously, I learnt that when it really comes down to it I can be stronger than I think.  I also came to believe that the "dark seasons" of life are the gateway for something greater.  They are necessary in order for us to recognise the seasons of opportunity that life also throws our way.  

I discovered what is important to me - relationships and friendships, health, being creative.  I got frustrated with unrealised potential and being held back by fear, I was inspired by those who turned their ideas in reality.  I realised the value in achieving work/life balance.

My 27th year has been good to me and I hope my 28th will be even better!

It seems I am still in a super manic period of life - I'm still finalising my website, work for my biggest client is starting to take up more of my time and there seems to be a never ending list of jobs to do at home.  I spent last week having a major stress fest but after a discussion with Mr L I have started to relax.  That's one of the things I love about him...somehow he always manages to keep me grounded. 

The weekend was lovely - we had an impromptu gathering for Mr Lovely's birthday on Friday night and then I had quite a bit of time to myself.  It was a bit weird but it gave me a chance to regroup and do things I haven't done for ages such as have a lie in and read magazines in bed. And of course there was a lot of Olympic viewing too!

This week my two goals are to get my website done and paint our hallway.  Two quite big things but I really need to achieve them for my own sanity!

Heatwave

Yesterday I took a brief break from work to accompany Mr Lovely to Wetherby.  Whilst he had his meeting I spent an hour wandering about in the sunshine (it was 29 degrees yesterday!) and I really enjoyed exploring the little market town.  It reminded so much of the town in Hertfordshire, where I used to live. 

It was so nice to take some time out from work - I sat outside a coffee shop and rewrote my to-do list and as a result I feel far more organised and raring to go today.  It can be so easy when you work for yourself to feel guilty whenever you are not doing a work task but I had to remind myself yesterday that the beauty of running my own business is that I can have a flexible schedule.  I worked later in the evening and that was fine.  

Tonight is "date night" and we are off to see the Dark Knight Rises at the Imax - yay! 

Around here

I'm quite enjoying this little corner of the internet - my space to randomly chat and capture the small details of my life without worrying about readerships and stats. I'm not sure if I will keep it up but for now it's another creative outlet and I love it.

This week has been all about work - so much to do and not enough hours.  I can't wait to do the big reveal of the new venture and website... nervous too though! I always find this stage of the process so frustrating - so close to the culmination of the many hours of work and yet there still seems to be so many fiddly little tasks that need to be done.  Sigh.

I have been making more of an effort to cook a proper breakfast every day for Mr Lovely and I, we have had tomatoes and mushroom on toast, scrambled eggs and smoked salmon and french toast this week.  I tend to check my emails and do the daily "admin" stuff and then I like taking 20 minutes out to have breakfast before getting down to the gritty stuff.

I'm still struggling to get the work/home balance right.  It showed this week and I really need to get to grips with it next week.

Right, off to enjoy the sunshine!

My favourite time of day

I feel so lucky that Mr Lovely and I both work from home - even though we are both working hard it is nice to just have someone there.  Our days are hectic with work and kids, housework and family stuff so we don't always have much time together.  


My favourite part of the day is fast becoming our evenings - after the busyness of our daytime schedule we always try to take the time to spend a bit of time together (even if only for half an hour) before bed.  It often involves catching up on something we have recorded on Sky and I just love curling up on the sofa, holding hands and relaxing.

It is when I feel most at home.

Sunshine

It's funny how the sunshine makes such a difference.  The last few weeks have been filled with rain and it seemed to affect everyones mood - I certainly have been feeling uninspired and less motivated.  This sudden (and unexpected) burst of sunny weather has perked me right up and I am feeling full of beans again. 

I have a new part-time job for one day a week which I can do alongside my business and will hopefully equip with some new skills that I can apply to LTP.  I'm so excited for this new season of life, I have some great ideas to work on and develop and I finally feel like I have a proper focus to my business.  Hurrah.

Yesterday I spent the day with my Mum, we took a stroll around Wentworth Castle Gardens - it was so peaceful and beautiful.  It's ages since I have just pottered about taking photos :)

500 Days of Summer

So yes, I finally got around to watching 500 Days of Summer - it has been on my must-see movie list for too long.  I kind of liked it.  I loved the way the film was shot and of course I loved Ms Deschanel (is there anyone who doesn't?).  I guess it was also kind of refreshing to watch a "modern day" romance - after all life isn't always fairytales and happily ever afters.  So yes, I think I kind of liked it. 

Image from here

A floaty sort of day

Another miserable, grey day again today...it's beginning to look like our summer will  be a complete washout this year.  It does mean however that I can get on with my goals without the distraction of glorious sunshine (every cloud and all that).

Woke up to fresh, homemade orange juice this morning - I'm really loving all our culinary adventures of late and the move toward making more things by hand.  I think I might start a weekly project related to cooking and try and inject some creativity into my dishes again as I'm sad to say I have been a bit lazy with it.

I'm thinking I need to start a proper routine again - when I first became my own boss I stuck to a rigid regime but that seems to be falling by the wayside and I am not feeling as productive as I could be! Hmm, what would my ideal day look like?...

7am - Get up, do 20 minutes of Yoga
7.30am - Shower, dressed and breakfast whilst browsing google reader, the news and twitter.
8am- "Correspondance Hour" - reply to emails, blog comments and tweets.
9am - write up blog post for next day.
9.30am - work on client projects, process orders etc.
12.30pm - lunch whilst checking twitter/news etc
1pm - sort images and photos for next day blog post
1.30pm - work on client projects etc, go for a short walk.
6pm - make dinner
7pm- final check of emails, twitter etc before spending time with Mr Lovely.
10.30-11pm - Bed!

New Beginnings

So here we are.  I'm not entirely sure how this space will work out or if in fact I will keep up with writing here but for a while now I have been wanting to set up a home for my more personal ramblings.

As Little Tiny Pieces evolves even further I want it to focus on the things that inspire it's readers to craft a creative lifestyle and my personal thoughts seem to be out of place there.  I still intend the site to reflect who I am (I try to maintain this ethos in everything I do) but  I also want a space that I can use to document the ins and outs of my daily life and provide an outlet for the many photos I take each day.

I want this space to be just for me, a place where I don't think about readership numbers or creating unique content on a daily basis.

So let's see how it works out.