The Wednesday Hodgepodge #59

I hope you are all having a good week. It's Wednesday, which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. How would you define 'the good life'?

I found this really hard to answer because it’s one of those phrases that can mean a million different things to different people. I think for me the good life isn’t about having loads of money, fancy things or everything running perfectly all the time. That would all be nice but to me that is unrealistic. It’s much more about the real, everyday stuff. My family being happy and healthy is the main thing. If they are good, everything else in life feels easier to deal with. It’s about not having things stressing me out all the time and being able to sleep without spending the night tossing and turning. I feel at the moment we are living the good life. We have enough money to live comfortably, we all have good friends and people we can turn to for support and just enough of everything that we need. I think the good life isn’t anything big, it’s just feeling steady and happy with the life you’re living right now.

2. What's the most used app on your phone (and are you proud of that)?

TikTok is definitely the most used app on my phone. I wouldn’t say I’m proud of it but I’m not mortified about it either. I have learned so much from TikTok, found recipes, kept up with the news and have been introduced to a lot of new songs. I average about an hour a day, mainly at night before I go to sleep. I know it's not a good habit and I should stop but it's just one of those things. Most of the time, I still prefer using my laptop for anything online and according to my girls, that makes me old. They could live their lives just using their phones for everything but I like a bigger screen and a proper keyboard. TikTok and Instagram are the only apps I really use on my phone.

3. 'Every rose has it's thorn', 'everything's coming up roses', 'looking through rose-colored glasses', 'it's no bed of roses' or 'stop and smell the roses'...which rose idiom best relates to something in your life currently. Explain.

I’d probably say it’s a mix of "everything’s coming up roses" and "stop and smell the roses." Life feels good at the moment. My eldest is house hunting and getting ready to move out when the right place comes along and my youngest only has just over two weeks left at college. Things are moving in the right direction and there is a lot to feel positive about. My girls are making me proud, are growing up and I feel like I want to just press pause on life and enjoy this part of it for a little bit longer. In a few months our lives could be so different. Why do they have to grow up so fast?

4. How do you feel about floral flavorings in food or drink (rose, hibiscus, elderflower, lavender)?

No thank you! Floral flavourings in food and drinks are just wrong and are not for me. They feel a bit like someone’s made a drink and then accidentally added some of the garden to it. Elderflower is probably the only one I can almost enjoy but even then it depends on how strong it is, anything too perfumey and I find myself gagging. My girls love Parma Violets sweets which smell just like flowers and I refuse to have them in the house because just the smell makes me feel sick. Food and drinks should not taste like they’ve been wandering through a flower bed.

5. Over the course of your life what have you probably spent more time pondering than anything else?

Probably the things I’ve spent the most time overthinking are the tiny everyday decisions that somehow feel massive at the time, like what to eat, what to wear, whether I’ve replied to someone in the right tone or if I’ve left it too long and now it looks weird. That kind of stuff. It’s never anything dramatic but things that take up way more brain space than they should. As my girls would say, it's not that deep. lol

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I’ve just checked the weather forecast and it’s not exactly cheering me up. Over the next 12 days, we’ve got rain showing for about 10 of them. Ugh! I know, I know, in a couple of months we’ll probably be wishing for a bit of rain when everything turns dry and crispy but right now it just feels a bit unfair, especially after that week not so long ago with proper sunshine and blue skies. It’s like we got a tiny taste of nice weather and then it was straight back to grey skies and wet pavements.

Share our Lives - Emojis used most often!

It's that time of the month again to share some of my life and join in with the other Share Our Lives bloggers. This month the prompt is: Emojis used most often!

I am pretty simple when it comes to emojis. I’m not here using all those strange symbols or whatever the kids are doing this week. I’ve found my emoji comfort zone and I am sticking with it. I know there are hundreds of emojis, thousands probably. Little people, foods, flags, facial expressions I can't even explain but I stick to my favourites.

My girls, of course, have opinions. The way I use emojis is in such a mam way. I get told off for being blunt, for being dramatic and the big one is I get told off for reacting instead of replying properly. Emojis are efficient. Why type a full sentence when a tiny yellow face can do the job!

So here they are, my ten favourite emojis!

Beaming Face With Smiling Eyes!

This one is my default if I don’t know what to say but I want you to know I’m being friendly. It’s cheerful, safe and me saying yes, that’s fine, that sounds nice or smiling politely even if I’m not fully sure what’s going on. I use it when I’m being supportive but don’t have the energy for a paragraph, when I’m replying quickly or use it when I don’t want to come across as grumpy. The girls say it makes me look like I’m trying too hard to be cheerful. I say it makes me look approachable.

Thumbs Up!

This is the emoji that causes drama in my house. To me, a thumbs up means OK but to my girls a thumbs up means I’m annoyed but don’t want to argue or can't be bothered to reply! They say I am being passive aggressive when I am actually just busy, tired, cooking or watching something good on telly. hehehe

Face With Tears of Joy!

If something actually makes me laugh, properly laugh this is what you’re getting. This one gets used a lot. I like this one because it feels loud, it’s not a polite chuckle. I also use it to soften messages. You know when you’re gently taking the mick but don’t want it taken the wrong way? This steps in to save the day!

Smiling Face With Heart Eyes!

This emoji comes out when I’m feeling soft. Cute kids, cute dogs, good food, a nice outfit, a pretty sunset or someone doing something thoughtful. It’s affection in emoji form. I don’t use it lightly, so if you get one of these from me, it means I really like what I’m seeing. The girls say it’s embarrassing when I comment on their photos with it but I say it’s my job as their mam to be mildly embarrassing at all times.

Face Savouring Food!

I use this a lot! If there’s a nice meal involved, this emoji is not far behind! It says that it looks good without needing a full review. It’s also what I send when I’m hungry and trying to hint that food should appear soon.

Face With Rolling Eyes!

I am always rolling my eyes in real life. I don’t even have to explain myself when I use this one. People just know, I have two young adults, so I am always thinking it. When I read a ridiculous comment I am always tempted to use it but I always remind myself that you can't argue with stupid. This covers it all.

Enraged Face!

Everyone in my family knows this one means business. I don’t use it often, which is why it works. If the enraged face appears in a message, something or someone has pushed me past mild irritation. It’s the emoji version of that calm but angry voice that means trouble.

Red Heart!

This one is simple: love, care, comfort, support. I use it when I don’t know what to say but want someone to know I’m there. I use it with my girls. I use it with friends. I use it when words feel like too much. Sometimes a heart says more than any message can.

Loudly Crying Face!

Despite what you might think, I don’t use this one that much. I save it for the big stuff. Proper sadness, overwhelming moments when I see something that makes me feel sad. When this one appears, it means feelings are happening.

Woman Facepalming!

If you were to sum me up with one emoji this would be it. Forgetting things, losing things, doing something daft, watching someone else do something daft, realising I’ve just said the wrong thing, this covers it all.

I know I could branch out. I know there are newer, trendier emojis out there but these work for me. They say what I need them to say and get my point across without me having to overthink it.

What are your most used emojis?

I am linking up with:

Adrienne from Mom Life with Adrienne.

Dara from Not In Jersey.

Jen from Show me & Sweet tea.

Joanne from Slices of Life.

Our weekly meal plan! 8th - 14th June!! #MealPlanningMonday

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a good weekend. Ours was a quiet one. I spent most of it watching sport which I didn't think I would be doing. I had forgotten all about the F1 Monaco Grand Prix until my youngest reminded me on Saturday about the qualifiers and then we watched some of the International football friendly matches. It's all getting a bit exciting with the World Cup starting later this week but I am not impressed with the pitches, they are lumpy and bumpy and the goals are like something I'd have in the back garden. I hope they were just temporary ones.

Last week's meal plan went really well. We ate everything and the help yourself evening yesterday ended up being chicken casserole, dumplings and mashed potato, so that felt like a bonus meal. Becky ended up with sausages and mash as she had to be at work early to practice a fire drill. I can't imagine trying to get all the residents of the care home outside quickly! Eek! 

This week we are back using the Gousto recipe boxes and we have a couple of our favourite meals from them and a couple of new ones to try. I don't have much planned for this week, I think it's going to be a nice quiet one with not much going on which I am happy about.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Gousto meal - Hot Honey Bacon & Fried Egg Pancakes!

Breakfast for dinner always goes down well here and this is one of our favourites. The Abra-ca-Debora Buttermilk pancakes that come in the Gousto box are the best and they get served with crispy bacon, a fried egg and hot honey butter.

Tuesday - Gousto meal - One Pot Spicy Gumbo-Inspired Sausage Stew With Rice!

I’m quite excited to see what this one is all about as it's brand new to us. My family always love anything with sausage, so I think they will like it. It’s a one-pot meal with smoky sausage, peppers and loads of veg all simmered together in a rich tomato sauce with a bit of spice running through it. The best part is that everything cooks in the same pot, so there shouldn't be much washing up afterwards.

Wednesday - Gousto meal - Sesame Pork & Mushroom Udon Noodle Stir-Fry!

This is one of our favourite meals from Gousto and the meal that got Ellie to eat mushrooms a couple of years ago. She loves Udon noodles that much she ignored that the mushrooms were there and since then she has been obsessed with eating mushrooms in everything! This is pork mince, mushrooms and udon noodles coated in a tasty sesame sauce which is delicious!

Thursday - Loaded waffle fries!

We haven't had this in such a long time. It is everything we love in one tray! Crispy waffle fries topped with pizza sauce, onions, mushrooms, pepperoni and cheese and pepperoni, then baked until everything goes all gooey and golden. I follow this recipe but I add extra toppings.

Friday - A takeaway of some sort!

Friday night is an easy night for me. I don't cook and we order takeaway. Last week we ended up getting chip shop. Becky and I had a chip butty and Ellie had a Doner Kebab wrap. Who knows what we will have this week?

Saturday - Gousto meal - Sloppy Joe Loaded Fries With Smoky Ranch Dressing!

Crispy fries loaded with a rich beef topping and a smoky ranch-style dressing. This is a new one for us and I'm hoping it will be a good one! The only reason I was drawn to it was for the ranch dressing! We are a bit obsessed with it here now.

Sunday - A help yourself evening!

I have no plan for today and everyone can just help themselves to whatever they fancy. Last week we had the leftover pizza for lunch and as it was a grey and gloomy day, I made chicken casserole with dumplings and mash.

What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 31st May - 6th June Week 23 of #Project365

Happy Sunday!! I hope you've all had a lovely week and are enjoying your weekend! Last week was hot, busy and I felt like I was constantly on the go and this week couldn't have been more different if it tried. The weather has cooled right down, we've had plenty of rain and life has slowed down a little. I'm not complaining though. After a busy week, it has actually been quite nice to have a quieter one. We did nothing exciting yesterday and we have no plans for today apart from watching the F1 Monaco Grand Prix.

Now for a photo every day!

151/365 31st May

Sunday was a quiet day at home and we had nothing at all planned apart from doing a bit of housework. That was all done by lunchtime, so I decided it was time to play The Sims. It has been quite a while since I had last played and when I loaded it up I decided I wasn't really into the family I had been playing with before, so I scrapped them and started fresh. I know some people find The Sims boring but I could happily spend hours playing it and did on Sunday afternoon.

152/365 1st June

If I had to sum up this week in one photo, this would be it. Grey skies, rain and more grey skies! The cooler weather has been nice though. Sleeping has been much easier and I haven't been a sweaty mess but if the weather could be less grey and a little brighter that would be good.

153/365 2nd June

Just me. I came home and got changed into my comfy clothes. I hate being in the house in the clothes I wear when I am out. It was too early for pjs, so it was leggings and an oversized T-shirt.

154/365 3rd June

I had planned on having a sandwich for lunch but there was no bread left and I didn't fancy going to the shop to get more as I knew the shopping was being delivered the next day, so I made do with a Pot Noodle and some sweet treats.

155/365 4th June

Walkers have released some new flavours of crisps for the World Cup and I was looking forward to trying the English Bangers & Mash but they are a bit meh! They were nice enough, tasted like sausage but they were nothing special. I also bought the Hot Honey flavour and they are good. They are a good mix of sweet and spicy. I'd definitely buy those again!

156/365 5th June

Whenever I go to my dad's house, I don't really need to ask where he is, I just listen and then I follow whatever machinery is making the most noise. I found him in one of the fields on a ride on mower cutting the grass!

157/365 6th June

The garden is slowly starting to come together. Some of my plants are in the ground and, so far they seem pretty happy about it, especially the peppers! I've never had much luck with them before but this time around they are growing well.

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This week my Word of the Week is: Changes #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

It feels like last week’s Word of the Week post was ages ago. This week has felt completely different in every way. It’s like everything is shifting at once, even though nothing massive has actually happened. It’s lots of little changes stacking up. Weather, routines, people, plans, everything feels like it’s moving in slightly different directions.

The biggest change this week has been the weather. Last week was around 30C. This week has been hanging around 18/20C. It's not been freezing or anything but definitely not the hot weather we had. It’s gone into that in-between stage where you’re not sure if you need a hoodie, a blanket or both. I think it has rained every day this week too but I don’t mind it at the moment. The garden definitely needed it, everything was starting to look a bit dry after the heat. It has also meant I’ve slowed down a bit without feeling guilty about it. When it’s sunny I feel like I should be outside doing something all the time but with this weather, I’ve been indoors more, just pottering and it’s felt quite nice.

On Saturday, I felt so lucky that I could have a little lie in while Stu went to work after our night out. We didn't get home that late but it was still a few hours after Stu would normally go to bed on a work night. The tiredness didn't bother him at all while he was at work. In fact he had a brilliant day, smashing all of his targets, then some. It was only when he ate his tea and sat down in front of the TV that the tiredness hit him.

We were all at home on Sunday and it seems like a long time since that happened. We didn't do anything special but it was lovely. I made sure I made the most of it and got everyone to help out with the housework. lol I am sure the girls would deny it but we all had fun and they finally got all their clutter from around the house put away properly.

Ellie went back to college this week for her last term there and she is so close to the end of her education. Yesterday I wrote about how Ellie has fewer lessons with the college year wrapping up and it is such a big change for her to have all the free time. She has been using that time wisely and has been busying herself applying for jobs, tweaking her CV, speaking to the careers people at college and going on a couple of shopping trips. To be honest, I thought I would have to do more to help her find a full-time job but at the moment she is doing all that she can without me having to step in and nag. It's exciting, scary and very emotional that my baby is growing up!

My main excitement came on Tuesday when I went to view a house with Becky and her partner. It was all very exciting for them. I was trying not to put them off but to tell them about the realities of having their own place! Light grey and almost white carpets look great but I would worry about staining them in a rented property. Lots of grass in the garden is great but that means buying a lawnmower and if the cooker breaks there is no just going out and buying a new one as it was built in. At the moment, they are still in the applying and viewing places stage, so it might not be anytime soon but now I have got my head around my girl moving out I am quite excited for it and she is too.

Yesterday it was just me and Becky going to my dad's as Ellie had her 2nd English GCSE exam to do. It was a real treat for Becky and my dad, as usually Ellie is there, so they got some quality time together. It was a nice change for us all. My dad had a bit of Grandad guilt as he always gives us lunch and it always seems to be the weeks that Becky isn't there he gives us something good and sometimes dessert too. Yesterday it was bacon and black pudding sandwiches with an ice cream to follow. 

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one! I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay to join in with her Word of the Week linky!

What I have loved this week! Week 23. #FridayFavourites

Happy Friday! I hope you’ve had a good week. I have had a really quiet one, compared to last week. Last week seemed to be full of things going on and this week has felt much calmer. I don't mind, I quite like having a mix of busy weeks and quieter ones. I am of course linking up with Erika and Andrea to share the things that I have loved over the last week.

A house viewing!

Not for me and my fella but for my eldest. I can't quite believe we've reached the stage where she is viewing houses. She had her first ever house viewing and I went along with her and her partner to keep them on track and level headed. They got carried away looking at all the fancy things, where I was more interested in the practical things, like where the boiler and fuse box were. They were obsessed with how pretty the lights were and I was pointing out that fancy bulbs usually cost a lot more than the standard ones. They were amazed by how lovely the light grey carpet was and I was thinking about muddy shoes, spillages and how difficult it would be to keep looking nice. I suppose that's the difference between people viewing their first home and someone who has spent years cleaning carpets and replacing light bulbs. lol They are planning on renting and have put in the application to go ahead. The house was nice but half an hour after viewing it another came up on a property website that was cheaper per month, bigger and in a better location. They have asked for a viewing for that one too. I told them to keep their options open and not to just go for the first one they have viewed. Eek! This is a huge step for them and I am proud of them for getting to this stage.

A night out!

Stu and I had a night out last Friday and it was just what we needed. First, I fixed the dress, which wasn't really a dress. I think I mentioned it in another post. I bought what I thought was a dress and then discovered it actually had shorts built into it. It sounds great but I planned on wearing leggings underneath and realised that every trip to the toilet was going to involve the sort of gymnastics, so I did the only sensible thing, got the scissors out and cut the section that went between my legs and it became more practical. I love it now!

We went into town, had a lovely meal and visited a couple of bars. We had a few drinks, chatted, people watched and even danced a little. We were home just after 1am which is late enough for me these days and Stu had work the next day. Thankfully, he didn't feel tired until later on Saturday evening.

Fewer lessons!

The end of the college year is almost here. My youngest only has a few weeks left and her timetable is starting to look very different because some of her classes are finishing up. She doesn't have to attend English lessons any more because she has her final exam for that today and now it's about finishing coursework and parts of her engineering course. The annoying thing is that the lessons which have ended aren't at the end of the day. If they had been, she would have enjoyed some earlier finishes. Instead, she has awkward gaps in the day but she doesn't seem bothered. On Wednesday her and her friend forgot they didn't have English any more. They arrived at college at 9am ready for lessons and then realised there was nothing for them to do, so they went into town, did a bit of shopping and picked up some Father's Day gifts.

Clarkson's Farm!

New episodes of Clarkson's Farm were released yesterday and I am very excited about them. I'm planning on sitting down and watching them today. I know Jeremy Clarkson isn't everyone's cup of tea but I absolutely love him and this show. If you don't know who Jeremy Clarkson is, he became famous through the car show Top Gear and is a bit sarcastic, outspoken and sometimes causes a bit of controversy. He reminds me a lot of my dad. Eek! A few years ago, he bought a farm, decided he wanted to run it himself but he didn't know much about farming and that is what makes the show so entertaining. We're onto season 5 now!

Rain!

As much as I loved the hot weather last week, it has been nice that it has cooled down and to get some rain this week. I don't think I'd ever survive in a country where it's hot all the time. The rain arrived at the right time, just after I had put some plants into the ground. The rain has really helped and everything looks greener already but the weeds have also taken this as a sign to grow at record speed. Ugh! The worst thing is that most of the weeds have appeared in my flowerbed where I planted flower seeds. Now I can tell what are weeds and what are flowers.

What have you loved over the past week?

365 Days Of Gratitude. In May I was grateful for...

I have seen many people on social media list something every day that they are grateful for and thought I would join in. I have done this for the whole of the last few of years and it has really made me realise that even on bad days I have something to be grateful for.

Another month has flown over! May started off wet and chilly and ended with some ridiculously hot weather which I really enjoyed despite complaining that it was too hot at any given chance. Ellie had her last school holidays. She leaves education at the end of this month! Eek!

Day 121 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a nice time with my dad today. He made me lunch and spent a few hours chatting.

Day 122 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a night with my family! Watched a bit of F1, Britain's Got Talent and of course the wrestling!

Day 123 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a roast dinner out! It was so nice not have to cook!!

Day 124 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a lazy Bank Holiday! I've done nothing productive and enjoyed every moment!

Day 125 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Ellie is working hard at college. She stayed back today and did extra work.

Day 126 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful it didn't rain! Just after I put the washing out it looked like it might.

Day 127 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful my flowers were substituted with my food shop. Sainsbury's sent better than I ordered!

Day 128 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a Chinese takeaway for tea.

Day 129 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful the wrestling starts at 11pm so I can stay up and watch at least some of it.

Day 130 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a day watching movies. Remarkably Bright Creatures, Care and Send Help! They were all brilliant in different ways!

Day 131 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a day out with Stu. We just had a mooch around the retail park.

Day 132 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful Becky made a good start on decluttering her bedroom!

Day 133 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a jumper and fluffy socks! It was chilly today! Mother Nature needs to get the memo that it's May and start acting like it.

Day 134 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for fresh flowers! Well not that fresh they're a week old but they're still doing well!

Day 135 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for lunch at my dad's, we even got dessert! Rhubarb crumble and custard!

Day 136 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for fun tonight, watching Eurovision!

Day 137 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a lovely lunch out with Stu.

Day 138 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful we managed to get some gardening done before the rain came!

Day 139 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Ellie picked up a few things we needed while she was in town.

Day 140 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that I could watch the 007 episode of Grey's Anatomy while I was by myself so I could have a good cry.

Day 141 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Ellie feels like she did well in her English GCSE. She said she wrote more in this exam than she did in the previous two years.

Day 142 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful I could spend some time sitting outside in the sunshine! What a lovely day it has been!

Day 143 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that I could watch the football this afternoon and see Hull move up to the Premier League!

Day 144 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for my fan! I am quite tempted to take it to bed with me as it's still so warm.

Day 145 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful we got a lot of work done in the garden. The cold shower I had after was the best one ever!

Day 146 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a lovely day with my girls. Lunch out, a bit of shopping, a visit to an art gallery and finally tea out! What a treat!

Day 147 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a day home alone!

Day 148 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Stu cooked our tea. He almost followed the Gousto recipe. lol

Day 149 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a fun night out!

Day 150 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a little lie in this morning. I needed it.

Day 151 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for help with the housework, for once the whole family helped!

What were you grateful for in May?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #58

I hope you are all having a good week. It's Wednesday, which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1.What's something you find extremely difficult that most people would say is simple?

Ohh! I have a list. Folding fitted sheets, mine just get rolled into a ball and put in the cupboard. Getting out of bed as soon as the alarm goes off, I need at least 3 snoozes. Opening packaging that is supposedly easy to open, like the bit on bacon or ham which says peel here, it never peels or those childproof bottles, I always need help! Cooking the right amount of pasta or rice, I always cook far too much. Finishing a cup of tea while it's still hot, it never happens and understanding the instructions for flat-pack furniture, I am sure that it is made for geniuses!

2. "And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow fast in movies I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer." ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald. Does the season of summer make you feel this way? Elaborate.

I like that Fitzgerald quote, summer is a great reminder that the seasons and routines change and there are always new experiences ahead! This year feels like a fresh start for my family. There are some big changes coming over the next few months. My youngest finishes education at the end of this month, will leave college and at the moment is trying to find a full-time job, which feels strange after so many years of school runs, term dates and exam stress. My eldest is also getting ready to spread her wings. Nothing is happening yet but she has a viewing for her own place this week and could be moving out. The longer days, warmer weather and brighter skies in summer make everything feel a little easier. I think if all the changes in my family were happening in the winter it would be harder for me to deal with. When the sun is shining my mood is always lifted and I feel like I can take on the world.

3. Pickles. Love 'em or no thank you? What's your favorite type of pickle? What's something you eat that definitely needs a pickle added?

No, thank you! I don’t think I’ve ever actually liked pickles. My family love them though! Last week at McDonald’s, I removed the pickle from my burger and I passed it over to my eldest, who was very happy about it. The only reason my youngest didn't grab it first was because she hit the pickle jackpot with three on her burger. lol

I remember a few years ago the kids bought a pickle kit from the TikTok shop when it was a big thing. You wrapped the giant pickle in the sweet fruit roll-ups, stick Taki crisps in the pickle and cover it all in the spicy candy sauce. To me it was disgusting but they loved it and thought it was the best thing ever!

4. Tis the season...do you know any June brides? Are there any weddings on your summer calendar? What's your favorite movie wedding?

Nope, there are no weddings happening here. The last time we went to a wedding was for Stu's niece and we had a little breakaway to go to the wedding. It was a fantastic few days and brilliant to get all dressed up.

As for favourite movie wedding my first thought was Four Weddings and a Funeral. It’s such a classic but I thought about it properly and came up with Father of the Bride. It just feels the most real. It’s not only about the bride and groom, it’s about the dad realising his little girl is growing up and there’s nothing he can do to stop it. I can 100% picture Stu being that dad with our girls. Then there’s the comedy side of it too because I can just see my own dad being exactly like George Banks, stressing over every penny, the house in total chaos, trying to keep control while everything around him goes crazy. Side note, I asked my fella his favourite movie wedding and instead of something romantic, he went straight for Game of Thrones and said The Red Wedding. That is such a man's answer. lol

5. June 1st is/was National Say Something Nice Day...say something nice here.

I don't think I have ever said this but thank you Joyce for coming up with the questions every week. It really is one of the highlights of my week. First thing I do every Sunday morning is look at the questions as I am so excited to see what they are about. Also, thank you to everyone who reads and comments on my Hodgepodge post. I do love a Wednesday reading all of your answers.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I went out on Friday night and while I was getting ready I thought my legs were looking a little pale, so I put some fake tan on. I thought it was an instant tan and with it being a couple of years old I just assumed it hadn't worked. Later that night, I noticed the tan had worked and my legs looked amazing, it must have been a gradual tan. Then I slept in it and the next morning I didn't look so great, it all went patchy! I've had 2 showers as of writing this on Sunday afternoon and it still hasn't all gone. It's a good job it has cooled down here and I won't be showing my legs off anytime soon. lol

My June goals & plans!

I’m carrying on with my monthly goals and plans because writing things down really gives me that little kick up the bum to actually get things done. I always feel more motivated when I have a list to look at instead of just thinking I should probably do that at some point. When it’s written down it feels more official, like I’ve made a little promise to myself.

I did pretty well with my goals in May and ticked a lot off my list.

Move the plants outside - Yes and they are doing so well despite the weather not being so great. The plants are living full time outside now, well in their little greenhouses.

Get Becky to declutter her bedroom - Yes! She made a good start on it. She would have done more last week on her normal Tuesday off work but I dragged her out with her sister shopping.

Write a day in my life post - Yes! I wrote one about my busiest day at home during the week and another about a day when I was out and about. You will be able to read them soon.

Read more audiobooks - Yes, I read 5 and I have a post scheduled all about the coming soon.

Watch four more movies that are new to me - Yes, Remarkably Bright Creatures, War Machine, Wuthering Heights, and Jurassic World Rebirth!

Do some baking - I did a little. I made some cookies and apple crumble. Not as much as I would have liked though.

Spend more time outside - Yes but again, not as much as I would have liked. The weather hasn't been playing ball!

Make some plans for the summer - Yes, we have lots planned and are still making plans.

Paint the doors in the living room! - Nope, not yet! I am going to stop putting it on my list and then I will probably get them done!

In June I want to:

Find Ellie a full time job!

Ellie leaves college at the end of the month and at the moment she doesn't know what she is going to do with her life. She has hopes and dreams but nothing actually to do after the end of this month when she leaves college. She's looking into Apprenticeships and is waiting to hear back from a couple but at the moment everything is up in the air. I am not stressing at the moment. She has a part-time job, so I am going to take things easy on her until the end of the summer, then I might start stressing a little.

Plant the plants in the ground!

The plants I have been growing from seeds are doing well, too well. They need to be moved before they start crushing themselves in my little greenhouses. I will spend an afternoon planting them in the ground and hope for the best.

Go and see the new Toy Story movie!

Toy Story 5 is released in the cinema later this month and I will be going to the cinema to see it. It may be strange for a 40 something year old to go and see it but I have seen all the previous movies at the cinema, so I need to carry on the tradition.

Have a family Sunday lunch out!

Stu and I have been out a couple of times to a local pub for a Sunday lunch and I think it's about time the girls came along to join in the fun! They have been warned that if they don't clear their plates they will be paying for it themselves.

Watch the World Cup!

I love watching the football World Cup and I am planning to watch all the matches that I can. Some of them are on quite late here and I definitely won't be stopping up to watch the ones shown at 2 or 3am. I will of course be cheering for England but I also want the underdogs to win all of their matches too, especially against the top-rated teams.

Sit in the pubs beer garden!

It's beer garden weather as I am writing this and I could just drink a pint of something really cold. It is always nice to sit outside and enjoy a few drinks and if the sun is shining, even better.

Buy some new sandals!

My old ones are past their best and I am on the hunt for some that look good and are extra comfy. I have my eyes on a couple of pairs already, I just need to decide on which ones to buy.

Have a date with Stu!

I don't know what we will do but it is nice to do something special together and this month we are celebrating 20 years of being together.

What do you have planned for June?