Tag: currently

Posted in lifestyle, Planning and journaling

Currently… life update August 2022

Posted on by Laura

As I haven’t posted yet this month due to being on holiday, I thought I’d do a quick and easy life update. I think this kind of journalling is great to look back on so you can see how things have changed and even if you don’t have a blog, it’s nice to do an analogue record in a journal or notebook.

Currently eating…

lots of fresh and juicy fruit such as strawberries, raspberries, pears, mangoes, grapes and watermelon. I always try to make sure I get at least 5 portions of fruit and veg each day and I also have one as part of my breakfast and something as a snack later in the day.

Also, whilst in Amsterdam, we had an ‘all you can eat’ breakfast at the hotel on a couple of the days. When perusing the offerings, I found some overnight oats which had been made with soya milk. There were two portions left and it was the perfect opportunity to try them. I mixed a little strawberry jam into mine but, to be honest, they were nice enough just plain. Since returning home, we’ve made some for our breakfast quite a few times and we’ve now managed to get the consistency just right. I can totally recommend them as a tasty and filling start to a busy day.

Currently drinking…

iced coffee. I haven’t yet made it myself but I’ve enjoyed it a few times in different cafes. I have a shot of caramel syrup in mine and they’ve been really nice to have as a cooling refreshment during the hot days we’ve been having as an alternate to my usual hot drinks.

Currently watching…

lots of great dramas on TV. I’m particularly enjoying Shetland, Van Der Valk and The Secrets She Keeps (on catch up) as I love police and psychological stuff. It’s nice to settle down to an hour or too of great television each evening before bed.

Currently reading…

C.L. Taylor’s latest book The Guilty Couple which I’m really enjoying so far. Again, psychological thrillers are my favourite kind to read. I’ve just created a huge TBR list in my bullet journal and I have 13 fiction and 5 non-fiction self help style lined up so they should last me the rest of 2022.

Currently listening to…

the Wet Leg album on You Tube to see if I want to buy it as a download for my iPod. I love their first two singles Chaise Longue and Wet Dream a lot and I enjoy listening to them on the radio and singing along.

Currently pinning…

desk organisation ideas. I’m trying to decide what I want available on the desk in my craft room and what I want to put away so that I have plenty of space to work. I’m also trying to establish how to keep things neat and tidy. I always find really good ideas on Pinterest to pin.

Currently enjoying…

Looking at all of the flowering plants which are in full bloom in our garden. We have lots of different colours out there at the moment and it’s a really bright and cheerful space to sit out in. I wish the weeds didn’t grow quite as fast though!

Currently creating…

journal layouts which document our holidays to Scotland and Amsterdam and pages of images of my recent purchases and why I love them. I’ve just started a new TN insert and I think it will probably be full by the time I’ve finished. For the travel stuff, I like to include photographs, receipts, daily itineraries, food menus, leaflet cuttings etc and decorate with coloured and patterned papers, washi tape, stickers and ephemera.

Final words…

So that’s a mini update on my life right now which I hope you enjoyed reading. I would love to hear what you’re up to in the comments. I’m going to schedule in more posts like this one as it’s really interesting to revisit and see how my focus has changed over time. I’ve only done two ‘currently’ posts since I launched my blog over four years ago but I think at least every six months would be good for the future.

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Posted in art, creativity, lifestyle, mental health, Planning and journaling, watercolour painting

Currently… life update March 2021

Posted on by Laura

I haven’t done one of these updates for a while (it was last March in fact!) so thought I might spend an hour or two composing one this afternoon. There have been quite a few changes since the last one so here goes:

Currently adjusting…

to a new mental health diagnosis. Yesterday, I had an appointment with the mental health team and psychiatrist to discuss issues that I had been having for an almost six month period. Basically, last year, I met with the team as I thought I had cyclothymic disorder which is a mild form of bipolar. However, it felt nothing like a mild illness, with me being very depressed since mid September 2021 and only getting better a few weeks ago. My appointment lasted two hours and it was really helpful as I had a long chat with a member of the team and then a video call with the psychiatrist who is working from home. I’ve now been diagnosed with Bipolar 2 and will be embarking on a completely new treatment plan which doesn’t involve anti-depressants – one of which I’ve been on for over 20 years! So now, I have a new condition to read up on and get my head around. Well, I say a new condition, but really I’ve had it for around 24 years and have only just been correctly diagnosed.

Currently buying…

nothing but the essentials. I have so many clothes, accessories and crafty bits and bobs that I really don’t need anything but food, drink and a few toiletries right now. In fact, I’m about to embark on a huge declutter of stuff as the wardrobe is fit to burst and my craft room has enough materials to last a lifetime and beyond.

Currently enjoying…

seeing glimpses of Spring. Things are starting to pop up in the garden, the birds are singing and the weather is starting to improve – today I went out without my coat on for the third time this year! Although I hate too much sunshine with having very fair skin, I love putting on my sunglasses and going out for relaxing walks or spending time in the garden. when the weather gets milder.

Currently learning…

all about productivity and organising stuff using a very popular method. Although I’ve not read the book, I’ve been able to use information from various infographics and YouTube videos to learn about the Getting Things Done Method by David Allen. I’m hoping to implement the main ideas shortly to help me get super organised and work efficiently throughout the week so I have the weekends totally free to spend time with my husband or on personal projects. If you want to learn the basics, I recommend you check out this YouTube channel as Emma provides a series of videos which talk you through GTD and shares real examples of how she follows the principles.

Currently making…

watercolour paintings to be used as designs for greetings cards. It all started when I couldn’t find a nice card for my dad for his birthday so I created a variegated watercolour wash using some of his favourite colours and then added some gold paint flecks to give it some sparkle. Then I started looking at tutorials on YouTube and Pinterest, had a go at some of them, and now I’m hooked on making my own unique cards. I even made my own envelopes using the We R Memory Keepers 1,2, 3 punch board!

Currently pinning…

a range of watercolour tutorials to give me ideas for cards and front cover designs for my monthly bullet journal set ups. I’m now using a Scribbles That Matter journal so the pages are nice and thick, although often I do the painting on hot pressed watercolour paper and then scan, print and stick it in. If you want to see some of my pins, you can check my Pinterest here.

So, that’s a mini update on me and my life currently. I hope you enjoyed reading about what I’m up to. I might do life updates more regularly in future, particularly if my new treatment plan for Bipolar 2 helps to keep me well. And if anyone reading has Bipolar disorder and writes about how it affects them in their blog, I would really love it if you dropped the link in the comments so I can check out your experiences and see if I can pick up any tips on managing the condition. Until next time, keep safe and well.

Posted in Blogging, Planning and journaling

Currently… a little update on what I’m up to right now

Posted on by Laura

I know I’ve been absent from my blog for a while but, as I’m now back enjoying writing again, I thought I’d do a little update on me and what I’m focusing on right now. It will be a useful reminder for myself to show how productive I’m being now I’ve got over my bout of poor mental health and it might also inspire you to do a currently list in your bullet journal or notebook or even on your blog.

Currently adjusting… to the situation we find ourselves in right now. Every day there are new recommendations advising of changes we need to make to help stop the spread of this awful virus. It’s stressful for everyone but we need to really focus in on all the positives and take extra good care of ourselves and others. Now is a time for solidarity and I’ve seen many examples of this over the weeks.

Currently buying… the essentials only. My husband and I haven’t done any panic buying and for a while I thought we were going to run out of toilet roll but for now we’re safe on that one! Phew! I’ve also bought a pair of yoga bricks and a strap to go with my yoga mat as my class has been cancelled for the foreseeable future. I’m determined to keep up my practice but as a complete beginner, I need some equipment to ensure I can do the poses but not over exert myself.

Currently cleaning… door handles, light switches, our stair rail and anything else that might help to get rid of germs. It’s worrying to note that COVID-19 can live on surfaces for up to 9 days but luckily there’s plenty of advice online about which surfaces of the home to pay attention to including this one here.

Currently enjoying… being able to get out into the garden to see the first few glimpses of Spring. I’ve been able to hang plenty of loads of washing on the line as it’s been breezy but sunny over the past few weeks. Lots of shoots are popping up and our daffodils are in full bloom right now. Unfortunately, the warm weather has helped the weeds to grow too so I now need to spend some time getting rid of them!

Currently exercising… to improve my fitness levels and strength. My weekly gym session and my yoga classes may be cancelled but I’m still trying to fit in lots of exercise. I’m currently going for a 30 minute walk each day and using YouTube videos to develop my yoga practise with the aid of my new equipment.

Currently learning… new brush lettering techniques whilst still practise the basics. I’ve turned to a copy of Simply Lettering that I bought a while back which includes a 20202 calendar with quotes for each month to copy. I’m a bit late with it I know as it’s nearly the end of March but I just finished it this morning and better late than never eh?!? I found the flourishes really difficult with being a leftie so if any of you left handers have any tips, I would welcome them!

Currently feeling inspired… to draw florals. Whilst perusing YouTube, I found a wonderful artist called Shayda who shows, step by step, how to draw a range of flowers. I’ve been having a go in my sketch book and, although my efforts don’t look as good as hers, I’m getting better with practise. You can find her YouTube channel here. She’s also a keen bullet journalist too and choses a floral theme each month. I also went with a flower theme in my BuJo for April with hibiscus.

Currently organising… my sock drawer! I’ve been a fan of the Konmari method for several years now so I’ve been folding and standing my clothes up for a long while now but I’ve always struggled with getting my socks to sit right. I’ve found a new way to fold them so they lie flatter and fold up more easily. I’ve even taken to giving them a quick iron although how long this will last I don’t know! If you want to know the secret to my perfect folding which differs from Marie Kondo’s suggestion, let me know in the comments and I’ll oblige and maybe even take a photo or two!

Currently planning… and setting goals. I kind of fell out of love with using my BuJo when I was poorly but I’m back to loving it all over again. Previously, I was just doing a monthly calendar, completely undecorated and then writing a very short to do list for each day on a piece of paper or in the notes App on my phone. Now, I’m doing a properly daily plan for tomorrow the night before and making lots of notes on future projects and things I’d like to try. I’m also setting a small number of goals for the month. It feels good to be back!

I hope you have enjoyed reading about what I’m currently up to. Let me know in the comments what’s taking up your time right now. Maybe you’ve discovered something new or gone back to something you used to enjoy doing now that social distancing has affected many of our routines.

Until next time, keep safe and well,

Posted in mental health, Mindfulness, Planning and journaling, wellbeing, wellness

Currently… a little update on what’s going on for me in July 2019

Posted on by Laura
It was so hot, we needed lots of sun cream and had to stroll round slowly looking at all of the tiny ducklings.

I’ve been absent from my blog for a while due to some personal issues that I needed to focus on but I’m now back, and getting fully on top of my game. So, I thought I’d post a little update on me now I’m in productive mode and enjoying life.

currently loving:

… our new wildlife pond. My husband, Michael, has done a great job on it and even though it is only dinky, we already have some resident water snails! The birds love it too and can regularly be seen drinking from it after hopping around our wonderfully bright and colourful garden. It’s very much a work in progress but we’re hoping to get some frogs in there soon (especially as next door have a similar pond and they might come visit ours!).

currently reading:

… a wonderful self care book from The Blurt Foundation founder, Jane Hardy. I’m using it as my current Miracle Morning text and using one of my Mildliners to highlight key points and ideas to help me improve my mental health by looking after myself better. I can already list the positive effects it’s had and there’s so many ideas for bullet journal spreads and things to implement.

The Self-Care Project is for those who have been feeling off-kilter for a while but have not been able to put the finger on the ‘why’. It is a no-nonsense, practical journey to help you do just that. It’ll walk you through the case for self-care (why it’s so darn important), why it isn’t selfish at all, help you explore what self-care means for you, what your obstacles might be and provide advice on how to chisel out daily space for self-care in a practical, achievable and realistic way.

Jane HARDY, founder and CEO of THE blurt foundation
Lots of great information in here if you’re interested in improving your self care habits

currently making:

projects from Daphne’s Diary magazine. This bird décor has been on my to go list for a few weeks now and I finally got it made. Couldn’t decide where to hang it so it’s currently attached to the knob of our under stairs cupboard where it get lots of light from our front door.

So cute!

currently celebrating:

… completing my two classes at The Recovery College. I did a course on Emotional Resilience in the Spring Term and then did a Beginners Tai Chi class in the Summer Term. The college is for anyone who is living with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

The Recovery College leaflet resting on my new Scribbles bullet journal notebook!

currently planning:

… how my niece Lexi and I will celebrate our birthdays next month. She was born on the same day as me (3rd August) and she will be turning 8, whereas I will be turning slightly older! Hopefully we’ll have glorious sunshine like today.

currently feeling:

… extremely motivated and as though I want to do it all in order to make up for lost time when I was unwell. This totally goes against the teachings of the self care book so I’m trying really hard to stick to a routine in which I plan some shop work, some household chores, a bit of gardening and at least 30 mins of relaxation.

Over to you…

I’d love it if you dropped me a comment about what you’re currently up to this month or what you have planned for August 2019. And don’t forget to raise a glass on the 3rd of next month (I’m sure you don’t need an excuse but I’m giving you one anyway!).