For my birthday I was given a great new book ‘Calm’ and a journal from my friends. To help me find some calm in my life and to de-stress a little. I have been writing in my journal everyday and on Wednesday’s I go through the daily highlights I’ve written down and pick out my 10 favourites. 

This is an exciting ‘Feeling Calm’ for me, not only is it my first one back after a well earned break, a month long step back from blogging break, but it is also almost an entire year since I started my Calm journey.

Due to the break I have just compiled my top ten moments since my last update, next week will see normal service resume and I’ll be back to weekly catch ups.

1. We were so lucky to start December with a mini break at Bluestone, it was the perfect start to our celebrations. Lots of walking, cycling and family time. Just what we all needed. It is hard not to feel relaxed and calm on holiday.

   

2. Not only did we get to visit Santa at Bluestone, we also got to help the elves rescue Rudolph. We had so much fun and I could fill this list with amazing memories from our break. But I will stop at just the two.

   

3. Picking up my new glasses from the opticians. Maybe a random thing to add to a list of happy moments but it was literally our first day home after our Bluestone trip, L had been so sick and was still feeling really bad, it should have been an awful and stressful day. Yet somehow it wasn’t. L was brilliant despite not feeling well and we had a lovely time, we took the Park & Ride into the city, had a little look round, got my glasses and came home.

   

4. We did lots of fun little activities during advent. Made lots of things, had a lot of fun crafting. One of my favourite things was our little tree angel. So easy to make and so beautifully decorated by L. It is in the decoration box ready for next year now.

   

5. We went on a lovely trip to see Santa at the Bure Valley Railway. We did make a bit of a mistake booking a 5.30pm trip not realising it was a 3 hour experience, whoops. But the dark made all the Christmas lights at the stations look wonderful, even if it took away from the journey itself, as you couldn’t see much. L had a lovely time and a nice long chat with Santa and he handled the late night very well, of course the toy tractors from Santa helped. L couldn’t get over the fact he told Santa he wanted a tractor for Christmas and then Santa gave him a toy tractor. His little face was just amazing.

   

6. We all took a little trip into Norwich to go and see the Christmas lights. It was a lovely thing to do as a family and most importantly it was free. Getting all wrapped up and having a little walk around our lovely city to see all of the amazing displays. Simple but perfect.

   

7. Christmas Day!!! After all the rushing around, working, visiting family, wrapping and craziness that filled the days leading up to Christmas, we finally got to stop. We spent Christmas day as a family of three. Quietly. Just enjoying some nice, simple food. Lots of wine and chocolate. Playing with new toys and being with each other.

   

8. Well, not a New Years Day walk, I was working, but a January 2nd walk. Not a long walk, it was bitterly cold, but a nice walk along the front at Cromer. Stopping to play a few 2p machines and at one point risking hypothermia to grab L a coin from a fountain, so that he could throw it in again. We had spent all of our change, foolishly, and could see a full on tantrum coming from a tired and cold toddler. So yes, I plunged my hand into the icy water, stole a coin, just to let L give it back again. Parenting hey.

   

9. We managed to fit in a trip to the zoo. I hadn’t been for ages. Working has really got in the way of our zoo time. Having renewed our annual passes I felt a trip was in order, so off we popped, just for an hour. It was lovely though, especially when the lemur came and posed for me.

   

10. Yes, I had my birthday day out with L and Husb. It did not go as planned. First we had left L’s water bottle at home, but we didn’t turn back just for that. No, no, we carried on driving just to get halfway to Bury St Edmunds before I realised I had left my Pizza Express gift vouchers at home. Then when we did arrive we found out we had forgotten L’s coat as well. FAIL! Two thick jumpers and a new pack a mac later we actually started having fun, popping to Wetherspoons for lunch. It all came good in the end, but it was a rough start.

I’m really glad I write down a few positives from each day and then go back through them each week, or in this case month. It helps keep me focused, calm and therefore happy. It is also a great way to keep a note of the things we’ve done.

I’m linking up with #BloggerClubUK, #BestandWorst & #CoolMumClub just because I love them.