Blog : Little Lilypad Co

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The Little Lilypad is a lifestyle blog mostly written by a mum to two beautiful, cheeky and entertaining daughters. It is sometimes written by the Man on the Pad or by one of our baby bloggers. Occasionally we accept guest posts too. There is frequently talk of sustainable living, saving money, lifestyle and travel. It is hopefully helpful, sometimes funny and always honest.
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Category: Views & Ramblings

  1. Things I am thankful for ...

    Posted on

    I have taken a little break recently, a break from the blog, from social media ...... from the laptop and had time to actually appreciate the little things around me. This post maybe a little self indulgent but having time with great family and friends reminded me that I should be thankful for :

    1. Having two beautiful, happy, healthy girls.

    2. Having a fabulous, supportive man .... who lets me have a lie in when I am tired.

    3. Having brilliant friends who understand that a toddler may wake them at silly oclock on holiday.

    4. Being very proud that my girls are confident and excited in the swimming pool (thank you Water Babies).

    5. Being able to survive a 7 hour car journey without wanting to throttle any member of my family.

    6. Having great neighbours who will look after our crazy cat (!!)

    7. Sunshine ..... when we were expecting artic conditions.

    8. Manners ..... they cost nothing but mean a lot (and makes me proud when I hear my daughter using them!)

    9. Delicious food (and thrown together snacks)

    10. Happiness .... why wouldn't you be thankful for that?

     

    What makes you proud or thankful?

  2. One day mummy, I won't be this small.

    Posted on

    I have unintentionally taken a little break from blogging over the last week mainly due to the house being full of poorly people. It wasn't just the little ones either, in fact I seemed to be the only "semi" normal one amongst us. I cannot tell you how many loads of washing I have done or how many times I have bleached everything to try and rid us of this horrid virus that has gripped my little family. Thankfully we seem to be out of the other side and whilst waking repeatedly in the night time, sleeping on my youngest daughter's bedroom floor and being permanently attached to one of my children wasn't how I pictured my weekend panning out but my mum reminded me that it was just a moment in time.

    This is one of my mums favourite sayings but seeing a poem on Facebook today reminded me once again. The author is unknown but I wanted to share it:

    I won't always cry, Mummy,

    when you leave the room,

    and my supermarket tantrums,

    will end too soon,

    I won't always wake, Daddy,

    for cuddles in the night,

    and one day you will miss,

    having a chocolate face to wipe,

    You won't always wake to find my foot

    is kicking you out of bed,

    or find me sideways on your pillow,

    where you want to lay your head,

    You won't always have to carry me

    in asleep from the car,

    or piggy back me down the road,

    when my little legs can't walk that far.

    So cherish every cuddle,

    remember them all,

    Because one day Mummy,

    I won't be this small.


  3. Time Saving Tips for Mums

    Posted on

    I remember a time when I would arrive promptly for a dinner date, an appointment .... work and look haughtily at those that arrived looking hassled or, in some cases, disheveled. Today, I have to admit that there are days when I am that person.

    I asked our Facebook fans what were their top time saving tips for mums and here's what they came up with.

    • Prepare. Always prepare the night before if you can. Those extra few minutes in the morning may prove valuable when one of the children spills something down their front first thing in the morning. (Insert juice / breakfast / toothpaste - as appropriate).
    • Have a routine. Children thrive on routine and hopefully, if you do the same things often enough, they should become a habit for them. (Disclaimer ... this doesn't seem to apply to making their own beds)
    • Dont iron unless you absolutely have to! (This one made me giggle).
    • As long as the children are perfectly groomed, have some great hats and you can forgoe doing your own hair!
    • Have an "emergency" bag by the front door, with nappies, wipes, change of clothes and snacks .... just in case you have to dash out anywhere.

    Now finally, my personal tip is to find long lasting make-up. I have used the same liquid eyeliner for years (yes, I accept that I am a creature of habit), so I was devastated to find that it had been discontinued. However it has been replaced by "tattoo eyeliner" which  lasts for 48 hours, unconvinced I thought I would try it and guess what .... it works!

    So my time saving tip is to buy make up that you only have to apply every 2 days :-) 

    Do you have a tip to share?

     

  4. As a parent, should you stop going out socialising?

    Posted on

     

    I remember when I was little that my parents had a really big circle of friends who they saw regularly but the men would often go to the pub and the women would meet at each others houses for a cheeky bottle of wine and a catch up. I never really remember them getting all dolled up and going into town to go clubbing but that is what we did this weekend.

    I love getting dressed up and going out dancing but this weekend we had two different occasions to go and celebrate, one on Friday and the other on Saturday night, it was like I was 19 again. Having children absolutely changes your social life, despite what many people say, it doesn't stop you socialising if you choose to but it does alter how you feel about it the following morning! 

    I have a very vague memory of once upon a time dancing all night and not getting very much sleep but when you have two small children demanding your attention, the thought of having no sleep doesn't appeal so much.  I have to admit that I have felt a little jaded today, not hungover, just very very tired. When your baby is waking you up in the middle of the night, you kind of accept that you will feel tired the following day but when your feeling of exhaustion is self inflicted, it somehow makes you feel worse.

    The friends we were out with this weekend all have children and to be honest, we spent a lot of the time talking about them but sometimes it is good to get out and be guaranteed of actually finishing a conversation without a little person interrupting it at some point.

    So, should parents still go out when they have had children? Absolutely.

    Could I do it every weekend .... absolutely not!

    My two daughters are bubbling with energy and excitement and if I am too tired, I can't enjoy it. So I will always continue to enjoy time with friends but I think I have to admit that my days of all nighters may finally be over.