Yay! It's Thursday which means reasons to be cheerful time! I really love this linky, hehe.
Here are my reasons to be cheerful this week.

1) It's Halloween and the kids are so excited! We're going to do some more Halloween baking later, make some Halloween Jellies and go trick or treating for a little while this evening. Oh, not forgetting the Halloween family movies we're going to watch, such good fun, hehe.

2) The weather yesterday was beautiful, it was sunny, blue skies and mild. The kids still had there birthday money to spend, which they had been saving up and wanting to spend this half term. So we ventured into town and they spent there money. We got some chips which we ate in the gardens along the sea front. It was a lovely day! I love those kids of days - they don't happen often enough!



3) I am cheerful that it is half term. I love spending extra time with my littles. They go back to school next week so we are gonna make the most of it :) It is rather nice not having school runs, lunches, uniforms etc to do for a week! :)

What are your reasons to be cheerful this week? Why not join in the linky over at mummy from the heart and share your reasons to be cheerful this week?!

Sarah xXx

Me and the kids made 'slime green cakes' for Halloween. I used this recipe and just added green food colouring & Halloween decorations! They are the kids own creations, the decorated them entirely themselves!


This post is linked up with The Sticky Fingers. This week's theme in Halloween.

Gosh, hasn't the weather been crazy?! I do hope you're all safe.
The wind picked up here in Essex the early hours of the morning. When I woke up at half past five this morning, the wind was pretty bad! We hadn't had that much rain yet, well compared top most places. The wind woke the kids up, they were actually quite curious about it. Charlie was fascinated by the leaves flying around higher than the house! We were watching a cardboard box flying around along the road. I later went out and removed it, worried it would fly into someones window screen as they were driving along. (There were no cars on the road that early in the morning, we live in a quiet street) I about got blown away, lol!

I didn't manage to get any pictures of falling down trees or anything like that. I thought it best to stay inside. Safe. And I am glad I did because later on it really did down pour! It was madness.
We watched the news most of the day and then a family movie. Family movie days are the best kind of days!

The storm was really, really crazy and my heart goes out to all those people who have accidents, been injured and even died. It's so, so incredibly sad. Thoughts and prayers for all there families.

I am glad the storm is over now. Tomorrow I will venture out with the kiddies (providing the storm really is over and it's not raining) as we need to do a bit of grocery shopping and get some Halloween goodies in.

What was the storm like where you live?

Sarah xXx 

Today has been stressful. It's just been on of those days. Actually October has been one of *those* months. You know, where everything that can go wrong, does go wrong?! Well, it's been a bit like that for me! I'm so not in the mood to go into everything right now but gah! Talk about stressful. Thinks could always be worse, or at least that is what I keep telling myself.. *sigh*

I am SO glad it's half term, hopefully we can have a relaxing half term.

We have plans to go trick or treating (weather permitting), I also need to make a dentist appt for all three kiddos, Charlie has been complaining his tooth feels strange.. hmm.

Harry hopes to be able to play football with his friends but errr, the weather is not looking too great for next week!

Charlie is really, REALLY looking forward to carving a pumpkin - well me doing the carving and him helping with the drawing lol. We did a cat last year! 

And Ellie, she keeps asking me if there's a halloween disco anywhere, I've got to look into that and make a few phone calls, there's usually a couple of discos local for kids but I've not seen any posters or had any flyers thrru the door. I shall have a nose around and see what we can find. Perhaps we should have our own mini disco....

Beautiful autumn tree I spotted!

We're also going to be doing some Halloween baking and cooking. Me and the kids have some really good ideas! :)

Also hopefully we'll be able to go for a nice Autumn walk (weather permitting!) We're yet to find a big pile of leaves to jump into.... lol. And a few other things from our autumn bucket list.


What are your plans for the half term and Halloween?

Sarah xXx

1) I am so grateful for the NHS. I know it does get bashed an awful lot but honestly? Without it, we wouldn't be able to afford health care. Yes, there might be long waiting lists and yes they are incredibly short staffed.. there are lots of "faults" but we should all be very grateful that the NHS exsists! I'm grateful it does.. I am grateful they took good care of my nan on Saturday in A&E. I am glad we don't have to pay for medications (etc).

2) My eldest son turned ten years old on Sunday. I posted pics here. He is so, so grown up! I love watching him grow up (but sad at the same time, haha). I am so proud of him. :-) He said to me the other day "Mum, I am so lucky to have gotten new football boots and all my other birthday presents, thank you" Aww. That really made me smile. Little things like that really do go a long way.

3) The kids break up for half term on Friday! Yay!!! No school runs for a whole week. No school uniforms, packed lunches or rushing around! I'm looking forward to a well needed break and to spend some extra time with the kiddies. They're excited about Halloween and half term etc. =)

Sarah xXx

I'm a little bit late posting this post but it's better late than never!

On Sunday, my eldest turned ten. I can't believe that Harry is already ten years old! He had a fab birthday. He spent Saturday and Sunday morning with his dad and got to open all of his pressies from his dads sde of the family.

In the afternoon he came home and opened all of his presents from us and my grandparents! He was so pleased with his football boots which I was relieved about because I wasn't 100% certain they were the ones he wanted lol. He also got matching goaly gloves (which are apparently "sick" - it means cool!)  He had also asked for lots of stationary for school. I love stationary shopping, lol! He was made up with all his presents, totally spoiled but hey, ya only turn ten once ;)
We also had a special tea and birthday cake. We're going to celebrate properly in the half term (maybe a trip to the cinema?).

Here's a few pics from his birthday :-)



Sarah xXx

If you're looking to save some money why not check out www.cloudfreebies.co.uk. It's also great for freebies, free samples and money off coupons! As well as competitions. 

as you can see, it is really easy to navigate & very well organised. Looks appealing, too.

Cloud freebies is a website with a whole a roundup of all things available for free.From money off coupons to free samples of products (creams, perfumes etc) and competitions! The website is very well organised and looks lovely, too. You can sign up to cloud freebies via email on this page and there is a really good section about 'Freebies In The Cloud Today' which gives you an idea of the freebies available that day. There's also a section showing a list of popular freebies and newest freebies to the right of the page.



The website itself is very east to navigate. There is a menu along the top of the page: 

The menu along the top.

*Home* - This is the home page. Every time you click on the 'Home' button it will take you back to the homepage. 
*Freebies*  - On this page there is a list of the latest freebies that are available. This page is updated regularly with new freebies. With each freebies avaliable, there is a 'Get freebie' button that you click on to take you to more information about that specific freebie. Really easy to use! There is also a list of 'Popular freebies' on the freebie page. 
 *Competitions* - When you click on the competitions link, it will take you to the competition page, with a list of the latest competitions. Again, it's very easy to navigate. 
*Money off vouchers* - This page is full of money off coupons. There are some great saving and discounts on this page and again, is easy to navigate and understand. 
*Blog* -  you can read all about cloud freebies on there blog! You can also find out about when companies and stores are giving away freebies! A really handy blog to read if you ask me :-) 

Personally I love this website & I use it regularly. 

So if you're looking to save money (who isn't?!), love freebies (who doesn't love a freebie?) and interested in entering some competitions (You have to be in it, to win it!!) then head over to cloud freebies and start saving money today! 

Sarah xXx 

*I did not receive any form of payment for writing this post, it is a competition entry*

Yesterday, I spent mst of the day at the hospital with my grandparents as my nan has hurts her ribs. We wanted to make sure nothing is broken. It's not. Just very badly bruised. I feel awful for her, she can barely move. She has brittle bones and suffers tremendously with a bad back, so add the bruised ribs to that... Not good. The doctor in A&E did give her some pain killers so hopefully they work. I am glad she got checked out, I was really worried. I still am but I'm relieved to know nothing is broken. Poor nan :( I hope she recovers ASAP.

While we were at the hospital, an RAF rescue helicopter landed on the helipad with a patient. Not quite sure what happened but I do hope all is ok. The helicopter was huge!! Ellie loved it. (I wish the boys could have seen it, but they were off out with there dad for Harry's birthday celebrations) We watched it take off and that was pretty cool! Just a shame it couldn't have been under more pleasant circumstances.
We also got to feed the ducks while at the hospital. I love all the Autumn colours in the pics, hehe.
Oh, I dropped my digital camera, it's cracked but thankfully it still works. The lenses is ok and the screen on the back, all the settings work, just a huge crack in the top of the camera *sigh* Trust me!!

I dyed my hair on Friday night. I tried dying it a dark red a few weeks ago but it didn't really work very well. It just went a darker brown than it already was and with like a mahogany tinge. So this time I went for a plum/violate colour. Turns out it's actually gone more red than the colour it was suppose to go, lol. But I quite like it:

 I hope you're all enjoying your weekend! :)

Sarah xXx

P.S It's Harry's (my eldest) 10th Birthday today1! I can't believe he's 10. Birthday post coming later...

Gosh, I can't believe we're OVER half way thru October already!! Where has this gone?! Time flies. It's a lovely sunny day today.  Here are my reasons to be cheerful this week:

1) Harry, my eldest will be ten on Sunday. A whole decade old. It's totally bittersweet watching him grow up. I love seeing him learn and become independent but at the same time it makes me sad. Like I said, it's bittersweet. We're going to have a special Sunday tea and some birthday cake and the ncelebrate properly in the half term. I think he wants to go to the cinema but he keeps changing his mind, lol. He's going to take some sweets into school on Friday for all of his friends, awww.

2) My nan and granddad are coming over today to spend the afternoon and evening with us! I honestly can not wait to see them. I'm really close to them, even though we don't see them that often they do play a big part of our lives. I'm so looking forward to spending some time with them. I've not told the kids, it'll be a nice surprise when they come home from school :)

3) I'm reallllyyy happy that a new ALDI store has recently opened up close by. It's great! I went and checked it out first thing this morning and I love it. The prices are cheap and they have a good selection to choose from. I also got some halloween silicon cake cases and Halloween cupcake papers. I've not been able to get them anywhere else, so yay! I'm pleased about that :)

 I'm linking this post up with Mich over at mummy from the heart.


What are your reasons to be cheerful this week?

Sarah xXx 

Ugh, this weather sucks!! It's pouring down with rain today, it's cold, it's dull and just miserable.
The kids are bored so I decided to dig out the good ol'e bored games.

Bingo is our family favourite game. Although Harry didn't want to play today... Apparently it's for babies lol. Charlie and Ellie wanted to play though.


Charlie won one game and Ellie won a game, too! I lost both times, lol, typical =p.
And then when Charlie had enough of playing bingo, Ellie decided to play bingo with her fruit and vegie friends, lol! Bless her! Ahhh, what I would do to be her age again, lol. What are your favourite board games?


After we'd played bingo, we had lovely home made cheese & potato pie with sausages for tea (I had to tweak my meal plan a bit this week because I forgot about parents evening and visitors visiting). And now me and the kids are baking a fruit berry (strawberries, raspberries and blackberries) crumble. Yummy! Tomorrow, my nan and granddad are visiting and Friday is Ellie's Halloween school disco, she is very excited! So we have a busy couple of days :-)
I hope you're all having a good week so far..

Sarah xXx

When the kids came out of school today they were in hypo mode, lol. It was quite sunny, a lovely Autumn afternoon and not too cold, we really should be making the most of the nicer weather now as winter really isn't far behind.


So I thought we would go to the park so they could burn off some of the energy they had (Oh, how I wish I had there energy lol!).

The boys were already dirty from playing football at school (lunch time). So it didn't matter that they were wearing there school uniform as it needed washing anyway. (Is it just my boys that come home from school covered in mud?)
The kids had a wonderful time at the park! Climbing on the climbing frame, swinging on the swings and riding on the round about. (Sorry for lack of pics, my camera was playing up, I think it's broke *sob*).

Maybe next time we go to the park we'll have a bug hunt or something.

It was also the boys parents evening - they are really progressing at school. They've settled into there new years and even made lots of friends. Harry is really quite popular apparently lol. They are both doing wonderfully in all subjects, Charlie does need  to work on making his work and hand writing heater though, he is only eight so there's plenty of time! Both there teachers said that they are well behaved, well mannered and set a good example to the rest of the class. I am so, so proud of them both.:-) Looking forward to E's parents evening, I think it's after half term, not quite sure.

Sarah xXx

We're doing well with our Autumn bucket list  so far. That's three or four things done already, yay!
 Today Ellie & I decided we were going to do some painting and gluing while the boys were at there dads. It didn't cost us anything to do either, we already had the paints, glue etc. Kids poster paints are really cheap! I got ours from the range a longgg time ago, some the kids have got for Christmas and Birthday gifts and some other bits and bobs I've picked up from the 99p store and other places over a year or so. And of course, leaves that have fell off tree's are indeed free. It was great fun leaf hunting.

Ellie wanted to paint her own tree. And stick some leaves on paper. We collected the leaves yesterday, brought them home and dried them out over night so that they'd be nice and dry for our art work today.

I am seriously crazy about owls. I've always, always loved owls. Ellie, my six year old daughter is also crazy about owls. We are just an 'owl crazy' household, lol.
Today I had to pop into Tesco to pick up a few bits and bobs that we needed. I always check out the sales while I'm in there to see if I can find any bargains! Today I found this:
It was suppose to be £10 reduced to £5! Talk about bargain! I actually saw this top last week and thought about buying it but for £10 on a t.shirt just wasn't worth it because it's almost winter and I wouldn't wear it much (not to mention I always feel so guilty for spending money on myself!) But £5 was a bargain so I snapped it up!! I got it in the next size up (I'm a size 10 but I went for a size 12) because I hate wearing t.shirts that are too tight, plus I can wear a white vest top under this top. I'm well chuffed with it. They also had owl PJ bottoms but they didn't have my size. I was devastated, haha. Maybe next time....


Sarah xXx 
(you can follow me on instagram: SassySerz - I follow back)

Pour the mixture into the cake cases.


I am really getting into baking now. I've never been very good at baking but practice makes perfect! Home made food is so much better that brought food. Ellie really enjoyed helping bake cakes as you can see in the picture. I might try baking biscuits next time.. Wish me luck, lol! If you have any easy baking recipes you'd like to share with me, please leave me a comment. I'd love to try your recipe.

As most of my regular readers know, I am no good at baking. I can COOK but I can't bake to save my life! Well, I've decided it's  time to change that, so I am trying out some really easy baking recipes. I'm really enjoying teaching myself to bake. The other day I tried very easy flapjack which has then inspired me to try raspberry jam slice. I used This recipe and it turned out great...Apart from I didn't add enough topping, I know for next time now though. It tasted great and the kids loved it!
Here's how mine turned out:

Phew. I'm finally able to sit down and blog for a bit. I was SO busy yesterday I had no chance to get online. Today has been busy so far and I have a busy afternoon, too but I'm happy to say I've got enough to time to hop online and write my reasons to be cheerful post. 

I suck at baking, I honestly do. Every time I attempt to try to bake cookies, they never really look or taste like cookies. Even the pre packaged stuff I seem to mess up! Same with cupcakes... However, I have decided I need to practice baking, so practice I will do.
So, starting easy. Very easy. I decided to attempt flapjack. Every time I make flapjack it always falls apart and is just way, WAY to crumbly. I know that's how some people like it but, well, I don't. And nor do the kids, they're always like "but it makes too many crumbs and I don't like it" lol.  However, this time was different. It hasn't fell apart!!! It doesn't fall apart when I pick it up. It's the perfect texture, too. AND, it tastes good!
Here's what I used and did, in case anyone is interested. (This is totally what I call, 'Sarah Proof'. LOL!)

Ingredients: 
130g Brown Sugar
125g soft butter
250g porridge oats
3-4 table spoons of golden syrup. (I used 4 in mine)
Grease proof paper.

Method: 

Preheat oven, I have an electric fan oven and pre heated at 180 degrees.

Add all the ingredients into a mixing bowl. Mix until the mixture is sticky/sticking together. You can use a food processor but I don't have one so I used a good ol'e fashioned mixing bowl and wooden spoon.

Add the grease proof paper to the baking tin.

Add the mixture to the baking in. Use the back of the spoon to flatten the mixture down. (I then used a fork to give it a bit of texture, but using a fork is optional) Then I cut/scored into twelve squares.

Place in the oven and bake until golden brown. (Mine was in the oven for about twenty minutes.)

Wait until cool, cut the squares carefully. Ready to eat!
(Store in an air tight container)


My next attempt is (apparently) 'easy raspberry slice'...  Wish me luck!! lol.

Sarah xXx

(P.S Do you have any easy recipes you'd like to share with me, I'd love to have a go at baking your easy recipes.. Remember they need to be 'Sarah Proof' haha.)

Harry's Birthday is fast approaching. He's going to be TEN years old. A whole decade. I can not believe that my little baby boy, my first born is doing to be ten years old. Where does the time go? It seems like yesterday that I found out I was pregnant with him. *sigh* Time goes too fast and the kids are growing up waaaayyy to fast for my liking. It's bittersweet watching them grow up and becoming more independent. Harry is very independent for his age. He likes to everything for himself. Which isn't a bad thing I guess but sometimes, just sometimes I miss him asking me to tie his shoe laces or un-do the lid from the juice bottle. (If only he'd tidy his room himself LOL!). At the same time though, it's nice to be able to look back and see how much he has grown up, learned and how much he can do these little things for himself but it doesn't mean I don't miss doing all those things for him. Being a mum to a tween is all new to me. With Harry being the eldest, obviously I haven't been a mum to a tween. It's a totally new experience to me. 

A couple of weeks later Casey is in for a second shock when she is asked to take a second nine-year-old boy, Georgie. Georgie is autistic and has been in a children’s home since he was a toddler. The home is closing and social services need somewhere temporary for him to stay. With her own grown up son, Kieron, having Asperger’s (a mild form of autism), Casey knows this is one child she cannot say no to.

The relationship between Jenson and Georgie is difficult from the outset. Jenson is rebellious and full of attitude and he kicks off at anything, constantly winding Georgie up. Georgie doesn’t cope well with change and is soon in a permanent state of stress. Despite Casey’s best efforts, her innate love for the children is being tested and she begins to question if she can handle Jenson’s cruelty.

But overtime it becomes clear that the boys have formed an unlikely bond. Could this be the solution to all of their troubles?" 

1) Ellie's reading has really, really improved, as has her spelling. She is really sounding out words properly now rather than trying to guess. I love hearing her read every evening and seeing (and hearing!) how much she's improved since last year! She's also attending reading club once a week, after school. Which she loves :-)

2) We went to the pier on Monday after school. We went on the 2p machines and few of those 50p rides. All the big rides were closed but it was still fun and a real treat for the kiddies. The kids were really well behaved. I am glad the kids behave when we're out and about even if they do play me up at home. Over all though, they're pretty good kids and helpful too.

3) The weekend -- Oh, how I am so looking forward to this weekend and just chilling out. Last weekend we had family staying over, which was lovely but I am so looking forward to relaxing this weekend! Just a quiet weekend. Yay!

What are your reasons to be cheerful this week? Why not join in the blog hop?

Sarah xXx

This weeks theme is thru the eyes of my phone. (Love this theme). 
We went to the pier the other day, just on the 2p machine's and the kids went on one of those little 50p rides each, all the big rides were closed. Any way, I charged my camera up ready... got to the pier and I'd forgot to put my memory card in. Typical. So my phone came in handy, lol. I love the convenience of the camera on my phone. 

My daughter Ellie on the Hello Kitty Ride.

This post is linked up to The Sticky Fingers Blog for this weeks #TheGallery theme. 

(Look out fore more pics that I took when we went to the pier, in a very near future post) 

Sarah xXx

I got this idea from Amber over at Airing my dirty laundry, one sock at a time. "They have a section in glamour magazine called 'Hey It's Ok' and will list a bunch of things to be ok about. You're welcome to join in and do something like this on your blog. Doesn't have to be on a Tuesday either. Just make sure you link up and the post that you link up is called 'Hey it's ok'

Here's my list of things to be ok about this week...

1) It's ok to want this T. shirt even thought I don't watch The Big Bang Theory on a regular basis & I'm not really a fan. (I've seen the odd episode here and there). The reason I want this top is because it has a cat on... and I am crazy about cats...

I *need* this T.shirt so bad, lol! So cute! from play.com

To be glad that summer is over. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the summer but I am so ready for boots and woolly jumpers. I love the cooler weather and I really love this time of year.

To have the odd can of coke. I don't like coffee or anything else that contains caffeine, so the odd can of coke doesn't hurt, right?!

To be really cross that Channel 5* have (for some reason) stopped showing the older episodes of Home and Away (at least today anyway). Seriously WHY?! I love the older episodes!! Might be old school and everything but those were the best eps! (Also, if you know why they've stopped airing/cancelled or if they'll be back, please drop me a comment)

To want to go to bed now (it's just gone 9:30pm) even thought it's 'early' but I'm tired. So tired...

And on that note I think I'll get ready for bed. Remember to pop over to Airing my dirty laundry, one sock at a time and link up you 'Hey It's Ok' post :-)

Sarah xXx

Another Autumnal post from me today, lol. I know I say  this allll the time but I seriously do love this time of year. For me, it's the best time of year.  So far we have achieved two of our goals from my Autumn Bucket List. Or three if we consider the walk as an Autumn walk (but I have the ideal place to go for that once day after school)

On Saturday, while walking to Tesco, me and Ellie looked out for signs of Autumn. We spotted chestnuts, acorns, blackberries and of course the leaves changing colour.  We are going to go proper blackberry picking in a week or so and then bake a blackberry crumble or something... we'll see. We collected some acorns and made some acorn faces. We walked thru the meadow and under the big weeping willow tree. It's so beautiful! We're going to go for a nice Autumn walk one day after school this week. The kids are dying to find a big pile of leaves to jump in, haha. We need to figure out plans for Halloween, too. 

It was Ellie's (school) Harvest festival service at church the other day. I love hearing the little ones sing, so sweet. Ellie's class sang 'The broadbeans are sleeping in the blankety bed' song. Do you know the song I mean? I can't remember the title but I do remember singing it at school when I was little! It was one of my favourites, lol. It was lovely hearing her and her friends sing that song, aww. The boys harvest festival assembly is next week, I'm not sure if they're doing a church services or not though. 

Have you done any Autumn-y things lately? 

Lots of Autumn pictures. ♥