Don't have one. 

The past couple of days have been unevetful to be honest. I've been suffering with hayfever really bad. I have never, ever had it this bad before, I honestly feel like I can't breathe. It's horrible. I'll have to try some different hayfever tablets because the ones I currently use haven't been working. Needless to say, I've been staying indoors as much as possible. We have managed to venture out into the garden though. I'm quite lucky to have such a huge back garden.

Brotherly love

The boys have had fun playing football and making the most of the lovely weather. It's great fun hearing and watching them playing football. Hearing them cheer when they score a goal, bless them. Harry and Charlie are both supporting Brazil in the world cup as England are now out.

Football time!

playing in the play house, hehe.

Ellie has also been enjoying the lovely weather, she went on a snail hunt! We have really long grass right down the end of our garden, which the snails seem to love! Ellie found a snail and wanted me to take a picture of it, so that's what we did! We of course released the snail back into the long grass after I took this photo. Ellie really wanted to see what the snail looked like underneath, hence putting it in the glass (which is actually an old Nuttella jar, not one we drink out of by the way - thought I'd add that in there, lol!)

Snail.

We also enjoyed some watermelon outside in the sunshine, so refreshing and perfect for summer! Yummy. Ellie gave it a thumbs up.


I am hoping my hayfever calms down and/or I find a suitable tablet/cure soon. We reallllyyy want to go on a picnic next week, somewhere that we have never been before and I have a few ideas in mind, hehe.
What have you been up to lately? I hope you've all been enjoying the beautiful weather.

Sarah xXx

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Things that have made me happy this week..

1) I had my hair done. It's now ombre - brunette on top and light brown in the middle with blonde at the bottom. I've had to use a colour correcting shampoo on it because it went a little bit orange in places but I really, really love it! Now my mission is to grow my hair even longer. And also my nails.
I've been using coconut oil as a hair mask, I must say, it leaves my hair feeling soft and silky, I love it!

 2) The weather has been amazing. We went for a walk along the pier yesterday, had an ice cream and enjoyed the lovely weather. I did six miles of walking yesterday in total. Not bad at all! Must loose 10lbs by the August. Another mission of mine, lol.Wish me luck with all these missions I'm setting myself, haha.

So proud of their signed book

Yesterday we went for a walk along the pier, it was such a lovely day. I think I take living by the beach for granted and we really do need to go more often! We're rather lucky.
 I forgot to take my camera though so I only had my phone, but that's ok.

Amber over at Airing My Dirty Laundry got this idea from Glamour magazine. I thought I'd join in with her linky this week. Such fun.

To be looking forward to the end of term. A month to go! I can't wait until the little's break up for six weeks, honestly, it'll be nice to have a break from school runs, all things school and to spend some time with the kids.

It's ok to not like ketchup. People think I'm weird because I don't like ketchup or any tomato sauce but honestly, I just don't like it (unless it's in bologanse or pasta sauce). Same with baked beans, yuck.

To not be into 'The Game Thrones'. To be fair, I've never even tried to watch it but that's ok too.

To be addicted to watermelon. I can't get enough of the stuff, lol!! It's better than being addicted to cola.. I guess. Although it's also ok to have the odd can here and there, right?!

It's ok to not wear make up all the time. I honestly can't be bothered. Plus, I suffer with hayfever terribly and I always end up with panda eyes and mascara all down my face. I can't help but scratch my eyes and they water soooo much.. it just isn't even worth spending time applying make up, I prefer not wearing it.

To be planning on going to bed at 9:30 tonight. I am seriously so tired, this heat makes me sleepy. Sleep is good.

Sarah xXx

Also linked up with Mad mid week blog hop.

The last couple of weeks have been a bit unorganised, I can't tell you why exactly because I have no idea. I've just been busy doing... I don't even know.. every day things I suppose.
However, I am getting back into being organised and thought why not start with a meal plan! So here is our meal plan for this week:

Monday - Chicken tikka masala with pilau rice and naan bread

Tuesday - Hot dogs, fries with salad.

Wendesnday - Homemade Lasagne with garlic bread

Thursday - Sausage, mash, veg and gravy

Friday - Pizza day!!

Saturday - Chicken in pitta bread with salad

Sunday - Sunday roast.

So there's this weeks meal plan. What's on your meal plan this week? Why not link up with At home with Mrs M and share your weekly meal plan.

I am also looking for three new easy recipes to learn and enjoy by the end of summer, it's one of the things on my summer bucket list, so if you have any easy recipes you'd like to share with me, please leave a comment :)

Last year we did quite well with our summer bucket list. In fact, we always make a bucket list for every season. It's such good fun and gives us something to aim towards. The kids really enjoy it, too. So here is our family summer bucket list for Summer 2014.



1) Go on a bug hunt
2) Collect sea shells
3) Picnic somewhere we have never been before!
4) Go for a walk along the seafront and take photos.
5) Go swimming.
6) Bake some cakes, with a summer theme.
7) Start Xmas shopping (This year is going too fast!)
8) Learn 3 new recipes.
9) Go crabbing (such fun, hehe)
10) Take the kids to the cinema
11) Visit a museum
12) BBQ!
13) Read more.
14) Go to a carboot sale.
15) Summer arts and crafts!

What's on your summer bucket list for this summer?

Sarah xXx

1) On Tuesday I had my hair ombre'd but it didn't work out very well and I was so unhappy with it. Especially as it had taken me a while to save up. So, I complained and today the hair dresser fixed my hair and I love it. I really, really love it. Although the pic doesn't do it much justice and it does look a bit orange in places, but it'll fade and lighten with any luck. I really love it!


2) I am going to start exercising and eating healthy - properly. Again. I need to loose weight. If I could loose 10lbs before the middle of August I'd be really happy!

3) I had a really good weekend last weekend, I met up with one of my old friends, actually, she came 'round to my house and we had a giggly girly night, it was really cool to see her! Glad we're back in touch!!

4) I am of course thankful and cheerful that tomorrow is Friday!! Yay!!

5) The kids have been really behaved and good this week, they're not 'bad' kids anyway but they've been extra good this week. I think the lovely weather has helped and they've been playing plenty of football and of course enjoying the world cup on T.V, hehe. Let hope England win tonight!

Sarah xXx


Linked up with:  
Reasons to be cheerful. 

The other day I was looking through my old photos and I found this photo of Charlie when he was newborn. He was born with a kidney reflux and was really quite poorly when he was born. He was just starting to get better when this photo was taken. I know it's an old photo but I really wanted to share. I haven't really shared many pictures of my children when they were babies (because I wasn't blogging back then), and so I thought it would be nice to share this photo on my blog :)

So tiny!!

I can't believe that he will be nine years old in a couple of weeks. Wow.

Sarah xXx

Charlie with his world cup poster.

The world cup is a massive thing in our house, although I'm personally not a lover of football, all three kids are. They love it and are so, so excited about the world cup. The little's really wanted to make a world cup poster. So that is exactly what we did.
We used card, poster paints, a black marker pen and of course stickers!!

Charlie wanted to make a world cup poster to do with England and Brazil. So he used a lot of green paint, painted a football pitch and then stuck some stickers on. And very nice it looks too.



Ellie wanted to make a simple flag type poster. She painted a big red cross in the middle of the card and stuck some stickers around it! Bless her.



They're both ever so proud of there posters, I'm proud of Ellie and Charlie for putting in such a big effort :) Harry is yet to do his, he's been busy playing football, lol. He's thinking about how he's going to make his poster apparently, hehe.

Sarah xXx

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Today, Harry and Charlie had an author 'Soman Chainani' visiting there school to talk about his book 'School of good and evil'. He talked about his book and reading. The boys really enjoyed it apparently. After school he was signing books on the playground, of course we had to go over and get a book signed! It was so exciting!! Soman was like "You guys have fun reading the book" Harry was like "Oh I will!!" Aww.


Harry can not wait to read the book, he's already started it. Even *I* want to read the book. It looks and sounds awesome :)


So that was our exicting news this week! It's the first time I've met an author in person and it was awesome! And no, we didn't receive the book for the purpose of this post, we bought the book and I wanted to share our exciting afternoon with you all. Even if it was only for a few minutes.

Sarah xXx

 

Gosh, isn't it warm?! It's nice to see the sun though. Here are my reasons to be cheerful and thankful this week.

1) I am having my hair done next week, it needs thinning out so bad. In this heat, it is not ideal to have long, thick, curly hair. I am really looking forward to having my hair done and sorted out for the summer! I haven't had my hair thinned out for a lonnnng time (over a year and a half!) so it needs it badly. I can't wait, hehe.

2) I'm thankful the weather has been really lovely and sunny lately. The sun really does cheer me up. I have a slight tan already just from walking to the shops and school. I'm thankful I tan easy. It's been ever so warm and difficult to sleep at night but there's not a lot that can be done about that, lol.

3) I scolded my hand on Sunday (this isn't a reason to be cheerful or thankful) but it's finally starting to heal and doesn't hurt so much now. Hopefully it'll heal 100% soon, I'm just glad it's not as bad as it was... that burning and stinging pain was something I'd never felt before, it was not at all nice. I'm staying well away from hot cooking oil from now on!!

4) I took Ellie to the park last weekend, it was such a lovely day, way too nice to stay indoors. There was hardly anyone else at the park, it was quiet and peaceful. Ellie and I had a great time, she even got me on the see saw, omdz, did my legs ache the next day LOL, so unfit, haha. It really cheered us up though - getting out of the house :)


What are you reasons to be cheerful this week? You can join in with reasons to be cheerful over at Ojos world.

Yesterday was such a lovely sunny, warm day I decided to take Ellie to the park while the boys were at there dads. So off we went to the park. Ellie of course wanted to take her scooter! She loves scooting, hehe.

We walked the long way to the park, stopping at the shop first for a nice cold drink. Ellie was all "Wow, it's so bright and sunny, I'll wear my Frozen hat" (She's obsessed with Frozen).

We actually spotted quite a few butterflies on the way to the park but I had no time to take my camera out and I had my hands full carrying Ellie's Mminnie mouse soft toy, (that she insisted *needed* to come to the park, haha), my camera and my own handbag. I so wish I had of taken photo's of the butterflies though, they were beautiful.

We got to the park eventually and there was hardly anyone there! Which was quite suprising considering it was such a sunny day. I guess everyone went to the beach instead, lol.

Ellie can almost swing herself on the swings by pushing her legs back wards and forward in motion with the swing. I'm very proud of her.


After the swings, she decided she wanted to 'drive' the train and have a spin on the round about! She also got me on see saw (Oh my goodness, my legs ache today, I am *so* unfit LOL)


It was a really lovely couple of hours at the park. I played with Ellie for a bit, we sat on the bench and had a snack and a drink, I also re-applied more suncream on Ellie. I even had a chance to sit and read my magazine for a little while. It was really lovely. Peaceful too!

How have you been enjoying the weather lately?

Sarah xXx

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LEt kids be kids. 

Yellow moon sent us these lovely beach hut ceramic coin banks to review.
As you can imagine, my little's could not wait to decorate and personalise these! We used the Giotto Metalic Decor Pens which Yellow moon also sent us to review.
(We've used these pens in the past, on plastic and paper. They are priced at £3.99 for a pack of 5 and are suitable for children over the age of 3)



The kids loved decorating these. They did stripes and blocks of colour, using the metalic pens, which worked wonderfully on the ceramic beach huts. They really leave a metalic look, too! Awesome.


The beach huts themselves have a stopper on the bottom, to keep the coins in. It is easy to remove and put back on! My little's are saving up all 2p coins, ready for the 2p machine along the seafront this summer! The beach hut's sizes are 9cm x 7cm x 6cm.



These would make a lovely gift! They're very unique and are great fun for the kids to decorate and display. My little ones found this summer arts and crafts activity great fun. It was easy for them to decorate the beach huts themselves, kept them entertained for a while and also encourages them to save.


The Beach Hut Ceramic Coin Banks are priced at just £5.99 for a box of four which I personally think is very reasonable indeed.

Yellow moon sell a wide range of arts and crafts products, along with party bag fillers and toys.
You can also follow yellowmoon.org.uk on twitter.

Sarah xXx

We were sent these products for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own, personal, honest opinion. I was not paid for this review.

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Last year we reviewed Spaghetti with Yeti (by Adam & Charlotte Guillaan, illustrated by Lee Wildish) that Egmont kindly sent us to review. This is Ellie's absolute favourite book, we have read it so many times. We read it at least ten times a week. In fact, I no longer need the book to read it, I know it off by heart, as does Ellie. Marshmallows for Martians is also by Adam and Charlotte Guillain & illustrated by Lee Wildish) and is the second book in the series.



"Join George, a young and courageous explorer as he blasts into space, determined to find out what kind of sweets Martians like best. With his homemade rocket and map of the stars, George is sure the Martians will be easy to find. But when he touches down on the red planet, the Martians are nowhere to be seen. George is alone . . . or so he thinks. Could that really be
 a parade of alien musicians?"

Published: 5th June 2014
Price:  £6.99 (paperback)
Aged: 3+

Ellie could not wait to get stuck into this book! She was really, really excited! "I've been waiting for this!" She declared rather proudly.
We started reading it together, or rather giggled our way through this book. We went on an adventure to the red planet with George and his bag full of sweets! She loved that it rhymes. She thought the 'alien band' was hilarious with there cymbals attached to there bums was really funny!  "Ha, that's so silly and so funny" She giggled.


Marshmallows for Martians is a really lovely rhyming picture book for boys and girls, especially if like they like space, adventure and aliens!It is very beautifully illustrated with bright, colourful pictures that kept Ellie interested all the way through. 

It's a cute, funny adventure story with beautiful pictures and I now think Ellie has a new all time favourite book. In my personal opinion I think this adventure picture book is well worth £6.99, I don't think Ellie will ever get bored of this book. You purchase this book from EgmontUK

We can't wait for the next book in the series 'Doughnuts for a Dragon' (Avaliable Autumn 2014)

Sarah xXx

We were sent a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my own, honest, personal opinion. I was not paid to write this review.

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I did something incredibly stupid today. I scolded my hand with boiling hot cooking oil. How it happened? I've no idea, it was just one of those things, it happened so fast! So, I am typing this with my left hand (I'm right handed). I am seriously so clumsy. I kept my hand in freezing cold ice water for a couple of hours and have a wet, cold bandage on it now. I do have burn cream but it doesn't appear to be helping much. I'll get it checked by the nurse tomorrow if needed. We'll see.
Having said the above, if I don't blog often this week -or however long-, you know why - it's difficult to type one handed with my left hand. I do have a couple of posts scheduled though. 
 Honestly, I could kick myself for being so careless and clumsy. I'm really mad at myself about it! It's going to be challenging doing every day things for a while, I should imagine. (It's taken my half an hour to just type the above. I'd usually have it typed within a minute or two. So frustrating!)

My fingers have swelled up :(

This weekend has been quiet. I haven't really done very much. I took Ellie to the park today though as it was such a beautiful day today. It's been really, really warm and sunny! Blue skies and sunshine, just perfect. The boys had a nice time at there dads and are now sitting at the dinner table doing there homework. Bed time soon!


I think I'm gonna have an early night tonight and try and sleep through this horrible stinging/burning pain in my hand.

Sarah xXx