"Mummy I've got bogeys!"

I must not keep forgetting that it is winter and dresses and windy days do not go together! I must also remember that I must stop wearing dresses because I'm too lazy to loose weight.

So to kick myself in the butt, I decided to put on my Jennifer Ellison fat blaster work out this evening that I found in poundland the other day (amazing!)

But after bouncing around like an elephant for ten minutes and 20 push ups I had, had enough. I didn't think I was quite this unfit, or quite this chunky! My skin seems to have more lumps, bumps and ripples than I realised. Mind you I dont often look at myself in the mirror in just my bra and pants. Scared myself to death.

And woke Scarlett up again to her chorus of

"Mummy I've got bogeys!"

Does anyone else like picking their childs nose...? Oh no, me neither. 

I am going to Bokwa again tomorrow,  hopefully prancing around like a doughnut with other women, will stop me reaching for the doughnuts. 

What do you think detective??

How to be English

'Do you have any idea what it's like being English? Being so correct all the time, being stifled by this dread of doing the wrong thing, of saying to someone "Are you married ?" and hearing "My wife left me this morning," or saying "Do you have children?" and being told they all burned to death on Wednesday. You see, Wanda, we're all terrified of embarrassment.' - John Cleese, A Fish Called Wanda (1988) 

How to be English.....A rough guide. 

Find you accent- If you chose the South make sure you sound 'Posh.' Over accentuate you words and roll your Rrr's.  

Be terribly afraid of saying the wrong thing - So say nothing (you may be perceived of being stuck up but, see the quote above- he knows.) 

Know how to cue- Us Brits love a queue 'An Englishman, even if he is alone, forms an orderly queue of one.' - George Mikes. 

Be Patriotic - On special occasions e.g. When the world cup is on/ when the Olympics is on/ When the Paralympics is on/ Royal Occasions such as weddings and christenings etc. 

Football IS NOT CALLED SOCCER! 

Watch at least one soap- Preferably Coronation Street or Eastenders. 

Moan about public transport- And the fact that it is always late! 

Every other country that doesn't drive on the left hand side of the road IS ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD! 

When your child grows up they WILL be a Doctor. 

Throw a dinner party- To act sophisticated and show off your 'best' china and glassware that usually only comes out, well never. 

Love tea- Everything can be cured with a cup of tea.

Get annoyed when your favourite TV show gets remade in America- I know you watch them when they do you traitor! 

Know a bit of slang- Gutted, Jammy, Mush. 

 Say 'I'm English' and be proud.

 

Cupcake Queen - Interview with Enchanted Cupcake owner

My first interview is with Laura, owner of Enchanted Cupcake in Worthing who's mission it is to "Allow everyone to create beautiful cupcakes" 

I chatted with her about her business, what she is scared of and the best thing about Worthing.... 

Hi Laura, How did the idea for Enchanted cupcakes come about?

I started out making cupcakes as a way to fundraise as I was trying to raise £20,000 to build my son an accessible bedroom and bathroom - he has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair. I finished fundraising and realised that I had a good opportunity to start a business so enchanted cupcakes was born! 

What was your ultimate goal when you decided to open your business and has that goal changed?

I have always worked but when William was born I was unable to return to work as I am his carer so I wanted a job that could work around him and where I could work at home. That hasn't changed but I do now work more hours as he is at nursery and will be starting school in a few weeks. The original goal was to bake and sell cupcakes but that changed when people started asking me to teach them, the main part of my business is now the classes which I love and that is going to be the side of the business I continue to grow. 

Was it pretty easy to start up and get going? 

It wasn't easy to start up and I spent a lot of time researching and advertising to spread the word. People don't realise how expensive cakes can be and expect to pay less than they would at a supermarket which is unrealistic. All bakers make cakes to order and spend hours on design and creation! Once I focused on the masterclass side of the business it was very hard to know where to start, I had to buy lots of equipment, advertise, create class plans etc! 

What tools did you use to promote your business?

I have a website which I maintain myself now and I have a very interactive Facebook page, I tried twitter but don't really get it so its now just linked to my FB page! 

What advertising method do you find most effective?

Facebook by far! 

What kind of promotions do you do? 

I occasionally offer discounts via Facebook and my newsletter and also do giveaways every now and then. 

What percentage of your customers come from your local community? 

99% 

How important is it to recognize loyal customers?

I have lots of people returning to me to do more classes once they get the bug so it is very important. 

What are the biggest issues for running this business?

My biggest issue is childcare and space! I work from home and operate the classes from home so it can be hard to store everything I need for my classes plus everything we need for general life!

What was your defining moment in this business?

Being featured in Best magazine. Having someone drive 4 hours to get to my class!

What motivates you to do this business?

I have always worked in sales and marketing so that side of me is driven to succeed but I also love the fact that teaching people means I get to meet new people all the time and spend a few hours teaching them something I love!

What 3 key things you would say to someone starting their own business?

Research and make sure there is a market for it. If anyone else is already doing it then make sure you are a) different and b) better. And remember it takes hard work to succeed so be prepared for long days sometimes with no reward. 

What is the future for this type of business?

I hope to keep growing my business over the next few years. 

Getting to know you questions..... 

What are you scared of? 

Spiders

 

Favourite book? 

Tully by Paulina Simons 

 What ‘rules’ do you live by? 

Avoid drama at all costs 

Secret indulgence?

Lotus spread! 

Who is your role model?

My dad.

Any hidden talents? 

No unfortunately!! 

List 3 positive things you have done today

* baked 100 cupcakes 

* decorated 100 cupcakes 

* managed not to eat 100 cupcakes 

Best thing about Worthing? 

 The seafront

   

Book your class now at www.enchantedcupcake.co.uk 

or 

www.facebook.com/EnchantedCupcakes

A big squashy cuddle + Feel the fear....

"Can I have one last big squashy cuddle before I go to sleep please?" That girl really knows how to pull at my heartstrings! 

We Had a fantastic day today, we went pottery painting. Scarlett preferred painting the table after about 20 minutes, so I am claiming the Hello Kitty money box we painted as mine. 

Well it wasn't just her fault, I wouldn't really let her touch it as I was afraid she would mess up all of my hard work. By the time we had left you would have thought about 10 children had been at our table messing it up. 

I'm so looking forward to seeing the end result when we pick it up next week after its been in the kiln. Not that Scarlett is bothered, she didn't even ask where it was when we got home. 

Mind you I did distract her when I told her we were going home to make biscuits. I said to her that she should keep the money box we had painted and pass it on to her children when she is older, as it was something we had done together. Her response....

 "No." Oh ok then. 

 We made biscuits when we got home which were not a complete disaster, well a bit of my hair was baked in one of them, then Scarlett dropped the ones we had just decorated and the floor, oh and one got decapitated (turning into a habit this decapitating malarkey. Poor Joseph from my Mum's nativity scene has only just recovered, although I think a bit of his foot is missing. oops.) 

In the spirit of doing everything I want this year (pottery painting was one of them- we all have different ambitions) I have decided to Feel the Fear.....and do it anyway. (Susan Jeffers has written a book called this, which I have bought but have only got to about page 3.) I am getting on with my writing/interviewing/journalism. Oh and soap making. 

I have always started things and then been too afraid finish them. I get a good idea then get put off as I fear it may not be good enough. I have realised that I don't want to get to be an old biddy in a rocking chair saying "What if?" 

So if people don't like it, then that is their problem. At least I have the guts to give it a go and have a go at making my dreams come true and in the industry I want to go in being told you are not good enough and having doors slammed in your face is a daily occurrence. I think I am thick skinned enough, well I hope I am. 

With that in mind, I have am publishing an interview with a business woman from Worthing and am in the process of sending my interview questions to 2 inspirational Women who have set up their own business, I am editing my novels and will be bugging the publishers this week. Oh and the soap making....? My little business experiment. 

Watch this space, I'm ordering my supplies now...

#Doingitall 

Oh and I got a message on my message asking to meet other Mummy's, one problem.....I've forgotten my password to get on the site! AHHHHHH!

The priest is a Dj

I started off today by reminding myself how unfit I am and I am now paying for it.

Scarlett had a ballet lesson this morning in Ferring. Ok I thought, I will cycle, it's not far.

Yea, turns out it takes sooo much longer when riding in heeled knee high boots and when you haven't worked out in a while. Pain is not the word for what I feel in my legs and bum right now.

Scarlett typically didn't want to join in the ballet lesson. She said she liked watching and wants to go again next week. Hopefully she will join in then else it's an expensive non hobby. Perhaps it's my fault, when asked if I wanted to join in I politely declined. Well I didn't want to be embarrassing! 

So after the excruciating cycle ride home, I went on my driving lesson. I now looove driving and am gently persuading my dad to let me drive his Audi. No does not always mean no in my book.

Then this afternoon I just mustered enough energy to go to a childrens party at church with my Mum.

We arrived and I immediately wanted to leave. There were boys screaming and running around, I felt like I was in hell, which was apt as I was in a church....oh oops sorry God. 

I noticed a few kids had presents and I asked my mum if we were gatecrashing a childs party. She assured me we weren't....hmmm.

Ten minutes later (thankfully) we were told we had in fact gategrashed a birthday party and ours was in the next room. We went in and what I saw made my day.

The priest was the Dj and was bopping along to One Direction and Miley Cyrus.
I actually ended up having a really lovely afternoon even though I spent it in a church.

That's not being blasphemous it's just I've never spent that long in one and had such fun.

If God is a DJ, I hope I don't end up in hell.

Tear times

Having a disastrous day! First I cried at work, I didn't cry a river just a few tears. unfortunately for me it's really obvious when I have been crying as my face goes all red and blotchy. Then I came home and made Scarlett cry, in my defence I was saving her from herself.... I stole a biscuit from her, I was saving her from the unnecessary sugar! Although to stop her crying I had to give her a chocolate, so didn't really work out in the end! To top it all off I can't even have a bottle of wine, which I really, really need as life seems beyond stressful at the moment because I have a driving lesson tomorrow, and I thought it would be a good idea to start the dryathlon again...which I'm not and I am totally having a glass of wine tomorrow night! Does it make me an alcoholic if at the moment I get stressed I fancy a glass of wine? Ah no it's just medicine! I did decide to go on the Netmums website and see if I could make some new Mummy friends. I've been thinking about it for a while as Scarlett is around adults a lot, I feel like I should try and make us some new friends to hang out with together. This was my ad..... Hello! I'm Becky I'm 24 and have a 4 year old daughter. Most of my friends are child free so I would love to meet some Mothers who understand why it take more than 2 minutes to get out of the house! It feels like I am on a dating website again waiting to see if anyone is going to ask me out. Ooh I best go check if anyone wants us yet!

You can guarantee....

There are a few things you can guarantee in life, one being....if your child is sick, you're going to catch it.

Not at the same time of course. When you are trying to recover from the sleepless nights when they were ill, you can be damn sure that bug will catch you and knock you off your feet...unfortunately when your child is back on theirs.

I thought Scarlett was dramatising having a sore throat, but eugh, it is horrible.  Doing wonders for my diet as I can't eat (not even chocolate, so it must be bad!) But unfortunately Scarlett is now better, much better. She is testing her throat (and my ears) by screaming and playing up at bedtime again, which has made me feel like I have a soldier banging a drum in my head, constantly.

Now when she is finally asleep, I can't sleep as I'm typically overtired. I have just watched botched up bodies on channel 5 though and saved myself five grand.

After having Scarlett and my boobs shrunk and hung a little lower than before, I was planning on having a boob job....well not anymore, it's £6.00 Asda bras all the way for me now!

The risks so outweigh the pros. One stupid woman had eye implants to change the colour of her eyes and nearly went blind, another had silicone injected into her butt and lost her hands and feet, madness!

I would rather keep my Mummy boobs and go in another holiday with Scarlett.....or maybe one on my own! Jk.

Learnt today....Be grateful for how you are today. Be thankful for what you have today.