Best Days Out

Moneysupermarket.com ran a campaign last year to find Britain Best Days out.  We were lucky enough to visit Blue Reef Aquarium in Portsmouth.

Moneysupermarket.com have since produced this fab infographic to help families choose what to do to celebrate the May bank holidays.  We've already planned a trip to Peppa Pig & Paultons Park at the end of May so will keep you posted of our day in due course.

Nuts Challenge

In March this year, me and some friends took part in the Nuts Challenge  - which is described as a 7km course and one of the most challenging military assault courses in the world, located in Dorking, Surrey.

We were all raising money for various charities including Chestnut Tree Hospice, Malaria No More, Rocking Horse, Breast Cancer and Laurens Silver Swimmers.  This was my chosen charity set up by Louise & Stewart Silverlock after their 9 year old daughter passed away in December 2012.  Lauren went to school and pre-school with my daughter so was keen to do something for them.  

2nd March arrived and we set off early in the morning, although we were due to race at 12noon, you have to sign in and be organised an hour and half before.  The weather was thankfully dry although as only early March, was rather chilly!  We arrived in plenty of time and managed to see some of the first competitors going round.  

The course is just obstacle after obstacle, including Hell River, Hamburger Hill, The Bunker and The Bomb Crater but we had all been training and were really looking forward to getting under way.  I had joined Diamond Fitness Bootcamp locally and was confident I was ready!

Whilst waiting to start many of the competitors that had already completed the course were finishing, covered in mud and looking cold, we started to get a little nervous!

Still as we lined up the adrenaline kicked in and we were off!

Our group

We thought we might be able to stay dry as long as possible, but realised that wouldn't be long as we had to jump straight into a stream and walk through it.   I won't go through all of the obstacles as there were just so many to remember but highlights included:

• Trying to climb over the wall, losing my footing and falling back into a muddy/watery pit!
• Using the rope swing to get over a muddy/watery pit but falling straight in!
• One of the girls, Kirsten, just managed to fall over in every muddy puddle/pit and ended up covered head to toe in mud!
• Hamburger Hill - having to carry large tyres up a hill and then slide back down was really hard!
• Water slide - one of my favourite obstacles.  Plastic matting on the side of Hamburger Hill that was being hosed down with water.  A huge muddy water filled trench at the bottom!  I whizzed down it thinking 'what fun' then panicked thinking 'how will I stop?' Ended up being fully dunked under water!!
• Lake walk - walking through a lake with water up to my chest - it was freezing!

We all finished though and were freezing!  The organisers served us warm orange squash which was well needed! 

It was a fantastic event and great to do with friends as we all got each other through it and had a giggle on the way.  I raised over £500 for the charity which was really pleased about!  We must've enjoyed it as we've all signed up again to do it on 31st August, although will be slightly warmer hopefully!

Miranda, Nicky, me, Lorna, Kirsten and Paula

Me after crawling under bridge

Yay finished with my medal eating a well deserved twix!

Family Life

We've had a really busy start to the year, although writing this I realise we are nearly half way through the year!  I just can't believe where the time has gone!!

The twins had their 2nd birthday in February.  We hired a hall and bouncy castle plus took along tons of their toys for about 30 kids to play with!  It was manic but seemed to go well!  Luckily mum and dad were around to lend a hand!

Daisy and Dylan with their Peppa Pig Cake

Me and my eldest, Jasmine (8), went off to the 02 to see One Direction on the first date of their tour.  As their fans are of a younger age, they offered two performance times - an afternoon matinee and an evening performance.  We opted for the afternoon matinee and made a huge banner, which unfortunately got taken away by security, although we were assured it would be given to the band.  

Jas and her banner!

They were great and Jasmine is now an even bigger fan!!

New Additions to the Family!

We have 2 new additions to the family!  No I'm not having anymore children!!  We have two new lovely kittens Lacey and Fizzy!  Think I possibly must be mad but the kids love them

They are very cute, although so mischievous and seem to like trying to sleep on my head at night!  It's almost like having twins all over again!!

Fizzy

Lacey

This picture was taken when we first brought them home, so they are quite a bit bigger now.  They've had their ops(!) and now venturing outside

Delicious Jordans Granola

I was lucky enough to be sent some Jordans Cereals recently and asked to come up with my favourite way to enjoy their breakfast cereal.  I was sent a packet of Super Fruity Granola plus some of their Luxury Absolute Nut bars.

I personally love Granola and often enjoy a bowl for breakfast in the morning so was delighted to take part in this campaign.

The obvious way to enjoy this delicious breakfast cereal is with a splash of cold milk.   But I have been busy researching other delicious ways to enjoy the delicious granola and here is what I came up with:

• Mix it with yogurt, works well with most but I enjoyed with a low fat natural yogurt
• In the colder months use warm milk 
• Make granola bar - you could use the mix to make your own bars, although not really necessary as Jordan's do their own Breakfast Bars that are equally delicious
• Eat straight from the pack!  My kids love eating dried cereal as a snack during the day.
• Add a handful to oatmeal or porridge for more flavour and texture
• Add to smoothies.  

The granola and the breakfast bars were delicious and I have to say we are now buying the Super Fruity Granola regularly.

Jordan's have a vast array of products including Country Crisp, Crunch Oat Granola, Super Granola, Muesli, Porridge, Wheatgerm & Wheat Bran and their bars.

I was supplied products to test for this campaign.

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