HAPPY NEW YEAR, HAPPY NEW ME?

Happy New Year, Happy New Me?

I’m two weeks late to the party, shouting those  celebratory welcomes to 2019 and presenting my goals, but sometimes it’s OK to rock up fashionably late, hell I can even go far as to say it’s my party so why not?

Anyway Happy New Year Everyone! Even though we’re a few weeks in I do wish everyone the best year they could possibly dream of, because whats a life without dreams right and you know, kindness is kinda my jam. But as the clock struck midnight and we emerged on the other side, I sat and wondered what the year would have in store for me, what resolutions would I put in place, what spring clean and good habits would I install. Like Lori v2.0, except I’m getting on a bit so actually it’s more like Lori v38.0

So it’s a Happy New Year but will it be a Happy New Me? I found 2018 was the year of being present, you might have noticed as this little corner of the Internet was mainly quiet and I dipped in and out of instagram, instead swapping the online time for cuddle time, soaking up the first year with Romi, all consumed and drunk on love. I didn’t focus on myself, and if I tried it didn’t last long. But on reflection this last year of standing still has done me wonders, it has taught me patience that I couldn't quite grasp the first time round, to be humble and just enjoy our time learning about each other. I let my body rest and didn’t worry about what I ate as long as it nourished me. As they say time flies when you’re having fun/getting on with stuff and it’s hard to believe in a few weeks my baby will turn the big one!

This blog has acted like a raft for me, something to cling to during stormy waters, a place to while away the time, taking me on wonderful crazy adventures and always teaching me new skills, like a castaway getting to grips with the ropes. Normally I set a word for the year, something to reflect upon, but this year I’m switching things up, if this space has been my raft then this year I am setting up the sail. I shall drive myself forward, compass in hand with the shore in sight. Not just on here but in all areas of life.

Generally I struggle with consistency and maintaining my vision, but this time is different. I feel a change is near and I am using different methods to set a clear path, so I thought I would share my strategy here with you:

MANIFESTING
I am such a strong believer of the law of attraction and manifesting good stuff. Sounds a bit woo woo but throughout my life if I needed something, then within a few days or weeks I would be presented with it or an opportunity to get it. At first I just considered this to be extremely Lucky but now I understand it’s more than that.

In a nutshell you need to have a clear vision of what you want, believe that you not only want this but you whole heatedly deserve to have this, be open to opportunity and then live the best those desires and vision. If you’re interested in learning more then there is great easy breakdown here.

PLUS I have been loving Sarah Akwisombe and the Money Medium 3 Day Money Mindset Accelerator, it’s a must if you want to manifest money.


SMART GOALS
It oh so easy to say this year I’m going to be super healthy, loose the excess Christmas pounds, grow the business, go out more etc etc. But there is a reason why most New Years resolutions fail. Because a goal without a path to achieving it, is just a dream said out loud. Instead I’ve been focusing on creating SMART goals

S - Specific. What is it that I want to achieve? what is the desired end result?
M - Measurable. How can you measure the progress of achieving your goal?
A - Achievable. What steps can you take to achieve it? Break it down into smaller tasks.
R - Relevant. Is you goal relevant to you? Do you need to learn new skills to achieve it?
T - Time. Have you set a realistic deadline? Create a realistic flexible deadlines that work for you.

I’ve invested in a MiPlanner which I picked up at Papersmiths to help me get my goals organised and you can learn more about SMART goals here.


SELF CARE
This year I am going to nourish myself and feel strong again, regain ownership of my body and mind. I’m starting slowly with exercise and good foods, sticking to a more vegetarian based diet, using short online courses to develop my parenting skills, healing any old emotional wounds and focusing my energy on good nourishing people.The grass always grow where you water it! So it’s time to let go of any drama and toxic relationships. And finally travel, because this is what makes me happy.

So these are my main techniques I’m using, plus creating as much work time around two kiddos as possible. The hustle continues!

I would love to hear if you have any intentions for the year?

NEW OFFICE CHAIR AND CREATING A SMALL WORKSPACE AT HOME

It's back to school and back to work I go! Even though I took a bit of a break from the blog to enjoy every minute of this little girl of mine, I didn't officially take any maternity leave/pay so I've been juggling the side hustle. Now we're on the flip side of six months and the purse strings are feeling a bit tight, I'm trying to get myself organised and put in a strategy in place for the next six to twelve months. What better way to get your work on then creating a small workspace with a new office chair.

DECLUTTERING TIPS // THE EVERYDAY SPRUCE

 So in the spirit of decluttering the home and getting some order into my flat, I thought this would be a good one to share with you, while joining in with The Everyday Spruce thought up by the lovely ladies Heather and Sarah-Lou.

As I've mentioned before, our bedroom is fast becoming a dumping ground for those do it later projects or things that haven't quite found a home, and trying to work in chaos is not ideal. Over the last few weeks my desk space has got out of control and covered in clutter, and without any real storage solutions I found the piles kept growing. So after a bit of nagging pursuading from Paul I decided to take charge and declutter my desk to create a better working environment and less of an eye sore in the bedroom.

As you can see, the reality behind the lens is a complete mess, this is often the way when looking at people spaces on Instagram, all those neat and tidy homes when in reality you don't see all the clutter which has been moved to the side to achive the perfect pic. So after a quick trip to Ikea and a few hours of sorting and organising you can really see the difference.

Decluttering Tips:

1. Go through all your piles of papers and organise what you need and what you can bin. I bought these stand up files and used each one to seperate my magazines, paperwork and notebooks, by storing them on the shelf under my desk, it's allowed me to keep the desktop free but still have access when I need it.

2. Use boxes and containers with lids for you desk. I bought these stylish white and cork containers to keep my small loose bits and pieces tidy but still within reach. I've used mine for business cards, headphones, washi tapes, stamps, polaroid cartridges, candles and pens.

3. For larger items I bought an open storage container like this one, again in white to keep the desk looking neat and to tie in overall look. I've kept my holga camera, loose postcards, large parcel tape  in there, which if lying out on the desk would look messy but now is contained and accessible.

4. Rather than have different piles of magazines – as I do tend to hoard them – I have selected the ones I want to keep and made one pile with a photo frame on top. This makes it look more like a display and keeps everything neat and tidy, plus F is always cute to look at.

5. Find a stylish pen holder to display your items like these scissors and this letter opener. I love the shape and design of this desk accessory.

6. Add some green to your space. I love plants in the home so by adding a small green succulent in a pink pot it's added a splash of colour and given the space a personal touch.

Even though it's a small achivement, I feel like I have managed to regain some control and feel more organised now I have a clean and efficient space to work in, proof that decluttering can be quite theraputic. You can join in #theeverydayspruce by using the hashtag to your sprucing stories, tip and ideas over on IG.

I'd love to hear how you keep on top of your work space?

MY WORKING DESK SPACE

One of the great things about working from home is the flexibility that comes with your personal space. Blogging is a great job as any location can be your desk be it a cafe, studio or even a park, so no matter where you are you can hit a deadline. With my ancient MacBook however, I always need to be plugged in as the battery has seen better days, and unsurprisingly cafes aren't so keen to supply you with free electricity while you eke out that skinny latte.

I soon realised I work best in a quiet environment where I wasn't being distracted by 20 something girls chatting about their sun bed sessions in preparation for their Ibiza getaway or young couples navigating their blossoming relationship. So when Paul suggested I buy a desk to work from home I was super excited, what with the free coffee on tap, toys for F and a place to spread out and get stuck in. Thankfully we have an over proportioned bedroom for the size of our flat, allowing the desk to sit in our bay window where there's lots of natural light and the greenery of outside.

I chose a desk with trestle legs with the ability to have the table top flat or tilted, depending on the type of work I'm doing and filled it with things I find inspirational or could use as storage, like these vintage style cases. I always tend to have coffee or fruit beside me when working to keep up my energy levels, as well as a notebook and pencil for jotting down ideas and scheduling projects. Keeping a stack of magazines to hand is also a great way to grab some quick inspiration and of course there is a photo of the the boy himself, who is my whole reason for working from home in the first place.

Having a desk at home is certainly a luxury and sanctuary all in one. I'd love to hear what you have on your desk and what makes your working day fun.

Linking up with the wonderful Love Chic Living  Love Your Home linky.