Zoe Loves the Second Act

We all lead extremely busy lives these days & trying to keep on top of things can be a daily struggle. Trying to juggle work with parenthood, being a daughter/son, a partner, a sibling, a friend, a pet owner along with trying to keep fit, have a life away from work with hobbies to keep you sane etc etc you can often feel like you’re meeting yourself coming back. When you’re trying to be everything to everybody, unfortunately the person that often gets forgotten is yourself! However, taking time to organise your life & get everything in order really does help you on a daily basis to ensure you never miss anything and to keep your life as stress free as possible.   SELF CARE Up to a few months ago I was getting very busy and stressed & it began affecting my health. Nothing drastic, just feeling tired, sluggish and lacking in energy or enthusiasm for anything. I made a decision to work on myself and incorporate self-care into my daily routine as a non-negotia...

  As a busy working mum who is a huge people pleaser, it’s often easy to lose yourself a little in the process. Lockdown had many downsides but the one thing it made me, & I’m sure many many others, do was reassess my own life & that I needed to make some changes. I’m someone who continually felt guilty if I wasn’t constantly working or cleaning, or organising or doing paper work etc etc & if I dared to relax for a minute I had a constant nagging feeling that I should be doing something productive. I still love to be productive, its in my DNA but, I have finally realised the importance of self-care, and if you don’t look after yourself how can you possibly look after others? I run my own business so the work never stops however, on my days off on Fridays & Sundays I would still end up working. I’ve been doing a lot of work on myself recently and the one thing I am sticking to is ensuring Fridays & Sundays are kept for my family, home life, social life & ...

  I love podcasts whilst I'm driving and one of my favourites is Grazia Life Advice podcast which interviews women with something to say and asks them to pass on the best 6 pieces of advice they've had and the one worst piece. It's very interesting and thought provoking and then hit me thinking about the best advice I've been given over the years which inspired me to write this blog post. Some pieces of advice are practical, some emotional but they are all things I try to follow in my life and instil in my children.   1. Manners cost nothing Rudeness drives me mad, there's just no need for it, something Tony & I have instilled in our children is having manners and treating people how you want to be treated. No one is better than anyone else and there's just no excuse for rudeness, arrogance and bad manners.   2. If it's not going to be a problem in a year’s time don't give it more than 5 minutes thought now- putting things into perspective ...

    In a world that is so fast paced and everyone is so busy its so important to take the breaks off now and again. Everyone needs time out to spend with friends and family but it's also important to take some time just for yourself too. Eating well, keeping fit and socialising all play a big part in leading a happy and fulfilled life but a few guilty pleasures just for yourself are imperative also to help you relax and re charge the batteries. These are a few of my guilty pleasures, what are yours?   The soaps Love them or hate them for me, I love my daily fix of Coronation Street and Emmerdale when I get in from work to help me switch off.   A cold crisp glass of rose wine I don't really drink during the week as I work evenings in my theatre school but when I finish on a Saturday I love to get home and have a glass or two of cold, delicious rose wine before we go out.   A luxury bubble bath After a long day nothing can beat a luxury bubbl...

  Probably one of the best days I’ve had in a long time. What a wonderful experience! I adore being taken back in time to the wonderful 1930’s! An era I often feel I should have been alive in, where men & women alike really knew how to dress and glamour was the essence of the time. The Orient Express has always fascinated me and for as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to experience a day enjoying the luxury, class & glamour of this wonderful time of years gone by. The Northern Belle is the British Orient Express & has wonderful experience days you can book to sample a taste of this luxurious train. And so, for Christmas 2019, I booked a day trip for my parents, Tony & I February 2020. But of course covid hit & sadly the trip had to be cancelled and re booked a few times until at last, in September 2021, we at last set aboard the luxurious Northern Belle in Birmingham. The second you board the train you are immediately transported and it’s wonderful ...

  FABULOUS THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST MONTH 1. Being booked for a lot of adjudicating jobs, I’m loving this new stage of my career. 2. Seeing progress with my hair treatment course 3. A wonderful 2 day trip to Windsor with Tony & my parents 4. Isabelle is very happy with how her A levels have gone & I’m unbelievably proud of the hard hard work she’s put in. 5.   and my gorgeous boy Max is experiencing his first mock GCSE exams & I’m beyond proud of how he’s conducted himself, how hard he’s worked and how he’s applied himself.   LIFESTYLE, LEISURE, PLACES & HOME The Old Grain Store Cottages – Kendal The Lake District I have recently enjoyed a wonderful weekend away with my two best friends in one of these stunning cottages in The Lake District & what a weekend we had! Perfectly situated approximately 20 minutes from Kendal Town Centre & 30 minutes from Windermere, it’s the perfect location to experience this stunning area. The cot...