Honest Conversation

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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
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
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
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
coins and a piggy bank

Talking about money is an act of freedom

Guest post from Charlotte of Looking After Your Pennies Charlotte is the owner and creator of Looking After Your Pennies.  A personal finance blog with an eco-friendly twist.  She talks about all things money and building confidence in this area.  I love following Charlotte on Instagram and I’ve been wanting Read more…

By Annie, 2 yearsJuly 22, 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
Open Bible with blurred background

Learning to be brutally honest with God – a reflection on the Psalms

I gave a talk about having honest conversations with God at our Ash Wednesday service yesterday. I had planned to spend the night before polishing my talk but instead I spent it in A&E with Little bro. If there’s ever a time to test how honest you’re going to be Read more…

By Annie, 2 yearsFebruary 27, 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
Speech bubbles on a pink background

I wish there was more conversation about…

I’ve been mulling over another feature I’d like to start on the blog and I would love to know your thoughts. I thought about calling it ‘I wish more people would talk about…’ but actually I think perhaps there are some topics which are talked about a lot but there’s Read more…

By Annie, 3 yearsSeptember 21, 2019 ago

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Big bro has these little bears he calls his ‘wor Big bro has these little bears he calls his ‘worry bears’ which he keeps in his locker at school and in his bag when he goes out somewhere without us. 
One of them lost an eye and then got a rip today. Rather than be upset he asked me whether animals can ever have one eye and we spent a long time looking at photos lovely dogs with one eye. I sewed the bear back together and actually managed to almost fix the eye but then Big bro asked me not to as he’d rather he only had one. 
Whilst some kids would be upset about something looking different or ‘broken’ his ability to love his toys somehow even more with imperfections is truly wonderful - particularly when he is prone to naturally be quite anxious. 
For me, witnessing his reaction, as a person who has probably always struggled with imperfection but has been teaching my kids about mending and caring for our belongings to try and make them last, I love watching him learn. Both my kids constantly teach me how to be a better, more loving, human (and always a better sewer because there’s always a lot to mend!)
Thank goodness for garden centres with aquatic sho Thank goodness for garden centres with aquatic shops and vampire crabs during the summer holidays! Yesterday I had the boys and we spent ages looking at these fascinating little crabs. 
Today, @petewillmot has them and they’ve gone back to the shop for another look! 🦀 
Thought I’d share because I genuinely found the vampire crabs pretty fascinating too!
Today the boys were playing pirates. Little bro sa Today the boys were playing pirates. Little bro said, “captains are not girls so you can’t be one Mummy…”
Me: “excuse me but why not? I think captains can definitely be girls.” 
Little bro: “well I am the captain because I am more stronger than you.” 
Me: “I’m not sure about that. I am very strong. Shall we have arm wrestle?” 
Little bro: “No. We are going to do penis wrestling.” 
Me: “oh right, well you have managed to pick an activity I can’t do as a girl… but also, please can we just not do any penis wrestling…?” 
(Photo of Little bro with his painted nails from yesterday. He will tell anyone who asks how nail varnish is for anyone! Today’s convo goes to prove how ongoing all our conversations about gender are!)
#GenderEquality #ThisGirlCan #AnythingYouCanDo #MumLife #Parenthood #MumOfBoys #Brothers
Forever keeping me on my toes. Can’t believe h Forever keeping me on my toes. 
Can’t believe how much bigger he is than this now. No less cheeky though. 
#toddlerlife #toddler #toddlermom #toddlermomlife #parenthood #mumlife #momlife #whatchadoin
The boys have reached an age where the results of, The boys have reached an age where the results of, “can I take a photo on your phone?” are actually decent! 🥰
#NationalTrust #MumAndSons #MumLife #MumOfBoys #Parenthood #MumsOfInstagram
Little bro’a childminder has taken him to McDona Little bro’a childminder has taken him to McDonalds a few times recently and Big bro has been devastated that he didn’t also go. So, we planned days ago that today he and I would do a trip just us. 
On the way I had a nosebleed. No tissues so we hard to dart into the nearest coffee shop and use up all their napkins. After 10 minutes he said, “this wouldn’t have happened on [little bro’s] trip.” 
In the end we popped into a charity shop and bought him that excellent T-shirt and we had a lovely time sat chatting. But, no matter how hard we try to plan the perfect thing, life often doesn’t go that way. That’s always difficult, especially when you’re a kid who feels stuff so deeply and struggles with things not going to plan.  I love a good plan so I get it! 
#MumSon #QualityTime #MumsofInstagram #CharityShopWin  #McDonalds #McDonaldsUK
Are you a networking lover or hater? I love peop Are you a networking lover or hater? 
I love people and I love conversation, but I am not a natural networker. Or at least, I didn’t think I was… 
I’ve shared 5 tips for how to improve your our approach to networking on @iridescentwomen. 
What would be your top tip? 
#networking #networkingtips #readingberkshire #iridescent #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity
Our boys have learned numbers and colours mostly t Our boys have learned numbers and colours mostly through pointing at Reading buses. In fact, Little bro feels so attached to the two colours of bus we regularly catch that given the option of 20+ different colour buses to sit on today he chose to get on only the colours we regularly catch! 
@readingbusesofficial’s open day raising money for @newbeginningsreading today was absolutely brilliant. Little bro’s highlights were the bus wash and getting to ‘drive’ a bus. Would totally recommend looking out for their next one if you’re a local and have a kid who loves buses!
Messy, exhausting, puzzling AND brilliant! 🥰 
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#mumlife #mumofboys #mumoftwo #parenthood #brothers #bromance #momofboys #letthembelittle #letthemplay
Today’s theme is being fed lovely food. Just bee Today’s theme is being fed lovely food. Just been to a brilliant leadership lunch hosted by @and.digital. Had some great conversations, listened to some really insightful talks and have gone away reflecting on all sorts of things to do with leadership. It was great to be in a room full of people also focused on driving digital in all sorts of different ways. Thank you so much to the AND Digital team for hosting, and inviting me. 
Tonight I’m heading to a BBQ at the University of Reading hosted by the Vice Chancellor where we hear a farewell from our current officers and welcome our incoming officers alongside the University team. Another fab opportunity to see leadership in action as this week is all about the leadership of the Students'​ Union being handed over to the new team. 
And - in the spirit of authentic and vulnerable leadership - the main thing I’m currently reflecting on as I sit at the bus stop waiting to head back to campus… being a mum has given me many valuable life skills. I honestly don’t go many meals without spilling some food down me (much like my kids) so this morning I packed a spare top and, given that the top I’m wearing now has gravy on it, I am feeling very smug about how prepared I was 😂 
 #team #leadership #digital
Felt very appropriate given tomorrow’s plan is ‘an adventure in the forest’. I am happiest in the woods and my kids certainly feel at home there too 🌲 
Poem by Jeanne Willis from the book wild child. Thank you @wildflower.dwelling for the template 🥰 
#letthembelittle #kidsmentalhealth #getoutside #mumlife #parenthood #outdoorskids
Got to get every last use out of those carrier bag Got to get every last use out of those carrier bags. 
#fashionista #kidfashion #plasticbag
On our way home from the most wonderful weekend in On our way home from the most wonderful weekend in Devon @libbearbarton. Swimming, soft play, walking in the wild wood and finding tiny frogs, playing in the park, jumping on the trampoline and a delicious pub lunch… all in the most gorgeous house and countryside. 
@alexmanners & @maxmanners you have done the most incredible job. I think it’s the nicest holiday ‘cottage’ we’ve ever stayed in (and we’ve done quite a few!) 
When I’m in training all day tomorrow, @petewillmot is trying to keep Little bro awake all day and Big bro is home from school (and likely tired and grumpy) we might regret travelling home late but, right now, feeling very tired and happy 🥰
#HolidayCottage #Devon #FamilyHoliday
♥️ “Dandelions, like all things in nature ar ♥️ “Dandelions, like all things in nature are beautiful when you take the time to pay attention to them.” — June Stoyer 
I don’t know why but dandelions always make me reflective. Something considered a weed which brings so much joy… also a kind of weird reminder of the cyclical nature of life and how each year I ponder the same thing! 🌱
We like weird here. I remember really clearly on We like weird here. 
I remember really clearly on this day in 2020 thinking, “we’ve all lost it. How on Earth are we going to do more of this?!” 😅
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#toddlerlife #toddler #lockdown #lockdownmemories #buckethead #summerdays☀️ #summerholidays #mumlife #momlife #momlifebelike #toddlerfashion #parenthood #parentlife
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.
Bring me food… and I’ll eat it, even if I am b Bring me food… and I’ll eat it, even if I am basically asleep. 
#BringMeFood #AlwaysHungry #CuteToddler
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!
All the fresh air. We love the woods! 🌲 🌳 All the fresh air. We love the woods! 🌲 🌳 
P.S. When this wasn’t sped up it took a LONG time to watch him go across the tree whilst he shouted about how dangerous it was 😂
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