S is for 'Shhh... it's a secret'

For my first A-Z blog , I am starting with some very exciting news, that we found out today!
I'm pregnant again! But, 'Shhh.. it's a secret!'

We have decided to be super quiet about it this time (and not blab all over facebook like hubby did last time!) so we are only telling family and very close friends.
However, as I'm so excited, I need somewhere to write about it - so I thought, my blog would be perfect!

I am about 5 weeks pregnant and due 27th December!
So far I have only felt really sick (I was very sick when pregnant with little man!)have sore boobs and I think my body has already started to change shape - is that normal for a second??
I'm also really tired and sleeping lots - luckily having lots of people around to help with little man is really helping - def one of the perks from living with my parents ;)

I will be keeping you all updated with how things go :)

A-Z blog prompts from 'Him, me & three'

I have been taking a look at my rather sad blog and realised that lately, the only thing I have posted about has been Kate Takes 5 Listography (not that I don't LOVE it!!) I just felt bad that it seems to be the only thing I have blogged about ;)

I thought it was time to have a look at something new and in my usual way, whilst surfing the blogs I follow, I came across a great idea from Heidi at Him, me & three doing an A-Z as prompts for blogs!


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Just like Heidi, I have heard of the A-Z challenge where you post everyday, but her idea was far more relaxed - posting weekly! (which seems to be all I can manage lately!!) I was just so excited about the idea, I had to share!

I will be doing my best to achieve the whole alphabet by Christmas!
I think even I should be able to manage that, heehee!

Listography: wishes for my child

As ever, the lovely Kate from Kate takes 5 has given us another great theme for this weeks listography. If we could have fairy Godmothers bestow our child with 5 wishes, (as in the films Cinderella and Ella Enchanted) and this time we could have a say in them, what would we wish?

My 5 wishes for my Little Man

1) Self confidence and belief.
Not that I want him to be 'big headed' or conceited, just the ability to believe in himself. I have never found it easy to believe that I am capable of doing anything well or particularly good - I always focus on negatives and put myself down (it didn't help with the bullying boss in the past either!) If my little man could have the ability to believe in himself and his strengths, work on his weaknesses and strive to reach his goals, it would make me really happy!

2) Empathy and tolerance.
I believe in this so much! When I was a primary teacher, I used to try and teach this concept, that it doesn't matter where they were from or what they looked like, I would always treat the the same - usually with an example like 'It wouldn't matter if you were black or white, or purple with green hair and originally from Mars! I will treat you exactly the same!'
All those famous sayings spring to mind as well; ' never judge a book by its cover', 'never judges a man, until you have walked a mile in his shoes' (or something like that). I would love my little man to 'treat others as he would like to be treated himself' To embrace similarities and differences that make us unique and special - and the world a far more interesting place!

3) A sense of humour.
My family have a truly wicked sense of humour, heehee! It helps get you through those bad times ;)

4) Love and happiness.
I have never wanted the big career, lots of expensive possessions etc etc. For as long as I can remember, I just wanted to be happy and content with my life. For my little man, I would hope that he had the ability to love others, and hopefully find that special someone to spend the rest of his life with. Then, 'to be happy with his lot in life - friends, family, career, hobbies... and the rest! Also to be have interests and pursuits that he loves, that add to his happiness!

5) Fun!
We only have one life, so we need to make the most of it! I think in previous years, I was so caught up in the stresses and pressures of life - work, money, more about money, illness etc etc I used to forget to stop once in a while and just enjoy things!
So, maybe for my little man to have the talent to find time to kick back and have some fun! (I am getting better, but still at the 'work in progress' stage!)

That was actually a lot harder than I thought it was going to be, heehee!

Right, off to see what other people wished for their kids!

Listography: Top 5 albums by male solo artists

As ever, the lovely Kate over at Kate takes 5 has given us another great theme for this weeks listography! I love listening to music, although, in trying to complete this weeks list, I have come to realise that I mainly listen to bands and female solo artists!!
However, I love a challenge and with a lot of rifling through my CDs, I have managed to find my top 5 male solo artists :)

1. Richard Marx - Greatest Hits

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I remember that 'Hazard' was one of the first cassette tapes I ever bought myself! On the other side happened to be another song of his that I absolutely love 'Right Here Waiting', which became my wedding song! Hubby and I spent 4 years apart, whilst I was at Uni (we got engaged just before I left) and hubby had been right at home, waiting for me! I got this song played at my 30th birthday party on Saturday as well :)

2. Bryan Adams - Best of Me

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Ever since I heard the song 'All for Love' from the Disney film 'The Three Musketeers' I have loved Bryan Adams!

I used to listen to his music all the time when trying to get through writing my assignments at Uni!
Still love listening to him when I'm busy crafting :)







3. Andrea Boccelli - Romanza

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I do love a huge range of music! Andrea Boccelli is my favourite classical artist!
I always listen to music when I'm 'playing' on the computer and Andrea Boccelli is one of my favourites for late night, relaxing sessions :)









4. Michael Buble - It's Time

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I love listening to some of the 'golden oldies' from the 40's / 50's and think that Michael Buble has done wonders for re-introducing a new generation to the magic of 'Big Bands' and Jazz music.









Up to this point, I had no trouble in finding the artists that I really liked!
It came a close run between Bruno Mars and Michael Jackson, but in the end, Michael Jackson won!
(sentiment won in the end!)

so 5. Michael Jackson - The complete Michael Jackson: Epic Music

image from here

I don't care what opinion people have about Michael Jackson as a person. I loved him when I was little and I love him still now!












So there you have it, my top 5 male artists.

Right, I'm off to have a look and see who made it to the top 5 of other lists!

See you later 20's!

I can't believe it, I am going to be 30 tomorrow!It doesn't seem that long ago that I was just finishing school and excited about the thought of going off to Uni and starting the big adventure that has been my 20's!
So many things have happened in the last decade (wow, it seems such a long time when I say it, a whole 10 years!!)

The achievements and good bits:
Completing my 4 year teaching degree (22)
Getting married to my gorgeous hubby (22)
Moving into our first little house (22)
Getting my teaching job (22) - it was a REALLY busy 6 months, heehee!
Giving birth to my amazing Little Man (27)
Getting Little Man Christened (28)
Setting up my own little crafting business (28/29)
Loads of lovely family holidays and outings
Numerous trips and laughs with friends
Beating some phobias - tattoo (for fear of needles), holding a Chilean rose tarantula, holding 2 snakes (though not at the same time, heehee!), completing an aerial assault course!
Finding a part time job and hours that I can manage, whilst still feeling valued and contributing to the family earnings.

The not so god bits:
The last of my grandparents passing away
Depression resurfacing
Having to leave the teaching profession
Having to sell our little home and move back in with my parents
 Loosing touch with some good friends from Uni, though not knowing why - as I repeatedly sent messages, but took the hint when I never got any replies!

So many changes! I can't believe how different I am from my 20 year old self!
I have absolutely no regrets and even the sad events have helped to shape and make me the person I am today.  I feel so much more content and confident in myself and my strengths, rather than someone who always focuses on the negatives!

If I could go back to offer some advice to my 20 year old self it would be to relax and stop stressing so much! That I can't control or plan everything. The future is forever changing and it's not scary, it's the path I'm supposed to travel, even if it's not where I thought I would end up!

I My best friend C and I are having a joint 30th party tomorrow and I'm so excited! We have been friends for about 23 years now, and we had a joint 18th party, (she's 6 days younger than me!)
I will make sure to add lots of piccies!!

So, see you later 20's, hello 30's!

Book Chick City's 10+ Books in a Year (so far)

As I started this challenge late, I thought I had better list the books that I have managed to read so far, maybe with a few thoughts (if I can think of any!) as I'm not good at writing proper 'reviews' ;)

By Terry Pratchett:
The Colour of Magic
The Light Fantastic
Equal Rites
Mort
Sourcery
Wyrd Sisters
Pyramids
Guards! Guards!
Eric
Moving Pictures
Reaper Man
Witches Abroad
The Dark Side of the Sun
I was looking for something different to read and my mum suggested these (she's got ALL of them!) Once I'd started I had to keep going! Unfortunately a friend of mums has the next book in the series, so I had to take a break!

by Veronica Henry:
Wild Oats
An Eligible Bachelor
Honeycote
Again some books of mums (she's in one of those book clubs where you get sent a load at a time) These are really easy reads - 'chick books' as I call them! I loved them!!

by Tom Harper:
The Book of Secrets
The Mosaic of Shadows
I found this author when browsing at the library and I really enjoyed the historical mysteries!

by Chris Kuzneski:
Sign of the Cross
The Lost Throne
The Prophecy
Sword of God
Another author I found when browsing in the library and I love him! He writes amazing mysteries again with the historical links that I love! His 2 main characters Jonathon Payne and David Jones are just brilliant!

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins I've has this for ages, but only just got round to reading it - I did find the narratives from the different characters quite a different style to what I'm used to. Not bad though!
The Pilgrims Progress by Bunyan I've started a 'classical reads' challenge (my own). I found this really hard going, but worth it in the end! A real journey that re-ignited my faith, that I lost a while back
Not Married, Not Bothered by Carol Clewlow another 'chick read', not bad though
The Model Wife by Julia Llewellyn A 'chick read' that I really enjoyed!
Warning of Gales by Annie Sanders I had to have 2 separate goes at reading this book, as I couldn't get into it! Not bad, but not my favourite
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen I love Jane Austen and have read and re-read all of her works! They now live in my bedside locker and are my favourite reads when I'm feeling a little low, or have just finished a book and don't have a new one! Northanger Abbey is a brilliant read, one of my all time favourite Austen books.
The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse I have read the Labrynth and Sepulcre and loved them both, so thought that I would try another. It was a really good read, but Labrynth remains my favourite!

As you can see, I like a huge range of genres - however my all time favourites must be those about 'the Knights Templars' and similar mysteries with historical links, classics and 'chick reads'. However, I'm on a personal quest to try new things, so who knows what might end up next on my list?

So that's 29 books so far (well,  the ones I can remember anyway!) which I don't think is that bad, as we're a quarter of the way through the year - if I carry on like this, I should make it to the 100 goal!

Happy reading to all you fellow 'book-worms!'

image taken from here

Book Chick City's 100+ Books in a Year

I just happened to be doing my normal nose through the Parent Bloggers Network, when I saw this badge on fab40foibles and I was so excited I had to find out what it was!

I am on my reading quest this year and I thought how brilliant would it be to join in and share with others! I'm not sure if I'll make the 100 goal, but as I love reading, it won't hurt to track my progress!!
I have already read quite a few books, so I'll have to get listing them!

 Click here to find out more or join in the challenge yourself!