Striking Mums- We're all Different

Kate has been taking a number of fellow mums through a striking mums journey. I have been reading her posts, I have been viewing the link ups of fellow bloggers and leaving comments when I have managed to. As you can see this is my first post for Striking Mums, for some reason over the last few weeks I just haven't been able to put into words how I feel about certain topics and questions. They've all been very inspiring posts that Kate has written and I decided to think more privately but now my blogging mojo has returned, I'm ready to join Kate and the other wonderful mothers. I start with Kate's questions on being different.

1. Are you different and, if so, how?

I'm one of these people that believe we are all very different. We are all here for a reason. I'm included in that. I can't tell you my reason, not accurately but I'm different in that I am a lot, lot more sensitive than a lot of people and I look at the story behind a person. I think a lot before I speak, before I act and I always want to make people feel better. I'm not perfect and especially with my family I can be bad tempered and quick to snap. My difference is my reason to be here, to help people in some way. I'm sure one day it'll maybe become a career.

2. Do you celebrate your uniqueness or strive to fit in?

I suppose I celebrate it in a way. I love to share random acts of kindness and tend to show what I've done in regards to that. Not for the self gratification but in the hope I can inspire further acts of kindness. Otherwise I don't really. I hate that I'm super sensitive, I don't particularly like that I'm an introvert and never go to my husbands football team get togethers despite them all being lovely people. But I can't change, really I can't. There's a block there and in some moments I kind of realise I wouldn't want to be very social. I love that I seek joy in a hot chocolate, a large duvet and a phone call/DVD reading or letter writing.

3. Are you ever judgemental of other mums who are different from you? Answer honestly even if only in your own head.

In general I am not someone who severely judges another person.
If you know me in person you would know I have a thing for a group of mothers at school. I don't dislike them, in fact I do not know them but they do not let many penetrate their tight knit group, they come across as rude and fairly self indulged. I have made judgments on those mothers and I have no doubt in my mind they have their own towards me and all the other mothers they won't look at let alone speak to. I'm sure they are very nice people, but perhaps I am not one of 'their' people.

4. What would you like to be different about you?

I'd like to take things to heart less, it's incredibly frustrating and draining but I don't really know how to not be affected by other people's words. I also worry that I would lose a part of myself and be less caring and understanding.

5. Have you ever being attacked or bullied for being different? How did that affect you?

The biggest difference I have and always have had is a physical difference. I've written before about excessive blushing, it's very painful for me and my bullying started at 9 years old. I was made to feel uncomfortable in my first two years at secondary and was bullied again at age 14 which started off a very rebellious phase for me, hiding my anxieties and acting out. I guess I gave myself a false confidence and in a bad way. I didn't use it for my education that's for sure! It has affected me to this day and whilst I have done things I am incredibly proud of there are loads of things I can't do because I'm just too scared.

6. If you had to write an advert for yourself as a limited edition ,what would you say to make people think you were great?

Like everyone else I don't feel I can find any words to answer this question! It's much easier to hear great things from your loved ones and friends but to 'big yourself up' feels some what difficult, I wonder why that is?

Please join Kate and Striking Mums here:

Kate on thin Ice Striking Mums


When Nursery Anxieties Become Real

Yesterday I stood waiting at the nursery gate overhearing a mum being told her son had been pinched on his back by another child, that he was okay and both children said sorry to each other over whatever the incident was. "Oh God please don't be A" I thought. Then the nursery teacher smiled at me, called A out and I realised with a huge sigh of relief that it wasn't my son who had hurt a fellow classmate.

Then the head of the nursery asked to speak to us..turns out A had been involved in an incident that day, at playtime, with a reception child. He had slapped the child so hard he had left a mark. I was mortified. Gutted. They couldn't tell me exactly what had happened and they said A couldn't tell them. They said a teaching assistant only caught what looked like the older child running past A and then A slapped them. "Perhaps they accidentally knocked him?" They suggested.

That's enough with A. When he is so focused on something and someone snatches an item he is playing with, or knocks/hits him even by accident he will take it incredibly personally and will lash out.

I was surprised that the teacher I was speaking to was so confused as to why he couldn't tell them what had happened. Why she was confused that A didn't say sorry when prompted, instead repeating everything she was saying, including the apology. He is in speech therapy. He doesn't KNOW HOW TO COMMUNICATE. He will REPEAT EVERYTHING YOU SAY.

Today I want to keep him home. I am terrified of bumping into the parent of the child he hit. I am sure he will do it again, and I hate that I know this. He will be known as the nasty boy. The boy who you shouldn't hang around.

He is friendly, happy, curious. He just zones out and he still just can't talk to me or anyone else like the rest of his classmates can and it's breaking my heart. Yes I am taking this very hard. I am his Mother and as such it is assumed by other parents who may one day find out that A has hurt their child that I don't care, or that I don't teach him right from wrong. I am a GOOD Mother, I do not hit my children, I do not allow it in my house, I do not show violence or anger towards my Husband or anyone else.

But I am lost. I want him to talk. Everyone tells me I will have that one day and wish he'd shut up but I can tell you now, the day he leaves nursery and tells me about his fun like his friends do will be magic. And I will never wish for silence.

All I can do now is speak to his teachers, hope, implement some things both here and at nursery, read him books on not hitting. All I'm doing today is feeling scared and crying for myself and my boy for many different reasons.

Cupcake Mumma

The Lego Movie- Everything Is Awesome!


Yep, thanks to suppose.com we have recently been able to watch and review this fantastic movie (and get the very popular theme song firmly rooted in our ears!) Both Midge and Little A were beyond themselves with excitement when they opened the little package containing the DVD yesterday. They both play with Lego, not the small stuff, the bigger Lego for now but I'm pretty sure it won't be long before the little tubs start arriving at my house..possibly for Christmas!


The Lego Movie follows the main character Emit, an ordinary builder getting along in Lego City and his job when he is mistaken as 'the special one'. He proceeds to go on a journey with many well known and wonderful Lego characters to travel through different worlds desperately searching for the 'Piece of Resistance' that will help save the world!

I shall say no more! I, a notorious film hater, didn't pay much attention until the end of the film when I realised this was no ordinary animated movie and proceeded to re watch it before school this morning with the children..It was Awesome! The children loved it, my husband thought it was great too!

For adults and children alike, this is one movie not to miss.


















We were sent a free copy of The Lego Movie DVD for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my (or my families) own. 

Cupcake Mumma

Happy Birthday CupcakeMumma!

Yes! CupcakeMumma is 3 years old! The only thing I've ever stuck to is child rearing (and lets face it, I don't have a huge choice there wink wink) so I am thrilled to still be here 3 years later and enjoying blogging.

As a thank you, I've put together a little gift for my faithful readers. Just leave comment on my blog, perhaps tell me what you like, if you'd like to see something in particular on here or your favourite post?

Here's what I've put together:





Retro sweets (which have been placed into a more attractive tin), mini marshmallows, mini notebook, woodland embellishments, cherry keyring, pencil case and an iron on clothes transfer. It's not much but it's a thank you.

Here's to another year!

Cupcake Mumma x

A Letter to my Younger Self

Dear Hannah

You don't really watch doctor who right now (you should) but let's just say you've managed to hop aboard a cool time travelling box with a handsome man to deliver this letter to your 17 year old self. You're currently pregnant, 1st or 2nd trimester, that wasn't clever but dont worry it'll all be fine. Your daughter won't sleep much so you should cram that in rather than watching trashy tv until late. Make sure you talk more and be honest with those around you. You're going to be exhausted, sore. Start speaking up for yourself. You'll never be one for confrontation or giving your opinion but you do start to say 'no' more often in the future, I'd suggest you go for it now. A room full of people will want to visit you when your baby girl isn't even 24 hours old. Please say no, or make sure someone says no, please!!

Save your money. You don't particularly waste it but you do have plenty of moments of spending a bit too much. Trust me you'll need the pennies, there's a few spanners in your future works. You'll get through it but it would be easier without borrowing money. I can't tell you more than that. If I do you won't end up in the lovely place you are now.

Things will be tough for a few years but you're not alone. Communicate with your future husband (yes you do get married, and yes it is in 2012 like he always said so stop badgering him and wasting your time, having arguments etc, you are so lucky to have him) Don't do that college course you're thinking about, it'll be seriously bad for you, not doing it doesn't change your future it'll just make your anxiety worse. Don't worry, you'll break your anxiety to a certain degree, I'm still working on the rest, we dogreat things!

A few other pointers: Stay in the birthing pool, don't destroy your diaries and notebooks because you will wish you had them still. You love to write, you have loads of pen friends; it's your favourite hobby! So is keeping memories and you'll often wish you had kept more than one silly year 7 Winnie the Pooh calendar dairy! Finally, very soon you'll be totally banished to the free from aisle in the supermarket. Don't carry on eating and making yourself feel like a fat sick thing, I happily condone the spending of some of those saved pennies on chocolates you love, cereals that actually stop tasting like cardboard (you better believe it!) and oh yes, pretty soon you'll be able to get cakes, biggish cakes that you can scoff all to yourself (you do, you're pregnant, no one judges you. Well may be a bit) so I'd suggest a stock up of those.

All my love
Hannah (you) xxxxx

Ps Don't eat quite so much after the babies, don't buy a bed from pound stretcher, don't dither about blogging because it's the making of you in many ways and lastly, don't lose yourself. I'm struggling to find a bit of the old you, the you you're soon to be in a few years. Fun, crafty, really happy. Hold on to that for me. Oh, and don't get a dog, your Dads right..

Cupcake Mumma

This post was written in partnership with Legal & General as part of their 'what would you say to your younger self' campaign.

Join a Halloween Gift Swap!

I absolutely adore Halloween it's so very close to Christmas on my love of seasonal celebrations. It's probably my favourite to be honest. The pumpkin carving, the fact it's in autumn, 2 days after my birthday. The spider fairy lights, cotton cobwebs, cute Halloween outfits and little Halloween parties.

To share the Halloween spirit I want to host a Halloween gift swap! I've already posted on Instagram so give me a follow and sign up there or leave me a comment below. I'd love people to sign up and will post updates on Instagram and twitter, share your swaps and i'd love for you to blog them too!

This swap doesn't have to include anything hand made but if you'd like to make something spooky to go with your Halloween gifts that's absolutely fine! This swap will be a direct swap, so you'll know your partner and be able to keep in touch.

This swap is uk only and items should be swapped before 31st October. I'll leave sign ups open until 20th September. Get excited for Halloween and join in!

Cupcake Mumma

Updates from the Cupcake House

It's been a while since I actually sat down and thought about what I was going to write on Cupcake Mumma. Last week I had a bit of a moan but we were all ready for the school routine to start again and so far I've been proven right. I've not been around much here. I've been adding to my stationery collection, catching up with my best friend, writing letters and taking part in swaps. A lot of this I do want to blog about too and I will do..I see no rush.

So, the summer holidays have been a huge blogging mojo killer. I'm still not really there, I need a laptop that's what I need. My current system for sending and editing photos is long and irritating. Not a good mix for blogging! I'm hoping something will turn up soon *looks at parents with puppy dog eyes long before birthday* surly 25 is a milestone no!?

So that's a little bit of absence explained. What's been happening with The Cupcakes? Like most of the country we are now back at school. Midge has settled in wonderfully and loves year 2. Her teachers seem friendly and easy to talk to which is important at all times but even more for me as Midge can be a bit shy and I worry about her. Her class have been to the woods and Rainbows had started again! To celebrate 100 years of Brownies, she's off for a day of activities with Rainbows, Brownies and some Girl Guides on today! How fun!


My Little A missed his sister madly on Monday but come Tuesday afternoon it was his turn to start his new class too! I've spent the whole summer holidays going from relaxed to a total anxious mess about Little A starting nursery and it's all been down to how he reacts to other children and his slow speech development. Let's face it, no one wants their child to be looked at as the one to avoid because they don't share or they tantrum and appear spoilt (when in fact it's because he can't talk to me like a fair number of children his own age can so tantrums are his way of expressing emotions etc) There was nothing to worry about! He was dry all day (still potty training!) he was well behaved and had a great day. I left in tears that morning but dropping him off the rest of the week was easy (even if I do feel like I've forgotten something as I walk around alone!)

We're all going along as usual here and getting back into the swing of things. Blog wise, I've put together a few bits to giveaway as it is my blogs 3rd birthday on September 19th! I want to blog about my brand new subscription box, my latest craft swaps, share some paper love, show off our vegetable growing efforts and there's a recipe or two to treat you with too! Plus a pocket money cooking book review and more!


I look forward to writing properly again, thanks for not abandoning me !

Cupcake Mumma

Crafty Creatives Brings you: #Paperhaul!

I'm so excited to be writing about this brand new monthly subscription box from the lovely people at Crafty Creatives. Crafty Creatives are now branching out to possibly my favourite thing of all time (after cake I should add) yep: stationery!

#Paperhaul is going to be a monthly subscription box packed up beautifully with all your stationery wants. Think cards, washi tape, stickers, postcards and even more. I'm going to be signing up to receive the boxes, which are at a limited number, as soon as I can. Each month you'll pay just £10 plus P&P for your box which is going to be a great deal knowing what I do about the company and how they source truly great items for their customers. I feel very lucky to be a part of their blogging network and will be receiving my box at a discounted price.

So, Keep your eyes peeled right here for updates on #Paperhaul and follow them on twitter @paperhaul so you don't miss out. If you're anything like me you'll probably weep if you don't get your hands on a box of Stationery goodness!

I look forward to seeing lots of posts, pictures and tweets from fellow letter writing lovers in the very near future.

Cupcake Mumma

The Final Week

Yes at last it has come. I'm not even sorry that I'm not one those mothers crying about new school years or deeply sad that summer has ended and now it's time to go back. I've had a long summer here and the word holiday is not a word I would choose to add to summer either. Of course it hasn't been all bad. We went to a beautiful wedding and saw a lot of lovely family. We've had friends stay and ventured to an animal park which was wonderful fun! We've done soft play twice and had cheeky trips to a certain famous food chain.

In between most of that we've had potty training not going according to plan. We've had a lot of sleepless nights and have spent a lot of time with our three year old in with me and my poor husband going where ever he can be comfortable.

For about 3 weeks I was stuck in an absolutely rotten place mentally. I cancelled appointments because of my anxiety, I didn't want to leave the house but did manage one day at the park and several belated trips to the post office (sorry pen friends) I've been tired and worn down by a lot of fighting between the children. Some boredom, some poor communication with A, some purpose tormenting from midge and just some utter crap!

I've had a better holiday than most I've no doubt about that at all. I wouldn't change the holiday either, it's very important for children now more than ever to have these precious six weeks.

I never noticed the long holidays in primary school because I was left to my own devices or holidaying in Cornwall with family before we moved here. I hated the summer holidays as a teen because it was long and boring, because I was someone who loved the books and homework and missed the structure and routine from school. It seems even as a mother of two I still can't stand the long summer. As they get older i'll just be more aware of their friends' fabulous holidays and our lack of ability to provide such wonderful fun. That's a long way in the future that one. Hopefully next year things will be better in lots of ways!

Cupcake Mumma