Overheard on public transport ....

Followers will know already, we don't own a car, Everything we do, everywhere we go is reliant on public transport;  bus,  tram sometimes train and very occasionally taxi.  What I hear and see on these journeys sometimes make me laugh,  cry or cringe. ... With this new blog series I'd like to share some of those experiences with you.

Today's gem of wisdom came from a school girl on the Tram .....

" it's so much easier to do on the Tram, much easier then on a bus .... and is impossible to do it in a car"

What was this she was discussing with her friend?  Where best to apply her makeup of course!

Fresh Fish Friday

Ben loves Fish and Chip Friday at school.  Sometimes it's fillets, sometimes fingers but you can

guarantee one thing - I bet it's not Fresh.  You just can't beat the taste of fish shop fish at the seaside can you?

Or so I thought.

We rarely buy 'real' fish at home anymore due to the cost.  I used to love fresh plaice fillets with a jacket potato (in fact it's one of the things I cooked many years ago in GCSE food technology) but when you are working to a budget and weighing up the cost of a small piece of fresh fish vs a bag of frozen portions it's a no-brainer.  I was really excited then when Tesco, the 2014 Meat and Fish Retailer of the Year Award,  asked us to try their range of fresh fish as part of the 'orchard food' panel.

Toffee Cream Tart

We love old school type desserts and this week I had real cravings for Toffee Cream Tart ...... so I made one.

I am the worlds worst pastry chef so I kinda help myself along a bit and buy a pre-made pastry case.  If you are making your own then you'll need to find this part of the recipe as I've not included it.  These instructions are only for the Toffee Cream filling.

Our Budget Holiday - Step 1: Planning

It's been a long time (over a year) since we went on a proper holiday.  Yes we had a couple of nights away at a time in a hotel (normally a budget one), we went camping but not a proper 5 nights away in a caravan type of holiday.   And I am suffering withdrawal symptoms.

So I set about looking for something for February half term.  of course with it being February a lot of the caravan sites aren't open and the hotels are pricey but that didn't stop me.
   Yes we could have just had a couple of nights somewhere and had a biggie later in the year but who knows what 2015 will bring, and we'd like to get more use out of our tent this year (and maybe get a bigger one) so hopefully as weather improves we'll use that for our time away.

Hubby's work are a nightmare when it comes to signing off holiday and only agreed this weekend he could have the time off - but the Friday/ Sat/ Sun at the beginning not the end.

The next question was where to go.  Initially I wanted to go to London but the outlay on that was extortionate so I sulked.  I spent 2 days sulkily trawling the Internet and asking twitter for some inspiration.... then it struck.

We still have hubby's families Christmas presents here (don't ask) so lets kill 2 birds with 1 stone and go see them (but not for too long)..... that means a road trip to the Lake District (we've not been up there in about 2 years) and a trip to my old uni haunts and see how much everything has changed in 10 years.

Tortilla Pizzas

The kids love pizza but I'm always trying to make meal times that bit healthier (and cheaper),


I bring you quick and easy Tortilla Pizzas that the kids can help make themselves.

Merlin Passes - are they worth it?

Last year we forfeited a 'proper holiday' and bought Merlin Passes.  For 3 of us (Noah was only 2)  it cost us about £300.  So we made the most of them.

We went to:

Legoland Windsor (1 and a half days).  post 1  post 2
Alton Towers (2 and a half days)  post 1   post 2
Legoland Manchester (4 times - I think)   post
Sealife Manchester (2 times)

my husband just committed the ultimate sin

Picture the scenario..............

The wind is howling.......... the rain is literally bashing against the windows...... it's 6.45am ....... and
the kids are already awake.

After trying to ignore them and go back to bed (like any good mum) I gave up and eventually got up.

I went downstairs and made myself a cup of tea.

Flashback Friday - Look and Read (part 1): Through The Dragon's Eye.

I was going through the bookcase last weekend to work out what to read in our Chapter Book Challenge when I uncovered my old copy of Through the Dragon's Eye.  Slightly battered and every bit it's 23 years old but there none the less to enjoy with my kids,  But it wasn't the book that sparked my love of Through the Dragons Eye (tho at least I couldn't see scary Charn in text) but the TV
series,  The 10 x 20 minute episodes of Look and Read, shown in the Music Room when I was in Primary School.

 Once a week we would file into the little room, sit cross legged on the carpet and eagerly await the tales from Pelamar on our BBC VHS (not live as I was only 7 when it first aired in 1989 and I am sure it was the juniors, possibly year 6 when we watched it).  My teacher always brought the teachers notes in with her, a folder of activity and helpful hints for the 'working out' elements.  Not that I can ever remember her opening and using them.  Thanks to YouTube I can now share the enjoyment with my 2 boys

what happens when Lush get their labelling wrong??

I was soo excited, hubby had bought me some Lush goodies for Christmas.  Still being a novice I don't know their products inside out and, like I assume you would, follow the instructions on the packets when using.

So tonight, after a hectic day at work and needing to relax, I got one out of it's packet.  The instructions told me to "crumble half a bar under a running tap to enjoy a mountain of uplifting bubbles"  (it also told me it was orange and zesty but my brain didn't link that the product I had in my hand was not orangy).

Chickywiggle's Bookshelf - 2015

I have decided to make better use of my Bookspot tab so am going to keep my ongoing list of what is on (and off) my bookshelf here.

Yes my list has reduced considerable, and noo you're right I've not read them all.  But I figured a lot of them have been there for 5 years or so and if I've not read them by now then lets be honest I'm not going to now.  

I have my favourite authors with books I've still to read and kept a few extras that I might read, but otherwise I'm going to try and sell or swap them.... so if you fancy taking a look.....

The Chapter Book Challenge 2015

Last year we really enjoyed joining in with Child-Led Chaos' 300 Picture Book Challenge, it really made us think about just how much we were reading.  However it took a long time to keep track of everything and. as you will have noticed, we forgot to record it quite a bit.

This year the boys are a bit older and we are moving onto bigger books, that's not to say we won't be reading Thomas, Topsy and Tim, Elmer, Puddle Lane and all our other favourites (Noah is still only 3 after all) but it does mean we can crack on with some of out Chapter (or books with lots of various stories in) books.

My aim is to read at least 26 of these with the boys, initially I was going for 52 but that's pushing it a bit as quite a few would take longer then a week to read.
I've made a start with the list from those that are already on our shelves but it's not complete yet as I want to leave room for ones they might choose themselves or ones we may encounter on our journey this year.

300 Picture Book Challenge ...... the year is over.

Ermmm I'm not entirely sure what happened to November, for some reason I have not logged any books.  We did read I promise you but I have absolutely no idea What or How Many!!

So Lets pretend November didn't exist and fast forward to December.

December I introduced the Book Advent Calendar.  1 (or 2) books with a Christmas theme wrapped up and under the tree for the boys to find and read every day.

My Organised Christmas 2014

That's it, Christmas is over for another year.  But just for reference for next year (or if you need to start planning in July) here's the list of everything I did in the run up to the big day.

I loved sharing the excitement with Cate over at Me Add Three and her
Christmas Countdown.

Plus huge thank you's to Izabela Peters, Lapland Mailroom and the Portable North Pole for their gifts this year,

Follow the links as I post them below to keep up with my planning (where I will be following Organized Christmas as it applies to me, however I may throw in some extra things) and let me know how you are getting on with yours.  Are you super organised or a Christmas Eve shopper??

Meal Plan - 30/12/14 to 5/1/15

I really must meal plan as once again the freezer is full of bits that are never going to get eaten, we must waste so much money.

I'll be getting a few bits in for hubby to make his own meals from (and the kids Mon-Thurs) as he won't follow a meal plan, so will be planning for me all week and for the kids Friday - Sunday.

Thankfully I have about 10 frozen leftover meals in the freezer that I can eat up after this weekend as I also must re-start my diet I can hardly fit in my trousers.

Chickywiggle's guide to .... Christmas Party Food

This season we have mostly been eating and ... well yup that's pretty much it.  From roast dinners to party food to chocolate you name it, we've eaten it.  But that's what Christmas is all about right?  **tucks into another piece of shortbread**

I did a big online food shop that was delivered on Monday 22nd.  To be honest the experience I had using the app was far from perfect.  I booked the slot in good time and it was really convenient to open the app wherever I was to be able to add an item (or delete one if I got it cheaper somewhere else).  Every time I went in to add an item tho the chicken in the basket became unavailable and I had to replace it with another.  5 times this happened in the run up to the delivery and I was beginning to think I would have to go shopping somewhere else on Christmas eve.  Thankfully I was able to add the original chicken to my order the night before so Christmas was saved.

Tesco had kindly sent me some money off vouchers as part of the Orchard Programme for their Finest* Party Food.  It wasn't easy to find these online (as I've said before our online Finest* range is not brilliant) but with some googling and looking at what others had purchased I discovered there was more to the Party Food range then I first thought.... couldn't get the profiteroles tho :(

Our Tesco Finest* Party Food  range helped out in 3 meals over the festive period.

The Dinosaur that pooped.............

Nothing says Happy Christmas better then pooping dinosaurs does it?  So this year I won't be saying "Happy Christmas" to you, I will be sharing with you the fabulous creations of Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter (yup them guys from McFly) and "Poop, presents and prehistoric creatures".

We were really lucky to be asked to review that funny series and when the postie (eventually) decided to deliver it just before Christmas it was in great time for a 3h train ride to London.

I am sure the rest of the train enjoyed the hysterical laughter from our seats.  From mummy, who found it difficult to actually stop giggling long enough to read some of it, the boys who, well lets face it, it mentions the word poop - need I say more, and even Grandma managed a smile!

Snowman soup

You know Christmas is near when mums everywhere start referring to snowman soup.  It's become a tradition in our house and this year is no exception.

Unfortunately, being unworldly, my husband had not heard of it, and when the kids got up yesterday and declared that was what they wanted to drink we had a situation....and a frantic text at work, "wtf is snowman soup?".... I explained ... the next question "can I use mint herbs?".... some people just can't be helped :)

So, while the shops are still open and there's time to pick up any missing ingredient, let me introduce you to snowman soup.

Place marshmallows and a candy cane (or in this case a bit of candy tree) in a mug. 

Add your favourite hot chocolate mix.   

Add boiling water

Stir stir stir stir stir

Drink once cooled.

And it's that simple.  If you have any you can always decorate with whipped cream.

Enjoy.

Chickywiggle's Christmas guide to .......... essential TV viewing (part 1).

It's the 20th December tomorrow and do you know what that means???

OK, as it's Christmas I'll let you try again, .. here's another hint .... it's the last Saturday before Christmas.....

Got it??

YUP, It's Christmas TV guide day - the official day that the Double Christmas Guides Start and this year they run from the 20th December to the 2nd January.


Are you a circler or a highlighter???  when I was little we all had a different colour highlighter pen and went through the TV guide as soon as it arrived in the house marking out what it was we wanted to watch.... this year I couldn't find the highlighter pen so I had to draw rings around things.  It is most definitely not as easy to see what you have marked out so I shall be buying a new highlighter and amending it :)

In the first of a 2 parter, here is my Top 7 picks (1 a day) of what we shall be watching this holiday season, not including films (I'll cover them tomorrow).

Do you have Faith In Nature?

My names Laura, and I'm a bath addict.  There I admit it, I hold my hands up. In the last year I've gone from buying the cheapest shampoo, conditioner and bubble bath to treating myself to lush bath bombs and body shop sugar scrubs.

Since the dreaded nits hit here a few months ago my hair was ruined. The lotion stripped it of everything good, there was no bounce, no shine and no life.  In fact I don't think it could have looked less greasy if I'd showered in vegetable oil.   I discovered argon oil and never looked back. Then faith in nature approached me.... where had I heard that name before?  I had a sense of coconut, and looking back through my posts realised I had used their gorgeous coconut shower gel and foam bath just a couple of months ago when it appeared in my goody bag from the Northern Bloggers Meet Up.

This time was to ask for my views on their extensive shampoo and conditioner range.  I was dubious, could I swap my argon oil for something else (especially at party season when it's all about the hair).  But after looking into it and discovering they did a chocolate range......well that's an offer I'd be mad to turn down!!  Then my husband told me I couldn't drink it :(.

Chickywiggles Christmas guide to...... Songs

One of the best bits about Christmas for me are the songs.  How can you not resist the urge to sing along to Frosty the Snowman as he bounds over the hills with a "Thumpety thump, thump, thumpety thump, thump"?


Admit it, we have all screamed along with Kirsty McColl and the Pogues during "Fairytale of New York" it's probably the most unseasonal Christmas song but ohh soo festive all the same.