To that end here is my little ode to the dark stuff and why it is so bloody brilliant:
- The wonderful smell. Who doesn’t love the smell of fresh coffee wafting through the house, or when you first walk into a café tantalising you before you take a sip.
- It wakes you up. After a night reluctantly partying with the toddler at 1am, 2am, 3:30am and 4:36am when you know you have a really important presentation to give to really important people at work in a few hours, a cup of coffee in the morning defibulates me back into functioning mode (not too dissimilar to the scene in pulp fiction when John Travolta stabs Uma Thurman in the heart with an adrenaline shot) and I am able to prepare myself for a day at the office.
- It gets you out of the house. Friend: “Do you want to meet for coffee?” Me: Coat on, Willow in the pram, out the door before the sentence is finished. When the only conversation you have had that day is with a toddler who is more interested in putting random shiz in the washing machine than talking to you then the offer to go and sit with a hot coffee and maybe cake and a human to talk to who won’t try and wipe their nose on your sleeve is an offer never to be turned down.
- Coffee “makes” me buy nice mugs. I therefore enjoy the experience more and feel fancy drinking out of the posh cups.
- It’s portable. Paper cup, plastic cup, travel mug whatever your choice you can take your lovely coffee with you wherever you go. (OK I realise that technically all drinks are portable but it’s frowned upon to cart a demi carafe of merlot, indeed my second favourite drink, to baby group at 9am)
- You can put booze in it. Baileys coffee anyone? (please drink responsibly – only one bottle to be consumed at a time).
- Come to think of it you can put it in cake, ice cream, chocolate…. I’m that one person in the world who likes the coffee Revels. Send them all to me!
So that’s why I heart coffee and long may
Do you love a particular food or drink? Leave me a comment to let me know what it is and why you heart it so much.
Speak soon.
Kat x
If you liked this post you can also follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook xx
The Bedtime Tag
The Bedtime Tag – oh the irony. We’ve had about three full night’s sleep since Willow was born (you can read more about this here) and that was only because she was sleeping over at Grandy’s. The lovely Annie at meanniebee tagged me so I thought it would be amusing to give it a go because if you don’t laugh about these things then you will cry and probably never stop crying until they are old enough to move out of home. And then you probably won’t sleep because you are worrying about them. I think it will be easier if I just wave the white flag and give up on the notion of sleep forever.
1. Describe your usual bedtime routine
We aim to have Willow fed, bathed and in bed by 7:30pm. Then it’s all in the hands of the sleep gods. Sometimes she sleeps through until 11pm, sometimes she’s up and down like a yo-yo. We just take each night as it comes. If we’re lucky we get to have our evening meal before 8pm. We have been known to eat after 10pm (which isn’t good for setting up a relaxing night’s sleep). While she is asleep I’m usually multi tasking – doing a load of washing, blogging, watching a bit of TV. Once Willow is awake there is no going back into her cot so she gets in our bed and we basically squidge round her.
2. What are your favorite pyjamas?
I have a really comfy pair of pjs from Primark which I love because I’m tall and the legs are nice and long – something hard to find in pjs trust me!
3. What is your favourite bedtime reading?
These days I’m usually reading blogs which I love. I used to be an avid reader but haven’t had the time since I had Willow and since I started blogging.
4. What would I find on your bedside table?
I don’t have one! If I did it would be piled with all the books I have waiting to be read. One day…
5. What scents make you sleepy?
Lavender every time, it reminds me of my grandmas in a comforting way. I have lavendar candles and all our washing powder and softener is lavender scented. It’s so nice getting into fresh sheets with a lavender smell. I took a little bag of dried lavender into hospital with me when I was having Willow and it really helped to relax me.
6. What is your usual bed time and wake up time?
I always plan to go to bed about 10 pm but it never turns out that way. It’s usually more like 11pm. I get up at 6:30 am so I can get myself showered and dressed and the breakfast things out before Willow wakes up and we start the chaos of trying to get her ready and at nursery by 8:30am (ish).
7. What are your top 3 bedtime products?
I always cleanse tone and moisturise with Garnier Micella Water, Tropic Spritz Toner and Clinique Moisture Surge before bed.
8. What is your most common sleeping position?
I just fit into the bit of space Willow leaves me as she’s normally starfishing in the middle of the bed. I’ve become quite adept at sleeping in small spaces.
9. Do you have anything you like to take to bed with you?
My phone because that’s my alarm and a big glass of water as I get really dehydrated during the night.
10. What is your worst bedtime habit?
Not going to bed at a reasonable hour because I’m glued to Insta and Twitter or reading blogs!
So that’s my bedtime tag. I nominate:
Bridget at Bridie by the Sea &
Becky at Sparkly Mummy
Don’t forget to tag me in so I can have a read!
Kat xx
If you liked this post you can also follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook xx
Morning madness (why do I never learn….?)
Ah the morning ‘routine’ (I use the term loosely). Every week day morning I’m whirling around in a vortex of mascara, nappies, dry shampoo, Weetabix and nursery bags, sucking up anything and everything in my path. The whirlwind eventually spits me out a harassed woman on the edge at my desk by 9am feeling like I’ve done a day’s work already.
And every god damn day I convince myself I’m going to be organised. Enough of the madness; tomorrow I will be prepared. Here’s what I promise myself I will do that evening:
- Iron my work clothes
- Wash and dry my hair
- Make a packed lunch
- Get Willow’s nursery clothes out ready
- Pack her nursery bag
- Get into bed by 10pm
What could possibly go wrong?
By 5pm my resolution is waning, I’m tired, I’m hungry, I have to collect Willow from nursery and the whole play, tea, bath and bed charade is looming in front of me. So here’s what actually happens:
- We usually don’t get to eat our evening meal until after 8pm, fraught from bedtime negotiations and attempting to put the house back together.
- I’m still up at 11pm in a vegetative state watching some rubbish on TV mentally chastising myself that I should have gone to bed an hour ago. I still don’t move. Hair is not washed or dried. Idiot.
- I have to get up at 6:30am, knackered because of the pointless TV watching, but this is the only way I’ll get my hair washed and dried and a smattering of makeup applied before Willow wakes up.
- I grab clothes of the ‘clean’ pile that look the least crumpled.
- I consider making a sandwich for my lunch then Willow will launch her breakfast everywhere and the thought is forgotten only to be regretted later on when I’m stuck with a crusty cheese sandwich from the canteen at work.
- I wear my dressing gown over my work clothes to prevent being covered in Weetabix, snot, and or toothpaste. The result is slightly crumpled clothes now look like they have been trampled on by a rhino.
- I remember to pack Willow’s nursery bag as we are leaving the house but only because I see it hanging on her hook by the door and am reminded to do so.
- I run out the door, wrestle Willow into her car seat and vow that I’m going to be more organised that night.
Sound familiar? I’m sure a lot of you can relate to this morning shambles. People tell me it will get easier. Whatever.
Any suggestions for getting my ass organised? Or am I a lost cause – you can say it, we’re friends.
Speak soon
Kat x
If you liked this post you can also follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook xx
Confessions of a Working Mum 
