Saturday 30 July 2016

A photo everyday for a year! #Project366 - Week 30

We've had a wonderful week....We haven't really done or been anywhere but it has been lovely! Now for a photo every day.....


205/366 23rd July.
Sparkly toes. My youngest is so happy she can wear nail varnish now she isn't at school...

206/366 24th July.
Messing about on Snapchat. Roar. hehehe

207/366 25th July.
Chopping fruit for the ice cream.

208/366 26th July.
Candy floss ice cream is the best thing ever!

209/366 27th July.
Minecraft!

210/366 28th July.
I signed my fella up for a razor subscription service.....He's impressed.

211/366 29th July.
A prize I won from SkinnedCartree! I really don't want to open the coke....The bottles are fabulous and I am in love with the notebook.


Friday 29 July 2016

A Wonderful Week! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:
Well we've had the first full week of the summer holidays and it really has been wonderful. 

Most mornings we haven't been getting up until after 9am and the girls haven't been going to bed until about 10pm. Eek! It has been lovely! The kids have been helping with the housework and cooking their own lunches. It has really lightened the load on me.


We haven't really been anywhere as Ellie had a little accident on Sunday and scraped the skin off the top of her big toe....She was playing outside with no shoes on. I tell her all the time to wear shoes outside but this one time I didn't tell her so it was obviously all my fault....lol She's fine now but has really milked the sore toe. 

We have had plenty of fun at home though....Of course the girls have played a lot of Minecraft.....We have watched films and so much YouTube.

We have done some crafts and made ice cream in a bag which worked out so well....


The weather has got cooler here but it hasn't stopped the girls playing outside....The other night it was so chilly I actually thought about putting the heating on. I made do with fleecy pj's and a blanket.....

I have finished shopping for Ellie's birthday which is this time next month....I have all her presents and she want's a beach party, party so everything is ordered and I am going to be getting a lot of deliveries next week. 

I made a start on shopping for Becky's birthday which is at the start of September....I have an Amazon basket full of presents for her....Everything seems to revolve around YouTube for her....I added one thing to my basket which them recommended something else, which led to something else. It was very helpful....

Next week we have some fun things planned and we're hopefully going to see Finding Dory. I can't wait.


Thursday 28 July 2016

HARIBO Starmix and Tangfastics Frenzy Carnival range....

The Olympics in Rio start at the beginning of next month and Haribo are encouraging everyone to get into the carnival spirit with new Starmix and Tangfastics Frenzy Carnival range!


The limited edition treats feature the same iconic pieces found in Starmix and Tangfastics but in a frenzy of exotic flavours and bright colours to bring you a taste of Rio.

A blue banana flavoured bear, a mango flavoured green egg, a purple and green lime and mango flavoured ring are just some of the pieces that have sashayed their way into Haribo Starmix Frenzy Carnival.

Adding to the fun of Haribo Tangfastics Frenzy Carnival are a lemon and lime flavoured cherry and a grapefruit and pineapple flavoured bottle.....

We were sent these to try....They arrived in a fun filled box....We opened the box and it started playing carnival music! How cool!!


The girls had such a fab time with the party, confetti cannon.....Becky had the honors of setting it off and they played for a good while with the paper....We made a game out of tidying up....hehehe According to them it is the best box ever!!!



As for the Haribo Starmix and Tangfastics we loved them....The new flavours are different and make a nice change....They didn't last the day so they were obviously liked.....We will be buying more while they are still on sale.

We were sent a box of goodies from Haribo in exchange for this blog post. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

Wednesday 27 July 2016

Ice Cream in a bag....

One of the things on our Summer bucket list was to make Ice-Cream in a bag....Yes we could have went out and bought ice cream but where is the fun in that....


For one serving you need:

250ml single cream
2 tablespoons caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons chopped fresh strawberries
4 scoops ice cubes
4 tablespoons coarse salt

To make:


Put the cream, sugar, vanilla extract and strawberries in a resealable plastic bag. Press the air out of the bag and give it a shake to mix it....

Add the ice and salt to the 2nd bag and put the first bag into it....Press all of the air out and seal it.


Wrap bag in a towel and shake until the contents of the first bag thickens into soft ice cream. It took about 5 minutes of shaking for us to get what we did....

Rinse the 1st bag quickly under cold water to wash off salt.....Snip off the corner of the bag with the ice cream in and squeeze ice cream into a bowl.

It worked....It actually worked! We made ice cream in a plastic bag!! It could have done with a little more shaking but we know that for next time....


It tasted so good too....Not that I got to try much because the girls wolfed it down in minutes...

We did learn a few things: 

When you think you have added enough strawberries, add more....Ellie's could have done with a couple more.

Use strong bags to put the ice in or they will split with all the shaking....Next time we will double up and use two bags.

The salt on the ice makes it extra cold so do wrap the bags in a towel or it will hurt your hands.

We are planning to make more with different fruits and maybe even some chocolate!

Tuesday 26 July 2016

Little Passports - Review!

Little Passports was launched in 2009 by two mums and best friends who had a shared vision: inspiring children to learn about the world. It is a subscription service and each month you get a package from two friends who travel and explore the world we live in....


Little Passports offers two different type of adventure depending on how old your child is: 

Early Explorers for 3 to 5 year old's which includes 17 themes over a 18-month period. Your child will receive their Traveler Kit in the first month, followed by a themed package each month thereafter. Themes include: landmarks, music, animals, food, art, oceans, natural wonders, world coins, space, world discoveries, dinosaurs, science, celebrations, habitats, transportation, insects, and sports.

World Edition for 6 to 10 years old's. Discover a new country each month, with souvenirs and hands-on activities. This was the one we reviewed....


In our first package we received the cute, little suitcase, a passport, a wall-sized world map, a welcome letter, stickers, a photo and activity sheet, plus access to online games.

At first it didn't seem like there was a lot in the package but it has kept Ellie busy and entertained for quite a while....She was very excited to have her own passport and was keen to fill it in....She had a great time filling in the activity sheets and the map is pinned on her bedroom wall at the moment which she loves.


Ellie was very happy with what she received and loves the service so far....It really excited her and she is wanting to travel the world now....

In the package we also received a boarding pass which gave us access to the online games. They are child friendly and safe.


Ellie had a great time with them even though some of the trivia questions were a little difficult. I struggled with some of them but both Ellie and I ended up learning something which is a good thing....

Prices for the Little Passports subscription box vary depending how long you sign up for and you are billed on a monthly basis but you can cancel your subscription through your online account at any time.

 It says that  you need to allow up to 6 weeks for your Little Passports subscription to start and receive your first package but after ordering online ours only took about 3 weeks to arrive....After the first month the subsequent packages ship around the middle of the month.

Little Passports is a fun way to learn about the world we live in...The different countries and cultures....We are very excited to receive our next package....

We received a 3 month subscription to Little Passports so we could review the service and package.....All thoughts and opinions are our own.

Monday 25 July 2016

Our Weekly Meal Plan!! - #mealplanningmonday


Last weeks meal plan didn't really go to plan....I think we ate 4 of the meals....We ended up having a BBQ one evening and we never ended up going out for an end of term treat....The girls were happy just staying home and by the time it came to go out nobody really wanted to move.... Yesterday I made the sausage casserole which was nice as the weather had cooled down a bit....

During the school holidays I will still be meal planning but not setting what days we're having everything on....It never works for us....

This week on the menu we have:

Spaghetti bolognese and garlic bread....
Ham salad and new potatoes....
Scampi, chips and peas....
Pizza....
Roast chicken dinner....

What are you eating this week?

Saturday 23 July 2016

A photo everyday for a year! #Project366 - Week 29

I think this has been my favourite week of the year so far....We've had so much going on with the girls finishing school for the summer, the glorious weather and a few exciting deliveries....


198/366 16th July.
My eldest loves playing cards....She is quite an expert at shuffling...

199/366 17th July.
We started painting the walls in the back yard. It's looking better already....

200/366 18th July.
Playing with water....

201/366 19th July.
I spent some time sat in the backyard before the heat got the better of me....

202/366 20th July.
More playing with water....

203/366 21st July.
Becky with a very fancy mask.

204/366 22nd July.
My fella's new graphics card....I loved the box. lol


Friday 22 July 2016

Summer is here. #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:


It has to be doesn't it....This week has been a bit of a scorcher.....Even on Wednesday when it thundered and rained most of the day here it was still hot! I had to nip out mid-week and stock up on ice lollies....We have gone through so many....

Last Friday I helped out with the summer fair at school....I sold the hot dogs...hehehe It rained but it didn't ruin anyone's fun....In the hour it ran after school we made well over £600. It was a lovely afternoon.....It is such a shame that people try to ruin things by stealing off the Tombola.....I find it pretty disgusting. Last year I could have sworn this person was the person stealing but I couldn't prove it....This year she was seen again by someone else....The headteacher was informed so it's up to her to deal with it now.....

On Tuesday I had a change of scene....I moved out and sat in the back yard....I lasted a couple of hours before the heat got the better of me....I even caught the sun a little but I think I will be out there more often.

The summer holidays are finally here! The kids finished school on Wednesday and every day since has felt like a Friday....I am glad to see the end of the school year...We are ready for a break.

The girls have played outside so much this week.....The small paddling pool has been out, they've had water fights and Ellie was so pleased on Wednesday evening when I didn't bring her in to go to bed....With no school the next day, I just let her play....She came in at about 9pm.

We are enjoying having no routine....We have been sleeping in, eating at strange times and staying up later than usual....I love it. It seems like we haven't done much since the girls finished school but we have made a start on our summer bucket list. We have watched the first Harry Potter film, I've ordered the Bunch O Balloon water balloons and we've nearly had a day of playing Minecraft all day....hehehe


Thursday 21 July 2016

Schools out for summer!

Both of my girls finished school yesterday for the summer....Hooray!

This was them on their first day back in September.


I've actually had to look back on blog posts from the past year to see what notable things have happened at school and there is hardly anything....Becky was in year 8 and Ellie was in year 4. I think they are the most boring school years ever....hehehe Nothing much has happened....They have just continued with school life without any drama.

Becky absolutely loves school. She has loved being in year 8. I think it's down to the fact she wasn't the youngest in the school anymore....She has got the hang of being at secondary school and knows what is expected of her, she knows the rules and knows how to bend them....hehehe

Becky still hates PE and gave us a chuckle when she forged a note to get her out of PE. It didn't work. lol She is doing so well with I.T. It is probably her favourite subject and also French. At the moment she is thinking about a career in cookery but time will tell...Next year she chooses her GCSE subjects which will be exciting....

Becky brought home her art book last week and it really surprised me how talented she is....She isn't one for sitting drawing and being creative at home so it was lovely to see....


Ahh! Ellie....She isn't a fan of school but this year she has really surprised us by trying so hard in all her subjects especially writing which she hasn't been too good with in the past. I'm just gutted she never got her pen license this year....Her writing is probably neater than mine when she puts her mind to it....She is at all the levels she should be at and for her maths, reading and science she is above where she should be....We have spent a good part of this school year worrying that she is behind the other kids in her class but it turns out we had nothing at all to worry about....

Ellie prefers learning fun things instead of boring maths and writing...lol. Over the last year her class have done topics about China & The Romans and she has really taken an interest in them.....She had a great time making part of Hadrian's wall and one of the forts....It has been on display in the library since the middle of May and she is so proud of it. Yesterday she got to bring it home and now her dolls are playing at being soldiers....


Both of my girls keep making me proud....In September they go into Year 9 and Year 5.....They both have a change of uniform which they are excited about....Becky loses the school jumper and has to wear a blazer and Ellie has to start wearing a v-neck jumper, shirt and tie....


This was them taken yesterday....It's hard to tell that they have grown but they have....I know they are both going to be taller than me. Becky is nearly already....hehehe

No more talking about school....We have the whole summer ahead of us....


Wednesday 20 July 2016

We have different ideas of what tidy is. #wickedwednesdays

I asked them to tidy the back yard before they came in....
We have different ideas of what tidy is....


They were sent straight back out to finish the job. lol



Tuesday 19 July 2016

Things have changed so much since my girls were little...

When my girls were babies I thought I had everything I needed....No, no, no. Now I read parenting blogs and see so many things that I would have loved when my girls were little. So many things that I think are just genius and curse them because they were not around when my girls were babies....

These are a few of those things. 


The SnuzPod.

The award-winning 3 in 1 bedside crib that allows you to easily comfort, settle and feed your baby without having to leave your bed....

Co-sleeping wasn't a big thing when my girls were little.....I can't think of anyone who did it but this I think is the closest you get to co-sleeping without actually having your child in the bed.... 

When Becky was a baby she slept in a Moses basket next to the bed....Ellie slept in her Moses basket which was put inside the cot next to the bed....To see them properly I would have to sit right up and even get out of bed....This is just so convenient. 

Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair. 


The high chair that can actually fit your child from birth to their teenage years.... 

My girls both had a high chair with a tray on the front which meant they were never sat at the dining room table properly....Then there was a booster seat but it was never the right height...Grr! This is such a great idea... 

Little Dish toddler meals. 


These were not around when my girls were little....If they were I didn't notice them. They would have been ideal for when we were busy....The meals and pizza contain only 100% natural ingredients, no added sugar and every meal contains at least one of your little one’s 5 a day.....They sound very tasty too. 

Fancy changing bags. 


I mean the changing bags which don't look like changing bags....Wow! They have changed so much over the years....They look so classy and sophisticated now. Nothing like the one's I had with my girls.... 

Travel Systems.


They were around but they were expensive and no where near as pretty as they are now. Some of the travel systems now fascinate me....How they change in so many different ways....You can adjust the height of the handles. That never happened years ago....They sound so light now too. Mine was heavy and once I had folded it I could hardly carry it...It was a nightmare going on the bus with it as back when my girls were little as buses weren't pushchair friendly... 

Things have changed so much since my girls were little....I think if I had a baby now I wouldn't know where to start with buying everything. There is just so much choice out there now and so many new inventions. 

Monday 18 July 2016

Our Weekly Meal Plan!! - #mealplanningmonday


It's finally here....The last few days of school then the summer holidays start! My girls both finish school on Wednesday.....Ellie just after lunch and Becky at 10.45am. I think it's stupid that she has to go into school for 2 hours but one of the teachers passed away (Becky didn't know her) and it's her funeral....Obviously all the other teachers want to attend so the school is closing early....I am just as excited as the kids for the holidays to start....We have a lot of fun things planned and a lot of lazy, relaxing days too! 

Last weeks meal plan mostly went to plan....We were naughty on Saturday night. I fancied a curry so Stu and I had an Indian takeaway....Yesterday we spent the afternoon out in the backyard giving it a tidy and we started painting all the walls white....It looks so much better already. That meant we didn't have the roast chicken dinner so that has been bumped to today....

This week on the menu we have:

Monday - Roast chicken dinner....
Tuesday - Leftover chicken with Eggy bubble and squeak....
Wednesday - We'll go out for tea as an end of term treat....
Thursday - Burgers in buns with salad....
Friday - Italian tuna balls & spaghetti....
Saturday - Pizza....
Sunday - Sausage casserole, mash and veg....

What are you eating this week?

Sunday 17 July 2016

No teddies are getting washed here. #MySundayPhoto

I asked if I could wash her dirty, stinky teddies....She screamed. shouted and clung onto them for dear life...

I'll take that as a no then.


Saturday 16 July 2016

A photo everyday for a year! #Project366 - Week 28

We have had a bit of a busy week.....There has been a lot going on at school this week....I am so glad it's the weekend.


191/366 9th July.
We were lucky to receive one of the free boxes of goodies that Tesco were giving away with our shopping delivery....It was such a treat.

192/366 10th July.
Ellie has been purchasing things off Sky! Grr!

193/366 11th July.
I got to see Ellie play her trombone at the end of term concert....

194/366 12th July.
Ellie was trying out some Fruit Bowl Picked and Pressed Snacks.

195/366 13th July.
Report card day! My girls have both done well at school over the last year....

196/366 14th July.
Pokemon Go! Yes I downloaded it....hehehe

197/366 15th July.
Becky brought home her art book....This really caught my eye....