Drum roll please folks, I have some incredibly exciting news to share, and if seeing me by a petrol pump filling up isn't obvious enough, then I'll spell it out for you (literally)!
It was my Dad, George's birthday on Friday so I wanted to arrange something a little bit special for the big man this weekend, and Gorgeous Cottages were just the company to call.
I honestly don't know where to start when writing about our Beaches Resorts' Ocho Rios family holiday because it's literally blown this little family's minds.
With Father's Day not far off, on Sunday June 21st, I'm starting to plan how I'll be spoiling the 2 main (grown) men in my life - my husband of 10 years, Peter, and of course the one and only Papa G.
Tomorrow we will be heading off to London before we embark on a family press holiday to Jamaica with Beaches Resorts.
We'll be staying at the luxury Ocho Rios resort and can't wait to discover a country we've never been to before.
We're having a bit of a 90's revival in our house right now, reflecting on the good ol' days thanks to YouTube, as I take my kids down memory lane and some of the best telly EVER made. I'm so pumped, I've very nearly drawn a Cindy Crawford style beauty spot above my lips in excitement.
The last few weeks have seen my usually pretty healthy way of eating go to pot, with lots more sugar finding its way into my diet from celebratory cakes to afternoon teas and far too much champagne (with my recent 10th wedding anniversary, my brother's engagement and baby cousin's birth)- making me feel sluggish, tired and really not my best, physically and mentally. I've less energy than usual, haven't been sleeping well and my PMT is worse than ever.
So 'passportgate' was rather stressful but it sort of all ended up for the best with each of our sons getting undivided attention and time from my husband and I respectively.
I enjoyed Marbella with my toddler and folks and Oliver and Daddy had a truly wonderful week in the UK with sunny adventures in Yorkshire where we live, and mini breaks in Liverpool, Southport and Anglesey in Wales, fishing, catching crabs, playing in fields, visiting castles and having lots of father-son bonding time.
Life can sometimes feel like a non-stop rollercoaster can't it, juggling family life, work as I/we try to be everything to everyone.
The last few months have seen me take time out more, to relax daily and prioritise on what really makes my family and I happy. I always say, happy parents, happy children.
Yes I'm a full time professional blogger but I'm always learning. Some refer to me as an expert but this is an ever-changing, exciting brave new world so not sure about that but let me tell you, parenting bloggers are HUGELY influential game-changers.
For those who follow my blog, you'll know just how passionate I am about healthy food and snacks for my kids and myself.
I love that this video by Ella's Kitchen has been dubbed a 'Good Snacking Revolution' and is basically a mini picketing demonstration from a bunch of socially conscious tots who are standing up for their right to healthy snacks!
I always thought my voice was OK, that is pre-husband and procreating kids who are not so flattering. Granted, I'd never get through the first round of XFactor but I think I sound pretty awesome singing along to Beyonce in the car most days...
I am often asked about my skincare routine and although I'll be covering this in upcoming beauty vlogs I thought I'd share some of my kind, gentle must-have's that I love for my skin.
Some days I feel like I have a little Buddha in the making on my hands, a four year old son (4 and a 1/2 to be precise) seemingly wise beyond his years offering me kernels of wisdom only innocent children who so often so clearly see life as it is, can.
