Learning A New Skill | Living Arrows 24/52

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boy riding his bike

Riding a bike has never been something little J has shown an interest in. He loves his scooter and would prefer to ride that than a bike. For his birthday we couldn't decide whether to get him a bike or not and in the end we decided against it. However when lockdown began we thought it might be a good opportunity for him to learn so we asked him if he wanted to put some of his birthday money towards a bike and he said yes.

He had a bike when he was younger with stabilisers but now as he is a lot older buying a bike for his size you don't get stabilisers with them so we had to purchase them separately. 

Boy fell off his bike

John has been the one in charge of teaching little J how to ride his bike. At first he started with the stabilisers on just to get used to the bike, balance and the size of the bike. Within a few days John decided to take the stabilisers off.  Little J was so nervous and was paranoid he was going to fall off and hurt himself. He did fall a few times but soon realised that he didn't hurt himself as much as he thought he would. 

Boy practising on his bike

They started in the garden as we have astro turf so it has a nice smooth surface and obviously if he fell off it wouldn't hurt him. Learning to ride without the stabilisers was tough and if I am honest I didn't think he would get it but then one day it just clicked. He went from the garden to the road outside our house. It's fairly quiet so he was able to go up and down with John running alongside him. 

It was amazing just watching him go from being so nervous to just riding on his own. He is so proud of himself and wants to head out on his bike all the time now. 

I think he would have never have been interested in riding a bike if it wasn't for lockdown. He is so busy with football 5 days a week that there may not have been time to put in all the time and effort but he's done it now and it will be something he will never forget how to do. 

Michelle

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth

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Personalised Books From Wonderbly | Review

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Disclosure - We were gifted the books below for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. This post contains affiliate links - purchasing an item through an affiliate link adds no extra cost to you but might earn me a few pennies.

boy reading a book
I love creating personalised gifts from friends and family. Personalised gifts add that something extra and I always think its shows that you have taken the time and effort to create a unique gift just for them. We also love to receive personalised gifts and have received many over the years and one gift that is still a favourite of ours is a personalised book little J received for Christmas from a company called Wonderbly.

Wonderbly offer a wide range of personalised books suitable for all ages from 0-3 years to 3-6 years and then those 6+.

the boy who found his friends book
I had a look online at some choices for little J and decided to choose the sequel to one of his favourite books, The Boy Who Lost His Name.  The Boy Who Lost His Name is a worldwide best seller so I knew the sequel would be just as special, The Little Boy Who Found His Friends.

One night a little boy awoke, 
sat up and looked around. 
His bedroom was pitch dark... 
and he had heard a funny sound!

What had stirred him from his sleep?
A creak? A bump? A groan?
He huddled in his blankets, 
feeling small and all alone.

But look! The letters of his name, 
which should be on his door,
now led him underneath his bed...
what wonders lie in store?

The Little Boy / Girl Who Found Their Friends takes us on an adventure into an incredible land where he follows the letters of his name to where fantastic friends are waiting to be made.

The book is personalised and includes your child's name and you can choose a character to match their skin tone and hair colour.

You can also include a personalised message on the inside cover to add that extra special touch.

boy lying on grass reading a book
Once you have personalised you can then choose from three different covers, hardback, softcover or softcover keepsake which includes a gift box.

Best dad ever book
As well as children books they also have a grown up section offering personalised books for your Mum, Dad, Grandma or Grandad.

You Are The Best Dad Ever gives you the chance to dedicate a whole book just for dad.

All you need to do is add your dads name and his special qualities.

Best dad ever book
Is he...

Hardworking?
Knowledgeable?
Practical?
Loving?
Great At Cooking?
Supportive?
Great With The Kids?
Dependable?
Funny?
or Kind?

Best dad ever book

Choose 8 of the qualities which best describe your dad. Add your names and even his partner or wife name too if required. Then all that's left to do is choose a cover and Wonderbly will work their magic to create a book for dad that is the perfect gift.

Wonderbly Books

Wonderbly have kindly offered me £10 off your next Wonderbly book. All you need to do is click here or visit Wonderbly and enter Playdays and Runways at checkout to receive £10 off. Please note should you take advantage of this offer Wonderbly will kindly give me £10 off my next book purchase too if this is your first purchase with them.

Have you purchased a personalised book from Wonderbly before? Which one did you choose?

Michelle
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Get Creative This Father's Day | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration 
This Father's Day is certainly going to be different than any we have experienced before. Usually we are very prepared with cards bought and gifts wrapped however due to the current circumstances neither have been done. I am still very nervous and anxious of popping to the shops when they reopen  so I think it will be home made cards from the boys this Father's DayWe have quite a few ideas and whilst little J will probably draw a card for his dad, big J will most probably create something using the laptop. We have been browsing online for free fonts to download and these are a few of our favourites. 

The free fonts available from Font Bundles will give your creations an extra personal touch as there are lots of different fonts to choose from.
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What I Am Reading

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Disclosure - We were gifted The Switch Up and Here Lies The Secrets. Any thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. This post also contains affiliate links. 

pile of books and mug of tea
I thought having more time on my hands I would be able to actually sit down and start reading a book but I haven't read one single page of my new books. I know we have been in lockdown now for 12 weeks but I have been giving most of my time and energy to the boys, making sure they are safe and happy and also thinking of home schooling ideas for little J. Having said that I've decided I will make time in June to read and here is what's first on the list.

Here Lie The Secrets Book
Here Lie The Secrets
Mia's best friend Holly died when they were thirteen. But years later, Holly still hasn't left her. 
Spending the summer in New York, Mia is hoping to escape the visions of Holly that haunt her life at home. There she meets Rav, a parapsychology student, who convinces her to take part in a study into why some people see ghosts. Soon she is caught up in the investigation of Halcyon House, which is reputed to be haunted by a poltergeist. As Mia confronts her fears, what she learns about the house and herself will change her life forever.

I don't usually read 'thriller' books but I am intrigued by this so will give it a try.

Author - Emma Young

Brutally Honest book
Brutally Honest
The tell-all memoir from the loudest, proudest Spice Girl - and the truth behind the headlines

As one-fifth of the iconic Spice Girls and judge on X Factor and America's Got Talent, Melanie Brown, a.k.a Scary Spice, has been an international star since her twenties. Brutally Honest is an expose of the struggles and acute pain that lay behind the glamour and success.

With deep personal insight, remarkable frankness and trademark Yorkshire humour, the book removes the mask of fame and reveals the true story behind the Spice Girls, as well as the horror of her most recent marriage and her 10 year struggle to be free.

I will be brutally honest and say I have had this book now for well over a year and I haven't even opened it once. I love the Spice Girls so can't wait to read about their early days and also how brave Melanie was during her controlling marriage.

Author - Melanie Brown 

The switch up book
The Switch Up - L.A Exchange
Alice can't wait to visit Willa in LA - home of Hollywood, where dreams come true. Their plan is to explore the city and see the sights, but then Willa gets the opportunity to work on the film project of her dreams and she can't say no! The only problem is she is absolutely 100% supposed to be taking part in a beach clean-up. Which, now she thinks of it, sounds pretty perfect for Alice... Can the girls really swap lives again? Cue plotting, outfit swapping and award-winning performances. But everyone knows that real life is nothing like the movies.

The Switch Up - L.A Exchange is the second instalment in THE SWITCH UP series.

Although I haven't read the first Switch Up I like the fact this is set in LA and has a nice Summer read feel to it.

Author - Katy Cannon

Open book by Jessica Simpson
Open Book
Jessica reveals for the first time her inner monologue and most intimate struggles. Guided by the journals she's kept since age fifteen, and brimming with her unique humour and down-to-earth humanity, Open Book is as inspiring as it is entertaining.

America's Sweetheart, preacher's daughter, pop phenomenon, reality tv pioneer, and the billion-dollar fashion mogul invites readers on a remarkable journey, examining a life that blessed her with the compassion to help others but also burdened her with an almost crippling need to please. Open Book is Jessica Simpson using her voice, heart, soul, and humour to share things she's never shared before.

I recently got this as a gift for my birthday and I am desperate to get started. I absolutely loved Jessica Simpson not so much for her singing but the TV show Newlyweds. I thought her marriage to Nick Lachey would last forever as they seemed the perfect couple but obviously I was wrong.

Author - Jessica Simpson

I'm looking forward to getting stuck in to these. What are you reading at the moment?

Michelle
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We're Going On A Treasure Hunt

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Disclosure - We were sent the products below for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our unless stated. This post contains affiliate links - purchasing an item through an affiliate link adds no extra cost to you but might earn me a few pennies. 

a bundle of children's books
We're Going On A Treasure Hunt is the fourth book in the 'We're Going On A ...' collection and we absolutely love these books. The stories follow the adventures of bunnies as they go on an Elf Chase, go on an egg hunt, sing along to Hop Little Bunnies and now we are off on a Treasure Hunt.

inside We're going on a treasure hunt
There are 10 gold coins to find on the pages and we can help the bunnies find them by reading along and lifting the flaps. Finding the coins won't be easy as there are many obstacles along the way including naughty monkeys, scary sharks, colourful parrots and leaping dolphins.

If the bunnies find all 10 golden coins they can head home just in time for a delicious surprise.





We're Going On A Treasure Hunt is a lovely addition to our 'We're Going On A...' books. We have teamed up with Bloomsbury to offer one luck reader the chance to win...

We're Going On A Treasure Hunt
We're Going On An Egg Hunt
We're Going On An Elf Chase
and Hop Little Bunnies

All you need to do to be in with a chance to win is complete the entry form below and pop back daily for bonus chances to win.

This is now closed. You can visit our giveaway page for our latest giveaways

Michelle
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Social Distance Visit To The Park

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boy on a scooter
We had a lovely visit to the park this week and it wasn't as busy as I thought it would be so it was easy keeping our distance from others. This was only our second time we had ventured away from home and it just felt nice to be out and about again.

Little J wanted to take his scooter and he was so good making sure he stayed away from others, keeping on his side of the path. 

We found some woods which we explored and a path that went right round the outskirts of the park. It was so nice to go exploring and we somehow made it on to a golf course. Luckily no one was hitting their ball at that time. 

boy looking at rocks
Little J loves exploring and we found a tunnel. He was so scared to walk through because he thought I was going to jump out at the other end and scare him. I didn't. He did manage to walk through with John and it wasn't as scary as he thought. 

We also found lots of large rocks that led up to a tree. They looked like spikes on a dinosaurs back. 

boy rolling down a hill
Remember when you were young and the highlight of a day out was finding a hill that you could roll down? Little J found a hill and watched as two other boys rolled down. We told him to have a go and he did and loved it. Even John rolled down too. It was lovely watching him, he was so happy just  rolling down a hill. 

boy posing
Before we headed home I managed to snap this photo. I absolutely love it. It reminds me of Romeo and Juliet. I keep thinking Little J is standing on a balcony somewhere in Verona ready to confess to  Juliet just how much he loves her.

How was your week? I hope you managed to have some good days during these strange times.

Michelle

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Win 2 Amazon Kids Tablets To Celebrate Tiny Pop TV Friendship Wherever

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boy playing on an iPad
These past few months have been so strange, we have been taken away from our normal everyday lives and thrown in to the unknown. Most of us have been in lockdown and not been able to see our family and friends. As an adult I have struggled at times with every day feeling the same as the last. Luckily both the boys have taken it all in their stride and have adapted their lives quite easily. The one thing I worried about was how they would both be able to keep in contact with their friends. It's been easier for big J as he is 18 so has a phone but little J has been relying on his tablet to send messages.
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Celebrating Our 10th Wedding Anniversary

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10 years ago today John and I said 'I do' after being together for 10 years to the month. All my life I had never wanted the big white wedding and although most girls dream of walking down the aisle those thoughts never entered my head. I always had a dream of getting married in New York City. This might surprise people since I am such a huge Disney fan but I am also a fan of romance and almost all my favourite romantic comedies are set in New York so that was my dream.

a married couple
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What To Buy For A Ten Year Wedding Anniversary

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Disclosure - This post contains affiliate links - purchasing an item through an affiliate link adds no extra cost to you but might earn me a few pennies. 

This year John and I should have been celebrating our 20 years together and 10 years married anniversary. Unfortunately it looks like we will have to celebrate safe at home and buy each other a gift instead of heading off on holiday as originally planned. Traditionally on the 10th Wedding Anniversary you will give a gift of Tin or more recently it changed to Diamond for the more modern gift. However after browsing online I found lots of perfect gifts to celebrate ten years together.

A newly married couple holding hands
This year John and I should have been celebrating our 20 years together and 10 years married anniversary. Unfortunately it looks like we will have to celebrate safe at home and buy each other a gift instead of heading off on holiday as originally planned. Traditionally on the 10th Wedding Anniversary you will give a gift of Tin or more recently it changed to Diamond for the more modern gift. However after browsing online I found lots of perfect gifts to celebrate ten years together.

a 10th anniversary photo frame
Keepsake photo frame will be cherished and loved forever. Made from top-quality natural solid wood. Celebrate your tenth wedding anniversary with this special decorative wooden frame.

a 10th anniversary wood plaque
A beautiful, unique special Wedding Anniversary Plaque keepsake gift to celebrate 10 years together anniversary. The plaque is individually cut and engraved and personalised with your own message.

a 10th anniversary lucky sixpence
Personalised 10th Wedding Anniversary Lucky Sixpence In Display Case. The display case comes with a black cushioned interior which houses the sixpence. The acrylic display case measures (50mmx50mm) and opens easly to remove the sixpence. The sixpence dates can vary from 1953 to 1971.
a 10th anniversary sofa cushion
This Sharing the Sofa Personalised Cushion makes a lovely personalised gift for any special couple celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary.

The cushion features the words Mr & Mrs (Surname) Sharing the Sofa for 10 Years and the date married.

The cushion cover is made from woven polyester and comes complete with the cushion infill pad.

a 10th anniversary  wooden block
Solid Quality Engraved 10th Anniversary Beech Free Standing Ornament. A unique gift to celebrate 10 Year Wedding Anniversary.

a 10th anniversary  plaque
An ideal present for a couple who are celebrating their wedding anniversary. These wooden hanging decorations are a great way to say congratulations on that special milestone.

a 10th anniversary  rock
Made from solid 100% pure tin polished to shine with the words 'you are my rock 10 years'

10th Wedding Anniversary gift idea for both him and her.

Packaged in wood straw and comes with a little slip inside called 'The Story of Your Rock' which explains where the original rock came from.

a 10th anniversary  mr & mrs mugs
A Fun China Mug gift set celebrating the 10th Wedding Anniversary.

This China Mug Set is a great 10th anniversary gift for any couple that can see the funny side of life. 

You get two China Mugs one '10 years of being Mr Right', the other  '10 years of being Mrs Always Right'
a 10th anniversary tin heart
Have your names hand stamped onto this heart to really personalise this lovely gift. Perfect 10th Wedding Anniversary gift and comes in a special '10th wedding anniversary' gift box.

Stamped with the dates for your 10 year anniversary '2010-2020'
a 10th anniversary tin plate
This Commemorative Miniature Plate has been cast in Tin for your Tin Anniversary.

Includes a mini stand to display your mini plate and a small certificate explaining the materials and methods used to create your piece.

Measures approx 45mm high & 45mm wide.
a 10th anniversary tin dice
A really unique 10th Anniversary gift. 

Create your own date night using the Date Night dice giving you 36 Date Night Ideas.

Packaged in Wooden Straw and comes with a velvet bag and date night engraved instructions.

The perfect way to add some spice and variety to your 10 Year Anniversary Date Night.


Michelle

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The 11th Week

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father and two sons looking out on to the sea
The last time I joined in with Living Arrows was week 8 and although I am sad that I have missed out on posting photographs for the past 3 months, I just haven't felt like coming on here at all since lockdown. We were thrown into a very strange situation and although it was weird and scary I have absolutely loved spending so much time with the boys. I've took hundreds of photos and videos each day to document our 'lockdown lives' but now as we head in to the 11th week I think normality has started to creep in. Lockdown is easing and schools and businesses are returning. I said last week that whether or not you think it is the right time to go back to school that is such a personal decision, if I had my way I would keep the boys at home with me forever.

young boy eating an ice creamIt's only over the past week that we have ventured out a little further for our daily exercise / walk. Up until now we have been happy playing in the garden and just exploring close to home but we decided to go further afield and it wasn't as bad as we expected.

First we went to the waterfront. It was so nice to breathe in some fresh sea air. I have missed that so much and I have always took for granted how easy it was for us to pop to the Liverpool waterfront on a sunny day.  The excitement on little J's face when he saw the ice cream van. He would live on ice cream if he could and whilst I was nervous to get him one I couldn't resist his little face looking at us hoping we would say yes. He absolutely enjoyed every single spoonful and just sat eating watching the waves in the dock.

Michelle

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Is It The Right Time To Go Back To School?

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Image saying Back To School
I can't actually believe we are now in our 10th week of lockdown. Sometimes it feels like we have been safe at home for months and months whilst other times it feels so much shorter.  John and I are both key workers and have been trying to juggle working from home whilst socially distancing from our family and friends, home schooling little J and just trying to stay as positive as possible. Like most we have just been plodding along trying to do our best and I think in our minds we were prepared to live like this until September when we thought the boys would return to school however it seems that date has been pushed forward a few months with schools and businesses hoping to return in June. The one question on my mind is constantly the same - Is it the right time to go back to school?

This week would have been half term for the boys and although they would never admit it they both would have been looking forward to returning to school on the 1st of June knowing that there was only one more half term left till Summer. They should have been enjoying their final days in school, little J as an infant before he heads to the juniors in September and big J leaving school for good before University. 

As June 1st gets closer I can feel myself getting more anxious than I ever have in my entire life. As I said earlier John and I are key workers and have managed to stay safe at home during the last 10 weeks and we know how lucky we are that we didn't have to send the boys to school to be cared for, others haven't had this privilege. Neither school was a 'hub' however they are opening back up next week to initially care for those of key workers. The infection rate in the North is a lot higher than elsewhere so for now it will just be key worker children attending however we have had lots of correspondence from the school on how the new school day will look and it's changed massively and I'm not sure little J could cope with such a change. 

I am constantly reading online and social media the different thoughts and opinions about the kids returning to school, some saying it's too soon whilst others saying their children are ready to go back. I don't let others opinions affect my decision as I think it's a very personal choice depending on a families personal circumstances whether they are sending their children back or not. I am nervous and I am anxious and I've read all the facts about how Covid-19 doesn't affect younger ones as much as adults and I am constantly checking the daily updates about the R rate and it's facts, to help us make our decision.  John and I are in agreement that little J won't be returning in June. We don't want to risk it for the sake of a few weeks before they break up for Summer anyway. Although both boys have just adapted to this new 'normal' so well we both know that returning to school and being socially distanced from his friends would do little J more harm than good. 

I honestly wish that both boys could see out this school year before their big changes in September but I know deep down that keeping them safe at home is the right thing for our family.

Michelle
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Useful Money Lessons for Kids in Everyday Life

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Disclosure - This is collaborative post
piles of coins with a tree growing out of themMany grown adults become poor money managers largely because they mimicked the behaviour of their parents and lacked any sound teachings about money. Even in our school systems, while mathematics has a strong focus, it’s usually not given a practical basis by balancing a cheque book, learning to use a smartphone app on personal finance, or understanding a bank statement.  To set your child or children up for success, here are a few useful money lessons.

Earned Money, Not Pocket Money
Let your kids learn that they do not rely on handouts. Instead, let them perform small chores around the house. That might be tidying up their room for the younger kids and mowing the lawn and cutting the shrubs for the teenagers. Make sure they perform these chores safely, and make the earned money proportional to both their efforts and their age.

Encourage Kids to Save
Having them set aside a percentage of what they earn through their chores teaches them about:
The usefulness of percentages
The value of savings
Delayed gratification

Delayed gratification is particularly important. They may wish to save up for a special toy or a bicycle, in which case they’ll need to save part of their pocket money and put off some other purchases to do so. This will be difficult at first, but it will make them want the item they’re saving for even more.

Teach About Budgets
Budgets are particularly important. They help balance the income with the expenses to avoid overspending.

childs hands opened holding coinsBudgeting and Saving Allow for Fun Purchases
Having a sensible budget and keeping spending in check allows a person to save money. When wanting large purchases like a trip away, a car, or a home, the ability to manage a budget and save from their income will be useful life lessons.

Give Each Child Responsibility for Some of the Family Budget
Let your children each have responsibility for small segments of the family budget. For younger children, that could be vegetable or fruit shopping. Set them up with a budget and the instruction to purchase as much as possible within that budget. Then walk them through the process.
With older children, expand the responsibility little by little and give them exposure to different types of spending and different decisions that need to be made.

Include the Kid(s) in the Money Decision Process
When they’re old enough to compare one price to another, give them the chance to look at how you decide about insurance.

Explain that you purchase insurance to protect against damage to the house, the car, and other valuable things. For a relatively small amount, the insurance will cover a reasonable amount of the value should something go wrong. Once this is done, let them compare insurance to see what you should decide to do.

Also, help them to understand that a trustworthy brand is good and to not always choose the cheapest price. A strong company matters too, so the insurance company pays out.

Many parents make the mistake of treating money as a taboo subject never to be spoken about. However, this leaves each child with an at arm’s length understanding of financial matters which stands them in poor stead for their future. Instead, build their knowledge over the years, so they’re comfortable and knowledgeable about the subject of money.

Michelle
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How To Choose The Right Swimwear For You

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Life is definitely strange at the moment with us living through a 'lockdown' and being apart from our family and friends. It's tough but we have to try and stay positive and as you may already know I am  a future person, always thinking about the future and what it holds for us. At the moment I don't think any of us know what the future will look like after this pandemic is over but we have to have hope that we will all get through this. A few months ago I was introduced to Protest and their gorgeous collection of swimwear. I wanted to share with you the range and although your holiday plans may not go ahead this year it's nice to dream.

two ladies walking towards the beach with surfboards


First I wanted to tell you a little about Protest as you may not of heard of it. Protest was founded in 1993 by a small group of snowboarders in Holland. Protest is aimed at people who simply want to have fun on a board and look good doing it. Their goal is to make their clothes accessible to as many boarders as possible. However as you will see Protest has grown to offer not only board wear but also swimwear and clothing for men, women and children.

lady in the sea with surfboard
When it comes to swimwear I usually opt for a one piece swimsuit or tankini. I used to think these were the 'boring' option but the range at Protest are colourful, vibrant and lot to choose from.

Choosing the right tankini can be tough as there are lots of different types of tankinis. The variation is mainly in the straps and in the upper part of the top. Tankini straps are often crossed, keeping the top firmly in place. This is the style I would usually go for however you can also have a halter neck tankini,  triangle shape and others come in the bandeau style.

three ladies in bikinis
three ladies in bikinis
I would like to think that one day I will be brave and wear a bikini and just like the tankinis there are lots to choose from and also different styles too. Not only can you choose a regular bikini you can also browse push up bikinis.  A push up bikini does exactly what you would expect, it lifts or pushes up your breasts to create fuller-looking cleavage.

Once you have decided on the type you will then need to look at the style. Protest have a huge range of different colours to choose from and also you can opt for a mix and match bikini which has become popular in recent years. A mix and match bikini is buying a different colour top to the bottom. It wouldn't be my choice as I think a set looks better but the option is there.

It's not just the women with a wide range of swimwear available, the men's section is quite extensive too offering different styles, designs and waistbands in their Spring / Summer mens swim shorts collection.

Protest have given me a voucher code so that you can enjoy 10% off between now and 30th June 2020. All you need to do is enter playday10 at checkout.

No one knows when lockdown will be over but it's nice to look forward to the future and dream about our next holiday.

Michelle
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