Category Archives: Life

Where have I been?

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Hi it’s me : She Makes Moments.

6 months is a long time huh? So where have I been? If I said I’d been changing my life that would probably sound a bit sensationalist wouldn’t it?  But, it’s the truth.

In April, I found out I was being made redundant from my teaching job. This was the second time this had happened and for me the final straw between me and teaching so I decided after 14 years to retire my whiteboard pens and walk away from my career, the only work I had known.

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You see, I had already been training with @digtitalmums to become a Freelance Social Media Manager and although I may not have chosen to forge my new career path so soon it seemed that everything was pointing that way.

So, in September I set up Louise Upchurch Social and am now working as a Social Media Manager and Consultant. If you are in need of any help in these areas don’t hesitate to contact me!

Oh and the other life changing thing? A second pregnancy, bump is due in February and we recently discovered we are Team Pink.

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My aim to get my blog back up and running and re-connect. Turns out She Make Moments was a real indicator of things to come.

So how are you and what has been going on with you in the last 6 months?

She makes: The park and puddles #mywildones 

Comments 4 Standard

One of my favourite things to do is visit our local park. There is nothing better than a vast expanse of nature for little man to run around in with wild abandon.

  
Parks are also the perfect place to play with sticks or lightsabers without causing an damage!

   
 Re-enacting Star Wars battles with  Daddy are an essential part of any park trip.

   
 But best of all are the puddles!

   
 Nothing beats the pure exhilaration of jumping in a puddle!

  

MyWildOnes

She makes: Garden fun #mywildones

Comments 2 Standard

Now that the weather has decided cheer up and we are beginning to see more of that delightful yellow stuff called sunshine, we are once again utilising the garden.

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The great thing about patio doors leading straight form the kitchen to the garden is that we can make a cup of coffee and keep a close watch on the little man at the same time. It is also self contained, so no worries about having to run after him if he decided he is going to continue honing his sprinting skills!

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First on our list of activities was helping Daddy clean the windows, water of course being an instant win with any toddler.

Then, it was time for bubbles another holy grail in the toddler world.

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I loved the complete exhilaration on little man’s face as he dived into this activity with complete abandon.

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There was something quite wonderful about the sunshine, cool breeze and bubbles floating in the air.

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The garden is going to become one of our most frequented places whenever there is sunshine now.

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MyWildOnes

She makes: Messy play – shaving foam and paint #mywildones

Comments 6 Standard

Messy play is exactly as it says. There is no such thing as clean messy play but it can be contained messy play and it is one of the reasons we bought a tuff tray. 

  
Today, I was feeling particularly brave and decided on shaving foam and paint. 

  
This is a definite hands on, all in activity. The apron was never really going to cut it.

   
It’s quite simple to set up – spray shaving foam into a tray and spread it so it covers it. 

  
   Then add different coloured paint. 

  
Mix together to give a marble effect. We used a chopstick.

   
Then add paper and you get a great marbled effect. 

However, you have to be prepared to go off plan and embrace the sensory experience of this…

   
Foamy footprints were a favoured choice.

  
Along with hands in and foamy handprints.

    
   
 After this, a free for all with foam and paint everywhere!

   
   
 

 This was a lot of fun with shrieks of joy and sheer excitement throughout. 

  
 Clean up was simple, toddler in the shower first and then the tuff tray.

  
Oh and we even ended up with some art work too. 

 

  
I would highly recommend this activity with a toddler it engages and provides a great opportunity for them to get messy and have a full on sensory experience. 

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She makes: My wild ones- Throwback beach adventure 

Comments 3 Standard

After battling severe tonsillitis and then ending up in hospital on IV antibiotics to fight a suspected kidney infection, there haven’t been many adventures for us recently. 

To cheer myself up I have decided to do a throwback post to a beach adventure we had during half term.

  
Enough stones to keep little man happy and all wrapped up in an all in one and wellies this was an opportunity to really explore, pause and take in our surroundings.

   
 There’s something about the beach as a backdrop. The sea air, the exhilaration of nature at its finest.

  
At one point little man just wanted to sit down at one point and take a moment. It was a welcome pause, a chance to spark joy taking in the vastness of where we were.

  
And of course we had to spend some time throwing a few of those stones!

I am really looking forward to being back to full strength and able to get out and about again.

MyWildOnes

She makes:my wild ones – short time in the garden

Comments 7 Standard

After a wonderful half term both little man and I have been super poorly. I have severe tonsillitis and  he has an awful virus that won’t shift. Been cooped up indoors since Sunday. 

After work, Daddy took little man into the garden for a bit of fresh air.

   
    
   
 Stones have always been fascinating to little man and I love how he is so focused and engaged in his surroundings.

It is also an opportunity for him to throw stones around and have that bit of freedom that toddlers crave to just let loose.

A few hours after this little man was very unwell and so we are back to being inside and regular medicines. 

We will both be wild from fighting infections next week!
   

MyWildOnes

She makes a link up – My wild ones

Comments 4 Standard

Half term is such a joy, being a teacher means early mornings, late evenings and very short moments with little man during the week.

Half term is a week of unadulterated fun and family time and nothing beats it.

A trip to Exeter to stay with friends provided the perfect opportunity for some beach exploration. Is it just me or is there something magical about the sea?  

  
Wellies are by far my favourite item to always have to hand for little man – every opportunity to jump in puddles should be taken in my book!

   
 
  
And the all important paddle can still happen pre-warm weather with no worrying about wet socks or trousers!

  
  
The seaside also provides the perfect backdrop for photos that speak of a moment and tell a story.  This is us, embracing life, creating experiences that spark joy. This is my wild one.

 

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