Today we depart from Glasgow to Portugal... our first family holiday abroad!!! We are all super excited and literally cannot wait.
Thanks again to all of you who voted for us to win the Clickstay Mummy Blogger Awards, because without you we wouldn't be able to stay in this amazing villa... doesn't it look fantastic?!
I'll be tweeting and sharing plenty of Instagram pics during our holiday...
Do make sure you follow us, I'll try and not make you too jealous!
Details of how to find us are over here on the right ------>
For a while, my son's bedtime routine at my house involved listening to an audio book after we had read a few stories together. However the Fireman Sam audio book was a bad choice on my part as it got him too excited and I needed something a bit more relaxing than the high action stories of fire fighting in Pontypandy. The concept was genius though as it did encourage him to stay in bed as he focused on the words as they floated round his little bedroom.
Now he's a bit older, instead of a star reward chart we are keeping tally of points on the blackboard in the kitchen. He gets 10 points if he goes to bed on time and a bonus of 5 points if he stays in bed until 7am. There are minus points if he gets up!! He is highly competitive, so this seems to work as he competes against his little sister for the top spot each week. The reward is a treat of some form... I'm yet to decide what this will be, but perhaps it could be a Lego minifigure, or an ice cream (where has the sun gone though!?).
Anyway, step in Vicky Arlidge with her 'Lullabies for Children' CD. The CD is 45 minutes of relaxing lullabies that have captivated both my son and daughter. Unlike some children's CDs, I am able to listen to this also without it annoying me! We read our usual bedtime stories and then I press play on the CD player in our hallway... hey presto, the kids lie and relax and listen to the vocals and I can crack on with the housework (or perhaps put my feet up and chill myself!).
Want to try the CD for yourself? I have three CDs for my lovely followers to win! All you need to do is enter the Rafflecopter below.
Next month the Foodies Festival is back at Edinburgh's Inverleith Park on 7th, 8th and 9th August. We had a brilliant time there last year and are super excited to be returning. It was such a fantastic weekend - you can find my previous post here and below is the vlog I created from our weekend antics. This year I'm taking my wee sister Ali & her other half Robin along with us - it's going to be so much fun.
For the 10th Anniversary Celebrations, the event is going to be 50% bigger and there are loads of interesting demos, an extended Producers Market and a huge selection of street food to feast upon...Japanese, Thai, Brazilian, Argentinian, Indian, Mexican, French, African...
There are some hands on masterclasses that sound intriguing... bee keeping, oyster shucking and foraging. There is going to be food and drink pairing masterclasses in the new Wine, Champagne and Craft Beer Theatre; daily cocktail competitions between local bars to find Edinburgh's Best Mixologist and cake modelling and sugar-craft workshops in the Cake & Bake Theatre. It all sounds brilliant!!
For the kids there are Picnic in the Park themed masterclasses in the Children's Cookery Theatre where they can learn to make finger sandwiches, jellies and chocolate bugs (all children under 12 years old go free when accompanied by an adult).
There is also a Chilli Eating Competition that I'm sure Rick will be up for.. can he win the Chilli Eating Crown?
And guess what? I have three pair of tickets up for grabs!! All you need to do is follow the Rafflecopter instructions below.
If you don't win the tickets, then you can buy yours online at www.foodiesfestival.com or by calling 0844 995 1111.
Competition runs 15th July to 29th July.
There will be three winners; picked at random.
Each prize is one pair of tickets; no cash alternative available.
Thanks to @LanyardMedia for providing this prize
...to all my family, friends and followers who took the time to vote for Glasgow Mummy in the Clickstay Mummy Blogger Awards.
I'm aware that I bombarded your Twitter feeds, Facebook timelines and inboxes with requests for votes and retweets - apologies for that. It was all worth though it as I found out today that we won!!! It was a really close competition; all the other posts that had advice for travelling with children had great tips and suggestions. You can read them all here.
We are going to receive £1000 towards a villa in Portugal and I'm super excited about taking the little ones on our first family holiday abroad.
The kids are away with their dad just now for the week so I'm yet to tell them our amazing news, but I know they will be delighted. My son in particular was telling anyone and everyone about the competition and had even drawn up some posters...
'Vot Wor Gago Mumi' which translates to 'Vote for Glasgow Mummy'!!
Thank you again... words don't express just how happy I am right now.
I travelled a lot as a youngster. Kudos to my parents as it can't have been easy! By the age of 10 I had surfed on a boogie board in Phuket, had been shopping in Hong Kong and even attended school in a foreign country.
At the national museum in Oman
Feeding the elephants in Thailand
I have been extremely lucky to experience lots of different cultures and hope that I'm able to provide the same opportunities for my children. Although so far we have only holidayed in Scotland! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we manage a holiday abroad this year and I've been giving thought to some travel tips.
// Planning your trip
With smaller children it's all about the activities and the accommodation; the country doesn't matter so much. My recommendation would be to go for as large an apartment that you can afford. The more space you have the easier it will be; especially if the kids will be going to bed early it might be nice to have a separate bedroom or lounge for the grown-ups so you can have some time to yourselves ;)
When booking flights give plenty of consideration to the flight times. It might seem reasonable to wake the family up at 2am to save a tenner on flights but is it really worth it in the long run? Also make sure that you factor in plenty of time for any transfers as everything seems to take a million times longer with little kids.. the second the kids know you're in a rush they'll need to go to the toilet!
If you're going abroad, check passports and make sure they are still valid. I had to get an emergency passport the day before travelling to Thailand a few years back as I didn't have enough validity left on it and it was really stressful to say the least!
// Packing
I think getting the kids involved in the packing can help. My daughter especially likes to help choose her clothes for whilst she's away and it avoids any holiday tantrums when she selected the outfits herself in advance (yes, she is only 4 years old!!). Despite the fact we're yet to go abroad I invested in little suitcases for the kids so they can be (partly) responsible for their own packing and I think they like to be involved in the process of getting ready for a holiday.
Be organised with sun cream, hats etc and take a small first aid kit. Also take some antibacterial hand washing stuff, it's fab for when travelling. It's important not to forget medication for family members. It's easy to get hold of a new toothbrush when in a foreign country but not so easy to get hold of prescription medication if you forget that!
// The Journey
When it comes to the journey, buy and wrap a small present for the plane/car in advance of the trip or a few little presents if you're on a long haul flight. This doesn't have to be something costly; think sticker books and pocket money toys from the pound shop. You could perhaps pack a special travel rucksack that your wee one could pack with their special teddy or blanket along with some new bits and pieces. My advice would be to not get anything noisy as this will disrupt other passengers or the car driver.
Take plenty snacks for the journey and my advice would be to steer clear of too many sweets. My littlest loves popcorn and rice cakes both of which are preferable to jelly beans and chocolate! For car journeys when I'm on my own with the kids I pack them each a lunch box of heathy snacks that they can open themselves (making sure there is no fiddly packaging or Tupperware boxes that they can't get into!) and in between them in the back seat I plonk a box of toys that they picked themselves for the trip.
// The Holiday
Start a travel journal... My mum encouraged my sister and I to start a travel journal when we moved to the Middle East and I'm so grateful she did as its a fantastic keepsake for us to look back on. On our first long haul flight we had our A4 book with us and we wrote & drew in this with details of our flight and what we had to eat. It also kept us occupied during our holidays as we collected ticket stubs, menus etc to record our adventures.
I dug my travel journal out of the loft to show you some of my entries!
I would absolutely love for you to vote for me in the Clickstay Mummy Blogger Awards. It takes 2 seconds and you can vote here up to once daily. I'm currently in third place, but I would be over the moon if I made it into the top spot as the prize is £1000 towards a villa in Portugal which would allow me to go with the kids on our first family holiday in the sun. Thanks so much for your ongoing support - it's much appreciated. Sarah x
When I was growing up I had a box collection (I know it seems a bit bizarre, but it's true! I even brought some of them into my old work for a laugh and they thought I was insane!!). Each country or city we visited I was allowed to pick a small ornamental box. I still have a lot of the boxes to this day and they are lovely memories of my family holidays. I also had a postcard collection. You could start a collection of your own and make it a new family tradition; let the kiddies pick a tacky souvenir or a fridge magnet as a holiday souvenir and each place you visit you can build on your collection.
// Homeward Bound
Once you get home, why not find a world map poster and start putting pins in the countries you've visited. Again, this is something that our mum encouraged us to do and it helped my geography. Not that you'd know it now; during a game of Articulate a few years back I was frantically trying to describe Buenos Aires as a South American airline...oops!!
This post is my entry into the Clickstay "10 Top Tips For Travelling with Children" competition. You can vote for Glasgow Mummy here... many thanks for your support.
Glasgow Fort, which is now open even longer, has a fantastic new M&S which opened on 21st May and FatFace will be launching later this month. In addition to all the existing eateries, there's now a Wagamama - yum!!
I love the Glasgow Fort - it's really not that far from the city centre and there are so many great shops plus restaurants and a cinema at the one location. The huge draw for me is the long opening hours which have been further extended!! The new hours are:
Monday - Friday, 9am - 10pm
Saturday, 9am - 8pm
Sunday, 10am - 7pm
To win this prize, all you need to do is enter the Rafflecopter below...
I have been writing my blog now for almost four years. Yep, four years!! I can't quite believe it. I am super proud of my blog and the little space on the Internet that I have created.
I love to share what we get up to - the good times & bad - this is real life after all!
I am so happy that I've been capturing our memories and photographs and I really enjoy reading through my blog archive. Plus there's now video blogs too!
I love the emails I get from my followers who have been inspired by my story which has given them hope in their own dark times.
I am grateful for the advice and suggestions I've had from readers who have been in similar situations to myself which has been a huge help to me.
It may not mean much to some, but reaching my blog 4th birthday in June is a big deal to me!
There's another big birthday approaching in Glasgow soon. The St Enoch Centre is going to be 26 years old this month!!
There's a great selection of shops; the kids are big fans of the Disney Store and Hamley's and mummy loves Debenhams, BHS, H&M and Boots. Last time we were at the Centre as a family we had food at Ed's Easy Diner which was yum! Plus it's super handy to get to... We tend to use the subway park and ride; the kids love getting on the subway train and it takes us right to the Centre! But there is also plenty of parking at the Centre and I've never had an issue finding a space.
Anyway, to celebrate both birthdays, the St Enoch Centre have kindly given me a £50 gift voucher as a competition prize for one of my followers! All you need to do is enter the Rafflecopter below.
I've been a little quiet this week on social media as I've been working longer hours at my new job and trying my best to quickly get into a new routine. Things are a tad stressful, my house is a tip and I am coming down with a cold...not good!
Anyway, one thing that always makes me feel better is a nice cup of tea (I have one in my hand as I write this!), or even a hot Ribena and this week I've been on the Lemsip too! The littlest even likes a warm juice!!
I sometimes find that just taking a few minutes out to prepare a cuppa is enough to relax me a bit!! At my new work we have boiling water on tap, but I don't have that luxury at home...
I've been kindly offered a Breville Traditional Kettle in Vanilla Cream to giveaway to one of my lucky followers by House of Fraser. It has a 3kW fastboil element for a quick cuppa and 360 degree base for left- and right-hand use. House of Fraser have a wide selection of stylish kettles for your hot water needs whether it be for tea, coffee or juice!
All you need to do is enter the Rafflecopter below:
It's no secret that I absolutely adore Christmas. This wasn't always the case, but I think with the addition of the little ones, Christmas is once again magical and I love the run up to the big day each year. (However the shops are getting earlier and earlier at introducing their Christmas stock and I think September is far too early for Christmas!)
Anyway, if you haven't been already, then you really must check out the Country Living Magazine Christmas Fair, which arrives at the SECC Glasgow on 20th - 23rd November 2014. It's a must for all Christmas fans like me!
There will be almost 300 stalls under the one roof, selling gifts, decorations and festive food; and in addition to the stalls there are three informative theatres - cookery, lifestyle and craft & create - each offering advice and demonstrations. The art demo on 'painting a stag' intrigues me and I would love to get along to the 'creative gift wrapping and styling' session.
Ticket details can be found here, and if you insert the code Blog14 then you will be given a discount of £1 off the ticket price. This offer is valid until the day before the fair, at all three fairs - Glasgow, Harrogate and London.
I do have two tickets up for grabs however and all you need to do is follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter below. Huzzah!!
Good luck everyone! Giveaway ends on Wed 12th November, which will allow me enough time to get the tickets sent out to the lucky winner. UK residents only please. Prize is two tickets for the Glasgow fair, there is no alternative prize.
Following on from the huge success of my Peanut Butter Brownies that I made with the littlest to celebrate National Baking Week, we decided to try another Aldi recipe.
Have a look at our vlog where my sister, Auntie Ali, is making Cherry & Almond Cupcakes with the eldest.
I am delighted to offer a £50 Aldi voucher and a hamper of 'The Pantry' goodies as a competition prize so you can create your own sweet treats.
All you need to do is follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter below.
I am very excited to be going to the Ideal Home Show at Glasgow's SECC on 23rd - 26th May. It looks set to be a great day out. The team of celebrity experts on hand are TV Interiors guru John Amabile,
architect and presenter George Clarke, award-winning gardens expert Diarmuid
Gavin, foodie favourite Gregg Wallace, Gadget-guru Suzi Perry and joining the
team this year as our Ideal Woman Ambassador is popular television presenter
Carol Smillie.
Ideal Interiors Ambassador John
Amabile not only runs a successful interior design company but is also part of
the 60-minute makeover television series, which he filmed last year with Peter
Andre. John will be on hand with top tips on how best to keep your home
up-to-date with the latest trends and he will be creating a stunning room set
at the show for visitors to explore.
Following on from his hugely
successful TV shows, Restoration Man and George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, architect George will be offering
advice on how to make the most of your home. (I am very excited about seeing George!)
For the greener fingered visitor, learn
how to prepare your outdoor space for summer with help from Diarmuid, the foremost
expert in the UK for gardens and garden design. (And I definitely need some tips from Diarmuid for my garden!!)
Popular television presenter Gregg
Wallace will be bringing back his exclusive show restaurant giving visitors the
chance to taste the best of local produce with a selection of delicious dishes.
Meanwhile Carol Smillie will be adding
glamour and making sure everyone is looking fabulous with her top fashion and
beauty tips.
Technology and Gadgets Ambassador,
Suzi Perry and her team will be previewing and showcasing the latest gadgets
and gizmos to ensure your home is at the forefront of innovation.
This will be the fourth Ideal Home
Show Scotland under the ownership of Media 10.
Lee Newton, Media 10’s Managing
Director said, “The show in Scotland has grown from strength to strength since
its launch in 2011. It’s a much loved, renowned and well supported event and an
integral part of our Ideal Home Show brand. It’s an exciting year for Scotland
with so much going on in the country and we’re expecting this show to be our
biggest yet.”
***GIVEAWAY*** I have 4 pairs of tickets to giveaway to my readers. Just tell me, which celebrity expert would you love to meet? Please follow the Rafflecopter instructions below.
The giveaway will end on Tuesday 20th May at midnight allowing me time to get the tickets posted out to the lucky winners. UK residents only please, and there is no alternative prize.
Thanks, and good luck! If you don't win the tickets btw, then book your tickets online using the details below to receive a free guide and magazine worth over £6...
Tickets only £10* + FREE GUIDE & MAGAZINE
Book your tickets now and take advantage of our great £10* ticket offer and you will save £5 off the door rate and beat the queues! Plus you’ll receive a FREE Show guide + FREE Ideal Home Magazine* (worth over £6) to be collected at the show upon arrival. To book visit www.idealhomeshowscotland.co.uk or call 0844 854 2014 and quote IHSS10. Don’t forget there’s no booking fee and Kids 15 and under go FREE.
*Book before 22 May 2014. Advance booking offer. Concessions not included. No booking fee. Children aged 15 and under go FREE when accompanied by a paying adult (Maximum 2). No group tickets available on this offer. Strictly limited to 1 guide, 1 magazine per household, while stocks last. Valid, personalized show guide and magazine vouchers can only be exchanged at the show on date of visit where they will be scanned and verified. Vouchers are non-transferable, non-assignable and there are no cash alternatives. Calls cost 6p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.
If you haven't already seen the campaign, then take a look at the new John Lewis 'Matters to You' Home Insurance advert... highlighting the emotional side of insuring the things that matter to you.
John Lewis adverts are always so clever aren't they! (I adored the Christmas one last year - massive tear jerker!).
As part of the campaign, John Lewis have launched a children's drawing competition.
All you have to do is choose your child's masterpiece on the theme 'favourite things / what matters most', photograph it, and write a little bit about what it means to your child, you and how it makes you feel. Would be a great activity for the Easter holidays :-)
To enter head on over to the John Lewis competition site to upload your picture and details. You can find the terms and conditions here.
There will be four winners, and each winners artwork will be worked up by professional illustrator Emily Woodard which will then be framed with the original into a piece of art to treasure forever.
Here's Emily at work:
The competition closes on 24th April at 10am - so not much time left to enter!
Here's one of my favourite masterpieces that the eldest drew... what matters most to us is our friends and family. We're a sociable family and the kids are confident talking to lots of different people during our daily routines. In this picture, you'll see my two kiddies with the joiner and electrician (we had just moved into our new house and were getting lots of things fixed!!) and that's me as a fairy up in the sky! The eldest's favourite part is their 'jelly hair'!!
