Life Update & Changes For 2018.

iya!

Its been far too long since I've sat down and put together a blog post that doesn't involve Instagram or products in any way, so here we are, a little life update for you.

ALFIE. 

All is well with Alf at the moment, he's 6 months old tomorrow which is crazy?! Half a year already which has gone by so quickly. He's cut his first two teeth already and is trying to crawl but isn't quite strong enough just yet.. We're having a few late nights and early mornings because of the old teeth situ, which I'm not enjoying, but hes fab besides that. He starts nursery on the 14th of Feb, hes doing 2 mornings a week to get him started, I wanted him to have that kind of interaction early on so joining nursery when hes say, 3 years old, wouldn't be so daunting. Life as a mum in general is going pretty well too, although it really is hard work. I had a moment this morning where I was so stressed that I just cried, there's nothing worse than feeling shite yourself with a crying child on your hip, & I won't sugar coat how lovely parenting is because I see that SO much, it just gives incorrect expectations. Don't get me wrong Alf is brilliant and I wouldn't change him for the world, and parenting can be lovely, but believe it or not everyone else is experiencing the sleepless nights too (at some point!), the stress, and the same old shitty nappies, even if they don't post about it on social media, I however, am trying to not just post the 'omg Alf was SO good today' posts, because I know if I saw that I'd be cussing the mum who has such a perfect life, when it's not perfect at all.

CHANGES.

A fair few things will be changing for me this year and I won't lie, I'm absolutely terrified. I hate change, I like having a routine and when that changes it fills me with so much anxiety. I've had the same job for coming up 6 years now, I've worked in childcare since I left college in early 2013, I'm used to looking after 47 (at max) children at a time, some days I'd be a 1:1 for a child that was deaf, but the majority of the time I'd be with the other 47. It was my entire life for such a long time, I loved the job and people I worked with, but I've recently had an update meeting and decided that it's my time to move on. I'm so sad about it but I'm trying to look at the positives, I'll be joining Alfie's nursery, so I'll still get to see him when I'm at work, & I do get a discount too so that's handy haha! Ill be working 3 full days a week 8-6.30, lord knows how I'm going to do that. 

GOALS.

I've never been one to make resolutions because I'm just shite at keeping them, I think if you're going to change an aspect of your life do it whenever? If you need to wait until New Year to do it it's obviously something you don't really have the motivation for. Anyway, I've set a few goals I'm aiming for this year;

- To progress in my job, not just settle because it's the easy option, to push myself a little more. 

- Step out of my comfort zone, do things I wouldn't normally. Things that frighten me, make me feel anxious. 

- Raise Alf to be a polite, well mannered little chap.

- Be myself a little more in blog posts, which I've done in this one, I'm such a sarcastic sweary person (in the best way if there is a best way) and I want to bring that out a bit more, yknow, make my posts more personal.

- Stick to weekly Youtube uploads, I'm doing pretty well so far!

- Stop using my phone as much and live in the moment. I turned my phone off recently whilst I was at home just chilling, and it made me realise how often I reach for it without even noticing I'mm doing it. Id forget that i'd turned it off and I was like "oh yeah..."

- Put myself first and be more honest. I'm the worst for not saying how I feel, or if someone is getting on my tits I just go along with it and let them do it. Ive already cracked this one, if I see something I don't like I'm actually brave enough to come out and say it. & I feel SO much better for it.

I hope you've all had a lovely start to 2018, fear not pay day isn't too far away now, I'm honestly holding on for dear life haha!

Soph xo   

Follow me on;

Bloglovin - Sophie Jade

Instagram - sophcullen

5 Things That Made Me Happy

I have been such a miserable mary recently. Thats not even an exaggeration either haha..

Christmas is over, January happened, February is happening and has felt like its been happening for bloody AGES now, over the past few months I seem to come home and moan about every.single.thing. Last week however, I had one of the best weeks after; so I thought I would document this absolute madness to remember in the future. haha. 

1) It was actually SUNNY last week. and WARM?! What even is the sun? I think we've forgotten all about it haven't we, what is that mysterious thing in the sky?! haha, it's surprising how a little bit of sunshine brightens everyones mood, especially mine.

2) The evenings are finally lighter! This is a big old thing for me, don't get me wrong I love the dark evenings in the run up to Christmas, but in Jan and Feb? Nah thanks.. it's just reminded me summer is FINALLY on it's way.. wait no further! 

3) It was half term. Which for me being a nursery practitioner, unfortunately means I don't actually have this off work, we open all year round, BUT it does mean half the children aren't actually in, aka; A QUIET BLOODY WEEK. What even is that anymore?! we have around 42 sometimes more little 3/4 year olds all in, in one day, so to have 20 odd means, god forbid, but we can get JOBS done. You know, like clean toys and actually breathe for a second. I love my job, but last week, that was fully needed and appreciated. 

4) I AM NOW TECHINALLY A FULLY FLEDGED ADULT!!! I repeat, an adult!! We (Matt and me) are signing a contract for our first home together this week, and I honestly could not be happier. Oh my lorddddd I am so excited beyond belief. yay!

5) Ive saved the best until last.. Im feeling my baby move! Ok I may not enjoy the feeling, it's like having a fish alive in your tummy flapping around haha, great explanation. But, it's so so exciting, the thing that I've created is moving inside of me. Mental. Absolutely mental.

Weeks like this make me realise that actually, my weekly moans are nothing compared to what some people have to endure, I really need to remember to be thankful for what I've got.

Soph, xo

Feeling Overwhelmed.

Remember me? 

It's been a long while since I've posted on here; for someone who used to post so regularly anyway. I kinda fell out of love with blogging, eventually.

I was doing the best id ever done at this whole blogging thing, posts were going up often, I was proud of what I'd created, and I really enjoyed what I was doing, and then things suddenly changed, so I stopped posting, stopped reading other peoples posts, stopped being obsessed with instagram, now thats when you know something is wrong - I LOVE instagram haha. I pretty much fell out of love with everything, and I don't even have a reason, not really. 

Initially, I think at the time I had so much work I needed to be doing alongside blogging. I work full time as a nursery nurse, and I don't just work at work if you get me - often work comes home with me, whether thats written work, or planning in my head things I need to do for certain children etcetc. So because of that I stepped away from blogging for a bit, and by the time I was ready to come back, I felt so overwhelmed by everything, so I just avoided it. The thought of logging onto bloglovin to read hundreds of posts id missed out on was actually quite intimidating, I know I don't have to read them all, but I used to before I let them all pile up. I still haven't logged on yet. 

The thought of writing a new post just didn't feel right, it was an effort to do so, and it shouldn't be an effort. I know everyone feels like this sometimes, because its bloody difficult balancing work, life, and this all at the same time. Ive also been quite poorly recently, so that helped, haha. 

Im not one to feel sorry for myself though, so moping around and doing nothing (blogging wise) isn't my thing - id rather get straight back into it because I loved doing it so much, so you can imagine how annoying it was, not being able to do it because my heart wasn't really in it anymore. Writing this has actually helped though, it's reminded me why I started this in the first place, I've achieved a lot though blogging and I'm proud of myself. :)

I can't promise regular posts, or 100% dedication all the time, but I've got to be realistic really - things will happen, life happens and things get in the way, and thats normal. Shit happens. 

So yeah, that should hopefully explain all. I'm back, and I'm very happy about it! 

Sophxo

Follow me on;

Bloglovin - Sophie Jade

Instagram - soph_Cullen

x

October Instagram Roundup.

October went by so quickly didn't it?! It really doesn't feel like its been a month since I wrote the September roundup, I've had a pretty busy October - meaning it practically whizzed by, and lots of new photos!

It was my birthday in October, which was a good excuse for cake; how amazing is this cake though?! Mac and me found it in Asda, I really didn't want to cut it! Its white chocolate.

For the first time ever, I broke my beloved iPhone 6! :( I was pretending it was a microphone, and flung it down the toilet haha. It was completely dead,  I spoke to apple, who said it would cost me £260 to repair, so I went to Carphone Warehouse hoping to pay off my contract, and start a new one with a new phone. To find I was due an upgrade months ago, wuhay! :)

Not gunna lie I'm so impressed that I managed to do these myself.. *grins*

I received a fair few gifts for my birthday, all of which I'm really grateful for. My mum bought me the Soap and Glory eyeliner, and the Glad Hair Day. I do love a bit of S&G!

I'm so impressed with the bath bomb collection I've got going on haha.. Matt bought me a gift set for my birthday, I loved everything, so I went on the Lush website to find they now have all of their christmas bits in, clearly I couldn't help myself and bought the whole bleddy shop!

I seem to say this every month, I bought another red lipstick, the obsession is forever strong haha. This one looks so pretty, although I have loads of reds I can assure you each one is a different shade, or so I think, everyone thinks they're exactly the same! 

This little beauty is Matt who I'm forever talking about/bigging up. Who I recently described to my friend as being an 11/10 haha, he was very chuffed. He made my birthday the best one yet, he bought me the nicest, most thoughtful gifts and I couldn't be more thankful. You could tell he thought about each one really carefully, he knows me better than I know myself. This was taken outside of the place we went for a Carvery, for my birthday. But how vile does my hair look.. definitely need to get it dyed! 

This little beauty was one of my presents from Matt, if you've never heard of Imperial Candles, go straight to their website now because you'll definitely want one! Its basically a candle with jewellery inside, Matt chose a ring to go inside mine. He also chose to get me a bath bomb too, which had the prettiest necklace inside. Amazing idea!


I took too many photos this month, so Ive only included a few,
how was your October?!

Sophxo

Follow me on;

Bloglovin - Sophie Jade

Instagram - Soph_Cullen

Life Update. #2

I liked writing my last life update so much, so much so that Ive decided to do another! Not much has changed over the last almost 2 weeks, my life isn't very exciting. In fact, to reiterate this, I'm going to Asda on Saturday and I'm excited about this. Excitement over load. 

First of all apologies if this post makes no sense, currently have music on as I'm writing this, Im already typing what I'm singing, awkwardddd. Also apologies for my sarcastic humour - its coming out in a lot of my posts at the minute, not sure how I feel about this ahah.

Anyways, like I said nothing has actually changed/happened since my last update, so If you were wondering why I'm writing this post, don't because I haven't any answers haha. BUT! massive but, can we take a minute to appreciate how effing good American Horror Story is?! I'm only on the second series at the minute, I used to laugh at people who watched it because I assumed it was a shitty american thing, don't know why but I generally hate american murder mystery type of things, pretty little liars would be a big no from me. I now can't think of any others.. but there are many that I strongly dislike! haha, but I'm addicted to American Horror story at the moment!

Eeeeekkk its my birthday sunday! *pretends to be excited*. Ill be 20, and I really am not bothered. Which makes me sad because it shows I'm now a grown up, which I'm not cool with at all. I still feel about 14 years old, I dread the day I have to book appointments for myself or speak to important people on the phone, my mum still does all this for me ahah, because, well?!

Im not doing anything too exciting for my birthday, Im seeing my bestie on Saturday, Im sure I've mentioned him a gazillion times but his names Mac and he's coming back from Uni for a bit, he's been my best friend since we started nursery together, so 18 years he's put up with me, congratulations on that milestone Mac ahah, you've done yourself proud there! We're going to Asda so I can look at their homeware, I'm really sad aha. 

Sunday, the actual day of birth, Im going for a carvery with the family and the boyf, my family is huge so very rarely do we all get together, so I'm looking forward to this. :)

I've also booked the Monday off of work, initially me and Matt were going to stay over night somewhere but that isn't happening now so clueless as to what we'll do Monday - probably nothing and eat a shit load of dominos.. normal day for us haha.

Honestly, that's pretty much all I have to tell you! Im in a really good place at the minute, hopefully it stays!

Sophxo

Follow me on;

Bloglovin - Sophie Jade

Instagram - soph_Cullen

Sorry for the rambles, what even was this post?! no idea.