Hi, I’m a Mama

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It’s been so long, over a year since I last posted. I thought I would start posting again to say that I gave birth to my daughter last Autumn. I’m now rather busy! Honestly I thought I was busy before, it makes me question what I did with my time. A lot more leisure time and housework I guess would be the answer! I’m sure a lot of Mums will tell you that they aren’t the same person anymore. I agree, I feel different and some of my preferences have changed which I hope to cover on here at some point soon.

My baby is approaching one and I would say things are getting easier. Or perhaps it’s just that I’m getting the hang of things.

I found the first three months the most difficult. Those months dragged which sounds horrible. From then it almost feels as though I have blinked and she’s a big girl. I am now trying to soak in everything and enjoy all the moments I know won’t be around for much longer. Contact naps are still going strong, I no longer beat myself up for the lack of efficiency. The cuddles are lovely, I can’t imagine not having them anymore so that scares me. My girl is so clingy and has been since birth, bless her. She is still in the next to me cot as she is small and wakes fairly frequently. I swear she knows when I am not there next to her, so I don’t have much time to do bits outside of the bedroom.

She’s also not far off of crawling and standing. She loves to pivot and go round and round. She rolls and pushes herself back to move around. She’s always trying to get in to and somewhere she shouldn’t! The word no is funny and nappy changes are quite the challenge. She is such a smiley baby, a pure delight. She will certainly be a chatterbox! I love hearing her babble, I think her first word was dada. She also loves saying baba. Hopefully mama will be on the way soon. We think she is almost saying boobies which is cute but in hindsight perhaps embarrassing! We don’t film enough videos really. I love all of her mannerisms that make her personality hers.

Weaning has been an interesting journey. We haven’t been brave enough to try baby led weaning. I still panic when she gags.

I wonder what I will think and how I will feel looking back in years to come. Probably a pang of sadness at my struggles, I will probably wish I was kinder to myself and I will definitely experience pangs of nostalgia, wishing I could go back. Even now I think to myself that it would be nice to go back and try it all again. What a wild ride it has been so far.

From one mama to another,

Amy xx

Top 6-10 Musicians

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Finally part two of fave musicians:

6 Good Charlotte

I have loved Good Charlotte as long as I’ve had access to streaming music freely. I loved their hits as a teenager too but I didn’t own their cd’s, I prioritised my favourites and either bought those cd’s or purchased on iTunes. If we went back to buying music before listening, I could spend a huge amount of money on music!

This band is unique in that their lyrics are supportive and helpful more than most. I love their pop punk sound, they included synth in some of the middle albums. I love their middle albums most. I like the band’s visuals too. Both in sound and look, they sometimes had a goth leaning which I think makes them interesting. They could also be punk leaning and have angsty lyrics and music, probably more so than any of the artists I have posted about. They are currently in heavy rotation on my Spotify.

I’m hoping they will make a comeback soon!

Try listening to: Hold On, All Black, Life Can’t Get Much Better

7 Kelsea Ballerini

I find myself listening to Kelsea’s catchy songs regularly.

To be honest I haven’t listened to her most recent album much, I prefer her older albums at the moment. The most recent one is about her split and divorce from her ex husband (not sure if it has been finalised yet).

I wrote about her in my country music post: https://amyoncloudnine.home.blog/2023/02/03/country-music-2/ .

Try listening to: half of my hometown, THE LITTLE THINGS, Blindsided (Yeah, Sure, Okay)

8 Lauren Alaina

Lauren’s most recent album is an EP. I like the maturity in her newer music; there are beautiful ballads too.

I wrote about her in my country music post: https://amyoncloudnine.home.blog/2023/02/03/country-music-2/ .

Try listening to: Change My Mind, Thicc As Thieves, Just Wanna Know That You Love Me

9 McFly

I started listening to these guys about three years ago, I can’t remember what the inspiration was. I started following the Fletchers a bit before, again I don’t recall why. What struck me about their music is that it mostly is upbeat and happy. I guess I can say this especially as Fall Out Boy and Paramore aren’t always the happiest lyricists. I mentioned in a previous post from 2021 that I purchased their greatest hits album with birthday money. They performed at a local venue in 2022, so I thought if they are so local why not! They were great live and I lived watching and listening to them play.

The album they released last year was rather impressive in my opinion, the guitars are amazing and they written some catchy songs again which is their calling card.

Try listening to: Shine A Light, Dragonball, Where Did All the Guitars Go?

10 You Me At Six

I’ve been listening to this band since before they released their first album when we were all teenagers! They are low down on the list because I haven’t listened to their last four albums much. Their sound changed and I wasn’t as keen or I didn’t make the time to listen. Most artists that I love, I love all of their releases. The main reason they are still here in the top 10 is because historically they have been high on my list for 17 years and they are a British band! They may not be high on my list right now but you never know I may return to fancying listening to their sound a lot again, especially with their latest announcement. I have seen them live once if not twice over the years. I can’t remember if they were at Give It A Name 2008. They are catchy with relatable lyrics, plus I grew up with them.

I have come back to this draft with an update that You Me At Six have announced they are splitting up, I can’t believe I am writing this! What a shame, it makes me rather sad. Thankfully I was able to get tickets for their goodbye tour. I’m not sure why they are splitting and I think they have been shocked and overwhelmed with the demand for tickets for their goodbye tour. That should be a hint to the band that the fans don’t want them to split!

Try listening to: Gossip, Contagious Chemistry, Carpe Diem

11 BRELAND

A cheeky number 11 is BRELAND! His catchy songs always cheer me up and have me dancing. I always find myself searching for him in Spotify, many of his songs are in my fave country playlist. I am someone who really likes artists who merge genres, I find that they produce the most interesting sound and often lyrics. For me his music is country with a different twang.

Try listening to: My Truck (I especially love the Remix!), Cowboy Don’t, Thirsty

I wrote about him in my country music post: https://amyoncloudnine.home.blog/2023/02/03/country-music-2/ .

Rock on once more hope you are still dancing 🙂

Amy xx

Top 5 Musicians

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Happy New Year 2024!

I wrote the original draft in the summer. The timing works out well due to Spotify releasing their 2023 Wrapped information and everyone’s top songs for the year.

These are the artists that I absolutely love, I can listen to any album and the majority of their songs without wanting to press skip (depending on my mood too of course).

My top 5 musicians:

1. Fall Out Boy

My all time favourite musician and band, since 2006! I love every album they’ve ever released, including all the changes in how they sound. It sounds cliche but Fall Out Boy were a huge part of my teenage years and influenced directly who I am. Pete Wentz’s lyrics especially have been inspirational, his wit and emotional perspective aligned with me in some way. The band’s image, how they dressed, what they said in interviews were a highlight especially back in the late 2000s. They released a new album last year and I still feel the way I did back then.

To be honest I don’t watch music videos anymore, so I’m not overly sure what type of music videos they shoot anymore either.

I have seen Fall Out Boy live about four or five times I think. The first time was in 2007 and the last was in 2014 until November last year. I loved the show, they are still amazing live!

Try listening to: Sugar We’re Going Down, Love From The Other Side, The Last of the Real Ones.

2. Taylor Swift

I have technically covered writing a post about Taylor in my Country Music post. However, Taylor changed genre to Pop and then a bit of Folk too.

I’ve loved every one of her albums with the exception of the last three which I still do like, but only love half the songs. I feel guilty for writing this but I feel the last few albums have lost the spark of her previous seven.

I’m not completely sold with the rerecorded albums either, although I love the recently released Taylor’s version of Speak Now. Speak now is probably my favourite era! Anyway she has so many great songs! I saw Taylor live on the Red tour back in 2014. I am booked to see her again hopefully in Summer 2024! I can’t believe that will be ten years later!

I find most of her songs catchy, the lyrics are almost always relatable and heart felt. I like the change in genre, amazing for different moods or vibes. She is the same year group as me and I feel our generation have grown up together. Although I actually didn’t like her until late 2008 or early 2009.

Since the original draft of this post, I have fallen in love with more songs from the 2020s, especially Folklore over the past three months or so. They are the sort of albums that you need to be in the mood for, in my opinion.

Try listening to: Wildest Dreams, Delicate, Cruel Summer.

3. Paramore

I’ve been a fan of Paramore since 2007, if not before the release of Misery Business. I like both of the band’s sounds, with Josh Farro in the earlier albums and without him in the post 2009 albums. The majority of the pop punk bands I listen to have male lyricists and singers, so this makes Paramore more special to me.

They also released a new album last year. I love five songs but find the others more album filler songs to be honest which is unusual as the majority of songs are usually solid on their albums.

I saw Paramore live in 2008 at the Give It A Name Festival at Earls Court in London. I’ve wanted to see them since, I missed out on their most recent tour sadly but they are due to support Taylor Swift in Summer 2024!

Try listening to: Misery Business, Still into You, Hard Times.

4. Sam Hunt

Again I mentioned Sam Hunt in the country genre post, sorry! His music is mostly peaceful, romantic and seductive. There are a few upbeat songs too. I love his lyrics as they are heartfelt and often unique. Hopefully he will release a new album soon.

I’ve not seen Sam live yet but I hope to one day! I don’t think he usually tours outside of America.

Try listening to: Start Nowhere, Water Under The Bridge, Kinfolks.

5. Carrie Underwood

Yet another country artist repeat, there may be one or two more in these posts.

Carrie released an album in 2022 which I absolutely love! It contains upbeat catchy songs I find myself singing and dancing along to. She was actually my favourite artist of the year for 2023 apparently which shocked me, I was convinced it would be Fall Out Boy’s new album.

Again, I’ve not seen Carrie live yet but I hope to one day again! Maybe all of my favourite Country musicians will perform at C2C Country festival one year! She keeps performing in Las Vegas but that is a bit of a trek.

Try listening to: Inside Your Heaven, Before He Cheats, Pink Champagne.

Other musicians that didn’t make the cut, look out for another post maybe:

You Me At Six, Good Charlotte, McFly, Kelsea Ballerini, Lauren Alaina, BRELAND, Luke Combs, Cassadee Pope, Avril Lavigne, old school Christina Aguilera, Ed Sheeran, Bowling For Soup, Cobra Starship, All Time Low, Panic! At The Disco, Rihanna, Beyonce.

Rock on and keep dancing,

Amy xx

Favourite Christmas Films

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Don’t roll your eyes, I’m not going to list all of the Christmas films! Mostly because I’ve not watched them all, there are quite a few on my watchlist to be honest. Not including this year’s releases.

Before the end of the year is out, here are my favourites in no particular order:

1 Planes, Trains and Automobiles

This is not technically a Christmas film but a thanksgiving film. The British don’t celebrate thanksgiving though so I’m guessing most of us watch it at Christmas. I think we discovered it on TV during the festive season decades ago. My family have been watching it every festive season since I was a teenager. Who doesn’t like a John Candy film!

2 The Christmas Chronicles

Another Christmas story tinged with sadness, do all of the best ones have a hint of sadness I wonder? I may have watched it for the first time during the same year as Klaus and again instantly fell in love with it. I love the sequel too.

3 Elf

I think Elf is hilarious comedy (I was going to say modern, but it is actually 20 years old!), so many memes! It is silly, fun and comedically over dramatic.

4 Home Alone

The timeless classic! The second film is quite a good watch too. An easy watch great for the whole family containing a lot of laughs. The past few years we have watched it during Christmas Eve to Boxing Day.

5 The Grinch

I’ve only been watching this the past couple of years, the animated version might I add. I find it quirky, funny and lighthearted.

6 Klaus

I watched this for the first time three or four years ago, I was surprised just how much I enjoyed it! It became an instant favourite. It has a lovely heartwarming story. I find myself putting this film on during the year, especially if I’m feeling a bit down and sad.

7 National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

My Dad and I watch it every year! We find it hilarious and laugh at all the same scenes every year! We quote it during the year too, always a good indication of a great film when you quote it.

8 Muppets Christmas Carol

This is possibly my all time favourite Christmas film, it’s been a tradition to watch it every year since my teenage years. The Muppets enhance the Charles Dickens classic Christmas story.

9 Deck The Halls

I first watched this between 2016 to 2018. I love a film starring Danny DeVito! This is a silly film with funny moments. They’re cringeworthy awkward moments which I struggle with in films but still an entertaining lighthearted watch.

10 It’s A Wonderful Life

A film from 1947, a few weeks ago was the first time I have watched it all the way through without falling asleep (a habit of mine, that wasn’t supposed to be a criticism of the film). Another heartwarming film, teaching us all to appreciate what we have in life. For a vintage film it has great storytelling, with the camera angles and script. They don’t make films like this anymore. This immediately became a favourite.

After the top ten, here are a few extras!

Jingle All the Way

Another 90s Christmas film I watched with my Dad! We love a comedy film. This one is a bit ridiculous but sweet. I can’t watch it without thinking of a young Anakin Skywalker though.

Christmas Tree Miracle

This is a less known film I found on Netflix or Prime around the same time as Deck the Halls. It a a lovely heartwarming film, albeit a bit of a slow start. It has a unique feel to it, and an original story.

Jack Frost

I remember watching this with my Dad when I was a child, I think maybe at the cinema. I didn’t watch it again for almost two decades then watched it last year. It is a very sweet film, tinged with sadness though not quite my favourite.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Another classic! Is it a Halloween film or is it a Christmas film?

Non Christmas films you can watch at Christmas:

Just Visiting

This sort of film category you will need to insert your family’s favourite films, we tend to watch Just Visiting with family.

Uncle Buck

There is snow in the film! It has a heartwarming story, provides comedy moments and happy ending. That makes it Christmas like.

Maid in Manhattan

The ending shows a Christmas tree at least. This is a fun rom com, with New York magic. It is an inspiring story of the American dream, although an unlikely love story.

All images are screenshots from Netflix, Disney or Prime and are posted in the context of a review.

This year I noticed that there have been so many Christmas films released over the years, especially the past five or ten years on the streaming platforms. There are probably too many Christmas films now, especially good Christmas films. Although if they stop releasing new ones then new treasures won’t be found.

Seasons greetings,

Amy

Cleaning Post: Anxiety, Stacey Solomon and Mrs Hinch

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I’ve always been an untidy girl unfortunately. I really struggle with items that don’t have a ‘home’ especially. When I used to tidy my room as a child I would be surrounded by a sea of items, deep in my little own world likely having rediscovered something. I also used to blame my little sister for why my room was a mess, bless her! It wasn’t all her fault as you can imagine!

After moving out as an adult I started to struggle keeping on top of life and all the chores that go along with it. I wish I had moved out earlier now as it would have taught me more responsibility and to have more respect for my caregivers. I became more anxious than normal and would stress about not getting enough done. I still do to be honest, especially at weekends when I pressure myself to have completed all of my chores before the end of it. It eventually all felt like a chore that took me away from my leisure activities and socialising.

Here is a link to Mrs Hinch’s Instagram:

https://instagram.com/mrshinchhome?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Anyway, a few years ago I discovered Mrs Hinch and how she helped her anxiety by cleaning. This lit a light bulb for me by providing a different perspective. Could housework become enjoyable? I’m pleased to say that it can be. I like the idea of finding joy in everyday, from everyday activities. I might be odd in that I find ironing relaxing for example. Is there anything more satisfying than a clean, tidy house to relax in, knowing that everything has been done?

I don’t enjoy all chores and housework isn’t exactly leisure for me. I still struggle to tackle more than the weekly tasks, fighting metaphorical fires. Deep and seasonal cleans are always a catch up for me. I have found Mrs Hinch’s Instagram and notebook to be very helpful for inspiration and keeping lists.

Here is a link to Stacey Solomon’s Instagram:

https://instagram.com/staceysolomon?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Another public figure that I enjoy watching tidying is Stacey Solomon. Her tap to tidy posts are so satisfying, turning an untidy space to an aesthetically pleasing one. She also uses similar phrases for new creative developments, they’re enjoyable too. I’m still part way through her autobiography. I love how upbeat and bubbly she is on any platform, I find it a pick me up. Especially since I can be on the grumpy side at times. Her enthusiasm for life is infectious.

I often find myself scrolling through cleaning posts for enjoyment and motivation nowadays. You can tell I’m in my 30s!

I will point out that another reason I am posting about these two ladies is that they are actually the same age and year group as me, which I find odd. They seem so much mature and are further on in life. Sophie is from Basildon, I come from Thundersley which I consider to be halfway between Southend and Basildon. I used to visit Basildon sometimes for shopping, the cinema or bowling etc.! Stacey is from Dagenham which is in Essex too. She mentioned previously enjoying visiting Lakeside Shopping Centre which I also love.

Finally, I should also add that I find seeing all of the perfect houses on Instagram intimidating and that mine just doesn’t compare. I try to be realistic by telling myself that no one’s home is perfect, tidy and clean all the time if they live in it.

Off to read in a hot bath after an evening of cleaning and tidying,

Amy x