Win a Family Ticket To Big Day Out - 1st July Mote Park Maidstone

The main stage will be headlined this year by X-Factor star Louisa Johnson, who will be performing some of her unreleased music as well as fan favourites ‘Bad Behaviour’ and ‘So Good’. She will be joined by her X-Factor contemporaries Reggie ’n’ Bollie, Atomic Kitten, and for the kids we have CBeebies’ own Mr Bloom performing in the early afternoon.

 To top all this off we have the UK’s best dance group Diversity returning to Big Day Out with an all-new dance routine that is sure to wow old and young alike.

Big Day Out 2017 will play host to performance classes for everyone to get involved with. 

There is a Circus School for the class and office clowns, and those with a feeling for music and dance can put their best foot forward in our Hip-Hop and Ballet dance classes! 

On top of this, the kids’ favourite characters will be roaming the festival for them to meet, including Fairytale Princesses, Comic Superheroes, Paw Patrol, and Bing & Flop!

All in all, Big Day Out has returned bigger and better with the sole intention of making all family members happy! 

I am giving away one family ticket 2x Adults 2x Children tickets.

All you have to do is enter the rafflecopter below.

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T&Cs

Winner will be picked at random,

a family ticket is 2xadults 2xchildren

Transport not included

Winner will hace 48hrs to reply before another winner is picked.

Good Luck

Don’t Break The Bank Holiday

Living in a holiday destination Bank Holidays can get really busy around here, so we normally decided to stay in or visit family.

None of the boys really enjoy the hustle and bustle of town and prefer to be kept busy other ways.

When possible we also try our best to keep the cost down.

So I thought I would share some of our top favourite things to do on a Bank Holiday.

Garden Picnic..

If the weather is nice, why not head out into the garden and have a picnic?
Food always tastes better in the sun...

The boys love eating outside and it always makes them smile to see food being set up on the picnic bench.

Get The Kids To Put On A Show...

The twins love putting on a show, they never really make sense and they are usually over within a second, but they spend most of the day practising.

When they're really planning their play, they always ask for face paints.

I'm not amazing at face paints but they are always happy when they see the end results.

Movie Day....

If the weather is being rubbish, why not snuggle up on the sofa and watch some of your favourite films?

When we have a film day, the boys each pick a film and then sit back and enjoy a movie marathon.

Cakes and popcorn are usually provided by yours truly.

Painting Fun...

Sometimes sitting in front of the telly can get a bit boring, so when that happens I always have a supply of paint and paper.

Getting the boys to paint always keeps them entertained for a couple of hours and then they end up with a few new master pieces to put up on the fridge.


Bake a Cake...

Before you have a movie day, you could bake your own cakes.

We all enjoy baking cakes and making a mess in the kitchen.

You can either look in the cupboards and get creative with the ingredients that you have, or you could cheat and get a pre made kit with your weekly shopping.

You can find more tips on what to do over the Bank Holiday here.

“We were asked to work with Provident on their ‘don’t break the bank holiday’ campaign to advise families across the UK on what do but on a budget.”

The Baby That Never Had a Chance.....

I was so excited about telling the world that baby number 5 was on it's way.

Last Sunday I started bleeding, it started off like spotting and I tried not to be too worried.

I rang up the EPU to get a scan booked in, they could see me the next morning.

Tuesday morning came around far too slowly.

I spent most of Monday too scared to go to the toilet for what I might see at the bottom of the toilet bowl.

I had both a tummy scan and an internal scan.

They could see no sign a of baby.

I had done 5 ... 5 bloody tests all of which were positive.

No matter how much I didn't feel pregnant after the first one, they still kept showing me I was.

The sister explained, this could have been because the pregnancy didn't progress as I thought it was progressing and ended very early on or it could mean there may be a pregnancy going on outside the womb.

I was sent off for bloods and then told to go home and wait for the results.

Again it was another day spent far too scared to go to the toilet and I tried my hardest not too as I was starting to see clots come away.

The results came in, in the afternoon and it was still showing I was pregnant.

Ectopic pregnancy was then discussed and I was told they would need to see me again on Thursday for further bloods.

Jon was away in London whilst this was going on, so I was home alone dealing with the boys as well as everything racing around my mind.

In a way it was good, as I was kept busy and I wasn't really able to sit and think about it.

Thursday came and more bloods were taken, the results didn't come back as quickly and I found myself hounding the EPU as I just needed to know.

Jon was going in for his second back operation and the boys were really starting to play up.

I was on the edge of cracking, but I had to stay strong.

I eventually had a call at 5pm and the results were still showing pregnancy hormones present but not high enough for them to be in the danger zone and be a sign on an ectopic.

I was having a miscarriage.

I could now actually start mourning the loss of the baby that never was.

I have cried, 

I have been ok,

 I have thought about the last time this happened, 

I have been fine and cried some more and now I am just angry!

I am angry at myself for getting so excited, 

I'm angry that I told people about baby number 5,

 I'm angry that I got so excited and started buying things for baby number 5!

I am just angry!

This has happened before I should know by now alway alway always wait until the first scan.

Make sure everything is ok before I get my hopes up.

I am angry and so so gutted that baby number 5 never really had a chance.

Bob The Builder™ Hits UK Screens and Joins Forces with The Mega Machines to Tackle His Biggest Build Ever in The Brand New ‘Bob The Builder: Mega Machines – The Movie’

Showing at UK Cinema Screens on Saturday 27^th & Sunday 28^th May 

Movie trailer: http://bob-megamachinesmovie.co.uk/

Screenings: http://showtimes.bob-megamachinesmovie.co.uk/

  

Grab your little builders and get ready to experience an epic Bob the Builderadventure on the big screen, as Bob and his team call on some enormous new machines to help them tackle their biggest build ever in Bob the Builder: Mega Machines – The Movie, showing at selected UK screens onSaturday 27^th & Sunday 28^th May only.

The new movie brings an exciting cinematic feel to the popular Channel 5: Milkshake and Cartoonito TV show.  With an action-packed plotline featuring twists and turns, Scoop, Muck and Lofty are eager to help Bob with his biggest build yet, constructing a dam and transforming an old quarry into a reservoir to provide Spring City with fresh water.

Bob has also enlisted the help of another builder, Conrad, to help clear the quarry, along with his three enormous Mega Machines, Thud, Crunch and former TV star Ace. However, it soon becomes clear that Conrad, secretly resentful that he lost out on the dam-building contract to Bob, is plotting to undermine his rival’s reputation and sabotages the dam. Soon Bob realises that things are not as they should be and that it’s up to him and his team to save Spring City!

The exciting new release combines entertainment with real and practical learning values, together with lessons in social and emotional development from its lovable characters, with an emphasis on friendship. The STEM curriculum has been built into the plotline, seamlessly underpinning the action, whilst Bob and the crew demonstrate the power of positive-thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and follow-through.

The movie includes regulars Lee Ingleby (Line of Duty, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Inspector George Gently), who voices Bob, Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey) as the voice of Wendy, and Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners) who voices Scoop. Also joining the voice cast on this movieis acting legend Brian Cox (The Bourne Identity, Braveheart, Rise of the Planet of the Apes).

Conrad, actor Brian Cox says: "Both generations of my kids watched Bob the Builder because he’s been around for a very long time. I think the thing about Bob is it’s a very simple concept and it’s not too complicated for children. They link on to it because of the machines, because of all of the accoutrement that goes with Bob. It’s his simplicity that’s really at the heart of it and that’s what makes it last, and has made it last through generation to generation. The history of animation is all about the history of developing images; images that become much more CGI and less cartoony and less drawn. I think Bob is part of that heritage and part of that whole development."

Find your local screening and purchase tickets at:http://showtimes.bob-megamachinesmovie.co.uk/

Mini Beast Hunt Down At The Park...

Ru always enjoys finding me bugs in the garden, so I thought why not head out to the local park and see if he could find anything different.

He got straight to work, using his handy magnifying glass. 

He wasn't afraid to use his hands to dig through the mud and leaves.

The dirty the better in his eyes.

We looked in all sorts of places, in the bark by the climbing frame, by old tree Stubbs, in the ivy and in the long grass.

We found a few of his favourites....spiders, a couple of worms, lots of ants and one earwig.

We also had a couple of Ducks watching and following us whilst we were on the hunt.

He loved the fact that he could see everything up close with his magnifying glass and I know I'll probably find him laying on his belly examining the ground with it in the future.

For the mini beast hunt Ru wore his brand new JCB outfit from M&Co Fashion .

He is wearing - JCB Quilted Knee Badge Joggers (RRP £12.99) and a Joey JCB Striped Muddy Friends T-Shirt (RRP £8.00).

M&Co Fashion have a great range of JCB clothing range for the Spring / Summer months, and all items are very reasonably price and perfect for wearing out and about in the garden or at the park.
Made well and made to last.

I love that the joggers have padded knee patches, as this is perfect for Ru, as he's always scurrying around on his knees, and with that padded material, holes aren't likely to happen that quickly!

Ru is in aged 3-4yrs and theres plenty of room for him to grow without having to buy a new pair anytime soon.

Both pieces of clothing wash well and haven't shrunk!

I'm not a massive character clothing fan, but these have actually won me round a little bit.

Ru loved them and was very keen to get dressed into them.
For him getting dressed is an issue and he usually hates what I pick out for him, so it was nice to see him actually want to put something on that I got out first.

Are you a character clothing fan?

Is your child?

**I was sent the JCB outfit as part of my JCB brand ambassadorship, 

but all thoughts are my own!

Lego Minifigures Series 17!

On the 1st May Lego launched its brand new Minifigures series.

Series 17 and I was very lucky to be a part of that launch.

I was sent two boxes on two separate days, each containing 8 different Lego Minifigures.

The first box also came with highwayman outfit and instructions on what to do with the Minifigures....

The aim of the game was to hide the Lego Minifigure's accessories and write some clues, so the kids could hunt them out.

I had to keep my identity hidden and not let on who had hidden them.

I loved running round the house in my cape hiding all the accessories and the boys were beside themselves with excitement when they found the clues.

When I said it wasn't me who had been hiding them, that made them even more keen to find them.

Our first lot of Minifigures included;

Butterfly Girl,

Rocket Boy,

Corn Cob Guy,

Elf Maiden,

Hot Dog Vendor,

Battle Dwarf,

Roman Gladiator,

Retro Space Hero.

I made the clues easy as I wanted them all to be able to have a guess at where the hiding places were.

They were really good at taking it in turns to be the one who found the item.

They each got to find two things and then add them to the figures.

After the hunt all the Minifigures were happy to be reunited with their accessories.

Little did the boys know that, that wasn't the end of the game.

The next day the second box arrived with 8 more Lego Minifigures.

So once again I donned my cap and cape and got writing some riddles for them to solve.

This time round they wouldn't just be hunting out the missing accessories but they would also have to find out who had been hiding them in the first place.

Our second lot of Lego Minifigures included;

Gourmet Chef,

Pro Surfer,

Veterinarian, 

Circus Strongman,

Fitness Instructor,

Connoisseur,

The Yuppie

and the mystery figure....

The mystery figure was none other than the highwayman who had been hiding all the accessories.

Along with the final 8 of the collection I was sent another highwayman hat and some gold coins.

Once the boys had found me they were meant to get the gold, but unfortunately I was stupid and left them out and the dog got too them.

Thankfully he wasn't sick and we did get him checked over by the vet to be on the safe side.

Again the boys all worked really well during the hunt and made sure everyone got a turn in finding the missing item. 

During the hunt I slipped away upstairs to change back into my outfit and hide in my hiding place....

I'm outside....but not on the ground.....!?

I was up on the balcony reading a Lego magazine.

After the hunt the boys were very happy with themselves.

They'd managed to crack the clues and reunite all the Minifigures with their accessories and for the first time ever they had a whole collection of Lego Minifigures,

including the mystery figure!!!

They also loved that they could dress up in my highwayman outfit.

Which they are still playing with a day after the hunt.

Thank You Lego for letting us be a part of the Series 17 launch!

Lego Minifigures are available at retailers nationwide RRP £2.99

To find out more about the characters go to www.lego.com/minifigures

Win Tickets to WWE Live and WWE Power Props Courtesy Of Jakks Pacific!

WWE Live

WWE returns to the United Kingdom in May 2017 for a nine-day, nine-event tour through England, Scotland and Wales, starting Thursday, 4 May in Glasgow, and wrapping Friday, 12 May in Newcastle. 

Superstars from both Raw and SmackDown LIVE will make the trip. 

POWER PROPS

Recreate fantastic WWE Superstar action with these amazing wrestling props and costume sets. 

Each set includes a highly detailed foam prop and a dress up piece to become a true Superstar! 

Battle your friends with these safe wrestling props to recreate your favourite WWE matches!

Available to buy at Smyths Toys Superstore www.smythstoys.com

Prize package: 2x tickets to WWE Live 

(Wednesday 10th May, Genting Arena Birmingham) 

and 2x Jakks Power Props

Terms & Conditions

• Styles may vary
• No cash alternative
• Tickets are available for Wednesday 10th May at the Genting Arena, Birmingham only
• Travel is not included
• Power Props are suitable for age 3+
• Winner Will be picked at random
• Winner will be picked Sunday 7th May.

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Ru Bear Turned 3!!

Last Tuesday saw my littlest little turn 3.

It only seems like yesterday that I was pregnant with him.

We had cake and presents on the Sunday before his birthday, as on Tuesday's he's at nursery all day.

Nana & Gramps came round and I did a little party lunch of pizza, and some party food.

He loved blowing out his candles, but got a bit shy when we all sang to him.

He's not a massive cake fan, so he didn't actually have any of his big cake. Which meant me and the others were left to eat it all!

He got some lovely presents, and he's played with all of them.

He also has some money, which Im thinking of using to get him some new Little Bird By Jools Oliver tops!

Most of his presents were cars, and those of you who follow my Instagram you'll know he loves his cars.

He also got a Joules outfit from his favourite person .... Auntie Jenni, and a Gruffalo outfit from Nana & Gramps.

From us & my parents he got a balance bike.

He saw a little girl on one at school and pointed towards it, so I thought it would make a good birthday present.

We clubbed together as I didn't really know what else to say for them to buy him.

He loved it.

He's still getting the hang of it, and I think in no time he'll be whizzing all over the place.

Nana bought him a helmet for the bike and that arrived on Tuesday.

We all joked that he would probably wear that more than being on the bike and so far its true.

He loves running round the house with it on.

Ru loves getting new clothes, so as soon as he opened his present from Jenni, he wanted it on.

On Tuesday I bought some mini cupcakes for pudding, wishfully thinking Ru might actually like it but when giving him a cake this was his response........

Far from impressed lol!