I’ve been taking a break from blogging this week and feel much happier for having some time out for myself without feeling the pressure to write or keep up with social media. I’ve enjoyed just being mummy for a while and taking a big step back from it all. My head feels clearer as a result and I feel refreshed and ready to step back into the blogosphere again!
Taking that break has meant that I’ve been able to catch up on sleep (well, as much as the heat and some ongoing bedtime battles have allowed me to!) and focus on enjoying time in the sunshine with my girls. It’s made me realise that I need to take some time out every so often, particularly when things feel overwhelming, and refocus and that as much as I love blogging, putting myself under pressure to do so all the time is not a good thing!
Out and About
I took the girls to see In the Night Garden Live with my friends Denise and Katy. It’s the third year we’ve been and it was particularly lovely to see how captivated Sophie was by it all this year – she was so excited to see her favourite characters on the stage and she and Jessica loved getting to meet Igglepiggle and Upsy Daisy afterwards.
We had a lovely day out at the Charlie Jones Foundation family fun day on Sunday and Jessica was very excited that she got to meet Queen “Elsisa” (as she calls her) and Princess Anna.
We also went to feed the ducks at Herschel Park and enjoyed a picnic in the sunshine. It was lovely to watch Jessica and Sophie holding hands and exploring.
Fun at home
We’ve been spending a lot of time in the garden this week making the most of the sunshine. The paddling pool was a very good place to be with the temperatures soaring on Wednesday! It was so hot that I decided to get brave and dig out my bikini, which I last wore before I fell pregnant with Jessica!
We also enjoyed doing some footprint painting outside – the paddling pool makes it very easy to clean up afterwards!
Time for me
There’s not been a lot of that this week as hubby has either been away or working long hours but I have enjoyed taking some time in the evenings once the girls have gone to bed to sit down with a notebook and just write for pure enjoyment.
On the blog
I was very chuffed that two of my posts – Stepping off the hamster wheel: how Britmums has inspired me to step back from blogging and Jessica’s first sports day featured in Odd Socks and Lollipops‘ ten favourite posts from June.
There’s still a few days left to enter my giveaway for an A4 personalised character print if you would like to do so!
My happiest moment
Sitting in the paddling pool with the girls – Sophie made me laugh as she kept dipping her finger in the water and then drawing on my forehead, as if she was trying to baptise me!
Next week I would like to…
Finish making a couple of sunhats for the girls.
You looked so happy in your pics and good in the bikini!! I think the break can really help clear things. I didnt post on holiday and I realised when I got back how much time it takes with all the reading!! I think I will have a break again. Glad you feel so refreshed… Xxx #wotw #happydays
Thanks Sarah – was so chuffed that it still fitted me! Definitely worth having a blogging break every so often – it’s something I’ll be making time for now and then too 🙂
Looks like you had a lovely week in the sunshine and fun in the pool together x
Thanks Karen – we made the most of the lovely weather! 🙂
Such a happy and positive post. Glad you’ve enjoyed your break, sounds like it’s done you the world of good, and the sunshine helps, too, no doubt! Lots of fun for your guys this week, we’re off to see ITNG Live next weekend and I am excited, let alone the kids! x Thanks for sharing with #WotW
Thanks Jocelyn – the sunshine certain does help with feeling more positive as does having that time out to relax too! Hope you enjoy seeing ITNG Live next weekend 🙂
Aww these photos are really lovely,I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed your time out xx #WotW
Thank you – it’s been good to have that break 🙂
It sounds and looks like you had a lovely week! That last photo in the paddling pool is just adorable!
Thanks Kim – I love that photo too – it was a little on the snug side for the three of us! 🙂
I’m glad we are not the only ones on their third visit to In The Night Garden Live. I’m pushing for another visit in two years time, we shall see if that happens. It sounds like a break is just what you needed, sometimes a step back is a positive thing. I love that pink paddling pool, Little E has had to put up with a Thomas one lol x
I love that show – sometimes I wonder if I enjoy it more than the kids! It’s always a fun day out though. I love the paddling pool too although it is a bit on the small side – we really do need to get a bigger one for the girls at some point but the smaller one is so much easier to fill! 🙂
I think a break can really help get us get back on track and feel much more motivated.
I am glad you benefited from your time off.
And what a lovely photo of you and the girls in the pool 🙂 x
Thanks Jayne – it has been good to take that step back and just enjoy time with my girls 🙂
What a lovely post, Louise. It looks like you had a fantastic week. Your girls are so beautiful. I love the last photo with you in the paddling look, so cute.
Thanks Melody – it has been a lovely week and was fun to get in the paddling pool with the girls, even if it was a bit snug! 🙂
Well done on taking a break hun, something I never quite manage to do fully. I am so glad you feel raring to go. Such cute pictures of your gorgeous girls x
Thanks Aby – it’s hard to take time out sometimes isn’t it? x
Well done for taking a step back and enjoying your family time. I find if hard to step away from the phone! Congrats on your successses too! #happydays
Thank you – I have to force myself not to look at the phone sometimes – it is hard to step away! 🙂
So important to step of the blogging hamster wheel sometimes Louise and recharge the old batteries – glad you’ve done that, and are back too! Love your bikini pic, you look gorgeous xxx #WotW
Thank you Leigh – it has made a huge difference – will have to remember this if I start feeling overwhelmed by it all again! Thank you for your lovely comment too about the bikini pic x
Sounds like a good week. When blogging becomes a chore instead of something fun its definitely time to take a break. The foot painting looked like a lot of fun 🙂 #happydays
Debbie
http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.com
Thank you Debbie – has been good to have that time out. The foot painting was a lot of fun! 🙂
I think Brit Mums affected us bot the same, it really made me have a huge re think and I feel so much better for it, glad you do too Louise and this weather is just amazing isn’t it xx
Thanks Sarah – glad that your rethink has helped you to feel better too and hope you are enjoying the lovely weather 🙂
looks like a great week. I’ve been spending much more time outside than behind the computer also and you’re right, it feels great
Thanks Jeremy, glad you’ve been enjoying getting away from the computer too 🙂
Sounds like your week off was very well spent looks like lots of fun 🙂
Thank you Ashley – it was a fun week overall 🙂
Hi Louise, your daughters are really cute and don’t look at all camera shy! It’s nice to see you enjoying some blog free time with your girls. I think they should actually make an official no blog week at least twice a year!
xx
Thanks Debbie – I love the idea of an official no blog week twice a year, think I’ll be making sure I have an unofficial one here and there though as it has made such a difference 🙂
Sometimes you gotta take a break 🙂 and it looks like you had loads of fun 😀 It’s been way too hot to blog this week so I’ve left mine too.. caught up this weekend.
Thanks Karen, it was lovely to have that break 🙂
Sometimes a break is needed, well done for you recognising it. Looks and sounds like you’ve had a fab week! p.s I love that the B and R on break have a bikini on like boobs lol x #WotW
Thanks Sharon – glad you liked my word pic too, had fun with that one! 🙂
Ah glad you enjoyed your beak from blogging lovely, really does the world of good sometimes! Looks like you had a great week and love your ‘break’ picture, made me chuckle 🙂 xx
Thanks Caroline – it was lovely to have a break. Glad you liked the word pic too – it was a fun one to do 🙂
Sounds like you had a great week! Lovely photos – you guys look so happy! 🙂 #HappyDays
Thank you – we did have a lovely week 🙂
I do love your paddling pool photos, you guys look so happy!
Glad you’re feeling that you now have a bit more headspace by stepping back from the blog. Similar thoughts here, considering how much extra effort is required to take blogging to the next level and whether it’s appropriate or do I just write for enjoyment?! Interesting times, huh?!
You do look happy & I hope the hot weather holds for the summer holidays
xc
Thanks Tracey – there’s still a big part of me that would like to take my blog to the next level but I don’t think that this is the right time for me to do it – for now, I’m just going to focus on blogging mostly for enjoyment and enjoy my girls while they’re still little x
Sounds and looks like you have had a great week – I love your paddling pool! Best way too cool off in the weather we have been having. I am really glad you are enjoying your break from blogging – it’s so nice to recharge your batteries isn’t it!
We had a lovely week, thank you Jenni, and it was lovely to have that break from blogging too 🙂
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed your blogging break, Louise.
I seem to get a ‘blogging burnout’ every few weeks or so and I always feel better for taking a break.
I saw your bikini photo on Instagram and thought you looked so comfortable and happy – the way we should all feel in our bikinis. Our bodies are beautiful. 🙂
Thanks for joining our #HappyDaysLinky
xx
Thanks Jenna – it is good to take time out every so often isn’t it? Thank you for the lovely comment about my bikini photo – have to say that I was encouraged by having seen Honest Mum’s #proudinmybikini hashtag and thought as it was so hot, it might be nice to wear it again! Lovely to link up each week to #HappyDaysLinky 🙂