Little Loves – High School Transition, Heatwaves and Fluffy Owls

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Well what a week that was. There was only one thing we were all talking about, and of course that was the heat. It has been far too hot to cook, and we have had a few meals out this week which has been lovely. You can’t beat family time, nice food and lots of chatter and laughing.

Chiquitos Dessert

Chiquitos food

Read

I haven’t read anything of interest this week.

Watched

Gorgeous fluffy owls flying. My husband had got me an Owl Experience for my birthday back in January, and only I could make the booking on the hottest day of the year. But what an experience it was.… Continue reading

Little Loves – Beach Fun, Celebrity Baking and Summer Dress Shopping

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How has it been 3 weeks since I joined in with Little Loves. Life seems to be busy at the moment…. a good busy so I won’t complain. I have had some lovely blog events and reviews over the past few weeks, with more on the horizon.

Daughter and Lisa Faulkner

Read

After hearing so many good things about Big Little Lies, I picked up the book in Sainsburys last week. Always a winner when you can combine food shopping with book buying, and at less than £4 it was a bargain. I have not started it yet as I am saving it for when we go on holiday.… Continue reading

Family Road Trip – Car Safety and 5 things you need to do

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Following on from my post about my top tips when taking a road trip, today I am writing about car safety. Over the years we have taken many road trips around the UK, from Scotland to Wales, Bath to Northumberland. We love exploring new destinations as a family, and my trusty car of 14 years has never let us down. Whilst I concentrate on packing clothes, food and basically anything else that will fit in the boot of a Citroen Picasso, my husband deals with the car maintenance.

Car Safety

Top up your windscreen washer

The last thing you want to be faced with is a dirty windscreen and NO water left.… Continue reading

Baking with Lisa Faulkner and Belvoir Fruit Farms

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During half term Katie and I enjoyed a very special trip to London. We had been invited by Belvoir Fruit Farms to spend the day learning about elderflower, and baking with the lovely Lisa Faulkner. Now I must admit I had only tried elderflower a handful of times, but now it’s a firm favourite to accompany my gin and tonic. Honestly try it, you won’t be disappointed.

Belvoir Elderflower Cordial

Belvoir is a family owned and run business, and they have been producing elderflower cordials for over 30 years.  No doubt you would  have seen the distinctive design of the bottles in supermarkets, farm shops and restaurants. … Continue reading

A day at the Beach Huts in Lytham St Annes

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Last weekend I managed to tick off another item on my A to Z of things to achieve in 2017….. hiring a beach hut. I have had my eye on the beach huts at Lytham St Annes for a few years now, and last Friday I got my wish of hiring one for the day.

Beach hut at Lytham

Lytham St Annes is a traditional seaside resort, and the beach huts are proudly displayed on the promenade. Prior to our visit we received an email advising us of our hut number, directions, and where you will find your key. The hut office can be found at the back of the cinema, and there are a few free parking spaces just outside the office.… Continue reading

Italian Dining at Gusto in Knutsford

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Last week I was invited to try out the new menu at Gusto, an authentic Italian restaurant in the heart of Knutsford. I had previously dined at the restaurant 2 years ago, when myself and a group of girlfriends had visited for lunch. This time I was booked in for dinner with my best friend, and I was looking forward to experiencing Gusto in the evening.

Gusto in Knutsford

You will find Gusto nestled amongst the many restaurants of Knutsford, and as we walked along the high street you realise what a vibrant town it is. It was an unusually warm sunny evening, and as we approached the restaurant you could hear the lively chatter coming from the open windows.… Continue reading

NEW Madagascar PLAY area at Chester Zoo – Review

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Yesterday we were invited to try out the brand new Madagascar PLAY area at Chester Zoo. We were told that we could climb like a lemur in the tree top adventure, play on the sandy beach like a tortoise, and hide in the Madagascan grasses. Animal noises optional.

Lemur Tails at Chester Zoo

Our 2 explorers for the day were Katie and her cousin Finn, all set to experience Madagascar with their lemur tails. We were welcomed into the PLAY area by the most delicious and refreshing mocktails, and WOW what an area.

Mocktails

Slide at Chester Zoo

Madagascar PLAY at Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo have teamed up with play experts, and developed the land into a place of wonder and adventure.… Continue reading

Little Loves – Proud Mum Moments, Cocktails and Blog On

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It’s been 2 weeks since I joined in with the ‘Little Loves’ linky, and to be honest I nearly didn’t write this post. In a week that has been filled with such awful sadness, I found it hard to look for the little things that have made me smile. But when such tragic events happen, it’s even more important to look for the good that is happening around us.

Read

I seem to have read alot of menus the past fortnight. From the amazing menu at The Alchemist which is literally full of delightful cocktails. To being faced with 3 menus at Gusto in Knutsford the other evening.… Continue reading

Family Road Trip – My Top Tips

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KEEP CALM and ROAD TRIP

A car, the open road and your family is all you need.

Family Road Trip

With summer nearly here, what better way to enjoy the sun and holidays than a family road trip. When opting for a fun road trip, it’s not just about the destination; it is about the journey too.

It’s a really exciting prospect for children and all you need is a car, the open road and your family. It also allows you to avoid high airport prices, long flight delays and dreaded plane journeys.

However, unexpected back seat quibbles and the repeatedly asked question ‘are we there yet’ could lead to resorting to iPads to keep them quiet.… Continue reading

Our Camping memories with the kids – plus 10 tips for first time campers

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Camping with kids

With another bank holiday on the horizon, people will be looking to spend a few nights under canvas. We used to love camping when the kids were little, but for the past 3 years the tent has stayed in the loft. I fear that camping may not be the same when the teenager realises that a tent does not come with a PS4 and superfast broadband.

We started camping when the kids were 3 and 6, and we have many happy camping memories. Our camping experiences were definitely a learning curve, and with each trip I learnt something new. The most important one, ALWAYS pack a corkscrew for your wine, yes a HUGE error on my part. … Continue reading