Number 100

Cafe Bebe has hit post number 100!!  Wowie Zowie, as my Little Miss would say.  And there’s a little reward in store for one lucky person at the end of this post.  But let me hook you in for a wee bit before that.  You don’t mind do you?

Number 100 Mummy? What's it all about?

I began blogging in June of 2009 in an effort to regain a bit of me.  I needed the creative challenge and an outlet for letting out my trials, tribulations and triumphs as a mother.  I think I’ve been fairly successful with that and look back to June and say, “What a long way you’ve come!”  I now know how to use small bits of code to make badges and widgets appear on my blog sidebars, I know how to link sites and upload images to my library.  I know a bit more about what works and what doesn’t work; what people seem to like to read and what they don’t.  I have been approached by PR’s and have knocked on a few doors myself with surprising success.  I’ve recorded memories and allowed friends and family to share in our accomplishments.  I’ve adventured away from home and explored London more in the last 6 months than in four years of living here.  I’ve changed the looks of my blog time after time and think I’ve settled on just the right look (for now).  In short, I’ve come a long way, baby.

I wanted to be prolific and groundbreaking in my 100th post but I don’t have a lot of groundbreaking in me today.  What I would like to do, in my 100th post, is share my goals for 2010 and the next 100 posts.  If you like, my New Year’s Resolutions.  I always make some and almost always break them but once they’re in print, it’s a little harder to ignore them.  Ready?  Here we go:

Goals for 2010- Mother, Wife, Me…

• MOTHER- I will strive to balance my life to give my daughter the attention she deserves and the exercise she needs.  I will allow her to get dirty and not freak out about it.  I will let her walk when I think it’s safe (that’s up to ME not her!).  I will do messy play at home more and let her help out in the kitchen and not be afraid.  I will get her involved in Tumble Tots if I have to scrape pennies to get her there.  I will let the inlaws continue to care for her on regular afternoons so I can have some me time.  I will do my best to cook fresh food for my Little Miss and not rely on things like potato waffles (they’re so easy and yummy!)  I will do what’s best for my Little Miss every day.
• WIFE- I will enlist the support of my inlaws to babysit AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH to allow Hubby and I to have a DATE.  If the first one goes off without a hitch, maybe I’ll step it up to TWICE A MONTH.  Maybe.  I will develop an actual routine of cleaning.  Something every day??  I need to keep the house cleaner and healthier and take less time sitting on my ass at the computer.  I will shut the computer down when hubby comes home from work and use the evenings to share with him, not the computer screen.  (This may not be EVERY night, but most nights)  I will strive to be a better cook by planning out our weekly meals and cooking as much as possible.  I will make a concerted effort to throw away less from our refrigerator and NOT store left-overs if I know we won’t eat them later (and we rarely do).  I will remember to show my husband how much I love him and not wait for him to show me…it goes both ways, doesn’t it?  I will try to communicate my feelings better and not bottle things up inside.
• ME- I will find some decent makeup that actually flatters my skin and diguises the tired eyes and sallow complexion.  I will find some clothes that FIT and FLATTER my lack of shape.  I will make an effort to do something about my LACK OF SHAPE like getting out and walking somewhere, anywhere ONCE A DAY.  I will start using the Wii EA Sports Active Personal Trainer programme to make myself stronger and more fit.  I will find time every day to write.  I will continue to goal set and work towards the goal of being published (more to come in another post this week).  I will assess each week what things I need to work on for my blog and writing.  I will take vitamins and try to keep healthy for any future bundles that might come our way.  I will thoroughly enjoy my last year this side of 40 and will remember to take time for me as well as for everyone/thing else.

There you have it…my goals for 2010.  What are yours?  Do you make RESOLUTIONS?  How do you keep them??  Oh, that’s right…I mentioned something about a REWARD!  Well, as I have been lucky enough to have received lots of nice items from PR’s and Companies, I thought I would share the wealth with a Cafe Bebe Surprise!  The winner will receive:

• 1 Adult Slanket (Alaskan blue) + 1 Kids Slanket(Hunter Green) (approx. $30 each)
• 1 Copy of “Babymoon” by Melanie La’Brooy (£6.99 paperback)
• 1 Copy of “Jim…A Cautionary Tale” by Hillaire Beloc & Mini Grey(£12.99 hardcover)
• 1 Copy of “Traction Man meets Turbo Dog” by Mini Grey (£5.99 paperback)
• Total Value:  well, taking currency into account…ENOUGH!!  (approx. £70)

Everything will be packaged up and sent to the winner’s door…unfortunately NOT in time for Christmas.  I’m running my Cafe Bebe Surprise from Monday 14 December to Friday 18 December.  All you have to do to enter is COMMENT BELOW and maybe include ONE resolution for 2010…or why you DON’T make resolutions if you don’t.  If you like, you can also give me a suggestion for Cafe Bebe for 2010.  I’ll do my best to implement!  I will draw a winner on Friday night (9pm) and announce the winner Saturday 19 December by 9am.

Adult Slanket

Kids Slanket

Babymoon by Melanie La'Brooy

Jim- A Cautionary Tale

Traction Man meets Turbo Dog

Good luck everyone!  And thank you for tuning in to Cafe Bebe…here’s to an amazing 2010!  And another 100 posts of brilliance ! (HA!)  Cheers!