Flashback Friday

Do you yearn to watch Raggy Dolls, Knightmare, Henry's Cat, Children's Ward or Playdays (or even Playbus or Playschool?).

Would you rather listen to "Vogue" then "Frozen"?   Do you still have an Ace of Base song hidden somewhere?

Have you found yourself hunting high and low for an out of date board game (Thomas the Tank Engine, Market Day) just because you had it when you were little?

Would you rather be playing Dizzy, Booty or Gauntlet instead of Call of Duty?

Tuneful Tuesday - Auld Lang Syne

In typical New Years fashion, todays Tuneful Tuesday has to be that scottish classic "Auld Lang Syne" .

Here are the lyrics to trigger your memory.

If you have a song that holds memories or that you simply want to share with other people let me know, I may just feature it.

And the award for worst shop to exit with a pushchair.............. Aldi

I've never really been bothered about Aldi but when a new one opened near me I decided to venture into store....... it will be my last time!!



The store is laid out nicely tho I would suggest their products are no cheaper then other stores own brands.  Nothing really took our fancy - and this is a mummy with 2 (very stressful) children who was trying to decide what to cook for Tea at 3pm a Sunday night.

So empty handed we went to leave.

When is it ok to wear a onesie??

Like most people I got a onesie for Christmas .......... ok I got 2 and inherited my husbands one that was too small for him :)

I said I would never be in the onesie club but I caved, sometime around November and bought one and eeekk it is sooo comfy!!  so for me these were the BEST Christmas present.
My favourite one.... my eeyore one - complete with head and tail.

Silent Sunday 29.12.13

   

Saturday Caption ..... 28.12.13

Saturday is Caption Day ............... what is my Noah thinking?

Ranty Friday - the price of theatre tickets

After having cbeebies Panto on every day (at least once a day) since the 20th December I thought it would be nice to take the boys to the local one.

I remember as a child my mum used to take us regularly to the theatre (she used to work in one) and it was amazing.  yes I got some celebrity autographs but mainly the memories of just queueing, sitting, eating ice cream in the interval, it was just magical and I would LOVE my children to have the same experiences.

Unfortunately the 'big name' panto starts from £18 a ticket!!  That's just short of £80 for the 4 of us by the time you factor in interval ice cream.  Even the amateur one is around £15 a ticket (if you want a seat with a chance of seeing any of it).

Well that rules that experience out then.

Witty Wednesday 25.12.13

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas (eve)

101 (ish) things to do with the kids..........

Whilst visiting a farm on holiday with the boys I can across the National Trust's 50 things to do before you are 11 and 3/4.
One of our local schools also has a list ..... 100 things to do before you leave primary school.

OK so my boys are only 2 and a half and 5 but when I look at these lists I can tick off hardly anything already which is quite disappointing. I am therefore going to make 2014 a year of DOING.
Some of these challenges are definitely aimed at older children (so I have missed them off for the time being).  I won't be disappointed if we don't manage everything on this list but even if we can tick off 52 of them in 2014 I'll be a happy mummy.

So through a combination of these 2 lists and some of my own here is my "101 (ish) things to do with the kids" list.

Why don't you join us?? Perhaps choose 4 or 5 a month to achieve?

We've already done some this year which I might link up to, and may complete some more this year if I can (but with so much going on it won't be a deliberate effort).  Some of them I am sure will be ticked off numerous times in their childhood.

silent sunday 22nd December 2013

   

Rivelin Valley Walk

I'm determined to get out and about more (well more than I already do) with the boys in 2014.  I have my 101 (ish) things to do with the kids challenge which will hopefully motivate me.   Noah now wants to be out his buggy all the time which is scary when you want to go for a longggg walk as you never know when he will decide he's had enough and either start winging or worse....he roots himself to the spot and will not be moved.

However it does make walks in the woods a much easier experience, and only living a stones throw from some of the most beautiful woodland in Sheffield, Rivelin, we thought it was high time we went exploring properly.

Witty Wednesday 18.12.13

Christmas Rocky Road

I feel very privileged to be writing this blog post for Attachment Mummy as she settles into her crazy Christmas with her (now 3) lovely children.   When she requested Christmas themed posts I knew I had to share my favourite treat with you all .... Rocky Road Bites.

Yes sure, you can buy it from that well know high street bakery or your local supermarket but there's something special about making your own, not to mention you get a lot more for your money.

Out of everything I make this is the one that gets requested time and time again by small boys and husband alike....not to mention my work colleagues and (as of today) the builders putting our new windows in.

Twas the Night Before Christmas .... A Soldiers Tale

This poem was written by a Peacekeeping soldier stationed overseas. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable:
"PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favour of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to all of theservice men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.
Please, do your small part to plant this small seed."

T'was the night before christmas,

He lived all alone,

In a one bedroom house,

Made of plaster and stone.

Tuneful Tuesday - Jingle Bells

Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without the sound of Sleigh bells which have become synonymous with the arrival of Father Christmas or Santa Claus.  The song, "Jingle Bells" captures this excitement and is loved by children of all ages!

Here's a reminder of the lyrics and a randomly selected youtube video.

If you have a song that holds memories or that you simply want to share with other people let me know, I may just feature it.

Silent Sunday - 15th December 2013

   

Ranty Friday - Taking credit for other people's ideas

This is one of my pet hates that is right up there alongside stealing peoples pictures from their blogs.  So I thought why get mad.... when I can #RantyFriday about it.

Back in 2009 I was having a look around the internet when a stumbled across a  fantastic idea - putting £1 a day into a jar and then taking out the money when you wanted to to spend on a treat.

You wouldn't miss £1 a day but think how great it would feel to have £50 to spend on that handbag you'd been looking at without feeling guilty, what else would you have spent that £1 on?

At the time I was very active on Money Saving Expert, I looked for a thread the same but there wasn't anything, so I started the £365 in 365 day challenge.  By the end of 2010 there were over 200 people signed up to the challenge.

the post with no name

Been a bit on a blogging drought since moving.  I have posts I have started, things I really want to blog about but just can't find the motivation or the words.

I want to let you know everything that went pear shaped while moving house and how blundells are still making everything a big deal and twice as complicated as it needs to be..... but everytime I sit down to blog about it I get really annoyed and have to stop myself getting really angry... then I lose enthusiasm to write it.

I want to keep you posted with the Elflings activities, heck I want to have the motivation to let the elflings cause mischief every night.  I want the energy to carry out the Elflings challenges every day with the boys.... but my spirit seems to have vanished.

Tuneful Tuesday - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

Because it just wouldn't be Christmas without Rudolph!!

For your enjoyment, the lyrics and a randomly selected youtube video for "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"
.  
If you have a song that holds memories or that you simply want to share with other people let me know, I may just feature it.

What's YOUR favourite Christmas song?

£365 in 365 days..... the 2014 challenge

I started this challenge in 2010 over on Money Saving Expert, but every year a few months in something happens, be it an unexpected bill or a family holiday and the money has to be opened.

But 2014 - new house, new me..... I WILL achieve the £365 target.

The aim: to put in £1 in a day from 1st January 2014- empty it on 31st December 2014 and spend spend spend in January 2015 sales.

Is being a SAHM a job?

Chelsea Mamma lit the touch paper and let it burn......read her post here.  Is being a Stay At Home Mum (whatever the circumstances) a 'job'??

I know there are many different reasons for being a SAHM, you may have had circumstances forced on you, you may have chosen to give up your job.
No ones life is the same and I am sure there will be many SAHM's who will disagree with me entirely and argue their life is far more challenging than ours however this is MY LIFE I am talking about.   I am making no accusations about anyone else's life  am simply outlining how I see it as a working mum and my experiences and observations on/ with my SAHM friends.

Make Christmas Magic.... Portable North Pole (PNP)

Another December in our house means another trip to the Portable North Pole.

We LOVE PNP in this house.

Every year I log into the PNP and ask Santa to send the boys a message.

To Do List 6th December - 12th December 2013

We're all moved and settled in..... but thats a blog post for my to-do list. I have got soooo much to do between now and Christmas it's rediculous but new house, new beginnings and I need to stay on top of things.

Pizza Hut Party........... eventually I can give you an update!

Readers to my blog/ twitter may remember Ben's disastrous birthday party at Pizza Hut... you can read it here if not?

Well after over a month of chasing the complaint up and being told it was being investigated ... just to find out they had no record of having received it..... I have a response :)

Pizza hut have apologised to both me and Ben (in seperate letters - nice touch).  They have sent gift cards to the value of £95 (£30 refund and £65 so Ben can go with his friends in the new year).

Well done Pizza Hut, thank you.

Tuneful Tuesday - Alma Cogan "Never do a tango with an Eskimo"

This is the boys most requested Christmas song, so I thought I'd make it this week's Tuneful Tuesday hit.

For those of you who have never heard here it is, the lyrics and a randomly selected youtube video for Alma Cogan "Never do a tango with an Eskimo"
.  
If you have a song that holds memories or that you simply want to share with other people let me know, I may just feature it.

What do Greg James, Andy Jordan, Rick Edwards and Grimmy all have in common??

......... They love to check their Bauballs.

Photo A Day (November 2013) (#PADN)

I have decided I need to build myself up gradually to the "Photo A Day for a Year" competition next year, so (as if I don't have enough going on this month) I am challenging myself to take a "Photo A Day" (for a Month - November) (#PADN)

I'm hoping this challenge will capture the joys and stresses of moving, the enjoyment of childhood and the ever changing colours and weather of the autumn season.

Silent Sunday 1.12.13