finally

One of my girlfriends and I are always saying "we don't know what we're meant to be doing, but we know we're not where we are supposed to be" (aside from our children and family of course).  Never able to pin point our exact passion and direction.

{source: unknown}

This blog and social media has been my distraction and for me exactly what I needed in fighting back from depression and working my way through a very difficult life circumstance a couple of years ago.

A month or so ago I just stopped working on my blog, my facebook page and very limited time on Instagram (never leaving Pinterest though!).  It wasn't intentional but rather a break that I didn't know I needed until it happened.

I was always looking for something to distract me so I didn't have to think about healing and moving forward, just in case I hadn't actually made any progress at all.  Well how wrong was my thinking!

In fact I've amazed myself in how far I've actually come.  People who suffer from depression will know when I say, the fog has nearly lifted and I can see clearly for the first time in well over two years. Not a "yeah I think I'm doing OK" but a "wow I feel fabulous" kind of way.  And I'm excited!

I'm excited for me, for my son and husband for my family and friends.  I finally feel I can contribute rather than sit in the wings and watch it all go by and not feel a thing.

Which leads me to FINALLY being able to answer that all important question.........

I know exactly what I want to do and where I want to be.  And it feels good, in a butterfly in the stomach way.  Which is scarily exciting!

All will be revealed soon, I'm busting to shout it from the roof tops let me tell you!  It has a new name, a new facebook page and a new website.  I'll be changing my name on Instagram and Pinterest but I'll let you know when LAUNCH date is.  I tossed around what to do with Uber Simplicity, end decision is that it will be staying.  It will just have one more category to add, as what I'm doing has NOTHING to do with what I blog about!  Food, cooking, party styling and home wares are still a big passion of mine but the new direction ventures back to my very first job out of high school!

Do I have you intrigued yet?  I hope so!

Sometimes allowing yourself to do nothing reveals exactly what your are supposed to be doing.

Are you living your passion and dream? 

I'd like to write this book one day

We all have stories to tell.  Each and everyone of us.

We've all had life lessons that have shaped and molded us into the person that we are today.

Personally I'm of the belief that everything happens for a reason.  Yes, even the bad.  It's there to teach and guide you.  Sometimes you can't see it immediately but eventually the clarity will come, and it's this that will make you a stronger person.

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For me my journey with depression was initially held very close, shared only with my Husband.  I'd just had a baby and thought I should have been in state of contented bliss.  It was nothing like what I imagined it be.

I felt ashamed to admit to family and friends that I wasn't coping.  After all a baby is what I had yearned for.

Only the other night Hubby and I were talking on how he felt about my PND and how difficult and heartbreaking it was for him.  The focus is on the Mum and baby, and helping her cope, when it's the Dad that needs just as much support.

There are many books out there on PND and depression so I suppose it would be more of a cathartic exercise for me to do.  To let go of the remaining guilt that I've held onto for last 15 years of not having that instant connection with my very much wanted son.

The most important message I would want to express is that a woman is not a failure as Mum if there's not an initial bonding or if a woman does suffer from PND.  She needs love, support, understanding and more importantly to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that one day her heart will burst with love for her baby.  Just as mine did.

Have you suffered from PND?

What one piece of advice would you give a new Mum with bonding issues or PND?

waving hello!

Hello my lovelies!

It's been a while since I dropped by, so thought I'd just touch base with you.

So how have you been, what have you been up to?!

Me?  Just working on a new venture which is taking up my time.  That along with working full-time, being a wife and a Mum....you know just the usual everyday.  So much so that I nearly thought of giving up my blogging.

Who encouraged me to keep going?  My wonderful hubby.  Where would I be without his constant love, support and determination for me to succeed at whatever I choose?  He knows that blogging is an expressive outlet for me and a way to connect with like minded people.  He encourages me in my new venture because he believes in me and my passion.

I'm a very lucky lady.

I'm hesitant to reveal too much just yet about my new business, again it's the perfectionist Virgo in me!  I want everything SPOT ON and ready to launch in one go.  Right now I'm still in the product testing phase, and sourcing packaging etc.

Oh ok I'll give you a clue, I have a new product sitting on my desk and it's smells a-ma-zing!

Talk again soon xx

* I was unable to source the origin of the picture, if this is yours please let me know so I can give credit.

too many easter eggs? here's ten things to do with them

Easter is over for another year and I'm sure that you may have an abundance of chocolate easter eggs left over.  Let's face it, as much as we love chocolate there is only so much one can eat!

I've compiled a list of ten easy things you can use your left over chocolate eggs for.  Enjoy.

one

a great first idea is to simply freeze the eggs, that way you can use chocolate as needed.

two

melt eggs to make a delicious dessert topping such as drizzling over ice cream or pouring over a pudding.

three

got loads of mini eggs?  next time you're making cupcakes or muffins just pop one in the centre before baking and you'll end up with a soft and yummy chocolate centre.

four

instead of using choc chips in your next batch of cookies just break up the chocolate eggs into the cookie dough and bake as per normal.

five

I often use melted chocolate when making a decadent icing for cakes, this replaces using cocoa powder.

six

now that we're coming into winter why not use them to make a delicious hot chocolate?  melt chocolate gently in a sauce pan, once melted add milk and stir to combine.

seven

go retro and make your own chocolate fondue!  serve with fruit and marshmallows.

eight

for a healthier option make your own trail mix. cut chocolate in pieces and mix with your favouite dried fruit and nuts. pour into individual zip lock bags for a great snack on the go.

nine

chocolate dipped strawberries, are an all time favourite of mine.  melt chocolate, dip in strawberries then place on a tray covered with baking paper (so they don't stick) and refrigerate until chocolate is set.

ten

chop finely (or grate, cold chocolate is really easy to grate) add to a pikelet batter and once cooked you can freeze them, very handy school snacks.

I'd love to hear if you have any favourite things to do with your left over Easter chocolate 

(that's IF you have any leftover!)

new direction - let's do this thing!

Uber Simplicity was born from my desire to want to share my life experiences, and hopefully be able to reach out and help someone who has experienced the depths of depression that I've faced over the past few years.

Lately there's been a huge shift in my life, focusing more on the positives and back to enjoying the SIMPLE things.  There's areas that still need work but overall I'm doing really well.

As a Mum of a 14 year old son I don't want to share too much of his life with the world.  He's very particular about what I can and can't share with you all, and I respect that.  He's a private boy, very much like his Dad.

So that said Uber Simplicity will move away from being a 'personal' blog, and focus more on what my loves and passions are.  I will still write about my ups and downs with depression and everything else that it entails but it's time to move forward in a direction that I've always wanted to take.  It just got a little lost along the way.  But hey it's OK, that's life.

Everything happens at the time it's meant to.

Over the coming weeks Uber Simplicity is having a makeover and I'm so excited!  It's in the very capable hands of Melissa from Suger Coat It, who understood exactly what I wanted.  Even very late at night emails from me, which I thought made no sense at all because I was so tired, but she totally got it.  Bonus!

For now I'll leave you with the main topics I'll be writing about in the future, but there'll be more to share with you going forward.

I hope you continue on this journey with me because I LOVE having you here!

Any particular topic you would like me to cover?

wordless wednesday - the week that was via instagram

Linking up for Wordless Wednesday with:

chicken + bbq + bloggers = FUN

Promotional

On Saturday I was lucky enough to attend a B-Brand blogger event for Lenard's Chicken.

This was only my second blogger event, and while I knew a couple of ladies I was still a little nervous to be honest.  I'm shy by nature (ironic for a blogger I know!) until I get to know you.  But Jacqui and the team from Lenard's made me and my family feel very welcome.

The Lenard's team put on wonderful day, the children were kept busy with entertainment, the Husbands chatted amongst themselves while us ladies enjoyed cooking and product demonstrations.  Plus we were even privy to some exciting NEW products that will hit the stores really soon!

Several things struck me while listening to Lenard's team:

• they're passionate about bringing quality products to store
• dedicated to making nutritious and convenient family meals
• and they care about what works in store for their Franchisees (and being an ex Gloria Jean's Coffee franchisee this is something that I look for in franchised stores, it's critical in their success)

and finally my two favourite things:

• the Portuguese chicken on the bone, YUM.
• being time poor I can place my order on-line and pick up from any store, perfect.

oh and ONE more.....meeting new amazing bloggers!

What's your favourite chicken dish to cook.

Is it a simple family dish or a three hat inspiration?!

Linking up with Essentially Jess.