Spring Has Sprung

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I am so excited that Spring is finally here. Its actually unusual for me to be so excited about Spring as I do love Winter but this year I am so glad to see this long, cold, wet and miserable Winter finally pass. Since November we have just had one illness after another and I know we weren't the only ones suffering, everyone has been feeling ill, with coughs and colds.  At the weekend I woke up and I felt okay. I couldn't believe it. No sore throat, no cough or cold symptoms, just normal. What a relief. 

The sun was shining outside and it was really fresh. We opened the windows and it was lovely to feel the breeze blowing through the house. We had time in the park and the garden and I was excited at the thought of getting all the garden toys out soon.
As its little J's birthday soon we will try and buy a few toys that he can use outside. He is such an outdoor person, he loves it. Our garden isn't huge but there is enough room to have a good play. Towards the back of the garden we have our old trampoline. It was big J's but he doesn't play on it anymore so it will probably be dismantled over the next few months so that will free up a little bit of playing space.
Big J doesn't play with toys in the garden anymore he just uses his goal but around this time of year big J normally tells us about a new scooter or bike that he has seen. He usually gets a new scooter each year for his birthday. The last few years he has chose an electric scooter and they have been perfect for popping in the car and taking out with us on our walks. He also has a stunt scooter which he loves and I think he may choose another one this year.
We bought new garden furniture last year and we got so much use out of it in the Summer. I am hoping we can spend as much time outside this year as we did last. 
So other than a few upgrades we are pretty much ready for Spring.
Michelle

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Bake A Cake For Mother's Day

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Disclosure - This is a collaboration
When it comes to Mother's Day I am a little old fashioned. I don't like expensive gifts, cards or anything else really that costs too much. For me I love something personal and if possible home made. I think there is nothing better than getting a home made gift from your little ones. They have put thought, time, love in to it and that is the best gift of all.
As little J has started to enjoy baking I am hoping this year he will make my favourite cake perfect for Mothers Day and Easter time, Simnel Cake. 
For those that would like to get busy in the kitchen for Mother's Day check out this delicious recipe.

Ingredients

250g mixed dried fruit (a mixture of sultanas, currants, raisins and candied mixed peel)

1 orange, zested and juiced

500g pack marzipan

250g pack butter, softened

200g light brown soft sugar

4 eggs, plus 1 beaten to glaze

175g plain flour

100g ground almonds

1 tsp sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)

1 lemon, zested

2 tsp mixed spice

1 tsp vanilla extract

100g glacé cherries, halved

3 tbsp apricot jam

STEP 1

Pre heat the oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. In a bowl place the mixed dried fruit, orange juice and zest. Then you will need to add 2 tbsp water. Next you will need to cover the mixture and pop in to the microwave 2 mins. The mixture then needs to be left so it can cool down completely. If you do not have access to a microwave then you can heat in a pan on a very low heat,  stirring now and then until the liquid has been absorbed and leave to cool.

STEP 2

Roll out approx 1/3 of the marzipan and now you can use the base of your 20cm cake tin as a template to cut out a circle. Set aside any offcuts and 2/3's of the marzipan for later. Next you will need to line your cake tin with butter and a double layer of parchment. 

Place the butter and sugar in a bow and beat together until creamy. Now you can add the eggs, flour, almonds, baking soda, lemon zest, mixed spice and vanilla. You will need to mix until well combined. Add your cooled soaked dried fruit and fold in the cherries.

STEP 3

To make the bottom layer of your cake you will need to scrape half the cake mixture into the tin. Top with the disc of marzipan, then the remaining cake mixture, and level the top with a spatula. Bake for 2 hrs. Check it’s cooked by inserting a skewer to the centre of the cake, if any wet mixture clings to the skewer, return to the oven for another 10 mins, then check again. Cool in the tin for 15 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.

STEP 4

Brush the top of the cake with apricot jam. Roll out half of the remaining marzipan and use the base of the cake as a template to cut out another disc. Place it on top of the cake and crimp the edges, if you like. Roll the remaining marzipan into 11 equal-sized balls for the apostles. Brush the marzipan with beaten egg and arrange the apostles in a circle on top around the outside, and brush them with a little egg too. Put under a hot grill for a minute or two until just starting to caramelise – be very careful as the marzipan will burn easily. Leave to cool and wrap a ribbon around the cake, if you like. Will keep for up to a week in a sealed tin

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#Win a Me To You Tatty Teddy T-shirt

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This Easter I have been browsing for alternative gifts that can be given instead of chocolate. 

I have come across some lovely ideas including this gorgeous Me To You Easter T-Shirt.

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I Am The Queen Of Connect Four

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Disclosure - This is a collaborative post
Connect Four is probably the first game I ever remember playing when I was little. I used to play it with my dad all the time. I loved it and still do, over the years I have become an expert at it. Without blowing my own trumpet I haven't been beaten yet. Big J enjoys playing lots of versions of the game, Original, Launchers, Travel Size, Connect 4 online even Spongebob but I'm still the Queen of all of them. 

*looking back to 2012*

So my next challenge was to become the queen in the GIANT version. I have played the GIANT version once or maybe twice whilst we were visiting a castle in the Lake District. They had it in one of the stately rooms. It was mainly for the children to play with but the competitive side of me wanted to have a go and I did but there wasn't much of a challenge as I was playing a younger big J at the time.  I remember thinking how amazing it would be to have a GIANT version of the game. Perfect for the garden and when having family and friends over. Once we got home it completely slipped out of my mind until last week when we were sent the GIANT version to try. 
Wow, its huge. Its stands 1.1m and we love it. I'm sure everyone reading this will know what Connect Four is but if you don't its very simple but very very addictive.
The game is designed for two players, yellow and red, although you could play in teams if you wish. You sit or in the GIANT version stand on each side of the game. All you have to do is drop your counters in turn into the game and try to get four in a row. It can be horizontal or diagonal but you must remember to block your opponent too. Once you have four in a row you win. Simple.
Daddy set the game up in our living room for us to have a try. It was an easy set up and within 10 minutes it was up and ready to play.

Its so much fun on the GIANT version, I'm not sure why it feels different when its the same game but it does. We have played it so much over the last week so we have left in assembled in the front room. Although its weatherproof and durable for the winter months I like having it indoors at the moment so we can play even when its raining outside.  Little J has enjoyed it too, he likes to empty the counters by pulling the lever at the side. He then flings all the counters all over the floor so we have to then go on a hunt to try and find them under the table and the sofa. He also likes to be picked up and pops them in the slots. He does this for all the counters until every hole is full. 
What We Liked 
Everything really. Its Connect Four, whats not to like? It's a classic game on a GIANT scale. The fact that you are standing to play makes it more exciting. Sounds strange but it does. The plastic is durable and weatherproof, hopefully without any damage to the colours. You can buy replacement counters. This is a big thumbs up because I don't know how many games we have had to throw away over the years due to missing pieces. 
What Could Improve
Although I love everything about it the only thing I could really say under this section is the price. Currently £189.99 which may seem a little steep for a game. There is a section on each side of the game that holds the counters although they seem to fall off very easily. It may have been better for the holder to be enclosed rather than open.
So the question is am I still the Queen of Connect Four? Oh yes, still undefeated. I am really looking forward to including this in our garden games over the next few months and will be challenging everyone who will play with me. 

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We Found Love

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I don't usually listen to the radio because I always have a CD in the car but one day last week I did. I'm not a big fan of the radio mainly because I'm not a fan of current music so I would rather listen to what I want and not what the radio chooses to play. Anyway the two presenters of the morning breakfast show were having a conversation about Love. They said there has been a recent survey which confirmed that the most popular place to find love was at the gym.  Really? the gym? I couldn't imagine anything less romantic. I don't go the gym now but when I did I used to be red faced and sweaty and couldn't wait to get home to take a shower. Looking for love would have been the last thing on my mind.  Anyway they asked their listeners to ring up to share where they found love. There were some lovely stories of people finding love in all weird and random places. Out for a stroll with the dog, on an aeroplane, at a concert and even cleaning someones car.

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Project 365 Days 61-67

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Its been a lovely dry week this week so plenty of chances to head out in the garden for some fresh air.  

61/365 - My week got off to a very good start when I lost albs. I started slimming world the week before and I am really enjoying it. I don't actually feel like I am on a diet and I am amazed with my weight loss. I know when you start dieting you always lose more in the first week but its really motivated me to do good.

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Our Own Eiffel Tower

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I will always remember the first time I saw the Eiffel Tower, I was blown away. I remember looking up and just thinking WOW. Although big J and I were desperate to go up, Daddy was not as excited. 

*looking back to 2007*

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Win a Family Trip To Blackpool Tower Circus

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In all my 30+ years I can honestly say I have never been to a circus before. How sad is that. When I was younger I was scared of clowns and I always associated the circus with clowns. As we are Merlin Pass Holders I am now going to make an effort to visit the circus at Blackpool Tower. I have been reading some great reviews and I will definitely plan a trip this year. If you like the circus then you will love my competition as I have a family ticket to the Blackpool Tower Circus Easter Extravaganza. 

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I Need To M.E.A.T and Greet McBusted

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I haven't blogged about my love for Mcbusted for a few weeks so I suppose now is a good time to give them a mention. Last week I was browsing through my emails when I came across one from the McBusted boys, well it was just a mail shot but it was very exciting.

*photo copyrighted to McBusted*

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Daddy keeps up with the new Panasonic TV technology

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It wasn't long ago that Daddy had set his alarm on his phone to remind him about the XBOX One Convention. It was streaming live across the world to show off the new console that was eagerly awaited by millions. I remember how exited he was when it started to stream from the xbox 360 on to our TV. If I remember rightly there was a man showing off all what this new console could do. I'm not up on technology but I do remember thinking "wow! A console can do all that?" Daddy on the other hand is very in to technology he loves it, he needs it and he is always wanting to upgrade. Consoles, phones, computers, TV's, everything that can be upgraded really. You may remember he went to Play Expo last year. He took big J and they had an amazing time. Everything was retro and mainly arcade machines so I couldn't think of anything that he would see there that he would want...I was wrong.

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Baby Tips - Sleep

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Last month I became an Aunty for the very first time, its so exciting. Baby A is absolutely gorgeous and I knew as soon as I saw my little nephew I would become all broody and want another baby. I love babies and I would have lots if I could but for now I am going to concentrate on being the best Aunty ever. When you hold a new baby you can never remember your own being 'that small'. Little J looked huge compared to Baby A and it made me smile because it really wasn't that long ago that he was just a baby.   I started thinking back to the first few days we brought little J home. He was such a good baby and was never any trouble at all really. He was such a routined baby right from the start, he loved his sleep. Thinking back I know that made the first few months so much easier than we could ever of hoped for.   When we had big J almost 13 years ago now we didn't really have a clue what we were doing. He had no routine really and because we were working, trying to save for a house we used to try and squeeze in as much time as possible so we didn't miss out seeing him.  Looking back now it was a tough time with very little sleep but we did okay and he did grow out of it eventually.  I think being a parent for the second time you do learn from your mistakes and we made sure with little J that we were well prepared. Here are a few things we used. Although he was a perfect little sleeper I'm sure these helped get him in to a routine and have full nights sleep .

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