Charity shops

I am a true lover of a charity shop and I am not afraid to say it.
When I moved away from my old town in Corringham and moved to build our house in Maylandsea the one thing I really missed was my town centre we had four charity shops.
I would pop in when I had dropped Blake of from school and have a good look about with out the distraction of a child wanting every toy and book they could see.
I love a good bargain and this is the perfect place to find them.
I know some people don't like the idea of wearing or buying something that belonged to someone else but I don't really care that's what a washing machine and a bowl of fairy and warm water is for :)
Plus you are giving to a good cause so what's so wrong about that.
I didn't have a charity shop down my local parade of shops when we first moved here but squealed like a child when I saw the sigh go up for a new charity shop.
The added bonus was that all the money goes to Remus horse sanctuary.
I am a horse lover so it just fitted.
It's the perfect charity shop.
Scruffy cheap and super packed out.
It's what I call a real charity shop never turns anything away and is the most welcoming I've ever been to.
I have brought so many bargains in there.
£1.00 pair of next jeans
3 for £1.00 on all children's clothes
A box of vintage barbies for Rosa for £10.00 that included peaches and cream barbie ( who remembers her ) and ken.
A massive box of 1980's action figure over 100 of them including wrestlers, ninja turtles, spider man, bat man ect for £10.00 ( they are probably worth loads.
I am also collecting vintage brooches for a project for my wedding.
Picked up 5 for £2.00.
10 martina cole books for £2.00. They have a book sale 5 for £1.
The list could go on and on I think I keep then running ha ha

Sometimes there's stuff in there that really takes me back to my childhood.

I do get fed up when I go to charity shops and there prices are near shop prices and they have new items all in the windows.
I like my charity shop to be real and make me what to go in every other day to search for my next bargain.

So my buys this week

Monday

5 brooches for £2.00
2 1959's looking polka dot dresses in red and black £2.00 each
2 wooden cars for sonny 20p

Wednesday

4 my secret unicorn books for my horse mad niece 20p each
4 books for my children 20p each
2 pairs of leggings for Rosa one pair leopard print the other sequins.
2 dresses
2 t shirts one of which is a rolling stones t shirt for Rosa :D ( that's going to look wicked with the leopard print leggings )
£1.00 for 3 items on all children's clothes.

Every penny counts theses days and nothing would stop me from shopping in charity shops :)


Photos are of just a few bits I have brought from my local charity shop

Breastfeeding beyond infancy

So many people have seen the photos that time magazine have published.
"are you mom enough"

The front cover shows a beautiful slim mum breastfeeding her 3 year old son. Who I must add looks a lot older and bigger then the average 3 year old. Having a 3 year old myself he is a lot bigger then my sonny who is actually 4 next month.

I have seen some amazing comments and some very disturbing ones too.

Some negatives I've seen include the words. Porn. Incest. Child abuse. Disgusting. Plus many more.

My personal opinion is this and this is coming from someone who breastfed all three of there children. The longest being 1 year and 2 weeks.

Let's start with the boys age he is 3 not 15. In my eyes a 3 year old is a toddler not a grown boy. Clearly looking at him the breast milk has made him in to a very strong healthy boy. What is so wrong with doing what nature intends your breast to do. It's only society and media that's made breast more of a sexual thing.
Yes breasts are beautiful and very attractive they are part of what makes a woman beautiful. But why do men find them so attractive ? What is it that makes breasts so sexy ? only a man could answer that one ha ha.

My mum couldn't breast feed me or my sister due to medication she had to take. She would have loved to and I feel very grateful that I could.
I remember as a child cuddling my mum and always putting my head on her boobs they were squishy and comfy. But there's a truly comforting about a mothers boobs isn't there ?
Something nurturing and calming I would say.
This I think has a big part in the male fascination with them its something that nature intended them to love. I'm a female but I love boobs who wouldn't. I love mine for many reasons including that they fed my children.

So back to the issue.
What makes people think these images are disgusting . Pornographic ?
Is it because people just think that breast feeding is for little babies?
Or that people have there own issues ?

If rosa had decided to breast feed longer I would have carried on she weened herself of the breast at 1. I don't know how long I would have fed her for but even at two she is still little in my eyes.

Now for the facts.

Breast milk changes with the needs of a child. Breast milk for a newborn is totally different to that of a one year old and so on. This is because many many years ago this was the only way you fed your child feed your child by breast other wise it would die let's not forget that's what breast are for ain't they.
In other countries breast feeding your child well in to infancy is the only way they can keep there child alive.

I don't like the title of the front cover
"are you mom enough"
Some mums can't breast feed and this does NOT make them a weaker mum or less of a mum. You do what's best for your child don't you?

Everyone has there own choices I believe and don't let anyone pressure you or tell you other wise.
If you want to bottle feed your baby then go ahead or breast feed until the child is 10 then go ahead. Just don't judge people by there choices this is what makes us human and independent let's keep it this way.

The magazine did what it was intended to do get people talking. Get people to buy the mag.
As a photographer i have a shoot in a few weeks with two beautiful ladies who are breastfeeding there babies one who is still small around 16 weeks old and the other who is coming up to two. The reason for this is to highlight how beautiful breastfeeding is. I can't wait for this shoot and can't wait for everyone to see the photos so watch this space :)

My sonny and how people see him

So let's talk about sonny!

Sonny Blake Clowser what can I say he is a lively one. He is a naughty one. He climbs. He shouts. He smacks. He pinches. His bitten. Pushed. Pulled. He doesn't listen. He can be embarrassing. Hard work. Tiring. Annoying. Plus much more.

I just want to clear things up to the people who think I have a out of control kid and for all those people that have given him that look.
You will only understand that look if you go Through what I do with sonny and have a child like him.

Sonny is 3 he will be 4 on the June the 23rd.
People have been telling me for years.
" his such a lively one"
"his such a character " ( wish some times I think it's a way of people saying his naughty)
"he must be hard work "

All of the above is true he is.
Each day is a struggle with sonny when he has a good day this is amazing when he has a bad day everyone is in trouble.

I have been in a bit of my own world when it comes to him. Just thinking he is just a second child. A middle child he will calm down. But the reality is I don't think he is ok and the penny has started to drop. I'm not a doctor or an expert in child psychology but I am an expert when it comes to my child and I know him better then anyone else is this whole world.
I think my son has ADHD and I have tears in my eyes writing that.
You only want your child to be perfect don't you?
I don't want him to struggle,I don't want him to be a outcast.

My son doesn't behave the way he does because I'm a bad parent and I don't punish him.
Or pay him attention. He doesn't know how to control his emotions.

Here's an example.

He has a older brother who's 10 who despite being an angel ( and yes he is Blake is one of the most well behaved balanced 10 year olds I know) he still likes to wined up his brother because well thats what older brothers do.
Then he has a younger sister who is 2 who copies everything he does and takes his stuff. And will also hit him and pull his hair Ect as she has to fight her place like sonny does with Blake. It's a normal sibling thing. You won't understand this unless you have 2+ children. One child only has themselves they don't need to prove the pecking order.
Something happened at a recent gathering where sonny was playing with another child he was pulling the other child hard by the back of there clothes. Only playing sonny never hurts someone on purpose that's not his nature. Floyd told him no and so did the childs dad to his reaction he blew a big raspberry in the other child's dads face.
This is sonny Dealing the situation he gets embarrist and it's the only way he knows how to react. He shouldn't off been pulling no but if taken aside and told the reason he wouldn't of reacted in this way. Nobody likes there child getting hurt and this I totally understand.
This happens alot with sonny his way of reacting to a situation he fully doesn't understand is by being more naughty or saying something silly or blowing a raspberry.
As adults we know how to channel our emotions but a child with possible adha doesn't.

Here's another example

At play school sonny was playing with a child who wouldn't leave him alone getting in his face annoying him ect after telling them to go away and they didn't his reaction was to scratch there face.

Another example

Same situation but this time he bit the child.

Sonny only reacts to things never starts them. He will get Overwhelmed by what's happening and react.

You might all be think no his just naughty. I want you all to understand why I think he has ADHD

1. He can't control his actions
2. He can't stay still
3. He doesn't know when to stop
4. He is very loud
5. He interrupts
6. He can't wait his turn
7. He will climb and jump even when told not too.
8. He has to have the cup he has chosen or he will completely loose it.
9. He has to have the routine he chooses or he just can't cope.
10. He gets in people's faces.
11. He will say silly word ect when spoken to instead of talking to you normally.
12. If he has the hump it takes a whole lot of effort to get him out of the mood.
13. Telling him off doesn't work it just makes him more angry.
14. He will make a mess without thinking of the consequences.

There are any more things.

This is sonny everyday I have to deal with this. So the next time you pass my son off as being naughty. Horrible. Spiteful. Ect think maybe he has something wrong with him. Maybe he doesn't understand why you are so angry with him.

But let me clear something else up.
Everybody who had taken the time to get to know my son also know this.

He is one of the cleverest kids I know and the play school have told me he is best in class for speaking and use of words. He also has the best attention span when doing an activity.
He always helps tidy up and will always look after the little ones when they are upset. If a child falls over he is the first to go over and make sure there ok.

He is one of the most loving children I have know. When the time is right for him he will give you the best kiss and cuddle in the world and hold you so tightly you can fill the love he has go right through your body.

He is the funniest little boy I know too his quick wit will get him far.
He has an amazing sense of humour.
He has an amazing imagination and this is where his different he see's the world as a muse and he is going to use it in his own way and I'm sure this way is going to make people. Smile laugh. Cry. Listen and learn.

My son sonny might not be your cup of tea but I tell you one thing. My boy is going to change the world. It's people like him that change the way we think and see things.

I've been wanting to write about him for a while but feel like today is the right day.

I love him to the moon and back and for everyone who opens there eyes. Heart and ignorance will see what an amazing boy he is and not just him so many other children that are like him.
My son is not perfect in the eyes of society but he is in mine.

Take time to get to know him and many others like him and you will see the world in a different way.


I'm not making excuses for naughtiness he can be really bad. But I just want everyone to understand him more and give him a chance.

I'm in the process of writing everything down to take to the doctors. And the play school are also making notes and setting targets for him.

Is he has ADHD which I'm 90% sure he has this will change his and our family but we will do what's best for him and us. And I'm hoping the people that love us will be there to understand and help us along the way.

Thank you for reading this extremely long blog it means a lot.
My spelling and grammar is awful but hey ho that's life.

Ruth x

Mothers day

So another mothers day has been.

what a lovely day it was too. I did what i wanted which was nothing. :)

i spend the morning watching Blake's football team win 4-2 in a cracking game of football then came home and made a ploughman's lunch for the in laws and my mum and Lyn. not forgetting Floyd and my kids too.

the reason i made this for lunch was basically its easy and very yummy and my mums favorite too.

then i did nothing just laid on the sofa and watched football and played draw something on my ipad ( total new addiction)

sonny and Rosa entertained me with what we call the sexy body dance. as soon as either of them take off there clothes they do this sort of wiggle and some strange thing with there hands. oh and sing 'sexy body" yes my children are MAD!!!!

but also very funny.

on a more down note my dad as on my mind alot yesterday as it was his first mothers day without his mum and the first time seeing her headstone. this made me feel emotional through out the day.

every ones mums are the best and we all have a reasons for thinking this. if you lose your mum mothers day weather your a mum your self or not is very hard. my cousin who lost her mum my beautiful auntie sue from cancer found it very hard to be happy and would have hid under her duvet all day if it wasn't for her son Stanley. no words would have made her feel differently. like Charley Chaplin said Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it's breaking.
makes you think just how lucky we are if we still have a mum on earth x

home selling parties

I love home selling parties what i mean by home selling are parties like pampered chef,Jamie at home,usbourne book party,Ann summers ect.

i think they are great fun and as a host you can get some fab freebies but here's the big but people feel obliged to go or to host. for example your friends just started the business and you are supporting them buy holding a party or your invite but you don't need anything but you buy something anyway because you feel you have too otherwise it would be rude. its the same thing over again.

i tend to be a host as i don't drive and i can't get to many. i have done very well from hosting some parties including books,cookware,cosmetics ect we all love a freebie or a discount

but what puts people off so much ? why do people say yes then never show. are they worth the hassle.

yes they can be why wouldn't you want to spend an evening with your friends,drinking wine chatting about life and seeing some fab products. you don't have to spend at the end of the day its all just a bit of fun.

something

i held a Jamie at home party on Friday evening which there stuff is beautiful i have been to many pampered chefs and have a massive collection of there products so it was nice to see something different.

money is tight at the mo so i only ordered a pie dish which had jumped out on me in the mag. i had points to spend so i ended up with a matching mixing bowl and flan dish for free worth nearly £30.00 so you do get benefits :)

i just worry that people have had enough i have a blue Bella in a few weeks which is a lovely underwear company i really do hope i get lots of guests lets see i will report back

Beyonce Breast feeds in public

So Beyonce has been seen out in public feeding her baby girl Blue Ivy.... Wow what a shock a mother feeding her baby.

Yes, Beyonce is a world wide superstar and has world wide superstar husband but that does not been she is not human and would not do the same thing as any other new mum.

its nice to see positive news about breast feeding and hopefully seeing images like this will open peoples minds a bit.

i am all for breast feeding and any positive images is all worth celebrating after all the negatives that come in news these days... but that subject is for another time and that's something that will be spoken about a lot as its a talking point that as such mixed reviews and advise.

i wish them all the luck in there breast feeding adventures but the media just need to let her get on with it.

awwww bat flu

We've had bird flu and swine flu - now scientists have found BAT FLU (and it could pose a threat to humans)

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2108036/Bat-flu-scientists--pose-threat-humans.html#ixzz1nwrxZXnx

so here we have another flu threat bat flu that could be passed on to humans ....

are we now getting so bored of these headlines that we will just ignore it. bird flu,pig flu now bat flu next we will have dinosaur flu where you turn in too a dinosaur.

they will tell us the hundreds and thousands of humans will die and that the bat population is now extinct.

i just don't know with the headlines to be honest but i'm a sucker for a a bull**** paper.

but they do keep us entertained

Welcome to my blog

Well its taken me a few hours to get it all going,over the next few days I'm sure i will tweak it some more.

i have longed for a blog that really showed off me.

i love the design and pleased i figured out how to use blogger after years of having it and having the basics.

the reason i have started a blog is.

1. twitter just doesn't have enough room for me to really blog.

2. facebook well facebook is facebook isn't it.

3.lately I'm finding more things that need talking about :)

4. i just like to talk.

5. i love a good debate.

6. i find writing things works best for me .

this isn't a private blog i Will be chatting about many things not just my life.

x