This week my Word of the Week is: Lesson! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

What a week! I am so glad it's almost the weekend although we do have Ellie's MRI scan to deal with tomorrow, it's nothing to worry about, it's just to check her ears before she gets fitted for a hearing aids. My family and I have had a week of lessons this week, learning them and booking them.

A couple of times a year I will think it's a good idea to make a meatloaf and every time when I do I remember why I don't make it often. It is such a faff to make and takes so long to cook. It is delicious but I just don't learn my lesson. I would love it if shops would sell it ready made so we just have to heat it as my family love it so much.

Becky has finally booked her first driving lesson! In an ideal world she would have started them a couple of years ago but the virus and lockdowns put a stop to that. Even when the driving instructors started working again there were waiting lists and Becky was on a few but we got the name of a driving instructor who was taking on students and thought it was worth a shot. Her first lesson isn't for a few weeks but it's progress and the company she's booked with has some great offers on. Her first 2 hour lesson costs the same as an hour lesson elsewhere and the block booking of 10 lessons are much cheaper than elsewhere too. It seems her waiting to start her lessons is better for her bank balance. We are going to see how her first lesson goes and then book her in for her theory test as I have heard there is quite a wait for that too.

On Wednesday I was enjoying my day home alone and had a list of things I was planning to do when I got a phone call from Ellie's school which really threw me. She has been involved with online bullying, not the victim but one of the bullies. After suffering years of bullying herself I was so ashamed and I really did think she would know better. I am not going to say much because I don't know who reads here but things are not as black and white as they initially seemed. I am not defending her, she was in the wrong and is now banned from the internet for the foreseeable unless it's to do her homework. I think she has learned her lesson.

I learned a lesson from Ellie's bad behaviour too. Even though I thought I was keeping an eye on her activities online she was doing things that I didn't know about. When she is allowed back online her computer is being moved into the living room where I can see exactly what she's doing. 

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one?

How to stay positive and stay on track with your resolutions!

We are a couple of weeks into the new year and even though we start the year with good intentions it is now that we seem to lose motivation. The Christmas cheer has well and truly gone, the cold, wet and dreary weather is just rubbish and trying to keep bank balances afloat until the next payday really takes it's toll.

January is a long month but doing little things such as making sure you have something to look forward to during the year ahead can really help to keep your good intentions and positivity going.

How to stay positive in the new year and stay on track with your resolutions.

 Set yourself a Goal.

It’s important you keep the goal realistic and achievable, don’t make your goal too unobtainable as it’ll only serve to de-motivate you should you veer off it slightly. Start small, then increase your goals each time you’ve completed one. It’s best to start with a series of short term ‘mini-goals’, and then have a think about setting a more long term one when you’re getting the hang of it. This is proven to help resolutions stick.

Take some ‘Me’ Time.

We often spend so much time making sure everything and everyone is ok that we can accidentally neglect our own needs and mental health. Have a think about what you can do, just for you and make a deal with yourself to dedicate some time each week for yourself. So, maybe it’s reading a favourite book or trashy magazine it could be having a leisurely browse online at your favourite clothes shop or having a long soak in the bath.

Get up and get Active.

At this time of the year the last thing we often feel like doing is to jump around in the cold or sweat it out in a gym. However, exercise is proven to boost your feel good hormones and brain chemicals, and really can make all the difference to our mood and motivation. So, if sweating it out in a gym class isn’t for you that’s ok have a think about what you’d enjoy, maybe it’s swimming (with a nice hot sauna afterwards) or even working out at home. Boosting our physical health really can help with our overall happy and positive vibes.

Plan something Fun.

When we’re juggling work, family and keeping New Year’s resolutions we can sometimes hit a wall and feel a little overwhelmed. Making plans for the near future is a great way to lift your mood and look forward to something fun. A day out, a holiday or even a meal out.

Have a chat and cuppa.

We’re all so used to checking our smart phones and social media umpteen times a day that it can be really easy to forget the importance and benefits of having a proper face to face chat with someone. Have a think about who you could have a cuppa and natter with maybe it’s a family member, or that friend you keep putting off. The positive benefits of having a chat with someone and offloading any worries and in turn listening to theirs can have such a brilliant and positive effect on your wellbeing. So go on, ditch the mobile and put the kettle on!

How do you stay positive at this time of year?

(Ad - Gifted) Motivational Shakes from dare!

In the middle of last year I had a bit of a lifestyle change and started exercising more and thinking more about what I was eating. I did well with getting fit and losing some weight and then Christmas came along but now it is a new year I am determined this year I will be healthier and fitter than ever.

Recently I was contacted by the lovely people from "dare" who are a are a nutrition brand and their core products are vegan complete nutrition shakes also known as the “motivational shake”.

The dare shakes are a nutritionally complete powdered plant based beverage that can be used as a nutritious snack or as part of a Meal Plan. They contain a bespoke all in one blend of seeds, superfoods, herbs, phytonutrients, pre and probiotics and all 26 essential vitamins and minerals. Each serving is dosed at the right levels for a perfect balance of complete protein, essential fats, Omega-3, slow-releasing complex carbs and fibre for a ridiculously tasty, filling, nutritious and motivating all purpose shake. 

The motivational shakes are not intended to be a diet shake or a trendy cleanse. You can incorporate the shake to fit around your needs and your daily routine or lifestyle. They are not a meal replacement product and it isn't something that "dare" advocates. You are to think of the motivational shake as an alternative to helping you avoid unhealthy junk food. They are perfect and most ideal for when you are time pressured, stuck without access to a wholesome balanced meal, for pre/post workout or on the go.

I was sent two of the different flavours to try out: Cocoa & Jaffa Orange and Cocoa Vanilla Frosting. You simply just need to add water or milk to the powder and voila, a shake is made. If you’ve got time you could be creative and blend with bananas and all your other favourite ingredients.

I made a couple of shakes up over the weekend just using milk to try them out. My favourite was the Cocoa & Jaffa Orange. You can really taste the orange and yes they did remind me of Jaffa Cakes. The Cocoa Vanilla Frosting one tasted really did taste like frosting off cakes, it was a little sweet but next time I know to add a little extra milk.

I am rubbish at eating breakfast, I do try and manage a few days a week but the other days I am missing a meal so a shake will come in handy. There is also some afternoons where all I want to do is drink fizzy pop and eat cake and I think these will be a fantastic alternative!

The Motivational shakes contain no nasties no artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols like Sucralose or artificial flavourings. They use natural ingredients such as cocoa, peanut, orange and no flavourings. They do contain a small amount of caffeine. They contain Green Tea Extract which has a very small amount < 5mg per serving. A cup of coffee would usually have 40-90mg of caffeine. The shake contains natural stimulants such as Maca Root and Acai Berry.

In each bag of powder there is 15 servings and to buy each bag costs £30 but if you choose a regular delivery you can claim 10% off bringing it down to £27 per bag.

As well as being good for us they are good for the planet too. They have a long shelf life of 12 months, a low Carbon Foot Print the ingredients are 100% vegan and use minimal packaging.

Are these something you would try?

I was sent the Motivational Shakes from dare free of charge in exchange for this blog post.

A hearing check and hearing aids.

Ellie was diagnosed with Auditory Neuropathy when she was about 4 years old and every year she has a hearing test to check that her good ear is still good and that her bad ear is still bad. She is totally deaf in her right ear but has amazing hearing in her left.

In 2020 we didn't have the greatest appointment at the hospital, he was a stand in doctor so at the appointment in the middle of December I was expecting another new doctor and that is what we got. I would like to say he was a massive improvement on the previous doctor but he wasn't. He got off to a bad start reading the notes on his computer about a different person and started talking about cochlear implants. The nurse put him right and he apologised. I just rolled my eyes and thought here we go.

The doctor was so arrogant questioning why Ellie hasn't got hearing aids, we have always been told that hearing aids wouldn't work and why she has never had a MRI scan? We said no to it when she was little as she was recovering from heart surgery and then when she was older the doctors have said they only want to do it for their own research and nothing would benefit Ellie. It makes you feel pretty crap when doctors are questioning things without actually realising what Ellie has been through in her life. I am thinking that the training doctors get in bedside manner is given to the nurses and assistants as they are always amazing and the doctors are arrogant, rude and have no people skills.

The doctor mentioned a type of hearing aid which wouldn't need surgery and Ellie and I got interested. CROS hearing aids are designed for people with hearing loss in one ear like Ellie has. These are made up of a conventional hearing aid that sits in the hearing ear and a microphone that looks like a hearing aid which sits in the ear with no hearing. The hearing aids pick up sound from the side with no hearing and feeds it into the hearing ear. 

The doctor was asking me if I thought this type of hearing aid was a good idea and would Ellie like to give them a try? I said yes, it sounds like a great idea but it's not up to me to decide for Ellie, it's her body, her choice. Ellie didn't look convinced by what the doctor was saying but the nurse told us more about them and how they come in most colours that you could want and you could even get them to match your hair colour so they are not noticeable. The doctor said that if she feels self conscious about the hearing aids she doesn't have to wear them at school which I thought was a bit stupid as that would be where she would get the most benefit. Ugh. Ellie ended up agreeing to give them a try, she has nothing to lose apart from a couple of afternoons at school.

The doctor did say that he would like to give Ellie a MRI scan to investigate more about her hearing loss and as she is at an age now she won't need knocking out or sedating and it could be done at the same time when she gets fitted for her hearing aids which we have agreed to, well Ellie did. She loves all things medical and said she can't wait for the scan.

I don't understand why this type of hearing aid hasn't been offered to Ellie before? All the previous doctors have either said nothing can be done to help or she would need hearing aids involving surgery. It's frustrating that Ellie has got to 14 years old and she just seems to be getting the help that she needs.

We haven't had long to wait to get an appointment for Ellie's MRI scan, she has it on Saturday. I am dreading it but she is looking forward to it, she loves anything to do with hospitals.