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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.
Health & Fitness

But I run like Phoebe!

If you’ve followed me for a while you will know the one activity I love to do that can be classed as “exercise” is swimming.

I just love being in the water

I’m a Leo a fire sign so maybe that’s why. Maybe I need to water to calm my fire.

But I just love it.

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I love being by the sea, walking along a river or canal, and I love swimming.

The hot tub afterwards is a bonus too.

But I’m not a swimmer. (Like I like to cook (sometimes) but I’m not a chef. )

I can’t put my head under, I’m not very good at any stroke and the idea of not being able to touch the bottom of where I’m swimming scares me.

My worst kind of death would be drowning or being in a fire.

But I love the water. It makes me feel free, it takes away most of my little niggles, I feel less anxious (unless as we’ve stated I can’t touch the bottom)

But I swim in a style that can only be described as how Phoebe (from friends) runs.

It’s a little carefree & uncoordinated.

But I’m moving my body and relaxing my mind so that’s all that matters

So if you have a favourite thing do it without a care.

As the saying goes

“Dance like nobody is watching Sing like no one is listening’

Be more Phoebe.

Nina x

 

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Health & Fitness

The Big M! – Diary Entry 1,2 &3

Friday 1st March

Ok so a couple of  weeks ago I started getting anxious about a pain in my breast.

By the time a week had passed my anxious mind had decided it was breast cancer and that I should contact the doctors.

After a quick phone call she had called me in for some blood tests the following week.

Her thoughts about the pain and other symptoms I’d been having (tinnitus, heart rate changes, anxiety creeping up and up e.t.c.)  were the same thing I had thought for a while (well before the irrational fear of breast cancer came to my head) Menopause.

I mean I had a hysterectomy not yet 2 years ago and I had been wondering at what point my menopause would kick in because although Id kept my ovaries I was told that menopause would probably happen a few years earlier than it would have!

I have been saying to my mum for a while that I wonder if some of my little niggles are menopause symptoms.

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Monday 4th March

Blood test day. I’ve grown more anxious about the pain in my breast and I’ve convinced myself I need to see the dr.

I think maybe I’ve not told her enough for her to make the correct decision.

Wednesday 5th March

Today I have been for my appointment with the doctor. Both myself and I think my doctor were  hopeful the blood tests would come back with the answer.

Unfortunately the blood tests were normal.

The doctor however is adamant that it is the early stages of menopause and that the oestrogen has just not depleted from my brain yet! although the brain fog I have would say otherwise!

So I’m on a course of oestrogen only patches or HRT. I have to go back in another couple of months and let her know how I’m feeling.

Meanwhile the pain and “oddness” in my breast she is sure is nothing to worry about but I’m to just keep an eye on it to make sure.

I have to say I really thought I would come out with a proper defined answer to all of my symptoms and in a way I have but I still cant help but worry when the blood tests came back normal!

So for now I have decided to try and put the worry out of my head (which for a self confessed hypochondriac is not easy) and start  my HRT of which I’ve chosen patches meanwhile I have self referred to Insight for some talking therapy to try calming my nerves and lift my depression.

I will of course try and post any updates.

* I have attached my first patch, which was straight forward I just hope it stays stuck especially when I go swimming later in the week.

 

Thanks for dropping by

If you have any tips to help me get through this chapter in my life they would be very much appreciated!

Nina x

 

 

 

 

 

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Adventures

A Sunny February Day in Matlock Bath

I’ve not been for a Day out In Matlock Bath since I was a child when I have a vague recollection of visiting Gulliver’s kingdom. Which is now no longer what I remember of it.

However when a friend posted about their day out in Matlock during half term I quickly added it to our weekend plans. We are always looking for things to do on the weekends to make the most of our family time.

We didn’t arrive until lunch time due to gossiping too much at breakfast. Luckily though I had packed a picnic so fed the little twins some finger snacks as we headed to find a play park.

Parking

When we arrived in Matlock Bath is was apparent that it is a popular place. Especially for bikers. Along the Main Street are 1hr parking bays which if your only passing through and grabbing a coffee would be a great place to park.

Travelling a little further and there is a small short stay car park for up to 3 hours. Again for a lunch stop or evening meal would be quite a good choice.

We parked a little further and up the hill to Gulliver’s kingdom in the all day car park.

Parking here is £6 for 24 hrs. A pretty average amount for touristy place I think.

The view from the car park is amazing so make sure you take a moment to take it in.

Cafes, restaurants & tea rooms.

There is an abundance of places to grab a bite to eat and obviously with only half a day we only had chance to visit one.

We chose “Forget Me Not Coffee Shop” Now, we caught them on a bad day. They had, had a flood in the morning due to the coffee boiler pipe coming unattached so they were a little frantic and there was a couple of puddles on the floor. However don’t let this discourage you. The menu looks fab and the coffee & cakes we had were delicious.

It is a bright shabby chic decorated coffee shop with lots of cakes on display.

Chippy tea?

There are some lovely looking places along the road. From coffee shops called “F Coffee” to good British institutes of the chip shop. We didn’t have a chippy tea on this visit however My friend told us the best one to go to is promenade and If the amount of customers is anything to go by then this must be true.

Gifts and sweets.

There are sweet shops, and gift shops selling lots of lovely things dotted in between all the eateries. This place is far from the seaside however it feels just like a quaint little seaside town in a way with all the little shops along the road.

Play area.

Ive already mentioned that we visited the play park as soon as we got there.

We actually visited two during our short day out in Matlock Bath.

I’ve said before we are touring the world one play park at a time.

The first we went to has a pirate ship climbing frame set in sand with a little boat the the little twins enjoyed playing in.

It was quite busy when we arrived. But didn’t discourage the kids from playing.

On our way from the car park I had spotted a smaller park so on our return to the car we decided to pay a little visit. It was much smaller just two slides a toddler sized one and a huge one on a wooden climbing frame. It may have been huge but Jessica still managed to climb to the top and slide down.

Attractions.

You can’t drive into Matlock Bath without noting the cable cars travelling high above the road.

The Heights of Abraham are now on our family’s bucket list apparently.

I have to say it does look a great visit. There is a play park , museum, caves and more.

I just have to have a little something to calm my nerves on the trip on the cable car.

We had a wander to the station to have a look when we met a couple who had just come down.

They were a little shaken by the experience.

But for those with a head for heights I’m sure it would be great.

Lead Mining Museum.
We didn’t go here as I’m not sure it’s a place for the little twins to run around and I bet it’s not really pushchair friendly. But when they are bigger maybe.

Gulliver’s kingdom
As I’ve said before I used to visit Gulliver’s Kingdom when I was a child but it’s completely different now a days.
There’s theme park rides, soft play areas, outdoor play areas , dinosaurs and more
It’s really a day out on its own.

There is so much more we could visit on a day out in Matlock Bath so I think we will have to plan another day very soon.

For more information on Matlock Bath check out this website *

Nina x

*All links from my site are not owned by me and such I am not responsible for content and security of them so use with own caution.

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Health & Fitness

But what’s changed?

As I’m sure your aware in August 2017 I was told the news that I had a rare but life threatening pregnancy complication. I faced my ultimate fear, death!

I vowed in the days before my surgery (and afterwards when I had a twisted bowel and then later gallstones) that I would be a better person, I vowed to change, to live life better.

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So we are now a year past my last operation and what’s changed?

Well I took the kids out of school for a bit. Looking for a life of travel and life education. But when your solo parenting 4 its just not that easy. When you have a Aldi lemonade budget but want to live a Waitrose Prosecco lifestyle it was never going to work. Besides Jake struggled with the fact he still had to do “school” work.

I ate better for a bit. Then as the fear of the pain eased the chocolate & fish n chips creeped back in.

I returned to swimming and after a short break have now returned again.

I’ve took up doing a 20 min walk 3 times a week. (Up until we all got sick & the cold snap hit. It’s no fun walking up a steep hill with a pushchair when it’s like a skate rink.)

Unfortunately as a family we seem to have drifted further apart lately. Chris works long hours and travels away quite a bit with work.

Don’t get me wrong we had some amazing trips in 2018 but him working the hours he does and only living pay check to pay check is tough for us all.

So what has really changed?

Well

I’m still feeling lost with who I am. Where I want to be.

I had such plans last year maybe it was the adrenaline from the fear of dying that spurred me on.

It’s like we’re stuck in a bit of a rut waiting for a better life. Waiting for the kids to grow. Waiting until we’re in a better financial place.

What’s next?

Well I want to figure out what I can do as a career. I have often said in the past that I want to make this blog and social media a way of making income but I all honesty I don’t think I’m cut out for it.

I think I’ve lost my passion for blogging a little because I’m trying to hard to make it work as a business. I’ve lost sight of my ‘why’.

I need to crack on with my #fitfor40 because that big number will be here in a flash.

I need to figure out a way to get our family living a better relationship. Stop the fighting and negativity.

Make the most of life. Breath in every second.

Outlook.

I don’t know. Maybe I’ll be back here in a year with the same post wishing I’d lived better for the past year. Maybe this time is the time. Our time to find a better way to live life!

I just want to say thank-you to all of you that have supported me over the past year and a half or more.

To those that live in my phone and take the time to comment, ask how I’m doing, and support from afar. You help me each and every day.

Those that are there in my real life I don’t know what I would do without you.

So thank-you from the bottom of my heart.

Until next time.

Nina x

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Hub

Foodie Inspiration

I am by no means a great chef and to be honest I’m not a big fan of cooking but if I don’t plan meals ahead then meal times and the build up can be super stressful.

Meal Plan Monday

I have been trying to make a meal plan each week to help with meal time chaos

Easy Family Dinner

Occasionally Though I hit on a recipe that I just want to share. I may even find an easy way to do dinner.

Seasonal Inspiration

What about some seasonal foodie inspiration

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Where to next?