100 Happy Days, Day 68, Wow

I looked out of the window tonight and saw this! Yes I know the view is there every day. But it looks different during certain times of the day, seasons and weather. So its rare to see the same view twice.

The Tree House Restaurant At Alnwick Gardens

For my last Alnwick post I wanted to blog about the Tree House Restaurant, On a previous trip to Alnwick I had tried to book the Tree House and it was fully booked, so this time I booked 6 months in advance. 

It is so different to any restaurant I have ever been to. It is literally built in the tree's. It consists of a main building and a network of smaller building, joined together by suspended bridges. I felt a bit like I was in Neverland; it really is that magical.

100 Happy Days, Day 67, Home Sweet Home

For today it has to be home sweet home, we have had a great break, we have had loads of fun adventures and spent quality time with people we love, however; the feeling of walking through your own front door after a break away is wonderful. 

The difficulties of Eating Healthy When Away

We are on our way home after almost a week away, I thought I would blog about the difficulties I have encountered trying to follow slimming world whilst away.
I have had easy days and  some great meals, and some incredibly difficult ones.

100 Happy Days, Day 66, The Boys Enjoying a Snack in Covent Garden

For day 66 I chose this photo of the Boys enjoying a treat at Covent Garden. We have had a fantastic day in London, walked miles, and seen lots. Jack needed a sugary treat to keep him going. 

I have lots to blog about as we have seen loads of exciting things. And we were lucky enough to have a warm sunny day.

Lunch at Strada, Lakeside

This week we went to Strada at Lakeside for lunch. We hadn't been to Strada before, but the Boys really wanted an Italian. We were greeted and seated immediately, and received our drinks quickly. 

The staff were very accommodating, and agreed to cook my linguine allegro without the butter chili and cook Mr fussy Joe plain pasta with ham; I know how boring. 

100 Happy Days, Day 65, Friends

Today we have had a lovely day, visited my lovely Nan and seen my Aunt Joyce and Coulsin George. We have also been to visit one of my best friends in the world. We had a lovely afternoon with the Gibbons Family, Theresa and I met when we were 10 years old and have been the best of friends ever since. We all love spending time together. Thankyou Theresa, Lee, Ashlee, Frazer and Lacey for a great afternoon.

Elephants on Parade on Tour at Lakeside.

Today we called into Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex, and were surprised to see there was an elephant parade. It is a collection of Elephants decorated by artists to raise money for the conservation of Asian Elephants, in total there was 31 Elephants. We came Accra's 9 but did not have time to keep searching as we were on our way to my Mum and Dads. I really loved them they were so cute. I thought I would share the Elephants we found, what a fantastic way to raise money for a great cause, for more info see the Elephant Parade website. 

These Elephants are adorable in fact I would love one for my garden,  If they are visiting a shopping centre near you they are defiantly worth a look.

Twiggie on Tour by Ann Leonard & Paola Minekov

I found a suitcase full of clothes !

We had originally booked a cruise for our Holiday, however it all ended in disaster when out cruise port was cancelled. Royal Caribbean were excellent they offered to transfer us to another sailing and on board credit for the inconvenience. But it just did not fit with our plans so we took the decision to cancel. 

Up until us cancelling I had been buying the boys clothes and putting them in a suitcase whenever I saw something nice.

100 Happy Days, Day 64, Chillin at My Mum & Dads

We have arrived to visit my Mum and Dad and brother Terry. We don't see them that often so it's great to visit. It's a Shame the weather is rubbish but it's still lovely to be here. 

100 Happy Days, Day 63, Peace at Last

At last they are quiet, seriously they have drove me mental today completely raving mad, bickering, arguing, and cheeky. So much so I have invented an incentive system! So when they were eventually quiet,I grabbed the opportunity to take a photo of them both with their mouths SHUT. I love them both very much but today they have drove me mad. Ooh it's wierd but it's made me feel better writing that down. Let's hope my little angels are in better moods this afternoon.

Fake Fudge, Sin Free

For my slimming world meeting last week we were having a try out session, I was wracking my brains what to make to take in,  when Holly from The Chapman Effect suggested I try fake fudge, so here it is.

You will need;
1 frozen Muller toffee yogurt
1 roughly mashed banana
2 sachets of sweetener

100 Happy Days, Day 62, A Lovely Gift

Look what my little friend Jessica bought for me as a gift.(with the help of her Mummy and Daddy) As a thank-you for giving her my dolls house. Thank you Jessica that was very kind of you! And I hope you have many years of enjoyment playing with your new house. Xxx

I am a child of the 80s, Week 1, Technology

The other day I was listen to a song on the radio which had a part where the voices slow down, it was meant to be like that but I giggled to myself and though aaahhh that sounds just like my old Sony Walkman when the batteries started running out. Its times like that you realise how much has passed you by and how much things have changed. Not that I am by any means old, nor do I feel it. But life and technology are a million miles away from what they were when I was in my teens.

The other day in College I mentioned Chips, an American Cop programme I used to watch when I was younger, to some of my students. Everyone just looked at me blank they had no idea what I was talking about! So I have decided to write a few posts, a trip down memory lane of life in the 80s. I am starting today with technology as the differences from then, to now are vast. 

100 Happy Days, Day 61, A Beautiful Tree in the Miserable Rain.

I know the weather is miserable but this tree looked beautiful in the rain today; when Toby and I was getting soaked on our walk. A beautiful frame to a very miserable Pendle backdrop. 

Alnwick Gardens, Northumberland.

We visited Alnwick Garden last year as part of a combination ticket with Alnwick Castle. It really is quite breathtaking; who would have thought a garden could be such a fantastic place. I love the great outdoors but this place really is something special. You enter the garden into a Pavilion area with shops and cafes. Facing you, as you enter the gardens; is what seems like an endless waterfall and fountains.

It is called the Grand Cascade and it really is grand, it is a huge tiered water feature that has coordinated fountains going off at intervals and an overflow at the bottom, which ingeniously has small tractors where children can fill their buckets with the overflowing water and transport it around.

100 Happy Days, Day 60 Cheers to the Weekend

Happy weekend and happy half term phew I made it, it's been a busy tiring few weeks, cheers to the next week.I am now looking forward to some chilled family time.

Being a being a Mum to Boys

This week Joe is attending the birthday party of one of his favourite girls at School, as a result I have been looking for a present for her. She is the cutest girl and do you know I have really struggled knowing what to buy her. Also this week a colleague at work was discussing TOWIE and the Kardashians, which her daughters love. She could have been talking another language as far as I was concerned. She was a bit perplexed by this and asked what we watch in our house when I told her Cops with cameras, Deadly 60, Bear Grylls and football she looked at me with sympathy. 

That’s when it occurred to me that parenting Boys and Girls could be so different. This got me thinking about the differences I have noticed between my friend’s girls and the boys. Now please this is means by no means meant to generalise, stereotype or offend anyone this is only my experience of having Boys, and having friends with Girls. 

100 Happy Days, Day 59. The 80s

Today I started a blog post I have been thinking of writing about; Being a child of the 80s, I did a lesson on the 80s recently and my students loved it. I decided to start by getting relevant photos from the internet, when I came across this picture it really made me smile, it represents so many things that were important to me as a young teenager. I actually had a pair of pink heels exactly the same as those. In fact I am so excited to write the post as this picture has brought back many happy memories.

Slimming world, week 4 over

This week has been tough, I don't know why I feel like I have worked so hard to follow the plan and tonight put on half a pound!! I did have some pink fizz on Saturday night but apart from that I did think I had tried. I feel I need to share my gains and losses with my blog to keep going and keep motivated, it's no good just putting the losses on. Janet my consultant was great and offered to go through my food diary with me but I think I know where the error was, when I looked at my food diary the little slips were all there.

100 Happy Days, Day 58, Sin free Meringues

Today I made sin free meringues, these are great for me as I can have these for a pudding on slimming world.

You will need 2 egg white
90g of sweetener

Whisk the egg until light and fluffy and then add sugar in a spoonful at a time until it stands in stiff peaks.

Spoon onto baking tray and put in a pre heated over at 130 degrees for 20 minutes.
I will admit they are not a sweet as the real deal but with strawberries and fat free yoghurt they are fab and free!

Victoria Hislop, The Island

The story starts when Alexis Fielding decides to travel to Crete to find out about her Mothers Past, her mother Sophia has never spoken of it and she is dying to know why. All she has told her is that she grew up in a small fishing village in Crete.

Sophia gives Alexis a letter to give to an old friend Fotini instructing her to tell Alexis all. Arriving in Plaka, Alexis is stunned to see that it lies a stone's throw from the tiny, deserted island of Spinalonga - Greece's former leper colony.

Fotini tell Alexis the tale of her Great Grandmother Elini and her daughters, Anna and Maria, a tragic, touching tale connecting them to the island of Spinalonga. Leprosy may be one of the world's oldest known diseases, but it is also one of its most misunderstood. 

100 Happy Days, Day 57, Harry Potter Studio Tour.

I have chosen this email I received today , we are going to Harry Potter Studios next week 'hooray'. I am such a huge fan. I was one of those geeks that bought every book on release day. I saw all the films at the cinema, and have the box set. So I am beside myself with excitement about next weeks visit. In fact I bet I will embarrass the boys!

Great British Home Quiz, My Shelfie

This week I took GREAT BRITISH HOME QUIZ the with Victoria Plumb bathrooms to find out my home style. It is part of a home style initiative and actually the result was quite funny. What would your shelfie say about you? Click on the link above to have a go,and win £250 in the process! 

My Results are:

You are Mrs Elegant
YOUR STyle IS MOST LIKE LADY MARY OR LORD GILLINGHAM FROM DOWNTON ABBEY.

100 Happy Days, Day 56, Country Roads

Today I have chosen a picture of the road I live on, it is so quiet and peaceful. I walk on it every day and don't really take much notice of how peaceful it is. Not to many cars, birds singing and most of all calm and tranquil. It is especially nice on hot sunny days like today. But isn't everything great on a sunny day?

Low Fat Jelly Sweets, A healthier alternative to Haribo

Every week at slimming world people talk about these sweets, now I have an admission to make; to be honest I don't like haribo or jelly sweets. When I tell people this they look at me at disgust, like I have two heads or something. I just don't get what all the fuss is about, they are over sweet and sickly. 

The boys love them, this is something that Jack will always have to give an extra injection for and you would not believe the carbs in them soooo high. I really am not keen on him eating them, but he's a teenager I can't deny him things he likes. 

So I was keen to try these, if there is a chance they are a good substitute then these have got to better for him. So here goes

You will need;

2 sachets sugar free jelly crystals
2 sachets powdered gelatin
1 pot mullerlight yoghurt

I used Raspberry for this Batch

100 Happy Days, Day 55, Saying Hello

For day 55 I have chosen these Cows they popped their heads over the wall as we were driving by yesterday. I rarely get near to Cows as I am terrified of them,due to being chased as a teenager, but they are beautiful animals. I am so pleased they got near enough for me to stop a take a picture, but there was this lovely strong wall between us.

The Beauty of the Wedding Morning

Yesterday I had to be up at 6am, tough for me on a Saturday but somehow I did it. The reason; I was doing the hair for a wedding. I actually stopped doing hair at home when Joe was born. Every time I started to put a colour on he would scream I ended up thinking that doing hair at home was just not worth it, as I was always left dealing with a screaming baby.  

I did the wedding today as a favour to my great friend Louise, it made me realise how much I miss doing wedding hair, this is absolutely the best bit of being a hairdresser. 

Photo from www.projectamore.com

100 Happy Days, Day 54, Its a Beautiful Day

For today I have chosen the hot May Sun, what a beautiful day today has been. The sun makes everyone so much happier. I took this photo while catching a little bit of vitamin d on my new bean bags in the garden, whilst the boys played with the hose pipe to cool down.

Learning to fly Broomsticks, Just like Harry Potter, at Alnwick Castle.

Last year we took a trip to Alnwick to visit Alnwick Castle and Gardens; this is where Harry Potter was originally filmed. Living with all boys they love a castle, and I must say we had a fantastic time. I was going to write a post about the Gardens and Tree house restaurant but realised they are all sooo amazing that they deserved posts of their very own.

A Castle and Garden Family ticket is £61.75, and we were lucky enough that there was an offer to upgrade to an annual pass for free, so we were able to hop in and out for the week we stayed in Alnwick.  

100 Happy Days ,Day 53, Out for Tea with Ruth

Today for day 53,Ruth and I met up for tea, its nice to get out and catch up from time to time. Tonight we have chosen our favourite jaunt the fence Gate. And what a bonus the sun is out and it has been a beautiful day.

Day and Night On Our Door Step in Spring

Recently I received an email detailing how to enter the Center Parcs and Tots100 May Challenge. The grand prize is to become a member of the Center Parcs Family Blogger Club. I know wow, we are massive Center Parks fans, and the boys have been every year since they were born. I really believe Center Parks is the perfect family break.

So I have hunted through my blog as I have taken lots of spring snaps, and wrote a list of what's missing to fill my inspired post.  I have looked at Pinterest and was inspired by the beautiful picture of the tree, from this I decided to post about a day and night on my door step, the Lancashire countryside.

I have always loved the countryside and have been snapping away since I started my blog, I have noticed things I never notice before. It has made me appreciate it so much more. We also went on a picture finding expedition to ensure we had just the right pictures for this post.

The problem is; we found too many, we tried to shortlist and couldn't so we all agreed we would make a collage for each subject we wanted to show,when discussing our idea of Day and Night on Our Doorstep.

100 Happy Days, Day 52, Morrisons's Lilies

I just had to use these lilies today, I bought then from Morrisons nearly 2 weeks ago and they still look fantastic. I know I have used Lilie's for my 100 happy days before but I can not get over how long the Morrisons Lilie's last and how beautiful they are.

Slimming World Week 3 Over

Week 3 is over, I am happy that I lost 1.5 pounds this week, so 4.5 in total. In reflection I don't think I have done too bad.  Every week has given me a new challenge.

 This week we went to friends Saturday night so yes too much wine again, I decided best not to count up all the sins. I was quite good with food; Steve had made a Thai red curry so I was able to eat the chicken and rice, with just a small piece of nan bread.  Pudding was a big box of maltesers to pick at; I was so proud of myself as I only had 1.  I know pathetic but I knew I was going so much over my sins with the wine and champagne that I had to try to be good with food.

100 Happy Days, Day 51, playing in the Garden

Phew no rain today and it is actually warming up again. Joe came home from School, got his wellies on and went straight out in to the garden. He loves being outside, this is when he is at his happiest when he is in the garden in his wellies and ultimately covered in mud!

TMI Tag

TMI Tag 

Maria from Maria Noell kindly asked me to complete this TMI tag(Too Much Information), it's a great way to get to know new blogging friends, It has taken ages to complete, mostly at night, so here goes.

1. What are you wearing? 

I am still in my work uniform, a purple tunic and black trousers, I quite like it actually its nice and bright

  

2. Ever been in love? 

Yes with my lovely Husband Chris and my two wonderful boys 

  

3. Ever had a terrible breakup? 

No never! thank goodness

4. How tall are you? 

5 foot 1

  

5. How much do you weigh? 

agghh ask me after 6 weeks at slimming world, I am still traumatized by it.

  

100 Happy Days, Day 50, My Lilacs are Flowering

Wow I cannot believe I am at day 50, half way through 100 Happy Days. And do you know what? I am so enjoying appreciating the simple things in life. For day 50 I have chosen my lilac bush in the garden. It has just started to flower; I hope to get a picture of it in full bloom in a month’s time. It is so stunning, I love the scent and the colours; it really is spectacular when in full bloom.