BlogButterfly

Why oh why is it impossible for me to complete the simple task of ordering the weeks shopping, without any mistakes? Last week I planned on cooking my boys a lovely Beef Roast so,  I proceeded to the Meat section, hunted down the Beef and ordered what I thought was approx £6.00′s worth. When the shopping arrived a day later, I opened the bag to which the Beef was lying in, and to my dismay I pulled out the smallest piece of Beef known to man. Annoying much? It was barely enough to feed 2 people!

This week I managed to order the wrong Toothbrush for my 19 month old toddler, and even when I do order the right things they’re either substituted or just don’t arrive! Like the ‘soft beige’ foundation I ordered. Instead I’m substituted with ‘Ivory’ “Why are they assuming I look like a Porcelain Doll”? And the Diced Lamb I ordered! Apparently Asdas are all out of Diced Lamb!! Are you shittin me!? Now I have 2 huge bags of prepared casserole veggies ready for the ‘Lamb Stew’ I was going to make, but no Lamb! So now I have to go back to the store to buy the Lamb which, defeats the object of Online Shopping in the first place! Beam me up Scotty!

How is that one day I’m picking up Alfie from the last day of Summer Term (thinking “how the hell am I going to keep my little Alfie occupied for the next 6 weeks”) and then, as if by the blink of an eye, I’m walking back up the School, & waving him off for the first day of Spring Term! All those worries I had of making sure he was well entertained were completely unnecessary. We all seem to think it’s about the days out & a ridiculous amount of money spent that makes a good 6 weeks holiday when really, quality time is all it takes (if you have it of course). Over this Summer we’ve baked Cookies & giant cupcakes (and from this activity we’ve all discovered a new found love for partly baked cookie dough) We’ve had Movie/Duvet days (I think those we’re my favourite) There’s also been ‘Lego Days’ which consisted of Alfie and I, trying our best to make the most fantastic House (complete with sunroof) My living room floor was covered in Lego! I loved it, I was like a big kid! We’ve coloured in, taken trips to the local park, we even discovered a Wild Life Preserve just 15 minutes away (we’ve been here over 2 years and only just stumbled across it) Of course, we had to have a couple of days out so, during Steve’s time off of work we visited the Beautiful Beaulieu House & Motor Museum and…..’Monkey World’ which is situated in Dorset, and is the home to hundreds of rescued Monkey’s (you may have seen them on the sky programme – Monkey Business)

Beaulieu House which is located in Hampshire, and it’s 800 year old history was simply amazing. Home to the Montague Family for Hundreds of years & is famous for it’s National Motor Museum. It was lovely to see Alfie’s eyes light up with interest when looking at one of the first ever cars, used on the road!

Monkey World situated in Dorset is home to hundreds of rescued and well looked after Monkeys, most of which have suffered cruel and evil abuse.  Reasonably priced to get in and a super day out. Quite a drive for us but, well worth it (Even though the heavens opened as we arrived)

I think it would be an understatement to say that I have ‘enjoyed’ time with my family this Summer! I’ve LOVED every minute of it.  I’m blessed to have such a wonderful little family and I’m more aware than ever before that quality time, is the best time there is.

When it comes to days out I’m a little bit of an adventure/historical/information geek! Saturday was absolutley gorgeous however rather than spend it sunbathing or shopping, we decided to take a trip to StoneHenge.  We drove past a while back on the way home from Bournemouth, where I took a fly by shot and I decided we simply HAD to visit StoneHenge properly another day so, we did Here is just one of the photos I took of those amazing rocks!

For a bunch of upright rocks it was pretty amazing however,  being the weekend of the Summer Solstice made it even better. Around 20,000 revellers were at Stonehenge to mark the Summer Solstice, each hoping to see the sun as it rose above the ancient stone circle at dawn.

I read the theory of how the rocks got there, which I admit made a me a little sad, because they lost some of their mysterious value. However, we still don’t know 100% what the rocks were used for soooo, a little bit of mystery in those gigantic boulders still remains!!

        StongeHenge on a gloriously sunny day ^

The Heel Stone (which actually looks as though it’s about to fall on those girls )

I officially prefer ‘regular’ food shopping over Online food shopping, any day! I found it most frustrating not being able to ‘pick up’ what I was looking at. Which is odd, as I don’t get like that when shopping for clothes online?  I was unable to order any fruit or vegetables because I’m SO picky & didn’t trust the gimps in our store to choose the ‘nice’ strawberries over the strawberries which may have been infested with mould on the bottom!! I also like my Banana’s green, not because of ripening reasons but, because I like them crunchy! Obviously theres’s no way they’d know that so, I’d end up with brown spotted squishy banana’s (yuk)

Alot of the things I ordered came in SUPER small size (I didn’t read the sizes, my bad) so I now have the smallest bag of sugar known to man,  a bolognaise sauce big enough for 1 & 2 cheese topped baguettes when I really wanted plain *sighs* and to add to the drama my Time Management sucks big time! So even though I had HOURS to order my shopping, it got the last 5 minutes before my time was up, I’d barely ordered anything which meant I had to internet trolley dash!

I was told in my 20′s that I had IBS. I’d been suffering severe bloating for about a year on and off (more ON than off) and decided it was time to get something sorted. Some days it would be just too painful to even go to work, I’d be laid up on the sofa with awful belly cramps. I wouldn’t even be able to stand up straight. After some tests I was told “looks like you have IBS” I hadn’t the foggiest as to what she was talking about? She also said “There’s nothing that we can do to help you. You have to keep a food diary and try to figure out what you can & cant eat”

I was baffled at the time, I couldn’t see how food would be the problem? Needless to say I didn’t keep a food diary (I was a bit of an arrogant, arsesole back then, I’d rather suffer than deny myself certain foods) Over time the severe bloating and cramping got less, but never cured! I’d always have to prepare myself for a little cramping after eating….

8 years on, 2 children later I started to notice the bloating has gotten a lot worse. And I’d started to feel VERY lathargic, very sluggish. Very down in my mood too! So, 3 or 4 days ago I decided, enough is enough!! I’ve been conducting a little experiment over the past few days which have included – cutting out all meats (positively NO red meat) & white carbs. I’ve also banned butter & mayo (as well as a few other things – crisps, chips)

I tried to go back to the times when I used to watch ‘You Are What You Eat’ (I also owned the book, intending to follow it, but never did) So over the past few days I’ve been indulging in lots of salad filled Wholemeal pittas, fruit, yummy Butternut squash & sweet potato, fruit & nut cereal, cooked egg whites (still not sure about those although, I have completely banned the use of Yolks)

I intend to introduce a world of new vegetables & fruits to my diet. I shall be researching some yummy veggie recipes today including the use of lentils & tofu! I already have a good source to run to which is called ‘Good Chef, Bad Chef’. Janella Purcell makes the most awesome healthy food!! Good for keeping your tummy in tip top shape. I’ll also be having a sift through the Janella Purcell website.

The results so far!??

I haven’t had a single bloated stomach in the whole time I’ve cut meat & white carbs out! (approx 3/4 days) It’s a miracle.

I’ve got so much more energy. No sluggish feelings what so ever!

My mood has lifted! I feel like I have extra life in me!

I don’t get that icky, overly full up, sick feeling after I’ve finished eating (the same way I felt when I ate red meat & white starchy carbs) That feeling that makes you have to lie down for an hour after you’ve eaten. I hated that.

So, there we have it. The proof is in the pudding! Or the veggies shall we say And although this may not work for all IBS sufferers (even non-IBS sufferers) it works for me and I’m over the moon! I feel so happy that I have gained control over something which has tormented me for years! HA, in your face IBS!!!

I watched a rather odd program when I got home last night. (the drive from Essex back to reading is always a tiring one so I need something non-complex to watch) It was called ‘The Man Who Eats Badger’ (<click here to watch on You Tube)

Initially I thought the dude was off his loaf (loaf is essex talk for head) but then I sat back and thought “Is it so weird that he eats Road Kill?” I don’t think it is (which nerves me a little admit as I may now come across a little eeky!) At the end of the day he’s eating stuff like Badger & Rabbit which isn’t that weird considering Snail, Frogs and alligator are eaten. It’s just another way of foraging food isn’t it? Like hunting?

He says people go to the store and buy meat completely unaware of where it came from, where as he knows exactly which motor way he picked his up from! And My Boyt’s meat is FREE too!! I’d say there’s a bit of method to his madness?

This is going to be a relatively short post as I’m using the smallest key pad known to man and the title is kind of self explanatory but basically, thanks to my new Blackberry Curve I can now blog on the go. Perfect for the long trips to Essex I make once a month which is where I’m originally from. I’ve needed a new phone for ages however, have constantly refused the idea as my old LG did its job just fine, making calls and sending texts and trying to access facebook using the shoddy ‘snaptu’ application. (Actually I probably text more than I speak on the phone, at least that way I can decide when to answer people) The WordPress application looks awesome on the phone too! Nice and easy to use, (bearing in mind I haven’t actually tried to post it at this point) and fantastic layout. Wow, I’ve just looked up and seen the sign for ‘Reading’ I’m home already!! This blogging on the go malarky makes time fly by!

Anyone seen Marley and Me? Well, Im kinda having a similar moment from the Movie. It’s the part where Jennifer Anniston is torn between going back to work, and staying home with the Bambino’s (that’s my word for children) She says that her work and her children are all she thinks about. And by trying to do both she feels that each are being half done. She then goes on to say that, if she has to give up something, she doesn’t want it to have to be her kids, and so gives up her job to stay at home!

What are the chances that I would be offered a job shortly after my previous post about NOT being able to get a job!! Yup, I’ve bee offered a Customer Service related job working with Artists Fan bases such as RadioHead, REM & Florence & The Machine! The company also sells Ethnically produced clothing & Concert Tickets!!

For a long time now (longer than I care to remember) I have dreamt about returning back to work, and now I finally have that opportunity I’m left feeling guilty about the fact that my littlest one is just one years old. I have the funny feeling in the pit of my stomach which is telling me, it’s not the right time!

At the end of the day I’m thinking of it like this – My little Nathan will only be tiny once! And If I miss out on that it’s gone forever!! Where as a job, I can always find another one, right? Am I being crazing on passing up this opportunity??

As Jennifer Anniston says – If I have to give up something, I don’t want it to have to be this (she says this whilst holding the baby!)

How could I possibly want to miss out on this smiling face for 6 hours a day

P.S. You’re probably wondering about Alfie and the fact that I haven’t mentioned him? He’s in full time School and already gone for 6 hours of the day which took some getting used to, and he’s 6. I just don’t think I could do the same with Nathan….just yet!

I probably forgot to mention that I’ve been a huntin’ for a job, (which would explain my lack of blog posts) Seriously though, this looking for a job malarkey is pretty time consuming…especially when no one will give me a damn job!! I mean, I used to work for The Job Centre as a client advisor for heavens sake! I used to assist other people in finding work and now I can’t find any!! It’s diabolical.

However, Although I’ve attended 5 Job Interviews with, still no Job at the end of it all (yet) I’ve finally figured out the most important factor when being interviewed. It’s not what to wear, or even to point out which areas I’m most qualified in, It’s convincing someone that after 6 years at home with the Bambino’s, I DO still have 2 brain cells to rub together & that I’m perfectly capable of working again :/

Employers seem more interested in who’s going to look after the kids and, can I make it in on time. One job actually rejected me because of the fact that I had kids and because of the hours, the hours being (might I add) perfectly reasonable hours!! I kinda thought “huh, shouldn’t that be for me to decide? Arsehole”

*THE JOB HUNT CONTINUES!……

I’m normally a ‘shout ya mouth off’ kinda gal, something or someone annoys me, they hear about it…Capeesh! However, I learnt a wise and valuable lesson from Steve the other day.

I learnt that sometimes, just taking a back seat and waiting for the ignorant other to ‘FAIL’ is much more satisfying.

So the story goes like this – Me and Steve popped to our local supermarket for some essentials. After we’d got everything Steve spotted a relatively short queue and said “there’s one” So I strolled over. On my way a guy in the next booth shouted “OPEN” so Steve (being directly in front of the open till) proceeded to put our basket down. From out of nowhere this crazy arse woman, with eyes like she’d just escaped from some insane asylum, elbowed Steve out of the way Rugby Style and proceeded to say those magic words “Sorry I got here first”

Everyone was a gasp and I’m not even kidding. I wanted to rip the Bitch’s head off, the guy in the newly open booth looked like a deer in headlights and the woman on the the booth that we’d surrendered to said “That was bit rude wasn’t it” Well, as you can imagine I was fuming but Steve said, “Don’t let it bother you, she’ll get her comeuppance one day” Little did we know it would be just outside the supermarket. We jumped in the car unaware that she was also on her way out. As we were driving out of the car park I spotted the ignorant little muppet walking up to the give way crossing!! We drove up to the crossing at which point Steve had stopped and started to wind the window down!? My mind was a boggle as to what he was going to do? He then popped his head out of the window and calmly said those magic words “Sorry, I got here first” I wish I’d of had a camera on me because her face was a f**kin picture!! It was awesome!

Needless to say we kept on driving and she had to wait her turn! What is it the ye old Bible tells us? Oh yeah “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”

And that’s what you call KARMA you Futha Mucka!

Man do I feel like Verruca Salt at the moment! And incase you’re wondering, she was the petulant little girl from the movie ‘Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory’

I’m the kind of girl that, when I see something that catches my eye or, I get an idea I have to have it, or do it NOW! And the moment I saw this girls neck whilst waiting in the queue at BlockBusters I immediately thought “MAN THAT LOOKS SO DAMN COOL”

Her’s most definitely looked like a piercing however, I’m more interested in Dermal Anchors! I’ve weighed up the pro’s & cons and in my eyes, Dermal Anchors win hands down. Although basically permanent (as the skins grows around the metal)  I would still choose it over a piercing any day of the week. I have Tattoo’s so, the fact that it’s more or less permanent doesn’t make any difference to me. The fact that Surface Piercings can take between 2-12 months to heal was enough to put me off. Apparently Anchors ‘can’ take days to heal….

I’m not naive though, I’ve had a lot of piercings over the years and I understand that if the skin is pierced or punctured, it’s going to require some TLC!

I’ve almost saved up the money to get 2 Dermal Anchors. You see having 2 kiddies & a lovely Fiancee, they come first and any money left goes to Keri’s Dermal Anchor Fund!!

I shall post a pic of my new Babies when the glorious event has finally taken place! Im so excited!!!

Ever feel like you’ve slipped into a black whole, only to emerge on the other side a couple of months down the line?? Well, that’s kind of how I feel. One minute I’m having my 28th Birthday in October next thing I know, Alfie has turned 6, Little Nathan is One years old & I’m in February!!? If this is what happens to time as we get older then I’m officially going to start sleeping in a Ziplock bag! Ok, sleeping in a human sized Zip Lock bag won’t slow time a great deal but hey, at least I’ll stay fresh. Alternatively, if someone knows of a good Time Machine maker, please leave me the details!! Muchas Gracias!

Sheesh, who would have thought that one extra little person plus a 5 years old on 6 weeks holiday would take up so much time, not that I mind of course, they’re my little pumpkins.  If I thought I’d mastered the art of Multi-Tasking after my first son, I was very quickly brought to a halt & taught that, there is a lot more to Multi-Tasking once you’ve had Bambino Numero 2!

It’s funny how you forget how busy the time is after giving birth. I honestly failed to remember how much you don’t have time to do, simple things like – long soaks in the tub & watching a movie ‘the whole way through’ opposed to now where, we normally watch a film in 2 halves…

But hey, all I gotta do is look at the faces of my 2 precious boys to realise that, I wouldn’t have it any other way! (and I keep telling myself the bags under my eyes ‘wont’ last forever, everything in due course, patience is a virtue)

Trying to squeeze in a touch of Blogging is like getting blood from a stone right now so, I do apologise but inbetween general house duties, breakfast time, lunch time, dinner time, poop duty, days out, Nintendo Wii activities & that all important Me & Steve time, there may just be a temporary shortage of BlogButterfly Posts. However, my registered users continue to sore so, a Major Thankyou to all of you.

That’s easy….When he makes you something like this out of Lego!

Do you ever get the feeling that sometimes, things seem to good to be true? Well,

that’s how I feel everyday!

I feel like Im about to go to war & that, I should of prepared my Battle Plan weeks ago? There’s nothing like knowing you’re child/children are going to be off for the next 6 weeks, and wondering…”what the feck am I going to do, to keep my overly hyper child occupied so that, I don’t feel like I need to sign myself up into the nearest nut house” And believe you me, I’ve been told plenty of times, that’s where I belong. So, the ultimate question is “What am I going to do?”

Well, I thought about it for a considerably long time & came to the conclusion that, I’d hire a Sargent Major from the local Army Base to whip my little pumpkins into a strict regime of 5am wake ups, scheduled fun, on the dot dinner time’s (with no left overs) & back to bed by 5pm!!!

Of course I’m kidding! What a nincompoop, I suddenly realised that ‘I AM’ the Sargent Major of my house. The next 6 weeks are going to be a breeze. Reading has lots of fun things to do during the ENTIRE 6 weeks. Then there’s those oh so important ‘coke zone points’ we’ve been collecting. Which means trips out to places like Chessington & LegoLand.

If all fails I’ll just have to slam on that ‘Booster Ejection Seat Button’ I sneakily rigged up to the sofa…Not for the Kids though – FOR ME!!

If for some shockingly lame & utter random reason you HAVEN’T seen X-Men Origins, you should be totally ashamed of yourselves! It’s amazing! And yes, I guess I am kinda biased due to the fact that, I think Hugh Jackman & Liev Schreiber are yummy, And that Super Hero films are my ULTIMATE FAVES!!  But, it’s still unbelievable to me that ‘some people’ thought….”it wasn’t all that” What the hell were ‘they’ watching? Where they watching some dodgy copy, with some dude standing up in the middle of it asking their partner, “grab me some more popcorn while you’re at the loo” “Oh & those strawberry yogurt thingy’s from the sweet bar”

Anywho, here’s the trailor – watch & drool.