A Journey Into Stand Up Paddle Boarding & Skateboarding

*The Photos from this blog post are taken by local talent Alex Wilkinson STATE OF LOVE AND TRUST Photography

Photo by AL @astateofloveandtrustalex

This journey started Christmas 2021 when I asked Rob for Paddle boarding lessons as my present. We were all just coming out of COVID (Kinda, we were all locked down still) and I was just starting my journey into maybe, just maybe, becoming a bit more adventurous and pushing myself. I had discovered a fantastic podcast (The Good Glow) the summer before and listening to other women talk about how to live well had inspired me. I had come out of the summer focused on getting fit for life and that Christmas present was going to be the start of something. However, it didn't happen quickly. Due to the world being on shut down for so long I resigned to the fact that it would happen eventually but didn't push for it. Little did I know that summer 2021 would be so awakening. Late spring I had some open water swim coaching (you can read about that journey here) and it was actually that which enabled me to get on a paddle board. I was feeling full to the brim of enthusiasm for the water and the plan that I'd had at Christmas that year was playing out in a way I had never anticipated. I got on the water at Activities Away in Lincoln and had my first ever paddle board lesson there, alongside a very eager and confident Raph. I was petrified of falling in (midway through the open water coaching at this point) but had a blast and came off the water and said to Rob: "We are buying one of those things". Now, before you think, "Wow, money to burn or what." There are not many things I jump to invest in quickly. I immediately knew though that this was for us as a whole family. It would be a priceless piece of equipment for a water loving family and I knew it would bring great opportunities. I asked if I could get a board for my birthday (mid summer) and he said yes!

Fast forward a few months and after some more plays on paddle boards with family it was a pretty sure thing that we were purchasing one. Summer 2021 came and like most, holidays were cancelled and a purchase of a paddle board was made!

It was out almost immediately, back at the lake in Lincoln, out on the Lincolnshire coast, down to Cornwall, and then it got packed up for winter.

Photo by AL @astateofloveandtrustalex

May 2022.  I was on Instagram one evening when up popped a favourite page EBB & FlO who are a paddle boarding and ocean saving company based just north on the Lincolnshire Coast. I have followed them for a long time, always being drawn to Toni's attitude towards the water and mental health. Her posts had always captured me, but that night I found myself looking at an opportunity that I knew instantly I wasn't going to miss. I immediately booked onto to Ebb & Flo's first ever SUP & Skate course. A day dedicated to learning to Paddle board and learning to longboard skateboard. What me, SUP and Skate, I'm 34, I am in a good place, I can not say no. 

Photo by AL @astateofloveandtrustalex

I rocked up with 6 other women to meet team Ebb & Flo and Georgia Luck, longboard specialist. None of us knew each other, we had all just seen the advert and taken a chance on ourselves learning something new.

Photo by AL @astateofloveandtrustalex

It is safe to say that the experience was a complete success. Never have I been in a situation where we almost immediately became a fully supportive team. Instantly we were there for each other. All nervous but all willing to be a cheerleader to each other. The day was not only a huge success for Ebb & Flo but for us individual women. We all came away having experienced something really special. 

Photo by AL @astateofloveandtrustalex

Within the day Georgia introduced us to Longboarding. It is skateboarding but on a much longer board which gave you more of a glide than a traditional skateboard. In fact, I would say that is the biggest difference for me. With skateboarding there is this element of speed and quick feet tricks and with long boarding there seems to be this elegance and gentler approach. (I say all that but people race on long boards too😂).

Photo by AL @astateofloveandtrustalex

This was the first time I have ever skateboarded. My brothers and my younger sisters all did it but as a previous highly strung perfectionist I couldn't ever cope with the idea of embarrassing myself so never did it. Going into the day all I really had anxiety about embarrassing myself but thanks to the welcoming and caring attitude of the team of women I found myself in, that feeling passed and I actually got on a board and learned something. And boy, much like my first paddle boarding experience, I was instantly hooked.

Photo by AL @astateofloveandtrustalex

I came home late that evening, after not wanting the day to end and I couldn't even converse the magnitude of what had happened that day. I will forever be grateful to Toni from Ebb & Flow and Georgia for being two very inspirational women who both seek the joy in the same way I do. 

Photo by AL @astateofloveandtrustalex

The very next day, I went and got an old skateboard out of the shed and Rob and I skateboarded the kids to a club. They could not get over it. In fact, that one action completely influenced Etta and ever since, she really skateboards. In fact for me, she is the epitome of a cool skater girl, she just jumps on and flows. That was all I needed to solidify me purchasing a new long board via Georgia, it made sense to buy one and love it. 

Photo by AL @astateofloveandtrustalex

It has took a while for it to come but my new Luca Longboard arrived from UK shop Slide Perfect. Georgia got me in contact with Bohdi from SP who made up my whole board so that when I took it out the box it could be ridden immediately. I am so thankful for this as I just haven't got a clue where to start and it was their guidance that got me my lovely new board. 

Photo by AL @astateofloveandtrustalex

So here I am, I paddle board and now I longboard. Emily at Christmas 2021 had no idea what she was inviting into her life when she made the choice to try something new. The change in me is somewhat immeasurable and if you are looking at this thinking, I could never do that, trust me.........You CAN!

Emily Xx

The Art Of Kintsugi / Fixing Brokeness

 Kintsugi "Golden Joinery"

I have known about Kintsugi for years. When there was a boom in Skandinavian living trends years ago it came up on my radar as an action of interest and I have since known about it and agreed with its sentimental philosophy. 

Kintsugi; a Japanese art, is about repairing broken pottery in a way that can be seen so that you understand it's brokenness and its history. The art is not in being able to put the piece back together perfectly but it is to use those cracks as a visual reminder that this once perfect pot has had a change and been remade into something perfect again. The cracks are used to highlight this rather than to disguise it. 

Gold powder is mixed with an adhesive agent so that when you glue the pottery back together the cracks are able to be seen from the decorative gold lines that will now run through the pottery. 

As with so much in Japanese philosophy, this art is a reflection on the human race. I see such a clear mirror image of life in that of the pottery, in its moment of brokenness, needing to be pieced back together again.

 When all feels lost and we can't get up off the floor it is the tiny idea of light that can start to heal us. The golden warmth of the sun, of love or of quiet support that can just help us start to pick up our pieces and start to glue them back together, to make us whole again. Even with all our cracks, we have that golden love holdings us together; a marker of our journey but a reminder that we chose to be reborn and continue living. 

Fixing pottery in this way not only inspires giving items another lease of life but stands as a reminder that we can try and fix what is broken. Whether that be the salt shaker in my case, or myself. Seeing this item, cracks and all, lets me know there is always opportunity to rebuild with golden joinery.

* After a soft toy was pulled from the shelf our salt shaker crashed to the floor splitting into 3 parts. I knew I would be able to fix it so I got the pieces together to practise the art of Kintsugi. 

For this project I used Gorilla Glue which I mixed in a plastic container with a small amount of MICA powder. I then used a wooden lollipop stick to put along the cracks before I placed each part together. I left it to fully dry for 24 before washing the inside with a small amount of bleach and water to get rid of the adhesive smell. Once fully dried it was refilled with salt and placed back with its pepper partner. 

Emily xx

Preparations For Easter At Home // Sharing A Small Business

With now less than a week away I thought it was time that I share something new I purchased from a small business to help us celebrate. For years I have shared decoration ideas for all sorts of different occasions and even though my huge love for simplicity has definitely toned down having ALL the streamers out, I have still made sure to have things in place to make us truly celebrate the seasons. 

Easter is always a pretty one. Spring flowers are in their peak and the sweet colours of the season are out in full force. I also think there is always a small sign of the new that comes in different forms at Easter time which shows the beautiful connection between human life and the natural world. I saw lambs last week; springtime lambs actually springing over their mothers!!

Before I left Instagram for six weeks I made sure to purchase this beautiful handcrafted banner from independent retailers BEIGE STORIES. They had come up on my suggested feed and I am so pleased as they were just about to launch their Easter collection. I got in quickly and made sure to purchase one of their banners as I knew it would fit perfectly in our home. 

I loved their simplicity in taste and style. Something about it just made me want to add it to my collection of decoration pieces and by scrolling through their Instagram I really loved how they spoke and communicated on the platform. Their WEBSITE is also beautiful with a gorgeous collection of items to celebrate birthdays in the prettiest of ways.

I wanted to share this with you as I just loved the concept and with my old paper eggs (originally from H&M but not available anymore) and a few stems of faux blossom, my Easter tree is ready for the coming weekend of celebrations!

*I just thought I would point out that I have pinned the banner and added in a couple of velvet ribbons to up the cuteness factor. I absolutely love how this looks and will be purchasing a Birthday Banner to help us celebrate those special occasions too!

Emily xx

A Beach Walk + Walking Tips // Skegness to Gibraltar Point

I walk to keep me living. It’s that simple. The reality is, it has become the one thing I need to do to help me function at my best. 

Walking is not only great exercise but it gives me an opportunity to clear my head and just find silence.

I have written about walking before on the blog, about it's benefits and about how much I like it. I have also talked about it lots on Instagram sharing almost daily walk pictures and also lots of videos from out and about on my journeys. 

Most of the time my walks are mundane. Very normal to most people, either across some fields or just out to town but whether I am walking country style or urban I feel it gives me everything I need to push forward. 

Yep, walking can feel like a chore especially when my main drive is the dog, but most of the time this gives the perfect excuse to have to get out and go.

My sister took some time off work this week and suggested we go off for a good walk somewhere. The peak district is a few hours away from us and with a school run to do it doesn't actually give me that much time to get there and back. The Lincolnshire Wolds is also a very famous walking district but I genuinely just don't know where to start so we ended up deciding on a coastal walk and drove the hour to Skegness, one of the largest seaside towns on the Lincolnshire Coast. 

If you head north of Skegness you can follow a more official coastal path all the way up the coastline going past a sew of the smaller and quite popular beaches; Anderby Creek, Sutton On Sea, Sandilands and onto bigger places like Mablethorpe and eventually Cleethorps. 

We however were a bit unsure so headed south to the end of the paved promenade and onto the beach where we headed for Gibralta point which takes you into the top of the nook on the bottom right of the map of the UK. We pretty much stood across the water from Hunstanton and the Norfolk coastline (a bit of geography for all of us)!

Sticking between the water line and the dune line we decided that we would simply walk for a hour in that direction and turn around and walk back. 

Our feet carried us as did the conversation and the quiet. And the dog, well, she was having a blast. Ginny has been to the beach before but only when we have been surfing so we kind of just stayed in one place. This was something completely different and she ran up and down the whole time!

On the way back I started thinking about a book I had just listed to. It was called The Salt Path by Raynor Winn and it is about her and her husbands journey of homelessness where they end up living on the  south west costal path. It's a fantastic story, I won't go into too much detail as I would encourage you to read it, but they discover that after being diagnosed with a terminal illness, Moth (the husband) actually begins to get well from walking. From putting one foot in front of the other they end up discovering the wealth of good things that comes from walking and being in nature. They discover its medicine.

For so long I have also known the secret. The one that many health care professionals won't tell you about but they need to. If you can discover the outdoors and have it as a part of your life you will change. Aches may leave you, energy levels will rise and you will get a resounding sense of peace. It doesn't just come, like magic, but it is there, present and waiting for you to recognise it. 

Walking is an easy way to step into the outdoors. There is no pressure to perform, just move. Walk and mean it. Don't doordle, don't have your phone in your hand "checking in" places. Just walk, forward and with purpose.

I have a fast walk. It is strong, it is a pace, it is a stomp sometimes. I walk with passion and I walk to keep me fit which means I have to feel my lungs workings and my heart pumping. You don't need to walk fast so you collapse or even get a wiggle on like a speed walker but get those lungs going, use the body you have. 

Sometimes I walk with an audio book, sometimes music if I want to go really fast but I have learn't to walk in silence too as it is so peaceful. This walk was a perfect mix, time for talking but also time to just listen. Hearing the wind and the waves is inspiring.

This thing with walking is, I know it works for me and as it is such a pleasant way to exercise. I would encourage any reader to do it also as it seems like the simplest way to get moving and create a more active and healthy lifestyle. Obviously it's not all about that, it's not an exercise focus but that is the wonderful by-product of movement. You get your exercise for your body but you also get release for your mind. 

I decided that I would try to get a beach walk in once a month. It's a long journey to the Skeg and we have wonderful walks around us already but I think this escape would do me some good too. It offers a different visual treat and when it gets warmer the water will be so inviting. As always, any walking is good just getting out to do some is all that matters.

Emily xx

Crafty Hack: A Cake Stand From A Plate & Bowl

 Yep, as the title suggests this crafty hack is a pretty simple one..... all you will need is a plate and a bowl and some super strong glue!

I was inspired after watching a video on Instagram to make this little cake stand and I have to say, as soon as I made it I thought it was brilliant! It is genuinely the best feeling when a diy hack actually works and looks good. Job satisfaction is at 100% with this little project!

I picked up a plate and bowl specifically for this project. I wanted the modern shape and our bone china heirloom crockery was not the thing to use! I picked up this matching bowl and plate from our local TESCO store, their FOX & IVY range. 

As far as skill goes, little is needed...... an eye for placing something in the centre is key to this as that is all you need to do.

With your plate face down, cover the base of your bowl in glue. I used Gorilla Glue contact adhesive for this project which takes about 24hrs to fully cure but hasn't budged since! 

Once you have put the glue around the base rim of the bowl flip it over and put it in the centre of the plate.

I used a few books to weigh down the bowl to the plate to ensure contact is fully made and then left it for the glue to dry.

Once done, that is it, a raised plate stand that can be used for anything; cakes, fruit, even for candles. This is a lovely little project with a brilliant final result!

Fancy having a go? Let me know if you do!

Emily xx

My Own Spring Watch

I was thinking that this January and February have been one of the nicest weather months. We have had such a dry spell here in Lincoln, with frosty crisp mornings and golden glowing evenings. I have really  enjoyed walking, even in the damp as there has been so much to see.

Maybe I forget each year but this January seemed to be showing signs of spring more than ever. I always think of January as quite dark but this January has been intensely bright, or maybe I just noticed it being bright because I was quite desperate to see the good in it rather than write it off like so many do. February has been much the same, each morning and evening giving that little bit more light. Being able to do the kids club drop offs with light skies gives the most amazing feeling. It makes the routine feel less of a drag. 

I haven’t spent much time in the garden yet (gardening wise) but have felt so inspired to get in there and clean it up the last few days as I see green buds starting to appear on plants. I even found a discarded pot of bulbs (I think from last year) which had bright green shoots popping up though the dirt even though it had had no care at all. 

I was reminded that everything can get a chance to re-grow, even when completely unsupported. The inner strength of the narcissus bulb to have sat in a plastic tub, without being intentionally watered for a year, left in the cold dark dark corner, still came through to reunite with its partner spring. How we can use such poetry in our own lives!

On my walks there is still the winter bareness of the bigger world. I know though at any moment it will just pop, like the Snowdrops do, and change our environments to be more luscious and green. The daffodils are just starting to bloom, the early risers that get sunny spots are already open but I know within a week the country lanes will be lined with the bright yellow trumpets ready to greet the passers-by.

I always think another real sign of spring is the murmuration of the Starling. If you have been lucky enough to see the thousands of tiny birds take to the sky and fly as one cloud you will know that it is one of the most amazing sights in nature. Last week on our way back from hair cuts at about 5.45pm we were driving past the industrial retail park in town, the sky was pink and the birds were out in full performance mode. It was amazing. Just last night, while Raph was out dancing, I made sure to drive back to the same area (it's on route) and park up and wait for the show. I was not disappointed.  Seeing all the tiny birds grow in their small groups to one colossal group is just incredible. The sun was setting, it was a February pink sky, and it was just perfect!

As always, I spend my life looking to nature for peace. For the moments when my head is most fuzzy it seems to be the best medicine. All these simple signs to life are out there, a reminder of the beauty of our world. 

Emily xx