Checking in…

So I wanted to see where I was up to with my challenge list just a few months in …..I’m doing better than expected to be honest.

I’ll keep checking back….

 1. Build raised beds and prep for growing some veggies 🥕 🥦 *In progress, raised beds were built up this week*

2. Successfully grow at least 2 vegetables and harvest them before the slugs get to them! These will be organic so will be healthier and earth friendly. *On Track. Lettuce and strawberries coming along nicely*

3. Have at least 2 beach days * One fab beach day under our belt*

4. Climb Snowdon. Great workout! 

5. Do at least 2 local walks/hikes

6. Walk/exercise for the NHS recommendation of 150 mins a week.

7. Cut down on fizzy drinks and up water intake. 

8. Make our own cards with the craft materials we already have. Will be a lovely creative activity for DD and I as well as saving money.

9. Make my first ever new candle from leftover beeswax wax. Great money saver especially as my favourite candle at the moment is £20! 🕯️

10. Make own skincare products using organic natural oils. Better for my skin, body as well as the planet 🌎 Money saving, too! *On Track*

11. Make a Bug Hotel for the garden. DD is very excited about this project! 🐞🕷️🐛🪱

12. Make my own cordial ideally from free picked or own grown produce.

13. Make good use of Blackberry season such as pies and maybe make own Blackberry Gin? 🍸

14. Keep up free Reflexology sessions at the local centre. *On Track*

15. Have a proper picnic in the sunshine ☀️ 

16. Track how much I spend a month on shopping - including any little top up trips to the shop!🥑🍞🥔🍎🧈🧀

17. Take advantage of free events at the local centre.🧵🪡🧶 🎨 

18. Relook at my overall budget to ensure that it’s still effective and is still working for me as it should. Tweak if necessary 💷 *Done*

19. Visit Call the Midwife tour. My absolute fave TV programme 📺 

20. Continue to make my own cleaning products. Again, better for the planet and cheaper. 🪣🧼 *On Track. Really enjoying making them too!*

21. Visit the Refill shop for as much as possible to keep single use plastic as low as possible. Healthier for the planet 🌎 ♻️

22. Lose at least a stone by the end of the year 💪🏻

23. Try to eat as seasonally as I can. Better health-wise, cheaper and better for the earth 🌏 

24. Decorate my Mum’s bedroom. *Done*

25. Book DD’s Mermaid party for her 5th birthday🧜‍♀️ 🐟

26. Create a Pinterest board for Mermaid party and pin some ideas📌 

27. Celebrate DS’s 16th birthday and have a successful weekend. 🎂🎈🎁🎉 *Done*

28. Do all I can to prepare DD for a smooth transition into reception and full time school! 👔

29. Start a new tradition of celebrating every end of half term with a special little treat of DD’s choice such as ice cream farm or Dessert Diner etc 🍨

30. Aim to do 2 sessions of gentle yoga per week 🧘‍♀️

31. Start looking at some college courses of interest 📚

I’m really enjoying doing these 😊

Challenge Anneka…!

Okay so it’s not really that much of a challenge and my name isn’t Anneka of course but still I’m calling them my list of challenges all the same. 

I’m finding that weeks come and go so very quickly. Honestly I wake up on a Monday, blink and it’s Friday! 

Weeks turn into months and the months turn into years.

For example in a few weeks we will be celebrating my son turning 16 years old!!!!! 16!? 

Surely I’m not old enough to have a strapping handsome 16 year old?! 

And my daughter starts school this year! It seems like she was only born around 2 years ish ago! 

So with that in mind, I’m going to set myself some challenges of things I want to do and hopefully manage to do before I get too old. A little dramatic? Maybe but I’m finding it so freakin’ scary how fast time is zooming by! 

So without further ado here are my challenges for the year:

1. Build raised beds and prep for growing some veggies 🥕 🥦 

2. Successfully grow at least 2 vegetables and harvest them before the slugs get to them! These will be organic so will be healthier and earth friendly.

3. Have at least 2 beach days

4. Climb Snowdon. Great workout! 

5. Do at least 2 local walks/hikes

6. Walk/exercise for the NHS recommendation of 150 mins a week.

7. Cut down on fizzy drinks and up water intake. 

8. Make our own cards with the craft materials we already have. Will be a lovely creative activity for DD and I as well as saving money.

9. Make my first ever new candle from leftover beeswax wax. Great money saver especially as my favourite candle at the moment is £20! 🕯️

10. Make own skincare products using organic natural oils. Better for my skin, body as well as the planet 🌎 Money saving, too!

11. Make a Bug Hotel for the garden. DD is very excited about this project! 🐞🕷️🐛🪱

12. Make my own cordial ideally from free picked or own grown produce.

13. Make good use of Blackberry season such as pies and maybe make own Blackberry Gin? 🍸

14. Keep up free Reflexology sessions at the local centre. 

15. Have a proper picnic in the sunshine ☀️ 

16. Track how much I spend a month on shopping - including any little top up trips to the shop!🥑🍞🥔🍎🧈🧀

17. Take advantage of free events at the local centre.🧵🪡🧶 🎨 

18. Relook at my overall budget to ensure that it’s still effective and is still working for me as it should. Tweak if necessary 💷

19. Visit Call the Midwife tour. My absolute fave TV programme 📺 

20. Continue to make my own cleaning products. Again, better for the planet and cheaper. 🪣🧼

21. Visit the Refill shop for as much as possible to keep single use plastic as low as possible. Healthier for the planet 🌎 ♻️

22. Lose at least a stone by the end of the year 💪🏻

23. Try to eat as seasonally as I can. Better health-wise, cheaper and better for the earth 🌏 

24. Decorate my Mum’s bedroom.

25. Book DD’s Mermaid party for her 5th birthday🧜‍♀️ 🐟

26. Create a Pinterest board for Mermaid party and pin some ideas📌 

27. Celebrate DS’s 16th birthday and have a successful weekend. 🎂🎈🎁🎉

28. Do all I can to prepare DD for a smooth transition into reception and full time school! 👔

29. Start a new tradition of celebrating every end of half term with a special little treat of DD’s choice such as ice cream farm or Dessert Diner etc 🍨

30. Aim to do 2 sessions of gentle yoga per week 🧘‍♀️

31. Start looking at some college courses of interest 📚

I’m giving myself until the end of the year to complete each one which I’ll tick off as I go. 

I may add the odd extra challenge as we go along if I think of something that I really want to do.

I like working with a list as I’m very much a list person 😊

Of course, I will update how I’m getting on from time to time. 

Wish me luck! 

Love A x