#ShowYouWereThere round up

‘Show you were there’ round up (week eleven)

by with 3 Comments PhotographyShow you were thereUncategorized

Here we are again, another week of #ShowYouWereThere.

In case you don’t know much about it, it’s my little instagram community built around the idea of trying to get more parents in more photos.  We take so many photos of our children, but often forget to jump in front of the camera ourselves.

When our children are older though, they will really treasure the photos that we are in.  We need to show that we were there!

So, time for my round up.

Here are my four favourite photos that were shared on instagram this week.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BT5PGRJlWx0/

 

A really big thank you to Kerry from All about a mini Norris, Emma from Emmaology, Maria from Suburban Mum and Vicki from Mum bun Mondays for sharing your lovely photos with me and #ShowYouWereThere this week.

They’re all really gorgeous photos, but I have to say, how beautiful did Kerry look for her vow renewal?!  That is definitely a photo they’ll treasure in years to come!

 

And now, my turn.

We were at Bluestone last week, and had such a good time.  It was a strange mix of being busy, with multiple trips to the blue lagoon pool, and being relaxing.  I think we all just took the opportunity to switch off from our normal routine, and it did us the world of good.

It also meant that both Steve and I managed to get in some photos.

What was especially nice about our holiday was that my in laws came away with us too.  So there were 4 adults available to give their time and attention to the 2 children, so it felt like we all managed to get some good quality time with each child without anyone feeling left out.

Have you been getting in photos with/for your children lately?

If you’d like to join in with my little community and possibly be featured in my next round up (with a nice link back to your blog!) then just share a photo of yourself over on instagram using #ShowYouWereThere.  It’s all about getting more parents in more photos.  And if you’d like to take part in my guest post series ‘The photo I’m thankful for‘ then take a look at this post or email me at thisgloriouslife@gmail.com for more information.

#ShowYouWereThere round up

‘Show you were there’ round up (week ten)

by with 2 Comments PhotographyShow you were thereUncategorized

I’m still finding my rhythm with this little community I’m working on building.  And time got away from me last week, and my week nine round up slipped through the net.

So, this week is a bit of a catch up week.  Which means I had even more lovely photos to choose from, for this week ten round up!

Here are my favourites that were shared over on instagram with #ShowYouWereThere.

 

 

 

 

A very big thank you to Charlotte from Mummy Fever, Abergavenny Kids, Ruth from Mummy and the Mexicans and Wendy from Naptime Natter for sharing your gorgeous photos over the last 2 weeks.

 

And now, my turn.

Or should I say, my husband’s turn!

I’ve been back behind the camera more over the last 2 weeks, so the photo I’m sharing from my family is of my husband.

show you were there

I absolutely love this photo of Nerys with her Daddy.  They have such a nice time doing the gardening together, I’m so pleased to have photos like this for them to both look back on when she’s older.

We’re off to Bluestone next week for a little holiday, so I’ll be making sure I hand the camera over and get in a lot more photos while we’re there.

 

If you’d like to take part and possibly be featured in my next round up (with a nice link back to your blog!) then just share a photo of yourself over on instagram using #ShowYouWereThere.  It’s all about getting more parents in more photos.  And if you’d like to take part in my guest post series ‘The photo I’m thankful for‘ then take a look at this post or email me at thisgloriouslife@gmail.com for more information.

Blogs I've loved this month

Blogs I’ve loved this month – April 2017

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I feel as if I’ve not read as many blogs this month as I normally would.  I think the Easter holidays threw me off my routine a bit, but in a good way as I was spending more time with my family rather than on the computer.

When I stopped and thought about it though, I realised that I might not have read quite as many posts as normal, but I’ve still read some fantastic ones!

So here are some of the blogs I’ve read and loved in April.

Blogs I've loved this month

 

I’m sorry if I fooled you…

I absolutely loved this post from Five little doves.  You may well have seen it being shared on Facebook because I think it hit a nerve with quite a few of us.  If you haven’t read it yet, go and take a look as in it Laura talks about how the life we show on social media is normally just the highlights.  We post photos of the best bits of our days, and then we go and look at other people’s photos of the best bits of their days.  And even though we know our photos don’t tell the whole story, we so often fall into the trap of believing that other people’s lives are as perfect as the photos they post on instagram.  We’re all fooling each other aren’t we!

 

35 before 35 bucket list

I don’t know what it is about other people’s bucket lists, but I really enjoy reading them!  And this one in particular from Emmageddon interested me because I will be 35 this summer.  As you can probably guess from the title, it’s a list of 35 things Emma wants to do before she turns 35.  Now, she’s got a bit longer left than I have to tick things off her list, but it has inspired me!

 

What does co-parenting success look like?

I always enjoy the posts that Pen over at The single swan writes, they’re always so open and honest.  This particular post is about how we define success in terms of co-parenting.  I have a lot of respect for people who manage to co-parent their children, and I think ultimately if parents are making decisions based on their child’s wellbeing then they should consider themselves successful.  What do you think?

 

This is my perfect body

I’ve been following Amber’s blog since it was Goblin child, and have always loved her writing and her photography.  Her blog is now Meet the Wildes, and is focused on her gorgeous family.  In this particular post Amber wrote about carrying her twins, and how doing so has changed her body.  It’s a really beautiful piece, with equally beautiful photos.

 

4 quite different posts this month, but I really loved all of them.  Hopefully you’ll find something new in here to read, and maybe a new blog or two to follow!

 

tips for travelling with camera

Things to think about when taking your camera on holiday with you

by with No Comment PhotographyUncategorized

If you’re anything like me, you wouldn’t think about going on holiday and not taking your camera with you.

When I start planning any kind of holiday or trip, my camera is right up there as one of the first things I write on my packing list (I’m not the only one who writes lists of things to pack am I?!).

The thing is, there are several things you need to think about before taking a camera away with you, especially if you’re flying off to a far-flung location.  

Here are my top 8 things to think about when taking your camera on holiday with you.

Things to think about when taking your camera on holiday with you

1. Consider where you’re going.

If you’re going anywhere that’s extremely hot or super cold, make sure your camera can handle it.  The biggest issue is going from one temperature extreme to another, because this can cause condensation to build up in your camera.  This is more of an issue if you’re going somewhere cold, so if you’re going on a sky holiday think about taking a bag for your camera to keep it in as you go from outside to inside.  Or pack a few of those silica packages to pop in your camera bag.

 

2. Make sure you’re insured.

Accidents happen.  So make sure you have some insurance in place before you leave.  That way if you do happen to drop your camera, or knock it into the pool, it won’t be the end of the world.

 

3. Protect your camera while travelling.

If you’re taking your expensive dslr and lenses away with you, you’ll want to make sure they’re well protected on the journey.  A sturdy, protective case like these from The Case Farm will keep your things safe, secure and protected while you travel.

 

4. Carry it on.

Along the same lines, think about getting a case that meets carry on requirements if you’re travelling by plane.  I know I really wouldn’t want my precious camera to be out of my sight if I was flying somewhere!

 

5. Consider what activities you’ll be doing.

If you’ll be doing a lot of water-based activities, then look into getting waterproof casing for your camera.  This is something I’ve been wanting to do for ages, after seeing all the stunning surfing photos that are out there.  Even if you’ll just be splashing in the pool with your baby you could get some amazing underwater shots with the right protective casing.

 

6. Stock up on memory cards.

Even if your memory card can hold a whole holiday’s worth of photos, think about taking a couple more with you and switching between them periodically while you’re away.  That way, if anything happens to your camera, say it gets stolen for example, you won’t lose every single photo from your trip.

 

7. Stock up on batteries too.

Make sure you have enough batteries for your camera and flash.  And if you’re using rechargeable batteries, make sure you have the right plug adapter for your charger!

 

8. Think about getting a filter.

If you’re going on a beach holiday, think about getting a filter to put on your lens.  A UV filter is a good option, or a neutral density filter to help with taking photos on super bright days.  The main benefit of a filter on holiday though, is simply to protect your lens from getting blasted with sand and salty air.

 

So there you have it, a fair bit to be thinking about before you jet off on holiday.  But hopefully, planning ahead and considering all these factors will save you from any drama while you’re away!

 

Disclosure – this is a collaborative post

 

You Baby Me Mummy
blogs-loved

Blogs I’ve loved this month – March 2017

by with No Comment PersonalUncategorized

At the end of February I shared a few blog posts that I loved reading that month.  One of the things I love about blogging is how supportive the community is, and so I want to carry on showing my support for the amazing bloggers out there by sharing the posts that I particularly enjoy reading each month.

So, here are a few of the blogs I’ve loved in March:

Blogs I've loved this month

The six words every Mother needs to hear

This lovely post from Mummy Wales really resonated with me.  In it she talks about those early days of parenting, when everything is overwhelming and exhausting, and how 6 magic words can help get you through it.  And how those same words can help you through all the other times as your babies get older, that feel so tough when you’re right in the middle of it.

Head over and take a read of the post to find out what these magic words are!

 

Confessions of a third time mum

This post from Confessions of a crummy mummy really made me smile.  We would love to have a third child, and this post gave me an insight to the chaos we could expect if we go for it!  If there are any parents out there feeling far from perfect, then go and have a read, it’s a brilliantly honest post that will make you feel much better about not having it all together.  I mean honestly, does anyone really have it all together all the time?!

 

DIY yarn Easter eggs

I love a good craft activity, and so do Rhys and Nerys.  This idea for making eggs from wrapping balloons in yarn is one I’ve seen a few times in the past, but it’s always seemed a bit tricky for me to do with the children.  This post from Mudpie Fridays makes it look do-able though!  And the end result looks fab too.  I think we might give this a go in the Easter holidays.

 

5 mistakes I made in my first year of blogging

I love reading posts like this, and getting to learn from other people’s experiences.  I read this one from Mum in Brum this month and found myself nodding along to all of the points she made.  There is so much to learn when you start blogging, I think a lot of us make these same ‘mistakes’ in the beginning.  It’s funny though, I think working through these things was the best way for me to learn!

 

Things ten years of motherhood have taught me

When you have young children it’s easy to get just really caught up in that stage of parenting.  And so I really enjoy reading blogs from parents of older children, to get a bit of insight about what I can expect in the future and gain some perspective on these early years.  This post from wellies on the school run was a really great read about the things she’s learned from ten years of motherhood.  Go and have a read, it’s just lovely and comforting and sort of bitter sweet and is what parenting is all about.

 

So there we have it.

Hope you find something new in there to read and maybe some new bloggers to check out!

You Baby Me Mummy
the more you praise quote

A quote for international day of happiness

by with 7 Comments QuotesUncategorized

I don’t know about you, but it did make me smile when I woke up on this Monday morning and found out it is international day of happiness!

It’s been really lovely to jump on Twitter and Facebook and see all these positive and happy messages, images and quotes. It’s definitely brightened up a rainy day in Swansea.

So, not one to miss a chance to spread some happiness, I’ve been scrolling through my quote collection on Trello. Tell me I’m not the only one who collects and saves quotes for a rainy day!

I have several joyful quotes I could have chosen to share in this post. But today, this one spoke to me.

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate

Very wise words from Oprah!

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate”

I am quite a believer in the idea that you get back what you put out into the world.  The idea that what you focus on expands.  At the moment though, I need this reminder to focus on the good things.  I’ve been feeling really quite anxious recently, and feel like things are getting on top of me.  So I need to stop dwelling on the negatives and stop letting little niggles steal my attention away from all the things I really do have in my life that are worth celebrating.

Maybe I need to write myself a list again.  Take a few minutes to really focus on all the things I should be praising.  I really do think that once I start I’ll find more and more things come along that will be worth celebrating too!

 

Cuddle Fairy
showyouwerethere

‘Show you were there’ round up (week three)

by with One Comment Show you were thereUncategorized

Week three of my month-long challenge to get in a photo every day and I’m really proud that I’m still going!

It’s been another pretty wet week here in Swansea, so once again most of my photos were taken inside.  We did venture out a couple of times though, just to the local park, so I think I’ve managed to get a nice variety of photos again, which I’m so happy with.

So, on with the photos!

showyouwerethere

showyouwerethere

Notice anything different in that last photo?  I may have chopped a couple of inches off my hair this week!  What do you think?

If you’re interested you can click on these links to see my photos from week one and week two.

 

#ShowYouWereThere

I’m so, so happy to see that people are starting to join in with this little hashtag of mine!

If you have a photo that features YOU, either by yourself or with your children then please do use #ShowYouWereThere on it over on instagram.

This week I’m sharing these fab photos:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BR0m-4Whyeb/

 

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRyLUU7j8SB/

 

 

Thank you so much to Esther from Inside out and about, Sara from Ballsy Mama, Jo from Pickle and Poppet and Wendy from Naptime Natter for sharing your photos this week!

I’d love to see you all again next week, along with anyone else who would like to join in.

Make sure you exist in photos for your chidlren – show you were there!