Pampas and Pearls

"Easter is meant to be a symbol of hope, renewal, and new life."  - Janine di Giovanni Easter is a time of hope, renewal, and celebration. Whether you celebrate the religious aspects of the holiday or simply enjoy the fun and festivities that come with it, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this special time of year. From dyeing eggs to enjoying a delicious Easter meal with loved ones, there are many traditions associated with Easter that make it a beloved holiday for many.  As we all know by now one mechanism that reduces my anxiety is planning and yet again here is another planning post...enjoy. So when planning for an enjoyable Easter Sunday I often ask myself...where do I begin? While that is a good question looking at the end goal is also something I like to do. But I often start with the essentials: That is my end goal, well more of an idealised end goal. I know not everything will happen but as they say 'in an ideal world'.... Writing it down or making a note in...

"Spring is natures way of saying, 'Let's Party'"  - Robin Williams  As they say Spring has Sprung and the flowers are coming up to bloom. With the weather set to be warmer and keeping our fingers crossed that it is going to be warm. Here are ten things to do to create memories in Spring: Number 1: Plant a vegetable garden. Number 2: Go for a hike and enjoy the blooming flowers. Number 3: Take a road trip and explore a new place. Number 4: Have a picnic in the park. Number 5: Visit a local farmers' market. Number 6: Stop and look around, without your phone.  Number 7: Have a back garden campfire. Number 8: Go for a bike ride. Number 9: Take a cooking class. and finally Number 10: Have a BBQ with friends. Happy making memories  Kisses Katie xx

 "To the world you may be one person: but to one person you may be the world" - Dr Seuss when I refer to mother in this post I want to make it clear I am referring to ANY figure you see in the position of mother to you.  What is a mother? Well that is something up for debate but for me a  mother is someone who is attentive and caring, nurturing and supportive, and puts the needs of her children before her own. She should be patient and understanding, willing to listen and offer guidance and advice. She should be encouraging and positive, and provide a safe and loving environment for her children to grow and learn. A good mother is also a role model, setting a good example for her children and teaching them important life lessons. She should be able to provide discipline when needed, but also show her children unconditional love and acceptance. Ultimately, a good mother is someone who loves and cares for her children and puts their needs first and ultimately tries her best...

 "Having a simplified, uncluttered home is a form of self-care" - Emma Schieb Spring cleaning is a great way to refresh your home and get organised but knowing where to start can be difficult. So here are some tips to make your spring cleaning easier and more efficient: Start with one room at a time. Cleaning one room from top to bottom will help you stay focused and make sure that nothing is missed. Make a plan. Create a list of  small tasks for each room and set a goal for when you want to have it completed. Don’t forget the little things. Don’t forget to dust off the shelves, vacuum the skirting boards, and wipe down the walls if appropriate. Make it fun! Put on your favourite music or podcast to make the time go by faster. Get everyone involved. If you can assign tasks to family members or drag your friends along to help and make it a fun group activity. Donate or discard items you no longer need. This will help keep your home clutter-free and give you a sense of accompli...

"There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish"  - Michelle Obama Why I think it is important, now that is a question I have been asking myself a lot lately. Women have achieved a lot over history from the right to vote in 1928 to even right now where women are demanding a voice of the change in law with regards to abortion in varying part of the world. I take being a woman as a symbol of power, a symbol of strength and a symbol of unity.  I love being a woman and I wouldn't change it for the world.  There are many women who inspire me, mostly from modern day but a few from History. Emma Watson inspires me for speaking up in the UN. Adele inspires me for not changing who she is to her very core. Demi Lovato inspires me for trying be to her authentic self. Our late Queen inspired me with her keep carrying on attitude, even when times were tough. Ada Lovelace inspires me with her passion and determination to achieve in times where women scarcely did. Mary Shelley i...

“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I’m possible” - Audrey Hepburn   So, I am sure we have all been there, being incredibly busy and just putting things here, there and everywhere. Well, this year I am going to try and be proactive and productive and keep tidy. With this in mind here are my top tips to help keep tidy and be more proactive with it. Tip One: Making the bed! Now this might be an obvious one but it definitely helps. However, don’t  make your bed the second you get out of it. This traps in bacteria and could make your sheets dirtier quicker. In fact, you should fold the duvet down and leave it to air for a short period of time. This could be while you get dressed or take a shower! Tip Two: Every little helps! Pop clothes in the basket before they hit the floor, if they aren’t on the floor to begin with then they can’t make a mess. Keep a basket in the places you get dressed and undressed this again reduces your chances of throwing it on the floor. ...

"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard" - Winnie the Pooh   Before I begin, I just want everyone to know not everything works for everyone, we are all different and cope with grief differently. This is what works best for me and what I have researched. Grief is not always something I deal with well; I am sure it is not something any of us deal with well. Expressing myself is difficult and I prefer to keep it to myself (which is something I am working on for 2023) and then eventually it all boils to the surface, so here are some things I will be trying to use to help with dealing with grief: Number 1: Accept that it has happened. This is the first one and most difficult one, it has happened and unfortunately nothing, and I mean nothing, with change it. This takes the longest the do and processing it is the toughest challenge of all. Number 2: Create a memory book. This can have photos, cards, clothing, any form of memories. Sometimes havi...

                                                                       "I love you"- everyone around the world So Valentine's day is just around the corner and it's typically a day I don't really celebrate or even involve myself with, but this year I am taking myself out and showing myself some love. I am sure you have seen hearts, teddies and chocolates everywhere, you can't get away from them.  Valentines day stereotypically puts pressure on men to spoil their other halves, or for women to put on something sexy and well... you know. But we often forget to show ourselves some love and affection.  Being kind to yourself should happen every day of the year but this year I challenge you to take care of yourself, go somewhere relaxing or out for a fancy dinner, dress up and...

Hello all, as you may be aware I re-launched this blog in January and redefined my niche. As a result of this I will be removing all posts prior to this re-launch. Where a previous post fits in with my current perspective I will be re-uploading it an additional content throughout the month of March.  I Just want to thank you, everyone for supporting me in this journey and hope you enjoy the content that is to come.  Kisses  Katie xx

 "How do we change the world? One Random act of Kindness at a time" - Morgan Freeman We could all do with a little more kindness in our lives and doing one tiny thing at a time will help the wider picture, being kind is not difficult, returning a smile or saying hello, picking up a dropped item. It all adds up.  I myself am guilty of not always being kind or always helping people when I could but this year I am going to try and make an effort to help someone when I can these acts of kindness can be: Going to see an elderly relative you know is on their own or you haven't seen in a while. The pandemic has a lasting impact on us all, vulnerable people especially, taking the time out of your day to see someone or even simply give them a call on the phone will go a long way.  Push the stop button on the bus. If someone is clearly struggling or unable to push it for themselves, it takes a second, it really isn't difficult.  If you are able to, donate any amount you can, t...

“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” — Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban The quote above really resonates with me at the moment, I am making a change in my life to bring the light back in. I am moving away from a career I have wanted since I was 11 but now at 26 it isn't the path for me and it isn't where I want to be. I am coming to terms with that and trying at show myself that it is okay. I stopped my current path as my anxiety was taking over, I could not breathe properly and felt like I could not leave the house. After taking some time away from my course I came to the realisation that I no longer had the desire to follow my current path of teaching. This upset me more than the change itself. The decade long journey comes to an end and I have not much of a clue on where to go next. I am currently taking it day by day and being kind to myself. There is no one to blame, no negative fe...

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens" Julie Andrews, The Sound of Music As we enjoy the first few weeks of 2023 I thought I would note now a few of my favourite things about the year 2022, some of these may have made it into blog posts, others may not have. This list will comprise of everything from makeup to music, to friends (no not my favourite friends but favourite activities with friends) Lets begin with Makeup shall we, I have very much been in love with the E.L.F flawless finish foundation, in fact this is my second bottle. I love this foundation, it isn't too full coverage and suits my skin like most foundations don't. It is under £10.00 and absolutely fabulous. I have also been in love with most of my nude lippies but this one from kiko is my absolute fave! Music is next, now this isn't so clear cut. I am sure we all know different songs suit different moods and occasions. I must admit I love all thing...

 Hello everyone and Happy New Year! It's 2023 and I'm making it the year I put myself first. With this new found self care I have taken the decision to change and evolve with my career. I am moving towards my love for writing and photography and being creative. A scary move into the somewhat unknown, to rephrase frozen. I am taking a giant leap away from what I thought was going to be my future but as the word evolves and as I grow up things change. I am currently learning to accept this and say it's okay to not know, but also to say 'you've got this' Taking care of yourself can be seen as selfish but it necessary for good mental health and living a life you want to live. This will be a huge topic for me going forward and for Pampas and Pearls in general.  There are lots of exciting things to come and I cannot wait for you to join me on my journey. Come and say hi, give us a follow. You won't regret it.  The posting schedule will be every Sunday at 10.00am w...