You know those ‘morning routine to set me up for a good day’ vlogs on social media? Fun activity as a parent: compare your morning to theirs and then laugh hysterically. Particularly when your morning started with your child throwing up on you which happened to me twice this month.
January has really been Januarying this year. A three week (and counting) cold from hell which turned into a chest infection, two vomiting incidents (why is it always when you’ve just put fresh sheets on?), pelvic girdle pain, toilet training… basically I have dealt with more bodily fluids in the last three weeks then is reasonably justified. Unless you’ve cleaned up poo off the bathroom floor whilst hacking up blood-stained mucus, you’ve probably had a better month than me lads. Don’t beat yourself up if you’re not making any headway with new year’s goals and feeling depressed by the perpetual greyness – IT COULD BE WORSE. I’m not going to even touch on the alarming state of world news this month. I just can’t even go there right now.
That being said, I thought I was going to have to work really hard for things I’ve loved lately (below) but it is surprising the small joys you can find even when you feel a bit bleak. As woo-woo as it sounds, I am always going to be an advocate for taking a moment to find the small joys.
Twenty things I’ve loved lately
Visiting the Van Gogh exhibition at The National Gallery in London. Not normally an art person but there is something particularly beautiful about his paintings.
A gorgeous meal at Tofu Vegan with my family for my mum’s birthday. We sat chatting all afternoon and those wontons were so good.
Walking through the countryside on a bright, extremely frosty day. The countryside where we live is so flat, but I find such beauty in it.
A Gail’s opening in our town. God help my bank balance having such easy access to those cinnamon buns.
Julius Robert’s super green pasta. Easy, delicious, great way to fill us all (including my vegetable-resistant toddler) with the good stuff.
The bbhugme pregnancy pillow. It was an investment, but I have never been more grateful when I was using it to prop me up at night when it was impossible to lie down without coughing up a kidney (also very good when used for its primary purpose as well).
A bright orange citrus cake; a pop of sunshine in this never-ending grey.
Alfie brushing my hair for me. I may be ill but at least he’s not letting standards drop.
Good quality hot chocolate. Always restorative.
Viewing a house for my sister and brother-in-law in our area. Buzzing to potentially have them living nearby.
My husband picking up so much of the slack as I waddle about coughing, groaning, moaning. Give the man a medal for his never-ending patience.
Alfie rubbing my belly absent-mindedly as he watches Thomas the tank engine. He keeps poking my belly button and telling his sibling to come out. If only it was that easy eh?
This sausage bean recipe by Ella Risbridger. Very tasty.
Lockerbie with Colin Firth. Haunting but a very good piece of telly; would recommend.
Leaving the fairy lights strewn across our kitchen ceiling exactly where they are. Went up for Christmas, staying for the cosy vibes.
Onyx Storm. Perfect reading material when you can’t sleep because your nose is entirely blocked, and your chest is crackling in a slightly alarming fashion.
Fantasising about all the colourful clothes I am going to wear once I no longer look like a beachball.
Owning a slow cooker. A truly excellent Christmas present.
Making a list of all the books coming out this year that I am excited to read.
Snowdrops emerging. SPRING IS COMING.
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