Blog challenge over! What now?! (Day 30)

This is it folks, my 30 day challenge has almost come to an end and I made it! One blog every single day for 30 days on the trot! Was it harder than I thought? I'm not sure really? I managed it but I guess I forgot how much I have a tendency to waffle on, so each post took a lot nearer two hours than the one hour I estimated! I think I've been more productive with the other stuff I have to do though, ensuring it's all finished earlier than it would have been before, leaving me time to write before the clock strikes twelve and pretty close to twelve it was a few times too!

I wanted to thank you all for reading and if you've managed all thirty you deserve a medal! Please please let me know if you've been reading them as I would absolutely love to hear from you, it feels quite lonely being a blogger with not many comments. However, if you've tried several times but blogger is being a pain fear not for I have plans afoot to transfer the content of my blog to a newly designed site over the coming month so watch this space and hold that thought because the commenting options will be MUCH easier! I did mention Prosecco in an earlier post and true to my word, once I've transferred the blog to a new site I'll do a prize draw for one of you that has commented as a little thank you!

Although I haven't seen many comments I do see the stats on how many people have read my blog and I thought I'd share some with you as I'm quite pleased with the results!



Apparently my blog (including previous posts from 2011) have attracted 10,068 page views.
This month, since starting this challenge I have had 4,299 page views!

I thought you might like to know which were the most popular blogs that I've ever published here, so here's the top five most read...

Strength From Within had 500 people read it!
3/5 engaged and there was me thinking I was married has been read by 304 people.
Life officially changed forever (not for the squeamish!) tempted 277 people.
Travelling the other side of the World at just 18... wasn't far behind with 260 views.
Life in 4D was the fifth most popular with 237 reading it.

This is probably not really a fair analysis as four of these were published in 2011 so people have had four years to read them! 'Strength From Within' definitely cast everything else into the shadow though, 500 people really?! I think it was probably due to the comments on social media more than anything as it definitely helped it gain some traction.

I also thought I should mention the blog posts I feel sorry for with between just 46 and 64 people having read each of them. Maybe I posted them at a bad time or the subjects just aren't to your taste but if you missed them here's a quick way to catch up, just click on the titles below...

Feeling hot hot hot!
Paul Weller, Oasis and The Stone Roses in one hit!
Tomorrow is here
Why set goals?
You're not bored, you're boring! 

So, what on earth am I going to do with my time now? Just kidding! As you can imagine I've got a list as long as my arm! Firstly my Daughter is going to be finishing nursery for the Summer in two weeks so my biggest priority will be to spend time with her before she starts primary school! I've also got a little matter of a trip to Sri Lanka to plan as that will be here before I know it. Plus one of my new business ideas requires a prototype to be ready for when we leave for Sri Lanka (teasing you a bit here I know!) so I've got to get a wriggle on with that too! Hmmm, so what else is there? Oh yes my business, my husband, seeing friends and family, lots of cooking and eating... but what about more blogging? Is this goodbye? Would it be cruel to leave you high and dry until September when I have more time? If you want more and you shout loud enough then maybe, just maybe, I'll do a
weekly blog post between now and next time...

Thanks again, you're all amazing for sticking with me and as quiet as you are I'll still miss you but I'm sure this is not goodbye. Please don't be goodbye, you'll set me off!

Best Wishes, Kaori x

Make more time! (Day 29)

Wow, it feels pretty mad writing my penultimate post of this 30 day blog challenge. Today has been the toughest day for me to write something as I've been feeling a bit ropey all day and at this point in time I literally can't breathe from being so blocked up with hay fever so my mind is a little on the sluggish side. Basically I'm warning you incase this blog comes across a bit lackadaisical, as frankly I'd rather be in bed, but so close to the finish line I simply cannot fail and who know's writing about something positive could just give me the boost I need...

A few people have mentioned some subjects for me to cover through this blog series and one that has cropped up a few times that I'm yet to write about is how to fit more things in. It seems lots of you have business ideas that you dream about starting one day but for most there is a hesitation to actually begin. If this includes you then read on and hopefully it will help you get going with it. So you've got an idea or a dream but that's about as far as you've got... it might be because of the fact that you feel life is already super busy and you can't squeeze anymore in, perhaps you don't really know where to start, or it could be that your enthusiasm for the idea has been squashed by others, the negative nellies I like to call them! These people have a lot to answer for and I wouldn't be surprised if they're utterly miserable in their own lives, be it personal, work related or both. The key here is to never take advice from someone that you wouldn't want to trade lives with! Why on earth would you want to listen to anything they've got to say if they've never been happy with the job they're doing and they're telling you that you should do the same instead of realising your dream!! Hmmm, this stinks of jealousy to me! Please step away from these people, phase them out of your life, you do not need influencers like these, trust me!! If you can surround yourself with like minded people you will be in a much better position to move forward with your dream life and with the networking opportunities online these days it's not exactly difficult either. I am a massive fan of Twitter and can guarantee if you use it in the right way you will find heaps of people worth connecting with on and offline. Feel free to follow me (@kaoriking) if you don't already and if you want a hand finding local positive people with similar business or personal goals I'd be more than happy to help where I can.

Ok, so how do you fit more in when you're already so busy and boy aren't we all so 'busy' these days?! It's like a competition over who can be the most overloaded and I'm guilty of this trait too, life is one big juggling act and if we're not physically doing something we're on Facebook or another social media platform watching how busy other people are! This 'busy' doesn't necessarily mean work by the way, it includes every daily task, so socialising, housework, shopping, trips to the library, watching TV, going to the gym etc etc but it all adds to the list of things that might stop us from doing some of the really juicy stuff we want to do but don't have 'time' for!! Ahhh, hang on have I just hit the nail on the head! Are we actually prioritising our lives properly if we don't actually have time to do the one thing that will take us down the path for a dream life? Erm, that will most likely be a no!

So here's a list of things you could do to evaluate how you are prioritising so far:

1) Write down the top five things in your life that are most important to you. So to give you an idea, here are mine:

1) Spending quality time with family and friends
3) Making sure I'm fit and healthy
4) Doing what I love as a job
5) Making a difference somehow
6) Travelling the World

2) Next, prioritise them! (Mine are already in order of importance above)

3) Now work out how much time you spend making each one of these things happen.

4) Now what else do you spend your time doing (so for example, housework, cooking, grocery shopping, clothes shopping, watching TV, hobbies, time on social networking sites)

5) Now work out roughly how much time you spend on each of these things.

I know you can see where I'm going with this now but humour me whilst I get to the end...

6) Can you see where you currently spend time that could be better used if you have a dream you want to realise or a business idea to get cracking with? For example is it more vital for your life that you spend 5 hours per week watching soaps or start planning your business idea?

7) Now, work on using your time more effectively! It's really that easy!


If you have to get up an hour earlier then do it... we don't all need as much sleep as we think we do. I average at around 6 hours and for the first two months of this year I was getting up at 5am to spend an hour doing a few things for myself before anyone else woke up (meditating, goal setting, exercises and a little writing etc), it worked well but I realised I needed a bit more than 4.5 - 5 hours sleep to be effective through the day. I also know some people that survive perfectly well on 4 hours and others who can't focus on less than 8. It's an individual thing and you have to listen to your body but a little time to yourself in the morning is a great way to start your day, particularly if you've got children so try it if you can, you might surprise yourself.

The other thing that works well for me is planning in general. I like to eat well so I cook fresh food from scratch almost every night of the week but it takes a little organisation. I choose the meals ahead and then make a shopping list of the ingredients needed and do my online shop based on these. All in all this process takes a lot less time than it would me driving to the supermarket and doing a shop that way but I have been doing this for years so have it mastered by now. This way I have no panic about what we're eating every evening, we have a good meal and I've saved time in the process!

There are probably loads of other tips I could share but I'll save them for another day as I'm boiling right now and this blog has once again become a lot longer than first intended.

Please feedback to me if you've carried out my exercises above and I'd love to know if you have a new plan because of it.

Now, finally I have a video I would like to share with you that optimises what I am trying to say in this blog. This guy is a legend!!

Perfect day for a wedding... (Day 28)

It's easy to pick a theme for today's blog but having not long been home and feeling a tad on the tired side (not hungover I said 'tired') it might take me a while to actually write it. I'm also feeling like in this lethargic state (I said lethargic, NOT 'hungover'!!) I probably won't do the topic justice, but here's my best shot...

Yesterday it was my cousin Lucy and her Fiancé Oliver's wedding and what a perfect day for a wedding! Zoe, you had one job... (to book the weather) and what a triumph. I salute you! 

So, we set of to Hertfordshire early Saturday morning to drop our Daughter at my Dad's for the day and night, as he lives locally. It was actually his birthday too, so it couldn't have been better timed for him to spend time with his Granddaughter. It was the first time he's had her overnight on his own at his house and it sounds like they had a ball! I think he'll sleep well tonight!! We got to his laden with breakfast for us, the birthday boy and my Brother and his partner, who also met us there. So once we'd devoured a feast of pancakes, fruit and yoghurt and had given out our gifts we zipped to our hotel to shower and get ready for the day ahead.

With the wedding at 2:30pm there was a plan for pre-drinks at a pub just a few hundred yards down the road, so we made our way here first to see Ollie (who seemed very relaxed, despite being under strict orders from the Vicar that he could not marry them if either were to turn up inebriated! One beer it was then!). We also met some other family members and had chance to catch up with a few of Lucy and Ollie's friends and family that I'd met on Lucy's hen night. We didn't have long before we needed to be at the Church but it would have been rude not to sample a glass of Prosecco whilst in such an establishment, after all it was a day of celebration and the sun had it's hat on so green lights from every direction! 

The ceremony went smoothly from start to finish, beginning with the magnificent entrance of the bridesmaids and maid of honour all looking absolutely fabulous in matching dark blue long dresses. Following closely behind was my Cousin, the stunning bride, arm in arm with her Dad, my Uncle Mick. As always Lucy looked absolutely magnificent and took the cliche phrase 'beautiful bride' to a whole new dimension! This is probably the first time I remember my Uncle looking serious, concentration in his eyes and proud as punch to be walking his beautiful Daughter down the aisle. For those of you that know Mick you'll be well aware that he's forever the comedian, so it was an unusual concept seeing him with this kind of no-nonsense intent! We don't have much of a tendency to be all that serious in our family, humour is in the genes! 

After perfect readings from Ollie's Mum (Karen) and Lucy's Brother (Jonathan), a few hymn's, prayers and then the declarations we were treated to a couple of truly momentous moments whilst the newly weds signed the register. A close friend of the bride and groom, Natasha, sang Eva Cassidy's Songbird accompanied by a friend of hers playing the guitar. I know Natasha, as she was one of our Three Peaks team back in 2013 and I was aware that aside from being absolutely beautiful inside and out, she also has her own business teaching yoga and holding holiday retreats in different destinations, but I never knew that she had such a sensational singing voice! She is definitely one of those ladies that every guy wants to be with and every girl wants to be! Well done Natasha, great job! Just as I thought this wedding couldn't get any more impressive Lucy and Ollie's Sister-in-law Katya got up to play the piano and sing 'Someone to watch over me' written by Ira and George Gershwin (and performed by both Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald). Once again I was captivated by Katya's remarkable voice, echoing around the church. Absolutely amazing! 

It was stifling outside the church so the newly weds were keen to have a few quick photographs here and then head off to the reception venue, which was within the grounds of Ollie's parents house just down the road. I'd heard about this house a lot over the past year and being a lover of property I was enchanted by this place as soon as I set eyes on it. They had a marquee set up with hay bales dotted around the garden and lanterns for the evening with carefully thought out flower arrangements to perfectly suit the occasion. Of course we were offered Pimms or Prosecco on arrival and then delicious canapés by the waiting staff wondering amongst us. What I was most in awe of though, was the tribe of photographers. I counted four as well as a young budding apprentice of about eight years old at a guess. The four guys and girls were part of the Rankin team as far as I'm aware. Rankin is a well known British portrait and fashion photographer and friends of Lucy and Ollie, so he wasn't taking the photographs as him and his wife were guests, but I think he was in charge of supplying the lovely team who were doing an incredible job of capturing the day on camera. It was amazing, everywhere I looked there was one of them seizing the moment. I love natural shots and am so excited to see the photographs once they are released, that is as long as they weren't around too late into the evening as I might not be keen on any of me in a slightly tipsy state hitting the dance floor with a mission! 

The wedding breakfast was a wonderful antipasti selection, followed by barbecued meat and fish and an array of delicious salads, followed by strawberries and cream. What more could you want on a hot summers day?! It was great meeting new people on our table and watching the speeches is always a highlight, so long as you're not someone doing them or likely to be picked on. I was safe on all accounts so lapped it up! There were moments of laughter and times when I'm sure all of us had a lump in our throats with what was being said. Funny, emotional and perfectly executed. Well done to all three of you! The evening played out as you would expect... lots of wine, followed by lots more wine, a brilliant live band and then a playlist to follow so plenty of great excuses to be on the dance floor. Apparently there was a good spread of food later on but I was having a bit too much fun to remember what that consisted of!! Whoops!!

Anyway, I've taken up heaps of your time now, so I'd better stop writing! 

All in all a fabulous day and I want to once again wish Mr and Mrs Choppin a massive congratulations! Here's to your future, it's going to be smashing and you truly deserve it!

Much love, Kaori x

The tables are turned for question time! (Day 27)

For those of you that didn't read yesterdays blog my Daughter wanted to ask me and my husband some questions being as I've been quizzing her lately. So it solved the blog ideas over a busy weekend issue that I was having and here it is, as simple as that and probably the quickest and easiest read yet!

Dear Daddy...

So Daddy, what is your favourite thing to do?

To cuddle my little Indie.

What colour is this (points to purple in the book)

It's purple.

Well done Daddy, gold star!

Where is your favourite thing to go?

That's a tricky one Ind.

No it isn't a hard one!

My favourite place to go would be the beach to have fish and chips and a Mr Whippy with you and Mummy.

I'm going to ask Daddy a question. What do you like playing with me and Mummy?

I like playing (thinking for a while) football in the back garden.

What do you like doing at home?

Ask me a different one.

No what do you like doing at home, that's the one!

I like being with you and Mummy.

Dear Mummy...

So Mummy, what do you like playing with?

I like playing with you in the garden.

What colour is this (points to orange in a book)

Orange? (phew, I was right!)

What is your favourite thing to do?

My favourite thing to do is to go travelling somewhere exotic and exciting with my family.

Where? Sri Lanka?

Anywhere I haven't been before ideally. Yes I can't wait for Sri Lanka!

Mummy, what would you like to do at home?

I would like to spend a little less time working and more time playing with you and Daddy.

Ha, ha that's what I said.

Mummy, where do you like going?

I like going to the park, the beach, restaurants and anywhere with you, as long as you're being good! 

Ok good, can I watch a film now?

Granted! 

Have a lovely weekend all! 

More questions with the little person... (Day 26)

In preparation for a very busy weekend I asked my lovely Facebook friends for some questions that I could ask my Daughter to cover a popular theme and an easy choice for a blog post for me when I've got about a million things to do! Thanks folks, you've done me proud!

Lesley:
My 3yr old Grandson Ben thinks every crawling insect is a spider. I am trying to find a way to explain the difference to him in a way he will understand. Perhaps you have the answer?
Yes it's a spider and spiders are good because they eat flies.
Sorry Lesley, you were never going to get a sensible answer. There is a fact in there somewhere though! 

She's always enjoyed a good book!

Dawn:
1) Do you like books?
Yep
2) What do you like about them?
I like looking at books
3) What is your favourite part of the day?
Well I just like to play with my mud kitchen.
She's actually only had the mud kitchen since this morning, so this is a relatively new 'favourite part of the day'! 

Tania:
1) Why does rain fall down and not up?
Because it rains, that's because you have to go in the car to go to school and you have to go to school with the umbrella. Some days it rains. That's the answer.
So matter of fact and righteous that I almost believed her answer.
2) What makes thunder noises?
Thunder (she says whilst smirking at me) that was an easy one! 
Technically right I suppose smarty pants!
3) How do the clouds stay there?
Because it sometimes goes cold.
4) How do the stars stay there?
Erm because it's night time.
5) What makes people happy?
People just playing nicely.
6) What makes people sad?
When Mummy's tell them off and they go sad, erm like this (does a great sad face)
That's me scolded! 
7) What makes people excited?
This isn't an easy one? 
Ok, what makes you excited?
Playing with Sydney (this is a school buddy of hers)
8) Is money important?
Err yeah because people use it.

Jacqui: 
1) What sound does purple make?
Well it's a bit tricky to do this one.
Why?
Because I don't like this one because it's too tricky.
Do you think that purple makes a sound?
No, it doesn't.
What is purple then?
That (she says whilst pointing at the colour purple in a book she's holding).
No flies on her, obviously! 

Tracy:
1) How hard is rocket science?
I don't know. It isn't hard for me. 
Wow, she's pretty confident! Let's hope you turn out to be better at science than Mummy was then!

In true form she was bored of being questioned by the end and turned the tables on us saying "right, it's my turn to ask questions now". Perfect idea for tomorrow's blog! Watch this space!

Doesn't time fly! (Day 25)

Baby Kaori!! 

It's just come to mind that we've skipped past the half way point for this year. How did that happen so quickly? Excuse the cliche but doesn't time fly?!! How often do we say this phrase too? I know that I remember hearing my parents and other adults saying it when I was young, usually along with 'wow haven't you grown!' Now I find myself saying exactly the same thing to my friends and their kids too! Eeek, what would the child Kaori have to say about that I wonder?

I do find it mad how it so frequently feels like we've blinked yet so much has happened. It doesn't seem yesterday that I was finishing school (who am I kidding it was a long time ago now, well 18 years but who's counting?!) and then there's the fact that we've been married for ten years this year, hang on... what?!! Also, once you have children there's an invisible force that actually speeds up time. What, you didn't know this? It's true. Well, I don't know for certain but it flipping' feels like it. How is my baby about to turn four and start Primary school in two months? How?

Anyway, this brings me to a little short but sweet recap of 2015 so far, as I think it's really important to step back and take stock of what you've been up to and what you've achieved at regular intervals. I was once told a story about a guy that was brought up in a very poor family and as he got older he became determined that he wouldn't continue to live a life of poverty and had a massive goal to become a millionaire. So that was that and he got to it, head down, working like a trojan towards his goal. In his case he literally didn't come up for air and before he knew it people were talking to him about how he planned to celebrate his 80th birthday! Yep, without even realising it he'd had his head down working hard for so long that life had zipped past and he was only twenty years shy of becoming 100! This took him back a bit and he took stock, sadly a little too late because he realised that he'd actually reached his goal of being a millionaire by the age of fourty but because he didn't sit back and look at what he'd achieved to enable him to reward himself he'd just carried on and forgotten to enjoy life and really lap up the luxuries that he had been able to afford for so long. So yes he'd made it to being 'rich' but what kind of life had he actually had? No family, no loved ones and not a great deal of partying either! Loads of money in the bank but nobody to spend it with... This story makes me really sad and determined to constantly review my goals, ensure I pat myself on the back (or more likely, take myself to a spa or for a slap up meal) if I've done well and most importantly allowing myself to recognise where life has shifted and what has become more valuable to me since the last time I set myself any kind of targets.

So on to my 2015... it has been busy for us so far and the main achievements I suppose have been

Bedroom 4 - during!

Bedroom 4 - before

settling into our new house and village, where we moved end of November 2014. Already, just since Christmas, my amazing husband has ripped out and completely refurbished three bedrooms and is currently in the midst of the fourth along with the en-suite. He's done all of this in evenings and weekends as has his own building business which takes up most of his time Monday to Friday. It's looking fab and he definitely deserves a trip to a spa but most likely he'd rather opt for a take away! Ha, ha men are from Mars and all that! Personally, I feel that I have achieved a lot when it comes to work. My big one being the biggest presentation I've ever given, in front of 500 CEO's in London and following on from Google as the social media professional!

I loved it though and am keen to do more like this! Within my business the team has grown and I have created a pretty strong business plan for this, as well as plans in place for my other entreprenerial ideas that I should be starting in a couple of months time. I think overall though I have achieved something that I wasn't ever sure I would (prepare yourself for some cheesy stuff now!)... a path to peace. Something has happened to me since I moved into this place and despite crazy weeks with work and my hubby and I passing like ships in the night with a lot of individual work and home juggling, I feel so comfortable and in love with my surroundings. The house and garden themselves, walks to school, the wonderful group of friends that I have made already (mainly thanks to my little friend connector! You know who you are!) and all the fun I can imagine that we will have as a family over the next few years. It's simple stuff but for me it's everything and to feel so satisfied is not normal for moi, trust me and if you don't ask my husband! I always want more! Of course this doesn't mean I've accepted this as our forever home or anything daft like that, in fact most people will know that it gives me shivers talking too far ahead but for now I'm really happy and I can't wait for my Daughters Primary school childhood era to play out (as slowly as possible though please invisible force!). I know you can't count your chickens but today we're healthy and happy so long may it continue please!

Feeling hot hot hot! (Day 24)

With temperatures in the UK reaching a record high for July of 36.7C it's been one of those days where you feel like you've just got to make the most of every ounce of sunshine and lap up the warmth because let's face it in this Country you never really know what tomorrow holds in terms of the weather. I had a good day planned... in the World of a working Mum it's what you call a 'pamper' day... yes I'm talking about a trip to the hairdressers! A boost of colour, trim, wash and blow-dry all teamed with a lovely catch up with my Hairdresser of about eight plus years now. I go to Chilli Flame in Norwich, where you get the best and most personal service I've ever had at a hairdressers. We usually put the World to rights, talk ALOT about our travels and have a general catch up on what's been happening in our lives. For me it's three hours of pure relaxation, well aside from catching up on emails whilst I'm waiting for the colour to take!

It was super warm as I walked out of the doors at 12:30 which reminded me I needed fans for tonight! I wondered up the road and picked up two desk fans and a mini USB one to put beside my computer. Once I'd taken these back to the car I decided to quickly zip to the retail park at Riverside, which was only a 5 minute drive and in just 30 minutes I tried on eight dresses and bought three! The main aim of this surge being to find a dress for my Cousins wedding on Saturday. I'm pleased with what I found and seriously impressed with the time I managed it in, it has to be a record!

I got home about 45 minutes before I had to leave to pick my Daughter up from Pre-School so grabbed a snack as a late lunch, an effervescent vitamin drink to keep me hydrated and quick caught up on more email before I sauntered off to walk and collect her. Wow, it was warm! The perfect day for an evening trip to the beach! So this is exactly what we did... as soon as my husband got home from work we all freshened up and then followed our noses to the coast to meet my Sister, Mum and Step-Dad. With a couple of gluten allergies in the family we'd discovered a fish and chip shop in Sheringham (The Trawler) that serve gluten free fish and chips, so this is exactly where we went. I've walked past it before and to be honest never given it a second look as the boat front on the outside of the restaurant had given me the wrong impression! More fool me! Inside it was probably the cleanest and nicest set out chippy I'd ever been in and there was plenty of tables, all set up with proper cutlery and condiments. Basically an actual restaurant but with the wonders of the seaside traditional fish and chips and heaps more on offer! The staff were fabulous, I'm not sure I've ever come across such a friendly bunch and in terms of the celiac requests they were so knowledgable and helpful. I tried a mouthful of the gluten free plaice and I actually preferred it to my battered fish so hats off to them! We will definitely go back, that's for sure and I recommend it to all those that can't eat gluten.

Next up to tick off the list before bed was of course ice creams and paddling in the sea! We did this and watched the sun slowly dropping, whilst sipping drinks at the beachfront pub. Apart from being plagued by annoying black flies it was perfect! What a gorgeous day, long may such days continue. I must make a pact with myself to visit the beach ATLEAST once a week from now until October!! Feel free to hold me to this, I'm relying on you!