tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11927581945600739492024-03-13T13:30:45.002+00:00All About MEALL ABOUT MEME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-36644055631916775622019-01-20T16:39:00.001+00:002019-01-20T16:39:32.187+00:00Very overdue update!Well hello there!<br />
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It's been a very long time since I've written any posts and I'm not really sure why I stopped! So here I am, dipping my toes back into the water so to speak.<br />
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I thought I would do a little update about things and I will try to post more often again as I always found it such a good outlet and very cathartic.<br />
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So my not so little girl is almost 10. Double figures. How did that happen?! It feels like I blinked and suddenly I have this grown up person who was once my tiny baby. She will always be my baby though and she knows it (even if it does make her cringe)!! She has grown up so much and she's still a kind, caring and hilariously funny girl. She has me in hysterics laughing most days and as she always has been, she's the best medicine!<br />
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She plays for a girls' football team now and I am so proud of her. She loves it and they are doing really well but she's also made a new group of friends so that's a nice bonus.<br />
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We are so close and although my health is still the same (i.e rubbish!!), we love spending time together chilling, crafting or playing games. Uno brings out both our sneaky sides and I take no prisoners!! Some may say she gets her competitiveness from me ;-)<br />
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She loves lego and likes it when I find the pieces she needs next, although she flies through building them and doesn't really need my help!<br />
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She loves reading. She is a total bookworm. I never thought she would be as she never seemed too keen but I'm so glad that changed. I have also got back into reading after many years of not doing so I think she's inspired me!<br />
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Over the last year we managed to do some really good stuff which makes me happy to think about. There were actually lots of highlights so I'll pick out a few!<br />
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In March 2018 we had our second trip to Disneyland Paris for little Miss' 9th birthday. We had totally caught the Disney bug on our previous trip so booked again and it was amazing. Pure magic!<br />
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In May it was my 40th birthday and we went on holiday to my favourite place, Puerto Pollensa in Majorca, having booked a year prior. Turning 40 was a big thing for me and I felt a bit weird about it in the lead up (especially considering I feel more like 20 and act more like 16!!!) however it was a perfect way to spend a special birthday. Some lovely memories.<br />
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My sister also threw me an afternoon tea with some of my favourite people. Sadly some of my friends who are dotted all over the place couldn't make it but they were there in thought :-)<br />
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In the Summer we had work done on the house which was a lot of stress and mess, but it has made such a big difference so was definitely worth it. Decluttering has been a priority and for someone who doesn't like getting rid of stuff, I have done well being ruthless! Storage baskets are my new best friend and I'm all about organising drawers into sections. There's something therapeutic about seeing everything all tidy isn't there?!<br />
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My health is still the same and most days are either bad or worse! I have to keep plodding and do what I can. Resting lots is still a necessity and moving to Spain is my next plan. Joking! (But I would love to!).<br />
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I pick and choose when to do stuff worth using my very limited energy on. If it's worth the payback for several days of hell after, I do it. If not, I don't! I have learnt over the years to be more assertive and not be afraid of saying no. Saying yes more (as I did a whole previous post on <a href="https://beingamummywithme.blogspot.com/2016/06/say-yes-more-inspired-by-danny-wallace.html?m=1">HERE</a>) is important too, but we should never feel pressured or obliged to do stuff if it's not beneficial and especially not if it will be detrimental to our health.<br />
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Anyway I think that's quite enough for now. I had forgotten how much I talk when I get started!<br />
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If there's anything you'd like me to write about please feel free to contact me. Thank you for reading and I look forward to getting back into it.<br />
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Stay sparkly,<br />
Ali xxME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-17228685720745438062017-11-30T07:10:00.000+00:002017-11-30T07:10:10.417+00:00Comfy jumpers and fairy lights Everyone keeps saying I've been quiet lately, which I guess I have a bit but not intentionally! I think this time of year just makes you want to hibernate and wrap yourself up in blankets. Hot chocolate has never tasted so good and big chunky socks are the best thing ever.<br />
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I hate Winter. I hate being cold. Who actually embraces it?<br />
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<i>Roll on Summer I say</i>!<br />
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I do love snuggling up and lighting lots of candles as well as fairy lights galore twinkling - is there anything prettier? Playing games with my girlie or watching festive films is nice (<i>Smiling's my favourite!!)</i>, but I will never be a Winter person. Snow is rubbish despite it being pretty to look at. I am in the house a lot as it is, so when snow appears I am even less inclined to leave it!! I guess that's one of the good things about being ill and not having to worry about going out when the weather turns bad. I wouldn't fancy attempting to drive my scooter across the ice either although it could be fun....<br />
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Primark have done some really cosy Disney jumpers and I *may* have four of them... they are so comfy and soft and I don't want to take them off ever!! So I guess that's one positive about this time of year. I even bought a thermal top as I am always cold which amuses me a lot!<br />
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We went to Haworth at the weekend to see my friend and it's absolutely gorgeous there. It turned dark whilst we were sat in a cafe and when we came out it looked beautiful all lit up. It felt like being in a Victorian Christmas card and despite me now suffering for it, it was absolutely worth it.<br />
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I shall try to get some motivation back to write and be a bit more present but for now I intend on watching Elf about 55 times whilst drinking yet more hot chocolate! :-D<br />
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<i>Ali </i><br />
<i>xx</i><br />
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<br />ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-50373922012109221362017-10-18T10:03:00.000+01:002017-10-18T10:04:34.313+01:00Disney is my happy place! I've not written anything for ages as it took me a while to get over the Disney trip! (See my previous post <a href="http://beingamummywithme.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/disneyland-paris-august-2017-me-and.html?m=1">here</a> all about it). To be honest I've not really felt motivated to write but something I have realised since coming back is that Disneyland is most definitely my <b><i>happy place</i></b>.<br />
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My poor health is apparent all the time and I can't get away from permanently feeling rubbish. Alongside that usually comes feeling sad and the whole missing out on life thing, however I have noticed that despite having lots of not so nice stuff going on, generally I've been much happier. If I need to daydream and take myself somewhere away from it all in my mind, I think of Disney.<br />
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It's funny how one place can have such an impact and<i> I really do feel like it's the happiest place in the world. </i><br />
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Disney magic really does exist!<br />
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Before we went I saw people talking about it in the same way and having experienced it, I now totally understand. I can't recommend it enough. I also can't get enough of Disney movies, merch, vlogs etc etc. You name it, if it's Disney I'm on to it!<br />
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I constantly want to be back there, to escape from reality and to be caught up in the bubble. Until then, I will continue to watch, purchase and dream of everything Disney!<br />
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Oh and isn't my new Donald plush cute! He's my favourite but sshhhh don't tell Mickey :-)<br />
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<i>Ali </i><br />
<i>x</i><i>x</i>ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-30679761101971017652017-09-08T21:27:00.000+01:002017-09-08T21:38:22.632+01:00Disneyland Paris August 2017. M.E and mobility scooter!Well where do I start?! We had our holiday to Disneyland Paris booked for 10 months before it was finally time to go. I had experienced various wobbles about going and my initial instinct had been that there was no way with my illness and how I am that I would cope. However, after lots of information, advice and support from some fantastic people, I felt as prepared as I could be and off we went.<br />
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It was the first time I would be travelling with my mobility scooter so I was a little bit anxious about how it would go. We flew with Jet2 and they require you to provide some information regarding the scooter beforehand. Just basics like size and weight of it and they need details of the battery. Mine is dry cell but if it's lithium it can be more complicated. I had been suffering with anxiety about flying prior to travelling and again after advice and support, I put the techniques into place. My favourite one being if any thoughts pop into your head, tell them where to go!! My hubby's cousin also gave me some homeopathic remedies which seemed to help. I actually watched the plane take off for the first time in forever (accidental Disney quote there!) and didn't have to squeeze anyone's hand either. Unheard of with me!!!<br />
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The flight was only an hour so once we were up it was time to come down again. All was good until there was some conflicting advice from the crew and the airport staff about whether I should stay on the plane to wait for my scooter (which is what I had told them I needed and I was ensured would happen) or get off and go into the terminal on the bus and they would put the scooter on the bus with me. That didn't happen and we ended up being sent on the bus but stuck in the terminal with no-one who understood what I was saying and no sign of the scooter. I got really upset and into a panic but eventually they brought the scooter and we could go. It had taken so long that ours was the only luggage still on the belt!!<br />
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We had booked transfers with <a href="http://site.ezyshuttle.com/">Ezyshuttle</a> who had been recommended and they were great. A nice "James Bond car" (according to my daughter) was waiting for us and the driver was lovely. Really recommend them. It takes about 35 minutes to get to Disneyland, passing some pretty French houses on the way.<br />
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We were staying at the <a href="http://www.disneylandparis.co.uk/hotels/disneys-sequoia-lodge/">Sequoia Lodge hotel</a> which has a Bambi theme. We arrived and I don't think I (we!) could have been any more excited!!<br />
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We had booked the Golden Forest club level which has a private room for check in. We were given all the information, park tickets and some pixie dust (random acts of kindness, my favourite!) in the form of some 25th anniversary badges. With Golden Forest you also get a lounge where a full buffet breakfast is served and the same lounge is used for snacks at a set time in the afternoon as well as unlimited free drinks up until 10pm. That means you can take bottles of water or cans of pop to your room and put in the fridge for the next day. It's worth doing Golden Forest purely for that as it saves a fortune. You also get a fastpass per person per day, which can be used on certain rides. Good for the others as I don't do big rides so they had to queue without me! Fastpasses meant they could get on quickly though and if you don't use them a certain day, the hotel will change them to use the following day.<br />
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We had an accessible room which was two interconnecting rooms. One with two double beds and the other a single bed and a bunk. There is a wet room as well as a bathroom with a shower over the bath. We had a lakeside view room and being on 7th floor, the view was fantastic!<br />
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It takes around 10/15 minutes walk to get from the hotel to the park depending on how fast you go. I often had my scooter on full speed but would have liked to go faster!! It's a lovely walk around the lake. <br />
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The Sequoia Lodge hotel is set in Woodland and birdsong music is played outside, which makes it feel really relaxed. Also the reception level is actually on the 2nd floor but you can walk out of the main entrance doors at the front and follow the path round to the left which takes you to the lake. This means you can avoid having to use the other smaller lift from level 2 to ground and it doesn't take long at all.<br />
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One of the things you can get if you have a disability is a Green Pass which enables you to access both rides and meet & greets without the need to wait in the normal queue. It allows up to 4 people with you (other than at Illuminations the light and fireworks show, where you can have 2 people). There are various boxes on the pass and it depends on your disability as to which one gets ticked. Mine was being unable to stand or walk for long. We mainly used the exit of rides where a Cast Member would be and would help you on.<br />
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For meets with characters they have a certain amount of spaces and when they are gone they are gone, so you need to arrive early enough to either wait a short while or return at the time given. You go to City Hall in the main park to get the pass and can also use the Donald Duck desk in the studios I think. My Blue Badge (European Parking badge) was sufficient evidence but I know there are different things that will be accepted so it's worth having a look on the website for the information. <a href="http://www.disneylandparis.co.uk/guest-services/guests-with-disabilities/">Link to website</a>.<br />
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I couldn't have managed without the green pass. Those of you who know me, or who understand what M.E is like, know how exhausted/disorientated I get and how fast, so not having to queue was so helpful. I was shattered enough as it was!!<br />
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We had a reservation the first night at the Hunters Grill buffet restaurant in the hotel (which was fab) so decided to wait until the next day to go into the parks properly. There are a couple of security points as you go into the park/studios and you walk through the Disney Village which has various shops and food places.<br />
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It's so exciting as you get to the park entrance and once you go through the ticket machine you are there! Apparently there is a disabled entrance to the very left but we didn't know about this although the queue moved fast so it wasn't a problem. You see Main Street in front of you and the castle right at the end. There is music playing and it's just magical.<br />
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The one thing we (well me and little Miss!) wanted to do on the first morning was meet Minnie. We had worn our blue dresses with stars (obviously not hubby haha but my mum in law had joined in too!) for Disney's 25th anniversary theme to match the character's outfits. We found the Cast Member and there were only 2 families in front of us so we were told to wait and it was no time at all. Minnie was lovely and really liked what we were wearing! So glad we met her, she's a babe.<br />
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We also had a Photopass which we had added to our booking before we went as it is a bit cheaper doing that than buying it there. There are Photopass photographers at certain meets, on a selection of rides and a few in the park which we never saw unfortunately. Once your photos have been taken they get added to your photos via the app each day and then once home you can print or whatever else you want to do with them.<br />
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After that it was time to explore and head to the castle which is just beautiful. There is also a dragon under it which a lot of people don't seem to know about.<br />
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We did some rides and found the system with the Green Pass worked well. I had a big list of tips and suggestions, including quieter places where I could sit and chill. I had picked up these from various blogs, YouTube videos and from Disneyland Paris pages online. My favourite one is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/disneylandparisadvice/">Daniel Potter's Disneyland Paris advice</a> on Facebook, which is a really lovely group and has so much fab information. I had bought some group badges from them before going and we actually got them in person from Daniel who was there with his lovely family at the same time! Funnily enough I recognised a few others from the group who were also there so we had a chat which was nice.<br />
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We had a meal booked at the <a href="http://www.disneylandparis.co.uk/dining/disneyland-park/auberge-de-cendrillon/">Auberge de Cendrillon</a> which is lunch with the Princesses at the Cinderella restaurant. At the back of it is Cinderella's carriage which is gorgeous.<br />
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You are guaranteed four princesses and often two of the mice but sometimes Mickey or Minnie make an appearance. We had Snow White, Rapunzel, Ariel and Cinderella with her mice Suzy and Perla.<br />
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We had a half board meal plan - the meal plans really confused me at first but once you get your head around it it's quite easy to understand. Basically we got one voucher per person per night which covers you for a 3 course set menu including a soft drink, which is usually a higher value than the voucher. Sequoia Lodge is a Plus level hotel therefore you can eat at any of the restaurants under Plus plan for no extra money. If you wanted to eat at one of the Premium places then you pay a top up which is what we had to do at the Auberge. It is expensive but absolutely worth it for the interaction you get with the characters! The food was lovely too.<br />
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It was really nice having a proper break during the day and we did the same the following day at the Ratatouille themed restaurant <a href="http://www.disneylandparis.co.uk/dining/walt-disney-studios-park/bistrot-chez-remy/">Bistro Chez Remy</a>. We loved it here and the food was again brilliant. <br />
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I really recommend a sit down lunch somewhere as it really does help you recharge a bit. There are lots of counter service/fast food places as well as proper restaurants so it depends what you want but if we go again we will definitely get another food plan. Half board was enough for us though and I think full board would have been too much as I would have felt like we were spending too much time sitting and eating! I also couldn't have handled another restaurant as by afternoon I was flagging and ready for a nap but some people love having two sit down meals each day. It all depends what suits you.<br />
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The character meet & greets were brilliant and we didn't have time for them all sadly, but we managed to meet loads still including the main man Mickey, Village Belle, Alice, Chip n Dale, Mary Poppins & her 2 penguins, Merida, Aladdin, Jasmine and The Genie.<br />
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I really wanted to meet Moana as I was Disneybounding as her and little Miss was bouding as Pua! Anyone unfamiliar with bounding, it is where you dress inspired by the character and in the same colours as them but it's not fancy dress. Adults aren't allowed into the parks in fancy dress either.<br />
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We were lucky in that we were in the queue for the Studios opening and when we got to where Moana does her meet, we were given a time for about 20 minutes later to come back. She was so nice and loved our outfits! I didn't realise until we got home that she had written "To Moana" in my autograph book and "To Pua" in my daughter's book!!<br />
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After that we explored the Studios but it was 33 degree heat and pretty unbearable so we did as many indoor things as we could. We eventually gave up and headed back to the hotel for a rest!<br />
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The shows are amazing at Disney and the Mickey and the Magician show felt like we were watching something on the West End. We also saw the Forest of Enchantment show on the last day before we had to leave and it was brilliant. That has now finished and it won't be returning which is a shame.<br />
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All the details around Disney are gorgeous. I could just sit and look at everything for hours. You always see new stuff and it just takes my breath away how pretty it all is.<br />
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The parade happens every day at 5.30pm and we went to the Disabled area at the entrance to the It's a Small World ride. My little girl dressed as the Queen of Hearts and had some good interaction from characters. Alice bowed to her when she saw her!! We loved all the floats and the dancing. Such talent!<br />
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Illuminations is the lights and firework show and as we were there in the Summer, it didn't start until 11pm. We had all had a rest for a few hours in the afternoon so went back to the parks late evening and did some rides before getting a spot in the disabled area. It was packed a long time before it started and such a long wait but was well worth it. I found it quite emotional and at one point I cried. I had my girlie sat on the scooter with me and thought she said "I'm crying", so I told her I was too but she said "no, I'm tired!!!" Bless her, it was pretty late! Mickey was waving at everyone as we left the park too which was nice.<br />
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I could say so much more about it all but I am aware I have already written a LOT so I think I will end it here and perhaps do another post with more photos in soon.<br />
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I am still in the Disney bubble despite still recovering and I am definitely not feeling as sad as I usually am when the M.E is bad!! It's keeping me smiling that's for sure.<br />
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If anyone has any questions then please do not hesitate to ask as I've probably missed loads out. If you are thinking of going but are apprehensive then I totally understand. I coped a lot better than I expected and I want to go back already! There is no reason why you can't go to Disney if you have M.E or any other (chronic) illness. There are good systems in place and all the Cast Members (we found) are lovely and really helpful. I charged my scooter overnight each day and it did me proud!!<br />
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I loved it there so much and would happily move in to the castle and stay amongst the magic. They say Disney is the happiest place in the world and I have to agree. <br />
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<i>Ali</i><br />
<i>xx</i><br />
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<br />ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-10458169460888913842017-08-26T21:44:00.000+01:002017-08-26T21:44:07.211+01:00Twenty questions! How many did my girl get right??Further to my other Question and Answer post I did with my little Miss recently - <a href="http://beingamummywithme.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/asking-my-daughter-questions-how-well.html?m=1">here</a> - she had been asking me to do another so I thought up 20 random questions and here's how it went...<br />
<br />
Q1) <i>Who is the Prime Minister?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Labour<br />
<br />
<br />
Q2) <i>In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, what is Charlie's surname?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Bucket<br />
<br />
<br />
Q3) Which band has Perrie, Jesse, Jade and Leigh Anne in?<br />
<br />
Little Mix<br />
<br />
<br />
Q4) <i>What is the name of the tortoise on Blue Peter?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Shelley<br />
<br />
<br />
Q5) <i>How many sides does a hexagon have?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
6<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
Q6) <i>Feline relates to which animal?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Bee<br />
<br />
<br />
Q7) <i>What are young frogs called?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Toads<br />
<br />
<br />
Q8) <i>How many planets are there in the Solar System including Earth?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
7<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Q9) Where is the Statue of Liberty?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
New <i>York </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
Q10) <i>What colour are emeralds?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Green<br />
<br />
<br />
Q11) <i>Which leaves can you use to soothe stinging nettles?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Dock leaves<br />
<br />
<br />
Q12) <i>Crawl and butterfly are techniques in which sport?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Swimming<br />
<br />
<br />
Q13) I<i>n badminton what is the name of the thing that gets hit by the rackets?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Simalama<br />
<br />
<br />
Q14) <i>What sport is also the name for ping pong?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Table tennis<br />
<br />
<br />
Q15) <i>What is the largest country in the world?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Russia<br />
<br />
<br />
Q16) <i>What is the capital city of France?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Paris<br />
<br />
<br />
Q17) <i>How many Olympic rings are there?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
5<br />
<br />
<br />
Q18) <i>How do you say thank you in French?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Merci<br />
<br />
<br />
Q19) <i>In a century how many years are there?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
100<br />
<br />
<br />
Q20) <i>Which country is home to the kangaroo?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Australia<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I think she did pretty well and she got more right than some of the adults we asked the same questions to!! She kicked herself at the ones she got right as she knew the answers as soon as I said them. Amused me though!<br />
<br />
She wants me to do a Disney quiz next so after our trip to Disneyland I'll have to think some questions up! :-)<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Ali</i><i> </i><br />
<i>xx</i>ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-80468634432577723172017-07-23T16:35:00.001+01:002017-07-23T16:35:23.868+01:00Asking my daughter questions! How well does she know me?I've seen those things on Facebook before where you ask your children questions about you and see what they say... so I've been thinking of stuff to ask my little Miss and here's how it went!!<br />
<br />
1. <i>How do you know I love you?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Because I love you too much and we are always together and even though you are poorly, no matter what happens we'd always love each other. You always are kissing me and hugging me and you always call me beautiful, helpful and amazing. You always say "I love you" to infinity and beyond and say "do you know how much I love you?".<br />
<br />
<br />
2. <i>What is something I always say to you?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I love you and you're a silly sausage!!<br />
<br />
<br />
3. <i>What makes me happy?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Me, sparkles, glitter, daddy.<br />
<br />
<br />
4. <i>What makes me sad?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
When you're sunbathing outside and it rains!<br />
<br />
<br />
5. <i>How do I make you laugh?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Tickling me.<br />
<br />
<br />
6. <i>What is my favourite thing to do?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Spend time with me and dad when you get chance.<br />
<br />
<br />
7. <i>What do I do when you're not here?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Rest.<br />
<br />
<br />
8. <i>What am I really good at?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Doing crafts.<br />
<br />
<br />
9. <i>What am I not good at?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Football.<br />
<br />
<br />
10. <i>What is my favourite food?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Pickled cucumbers!<br />
<br />
<br />
11. <i>How would you describe me to your friends?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Older. Way older!<br />
Really beautiful.<br />
<br />
<br />
12. <i>What do you do that makes me laugh?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Anything can make you laugh with me. Tickle you. When I sneak up and tickle your feet.<br />
<br />
<br />
13. <i>What's the nicest thing I ever did for you?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Surprise me with getting a Tiny Treasure doll for my birthday that I'd wanted. You kept saying what if you don't get one and I thought I wasn't!<br />
<br />
<br />
14. <i>If we could do anything together what would it be?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Spending the whole day invisible and spending time doing pranks and tricks.<br />
<br />
<br />
15. <i>What is my favourite thing to watch?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Love Island!<br />
(* Oh the shame.)<br />
<br />
16. <i>If I could go anywhere on holiday where would it be?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
To a really sunny place where you can relax.<br />
<br />
<br />
17. <i>What is my favourite drink?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Sangria!<br />
<br />
<br />
18. <i>What would my dream job be?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Making glittery stuff!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i>19. </i>Who is my favourite singer?<br />
<br />
Christina Aga something!<br />
<br />
<br />
20. <i>If I had £100 what would I buy?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Anything you can see that's glittery. Presents for friends and family.<br />
<br />
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I found her answers really interesting and some of them made me laugh lots. I had no idea I said silly sausage either but she cried at a film yesterday and I said it then haha!<br />
<br />
Sangria IS something I like but I dont drink it often :-D Pickled cucumber is not what I'd choose as my favourite food but I do like them so that made me giggle.<br />
<br />
She keeps asking me to do another "quiz" for her so I've got something else in mind which I'll do shortly!<br />
<br />
Hope you enjoyed reading,<br />
<br />
<i>Ali xx</i><br />
<br />
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<br />ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-77473530905028727882017-07-02T10:58:00.000+01:002017-07-02T10:58:22.778+01:00There's more to me than M.EIf you read my blog you'll already know that I have the incurable chronic illness M.E (myalgic encephalomyelitis). It is a huge part of my life. It kind of dictates how I do things and stops me from doing a whole load of stuff that I want to do. However, it does not define me and I'm not just the girl who has M.E. When I say girl, I clearly mean lady as I'm way too old to be a girl but you know what I mean!!<br />
<br />
I thought I'd chat about some of the stuff that makes me 'me' when we take M.E out of the equation.<br />
<br />
* Glitter. If it's glittery I have to have it. End of.<br />
<br />
* Sparkle. The same goes for anything sparkly. I can absolutely give any magpie a run for it's money.<br />
<br />
* Music. I love all types and it depends on my mood as to what I like to listen to. I do love a bit of reminiscing with some old school tunes from back in the day. (The days when I was a girl)! I also love a good singalong to Disney as much as I love rocking to Oasis. Oasis is an iconic indie band, for those of you lucky enough to be much younger than me who may not know who they are!!<br />
<br />
* TV shows which are gritty and full of action. Just love them and always open to ideas for news ones, although it's likely I've seen them already.<br />
<br />
* Trashy TV. I don't watch much normal TV at all but my guilty pleasure is trashy shows like Love Island, which is my current favourite. I'm also wondering if all young people these days use the language/phrases like they do on it as I've never heard of half the stuff they say!! Again I feel old.<br />
<br />
* The colour blue. It is my favourite colour and it's the one I'm always drawn to. People assume it would be pink as I am quite a girly girl but royal blue it is. <br />
<br />
* Stationery. I have far too many notebooks and pens but I just can't help it. <br />
<br />
* Tea. I love a good strong cuppa but none are as good as Yorkshire tea. I can't bear weak tea or milky tea. Yuk! Builder's tea all the way. I also have a cupboard full of herbal teas but a proper cuppa is the one. I have a LOT of mugs but I also have a few China cups and saucers as I think tea tastes better in them!<br />
<br />
* I prefer savoury stuff to sweet. Give me a bag of crisps over chocolate or cake any day. Walkers cheese and onion is my all time favourite. Not that I'll turn down sweet treats either though!<br />
<br />
* Make up. I love the stuff and have so much of it but tend to stick to the same selection of things each time. I'm not afraid to experiment with colour, I love a bold lip or bright eyes. And glitter obviously.<br />
<br />
* Bags. As most women do, I have a vast collection of bags. Half of which I never use. Oh shoes too. And hair accessories. It's a woman's perogative isn't it?<br />
<br />
* Jewellery. To go alongside my crazy amount of bags and shoes I also have a ridiculous amount of jewellery. Again I don't even wear half of it oooops.<br />
<br />
* Plastic cups/bottles. I much prefer drinking from plastic cups and stuff than glass. Not sure why but I do.<br />
<br />
* Friends and family. No explanation needed really but I'd be lost without them.<br />
<br />
* Sunshine. It makes me happy, it motivates me and I always feel that bit better with a bit of colour. Plus BBQs!!<br />
<br />
* Amaretto. It's my favourite alcoholic drink ever. On the rocks. I like the odd glass of vino too and I risk the way it makes me feel because I have intolerance to alcohol but hey ho . Also the sound of the first bit of wine being poured from a newly opened bottle is one of my favourite sounds ever!!<br />
<br />
* Flowers. I love fresh flowers and don't like it when I don't have any. I'm a sucker for a crystal vase too and have been known to buy them from charity shops despite definitely not needing any more!<br />
<br />
* Anything pineapple, flamingo, unicorn, cactus or succulent themed. I'm terrible and just can't help myself.<br />
<br />
* Disney. We are going to Disneyland Paris soon for the first time and I appear to have become slightly obsessed with all things Disney. I may just cry when I meet the Minnie Mouse!<br />
<br />
* Random Acts of Kindness. One of my favourite things and it just makes me all fuzzy doing things that make people smile. I'm also very lucky to be on the receiving end of random loveliness sometimes and it honestly is the best feeling.<br />
<br />
* My girl. My ray of sunshine. The thing I'm most proud of. She makes me smile, laugh and grateful that I've raised a little person who's as crazy as me!!<br />
<br />
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************</div>
<br />
I'll end it there as I think that's enough for now but if you think of anything else that makes you think of me then please tell me in the comments :-)<br />
<br />
<br />
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<i>Ali </i><br />
<i>xx</i>ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-36929962506023536242017-06-16T20:24:00.000+01:002017-06-16T20:24:09.598+01:00Crieff Hydro holiday May 2017I wasn't planning on doing a post about our holiday to <a href="http://www.crieffhydro.com/">Crieff Hydro</a> again but after receiving such good customer service from them I decided to do one. Plus I love being able to look back at holidays on my blog too!<br />
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We have recently returned from our second time there which was booked last year. I did a post about our 2016 holiday <a href="https://beingamummywithme.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/crieff-hydro-holiday-august-2016.html">here</a>. We booked within a matter of weeks of returning as we had loved it so much, plus it coincided with my birthday so it was a good excuse for a break! If you re-book within a certain amount of time, you can request the same room if you want. When I booked over the phone, the room we had stayed in was unavailable but the lady suggested a different, quieter room at the end of the corridor. Due to me taking the mobility scooter I needed a ground floor room and the quieter the better, so it all sounded good.<br />
<br />
Fast forward many months and we finally arrived after a stop off in Glasgow to break the journey up. My chronic illness and travelling do not go well together, so having some rest and a good breakfast helps make the final part of the journey to Crieff more bearable.<br />
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I had rung ahead to say we would be arriving earlier than check in time and wondered if there was any chance of the room being ready, so it was great when we got there and they said it was... until the room wasn't the one we were expecting!! After a bit of a nightmare and a lot of stress (I won't go into details but there were tears. Lots of them. Not just from me), the manager Ashleigh got involved and was absolutely brilliant. It eventually got sorted out and the room we were put in was the room we had been allocated originally. It was gorgeous. Spacious with two huge windows, nice and quiet, huge comfortable beds and lovely Scottish shortbread biscuits!!!<br />
<br />
Somehow somewhere there must have been a lack of communication but the way the manager dealt with it was great. She was so lovely and really made a big difference to the holiday which although had started badly, was really good. She ensured we were looked after and very kindly gave us some treats which helped with the after effects of the initial upset. I always think that it's how places deal with problems that shows how good they are and I absolutely 100% can't fault them. Crieff Hydro is a luxury family hotel and they really showed how they care about their guests.<br />
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It's the most relaxing place and we had five nights of sheer loveliness. The Victorian Spa is the perfect place for some 'me' time. A friend of mine who lives in Scotland came over for the day so we had a lovely chilled couple of hours there.<br />
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Every member of staff we encountered were great during our stay. As we found last year, everyone is friendly and willing to help if necessary. Even when there was a power cut on the first night and we were plunged almost into darkness, the duty manager kept people in good spirits! It was a good opportunity to get little Miss an early night anyway..<br />
<br />
Due to it being term time it wasn't busy with leisure guests. With my hubby's job we can't pick and choose when to go away as he gets given his leave in advance, but despite it being quiet it was great - straight on the bowling green unlike last year when we never had chance as it was so busy!!<br />
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Restaurants were very quiet but we still received excellent service and the food there is so so good. There are various places to eat and although The Hub wasn't open other than on our first day, the staff in the Winter Garden made me some salads to have at lunchtime when I didn't fancy soup or sandwiches. The Meikle is the fancier of all the food places and our three course dinner was amazing. I'm obsessed with cheese and biscuits so of course chose that to finish off my delicious meal!<br />
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The activity centre has lots of stuff to do if you fancy. My hubby took little Miss on the Aloft treetop experience, which turned my stomach just looking at pictures of it, but they loved it! We definitely have an adrenaline junkie on our hands.<br />
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As well as the kids' club which is fantastic, there are lots of things to do on site and tennis in the sunshine went down well with my sporty girl. The tennis courts are really close to the entrance of the hotel and it's so peaceful.<br />
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We were also very lucky with the weather and had pretty much 5 days of sunshine which made me happy! There are lots of places to chill at the Hydro and I can't imagine anyone would feel anything other than relaxed after a stay there. We also met some new friends which was an added bonus. They live in Amsterdam so a visit is on the cards for sure.<br />
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We will definitely go back again. I really can't recommend it enough. Thank you to everyone at the Hydro and particularly Ashleigh!<br />
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<i>Ali </i><br />
<i>xx</i><br />
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<br />ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-54652774276333600232017-05-12T00:22:00.000+01:002017-05-12T00:23:45.174+01:00M.E Awareness Day 2017I would never have imagined my life as it is now. If you'd told me I'd be unable to work and unable to do anything without it making me wiped out; If you'd said I would need to use mobility aids to get around <i>I'd have laughed and told you "nah mate</i>". I'd say that I had spent years studying law, I had a job I enjoyed and a great social life, as well as going to the gym 3 times a week so how could that be possible?<br />
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I'm the person who<i> used to be so independent,</i> who thought nothing of coming home from a full day's work and going in the gym for another few hours. The person who used to go shopping on a weekend and spend several hours just wandering round the shops. The person who went out to the pub, to the cinema, to anywhere that involved doing "normal things" without giving it a second thought. <i>I was enjoying life.</i><br />
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It couldn't be any further from my life now. Fourteen years later I am still often in disbelief about it and would change it in a heartbeat if I could.<br />
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I have talked lots before about what it is like having M.E (myalgic encephalomyelitis) but in a nutshell it's like having THE worse hangover along with flu and your head having been kicked in. All at the same time. That's what it's like for me anyway. <br />
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If you think of a full battery - that's healthy people. Think of an almost empty one and that's me. Every little thing I do eats into my battery and leaves my already low energy levels almost non existent. Resting happens a lot, yet it doesn't really top my energy supplies up so I'm pretty much <i>running on empty</i>. Drained all the time and feeling horrible. I've not even mentioned the pain and all the other fun (not) symptoms like memory and concentration problems, muscle weakness, sleep problems, post exertional malaise (PEM) after anything we do. The list goes on and I really wouldn't wish it on anyone.<br />
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Do you know what though? I'm not amazing or inspirational or any of the things people tell me I am.<i> I am just me. </i>Me who was dealt a shitty card and had to deal with it. I have to grin and bear it. I don't have a choice. I can't even begin to explain how horrendous living with this illness is yet I have to keep going and be as good a mum as I can to my daughter, who gives me purpose and keeps me smiling.<br />
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It's M.E Awareness day today so I felt I should do a post and talk a bit about it. The reason I started my blog was because I often had people ask me what it was like being a mummy with M.E and I was surprised how cathartic I found it when I wrote. I receive messages from people telling me they have learnt a lot from my posts and that I've helped them understand more which means a lot as raising awareness has always been important to me.<br />
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I often look "well" when I am out and then I always wonder what people would think if they saw me in the following days when I'm suffering. When I'm hidden away in bed unable to move. I've had friends cry on me before when they've seen me so poorly but it's made them more aware, so silver linings and all that!<br />
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I think that's enough from me but if you've read this then thank you and I am always happy to answer questions so feel free to leave a comment or contact me via my email.<br />
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Thinking of everyone affected by this evil illness and hugs to everyone who supports me as it really does mean so much.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">M.E Awareness ribbons made by me!</span></div>
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<i>Ali </i><br />
<i>xx </i><br />
<br />ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-74651539746789115112017-05-07T19:39:00.000+01:002017-05-07T19:39:53.209+01:00My girl is 8!I didn't realise it was so long since I had posted, so apologies for that! I've either been having too much fun or my head hasn't been in the game. I'd like to say it's the former but unfortunately not!! So here I (finally) am and quite a lot of stuff has happened over the last month so I'll talk about my favourite thing.. my little Miss' 8th birthday! I say it every year but where on earth does the time go? I'm so proud of the kind, thoughtful and hilariously funny girl she's turned into.<br />
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She had a cupcake decorating party the week before her birthday, which happened to be Mother's day too. It was at our favourite vintage café with our favourite cake lady (thanks Becks!) and they all seemed to enjoy it.<br />
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I had forgotten how much noise a group of girls make too!! They seemed so grown up which I guess, at 8, they are! Little ladies :-)<br />
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Her actual birthday was on a school day and she had Brownies that evening too, but we managed to make time for opening presents and cake of course!<br />
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It just doesn't seem 8 years since she was born. She gets funnier all the time. She always has an answer to everything and has a knack for one liners. Last week when I told her she needed to sort her bedroom out, her response within about two seconds was "no offence but you need to sort yours out"!! I just burst out laughing and I really do struggle sometimes to keep a straight face with the stuff she says.<br />
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I am one proud mummy and I love her to absolute bits. She makes me smile, she makes my heart happy and I'm very glad she's mine.<br />
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<i>Ali </i><br />
<i>xx</i><br />
<br />ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-28520028316461743032017-03-29T21:21:00.004+01:002017-03-29T21:25:16.490+01:00Social media and why can't people just be themselves!I recently watched an episode of the show Black Mirror on Netflix for the second time. It's called <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nosedive">Nosedive</a> and it takes place in the future, where people can vote each other's popularity out of 5 stars. The higher people's ranking, the more things they have available to them even including friends or acquaintances. It's actually a really sad episode and it made me think lots about how there's so much emphasis on social media these days being like an online popularity contest and how many likes people can get for stuff. I find it really quite sad and it actually makes me worry about my daughter's future. <br />
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I grew up with a phone that was connected by a wire to the wall and a TV that you had to walk over to when you wanted to change channels! Social media wasn't a thing back then (I'm not <i>that</i> ancient either!) and I really worry about (young) people today when I see what sort of stuff they post and also how on so many pictures you see, people aren't smiling. They are more often than no doing the (duck!) pout and the peace sign thing or sticking their tongues out. I mean why can't people just smile and look natural? It seems to have become the norm to do it; but why? That's without all the filters available at the push of a button which make people almost unrecognisable. What happened to natural beauty and when did these ridiculous poses become the in thing? I much prefer seeing photos of people smiling, fresh faced and not in the slightest bit staged. I prefer those sort of pictures of myself too but I seem to find it hard to do a natural smile and always seem to do a really fake one if someone shoves a camera in my face, but at least I've tried!<br />
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I see so many pictures of (often young) people looking quite frankly ridiculous if you think about it. Girls seem to be a lot worse too. If I want to take a photo of my daughter and she does a silly pose, I cringe. I am not sure she understands why I ask her not to do it but I really don't like it. She knows I hate it and sometimes will do it to wind me up and will laugh at my reaction before smiling! She's not even 8 yet and I want her to look like a little girl. I'm not saying children don't look like children on such photos but I think it does spoil it a bit when they automatically do it. Surely if someone points a camera at you, you should smile? I love looking back at photos from over the years and I wouldn't want them all to be like that. They obviously can't be smiling on every photo and I love nothing more than taking one when she doesn't know I have done, but I just find it so frustrating that every time I put the internet on, it's full of people looking the same! This is just my opinion though and I know not everyone will agree!!<br />
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Social media is such a funny one. You can paint a picture of the perfect life when the reality is often nothing like that. Think of someone you know and the life they portray themselves as having compared to the life you know they actually have. An illusion of perfection is often far from the reality, yet people can't help it. Some people also seem to thrive on comments from others telling them they look amazing or they are "goals" which I absolutely hate!! Goals is one of those cringeworthy things like when people say "bae". Judder!<br />
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The photos I share on Instagram are like an online album of memories for me and I love looking back at them. I like to take a nice photo and will try to make sure I have nothing in the background that I would prefer not to be seen (I mean no-one wants to see a random bra or a dirty plate lurking!) but I never post stuff that isn't real and if I've not been well enough to do something, I won't pretend I have. I know some people feel they have to post amazing photos all the time which must have taken ages setting up to look just right, when actually behind the scenes it's nothing like the caption may suggest. I don't understand why someone would go to the effort of doing it. If I don't have anything to post, I don't put pressure on myself to post. I certainly don't waste energy I don't have setting up a photo for the sake of social media. It really shouldn't matter what people think but it does matter to so many. Some people feel they have to post stuff to look good, to get a certain number of likes. Who actually cares though? I also know of young people who feel they have to fit in with what their friends or peers are doing despite not actually wanting to and if they don't do it they will be alienated. It really makes me sad. Does it really matter? It 100% shouldn't but today's society is a scary place to be growing up in.<br />
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I guess what I'm trying to say is I just wish people would be themselves and not feel they have to comply with what they think is expected of them or to please other people. The episode of Black Mirror I mentioned is very thought provoking. In fact, the majority of episodes are and I definitely recommend watching if you can. <br />
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Would love to hear what other people think about this!<br />
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ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-9902729330929505692017-03-11T23:36:00.000+00:002017-03-11T23:36:04.903+00:00M.E anniversaryRecently I've been feeling a little bit sad; which happens sometimes given all that life throws at me! However I've noticed I just haven't been feeling right and couldn't put my finger on it... until it dawned on me that it was March back in 2003 when I was diagnosed with M.E and I always seem to get sad each year at this time. 2003 is a long time ago and you would think I'd be used to it after so long but it appears not! 14 years is a long time to have been poorly. To have had "normal" life taken away from you. To suffer each time you do anything remotely normal and to not remember how it feels to feel well. To not remember what it's like to wake up and feel refreshed.. oh that would be amazing! To actually be able to fall asleep in the first place (oh insomnia you are evil). To feel trapped. To want to scream so loud (but not having the energy. Oh the irony!). The list goes on...<br />
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Today was a rough one. After a rubbish night's sleep yet again, I woke up in a horrible mood and just felt really sad. M.E is bad enough even without throwing insomnia into the mix and I never had problems sleeping until I became ill. I was angry at my illness, frustrated at knowing it was another bad day before it had even begun (it's a bad one when I can tell before I've even got up!), upset at all the years I've been ill, wound up at everything all at once and the tears just flowed. <br />
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Sometimes it's good to have a cry no matter how draining it is. I don't seem to cry too often these days which I'm surprised at really, but today I couldn't stop it. My little girl then suddenly appeared and I tried to hide it but she knew. She climbed up on to the bed and cuddled me. Of course that just made me cry even more! She asked why I was crying and I said I wasn't feeling too good and that it makes me sad sometimes. She gave me a pep talk! She told me that I'm poorly and that it's ok and I needed to rest today. She said she's lucky I'm her mummy (more tears). She wiped my tears and had me laughing within minutes. How crazy is that... that my almost 8 year old is often the one who changes my whole perspective on things. She really is amazing that girl.<br />
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The tears tricked me and had obviously decided they hadn't quite had enough and they came again later on. I luckily had the house to myself as I felt like I wanted to be on my own. Then my mum said she was on her way round and I realised how much I needed a mummy cuddle! I burst into tears on her and she was just there when I needed her. We chatted and I felt so much better for talking to her. Plus she bought me daffodils and a This Works deep sleep stress less rollerball thing. It's not just my little girl who thinks she's lucky with her mummy :-)<br />
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I think I definitely needed to get it all out of my system. I felt much better for it and spent the rest of the day chilling out. Listening to relaxation stuff, watching back to back episodes of the show I'm currently obsessed with and just feeling nice and calm. As you know if you know me, I try to be positive a lot and I'll carry on being but it's ok to be sad. It's cathartic to cry. A friend of mine said to me today "You spend so much time caring for and kindness for others despite being ill, I know you often forget you". It made me stop and think and perhaps I don't spend enough time on looking after me. Self care is important and I'm going to make sure I do it more.<br />
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I won't focus on the negative anymore as I feel I've dealt with it now. I will be back to focusing on the happy stuff and the things I have to look forward to this year (did I mention I'm going to Disneyland Paris?!!!!!). Little Miss is 8 in a few weeks so I'll be spending some time thinking about how lucky I am to have her. Because I really really am.<br />
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<br />ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-3853148674615680212017-02-25T17:23:00.000+00:002017-02-25T17:29:46.623+00:00Stockeld Park - where magic is made and adventures begin! The chances are if you live in Yorkshire, you have been to <a href="http://stockeldpark.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Stockeld Park</a>* or at the very least heard of it! It's a magical seasonal attraction nestled amongst stunning woodland and is the perfect place for a family day out. Despite only living about 20 minutes away, we have not actually been since October 2015. I blogged back then about our visit <a href="http://beingamummywithme.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/a-day-out-stockeld-park-near-leedsi.html">HERE</a> it you fancy a read. We were definitely due a trip there and Stockeld very kindly gave us some tickets, so off we went!<br />
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We had also seen that they were doing a Mad Science week and were having a visit from Sublime Science, who were once winners on BBC's Dragon Den. They were going to be doing educational and fun activities which sounded great. When we arrived, my girlie and her friend spotted a 'mad scientist' who told us what time it was on and where it was being held. The girls were really excited! </div>
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We had enough time to let them do some ice skating (or attempt to!) before the science stuff began so they donned their skates and went to the rink. I sat it out this time and enjoyed watching instead!<br />
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My daughter fell almost straight away and I could tell she wasn't as amused as I was!! One of the ladies working there luckily appeared and was on hand to show her the ropes.<br />
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They lasted about 10 minutes and then we had a quick snack before heading over for some Mad Science. The girls were the first ones there but it filled up quickly and the room was soon full.<br />
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They did various experiments and I was impressed, never mind the girls! It lasted an hour and it really was very good. They left with a pot of slime that they had made and a certificate, full of smiles and pride!</div>
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We decided to go around the Enchanted Forest next. When they say enchanted, they really do mean enchanted. It's fantastic and full of magical, mystical creatures. In the Winter over Halloween and Christmas, it is all lit up and looks amazing. We must try and get there this year as I imagine it must be breathtaking. I should also say that I took my mobility scooter which managed pretty much fine on the ground.<br />
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There are four large play areas spread out through the forest, so plenty of places for children to run off steam! Climbing frames, slides, sandpits and zip wires galore. They loved it.<br />
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My personal favourite is the mermaid! In fact the girls had run slightly ahead and ran back to tell me I just HAD to see what they had seen. I love mermaids and there was proof right there that they are real!!<br />
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There are various interactive things along the way and even a talking tree. It feels like being in a chapter of an Enid Blyton book.. just really special. <br />
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The girls had also made a game up and were pretending that I was a witch (yeah yeah, I know!) who had stolen crystals from them so their mission was to find them. Each play area they went to they went to 'look for the crystals' and they apparently found them dotted around the forest. I just love childrens' imaginations!<br />
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Once we came out of the forest they were asking if we could go in the Maze. I am not a huge fan of mazes (truth is I'm a big baby and I get scared!), however someone had told us a trick how to cheat a maze which we decided to follow, so in we went. <br />
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There are over two miles of paths in the eight foot high Tree Maze (gulp) and there are various surprises in it. Guess what though.. the trick worked!! We made it out in about ten minutes. I've never been so happy to see the end of a hedge. I won't share how to cheat a maze as it will spoil it for those of you who do in fact enjoy being lost in them!!<br />
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Other than all the outdoor activities, they have a café and an indoor play area. It was nice to sit and chill for a bit with a drink and a snack while the girls bounced on the inflatable jumping pillow. The forecast had been slightly optimistic and it was a bit colder than anticipated!<br />
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We had a quick look in the gift shop and the girls each chose a little something. My daughter chose a pink squishy poo emoji thing which she was delighted with. The whole conversation they had in the car on the journey home was about pink poo. Lovely! </div>
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They said they had had '<i>the best day</i>' and we had all really enjoyed it. My friend sent me a message later that evening saying how happy her little girl was and that she had been telling her all about it at bedtime. So sweet! My daughter wrote a page in her diary about it and kept her wristband to stick in it too. Priceless :-)<br />
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I can't recommend Stockeld Park enough for a family day out. Ticket prices vary so it's best to check online and there is lots of information on their website about what's going on there too. Thank you Stockeld for a fab day out!<br />
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<i>Ali </i></div>
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<i>xx</i></div>
ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-31840272458549488362017-02-17T14:55:00.000+00:002017-02-17T14:58:44.260+00:00Random Acts of Kindness day! If you follow my blog you will already know how much I love random acts of kindness! I've posted before about doing them and how much of a difference they can make to someone. One kind word really can change a person's entire day. What is it they (whoever they are!) say, that an act of kindness no matter how small is never wasted. It's so true.<br />
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Today is National Random Acts of Kindness (<i>RAOK</i>) Day and the purpose of it is to urge people to be kind to each other, especially those they don't know, without any specific reason. I actually think that it should be every day as kindness costs nothing and it's so easy to do, but I do love how there is a day especially for it!<br />
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An act of Kindness can boost happiness, release feel good chemicals, decrease stress and generally give an all round fuzzy feeling to those involved.<br />
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There are so many ways you can do a RAOK but a couple of examples are to pay someone a compliment.. <i>don't just think it, say it,</i> leave a happy note somewhere unexpected (I've done this with library books before), send a surprise card or gift, smile at a stranger, bake someone a cake or buy an extra coffee for someone when you're buying one for yourself. I remember when my daughter was about 3 and we were on holiday. We were in a shop and I was going to buy her a Spanish dress but was 1 Euro short, so I told the shopkeeper I'd be back when I'd got the rest of the money from the hotel. A lady in the shop overheard and insisted on paying the extra for me. She wouldn't take no for an answer and it was such a lovely thing for her to do. <br />
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I decided I wanted to send someone a surprise parcel today so I have a post on my Facebook blog page and I have asked people to tell me something kind that someone has done for them. If you would like to join in, my daughter will be picking a number tonight before she goes to bed and all you need to do is leave a comment under my post here <a href="https://m.facebook.com/beingamummywithME/photos/a.1505651619731608.1073741829.1387965464833558/1645264849103617/?type=3">HERE</a>.<br />
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Someone who really inspires kindness is Emily Coxhead who runs <a href="https://thehappynewspaper.com/"> The Happy Newspaper</a> and her posts always make me smile! You can follow her on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilycoxhead/">HERE</a>. She's such a ray of sunshine!<br />
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Let me know if you have done, or been on the receiving end of, any RAOKs today :-)<br />
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<i>Ali </i><br />
<i>xx</i><br />
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<br />ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-35900327590083356792017-01-25T20:34:00.001+00:002017-01-25T20:37:30.580+00:00"Mummy I want to tell you something".A few weeks ago my little girl said she wanted to tell me something but didn't want to upset me. She knows she can tell me anything so I reminded her of that and she said it. It broke my heart when she did but I'm still glad she did. She said that it makes her a bit sad that I can't do stuff with her like other people do with their mummies because of my illness. I had to fight the tears and turn it into something positive by saying we should sit down and write a list of stuff we CAN do.<br />
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Seeing the smile on her face while we were coming up with ideas was priceless. We both agreed that we wanted to try and do more things together, just the two of us. We do a lot in the house already and we are masters of craft but there are lots of other stuff we want to do (when I'm up to it). We want make going out together a regular thing rather than every now and then. Proper girlie time.<br />
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She had been asking for ages if we could go pottery painting again after we went last year so I rang the place to see if they had a space and off we went! She was happy. I was happy! It's really relaxing too.<br />
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We had a lovely time and despite me feeling exhausted afterwards, it was so worth it. I made her a plate and she painted a fox. She has such attention to detail and the lady working there was very impressed with how well she did the eyelashes!<br />
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Other things on our list include going out for hot chocolate/lunch /cake/dinner together, going for our nails painting, finding some new craft places, going to the library and chilling with some books, having a pamper session at home with relaxing music and lights (thanks sis for my colour changing oil diffuser!), baking (she's good at the stuff which requires using energy!!). I bought her a piping bag and some edible glitter today as after watching Bake Off, she really wants to learn how to pipe!<br />
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One of her ideas was going shopping in town and she said I could buy her something and then she would get me something with her pocket money. That girl :-) She even said she's happy to go for a walk round the block with me while I'm on the scooter!! Little things are absolutely the big things.<br />
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With how I am, it's difficult to plan and even if we arrange something, I may not be up to it on the day which is rubbish but it's just how things are for me. However we will make up for it when I do feel able. With extra cake!<br />
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We have been snuggling up together quite a bit watching 'the secret life of a 4/5/6 year old' as she loves those programmes and I want us to have lots of Disney marathons in preparation for when we go to Disneyland Paris later this year. Eeeeek. We are both very excited to meet Minnie!!!<br />
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Being a mummy (with M.E) is difficult. It's also amazing and I wouldn't change my girlie for anything. She's my absolute sunshine.<br />
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If you have any other ideas of (low energy) things we could do, please feel free to leave me a comment!<br />
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<i>Ali </i><br />
<i>xx</i>ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-83401597298805274692016-12-30T22:27:00.000+00:002017-01-07T01:32:26.677+00:00The power of positivity & goodbye 20162016 was the year I wanted to be more positive. I planned to write one good thing, no matter how small, from each day in a diary and do you know what? I succeeded. Not 100% but almost. For some reason the last few weeks I haven't been doing it much as I keep forgetting but I'd say 11 and a half months of the year is pretty good going.<br />
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There have been, as always, highs and lows this year. It's difficult to focus on the positives too when life is plagued by illness but I wanted to make more of an effort to not let the illness and the<i> things I can't do </i>be the focus. There's no getting away from it, however I really think it's helped not dwelling so much on the rubbish stuff.<br />
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I've laughed a lot, been to various special events and celebrations (2016 has been the year of being able to get dressed up & partake in socialising!), visited friends in far away places, stayed in bed watching Netflix and not felt guilty about it, got a mobility scooter (woo), made lots of memories with my girlie who makes me giggle every day and basically keeps me sane! Just living life a bit (no matter how poorly I've been afterwards!!) because <i>isn't life for living</i>?<br />
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I've also had two vitamin D deficiencies and been mega poorly with the M.E, had lots of funny turns and and had to spend a lot of time resting... but in spite of all that I am still smiling! I feel grateful for the nice things and all the good people I have in my life. People who keep me going, who make me belly laugh and who are there when I need them. Despite the rubbish times I've still managed to find something good in each day. Even if it has been something that a lot of people would discard as not important. Little things are big things for us poorly people. I feel proud that despite being faced with many challenges, I've pretty much managed to keep positive. Not the whole time but pretty much!<br />
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Hopefully I can keep at it in 2017 and I've got some nice things to look forward to already which always helps. I find having things to look forward to really important even if I do often panic about being well enough to do them!<br />
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The last few years I have done a memory box where I've written stuff on a piece of paper that has made me smile, made me laugh or just things I know I'd forget if I didn't make a note of. I fold them up and put them away in the box. The tradition seems to have been that we open it on New Year's Eve but today after a bit of a rough week, I decided we should have an early sneak peek. It's amazing how much you forget until you are prompted and you remember clearly again. Some of the stuff made me really giggle and some just made me do a big "aaaaaaw". I can't recommend it enough.<br />
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As much as I feel like saying good riddance to 2016 for various reasons, it's also been a year of smiles and happy times for which I'm very grateful.<br />
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Wishing you all a very happy, sparkly and as healthy as possible 2017!<br />
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<i>Ali </i><br />
<i>xx</i><br />
<br />ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-34309925500266817092016-12-11T21:09:00.000+00:002016-12-11T21:09:13.004+00:00All I want is to protect my girlWhen you are a parent your number one priority is your child. You love them unconditionally and you want to protect them. There is so much evil in the world and I know realistically we can't protect them or wrap them up in cotton wool but we still try.<br />
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The last week has thrown a few issues our way and without saying too much, if someone hurts your child, it also hurts you. More than anything. You want to be able to protect them but it's not possible all the time. You're not with them some of the time. So why does it make you feel like you have failed as a parent? That you haven't done your job properly in protecting them?<br />
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I have touched on bullying previously and it's something I hate with an absolute passion. I know it goes on and I also sadly know a lot of people that it has affected and it breaks my heart. Why can't people just be nice? Whether physical or mental bullying, it hurts. It causes pain. It has lasting effects but bullies just don't care. Their actions have serious consequences yet they just carry on doing it. Stuff people say (which I've talked about in a whole seperate post <a href="https://beingamummywithme.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/dont-be-bully.html">here</a>) can be as bad as hurting someone physically. Physical assault though is absolutely unacceptable. As a parent it's unacceptable in a kind of 'mess with my child, you mess with me' kind of way.<br />
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I know the world can be a big bad place but it can also be a lovely one so it's difficult. Bringing up a child in a world full of horrible things and equally horrible people makes it hard to focus on the good sometimes, but that's what we need to do. Stick a big two fingers up at the bad eggs and make each day as happy as possible. Although seeing red when someone hurts you and yours is inevitable...<br />
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I've always told my daughter that she can talk to me no matter what and that she can tell me anything. I had/still have a close relationship with my mum and even told her the first time I was going clubbing (age 15.. my daughter won't be doing the same)!!! I remember one night someone's parent stormed into a nightclub after finding out they were there and dragged them out. I think knowing my mum knew where I was was better than her not knowing. Despite my little girl not even being 8 yet, she luckily does tell me things. Some of it I sometimes wish I didn't know as hearing not so nice things are difficult, but then that's where your job as a parent kicks in and appropriate action can be taken if necessary!<br />
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If I had a magic wand I'd make the world full of rainbows and unicorns and everyone would be lovely!! Until that happens (one can dream) I will just do my best to be there for my girl. To help her focus on the good stuff and to deal with or block out the bad. What's that thing they say... being a parent is the hardest job in the world. They're not wrong!<br />
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<i>Ali </i><br />
<i>xx</i>ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-5515930743126470732016-11-22T14:15:00.001+00:002016-11-22T14:19:28.534+00:00Be kind!You always find out who is there for you when life throws a curve ball at you. It seems to take bad stuff happening to show you who really cares. I'm not just talking about things regarding me and mine, but I've seen it so much in other situations recently too. Life can be so tough but it's the people around us who can make a difference.<br />
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I know I've blogged before about random acts of kindness but it really doesn't take much to be kind; to spare a thought for others, to take time to ask how people are and if they're not OK, to be there for them. Whether it is just for a few kind words, a shoulder to cry on or physically being there in some way. Hugs help a lot! Doing random acts of kindness is such a brilliant thing which everyone could (and should do). One of my previous posts is <a href="http://beingamummywithme.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/say-yes-more-inspired-by-danny-wallace.html">here</a>.<br />
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I have found myself thinking a lot lately that I wish I had a magic wand to take all the rubbish away for so many people. It makes me so sad seeing people suffer for whatever reason but I know I can't do anything other than just let them know I'm here. Having people there for me too when I've needed it really does help. <br />
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I have also been thinking lately about people who are suffering for other reasons and it prompted me to do another collection for our local food bank. We sometimes take stuff anyway but I thought it would be nice to try and get a bigger box together, especially with the festive season approaching. Stuff like mince pies and some chocolate treats would make such a massive difference to families and those with children too would be so grateful.<br />
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It makes me so sad to think of people who can't afford the very basics. And isn't the festive season all about giving?! I made a few pleas for help on social media but other than a few friends who are donating things, I have had no response!! I know people may already be doing similar and I know people get sick of seeing charity requests and the like too, but I thought something like giving a few tins or some cartons of juice might be an easy one to help with. It really makes me so sad (and mad) but I should try not to let it dishearten me!!<br />
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Something else that upset me recently too was seeing a friend of a friend appealing for help from people to sign up to the bone marrow register as his daughter's leaukamia had returned and she is in need of a bone marrow transplant to save her life. He had previously done another post on Facebook to try and reunite a Pandora bracelet he had found with it's owner after finding it at a shopping centre. That post had been shared 7100 times in under 24 hours. The post requesting help regarding the bone marrow register was shared 173 times. I hope they don't mind me putting this here but if you wanted to sign up to register for the bone marrow register you can do <a href="https://www.dkms.org.uk/en">here</a> or <a href="https://www.anthonynolan.org/">here</a>.<br />
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It just sadly seems that in this day and age unless stuff affects people, they don't often seem to care. I've experienced it myself when fundraising for charities close to my heart, when people I thought would support me never did. Yet stupid, meaningless stuff is shared daily. Something is wrong somewhere but hey ho, such is life!<br />
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Those who continue to be there for me (and others), thank you :-)<br />
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<i>Ali </i><br />
<i>xx</i><br />
<br />ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-65979200408389881022016-11-06T22:01:00.000+00:002016-11-06T22:07:49.130+00:00Mila and Pheebs subscription box for children Hello! I've been AWOL for a while due to my health being rubbish - I found out I had a Vitamin D deficiency last month, so on top of the M.E it's been rough. However I'm on boosters for it now and it's making a difference so I'm hoping I can start writing a bit more regularly again.<br />
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You may remember me posting previously about <a href="http://www.milaandpheebs.co.uk/">Mila and Pheebs</a>. My other post about them is <a href="http://beingamummywithme.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/mila-and-pheebs-craft-subscription-box.html">here</a> but we (I mean little Miss!) love them so I wanted to share some of the recent box contents. For those who don't know, they do kids' craft boxes which can be purchased as a monthly subscription or as a one off box for £9.99 including postage.<br />
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There are always colouring sheets, a wordsearch, stickers, an iwako eraser, embossed cards and envelopes and a themed paperclip in each box along with various other stuff.<br />
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The theme for the September box was Carnival and my little Miss was really excited about getting it. It certainly didn't disappoint.<br />
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As well as doing all the activities and the craft kits, she also made some extra stuff utilising and taking inspiration from the things in the box. She decided to make an <i>actual carnival</i> for her tooth fairy as she lost another tooth around the time of the box arriving! <br />
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Her imagination astounds me sometimes. She (I) cut out the unicorns from the page markers and stuck them onto straws which we attached to a paper plate. We used the remaining part of the plate to make a helter skelter and made popcorn out of yellow tissue paper along with some mini drinks with straws! It did look pretty cool and the fairy and her friends thorougly enjoyed it. Apparently!<br />
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The October box theme was Spooky in time for Halloween and again, she was very happy with what was inside.<br />
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It arrived at the start of half term so we spent a fair bit of time doing/making things and really enjoyed it. It's amazing how much time can be spent crafting and I really love seeing children be creative. Obviously us spending quality time together is my favourite part of it!<br />
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The fact the boxes are packed full of stuff, yet still fit through the letterbox, is brilliant. With all the subscription boxes on the market, having one especially for kids is such a good idea. They make perfect gifts too if you want to buy a one off box. You can subscribe via <a href="http://www.milaandpheebs.co.uk/subscribe/226161515_Mila+%26+Pheebs?cart_synced=True&return_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.milaandpheebs.co.uk%2Fsubscribe%2F">this link</a>.<br />
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Alexis at Mila and Pheebs is lovely and my little Miss made her a card using stuff from the boxes. The colour changing pens were definitely a big hit!!<br />
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Let me know if you decide to get a box or if you have any questions feel free to ask.<br />
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<i>Ali</i><br />
<i>xx</i><br />
<br />ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-4760678848998479892016-09-29T20:11:00.002+01:002016-09-29T20:30:27.437+01:00Crieff Hydro holiday August 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For as long as I can remember I've been abroad on holiday each year, however this time we decided not to! After much deliberation we decided on <a href="http://www.crieffhydro.com/?forceDesktop=True">Crieff Hydro</a> in Scotland. Quite a few people had recommended it and I'm so glad we went as it turned out to be one of the best holidays I've had.<br />
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I'm going to be writing this post from the perspective of someone using a mobility scooter as I borrowed one from a friend rather than taking my wheelchair. I had spoken to them at the Hyrdo to discuss access and felt quite happy that it was all going to be ok. I was looking forward to the independence that a scooter brings, rather than being pushed around in the wheelchair which isn't the most fun for any of us!<br />
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We were staying at a Premier Inn in Glasgow on the way up and I'd also spoken to them to request a room on the ground floor close to reception, which is what we got. We decided to stay over and travel up to Crieff the following day. That way we wouldn't spend all day travelling and I get really uncomfortable sitting for any length of time, so it made more sense to break it up. I nodded off for a while too so the journey didn't feel as long!!<br />
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It took four hours to get to Glasgow but that included a short stop and being stuck in traffic a while. I hate traffic!! The views were stunning though.<br />
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I'm so glad we decided to stay over as I was pretty shattered (the joys of having M.E), so after something to eat we got an early night. A friend of mine who lives close to the hotel came to join us for breakfast so that was a lovely start to the day. The drive to Crieff was only around an hour and then the holiday could begin!!<br />
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I had seen photos of it and read reviews but you never really know what it will be like until you're there. It's a luxury family hotel with a huge array of things to do and my first impressions were good. We found a disabled parking space near the front and then it was time to breathe in some Scottish air! The reception area was lovely. We had arrived before the 2pm check in time and our room wasn't quite ready so we went for a wander. Other than the outdoor activity centre, everything is within the hotel so it was nice and very accessible for me.<br />
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Our room was great and there was plenty of room. Despite it overlooking the back of the hotel where the delivery lorries arrive in the morning, we didn't have any problems with noise which I'd initially been a bit worried about.<br />
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We had booked the <a href="http://www.crieffhydro.com/leisure/food-and-drink/freedom-dining/">Freedom Dining</a> package which gives adults £26 per day and children £10 to spend on food. I hadn't expected it to cover all meals (full Scottish breakfast was included in the price prior to adding the dining package) but it did. There are several restaurants there and you can use any of them. Some serve lighter snacks and others full meals, but even choosing a more expensive lunch still allowed plenty of allowance for the evening meal. On the first night we went to the <a href="http://www.crieffhydro.com/leisure/food-and-drink/piccolo/">Piccolo</a> Italian restaurant but it was apparently going to be quite awkward to get to on the scooter. One of the people who work there kindly took us down through the staff area and I didn't feel like it had been a burden to them either for having to take us! I hadn't been feeling too well prior to going for dinner (wiped out to the max!) and had been a bit upset, so the fact they'd made it less stressful for us helped and we had a really nice meal.<br />
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Other than the <a href="http://www.crieffhydro.com/leisure/food-and-drink/the-winter-garden/">Winter Garden</a> which serves sandwiches and soup, they are all waiter service. Usually when we have been abroad it has been all inclusive or self service buffet style, so having someone taking your order and bringing the food to the table made it feel more relaxed. The food was also really high standard and lots of choice. The <a href="http://www.crieffhydro.com/leisure/food-and-drink/meikle/">Meikle</a> has a set menu and is the more luxury restaurant there. Our meal was delicious and such a relaxing atmosphere. One thing I do recommend though is booking restaurants for the evening in advance as apparently they get fully booked so it is difficult to get in otherwise.<br />
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We asked how much we had left to spend on our last night and it was almost £100 so we splashed out! Three courses and some of the most expensive stuff on the menu later, we still had allowance leftover so we bought sandwiches and cakes for the journey home the following day!!<br />
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You had to pay for drinks but that's totally expected and I don't drink much anyway (alcohol wise!). You could also use the allowance for snacks during the day including cakes and ice cream as well as hot drinks. They have an extensive coctktail menu too as well as a few mocktails which went down well with little Miss!<br />
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Each day there was an activity timetable with different things going on for different ages. Garden games went down well and they had a mini Sports day which Little Miss loved as she had missed her school one due to being poorly! They had a drawing class with their resident charicature artist Pedro and another day there was a Ceilidh dance class as well as a petting zoo for the kids which was great. <br />
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This was alongside the various things you could do outdoors on the hotel site. Pitch and Putt, boules, mini golf to name a few.<br />
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The activity centre has 60 activities on offer. I didn't do anything (I opted for the spa instead!) but my hubby did archery and my little Miss did quad pods, water bubbles (which are like giant hamster balls) and the longest, highest zipwire I've ever seen. Glad she doesn't take after me in the bravery stakes! They also did Woodland Combat which was similar to paintballing but with laser guns.<br />
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The activity centre is a few minutes drive from the main hotel and the ground was fine for the scooter for a bit but wouldn't have been ideal had I wanted to go very far. Fortunately for me it was drizzling so I opted to go and have a hot chocolate in the Clubhouse whilst watching my crazy girl on the zipwire from the window!<br />
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I made sure I rested in the room during the day a few times (which is essential when you have M.E, for me anyway) but I generally felt really relaxed the whole time. Some of our Scottish friends came to stay for a night which was lovely as we've not seen them for a few years. My friend and I spent a really chilled few hours at the spa, which at £10 for 3 hours was well worth it! Again a member of staff took us down to the spa as it would have been too tricky otherwise.<br />
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They have a fantastic children's club there called <a href="http://m.crieffhydro.com/things-to-do/child-friendly/big-country/">Big Country </a>and you get two free 3 hour sessions per day if you want to use it. I had seen reviews and people had said how good it was. We had booked little Miss in for some sessions but thought if it wasn't that good or she didn't enjoy it we wouldn't use it much. However, it was brilliant! They have a really secure system in place so it would be impossible for someone else to collect your child. You get given a card and cannot take the child out unless you produce it. Each card has a unique number and you have to sign two sheets for them to be released! They do various activities with them and all staff are fully trained as well as DRB checked.<br />
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They have a high tea for children which they can have before the kids' club so a couple of evenings we ate on our own while she was there. Making friends and having fun.. what more could a child want whilst on holiday?! Having the scooter meant I could take or collect her which we both enjoyed as I usually miss out on stuff like that so it was nice.<br />
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They had some sort of entertainment in the evenings whether it was a band, ceilidh dancing or a magic show. Little Miss loved the dancing and even managed to convince her daddy to get up and dance with her (which I think he secretly enjoyed!!).<br />
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There is something for everyone at Crieff Hydro and it can be as chilled or as action packed as you want. Usually when it's time to leave a holiday I feel ready to go home but I could have happily stayed longer. The post holiday blues kicked in not long after we got back and we started looking at when we may be able to return. We decided to have a look for around my birthday and managed to get a good price so we booked it!! Another 5 nights of luxury to look forward to. I can't wait.<br />
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I would like to thank everyone at the Hyrdo for making it such a lovely holiday. It's a fantastic family friendly place in beautiful surroundings. Even when it rained, it didn't bother me as there was still lots to do or it was as nice to just sit and chill with a cuppa and some cake! Their staff are a credit to them and I actually spoke to one of the managers before we left to pass on our thanks and to say how impressed we had been. She was grateful for my comments and it felt nice being able to praise rather than complain which so many people do these days. Can't recommend it enough! Currently counting down the months until we are back...<br />
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<i>Ali</i><br />
<i>xx</i>ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-46613005593304966282016-09-10T14:43:00.001+01:002016-09-29T20:12:05.931+01:00Smile for ME<br />
I've talked about <a href="http://www.smileforme.org.uk/">Smile for ME</a> before and if you have read my posts for a while, you will know that they are the charity I raised money for earlier this year during M.E Awareness week. Previous post about it is <a href="http://beingamummywithme.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/MEawareness?max-results=5&m=1">here</a> if you want a look :-)<br />
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They send happy parcels to M.E sufferers and carers who have been nominated by someone. I have nominated a few people previously and the thought that any money I raised whilst fundraising could help to put a smile on people's faces made me so so happy.</div>
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However, what I was not expecting was to be on the receiving end of a Smile parcel! At the beginning of August I was pretty lost for words when I got one. My sister had nominated me... talk about emotional!! I cried as soon as I saw the Smile for ME sticker on the box. When I opened it, I was overwhelmed with how it was all so beautifully wrapped.<br />
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The gifts were so thoughtful and absolutely perfect for me. It all turned me into a bit of an emotional wreck if I'm honest!<br />
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The lovely things I received were a personalised trinket box, a vintage style teacup candle, a pineapple (yay!!) candle, a gorgeous framed print, some knitted bunting which was made by another sufferer Jenny and some chocolate smiles. Absolutely amazing!<br />
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I think they are such a fantastic charity to support and having now been on the other side of what they do, I can't thank them enough. It is run by Alice and Gracie who are both poorly themselves. The fact they do it to cheer up others whilst both not being well is testament to how amazing they are. They rely on donations so if you wanted to support them and make a donation, you can do so via <a href="https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/smileforme">THIS LINK</a>.<br />
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Being poorly with chronic illness is really no fun at all and something like this can make such a huge difference. A lot of people can be very lonely and don't have much good stuff going on, so to receive a parcel of gorgeous goodies can literally make that person's day/week/year.<br />
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Thank you for reading!<br />
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Hugs and sparkle,<br />
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Ali<br />
xxME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-40271851916230770902016-09-01T09:40:00.001+01:002016-09-01T09:46:44.845+01:00Mila and Pheebs craft subscription box for children So as you probably already know if you read my blog, I love a subscription box!!<br />
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Imagine my delight when I discovered <a href="http://www.milaandpheebs.co.uk/">Mila and Pheebs</a>* who do monthly themed craft boxes for children. Their boxes are full of stationery, activities and fun things to do. They are delivered directly through the letterbox so no worrying if you're not in when the post comes! Subscriptions are available for 3, 6 & 12 months, or on a rolling monthly basis. Or alternatively you can buy a one off box for £9.99 including UK postage. They are perfect for any craft loving child and also work well as a gift.<br />
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I was very lucky to be chosen as brand rep for Mila and Pheebs and they kindly sent my little Miss the August box, which was Somewhere over the Rainbow themed. I was pretty excited to receive it, especially when I saw a sneak peek of rainbows and unicorns on their social media. I had visions of having to fight her for it!! As you will also know if you read my posts, due to my chronic illness we do a lot of craft stuff together so the box is perfect for us.<br />
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When it arrived she wasn't actually in so I left it on her bed, which just happens to have rainbow and unicorn bedding on. Totally meant to be!<br />
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When she got home and saw it, I'm not sure who was more giddy.. she was delighted at having a parcel addressed to her and I was bursting with anticipation about what was inside! It definitely did not disappoint. The first thing I saw was lots of colour and sparkle. Hurrah!<br />
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It was packed full of things which all had rainbows or unicorns on. My daughter has inherited my love for such stuff, so it went down very well.<br />
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She wanted to start doing stuff immediately!! Despite it being almost bedtime, she took everything out and was very impressed. She agreed to do the wordsearch and said she would play with the rest in the morning!<br />
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The contents of the box were:</div>
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Colouring-in sheets</div>
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Rainbow felt-by numbers kit</div>
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Neon rainbow crayon</div>
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Wordsearch</div>
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Rainbow crayon pencil<br />
Unicorn pencil</div>
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Rainbow mosaic kit</div>
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Unicorn notepad</div>
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Rainbow paperclip</div>
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Collectible Iwako Unicorn Eraser</div>
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Heart rainbow stickers</div>
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Cloud embossed greeting card</div>
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The stuff has really kept her (us!) occupied. She took one of the colouring sheets and the rainbow pencil out when we went for my friend's birthday afternoon tea and it kept her busy.<br />
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The following day she did the rainbow mosaic which had a magnet to attach to it, so it's now proudly displayed on the fridge.<br />
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We did the felt by numbers kit together yesterday. I did the cutting and she did the sticking. I think she did a fab job of it!<br />
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Once she had finished she asked if we could cut it out and then proceeded to find another magnet so she could put it on the fridge alongside the other one!<br />
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She has really enjoyed everything in the box and has used it all. You can never have enough pencils or notepads so they went down very well. She loves the little unicorn eraser too, as she already has one in a different colour so has been loving playing with them!<br />
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I absolutely recommend Mila and Pheebs. I think their boxes are a brilliant idea for children. <br />
Previous box themes have included Woodland, Sweet Treat and Beside the Seaside. For more information about subscribing follow this <a href="http://www.milaandpheebs.co.uk/subscribe/226161515_Mila+%26+Pheebs?cart_synced=True&return_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.milaandpheebs.co.uk%2Fsubscribe%2F">link</a>. Monthly boxes cost £9.99 (including UK postage), 3 monthly work out at £9.66 per box and 6 monthly £8.83.<br />
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Feel free to ask me any questions regarding them and let me know if you decide to get a box!<br />
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<i>Ali </i><br />
<i>xx</i><br />
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ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-31772437333987141852016-08-05T11:58:00.002+01:002016-08-26T21:31:19.346+01:00Crown and Glory Glitterati unboxing August 2016. Second anniversary box!This box was an exciting one (but they all are!) as it was going to be the second anniversary of the <a href="http://www.crownandglory.co.uk/">Crown & Glory </a>Glitterati. There had been a poll on the group and whichever got the most votes was going to be the theme of the box.<br />
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Say hello to the Sakura season box!<br />
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There were a couple of prints in the box which I absolutely love. One was for the new style zine which I really like and the other is for an a Instagram 31 day challenge which is running at the moment as part of the birthday celebrations. They are already up on my wall!</div>
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The box contents looked like this (and made me squeal a bit with excitement!)...</div>
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An exclusive Cherry Blossom crown which came in a variety of colours but I love the one I got</div>
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A Blossom bobby pin set</div>
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The Sakura hair clip duo (in either silver or gold)</div>
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A new monthly thing called the Hair Flair club which is in collab with a different artist or illustrator </div>
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Such a gorgeous box and we also got some confetti hearts and a balloon for the last day of the Instagram challenge! If you want to follow me on there it's @alulabelle3 :-) </div>
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As usual someone else agreed how nice the box was!! </div>
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Happy birthday <a href="http://www.crownandglory.co.uk/the-glitterati">Glitterati</a>! Thank you Sophie and Gareth for creating such a brilliant thing and for being the reason for so many friendships being born. I not only love the hair accessories but I love everyone who's a part of it too.. it's like being in the best gang of sparkly people who provide the best support. But that's enough of the soppy, off to try on my new things now :-)</div>
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<i>Ali </i></div>
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<i>xx</i></div>
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ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-28736640353135420502016-07-27T16:31:00.001+01:002016-08-27T01:12:58.139+01:00Flower delivery from Flowerworld UKEveryone knows how much I love flowers so imagine my absolute delight when I found out I had won a competition with <a href="https://www.flowerworld.co.uk/">Flowerworld </a>to win (wait for it)..... a bouquet <i>every fortnight for a whole year</i>!!<br />
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Whaaaat?!! I actually couldn't believe it. I screamed!<br />
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Everyone loves flowers but I find that with being stuck in a lot because of my illness, having fresh flowers around the house makes me smile. It makes me feel happy.<br />
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After I found out I had won (and freaked out a bit/a lot) I waited for the site to launch and made my first order. I am so impressed with the whole service that I decided to blog about it. They have not asked me to or anything but I just want to share as it's so good!<br />
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You never know with online flower delivery places how good the quality will be. I have seen so many expectation V reality photos from very well known companies and they have sometimes not looked anything like advertised.<br />
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I chose a bouquet called the <a href="https://www.flowerworld.co.uk/summer-meadow">Summer Meadow</a> which was stunning and it looked like this online<br />
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It was really easy to order and did amuse me writing a message for myself on the card! I waited with anticipation the following day and I got giddy when I saw a delivery van pull up and the lady knocked on the door with a huge box. Eeeek...<br />
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I'm not sure what I was expecting but they were arranged beautifully and wrapped in lovely cellophane.<br />
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I couldn't believe how gorgeous they were and not only did they look exactly as they did online, dare I say they looked even nicer! Three huge sunflowers with roses, lilies, stocks and a few others with a lovely bow amongst them. Simply stunning.<br />
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I couldn't stop looking at them and felt incredibly lucky to have won.<br />
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Another thing about Flowerworld that made me smile is that their tagline is 'send happiness'. Everyone who knows me knows how much I love a Random Act of Kindness and I often send stuff to people to make then smile :-) I am allowed to send the flowers to other people too so perhaps you will get a surprise at some point over the next year...<br />
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It's now just over a week since I got the flowers and they are looking as amazing as they did when they arrived. The lilies have just started opening and I think they will last a good while yet. They make me happy every time I see them. Instant happiness!<br />
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When I was browsing the site I noticed that they have 20% off first orders with the code FIRSTORDER20% so if you are looking to send someone (or yourself!) some flowers then I would definitely recommend them. The prices are pretty reasonable too for what you get.<br />
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I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Flowerworld for picking me as one of their winners. I really do feel very grateful and I can't wait to keep my house full of pretty blooms for the next year!<br />
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They have an <a href="http://journey.flowerworld.co.uk/">animated journey</a> on their website showing how the flowers go from being picked to being delivered which I found really interesting!<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Or4i-x2ogo/V5fvvGpkF_I/AAAAAAAAz0s/wBhjdTrxyKgYxIq1U_4ksOwxGuxOKINUQCLcB/s1600/20160720_111431-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Or4i-x2ogo/V5fvvGpkF_I/AAAAAAAAz0s/wBhjdTrxyKgYxIq1U_4ksOwxGuxOKINUQCLcB/s320/20160720_111431-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Let me know if you order and which bouquet you go for :-)<br />
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<i>Ali </i><br />
<i>xx</i><br />
<br />ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192758194560073949.post-11439580571653155732016-07-26T10:27:00.001+01:002016-08-26T21:31:44.531+01:00Crown and Glory Glitterati unboxing July 2016July's <a href="http://www.crownandglory.co.uk/">Crown & Glory</a> Glitterati box was festival themed and so much fun!<br />
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Embroidered folk bandeau (I got blue yay!!)</div>
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RRP £10</div>
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Arrow bobby pins</div>
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RRP £5</div>
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Star chain crown</div>
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RRP £15</div>
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Tribal hair tie trio</div>
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RRP £6</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-66eG4yN3bww/V5co1VphyzI/AAAAAAAAzyU/oYEI4hB8x1AcWO1GmYNvlojD_8UE-WcqACLcB/s1600/Screenshot_2016-07-23-14-29-27-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-66eG4yN3bww/V5co1VphyzI/AAAAAAAAzyU/oYEI4hB8x1AcWO1GmYNvlojD_8UE-WcqACLcB/s320/Screenshot_2016-07-23-14-29-27-1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I use these all the time and always have at least one round my wrist. They don't hurt your hair or snag it when trying to take them out so they are probably one of my most worn items!<br />
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LED light up hair braid</div>
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RRP £15</div>
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An actual light up hair braid!!! Of course I had to try it (talk about posing for the camera!) and then little Miss stole it...<br />
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Some temporary tattoos were in there too which we love in our house!<br />
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I love wearing them in warmer weather & between me and my little Miss we've already used half of them. Some of the other girls kindly send us some of theirs too so we have plenty to keep us going!<br />
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So all in all a very fun box! I don't know how Sophie and Gareth think of so many new ideas each month. They really are the King and Queen of sparkle!<br />
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August is going to be the Glitterati's 2nd birthday which I can't really believe. I've made so many lovely friends since being a part of it so it's almost like the hair accessories are a bonus!! I honestly recommend it to everyone :-)<br />
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<a href="http://www.crownandglory.co.uk/the-glitterati">Click to join the Glitterati which is the coolest club in town!!</a><br />
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<i>Ali</i><br />
<i>xx</i>ME mummy Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04103898822885588046noreply@blogger.com0