Snaps ‘n’ Crackles #6 – the birthday edition

Carrot cake with cream cheese icing is my favourite cake, hence this stock photo was used!

Yesterday was a busy day.  It was my birthday!  I had planned on spending the day writing a blog post for today, broken up by taking myself out for a quick bite to eat for lunch (in amongst some domestic chores) and then was looking forward to my daughter coming over and dinner with the family.  All of that did happen except for taking myself out (alone) and writing the blog post.  I was very lucky to have a surprise visit from Mum and Dad and my sister and we all went out to lunch and over to my sister’s after.  So here I am now, after dinner and cake, at 9:15pm – very tired and with no blog post written for the next day!  What to do?  Ramble on a bit, make this my Snaps ‘n’ Crackles #6 and hope that it makes for some interesting reading.  That’s what I have decided to do!

So yesterday I turned 53.  It’s kind of hard to believe that I am this age.  Inside I’m around 35.  In fact if I reverse the numbers that is exactly what I am.  However, time does march on regardless, and for everyone, so you eventually reach a point where you realise that there is no point in stressing over getting older but rather to embrace it and be grateful that you’re still here to celebrate another birthday.  The interesting thing is that it really isn’t until you get to this stage of life that you realise that life is in fact short and that it’s very important to make the most of it and look after yourself in every way possible.  This is why you see so many of us at this stage of life tweaking our diets, getting some regular exercise in, analysing how we spend our time, surrounding ourselves with people who make us feel happy and inspired, investigating options to reduce stress and enhance our peace of mind and sense of balance.  It really is a fun stage of life.  The kids are grown.  You have more time to indulge and invest in yourself and trust me, it’s well worthwhile.  We are worth it and we deserve it! 

Last year I wrote a post for Dairy Australia’s ‘Fit, Fab & 50 Challenge’ – Tips for Self-Investment that might interest you if you’d like some pointers on how to self-invest!

My latest tool for self-investment is a FitBit Alta HR – a birthday prezzie from my family.  Can’t wait to have a good play with it.  It’ll get me more active and healthy for sure!

Another form of self-investment recently was a move to lift my spirits.  I got new carpet!  Oh wow – how good is new carpet?!  The carpet we did have was cheap and nasty and stained.  It was this way when we bought the house 10 years ago.  We couldn’t afford to replace it then or until now, due to things like school fees, mortgage etc.  So finally after 10 years of horrid carpet I have beautiful new clean, soft and lovely carpet!   What a difference it has made to this house!  Say hello to my new “Prairie Wolf” carpet! 

Another form of self investment is to look after your health.  Investigate any issues or concerns and have things treated that need to be.   I have had a few health issues over recent years and there has been ongoing investigations to try to sort things out.  It’s required quite a bit of patience on my part I might add.  There have been quite a few doctors seen.  Anyway, without going into detail, I will be having some surgery in two weeks time.  I will have a short hospital stay and then a couple of weeks at home recovering.  I am very hopeful that this surgery will be the beginning of an improved and healthier me so that I can get about the business of lovin’ life!  I’ll keep you posted!

And finally, my mother heart is feeling a little anxious these days.  My son is going overseas in a few weeks.  He will be flying in to Manchester.  Yes I know.  He will be staying with friends in Liverpool and visiting London and Paris, amongst other places.  This is a very big and exciting trip for him (first time overseas) but as any mother knows, no matter how old your child is they are still your child and they carry your heart with them wherever they go.

It’s now 10:25pm and my eyes can barely stay open so it’s time for me to stop typing and cross my fingers that this post has turned out ok!  I hope that whatever the situation is in your life right now that you can find something in each of your days to be grateful for and that you’re making the time for your own self-investment.

Ciao for now,

Link up here at WOTM or with another of us in the Lovin’ Life Linky team:

Leanne of Deep Fried Fruit

Lyndall of Seize the Day Project

Kathy of 50 Shades of Age

and Jo of And Anyways

It doesn’t matter where you link up as it will magically appear on all five blogs.