Back To Reality

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I am so lucky to be in a job which allows me to have the entire Christmas holidays off. It's a lovely feeling knowing I don't have to worry about work and I can spend precious time with my friends and family. Although its only two weeks off and its basically all for just one day - I find it really hard to get back in to a routine. 

I love Christmas but I do find the lack of routine a little stressful at times. Some days over the Christmas I had to ask what day it was because I just didn't have a clue. I don't think I cleaned up for about a week at one point. Toys everywhere but we had lots of fun just playing all day. I think me and Daddy enjoy some of the toys more than big and little J.

Little J was staying up so much later than usual because we were out and about more in the evenings. This meant he was waking later than normal so taking a later nap which then led to a later bedtime and so on. We did have a few pyjama days too. Who doesn't over Christmas?

Big J was also staying up later talking online with his friends so again was waking much later, some days it was almost dinner time?  He's been missing breakfast and just snacking on buffet food, biscuits and chocolates which we have boxes and boxes of. I don't think I have cooked a proper meal in weeks.  I did try and start trying to get our routine back before work and school started again but its really hard to get back into the swing of things. So basically on Monday when it was back to reality I did go  to work feeling a little tired but once I was there I felt okay. I think as the days go on our routine will fit back into place, hopefully. We will start eating breakfast, lunch and dinner which doesn't involve any biscuits, chocolate or eating out. Our bedtime routine for both big and little J will return to normal and there will be no-one awake past 11pm on a school night. Having said all the above I do enjoy Christmas and I am sad its over but it is nice when everything goes back to normal. Do like getting back to your routine after the festive period?

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Energy Saving Awareness with LED Planet

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Now that we have darker mornings and it goes dark earlier in the evenings we have had our lights on a lot more than normal. Back in October we switched most of our bulbs over to LED lights which prove to save on energy, bills and don't need to be replaced as often. We started my using an LED Lamp in little J's room and it was perfect so that's when we made the switch.

After reading about energy saving I cam across LED planet which have a wide range of products. I have to admit that while at first I thought that LED lighting seemed a little more expensive than normal bulbs I now realise that over the long term it's definately a money saver and I wouldn't switch back. 

Whilst browsing the website I came across this infographic and I thought it would be a great read for those that are still unsure about making the switch to LED lighting.

*in collaboration with LED planet*

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We Are Trying To Keep Fit This Winter

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This morning when I woke up I actually thought it was the middle of the night. It was so dark outside but when I looked at the clock it was actually 6:30am. The dark mornings and dark nights are approaching fast and very soon it will be dark by 5pm. Its so easy to come home from work or school and pop on your Pjs and veg out on the sofa in front of the TV. I still like to keep motivated in the winter because I can easily pile on the pounds so I know if I don't stay active I start feeling sluggish and grumpy. I actually like going out in the cold dark evening even if its just a quick trip to the park before teatime. It may sound weird but I like to be out and about when its cold rather than when its warm. I am not to keen on the heat.

I have mentioned it before HERE that our local parks have outside gym equipment which you can use in any weather and its free. There is a variety to choose from and even if you just do the recommended amount on each one that can be 30 mins and it really doesn't feel like it. Big J goes on them and he loves them. He thinks its fun and doesn't realise he's actually exercising. Big J and Daddy go for a nice run most nights and when they return home I can always feel the cold on them but they feel refreshed. Big J usually wears astro trainers but we recently got a pair of running shoes from Sports Shoes to help support his ankles when he's running. He loves them and they are so light. We also like to visit on our local swimming pool at weekends too. Swimming is great for all over fitness and again lots of fun. Little J absolutely loves the water just like his big brother. They are definitely water babies. Do you like to keep fit in winter? *in collaboration with Sports Shoes*

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Mummy Takes The Reins

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Last month I posted that little J had finally took his first steps. It's took a long time to get him up on his feet and now that he is he doesn't want to stop. He is walking everywhere and he is just so quick. When we are out and about he just wants to be out the pram all the time. When we try and get him in the pram he arches his back or goes as stiff as a board and its impossible to get him in. I can understand why he doesn't want to go in the pram now, he has this new skill and he just wants to show it off. I am so glad Trunki sent us a Toddlepak to review recently, it was perfect timing.

The Toddlepak has been just what we needed when out and about. We were sent the orange Toddlepak which has a cute monkey design.  On a recent visit to very busy and crowded shopping centre we decided to try it out. Its design fits from the front. Its very easy to adjust the shoulder and waist by using the clip. It fitted securely around little J both with and without his thick winter coat.

Once we were up and running we just grabbed on to the rein and let little J wander around. There are two adjustments on the reins. It can be used as a training rein or a leading rein. 

We went to try the training rein but decided not. As you can see from above you have more control but we just left it the way it was set up and it was fine as a leading rein. 

Little J always tries to let go of my hand when we are put and about so I think he just loved the independence the Toddlepak gave him. I obviously didn't need to hold his hand whilst he was wearing it so he had complete freedom - or so he thought!!! There are a seven colours available in the Toddlepak range and each colour is represented by an different animal. To view the collection please visit Trunki 

*we were sent a trunk Toddlepak to review. All thoughts and opinions are our own*

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Christmas Is Over

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Either today or tomorrow we will start to de-christmas our home. We actually put our decorations up really early this year and I think it was the 1st December so they have been up for over a month already. I always think the house looks bare once the decorations go away plus it means Christmas is over *sad face* This Christmas was very different for us and although I enjoyed it overall I never want to spend another like it. Leading up to Christmas both big J and little J were sick and I don't just mean for a few days, it was pretty much the whole of December.  They were full of cold, runny nose one minute then blocked nose the next. Both got an ear infection too so it wasn't pleasant for them both.  We did manage to get to our Santa's Sleepover in Alton Towers which as always is lots of fun and great for the kids. Before the journey we did have to take a trip to the local NHS walk in with big J who had mucus in his ear, poor thing. It didn't stop him having a good time though although the waterpark had to be postponed until they were both feeling better.

This year CBeebies and was open for us to enjoy. Little J loves Cbeebies land and although it was a little cold we had fun on the rides, including his two favourites, Postman Pat and In The Night Garden.

We did get to meet Upsy Daisy which was a nice treat. She was very friendly and gave us lots of cuddles.

Father Christmas was in his grotto in the woods and we got to meet him and he gave both big and little J a lovely present. Little J was too interested in seeing what he had got that he wouldn't pose for a photo. After an afternoon in the theme park it was time to head back the hotel for a Christmas dinner. We had a nice evening watching the children entertainment before it was time for bed. 

Christmas Eve started with our usual tea party. Little J however slept right through it so it was just the three of us. 

After little J had woke up and had some food it was time to watch The Snowman. I have watched the Snowman every Christmas Eve for as long as I can remember so its our Christmas Eve tradition.

Then we opened a few Christmas Eve Presents. We always get new PJ's on Christmas Eve :)

Father Christmas has been.

Christmas Morning was filled with opening presents and lots of playing with toys. Then it was time to visit our families. Usually we will go to one of our parents in the morning and then the other in the afternoon. As little J wasn't too good we decided to keep him home which made Christmas very different. Daddy stayed home while big J and I went to my Mums then after we came home Daddy and big J went to his brothers for Christmas Dinner. This was the first year in fifteen years we haven't had Christmas Dinner together which was sad but it was better for little J to stay home. I then went to my Mums in the evening and had my Christmas dinner there.

Then just before bed there was still more presents to open.

Big J treated us to a home made snow cone which was very tasty indeed. So Christmas this year was very different but it still was fun. Big and little J got some lovely new toys to play with. Hopefully next year we will be illness free and we can enjoy the big day all together.

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