Meatless Monday {2019 - week 51}

So here we are: 2019 week 51 of 2019’s of Meatless Monday… Christmas Week!

Here’s what we wore:

Me: Long Sleeve top= New Look, Tights = Tescos, Stripe Skirt = Thrifted, Cardigan = Thrifted, Boots = John Lewis

Boys: Tops & Jeans = various 2nd hand sources, including Facebook Selling and Charity Shops, Jumpers = gifted for their Birthday by my lovely friend Fiona :), Rocket Shoes George at ASDA (first walkers), Vests = Tescos

What’s in my ears:

I tried a new PodCast this week NapTime Empires with Nikki Elledge Brown, I’d heard about it for a while and its such a nice one, and this episode also introduced me to another podcast to start following too: Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert. Hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did and start following both podcasts too 🙂

There’s no one RIGHT way to raise great humans, just like there’s no one RIGHT way to build a profitable business. That’s why it’s so comforting to know you’re not the only one trying to do both at the same time. Join me (Nikki Elledge Brown) and a brilliant lineup of family-focused entrepreneurs for the Naptime Empires™ podcast – refreshingly honest conversations on the realities of parenthood + entrepreneurship. Topics include motherhood, entrepreneurship (obvs), relationships, spirituality, inspiration, success, health, and fun (remember that?).

Leave it to the BRILLIANT Liz Gilbert (via her Magic Lessons podcast) to inspire an episode I resisted creating for weeks. In this (first “real”) solo show, I share a few key quotes that’ll make you THINK: What *do* I want to do? How DO I want to show up for my kids? My work? My relationship? My SELF? In this one I take issue with “mom guilt” as a default setting and offer up a challenge to the old stories and limiting beliefs we hide under like comfy maternity pants (…two years after giving birth). You and me, sister. Let’s take a vow to remind each other that even on the days when we feel like the WORST moms in the world, quite honestly – we’re doing just fine. All links mentioned in the show can be found at www.naptimeempires.com/podcast.

Here’s my week in 4:

Christmas Week: We are so lucky to be surrounded by family all week this week with lots and lots of family gatherings, it is a week filled with love and we are so grateful for it.
My whole world: These boys are my best buds, and I just love how often we just collapse into cuddles and laughter, 3 really is an awesome age 🙂
Got to love a box… One of the boys main gifts came in a nice big box, which has since turned into one of their favourite toys, I always loved a box to play with as a kid. And they love Whatever Next, which I loved as a kid too about baby bear going to the moon in a cardboard box rocket. It’s such a joy to see them enjoy this imaginative play 🙂
Lovely afternoon with one of my Besties: This was an impromtu playdate with one of my dearest friends this week and made me realise just how important friend time is. Its so worth pushing through the challenges of busy schedules to make sure you see your friends and talk to them, it is so much food for the soul.

And here’s a little extra video, as I never tire of sharing it, its such a good message <3

What we ate this week…

Breakfast:

The boys are getting better and better at using their little mugs at breakfast without any straw at all for their milk. These photos capture just how cute they are doing this <3. We had a special Christmas week treat for breakfast of toasted Panettone with fresh fruit, super yummy and very much recommended if you’re yet to try it 🙂

Lunch:

We had our advent chocolate mid morning before heading out for lunch at my parents with extended family. We had a selections of vegetarian pizzas, yum, followed by fruit and stories with Grandad. 🙂 When I got back home I had a mince pie and some matchmakers with a cup of tea 🙂

Dinner:

For dinner we went back to beans and toast for the boys, followed by fruit. I had some leftover tomato spaghetti with the veggie balls you can get from IKEA which have been in the freezer for some time, I just fried them from frozen with a little olive oil and then added a spoonful of red pesto to perk them up a bit, it was a really yummy meal 🙂 I had an apple for pud. And a cup of roobios tea and some matchmakers before bed.