Me and Mine

Me and Mine – a Portrait for February 2016

Me and Mine Feb http://rainbeaubelle.com

Me and Mine Feb http://rainbeaubelle.com

February has been a pretty good month for us, as I feel like we’ve had quite a lot of time to relax together both at home and over at my parents’ house in Yorkshire. We spent most of the half-term holiday over there and it was such a treat for me to be able to take my foot off the gas a little bit and not try to be all the things and do all the things all of the time.

Being a single parent is hard work and I’m finally starting to find it easier to let other people help me out more, so I can spend a little more time on recharging my batteries. Having mum and dad around to do that is such a big help, and Sam and Florence love staying at their house so much they hardly even notice when I nip out to see my friends, or even just grab an hour to myself during the day to go for a run, pop to the shops or even – are you ready for this one? – lie on the sofa during daylight hours reading the paper. Yes that one actually did happen sometime a few weeks ago.

Me and Mine Wirral beach http://rainbeaubelle.com

As usual, we had a few tries at getting some nice Me and Mine photos this month, and as my January photos were all taken in our living room I made a big effort to grab some while we were out and about. The top photos were taken just a few days ago down by the beach, as it’s such a gorgeous backdrop and one we walk or drive past most days. I’d just collected the kids from the childminder’s house so the light was getting dusky but the beach looked just as serene as ever.

The rest of the photographs were taken at The Tarn on Ilkley Moor, where we went walking with my mum over the holidays. It was so cold that week, we were all well wrapped up but a walk up the hill to feed the ducks always blows away the cobwebs.

You can see how cold it was as the tarn was icy in parts and the ducks looked like they were walking on water as they paddled over its frozen surface. I remember when I was a little girl actually walking right across the water with my dad when it was frozen solid. I was careful not to say that too loudly in front of Sam and Flo in case it gave them any ideas.

Cow and Calf Ilkley http://rainbeaubelle.com

Walk at the Tarn http://rainbeaubelle.com

So February has brought a little much-needed breathing space for me. I’ve kept up and improved my running, I’ve been a bit more sociable and tried to make time to have some fun, and I’ve even won a holiday! I was so pleased to have been chosen by James Villas to go on a seven-night break to one of their properties after writing this post about my favourite holiday memory. Hopefully this time next month I’ll have it all booked in and be able to tell you a little more about it but I am genuinely so excited, it’s really given me and the kids a boost this last week.

We go into March feeling slightly better than we did going into February, which is another plus. March is probably my favourite month as it is my birthday month, the month I got married, and usually includes Easter too. Let’s hear it for daffodils, pastel-coloured mini eggs, fluffy bunnies and chocolate for breakfast.

x Julia

The tarn http://rainbeaubelle.com

Tarn Me and Mine

Ducks at The Tarn http://rainbeaubelle.com

Moorland gorse http://rainbeaubelle.com

This post is linked up with the Me and Mine project – hosted by Dear Beautiful, Bump to Baby, Capture By Lucy, Let’s Talk Mommy, Mummy Daddy Me and Tigerlilly Quinn – where you take a photograph a month of your family all together.

The Me and Mine Project
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11 Comments

  • Reply
    Heledd _ Running in Lavender
    February 29, 2016 at 5:26 pm

    Julia I’m so glad you’re starting to let people help you!! You deserve it, we all need a bit of me time from now and again.

    You look so glam in those top beach shots and your right the beach makes the most beautiful backdrop.

    xx

  • Reply
    LauraCYMFT
    February 29, 2016 at 8:23 pm

    Gorgeous photos! And well done again on winning the trip! You all deserve it so much and I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time.

  • Reply
    Carie
    February 29, 2016 at 8:58 pm

    Well bravo for guilt-free lying on the sofa reading the paper – it sounds perfect and thoroughly well deserved. And how exciting to be plotting a trip to a villa somewhere warm and sunny where the water doesn’t have ice! These are lovely photos, but definitely wintery – roll on the spring!!
    Carie recently posted…Me and Mine 2016: FebruaryMy Profile

  • Reply
    claire barnard
    February 29, 2016 at 10:06 pm

    Oh I do love reading your posts. So glad that it was a good month for you & how amazing that you won the holiday (it was an excellent piece that you wrote x) something great to look forward to x keep up the ‘me time’ & the running

  • Reply
    Debs @ Super Busy Mum
    March 1, 2016 at 10:14 am

    Beautiful photos hun…that beach behind you guys looks like a corker! I’m also pleased to read that your now allowing people to chip in. I know that part is hard but you deserve the help. x
    Debs @ Super Busy Mum recently posted…Living Arrows 9/52My Profile

  • Reply
    Natalie
    March 1, 2016 at 6:41 pm

    Ah sounds like February has been a good month, and you have managed to have some time out. Lovely pictures x
    Natalie recently posted…A Sister DayMy Profile

  • Reply
    Jenny
    March 2, 2016 at 10:18 am

    What lovely adventures outdoors for you. We too really made an effort to get outdoors with our fun captures this month. It’s been so gloomy for so long we had only been taking dark indoor ones for a while. It was nice to see the blue skies. Looks like you all had fun too with these. Gorgeous. #meandmineproject
    Jenny recently posted…Share With Me Blog Hop #9 + WINMy Profile

  • Reply
    Katie / Pouting In Heels
    March 2, 2016 at 7:07 pm

    Lovely photos Julia! I’m so glad to hear that February was a better month for you all and that you’re moving into March (can you believe it’s March already?!) feeling brighter. Huge well done again on winning the holiday, you absolutely deserve it and I hope you go somewhere super hot and fabulous. X
    Katie / Pouting In Heels recently posted…DEAR KATE…HOW DO I GET MORE FREELANCE WORK?My Profile

  • Reply
    Katie @mummydaddyme
    March 2, 2016 at 8:08 pm

    I’m glad February was better Julia and I hope March will trump it. I love your necklace in the first photo. Good for you letting people help you a bit more. xx

  • Reply
    Hayley Smith @hayleyfromhome
    March 3, 2016 at 8:35 pm

    I’m so glad that you feel refreshed after half term. I always take the kids round my mums at the weekend to let them run riot while she makes me a brew, you deserve a little looking after and chance to get some time to yourself. Lovely photos too, you live in a beautiful place it is so nice to get the beach in the background xxx
    Hayley Smith @hayleyfromhome recently posted…Five Books To Open Your EyesMy Profile

  • Reply
    A Year of Family Portraits - Rainbeaubelle
    June 25, 2016 at 7:11 am

    […] February 2016 […]

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