Doing it all for Aleyna

Dear Aleyna

June 9, 2012 By Alex 10 Comments

Dear Aleyna,

In recent months your awareness of the world is increasing and your awareness of my emotions more so. Please then my poppet, of some things be sure:

If you see me in low spirits, be sure my sadness is never, ever because of anything you do.

If I get frustrated at your incessantly repetitive stories and requests, be sure I miss them if you are away.

If I am yawning and seem tired, be sure that I will never stop being there for you when you have bad dreams.

If I have my head buried in the laptop and you are trying to get my attention, be sure I am working to build a better future for you.

When you never see me in the school playground, be sure it is because I want you to experience positivity from adults around you. God knows you will witness negativity in the future.

When you are not accepted to some school activities, be sure that we will provide even better fun and entertainment for you.

When you ask me for a brother or sister to play with, be sure my hysterectomy was a medical necessity and not a selfish act.

When I am filled with dread and sadness at the thought of your Baba being away for 2 months, be sure that we will have the best fun and the time will fly by.

And when we found you sobbing under your duvet last week and you asked us “Why am I not good at anything?”, be sure that if we could, if it was at all possible, we would make you better.

Darling Aleyna, your future is so uncertain but there are some things of which you can be sure; we will love you, cherish you, care for you, and always, always make it as wonderful as possible.

We love you “to the golden cheese moon and back” Pixie.

Mummy & Baba

xxxx

Filed Under: letter to my special needs daughter Tagged With: dear daughter, letter, letter to my special needs daughter

Blog neglect

May 8, 2012 By Alex 5 Comments

Helloooooo *taps on screen*

So this has been and up and down month full of good and bad news;

Good news – I am now over 4 months smoke-free

Bad news – I am becoming quite the lardarse

Good news – I have joined the gym

Bad news – It is full of lithe University students (I have yet to go)

Good news – Aleyna has been selected for the county RDA horse trials

Bad news – As it is being held on the other side of the county, Aleyna will not be riding her faithful Soldier. Not sure how she is going to take that. Breaking the routine and all that

Good news – I am now a Stella & Dot jewellery stylist

Bad news – I have had 2 parties cancelled already

Good news – Aleyna’s support teacher admitted that it is the thought of seeing Aleyna that gets her up in the mornings (lovely)

Bad news – School have politely advised that we start “exploring the options” for Aleyna’s future in education

Good news – I am now 6 months post-hysterectomy

Bad news – The menopause (at 39) sucks

Good news – I am a finalist for the BIB awards in the Inspire category

Bad news – Just you wait and see who I am up against!

Good news – I have organised the BritMums Butterflies (click if you want to watch our video!)

Bad news – There is talk of costumes (just kidding Gemma)

Good news – I am back writing my blog

Bad news – You will have to cope with my hormone-induced haze

As the Turks would say “Herşey de bir hayır vardır” – every cloud has a silver lining.

*Waddles off to try and find it*

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: BIB, BIB finalist, RDA, Stella Dot

Stella & Dot winner

April 26, 2012 By Alex Leave a Comment

Congratulations to my friend Clare (NOT a fix I promise!!!! ) for winning the Stella & Dot Lindsay Bangle

Clare has chosen the orange

Giveaway!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Stella & Dot giveaway

April 17, 2012 By Alex 23 Comments

Over the Easter holidays my sister gently(!) persuaded me to become a Stella & Dot stylist. I am really excited and this morning I received my starter kit. Looky look…

Yummy

Stella & Dot is a jewellery and accessories line designed in New York that has already featured on the red carpet, been regularly featured in Vogue, InStyle, and many more magazines, and also on Strictly Come Dancing and the X Factor.

Palamino statement necklace £120

Prices range from a very affordable £15/£20 pair of earrings, bracelet, or lovely little charm, up to £200 for an absolutely beautiful statement necklace. Around 50% of the collection is £40 and under.

Stella & Dot is sold through trunk shows (home parties). My Mum hosted her first trunk show at Christmas time and loved it. The wine was flowing, the girls were trying on all the jewellery. Plus, as the hostess of the show my Mum received 2 free gifts, credits for free jewellery and if that wasn’t enough, huge savings if she wanted to buy extra jewellery.

April is Autism Awareness Month and Stella & Dot have the gorgeous limited edition Shine Bracelet to help raise proceeds for The National Autistic Society.

£32 of which 20% goes to the National Autistic society

The Shine bracelet retails at £32 but from April 1st through April 30th, 20% of proceeds will be donated to The National Autistic Society.

GIVEAWAY

My absolute favourites from the new collection are these bangles, the range starting at £40.

Lindsay bangles....Giveaway!

Stella & Dot summer bangles carrie eleanor lindsay

Gorgeous

As a little welcome to my new venture I am giving away one of the Lindsay bangles worth £40-£45 depending on colour.

To be in with a chance of being the owner of the gorgeous bangle in a colour of your choice, all you need to do is:

a) leave a comment below on your thoughts on Stella & Dot and your preferred bangle colour choice.

b) Tweet “I am entering @allforaleyna’s giveaway for a Stella & Dot Lindsay Bangle seen on http://tinyurl.com/cvtkuam. Enter here http://www.doingitallforaleyna.com/2012/04/stella-dot-giveaway.html”

and I will enter you into the draw which will close at 9.00pm on 24th April

If you would like to shop without holding a trunk show, you can also hop over to my gorgeous new website

http://www.stelladot.co.uk/alexozansoy

GOOD LUCK!

Filed Under: Stella & Dot Tagged With: Lindsay bangle, New York, Shine Bracelet, Starter kit, Stella & Dot giveaway, Stella Dot, Stylist

We don’t want your money, we want your voice

April 6, 2012 By Alex Leave a Comment

I spend a fair amount of my time silently campaigning for what I believe to be right for Aleyna and her special needs and also the special and complex needs of other children. I am fully guilty of “starting at home”.

So when I was given the opportunity to be an Ambassador for OneMums, I decided this was a good opportunity to start making a difference elsewhere. Along with a small number of OneMums, I visited the London offices of ONE.Org to discuss how we could join together and raise awareness of the organisation.

What is ONE?

“ONE is a grassroots advocacy and campaigning organization that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, by raising public awareness and pressuring political leaders to support smart and effective policies and programs that are saving lives, helping to put kids in school and improving futures. Cofounded by Bono and other campaigners, ONE is nonpartisan and works closely with African activists and policy makers.”

And Onemums?

ONE Moms originated in the US but is now “a movement of mums everywhere using their extraordinary power to spread awareness for the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease.”

I grew up with Live Aid, I am a huge fan of Comic Relief and Sports Relief. Last weeks Sports Relief was the most hard hitting to date with more visuals of the hardship faced and hugely graphic scenes of grief. And yet they made a record amount of money, in a time where money is tight. Seeing the sad stories obviously does work, however I am sure for some, they feel they are giving to a lost cause if all they ever see is atrocities.ONE believe that hearing the good stories is hugely beneficial and they are keen to show the positive impact of Aid.

So what can you do?

1) You can become a member of One.org. There are no membership fees, no fundraising, no requests for money whatsoever. ONE have always said, ‘we’re not asking for your money, we’re asking for your voice.’

2) Do you have any ideas on how you or other mums can make a difference by doing the smallest things? You can join the BritMums OneMums Twitter Party between 1.00pm and 2.00pm on Tuesday 10th April 2012. Just tweet your ideas using hashtag #ONEMums. This date is significant as it is the launch day of a brand new (and still secret) ONE campaign.

3) Look out for some really exciting “memes” and crowdsourcing from the other OneMums that you can get involved in over the next month. I have my own initiative but also look out for Michelle from Mummy from the Heart, Kate from Kate on Thin Ice, Melitsa from Raising Playful Tots, Michelle from The American Resident and Jen from Jenography

4) And if that isn’t enough to convince you, then I urge you to watch this fantastic clip with some very famous (and handsome) faces.

Now are you convinced?

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”-Dr. Seuss

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ONE, US

Chipwrecked! on the Thames

April 6, 2012 By Alex Leave a Comment

Last week we were invited to a screening of Alvin & the Chipmunks Chipwrecked! Not just any old cinema screening. A squeak-tastic screening on a river cruise on the Thames.

We are quite canny in our household and we tend to leave telling Aleyna we are doing exciting things until the very last minute. You know, just in case. Changes to any plans do NOT go down well with Aleyna, so thank goodness we applied the same principle to the Chipwrecked cruise as due to my husband having surgery, we were unable to attend.

Fortunately my sister (who is a fashion stylist), was able to step in and take along my 5 and 3 year old nephews.

This is my sister’s account of the day. I am very jealous!

“London in great, sunny London is better. When my sister gave us the opportunity to join a river cruise on the Thames to watch Alvin & the Chipmunks Chipwrecked, we were over the moon.

Just a short drive from our house in North London, we arrived at the London Eye at 10am. With no fuss at all, we were welcomed on board by three very special people. None other than Alvin, Simon & Theodore themselves.

Breakfast was served, a delicious feast of croissants, bacon butties, strawberries & cream, cakes and hotdogs. Could things get any better?

Well, yes they could I realised as I was magnetically drawn to the marshmallows and chocolate fountain.

We are lucky enough that our children go to school with some premier footballers’ children, which makes for pretty fantastic birthday parties. One of these parties had probably the best children’s entertainment act we have ever seen; Sharkey & George entertainment. Can you imagine my children’s delight when the very same Sharkey & George came aboard.

The children were led upstairs where they were treated to lots of fabulous games including one of my children’s favourite pastimes, a treasure hunt for gold chocolates all over the boat followed by water balloons blasting into the River Thames. Next was the best balloon modeler we have ever seen and he even made a full size ostrich!

After all that excitement the children sat down to watch the film were given popcorn & drinks. A little bit of peace for me (still standing next to the chocolate fountain) as they sat through the film transfixed.

When we moored there was a treasure island set up and we were given fab goody bags with chipmunk stationery set, magnetic jigsaw, luggage tag, key ring and red zip up hoody with an “A” on the back.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked is now out on general release in Blu Ray and DVD (although is not being stocked in Tesco ??? perhaps too squeaky for them)

The DVD and Triple Play editions include extra features including Chipmunks music videos and featurettes like Munking Movies In Paradise.

We are popping out today to buy the movie which should keep the children busy over the Easter weekend as it comes with an activity pack containing stickers, name labels and a super card-match game.

As a little teaser here are some activity sheets to keep you going”

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Chipmunks Chipwrecked, DVD, London, Sharkey George

Said the actress to the bishop….

March 31, 2012 By Alex 6 Comments

After 3 months of falls, worrying late night phone calls and lengthy hospital stays, this week we moved my Grandma into a fantastic independent-living nursing home.

I have blogged about my Grandma before, how she has cruised the world 3 times, lived in Portugal for 17 years and taught herself to draw beautifully.

She has also developed very bad taste in men, hatched the motto “there is only good red wine and better” and contributed greatly to the Portuguese having the reputation as Europe’s worst drivers.

The move went well, mostly down to my amazing Mum & Dad, my husband and my Mum’s brother. For the best part of the day Grandma was understandably anxious, particularly as she was waiting for the TV people to come and take away the Virgin TV box so she could transfer over to her sparkly new Sky TV.

As we were to-ing and fro-ing Grandma popped outside for some fresh air, at which point a young man from British Gas was walking past. What happened next is probably one of the funniest moments of my life and I fear that you really had to be there to appreciate the comedy. Nevertheless I will recount…

From nowhere, Grandma grabbed the young man’s arm and shouted in to his face,

“You’re not the virgin are you?”

Now, said young man had passed me at this point so I was not lucky enough to see his face as he scurried off, but my husband said he will never forget the look of shock and fear.

My Mum was on the floor.

Grandma was oblivious.

Me? I had to change my pants!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: British Gas, Europe, Mum Dad, Portugal

My top picks for the BIB Awards

March 24, 2012 By Alex 3 Comments

I am over the bloody moon to have been short listed for 3 categories in the Brilliance in Blogging (BIB) Awards; Change, Inspire and Outstanding.

Some readers will be all too familiar (read sick to the back teeth) with vote-begging blog posts so this post is for my readers (actually my friends) who are not part of the blogging world but would still like to vote.

Obvs I want you to vote for me, but there are 12 categories in total and in each category there are 20 short listed blogs.

Some people may not agree with me picking my favourites but as I say, this is for the non-bloggers who, lets face it, will probably not look at every single blog short listed.

So here are my top picks in each category. I have spent the last day reading each and every blog. I can honestly say there was not a single blog I disliked. Oh my word there really are some amazing blogs.

Just in case you can spare a few minutes to vote, the voting form is here

FRESH VOICES!

TASTY!

What Would Nigella Do?

CHANGE!

Doing it all for Aleyna (meeeee)

But if you dont want me then

Typecast

Was this in the Plan?

A boy with Asperger’s

INSPIRE!

Doing it all for Aleyna (me again)

But if you dont want me then

LIT!

VIDEO!

GO!

SNAP!

DAD

STYLE!

LAUGH!

All Sweetness and Life

HerMelness Speaks…

Knackered Mother’s Wine Club

So many I know but they all make me laugh out loud.

OUTSTANDING!

Doing it all for Aleyna (strike 3)

But if you dont want me then

In a Bun Dance

Mummy from the Heart

Mummy Whisperer

Cast your votes now my friends, NOW I say.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Mostly Yummy Mummy, Reluctant Housedad, SAHD, Transatlantic Blonde

Imaginary Friends

March 21, 2012 By Alex 3 Comments

I have been called in to school a couple of times recently to discuss some naughty things that Aleyna has done.

On the most recent occasion, Aleyna had drawn on something she really should not have.

When challenged, she had apparently replied,

“It was not me, it was my hand….bad hand…bad”

I told Mrs W that this was a new one on me and asked if Aleyna had mentioned anyone else being responsible for naughty actions.

You see at home, it is ”Stoke”, an invisible friend living in the toilet who splashes water all over the bathroom when Aleyna is in the bath, does not let her go to sleep at night and has an incredibly windy bottom.

So as I do in these situations, I called my nephews to ask if they have imaginary friends.

The oldest one has a friend called Hugo, he is a pleasant little chap.

The youngest has an imaginary friend called Alexander. Alexander comes in to the house, throws books all over the floor, breaks toys, ripped a hole in the trampoline and sometimes does a wee in my nephew’s pants!

I reckon Stoke and Alexander would get on like a house on fire.