A Quiet Weekend with Kids – New Cafes & Art Workshops

I don’t know if it’s just a January feeling, but I’ve been feeling really burnt out and I just want to spend our days as lazily as possible. (Although, saying that, I have been cleaning a lot today.) I have been reading “All That Changes From My Front Porch” by Kate Singh, and in keeping with that, I decided we needed a quiet weekend followed by some speed cleaning today 🙂 I love when the house smells like wax melts and my headspace is clear to write. You can find her book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-That-Changes-Front-Porch-ebook/dp/B0BMY21ZK4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10W3JQH7YSRDI&keywords=kate+singh&qid=1673902426&sprefix=kate+singh%2Caps%2C236&sr=8-1

On Friday, my daughter and I went for hot chocolate in a local cafe I have begun to frequent. It is only open for part of the week but I love the playlist there and being surrounded by so many plants. You can also sit facing the window, which I find inspiring as I write. I did some reading there too, listened to Motown and had a vegan hot chocolate. My daughter liked visiting it too and she was impressed by their blue marshmallows.

On Saturday, the girls went to an art workshop. They got to have a tour of the gallery, followed by making their own landscapes. While they were in it, I had a brownie, coffee, edited a book and read. It was a slow start to what is usually a busy day. I loved the artwork the girls made and put it on the wall as soon as we got home. I love how they always make such individual things when given the same task.

That evening, we went to my nephew’s birthday party. We had pizzas and lots of tea and watched him opening his presents. I don’t think he fully understood what was going on with the present unwrapping but he seemed mesmerised by his birthday candles.

On Sunday, we had a very slow start. We just stayed at home and the girls made some jam tarts. I made the pastry and they did the rolling, cutting and filling. It’s one of their favourite things to make because they can make it with minimal supervision and they actually enjoy eating them when they’re ready (which is rare for my kids!)

We went to my parents’ house after that and had a slow day together there too. My dad made us cappuccinos and my mum and I worked on a jigsaw puzzle we started a while ago. We played an Only Fools and Horses boardgame that my dad got for Christmas. The girls really enjoy it and it’s easy enough for everyone to grasp the concept without it being boring. My mum shared some lovely gifts with me and we drank peppermint and turmeric tea.

The weekend left us feeling rested, which was what we needed, since my daughter has a cold. She stayed off school today to get over it and she asked to help me make my latte. (I made her a smoothie :)) She did the milk frothing while I made the espresso and she did it so thoroughly it took me a while to find the coffee underneath all the foam! She really enjoys helping out in the kitchen. She helped me to make some freshly squeezed orange juice too. I lit a new wax melt today and it is filled with sequins 🙂 It cheered me up and I love the way it perfumes the whole house.

I ordered myself a subscription of The Simple Things magazine as a January treat. (Their website is inspiring too!) https://www.thesimplethings.com/ It’s always good to have something to look forward to in January and I find the pages of it so inspiring and enriching. I always come away from it wanting to bake or to create.

Speaking of creating, my new book has just come out and it is available on Kindle and in paperback now. It is called “Don’t Be Afraid To Create” and it is a creative guide for people that want to create but don’t know where to start. It also provides suggestions on how to get creatively unblocked and access your ideas. It’s free on Kindle Unlimited. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dont-Afraid-Create-Keelan-LaForge-ebook/dp/B0BSDDJGSV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1P2UEJZAS6VGS&keywords=keelan+laforge&qid=1673901123&sprefix=keelan+laforge%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-1

I also have a YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@thefunkythrifter4843

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