Happy 2nd Birthday Oisin

Happy 2nd Birthday to our sweet little boy Oisín

No big party this year, we just spent yesterday as a family

breakfast together opening Birthday presents, a trip to soft play, then a special treat dinner

and later that evening his little best friend had a play date with him

nothing big or fancy be we enjoyed it

Our little boy has given us the best two years of our lives

and brings us so much joy

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and peaceful new year!

Christmas here has been happy, busy, fun and eventful

Hope you all had a wonderful one

Christmas Madness & Hospital Drama!

Last week I ended up in hospital for four days!! I had been have sharp stabbing pains

in my lower left side of my stomach for two days

I left it go until the pain got so bad I couldn't stand and last Tuesday I was rushed to A&E

I had lots of scans and tests and found out Wednesday it was something called

Epiploic appendagitis which is when tissue on the bowel gets twisted

along with an inflamed cyst on my ovary!

I was put on fluids, pain relief and an antibiotic drip in hospital

by Friday I was feeling alot better and was thankfully allowed to go home!

I have been on meds since Friday at home and am feeling so much better

But I am now so behind in Christmas stuff, cards are wrote out still waiting to be posted,

presents are thankfully wrapped but in gift bags waiting to go to friends and family,

Christmas food shop needs to be done, house needs to be cleaned,

Oisín needs to get a haircut, and a trip to my brothers grave needs to happen

Meanwhile Oisín will not let me out of his sight encase I disappear again!

While this was such a horrible time for this to happen

it has made me realise even if all the things above don't happen

it doesn't matter

I'm alive and with my family at Christmas 

and that's what's it all about!

Christmas Traditions Week #2

Here are this weeks Christmas Traditions!

Bringing Oisín To See Santa
This is the same Santa as last year a different venue
Oisín really liked this Santa he shook his hand
gave him his Christmas letter, asked him for a big car and a Woody from Toy Story!
Was happy to sit on his knee and then gave him a high five at the end!

Our Family Day in Dublin City Centre
We live in Dublin but to be honest we don't go into the city centre that often
We always go in to see the Christmas Lights and this year
Oisín really really liked them he was his in his buggy
and then walked holding our hands with such a expression of awe on his face!

Christmas TV Guide
I love curling up with a hot chocolate
with pen in hand to settle down and
circle what I am going to watch over Christmas
This year we are most looking forward to
Sherlock, Mrs Browns Boys, Call The Midwife,
and Downton Abbey 

Our Christmas Favourites Week #2

These are our Christmas Favourites for this week!

Our Favourite Christmas Movie This Week:

Miracle on 34th Street the 1994 version

While the original is a beautiful movie in it's own right

It's the 1994 Cole's Store version that has a special place in my heart

As a family tradition my parents would take us into Dublin City Centre

for a day of festive treats (a tradition that I am keeping with my own little family)

We would go see Santa, finish our Christmas shopping, see whatever Christmas movie

was out at that year and finish with dinner out.

One year Miracle on 34th Street was the film that was out and we loved it

I would of been almost ten years old and my brother around eight

at the part of the film when there is a court case around Santa

My brother got very emotional and stood in the cinema and shouted

"He is Santa, he is the real Santa!"

Oisín's favourite this week is Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas

which he has been watching alot before bed!

Our Favourite Christmas Song This Week:

All I Want For Christmas has been playing alot in our house
also it was played at my SW Christmas party
so my friend and I had a good bob to that!

Oisín has been enjoying Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
He likes to try sing along! It is really very sweet

Our Favourite Christmas Decoration This Week:

My parents bought me this crib the first

Christmas I moved out and I love it

but Oisín was trying to play with it

this year so my parents bought him

his very own one!

 

Our Favourite Christmas Tradition This Week:

Having our own festive day out in town
Went to see Santa Claus, visit the Christmas markets
and see the Christmas lights it was a lovely day out

Our Favourite Christmas TV Special This Week:

The Royle Family the new sofa
I watched this last night curled up with a hot chocolate

Over The Weekend #12

We had a lovely festive weekend
as the hubby was working the weekend
we brought Oisín into Dublin City Centre on Friday
to see Santa and enjoy the Christmas markets

It was really cool Friday morning so

Oisín was really wrapped up!

Oisin loved the lights, he was pointed and laughing at them!

Santa Claus and Oisín
Oisín was so good and we even managed a photo on Santa's knee!

Saturday was my Slimming World Christmas Party
My friend and I had a ball
and drank maybe a little too much!

Sunday was mostly spent like this
crashing on the sofa with tea, Christmas lights and Christmas movies!!

Slimming World Meal Plan Monday

In the past two weeks I have lost 3.5lbs with Slimming World
so the food planning and flexi syns over the festive time has
been working here is my meal plan for this week

Monday: Left Over Roast Chicken, Salad and SW Chips

Tuesday: Aldi Basa Fillets, Peas and Salad Potatoes

Wednesday: Chicken Stir Fry, Stir Fry Veg and Cous Cous

Thursday: Slimming Word Meat Balls, Mash Potatoes, Gravy and Peas!

Friday: SW Prawn Curry with Wholegrain Rice

Saturday: Girls Christmas Night Out

Sunday: Roast Beef, Carrots, Parships, Oxo Roasties and Gravy

My Top Ten Favourite Christmas Songs

Can't have Christmas without those toe tapping Christmas tunes
Love them or hate them they are as part of Christmas as much as Christmas pudding!
Here are my top ten favourites

10: Kate Bush - December Will Be Magic Again

Unless you are a Kate Bush fan like I am you might not have heard of this song
For me it's a Christmas classic Kate sings about White Christmas, snow, candles, and Santa
It might not be to every ones taste but it's classic early Kate Bush and I love it!

9: Paul McCarthy - Wonderful Christmas Time

This is one of those songs for me gets me all warm inside
I remember it playing the first Christmas Paul and I where dating
We where at a pub having a few drinks with friends before Christmas
Every time I hear that song it takes me back to the feeling of early romance
and the care free joys of being with friends before Christmas
it always gets me in the festive mood!

8: Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas

Another favourite that gets me really in the Christmas spirit
We have all been there driving home from work on our last day before the Christmas holiday
 stuck in rush hour traffic
Knowing that when we get home Christmas can begin!

7: Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas

A couple of years ago this would of been higher up my list
but in the past few years there has been some many re-makings and re-recordings
that to be honest it has dumbed down the original for me
Of course the power and meaning behind this song is still amazing
It is a one of a kind and I don't think we will have such a powerful
Christmas song again

6: John & Yoko - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

Beautiful anti war song
It does make me feel wow another year is almost over
when I hear the line "another year over and a new one just begun"
Beautiful message beautiful song

5: Wham - Last Christmas

'

Such a cheesy 80's Christmas tune
but I love it..especially the video all big hair and snow!
"Merry Christmas I wrapped it up and sent it" what a line!
This one I really sang into my hair brush as a teenager! I still sing this around the house at Christmas
A ballad of doomed romance just what we love at Christmas!!

4: Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You

This the hubby's favourite Christmas song and I am sure he love the video too
(Mariah bouncing around in the snow)
It's such a catchy little tune and I can help myself singing along
I remember singing it to my pregnant bump a couple of Christmas ago
It has took a couple of year over this side of the Atlantic to become a classic
but it's played at all the office party's now!!

3: Slade - Merry Xmas

I grew up with 70's music coming from my parents radio
So it's not wonder Slade is high up in my list my Mam favourite band growing up
She always had Slade's Merry Xmas on while we where putting up our Christmas tree
So it's no wonder it doesn't feel like Christmas for me until I hear
Noddy Holder scream IT'S CHRISTMAS!!

2: Wizard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

The 70's really was the time for Christmas songs!!
Another Christmas tune that was always played in my house growing up
Even the lead singer looked liked something out of Lapland!
Something so festive about the sleigh bells and the children choir joining in
This will be played alot at our house over Christmas!
When I was a kid I really did wish it could be Christmas ever day!
When you get older your glad it's only once a year!

1: Pogues - Fairytale of New York

I love this song and always have when I was younger I loved it
because it had naughty words in it
Now I love it because it reminds of my brother
us singing it together the night of my 21st birthday and laughing our head off!
I love it because its a tale of  loss, hope, despair and above all love
Yes it's over played especially here in Ireland but the
next time it's on the radio close your eyes
and really listen to it.....

So that's my favourite Christmas song what about yours?

Rathwood Santa Train

On Monday 30th November we went to our first ever trip

on the Rathwood Santa Train

It will not be our last!

We had an amazing time!

This is such a popular event that we booked it in November

It's an hour drive from where we live but it was so worth it

Firstly Oisín met with the elves!

The gave him a special badge with his name on

Painted his face and Daddy's!!

Then they sang songs and Oisín got a pair of reindeer antlers

He then got to met Mrs Claus and Jack Frost

when all the children had to help bring back

the magic of Christmas Spirit

Oisín didn't understand alot of this but he

shouted and clapped along with the other children

One thing I didn't like was alot of the adults

took up seats so some children where left at

the back of the room

We then went on the train ride to met Santa Clause

It was just getting dark and all the twinkling lights where

coming on and Oisín loved this

The driver sang songs and we saw the real reindeer

We then came to Santa's log cabin

families where called individually to met the big man

We got a few minutes with Santa

Oisín was very cute and shook his hand

and asked him for a mo mo car!

Oisín was very happy with his Lego present from Santa!

We then walked back to the train

Oisín and Daddy walked back with Coco the elf!

Afterwards we got warm in the restaurant
where Oisín was giving a free hot chocolate
We all had lovely warming hot chocolates
to finish off an amazing day!

Christmas Traditions Week #1

We have a few festive traditions we always do over the next few weeks
here are the first of them!

The Late Late Toy Show
This tradition is with me since I was a child I remember
being allowed to stay up late with popcorn to watch this
My brother would fall asleep after a while but I always managed to
watch all of it! Of course as you get older it's less cold to watch it
but hubby and I always curl up with a hot chocolate to watch
and maybe next year Oisín will watch it too!

Putting our Christmas Decorations Up
I like to put our decorations up nearest to the 1st of December as I can
This year this meant putting them up the last week in November
We had a little helper this year Oisín was happy to help!
We waited to put up the tree until he was in bed
His face the next morning when he saw it was priceless

Console Concert
This was my third year at this beautiful concert
for families affected by suicide
It is a wonderful event that I always enjoy going to
It was also lovely that my Dad got to go this year too

So that's our traditions for this week
what are yours?

On The Box This Week

Warning-TV Spoilers Ahead!

This year's I'm a Cele has been a little crazy with Lady C going full on nut job mode!
The atmosphere seems to be horrible with the celebs actually really happy to be vote out!
Chris Eubank the person who everyone thought would be good a doing a Bushtucker Trail has yet to volunteer himself! Lady C seems to hate everyone in the jungle especially if you have a different opinion or dare to stand up to her. My favourite is Kieron he seems like a really nice bloke

I enjoyed this episode to The Muppets it brought back a little

of the madcap of old to the show

Kermit is feeling a little under the weather due to stress so he takes

a spa day to relax. Scooter takes over with some horrible results!

Some very laugh out loud moments which I really enjoyed

But it was the end which I really enjoyed a nod to the original Muppet show

To help deal with the stress Kermit has brought a bit of the swap to his back garden

where he sits on a log and sings The Rainbow Connection

Finally Haley and Andy kissed!! Just need them to be a couple now
the will they won't they is running a bit thin
I would love to see them as a couple and the funny scraps
they get into, it would make this storyline fresh again
as it's getting a little stale. 

So the mid season finale hit our screens on Monday evening
The walls have fallen in Alexandria and all hell is breaking lose
Rick and Deanna are trying to fight them off until Deanna gets bite and
the gang hide in Jessie's house.
Ron and Carl have fisty cuffs in the garage. Till the walkers hear and the back door gets smashed in! Stupid Ron get a grip! Carol and Morgan fought over the Wolf, Morgan has locked up. Not great timing there are hundreds of walkers outside the door and Carol picks this time to resolve this? It doesn't end well for either party, Morgan knocks out Carol and then the Wolf gets free and knocks out Morgan!
To be honest nothing much else helps this episode, Rick and the gang cover themselves in walker blood to get out of the house, Deanne dies but not without going out in style and Sam has a break down just as the gang are waking with the dead "Mom, Mom, MOM!!"
There was an after credit scene that shows Daryl, Abe and Sasha getting stopped by a biker gang telling them the truck they are driving belongs to a man called Neegan. Setting up a new gang and villain for the second half of the second.
I did enjoy this first half of season six but I felt like the last few episodes where lacking something we met a lot of new characters in the first few episodes but where have they gone? Heath, Nicholas, Aaron and Eric where not in the mid season finale. The episode felt rushed and lacking something, saying that I am looking forward to February 15th to see what happens next to our gang!

Our Christmas Favourites Week #1

I enjoyed doing a blog post like this a couple of years ago
so thought I would re-do it this year
I am excited for Christmas this year although it will be a little different this year
as my parents are staying in a hotel over the Christmas time
It has been something my Mam has wanted to do for years she is finally getting a chance to relax over Christmas time!
Oisín seems to be enjoying the festive time so far, he loves the Christmas ads,
songs and lights. We sat down the past few days and have watched some nice Christmas movies which he seems to enjoyed!

Our Favourite Christmas Movie This Week:

Paul and I favourite this week is Trading Places
we enjoyed watching this on the weekend with a glass of Baileys
 It tells the story of upper class snob and commodities broker Louis Winthorpe (Dan Aykroyd) and a homeless hustler Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) who lives change and there paths intertwine when they are are unknowingly made part of an elaborate test and bet of nature versus nurture by wealthy elderly Duke brothers, Randolph and Mortimer.
It's a very funny movie with Eddie Murphy really on form one of our favourites!

Oisín's favourite is Disney's Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas
he loves Donald Duck and really enjoys these cute little Christmas stories

Our Favourite Christmas Song This Week:

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas....I have been playing this alot this week!!
I had it playing while we where putting up our Christmas decorations on Saturday!
It really gets me in the Christmas spirit!

Oisín is learning Jingle Bells in creche this week
so of course I have been playing the Michael Buble one for him!
Oisín love shouting BELLS at the top of his voice!!

Our Favourite Christmas Decoration This Week:

This also seems to be Oisín's favourite he
keeps hugging and kissing him it's actually very sweet to see!

Our Favourite Christmas Tradition This Week:

This is an Irish tradition is almost every house hold
sitting down with a hot chocolate to enjoy this
cheesy funny show!

Our Favourite Christmas TV Special This Week:

The very funny Father Ted Christmas special!

Console Celebration of Light

On Sunday evening I was once again invited to Console's annual concert

for family and friends who have lost loved ones through suicide
Last year my Mam came with me this year I managed to get three tickets and

my Father could also attend with us
It was my third year to attend and it means so much to me

giving us one evening over the festive time to just remember and celebrate

my brother who we lost in 2006

Although we miss him every day and think of him all the time

This is a beautiful two and half hours once a year to just remember, cry, think and celebrate his life

My Dad like my Mam last year was unsure

what to expect, he is not very religious and was hoping it wasn't praying for two hours!

When the he realised it was an evening of celebration, songs and poems

he really relaxed and really enjoyed his time there

This year's theme was Hope and yes there is still Hope and Light
After you go through something like this everything seems dark
There doesn't seem to be any light around but believe me there is
always a little light in the dark
It might be small but it's there growing
On the evening one candle is lit then we are all given candles
and we light them together to represent this

This year's beautiful singers included
Paul Hennessy who sang You Raise Me Up,
Liam Lawton who sang Bring Him Home,
Rebecca Storm sang You'll Never Walk Along
and Jack L sang Ole Man River
Christy Keneally who narrated the evening has such a beautiful way with words

Again I watched my parents leave a little lighter then they entered
My Dad didn't stop talking about it all the way home!
The thing that I love about this evening is that
We can grieve and let our feelings out knowing
everyone there is feeling the same way
It's nine years since our brother left this world
the pain will always be there
Knowing we have an evening like this every year
makes the pain a little more bearable
Thank you to everyone at Console for this amazing evening

Remember Suicide it not

the answer there is always

light at the end of the tunnel

please talk

Console 1800 247 247

Beacon Of Light 01 457 8700

Slimming World Mean Plan Monday

After a nine day detox plus being unwell I am so

glad to be back on my Slimming World Meal Plan!!

Monday: Steak, Salad and Sweet Potato Fries

Tuesday: Homemade Chicken Burgers, Salad and SW Chips

Wednesday: Slimming World Spaghetti Bolognese

Thursday: My Favourite Fakeaway Taco Fries

Friday: We are going to eat out after our day in Dublin City Centre

going to try stay on Plan

Saturday: My Slimming World Christmas Party!

Sunday: No hangover takeout! Roast Chicken, Carrots, Peas and Oxo Roasties!

Over The Weekend #11

This weekend was the start of the busy ones!

We have something on every weekend from now to Christmas!

Friday Paul and I settled down to watch the Irish Tradition that is

The Late Late Toy Show every person in Ireland remembers watching it as a child

Oisín is still too young to stay up for it but we did Sky plus it and

he enjoyed watching it Saturday morning

I woke Saturday not feeling well again not as bad 

but it felt like my sinus where blocked and my ear was hurting too

I done my best to get over it and put our Christmas decorations up

We waited till Oisín had gone to bed to put the

tree up it takes awhile so I like to take my time over it

His face Sunday morning was priceless

he kept saying Wow over and over again!!

My parents and I then went to Console's annual concert

for families effected by suicide it was my Dad's first time at it

It was another beautiful concert and I came home 

with a lighter heart

Forever Aloe Vera Clean 9 Detox

I decided to give my body a another detox before Christmas as
December is a very busy month for me, with party nights out, meals out and many glasses of bubbly!

Last time I done this I forgot to blog about it so this time I thought I would do a little review of the product and how I got on. This is NOT a sponsored post I did not get paid or gifted the product it's just my own thoughts. Last time when I was thinking of doing this I searched the internet to see how other people got on, so maybe this might help some one else.
I started this on a Wednesday as I found it easy to do the first two days while I was in work
it took my mind off the hunger pains!
The two days before I cut down on tea and coffee and tried to get alot of water into me!
In the pack you get two bottles of aloe vera gel, fibre sachets, protein shake and food supplement tablets. For the first two days you drink alot of the aloe vera gel, have a shake at lunch time and take the fibre drink and tablets. After day two you cut down on the aloe vera gel and double the shakes and can have 600 calories a day.

Wednesday Day 1:
I found today okay in general but had to drink extra water in the
mid morning as I felt a headache coming on! The rest of the day was fine
kept eating my free foods!

Thursday Day 2:
Today is the hardest day for me, it was last time and was this time too.
Last time I didn't have to deal with the Christmas food TV ads!
I drank lots of water and ate free foods
and was praying for lunch time so I could have a shake!
But I did hit a wall in the afternoon and need a little nap!

Friday Day 3:
I have never been so happy to have scrambled eggs and wholemeal toast!
I split my 600 calories as I needed something to eat in the morning before work
Today wasn't too bad once I had my breakfast and shake for lunch
and had my other 300 calories with a spring onion and tomato omelette

Saturday Day 4:
Oisín had a sore throat and cough the past few days this morning I woke up
with tickley throat so I wasn't feeling hungry at all
So I had a shake for breakfast and kept my 600 calories for chicken stir fry
and wholegrain rice for dinner

Sunday Day 5:
I woke up with cold this morning and headache caught Oisín's cold!
Had two pints of water and my food supplement tablets
Didn't have my shake till lunch time when I felt a little better
Dinner was roast chicken breast with baked potato

Monday Day 6:
Cold and cough took over today but I am staying as
close to the c9 detox as I can had my shake for breakfast
Have been drinking warm water with honey and lemon for my throat
Stuck in bed all day feeling awful drinking lots of water
Had chicken with rice for dinner haven't much of an appiete

Tuesday Day 7:
Cough was bad today sent home from work sick
So I had to buy a cough bottle not sure if your made to take it with the c9
but need to make myself better so that comes first
Had a shake for breakfast and lunch didn't have much for an appeitte
so dinner was a baked poato and cheese

Wednesday Day 8:
Felt a bit better today but stayed of work today to rest
Felt little hungry this morning so had a boiled egg on toast
Shake for lunch and tomato and cheese omettle for dinner
I have to be honest and say I am glad today is day 8
being sick and doing a detox doesn't mix!

Thursday Day 9:
Finally felt a lot better today
Just a little cough now
Last day on C9 and tbh I am pleased it's over I wasn't as good on it this time
Had shake for breakfast and lunch
Then had over baked chicken with sweet potato chips

In total I lost 7lbs on the C9 detox which I am really happy about
I lost in total 11inchs all over my body, my skin and hair looks and feels better
It was a pity I came down with a cough and cold half way through it
I stuck to it as best I could but because I was feeling awful I didn't enjoy it as much
and don't think I was eating as much.
To be honest I don't think I would do the C9 again in the winter especially so close to Christmas
as the Christmas food ads just wanted me to eat very thing!
I found it hard this time around as the weather was awful and I found myself cold easier
Unlike the Summer time salads and fruit where not appealing I just wanted hot soup and comfort food!
Overall I am happy with the results and I do think I bounced back quicker after being ill
because of the detox
If you are thinking of doing it, I would recommend having something afterwards
to help keep the weight off like, Slimming World or Weight Watchers.
As it is very easy to put the weight straight back on, it is a detox and my body does feel better more refreshed just what I need as we head into the busy month of December.