Reflective

We’ve established I rarely blog these days and a quick look over the past few posts it is always when I am feeling reflective. It is obviously my outlet. And, a good one at that.


Bradgate Park, November 2013 (Mine, taken on iPhone)

I am currently in that point of the Christmas break where the excitement is dying down and thoughts are moving on to the year ahead. I normally get annoyed at myself of all the things I haven’t achieved in the previous year and start getting optimistic about the one ahead. I looked back on my ‘resolutions’ for 2013 and surprise surprise the same could stand for 2014, and probably will. In fact they have been mostly the same for the past 5 years at least. This year I may even share them.

Another unlikely surprise is that these resolutions are likely to include more blogging, one year I will achieve this. I was going through all the photos we had taken this year and there were so many that I had took thinking ‘that will make a good blog photo’, they just never quite make it that far. I guess being in front of a computer screen for 8/9 hours a day at work doesn’t make blogging in an evening a very attractive activity.


Bradgate Park, November 2013 (Mine, taken on iPhone)

So, the planning is beginning. The 12 month Moleskin planner to sort my head out for 2014 is ordered and should arrive any day. In the meantime I might just look back over some of those photos whilst listening to our new record player and Carole King.

After all, I need all the relaxation I can get, 2014 is set to be the biggest yet with a new addition to the family. Arghh!

Having it all

Working full time in quite a demanding job with a two year old is clearly not conducive to keeping up a blog. I remember before I started working full time in March 2012 I asked on Twitter for recommendations of any blogs from mum's who worked full time. I thought a few tips from those who were 'doing it all' would be useful. I had a couple of recommendations but the responses that have stuck in my mind are those that said 'don't be crazy, mums working full time won't have time for blogging'. I scoffed and thought I would be able to.

So, no it is pretty much impossible. Getting through the days and the weeks is enough for me. I get home and once little one is in bed, which unfortunately isn't at normal small people's bedtimes, I crash. Completely.

But, I have missed it, missed writing and having something that is mine.

To be honest I had given up on the blog. Decided it was from a different point in my life but then Blogtacular was announced on Twitter.

I've never been happy with the 'mummy blogger' tag as there is so much more to me than being a mum - boy there was so much more to me BEFORE becoming a mum - and finally there is a blog conference that is about creativity and inspiration rather than being a mum, or being female.

So, here's the thing. I can't really be part of Blogtacular if I am not blogging. Just because once upon a time I 'had' a blog doesn't really cut it.

All I need to do now is work out how to fit blogging back into my world. Advice welcome!

I have 9 months to sort myself out before Blogtacular. Crikey I could have a baby in that time, surely I can type some words and collate some pretty photos?!

Bring it on!

Happy New Year one and all. As always with a new year, new resolutions and new promises to myself. I guess the coming weeks will tell. But as a summary, 2013, bring it on!

Should I stay or should I go?

Image courtesy of My Crush Party via Pinterest

So I want to start blogging again but there is no way I can continue with the blog looking how it does. It has been like this since 2009 and well, a lot has changed in that time. 

Some people don’t mind what blogs look like, some people like lilac and pink and sparkly bits but not me. Design matters. Yes, I am a design snob. Less is more and white space is king.

I chose Blogger back in the old days due to its ease of use but let’s face it Wordpress is the platform of choice for those that really know what they are doing. Or is it?

Is it just that Wordpress templates are a little more professional and a bit less ‘hobby’. A quick search came up with a few template download sites for Blogger which may yield some results and I have saved a couple but they are very reliant on imagery, which although I do want to increase as part of my blogging is always the most time consuming bit. Also, to say I am a little scared of updating my blogger template is a slight understatement. I have been tweaking the current template continuously since 2009 and can’t quite remember what I have done but I have backed it up so all should be fine.

But the niggle remains, should I take this opportunity to switch to Wordpress? Is it required to be taken seriously as a blogger? (If there is such a thing!)

If I stay with blogger is there anything else to consider, I want the best comment plugin as possible and I like the LinkWithin plugin, do I also finally sort out the URL (I have owned theprojectlab.co.uk since 2009!). What has changed on Blogger since 2009 that I need to consider?

Any advice greatly received!

A belated Happy New Year...

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year and it is safe to say this post is a little belated!

We had a lovely Christmas, E's first, but there were a few illnesses and to be honest I'm still not 100%. I have lots of stories and photos to share but there is plenty of time. I have been doing a lot of thinking and mental planning and am really looking forward to making some of these ideas happen in 2012.

At the end of 2011 I started to worry that I hadn't achieved things that I had wanted to during the year. I Tweeted something similar and it didn't take me long for me to realise I was being too hard on myself. Afterall, 2011 was the year I had my first baby, and learnt to deal with all the things that it brings and set up my own business, {Mason & Co}.

I'll settle for that :)

So in 2012 I hope to get back with 'the list', I have another business idea and I want to start freelancing to bring in some extra cash. I want to continue to be the best Mum I can be and I am looking forward to E's development over the next year - I can't believe its less than 2 months until his first birthday! I want to continue with this blog, this is something I have thought about very hard. I will make time for it as a routine emerges for 2012 and hope to focus more on design, the handmade and my adventures finding {Mason & Co} treasures.

I am not going to beat myself up for spending too long on my phone, or on Pinterest or 'wasting' time doing nothing. Everything I do is a choice and 2012 is the year to remember that.

Happy 2012 all!

2012 calendar from Yumalum

[ . . Wonderful Week . . ] The big three-o

Well it's arrived. I have now turned 30.

If you have been a regular reader you will know that I wasn't particularly looking forward to the milestone but actually it has (so far) been pain free. I should have known that really but after a mini meltdown when turning 25 I wasn't that confident. I have always had a thing about milestones and anniversaries.

So I am now 30, a wife, and a stay at home mum. Blimey I couldn't have predicted that at 25!

I had a wonderful weekend celebrating the event with my nearest and dearest friends and family. A tea party for friends on Saturday, dinner with family on Sunday and a walk on Monday. Perfect.

The only thing that I'm not too happy about is completely failing to finish my 30 before 30 list. In fact I have only got about half way through. So I am going to have to turn it into another list because I am keen to finish it in some form or another. So do I go for 12 before 2012, 101 things to do before I die, 31 before 31, 40 before 40. I'm just not sure.

For the time being though I am just going to concentrate on being me and the best mum, wife, daughter and friend I can be. Blogging and the list are going to have to come second (or should that be fifth!?) because at the minute I just don't seem to be able to find the time to do it all.

Hope to see you all soon and any thoughts on the list please let me know.

x

[ . . Wonderful Week . . ] This time last week...

...I was on my way home from CyberMummy feeling a little bit tipsy and absolutely exhausted.

The day for me was a complete mix of emotions. I had a bit of a wobble leaving my boys at the train station and I had completely underestimated how overwhelmed I would feel in a room full of over 400 women. It was bizarre. I have been to many conferences in the past but never one where there was quite so many women. I am used to being the minority.

My arrival at the venue was slightly marred by the fact that my phone had completely crashed so I was in a bit of a panic. After being saved by one of the wonderful hairdressers who let me borrow his power socket I started to calm down and made my way back in to the main room. And bang. It hit me.

I had actually come all the way to London, on my own, to a room full of strangers, out of choice. Was I completely mad?? I made my way to grab a cup of tea (sugar always helps!) and in no time it was time for the first keynotes.

The first by a Facebook bigwig was interesting and not the 'sales pitch' I thought it would be. What is there to sell I guess. But to be honest I wasn't really listening and was more interested in scanning the room playing 'spot the blogger'. It was then I realised I hardly recognised anyone. I didn't have long to ponder the thought though as Sarah Brown (yes that one) was next on and was utterly engaging, inspiring and to be honest quite surprising.

Then it was time for more tea and another sugar hit. As I stood enjoying my tea, waiting for the sugar to kick in I glanced around the room and it hit me again. I really was on my own. Suddenly everyone seemed to know each other and already be in pairs or groups. The few people I spotted on their own, and therefore was brave enough to introduce myself to turned out to be PR's. I really was wondering why I was there.

The rest of the day seemed a bit of a blur. A mixture of really interesting and thought provoking sessions and absolutely nerve racking, moments of loneliness. Finally it was 6 o'clock, the main sessions had finished and I thought I would leave early. Stumbling out with all the freebies and getting some dinner before the train home seemed like a good idea but I decided to grab at least one of the free glasses of wine first.

Well that went down quite nicely and gave me a bit of perspective. I had spent quite a bit of money to get myself there and I was actually thinking about leaving early? No, I had to make it worth while so, more wine, deep breath and well, I started to introduce myself to people. Deciding that I didn't care if I seemed like a stalker, after all what did that matter. It was probably my favourite part of the day.

In no time at all it was 8 o'clock and time to leave to get the train. I was ready, but in the end I had had a good day. The highlights for me really were meeting some great twitter and blogging friends (you know who you are!). I am not sure that the sessions have given me the direction I wanted for my blog but I am not sure anyone can do that. It is up to me.

After all it is all about the niche. And well, my niche is I guess me and at the minute this little chap...

All the sessions were live blogged from CyberMummy and you can find them here.

[ . . Wonderful Week . . ] Who am I?

Found via pinterest

Well, it's been a good few weeks since I posted a Wonderful Week as I have been busy living life and somehow not finding the time to blog. I am hoping this changes as when I do actually make the time I really enjoy it and am very proud of it.

I guess I am always a bit nervous about posting as I want everything to perfect. When will I learn that nothing is perfect? Maybe if I was a bit more confident I wouldn't worry so much. There are so many wonderful blogs out there and I would love to be one of them but that will never happen if I don't just get on with it. I can't keep waiting for the perfect post subject to pop up in my mind. Some posts will be great, others not so but I need to keep it up.

When I was mooching around on the Internet the other day I stumbled upon a post that I had somehow missed at the time on the lovely Little Red Buttons blog by Abby. It really rang true, entitled 'Combating blog envy' and has played on my mind ever since. It refers to another post, 'Just say NO to blog envy' on a blog that I have never come across before about that sinking feeling you get after visiting amazing blogs about seemingly amazing lives. Luckily it gives a number of tips of how to be true to yourself and your blog and ignore the stats. Tips such as 'be original', 'respect the originality of others', 'blog blindly', 'be kind' and remember that blogging isn't everything. This is all very easy to say, and read but a bit harder for me to put in to practice.

I think I need to decide what type of blogger I am. I started this blog before little E was even a sparkle in my eye. Does this not make me a mummy blogger. Do I even want to be a mummy blogger? At the end of the day I would like people to read my blog, I would like for it to be enjoyed. I would like to be able to review some lovely products and services that I think others may be interested in. I don't want to review everything and anything, only those things of relevance to my life. I don't want it to be a blog full of reviews or a blog full of memes.  But what do I want?

I do still feel true to my original strapline 'a place for me time, inspiration and aspiration' so I think this is what I need to focus on. Mum or not.

Maybe listening to those at CyberMummy will help me decide who I am in this blogging world.

How did you decide what type of blogger you are? Have you changed over time? Are you happy with your blog? Do you have any tips? I would love to know your blogging journeys x

Oh dear!

I have been really rubbish at blogging lately. I just don't seem to have anything to say or the time to say it? I guess it means I have more important things to do like actually living. Anyway, we'll see what happens, maybe I'll find my voice again soon.

Please bear with me, x

CyberMummy meet & greet

Now I am officially a Mum I thought I would finally add myself to Carly at Mummys Shoes meet and greet ahead of CyberMummy in June.

I decided to buy a ticket back in February after umming and arrring for ages. I was undecided due to the cost and having a new baby who would be a maximum of 4 months old. Some lovely folk on Twitter helped convince me I should. So come June the 25th I will be heading down to London town to meet you all.

In preparation and to give you a bit of heads up, this is me...

Name: Lucy

Blog: theprojectlab

Twitter ID: @_lab_

Height: 5ft 6" (I think!)

Hair: Brown - in a short bob type thing!
Eyes: Blue

Likes: Sunshine, design, happiness, Internet, creativity, photography, holidays, new clothes, Thai food, eating out, my iPhone

Dislikes: Inconsiderate people, rain

If you are going to Cybermummy please say hi in the comments. Getting a little bit nervous that I won't know anyone!

Right I really should buy my train tickets now then :)

[ . . Wonderful Week . . ] I'm going to CyberMummy!

I can't believe how fast the weeks are going! Don't get me wrong that is a good thing but there still feels like a lot to do before the arrival of Baby B. With this in mind I have done my last day's work this week to allow myself time to relax in the next few weeks and hopefully encourage Baby B to arrive before D Day (Due Date!).

This week we also attended the funeral of our lovely neighbour of 5 years who passed away in January. She was a remarkable lady and the perfect neighbour. She always looked out for us and took in our many parcels whilst we were both at work. Nothing was ever too much trouble and she was very strong. I would call round every few months and we would have a good chat and most importantly a good laugh. She was laughing until the end. She encouraged us to be neighbourly, which we loved but despite this had never actually spoken to the neighbours the other side of her even though we were a similar age. Well the funeral certainly changed all that. We got on like a house on fire and in addition to being a similar age they are similar in so many other ways. We were all laughing and saying that hopefully our friendship can be one of her legacys.

The nursery has also been coming on leaps and bounds but I am saving showing pictures until it is completed in the next week or two and a few things off my 30 before 30 list are underway. The other main news this week is...

I am very excited about this and if you are a regular reader you will know I have been considering it for some time. After it was announced that Sarah Brown was going to be a keynote speaker earlier this week I thought it was now or never to buy a ticket before they all sold out. So I took the plunge, I was hesitating over the cost of the train, whether to stay over in London, and how/whether to take Baby B but I decided the details can be sorted out nearer the time. I had mentioned the conference to Mr B in the past, who thought it was hilarious that there was such a conference, but I don't think he expected that I would go, either that or he was not listening (!). He looked a little surprised when I broke the news to him when he walked in from work but I think he was more amused at my guilty sounding admission that I had bought a ticket.

To think this is how I am whilst I still have an income, what am I going to be like now I am properly on maternity leave. Am I going to feel the need to ask for pocket money? Oh, I do hope not!

So, I leave this week looking forward to the next. Feeling excited and a little apprehensive that we are a week closer to Baby B's arrival. I think the reality of it is sinking in. How tiny, precious and breakable the little one will seem. How many things will change. What can we still do. What will we not want to do. Can we attend friends weddings and other occasions. What do we need to consider.

Only time will tell.

[ . . Wonderful Wednesday . . ] oops a bit late!

So I missed this week's Wednesday post, but for good reason.

It was my Mum's birthday so we went to a local spa for a day of relaxation and pampering. It was lovely and just what me and bump needed.

The last week has been very busy (again!) but we succeeded in our trip to Ikea and the Christmas shopping is very nearly finished. Yesterday I actually managed to get my crafty groove back on and make (yes shock horror - make!) a Christmas present for my friend. I nipped out to try and buy something in the morning from a local gift shop but just kept thinking 'I could make that'. So, I did. Well I have tried anyway. I wonder whether she will actually like it or just be polite? I will post photos of it after Christmas just in case she has a sneaky peek here.

The one thing I haven't yet done is explored pinterest. I am really struggling as I normally go on the internet using my iPhone and rarely my computer so I just haven't had the opportunity. Maybe it can be a Christmas job :) Oh, I wonder if it works on iPad's? I might treat myself to one after Christmas.

In the meantime I might just stick to the books and go downstairs and finish the one I am reading with a nice cup of tea. It was with this in mind that I selected the image below from Suzie Q on Flickr. I found it by doing a random search (I think for 'relaxing Christmas') and bizarrely, and often seems to be the case with me, we seem to have a fair bit in common! Although the other side of the world she has not long reached the third trimester of pregnancy, and a quick look through her photos reveals a keen interest in photography, art and design.

I do love the Internet!


 Keeping Christmas Real Simple, originally uploaded by suzie•q.