Honest Conversation

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Face your Fears

Is Fear Stopping You from Doing Something You Love?

What is fear stopping you from doing? What does facing your fear look like? The children’s film Sing is one which is always guaranteed to make me cry. (See also, The Good Dinosaur 😭). Always for a different reason. Johnny’s dad finally being proud of him, Rosita struggling to not Read more…

By Annie, 12 monthsMay 30, 2021 ago
Mug of tea with a napkin next to it with words 'make a positive impact'

A Powerful Effect – a Tool for Measuring Impact

What does having an impact mean for you? It’s been a while but last time I blogged I came to the conclusion that I will never be able to do ‘enough’. I will never change the WHOLE world. However, what I do know is that I want to have an Read more…

By Annie, 1 yearMay 17, 2021 ago
World map in pink with title 'Will I ever really be able to change the world?'

Will I ever really be able to change the world?

Do you want to change the world? What does that even mean?! I’m not sure I really know, but I know that I want to. I have just started having some coaching sessions. (If you’ve never had a coach and you have the opportunity, I could not recommend it highly Read more…

By Annie, 1 yearFebruary 6, 2021 ago
Gummi Bears

What am I going to teach my kids about sex in marriage?

For years I have wanted to write something about sex when it comes to marriage. In fact, I have a lot of saved drafts here on my blog which I’ve never finished. So, I was really grateful to Iridescent for inviting me to write a piece called ‘Expectations for Sex Read more…

By Annie, 1 yearJanuary 31, 2021 ago
Hopeful Leafy shoot growing out of concrete

It wouldn’t be hope if we didn’t need it.

I preached last week at church, and I was given the theme of HOPE. It’s a theme I’ve preached and mused on in my blog plenty of times before but last Sunday I shared some of what I’d been reflecting on and I wanted to share some of that here Read more…

By Annie, 1 yearNovember 28, 2020 ago
An Honest Conversation with Lauren H. Brandenburg

An Honest Conversation with Lauren H. Brandenburg

The wonderful Lauren H. Brandenburg wrote a beautifully honest and vulnerable post called Finding My Magic which I so loved reading so I’m really pleased to be able to share an honest conversation with her. I so love the opportunity to get to know people through conversation even when they Read more…

By Annie, 2 yearsOctober 23, 2020 ago
sign texture wall writing

What are you grateful for today?

I picked our runner bean harvest yesterday. ⠀ This was it. ⠀⠀It would have been easy to have been disappointed that we’ve only had one bean. But, it is a magnificent one and Big bro excitedly shouted, ‘yes! Let’s have it for our tea!’ when he saw it. ⠀⠀So often, Read more…

By Annie, 2 yearsOctober 19, 2020 ago
Person's hand holding a grey pencil with title Finding my Magic

Finding My Magic || Guest Post by Lauren H. Brandenburg

We’d been through a lot as a family over the years – financially upended, losing our home, a daughter diagnosed with a brain tumor, and the unexpected death of my father. But we had come through it. We were on the other side. My first conventionally published novel was set Read more…

By Annie, 2 yearsSeptember 23, 2020 ago
White speech bubbles on pink background

God Cares About Abuse || Guest Post by Brenna Blain

God cares about abuse. I’m so grateful to Brenna for her honesty and vulnerability in sharing her story in this guest post about abuse. If you’ve got something you’d like to write and want a place to share it then please get in touch. This space is for you. I Read more…

By Annie, 2 yearsSeptember 7, 2020 ago
Feet in trainers running, with words 'The Best Personal Trainer I'll Have'

The Best Personal Trainer I’ll Ever Have

Personal trainers are expensive but this week I’ve found the solution. My four-year old. I’m pretty sure he is honestly the best personal trainer I’ll ever have. He’s been asking me for ages if he can come with me on a ‘run’. I’ve only been running again for the last Read more…

By Annie, 2 yearsAugust 29, 2020 ago

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As soon as I put on black pants it was decreed (by As soon as I put on black pants it was decreed (by the one in blue!) that, today, the rest of my clothes needed to be black too.
Happy birthday to our fearless, fiercely independe Happy birthday to our fearless, fiercely independent, kind, generous, hungry (all the time) and too cute for his own good, 4 year old! 🥳 
All the options offered for his birthday and all he wants is a play in the park down the road, a picnic with cake and a few friends and family. He’s so wise. I wonder if it’s being a pandemic toddler which has grown an appreciation for celebrating in a simple way with just a few people? Either way, as parents it’s the ideal , easy-to-organise/inexpensive, birthday choice 😃🎂
We’re having a properly woodland themed day toda We’re having a properly woodland themed day today! 
A baby squirrel just appeared in the garden. Affectionately named Nibbles by Big bro. Little bro already had the cricket bat in his hand, he wasn’t planning to whack the squirrel. 
Thankfully Nibbles hopped back off into the undergrowth behind the garden and hopefully (🤞🏼) they’ll be reunited with their mum!
More tea 🫖 yes please! Had the most delicious More tea 🫖 yes please! 
Had the most delicious lime and coconut cake from @jungle_tearoom yesterday. When the gluten free option isn’t pre-packaged or a brownie it’s a wonderful wonderful thing. Have been hunting online to find a similar recipe so I can make my own cake! 
#glutenfree #glutenfreeuk #cupoftea
✅ cup of tea ✅ sunshine ✅ a pile of books ✅ cup of tea 
✅ sunshine 
✅ a pile of books I inevitable won’t read 
Let the holidays begin. 
#HolidayMode #HappyEaster
Used a face mask last week. Little bro looked sh Used a face mask last week. 
Little bro looked shocked and I jokingly said, “shall I just keep it on?”
He replied , “No! Your work would not like that.”
Oh ok. You’re probably right. Let’s stop messing around. 
I never realised he was so sensible 😂
#ThingsKidsSay #FaceMaskSelfie #Mumlife
Big bro: “Mummy what’s a ‘big’ birthday?” 
Me: *explains which birthdays are classed as ‘big’* 
Him: “Oh ok. So you’ve had all your YOUNG big birthday already then?” 
#Old #GettingOld #Motherhood #ThingsKidsSay
If you need help remembering information from medi If you need help remembering information from medical appointments I am willing to loan you my 6 year old. 
He came with me to the opticians and now regularly pops up behind me if I’m on my computer or phone to say, 
“Mummy! You’re supposed to remember to look away and not look at the computer for too long.”
Sunshine, a slice of rainbow cake and his new @wea Sunshine, a slice of rainbow cake and his new @wearekidly sunglasses. What could be better when you’re 3? ☀️ 🍰 😎 
#sustainablefashion #happydays
Happy International Women’s Day (IWD). On the Happy International Women’s Day (IWD). 
On the walk to school today Big bro and I talked about how it was IWD and it led to the most wonderful conversations. He asked whether there was a day for men. I said there was and today was a day for women. We talked about how the world isn’t always fair and how we need to fight to make it a more equal place for all women. We also spoke about different pronouns. 
Those conversations catch me so off guard but I feel so privileged to be able to have them with a 6 year old. I know it’s so important to be raising kids who fight for equality for all and I love learning how to do that better alongside my kids. 
#IWD2022
Earlier I said to Little bro, “your hair is so b Earlier I said to Little bro, “your hair is so big, I think it’s going to take over the world.” 
He replied, “Yes! Take a photo.”
After a pretty fraught weekend following another s After a pretty fraught weekend following another sick bug and lots of struggling with emotions in our house we desperately needed a walk in the woods today! In the past we’d have probably gone to church knowing it would be tricky to manage behaviour, that we wouldn’t really connect with God or other people, and would probably feel quite judged on the kid’s behaviour/how we chose to parent them. However, today, we chose being outside instead. 
I can’t even begin to describe how freeing that is but also how hard is to realise how much guilt has been tied into feeling we should be at church even if circumstances make that really difficult, even if it means sacrificing/struggling with our connection as a family. God isn’t just in a church building. In fact personally I find it much easier to find connection with my creator in the beauty of the woods. 
I hope that whatever your Sunday looked like you found connection in the midst of the chaos today. Whether you believe in God or not, here’s to choosing what our souls need rather than what we feel we ‘should’ do.
Couldn’t be any more ready for the holidays! Couldn’t be any more ready for the holidays!
Motherhood as a perfectionist… Me: “Did someo Motherhood as a perfectionist…
Me: “Did someone draw in my work notebook?” 
6 year old: “yes! Me. 😃 it’s because I love you so much and it’s lots of hearts and kisses.”
Me: “oh, thank you.” 
*internally wrestles with how wonderful this expression of love is and the fact that my usual response to a not neat page in my notebook is to want to tear it out…*
The boys have been busy circling everything they’d like for Christmas… so, we did the same ➡️🍷 
#AllIWantForChristmasIsWine #ChristmasShopping #ChristmasGiftIdeas
Ooh this is a good’un. A little leaving work p Ooh this is a good’un. 
A little leaving work present from @petewillmot of @craftginclub ❤️
I’m having a Dark ‘n’ Stormy with this Mad Owl Gin from @thornaesdestilleri and it’s a winner 👌🏻 
#GinAndTonic #Ginstagram #GinAndTonicTime
Big bro got a camera for his birthday and I am so Big bro got a camera for his birthday and I am so here for his photos 🥰 
Little bro was desperate for a photo and to high-five Pudsey. Big bro hid behind me. I’ll be honest I wasn’t keen. 
Are you a fan or not a fan of mascots?! 
#ChildrenInNeed #Pudsey
*not my tummy currently - just reminiscing about w *not my tummy currently - just reminiscing about when Little bro (now 3) was in there!* 
This morning he patted my tummy and I said, “you used to be in there.” 
He replied, “yes! And I did kick you in the vulva.” 
I feel like his memories of pregnancy from inside the womb are pretty similar to mine from carrying him 😂
#Pregnancy #Motherhood #ThingsKidsSay
🌲“Time spent amongst trees is never wasted ti 🌲“Time spent amongst trees is never wasted time.” 🌳 - Katrina Mayer 
A week is not long enough for a holiday. Walks in the woods and by the pond, bike riding, aboat ride, pub and cafe trips and a trip to the motor museum and now our tanks are full ☺️.
I ♥️ the New Forest. 
#Beaulieu #NewForest #WeLoveTheWoods
Thankfully no one looks this poorly anymore. We’ Thankfully no one looks this poorly anymore. We’re out of isolation and only 2/4 had Covid. Thank you so much for all of your lovely messages over the last loooong 10 days. 
When your job titles include digital and comms it’s pretty hard to stay off social media and emails so I am seizing this opportunity for a holiday and am going to delete ALL the apps! 
Have a lovely week whatever it looks like for you. See you all on the other side! 👋
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