Escaping to the forest – Our last minute break to Center Parcs

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For the past few months our family life has been full of twists and turns. I have been through the emotion of being made redundant, the teen has been studying for his GCSEs, he has been to prom, finished high school, and there have been a few other things in between. Life has been busy, emotional, and stressful, and I desperately needed a break away. And if there is one place that can guarantee that your stress magically disappears the minute you get there, it’s Center Parcs.

Escaping to the forest

We decided to have a change from our usual park of Whinfell, and we booked Woburn after seeing a last minute break for less than £400.… Continue reading

Little Loves (June) Prom, Goodbye GCSEs, and a Trip to Center Parcs

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I can’t believe the last time I wrote my Little Loves post was at the end of April, and life has certainly been a rollercoaster over the past 2 months. GCSEs have been and gone, the teen has finished High School, I left my job of 6 years, Prom has happened, and we have just returned from a chilled trip to Center Parcs which was very much needed.

Little Loves - June

Read

I am making the effort to read every night, as for me it’s the perfect chance to switch my brain off. I am currently about two thirds through The Keeper of Lost Things, and last week I finished Friend Request which my lovely blogging friend Angela from Adventures in Websterland lent me.… Continue reading

Exploring the UK’s Finest Areas

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It’s fair to say that the UK occasionally gets mixed reviews when it comes to what our country has to offer. Some would say that it’s full of rubbish, and the average person wouldn’t like to visit. However, those people haven’t really had a chance to see the true UK in all its glory.

Exploring the UKs finest areas

Because underneath the not so nice towns, there are beautiful landscapes, beaches, cobbled streets, and much more that our country has to offer. It’s one of the reasons why so many European and other tourists flock here each month, to see the types of scenery that they just wouldn’t be able to find in their own country.… Continue reading

Celebrating the end of exams at Hickory’s, Chester

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I can finally say that the exams are over, and as a celebration we were invited to Hickory’s in Chester to try out their new family feast. Hickory’s Smokehouse has one of the best locations in Chester, as it sits right on the banks of the River Dee. With it’s lively and welcoming atmosphere, it is perfect for a celebration.

Hickorys in Chester

You start off the Hickory’s experience with complimentary popcorn, freshly popped on site. We were here to try out their family feast, but of course I couldn’t resist a look through their vast menu. From wood fired chicken skewers to classic hot dogs, cobb salads to the Smokehouse Platter, Hickory’s has it covered with their tastes of the deep south.… Continue reading

Getting Swimsuit ready for Mexico with Ample Bosom

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With our upcoming holiday to Mexico now less than 70 days away, my thoughts have been turning to swimwear. Being plus size with big boobs, I must admit that buying a swimming costume is never my favourite thing to do. Thankfully this is where Ample Bosom makes things as easy as possible for me.

Swimsuite ready with Ample Bosom

As you might guess from the name, Ample Bosom is the place to shop online if you are blessed with bigger boobs. They stock a great range of plus size swimsuits, and I have been buying my swimwear from them for several years. Being a regular swimmer, I need my swimsuits to be chlorine resistant, comfortable, and fairly flattering.… Continue reading

Are 24 exams too much for our teenagers ?

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Today my teenager completed his penultimate GCSE exam. Exam number 23 out of 24, with his final exam being taken next Wednesday. 24 exams between the 14th May and the 20th June, 24 exams to revise for, 24 exams to feel anxious over, 24 times to walk into the school hall under exam conditions, and to remember everything you have been taught over the past 3 years.

Are 24 Exams too much for our Teenagers

I remember looking at the exam timetable a few months ago. I naively thought that the 2 page document in my hand was every single GCSE, not just the ones my son would be taking.… Continue reading

Being made redundant

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I never thought I would be sat here, writing a post about being made redundant, and if truth be told that is probably quite naïve of me. Losing my part-time job, working as an administrator in a children’s nursery, was never at the forefront of my mind. But on the 12th March it became a reality for me. The job that I had loved doing for 6 years was being taken away from me.

Being made redundant

I am not going to lie, the past 3 months have been tough. I know that I am extremely lucky that we don’t rely on my salary to pay the mortgage and bills, but I have found losing my job an emotional rollercoaster.… Continue reading

Family days out when you have teenagers

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I have lost count of how many times I have suggested a nice family day out, only to be met with a ‘Kevin and Perry’ moment from the teen. And of course our days out as a family are getting few and far between, as both children spend more time with their friends.

Family days out when you have teenagers

But holding on to precious family time is really important to me. In just over two years, the teen could well be heading off to University. So instead of my ideas being met with a resounding NO, I asked them to give me some ideas for our family days out together.… Continue reading

Getting the best out of your next family trip

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Half term is on the horizon, and if you are going on a family trip, I am pretty sure you are going to want to make sure that you get the best out of it.

Getting the best out of your next family trip

If you are like me, you will probably have high hopes for your trip. They’re expensive, for a start, and with things like work and school, it can be tough to get the chance to spend quality time together, especially if you have older children in your family, like us. Here are some tips you can use to make sure you’re getting the most out of your next family trip.… Continue reading

Celebrating the start of GCSEs with cake

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Over the past few months there has been one thing that has dominated our lives, and if you also have a child in year 11, you will know exactly what I am talking about. Yes, GCSEs. The exams finally started for my son yesterday, and I am pretty sure that teens all over the country will be wishing the next few weeks away.

Celebrating the start of GCSEs with cake

Talk of GCSEs start the minute your child hits year 11, and thankfully my teen has been revising since the start of September. He has dragged himself into school at weekends for revision classes, stayed late after school, and forfeited a few games of Fortnite in favour of putting his head in a book.… Continue reading