Top 5 Things to Do to De-Stress And Unwind

Being a mum can be the most reward and most challenging job n the world. There are days when you feel like pulling your hair out and in a split second that little monster who put a roll of toilet roll down the toilet for the third time that day, turns around and tells you they love you and it was all but a distant memory... until the next time that is!

That being said its important for us mums to make time for ourselves. Too switch off, if even just for 10 minutes, to re charge our batteries and clear our heads so we can be the best possible parent to our children as we can be. So here is a list of my top 5 things to do to de-stress and unwind.

Gym
Not really the first thing that springs to mind for all those sleep deprived mamas out there, but going to the gym is one of the things that I love to do if I have been having particularly hard ay with the kids. Going to a Pilates session or even just a 20 minute walk in the fresh air can clear your head and even give you that extra bit of energy to deal with the challenges that may face you when you get back!

Catch up on other blogs
I love nothing more than sitting down in a nice quite room with a cuppa tea and a biscuit and catching up on some blogs. Having two children under 4 can be very demanding, especially when my eldest has autism, which means my free time can be very limited and even non existent on some days. So its nice to take a few minutes to sit down relax and have a nice 'warm' cup of tea and just catch up with what's going on with some of my favourite bloggers and also a bit of online shopping (shh don't tell Mr B!).

Get a facial/nails done
There is nothing that makes me feel better than a fresh set of painted nails. Some times when Harry is at playgroup I will ask my nanny to take James for an hour and go and have an hour to myself to get my nails done or have a facial. I feel like a new woman after I get this done and it really helps clear my head and put me in a better frame of mind to deal with the challenges of every day life.

Date Night
Often I be so caught up in looking after the children and attending to their needs my husband always gets pushed to the back of the queue when it comes to my attention so when possible I love to have a date night with him and just unwind and enjoy some time as a coupe. Whether that be going to the cinema, out for something to eat or even something as simple as going for a cup of coffee and a stroll around the town.

Have a Bath
Does anyone else just completely switch off when having a bath? (That is if you can avoid multiple kids trying to join you or sitting on a rubber duck!) Its so nice, especially after a challenging day, to run a nice warm bath, light a few candles, pop some relaxing music on and just chill out to your fingers and toes go all wrinkly.

So there you have it my top 5 things to do to de-stress and unwind! What do you enjoy doing when you feel like switching off or have a spare couple of child free hours??

My Bucket List of things to do with the kids 2016

So 2016 has arrived and I have decided to make the most out of this year and live it to the full. With that in mind I have written up a bucket list of 20 things that I want to achieve with the kids this year.

1. Take a trip to the zoo
2. Take a trip away on a plane/boat
3. Go on a holiday
4. Spend time at the seaside
5. Go to a water park
6. Go for a drive in a tractor
7. Feed the ducks
8. Ride a pony
9. Milk a cow
10. Go to 5 different National parks
11. Bake a cake
12. Draw chalk pictures outside on the pavement
13. Make a den
14. Go for a picnic
15. Have a Disney movie marathon
16. Visit a petting farm
17. Water balloon fight
18. Plant flowers
19. Make snow angles
20. Have a campfire

By the end of the year we will have every one of these completed! I'm determined to make it happen and of course I will capture all the memories and share with you!

Have you anything that you would like to tick of the list with the kids this year? Be on the look out for my 'Adult' bucket list coming soon!!

love,

Laura xx

Top 5 Attractions for Kids Northern Ireland

Hi everyone hope you all had a lovely weekend and enjoying the start of your week. Today I want to share with you my top 5 attractions to visit with the kids in Northern Ireland. I love reading posts like these for different activities and ideas so thought I would share some of my families favourites with you all. In no particular order:

1.W5 - W5 is Ireland's award winning science and discovery centre based at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast. It has over 250 exhibits and will suit families of all ages. We love to go here every now and again as it's a great day out with loads of things to keep the little ones entertained. There is an area specifically designed for under 8s which my boys absolutely love. It has a shop, play house, train tracks, water activities and much more.


2. Lagan Valley Leisure Complex - The newly refurbished swimming complex is fantastic. Both our boys love the swimming pool and the specially designed kids area, 'Aqualand' is perfect for keeping them entertained with various slides, swings, see saws and waterfalls. The Lazy River is also great with different currents pushing you around. Be careful to look out for some of those waterfalls over head tho!

3. Streamvale Open Farm - For all the farm lovers out there Sreamvale Open Farm is where you need to be. We where here over the summer when the farm re opened after getting a face lift and what can I say, we where definitely not disappointed. It was one of the best farms we have been to. There was so much for the kids to do including barrel rides, horse rides, tractor rides, pedal tractors, animal feeding, cuddle area to pet and hold some of the animals. There is also a great nature trail, play area and cafe. Definitely recommend a visit when it opens again at the end of march after their break for the winter.

4. Tannaghmore Gardens - Tannaghmore Gardens, based in Lurgan, is the perfect free family day out. Yes FREE! The Georgian farm house is home to a selection of rare bread animals including Irish Moiled and Dexter cattle, Galway and Jacob Sheep, Saddle-back, Tamworth and Gloucester Old Spot pigs, goats and a few others. It also has a fantastic play park and picnic areas to BBQ at. During the summer months there is an ice cream van as well and its so lovely to go to the park, see the animals and then chill out with an ice cream while the boys have a go sitting on the Massey Ferguson Tractor.

5. Belfast Zoo - Last but not least my next favourite place to visit with the kids is of course the zoo. Everyone loves a day at the zoo right? Belfast Zoo is situated on the outskirts of Belfast city centre sitting on a 55 acre site at Cave Hill and home to more than 1,000 animals. As the Zoo is based on Cave Hill it is quite hilly so comfortable shoes are a must! Over all it is a great Zoo and a lovely place to take your little, or not so little rangers!

So there you have it 5 must see attractions for you and your little ones. Have any of you been to any of these places or is there any others that you would recommend visiting? I would love to hear in the comments!

Laura xx

Easter Crafts For Toddlers

With Easter not too far away I thought I would put together some Easter crafts to try over the holiday with your little ones. I really want to do more crafts with Harry and plan to pick up bits and pieces over the next week or two for us to do together. I will let you know in a separate post what I have picked up. Here are some of my favourite Easter crafts that I have came across on pinterest that I would like to try.

Pompom hangers
Paper plate chick
Paper plate sheep
Pom pom painting
Wooden spoon chick
Daffodils
Paper cup Easter animals

What crafts are you going to do over the Easter Holidays?

Spring Bucket List

Spring is finally here! Not that you would think it with the amount of snow we have been getting!!! I'm looking forward to warmer days, longer evenings, watching the flowers bloom and seeing the newborn lambs running around in the fields.

I have decided to put together a 'spring bucket list' of things to do over the next few months at home and with the kids. We hope to get as many of these ticked off as possible and am looking forward to setting myself a challenge and completing it!

Here are some of the things we would like to accomplish before springs up:

• Go swimming
• Go to the park
• Stay at the caravan
• Eat Easter eggs
• Roll Ester eggs down hill
• Attend Easter service at church
• Do some Easter crafts
• Go to soft play
• Make a fort
• Make sensory toys
• Play in the sand pit
• Go on a family walk
• Go to the farm
• Spring clean and sort toys
• Make bird feeder
• Bake buns
• Feed ducks
• Plant flowers

What things are you planning to do with the kids this spring??

6 Sensory Play Activities For Kids

It's the weekend and what better way to spend it than with some quality time with the kids. Harry loves sensory play so over the weekend and next week I am going to make some sensory games with him and update you with what we made and how we got on in next weeks post.

Here are some ideas of the types of sensory activities we plan to do which you could try out with your kids as well. They are sure to love it.

(Link to activities on activity title)

DIY Rainbow Sensory Box 

Love this idea perfect alternative to a sand box and great for developing those senses!

Glitter/Calming Bottles

Harry just loves bottles. He likes to watch the liquid moving up and down the bottle when he moves it and noticed he carries some of the glitter bottles around at playgroup, so I think these will be one of the first things we will make as their so easy to do!

Glitter Slime

Harry also loves play doh so this would be a nice change and might be a bit less messy as well.

Mess Free Painting

Perfect for kids who love to paint but also tend to get it everywhere! These can be great for older babies too as their is no risk of them eating the paint.

Foam Sensory Play

This looks like such good fun and so easy to do. You could add toys or kitchen utensils to make it more interesting. The one I have linked use shells for an ocean theme!

Sensory Boards

Love these sensory boards. They can be made to suit different ages and levels and are bound to keep those little minds occupied for ages!

Have any of you used some sensory play with your kids? If you have any sensory play activities that you would like to share I would love to hear about them in the comments.