As you may know, if you have been reading my blog for a while we have purchased our first home. We purchased it way back in June and are looking to move within the next month. It is all systems go here so this means that we have been doing a lot of decluttering, packing and all sorts. Today I thought I would share with you some of the things which we have been doing in order to be prepared when we do finally move in . If you do not know we are actually purchasing our first home together so this does mean that we are combining two houses at least. So we are not moving as you may traditionally and we are actually moving around 1 hour away from my family home and around 40 mins from York which is home at the moment for us.

Make a list

Making a list of what we needed it something which helped me so much because this meant that I did not purchase things which we did not need. Even though we did by some bits which I am sure we have more than we need of. I know there are only a small few bits which I need to order now.  I also found that making sure that I have the Quidco cashback toolbar on has helped me manage to get a chunk of money back. For example, on our washer and fridge we got £17 back and of course, every little bit helps.

Sell what you don’t need

This for sure is something which we have been doing because of the fact that we had all of Jess’s things from when she was a baby down at the grandparents. This has meant that we do have several things twice so it has allowed us to be able to sell one of the highchairs for example so of course, this does mean that we have been able to get more pennies. We have been able to sell a 3/4 bed which we no longer have a need for because of the fact that it is way to small for to adults to share and it is so low. This does mean that we do not have to move this and end up storing it in the garage someone is actually getting some love out of this. I have also been able to put this money towards something else which we need for the house.

Make sure you’re getting the best deal

This is something which we have been doing before moving into the house. We have made sure that we could get the best deal for the things which we need on sky because what is the point of having things which we do not need. For example, the cinema package is something which we would not get the best used out of so we might as well spend the money on the sports package which is something for sure I know I will be using. We made sure that we go the fastest internet as this is something which we need because Joe is always gaming using the internet. While of course I like to spend a lot of time doing things on my blog.

Pack slowly

This is something which of course we have had had the luxury of doing because it has taken so long for us to be moving into the house. This has meant that instead of having the stress of packing everything in the last few weeks we have been able to spend time slowly making sure that thing is in boxes related to the room which they are going to be going in. For example all of the things which are going to be in Jess’ room are in a box which says Jess on it. This is something which is going to be able to help so much when we move because we are going to be able just to take the boxes straight to that room.

Have an essentials bag

This is more for when you do actually move into the house on the day you get the keys you do not want to have to be opening every box to find a phone charger for example. This is something which I am going to create in the next couple of weeks before we do move. In this bag/ box I am going to make sure that we have our phone chargers because of course, we need them to have power. We will end up making sure that we have our kettle to hand when we move because of course who can live without coffee. This is something which we are going to make not long before moving and making sure that we have them to hand. I think the plan is to actually put them in the car boot because then there is no way where we actually end up losing the box on the day of the move.  I think also in the box we are also going to have some loo roll and some snacks. The fridge we have ordered does not get delivered for a few days after we actually move in so we can only have small shops till it is in.  We have choosen this so that I do not have too many people coming with deliverys when we first move in.

What tips do you have to someone moving house before they actually move?

Charlotte xx

It seems like a long time since I did a personal kind of post. I thought today seemed like one of those times I should update you in the things which have been happening in our lives. For sure there had been some big changes.

The first change is that I have actually completed my degree. It is scary because it’s had taken me 5 years and now I don’t have uni work. I currently don’t know my grade it has to be confirmed because it is on the border line of two grade barriers. It has been amazing to finish I can’t wait to actually graduate now so I can have the pictures but this doesn’t happen till November for me.

So since I finished university as some of you know I wanted to do a physio masters. This is something which I have not got on to this year I think I am going to try and get some more experience and then possible apply in a couple more years. When Jess is older and maybe we will do less solo parenting.

Solo parenting is something which I will be doing more very soon. As you may know I get a lot of support of my family when Joe goes away however, WE BOUGHT A HOUSE. Yes this is something which has happened in the past month or so at the moment we are looking to complete mid August and hope to move in at the end. Our house is actually an hour away from my parents. So this is why I am going to be alone more when Joe is away but I am going to throw myself into work and my blog. You can expect more lifestyle and homey posts coming up in the next few months.

In only a couple of weeks I have trailwalker which I did mention way back at the start of the year. I have been walking miles in order to get some fitness and used to actually walking distance. Most week days now I have been hitting between 8-10 miles which soon adds up more so in this heat. I would love it if you had any spare money to donate to me in order to raiser as much as I can for Oxfam and the Gurkhas welfare trust. As I write this I am close to hitting £550 which is amazing. If you would like to donate to me I’m sure it would help the blisters which I know are going to happen you can here

There also has been some personal things going on which I may share in the future but at the moment this does not feel right. And also i am not ready to share yet.

What have you been up to lately?

Charlotte xxx

Traveling abroad is something which I want to do in the very near future. However, one thing which does scare me is been delayed with Jess in an airport because it would be the first time she has traveled on a plane.  Knowing my luck we would actually end up having a delay.

Air travel can be complicated at the best of time and if you have children with you it can be even harder. Then if you delayed at the airport, you will not only have to cope with your own annoyance, entertainment, hunger etc, you also have to deal with theirs. There are things that you can do though, to help things to go smoothly.

Have plenty of toys/games

Obviously, you will know that you will need things to entertain the children on the plane but if you do not expect a delay then you may not have enough. It can be easy to forget how quickly children can get bored with playing with one particular item and want to move on to something new. It might be a good plan to buy something completely new for them as that might keep them entertained for longer, although it could be a risk if you are not sure whether they will like it. Thinking of small things can be tricky, but you should be able to find some small books, a pack of cards, small amount of Lego, small games and electronic devices. Make sure that you also have batteries for items that need them or rechargers. However, do not rely on being able to easily recharge things as you never know if there will be a free socket, to ensure there are other options as well. It could be wise to start with the board games, books, and cards and then move onto the mobile devices when they get tired as these are more absorbing and likely to keep them sittings till and settled better at a time when they might be more prone to temper outbursts or upsets.

Make sure they enough food/drink/snacks

If we do not have enough food or drink it can have a direct effect on our mood. We can find that we will be irritable, tired, low in energy and things like this if we do not get enough. This means that you need to be aware of how the children are and whether they have had enough. It is also wise to make sure the adults with them also have enough food and drink so that they have the right mind set to be able to deal with them too. Airport food is expensive and so it is a good idea to have some food with you. However, if you are delayed for a significant period of time, the airline may compensate you with some food and drink vouchers to spend at the airport. It is worth checking with your airline before you go to eat, to see whether this is the case and then you not pay for food unnecessarily when you could have used a voucher. It is good to watch the type of food as well. Lots of sugary foods could give them too much energy and they may feel like they want to run around or make a lot of noise. Foods that give a slower and more constant release of energy could be a much wiser idea, so things like dairy foods, nut and seeds, wholegrain sandwiches and anything with fat or protein in it.

Stay calm and entertained yourself so that you can help them

When you are caring for children, it is much harder to help them when you are not feeling good. If you are annoyed about the delay or bored, then this will reflect in your parenting. Many parents do not look after their own needs and put their children first. However, you need to look after yourself so that you can be a better parent and so do not be worried about doing this. It is easier if there is more than one person to look after the children as one can have a rest, nap, read or whatever while the other takes over parenting duties and then they can swap.

Explore the airport/watch the planes

Children do like watching planes and all of the activity going on at the airport. Therefore standing by a window or sitting near to one can be a good way to pass time. It can be great to see if they can see their luggage being put on the plane or something similar to that, which will keep them watching and enjoying for a long time.

Consider whether you need to nap/sleep and where you might be able to do that

If you have a long delay then you may feel that the children and adults need a nap or a sleep. It can make a big difference if you can get some sleep as being well rested makes a big difference to your feelings and how positive you feel about the situation. If the delay is really long, then the airline may be able to compensate you for the cost of a hotel room. It is good to find out if this is the case as you will be a lot more comfortable than sleeping in the airport.

How have you coped if you have been delayed while travelling with children?

Charlotte  xxx

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As the summer approaches or we can all hope that it is.I know I find it hard to get some nutritious food within me at breakfast time as I usually do not want something like toast due to the the heat and I always like coffee and toast. I get bored of things such as cereal because this you do not get that much variety and it is something which I have had all winter long. With the summer coming up it seems that fruit does become a lot cheaper and now a days with places like Aldi do fruit so cheap. I am trying to lose weight a little bit and have been speaking to a firend who is having food similar to this however, he has it in juice form rather than a bowl.

Today I am going to share with you 4 recipes which you could have for breakfast in the summer months this would not take you very long to prepare in the morning either. This is great for someone like me due to the fact that I do not have a lot of time in the morning to prepare something which is going to take a lot of time.

Warrior Fuel Protein Bowl

Ingredient

1 Sambazon Original Superfruit Pack

1/8 – ¼ c Non-Dairy Milk of Choice

Handful fresh Spinach or Kale

1 scoop Nut Butter

½ c Frozen Mixed Berries or Frozen Mango

1 Banana

1 tsp Maca Powder

¼ c Shredded Coconut

All you need to do is put all ingredients except for your superfruit packs and toppings. While cutting our açai packs in half and break the pulp into your blender. Start on low, using the plunger attachment to get things going. Add more liquid as needed, but only so it just combines. The less liquid you use, the thicker your blend! Once combined, scoop into a bowl and top with all the goodies. This for sure looks like one which I would love to try even though I may add some fresh fruit as I rarely have room in the freezer. 

Purple Immunity Smoothie

Ingredient

1 Sambazon Original Superfruit Packs

1 c Orange Juice

½ Banana, frozen

¼ c Pineapple Chunks, frozen

½ tsp Ginger, ground

Top with Fresh Berries

All you need to do is put everything in the blender (make sure to break up your Superfruit Packs), blend until really thick – adding more liquid if necessary – then pour into a bowl, top with your favorite fresh berries and enjoy! This is for sure one which I could have on the go well without the fresh berries on top.

PBJ Protein Bowl 

Ingredient 

2 Sambazon Original Superfruit Packs

1/2 Banana

1/8 c Apple Juice

1 handful of Blackberries

1 spoonful of Nut Butter

I think that this is one of the most simplest one that I am going to share today. All you need to do is blend all ingredients until smooth. Scoop into a bowl and top with granola, more blackberries and a drizzle of honey. I know this is one which I fancy however, I think I would actually end up skipping the honey.

Vitamin Boost

Ingredents

1 Sambazon Original Superfruit Pack

1 c Blueberries

½ Ripe Avocado

1 c Coconut Water or Non-Dairy Milk

½ c Non-Dairy Yogurt

1 tbsp Nut Butter

1 tbsp Coconut Oil

Put it all in a blender and enjoy. If you want to make it a bowl: add another Sambazon Superfruit Pack and a frozen banana. Blend until thick, pour in a bowl and top with your favourite granola and fresh fruits.

I hope i have inspired you to change up your breakfast this summer and have something more nutritious. Will you be trying any of these.

Charlotte xx

Don’t worry you still have over a week to get the costume World Book Day is Thursday 1st March. If you have a child who is in primary school or even nursery like Jess you might have to hunt a costume out for them. I already have actually purchased Jess’s I got it off eBay this year she is going to be Tinkerbell. As you know we are not huge fans of been falling into the stereotypes so this world book day is not going to feature any princess even though I have chosen just girls outfits.

You might not have time to go online and purchase them outfits without having to worry if the costume is going to arrive on time. I have chosen outfits which are all from Asda because they have some amazing ones this year and for most people, you can access a store easy and you can click and collect. Do not worry this is not a paid ad I have chosen these for myself.

Moana

The first outfit which I have chosen is this amazing Moana outfit I love how she is not a princess. But she is an amazing character who shows that girls can do anything if they put there mind to it and of course she does not need a man to save her like most other princess’s. This looks like an amazing quality item and it for sure does look like Moana however, maybe a little bit warmer than the ones which they sell in the Disney store which have crop tops.  Of course, this is going to require your child something like tights and maybe something else underneath to keep them warm. After all, it is only the start of March. It does come with the necklace and as a hell of a lot of detailing on it what more could you want for £15, you can purchase it here.

Tinkerbell

Tinkerbell is who Jess is going as this book day, however, because I purchased hers off eBay I can not find the exact same one. I found this one from George which actually has nicer wings than the one Jess has but I have ordered her some new ones. I think this could be easily used for a fancy dress party or even if your child likes to dress up at home. This again is going to need something underneath and tights because it is that cold. I think I am going to put a cardigan on Jess until she is in nursery. This looks long enough as well so that they are going to be able to bend down without showing everything off which is always something which you want. This comes in at £13 which is one of the cheaper ones and available from here.

Wonder Women

I choose wonder women outfit is actually exclusive to online but you can do click and collect.  In this house, we are a huge fan of superhero films. Of course, there are not many which are female so when I saw this I knew I had to include it in a post. It does have the cape which I know Jess would love running around with on her back pretending that she can actually fly. Who would not like that at the end of the day, it also comes with the headpiece which makes you look even more like wonder women.  This would be great if you were going to attend events such as ComicCon later in the year as well because for sure you could wear it there.  It comes in at £15 and can be purchased here.

Spidergirl

Girl’s can also be spiderman or spidergirl this year with this offering. Instead of having to wear a full bodysuit or onesie your little one could wear something which is a little bit more girly. This does come with the mask and the arm holders which will make them feel more like Spiderman. For some reason, I can imagine Jess running around trying to climb walls with this one. Again this would be another great one if you have anything to do with superhero’s coming or even comic con it comes in at £14 and can be purchased here. 

Jessie

Last year Jess went as Jessie which was adorable of course, even if I do say so myself. When searching I found this outfit which I think is even better than the one which she had last year, for example, it comes with a cowgirls hat which even had Jessie’s ponytail attached. This could be used for any occasion. It is long sleeved and has trousers as well which means that it will not need tight but it could be thin so you still need to put something under. For sure you could use this for any cowboy even which your child is going to be attending in the near future.  I am sure everyone loves toy story so this is a bargain at £14 and can be purchased here 

Batgirl

Black is a great colour for children because it does not show a lot of the muck so why opt put your child in it. Allowing them to dress up as Batgirl this is still very feminine it has actual sequins on the top half and then a net overlay on the bottom skirt. This does seem to be long enough to wear without tights, however, if it is cold you may want tights.  This does come with a mask which is glitter and there is a cape attached to the back which you can pretend you are flying with. I think this is something which I am going to look at purchasing in the near future and this is only £14 and available here 

Supergirl

I think when I picked these items out I feel like there was as superhero theme going on. Of course I had to include another if I choose this one which was supergirl. Jess for sure would love it because it had the cape which had a glittered design which means that it looks a little bit more girly than a normal super hero. This is one which I think which we would pair with tights even though it is layered it may not be thick enough because we know how cold it gets in the UK at the moment. You can purchase this one here for £15

Captain America

Of course with all my superhero love if you have ready my blog before you might know I have a marvel obsession. I think my favourite actually had to be captain American so when I saw you could get a girls outfit and it does come with the shield I scream. I actually regret already getting Jess’s outfit because I know this would have been perfect even though we all know Jess would have been throwing this at me constantly. This comes with the mask which you can see the girl wearing which if it is anything like the horns Jess had for Halloween she would have on all the time. I think I might have to be on the hunt for this after book day and she can have it for dressing up this again comes in at £15 and is available here.

Thor

The final item which I have chosen is actually from a the boy section because it is Thor. This is my other favourite character this one I would think would be warmer with the fact that it is actually Long Sleeved and has Trousers rather than being a Skirt. This comes with a helmet mask which I can imagine Jess wearing even when she is not wearing the outfit. The cape does come off as well meaning that you should not trip on it. I also think that’s with it being a padded toro it will be warmer. Something’s which we’d are going to need if the weather forecasts are correct. This again is £15 available from here but I know for sure we would get a lot of wear out of it.

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I picked from Asda after all they seem to have some amazing costumes and we can all get to them easy.  I have not been paid for this post at all but these are the ones which I have loved this year. I am amazed how many super hero’s their are for girls which is great it shows after all it is not just boys who like super heros.

What your you are children dressing up as for world book day?

Charlotte