Gem & Them

Tuesday, 11 April 2017

I'M PREGNANT!!!!!

Oh my god, how excited I am to finally be able to announce this news. If you follow me on instagram you may have seen little bits about me saying I am pregnant but I was doing it sort of slyly until I could officially announce......

I AM PREGNANT with baby #2

After finding out in early Febuary that I was only just 4 weeks pregnant, to now of finally had my scan on 3rd April. Originally if you do the period maths my due date would of been 15th October but our 12 week scan has estimated 11th October which actually means I am now 14 weeks!!

I can finally introduce you to Baby Blob - what the bump has been named until we find out the sex etc.

My partner and I could not be happier and super excited. We are both so impatient though and just want to buy everything but have resisted. Corey is also sooo excited to become a big brother. It is so sweet. Bump gets cuddles off him, books read by him and little chats every so often. Just melts my heart so much. Corey does really want a little sister and refuses to let it be a boy. We will soon find out!

I can't wait to share my pregnancy with you all :)
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Sunday, 9 April 2017

Another Comeback..

I know what you are all thinking - another comeback, is she really sticking around this time etc. I have all these thoughts and doubts in my mind too quite frankly.

It is a pretty scary thought commiting to blogging. I originally started back in 2013 and was really active until the end of 2015. But my life and my situation changed. I got to the point where I needed to focus on my real life rather than my online life. A struggle to balance between the two is hard to find and I think most bloggers face this difficulty at some point in their journey.

But my life has evolved since then. I have good friends, a good job and amazing partner plus of course not forgetting my pride and joy - Corey. I really couldn't be happier. Life is about to get a lot more exciting too - but watch out in upcoming posts for this news to be revealed ;)

I tried to make a comeback in October (view here) and I really wanted to make a go of it but I worry too much. I've never been the best writer, basically I suck. Not only do I suck but I am not creative, imaginative or able to think of good ideas to post about. My photographer skills are shockingly bad. I have the good camera but I can't get the gorgeous clean white back ground pretty looking photos share just so appealing. I envy all you talented people. It does make you feel down. Although blogging is a hobby for me, you can't help but compare yourself. Comparing to those who started at the same time, the bloggers you have made friendships with - etc etc. I can't always keep on top of social media either. Some days I forget, some days I am too lazy or too damn tired!

I don't even know if things like Klout, Bloglovin, Tots100 etc all still exist and are used just as much as they were. So out of the loop!!

But I just love to blog. I love to write my thoughts and feelings. Although I am a bit cautious of what I write because sometimes I would love to have a little rant when it comes to certain frustrating things but I know I can't. You sometimes have to take into consideration who is actually reading your blog after all. But the things I can write about well most things but I particularly love to write about a day out. Who doesn't love some family time hey?!

Of course I couldn't have a blog comeback without a little re-brand and stuff. I finally after months and months came up with a name I liked which as you can tell is from the header is...

GEM & THEM

I would just love to take a big thank you to Kip at Kip Hakes for sorting out my domain for me. I felt like an aboslute idiot failing miserably but Kip can to the rescue. All another big thank you for Shannon from Blog Boutique for the amazing very reasonable priced logos :)

I hope you like the re-branding please please please let me know your thoughts and any ideas you think to improve. Let me know what sort of posts you want as well :) If you used to read my blog you will know I blog about all sorts from family, lifestyle and beauty. It is all a mix but that is the way I like it!

Please be sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram under @gemandthem
Also find and like my page on Facebook at Gem & Them

See you next time for the re-start of my blogging journey.

Sunday, 9 October 2016

Is This A Comeback?!

So I am back, once again. Who knows how long for whether it's a one off or the start of blogging again. For those who knew me and my blog, or maybe for new readers - here is a little about me.

I started blogging a long time ago, September 2013 to be precise. It became my life, not only a hobby but my work. Blogging had taken a back seat in my life anyways so then very early this year I decided to find full time employment. I knew I couldn't commit anymore so I packed it in. I needed to concentrate on my life, my family and myself - not my online version of me.

Ever since it is a decision I often regret. From time to time I have gotten the urge to write but I never do. But now I've given in because I just had to come back.

My life has changed, I've changed, everything has just changed. Of course it has had it's ups and downs.

Here's a few recents of my handsome little bundle of joy and I:

I'm now a year old older and thankfully a couple of stone lighter. Still a couple of stone to go if I can get my ass motivated which is probably unlikely. I'm still ill most of the time with some sort of cold, sickness or something. My immune system just majorly sucks. I now work in purchasing, school hours like right next to the school - perfecto! I am also the Chair of the School PTFA and let me tell you it is not blooming easy but so fun organising such big successful fundraising events. I may also own a pug, she's a nutter! But saved the best till last I am very much in love with an incredible guy.

My baby is now a big boy but still my baby none the less. He's almost six. I can't quite believe it myself to be honest. He may not even be six yet but this giant child of mine is wearing size nine clothes. Just stop growing already like seriously?!

So this is my first post in around nine months, I know terrible right. I don't even really know how to say what I want to say but really I just wanted to say hey again. So many fellow bloggers formed a wonderful little community that you can engage with on social media, they become your daily life, they become your friends. I miss that aspect more than the blogging itself.

I wonder if I can still blog, if I have enough to say. What could I say, talk and blog about? My life is boring. Not worthy of writing about. You may have noticed I ramble on, I like to ramble. It's a way to let everything out. But I wonder if I can fully freely express myself and my feelings on this blog? Sometimes as a blogger we feel pressure on who in the world may be reading the blog. It's scary because you think you're writing mainly for strangers to read. That's how I first intended. Most of my friends don't know I blog and if they do, they certainly don't know how to find it. But you do not actually realise that someone closer to home, maybe a friend, one of the parents from the school playground, a loved one or even your worst enemy could in fact be reading your little world on the Internet, your blog. A blog is so open full of life details sharing the good and bad. I feel I need to be more careful of what I write about but I don't want too. I want to write about what I want when I want, even the bad at times as not every day is a good day.

So who knows if I have it in me to blog anymore? Only time will tell.

I had so much trouble trying to publish this post, I was sure it was a sign I wasn't meant to blog but I had to just back up and restore onto a new blog. Not a proper domain yet but still looking the same thankfully. What an absolute palaver!

Some of you may have known that I founded the #mblogchat mummy bloggers community which is still a huge success thankfully to a team of awesome fellow bloggers who now run it. So be sure to check them chicks out over on the Twitter @mummy_bloggers.

But be sure to check me out on Twitter and Instagram both at @gems_snaps please :) I will try my bestest to be a social-able bunny again!

Anyways you'll probably be glad to know and be thankful as I know you will be bored by now that I have ran out of things to say so that's it from me - for now anyways!

Love, Gemma xo

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Monday, 4 January 2016

Happy New Year & Resolutions 2016!

Helloo,

I'm going to just right into it and say HAPPY NEW YEAR :) Hope you all had a great Christmas last week and an amazing time celebrating the new year last night!

I honestly couldn't of had a better last 2 weeks of 2015 - celebrating Corey's 5th birthday, Christmas with my amazing family and seeing the new year in with my best friend. It just made it such a massive positive start to 2016 :)

RESOLUTIONS

Every year of course we do resolutions, whether we actually stick to them or not is a different story. This year I'm setting resolutions. I'm going with the flow and will just see what happens, which is new to me to do that but a good change I think :) However, last year I set some resolutions which you can see here. I actually stuck to some of them!!!

My two main goals were to learn to drive and get a doggy.

Well I learnt to drive and passed second time round back in June. It took me a good 6 months and a lot of lessons. I also went into a barrier in a car park a few days after passing. But it has been amazing to be able to drive. To be able to do the school runs for Corey, just has made our whole entire life a hell of a lot easier.

Then a doggy, I honestly didn't think this was going to happen. After Corey and I literally begging my mum constantly. Well the day before Christmas Eve she gave in, and well a week later (a few days ago) we brought home an amazing little surprise for Corey. A pug named Gracie :)

...........................................................

There we have it, my two main goals were achieved. A year of complete happiness with Corey - so many memories were made and I can not wait to make 2016 even bigger and better!!! So I wish you all the same and a very happy new year :) If you have set yourself resolutions then I wish you all a lot of luck!

Love, Gemma xo

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Wednesday, 30 December 2015

December 2015 - Monthly Favourites

Helloo,

Oh wow the last favourites of the 2015 year!! Plus being my absolute favourite time of year anyways :) I've done a joint 'loves' list this month as we both enjoyed so much together

*Mummy & Corey Loves*
School Christmas Fayre (Organised by me!!)
School Christmas Play

Corey's 5th Birthday
Seeing Aladdin in MK Pantomime
Christmas!!!!
Got a puppy - Gracie :)

I know that doesn't really look like much at all but it has been an extremely busy and such an amazing month with so many big things happen. I couldn't of asked for a better ending to 2015 and it makes me even more excited to see what 2016 brings :) Check out my new years post here.

This month's favourite family photo. I couldn't choose just one, so I chose a few!!

What was your favourite thing of this month? :)

Love, Gemma xo

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Linking up with Mummy And Me, Me And Mine and Mummy Monday.

Monday, 21 December 2015

Corey's 5th Birthday :)

Helloo,

A post all about a 5th birthday :)

Saturday 19th marked the day, a massive 5 year mark of the best day of my life. 5 years ago Corey was born. 5 years ago I had been in hospital for a few days in a fair amount of pain worrying to death at the thought of my baby possibly being 6 weeks premature. After already having treatment to try control my blood pressure and steroids to help Corey's main organs grow a little faster.

But later that day I had family visiting. I started to feel ill, I started to feel my throat swelling. A silly nurse told me it was nothing to worry about without really checking. So I waited, but I couldn't for long as it just got worse. Finally someone came and checked both me and Corey, it was then decided that I had to be prepped for an emergency c-section. The one thing my little green book said I didn't want. At this point it was all a bit of a blur. I remember ringing my mum so she could rush down and she got there as I was going down the lift. Perfect timing!

I was asleep by 6.30pm as surgery started, Corey was born at 6.45pm and I didn't wake up until roughly 7.15pm. As I came out of surgery of course an absolute mess. Corey had been taken to antenatal ward to be checked over, I got shown a picture - that was it. I actually didn't see Corey as I got wheeled in on my bed at around 1 am on my own and couldn't even hold him. It was until I managed to get up around lunch time the next day that I got to hold his hand and actually have a cuddle. The most magical moment. The moment that changed my life and gave me a whole new meaning of love and happiness.

So the years have gone by, through lots of good and some bad (you know the usual little tantrums). Or even the part where I almost lost him at 6 weeks old. But we have grown together and together we are a team of not only mother and son but best friends. A bond that grows stronger day by day. Watching my little munchkin moo over the years, watching him grow into the proper little cheeky lad that he is becoming, seeing him exceeding in school with his reading and writing. I couldn't be prouder!

With Christmas being so close to his birthday, sometimes I see it as a bad thing but then I remember it is my favourite time of year, always has been and now for two reasons. It makes the best week ever :)

I actually wrote this before his birthday but never got round to posting it so I am going to also share what we got up too over his long birthday weekend :)

Friday was his last day at school before Christmas and pretty much the only time all weekend we had just the two of us so I took him out to dinner at Frankie & Benny's just for some us time :) I ordered a yummy pizza and Corey had a kids spaghetti bolegense, except the cheeky monkey decided he wanted my pizza instead so yes we swapped and yes he ate almost most of the adults pizza!!

Saturday, the actual birthday day we started the day off early at mums for breakfast, opened some presents from his uncle before heading out to Wacky Warehouse for his birthday party with some friends from school. It was great fun and love seeing all his friends playing so nice together :) In the afternoon Corey then went to his dads until bed time.

Sunday, the best day in my opinion. We headed over to Milton Keynes Theatre to watch Aladdin pantomime. It had stars such as Priscilla Presley and Ben Adams from A1 band (just wow!). It is our yearly tradition to go and it was better than I expected and extremely funny. I cried with laughter!!

Then after that we headed to my nans for a family party and after waiting all weekend Corey finally got to open his presents from all of us. We really do love family time and no matter way then celebrating his birthday!