Our Greatest Adventure Yet...

We survived the first 6 months! I can't believe I am sitting here writing this 7 months into motherhood. For a while there I thought that life would never be the same but oh how wrong I was. Life isn't the same, it's better! 

The first 3/4 months of Floraidh's life were a whirl wind of eating, sleeping, not sleeping, crying, pooping, getting into a routine, visiting family, eating again, sleeping again and yip you guessed it,,,crying again. The fourth trimester is for real and it is something which has not to be taken lightly. Then all of a sudden your baby transforms into this happy, smiling, giggling, crawling, spaghetti bolognaise loving wee friend. At 7 months she is quite literally the love of our lives and is by far our greatest adventure yet. We have finally found our flow and our rhythm as a family of 3. We are enjoying watching Floraidh grow into the independent, determined and fun-loving girl that she is and we are enjoying being able to start showing her around the world a bit more and exposing her to adventures of her own. 

Her first adventure was across the pond to Scotland (via Canada)! I was so nervous about taking her on a plane for the first time all by myself but she nailed it and slept the whole way there and the whole way back. Floraidh was a huge hit in Scotland and the people there were even able to pronounce her name right! It was such a wonderful trip and we both loved spending this time with family and friends despite us both being so tired. 

At 6 months old we took Floraidh on her first camping trip. She spent time playing outside in nature, swimming in the lake and sleeping out under the stars. She was so flexible and loved exploring outdoors. She also slept solidly from 7:05 - 7:00 and didn't wake until the sun came up. She did however catch a little cold afterwards due to the tent being damp so I wouldn't recommend camping in October when the temperatures fluctuate so much between day and night. Overall this was a great adventure and one I would highly recommend, esp if you were keen campers before baby came along.

We are now gearing up for visiting the beach in Florida and then getting reading to take on Scotland for the second time this year! We are excited for Floraidh to experience new sights, sounds, tastes and smells as she continues to add to her travels but we are also excited for her to see the familiar faces of the people she loves back home. Here is to more great adventures!

Life with Floraidh...

♥ Floraidh Jane McLachlan (Florrie) ♥

Yeaaaahhhh!!!! We did it..we gave birth to the most beautiful and precious girl in the world. Floraidh Jane was born unexpectedly at 6:32pm on Thursday 31st March 2016 weighing 7.4lb. She arrived 4 days early which was a surprise to us all, However, it was not her plan to come on her due date (April 4th) and instead picked a stormy evening to make her entrance into the world. 

Life since that night has never been the same. It has been more amazing than we ever could have imagined and my husband and I are both adapting well to having a newborn around. Luckily for us Floraidh is a very good baby and pretty much eats and sleeps most of the day. She has naturally developed her own schedule and seems happy and content. She has also taken like a duck to water with breastfeeding and we are delighted that we have been able to nurse her in this way.  Floraidh has also proved to be pretty flexible and fits in to our schedule whether we are eating out, hiking in the park or going for picnics. She loves being outdoors and enjoys socializing with people. We really couldn't have asked for a better baby and absolutely love having her around. She completes our family and makes life for us here in Louisville more meaningful. We are both looking forward to all the new milestones that each month brings and watching her grow into the adventurous, kindhearted and beautiful girl that she is destined to be. Welcome to the world baby girl...we love you more every day ♥

Life Happens...

Wow, I can't believe it has almost been a full year since I last posted! That surely is a sign that life has become way too busy, and that when Friday nights roll around the choice between blogging or bathing in a hot bath is an easy one. Anyway, in a bid to continue to document important events and memories in my life (for future reference) I am back on with a new attitude. 

When I first started this blog I felt a real need to have to write something at least once per week. That just became way too much and often left me with a feeling of guilt. I also struggled to think up things to write about so was just creating random recipe/ craft or fashion posts which had no real meaning to me. My new attitude to blogging is one that involves much less stress and commitment. I am now more focused on using my blog as a tool for myself and my family as a means of documenting memories, feelings and adventures. This will give us a platform for looking back and reflecting on the years and will enable us to reconnect with the things that make us happy. I am way more comfortable with this approach and feel much less obligated to have to write every week. I am hoping to write at least once every 3 months and focus on the highlights throughout that time. This way it will be like keeping an online journal of major events and will help me to be more mindful about the content of my writing. With that said I am now going to share the highlights from the last year to bring you up to speed on what happens when "LIFE HAPPENS"....

July 2015

Angus and I both flew home to Scotland for the summer and had an amazing 5 weeks of visiting family and friends and exploring our beautiful country! During our visit I went on a  hiking trip with Angus's sister Rachel. We completed the "West Highland Way" in 6 days and had the time of our lives. It was most definitely one of the best trips I have ever been on. The emotional roller coaster over mountains and across moors left you both tired and hungry for more! Unforgettable. 

Angus and I were also lucky enough to have a few days to ourselves down at the Cotswolds in England. This was part of the UK that I had been wanting to explore for a while and what better time to do it than on our 1 year anniversary! We reserved a barn conversion off the side of a cottage called "Popfosters". It was so beautiful and had a ton of character. As we explored the small towns and villages of; Chipping Campden, Stow on the Wold and the Slaughters we both felt like we had gone back in time. It was fun strolling round the little shops, eating afternoon tea and hiking over fields on the Cotswold Way! 

August 2015

After a wonderful summer back home, Angus and I returned to Louisville with a bun in the oven! We found out we were expecting our first baby on the morning of Friday 31st of July. We couldn't be happier...

To Blog or not to Blog? That is the Question?.....

After a very busy summer at home in Scotland (getting married and just generally having a blast with all of my family and friends) I have finally returned back to normality to the place I now call home: Louisville. I am now fully settled in to married life and instead of spending our weekends wedding planning we are organizing our honeymoon and house hunting instead. Things haven't got less hectic, the items on the 'to-do list' have just been replaced with new ones. With a lot of 'extra stuff'' still going on and a new full time job just around the corner I recently wondered if I there is still a place in my life for blogging?

Then.....I read this wonderful article (found here) all about the reasons to write a blog and how it impacts positively on your life. My question was quickly answered with a resounding YES! To summarize the article, writing a blog helps you to;

1. Become a better writer

2. Deepen your thinking

3. Live life more intentionally

4. Develop healthier habits (i.e discipline, devotion, commitment)

5. Meet new people

6. Inspire others

7. Develop a more well rounded mindset

8. Remember key life events and keep a personal journal

9. Become more confident

10. Learn from others

Overall, writing a blog changes your life in some way or another. It becomes less about you writing the story and more about the story writing and changing you. If you are considering writing a blog I would highly recommend it. I can't believe that for a short time there I considered giving it up! Maybe one day when I have little kiddos to care for but until then.....I will certainly be making time (and so should you).

These are my Obsessions......

Obsession: the state of being obsessed with someone or something

Recently I have found myself obsessing over a few simple things in life that give me great pleasure. These simple pleasures can some times be far more gratifying than anything big. I always believe you should appreciate the small things and when you connect the dots between your little joys, life seems fuller and more satisfying each and every day. 

1. Paper Fans! How can you not love these?...the colours, the shape, their ability to brighten up even the dullest of settings. I recently hung a bunch of these in the corner of my office and they immediately made me smile. I look at them now every day and I instantly feel lifted! Perfect for hanging outdoors too for an instant WOW at any outdoor event.....

                                     

2. Bow- utiful! Love. Love. Love all things with bows on them at the moment. Hair accessories, shoes, rings, earrings, clothes...you name it. Fashion is the ultimate form of expression and you can never go wrong with a bow. Super cute and super stylish. 

                                    

 3. Vintage Tea Sets. What more can I say: uber retro and uber useful. I recently treated myself to my very own china tea set (something I have wanted for quite some time now) and man did I feel amazing when it arrived. The perfect way to host any tea party or gathering with the girls. Feel like Audrey Hepburn every time you drink tea...enough said.

Bucket List Before Baby....

Sooo...this one has been playing on my mind a lot this week and thought that there is probably a plethora of couples out there having the exact same feelings as my soon to be husband and I.

It all started 5 nights ago when we were both laying in bed after a very busy and extremely enjoyable Saturday; the morning was spent (slowly) eating 'Whole wheat banana pancakes' followed by a drive to the park (in our convertible) to play what turned out to be a very short game of tennis before packing it in to go home and sit in the blazing sun with a large cold wine and turkey baguettes. In the evening we attended a VIP  'Thunder over Louisville' fireworks party down town, where we proceeded to drink copious amounts of alcohol and eat yet more turkey baguettes (thanks to Subway's tasty but not so healthy catering).

By the time we got home that evening we were not only exhausted but extremely overwhelmed with contentment and satisfaction.  And furthermore, we were extremely excited about the long lie in we were going to have the following day! As I lay there smiling (albeit a fuzzy head) I casually mumbled, though half asleep....'God, imagine we had a baby right now!'. At which point my fiance's ears perked up and simply replied..'I know'.

As our wedding day fast approaches we are both very well aware of our lives having the potential to dramatically change in the very near future. As much as we are both excited about the prospect of being parents one day we are also having far too much fun and adventure to even think about giving it all up. We also want to spend a decent amount of time as husband and wife first before we have to share each other with another. I know some people say, that there is never really a right time and are you ever really ready? but we are both 100% sure that we want to bring children into this world when we are ready to give them our 100% attention and focus. They surely deserve that.

However, sometimes things don't always go to plan but for the sake of plan making we have made ours and are sticking to it.....this conscious decision we feel with not only benefit us in the long run but also benefit our children when we come to having them. We, as parents, will be more financially ready, emotionally ready and more whole/complete as an individual. This will enable us to raise our kids in the best possible way with no regrets about all things we wish we could have done before we had them. Kids change everything; they are the best gift you could ever ask for so why not give them the gift of you in return? You can only give the gift of you when you are ready to give yourself over.

All this deep, philosophical conversation got us thinking that night about all the things we want to do before we have our first baby. We decided there and then to start making a 'Bucket List Before Baby'...this included things like: road trips, adventure hikes, buying a fun car, spending all day in bed (at least 10 times), finishing studies, securing well paid jobs, running marathons, volunteering, writing books, spending 2 weeks on the beach, spending our well earned money on really expensive shoes that we have never before been able to afford!...the list is endless. From that night on we made a pact to start planning for an unplanned future and begin ticking these items off the list, as no doubt time will fly like it always does and our first little bundle of joy will begin it's own adventure into the unknown. (FYI I hope they too make a bucket list one day) :))))

Having the same thoughts? Whats on your 'Bucket List Before Baby'?

10 Days of Real Food....

c/o www.100daysofrealfood.com

Yeahhhh, I have just completed my '10 Days of Real Food Pledge!!'. What a beneficial and educational challenge this has been. Not only have I learned so many new things about food and nutrition but I feel way less bloated, have lots more energy and my skin is glowing like never before (I did also lose 4lb in 10 days which is a little bonus to top it off).

For those of you who want to give yourself a kick start into eating more natural/real and clean foods then I would highly recommend signing yourself up for the 100 Days of Real Food 10 Day Pledge. Whether it is to lose weight, feel better or to simply eat more naturally I guarantee this will give you the little boost you have been looking for.

Before my '10 Day Pledge' I considered myself to be quite a healthy eater but what I didn't know was that just a few items in my diet were responsible for my added weight and a bloated stomach. I am sure they were probably reaping havoc on my insides too! My one can of diet coke a day rule is gone, my Friday night bag of chips is gone and the only grains I now eat are 100% whole wheat. I also try and stick to alternatives such as beans or sweet potato if I want a side with my dinner. By excluding just a few items and making small changes you can make a big difference to your health. Processed/ refined foods should be avoided as these are the foods that your body finds hard to process and therefore stores as fat. Stick with these rules and you will notice a difference to your health in no time!

Don't get me wrong, I don't believe people can be 100% good, 100% percent of the time but I do think it important to follow the 80/20% rule when it comes to eating: 'According to the rule, you must choose healthy foods 80 percent of the time. Because you eat healthy the majority of the time, you are allowed to indulge in a few favorite treats 20 percent of the time'. I like to have a cheat day one day per week. This doesn't mean spending the whole day binging on chips and chocolate but it does allow you to be a little bit more relaxed: have a slice of cake with your coffee or make a homemade pizza. Cheat days make it easier to stay focused and make you feel like you are still living!

What you waiting for,,,,sign up now and GO CLEAN!

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/take-the-10-day-pledge

When 'Love' Takes Over.....

With 17 weeks to go until my wedding, 'Love' has quite literally taken over! For the past 8 months, my life (and my fiance's) has been consumed with organizing and planning our perfect wedding day celebration. As the time gets closer it has become more and more difficult to keep up with my other interests and hobbies such as baking, cooking, blogging, hiking, photography, crafting etc.....I often wonder how different my life will be again when our wedding is past?. Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely loved the process of planning our big day but I am also looking forward to getting back to normality and having time on my hands again to live life to the full and not constantly be replying to emails or pinning things on Pinterest! Yes. It will be lovely, but until then I am going to enjoy every single minute....after all, you only get to do this once!

Throughout the whole process I have tried my best to stay cool, calm and collected....and I think I have done quite a good job at that. I have found that there are certain things that have helped me through and if I were to share my advice with other blushing brides to be, this is what i'd say:

1. Remember it is your day, no one elses. Have enough strength to say what you and your partner want and don't want. Not everyone will like the same things you do, but that is OK. Your wedding should be a reflection of your personalities as a couple.

2. BLOW YOUR BUDGET! (well to a certain extent)...I don't mean go out and over spend by £30,000 but I do think it is important not to be so hung up on sticking to a budget. As long as you are flexible and have time to look for the best deals then I definitely think there are ways to save in some areas and not so much in other areas. So...if you want a photographer @ £2000 then only spend £100 on a cake. Prioritize what is important to you  and the budget seems to fall into place. Blow your money on some things and save on others!

3. Communicate with your partner. This one is crucial I think. Some people forget about the importance of the marriage and get so caught up in the day. Stay connected with your partner throughout and take time to plan activities together, go on dates and keep that flame alive!

4. Take time for yourself: pamper yourself, go for long walks, eat healthily, hang out with friends, go shopping...whatever it is that you do to de-stress. This is an essential part of keeping you mind healthy and active. How can you possibly plan a wedding if you don't have a clear head?

5. DELEGATE. This one is my favorite. Don't be afraid to allow people in your life to help out and take on some jobs for you. You will be surprised at how helpful and eager people can be. It makes you feel blessed to have people on board that actually care about helping you out.

6. Reflect/ write it down....and by this I don't just mean write a 'To- Do List' (that is a MUST) I mean take time to think about things, don't race ahead. Reflect on the importance of your day, think about your life after the wedding - how much fun you and your partner will have when you are actually husband and wife and continually remind yourself that it is just a celebration of love (or the words I use: IT IS JUST A BIG PARTY). No one cares what colour your bridesmaids are, that your cake was bought from M&S or that you handmade your own stationary. People just want to see you happy together and really do just want the best for you both, not only on your wedding day but for the rest of your lives.

To conclude, yes 'Love' can quite literally take over. It is ok not to have time to write a blog, bake cakes or take your camera out on big long walks. You only get to do this once so make the most of it, these things can wait until after the wedding, after the honeymoon even but if you can seem to fit it in (like I have done today by writing this) then that is great too! Enjoy, stay chilled and remember....it is only a wedding. The marriage will be the fun part! xxx

New Year Resolutions.....

I am a great believer in new year resolutions and I feel that it is important to continue to set yourself goals and life challenges, not only to keep things interesting, but to give you something to focus on your energy on and keep you grounded. With January out of the way and the remnants of too many Christmas puddings finally burned off, I figured it was time for me to think about my goals for the year and get them written down somewhere (so that I don't forget them, or have an excuse to not at least attempt most them). So here goes....in no particular order.....

* Get married
* Lose the last 7lb
* Run a half marathon (training has begun!)
* Restore a piece of furniture
* Bake a pie
* Knit one item
* Incorporate more vegan/vegetarian meals into meal plan
* Spend less time with mobile phone
* Paint apartment/ or move?
* Continue to grow blog
* Continue to work on small handmade craft business
* Complete online Psychology course
* Complete children's book
* Honeymoon in Hawaii
* Climb the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye/ Find our piece of land
* Take more photographs for my photography portfolio
* Spend less time around negative people and focus on the positive people
* GET A JOB!

I know this may seem like a lot but hopefully most of them are pretty achievable. I am setting myself 100% success rate and look forward to writing my reflections at the beginning of 2015 to see how many I managed to tick off! Happy ticking :)

Reflections.....

As I look back on 2013 with smiling eyes and a warm heart I remember all of the wonderful experiences, people and places that the year brought. For me 2013 was a year of changes, growth and learning curves; with that said, it was also one of the best years of my life.

In January of 2013 I found myself sitting in first class (with a glass of champagne in my hand) on board a BA flight flying towards Louisville, Kentucky. I was moving across to the other side of the world and leaving behind the life that I knew, to start a new one. This was not a choice that I had made on my own but more of an opportunity that presented itself, and boy am I glad that it did! Life in Scotland was wonderful (and I do not doubt for one second that one day we will return) but there was also part of me/us  that, after many years of travelling the world, still had that desire to wander, travel and explore.....deep inside of  me, I had a feeling of wanderlust.

When my boyfriend at the time was offered an opportunity of a lifetime to move to America we didn't hesitate one bit. We decided that he would move over first, as initially it was only for a short period of time and I had a lot to tie up at this end with regards to my job/flat. There was no point in giving that up if his contract was only going to be for a few months. Anyway, time passed and a year later he was asked to stay on permanently and take over some aspects of the business. At that point we knew it was time for me to pack up and ship out as they say! I was nervous and excited all at the same time!

It has now been a year since I moved to Louisville and I have never looked back. We have a beautiful apartment in a quirky/ thriving end of town and a lifestyle that can't compare to that of back home. We are constantly outdoors in the spring/summer/autumn (thanks to the weather) and we have made so many lovely friends with similar interests. We have explored parts of America we have always dreamed of visiting...Chicago, California, Nashville, Las Vegas, Disney World to name a few, and have also explored new parts of ourselves. Neither of us are scared of change and actually get quite excited about the prospect of things changing again. We only know things are going to get bigger and better and are looking forward to whatever 2014 has in store of us. With our wedding fast approaching we are beginning to make plans..not only for our big day but for our married life together. I am already picturing our house, dog and long hikes that we will take on the weekends. I am excited to share all of this with my future husband to be, family and friends; old and new and I am more than grateful for all of the opportunities life has presented me with so far. I have no doubt that the rest of our journey is going to be somewhat a bit of a roller coaster, but I am more than prepared to strap up, sit back and enjoy the ride!

Chicago Reflections

Escapism....

Escapism: The tendency to escape from daily reality or routine by indulging in daydreaming, fantasy, or entertainment.......

I have been daydreaming a lot today! Imagining myself on the tip of a mountain with the sun beaming down on my face (and of course with a large glass of wine in my hand). AAAHHHH BLISSSS......what is your escapism?

100 Life Goals.....

After reading 100 life goals by Antwon Davis (recommended by a wonderful friend of mine), I have been inspired to set my own goals for life and try to accomplish them. Can you really design the life that you live? What are your life goals?...........Read more at http://antwondavis.com/100-life-goals/

The Success Indicator.....

WOW, what a smart lady. I couldn't agree with her more. These traits are evident in all the successful people I know in life. Turn the negative into positive...................

Read MaryEllen Tribby's full article here at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maryellen-tribby/the-success-indicator_b_1874431.html