It has been one heck of a week. Again. It's been full of sickness and poorly children, which has sucked. I need to remind myself that there ARE reasons to be thankful because this week has been super chaotic and a bit blah if I'm honest.

So here are my reasons to be thankful this week.


1) I am thankful that we are slowly all getting better. I just can not wait until we are all better. Poor Harry has a horrendous cough and is just not himself at all. Thankfully the school are understanding and they know he is genuinely ill because he never, ever has time off school. He loves school!

2) I am thankful that I live in a house with heating. We take these small things in life for granted. Before we moved into this house (almost three years ago), our house had no heating and it was absolutely bitter cold during the winter. I used electric heaters which were very expensive to run and as soon as they had been turned off, it would freezing cold again. I am SO thankful for central heating.

3) I've finally made a (small) start on my Christmas shopping. I am thankful I am able to do this. I don't have a lot of money but at least I am able to buy a few bits here and there. So many people can't and so many people will go without this Christmas and that saddens me so much! I will be donating to the local food bank and donating some of the little's old toys that they longer play with, to a local charity.

We are seriously so lucky. I'm feeling very grateful and blessed :)

Sarah xXx

Petshopbowl sell a wide range of petfood and products for your fur babies all reasonably priced! A few months ago, my kitty was lucky enough to be sent some cat food to review.

Petshopbowl have some fabulous offers on this Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Why not treat your fur babies and make the most of these fantastic offers! Perhaps by them something to put underneath the Christmas tree and enjoy a special Christmas treat.


 Spend £50 or more on the petshopbowl website and you'll get a free £5 voucher if you spend £100 or more, you'll get a free £10 voucher.


There's also an extra 5% off Royal Canin (excludes vets diets) using the code: ROYAL
You can get an extra 5% off Selected Hills (excludes vet diets & nature's best) using the code: HILLSOFFER
As well as 20% off Selected Almo Nature dog & cat food. 


What will you be treating your fur babies to this Christmas? 

Sarah xXx 

I was given a voucher to spend on the petshopbowl website to buy some treats for my cat in exchange for this blog post. 

One thing I really love more than anything else is kitchenware. I have a small kitchen and storage is a bit poor, so when I was asked if I'd like to review the 3 piece large bowl and colander set, I of course said I would be delighted to try it out.

The 3 piece large bowl and colander set is very compact and easy to store, it takes up less room in the cupboard because the colander fits perfectly into a bowl! It also comes with a lid which fits onto the bowl, making it a really nice storage container for food.


I've used the bowl (and colander) a few times for family dinners, it holds salad perfectly! The lid fits perfectly onto the bowl and keeps the food fresh in the fridge. When it isn't being used as storage though, the bowl can be used as a container to collect the water from the colander when draining food or rinsing food. The bowl itself holds 7.5L which is a very good size in my opinion.

The bottom of the bowl features a non slip bottom for stability, so that it doesn't slip while draining/rinsing food. The bowl is ever so easy to clean or mix because it doesn't any corners.

The colander has an elevated ring around the bottom which keeps it stable when it's sitting in the sink or counter top, which I think is great. Again, its easy to clean and dry. The colander is comfortable to hold, the handle is just the right size and it it's quite light, too. The colander features longer holes which makes it easier and faster for the food to drain. It's also easy to store because it fits nicely into the bowl.


The bowl, colander and lid are all dishwasher safe.

In my honest opinion, I love this product, I think it's great! I like the fact it's easy to store & it's good quality, too. It's also reasonably priced and I think this product will last quite a while.

Oxo sell a wide range of kitchen products and have some really great food storage solutions.

Sarah xXx

I was sent this product for the purpose of the review. I was not paid to write this review. All opinions are my own, honest, personal opinions.

As many of you already know, I am trying to loose weight! On 2nd November I started Jillian Michaeal's 30 day shred along with an online friend. We are now on level three! I never, ever thought I would get this far, but I have! I'm not sure if I've lost weight because I haven't weighed myself and nor do I intend to until I have finished the 30 day shred. I do know this though, my clothes are fitting me a lot better. My leggins are too big around my knees, they sag!! I've also lost a bit of weight off my back I think. Whoa. So whether I'm loosing weight or inches I do not know (yet) but I'm going to keep going with this because it's working! Once I've finished the 30 day shred, I am going to start it all over again - yup, I'm crazy, haha.
It certainly helps having someone doing this with me, she's encouraging and supportive! I'm not sure if I would have even got this far if she wasn't doing this with me. 

I have alos been eating healthy, too. Allowing myself a treat once a week. I eat a lot of fruit and salads. Chicken, fish and the liking is also low in fat and calories so I eat a lot of that, too! I try not to over do it on the carbs though. Everything is ok in moderation.

I've cut out all fizzy drink and crisps (both my down falls) and I am really proud of myself! I feel a lot better in myself for sticking with healthy eating and working out. I feel physically fitter and stronger already if I'm honest.

Yes, it is hard but it's so much easier than it was when I first started. It's hard when the kids are eating chocolate and nicer food than what I'm eating but then I remind myself that I want to be skinny again. I will get there. 

I'm intrigued to see how much I weigh next week, when I've finished the 30 day shred. I don't feel like sharing my weight -before I started- with the world right now but I was close to fitting into a size 14 but I'm quite short so I guess I was considered over weight.


Sarah xXx

It has been a mad 10 days or so. Everyone has been ill and it has really sucked. Badly.
First last week, I had such a bad headache for a few days. I think I need another lumbar puncture to drain the fluid from around my brain but honestly, I want to avoid that if I can so I am trying other (natural) things instead. Like laying flat at night, without a pillow, loosing weight and so on. Harry was next to come down with an illness, the dreaded sickness bug that's going around (noro virus possibly), he was really ill for three days. Then I came down with earache and a sinus thing, which I am stil not over (almost a week later!). Harry was getting better and then Charlie caught Harry's bug, although he seemed to be over it after twelve hours, which was good! And now Harry has this sinus thing and it has hit him so hard. He's really not himself at all! I took him to the doctors today, although his ear is a little pink and he does have an annoying (dry) cough, he doesn't need antibiotics (unless he gets worse), which I'm glad about but I do really hope he's better soon. I feel so helpless and sorry for him.
It's just that time of year, there is so much going around. The ladies in the office at school have said so many kids have had bad colds, coughs and the tummy bug that seems to linger. Lets hope it all passes asap!

Needless to say, I haven't really had much time for anything and when I have had time - in-between tending to sick children and cleaning like a crazy woman - I've needed to rest because I am still not 100% myself! I have gone through a lot of Zoflora, Detol, anti bacterial sprays and what ever else, trying to prevent germs from spreading... If I never see another bottle of bleach again, it'll be too soon, haha. Or until tomorrow at least.

Apart from all of that though and onto better things, I attended Ellie's parents evening last week. I am really pleased to report she is right where she should be in all subjects, her reading has come along wonderfully and her hand writing is ever so neat, especially as she is only seven years old. I'm super proud of her! She does have her moments where she looses focus and concentration but overall she's doing splendid. I love those proud mummy moments.
Harry's not been at school hardly at all the last week so I don't have much to report on him when it comes to school, we've been reading together though and practicing spellings when he's felt like it.
Charlie is doing great at school! He impressed with his fractions homework, I was never very good at maths (I'm still not good at it) so it's refreshing to see him doing so well with it! He actually was teaching ME about fractions last week, bless him. I'm really pleased and proud of my little's :-)

So that's our lives lately!

We are very much looking forward to Christmas. Although, I haven't bought very many gifts yet or thought about the food side of things (mainly due to a past chaotic couple of weeks) yet, I am starting to get organised, I've at least bought the kids a couple of stocking fillers and wrapped them, a small start but better than none at all! I think once Harry is back at school and we're over our illnesses, I'll get stuck right into the Christmas spirit!

Sarah xXx

Trutex asked me if I would like to review three of there school uniform products, I of course said we'd love to try there school uniform. Honestly, you can never really have enough and the kids seem to go through school uniform like it's going out of fashion! Whether it be holes in school trousers from playing sports during break/lunch time or them growing out of it rather fast, you really can not have enough. 

Doesn't Ellie look smart?!

Trutex have a very wide range of school uniform including school trousers for boys and girls, school shirts, polo shirts, trousers, school skirts and so much more! To find your nearest stockist of Trutex school uniform check out the store locator on the Trutex website. 


I chose the the 'Junior Girls School Trousers' in Harrow grey for Ellie. The back of the wasteband is elestaicated making them very comfortable for Ellie to wear and also allows a little room! There is also a pocket under the front of the waste band, which Ellie thinks is great. 
I ordered the trousers in aged 7-8 years, as Ellie is seven years old but is quite tall for her age! The trousers fit her lovely, they are a little long but I like that because it allows growing room. The trousers themselves are great quality, too. Ellie really likes them and finds them very comfortable to wear. 
The trousers have been washed several times and seem to wash really well. I am very impressed with the quality of these trousers.  
The trousers are available in black, navy and harrow grey. They also come in most sizes, suitable for most ages.




The next school uniform product we tried was the 'Polo Shirt' in the colour white. Now, Ellie seems to need new polo shirts every month. They either end up stained or worn out or she grows out of them really fast! Again, I ordered the polo shirt in aged 7-8 years and it fits perfectly. It's also been washed several times and again, washes very well indeed. It's also stayed white instead of fading, which I find happens to many polo shirts, that is not the case with the Trutex one though. I'd also like to add that this polo shirt has stayed in shape, too.
These shirts come in many colours and sizes.  


Last but not least, I was also sent a 'Cotton Blend Cardigan' for Ellie to try. We chose the cardigan in Royal blue, (as that is Ellie's school colour) aged 7-8 years. Ellie was most excited to try this because she loves cardigans but isn't to keen on sweaters. The cardigan is lovely and soft as it's blended with nylon and acrylic making it good quality. Ellie really likes it, it also keeps her nice and warm. It has five buttons down the front and looks very smart indeed. The cardigan has been washed in the washing machine a fair few times and it is still like brand new and has stayed in shape. 
The cardigan comes in seven colours and most sizes, too.

Overall, we really like Trutex school uniform. Ellie has been wearing her new uniform for a few weeks now, it's stayed in great shape, to be honest, it still looks new! It's very good quality in my opinion, I would totally recommend Trutex school uniform, especially as it's affordable. Do have a browse around the website and check out the other school wear items, too! 

Sarah xXx

I was sent this product for the purpose of this review. I was not paid to write this post. All opinions are my own, honest, personal opinions. 

Monday - Sausage, egg and chips with spaghetti hoops.


Tuesday - Home made lasagne with garlic bread.

Wednesday - Chicken pasta bake

Thursday - Sausage stew (slow cooker! Kids favourite!)

Friday - Pizza day.

Saturday - Chicken Tikka with pilau rice and naan bread.

Sunday  Sunday roast or cottage pie.

Sarah xXx

Linked up with #MealPlanningMonday

Our kitty!

I know, I've been slacking when it comes to reading and #50books2014 but honestly, I have been SO busy! The past month or so has been chaos. I've had one illness after another, tonsillitis, chest infections, as well as dealing with my everyday struggle with IIH) and now a sinus infection. The little's have also been poorly and currently H & C have tummy bugs so I haven't had as much time as I would like when it comes to blogging. I am certain everyone understands though.
Anyway, I have a spare ten minutes so I thought I would hop online and share my October book reviews, as well as my November book reviews. I haven't read anywhere near as much as I would like but such is life.

 "Cathy Glass, international bestselling author, tells the shocking story of Zeena, a young Asian girl desperate to escape from her family.


When 14 -year-old Zeena begs to be taken into care with a non-Asian family, she is clearly petrified. But of what?


Placed in the home of experienced foster carer Cathy and her family, Zeena gradually settles into her new life, but misses her little brothers and sisters terribly. Prevented from having any contact with them by her family who insist she has brought shame and dishonour on the whole community, Zeena tries to see them at school. But when her father and uncle find out, they bundle her into a car and threaten to set fire to her if she makes anymore trouble. Zeena is too frightened to press charges against them despite being offered police protection in a safe house.


Eventually, Cathy discovers the devastating truth from Zeena, and with devastation she believes there is little she can do to help her."

First of all I read Cathy Glass' latest book 'The child Bride'

I read this book within two days! Honestly, I couldn't put it down! It's very sad and absolutely heartbreaking but a good ending. It's sad to know just how many child brides there really are in the world and how different certain religions/cultures are to our own. I really felt for Zeena, it was hard to believe she was just a child. Throughout the book, I really got a sense of how she had no choice but to grow up fast. Thank goodness for Cathy is all I can say! I love Cathy's books. I've said it before & I'll say it again - The world needs more people like Cathy. I give this book FIVE stars. It's beautifully written, too.

Now, as many of my regular readers will know. I am trying to loose weight! Being able to weigh yourself (not too often!) is a very important part of loosing weight. I don't like to weigh myself very often but it is important to keep track of my weight so when I was asked if I would like to review these Ozeri Digital Bathroom Scale I of course jumped at the chance!


The scale came packaged in cardboard box and then in there very own box. They were well protected from damaged in transit!

The Ozeri Rev Digital Bathroom Scale with Electro-Mechanical Weight Dialare are a professional quality digital scale which measures your weight in lbs or kgs. The scales measure up to 180kgs (400lbs). There is a handy button on the back of the scales, which changes the LCD weight (display) between pounds and kilograms.What I really, really like about these scales is, they have an electro-mechanical weight dial and I find them to be very accurate! The dial is 14cm and it lights up in blue, making it very visible to see from all angles. The scales also automatically turn on when you step on them and automatically turn off when they are not being used, to save power! 



I love the look of these scales, they look very stylish indeed. They are made from like a thick frosted glass (the picture don't do the scale any justice in my opinion) and the chrome around the dial is a really nice added touch in my opinion. They are truly stunning scales. The scales also have stoppers on the back to stop them from sliding across the floor! 



The scales also have an alarm, you can set an alarm to remind you to weigh yourself at the same time everyday (although, personally, I don't like to weigh myself that often!!). The alarm is very easy to turn off and on! To turn it on you just press the "24hr alarm button" and to turn the alarm off, you just press the same button again. It's very simple to use.



These scales use 3x AAA batteries for long lasting performance, which are also included!
For the price of £29.99 (currently £19.99 at the time of writing this review), I would say they are well worth the money and I would recommend them to anyone who is looking for an accurate, easy to read, good quality bathroom scale! 

Sarah xXx




I was sent this product for the purpose of this review, all opinions are my own, personal, honest opinion. I was not paid for this review!

Monday - Chicken dippers with fries and baked beans

Tuesday - Spaghetti bolgnase

Wednesday - Chilli chicken wraps with salad.

Thursday - Cheese and potato pie with sausages and veggies.

Friday - Chicken korma with pilau rice and naan bread

Saturday - Fish, boiled potatoes and salad or peas.

Sunday - Shepherds pie.

(My meal plan looks a bit different to that as I am trying to loose weight!)

Sarah xXx

This week's #TheGallery theme is yellow.
I thought I would share these pictures of yellow leaves, I took these photos at the zoo a few weeks ago! The zoo is beautiful this time of year. Autumn is such a stunning tome of year.

Sarah xXx

Goodness. We have such a busy week this week, lots going on at the kids schools. The boys are in junior school and Ellie in infant school and they all have different things on different days. Swimming lessons, road safety afternoons, special assemblies, school photographs, after school clubs (double the amount of walking, which will do me good I guess) and dressing up days in aid of children in need. I also need to register Ellie for junior school in September and find out when parents evening is because I've still not had my appointment slip yet. I need to find some kind of reminder app to remind me of everything that's going on this week/month/YEAR, my memory is not what it once was, haha. And it's not going to get easier or less busy because this time of year is ALWAYS my busiest time of year, what with Christmas just around the corner... I'm tired just thinking about it... My brain is fried. Is it the weekend yet?
I do love this time of year though, I just wish it was so chaotic.



Ellie did super well with her homework project last term. She did a project on South Africa, she seriously worked really hard on it and I so wish I had of taken a photo but I just didn't really think about it. She won a lovely certificate for her effort and I am really proud of her! She loves learning and she's already looking forward to the next project. She likes writing and reading, I'm proud of her.

I am of course proud of my boys too. Charlie is currently doing swimming lessons with the school and is really enjoying it. He is ever so excited about achieving his certifcates and what not. I know he can do this!

Harry is also excited to be doing his road safety challenge at school. I'm glad he's doing that. I remember doing that in year six and I felt SO grown up, I think he feels the same.

I feel really blessed to have my three children. I'm so proud of them.

Sarah xXx

Linked up with:
Lets Be Friends
Small steps, amazing achievements. 

 

I was recently sent some lovely Christmas cards from The Card Gallery to review. The card gallery have a very wide selection of Christmas cards on offer, which can be personalised.

The card gallery have offered one of my readers to win 20 Christmas cards of the winners choice - in the same design. 

Simply enter via the rafflecopter below.
You can find full T&Cs below the rafflecopter. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I was not paid to host this giveaway. 
Also posted on The prize finder

Image from LEDhut.co.uk

Last Christmas, I had the chance to review some lovely Christmas lights from LED hut, so this year when they asked if I'd like to review some Christmas lights, I of course jumped at the chance. I love this time of year, the build up to Christmas, the excitement, getting ready to put the Christmas tree and decorations up. Needless to say, I was very excited to try these Christmas lights and I was not disappointed.



I was sent the LED outdoor Christmas bunch lights to review. These LED Christmas lights are different to normal fairy lights and can be used indoors or outdoors, I personally think they are unique. The LED Christmas bunch lights lights are on thin wire, there's a total of 180 lights and are multi coloured, there are 18 LEDs on each lead. . They are absolutely perfect for adding a Christmasy look to a bedroom, adding to a bed frame or curtain pole or even all year around as they are quite subtle.


There are many uses for these lights. They're a really nice alternative to fairy lights, you can use them on your Christmas tree. The wire is less visible unlike cable used on normal fairy lights. They're also flexible which makes them easy to wrap around objects or have on display in a vase. As they are so flexible, you could even make a wreath, or perhaps add them to a wreath (although, they would need to be plugged in). They are so, so decorative, I really like them.

The plug cable is 5m long (from the first light, to the plug), which means they have a long cable.


What I really love about these beautiful lights is, the wire isn't as visible as fairy light cable, they're flexible and can be used in many, many ways and not just at Christmas! I also like that they can be used indoors or outdoors and have long cable. You can do so much with the LED bunch lights.


These lights are priced at £35.99 which I think is a reasonable price, especially as they can be used all year around and in so many different ways.
I would totally recommend these lights.

LED hut sell a wide range of Christmas lights all reasonably priced. You can also follow LED Hut on Facebook

Sarah xXx

I was sent a sample of these Christmas lights for the purpose of this review. I was not paid to write this post. All opinions are my own, honest, personal opinions.

Monday - Sausage, egg and chips.

Tuesday - Sweet chilli chicken wraps with salad

Wednesday - Tuna and Pasta with salad

Thursday - Beef stew with carrots, peas, broccoli and potatoes.

Friday - Pizza day!

Saturday - Chicken Tikka with pilau rice and naan bread

Sunday - Chicken roast dinner.

Remember, remember the 5th of November...

Yesterday was Guy Fawkes. We usually go to a display but this year we decided to have our own display!
We enjoyed a really lovely buffet - Sausage rolls, cocktail sausages, scotch eggs and so on. Followed by some cakes and sweet things.
The kids enjoyed the buffet while watching the fireworks that we let off!

Harry took these photos, aren't they cool?

Ellie wasn't to keen on the loud bangs but she thought they were all very pretty! Harry & Charlie loved the loud bangs, typical boys, hehe.

We stopped half way thru to do some sparklers. Bonfire night is not the same without sparklers. The kids loved the sparklers, especially Ellie. She spun hers around and around and made some really pretty pattens! They all thought the sparklers were rather cool!
We then sat down and had some cakes and sweet things while we enjoyed some more fireworks.

Sparklers!

Over all, we had a fantastic bonfire night. The kids had a lovely time and were shattered come bedtime, bless 'em.
What did you do to celebrate bonfire night this year?

Sarah xXx

Linked up with: 
Point+Shoot 

Monday evening, I started the 30 day shred, I wanted to start on the 1st of November but I was so ill. I had either flu or a really bad cold as well as tonsillitis (I had it for well over a week) and it was not fun.

So last night I started the 30 days shed and wow, do I ache!!! Although, it feels good and I am really, really proud of myself. I did find it difficult but it's worth it and I know I'll loose some weight doing this workout every night. I'm excited to see results. I will be weighing myself tonight... I'm not looking forward to that but I know I NEED to weigh myself. I won't be weighing myself again until the end of the month.

I've also been eating healthy. No sweets, no chocolate and no fizzy drinks! I'm rather proud of myself. I've also been drinking a lot more water than I usually do. So all is good!

I've also been walking at least 15,000 steps a day, except for Saturday because I really didn't feel well, my chest really hurt (chest infection), I did still do a good amount of steps though.

How's everyone else doing with keeping fit, loosing weight and being healthy?

Sarah xXx

Christmas is just around the corner and it's time to start getting organised! So when I was asked if I'd like to review some personalised Christmas cards from The Card Gallery, I of course said I would love to! 

I love all stationary and all cards but especially Christmas cards! Christmas cards really get me into the festive spirit, especially personalised Christmas cards.



I chose to review the Personalised reindeer Christmas cards. The card gallery have a lovely selection of Christmas cards to choose form. You can personalise them, or leave them how they are. I chose to personalise mine. It's really very simple to personalise these cards. It only took a couple of minutes and I was emailed the proof to see if I liked how the card looked. The website is really easy to use and it really does only take a few minutes to personalise your cards. 


My cards came wrapped in cellophane, inside an envelope to keep them protected from being damaged in transit. I received my cards only a couple of days after I had ordered them.

The back of the packet of Christmas cards, wrapped in cellophane

The Christmas cards are also made in Britain. 
The front of the card features a really cute, festive reindeer holding a Christmas tree! I had my cards personlised with 'Merry Christmas from the family on the front'. I also personalised the inside of the cards, making them extra special in my opinion. 



The cards I chose measure 148 x 105mm (A6) when folded. They are printed on high quality ivory Conqueror 300gsm matte card, making them very good quality! They also come supplied with lovely thick envelopes!


The cards I chose are priced at £0.90 each / £9 for 10 for personalised cards or £0.70 each / £7 for 10 for non personalised cards. 
In my honest opinion, I think these cards are worth the money, they are unique, good quality, festive and can be personalised, too. I really like them! I can't wait to give them out to friends and family at Christmas time. I know everyone is going to love them. 

The card gallery have a wide range of Christmas cards and other cards for all occasions!  Checkout the website for more information and other designs, there's lots to choose from! 
You can also find The Card Gallery on twitter, too! 

Sarah xXx 

P.S - For your chance to win some of these lovely cards, please enter my giveaway.

I was sent a sample of this product for the purpose of this review. I was not paid for this review. All opinions are my own, honest, personal opinions.