When you have children, you need to think a bit more about the function and safety of your garden than you did before. We all want our gardens to be fun spaces where we can relax, play and enjoy nature, but sometimes that means a little more planning. If you have a garden that you want you and your children to love, check out the ideas below, which will help you create a great family garden on a modest budget: Lower Your Expectations If you have young kids, in particular, you need to accept the fact that, a lot of the time your lawn is going to be littered with colourful pieces of plastic, your flowers are going to be trampled on and things are going to get a little messy from time to time, and that’s ok.…
It’s official, our little man is now double digits. I’m not entirely sure where those ten years went but they’ve certainly passed as out little man ain’t all that little anymore! Happy 10th Birthday J Despite spending his birthday at school, J has had a brilliant birthday. We got up early so that he had plenty of time to open his many cards and presents, he then spent the day with his friends having fun at the local Museum before coming home and opening yet more presents, blowing out his candles and eating shed loads of cake. Having waited for over an hour for Paul and I to assemble his new drum kit, he eventually had time playing with that too.…
As our beautiful boy is about to turn the grand age of ten, we have spent almost the entire weekend celebrating. We’ve obviously partied a little too hard as the kids are both worn out: E came down with some sort of sickness bug last night and J barely has a voice left thus they are both in bed early tonight. This time ten years ago I was busy sucking on gas and air whilst begging for a c section, I can barely believe it’s been a decade since our little man made an arrival into this World. TEN YEARS! Where on earth has that time gone?!…
Welcome to this weeks edition of the #MySundaySnapshot blog series, a blog-linky which I’d love for you to join and share your photos with. Click here for further information and guidelines upon this linky should you wish to take part. With our son about to turn double digits this week, we loaded the car with spare clothes, a first aid kit, a rather heavy picnic and plenty of drinks then headed out with two of his friends for the day to the Tree Top Nets. Having bounced ourselves into a sweaty stupor, we eventually ran out of energy and time so took a stroll to the lakeside for lunch.…
With half term fast approaching (followed shortly by the summer holidays) I’ve made a start on putting together a list of activity ideas to keep the kids entertained. Being based in the North West, we have plenty of options for places and cities to visit, which are relatively, close by. Although we visit Liverpool annually it’s only ever to make user of their airport, which seems a shame considering how much is happening in the city. It’s about time therefore that we added Liverpool to our list… Liverpool One has a number of awesome events lined up for the next few months, some of which both my husband and I quite fancy attending.…
Life as a parent ain’t always plain sailing, it’s much like a rollercoaster really – there’s ups, downs, plenty of adrenalin and a whole lot of screaming but it’s thrilling, exhilarating, breath taking and one heck of an experience. Much like a rollercoaster ride, it’s a whole heap of fun but time whizzes by far too fast… This time next week I’ll have a ten year old – it doesn’t feel as if it’s been a decade since I was waddling about the size of a small house. I can barely believe that J will be double digits, where on earth has the time gone?…
Talk about a busy weekend; we literally didn’t stop for a moments rest, well I didn’t at least. I swear my children think I’m their roady, I’m forever ferrying them to and fro various events. E spent the entire weekend being the social butterfly that she is, attending not one but two birthday parties and a sleepover at her Grandparents. Having dressed to impress with sparkles galore, E arrived at the party brimming with confidence, so much so that she was happy to add further accessories to her outfit in the form of a snake… That’s right, my precious little princess decided to rock wearing a reptile and whilst at it, she made friends with a frog, stroked some rats, petted a tortoise and lounged with a lizard.…
Life is hectic at present; I don’t often get the chance to sit and to write much of anything these days, apologies therefore if you may have found my blog to be a little bland of late. If I’m not busy working (which I’ve never been happier to do) then I’m either running around getting the kids or the house into shape, either that or chauffeuring one or the other child to or from their various after-school activities. Don’t get me wrong, I much prefer being busy to feeling at a loose end; I am far happier when my mind is occupied than at rest.…
Every few weeks my parents very kindly have the kids overnight; it gives Paul and I the chance to relax a little whilst the kids spend time with their Grandparents. We don’t pack much in terms of clothing as my Mother is an eBay addict and is forever buying bundles of clothes for the kids, which they come home wearing the following day. However, we are always sure to pack their walking boots and wellies as whilst there, they usually head out for a hike with the crazy but cute dog. Although I miss having the kids at home, it does us all a World of good to break the routine and to have a night out.…
Welcome to this weeks #MySundaySnapshot post, which is part of a blog-linky series that you are very welcome to join. Click here for further information and guidelines upon this linky should you wish to take part. Excuse my silence throughout the week, I’ve been somewhat occupied with work related excursions for the past few days. Whilst on my travels I got snap-happy following a slightly challenging climb to the summit of what felt much-like a mountain, it was there that I was reminded of my fear of my heights, that and my apparent lack of fitness. My legs (and the rest of my body) may well ache at present but it was well worth the climb, if only for the jaw-dropping spectacular views. …
We didn’t really make any plans for the bank holiday, we’ve enough going on over the next few weeks without adding further outings to the list. We decided to keep things simple by enjoying a lazy morning sofa surfing in our pjs before a picnic lunch and an outing to the beach with the basset. Having taken our usual route along the shore, we made our way back by the park, opposite which resides the beach cafe. J & E had their heart set on having ice creams, but I was well aware that with it being a bank holiday our chances were slim.…
Being a creature of habit, I have my routines one of which is following lunch and tea (depending on whether it’s a work day or the weekend) Paul and I will clear the table, wash the pots and get as many of the chores out of the way before taking five to sit at the kitchen table and to enjoy a cup of coffee and a catch up whilst the kids entertain themselves. We don’t get long before being interrupted by one of the kids or the dog requiring our attention. Those five minutes however are golden, it’s our time and the kids have come to accept that coffee cups signal five minutes peace and a sit down for their folks.…
There may come a time where you seriously consider living abroad. You might have been traveling all over the world as part of your childhood, or perhaps you’ve never even left the country you were born in. But no matter what your story so far, you can always decide to cross borders when moving provided it satisfies the criteria you are looking for. Also, having almost the whole globe to choose from when looking for a new space is pretty much the textbook definition of being ‘spoilt for choice.’ But how should you consider your opportunities when desiring abroad residency? What should you expect?…
Welcome to this weeks edition of the #MySundaySnapshot blog series, a blog-linky which you are more than welcome to join. Click here for further information and guidelines upon this linky should you wish to take part. Life is so full on at present – my diary is stuffed full of appointments, activities and lengthy lists of ‘things to do’. Don’t get me wrong, I like to keep busy but there’s a difference between being busy and finding yourself feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff you need or are expected to do. It’s at times like these when I appreciate a moment to stand in the sunshine, to take a minute or two to take stock, to take a breather and to clear my mind.…
We’ve had such an incredibly active and fun-packed month, here are a few of the things which I have #LikedandLoved throughout April. Paul’s Birthday Paul turned the grand age of thirty-six earlier this month, he is technically therefore a year older than me now. Thus, I can and will spend the next four months reminding him and ribbing him regarding our age gap. Blackpool Sandcastle To celebrate Paul’s birthday we took the kids out for an afternoon swimming at Blackpool’s Sandcastle Waterpark. We bought wristbands to ride all the slides and the both the kids and us adults had the most amazing day.…
I’ve said this time and time again but I’ll say it once more – I couldn’t be a prouder parent. My kids may drive me up the wall and round the bend at times but I love them more than life itself. Not only do I vacuum and mop the floor upon which they walk, I worship the ground upon which they wander. J is heading towards turning two-digits in age, I cannot believe that ten years have passed since I was the size of a house, desperate to meet my little man. The years have flown by – J is no longer little, he is now a rather tall and handsome young chap.…
If there’s one thing I love to do, it’s to feel the warmth of the sun on my face, the cool breeze through my hair and the sand between my toes. You can’t beat taking five to sit at the beach: watching the water as it laps at the shore, soaking up the smells of the salty sea air with vague wafts of freshly cut grass, BBQ’s and suntan lotion, whilst listening to the kids laugh and scream as they run amuck. This is exactly what I was doing earlier this week. It felt great to kick back, to let my hair down and to soak up the sun whilst Paul took the dog for a wander and the kids busied themselves on the beach.…
Welcome to this weeks edition of the #MySundaySnapshot blog series, a weekly photo-sharing blog-linky which you are very welcome to join. Click here for further information and guidelines upon this linky should you wish to take part. We began this week with the most beautiful weather; the winter wear was abandoned in favour for lighter, summer clothing. The sun beamed all day long and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky to be seen yet here we are at the weekend suffering yet another storm. For a moment I thought summer may well be on the way, I’d even made a start upon gaining a suntan of sorts (being a redhead I usually stay milky white or go burnt-lobster red within a day, there is no in-between).…
We’ve had an incredibly busy but fun-packed April. With Easter, the half term holidays, Paul’s birthday and the day-to-day grind, we simply haven’t had time to stop – it’s been enjoyable but exhausting! So without further waffle, here are a few of my #LittleLoves for this month. Read I’ve continued to work my way through Fern Cotton’s ‘Happy’ and have almost finished this book but otherwise I’ve simply not had the time to sit and to read. I keep promising myself to make time, I’ve had my Kindle out on the side charging numerous times yet fail to relax and to read.…
There comes a time where we might wish to settle down and create the family unit we have dreamed of for some time. We might be in various stages of this development, because not everyone gets to experience a careful and planned route. It might be that you’ve been living in an apartment with your spouse and two-year old child, and now you think it’s time to live somewhere more comforting. It might be that your current family home is in an area you wish to move away from. You might just want a fresh start. Perhaps you’ve done the family thing for some time, and now you wish to experience a new location, or move for another job.…
