Single Mummy; One In A Million

Day 5 - toilet out of order!

2018-12-04T08:57:00.001+00:00

Zippy and Gatsby have decided to work together and paint on the toilet. HO HO HO who has to go? Gatsby went one step too far and used Jacks toothbrush! Naughty elf!

Naughty elves!

Gatsby used Jacks toothbrush!

Day 4 - Friends at last?

2018-12-03T23:33:00.002+00:00

Are Zippy and Gatsby finally friends? A little bit of bonding time spent playing Monopoly and enjoying a pizza.

Bonding time

Gatsby paying up!

Zippy enjoying a slice of pizza

Day 3 - Zippy gets revenge...

2018-12-03T23:08:00.000+00:00

Zippy the elf wasn't impressed with what Gatsby did - trying to light the string on fire?! Zippy got his own back. He sunk Gatsby into the fish tank and then watched from above!

Poor Gatsby

Elf fishing!

Zippy enjoying the view

Day 2 - Gatsby the naughty black elf joins!

2018-12-03T22:40:00.000+00:00

Gatsby the naughty black elf joined Zippy in creating Candy Cane monkey bars. But Gatsby had other ideas, he tried to light the string on fire using matches!

Candy cane monkey bars

Naughty Gatsby playing with matches!

Zippy!

Day 1 - Zippy the elf comes to play!

2018-12-03T22:23:00.000+00:00

Zippy the elf was chosen by Santa to come and stay with us on the lead up to Christmas. During his stay I'm sure he will be naughty! Follow his fun and games!

Zippy the Elf

Let the elf games begin!

Magical Elf glitter!

My 8 year old's christmas and birthday wish list

2017-11-13T21:39:00.002+00:00

Jack is growing up far too quickly and he is like every other 8 year old boy out there - he has alot he would like for his 9th birthday and Christmas! Every year the items on the list get more and more expensive! Below are just some of the items Jack is asking Father Christmas for.

Junior/Martial Arts Training Punch Bag Freestanding

LEGO Ninjago Movie Game: Videogame (Xbox One)

Star Wars Battlefront 2 (Xbox One)

BB-8 App-Enabled Droid with Droid Trainer by Sphero

Minecraft 21129 "The Mushroom Island" Building Set

LEGO 21135 The Crafting Box 2.0 Toy

Gross Magic

DC Comics Batman Signal Projector Light

Monopoly Ultimate Banking Game

We are going to Brick 2015!

2015-10-28T09:32:00.000+00:00

We have been invited to attend Brick 2015!

Coverage of the event will follow. Stay tuned!!
Until the coverage is live - I've attached some light reading on the event.

Click to buy tickets for Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM GETS BRICKED AS THE UK’S BIGGEST LEGO SHOW HEADS FOR THE NEC

What does Doctor Who’s Tardis, Lord of the Ring’s Gandalf, the seven wonders of the world, a woolley mammoth and three million LEGO bricks have in common? They’ll all be at BRICK 2015, the UK’s biggest LEGO show when it debuts at Birmingham’s NEC from 29^th October to 1^st November.

Brick 2015 at NEC Birmingham

Celebrating all things LEGO, BRICK creates a haven for fans of all ages with amazing builds, interactive features and live LEGO building – including the build of the official LEGO TARDIS from BBC’s Doctor Who that will be completed at the show.

Fans will also be treated to some amazing LEGO models that have never been seen in the UK before! Well known characters from the recent LEGO Movie, Lord of the Rings, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and many more will be ready for plenty of photo opportunities.

Master builder and founder of BRICK 2015 Warren Elsmore will be bringing the Wonders of the World to the NEC including likes of the Great Wall of China, Stonehenge and the Grand Canyon. From ancient icons such as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon through to modern masterpieces like the International Space Station, see them all in BRICK form.

Life size sabre toothed tiger

There will also be amazing creations from professional LEGO builders Bright Bricks, who will be bringing a life size woolley mammoth and sabre toothed tiger that have to been seen to be believed. The mammoth alone is nearly 5m long over 1m wide and nearly 3m tall. She is made from over 250,000 LEGO bricks and weighs approximately one tonne on her base.

Over three million LEGO blocks in huge ‘BRICK Pits’ will encourage adults and children of all ages to play and start building their own creation or they can help work on a larger build. If you need an expert to show you how it’s done, the Fan Zone will blow your mind with some epic LEGO structures rarely seen in the UK.

Minecraft lego display

There’s also the world’s biggest consumer gaming area for the new LEGO Dimensions video game, the BRICK Live Stage hosted by This Morning presenter Matt Johnson filled with LEGO themed family fun, Guinness World Record attempts, a fantastic LEGO shop from Toys’R’Us, a LEGO Museum and a brilliant range of LEGO gifts and collectibles in BRICK Lane.

BRICK 2015 will be held from Thursday 29^th October to Sunday 1^st November 2015 at Birmingham’s NEC. Ticket prices start at £20 in advance with some VIP tickets still avialable. For more information as well as booking details, visit www.brickshowslive.com

Steve from Minecraft Pumpkin Stencil

2015-10-26T09:24:00.000+00:00

Here is the famous Steve from Minecraft!

Hope you enjoy!

Steve from Minecraft Pumpkin Stencil

Ninja Turtle Pumpkin Stencil

2015-10-24T11:11:00.004+01:00

Next up, a Ninja Turtle pumpkin stencil!

Enjoy!!

Ninja Turtle Pumpkin Stencil

Creeper Minecraft Pumpkin Stencil

2015-10-23T20:16:00.000+01:00

Next up in the Minecraft pumpkin series is a Creeper!

Enjoy!

Check out The Ender Dragon!

Creeper Minecraft Pumpkin Stencil

Ender Dragon Minecraft Pumpkin Stencil

2015-10-20T16:46:00.002+01:00

First up in this Minecraft series is the Ender Dragon.

Hope you enjoy :)

Check out my Creeper stencil!

P.S I'd love to see some photographs of your pumpkins if you try any of my stencils.

The Ender Dragon Pumpkin Stencil

Picture Update: The Cambridge Diet; Weeks 6, 7 & 8

2015-03-18T22:48:00.001+00:00

I'm back with a update! I am pleased to say I am still on the diet and since my last post I have become a huge fan of the chocolate tetra shakes and also the lemon bars! It's funny how you become attached to a couple of flavours.

At my last weigh in on 22nd February 2015 I was 14 stone 5lbs.
I am pleased to say that at my weigh in on 15th March 2015 I was 13 stone 9lbs.

My start weight was 15 stone 8lbs; which means I am very close to my 2 stone loss - fingers crossed this weekend I go past that mark.

Picture of me the night before I started my weight-loss journey and then a picture taken 4 weeks into the diet.

Restarting the Cambridge Diet; Weeks 1 - 5

2015-02-25T10:50:00.000+00:00

During the New Year lots of people make resolutions and in the top 10 is to loose weight.
I also made a resolution to loose weight. I felt it was the right time to get back into shape.
I went back to a diet I knew would work for me and shed the weight quickly and also help me in the long term with my health.
I searched on The Cambridge Diets webpage and found a consultant who was local to me.

Making that first point of contact is always hard as you don't know what to say also, suffering from anxiety I was nervous the consultant would judge me. Silly I know as she has been on the weight loss journey too.
I arrived and she was so welcoming and friendly. She explained how she was on the diet plan too and shared some tips.
I got onto the scales and got my start weight. I knew I was overweight but I didn't realise just how much!

I started my journey on 19th January 2015 and weighed 15 stone 8lbs with a BMI of 38.

I was 100% committed to do this diet and really wanted to be at my goal weight by the summer. I worked out on average I needed to loose roughly a stone a month to be on track.

At my last visit to my consultant, which was 22nd February 2015, I weighed 14 stone 5lbs.

Thats 1 stone 3lbs loss in just over 1 month.

I knew this was a diet I could do as before I had Jack I got to goal weight and maintained for over a year.

It's not an easy diet and you truly have to be focused and WANT to loose weight. It's not a quick fix; it's a diet which helps change the way you eat.

I will update with a post in about a month with an update on my total weight loss.

Any questions please feel free to contact me.

Skylanders Trap Team

2014-12-27T15:09:00.001+00:00

This year for Christmas Jack got an xBox 360, something I thought would grow with him as he got older; plus most of this friends at school have one.

Before Christmas and his Birthday he saw at out local toy store a live demo of Skylanders Trap Team. For the next couple of days it's all he was going on about. So, on Boxing day we went and brought Skylanders Trap Team as it was reduced from £53 to £39! He also picked up some characters and this came to the same price as the game would have been on it's own!

The starter set comes with the game, a traptanium portal (which the Skylander figures go on), 2 Skylander figures, 2 traps (life and water), a collector poster, stickers, secret codes and 2 trading cards.

What a fantastic idea this game is! Really suitable for his age and you can set the difficulty of the game.
It has plastic Skylander characters which you can choose, place on the trap portal and they transport "magically" into the game and then you play the game with them. Once you have defeated the evil/bad characters you can save them into traps and also use them during game play.
I honestly wish this kind of game was available when I was a child!

This video below explains it a little better! Seriously this is a must for any child into video games.

Birchbox plus free £5 to spend!

2014-06-09T21:41:00.001+01:00

Discover your next everything!

Tired of searching around for the best beauty products on the market?
Ever just fancied receiving luxe products straight to your door each month?

Try Birchbox!
Birchbox helps you find beauty and lifestyle products that you'll love.
Sign up to receive a monthly delivery of high-end beauty and lifestyle samples which have been customised for you.

Even better! When you sign up to Birchbox (using this link) we both will get 50 Birchbox points; thats £5 to spend in the Birchbox e-shop.

May 2014 Box

The Great Outdoors

It's that time of year! We're finally (finally!) shrugging off our jumpers and venturing outside to take advantage of fresh spring air, longer days and warm - well, warmer - weather. That's why we're thrilled to bring you a special May Birchbox. We collaborated with the experts at Harper's Bazaar to put together this exclusive collection of products, all designed to prepare for a season's worth of outdoor adventures.

Free toucanBox!!

2013-11-19T09:38:00.001+00:00

Fancy receiving a craft box for free?

Check out toucanBox and simply enter your emaill address and submit to receive a code.

Then, enter the code at the checkout to get the first taster box for free, thereafter £3.95 each month per box.

You can CANCEL at any time as this is a subscription based service.

Each taster box contains a unique craft to make, design and play. Children will love direct, creative investigations into all manner of themes; from insects to outer space, superheroes to safaris. With over 50 themes (and growing) there is no limit to where the imagination can go!

toucanBox

Octonauts: Peso Pumpkin Stencil

2013-10-09T09:00:00.000+01:00

Here is my last Octonauts pumpkin stencil..... PESO Penguin!

So cute! If you do use any of my stencils; please do send me a picture.

Be sure to check out my other Octonauts Pumpkin Stencils (Captain Barnacles and Kwazii)

Peso Pumpkin Stencil

Octonauts: Kwazii Pumpkin Stencil

2013-10-08T09:00:00.000+01:00

Next up in my Octonauts pumpkin stencil series is..... KWAZII Kitten!

This one is my favourite! If you do use any of my stencils; please do send me a picture.

Be sure to check out my other Octonauts Pumpkin Stencils (Captain Barnacles and Peso)

Kwazii Pumpkin Stencil

Octonauts: Captain Barnacles Pumpkin Stencil

2013-10-07T15:32:00.000+01:00

Here is my first Octonauts pumpkin stencil..... CAPTAIN BARNACLES Bear!

If you do use any of my stencils; please do send me a picture.

Be sure to check out my other Octonauts Pumpkin Stencils (Kwazii and Peso)

Captain Barnacles Pumpkin Stencil

Cambridge Diet; 9 week progress report!

2013-09-26T20:53:00.002+01:00

Hi!
Thought I would check back in and update you all on my weight loss journey. I am still on the Cambridge diet!! Woooooohoooooo!!
So, since I last updated you I have continued to loose weight, it has slowed down and I have noticed I have a bigger loss then a smaller loss.
I am still on Step 1; Sole Source; and will continue on this until I have been on the diet for 12 weeks.

In my previous update; I told you I wasn't very well and the doctors had put me on anti-biotics and steroids. I was concerned they would slow down my weight loss that week and lo and behold they did. That week I lost a miserable 1lb but my waist did shrink 1 inch!

Following the disappointment, and completing the course of medication I knew this week would be better. I went to my councillor knowing I had done well and I had; another 4lbs lost, but my waist had stayed the same.

The next week I went to get weighed and I thought I had done well, but I had not. Only a 1lb loss. I was a little disheartened because I had not eaten anything I shouldn't have. The only thing I thought it could be was the water flavouring. I love that stuff, I love it strong! Turns out, I was using to much because I loved the taste and I was knocking myself out of ketosis.

I made the decision that for the following week I would not use ANY water flavouring. This was tough as I couldn't stand the taste of water; but I persisted and found a new addiction - fizzy water!! I attended my appointment with the councillor and I had lost 3lbs!

Either there is a patten going on with my weight loss now; or the water flavouring really was knocking me out of ketosis. I have decided to have another week without it just to see.

My total weight loss for 9 weeks is 34lbs or 2 stone 4lbs! My waist has shrunk a total of 4 inches.

My current weight is 201lbs (14 stone 5lbs), my waist is 35.5 inches and my BMI is 34.5.

I have achieved my 2 stone loss on week 7.

I will keep you updated, so check back in a few weeks! I am so close to my 3 stone achievement!

Dora the Explorer Pumpkin Stencil

2013-09-23T12:40:00.000+01:00

Following the success of my previous years pumpkin stencils, I have decided to make a few more for you this year. First being Dora the Explorer.

If you do try any of my pumpkin stencils; please do send me a picture as I would love to see!

Keep a look out for more pumpkin stencils to come.

You can find my previous stencils here:

Peppa Pig Pumpkin Stencil

Waybuloo Pumpkin Stencils

In The night Garden Pumpkin Stencils

Some useful pumpkin carving tips can be seen here.

The first week at school

2013-09-06T09:00:00.000+01:00

Your child will probably be really tired during their first week with all the new experiences, early morning and long days. Make allowances for this, and so not try to pack the time after school with too much activity, play sates or clubs as your child needs plenty of time to recharge their batteries.

Tip: Remember that, although you have tried to prepare your child for their first day at school, each day this week will bring new experiences as your child enjoys the whole week's timetable. Try to treat each day as a first day at school.

If you have concerns or questions that have arisen during the first week try to avoid speaking to the teacher at the start of the day as this is a really busy time. Children need to be settled and get started with the activities that have been planned for that day. Waiting until the end of the day is much more suitable, and, if the teacher thinks it would be better to make an appointment to discuss any issue further, it will be easier for them when the classroom is quiet.

Don't forget that other parents may have the answers to some of your questions, or may be wondering about the same thing, so it is good to start talking to other parents of children in your child's class. However, resist the temptation to become involved in the 'What my child can and can't do' discussions that can go on in playgrounds.

Your first day away from your child

2013-09-05T10:03:00.002+01:00

If you know that you are likely to feel anxious about your child starting school, then make plans to do something unusual once they have been dropped off, such as having a haircut, going swimming or meeting a friend for a coffee. This will help to distract you from worrying about your child who is probably quite happy and enjoying the exciting things on offer!

It is not unusual for young children to have a bit of an emotional wobble at the start of the day but generally they will be fine within a few minutes of being in a classroom with experienced adults who are used to working with such young children. This wobble can come at any time and so so not be alarmed if your previously settled child suddenly becomes upset at the start of the day. There are usually simple reasons behind this, such as being really tired, not feeling very well, worrying about something at home and in very rare occasions something at school. Again, make sure you talk to your child's teacher to share any information about possible causes and to work together to settle your child.

Make sure your child has time to relax, rest or play after school before you have dinner and start the bath and bedtime routine. They may bring home a reading book to share with you but this can wait until another time as at this stage this has already been a really busy day! A shared story before bed is a good time to have a quick recap of the day and may help your child to allay any anxieties and settle down so that they relax and have a good night's sleep.

Tip: At the end of the first day, and for the whole of their first week tour child will probably be really tired. Try not to keep asking about what they have done as children will usually volunteer information about the days activities in their own time. If you are curious then ask 'What did you really enjoy today?' as this is less intimidating that 'What did you do today?' and is also more likely to get a response, even if that response is simply 'playtime' or 'lunchtime'!

Starting School; The week before

2013-08-29T17:37:00.001+01:00

Now is the time to label absolutely everything your child will be taking to school. Many schools offer advice on the best place to get labels for your child's clothes but it is definitely worth shopping around for the best method which suits you.
You can buy labels which need to be sewn on, ironed on or just stuck in. Sometimes, a combination of iron on labels for clothing and stick on labels for items such as water bottles and 'show and tell' toys is the most appropriate.

http://www.mynametags.com - a combination of both iron on and stick on name labels with or without a wide choice of picture symbols.
http://nametag-it.co.uk - easy fix clip on nametags, iron on labels and stick on labels.
http://easy2name.com - woven name tags for sewing onto clothes

If at all possible choose labels with pictures as well as a name so that your child can recognise not just the word but the symbol in their early reading days.

Although you may have already done this, take a walk along the route that you will cover or drive along at the right time of day. This will show you any new potential roadworks or obstacles which might mean you have to change your timings on the first day. Try and pick out some key landmarks long the journey so that during the first week you can ask questions as a fun way of engaging your child's interest, for example, 'What do you think we will pass next?'

Invite your child to practise putting on their school uniform and PE kit if they have one, and taking it off. Try to make this a fun activity, for example using an egg timer, and sharing a reward if the child succeeds in the given task.
If necessary, explain as well as you can the term PE. It will probably be the first time your child has heard this term but one they will be using often in school and the teachers may assume that your child knows what to expect. Explain that, after changing into exercise clothes, they will able to play lots of games and run, jump and skip about.
Organise a pretend PE lesson with some dolls or soft toys and ask your child to get ready and join in. Ideally, dress and undress the toys too. The PE lesson then becomes something to look forward to rather than a situation that provokes anxiety.

Tip: Don't put too much pressure on your child as this is a week for being relaxed and minimising stress and anxiety. Avoid a countdown to the start of school which might add unnecessary pressure. This should be a time to enjoy together before formal education begins.

As the week progresses, start to build up your morning routine. Talk to your child about all the things they need to do in the morning and in which order. Take photographs of your child doing different events in the morning routine, such as eating breakfast, getting washed, putting on clothes, brushing teeth, fastening shoes, and so on. Print them out and make them into cards so that you and your child can arrange them into a sequence and talk about each event and what it involves. You could then stick them onto a large piece of paper and hang it up in their bedroom so they know which steps they need to be getting on with.

Tip: Try getting up at 'school time' to get children used to the earlier mornings, aim to have had breakfast and be washed and dressed by the time you need to leave the house.

Cambridge Diet; 5 week progress report!

2013-08-28T13:23:00.000+01:00

I am pleased to say I am still on the diet and doing well! I never imagined I would be able to get past the first few weeks without giving in.
Since my last post I have continued to shed the pounds and even inches; the losses are no where near as much as the first 2 weeks but still, it's a loss!
I am still on Step 1, Sole Source and will continue on this step until I am at 12 weeks.

I forgot to mention my start weight in my first progress report; it was 235lbs (16'11) and my waist was 39.5 inches and a BMI 39.5.

On my third weigh in my councillor informed me she would be going on holiday for just over a week. Inside I felt I wouldn't be able to manage without seeing her; and this was true. My loss for 12 days was a disappointing 3lbs. I knew the reason why I lost so little; I actually attended two birthday meals at Nandos and the sauce on the chicken must have knocked me out of Ketosis, also, not having all of my packs would have contributed to the weight loss slowing down.

The following week I knew I wouldn't be defeated and I was determined to loose more than last week! I had all of my packs and drank the water I needed to each day. I got on the scales and I had in-fact lost 4lbs. I was so happy!!

Last week, I felt had been a good week until I got a cold and really didn't feel well. I just wanted to eat lots of comfort food and feel sorry for myself. But I knew I would be totally out of ketosis again, and it would be a hard to get back into. I continued on, even though I had to force the packs down me. The day came where I went to see my councillor and I got on the scales and lost 3lbs. I am pleased with that, considering I was still ill.

I've since been to the doctors and they have put me on a steroid and anti-biotic. I hope these don't slow down the weight loss. Only time will tell!

So, for my total weight loss for 5 weeks is 25lbs or 1 stone 8 lbs! My waist has shrunk 2.5 inches.

My current weight is 210 lbs (15 stone) and my waist is 37 inches and a BMI of 35.5.

I am still having 3 packs a day; 1 chocolate mint shake in the morning, 1 chicken and mushroom soup late afternoon and another chicken and mushroom soup in the evening.

I will post back in a few weeks updating you on my progress!