Blogmas - Day 2 - Why family is important at Christmas Time

Source: We Heart It

I do wonder what it must feel like to have no family or no one else in the world to care for you during Christmas... I wouldn't want to say "I know how you feel!" because I don't. I feel loneliness at times but then again nearly everyone does.

My mum has always told me that I should take at least one moment of everyday to thank god/ the universe or reflect on everything I have in my life and to be grateful for it. So I do. Usually when it's the happiest point of my day.

When I was younger, probably around six, I was watching the news with my mum, Granny and Granddad and I remember finding out in that moment what death really meant. And during that time I thought it only happened to you as you got older. So I cried by myself by the back door of the house sitting on the floor with the dog beside me. My Mum knelt down next to me and told me that Granny and Granddad wouldn't die... of course it's something you'd say to a child but from then on I made sure to never take them for granted. Christmas is the time to have time to think and to make sure you show your family and friends that you do love them. Then as I got older I saw how anyone could die and not just from old age.

Gifts of course I do love them but to be honest I've never been excited for them (apart from 3 gifts I've ever ever received in my life... to be continued on another post) ... sounding a little selfish.... but I get excited for buying the gifts for people where I know they love to get them. It's tricky in my family as we don't really care about getting them. We're pretty much happy with the goodies, music, movies and dressing up. All the same we still put smiles on our faces to express how thankful we are.

Christmas time is really about making sure someone doesn't feel alone in this world. That they are cared for and that they matter. My parents have invited so many people into our home over all of the Christmases I can remember. A cousin that we had barely known, his mother and father had passed away in the same year and he didn't feel welcomed in his siblings houses for the holiday celebrations, so my parents invited him to spend it with us. Another year my aunt came from the Caribbean and stayed with us for a few months as she tried to sort out her life. Even dads friend was welcomed into our home when he had just separated from his wife and wasn't allowed to see his children.

It's the family that shows us what Christmas really means. And mine really has worn their hearts on their sleeves and has opened our home to anyone who is going through a rough patch. It's all I know about Christmas. And if I didn't have a family I really don't know what I would do at this time of year.

So be thankful and full of praise towards your family. Thank the universe for that goodness you have yet in your lives. Even with every disastrous that is happening in the world today, it really does show you how your life can change in the most unexpected times. Think about that and just take this moment to know what you have right before you!! Christmas lights, decorations, music and gifts will never go away, they will always be around at Christmas in many years to come but family may not.

Love them and share that love to others who need it!!

Thankful Thursday

I want to have a kitty cat, so I can put a whooly hat on him. Too CUTE!

This guys is my final Thankful Thursday in London. I shall be in Edinburgh this time next week... *bringing on the 'Oooooos'* Yeah I know! Amazing!

Carrying on, my week remained quite positive, especially with receiving word back that my suspected glandular fever was negative. THANK YOOOOOU DOCTOR! Now I can be happy with my holidays, with no worries. Throughout yesterday and today I've been looking over bit and bobs over at Canterbury. I'm still amazed by its beauty. I happened to have met a lady today, who went there for a day, for her new years resolution. She was awestruck by its charm, beauty and historic features. The young lady said she'd been inside the Canterbury Cathedral and described it as magnificent. The cathedral itself is supposedly where I should be graduating in 3 years time... *fingers crossed!*

So my Thankful Thursday

Eating out in the beer garden with some of my college peers and head tutor - Meditteranean platter board was enjoyable with the witty Peachy.

Getting an evening off from work - got to watch the England Vs Italy match.

Ed Sheerans music (both old & new) - opening up little parts of my soul.

Ella Henderson has been a pal to me this week, with going for countryside walk.

Bob Marley for making me see what truly matters in life!

Lidl chocolate - as good as any other.

Daily phone calls with the brother- discussing the matches (I'm fuming with Englands defenders tonight)

Being told by my mum how she's proud & jealous of my music - finally got her jealous.... kidding! But it's always good to know it's appreciated and supported.

Printing & checking-in for my flight back to Ireland.

Completing my portfolio for College... amazing how I did everything!

Buying gifts for tutors - they can't be thanked enough for everything they've accomplished with us.

Strawberry Activia yogurts.

Baby Daddy Finale!!!!!!!!! Dan the Man!

Burning candles.

Thank you for reading pip squeeks,

I hope you had a week for feeling thankful for,

Thankful Thursday

Wow, 2 posts in one day :D

With committing myself to this 30 day snap challenge I'm forgetting about posting other things as well. I only remembered today was actually Thursday, so luckily enough I had time to write it just before heading off to work.

Let's hope I do not forget about my Sit down Saturday post. The first post can see here.

The picture above was taken by Peachy in Waterstones. We never leave the place. I hear she found me with god-knows-what! 'Secrets in a dead fish?

Don't ask!

There is no need to really tell you how my day is going, that will be published for tomorrows 30 day snap #5.

What I've been grateful for

Friends; silly, funny, strong, clever, exciting, wise (these words sum a few of them up for ya)

Phone calls with my brother - It's the sweetest thing in the world knowing that someone misses you

Skype call & snapchats with EdelBelle!

Pukka Love tea

Having 2 days off from work

Wages (must have their own slot, they're that important!)

My orange coat from New Look - keeping me toasty

BBQs, throat medicine and shopping

My tutor, the Pirate, always so caring and considerate. There are very few people that do their utmost best in helping others and he's one of the rare.

Having snapchat videos of mum modelling her new clothes (dad bored out of his mind)

White fluffy clouds

Face masks (trying different ones)

I hope you all had a lovey week and that you found things to be grateful for. I sometimes forget how such a simple moment like holding a cup of tea can mean the world to me when I'm feeling down. A hug can take so much pressure off of me. A smile from a stranger can improve my day. I take simple gratifying gestures for granted sometimes and it's important to know what true happiness is. None of this materialistic things like makeup and clothes and money. Sure I'll get excited about them, but not for that whole day. Simple gestures of love can keep you going for as long as you wish.

What simple gestures to you makes you feel worthwhile?

Thanks for reading peeps

(just 2 more thankful thursday posts here in the UK, till I'm on that plane! I told you I'd be reminding ye.)

Thankful Thursday | Hang on to what makes you smile

"When you're Happy for No Reason, you bring happiness to your outer experiences rather than trying to extract happiness from them. You don't need to manipulate the world around you to try to make yourself happy. You live from happiness, rather than for happiness." 

- Marci Shimoff

So until I fall asleep it's still Thursday. This is the stubborn, tired me talking right now.

I've been looking at his laptop for ages, just trying to think what exactly I was grateful for this week. Not exactly a good thing when I've been staring at this screen for a few hours.

This week flew by, delighted for it, but I feel as though I don't want to rush through this time spent in London, thinking 'when will it be all over!'

I found at the beginning of the year that I was excited to get to college and dive straight in, but now things have changed. It's as though the curtain has been pulled and people are portrayed to as to whom they are.Which is perfectly fine, I don't ever want to change anyone, but to me, I've been left feeling a tad bit disappointed. You think you may know a person but when you discover that they don't carry the values that matter in a friendship, such as trust, loyalty, respect, understanding and kindness, then you feel as though that bond of friendship has been broken.

I'm lucky to have the people that are able to make me smile. Especially when it's a real, true smile.

What else made me smile this week?

- Purchases in Lush

- Cousins cuddles

- Work... that's right this was actually the highlight of the week! I must have been drugged!

- Cinema | 'A Long Way Down' (I want to find a friend like Jesse... amazing character)

- Blaring my guitar while having the house to myself

- Fish & chips

- Waitrose card | Muh free hot drinks... cos it matters!

- Exclamation marks (some reason they make me smile) !!!!!!!!!!!

- Hot water bottles are baaaaaack.

I'm seen like a total idiot singing "Mr. Sun, please shine down on me" everyday waiting for the bus. Then just getting on the bus extremely p***ed off! "FINE.... BE THAT WAY!"

- Cocoa Butter Formula

- Skype | Feeling grateful for having a bestie like I do. Don't know what I'd do without Edel. Even with the Irish Sea between us, we're close.

- My parents | For telling me not to worry about the simple things in life and knowing that I can depend on them for anything

- The Voice | When Jermain Jackman starts singing, that's it, I'm just in awe. We need more singers like him.

- Having toes ;)

What would I do if I didn't have them? Well first off I wouldn't be able to paint them... tres harsh! Oh yeah.... and walk, that would be the second problem

- Naps with listening to music

- Little moustache eraser, gift from my British rum chum (the rubber however is dangerous... it smells great and it's sharp) Peachy... you have explaining to do!

- Having amazing, wise tutors | 'The pirate' and 'Jezer'! Obviously no names will be mentioned, but judging from their nicknames, one is a more gangser type Captain Jack Sparrow. And the other is our classes Jeremy Kyle. Feel blessed to have their wisdom, knowledge and humour

- Rimmel Match Perfection foundation

Ladies and gents do let me know on what made you smile this week.

Sometimes we let our minds wander onto things that shouldn't be stressed upon. And daunting on things really does make you see more negativity than what really matters. If there's just a moment of insanity or of utter randomness that makes you smile, hang on to it. Just embrace that feeling because it's difficult to ever hold on to such happiness. It's a cruel world out there with a hidden beauty. It's just occasionally we'll get a peak into seeing that beauty and when we do, we feel so grateful to have it.

If you've reached this far in this post it means you have incredible patience and are actually able to understand most of what I wrote... Congrats!

Thanks for your eyes :)

Thankful Thursday

Westminster Cathedral - trip to London after College

Hello all, happy 'Thankful Thursday' to you :)

I'm happy to say that by the end of Thursdays I am a happy person. I have not so many stressful classes on Thursdays, wages are sometimes handed out and I get a chance to go off for a walk with my music blaring in my ears.

Mondays are usually stressful from just thinking about the week ahead. Tuesdays are usually disastrous, from 9am-4pm. Wednesdays are such a bore that I feel as though the day just exists to torture me. Even in stressful situations me and my friends always seem to find humour in the most strangest of times & places comes to think of it.

I'm so happy that this week flew by. There were lots of awkward, frustrating, deep-thinking moments, moments that got me into figuring out what sort of person I am. Am I the type of person who takes peoples criticism/ their own opinions the wrong way? Do I react badly to them? I read recently how you should treat your mind, as though it is someone else. Someone that you would only be able to manage to be around, someone that didn't exactly get on your nerves. All I need to get through is next week and then by the following Wednesday I'll be off to Mauritius with the help of God :)

So 'Thankful Thursday' folks

- Music... any genre really. I got to attend a music/ prayer service in London last Friday. Meeting some music composers, so it was a very insightful, exciting experience.

- My oyster card (where would I be without it).

- Skyping my bestie Edel at home and randomly enough in 'Morrisons'... it seems to be the place where we get extremely hyper... can't understand why.

- 'Catching Fire' DVD... watched about 5 times, so far that is.

- Babysitting while watching 'The Voice'. Little angel snoring away.

- Primark Haul for my holiday... £62... bit too much me thinks heehee :)

- Having a warm place to sleep every night and being able to come home where there's food.

- Smiles from strangers... not in a creepy way but in a way where you feel happy that they're happy.

It feels as though there's more love in the world, seeing everyone in good spirits.

Let me know whether any of you do these type of 'Thankful Thursdays'. I'm on a hunt to discover more.

Thanks for reading lovies,

Thankful Thursday | Sun, Parks, Friends & Family

Park next to my College in Barnet

So, yes I am posting this at night. My time to publish blogs. It's quiet, people are asleep, so I find it more relaxing being able to think.

My  week was stressful, not exactly fun, but the sun really did help my mood. Whenever there's sunshine, there's a happy Kayla, "Oh Mr. sun, sun, Mr. Golden sun, please shine down on me."

I spent most of my time this week in the parks, soaking up my vitamin D, with my kindle.

It feels as though it's summer already and it's only March! Amaze-balls!

So on with my 'Thankful Thursday'

Having support from my friends during stressful times

Time spent with my Aunt, cousin, Uncle & his family. Family meals, get-togethers watching 'Ant & Dec'

Walks in the woods (seeing my cousin pleased with herself horse riding in the woodlands)

My laptop

My music on my phone... currently being over-listening to Gabrielle Aplin and Christina Perri

Meal with my uncles niece... lovely conversation over a some fish & chips at my workplace

'Sherlock' & 'Bones'

My guitar

My wages... how else would I have bought my selection from 'New Look'

My most loveliest friend joining the land of blogging. Please go check her out  and follow because even though she is new to all of this, her stories and opinions will be amazing PeachyF is her name... hey the girl likes peaches :) 

My brothers strange sense of humour... seriously the guy laughs at his own jokes

My cousin running away from me... cheeky!

This guy is always beside me when I'm reading. I can always hear him chewing, judging me on what type of  book I'm reading!

So lads & lassies I hope you had an enjoyable week in the sun (those of you who had). Let me know what you were grateful for this week.

Lots of crazy luvin'