JANUARY ROUND UP

 

Hello lovelies, did anyone else feel like January had 1356,0987 days in it?! I couldn't wait for pay day to arrive! Felt like I was holding on by a thread, but everything has been paid up and were all back on track, even though the heating bills are astronomical and so are the food shops, were healthy and have a lovely home to keep us safe! 

Despite us being skint in January we had a lovely month, lots of walking! My steps have been amazing on my fitbit, thanks to my cute puppy! He gets walked twice a day and nice longer walks on the weekends. We've had family walks, date walks and even been on walks with friends. Oakley had his first ever groom this month and its helped massively with the bath time now, he sits so lovely now where as before he was fighting me to get out haha! We took the kids to clip and climb, we've been to local parks, fields and we've been to mcdonalds, slim chickens and stags leap. Me and Dan managed to sneak two little dates in this month! Both at The Horns Inn, the first one was a cute coffee and dog walk and the second one was a dog walk and lunch, the food was absolutely stunning! 

I met two new cute babies! Dans cousins and my friends. My poor little niece has been in and out of hospital bless her with her colds causing her to struggle breathing but hopefully she recovers soon! 

My brother and his partner came down from Evesham and we met their adorable puppy Max. We visited my dad and sister together. Still can't get over how positive she is through everything she is going through. Her radiotherapy is now done, the next is chemo! 

I joined a new fitness class this month, Martial Arts! I've been absolutely loving it, I joined with my work bestie Holly and its so much fun. Kickboxing and punching, my arms are really aching today mind! But it's great for my body and mind. I've been enjoying some lego sets, particularly the floral ones. I also started journaling this year and I'm really going to try hard and stick with it this year, It's nice to look back on all the nice or not so nice things we got up to. 

I've been juggling mom life and work whilst Dan has worked away all of this month, it's been tough and I've missed him loads but he has to go where the money is in his job role sadly! We're both in a really good place at the minute, it's nice to feel really happy and in love after 13 years together. We've had our ups and downs but were really happy at the minute and enjoying it! Planning future date nights and little family trips for the year. 

Book I'm reading this month - 

Call of the penguins Hazel Prior, I loved the first one and I'm enjoying the sequel I just really haven't prioritised reading this month and sadly didn't get chance to finish it! I really wanted to read at least one book a month but I'm working on it! I've set myself a challenge to read 10 books this year as I'm such a slow reader and never give myself time to do so. 

Music I've loved and listened to on Spotify - 

Wednesday soundtrack, 80's, 90's, Golden hour JVKE and Miley Cyrus Flowers. 

Products I've loved this month - 

L'Occitane body milk*, it's from their new Lavender CBD range, it smells insane and is so quick and easy to put on after the shower, I'm so lazy with body skincare but I use this almost every day at the minute! DHC Cleansing oil, I used this all the time back in the day when I was a full time beauty blogger and I saw it on offer online over the Christmas period and fell back in love with it! L'Oreal infallible foundation, again another throw back I remember wearing this back when I used to be able to get in the pubs at 16/17 and the smell just sends me right back! But it still really works for my skin and I love my complexion using this foundation and it doesn't cost the earth. 

Films I've Watched -

On the line 3/5 and Lyle Lyle Crocodile 5/5. 

I adored Lyle Lyle Crocodile me and the kids watched it in my bed whilst Dan was away and we had a bed full of snacks and it was a real good family feel good film! Who wouldn't enjoy a singing crocodile right?! On the line had potential, it was very gripping in parts but I had a feeling the ending was going to happen the way it did and it did it was just a bit uhh after all of that! But it was ok. 

TV shows I watched - 

Rosie Malloy gives up everything, Ernest Shackleton Documentary, Simpsons, The Light in the hall, The family pile, Traitors US, Sort your life out and one and only one episode of The Last of us. 

So The Last of us just wasn't something for me anyway but I was willing to give it a try for Dan, he also got bored after 3 or 4 episodes so gave up. My eldest was enjoying it but didn't want to watch it alone. Rosie Malloy, Don't watch if you're an addict! It was basically about an alcoholic and drug addict who keeps going in and escaping rehab! A really pointless show to be honest and I love Sheriden smith! We binge watched the US Traitors after loving the British one so much, we only agreed on watching it as we didn't know the 'celebs'. We watched the Ernest Shackleton documentary because one Oscar was learning about him in school and two Dan said he watched it before and it was an amazing story! That is was. Simpsons was just a throw back, I watch it with the kids sometimes and it takes me back to my youth. The family pile was a very easy light hearted watch on ITV, they're only 25-30 min episodes. I adore Stacey Solomon and I love anything to do with sorting so Sort your life out is a bit of me, this is the second series, I absolutely love it. Then lastly The light in the hall, this was a fantastic drama on I think ITV too! Highly recommend. 

What did you do in January? I'd love to know and if you have any TV recommendations xx 

WEEKLY MEAL PLAN

 

Hello lovelies, I thought I'd start of the year with my weekly meal plans. Maybe it will give you all a bit of inspiration if you're sick of eating the same meals. Ever since we've stuck to weekly meal plans we've stopped wasting food a considerable lot to before meal planning and we save money also! These meals are fairly healthy too as I'm trying to shift a bit of timber. But they was all gorgeous too, approved by my 8 and 10 year old and fiancé!  

Monday - Pitta bread pizzas with homemade chips and salad.

Super quick and easy and you can even get the kids involved after school! You just need pitta breads, slather on some tomato puree, sprinkle some garlic on or oregano if you're feeling fancy and top it with your favourite toppings! 

Tuesday - Gammon Roast.

I always slow cook my gammon whilst I'm at work and prep my potatoes and veggies before hand so I can quickly through the cooked potatoes into the air fryer and whisk up some gravy, no fuss roast dinner.

Wednesday - Chicken, ham and mushroom pie.

I used the nights before gammon and used a Pinch of nom recipe for this!

Thursday - Pork stir fry.

Just fry of your pork or I like to add mine to my air fryer in some seasoning of choice then through in a pan with noodles, bean sprouts and your choice of veg.

Friday - Macaroni Mince.

It's basically just mince meat with macaroni pasta. I cook the mince until browned then add in onion powder, garlic, mustard powder and beef stock, once pasta is cooked I mix it all together then add cheese and fresh onions.

Saturday - Chicken Kebab.

Again, Pinch of nom recipe, I love their books! Would highly recommend.

Sunday - Beef stew.

Not pictured but we finished the week off with a nice hearty stew! Just what we needed after a wet doggy walk with the kids. I just throw everything into the slow cooker in the morning. Beef, potatoes and any vegetables of choice with mixed herbs, gravy granules and pepper. 

What was your favourite meal you had last week? Let me know in the comments if you meal plan or just wing it. xx

MY 2023 GOALS

 

 

New Year Fresh Start Bull$%^*

Hello lovelies, so same mantra hopefully not same BS.

I really want to make an effort of coming back to my blog and making a go of it in the new year. Get Christmas out the way, all the craziness it brings, wrapping, spending lots of money and eating allll of the food.

But my Instagram got hacked recently and I was so upset Saturday, actually sobbing but not just because of that. It has been a whirlwind of emotions, I've just found out my half sister is terminally ill with cancer so in retrospect my Instagram account of 11/12 years being lost of all my amazing memories is nothing because she only has two years they're predicting of making any memories at all. I am so sad for her and my dad as they are each others rock. She has lost her son, her husband, her mother and her dog all in one year during covid. I mean how shit?! She is so strong and brave, all of that alone would have ruined me, but she keeps soldiering on. She's making a bucket list and although we've never been close growing up, I'm going to make damn sure her last couple of years of life are going to be bloody amazing!

It's really gave me a reality check and although I know life's short and you should always make the most of it. This little part of the internet is why I started blogging. To make amazing memories and share it with the world. Along with crafts, beauty, toy reviews and more!

So, I hope you all have the most wonderful Christmas with your loved ones. I'll be back in the new year, a fresh start!

All the best Paige x

JANUARY ROUND UP

Hello lovelies, it's finally February! Didn't January seem to hang around forever?! I'm so glad it's gone, it always seems to linger longer than it should, it's been absolutely freezing too. We did manage to get some lovely days out though considering we were all really poor after christmas haha!

So at the very beginning of January just before the kids went back to school we headed to Winter Funlad at the NEC in Birmingham, we managed to get an amazing price for the tickets at just £60 on groupon. They should have been £100 and after going I would have paid the full price as it was well worth it! We walked in and the kids faces lit up, there was so much choice of rides for little ones to bigger ones. There was every fair ground ride you can think of, bouncy castles, bouncy castles with slides, an ice rink, helter skelter, bumper cars, a very large slide, a circus show and an amazing stunt bike show. There was also an area just for arts and crafts and lego building, horse riding (toy horses) and lots of food stalls. We had an amazing day out there and can't wait to go back! Were definitely going to go back there next year but nearer to Christmas next time as they also have the grotto there too!

We have been on family bike rides! Me and Dan both wanted to loose a bit of timber, getting healthier for our mind and body so I've been walking lots more! Wether it be family walks, on my own or with friends. I have loved walks up our local forestry commision and the bike rides I tolerated haha!

We took the kids to Inflatanation at Telford, its not as big as the one in Birmingham but it's just as good! The kids had a fab time and I wish me and Dan took part to be honest, we will next time! It's only £10 an hour and its jsut opposite the parking for the indoor shopping centre right next to Primark.

We took the kids to Dudley Zoo again another bargain on Groupon, any one else absolutely love Groupon for a bargain?! It was £30 for a family ticket, Dan doesnt usually like zoos but he loved it there. It has the castle too and its such a lovely walk all the way around. Our absolute favourite is the snow leopard, shes absolutley stunning! We took a picnic there and loved seeing all the animals.

Oscars been goign to his Football club and really enjoying it and improving every week. I've taken Lawson to a party this month from one of the lads in his class, I turned down birthday cake three times this month! Two of my friends at work had their birthdays this month.

Oscar had to have a couple of days of school this month due to a chest infection and he always seems to be off when they're doing something exciting, so not wanting him to miss out I let him have his pizza of choice at home on school pizza day and let him design his own pizza box turning an empty one inside out for him. He absolutley loved this activity, we then chilled together watching Encanto! Absolutely fabulous film if you haven't already seen it, jsut be aware the songs will be stuck in your head! "We don't talk about Bruno". If you know, you know.

Then the last weekend in January we went to Lichfield, we visited Samuel Johnsons birthplace Museum, had a mooch around the shops then had lunch and headed to Beacon Park. We had an hour and half of fun even though it was freezing and played mini golf there, Lawson got a hole in one on the last course!

I'm really looking forward to February half time now for a well deserved rest and fun with the kids.

I've lost just over a stone this month calorie counting and really pleased with myself, I've been enjoying cooking again, especially using the Pinch Of Nom books and walking. It's been a very long month but we've had some lovely days out in there.

SNOW PAINTING

 

Hello lovelies, have you all been enjoying the snow? I know it can be a pain for a lot of people but it really lifted our spirits yesterday when it snowed heavy and stuck! We headed out on our sledges and had a really fun family day and the world almost felt a little bit normal. We even went out again in it early this morning before homeschool because the kids had so much fun. It was so nice to see their big smiles and doing something fun for the kids with not being able to go anywhere at the minute. 

So with all this snow I thought why not share with you all a quick simple and easy arts and craft activity you can do with all the snow! 

All you need is -

Snow obviously, food colouring, a little bit of water and some tools, preferably a pipette or a paintbrush. 

Get some snow and put it into a tray or bowl.

Simply add some food colouring into a little dish and add a dash of water and mix.

Apply the pipette or paintbrush to the food colouring mixture and paint away, make a pretty picture.

Or you could make homeschooling fun and do your phonics in there, learn to write your name, shapes, colours. Whatever helps your child out and makes learning fun! Tag me on Instagram with your creations if you have a go. 

NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS

 

Hello lovelies, Happy New Year from my family to yours.

Well what a year we just had right? I won't even go into 2020 but it defo had some ups and downs and has still left confusion, bit of worry and a lot of anxiety going into 2021 but we just have to take it day by day at the minute right?! 

So I don't know about you lot but I thought I'm not setting any New year resolutions because let's be honest do we ever stick to them? Plus if this year is anything like last year I'm defo going to be eating my body weight in all the cakes I'm baking, completing Netflix and the only steps I'm taking is to the fridge and back to the sofa.

But with that in mind its good to have some yearly goals to try and work towards, here's mine -

1. Making better choices, with health in mind I don't make the best food choices at the minute. I'm still scoffing share bags of crisps/chocolate and definitely not sharing them. I'm not moving my body as much and just generally feel sluggish and lazy so I need to make better food choices and get my heart rate going.

2. More self care, I focus so much on other people and looking after them I always put myself low on the to do list so this really needs to change! More pampering, looking after me and finding me again.

3. Read more, I say this every year but I love reading I just never find the time to do it, but that's really excuses! I can easily spend an hour or two scrolling on Insta or get lost in a TikTok hole! So surely I can read.

4. Be less of a hermit, obviously rona isn't helping this goal just of yet but last year truly made me realise how much of a bloody hermit I am haha! I need to socialise more, get out the house more and just try and enjoy life out the house a bit. My family is my everything but I need to get a bit of the old me back and look for some hobbies!

5. Get back into blogging, well I'm here so that's a good start right? I used to love blogging back in 2013/14 where everyone was super friendly and got on! I want to get back into it and find those like minded people again. I also love looking back on old blog posts for memories.

6. Travel, again when rona clears away and we all get the jab and the world is hopefully a bit more 'normal' we can go to more places! We did actually buy a caravan in the first lockdown and its been the best thing we bought, a great escapism and have truly loved local holidays last year. We really want to go to France, I mean I'm dying to go to Disney and we've seen some gorgeous camps with swimming pools and everything. Me and Dan both share a passion for travelling and want to take the kids on adventures with us and show them the world/more of Europe haha. 

So there is some of my goals for 2021, have you got any?

THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN BIRMINGHAM

Hello lovelies, last week I braved the train on my own with two kids in tow on the way to Birmingham. Some may say that's a doddle and others may quince at the thought, alas it was actually really good! We go to Birmingham quite a lot as a family with that be me, the kids and Dan or me, the kids and Nanny Jayne! 

8 WAYS TO BE MINDFUL

Hello lovelies, one thing I wanted to be better at this year was looking after myself especially mentally! So I thought I would share with you 8 things you can do to be more mindful.

18 GOALS FOR 2018!

I was tagged by the lovely Alex from Lamb & Bear to do this post, as I was going to do a goal/resolution post anyway I thought it would be quite fitting, make sure you check out Alex's goals!

GETTING RID OF THOSE EASTER EGGS

Hello lovelies, I know Easter is over and done with now but who is still seeing easter eggs all around their home? I know I am. I'm trying to loose weight, trying to stop the kids from eating too much chocolate so I just want it all gone now!

PET OF THE WEEK | STARRING 'CHESTER'

Hello lovelies, this weeks pet of the week is owned by blogging babe Alice and her sister Em who is also a blogger, she is sharing her floofy Rusian blue mix cat Chester!

LUSH NORTHERN LIGHTS BATH BOMB REVIEW

NORTHERN LIGHTS BATH BOMB - LUSH

Hello lovelies, so apologies you can't actually buy this until christmas time, HOW annoying but I had this in my drafts and totally forgot about it! However this is a review on why I wouldn't repurchase it again...

iMPRESS PRESS ON MANICURE

Hello lovelies, recently I was very kindly sent a ton of iMPress nails who are in a collaboration with Kiss, they have teamed up to make the perfect salon at home experience.

JANUARY IN A NUTSHELL

Hello lovelies, it's been a while since I've done a post like this. So today I just thought I would do a round up of my January, I failed at most things I wanted to pursue in January not going to lie it was more of a practise month for me, anyone else? 

PET OF THE WEEK | STARRING 'GOKU'

Hello lovelies, second pet of the week is this gorgeous cat Goku who belongs to my friend Elise.

HOW YOU KNOW YOU'RE APPROACHING THE TERRIBLE TWOS STAGE

A walk in the forest that lead to blood,sweat and tears.

Hello lovelies, so today I thought I would share with you how my gorgeous angel faced boys turned into feral fuckers aka terrible twos aka demonic children. Both of my boys were absolute angel babies, they slept all the way through luckily they still do, got to give them that. They were so quiet just general all around amazing people. When they hit 18 months WOAH what happened? Which demon came in their head at night and changed them? Bring them back, please. 

365 DAYS OF SAVINGS AND THEN SOME

Hello lovelies, so last year I attempted the 52 weeks savings and failed, this one looks so much easier and cheaper... So you just save 1p a day and add it up to the next day so day 10 you put in 10p etc, with the most being £3.65 on the 365th day of the year adding you up to a total of £667.95. 

10 THINGS I DETEST ABOUT SOFT PLAY PLACES

Hello lovelies, so today I thought I would tell you some of the things I detest when I go to soft play places, tongue and cheek, or is it aha. I'd love to know what you hate when you take your kids to soft play places.

MY 12 MONTH JOURNEY WITH HIPP ORGANIC

Hello lovelies, so today I'm going to tell you about my journey weaning with HiPP Organic, it has been an amazing twelve months with Lawson and the team and the amazing PR team, I haven't worked with a nicer PR team ever. They really looked after us both and we have had so much fun along side learning new things.