One kiss lasts a moment.
But a thousand kisses can last a lifetime.

One boy.
One girl.
A bond that is forged in an instant and cherished for a decade.
A bond that neither time nor distance can break.
A bond that will last forever.
Or so they believe.
When seventeen-year-old Rune Kristiansen returns from his native Norway to the sleepy town of Blossom Grove, Georgia, where he befriended Poppy Litchfield as a child, he has just one thing on his mind. Why did the girl who was one half of his soul, who promised to wait faithfully for his return, cut him off without a word of explanation?
Rune’s heart was broken two years ago when Poppy fell silent. When he discovers the truth, he finds that the greatest heartache is yet to come.

Standalone Young Adult Tearjerker Romance.
For ages 14 and up
 source


 'A Thousand Boy Kisses' is a really hard book to for me to review. My thoughts are hard to put into words. It is one of the best books I have EVER read. It's beautifully sad and beautifully happy but in a sad way, I can't even explain. I'm sorry if this contians spoilers but it is very hard to describe without giving too much away.  
When Poppy's Mamaw passes away, Poppy is just nine years old. She makes a pact with her nan to fill her jar of paper hearts with a thousand boy kisses. Poppy and her best friend 'Rune' have been friends since the age of 5. They are half of each others soul. Rune has to leave Blossom Grove with his parents back to his native country, Norway. They are both utterly heartbroken. Poppy cuts Rune off with no explanation. No contact. Nothing. But why? When Rune returns to Blossom Grove, two years later, he soon learns why. 
This story is utterly heartbreaking but it truly is a very, very good book. It's beautiful in every single way. 

I really can't go into details on this book because I recommend that everyone should read this book. You will need a box of tissues, it's a tear jerker, that's so sure. A beautiful tear jerker at that. There is so much to this book!
I rate this five stars.. I'd rate this book all the stars in the world if I could. This book will stay with me a long time. And the play list of songs in the back? Whenever I hear any of those songs, it's going to really remind me of this beautiful story. 

Sarah xXx

Here is our bucket list of things to do and achieve in April! We're rather looking forward to completing these tasks, hehe. Feel free to share/pin/save :-)


Do you have any goals for April?

Sarah xXx

A few weeks ago, I shared my Easter & Spring bucket list with you all. I thought I'd do a little update on how we did with it. I could have done A LOT better! At least we achieved some of the things from our list though. Aprils looks a bit similar because some of the things we didn't do in March, we'll do it April :)
Celebrate Mothers Day - We did that! The kids made some lovely Mothers day cards and bought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers, hehe.

Easter arts & crafts. We did plenty of those! We received some lovely Easter and Spring kits from Baker Ross to review. Charlie and Ellie also decorated an Egg for the school competition, in which they both won prizes.

Play in the rain - We didn't do this sadly :( It was still quite cold and also very windy at times! I'm certain we play in the rain and splash in puddles in April. April showers after all! :)

Plant some flowers/fruit/veg - Sadly another thing we didn't do. Certainly in April though! I've done some research, too.

Decorate Easter Eggs - Yes! See above.

 Family day out - We, we had a couple of afternoons at the park and fed the ducks along the river on Good Friday, so we did manage this one!


Bake Easter cupcakes - We didn't do this :( We'll bake some Spring inspired ones instead.

Picnic in the park - The weather wasn't playing the game for this one lol. It would have been a very cold, windy and wet picnic! April is always a good month for picnics, well, after the showers that is.

Spring clean - Yes. I did this! And organised a bit in the kids room and kitchen and also got rid of a lot of old clothes the kids no longer wear/too small. The windows need doing again though!


Spring flower photo shoot. - Kind of! I managed to take a few pics of flowers :)

A photo posted by Sara ♡ (@sassyserrz) on Mar 26, 2016 at 2:41am PDT

Daisy chains - Didn't manage this one. We haven't even enough daisies yet. April showers, bring May flowers!

On Good Friday, with there being no school and the start of the half term, we decided to make the most of the sunny weather and go for a nice walk along the river bank! It's one of favourite places to go for a walk as there is so much to see. It's even better when the weather is mild and sunny! For the first time this year we didn't even need to wear our coats. It was lush.




There's plenty of ducks, swans and geese to be spotted as well as signs of spring. The flowers are starting to bloom! It's such a beautiful time of the year. The kids had a blast feeding the ducks, swans and geese and I had a great time taking photos! Which are slowly improving as I get use to using my bigger camera.




We spotted some old boats, which the kids were fascinated with!  When I was little we use to climb in an old boat (I'm not sure if it was this one) but we can't do that any more as the marsh land os very waterlogged! And it actually would be quite dangerous to do that now but still, I enjoyed sharing my memories with my own children! Charlie was truly fascinated and wondered how old the boat actually was!





Hopefully our sunny spring weather comes back throughout the half term so we can go on more adventures!

We hope you all had a wonderful Easter and managed to find a break in the weather!

Sarah xXx

Chloe Benson wakes up kidnapped and bound in an underground tomb with no memory of how she got there.

She escapes through deserted woods with her life, but no one believes her story.

And when she suspects her husband is lying to her, Chloe is forced to retrace her past, following in her own footsteps to find the truth and stay alive.

But who is following Chloe?

Look Behind You. You never know who’s out there.
source. 

I've had this book on my kindle for a while which I purchased however long ago. 
Chloe is a teacher, 27 years old and one day she wakes up in some kind of underground bunker. Her hands are tied together and she is in total darkness. She manages to escape but can't remember what happened to her, how she got there and who did this to her! Her husband doesn't believe her and she has to convince the doctors and police that she's telling the truth. 
This book is beautifully written, it's an easy read and it's full of suspense! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it did remind me of 'Before I Go To Sleep' which I read a couple of years ago. 
I gave this book four stars and I'd actually quite like to read more books by this author! 

What have you been reading lately? 

Sarah xXx 

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.mamamummymum.co.uk/p/read-with-me.html" title="Read With Me"><img src="http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p788/MamaMummyMum/readwithme_zps95e53a78.jpg" alt="Read With Me" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
 

"Not long after surviving the horrors of D-Day, Corporal James Bowden finds himself as part of a small group of soldiers marching through Nazi-occupied France.

Supplied with orders that are vague and unspecific and surrounded by men he doesn't know, will James survive society’s desire for justice and revenge?" 


Last year the author of 'We Go Again' Aka Michael Cargill asked me if I'd like to review another one of his books. It's taken me quite some time to get around to it. I'll be honest, I moved house, things were stressful, then I lost my kindle and I totally forgot about it! Shocking as that is because let me tell you, I should have read 'We Go Again' a long time ago!
I believe it's based on a true story (EDIT: It is not based on a true story, feel free to read the comment section - note from the author) set during world war II. It's an amazing story that follows James Bowden and his British soldier friends through Nazi occupied France during world war II. It tells the story of not only the British soldiers but also memories from back in England along with French civilians and other people the British soldiers meet along the way. It truly gave an insight to what it was like For the soldiers being in enemy occupied land. The British soldiers manage to shoot down a German plain (bear in mind, they are on foot) which has me sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting to find out what happened next! The story had me gripped all the way through, I found it hard to put down. I read this book in less than a day. It's beautifully written and very descriptive and it's easy to read and not too long (nor too short!). The only thing I regret is not reading this book sooner! I rate this book 4.5 stars. I would recommend everyone reads this book, especially those interested in world war II stories.

This book is available in paper back and ebook format and can be purchased on amazon.

I also reviewed Michael Cargills book "Saying Goodbye To Warsaw" which you can read here.

Sarah xXx

I received "we go again" in ebook format (free) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, honest, personal opinion.

My anxiety has seriously been through the roof the last couple of weeks. I don't know why, I just know that it's been bad. I know that I over think and I know not getting enough sleep doesn't help but it's so just so hard to deal with! I also have been finding it difficult to get motivated. So I thought I'd do what I did last time my anxiety was this bad and try to focus on the positives, things to be happy about and not dwell on the negatives.

I have been super organised! I've cleaned out the boys room and cupboard properly, thrown away a lot of stuff and sorted through there clothes. They have both had growth spurts and have grown out of lots of clothes but it's great they're growing and healthy! I shall probably pop to ASDA and pick them up a few pairs of shorts and T.shirts. It isn't worth spending mega amounts of money (which I don't have anyway) because they seriously grow SO fast! Especially Harry. Can you believe he's 12 years old and tall as me? (5ft3) Crazy. I also did the same with Ellie's room and clothes! It feels good to get rid of the things we don't need or use any more. I'm sure the charity shop will appreciate them. 

Writing lists - This really helps me get motivated. I wrote a huge list of things to do today. And I've almost achieved it ALL. I am feeling very satisfied and so much better knowing that my house is clean and tidy. I've really pushed myself to get motivated today and it worked!



Charlie didn't get into the high school we choose (The one Harry - my eldest- attends) which is a HUGE worry and a massive negative and honestly has not helped with my anxiety. He'll be the only kid from his school not going. I'm not happy about this. HOWEVER, Charlie is the first one on the waiting list. I have also sent my appeal off already! These are both positive things and the right steps to get him into the school. So fingers crossed and positive thoughts!!! (Charlie doesn't know any of this of course, I don't want to worry him because I DO think he will get in before he's due to start in September).
EDIT: I received a letter of acceptance, Charlie got into the chosen high school. I can't even tell you how relieved I am! I am SO happy for him. YESSSS!!! 



Also the weather has been very lovely lately. Sunny and mild! And it's officially spring. The kids and I are super excited about the nicer weather, it means we can explore and play outside more. 

I've quit drinking coca cola. Which is a HUGE step for me! I do have the odd diet coke though, diet is better than full fat (in moderation!). Still, I am very proud of myself.

I've been reading SO much lately. I've read 9 or even 10 books this year so far. This is huge for me too, I think making time for myself to read really helps improve my mood.

I spotted two alpacas the other day when I was walking to my local shops! They made my entire day. I stood there for ages watching them. They're in a farm sanctuary and I totally was not expecting to see such unique creatures. I checked the farms website when I got home as I wasn't 100% certain is they were llamas or alpacas, they are indeed alpacas! Awww. SO CUTE!

ITS ALMOST EASTER!!!! YAY!! The Easter holiday's are more than welcome here. A nice break from school routine is always welcome and I know the kids are super excited, hehe. We'e enjoyed some really cool Easter arts & crafts which baker ross sent us to review.


Overall I am feeling rather positive right now and focusing on the good things and the positive things really help!

What's made you happy recently?

Sarah xXx

Spotted some random Alpacas on my walk the other day... They made my day! So cute.
(They're in a farm sanctuary.)

The Silent Cry by Cathy Glass 

The heartbreaking true story of a young, troubled mother who needed help.
The sixteenth fostering memoir by Cathy Glass.
It’s a big, exciting moment for Laura when she decides to finally take her new baby out to the school playground for the first time ever. What should be a happy, magical moment quickly sours, however, when Laura suddenly feels queasy and runs off back home. None of the other schoolyard mothers seem to notice this troubled, struggling woman – apart from Cathy. But when Cathy tries to help, she finds herself hitting wall after wall. Laura needs medical help but refuses to see a doctor. Her own cold mother refuses to help. It is left to Cathy to try and bring light to this dark and dangerous place.
source. 

I picked this book up in ASDA and it came in a 2 pack with another book by Cathy Glass 'Cut'. A two pack of books for £4? Yes please! Although I think I have already read 'Cut', I'm not quite sure. Firstly, for those of you who don't know. I love Cathy Glass books. She is an amazing woman who fosters children and helps them, she has done this for many, many years and is very experienced. I love the fact she shares her stories with us. 
*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS* 
This book dates right back to when Cathy's own children were very little. Cathy shares her story about a woman she meets in the playground. She discovers all is not well with this lady -Laura-. It turns out Laura is suffering with PND and needs help. Cathy is a great support and truly does help Laura and her family a lot. Cathy also shares her story and also talks about the children is fostering (on short term) at the time. I cold talk about this book all day but honestly, I don't want to share too much because I know some of my readers have this on there 'To Read' list.
Overall, I really loved this book. There needs to be more people like Cathy in this world. I give this book five stars. It's beautifully written, easy to follow and certainly easy to read. I couldn't put this book down. I read it within a day (on and off of course!)

What have you read lately?

Sarah xXx

Linked up with 
Beck Valley Books. 

We were sent some Easter arts and craft kits from Baker Ross to review. My children love arts and crafts, especially my daughter Ellie. She was super excited to make some Easter and spring themed arts and crafts!


The mix and match Easter bunny kits caught Ellie's eye so we made those first! "I love bunnies, especially baby bunnies at Easter" Ellie said!

Each pack contains eight foam bunnies, ribbons and all the self adhesive stickers/decorations (clothes, hats, shoes etc) to decorate your bunny with! No glue is required because the foam stickers are self adhesive, the back just peels off each decoration so that it's easy to stick onto the bunny shape.

The bunnies themselves are 13cm x 9cm in size and are perfect Easter decorations! Ellie really enjoyed decorating her bunnies and choosing which clothes, shoes and accessories each bunny would wear. "The bow ties are for the boy bunnies and the hats are going to be for the girl bunnies" Ellie told me. She wanted her bunnies to have matching shoes and clothes!
She told me that she really loved the little Easter egg that the bunnies hold in there hands "They're soooooo cuttteeeeee" were her exact words!


We hang some on the kitchen cupboard door handles. My kitchen is decorated lovely for Easter! I love showing off the children's crafts and displaying them around the house and the Easter mix and match bunnies are perfect!
 The bunnies are also self adhesive and can be used to stick on cards or paper, even making an Easter picture perhaps? Ellie stuck one of her bunnies on front of a card and made her own Easter card ready to give to Nanna for Easter! Bless.

Priced at just £3.75 for a pack of eight, I'd say they're well worth the money. Ellie really liked the fact she could mix and match and make her bunnies exactly how she wanted them. She loved the fact you can not only hang them up but they stick onto cards, too! The mix and match bunnies are suitable for all ages (Ha I'm 31 and I still enjoyed making these too - big kid that I am!) and perfect for spring and Easter :)


Next we made Easter gift boxes! Now these are super, super cute!


 Each Easter colour-in gift boxes contain 4 assorted designs (2 of each).. Bunnies, chicks, daffodil and Easter eggs! They have spring theme pictures on them. You will need some cellotape or sticky dots to secure the boxes (not included) and the each box is 7cm x 7cm x 13cm. There is a spring/Easter design on each side of the box. We used marker pens to decorate our boxes but you can use deco pens which can also be purchased from Baker Ross.

Ellie chose the Easter Chick design and Charlie chose the daffodil design! They used marker pens to colour there boxes in!


Charlie and Ellie agreed these boxes would be perfect to fill with sweet and chocolate treats for Easter! "You could also give them out at a party" Ellie suggested. "Or Easter egg hunt prizes" Charlie also suggested! Both great suggestions!

The bottom of the box

The top of the box

 The boxes fold into a box shape nice and easily and the top of the boxes also fold. We folded the chick (and daffodil) through the slot. The children needed a little bit of help with this but once I demonstrated how to do it, they could do it on there own!



These Easter colour in gift boxes are priced at £2.75 for a pack of 8. They are suitable for all ages and they are the perfect Easter arts and craft project for kids. They'd make a lovely gift, especially filled with chocolate eggs!

What were your favourite arts and crafts to do? Let me know in the comments, I'd love to know :)

Sarah xXx