Leaping into the New Year | Reflections on 2019 & plans for 2020

I know I’m a little late to the party with this but it’s still January so I’m claiming it’s still totally OK!

Last year I didn’t really make any resolutions for the year ahead like I had done in 2018. I simply reflected on those 2018 goals on what had been achieved and what still needed working on. I kinda regret not writing some goals down for the year again as it was really nice to look back a put a big fat tick next to so many of them. The sense of achievement was amazing!

So rather than look at the resolutions I failed to make, I will look back on the achievements made for the year and make some plans for next year so I don’t make the same mistake again.

Recipe | Schwartz Paprika Pork Fillet with a sweet honey and garlic butter sauce.

Christmas Recipe | Ginger bread cupcakes topped with cinnamon frosting and toffee sauce.

My children are currently LOVING gingerbread. My 8 year old made some gingerbread men (recipe here) to take to school and they are addicted to the McVities mini gingerbread (seen here on the cakes) so I thought, as my main love is cupcakes I'd combine the two.

And, well, we're SO close to Christmas now (Eeek!) and gingerbread just IS Christmas.

There's seriously no better smell than ginger and cinnamon wafting through the house on a cold December...(or November!) day.

Alternative Christmas gift idea | Alpaca walking at Lucky Tails in Warwickshire

In an effort to be more environmentally friendly and cut down on plastic toys and Christmas tat that ends up in landfill each year, we have been trying to gift our children experiences and vouchers for days out instead.

Opt for a stress-free, debt-free, environmentally friendly Christmas | Ban unnecessary presents

This year, myself and my family have all agreed to do Secret Santa this year for gifting to adults instead of buying for everyone like we normally do. 

Review | Learn to swim with Float Wings by Splash About.

A few months ago now I was kindly offered a new swim aid product from Splash About. As we were due to go on holiday at the end of summer to a hotel with 18 swimming pools no less, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity for my 4 year old to give it a good testing!

(We totally ended up going to a completely different hotel, in a totally different country and a few days later than planned because of the Thomas Cook fiasco but it we go there eventually and the new hotel had pools and was by the sea so we were all good)

Pass the love on at the newly refurbished Birmingham Thorntons

To celebrate the re-opening of the newly refurbished Birmingham High Street store on Tuesday evening a couple of weeks ago, I was kindly invited along to a special preview event to witness the love, passion and care that goes into each Thorntons product and to 'Pass the love on'. 

Of course, I wasn't going to pass up on the opportunity to be surrounded by chocolate was I?

Free Children's activity sheet Download | Autumn Scavenger hunt and bucket list

Autumn is my most favourite season of all. Crisp golden leaves, autumn soups and stews, hot chocolate with all the trimmings, halloween, bonfire night, the excitement brewing for the ever nearing Christmas day, twinkly lights, candles.... I could go on! 

An open letter to my last child on his first day at school.

Dearest Baby Boy,

My youngest. My last.

I've been through this already twice before, I should be a pro at it now. But for some reason I'm getting worse with each child.

I was nervous the first time around because it was all new. We both didn't know what to expect. We both didn't know the school or the teachers. I was nervous for your big sister because she was nervous.

Know your self-worth | 13 things that don't define you!

”Your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth.” - Unknown

We are all our own worst critics in life. 

When we criticise, the mind listens, reacts & responds, making us feel anxious & stressed & decreases our mood.

It has a detrimental affect on our mental health.

We need to stop allowing outside influences like these defining us!