Enjoy my job again

I use to love my job. I've been with the Company for nearly 15 years and cannot see me going any where else.

Got a new boss last April, went on maternity leave in June and when I came back in February of this year I had never felt so out-of-place, so unwanted in my life.

I guess they would rather I didn't come back!

I try to shake this feeling but some days the atmosphere makes you feel physically ill.

I'm all for changes, been there that long and been through so many in the past but I have bad vibes, I hate atmospheres and I hate cliques.

However, that said, I want to be happy in my job again. I will try to do everything in my power to make that happen.

Be more creative with our family time

I think we don't do enough together, he thinks we do!

I think spending time shopping or wandering around shopping centres doesn't could as family time, he does!



I want to go on little days out, trips here & there. Great in theory but given the weather here in Northern Ireland you can't always plan ahead. We did go for a lovely walk the other day, got the heads blew off us but it was fun. Caitlin & Lauren got to stretch their legs, round around and get fresh air. Both ended up covered in muck but that was to be expected.

It's little things like this that I want to do more often. Go to the zoo, go to the cinema, go for a walk and let Caitlin take her bike or roller skates.

I'm going to push for this in 2007!

Make time for me

This probably goes hand in hand with No. 1 on my list.

I want to make an effort with my appearance All.Of.The.Time not just when I feel like it, the times when I'm feeling confident. With regard to this, I've only myself to blame and no-one else can do it for me!

I also need to juggle my spare time better. I work full time Monday - Friday and only have a few hours to myself each night by the time dinner is over, girls are played with and then tucked up safe in bed.

One week I'm all about cleaning the house and do nothing for me. Next week I sit and scrapbook every night and the house goes to hell.

Surely I can make more of an effort to do both. Work out what needs done and work out 2/3 nights for me, especially if I want to introduce a little exercise into the mix now too!

This will improve things with Ivan too. I will not hear him nagging me about the hours I spend online, or the mess I make when scrapping, or the fact that the house is a tip!

This one should be easy to crack! I'll should make a little rota and stick it to the fridge, lol.

Have success with weight loss & improve my fitness level

When I say 'improve my fitness level', what I mean is, improve it from it's current status of 0 (on a scale of 0 to 10). Anything higher than this would be an improvement!

I need to change my life style completely.

I need to work on my non-existent will power.

I need to stop eating in secret.

I need to introduce exercise into my daily routine and by that I don't mean walking to the kitchen and filling my plate with snacks!

It's funny that I know what I should be doing but just don't do it.

All that is about to change. 2007 will be my year. I sat down this time last year thinking, writing the same thing. But this time I've seen how successful other people have been in the space of 12 months and I now want that for me, before it's too late.

I want to be able to play with my girls.

I want to be able to buy clothes of the rack.

I want to have choices with regards to fashion.

I want to be me again.

That is why this is 'All About Me'

5 Things I Want To Achieve In 2007

1) Have success with weight loss & improve my fitness level.
2) Make time for me.
3) Be more creative with our family time.
4) Enjoy my job again.
5) Possibly TTC, if I can convince Ivan!

My Little Lauren is one today!!!!! I can't believe it. Time has passed by so fast. 

ABCs of Me

A - Age
35. A big ol' 35. Funny thing is I don't feel old. I've always had a young outlook on life. I hope I feel the same when I'm 65!

B - Books
I love reading. Horror, thriller, serial killer type books. Real life crimes like the Manson murders or fictions by authors like Martina Cole and Patricia Cornwell.

C - Caitlin
My first born, my love and my life.

D - Dream Destination
Maldives. Since before I met Ivan, I've always wanted to visit the Maldives. I use to dream that I'd honeymoon here but alas it was not to be! I've made him promise to take me for a special anniversary!

E - Exercise
Something I need to do more off! Caitlin asked me yesterday if I had a baby in my belly! When I said no, she said "oh, it's just fat then"

F - Friends
I don't have many friends in real life but I've made many special friends online who I will treasure for ever.

G - Greens
I don't eat enough veg. I've only recently started eating salads.

H - Hairdressers
I love going to the hairdressers. I love playing around with my cut and colour as often as I can afford!

I - Ivan
My soulmate, my husband, my best friend.

J - Junk Food
Hate to admit it but I'm an addict. I could live without McD's, Burger King & KFC but now without pizza, garlic bread, Chinese and Indian food.

K - Kylen
I hope & pray every day that this little angel pulls through. She is constantly in my thoughts.

L - Lauren
Little Lauren. My angle. Can't believe she will be 1 on Tuesday. Where does the time go?

M - Mommaville
My favourite website.

N - Nails
The only time I've had nice long, well looked after nails was when I was pregnant both times. Otherwise they are a mess!

O - Online
I could spend hours at a time online. Best invention ever. Ivan doesn't get it (until he discovered eBay this week and bought a load of The Who stuff!).

P - Parents
I love me parents to bits. I wouldn't be where I was today or who I am today if it wasn't for their love and encouragement.

Q - Qualities
Best quality would be my outgoing personality. I'm a people person and love meeting new people. Worst quality would be my lack of patients. I'm sort of a 'if it's quicker to do yourself' type of person and it can sometimes lead to a short fuse!

R - Ring
Engagement ring. I never seen it coming. We'd been together so long. Christmas morning 1999, I just wasn't expecting it. Ivan had given me a gift box with beautiful earring in it. Later when he give me another gift box, I immediately thought 'matching something'. When I opened the box and seen the ring he had picked all by himself, I cried.

S - Scrapbooking
My new addiction. There are not enough hours in the week!

T - TV Shows
My favourite shows are ER, Holby City, casualty (all hospital dramas!). Lost, CSI, The sopranos.

U - useless Info
I can touch my nose with my tongue. I auditioned for an American film and got shortlisted. I love to dance. I hate eating cheese but love it melted on pizza etc.

V - Vatican
I went on a trip to Italy with the school and we met the Pope. I love the Vatican City. I'd love to go back.

W - Work
I've worked, full time, for the same company for the last 14 years. I never thought I'd stay there that long. Now I don't ever think I'll leave.

X - X-Ray
When I was little I closed my thumb in a car door. I got it xrayed and they said it wasn't broken. A few weeks later I was still in pain. We went to a different hospital and it was xrayed again. It was broke in 3 places!

Y - Yesterday
I visited mum & dad and we had a little party for Lauren. If was great. My mum, dad, brother, two sisters and two nieces were there. The girls love getting together.

Z - Zodiac sign
Aries. Aries belongs to a group of Zodiac signs which astrologers call fire signs. By this they mean that people born under these signs remind them of a warm, bright, crackling fire. They have a fiery, impulsive quality. They tend to be outgoing and sometimes have hot tempers, but they forgive easily as well. They are optimistic and rarely remain sad for long. Me to a T!