LITTLE MOMENTS | SPRING HAS SPRUNG| 9/52

This week Blake was back at school and Spring seems to have sprung up on us. Let's hope the warmer weather is here to stay! One of Blake's favourite things about spring is that the daisies are out. It means our walk home from school takes a bit longer as Blake likes picking as many as he can.

I love the blue skies they definitely make me feel so much happier and content. We've been able to put washing out on the line for the first time this year instead of having clothes drying on the radiators. In fact I'm glad its been warm enough this week we have had no need to have the heating on.

We've been able to get out to the park, letting Blake burn off some steam with a good run around and going on the slide. We can hopefully make a start on getting our garden ready for the warmer months soon. I love having an outdoors space for Blake to play in and looking forward to the arrival of summer so we can enjoy bbqs, picnics, etc outside together.

We are also undertaking a bit of a clear out at the moment and have thrown quite a bit out from the attic as well as being able to give some bits away we no longer want/need. It's been such a refreshing feeling to get rid of stuff. 

Today we even managed to get McDonald's as they have now opened up for walk in collection. Blake has been wanting one for ages and been asking most mornings for chippys. Blake was absolutely thrilled with his treat. I feel that things are more on the up now especially thanks for the beautiful weather making us feel much better than the colder and darker days.

BOOK TOUR | ONE NIGHT IN BEARTOWN | NICK JONES

Ad – review. We were sent a copy of this book for review purposes and all thoughts are my own.

Today I am on a book tour sharing a review of a children's book suitable for ages 4-8 years. One Night in Beartown is Nick Jones second children's book. Nick Jones is an award-winning children's author based in Congleton, Cheshire. His first children's picture book, Sarah's Shadow, was published in December 2017.

2021 READING CHALLENGE | WHAT I'VE READ IN FEBRUARY

For some reason I've really struggled with reading this month. I've been distracted and just not been able to concentrate for long. Instead I found myself watching a few series on Netflix in my spare time. I looked back on my posts  and February last year I had read 6 books but this February I've read 4 which isn't actually that bad really. 

The Puritan Princess by Miranda Malins 

The Puritan Princess is a historical fiction set during the reign of Oliver Cromwell. This was a book that I was involved in a book tour for and you can read my little review here. I loved that it is a different era of historical fiction for me to read as alot of books I've read within that genre are around WW1/WW2 so it was interesting to read something different. I liked that it was told through the eyes of his youngest daughter and what it was like to live in them times especially with the pressure of not being able to choose her own husband as she wanted to marry for love. 

LITTLE MOMENTS | HALF TERM | 8/52

I'm not at all sure where the half term week decided to go. It's flown by unlike the weeks when Blake is in school. Despite not being able to do much due to lockdown i think Blake still managed to enjoy himself. So here is a little round up on some of our favourite things we got up to.

Tuesday was pancake day so we all had some for dessert Blake had sugar on his, Stuart had the traditional sugar and lemon and i decided to try biscoff pancakes inspired by Pinch of Nom.

GIVEAWAY | LOVE CORN THE DELICIOUS CRUNCHY SNACK

Yesterday I shared with you about Love Corn a delicious and crunchy snack that is suitable for the whole family. They are a healthier alternative to crisps, crackers or pretzels so an ideal swap.

Today I am able to giveaway a Love Care Package which includes 12 bags of the 4 fab flavours and smokin' Love Merch. 

Don't forget If you can't wait to find out if you have won and fancy getting on the Love Corn bandwagon shop now as  I have a discount code to get 20% off all you have to do is use code CRUNCH20 at the checkout.

To enter all you have to do is  complete the rafflecopter below.

Terms and conditions

-To enter you must be 16 and over

- UK Entries Only 

- This competition will close on 23rd February 2021 at 12.00am GMT

- The winner will be chosen at random and notified via email, twitter or facebook

- If the winner doesn't reply within 30 days another winner will be drawn.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW | LOVE CORN THE DELICIOUS CRUNCHY SNACK

 Ad – review. We were sent Love Corn for review purposes and all thoughts are my own.

Staying at home during lockdown has certainly meant keeping the cupboards stocked with snacks, especially if you have kids. If you are wanting to opt for a healthier alternative to crisps, crackers or pretzels than Love Corn is the perfect swap.

Love Corn are delicious corn kernels packed with flavour. The ingredients are simple just roasted corn that’s then seasoned. They are also plant based, vegan, gluten free, verified kosher and non GMO.

LITTLE MOMENTS | SNOWBALL FIGHTS & WINTER SUN | 7/52

This week on Monday morning we woke to snow and text message from Blake's school saying they would be closed for the day. We were glad to stay in the warm most of the day as it was pretty cold out there.

Blake even though he doesn't normally like snow really wanted to be outside. So after lunch we wrapped up warm in coats, hats and gloves plus wellies and went into the garden.

BOOK TOUR | BENEATH THE FEAR | SHEILA RAWLINGS

 Ad – review. I was sent a copy of this book for review purposes and all thoughts are my own.

Today is another book tour that I am involved in. Beneath the fear by Sheila Rawlings is a physiological thriller which is my go to genre.

About the Author:

After graduating from Medway Collage of Art and Design (now the University of creative arts), Sheila enjoyed a long career with a magazine publisher,  where she was responsible for the production of the weekly issue and various other publications. An avid reader since childhood, working with journalists rekindled Sheila's love of the written word, prompting her to write her debut novel Truth and Revenge.

BOOK TOUR| THE PURITAN PRINCESS | MIRANDA MALINS

Ad – review. I was sent a copy of this book for review purposes and all thoughts are my own.

Happy Friday, today I am involved in the book tour for the historical fiction The Puritan Princess by Miranda Malins. 

About the Author:

Miranda is a writer and historian specialising in the history of Oliver Cromwell, his family and the politics of the Interregnum period following the Civil Wars. She studied at Cambridge University, leaving with a PhD, and continues to speak at conferences and publish journal articles and book reviews. She is also a Trustee of the Cromwell Association. Alongside this, Miranda works as a commercial solicitor in the City and began writing historical novels on maternity leave. She lives in Hampshire with her husband, young son and cat Keats. 

LITTLE MOMENTS | ROSES | 6/52

 This week was mine and Stuart's 9th wedding anniversary. Due to lockdown it felt pretty much like a normal day. We usually try and go out for our anniversary for a meal but instead we ordered in a Chinese that was about it.

We did swap gifts although I did find it hard to know what to get Stuart this year. I ended up getting him a salt and pepper mill set,  that was finished in copper. Stuart likes being in the kitchen and experimenting so was happy with his gift. Turns out he had considered getting a set like the ones I had purchased him anyway so that's a win. 

Stuart knows me well and got me my favourite flowers red roses. I had both red and white roses in my wedding bouquet and it was lovely to receive some as part of my gift. His other gift to me is a forever rose  which I've now got up on display in our bedroom as he also put up a new shelf for me.

I've loved roses since I was little girl and my Grandad would cut me one from his and my nan's garden. Whenever I think of roses they make me think of him which was another reason for having them in my wedding bouquet. 

The forever rose is a rose that has been preserved in a special way and  plated in gold so it will never die. It comes in a beautiful box which you can keep it in or there is an acrylic stand in the box so you can have it on display like I have done. 

I actually have got quite a few other rose themed items around the home and of course there is my tattoo I had done a few years ago. 

PERSONALISED GIFTS WITH ASDA PHOTO + GIVEAWAY

Ad – Review. I was gifted the photo products below for review purposes, all thoughts are my own.

We love having photos and personalised gifts around our home. Asda Photo have a range of unique gift ideas, where you can add custom text, messages and photos - perfect for adding that personalised touch. 

Personalised gifts are a great way to encapsulate favourite memories spent together. Asda Photo's range  has everything from Photo Books, Prints, Photo Canvases, right through to Slate Photos, Cushions, Mugs and more. They offer something for all budgets and occasions meaning you don't have to spend the earth to find that perfect personalised gift. 

REVIEW| TIME FOR PHONICS

Ad – Review. I was given a free membership for this service for review purposes, all thoughts are my own.

If you have a primary school child you will most likely have heard of phonics. Phonics to those of you that may not know, is a way of teaching children to read. It's definitely a different way of learning from when I was Blake's age. In fact I find the whole thing really confusing. Instead of learning by sight and looking at the shape and word as a whole, phonics encourages children to break down the individual sounds in a word. This is in order to decode them and work out what they are.

If you are currently having to homeschool or even if you aren't, you may want to help encourage your child/ren to practice phonics. After all reading is such an important skill to have. Time for Phonics is an online educational games website that helps to encourage children to practise phonics in a fun way.