Saturday, June 17, 2017

This Mama's Guilty Pleasures ...



One way or another, I'm sure all of us have our guilty pleasures don't we? Whether it's a 90's boy band obsession (I love you 911!) or a secret love of all things Morris dancing, we all have them and I think it's about time we share!




There's nothing to be ashamed of (mostly) and I think as parents, anything that gives you a break from reality with a little bit of self is all good and just needs to be celebrated. Here's my own list which aren't entirely embarrassing, but not things I think you would necessarily be aware of.


Crap TV


Crap TV, what I mean by this is those cheesy music shows, all the Real Housewives series (love them!) and pretty much every soap we have here in the UK. I'm discovering even more on Netflix at the moment and it just helps me to relax, gives me a bit of escapism and even sometimes makes me thankful for my own life when I see some of those reality shows! There's even websites that help you keep up with shows like the Real Housewives and I like a read of those too!


Gambling


I'm not addicted to gambling, but I do have to admit I love it. I'm not sure if it's the hope of having more money or the excitement of actually playing that I like but it's something I love doing in my spare time. I'm partial to a scratchcard, a bit of online lotto and even online bingo. I know sometimes with all the sites out there it can all be a bit confusing, but there are sites that allow you to play safe with bingo reviews and the same for all kinds of online gambling sites, well worth checking out so you know you are getting the best deal before playing.



Shopping


I am a true shopaholic, so much so that I even enjoy going into the chemist or popping to the shops for some coffee. Any excuse and I'm in the shops! I really was born with the wrong bank balance for my hobbies. If I ever became rich, that would be the best part for me, shopping without having to worry about the price of things.

Naps with cats


I make no secret of the fact I'm a little obsessed with cats, I just love them like a real cat lady weirdo! When Alf's at school and Soph goes to nursery, I like nothing more than sneaking back to bed, setting my alarm for two hours time and snuggling up for a snooze with my kitties before nursery pick up, living the dream huh? They are just so relaxing to be around when they're sleepy, it's really therapeutic.



Meditation


Although this shouldn't be a guilty pleasure as it's amazing, I do feel a bit silly so far especially as I'm more 'Buddha' than 'Betty'. I've just discovered how amazingly relaxing it is and there's some perfect relaxation music on YouTube that does just the job. I can instantly switch of stress and it makes me feel so much better. I'd be a bit embarrassed if anyone saw me though as I am well aware of how silly I look!



Listening to loud music & dancing at home


I do this a lot but mostly on my own (when I'm not snoozing gambling or shopping of course...) I crank up all kinds of music from Felix Baloy, System of A Down to Aretha Franklin and dance around like a buffoon, belting out some tunes and looking like a total fool. Nothing makes you feel better though and it can totally change the mood of my day.


Escaping for a while


As a Mum this sounds completely awful, but sometimes when Adam gets home from work, I'll escape somewhere, anywhere! If I've had a stressful day then just nipping out to get whatever supplies we need or take the dog for an 'emergency' walk does just the trick. I run like the wind out that door but within minutes feel restored ready to go back and face the chaos. I bet I'm not the only one?




There's some of my guilty pleasures, though I'm sure there's plenty more I could add! What are yours? If you blog and want to write your own list, please tag me so I can see yours too!



Disclosure: This is a collaborative post, though all words and thoughts are my own.