Saturday 28 February 2015

Project 365 2015 Week 9

So half term is over, everyone say bbbooooo!! We are only 2 months into project 365 but I found for a couple of weeks I was finding myself becoming bored of it. However these last couple of weeks moments seem to have just popped up and I've found myself needing to capture them.

I don't know about any of you but I really don't like it when the kids go back to school, the house just seems too quiet and it's then that I find myself considering home schooling!!

The girls were excited to get back though, straight back into learning, Gracie went into the golden book for good work and Freya got 10 out of 10 on an accelerated reading test, go girls :)

Hubby finally had a bit of time off work and I think you'll see from the photos that a certain toddler was rather pleased to have him around.

The big moment of the week was when Gracie got her ears pierced, I actually asked a question about ear piercing over on my facebook page, peoples opinions on the matter vary a lot.

Day 53

Bad weather called for a lazy Sunday so the girls were camping out in their tent.

Friday 27 February 2015

Introducing Rachel Medhurst's Latest Novel… Pisces

Reading books is my main hobby so I am very lucky that I get to review so many on my blog. Another plus to this is that I get to read a lot of debut novels. One author that has been up and coming over the past year is Rachel Medhurst. She already has two book series' under her belt and I've been privileged enough to get the first sneak peek at the cover of the latest book that she's been working on and now I'm able to share it with all of you.

Introducing Pisces - a Zodiac Twin Flame novel :

Thursday 26 February 2015

Barbecue Turkey Meatloaf Recipe

I love meatloaf, I think partly because it was something I grew up with, I remember eating it a lot when I was younger however because I'm still trying to be healthy with my eating habits, I wanted to come up with a recipe that was still full of flavour but didn't contain so many calories/fat. Immediately I thought of turkey.

This is a meat that is packed full of protein but contains a lot less fat than other meats and the way this dish is cooked means that any fat doesn't get soaked into the meatloaf like a traditional one would.

turkey meatloaf

Wednesday 25 February 2015

January's Degustabox, What's Inside?

I can't believe that I've being reviewing Degustabox for a year now. I have to say I am yet to be disappointed by one of their boxes, ok not every item is to my taste but it certainly encourages me to broaden the range of food and drink that I consume, I'm more open to trying new things.

This month I think has been one of my favourites. It seemed to go along a healthy theme which was perfect for me because I am trying my hardest to stick to a healthier diet in an aim to lose a bit of weight and to generally feel better about myself.

So what was inside this months Degustabox?

If I Fall, If I Die Book Review

if i fall, if i die by michael christie
It is no secret that I love books but you will have probably also have noticed that I tend to stick to the same genre but I do like to delve into the unknown sometimes. Recently I was sent the latest book from Michael Christie to review. If I Fall If I die is a tale of growing up but not quite as we know it..

Will has never been outside, at least not that he can remember. And he has certainly never known anyone other than his mother, a fiercely loving woman who drowns in panic at the thought of opening the front door. Their little world is comprised of only the rooms in their hom, each named after various exotic locales and filled with Will's art projects.

But the confines of his world are beginning to close in on Will. Despite his mother's protestations, Will straps on a protective helmet, and ventures outside…

Tuesday 24 February 2015

Weekly Weigh In 24.02.2015

It's weigh in time again, I have to admit I've been scared to step on the scales. My official "time of  the month" finally appeared on Saturday and it's still lingering now and this plays havoc with both my body shape and my weight.

So what's the results?

I have lost a 1lb since last week but seen as I'm still bloated oat from period I'm hoping to see better results next week. Will update this post with my measurements as I am going to buy a tape measure today.

I think I've become addicted to exercise, not a day goes by where I don't do something, even if it is just going for a walk with the kids. I'm a week into my kiqplan and I'm enjoying the workouts and the daily tips.

Now food, I'm still struggling with this. I love it but I hate it at the same time. With my kiqplan I have the chance to record my daily calorie intake and it has been interesting to see just how much I'm consuming, or in my case how little. Turns out I need to actually consume more calories but this leads my brain to think a chocolate bar or cake wouldn't hurt then.

Monday 23 February 2015

Read With Me 2015 #8

Hello readers, welcome to this weeks Read With Me. I feel I've got my reading mojo back this week, with hubby on night shift I've had the evenings to myself so I have had time to curl up with a good book.

read with me
I was starting to think I would have time to add my own personal book reviews but like buses I've suddenly had 6 book reviewing opportunities all coming up at the same time.

I'm now the best mum ever because I got the latest Jacqueline Wilson book through to review so keep and eye for my thoughts on that as well as an added bonus of my eldests review within that post.

So what have I been reading recently?

One To Hold by Tia Louise, part of a series of books, I actually decided to read this as it was free on Kindle but I was pleasantly surprised and plan to purchase the other books.

Saturday 21 February 2015

Project 365 2015 Week 8

Half term week has seems to have flown by but it has certainly livened up my photos for this weeks project 365.

So since the last update Gracie has turned 5, we've been to a show, lots of rain has poured and more illness has entered the house, we didn't let this stop our fun though.

Day 46

Gracie turned 5 today, the Ana costume certainly put a smile on her face. I can't believe how fast she is growing up but even though she isn't my youngest I still see her as my baby!!

Friday 20 February 2015

A Visit To The Marlowe Theatre

Canterbury in Kent is the perfect place for my family and I when it comes to days out. Being local is a huge bonus but this town boasts plenty of places to eat and drink, museums and historic venues to visit and lots of shops to wander through and in the heart of the town you can also find the Marlowe Theatre.

My girls and I were recently invited along to watch a new show, Don't Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus.

The Friendly bus driver leaves us with one simple instruction : "don't let the pigeon drive the bus!" What could possibly go wrong?

Coming from author Mo Willems who is an award winning writer and animator for Seasame Street,  straight away I was expecting good things.

don't let the pigeon drive the bus

Recommended for children aged 3 and upwards, this lively show promises lots of laughter and excitement and I can tell you first hand that it well and truly delivers.

A Drawer Makeover

By now I'm sure you've noticed a running theme with my furniture makeovers, white is definitely the chosen colour. A simple change that manages to lighten up any room. This week my husband decided to upcycle a set of drawers and a mirror.


We bought these pieces of furniture just before we had to move out of our previous house, had we known that we'd be moving we probably would have chosen differently.

Thursday 19 February 2015

Courgette Pizza Bites

Sometimes I don't fancy a big dinner, more something to snack but it can be very easy to slip into old habits and just reach for the junk food. My recipe for courgette pizza bites is a healthy alternative but makes you feel like you are having a treat as it is reminiscent of having a couple of all be it smaller slices of pizza.

Easy and quick to make and also simple to adapt, this small dish is perfect for both meat lovers and vegetarians.

courgette pizza bites

Wednesday 18 February 2015

Selfie Stick Review

The selfie, a craze that never went away. I have to admit that I am quite partial to taking the odd one. If you are anything like me you stand there, take a photo and delete, repeat this around 50 times before you get the 'perfect' shot.

Of course the trouble comes when you want to get more of you into the shot than just your head and shoulders. Like showing off a particular outfiit you are wearing or getting a great group shot on a night out, you end up with missing faces etc.

That's where the selfie stick comes in. I mean what a simple yet genius invention. An extending stick that allows you to take both close up and far away pictures with just a click of a button.

Yumbox Review

Lunch boxes can be a nightmare. Too big, too small, ones that leak, ones that end up smelling horrid and ones that simply aren't 'cool' enough. I know we've been through our fair share of them since my children started taking lunches to playschool/school but what's the solution? Well the answer may well be Yumbox.

yumbox

Jacqueline WIlson Magazine Review

My eldest daughter is almost as big of a book worm as I am, she always has her head in a book, more often than not we will find her reading a story written by Jacqueline Wilson so when we were asked if we'd like to review the Official Jacqueline Wilson Mag, I turned into the best mummy in the world.

jacqueline wilson magazine

Tuesday 17 February 2015

Weekly Weigh In 17.02.2015

I've been dithering about writing this post today. I let myself down last week, there were a couple of family birthdays and a valentine's night out and I'm ashamed to say that I lost my will power, junk food and alcohol was consumed at the scales show it.

The weighing scales this morning let me know that I've put on 2lb, ok 2 doesn't seem like a huge number but I'm so disappointed with myself.

It doesn't help that that "time of the month" still hasn't actually reared it's ugly head so I know I'm holding onto "bloat" weight too.

I think I'm more annoyed because I didn't let myself down with the exercise, I've been exercising every day still so I thought I would have atleast maintained my weight.

As I'm writing this post I feel like I'm just coming up with excuses, trying to make myself feel better.

So how am I going to move on from this??

First things first, I need to get a tape measure, I think I might feel better knowing my measurements not just my weight because honestly even though I've put on weight, I can't see a big change in my size.

Exercise wise, I'm going strong. I'm just about to start my kiqplan and I'm continuing to mix it up with weights, cardio and resistantance training.

Monday 16 February 2015

Read With Me 2015 #7

Hello fellow book worms, welcome to this weeks Read With Me. Now I have to admit I have struggled to read an awful lot this week.

read with me
A mixture of reasons really. The hubby has been at home most nights and when he is back we tend to catch up on some TV watching.

The toddler has been a monkey for sleeping this week which leads on to me beingjust too tired to concentrate on a book properly.

It may sound silly but when I don't get to read, I really miss doing it. it's nice to be able to escape to an alternative world every once in a while.

I don't know about you but I can find myself missing a book once I've finished reading it.

One book I did read last week, well re read was Fifty Shades of Grey, not everyones cup of tea but I decided to go and watch the film at the weekend and wanted to refresh my memory.

Saturday 14 February 2015

Project 365 2015 Week 7

This week seems to have dragged and I have to admit I almost forgot to take photos for project 365 on a couple of days. Between the girls and I moods have been bad and emotions have run high and to be honest I'm not entirely sure why.

Inbetween all the lows there have been some highs, well for the kids atleast.

Freya went to rollerskating with her friend at the weekend, new skates in hand and this time she managed to do it all by herself with minimal falling over!! Elise has been doing swimming lessons with the school and she's gradually gaining more confidence in the water, dipping herself under, a big thing for her. And Gracie has come on leaps and bounds with her school work and I think she is going to be a little writer like her older sister, always jotting down thoughts on paper, not that I can read it all yet.

Day 39

The annual change over of clothes, bagging up the ones that are now too small and getting out the larger sizes.

Friday 13 February 2015

Proud Mummy Moments

My kids make me proud on a daily basis just for being themselves but there are certain times that really stick out as "proud mummy moments", you know the ones where you want to tell everyone all about them.

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a key stage one assembly because Gracie was going to receive a certificate from her teacher, at the time I didn't know what for and Gracie was unaware that she would be getting one.

Well on the day it turned into a two for one deal because Freya by accident ended up with a certificate too but I'll get to that in a minute.

Thursday 12 February 2015

Time to #lovealot with Aldi

Valentine's day is nearly here, good job I'm reminding you right!! Some of you (like my husband) may think that is just another day but there are many of us including myself that like to be romanced and this doesn't necessarily mean spending a lot of money. A simple gesture such as a card, a small bunch of flowers or even breakfast in bed go along way to show that you care.

Now as you know Aldi are the store that always want to save us money so I was challenged to come up with a recipe that was both reasonably price and showed off that I do indeed #lovealot

Well seen as my lovely husband tends to "forget" about Valentine's day, I decided to come up with a dish that was more suited for me. I am currently dieting but I do like a treat every so often and this simple meal that I've devised can be eaten as an indulgent breakfast or a yummy pudding. It also coincides with another day just around the corner, pancake day.

valentines pancake recipe

Saving Money With Aldi

Food bills. These seem to keep going up and up and this isn't just because the number of children I have has increased over the years!! It is the price of things like meat and fresh produce that I find to be the most expensive. So when I was recently asked by Aldi if I'd go and do a shop around my local Aldi store to see if I could save myself some money on my weekly shop, I just had to give it a go.

I was sent £40's worth of vouchers towards my food shop. I tried to stick with the things I would normally buy.

So lets start with the negatives. My local Aldi store is a very small one so doesn't stock the biggest range of things so there were certain items that I wasn't able to purchase, this isn't a reflection on all Aldi stores though. I also found that a lot of products didn't have long dates on them so I would be left having to buy the same again sooner than I'd like.

But having said all this, did I save money?

Yes I did!! £40 got me a lot for my money with bags of potatoes for as little as 59p and branded products such as Colgate toothpaste for a tiny 75p, I was impressed.

The best savings were when it came to the price of meat. A comparison to where I normally shop :

Wednesday 11 February 2015

The Weekend Box Update

Around this time last year I was given the chance to review The Weekend Box. This box was packed full of activities aimed at children between the ages of 3 and 8, the idea was to stop bordem from setting in on those weekends when perhaps you have nothing planned or bad weather stops play.

A year on and Weekend Box are still going strong, so good that in November of last year they won Start Up Of The Year at the Start-Up Loan competition in London.

Since reviewing last, there have been a few changes and I happen to think these improvements are very effective but the good news is that they still remain at the great price of £7.50 per box and you receive one every fortnight.

So what's changed? Firstly the actual box has had a small make over. The box can now be closed meaning activities can now be transported without getting lost, fantastic if your children plan on staying at say nannie's house and want to take their box with them.

Secondly each weekend box now comes with a theme. Rather than 4 random activities, each activity now relates in some way to the others. My box followed the theme of Chinese New Year. The activities included making fortune cookies, paper plate drums, Chinese dragons and Chinese lanterns.

An Elephant For Breakfast Book Review

an elephant for breakfast
The girls and I read so many books, a lot of the time we tend to re read books we already have but sometimes it is nice to add a new book to our collection, especially when it is from an author we haven't heard of before. We were recently sent An Elephant For Breakfast which is both written and illustrated by Zella.

Every year, at the start of the summer holidays, Uncle Cosmo sends his nieces and nephews a gigantic parcel. It comes all the way from Africa to arrive on their doorstep in London. This year it is late, and when it finally arrives it brings with it a great mystery and a terrific adventure. Uncle Cosmo is in danger, and the children must follow the clues to save him.

The book immediately caught my attention with it's bright cover. The illustration is simply drawn but both the colours and the fun writing draw you in.

Abra-Ca-Debora Pancake Review and Giveaway

Pancake day is coming, 17th of February to be precise. Do you have your ingredients ready?? The girls and I were lucky enough to be sent a scrummy goodie box filled with pancakes from Abra_Ca-Debora. Lets be honest pancakes aren't just for pancake day, oh no they can be eaten any time, they are a huge breakfast favourite in our house.

abra-ca-debra pancakes

Tuesday 10 February 2015

Weekly Weigh In 10.02.2015

5 weeks in and it is time for another weigh in. I'm quite pleased with myself that I've made it this far into the new year and I haven't given up on my goals.

So this week I haven't lost any weight, I have stayed the same. Now I'm not as disheartened as the last time this happened because of two reasons. One I have been doing more work with weights so I think I have lost any fat then I may have gained it in muscle. Two, this may be too much information but it is nearing "my time of the month" and I always seem to gain couple of lbs around then so I'm hoping I'll notice more of a difference next week.

What I have noticed, usually around this time of the month I become extremely bloated, I start to look like I'm pregnant but this month I am staying roughly the same size.

So what's my plan for this week?

Exercise wise I'm continuing to add in more weight and ab based workouts as I'm keen to tone everything up, those wobbly bits need to go!! I'm also part way through this 31 day challenge, I find little challenges keep me motivated and encourage me to do a bit of exercise each day.

Monday 9 February 2015

Read With Me 2015 #6

Hello. Welcome to this weeks Read With Me. I think last weeks cold weather made snuggling up with a good book that little bit more appealing.

read with me
I for one enjoy curling up by the fire and getting engrossed in a story.

My most recent reads :

Ten Below Zero by Whitney Barbetti

Avoidables 6 by Rachel Medhurst, this is part of an ongoing serial and I have to say each one adds just a little bit more depth and keeps the story fresh and interesting.

My favourite read was The Five Stages of Falling In Love by Rachel Higginson. A wonderful love story that covers the idea of losing the love of your life and opening your heart up to let someone else into your life.

Saturday 7 February 2015

Project 365 2015 Week 6

Anyone else feeling a tad cold this week. I have to admit there are a lot of indoor pictures for this weeks project 365 because quite honestly I've felt like hibernating!!

So what have we been up to this week? I wish I could tell you exciting things but honestly it has been a pretty non productive time snuggling up in front of the fire.

We did go to a special key stage one assembly on Wednesday and Gracie got a certificate for well for being Gracie, I'm so proud of what a wonderful, bubbly little girl she is turning out to be, there isn't a lot that she lets bother her.

Day 32

Bath time for these cheeky monkeys.


A Visit To The Beaney Museum

I visit Canterbury in Kent on a regular basis but for some reason I had never noticed The Beaney museum before. For those like me who weren't aware of this place, it is an art museum and library that showcases some brilliant exhibitions and holds a brand new library as well as learning facilities and interactive events for all ages.

My girls and I were recently invited to the opening of the brand new Enid Blyton exhibition. Mystery, Magic and Midnight Feast, The Many Adventures of Enid Blyton is running from the 31st January to the 19th April 2015.

My eldest daughter was extremely excited as she is a huge fan of her work, especially the Malory Towers collection.

I personally remember not only reading her books but watching the TV series based on the stories on the television too.

This trip was exciting straight away because daddy was working so we got to take a journey on the train.

Friday 6 February 2015

Travelodge Giveaway

I've always wanted to travel more. The husband likes holidays abroad, he much prefers the almost guaranteed hot weather. I however burn upon looking at the sun so I'd really like to see more of my own country. More weekends away would be great and this needn't be expensive especially when there are so many reasonable hotels like Travelodge to get a room in.

I thought I'd share with you 5 places in the UK that I would love to visit :

The Cotswolds

Described as a natural beauty, the idea of long scenic walks and the laying by a nice warm fire in the Winter months really appeals to me here.

The Bathroom Tour

I put a picture up on instagram recently of the kids having a splash in the tub and I had a few people commenting on how nice my bath is. My bathroom is the only room that the previous owners did up and I have to admit that it is my favourite place in the house at the moment so I thought I'd give you the guided tour.


Thursday 5 February 2015

Crunchy Kaleslaw Recipe

My daily diet has changed drastically since the new year, I'm eating a lot healthier and instead of piling my plate high with chips I am opting for chicken, turkey etc accompanied by lots of vegetables and salads.

One of my favourite accompaniments was always coleslaw however upon looking at the ingredients and calorie content I discovered it wasn't so good for me, so I decided to have a go at making my own and I came up with Crunchy Kaleslaw.

Wednesday 4 February 2015

Trutex Uniform Review

School uniform, we all have to purchase it for our children at some point in their lives, we can't avoid this cost and because of this parents like myself are always on the look out for uniform that is not only good quality, long lasting but also affordable.

Having three children in school with one more due to start next year, the cost of shirts, skirts, cardigans etc is something I have to try and budget for every Summer.

When Trutex approached me and asked if I'd like to review a selection of some of the school wear that they stock, I was happy to oblige.

Trutex was actually established in 1865 so it is no surprise that they are the UK's leading school uniform supplier. Stocking everything from main uniform, sportswear and outerwear in a range of styles and colours, there is something to suit every school.

I chose shirts, trousers and cardigans for my eldest daughter, she's just had a growth spurt so this was perfect timing.

What I liked immediately was that every item was made to go in the tumble drier, seen as my washing machine is on 24/7, this was a big plus for me, saves on time and effort.

The shirts I chose were non iron blouses, another bonus as I am not a fan of ironing!! I liked on the site that there was a size guide stating not only age but inches and cms of chest size too meaning you can purchase clothes that are just right.

trutex non iron blouses

The Lion and The Mouse Review

I don't know about you, but I love the classic stories the best, especially when I get to share ones that I've read with my children. These tales once captured my imagination and it is nice being able to read them to my kids like my parents once did with me.

However sometimes these stories need a little bit of a revamp to bring them back to life and make them appeal to the younger generation, books are just as much about the pictures as they are the words these days.

The Lion and The Mouse is one of those tales. This new version published by Sterling is told by Kathleen Olmstead and illustrated by Scott Wakefield.

the lion and the mouse

Getting Started With KiQplan

Exercise is something I struggle with, a mixture of not having time and losing motivation makes it difficult to keep up a good routine. I think like many people, I find it hard to follow through with my promises to myself and what changes I make in the new year tend to slowly disappear and my old lifestyle starts kicking in.

This month I am being introduced to KiQplan. From the makers of Fitbug, this consists of a library of many interactive coaching programs which will work alongside many of the well known trackers, smartphones and smart watches to help people reach their desired fitness goals.

kiqplan

Tuesday 3 February 2015

Weekly Weigh In 03.02.2015

Can't believe we are in February already. I've been on the path to getting fit and healthy for 4 weeks now. Weighing in each week and writing it down here has certainly kept me motivated, even when the lbs weren't dropping off.

The scales results are in and last week I managed to lose 1 and half lbs so in total I've lost 5 and half lbs in 4 weeks putting me at 7 stone 8 n half lbs which I am really pleased with. Infact I'm that happy that I'm sharing some photos of my progress with you.

Monday 2 February 2015

Read With Me 2015 #5

Hey there lovely readers. Time for a new Read With Me. I didn't read as much as I'd like to last week. When the hubby is off work I struggle to find the time to sit down and concentrate on a good story.

read with me
Having said that, my total books read in January came to an amazing 27 books.

One of my favourites from last week wasn't my normal genre of book.

The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins is a psychological thriller that has been compared to Gone Girl (one I've not read).

It follows the goings on of two women over a certain period of time. Although they don't know each other, their lives manage to collide somehow but how and why is up for question.

This book provides many twists and turns and certainly kept me guessing, I'd definitely recommend it.