Ever since she heard the song "let's go fly a kite", my youngest daughter has wanted a kite. 

She asked Father Christmas for one. He let her down (naughty Santa).

The song is on one of her CD's in the car and she gets a little grumpy face every time it comes on and looks at me with sad eyes (nothing like a guilt trip from a toddler eh?).

However, Mommy and Daddy to the rescue and we managed to get a kite just in time for the windiest weekend in some little while. So we wrapped up warm and walked over to the fields opposite our house to go and fly a kite.

The toddler was excited, Daddy was more than a little excited too and we were all beyond excited when we got it flying in the sky.

Up

Up

Up it went.

We let her hold her kite by her herself ...... I however had to hold on to her for fear of her blowing away.

I can't remember flying a kite as a child.

I will however remember the absolute delight on her face today and I hope that she will remember how much fun we had. The kite wasn't expensive but it was priceless to see how much she enjoyed being outside. Unlike me, she is happy to be outside whatever the weather and I suspect it won't be the last time the kite comes out and it goes up in the atmosphere, up where the air is clear ......

When was the last time you flew a kite?

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Do you remember the life lessons your parents tried to instill into you? My mum told me that I shouldn't always believe everything I hear, especially when you are not sure of what you are listening to.

As a child, I remember singing along at the top of my voice to Paul Young in my parents car,

"Ev'ry time you go away you take a piece of meat with you."

Meat? Because Paul Young was clearly a butcher?

I recall my mum bursting into laughter and telling me to listen more carefully.

Fast forward 30 or so years and I am driving my car while my tween sings along to Taylor Swift, Blank Space. She sung:

"Tell me when it's over, if the high was worth the pain,

calling all those Starbucks lovers"

Here is the song, what do you hear?

These are clearly not the right words, so I had to talk to my friend Mr Google and find out the actual lyrics and it appears that we were not the only people singing the wrong words. According to Metro Lyrics, our ears pick up what the artist says, but our own brains interpret what we hear based on our own experiences and what we picture happens next. 

So the real words are "Got a long list of ex-lovers, they'll tell you I'm insane" , well this song has driven me insane this week and I go from singing Starbucks Lovers, to the real words, depending on what I am hearing at the time.

So my mom may have had a point all those years ago, you shouldn't always believe what you hear!

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A few years back, I decided to give up making New Years Resolutions because no one really ends up sticking to them (unless of course you have amazing self control which unfortunately I do not), so my only resolve was to change my perspective. I chose to reflect rather than project and to dwell on the positives and the achievements we have made. 

I have always started my post with my favourite quote of the year and so the quote for 2014 has to be:

"We didn't realise we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun".

So here are my Reverse Resolutions for 2014.

1. I built a business. Not just a hobby or "something to keep me occupied", an actual business that is well regarded and respected. *sounds fanfare*. I realise I am polishing my own halo but it has taken a long time to build the business to something I can be proud of and well, I am proud.

2. I have helped other small businesses grow too. I have worked with some fabulous companies and can actually say I love working in social media, despite our friends at Facebook and their "friendly" algorhythm changes.

3. I lost half a stone. Post baby weight (and admitedly 3 years late) but with our wedding on the horizon, I was compelled to get into shape, thank goodness for juicing.

4. We got married! After years of being together, a house, a baby and everything in between, we got married. This was a huge thing for me (and him obviously) and it was the best day of the year.

5. I stopped worrying and started enjoying. That meant not taking photographs of every single moment for instagram or creating the perfect blog post image and if I don't write a blog post every day, every week or even for a month if I choose too, I am not going to worry about it.

Because, I am having fun and making memories as I go .....

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Christmas crept up on me this year, don't get me wrong I was obviously insanely organised (as usual) but after our wedding it was suddenly Christmas and we were watching festive TV rather than the usual box sets and sport.

Sport features quite heavily in our social calendar and whilst I wouldn't have necessarily called myself a sport widow, I have been known to be evicted from my lounge when the lads come round to watch the latest UFC. I am not sure if I am more put out to being moved out of the lounge or whether it is more to do with missing out on the men in shorts (those on the TV not in my lounge you understand).

So what does a girl need when she is relegated upstairs while the boys are deciding whether the man in the red shorts is going to tap out or whether the man in the blue shorts is skilled in thai kick boxing (!!), well Betfair kindly sent me this hamper to pamper myself with while the male testosterone levels reach new highs downstairs.

It has everything a girl needs, including a hot chocolate drink that apparently the tween neeeeeeeeeeeds. One of my favourite things about my gorgeous Pamper Parcel though, is the ability to pass it on as a random act of kindness to some one else who may just need a little pick me up.

So next time it is his friends wife's turn to host the UFC male viewing evening, I shall certainly be passing the pampering mantle onto her but in the meantime, I shall look forward to running a bath, lighting a candle and making indulging in a small chocolate drink (just don't tell the tween!).

So we say goodbye to Christmas TV and it is back to normal ..... anyone for UFC?

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