When your heart's not in it...

Hi guys!

I've got something to tell you all...

This post has been very difficult for me to write... in fact I've lost count of how many times I've started writing it, only to discard it and start again...

There is no easy way to to say this, so I guess I'm just going to have to say it:

There is a BIG change coming...

For those of you that know me personally, or have been following me for some time on social media, you've probably sensed that something's up in my personal life...

Well....It's a biggie:

The last year and a half has been really tough , and without going in to too much detail, things are not working out for me here in the UK on a personal level.

It's been an accumulation of things...circumstances no one could ever predict, illness, struggles and emotions....it's all been too much. And it's affected my health and happiness to the point where I thought I could not go on...

So I've made a decision...the toughest decision of my life: 

To end my marriage and relocate to Norway!

I've been heartbroken for so long now, that finally making this decision feels like a step towards regaining some control over my downward spiraling life...

I am not going to try to justify my decision, just know that I've got to the point where I could see no other option:

So I am leaving the UK...life as I know it, my marriage, my husband, my best friend for the last 17 years of my life...the life we've had together and the home we've built for our little family...Everything I've worked for....

So this Christmas me and Little Miss Moo is moving back to Norway...to start again!

I'm not going to lie:

I know it's going to be tough on us all:

Living with my mum and Dad again, at the age of 38, a single mum, no job, no house....nothing...I'ts not exactly how I envisaged my life turning out....But I really feel like this is the right thing to do for me....and for Mia , at this point...and I know that with the support of my friends and family back home: I CAN DO THIS!!

Mia will be starting school in Norway in the new year....It's not going to be easy for her: She doesn't speak any Norwegian (One of my biggest regrets) and no doubt she'll miss her old school friends, her home and most importantly: Her dad...her hero!!

But it's going to be toughest of all for my husband....to be on his own, without his little girl greeting him when he comes home after work each day...

After more than 17 years together, it is heartbreaking to think about....and even though the decision has been made, I still think to myself : HOW CAN I DO THIS??

But too much stuff has happened, stuff that's been no-ones fault....a sad set of circumstances,  and it has changed the dynamics of our relationship...to the point where there is no going back...

So as much as I struggle liking myself at the moment, for what I am about to do, at the very least I am true to my feelings, honest and willing to take the fall for my decision... 

And as unfair as this situation is , for everybody, at least I am giving us all a fair chance of something real....a new start and a chance to make it right!

I don't want Mia to ever think it's OK to settle for anything less than Happiness, and by doing this....this HUGE BIG THING....I am hoping to set an example for my daughter: To always follow your heart and go for Happiness!!

(Even when your heart is broken and happiness seems an awful long way away...)

I truly believe that if you don't like what you're doing, how you're feeling or the way you're life's turned out:

MAKE A CHANGE!!

DO SOMETHING!

CHASE THE DREAM!

    BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN!

At least that's what I tell myself....

So...

I don't usually get this personal here on the blog, but I thought you all should know what's going on...

Because, I am going to struggle keeping up with all the blog stuff in amidst all the stuff going on and the things I need to get organised in the next couple of months....with the move to Norway and settling into our new life there.

So please bare with me in this difficult and highly emotional time...I am planning on keeping up with the blog, but posts may be a bit sporadic, and I may have to take some time out over Christmas and the new year....

But here's the exciting bit:

Imagine all the new and wonderful adventures I'm going to be able to tell you all about once I've landed on my feet in Norway....

House-hunting, decorating, Scandinavian decor, furnishings and trends....Exciting new collaborations....Not to mention : Lots of new DIY projects!!

So, please bare with me, and wish us luck in our new adventure in Norway....I will keep blogging, with a little help from some awesome blogger friends of mine.... until the BIG MOVE, but then I may go quiet for a while....Don't forget me....

I'LL BE BACK!!

All images via Pinterest

6 super simple last minute DIY advent calendar ideas

It is less than a week until the 1st of December....Can you believe it!??

This last month of the year can be very hectic, and the pressures, anticipations and preparations for Christmas can soon become overwhelming. But Advent time can also be a lovely time to re-assess and slow down, and I hope you all will find some time to enjoy it!

One of the things I love about this time of the year is spending the darker evenings getting creative and making things for our holiday decor...and it always starts with the essential ADVENT CALENDAR.

Don't get me wrong, those generic supermarket chocolate advent calendars serves their purpose, but I like to create something that is a bit more of a feature in my home decor to set the mood for the season...and every year I do something different: You can see last years kirigami advent calendar here, but this year I've made This simple alternative.

It really doesn't need to be anything complicated, as the simplicity of the ideas in this post will show you....I love the idea from My Scandinavian home, above, where notes, simply taped on to a blackboard wall, with clues to a hidden present in the home will not only encourage a fun daily game of hide and seek, but also help take the pressure off having it all ready on the 1st of December....

As mentioned in before, this year I am taking a very simplistic and laid back approach to my Christmas decorating, and all the ideas for an alternative advent calendar in this post reflects this.....They are all very pretty, but also pretty easy to make, so that YOU can still find the time to create your own before December....

This idea from Arrow House is as simple as attaching 24 small drawstring bags to some strung up Large wooden beads....Stamp or draw numbers onto the bags and add some fairy lights to set the seasonal mood...

I love this simple idea from MINIKUNST: Just drill 24 holes in a piece of wood, then write little life affirming or inspirational notes on small pieces of paper, roll up and place in the holes....

It doesn't get much simpler than this idea from Annaleena's hem : Wrap up a little treats in white paper for each day of advent....stamp or draw on the numbers then simply tape them all to the wall....

Kjersti from Kjersti's lykke also used the simple white parcel for each day approach to her advent calendar, but she attached them to a piece of numbered grey felt....and most ingeniously filled her parcels with pieces of play mobile set, so that each day her son could add to building the kit...

This last one, from Stipje, may not hold any surprise treats, and may therefore not appeal to children, but for a stylishly adult way to countdown to Christmas, I love it....

A simple twig with painted numbers , add some wooden beads on elasticated string, then move the beads up the twig as the days pass...