Honest Conversation

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Honest Conversations

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Being an Introvert is my Superpower

At an event where my friend was speaking the host introduced her with the words, “she’s definitely not an introvert, and if she is then I’ve got the definition of an introvert wrong!” He got his definition wrong. She is probably one of the most introverted people I know. And Read more…

By Annie, 9 monthsAugust 19, 2021 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
Coffee cups and title which reads: 'An Honest Conversation with Brenna Blain'

An Honest Conversation with Brenna Blain

One of the things I love about social media is how I get to connect and have conversation with people I might not otherwise get to meet. I was so delighted when Brenna Blain messaged me on Instagram! I love to use my blog to share other people’s words and Read more…

By Annie, 2 yearsAugust 1, 2020 ago
Two coffee cups with title

An Honest Conversation with Rachel Knight

This honest conversation is with my friend Rachel. We work together as funeral pastors and so I wanted to chat with her a bit about that as well as all just some other wonderfully honest chit-chat! We can’t quite both remember when we met each other but I think we Read more…

By Annie, 2 yearsJune 1, 2020 ago
Two coffee cups with title

An Honest Conversation with: Rachael Newham

Rachael and I connected with each another on social media last year and then met for a coffee at New Wine. She is an author and mum and she is beautifully and vulnerably honest about mental health (and everything else). Have a read of our chat and then do go Read more…

By Annie, 3 yearsSeptember 26, 2019 ago
Two coffee cups with title

An Honest Conversation with Katharine Roberts

This honest conversation is with my lovely friend Katharine Roberts, sometimes known as Katharine Welby-Roberts. I’ll leave her to answer my questions and tell you more about herself. How do we know each other? Through church, or, more specifically, through the meal rota after my daughter was born, when you Read more…

By Annie, 3 yearsAugust 14, 2019 ago
Two coffee cups with title

An Honest Conversation with Alex Brown

When asked, ‘how is life?’ I generally reply, ‘busy but good.’ And, as if to prove that it’s true, I just discovered this wonderful conversation in my drafts from February. So, thank you to the lovely Alex for answering my questions so promptly and apologies for not sharing it quite Read more…

By Annie, 3 yearsJuly 4, 2019 ago
Two coffee cups with title

An Honest Conversation with Louisa Goodwin

My third ‘honest conversation’ is with my good friend Louisa. I’ll leave her to tell you how we met but to give you an idea of just how wonderful she is… Pete is away this weekend and I’m not very well, so I’m currently in bed whilst she, and her Read more…

By Annie, 3 yearsMay 18, 2019 ago
Two coffee cups with title

An Honest Conversation with Lucy Rycroft

Lucy and I connected with each other on Twitter recently and realised we had a few things in common like a heart for adoption and writing! Lucy is a stay-at-home mum to four kids and blogs over at The Hope Filled Family. Thanks Lucy for being my second ‘honest conversation Read more…

By Annie, 3 yearsFebruary 24, 2019 ago
Two coffee cups with title

An Honest Conversation with Rachel Ridler

I want my blog to be a place for open and honest conversation in the hope that others are inspired to talk vulnerably too. So, to that end, I am going to start featuring some conversations, as regularly as I manage to have them and write them up! My first Read more…

By Annie, 3 yearsFebruary 14, 2019 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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