Tag: Lifestyle

KELLY’S CHRISTMASSY ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR LITTLE ONES (BLOGMAS – DAY THREE)

by Dreadfully Kelly, posted in Lifestyle

Christmas is right around the corner and with that comes the school holidays that are to me, equal parts amazing and terrifying.

Entertaining three boys is a full time job in itself so I’m always on the hunt for activities we can do together.

Here are some simple and relatively cheap or free favourites of mine that will still work with little to no money.

Movie Night

Snuggling up with a blanket, some snacks and a bit of holiday season nostalgia is pretty much the pinnacle of Christmas isn’t it?

My personal favourite film to watch with the boys is The Grinch. It’s sweet with lots of heart but also absolutely bloody hilarious (and any woman who can say that the iconic scene where the grinch is trying to pick an outfit for the Whobilation isn’t them is lying).

Festive Baking

Decorating pre made ginger bread men counts doesn’t it? I mean, if you’re the next GBBO contestant then by all means do your thing but I can just about bake a decent banana bread (thank you lockdown!) so I like to keep things simple.

It can get messy but the kids love it and that’s all that matters, right? One of my favourite childhood memories is my mum letting me lick the spoon after making rice crispy cakes (obviously she was just as good at baking as I am).

Christmas Crafts

Ok, so I’m not the most artistic person in the world but I like to think I make up for it with enthusiasm!

Whether you’re making cards, decorating baubles or going all out creating a unique Christmas Day centrepiece you honestly can’t go wrong with crafts.

If all else fails a colouring book will entertain.

Local Lights Trail

One of our favourites things to do at this time of year is to go out and explore our town and look at the gorgeously decorated houses.

We are very lucky to live by the sea and all of the boats in the harbour are also often full of Christmas cheer and covered in fairy lights.

It creates such a lovely atmosphere and really makes us all feel that little bit more ‘Christmassy’ especially with a hot chocolate in hand!

Games Night

Monopoly anyone? Love them or hate them would it really be Christmas without a board game or 10?

My in-laws are pros at picking the most hilarious family activities. Some of our current favourites are Telestrations, Rapidough and Game For Fame (which can be ridiculously embarrassing but it wouldn’t be Christmas if you aren’t made to feel like a bit of a tit).

If anyone threatens to throw a strop you can bribe them with a cunningly hidden tin of celebrations. Everyone’s a winner!

I hope these ideas have been helpful and you manage to have a wonderful Christmas with your families. Don’t forget to pour yourself a large glass of something very alcoholic and celebrate the small things.

Merry Christmas everyone!

I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I’M FEELING 32…

by Dreadfully Kelly, posted in Lifestyle

And just like that, bam! I’m one year older and a whole lot wiser!

I feel like my life has changed so much since my 30th birthday. I guess from the outside things may seem much the same but as a person I have grown into someone I don’t even recognise sometimes.

After years of thinking I’d missed my chance I finally became a university student and am just hours away from submitting my first assignment (something I’m both thrilled and terrified about!).

I genuinely never imagined I’d get to this stage, with children to raise and bills to pay it all just seemed so out of reach but with the right people around me and a whole lot of determination I’m here and it honestly feels so good! I think I just wish more than anything that I’d had more faith in myself ten years ago but better late than never I suppose.

My children are thriving and my fiancé (who has just started a new job with no more evening or weekend shifts!) and I have finally set a wedding date. Roll on September 2022!

This year we have started to achieve a more healthy work/life balance and I’m so grateful for that. For the first time in a long time we have guaranteed Christmas plans and I’m actually giddy with excitement!

The hard times will always be hard and I’m not saying that my life is perfect but at times it feels pretty damn close and I feel so incredibly lucky.

Getting older will never be the answer to all of life’s problems, for me it was more realising that growing up didn’t mean that things were set in stone. My life could be what I make of it if I work hard enough.

BLOGTOBER X BLOGR CHALLENGE 2021 WEEK 1 – A LETTER TO 2022 ME (BLOGTOBER – DAY FOURTEEN)

by Dreadfully Kelly, posted in Lifestyle

Dear Kelly of 2022,

This year you have so many amazing things in store and I can’t wait to see how it all pans out. I hope you’re as excited as I am!

2020 – 2021 was a time of reflection for us both and at times I honestly didn’t know if that was a good thing but at this moment in time I’m truly sure it was.

By now you’ll be deep into your uni course (only over a decade late but the best things come to those who wait) and hopefully enjoying it more than you ever imagined.

In nine months you’ll be marrying the love of your life and spending the day celebrating with the people you treasure most in the world (which lets face it, after the last couple of years is needed more than ever!).

Maybe you’ll have shifted that lockdown weight (doubt it, you’re quite happy in yourself right now and I bloody love that!) and maybe you haven’t but knowing that you’re content and healthy is my happy place.

I hope you’re still writing consistently just for you and not because you feel you have to. It’s helped to ground you so much and helps with all kinds of aspects of your day to day life.

You started the year off so well, reading often and feeling so inspired by other peoples words and that slowly tailed off into a nothingness. I was you to promise that 2022 will be the year you read and read and read. It’s one of the biggest passions of your life. Always make time for it.

Overall I just hope that you continue to grow, to push yourself and work hard to ensure your dreams come true. However, don’t forget to love your life for what it is in the time. There are always moments to cherish no matter how dark the day may seem.

Love always,

Kelly of 2021

BLOGTOBER X BLOGR CHALLENGE 2021 WEEK 1 – KELLY’S ADVICE ON TACKLING ONLINE HATE (BLOGTOBER – DAY SEVEN)

by Dreadfully Kelly, posted in Lifestyle

Hello my lovelies!

I’ve never tackled a blog post like this before so please bear with me, it may all come tumbling out and make absolutely no sense!

I’ll admit I’ve been very lucky and up until last week had never experienced any kind of online hate or trolling.

I remained blissfully ignorant as to how much your confidence can be obliterated in no time at all with a handful of comments from strangers.

Having recently put together a piece of content I was incredibly proud of (and something the brand themselves had been very complimentary of, enough so that they asked to feature it in an ad campaign) I was horrified to learn that my appearance was the subject of many negative discussions.

When I first came across the comments my initial reaction was one of confusion.

I don’t know these people. What have I done to deserve such an attack?

It’s hard to comprehend the mentality of trolls when you would never dream of being so hurtful to anyone. I cried and I’m not ashamed or embarrassed to admit that. Putting your heart and soul into something only for others to try and tear you down is sickening.

So what have I learned and how can help someone else who may be experiencing the same thing for the first time?

The answer is, I’m not completely sure to be honest. Personally in the days following my own experience I managed to find humour in the comments. At the sheer silliness of the things people were saying and the fact that their opinions didn’t matter in the grand scheme of my life.

I refuse to let anyone take away something I have the righty to be so proud of. I will never again let another person make me feel small or insignificant.

My biggest piece of advice though is to never isolate yourself if you’re feeling attacked because it will allow those comments to burrow and fester. To implant themselves into your subconscious. Speak to your friends. Speak to your family. Let them pick you up, support you and comfort you. Listen to their kind words and believe them but above all believe in yourself.

You’re amazing. Don’t let anyone, let alone an insecure stranger make you believe differently.