Honest Conversation

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red ceramic mug on red saucer

It’s good to be back

Long time, no speak It’s been a while! Hi, hello and how are you? Firstly, a little life update from me… I’m eight months into a full-time job role working as Head of Digital & Communications at a University Students’ Read more…

By Annie, 1 weekJune 26, 2022 ago
Person stood looking down with a picture of strong arms drawn behind them

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 Read more…

By Annie, 11 monthsAugust 19, 2021 ago
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 Read more…

By Annie, 1 yearMay 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 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 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 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 Read more…

By Annie, 2 yearsNovember 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 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 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 Read more…

By Annie, 2 yearsSeptember 23, 2020 ago

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honestconversation

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!
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
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 đŸ„°
#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! đŸŒ±
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! đŸ„ł 
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 (đŸ€žđŸŒ) they’ll be reunited with their mum!
More tea đŸ«– yes please! Had the most delicious More tea đŸ«– 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
*
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