This post is slightly delayed, apologies for that, but you have it in time to be inspired for Bank Holiday next weekend. The weather being so grey is partly what delayed the post, rainy days don’t exactly scream cocktails in the garden. I hope you are all well, safe and having a good weekend at home?!
It was last weekend that we tried a few simple mixes after stocking up the bar for the lockdown and summer period. The measures below are for one drink.
Firstly, an Elderflower Gin Fizz, refreshing and an instant happy hit. We combined a 4cl measure of Gin and a 2cl Elderflower liquor shaken over ice and topped up with Cava. My personal preference is Cava but if you are a Prosecco lover that is totally fine too.
Fever Tree have brought out a cocktail book that showcases their tonic and a huge variety of cocktails you can make. Our neighbour recommended the Japanese Blossom as we had bought a lovely French Caribbean Rum, Clément. You will need the rum, Elderflower liquor, lemon juice, tonic water or Elderflower tonic, pineapple juice and honey. Remember you can substitute if you do not have all these ingredients, it’s your cocktail your rules!
The Expresso Martini, we used 4cl Vodka and 2cl Coffee Liquor and some sugar syrup, we didn’t use fresh coffee and it tasted great all the same. For the garnish all we had was white chocolate eggs from Easter that I bashed up in the Pestel and Mortar.
Expresso Martini
We used this lovely Gatsby Cocktail Book for some of the recipes such as the Old Fashioned. We used Bourbon, Angostura Bitters, sugar syrup and an orange peel for garnish. Muddle the ingredients in a glass over ice and then garnish once you have combined the mixed to your taste.
We made it people! How was your Easter weekend? ‘Mondays’ or in this case Tuesday, can be hard, it’s not just me, right? So far so good here, Husband is back to work, I played with the children ( thank you Mini Music Makers!) and fed them lunch. Daddy has now stepped in for a little play before naptime.
Feeding Austin and Aria, yes take a medal, everyone is fed
It was last night while sleeping that what I wanted to share came to me, and it is not rocket science, but it has definitely had an impact on my life. It is wise words from my Mother, and it is for days or weeks that things do not feel like they are going quite your way. In my life I chose to be happy or aim for happiness. I have met people along the way that say they don’t feel the need for constant happiness, and they need to feel their pain. If that is you, and it works then by all means, do you.
The sanctuary of our garden after bedtime
At some point during my childhood I started to experience anxiety and depression, I was overwhelmed with pressure from school. My parents tried to guide me and give me advise but it is only in my adult life that it makes sense to me. It may be that you need a level of emotional maturity to process all the feelings that you have or receive from others. I admittedly was and still am sensitive to others and what they put out, many years and I still get it wrong but for the most part I can tell if it is mine, or someone else’s emotions. If it is not yours; breath, move through it move on. Easier said than done, I know.
Smile and the world smiles with you. Look at yourself in the mirror and even if you are feeling low/ depressed smile.
Chose to be happy that day. It is infections and soon your mood will lift.
Put on your face/ make up and take on the day. This was a little more relevant when I was working but even during lockdown and isolation if you feel like you need a pick me up put on your ‘war paint’. Indulge in make-up free days, if not now, then when!!?
If there is someone that is giving you a hard time, pay them a compliment. Do not be disingenuous but find something that you like be it their tie or shirt and say. Many years of this and I love paying people compliments, people are so guarded in today’s world.
Breath – Technically this one is from my Dad.
Take life by the horns, that old classic, but hay don’t knock it.
Do/be you.
Find that what brings you joy and bring more of that into your life. If you are not happy chances are you are not doing what you truly desire.
Focus the things you want in your life not the things you don’t.
This too will pass.
Here is Mamma Sue’s sage advice and a few bits I have picked up on my way.
I hope you all have a wonderful week and enjoy the sunny Spring days and that some of the above can support you in your day. I am aiming to share a delicious recipe with you later in the week so keep an eye out for when I post that.
Most of my blog’s focus has been on the children and what we do in our day, and while that makes for fun and interesting writing there is a lot more going on in people’s lives.
As it happens this morning, we did a Joe Wicks P.E session together as a family, they are rather challenging so that will be my exercise for today and I will commit to doing a hardcore HIIT session tomorrow. Mostly within a day I do at least one work out, whether that is a calming yoga, quick core workout by MadFit or a Peloton session with my husband.
Daddy, Austin & Aria doing P.E with Joe
We need to take the time to keep our heads straight, I can confirm that some days this has been so hard! You still have all the normal work to do coupled with all this fitness ‘malark’ and being a full-time good wife. It’s a lot so make sure to also cordon off time for you away from it all. Even the fitness, yes it will help but you need time to think or not think. On Monday after the children went down for a nap, I ran myself a bath and popped a Lush bath bomb( I cut it in half so I had some for another day) in and listened to a Podcast, Happy Place with Fearne Cotton and Russel Brand, confession I actually loves what he has to say! Yes, he makes it sound preachy and talks very fast but at least he is saying something and thinking about others.
While I know many people have been spring cleaning, decluttering and getting the garden ready we have not been that productive, well we have done the garden but it was only this morning that I gave our shelves in the lounge a sort. It seems that each time the babies can reach higher we just move items and after months it looked beyond messy. Giving areas in your home a freshen up can quickly and easily lift your spirits, like with most things you just need to set the time aside to do it. I tackled ours while in PJ’s and just did it!
Now the dust has settled it seems more and more social events are popping up. This evening we are enjoying a bottle of wine with above mentioned neighbours’ this evening. There is a garden between us, so safe distance sorted! Similarly, we have calls set up with some friends from our NCT group on Friday and Matt with the NCT guys on Thursday.
My lovely neighbour and Godmother to my children gave us a great idea that should have come to mind but in busy lives… They are ordering a takeaway and doing a date night every Saturday. Setting the table up like a restuarant and enjoying time together. We are looking forward to ‘going out’ for Japanese on Saturday night.
Create special time within your home.
Casey from Sensoryland has scheduled Cuppa Club for the Moms or Dads to log in and have a chat on Zoom. We get the chance to talk about something that you struggled with/ found difficult that week or share an activity that was fun. I found it super helpful to just say out load what was bothering me and saying it to someone that isn’t my husband. I have been struggling to sleep or get back to sleep after waking up for the babies, one of the members had a tip to think of your thoughts as a train and each carriage is a thought. If the thought isn’t something you want to explore or that will serve you jump it and move to the next. So, go on connect with groups that you belonged to you never know if you can offer some support to someone out there too.
Remember your life before the lockdown and the things that made you happy and try recreating or adapt the things that made you happy. Create your own happy.
Create You Coaching 