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Simplified Mum Life

Nina A Spencer – Motherhood Mentor – Simplifying the every day for busy overwhelmed mums -Mum Of Twins Twice! Placenta Accreta Survivor, Mental Health Champion, On my own simple living Journey filled with adventure and travel . Embracing The Imperfectly, Chaotic moments of motherhood.
Mum Life

Sometimes I open my mouth and my Mother comes out!

OMG I’m turning into my mum

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No I don’t mean the hairs that I constantly have to pluck from my chin, or that I look in the mirror and see my mum (Shit I actually do?) Those lines at the corner of my eyes! Where did they come from?

Nowadays your monthly salon visits aren’t for having highlights or a bright colour they are a necessity – I mean it’s not just a myth, if you pluck a grey hair 2 more will grow…. I must have plucked hundreds!

Coupled with this, sometimes you look around as you hear your mum say something only it wasn’t her – It was you! You opened your mouth and your mum came out!

Blue Twin had a strop the other day about wanting pudding and gave me such a filthy look.

“Don’t look at me in that tone of voice” I said

I had to stop myself carrying on with “It’s smells a funny colour”

Then it hit me – It’s not just this phrase, there are loads of things I say to my kids that, even as they leave my mouth, I cringe that it’s my mother talking!

When they are whining about something hurting just to get out of doing something – “But Mummmmy my (blank) hurrrrttttsss  – My reply “your bum will hurt in a min if you don’t (blank) “

Or what about?  “Because I said so!” Normally this in reply to a ‘why can’t I…’ question that you either are too tired to answer or don’t know why!

These are some more I remember my mum saying to me…

  • “If the wind changes you will stop like it”
  • “I want never gets”
  • “Are your legs broken? Well you can walk then!” – When wanting to be picked up!
  • “I’ll see” – Meaning nope no way not ever oh go on then!
  • In response to it’s not fair “no but it’s not raining”
  • “No I’m not going to sleep I’m just resting my eyes!”

I think I’ve already said all of these too.

Oh god!

Send the wine I think it’s too late for me I’ve already turned into my mum!

Run quick save yourselves

Have you turned into your Mum? What phrases do you say that your mum taught you?

Nina 

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Celebrations

Neveo Family photo Journal – |Review| AD

When I was around my big twins age I loved to create little newspapers for my family. I would fill them with articles and little images that I’d drawn or cut from magazines. I think that’s why The Neveo Family Photo Journal appealed to me.

Neveo Family Photo Journal

The Neveo Journal is a monthly Photo Album created by you. You can chose up to 50 photos per month to add to the monthly newspaper style album. There is space to add a little caption to each photo too so you can really let the gift receiver know what you have been up to over the past month.

How does Neveo work

Firstly you need to set up an account and chose who is going to receive your family album. Then you can get choosing your photos for the month.

You can add other family members too so that they can contribute to your family album.

As I said you can pick up to 50 images from your device, google drive or from instagram. Then add a comment to each picture letting your family member know what you have been up to.

You can log in to the Neveo site at any point which means you can add a photo a day or a couple a week or all in one go like me at towards the end of the month.

You have until the end of each month to add, move or change the images before your newspaper automatically gets sent out to your gift receiver.

Review

Back when my Nan was with us she would nag me constantly for me to print out some photos of the kids. She wanted to see the adventures we had been having. I wish this product had been available then she would have loved it. It really is the ideal Gift for grandparents this Christmas.

I think in this digital age we can often forget those that don’t have access to social media like our grandparents. This is a great way for them to still feel connected Especially if they live far away.

I Chose to send our family Journal to my mum. Although she has social media quite literally at her fingertips she loves the feel of a magazine in her hand. I thought this would be a great gift for her each month.

The first month I chose to send her our Cornwall road trip adventure album. Carefully choosing my top 50 images to put in. I put a comment with each photo so she would know where it is and what we are doing.

It’s so easy to set up and create your family newsletter with Neveo. The only hard part for me is choosing which photos to put in each month.

There is a christmas promotion at the moment which means that If you head over to the Neveo Website and use the code SPENCERSARCMUMMY You can get your first month for free!

I hope You and your family enjoy The Neveo Family Journal as much as we are.

Nina x

This Blog Post was written in collaboration with Neveo. I received a year long subscription to the family Journal in order to review the product.

As always all opinions are my own!

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Mum Life

10 Tips For Surviving Soft Play.

You either love them or you hate them. Soft play is a necessity for parents sometimes. However you can leave feeling even more stressed than when you went in. Here are 10 Tips for surviving soft play.

Picture it if you will…….

We are at grandmas for breakfast.

A cold and wet Saturday.  It’s rained on and off for a few days. The garden is wet and muddy and the kids have their cousin over.

Soft play

The men are doing some work in the garden so there are tools everywhere.

There’s Mud Everywhere

Mud is being trampled in and out and I don’t know how many times a child has come in hurt.

I suggest taking the big kids to soft play for a couple of hours to run off some energy.

So There I am. Sat with my cuppa. Watching all the kids gate crash the bouncy castle. The Bouncy Castle that has been paid for by the birthday party in the corner.

The birthday parade starts and the kids inevitably ask me if they can join in.

I need a plan.

A plan to survive this couple of hours of soft play chaos.

Tips for Surviving Soft Play

1. Take another grown up.

 Although the noise of 50 + kids may break the recommended noise levels that humans should endure taking another adult means at least you can try to catch up with some important gossip. Also they will be on hand if you need to nip one child to the toilet or change a baby.

2. Find a soft play with comfy corner.

 One of our local soft plays has a couple of sofas I try and get the sofa before anyone else. Then you can …

3. Enjoy a cuppa.

 While sat on your comfy sofa, drinking your hot cuppa you can at least pretend your at home. (I mean don’t go picking your nose or scratching your bum your still in public)

4. Take advantage of the fact someone else is going to cook dinner and clean up the mess.

 Some soft play food can be half decent, so let someone else do the hard work.

5. Juice jug.

 The best way to keep the kids hydrated is with a jug of juice. They are normally the same price as one of the bottles of juice yet they normally last 2 kids 3 top ups. Plus your being kinder to the environment by not having disposable bottles.

6. Take a magazine or a book

. The kids will probably just go off and play so long as bellies are full and they have been watered. So take the opportunity to catch up on your important reading.

7. Go out of peak time

. Generally we only use soft play as a last resort. (Like most parents) Like when the weather is bad and there are no other plans. That said I sometimes use it as a treat. In that case I pick the quietest time usually after school hours when some soft plays will have a meal time deal. These are normally quieter times.

8. General hygiene & Antibacterial gel

 Kids carry germs fact! Make them wash their hands and use your antibac gel too. Especially before they have food along with before and after using the toilet

9. Don’t get into the “can I have just one penny”cycle

. Some soft plays. Ok most soft plays take advantage of stressed out parents by adding more ways to part them of their cash. They add dreaded grabber machines or those machines or toy vending machines. Those little suckers will be dotted around soft play with their bright lights. Enticing children promising them their dreams will come true and they will win some amazing prize for just £1. We got caught in the habit of letting the kids have just one “penny” too many times now we are trying to break the habit. Try not to get into the cycle. Stand your ground you can do it!

10. If you can’t beat them join them

. Sometimes you just have to squeeze yourself into their world for a while.

I hope these tips help you survive your trip to soft play. If all else fails instead find a pub with a playground inside. Then at least there is gin to take the edge off!!

Nina x

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Celebrations

Autumn Half Term Bucket List

It’s that time again, The run up to another School Holiday. This year our Autumn half term has two weeks instead of just one so there are even more days to collect memories. As always in order to keep the weeks running smoothly I like to have some ideas of activities for our days together. That’s why writing an Autumn Half Term Bucket list is a must.

Autumn Half term Bucket List

So here goes for our 2019 Autumn bucket list

Go

Where will we venture out to this holiday? We don’t have any plans as such but I always like to add the seaside to my bucket list no matter what time of year. Its my favorite place to be is by the sea!

  • Seaside – A must on every bucket list
  • Pumpkin Picking Farm
  • Rufford Abbey & Park – There is a light show happening that looks really magical for all the kids.
  • Library- See read at the bottom of the post!

Watch

A trip to the cinema with the biggest twins is a must. We love these little trips its a chance for them to get a bit more time with me without the demands of the little twins. Though sometimes we also like to snuggle in the front room all together or head out to our very own cinema room for a movie afternoon.

  • Shaun The Sheep Farmageddon – Cinema Trip
  • Hotel Transylvania trilogy – We still haven’t seen the full set despite them being on our bucket list for years
  • Harry Potter – I really want to get the books for the kids for christmas but I think they are more likely to read them and follow them after seeing the films. Besides who doesn’t love Harry potter

Make

I was such a creative person in the past but I get so frustrated with myself when the things I try and create don’t turn out perfect. However with that in mind I do try to be a little creative during the half term with the big twins.

  • I’m Sure there will be some kind of creative homework challenge for the half term so this will be at the top of our list.
  • Mini Concrete Pumpkins – I’ve seen some made using tights and really thick concrete mix so thought I might give it a go!
  • Pinterest Is full of halloween crafts that will keep us going forever but I’m going to let the kids decide what they want to make.

Do

As a family with four kids having activities to do is a must some days. Don’t get me wrong simple family days are great too but if every day had no activities the “I’m bored” whines would soon get on your nerves.

  • Geocaching – Always on our activities list
  • Movie Afternoons – This is a given, October half term is when we start ticking off films on our christmas movie list
  • Trick Or Treating – Obviously I’m not going to get away with not going am I? I mean there is sweets to be had!
  • Mini Party – I like to give the kids a bit of a treat usually at the end of term but this year I think I’ll leave it until closer to halloween. I dont go over the top just a little buffet tea and a few decorations.

Read

I have been very lazy of late and i’ve not really read anything other than instagram posts and blogs. I’ve listened to the kids reading their school books but no where near often enough. So this half term I aim to sit and listen to them a little more as well as reading to them. I’d love to get them into some bigger books like Harry Potter and things. I’m thinking a trip to the library is in order.

I hope this gives you a little bit of inspiration for keeping everyone amoused during the half term break.

I’d love you to recommend me some halloween days out and some books to read with the kids that will keep them engaged.

Nina x

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Health & Fitness

10 Ways to improve my mental wellbeing – World mental health day. 2019

Its world mental health day once again. This time of year can be a huge trigger for my mental health to start taking a dip. I have in the past suffered with anxiety and depression and had a few more diagnoses thrown in to boot.

Mental health can affect anyone. From the young to the old! It can come in many different forms, anxiety, postnatal depression, post-traumatic stress, bipolar, schizophrenia and more.

Sometimes symptoms can be helped by doing little things each day to boost your mood. Sometime you may need a little more help from therapy or medication.

If you or anyone you know seems to be suffering from mental illness please contact your health provider. Do not sit in silence. Seek help!

10 ways To help when your mood drops or anxiety creeps in.

  1. Eating healthy. Eating a healthy diet gives you essential nutrients that can, in turn, make your body produce chemicals that improve mood.
  2. Art. It has been proved that art & craft has beneficial impacts on your mental health. Activities such as painting, knitting, pottery where you can immerse yourself in the activity is a bit like being in a meditative state.
  3. Exercise. We all know by now that exercise is an essential part of everyday life that we should be participating in. However, still, not enough people are doing the recommended amount per week. However, even just a 10 min brisk walk outside can improve your mood. The vitamin D from the sun even in a winter, the fresh air into your lungs and the fact that you are moving creates chemicals that boost mood.
  4. Yoga. I’ve put this separate to exercise just because it encompasses more than just exercise. The stretching, the controlled breathing and the movement all help with getting you on the right track to a positive wellbeing.
  5. Gratitude lists.  we did start writing 3 things we were grateful for each day and share it between myself hubby and stepson, lately though we haven’t been doing it. You could put them in a journal, or write each one on a piece of paper and put it in a jar.
  6. Declutter – A cluttered home creates a cluttered mind. If there are things piling up around you it doesn’t create a calm space for your mind to relax!
  7. Be in the moment – Take a moment to be here and now. use your senses to really feel present. smell the coffee your drinking, taste your lunch rather than just gulping it down out of necessity, get down and play with your kids the way they do!
  8. Let it out – If you need to cry, cry – stick on a weepy movie grab some tissues and have a good sob!
  9. Talk – Grab a cuppa with a friend and tell them how your feeling, or seek out a counsellor who will not pass judgement and tell them whats bothering you. Sometimes when you talk about things they don’t seem as bad as they did in your head.
  10. Get enough sleep – Sleep is so important for our mental state of mind! We should aim for 7 -8 hours a night. Sleep gives our brains time to process information that it has been given through the day. sleeping can help aid recovery of traumatic events.

 

It’s so important to seek help if low mood turns into something more. Please reach out to someone your trust. A Dr, a friend or a family member.

Remember it is ok not to feel ok.

Nina

If you need help.

Urgent help always ring 999

Samaritans

Telephone: 116 123 (24 hours a day, free to call)
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Website: https://www.samaritans.org

Confidential emotional support for anyone who may be feeling distress or despair, including those that could lead to suicide. You can phone, email, write, or in most cases talk to someone face to face.

Mind Infoline

Telephone: 0300 123 3393 (9am-6pm Monday to Friday) or text 86463
Email: info@mind.org.uk
Website: www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines

Mind provides confidential mental health information services.

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