12 things I wish I knew about breastfeeding

If you've been reading my blogs for a while you will know that, when Peyton was first born, breastfeeding didn't come as naturally to us as I thought it would. P really struggled with her latch when we were in hospital and just kept getting really distressed every time we tried.

Despite several nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and peer support workers coming round and trying to help, it was futile. The first 24 hours she was fed formula, only managing to latch onto me when we got home. 

I was told something different by every person in hospital who tried to get her to latch. One person even swore blind she was latched on, when really she just had my nipple in her mouth. I told the lady I didn't think she was because I couldn't feel anything, and she told me that was good. I knew she wasn't latched on; especially when she eventually did latch and I knew that you could, actually, feel something.

Before Peyton was born I felt completely clued up on breastfeeding. I'd watched videos about different positions to try and how certain foods could affect your milk. I didn't know the half of it, though.

We combi fed Peyton for the first three-ish weeks. This was for a number of reasons. Firstly, I didn't feel confident feeding her in public. We would take pre-made formula out with us when I knew we were going out for the day and she would have a bottle of that. I vividly remember eating fish and chips in a restaurant in Bridlington and her taking the whole bottle of formula but still crying for more. Tom had hold of her, as he'd given her the bottle, and as he looked up at me his face changed. "You're leaking," he said. I looked down in sheer horror to find he was right - my boobs were leaking right through my breast pads, my bra, a vest top and onto my linen shirt. Mortifying. I ended up just whacking the boob out there and then to feed her. Not only to stop her crying and make sure she was full up, but to stop my milk makers from drenching my top anymore.

Secondly, I didn't feel Peyton was getting enough milk from me (I will go through this more later); and thirdly, because I thought it would make her sleep better if she had a big, full tummy at night.

We stopped the formula after a few weeks when I got more confident, learned she was, in fact, getting enough milk from me, and when she started being really sick after each bottle at bedtime. And, from then, she's been fed solely by me (bar one bottle of expressed milk before bed; and any bottles of expressed milk when I have left her.)

I really, really wish, before I had started breastfeeding, I had been told the reality of it. The things to really expect. What it is really like. Every night when I sit up doing the night feed I have thought about writing this blog but, alas, have not yet found the time. Each night I think of something new to add, something I wish I had known before I started. I hope it helps any mums-to-be who are considering breastfeeding. I wish I had been more prepared and clued up. I remember one of my friends saying to me she'd asked a midwife why they didn't tell you what breastfeeding was really like and her reply was "because then nobody would do it."

I hope this list doesn't have that affect on anyone!

12 things I wish I knew about breastfeeding before Peyton was born

1. Cluster feeding is normal

This is probably the biggest, most important thing the midwives should tell you. Cluster feeding is basically your little one feeding from you for what feels like forever. It can be hours on end, or it can just be really regularly. Peyton was never a really long feeder, she just liked it really often. The night my milk came in she wanted feeding every hour. I remember saying to Tom that she couldn't still be hungry because I had just fed her. Yet, each time I tried, she fed and fed and fed. In the end, I was exhausted and sent Tom downstairs to make up some formula. She guzzled the bottle when it was ready and went straight to sleep. "That's it," I said. "She obviously isn't getting enough milk from me!" The next morning I carried on feeding her myself, always with the formula on standby. I was ready to get a Perfect Prep machine and had pretty much conceded defeat. One of the community midwives rang me that day to check how we were doing and I told her I didn't think I was producing enough milk for Peyton. "You are, that's totally normal!" She told me. "She's just getting your supply built up and is getting what she needs little and often. Her tummy is tiny so she gets full quickly, but then hungry again soon after, so will cluster feed like that for a while." Once I knew it was normal, my mind was completely at ease and I didn't worry again about her getting enough from me. Cluster feeding can be absolutely exhausting, but it doesn't last forever!

2. Your nipples will hurt

I'm not just talking being a bit sensitive here. Mine were horrendous. I couldn't even stand the water running on them in the shower, or the towel touching them. Definitely, before your little one arrives, invest in some balm/cream for them. I had two (which came in handy, I'll explain why later). One was a Lansinoh Lanolin one and the other was from My Expert Midwife and called 'No Harm Nipple Balm'. Both were, essentially, the same thing. I used to put it on just after each feed (when I remembered/wasn't out and about) and it worked wonders. Having two came in handy as it meant I could keep one in the fridge, for when they were particularly sore, and have one at room temperature. Another top fridge tip is to keep some breast pads in there, too. The coolness of them will be great when they feel like they're on fire and being sliced by shards of glass. While it can be really painful at first, it honestly does get better. I sometimes now can't even tell when Peyton is feeding because I barely feel anything - which is great. Until, that is, we are out in public and I'm mid-conversation and haven't realised she's popped off and has been gazing around the room for god knows how long, leaving my nip free for all the world to see.

3. If baby doesn't latch straight away it's ok
As I mentioned above, when we were in hospital after Peyton was born we weren't able to breastfeed at all. I was so adamant that I wanted to feed her myself, but thankfully had taken some pre-made bottles of formula in just incase we couldn't manage it. It's a good job we did, otherwise we wouldn't have been let out until she fed from me successfully - and god knows how long that would've taken! I remember one nurse coming to me and being quite funny with me. I kept saying I was struggling and she asked what I wanted to do. I said I wanted to persevere and keep trying, but was worried that she wasn't feeding and was getting really hungry. She told me to give her a bottle then and, when I did, she said I looked relieved and she was glad I had finally made a decision about what to do. She probably didn't mean anything by it, and it probably sounds like nothing now, but after not sleeping for over 48 hours I just picked up a weird vibe. From then, nobody really tried to help me get her to latch. It's only because I persevered with skin-on-skin when we got home that we managed it. I was so adamant I wanted to breastfeed her and, had I not wanted to keep trying, we'd never have got there. When the community midwife came out a couple of days later she was astonished I was feeding her myself. She said my notes from the hospital said I was bottle feeding, so I explained to her what happened. Her whole tone suddenly changed when she knew how hard I was trying to master breastfeeding. It's so bad how people can be when you tell them how you feed your baby.

4. Don't be scared to ask for help if you are struggling
We really struggled with Peyton's latch in the first 10 days. This was another reason why we combi fed, because feeding her was like a form of torture. She latched fine onto my left side, we had no issues with that. But my right, holy hell. It was not a pleasant experience. I asked to see the midwife again for extra support and help with our latch and positioning. Without being too graphic (probably too late to be worrying about that now!) Peyton was just feeding from the tip of my nipple, rather than getting the whole thing in her mouth. Before embarking on this feeding 'journey' that's how I thought that breastfeeding was done. But, no, they need to get the whole nipple in their mouth. You'll know when they do, it's much less painful. It is also a bonus when feeding in public because it means that anyone having a stare can't see anything. Anyway, I digress, my point was to ask for help if you need it. I took photos and videos of how Peyton latched on to me and how she fed, so I could show the midwife when we went. She was able to advise me on what to do and what to try. It was really helpful taking Tom with me, too. The midwife showed me the position to get into with a knitted tit and a doll - all well and good me watching her, but it was a different angle that I'd be seeing it all from when feeding myself. Having Tom there meant he could watch how I did it when we got home, and compare it to what he saw the midwife demonstrating. He was such a big help in those early days. He says he felt useless, because I was predominantly feeding Peyton, but he helped in so many other ways. There are also loads of really helpful support groups on Facebook. I found I never needed to post on them to ask anything I was struggling with because someone else had already posted asking the exact same question. I find UK breastfeeding and support to be fab for advice, help and support (even without me having to ask for any of it!)

5. Your entire wardrobe will need to be adapted, once again
You might be rid of the bump, but it's not as straightforward as slipping back into your pre-pregnancy wardrobe. High neck tops, jumpers and dresses all pose very real problems when it comes to breastfeeding. 'One up, one down'* will probably become your best friend - it's my go-to now - and you'll find yourself looking at clothes when out shopping and thinking 'can I breastfeed in this though?' then getting super excited when you realise you can. My advice, if you don't mind spending lots of money on new clothes that are easy to nurse in, is to join the Facebook group 'Can I breastfeed in it? UK'. Here, mums share their top tips, high street finds and some great bargain dresses from eBay that you'll find yourself purchasing at 3am while up feeding.
*'One up, one down' involves wearing two layers of clothing - usually a vest top underneath your other top/jumper. That way, when you lift your top layer of clothing up to release the boob, you just flop it out over the top of the bottom layer - meaning your belly stays covered as does the top bit of your boob. Genius.

6. Feeding in public isn't as bad as you think it will be
I was really worried about feeding in public. I was scared people would stare, I was anxious someone would say something. And I was just scared about flashing my tit at a load of strangers. At first, I always covered up. I used gigantic muslin cloths and would bury myself and Peyton underneath them to get her latched on, before burrowing out and leaving her covered to feed. This was all well and good, but she was born in the hottest summer I can remember and she wasn't such a fan of being covered - obviously - and got really hot. I can't remember my turning point for feeding in public. I used to try and time my trips out places when I knew she'd sleep so I'd be back home to feed her. But, one day, something just changed and I suddenly felt so confident feeding her out and about. I've been really lucky and nobody has ever said anything to me about it. I've never noticed anyone staring - not in a bad way, anyway. I've caught other women looking before and when our eyes have met they've smiled and given me a look that makes me feel less 'on edge'. And, in terms of worrying about the world seeing my nipples, I really couldn't care less. Obviously I don't whack them out with the intention of everyone in Costa getting an eyeful, but I definitely don't panic as much as I did at first. If someone catches a glimpse as I'm scooping them back into my bra I don't have a meltdown like I would have before. It's strange how you stop seeing your boobs as a sexual object once you've used them to feed your baby.

7. Invest in shirts with buttons
These are invaluable when it comes to feeding. At first, I used to button from the top down, as you would expect to. However, after seeing on a Facebook group a woman suggesting a new method, my life was changed. She suggested buttoning from the bottom up, meaning that your shirt stays fastened at the top and keeps the canons covered. I always wear a vest top underneath, to keep my gut in check, but it means you get maximum coverage and is a really discrete way of doing it. I've been having a conversation with a group of friends before and undone my shirt, got Peyton latched on, and fed her without any of them even realising.

8. You'll really question why men have nipples
Many, many nights I have sat up feeding Peyton, pinching myself to stay awake, while Tom has snoozed alongside me with his non-lactating nipples. I've lost count of the amount of times I have Googled 'why do men have nipples if they can't feed from them?' and I am still no closer to finding an answer. Apparently it has something to do with the fact that we all start out the same, and it's not until a few weeks in when our gender is decided that we begin to develop separately. Nipples are apparently part of our original make-up, before it's decided whether we'll be male or female. It's all well and good, but you'd think they would have some use. I've never been a fan of science and this doesn't make me like it any more.

9. Sometimes you'll resent breastfeeding, and that's ok
Some days I really, really wish Peyton wasn't solely dependant on me. It sounds awful, I know, but it can be such hard work. Growth spurts are particularly difficult periods of time, and often I feel like I am just constantly feeding. It's exhausting and leaves my boobs feeling like deflated air bags. The days I'm tired, or not feeling well myself, it's hard. However, for every day when I sigh every time she wants feeding, there are dozens of days when I love it. I love that she is solely dependant on me (yes, I know I sound like a maniac switching from one to the other!) There are the odd times when I wish we'd not persevered with breastfeeding, but I read a really good piece of advice on a support group I'm a member of which said to never quit something on a bad day. If you leave it until the next day you'll find that everything is ok again and you'll not want to give up. I keep remembering that now with everything in life, not just feeding.

10. Get a good stockpile of snacks, squash, boxsets and a long phone cable
All of these will be super important in those early days when your bubba is cluster feeding. Make sure you are sat comfortably with plenty of snacks (breastfeeding makes you so hungry, it's unbelievable!) and lots to drink (it also gives you a thirst like I have never experienced before, the second P latches on and I am suddenly desperate for a drink!) ready for your feeding session. Get a good boxset lined up, you'll spend a long time on the sofa stuck under a feeding baby so you may as well make it worth your while. A long phone cable is important, too.

11. It's hard, but so worthwhile

I thought breastfeeding would be the easy option - no bottles to sterilise, not having to wait for the kettle to cool, no faffing with re-heating bottles or having to work out how much milk to take out for the day - but I was wrong. Sure, when she wakes in the night I can feed her straight away without getting out of bed and I always have enough milk wherever we go - but it's not easy, by any means. As I've mentioned, you'll have difficult days. You'll have days where you want to give up. You'll have your doubts that you're doing it right, or that you're giving them enough. You'll wish others could help. And you'll long for the days you can wear a turtle neck again. But it's all worthwhile. It's one of the most empowering things I have ever done. It makes me realise just how amazing the human body is and I am so glad that I didn't give up on those difficult early days. I will definitely be sad when our breastfeeding journey comes to an end.

12. It will get easier
I remember people saying this to me at the start and I didn't believe it ever would. But, honestly, it does. One day you will suddenly realise that everything seems to fit into place. My original goal, when pregnant, was to feed Peyton myself for six months. When she was first born I just wanted to get to one month. When I got there, it was to make it to two, then three... Now she's four months and my goal is almost in sight. Having small, manageable goals is the best way to look at it. When you make it to those original milestones you'll set yourself another small target and, soon, it'll become second nature. It may not seem it at first, but it really will.

10 things I couldn't live without since having a baby

We've established that having a baby is hard, but there are things that make life ever so slightly easier. 

Here are the 10 things I couldn't live without in the seven weeks since Peyton's arrival...

1. Vanish Oxi Action

We've had some huge explosive poos that have gone through nappies, vests, outfits and all the trimmings. They've leaked down her leg, shot up her back - it's gone in all sorts of directions. But, as yet, we've not had to throw anything away. A scoop of Vanish in a tiny bit of hot water, until it dissolves, and topped up with cold water, then leave the soiled items to soak over night, rub them together slightly the next morning to get the remainder of the stain out, and then wash as normal and, voila, good as new. We've managed to salvage every vest and every outfit so far *touch wood*. 

2. Infacol

This was one of the things we got before we had Peyton "just incase" and I'm so glad we did. When the colic hit her, and us, like a train, we wouldn't have been without it. It took a few days to have an effect, but when it did it was like a little miracle. We just give her a drop before every other feed when she's suffering particularly bad and it brings her wind up like a dream.

3. Lanolin nipple cream

Yep, we're straight in there with the over-sharing! But, honestly, this stuff is fabulous and makes those sore, cracked nipples feel so much better. I have two different types - one from My Expert Midwife called No Harm Nipple Balm and the other is a NSPA soothing balm. They're both, essentially, the same thing. I find them to be more effective, and more soothing, if one has been kept somewhere cold (a hard task in this weather, so the fridge it often is!) 

4. A fan

When I found out I'd be having a baby during summer I was thrilled - "think of all the nice weather we can enjoy and all the walks in the sun we can do". HA. In reality, it's been hard. Keeping the house cool enough for her, not going out in the hottest part of the day, keeping her shaded, being robbed blind by Mamas and Papas and paying £39 for a bloody parasol for her pram... I'm so glad we bought the fan for our bedroom when the first lot of hot weather hit while I was still pregnant. It's been a godsend since Peyton arrived, particularly since a lot of places have now sold out. I find it to be even more effective when I put a bowl of ice cubes in front of the fan - it helps cool our bedroom down even more.

5. Squash

I've always drank a lot of water/squash but, since having Peyton, I've been guzzling it like it's going out of fashion! Breastfeeding makes me so thirsty it's unbelievable. I can drink at least a pint of water/squash while feeding her. As soon as she starts I am gasping! We used to go through two bottles of squash in two weeks, now we go through two in less than a week! 

6. Ewan the Dream Sheep

I was sceptical about this at first, but it's turning out to be vital. At first, she didn't respond to it at all. But every time she went to sleep, be it a daytime nap or putting her to bed at night, we would put Ewan on. Each time she stirred in the night, we'd put him back on again. Now, she sleeps for around seven hours straight through. She'll occasionally stir halfway through but, as soon as I put Ewan on, she goes straight back to sleep. That's the only annoying thing about it, he doesn't come back on automatically like some other white noise devices do, but he definitely helps her sleep better and keep her from getting too worked up and waking herself up properly.

7. Muslin cloths

As annoying as it is that my phone always autocorrects muslin to 'muslim', I could not be without these. Baby been sick? Grab a muslin. Dribble on your shoulder? Grab a muslin. Need to latch her on to feed in public but don't wanna flash your nipple at everyone? Grab a muslin. Her feet a bit chilly? Grab a muslin. She poos through all her clothes and all over the pram sheet? Grab a muslin. They are literally so, so useful. We have so many but, honestly, I wouldn't be without them.

8. Baby wipes

This is an obvious one, but baby wipes can literally clean up anything. There's the obvious nappy changes, but also sick on clothes, sick on you, sick on the carpet, all kinds of sick. We have baby wipes in the changing bag, in my hand bag, we have downstairs baby wipes, we have nursery baby wipes, baby wipes in our bedroom... We're never more than six feet away from a pack of baby wipes!

9. My breast pump
'They' say you shouldn't express milk until you're at least six weeks into feeding to allow time for your supply to settle down, but I have been expressing since Peyton was a few days old. At first it was because I didn't have the confidence to feed her when we were out. When she was five days old we went to get my nails done and to see my work colleagues, and I wasn't confident enough to feed her in either of those places, so we took some expressed milk. I carried on, once a day, to allow Tom to give her a bottle at bedtime. I read in Giovanna Fletcher's book that she did this - expressed milk on an evening so that Tom could give it to the boys and strike up that bond. I was really keen to do this, and to let Tom have the same bond with her as I do. I also wanted to make sure she was still able to take a bottle so that, when the time comes to wean her off the boob, she took a bottle with ease. She just has one feed of expressed milk a day, and that's her bedtime feed. My pump has also been a god send for those days when she hasn't fed as much and my boobs are feeling very full and uncomfortable. It's such a beaut feeling draining it all off! It also means I get to build up a supply in the freezer for when I go back to work a few days in October and Peyton isn't with me all day.

10. Tom
This is going to turn very soppy, very quickly, so I do apologise. But, honestly, I could not have coped for the last seven weeks without Tom. He can see when I am at breaking point and just need five minutes to sit in silence and have a cry myself. He can see when I am hungry and will bring me some toast, or a sandwich. He can see when I am thirsty, and brings me a big bottle of squash. He is such an amazing daddy to Peyton, as well as being an amazing husband to me. It's true what they say, you don't realise how much you love your husband until you see how much they love your child. He plays with her, he reads to her, he baths her, he winds her, he talks to her in funny voices - I just love watching and listening to them together. As soon as he is home from work, or we are back from a day out, he is straight there to see us (mainly Peyton!) I just love their little bond that they have already - the smiles she gives him and how happy she is when they're together. 

80 weird and wonderful things about yours truly

1. When I was little I wanted to see what happened if I put both my feet in the front wheel of my bike whilst going really fast.  So I tried it and flew over the handlebars.  I was really embarrassed, though, so told mum and dad that I'd hit "a really big stone" in the street and that caused me to flip over the handlebars.

2. I once pulled my wardrobe down on top of me trying to reach a jumper from the top shelf.  I was stuck under it for ages before my mum heard me shouting and came and rescued me.  From then on, my dad always screwed it to the wall to stop me pulling it over again.

3. Despite my stupidly clumsy streak, I have never broken a bone.

4. I've had two major operations - one to remove a tumour on my knee and the other to repair my lungs after I got pneumonia.

5. I jumped out of a plane in 2011 to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

6. I used to think nuns were fictitious characters because I'd only ever seen them in films.

7. I experimented as a chav when I was a teenager. Me and my friends once went to York dressed in Adidas trackie bottoms tucked into football socks with trainers on, a Fred Perry, and big hooped earrings.  *Shudder*

8. I also experimented the 'mosher' phase.  That didn't last long, either.

9. I was desperate to fit in at school (clearly)

10. I didn't have my first proper kiss until I was 14.

11. I used to be scared of dogs.

12. I now love dogs.

13. I once punched a guy in a club because he wouldn't stop touching my bum.

14. Mine and Tom's parents both got married on exactly the same day (6th May 1989) which is why me and Tom chose that as our wedding date.

15. Our parents also both live at number 66.

16. Our house was plot 66.

17. And is number 6.

18. We are not having 6 kids.

19. I love reality tv.

20. I used to want to be a celebrity just so I could go on Dancing on Ice.

21. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is my favourite film.

22. I'm a very open person and will share the most embarrassing of things with people I've just met.

23. I have needed glasses since I was little.  I'm pretty much blind without them.

24. I have a really big scar on my back from my operation on my lungs and used to tell people I'd just met that I got it after being stabbed.

25. I love wearing backless tops/dresses to show it off.

26. I have a tattoo on my hip.

27. I used to have my belly button pierced, now I just have a little scar.

28. If I could change one thing about my body it would be my nose.

29. The first concert I ever went to was Steps.

30. I have a filthy sense of humour.

31. I didn't like coffee until about three months ago, now I drink it all the time.

32. I have a degree in Contemporary History (it's essentially modern history, politics and international relations)

33. I've worked at the Selby Times since June 2014.

34. I'm rubbish at doing my hair and make-up.

35. I could fall asleep anywhere.

36. I used to bite and pick my nails but stopped about three years ago, now everyone thinks they're fake.

37. Seeing Ed Sheeran at Wembley was incredible.

38. I'm quite good at cooking and baking.

39. My musical taste is really varied.

40. I'm really scared of people that dress up as characters.  I once queued with my brother for ages to have our photo taken with Mr Blobby then screamed the place down and cried when it got to our turn.

41. When I went to Disneyland I wanted my picture taking with the characters but was still scared, so stood about two metres away in every photo.

42. I've sung at the MEN Arena in Manchester and twice in Disneyland Paris.

43. I used to do pantomime every year and one year had a horrendous fish costume to wear. A load of people from my school saw me wearing it during a rehearsal so all came to watch the show and videoed me singing and dancing in it and sent it all round school.  That was not a good day.

44. I passed my driving test second time with no minors.

45. I used to work as a waitress and would regularly fall down the stairs whilst carrying food to and from tables.

46. I once got so drunk that I was having an argument with 'a girl' in a club because 'she' wouldn't move out of my way, totally not realising I was facing a mirror and it was, in fact, my reflection.

47. My favourite vegetable is broccoli.

48. I don't like peas.

49. My favourite colour is mint green.

50. I get on with anyone.  Unless they're not nice.

51. I only like cheese if its melted on or in something.

52. Before I started Slimming World I weighed more than Tom.

53. I'm a really sweaty person.

54. I love watching sport.

55. I can be a bit of a control freak sometimes.

56. Friends is hands down my favourite TV show.

57. If I had to liken myself to any Friends character, it would be Monica.  She's like my soul sister.

58. I was the biggest teacher's pet ever at school until about year 9 when I decided I wanted to try and be 'cool' instead.

59. I was single for four whole years before me and Tom got together.

60. I get distracted really easily.

61. I used to write to Ant & Dec when I was little and they would send me signed pictures back.

62. Last year I met Rebecca Adlington and everyone thought we were sisters.

63. I once auditioned for the X Factor.

64. If I could go back in time and interview one historical figure it would be Hitler.

65. I talk to myself.

66. I fart all the time.

67. Once, when I was parking my old car in the garage at mum and dad's, I completely misjudged how much room I had and caught the garage door hinge with my wing mirror.  This sent the door crashing down on top of my car and my heart rate through the roof! Thankfully there was not a single scratch on it, phewwww.

68. Apart from that I am really good at parking.

69. I used to love sucking water out of sponges when I was in the bath.

70. Ham and tomato sauce sandwiches are a taste sensation.

71. Bad spelling and grammar really upsets me.

72. I'm definitely a perfectionist.

73. My dad calls my 'titch'.

74. I used to be terrible for drunk tweeting - my Timehop is a daily embarrassment for me.

75. I'm rubbish at creative things.

76. I'll be 25 this year.

77. I used to always get told I look like Cameron Diaz.

78. I'd run into a burning building to save my pets.

79. I'm never on time for anything, I'm always at least five minutes early.

80. I've run out of things which are remotely interesting now so I'm going to leave it there.

Realistic ways to make your 'new year, new me' resolution stick through 2016

As the clock strikes 12 on New Year's Eve the same words are muttered by revellers across the country: "new year, new me".

With 2016 rolling round, we all give ourselves those targets for the next year - whether it be to lose weight, stop smoking, eat healthier, go to the gym more, drink less or save money.

January is a tough enough month as it is, as pursestrings and waistbands are increasingly tighter after the period of festive indulgence.  It's no wonder so many of us break out New Year's resolutions just days, sometimes even hours, into January.

Sometimes, the pressure of something being a New Year's resolution means we are doomed before we even start.

New Year's Eve was a time to reflect on the year we leave behind - the good, the bad and the ugly.  Despite this reflection, we all find something that we want to change in the next year.

I have tried countless times to stick to my New Year's resolutions but to no avail.

This time, I started my New Year's resolution in November and joined Slimming World (I'm sure you already know this by my weekly updates!)

I knew that, come January, I'd want to start losing weight - same as any January.  But this year, I had put a lot on over a short period (comfortable relationship and all that) so knew I had to do something drastic.

I started in November, getting a head start on my 'resolution' to make sure I was well into the swing of things by the time January rolled around, and found myself over a stone lighter by Christmas.  I am now confident that I can keep riding high on the wave and keep up this resolution without any fear of falling off.

Setting ourselves a New Year's resolution can sometimes mean we are setting ourselves up for a fall.  If we really wanted to lose weight or stop smoking, we could do it at any time of the year.  But the start of a new year triggers something within us which makes us determined to kick that habit or change something about ourselves.

If you want to set yourself a resolution this new year, but aren't sure what, here are some easy, achievable targets to consider for 2016:


1. Find at least one thing to smile about everyday

The world really is a depressing place when you look at it.  Each day we turn the television on or open a newspaper and heard/read about acts of terrorism, despicable crimes and heartbreaking stories.

Sometimes, our own daily lives can get us down and we feel like we have the weight of the world on our shoulders.  It's only when we take a step back, and look at the bigger picture, that we realise our problems are usually not as big as we initially thought.

Even through the toughest of times, there will still be at least one thing a day that can make us smile. Whether it be something funny on the television, something a friend or family member has said, or a memory.

Finding that one thing a day may be easier some days than others, but it will be 100 per cent worth thinking about.


2. Have regular big clear outs

Empty out the wardrobes, drawers and cupboards and throw anything away that you've not used or worn in the last year.  If you think 'I forgot I had that' when you come across something, that's a sure sign that it needs to go.

If it's clothing, shoes etc that is still in good condition, bag it up and take it to a local charity shop.  You'll feel so much better for sorting through things and getting organised, and will even make room for some new bits and bobs in the process.


3. Eat more fruit and veg

This might seem hard to keep at first if you tell yourself you're 'on a diet', but if you make it your routine you'll be surprise how easy it is to stick to.

Whether it's as simple as chopping a banana on top of your weetabix or having a side salad with your chicken kiev and chips, introducing things slowly will make you feel so much better.

Before you know it, you'll be eating more without even trying.


4. Reduce your reliance on your phone

The culture we live in today is obsessed with social media., but our contact need to be logged into Facebook or checking our emails is stopping us from living in the moment.

Studies have found that depression and low self-esteem are common in those who regularly lose social media as a result of comparing their lives to everyone else's.

'Keeping up with the Joneses' is no longer about being on a par with your neighbours or close friends.  These days it's about competing with Facebook friends - who you may not have seen since school.

I had my phone pinched on a night out at uni and was without a replacement for three days.  At first, I felt like someone had chopped my arm off.  I literally did not know what to do with myself.  But after the initial shock, and the first few hours, I felt liberated.  It was so nice not constantly having my head buried in Facebook or Instagram or Twitter.

Over-use of our phones can also prevent us getting a good nights sleep.  The stimulation from scrolling and playing Candy Crush for hours on end before bed could be the reason why you struggle to sleep well.

Try putting your phone away an hour before bed and, whatever you do, don't sleep with it in the bed with you.


5. Set yourself a goal for this time next year

Whether that be a change of career, to have moved house, or to have visited somewhere new.  Write it down and, if it's something that will take a bit of work, list the steps you need to follow and a timescale in order to achieve it.  Having an action plan will make it so much easier and all the more likely of being achieved.

If you're feeling ambitious, set yourself a number of goals.  If you have more than one thing to work towards you may find that you spend less time focusing on one big goal and achieve all your smaller ones much easier.


6. Try something new every week

Go to your favourite restaurant and have something other than your usual, or finally get round to trying that sport you've always fancied.  Whether you absolutely hate it and vow never to try it again, or fall in love with it and find a new favourite food or hobby, you'll have great fun working through 52 completely new experiences.

You could, potentially, be opening up 52 new doors for yourself with 52 new friends behind.  Or 52 new ways to have fun and keep active.  Or even 52 new foods that you never knew you liked.  And 52 new places that you never knew existed.


Whatever you decide to set as your New Year's resolution - good luck.  Whether it is something life-changing like kicking a bad habit, or something personal like losing a bit of weight.  And to those of you who don't stick to it, or have broken it already, there's always next year!

21 signs you were a school girl in the 00's

The 90's and 00's were great decades - girl power reigned supreme, you could have turkey twizzlers for your school dinner and Britney Spears re-invented the school uniform.  We still went out and bought CD singles when they were released, we'd do dance routines to pop songs in the playground and played Snake on our Nokia's until our hearts were content.  It was a time of fashion mishaps, make-up disasters and ten years of horror hair - but it made us who we are today!

Here are 21 signs you were a schoolgirl in the 00's:

1. Having a sleepover and having to check with everyone's parents how many alcopops they were allowed - rock'n'roll!

2. Before GHDs we had a choice - straight, wavy or crimped.  And all on the same appliance too!

3. The one-stop-shop for all your ear piercing and jewellery needs:

4. You tipp-ex mouse running out of tipp-ex tape and not covering your mistakes properly.

5. This was how we worked out whether we were compatible with boys:

6. Every girl had one of these in her hand bags and a cloud of Charlie Red followed us wherever we went.

7. Body glitter was the in-thing until we realised it was only supposed to go on our cheeks and collarbones - not every visible bit of skin.

 8. Staying up late to watch Footballer's Wives and feeling really naughty.

9. Managing to smash the latest pop song as your ringtone and feeling like a God.

10. Choosing your top friends on MySpace was the toughest decision of your day.

11. Writing everything in smelly gel pens (whatever happened to them!?)

12. 'Too many clips' was not possible.

13. Jacqueline Wilson books were the best.

14. Going to Boots when you got your pocked money to buy some more 'Glitter Babes' make-up and nail varnish.

15. Crying real, teenage girl tears when Will Young beat Gareth Gates in Pop Idol.

16. Predicting everyone's future with these:

17. This was your PE bag:

18. Everyone's first perfume:

19: We all had some Groovy Chick stationery/bubble bath/bedding/everything

20: Feeling really grown up reading this because it mentioned snogging and thongs on the front cover!

21. Owning a pair of these and not being able to wear them outside when it rained:

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14 of my favourite things in our house at the moment

I had a week off work last week and in between cleaning, cooking and watching back-to-back episodes of Friends I did a bit of shopping for items for the home.  My best friend and my soon-to-be sister-in-law both moved into new houses with their other halves so I was out and about buying new home gifts for them and picked up a couple of bits for myself on the way.

I could literally spend days on end exploring The Range, Next Home and all the other havens for home accessories.  I picked up a lovely white jug and some very real looking, but fake, roses - probably my favourite new addition to our house.

After my shopping trip and after cleaning the house top to bottom, I decided I would take some photos of my favourite bits in our house and share them with people like me who love noseying at other people's stuff!

So, here we go....

Here is said jug and fake roses, both from The Range and an absolute bargain.

We have this light fitting in the hall downstairs and upstairs and I absolutely love it!  It makes the house look like we are having a disco.  We got it from Next Home in November, but I'm sure I still saw it in there the other day.

I love our little makeshift candle holder - this was the bottle of champagne that we had when we put the reserve down on our house.  We wanted to save it so decided to do something quirky with it and make it part of the decor.  The little tag was made by Tom's sister, Amy, who is so creative and talented!

We have loads of these cute sayings and signs dotted around but this is my favourite.  Again, it was made by Amy which is why I like it so much.

Our tie backs in our lounge are just so cute and, funnily enough, homely.  These, too, were from Next Home.

Our little egg basket was originally a hamper made for us by Amy when we moved in.  We didn't have an egg basket and we thought it was too cute to throw away so we re-used it and made it another cute addition to the kitchen.

I love our sideboard in the lounge - we got it from Homebase and I think it was by far our favourite purchase.  We also have the matching TV unit and tables and they really make the room feel so homely.

The champagne glass (from Home Bargains) was a gift from my parents so we decided we'd get some cute lights (these are from Wilko).  It used to sit at the bottom of the stairs until Tom fell down the stairs one night and smashed it to hundreds of pieces!  This is champagne glass take two (bought by Tom's parents) and now lives in the corner of the lounge, safe from harm's way!

 I didn't really think our coasters would be one of my favourite items when I bought them from Wilko, but they really are.  Whenever we have people round they always say how much they love our coasters.  They were such a bargain as well!

Our new painting (which is still hanging three days after I put it up!) is from Next and I absolutely love it.  We haven't really got anything on our walls so to have that upstairs really makes it look a bit less plain and minimalist.  Whilst I love minimalist it is nice to have something pretty to look at - and this is certainly that.

My dressing table - moved with me from mum and dad's - was a favourite in my room there and is still a favourite now.

This was part of a gift set from some family friends when we moved in - it also came with a candle and a room spray - and smells lovely!  This is in the bathroom and is a nice little decorative addition as well as making it smell nice and fragrant.

Yankee Candle is my absolute favourite - I have sooo many candles dotted around the place (Tom hates them!) and I bought loads of these melts last year which last for ages and smell amazing.

This photo doesn't do justice to how beautiful this lamp is!  It was a present from Tom's grandma and is so, so pretty.  It's almost a shame it's in the spare room because we don't get to enjoy it as much as we would if it was in any of the other rooms.

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