The Ordinary Moments - Scooter Boy


These past weeks have been hectic with a mix of trying to study, work and find time with Max. I knew it was going to be hard to fit everything in but at times I feel so stretched I wonder when I'm going to break.

I had the past week off work and ended up being more stressed than ever due to the construction of a tree for world book day. I'm not the most artistic of the bunch but love trying things out. Let's just say that this tree has been the bane of my life recently. I'm nearly finished with it and cannot wait for Thursday to come around so I can see the back of it!

Amongst the metaphorical tearing of the hair out I managed to spend some quality time with Max. He's just got a special award from school for reading and behaviour so we all went out for a special meal on Sunday followed by an hour at the skatepark. Max has just started to take an interest in skateboarding and scootering so  we are looking into getting him lessons at a local indoor park. 


I spent a day up in london helping the EHRC do some research on maternity leave and employers. It was so much fun and so informative that I can't wait to see the results. I managed to catch up with one of my friends Sophie, she's another Young Women's Trust Advisory Panel member and we spend far too long chatting about this upcoming weekend. I'm heading away to Crewe to spend a weekend brainstorming and doing all sorts of amazing things for a charity that has given me so much. 





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School Run Snug with GO Outdoors

Buying the perfect coat for all seasons can be one of the trickiest things when it comes to clothes shopping. At least that's my personal opinion. We have a wealth of coats stacked up behind our front door and none of them seem to fit the bill. Especially when all you want is a lightweight coat with ample pocket space that isn't going to make you overheat on the school run. 

So when GO Outdoors emailed asking if we wanted to test drive some of their coats we couldn't really say no. And let's just say we were not disappointed! Scott was sent the Hi Gear Men's Packlite Down Jacket whilst Max was sent the Hi Gear Transformer Insulated Jacket. Here's what we thought. 


First up the men's jacket, upon opening it Scott was amazed at how light it was and was completely dubious as to how warm it would really keep him. After a few trips out on the school run he was totally blown away by how warm it kept him and how wind resistant it was. I love the fact that it can pack down into one of the pockets so I'm not left carrying his jacket!

It's been perfect for the school runs as its got ample pocket space to keep keys and a phone and versatile enough that he can wear it with anything. Yep the dads care what they look like on the school run too.


Max's kids coat is amazing. By the same brand it provides the same amount of warmth and wind protection that Scott's does but it's also a bit special. It's treated with a water repellent so it's perfect for those mornings where it's not freezing but there's a bit of a shower. Like the adult one it can pack away into a pocket for ease of storage which is great for fun days out and with reflective details on the front and hood they can always be seen which is a bonus. 



Max has been wearing this to school since we got it and his favourite part has got to be the fact that the jacket is reversible. When it's not the gorgeous ocean blue colour it can be a bright mustard which is great with his welly boots! The bright colours means he's easy to spot in the playground and he's still kept warm and cosy. Perfect school run clothing!

Both coats are available on the GO Outdoors website and are perfect for everything from school runs to summer forest walks, the perfect go-to jacket for any weather eventuality. Thank you so much to GO Outdoors for providing us with these for our review. I can't wait to see where they come with us next. 


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Saltrock Clothing


Saltrock is one of those brands I've grown up loving. Living by the sea has always meant a wealth of surfing related brands have bubbled away through each clothing phase I went through, but brands like Saltrock are ones I've always gone back to knowing that the quality of clothes like theirs are always so much better than others. So when Saltrock approached us about reviewing some of their clothes we could hardly say no to adding some awesome stuff to our already growing collection!

It was a hard time spent staring at my phone trying to work out what products were different to what we had but also gorgeous and fit with what we love to wear. So in the end I let Max pick what he wanted and I chose my item! He opted for a bright mint coloured top with a nautical feel and a fluffy hoodie that he seriously hasn't taken off since it arrived. 


I love the feel and quality of both the top and the hoodie. The top is made out of a nice thick cotton and has enough breathing room that he will last ages in it. It actually sized up quite big for what a 5-6 normally is but I'm not complaining as this kid likes his jeans skinny and his tops loose fitting. 

The hoodie is so soft and fluffy on the inside that I'm partial to casually rubbing the hood when I'm hanging it up (don't judge me, it's like stroking a cloud!). And the colour is so bright that you can't help but notice him. We've had loads of remarks over half term about how gorgeous the items are and how well made they are. I have to also comment on the fact that they wash amazingly well. No shrinking and no fading on either of the items so it's a massive thumbs up from us. 


I on the other hand went for the gorgeous knitted oversized scarf. Ever since my best friend gave me an oversized scarf at Christmas, I've become slightly obsessed. They are perfect to throw on with a hoodie on the school run or to use as a shawl/blanket if the weather suddenly turns a bit cold. 

I love the colours in this scarf, it's like a gorgeous patchwork blanket and falls to about mid thigh length so is perfect either left hanging or thrown around your neck to hide from the wind. I'm seriously impressed at the quality of the scarf, it's so soft and warm yet isn't heavy like a lot of my other scarfs. Even better, the scarf is still in the sale for only £10! A complete bargain for a stylish accessory. I'm looking at getting one for my mum for Mother's day as she's been eyeing this one a bit too much. 



We love these items from Saltrock and are currently looking online at what we can buy next (probably something for Scott as he felt a bit left out!). Saltrock is one of those brands that has stood the test of time and continues to produce quality, stylish clothing at great prices. We can't wait for our next purchase!


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Bill DVD Review

There's nothing better than settling down to an afternoon watching a great movie. So when we were invited to join along with the Bill DVD viewing party we couldn't say no! Bill is a tale of William Shakespeare created by the creators of the amazing Horrible Histories. Horrible Histories is a new favourite in our home, we're getting on to the binge watching stage and it's not only a great comedy show but it's teaching Max so much about history that we can't help but love it. That's one reason why we were so excited about the Bill DVD release!



It pieces together the story of what happened (well might have happened) in the time before he became the famous playwright we all know and love. We were absolutely roaring with laughter the whole way through. And whilst a lot of the historical references went over Max's head that didn't mean he couldn't follow the story of a man persevering to achieve his dreams. Along the way of course there's a whole host of amazing plot twists and gags that will leave you having to pause the DVD just so you can catch your breath. One DVD that you won't want to miss! A fun filled film for all the family to enjoy. 






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This Week We Have Been



This week has been a hectic one. Between a poorly child, coursework and trying to keep on top of a house, things have been slipping and I can honestly say I can't wait for half term next week. 

My course has been going great. I'm absolutely loving my journey with Digital Mums. My peer group are really helpful and my mentor Faye is the absolute best (late night Google Hangouts keeping me sane!). I'm where I should be in the course schedule and about to embark on my self driven campaign. I'll probably spill a few more details when I've officially launched it but let's just say it's a good one!

We were recently given a new record player and honestly it's been awesome whacking it on full blast and dancing around the flat whilst I've been tidying. We've got a little collection that we've built and are loving introducing Max to some classic stuff we listened to in our teenage years (Funeral For A Friend Casually Dressed anyone?).

In a few weeks I'm heading off for my second residential with the Young Women's Trust advisory girls. It's been nearly 6 months since our last and I'm definitely missing them! Since joining the panel my confidence has skyrocketed, I'm more outspoken on issues that I think are important and I'm more clued up on how I can help people. When my Digital Mums course is over I want to spend some time helping some other young women in my local community to make a difference with all the skills and knowledge I've learnt. 

FInally work has been manic. We've had Harry Potter Book Night which was a roaring success (look out for my Harry Potter printables post coming soon), then J K Rowling announced the release of The Cursed Child so we went back into Harry Potter mode and amongst that I've been busy crafting things for half term and World Book Day. At my store I'm doing a storytelling session for the book Stuck by Oliver Jeffers which I can't wait! I've got to make Max a Harry Potter costume first though. I think I need to go to Hogwarts!

What have you been up to? 


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Park Life


The weather has been rubbish these past weeks. We've spent weekends holed up inside watching DVD's and playing games that when we saw a glimmer of sunlight behind a cloud we rushed outside to the park.

The park is a magical place for children. They can run wild and pretend they are pirates, they can burrow underneath the equipment and pretend they are running through a jungle. They can create an obstacle course and compete against each other to win the playground olympics. The opportunities are endless.

I love going to the park with Max. He's outgrown having me run around with him but he still loves watching me create these worlds, worlds that us adults can only dream about creating.

Never lose that imagination.
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Brewers Fayre - Clarence Pier


We love eating out with family and friends. So when Brewers Fayre invited us to their Clarence Pier restaurant we jumped at the chance to treat our family to a meal out. Brewers Fayre is a great British restaurant, one that caters to everyone's tastes and preferences whilst still being a fun and welcoming place. 

We headed to the Clarence Pier branch, situated on the seafront we had some great sea views and were right next to the arcade and other attractions. After spending some time sinking some 2ps in the slot machines we headed over to Brewers Fayre for a great Sunday lunch.

There was some great service, we were seen to our table right away and explained by the welcoming waiter that we should select our meals then pay and order at the bar using our table number. This was great for us as it can be such an indecisive time picking food under pressure!


Between us we had an amazing choice of food. Everything was top notch and definitely filled us up after a busy morning. Scott opted for one of the new burger selections and it was certainly impressive, and tasty too. We had a few carvery's between us which had the perfect selection of meat and veggies that were cooked to perfection. We also had a chicken and ham pie which was filling and perfectly portioned. 

We didn't have to wait long for the food and the staff were great with checking up if everything was okay. There was more than enough on our plates and the variety on the menu was perfect for the picky ones amongst us!


The best bit about Brewers Fayre was the menu and facilities for children. The kids menu is not only good value but packed full of different things for them to try (Max opted for the burger, he normally does!) with main meals for just £3.99. 

They also have a soft play area which was brilliant to occupy Max in whilst we were waiting for our food. Sometimes he can get agitated whilst waiting so it was perfect for us adults to be able to catch up whilst he went and played, knowing he was in a safe place. 

This half term Brewers Fayres are offering a host of fabulous offers for entice and treat the whole family. From curry clubs, to midday deli deals, there is something on offer for everyone. A guaranteed thumbs up from the family and no washing up needed for mums and dads! What's not to love? 

To make it even better, on the 19th and 20th at selected Brewers Fayres they will also have kids discos to keep those kids energised and entertained during half term. Add that to the soft play, activity sheets and great menus, Brewers Fayre are ticking all the boxes!


We absolutely loved our time out at Brewers Fayre, we had a great time catching up with our family and inlaws and Max had a blast using the facilities. We will definitely be back!

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