Mrs. B Challenge 40 - 24 - Photoshoot with my best friends

So I'm getting on with these challenges, I'm quite proud of myself to have completed 2 out of 40 so far! 

I was going to say this was another little cheat as we already had this booked, but it's not a cheat, it was still on my list of things to do! 

We originally had this booked for my birthday, but we were rained off. A few days later and we were booked back in and I couldn't be more thrilled with the results. We spent the day trailling the most insane weather, our whatsapp group was blowing up with the constant updates, we had hail, rain, wind, thunder - you name it! But on the way there the rain was immense, but then a rainbow appeared and the sun shone from out of nowhere. 

We got there and had the most lovely time, there was the three of us 'Wine O'Clock' girls and we were joined by a special guest and an honoury 'Wine O'Clock' member. It was my friend's daughters 13th birthday the day we were re-scheduled, so she came to join us! 

The pictures were taken by 

Dimples and Daisies photography and they are just amazing. I've had lots of photos taken by their sister company Liberty photography and took the plunge and had a family shoot last year with Dimples - and loved it and the results! So when I was thinking about having pictures taken with my best friends, I knew they were the company to choose. 

We choose a sunset on top of Butser Hill, there were two photographers and a videographer and they made us feel so special and nothing was too much trouble. And as I'm a Liberty girl, I may or may not have convinced the girls to have a cheeky bum shot too! 

When I say I am the luckiest woman alive, I really and truly mean it. These girls are part of that reason. We have been friends for 30+ years, we have been through so much together, we have survived so much together and we are always there to smile together. I am so grateful to have them in my life and I thank the Universe every day for their unwavering friendship. 

This shoot was to celebrate that, to have some nice (not drunken!) pictures together and create more special memories to look back on. Thank you, you wonderful women for being the family I chose. 

Dimples and Daises on 

Facebook and Instagram

Liberty photography on Facebook and Instagram

 TTFN, I'll keep you posted! Sammy xx

Mrs. B Challenge 40 - 17 - Coaching Session

Well I'm never one to hang around! But this was a little bit of a cheat, as I'd already done this task before I published the whole list. But it was on my list and after my birthday - so I'm counting it! 

17. Have a coaching session So this is something I've thought about for a while. I am the best person ever to be 'fine' and not have anything to think about, dig deep about or talk about - I am Taurean after all! I've seen loads of people have coaching sessions and become coaches. I've also seen lots of things that don't align with me and my values from coaches, so I've always been a little wary. For a start - I'm not one to be 'challenged' or told what to do, so most aggressive type coaches would not work out for me! But still I've been intrigued - so on the list it went. 

While thinking about this, I had seen these beautiful doodle posts on instagram from Charla at The Grateful Hearts Club and they were produced from her one off coaching sessions. I have attended a few workshops with TGHC and I loved them (would recommend them to everyone!) Charla's ethos and positivity attracts me to her like a bee to a flower. I love Charla's attitude, her honesty and passion, she is one in a million for sure. So when Charla advertised the session she is running this year at TGHC, 'Tune into You', I knew I needed to sign up and give it a go. 

You can find The Grateful Hearts Club on Instagram 

here

The call was for 20-30 minutes, so I was able to do it in my lunch break which was amazing. The cost of the session was £20, which was really reasonable and super affordable. It was super easy to book, TGHC website is really easy to navigate and Charla was on hand if I had any questions, I chose the date and time from a selection available. The confirmation emails, the reminders and the journal prompts I received were all great and had me looking forward to the session. 

The time came, and I was a little worried I would struggle to open up, but I needn't have been worried at all. The prompts Charla used had me talking freely and openly. Charla's kind nature and calming tones were just the thing I needed on a busy Friday. We reflected on the last year, what happened in my life not just society or Covid, what the positives are, what changes I needed to make and what I wanted to carry through into this year. We reflected on boundaries, what I struggle with and how sometimes my brain needed a little unjumbling! 

I absolutely love my doodle!  It was a great experience and I am so glad I got to do this. I'm so gratfeul to have had the opportunity and I loved every minute of it. I would thoroughly recommend The Grateful Hearts Club to all! 

You can find The Grateful Hearts club website 

here or on Facebook here

On to the next challenge! I'll keep you posted. 

 TTFN, Sammy xx

Growing Old Disgracefully

I turned 38 this year.  I'm not worried about that, at all.  Age is just a number, one I'm proud of - definitely, because I'm grateful to reach it.  I always remind myself that growing older isn't something that is afforded to everyone, so I'm grateful I'm one of those few.  And also of course, growing older is inevitable, but growing up is optional!

As people keep reminding me... it’s the slippery slope to 40 now, it’ll be here before you know it!  I've thought long and hard about the run up to my 40th birthday.  It's one I'm so looking forward to, and of course there will be a big party at the end of it!  But also there are some things I want to do before I turn 40.  

I've thought about this list of things for a while, writing and re-writing and trying to find challenges I want to do.  I must admit my list started with things like, 'lose 3 stone', 'go to Mexico', 'visit New York', but I realised that some of those things may be out of reach and actually I need to concentrate on the small joy bringers in life too, that and losing weight DOES NOT DEFINE ME!  So I waited for the New Moon in Taurus, meditated, got real with what I really wanted and revamped the list.  Today I am ready to reveal it to the World, so here it is....

THE LIST

1. Take a life drawing class ✔️

2. Watch the sun rise at the beach ✔️

3. Watch the Phantom of the Opera on stage ✔️

4. Wild swimming/Cold water swimming ✔️

5. Go away with my mum and sister ✔️

6. Go on a ghost hunt ✔️

7. Visit the National History Museum ✔️

8. Skinny dip in the sea ✔️

9. Visit Southsea Model Village ✔️

10. Go clay pigeon shooting ✔️

11. Travel to Scotland ✔️

12. Go to an adults arty pots session ✔️

13. Axe Throwing ✔️

14. Have an Angel Board reading ✔️

15. Hit a golf ball at the driving range ✔️

16. Visit Stonehenge ✔️

17. Have a coaching session ✔️

18. Take a belly dancing class ✔️

19. Complete a paint by numbers ✔️

20. Flower arranging ✔️

21. Write something, an article/book etc ✔️

22. Get a moon/witch/triple goddess tattoo ✔️

23. Complete a reading challenge ✔️

24. Have a photoshoot with my best friends ✔️

25. Gift flowers to a stranger ✔️

26. Climb the O2 ✔️

27. Complete the penny challenge ✔️

28. Make a piece of jewellery ✔️

29. Learn a new skill ✔️

30. Go for a spa day ✔️

31. Make my own candle ✔️

32. Have a singing lesson ✔️

33. Visit Clanfield Observatory ✔️

34. Make a drum ✔️

35. Take a Wim Hof Workshop ✔️

36. Learn how to decorate a cake ✔️

37. Watch a horror film at the cinema ✔️

38. Celebrate Beltane at Butser ✔️

39. Visit a Gin Distellery✔️

40. Throw a big 40th birthday bash!

That's it.  That is the list I'm about to embark on, and it starts.... NOW!  Anyone that can help out with any of the this, or point me in the right direction, do get in touch 😊

I will blog about each one, but also post on instagram too.  You can find me here if you’d like to follow me. My account is an eclectic mix, and I’m cool with that. I will also use the hashtag #MrsBChallenge40 

I’ll keep you posted! TTFN xx

The Crystal Love from Mrs B

Well its 2020, and don't we know it!  I apologise that I've been pretty absent, and there's been no new blogs for an age.  The blog hiatus has been for many reasons, but primarily because we've all been quite busy with a pandemic, which I've worked all the way through, and there's been some busy-ness in my mind, some growth and some challenges.  And no, none of it included Herbalife!

So today I thought I'd tell you about some of the life shifts over here, and to talk about crystals, where my love comes from and what I'm doing!  

So here goes... Since I was around 9 or 10, I have been gifted stones.  No idea where from, they just appear in random places.  I've even come home and pulled back my duvet and found a stone in the middle of my bed.  The stones are all different shapes, sizes and are left pretty much anywhere. Some I've found in the bottom of my handbag, on my kitchen side, in my bed - as I say, just about anywhere.  It's been a mystery for years.  Usually when I'm left a stone, it is after 'losing' something.  Now, I say losing with inverted commas, it is because I didn't really lose things, things just disappear into thin air!  All manner of things have been 'lost' along the way, NI card, keys, clippers, and many more random things.  My mum didn't believe me for ages, until it happened in front of her very eyes with no other explanation!

We've had a bit of a theory of these lost things and found stones, and that these are left by a member of my family who has passed.  When my Great Nan was dying, she promised my Mum she would show her there was such thing as the afterlife, and well, Mum has still has not had any proof from her.  So we wonder if this is Mum's proof, and she shows me instead.  I did take one of my stones to see a medium and all she could tell me was that it had a female energy.  So it is still a possibility and one that I truly believe.  I do now know though, if I find a stone - to treasure it and that I've lost something!

Fast forward many years and in 2018, the day before the 6th anniversary of my Nan's death, on the short walk home from Mum's, I found a stone!  It was literally in the middle of my path, there was no missing it.  It wasn't there when I walked down to Mum's around 10 minutes previously, and there was no one else around - our road isn't one that is filled with pedestrians at any time.  Now this stone was special, it was one of those painted stones that people hide and this one had come all the way from Milton Keynes!  Painted on the stone is a Fuchsia, and Fuchsia's are the flowers that always remind me of my Nan, I even have a cutting from Nan's garden, growing here with me in my garden. 

We loved this stone and the way it made me feel and the kindness set behind it, so Mum and I set up a group and decorated and hid some stones ourselves!  The Horndean group is here. but also check in your area on facebook and I'm sure you'll find one.  Grab some stones, paint them, then go hide them!  Go searching for stones, find them, photo and post them on fb and then hide them somewhere else.  I have kept this one, but I found the owner through the group and she gave me permission and said it was obviously meant for me in my time of need.  We all have great fun doing this and Mum has said a few times, you find a stone when you really need it; to make you smile, to remind you of something or to bring comfort.

Fast forward another year, and I went along to a workshop by Jeannie at Solecare  and my love for crystals was solidly founded.  My step daughter bought me a couple of crystals for Christmas to help with specific things and away I was!  I feel about crystals in the same way as I do about stones, and I truly believe the stones were my introduction.  Crystals are minerals formed underground, their characteristics depend on the type and condition in which they grow.  We are all made up of energy and crystals all have solid unwavering energy and a memory due to their repeating chemical structure.  When we hold crystals, a transfer of energies occur and the frequency in our bodies change.  Crystals have been used throughout all of history as a source of healing power and they can affect mental, physical, spiritual and emotional aspects of ourselves; simply put - these energetic exchanges can be used to shift physical and emotional states. The differing frequencies associated with certain crystals can achieve different benefits. How blumming exciting is this!

Now, I'm at the beginning of my journey with crystals, and have signed up for a course in crystal healing, so do expect to hear more!  I am loving discovering more and playing more and crystals really are busy changing my life.  For now, I'm happy picking crystals, gifting crystals, wearing crystals, decorating with crystals, cluttering up our house with crystals, meditating with crystals and oohing and aahing over pretty crystals!  

I’ll keep you posted! 

TTFN, Sammy xx

Ps.... I have had a text from my best friend and she sent me a picture of a little tin I'd given her, which was full of little Rose Quartz chips, about 20 years ago!  So obviously my love has always been in there, just repressed a little maybe! 

A Year in Review 2019

Well, what can I say?  It’s been a busy year!  So busy, I haven’t written for nearly all of it!  But it’s been a good year and there has been loads going on, loads I’m thankful for and loads I’m super proud of.  So we’ll start from the top I guess!

1. Book Club.

Some of the girls at work and I were always talking about books, what we’ve read, what’s on ‘the list’ etc and after a chat in passing with our CEO one day, we decided to form a book club! It’s been great, I’ve enjoyed the books, I’ve enjoyed the company, I’ve enjoyed the food, I’ve enjoyed time with the girls and I’m a proud member of the ‘Strong Ladies’ book club.  We’ve been through some rollercoasters this year, new children, new houses, new jobs and the support and love from the Strong Ladies has been second to none. Thank you all xx

2. My Beautiful God Daughter.

What a proud year it’s been! My god daughter has finished school, with amazing grades, she is totally beautiful and really shone at her prom.  She has also got her first job, started college and is learning to drive.  She is amazing and we are also so proud.

3. Work.

This year I applied and was successful for a huge promotion for me and am now a Deputy Service Manager for a Domestic Abuse charity.  I don’t talk about my work here much, most people know what I do, but confidentiality and my work being not that cheery means there’s not a great deal for me to chat about!  But I love my job and I’m really proud of me.  It is very busy, we have taken over a new service and are still finding our feet, but it is great.  I’ve moved to a different area in Hampshire, sometimes it’s like wading in treacle and it’s emotional, but it is for me.

4. Spice Girls

This year I got to fulfil a teenage dream!  Off I went to Wembley, with my best friend and my step daughter and we partied like it was 1997.  It. Was. Epic!  We stayed in the dingiest, tiniest, scabbyist hotel, but that didn’t matter.  We drank, danced, sang, cried and hugged.  It was AWESOME.

5. Bowen.

This year I’ve been introduced to an alternative therapy and I love it.  Bowen.  My mum recommended it to me and I’ve been having it every 3 weeks and wow, what can I say!  My immune system is improved, my back has improved, my sleep has improved, my life has improved.  You can read more about it here.... 

Helen Cooper Bowen I would recommend it to everyone, honestly - I shout it from the rooftops regularly!

6. Race For Life.

This year my best friend and I took part in our, possibly 10th race for life together and this year, we were joined by some juniors! My niece and her daughter.  It rained the whole way round, they Ran, we ran in a fashion and we completed it in around 50 minutes.  We also raised lots of money for cancer research, a charity close to my heart.

7. Jarvis.

Gosh.... where do I start with this hooligan!  He has been a bit of a worry this year!  An emergency stomach pump after eating mince pies, foreign object lodged in his intestine (when removed was a piece of carrot he was allowed to eat - but seemingly forgot to chew!) plus the rest!  But he’s such a babe, I love him so hard.  He’s been with us 7 whole years now, and I couldn’t imagine life without him, even if he is expensive!

8. Crystals, Moon, Spirituality.

This year this has been a big one for me.  I’ve always loved nature, loved magic, loved spirits (not just gin based!) loved mystical and always believed the moon held a special secret.  My step daughter introduced me to 

Jeannie at Sole Care and I have learnt so much!  I’ve been on a monology workshop, crystal workshop and learnt about Goddesses and everything in between.  I am slowly learning how to quieten my mind and meditate with intention.  Check Jeannie out on fb if you get chance and I certainly recommend any of her workshops. 

You’ll now always find me with some kind of sage and moon ritual at hand, my altar stacked, light in my life and I’m loving it.  I love looking at the world in a slightly different way.  I love making a meaning of things and knowing that things are truly ‘Always working out for me’.   I’ve always been weird and I totally embrace that!  Wild women and witches unite - we’ve got this!

9. Mr. B.

Forever grateful to my soul mate.  We’ve had some great adventures this year.  Weekends away, cursed holidays (as per usual) and pj nights in front of the telly.  Here’s to many more!

10. Good Times.

There’s been travel.  Girly weekends (posh old birds rule!).  Festivals.  Day trips.  Time with my niece and sometimes but rarely, nephew.  Swimming.  Shows.  Music.  Parties.  Family group holiday.  Birthdays.  My dad turning 60.  Get togethers.  New babies.  The list is endless and makes my face smile and my heart happy.

Thank you to each and everyone of you, for being part of my 2019.  I can’t wait to get started on the new year and the new decade with you all.  I am so lucky and so privileged to be growing older, to be experiencing new, to reminisce on the past and to be enjoying now.  Happy New Year to you all, may it bring you light, love, happiness and everything in between.

Big love xx

Plastic Free - Cleaning

So as previously talked about, we’re looking to go as plastic free as possible in 2019.  Here is topic 4!  Again, I am not a guru by any stretch of the imagination, but I am trying and that I can share with you!  I’m not necessarily going to change the world by myself, but if I can be part of that change then that is good for me.  Here is a couple of things we’ve already done.

 

Washing/Cleaning/Household products

 

Well we’ve been introduced to a new company this year, Splosh!  They are an online company, they sell cleaning products, clothes and household, washing up liquid and things like that.  You can find their website  

here....

I have purchased, washing up liquid, toilet cleaner and kitchen cleaner so far.  You select the products you’d like and they sent them to you in plastic bottles (hold that thought!) that are reuseable and heavy duty.  If your bottle breaks at any time, you can send it back to them and they will replace it free of charge and recycle that bottle.  Once you have your bottles sorted and have used the products in them, you can then buy concentrated refills and they are sent in the post to you.  They come in a cardboard box easy enough to fit through your letterbox, the pouches inside contain super concentrated liquids and you can send them back free of charge to Splosh and they reuse and recycle them.  

The box the delivery came in is of course cardboard and recyclable, and the packing beans are made of starch and home compostable – excellent!

 

The washing up liquid I bought is lime flavour and it is just fabulous!  It is really bubbly, smells delicious and cleans really well.  The toilet cleaner, I’m using a little like I would bleach (liberally and daily!) and it is a peppermint smell and makes the whole bathroom smell lush, which is great if you live with a smelly boy!  I haven’t used the kitchen cleaner yet as I’m still getting through my last bottle of zoflora (thanks Mrs Hinch, but the plastic consumption is not great!)  so I’ll keep you posted.  I have placed a further order for washing powder, washing detergent and fabric softener, glass cleaner and clothes stain remover.  I’ll pop up another post when they’ve arrived and I’ve had chance to use them.

 

TTFN x

Plastic Free - Beauty Regime

So as previously talked about, we’re looking to go as plastic free as possible in 2019.  Here is topic 3!  Again, I am not a guru by any stretch of the imagination, but I am trying and that I can share with you!  I’m not necessarily going to change the world by myself, but if I can be part of that change then that is good for me.  Here is a couple of things we’ve already done.

 

Go green face cream!

Back last year I was invited to a fund raising party.  It was a Neal’s Yard party and like all the other parties, you go along, look at the products, make your purchase and the host benefits in free products, that type of party.  This one was a fund raiser and the commission the host would’ve made was being donated, to a charity close to my family – Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association.  I went along, only due to the fact it was a fundraiser and I was so surprised and amazed by the products.  The company started in Covent Garden in London, are a family run company, and now run from an co factory in Dorset.  The products are mostly bottled in beautiful blue glass bottles and pots, some of the items do come in recycled plastic tubes and these can be recycled too.  They contain no parabens or nasty chemicals, they are organic and give you a percentage rating as to how much of it is organic (unlike some companies, if 1% is organic they will just claim the product is organic).  I bought a frankincense cleanser which came with a beautiful cotton wash cloth, and at subsequent parties I then bought a palmarosa toner and face cream.  I am loving the products and what they have done to my adult acne skin and would recommend them to anyone.  I have since signed up to have an account and sell the products (mainly because I wanted the discount on offer!) but because this is a company I can truly get behind.  I’m not suggesting to buy products from me, but you can grab them in some Waitrose, online and there are some Neal’s Yard shops around too – give them a try!  

NYRO Website

Reusable cotton pads

Now I couldn’t go all this way and not think about the cotton wool buds and pads I throw away daily.  So I have switched to cotton buds with paper stems and not plastic, winner.  And I have bought some cotton wool pad rounds that are bamboo and reusable rather then throw away ones.  I bought mine from ebay from a seller called ‘kinderearth’, but you can get them from loads of sellers, on amazon and in shops too.  I purchased the rounds, a little bag to put them in and a wash bag to machine wash them in.  

These are small swaps I’ve made which haven’t cost a fortune and have fitted in really well with my beauty regime.  Give it a go, see what you think!

 

There are more to come, so watch this space! 

 

TTFN