Half Term Visit to Slime Planet

Like thousands of other children up and down the country mine have been obsessed with slime since it took over the world again about 2 years ago. Glitter, homemade, glow in the dark, neon, unicorn poop, you name it, my kids have had it and so has my curtains, sofa, hair....you get the picture right?!
So when a few friends recommended Slime Planet, we knew we had to pay it a visit. 

The website is super user friendly and was really clear on where the venue was and how to get there and luckily for us it was a short bus journey away. The website also has a list of the different workshops available so you are able to choose which one you want to book. We visited during half term so booked onto the 'Half Squirm May-hem!' workshop which was £13.50 for a one hour session. 

We arrived at the venue which is under a railway arch just a 1 minute walk from Loughborough Junction train station. The kids thought the black and green slime designed entrance was really cool and the bogey green door lead us into a darkened room lit with lots of multi-coloured fluorescent tube lights. 
The venue is small but has a cool vibe with black brick walls and metal shelving housing lots of cute containers with an array of elements that can be added to your slime, stools for accompanying adults and not forgetting an Instagram worthy photo wall.

The kids were all given aprons and seated in the centre of the space for a presentation. A lovely member of the team called Annie went through all of the health and safety procedures and then went on the give a fun but educational presentation about slime facts including the fact that some fancy face creams have snail slime in the ingredients, which of course the children found hilariously gross!
Annie then offered the children the opportunity to smell a variety of different slimes including vomit scent and fart scent which went down a treat. After that the children were invited to go and stand at a work bench by a bowl in preparation to make their very own slime.

Each table had all of the ingredients needed to make the slime and a member of staff to help and guide the children through the pretty straightforward process.
The children were offered a variety of different things to add to their slime including glitter, polystyrene balls and orbeez.
Once all of the ingredients had been combined and the slime perfected, each child was given a plastic lidded pot to put their slime into.

Now for the bit that the kids went wild for. Annie mixed large quantities of the slime ingredients in a bucket to make a huge ball of slime. All of the children had the opportunity to grab an edge a pull on the slime making a huge blue parachute out of slime in the middle of the room(a few adults were rather excited by this too)
After repeating this a few times everyone was offered the opportunity to take some of the giant slime home which of course they did. 

There was a small area within the venue where a variety of slime making kits, tools and other items were available for purchase too.

Slime Planet also offer their services for mobile parties and also in house parties at their workshop

All in all we had a great time, we visited with a 3 year old, 8 year old and 10 year old and I would say that maybe 10/11 is generally the upper age limit although each to their own. My only complaint was that I wish it was a little longer as the kids had such fun. It was definitely worth the money and we will definitely be back!

Are your kids big fans of slime? Where is the worst place you've found it so far?

Emma xoxo

*I was not paid for this review and all opinions are my own

A Quick Round Up and Catch Up

Our holiday in March was just perfect

So just like that April has been and gone. That means that we are officially one third through the year, how has that happened so quickly?!

With a third of the year gone I wanted to take a look over our 2019 bucket list and see where I am, what I have achieved, is there anything that I no longer want to do and thought that it would be a great opportunity to check in.

So...... The first 3 months of the year involved building work that went on for 2 months too long and unearthed a whole host of other problems but it is now finally complete and we are very happy with the outcome.

Birmingham was our city of choice to discover and we had an amazing time

Weight loss...it all started pretty well and then I experienced a lot of pain and problems with my pre-existing condition and that completely knocked me off track. It's taken about 2 months but I've finally found my way again and am trying to get back into the swing of healthy eating and exercise.

We had the most amazing week away for Sam's 50th, child free, 5 star, all inclusive, need I say more?!

As for ticking things off of our 2019 Bucket List

Family            Couple          Children        Personal       Home

Picnic on the beach ~ Christmas Break ~ City Break ~ Spa Break

Theatre ~ Pedicure ~ Visit Boxhill ~ New Forest Short Break

Replace mattresses ~ New Dinner Set ~ Go Fishing

Loose at Least 2 Stone ~ Send a message in a bottle ~ Save More

Visit a trampoline park ~ Alton Towers Break ~ Visit a Waterpark

Have a Water Balloon/Gun Fight ~ Take More Pics ~ Visit a New City

Visit Virginia Water ~ Replace Wardrobes ~ New Sofa ~ Read More

Go on Holiday ~ Go to Peppa Pig World ~ Go for a Couples Massage

Go on a Steam Train ~ Hot Air Balloon Ride ~ Conquer 1 of My Fears

Replace Duvets and Pillows ~ Fit Breakfast Bar

So we've ticked 6 of these off our list so far with another 2 happening this weekend. I'm feeling quite positive that we're on track to complete this years list as I know there were a few things last year that we didn't and were quite disappointed about. We've already agreed that 4 of the things on our list we will do whilst we are on our summer holiday (which is just 84 days away yay!) so it's all looking very promising.

I have absolutely loved rediscovering books

Read More

I'm definitely glad that reading more was on that list as a personal goal as I have been really enjoying such a wide range of books and learning so much along the way.

Take More Pics
If you asked me to show you pictures of the kids I'd be spoilt for choice but as a couple                                                       the pictures were few and far between so it's                                                   been nice to take more pictures of Sam and I                                                   and look back on them.

Loving having more couple selfies to look back on

Despite my health not being great at the moment(which I'm hoping will improve with better lifestyle choices) I'm feeling really positive about life and future plans so looking back on things like this bucket list are a great way to see what you've achieved in life and what is important.

Let's see what the next 4 months bring!

How has the first third of 2019 been for you?

Emma xoxo 

Meal Plan

You can find out what we'll be chowing down on in this weeks meal plan below. If like me you sometimes struggle with inspiration for meals then all of my meal plans are stored over on Instagram in my story highlights and I'm linking this post up with the lovely Katy over at the Katy Kicker blog where you can find even more meal ideas.

Monday

Sainsburys saveloys, chips and mushy peas

Tuesday 

Chicken korma, pilau rice and naan bread

Wednesday 

Spaghetti bolognese

Thursday 

Ikea meatballs, mash and gravy

Friday 

Chinese style chicken, egg fried rice and vegetable spring rolls

Saturday 

We're at parties all day

Sunday 

Roast chicken dinner

What meals are on the menu for you this week?

Emma xoxo

Easter Fun at Godstone Farm

One of my all time favourite places to visit is Godstone Farm and this Easter was no exception. We’ve been all year round and always have a blast so armed with packed lunches and sun cream we headed to the small village of Godstone on Good Friday.
Along with our admission ticket we were given a leaflet with details all of the Easter activities they had going on.

As always we headed down the main path where we were greeted by goats, rheas, ducks and geese all in their own areas, the Godstone Scarecrow family and the Easter Bunny himself!

We had a look at the activities that were running and opted to see all the animals first before taking part in an egg hunt and duck racing. There are an amazing range of animals to see and all look like they are well taken care of.
We were lucky enough to be able to hold a rabbit, pet some 2 month old ducks and even got to stroke a very entertaining little piglet in the petting area. Not only is it fun for adults and children alike but there are lots of information plaques around and staff on hand to teach you so much about the animals and their care. They’ve even got cards around the farm teaching you sign language for the names of the animals.

We wandered around looking at all the different animals with the kids challenging our animal knowledge by asking us about something every time they saw a ‘Did you know?’ sign. We found a table and bench in a nice shaded spot to enjoy lunch but if you visit and don’t take lunch don’t worry, there’s lots of hot and cold meals and snacks to a choose from in the tea room plus an ice cream hut selling pizzas and pasties.


After lunch we made our way to the tea room lawn for an egg hunt which was so sweet. The area was decked out with brightly coloured items and eggs hidden for the kids to find and exchange for a prize and there are always seasonal activities on so whenever you visit you’re sure to have fun. I liked that the egg hunts were done separately for the under 5’s and over 5’s as it meant the little ones weren’t intimidated or lost in amongst bigger children.

After feeling rather smug with their hunt prizes we got quite competitive with a game(or two or three or four....) of duck racing which was a free activity. Even now there’s still some doubt over the legitimacy of some of the wins but....
In the same area there is a den building section, mud kitchen and little race track with mini tractors so something to keep kids busy while adults can relax on the grass.

Godstone farm has a fantastic play area that is spread over the top of the farm. It includes a log swing, huge sandpit, swings, slides, wooden castle, zip line and wet run slide plus more with fantastic views of the Surrey Hills.

After chilling in the play area for a good 2 hours we had said to the kids that we’d make our way back to the car....they took us on the scenic route back to the car park which involved hand feeding some ducks around the pond and ending up on the Dino trail which had loads of activities and interesting facts dotted around. We finished off with another go on the mini tractors race track then FINALLY headed for  the car park.

There’s lots more to see and do including a indoor soft play, tractor rides and more so if it’s a fun day out with a mix of everything that you’re looking for then we’d definitely recommend Godstone Farm. To help plan your day everything you need is on their website at https://godstonefarm.co.uk/

Emma xoxo

Planning a Family Holiday

Planning a family holiday can literally be one of the biggest headaches along with Christmas, moving and weddings. As a family of six, with ages spanning from 3-16 trying to find a destination with activities that will keep everyone happy can be tricky but after years of holidaying both in and out of the UK I think we’ve got some tips that will definitely make the process a bit smoother.

What is your budget?
Fist things first you need to be clear on how much you have saved or can afford to pay in one lump sum or if paying your holiday off monthly what is the most you can afford? Your budget will determine many factors so it’s best to be clear from the start.

Decide on a staycation or a foreign holiday

Once you’ve decided on a budget, will that be enough for you to travel abroad or would you need to consider a staycation? Once you know whether you are travelling abroad or staying you can then start to pinpoint possible destinations

Duration
Again, your budget will also play a part in how long you can afford to be away for so decide on whether you will be looking for a short break, long weekend, 7 nights, 10 or even more. Always double check that you can arrange annual leave before booking anything or paying any deposits.

Activity packed or chill out and relax?
Are you the type of family that love getting stuck in and enjoying a range of different activities or do you prefer to chill out around a pool? If you know you’ll want to indulge in an array of all of the activities and culture that your chosen destination has to offer then research the local area and find out what there is to do. Are there any day trips, sporting activities or places of interest that will fulfill your need to keep busy? If it’s a relaxing holiday that you’re after, then it’s worth looking at what facilities a resort has to offer. Is there a kids club? Children’s play area and enough to keep you entertained if you plan on spending most of your time in your chosen resort

                                              Do It Yourself or all in?

As a family of 6 and me being the only cook at home, I cook at least 14 meals a week so when I go on holiday I refuse to play chef. All inclusive or half board at the very least is my chosen choice but definitely read reviews and ask around
what the food is like at your chosen resort so you know in advance that there is something that the whole family will eat.
If you are going self catering then try and find out if there is a super market or mini market nearby where you can stock up on items or what the local restaurants and cafes are like(and their rough prices so you can factor that into your budget too)

Getting there
How will you get to your destination? If it’s a staycation will you drive? If not, are there train stations nearby or even a coach service that runs near your accommodation? If you are planing on using public transport then sign up for travel alerts on sites like The Train Line so they can notify you of the best ticket price. If flying abroad then think about how you will get to the airport. Will you drive and make use of the many airport parking facilities or will you get a train direct to the airport? These are things that often get overlooked but are just as important as everything else.

These are some of the biggest things I think need to be considered when planning a holiday and whilst it's not a completely extensive list it will definitely help. Despite all of the hard work that goes into planning a holiday just remember whatever you do or wherever you go, have fun!

 What are you top travelling and holiday planning tips?

Emma xoxo

Meal Planning and Getting Back on Track

If you follow me over on Instagram or have read my previous blog post then you'll know that I have been a bit out of sorts of late. Blood test results have explained why I've been feeling so tired, I have an appointment with my consultant this week to discuss what else we can do to ease the pain in my back and legs due to my disability and with all the building work on the home straight(fingers crossed) I'm feeling a lot more positive....the bright weather is definitely a help too.

That said, one thing that I find always helps keep me feeling on top of things and in control are lists and meal plans. Meal plans are a life saver for our family, they mean we know what we need to buy when we go shopping instead of picking up loads of unnecessary items, can organise meals around the kids activities, meetings, parents evenings etc and it means that we don't have to waste money on last minute take-aways.

So below and keeping us on track this week is our meal plan.

Monday
Chicken and mushroom curry with rice, poppadoms, naan bread and salad.
(made with leftover roast chicken)

Tuesday
Cottage pie, vegetables and yorkshire puds

Wednesday
Lamb chops, cous cous and roasted veg

Thursday
Fajitas, potato wedges, onion rings and corn on the cob

Friday
Pasta salad - we'll use the leftover meat from the fajitas

Saturday
Pizza, breaded mushrooms, dough balls and salad

Sunday
Roast beef with all the trimmings

That's what's on or menu for the coming week. Sometimes I lack inspiration when meal planning so I put together a post with over 20 meal ideas. I'd love you to comment some of your favourite meal ideas on that post or below.

I'm linking this post up with the Meal Planning Linky over on the lovely Katy Kicker's blog where there will b loads more inspiration, so don't forget to pop over and take a look.

What's on your menu for this week?

Emma xoxo

When Life Doesn't Go To Plan

At the end of last year I made a plan, a relatively easy going one but none the less a plan. It was a plan to reach my goals and targets for this year both personal to me and family and home orientated ones. Then BAM life happened. Not in a bad way, just obstacles that we hadn't expected, delays on the things we had and that just derailed me. 

One of my top priorities was to get back into the gym, yes for the health benefits but also because(and I mean this in the nicest way possible) there are times when I just need some alone time and to do something that is just for me and truth be told after a session I always feel cheery(good old endorphins!). That plan hit a snag because despite my best efforts, childcare, work and my health made it virtually impossible to get there. So intention number 1 has not gone to plan




Short breaks and days out was a popular and frequent one one my 2019 Bucket List and although yes I know that we're only in February and still have 10 months of the year left, by now I usually have at the very least a skeleton plan of short breaks and days out pencilled into a diary. Building work that has gone on too long and the associated costs have now meant that we are having to wait until everything is completed so we can assess where we are with everything and then regroup and come up with a new strategy from there.

Those are just two examples but pretty much anything that I've wanted to do that involves planning or some kind of organisation has just gone out of the window. I find that when I don't meet targets or aren't hitting goals(even those set by myself) I lose momentum and drive and the wheels start to fall off and in my past experience, life always has a way not going as planned and that really gets to me. I find that as a very target driven person with a plan for almost everything, when I'm faced with challenges beyond my control I start backing out and make excuses as to why things can't be done another way or worse, becoming very anxious and low in mood.



This time I've acknowledged that I do this and I'm not going to let it put me off track any longer. I may not be able to get to the gym but I can make the most of the exercise and keep fit videos available on Youtube. I'm also looking at what we eat as a family and how I can personally make changes to my own diet to hit that 2 stone loss target.
I've accepted that our home is going to look like a bomb has hit it until all of the building work is finally completed and am making the most of not having to clean like a mad woman every day how I usually do. It also means that we get a bit longer to shop around and decide on the furniture and pieces that we truly want rather than picking things in haste and regretting them later.

I guess after a few paragraphs of rambling what I am trying to say is that life always has a tendency to not go to plan but it's how we deal with it that's the real game changer. When you're so focused on your end goal and then hit a bump in the road it can seem like there is no way around it or no alternative route but you can still get there. Taking a step back, looking at all your options, seeing things from a different perspective and a little patience can mean the difference between you getting there in the end and giving up!

Whatever your own personal struggle may be, YOU GOT THIS!! 

Emma xoxo

Is Your #FOMO Actually Causing You To Miss Out

#FOMO If you haven't seen these hash tag plastered all over social media recently where have you been? It stands for Fear Of Missing Out.

Whether it's moping over pictures of others partying, feeling envious of friends enjoying a meal out or even annoyed at a children's play date, how many times have you scrolled through your Instagram or Facebook feed and felt that you were missing out because you weren't at these events or even worse, weren't invited?

Truth be told I used to feel like that a lot. Despite having a good social life, active family life, great friends and super supportive partner there was always a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I was missing out. I wasn't sure what exactly, but surely I was missing out on something right? All the fun everyone else was having? Maybe the amazing bonds people were making with each other? I mean, for me to be sitting there feeling left out with everything I had under my own nose I HAD to be missing out on something great.

The sad reality was that I WAS missing out on something. I was missing out on the abundance of amazing opportunities that were staring me right smack bang in the face. I was so hell bent of making more out of the simple images in front of me than what they actually were that the fantastic life I was living became overshadowed by the life I WANTED to live.

Having suffered from anxiety and depression, I know first hand how easy it is to look at those perfectly posed and splendidly staged pictures on Instagram and Facebook and feel like you are not enough, your home is not nice enough, your holidays aren't fancy enough, your body isn't beautiful enough and worsen your mood and increase your #FOMO but STOP. Stop it right now!

             

It was only when I was organising all of our albums in the photo drawer and looking back over the last decade or so that I realised there was nothing for me to miss out on. We've visited some extraordinary places, took part in some truly memorable activities, had a blast on all of our holidays(UK based and abroad) and been fortunate enough to experience some tremendous things but because I thought I was missing out on something I had somehow managed to forget a many of these memories or make them seem a lot less significant than they are.

This year I am making a real effort to work on my well-being, to start living life and doing the things that I've always wanted to but had let life hold me back so my advise to you is this; There is no harm in liking or admiring what you see online but make sure that it's not creating a fear of missing out for you because that is what will actually cause you to miss out on some of the most magical moments in your life.

Emma xoxo

The Ten Year Challenge and My Face

For about 2 weeks now you'll have noticed an abundance of pictures with the hashtags #10yearchallenge and #thenandnow. I too took part and having the type of brutally honest friends and family that I have I know I always get the truth(no matter how embarrassing, oh yeah and when it comes to my appearance, 2 very honest teenagers!) So despite my own perceptions of how I've aged I braced myself for the comments

"You look the same as you did at school" "You look the same" "You look younger now" "You must have good genes" "What's your secret?" Were some of the comments I received across my social media.

I have to admit, neither of my parent's look their age so good genes could be the reason but that said for as long as I can remember my Dad has used Nivea face cream and knowing how good it has been to his skin, I myself have been a long time user of the face cream. 
More recently I started looking into Nivea's range of other skincare products and have been using them for a few months now and I have to say I have been very impressed. 

I always used to be a bit hit and miss with sticking to a skincare routine but promised myself to start making more of an effort to take care of myself and the items are so readily available and it takes literally a few minutes to make such a difference to my physical and mental well-being, there really was no excuse.

There's no getting away from the fact that I have freckles, for years I tried to hide them with make up but now I accept that they are part of my identity and embrace them but hormonal break outs I'm not so keen to embrace. Particularly as I have a tendency to pick at my spots which then lead to scarring and blemishes.

As I mentioned, along with the Nivea Creme I have been using some of the other skincare products over the last few months and boy have I seen an improvement. Every morning I have been washing my face with the Nivea Daily Essentials Gentle Exfoliating Scrub and then wiped my face using a cotton pad covered with the Daily Essentials 2 in 1 Cleanser and Toner. Once my face is dry I moisturise with the creme(I find this is also a good base for make up). Before bed I clean my face with the Nivea MicellAIR Skin Breath Micellar Water before toning again and finish off with the Daily Essentials 24HR Moisture Boost + Refresh Regenerating Night Cream.
I've stuck to this skincare routine for about 3 months now and I've noticed that my scarring and blemishes are less visible, breakouts are few and far between and my skin is looking much clearer and is so smooth to touch.

I generally find that despite the fab results Nivea products provide, they are so very reasonably priced that they are pretty much affordable for everyone. They have products aimed at oily, dry and combination skin so whatever your skin type you're pretty much guaranteed to find something suitable.

I'll continue to use these items as long as I continue to see the results I have been seeing and am now looking forward to the next 10 year challenge!

Do you have any skin care products that you swear by? How kind have the last 10 years been to you?

Emma xoxo

*This is in no way a sponsored post. I purchased all products mentioned and have just generally been really happy with the results

Social Media and Your Teen

Growing up in an age where a 'group chat' was literally a group of friends hanging out and actually chatting I never had to worry about social media, likes, followers, retweets etc but my children are growing up in an age where everything is online. 
We are encouraged to make appointments online, shop online, watch programmes online etc so is it really any wonder that younger generations are becoming more and more dependent on living life through a screen?

"It's not fair", "but my friends have one", "your so boring" were just some of the statements made by my then tween when discussing why she couldn't have a Facebook account. At the time, my daughter was just 12 and had started secondary school. Whilst many of her arguments for why she should be allowed to have an account were well thought out and very diplomatic, I was able to get her to understand why I made the decisions I did in regards to her having social media accounts. Compared to some parents I knew at the time I was not necessarily as liberal as them but I thought that children should be children and there will be plenty of time for them to be adults. Since then(which was just 4 years ago) things have changed dramatically. With children as young as 3 in possession of their own Ipads and tablets, logged into their own YouTube accounts or Netflix profiles to watch other children not much older than them on their own YouTube channels, playing with toys or unwrapping Kinder eggs (I seriously don't get it) do we have to change our thinking when it comes to children and social media?
     
Recently I've noticed quite a few adults on social media talking about how images and posts in their social media feeds is negatively impacting their mental well being and if it has that power on us as adults can you imagine the impact it must have on young, impressionable individuals. I'm not for one second saying that social media is an evil and bad invention but what I am saying is how do we manage our children and social media because let's face it, they have plenty to choose from;Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest, Snapchat the list goes on

Having 2 teenagers, I know that they have accounts across various platforms;, but I also have passwords to their accounts and follow them so have access and a voice in how they use it. So far, we haven't had any major issues other than the odd meme that they've re-tweeted or shared that I've felt maybe a bit inappropriate, so with that in mind I've put together some of my top tips for venturing into the world of social media with your teen.

• Ask them why they want to open an account and what they want to use it for

• Talk to them and prepare them for the negatives of social media too

• Make sure you are both fully aware about internet safety and protection

• Be clear on who they can and can't befriend and follow (people they know only and verified celeb accounts)

• Ensure that their accounts are set to private and avoid using location services

• Be mindful of what is posted (hurtful comments, personal details etc)

• Never posting inappropriate pictures and videos

• Never agreeing to meet with someone offline

• If they see something that concerns them talk to an appropriate adult

• Be clear on whether you want access to the account or if you trust them to manage it themselves

• Decide on exactly what platforms they will be using

• Agree on how long they can spend on social media (once you start scrolling it can turn into hours)

Hopefully those tips will help prepare to venture into the wold of social media with you teen.

Are your children already using social media? How do you manage it? Are you comfortable with it?

I'd love to hear your views.

Emma xoxo

Our 2019 Bucket List

I'm not a big believer in New Years resolutions, if you have goals or dreams then there's no need to wait for a new year to achieve them you should go for it, tomorrow isn't promised and all that but having said that, every year in January I like to sit down with the family and make a list of the things that we'd like to achieve over the coming year. Some are personal achievements, some are things we'd like to do as a family or couple and some things that our home would benefit from.

I find it easier to keep track of our annual Bucket list my organising it into colour coded goals

2019 Bucket List

Family            Couple          Children        Personal       Home

Picnic on the beach ~ Christmas Break ~ City Break ~ Spa Break

Theatre ~ Pedicure ~ Visit Boxhill ~ New Forest Short Break

Replace mattresses ~ New Dinner Set ~ Go Fishing

Loose at Least 2 Stone ~ Send a message in a bottle ~ Save More

Visit a trampoline park ~ Alton Towers Break ~ Visit a Waterpark

Have a Water Balloon/Gun Fight ~ Take More Pics ~ Visit a New City

Visit Virginia Water ~ Replace Wardrobes ~ New Sofa ~ Read More

Go on Holiday ~ Go to Peppa Pig World ~ Go for a Couples Massage

Go on a Steam Train ~ Hot Air Balloon Ride ~ Conquer 1 of My Fears

Replace Duvets and Pillows ~ Fit Breakfast Bar

Do you make New Years resolutions or do you have an annual bucket list? Let me know what's on yours

Emma xoxo