Meatless Monday {2020 - week 03}

So here we are: week 03 of Meatless Monday 2020…

Here’s what we wore:

I actually got out my selfie stick rather than taking in the mirror this week for the first time in ages, I plan to try and do this going forward 🙂

Me: Vest: Primark (similar), Long Sleeve Top = New Look, Knit Jumper = Silence & Noise (thrifted), Slacks (trousers): FatFace (thrifted), Wrap = Inherited from Adam’s Nanna, Handbag & Lanyard = Cath Kidston, Leather Jacket: HidePark Leather, Boots: Clarks

Boys: Tops & Jeans = various 2nd hand sources, including Facebook Selling and Charity Shops, Both Jumpers gifted for Birthday/Christmas one from Monsoon Kids and one from Next Kids, Shoes= Clarks, Vests & Coats = Tescos, Fox Hats = John Lewis (similar), Toddler Backpacks = Skiphop.

What’s in my ears:

This week I decided to re-listen to Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic, I got it with last years Audible membership and and thoroughly enjoyed it last listen, I feel like I got even more out of it this time around. One of the lovely things about Audible is once books are in your library then they are yours to go back to time and time again, I’d definitely recommend listening to this book more than once, read by Elizabeth herself, its always my favourite when books are read by the author, you always get so much more out of them I find.

Listeners of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Now this beloved author shares her wisdom and unique understanding of creativity, shattering the perceptions of mystery and suffering that surround the process and showing us all just how easy it can be.
By sharing stories from her own life as well as from her friends and the people who have inspired her, Elizabeth Gilbert challenges us to embrace our curiosity, tackle what we most love and face down what we most fear.
Whether you long to write a book, create art, cope with challenges at work, embark on a long-held dream, or simply to make your everyday life more vivid and rewarding, Big Magic will take you on a journey of exploration filled with wonder and unexpected joys.
©2015 Elizabeth Gilbert. All rights reserved. (P)2015 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Also if you are interested, there is also an ongoing PodCast which goes with the book, entitled Magic Lessons, which is very much worth listen too…

Here’s my week in 4:

Starting School Pre-School: Another week of the new year and another big change and challenge, for me at least, the boys started at school pre-school, they did absolutely fantastically at adapting. I found it all really stressful, earlier mornings, getting everything sorted and such a reduction in communication from nanny days, I know its just a case of getting used to the new routine, which I will more and more as the weeks go by but my anxiety has definitely peaked this week, and when that happens it can be really hard to manage. Just got to keep with the mantra that they are safe and happy and I will get used to it. I do believe I will as I have managed to with every stage we have gone through so far, its the actual point of change which is the hardest 🙂
Ongoing insomnia, the challenges and the work: So as I said in point 1, anxiety hit me full pelt this week with our new routine, which in turn triggered my insomnia, I also was coming to the end of my contraceptive pill packet which seems to be a trigger too (anyone else find that? any recommendations on better options on combination pills gratefully received), so its been a struggle this week, but there has also been progress in several other ways. I started a course this week through my local NHS Wellbeing Service on worry management, and it was amazing how comforting it was to meet with others who are struggling and talking through the various challenges of modern life which is hitting us all, at all different life stages. At the end of the session we were all asked to try and think of the end goal we want to get out of the 5 week course and then think of a smaller goal for this week. I stayed at the end to discuss with the course leader as my head was swimming with ideas, I know my end goal is to get off sleeping meds but didn’t know where to begin, however something which I have been thinking about for a while is connecting with others who have managed to get off them, or maybe people who would like to to support each other through it. When I said this to the course leader she reassured me that this was a good goal for week one, so I went for it, I posted to a public forum I found called https://patient.info/, and got a few responses on strategy which helped. I then found a facebook support group for insomnia which I joined and posted in too, which has lead me to set up a group chat with 2 other mums of young children who want to get off their sleep meds too 😀 this has definitely given me a boost this week and I look forward to the next session of my course on Tuesday. And my message to fellow sufferers of whatever it is, keep asking for help, keep believing in the light at the end of the tunnel and keep safe in the knowledge that you are never alone.
Lovely walk with friends: Managed to meet up with one of my best friends and her daughter for our family walk this weekend and it was so nice 🙂 This is a small update but I just wanted to mention it as I was so grateful to find a window to see her and catch up.
Family Pizza Express Dinner: After our walk we decided to treat ourselves to a Pizza Express dinner with the boys, it was so nice, the food was so delicious and fresh and it was such lovely quality family time. So grateful for this too <3

What we ate this week…

Breakfast:

I had a cup of loose leaf tea whilst I did my yoga and then a cup of lemon, honey and ginger with my breakfast. The boys and I both had lemon and raisin pancakes with sliced apple. I then took a cup of my favourite tea to work with me in a travel mug.

Lunch:

I had falafel, pesto mayo and a jar of salad, with a pack of cheese curls, an apple and a caramel bar to snack on throughout the day, I also had marquess tea in the morning and decaf earl grey in the afternoon. The boys started at school pre-school on Monday and I am very pleased to say that the school actively supports Meatless Monday in it’s school dinners. Hurray for that! Meals are on a 3 week rotation and this week they had cheese and tomato pizza, bread and chocolate cake for pudding, so they were certainly happy with that. They also were introduced to raw carrot sticks at snack time, which went down a treat apparently so have become an excellent snack at home too 😀 Happy days!

Dinner:

I didn’t exactly plan dinner again this week, in fact didn’t manage to plan my food shop either, need to get back into better habits here. So I went to the co-op after work to top up the food shop and got some lovely fresh bread, I can never resist when I see it in person, and these veggie tortellini and tomato and mascarpone sauce – didn’t really enjoy it, but it was edible and the bread was delicious, so it was a tick the box kind of thing. I enjoyed my clementine for desert too 🙂 The boys had their usual beans on toast with yoghurt and fruit for afters. I then had some matchmakers and a cup of vanilla rooibos tea before bed.