slow cooker September

slow cooker September

Saturday, September 15, 2018

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Mongolian Beef

Ingredients

500g Frying Steak

2 Tbsp Cornflour

1/2 Cup Soy Sauce

1/2 Cup Water

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 Garlic Clove, minced

1 Red Pepper

1/2 Onion

Handful of Mushrooms

Scallion, to garnish

Method

1. Chop frying steak into strips, coat in cornflour and set aside. 

2. In the Slow Cooker, add the oil, water, soy sauce, sugar and garlic. Stir to combine.

3. Add steak to the slow cooker, coat in the sauce and cook on low for 4-5 hours.

4. 30 minutes before the end of cooking, add the chopped pepper, onion and mushrooms. Coat in the sauce and continue to cook.

5. Serve with Rice and top with some scallion to garnish. 

Slow Cooker September

Slow Cooker September

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Cola Gammon

Ingredients

700g Gammon Joint

1.75 Ltr Coke

3 Tbsp Honey

1 Tbsp Soy Sauce

1 Tsp Ground Ginger

1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard

Salt & Pepper

Whole Cloves

Method

1. Boil Gammon in pot of hot water for 5-10 minutes to remove excess salt.

2. Place in slow cooker, cover with coke and cook on low for 6 hours.

PREHEAT OVEN TO 180oC

3. Remove gammon from slow cooker and pierce with whole cloves (remove layer of fat if necessary beforehand) 

4. Make a glaze using honey, soy sauce, mustard and ginger. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Brush the glaze over the gammon and place on a baking tray.

6. Cook in the oven for 40-45 minutes.

7. Serve with accompaniments of choice and enjoy! 

Slow Cooker September

Slow Cooker September

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Sweet and Sour Chicken

Ingredients

3 Chicken Breasts

2 Tbsp Cornflour

Pepper, to season

2 Peppers

Small Tin of Pineapple

Sauce: 2 Tbsp Pineapple Juice

1/2 cup Ketchup

1/4 cup Soy Sauce

2 Tbsp Honey

2 Tbsp Brown Sugar

1 Tbsp Grated Ginger

2 Cloves Grated Garlic

Method

1. Chop chicken into chunks and coat in cornflour, fry for 2 minutes in a pan of hot oil and then pop into the slow cooker.

2. Make the sauce by combining all the ingredients and pour over the chicken. Stir to coat.

3. Set slow cooker to Low and cook for 3-4 hours.

4. Add pepper and pineapple and cook for a further 30 minutes. 

5. If sauce is too loose, thicken with a cornflour slurry or too thick, add a little water.

6. Serve over rice and enjoy.

Slow Cooker September

Slow Cooker September

Monday, September 3, 2018

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Honey and Garlic Chicken

To kick of "Slow Cooker September", I decided that I would start with this really tasty chicken dish! I normally make this yummy Honey and Garlic Chicken in a pan so I was intrigued to see if I could do it in the slow cooker too and, not to big myself up or anything, it was delicious! 

Ingredients

3 Chicken Breasts

1 Spring Onion, divided

3 Cloves of Garlic, minced

1 Tsp Grated Ginger

1/2 Cup Honey

3/4 Cup Soy Sauce

1 Tbsp Demerara Sugar

1 Tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar

 1 Tbsp Cornflour

Rice to Serve

Method

1. Place Chicken at the bottom of the Slow Cooker.

2. Make the sauce by combining Soy Sauce, Honey, Sugar, Garlic, Ginger, Rice Wine Vinegar and White part of Spring Onion in a bowl.

3. Add the mixture to the chicken.

4. Cook on LOW for 3-3.5 hours (this may take longer depending on the size of your chicken breasts)

5. After 3-3.5 hours, remove the chicken and using two forks, shred it and set aside.

6. Cook your Rice.

7. Pour the sauce into a saucepan and make a slurry using the Cornflour and 2 Tbsp Water. Add this to the sauce.

8. Heat the Sauce until its bubbling and starts to thicken. Throw the chicken into the pan with the sauce and toss to cover it completely.

9. That's you ready to serve and tuck in!

This chicken is delicious the next day as a pizza topping or in a hot baguette with cheese! It is even pretty tasty cold, so you could use it to brighten up a salad or in a sandwich. 

A WEEK OF GO TO DINNERS

A WEEK OF GO TO DINNERS

Saturday, August 25, 2018

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SATURDAY

Mango Chicken with Rice

and Naan Bread

Saturday night is take away night in our house! I love it! Sometimes, however, I fancy whipping up something quick and easy that is just as tasty! This Mango Chicken is the perfect alternative and it's even better the next day! This recipe requires very few ingredients and can be ready in less that half an hour! I mean, what more could you ask for? 

Serves: 2

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Ingredients

2 Chicken Breasts

1 Red Pepper

1/2 Red Onion

Handful of Mushrooms

Jar of Mango Chutney

Rice - I use Microwavable

Naan Bread

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180oC

2. Chop chicken into chunks and fry in a little oil until cooked through.

3. Meanwhile, chop peppers, onions and mushrooms into thin slices. Add to the pan with the chicken and cook until soft.

4. Pop Naan Bread in the oven and cook per pack instructions.

5. Once chicken and veggies are cooked through, pour 2/3 Jar of Mango Chutney into the pan, stir and allow to simmer.

6. Pop rice in the Microwave (if you are being lazy like me ;) )

7. Take Naan out of the oven, and now its time to plate up and dig in! 

A WEEK OF GO TO DINNERS

A WEEK OF GO TO DINNERS

Friday, August 24, 2018

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FRIDAY

French Bread Pizza

I don't know about you but at the end of the week I am always left with a lot of bits and pieces in the fridge! Instead of them getting thrown out, I like to use them as toppings for these yummy French bread pizzas - totally Pioneer Woman inspired! After an impromptu Fish and Chip lunch this is the perfect Friday night dinner and an all round favourite in our house! 

Serves: 4

Prep: 25mins  (depends on toppings)

Cook: 12 minutes

Ingredients

(Based on what I had in the fridge)

2 Sausages

2 Rashers of Bacon 

1/2 Red Onion

1 Tsp Sugar

1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

Handful of Mushrooms

Mozzarella Cheese

Cheddar Cheese

Pizza Sauce (see recipe)

Pack of 4 Half Baked White Rolls

Pizza Sauce:

1 Tin Chopped Tomatoes

1 Tsp Mixed Herbs

1Tsp Garlic Pepper

1/2 Tsp Salt

1/2 Tsp Smoked Paprika

1/4 Tsp Onion Granules

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180oC

2. Make Pizza Sauce - Drain tomatoes, blitz in food processor, add herbs & spice, mix and bobs your uncle!

3. Prep Toppings - I cooked sausages, fried some bacon and mushrooms, grated cheese and caramelised some red onion (fry onion gently in oil until soft, add sugar, stir, add balsamic vinegar and let simmer)

4. Cut Half baked roll in half, sprinkle top half with water, pop in oven for 6 minutes.

5. Remove bread from oven. Spoon over pizza sauce, top with cheese and then your delicious toppings.

6. Pop back in the oven for 5-6 minutes.

7. Remove from oven, plate up and dig in! 

A week of go to dinners

A week of go to dinners

Thursday, August 23, 2018

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THURSDAY

Easy Beef and Pepper Stir Fry

I love a good take away dinner, but if I'm being honest, my thighs are starting to loathe me for it! What better on a Thursday night than this quick and easy stir fry with only a fraction of the calories! (Ok so technically I don't know how many are actually in it - but its definitely got to be better for me than what I would really love right now!) 

Serves: 2

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Ingredients

1 Red Pepper

1 Yellow Pepper

1\2 Onion

325g Stir Fry Beef

1 Tsp minced garlic

1 Tsp Easy Ginger (or minced ginger)

2/3 Cup Soy Sauce

2 Tbsp Brown Sugar

2 Tbsp Cornflour

2 Nests Dry Egg Noodles

Method

1. Slice peppers and onions into thin strips. Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan or wok and when hot, add peppers and onions. Fry until soft and then remove from the pan.

2. Heat another glug of oil in the pan and add the beef pieces. Fry until cooked through. Add ginger and garlic, stir and cook for about a minute.

3. Next, add peppers and onions back into the pan and continue to cook.

4. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, sugar and cornflour. (Add more soy sauce if too thick)

5. Pop egg noodles in a pan and cook per packet instructions.

6. Pour sauce over the beef and veggies and stir. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes - make sure the sauce coats everything evenly.

7. Drain noodles and add a splash or two of soy sauce.

8. Time to plate up! 

A WEEK OF GO TO DINNERS

A WEEK OF GO TO DINNERS

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

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WEDNESDAY

Creamy Champ with Sausages and Caramelised Onion Gravy

Hump Day? What hump day? This go to dinner is sure to keep those hump day blues at bay! This is the perfect meal for our whole family! Stuart loves the creamy mash, Freddie can't get enough of the sausages and I am all over that caramelised onion gravy! 

Serves: 2

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 30 mins

Ingredients

4 Sausages

4 Large Maris Piper Potatoes

1/2 Cup Milk

Bunch of Spring Onions

Large Knob of Butter

Salt and Pepper

For the gravy: 

1 Onion

1 Tsp Brown Sugar

1 Tsp Plain Flour

2 Tsp Balsamic Vinegar

200ml Chicken Stock

Method

1. Peel potatoes and cut into chunks.  Pop them into a saucepan of lightly salted water, bring to the boil and simmer for about 10 minutes or until cooked through.

2. Meanwhile, cook sausages. I use our ActiFry to cook sausages so I just pop them in there for 25 minutes and let them cook away! Choose your method and go for it! 

3. Prep onions by slicing them thinly and get your spring onion ready for your champ.

Caramelised Onion Gravy 

•  Heat oil in a pan. When hot, add onion and fry gently until soft and golden.
• Next, sprinkle in brown sugar and stir. Allow to caramelise slightly.
• Add Balsamic Vinegar and stir. Next, add the flour and stir.
• Cook gently for 1 minute before adding the stock - stir immediately until your gravy is smooth.Simmer gently for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile back with the champ...

4. Heat Milk and spring onion in a saucepan on a low heat until warm.

5. Once potatoes are cooked through, drain and pop back in the pan. Add butter and season well.

6. Mash potatoes until smooth and pour in heated milk and spring onion. Stir to combine.

7. Now you are ready to plate up!

8. Start with a generous helping of creamy mash, top with chopped sausage and spoon over that delicious onion gravy! 

A WEEK OF GO TO DINNERS

A WEEK OF GO TO DINNERS

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

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TUESDAY

Italian Meatball Pasta with Crusty Bread

I have never been a fan of Spaghetti Bolognaise! Oh even the look of it turns me - I think I have the early days of my first pregnancy to thank for that! Meatballs though - Oh, I'm all over that! This is a super easy and quick recipe that is super tasty and perfect with a freshly baked crusty baguette straight from the oven - and by freshly baked I mean the ones you buy and stick in the oven! ;) 

Serves 4

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 30 minutes

Oven: 200oC Fan 

Ingredients

12 Meatballs
250g Pasta
300g Passata
75ml Beef Stock
1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tsp Smoked Paprika
1 Tsp Sugar
Pinch of dry oregano
Salt & Pepper 

Method 

1. Oil a baking dish and cook meatballs in a preheated oven for 15 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, cook the pasta per packet instructions.

3. Make the Sauce by combining passata, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, paprika and sugar in a jug. Add a pinch of oregano and season well. 

4. Take meatballs out of the oven, add pasta and cover with sauce and cheese.

5. Pop back into the oven for 10 minutes until the cheese has melted.

6. Serve with Crusty bread and enjoy! 

The original recipe can be found here - I changed a few of the quantities and added a few extra ingredients also. This recipe also gives quantities needed to make your own meatballs if you are feeling adventurous enough! 

A WEEK OF GO TO DINNERS

A WEEK OF GO TO DINNERS

Monday, August 20, 2018

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MONDAY

Creamy Garlic Chicken Spaghetti

with Grilled Garlic Ciabatta

There is nothing I love more than a big bowl of this creamy garlicky goodness! It is so tasty and so super easy to make. It is a pretty versatile dish and it is one of my favourite go to Monday night dinners. 

Serves 4

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

Ingredients

2 Chicken Breasts

2 Large Closed Cup Mushrooms, chopped thinly

1 Small White Onion, chopped

1 Clove Garlic, minced

3 Rashers Smoked Streaky Bacon

Olive oil

2 Ciabatta 

Garlic Spread

20g Butter

2tbsp Plain Flour

11/2 Cup Milk

2 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese

1 Tbsp Garlic Pepper

300g Spaghetti

Method

1. Chop chicken into strips and add to a hot frying pan with a little olive oil. Fry until cooked through.
2. Cut mushrooms in half and slice thinly. Chop onion and mince garlic. Add to the pan and cook until soft. Remove all from the pan.
3. Cook spaghetti per packet instructions, drain & set aside.
4. Meanwhile pop bacon rashers in the pan and cook until crispy. Remove and set aside.
5. Cut ciabatta in half and then in half again & pop in toaster until lightly crisped.
6. Add butter to the pan (the one that you cooked everything else in) and allow it to melt, add 2 tbsp of flour and stir right away until it forms a paste. Add milk and stir well until it starts to thicken and bubble.
7. Once thick, add garlic pepper and parmesan cheese. Stir to combine and take off the heat.
8. Add everything back into the pan and toss so the sauce covers everything. Heat through until piping hot.
9. Pop into a serving dish ready to go.
10. Butter the ciabatta quarters with garlic spread (top with cheese for extra yumminess) and place under the grill for a few minutes.


Plate up and tuck in!

A Stay at Home Mum - Are you Nuts?

A Stay at Home Mum - Are you Nuts?

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

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"So what do you work as?'

"Oh, nothing as such, I'm a Stay at Home Mum..."

...

This statement is usually met one of two ways.

It is either, "Oh thats brilliant" and a myriad of positive affirmations and well wishes.

OR

It is "Are you nuts?" or something to that effect, followed up with well meaning advice about how I would be better getting a job.

...

Now, while I obviously favour response numero uno, I am also fully understanding of response two...I just don't like it as much.

You see, for us as a family, we have chosen for me to stay at home.

It is a privilege that we don't need me to go to work.

I mean, I could, but that would just be to pay someone else to look after my children.

My husband works so flipping hard and does so that I am able to be at home.

Saying to me "What you really need is a job..." doesn't offend me but it does make me feel like what I do isn't valued at times, it shows me that maybe people don't understand our situation and at times I do get the feeling that maybe I'm not doing a good enough job and someone could do it better. I think all of those things myself without needing other people to say/think it too! 

...

I used to sort of panic when people asked me what I do  because I didn't know how they would react. I would give a full blown explanation about how I was a teacher and I subbed for years before taking a job as a classroom assistant in a school that I really loved...blah blah blah.

Why did I do that? I have no idea really. Maybe I cared too much about what people thought?  Maybe I was embarrassed to say 'Oh, I'm just at home with the boys.'

...

Is it easy being at home? Eh, No!

Do I regularly search through job sites? Eh, you bet ya I do!

Do I need a break sometimes? Doesn't everybody?

Am I not bored at home? Don't really have time to be!

...

Somedays I would love to hand these two boys over to someone else and allow them to deal with all the tantrums, and tears, and fall outs, and screaming...oh believe me, somedays I dream of it! 

However, for now, in this season, this is where I am meant to be. And thats exactly what this is, a season, a season that will soon be past. One day, both these boys will be at school and I will enter into another season, but for now, I am going to cherish these days. I might complain too much about a certain toddler, I might look worse for wear most days, I maybe DO need a break but these two boys have given me more than any job EVER could! 

...

Freddie made me a Mum

Alex has strengthened me as a Mum

I have never been the same

I will never be the same 

I wouldn't want it any other way

I'm not ashamed to say it now...

What do I do?

I'm a Stay at Home Mum

And I'm proud of it!

SOS...

SOS...

Thursday, June 28, 2018

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It's back!

It's taking over!

Everywhere I turn, it's waiting on me!

I feel like I am drowning in it!

I feel like it is consuming me!

It wakes me in my sleep!

It consumes my thoughts in the day!

That ugly thing that rears its nasty head, just when I think I have overcome it. 

Just when I think I have a handle on it.

Just when I think I have everything under control.

That horrible word...anxiety.

I have always been a nervous person. I am shy, I am awkward, I panic easily but thats not what this is.

This is an overwhelming feeling of sheer fear.

Total.Fear.

Fear that makes me say No!

Fear that makes me back out of plans.

Fear that keeps me tucked in my safe place.

Fear that disturbs my sleep.

Fear that sends sheer panic through my bones.

Fear that is all consuming.

Anxiety is different for everyone.

It affects us in a variety of ways.

It comes.

It lingers.

It goes.

What annoys me the most?

That I keep using the word 'I"

Because that it my problem!

I keep taking my eyes off of the One who sustains me!

The One who promises to NEVER EVER leave me!

The One who has already overcome!

The One who says "DO NOT be ANXIOUS about anything."

My Strength.

My Saviour.

My Sustainer.

I know that this is just season.

That it will pass.

More of these seasons will come.

I am sure of it.

There is something that I am more sure of though

I am sure that my God will sustain me.

I am sure that He will see me through it.

I am sure that He will hold my hand every step of the way.

Why am I so sure?

He hasn't failed me yet!

No! You can't steal my JOY!

No! You can't steal my JOY!

Saturday, June 9, 2018

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No!

You can't have it!

I'm not giving it to you!

You can't steal my joy!

This week on Instagram, I briefly touched on the subject of comparison. 

It has been playing on my mind ever since! 

The only way I can try and shift it is quite simply by writing this down.

Social Media can be a life sucker!

(Don't get me wrong, I love it - otherwise, why would I even bother?)

But it sucks you in! 

You become fascinated and maybe even slightly obsessed with those that you follow...

Their lives, their clothes, their homes, their pets, their hair, their holidays... you get my drift.

Then comes the comparisons.

The wishing.

The wanting.

The jealousy.

The feelings of not being good enough.

The feelings of not having enough.

It's draining.

It's life sucking.

It was Theodore Roosevelt who said that "Comparison is the thief of Joy" and I have say I'm in total agreement with Ole Teddy! 

That is why I'm saying today that I have had enough!

No more comparing!

No more competing!

My faith is something that is very important to me. It is my foundation. It is what is at the core of inner most being. 

My Joy shouldn't come solely from pretty flowers, restyling our home, raising our kids and being the most desperate housewife in all of Co.Down. 

My Joy shouldn't come from how many followers I have, how many likes my photo gets, who comments on my posts.

No!

My Joy comes from the Lord.

My Maker.

My Father.

My Guide.

He should my reason for living, for being, for doing.

My joy should come from knowing my worth in Him.

I shared this lovely quote the other day and it has really resonated with me;

"A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms" 

How blooming marvellous! 

And that is where you will find me! 

In my wee corner slowly blooming and sharing my little loves with you! 

Grace xx 

Being ME!

Being ME!

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

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Turning 30 has changed me.

Honestly!

I have spent the last 25 years (I don't remember pre school years) wanting and dreaming to be popular.

Hating that my shyness made me seem stuck up and unapproachable.

Hating that my laugh could be irritating, as one "friend" kindly pointed out behind my back.

Hating that I always felt like an outsider and desperately just wanting to be cool! 

Then came the age of social media! 

Oh boy!

Sometimes it is as bad as being in school - only you can't hear my laugh! 

Where we are judged on how many followers we have, who has the prettiest photos, who has the most instagrammable home, cutest kids...the list could go on! 

But I became hooked! 

Trying all the tips and tricks to get more followers...to build my social following. 

And to what gain?

Ok yes, I have made new connections and my little account it slowly growing but I was becoming obsessed...

absent...

inauthentic...

forced...

and the truth is that the posts that got the most likes were ones that I didn't plan out. Just normal, everyday posts. Posts of the real me! The stay at home mum me. The crap housewife me. The one who loves her kids to bits me. The lover of all things grey me. JUST ME! 

This is something that I have been thinking about for a few weeks now!

You see, what I want you to see from my Instagram and this blog is ME!

I will probably never have thousands of followers...

I will probably never have that perfect Insta house...

I will probably never have this whole motherhood thing nailed...

But what I do want you to see is someone who is

honest...

open...

vulnerable...

encouraging...

passionate...

a little strange...

I want you to see ME! 

I don't like people based on what they have...I like people based on who they are! 

So really, I am OK with not being popular, because if being popular means that I have to compromise being ME then I'm not interested! 

I have had enough of not feeling "good enough"!

Because what I have is ENOUGH! 

So follow me, unfollow me, like me, don't like me...thats up to you! 

I'll just be here in my corner raising my boys and building my home - for us, not for Instagram! 

Gxx 

Dear New Mum...

Dear New Mum...

Friday, May 18, 2018

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I don't really remember a whole lot about the early days after Freddie was born. Its all still quite fuzzy. What I do remember though, is that no text book or online expert was going to prepare me for the reality of life as a new mum! 

I felt like I was drowning. 

Drowning in the enormity of the responsibility now lying in my arms.

Drowning in sleepless nights.

 Drowning in the constant feeding.

Drowning in anxiety.

Drowning in dirty nappies. (I mean, come on, who knew one tiny human could poo THAT much)

Drowning in too many 'Not a clue what I'm doing here' moments.

But above all of that...

Drowning in the deep, deep  love I had for my new little human! 

Who even knew a love like that was possible? 

I am only two and a half years into motherhood - I'm no expert! Flip, I learn about ten new things every day! Toddler life is not to be underestimated - never mind throwing a new brother into the mix! Poor Freddie! 

But I would love to share with you FIVE things that I have learnt since I became a mum!

1. YOU ARE AMAZING!

Yes! You! I mean, you have just given birth! Maybe you had a difficult start to motherhood. Maybe your wee one needed some extra care after he/she was born. Maybe you are still recovering from a traumatic birth experience.  It takes super-human strength to get through those first few weeks and months of motherhood. You will get there! You, new mum, are AMAZING!

2. YOU NEED TO CUT YOURSELF SOME SLACK!

I think I must say at least five times a day, "I can't do this", "I'm not cut out for motherhood", "I am failing my kids" and I need to STOP! Motherhood is a JOURNEY and it take a lifetime. I would say that my own Mum would admit she still hasn't got it sussed! Here's the thing, we are only human.  we will make mistakes.  we will feel overwhelmed. we will feel like running away. Thats OK! That's motherhood for you! But, what I am saying is, don't sweat the small stuff. Its no joke raising kids. Its a lot harder than those self-help books make out! Give yourself a break! You are doing a heck of a lot better than you give yourself credit for! 

3. ITS OK TO SAY NO!

After Freddie was born I felt like I was constantly saying YES to things that I wanted to say NO to. Yes, you can nurse my sleeping baby. Yes, you can come to my house the day after I have given birth. Yes, Yes, Yes.

Second time round? I have been saying NO a lot more. You have to do what is best for you and your baby. If that means you have to become a social hermit for a few months, so be it. If it means unintentionally offending friends and family, so be it! You and your new baby come first! 

4. SORRY, IT DOESN'T GET ANY EASIER! 

Sorry for the negativity with this one! But its the truth! So many people told me it would get easier - wee liars! LOL

It doesn't get easier because the challenges keep changing! 

Just when you think you have nailed one thing, they throw you another ball! 

What does happen though, is that you find the strength you need to keep going! 

You learn so much in that first year, never mind in the years to follow. 

I don't think I will every say this is easy! 

5. FOR EVERY BAD DAY, THERE ARE MANY MORE GOOD! 

For every poonami, I raise you that first smile.

For every sleepless night, I raise you that first giggle.

For every tantrum, I raise you that first "mama".

You get the gist! 

I recently read something that said, 

"Motherhood is messy,

and challenging,

and crazy,

and sleepless,

and giving, 

and still unbelievably,

BEAUTIFUL"

I totally second that! 

Thanks for reading! 

Grace

xx 

STEPPING OUT OF MY SAFE PLACE

STEPPING OUT OF MY SAFE PLACE

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

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"A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there"

Recently, l had started to think that all chat about "stepping out of your comfort zone" was so cliche. In fact, that phrase really started to bug me. I felt like I had done all my being brave and trying new things in my teens and twenties. I had found my "safe place" and just was not interested in doing things that made me feel uncomfortable or anxious. I'm thirty now for goodness sake.

That was just me talking myself out of doing anything that made me feel remotely insecure.

Well that was all going to change.

God had a different plan.

It's always the way with me.

The things I say I am not going to do, they are always the things that I end up doing.

You see, I had lost my brave!

I have been so involved in being "mummy" that I lost "Grace" along the way. Being "Mum" is my safe place you see. I feel needed, I feel wanted, I feel fulfilled in that role. I wouldn't change it for the world.

After I had Freddie, it was mum guilt that stopped me doing anything  I was so riddled with postpartum anxiety that I couldn't focus on anything else - it beginning to become detrimental to my marriage and my family life. I needed to make a change. I needed to  start doing things just for me, whether that was simply popping out to do a grocery shop alone, meeting a friend for coffee, having a shopping day with my mum. I needed time for me. You might be reading this and think that it was selfish of me, but as mothers we need to look after ourselves. We need those thirty minutes of quiet, of sanity, that time to think, that chat with a friend, that hour spent at the gym, we need to refresh and we need to find ourselves again amongst the nappies, and feeds, and endless washing.


I was happy in that safe place.
Content with the small changes

Then I had Alex.
Two children...twice the work, twice the washing, twice the stress, twice the love.

But I was determined. Determined that I would look after myself better this time. I would trust my husband with the boys and I would take time for myself and do something scary at least once a month. I needed to. I did not want to find myself in that downward spiral again.

I am so glad that I did.
I am so glad that I have found my brave again.

Brave enough to start this blog. Brave enough to meet a group of complete strangers for coffee, brave enough to even talk to someone I don't know, brave enough to sign up for a workshop alone, brave enough to share snippets of my life, my family and my faith. Brave enough to open myself up to criticism and brave enough to follow God's leading.

I listened to my heart and to that still, small voice of God, prompting me to do things that scared me.

Without faith in God, I don't think I would have been able to do any of those things. You see, my strength comes from the Lord. On my own I am nothing but a wimp. I believe I am at a new stage of growth in my relationship with the Lord. That I am connecting with people and really clicking with a few of them for a reason.

 This is an exciting season of life.

I am ready for more challenges.

I am ready for more growth.

I am ready to be brave!

(The image at the top is the photo I shared the day after #cuppaforkindness meetup. This is my reminder that I can do these things, that I can step out and do the things that scare me the most.)