LIFE | End of #Summer2014 :(

 

 

So my lazy summer has officially ended!  It's Monday evening after my first day back at work and I'm sat here trying to keep my eyes open.   I've enjoyed a wonderful summer with 7 weeks off work, with 3 of those being in Spain at our family villa.  I visited Barcelona with a friend which you can read about HERE and HERE.

 

 

 

 

I had a slight break from blogging whilst I was away, only doing WIAW posts, which wasn't by choice, it was due to the complete none internet at the villa.  I could only post when I was at a restaurant.  Which to be honest, was quite a lot, but there was food to be eaten and vino to be drank!

 

#WIAW Holiday Eats

#WIAW A Healthy Holiday?

#WIAW A Day In Barcelona

 

When my alarm clock (iPhone) went off this morning at 6:30am I felt like dying! (Is that a tad dramatic? Probably, but that's how I felt) I'd already decided the night before I was going to go for a run so I jumped out of bed, yeah that's right jumped, as soon as the alarm went off, slipped on my trainers and off I went for a 30 minute run.  

 

The rest of the morning was spent dragging Mini Greenoid out of bed for his first day back at school, making packed lunches, breakfasts, taking Mini Greenoid to school (I soooo haven't missed the school run), taking 2 kids to their first day of nursery and what seems like a million other chores. 

 

The day was hard!  Looking after kids for a living means you just have to be on your game every day.  I had such a fun day though and quite looking forward to getting back into work, blogging regularly and YouTubing regularly for my gaming channel.

 

I'm sad to be saying goodbye to summer though as I really enjoy the hot weather and the chance to get outside more.  But Autumn is here and soon the leaves will be falling off the trees and the cold, dark nights will be drawing in.  Noooooo

 

What's your favourite season?

 

I'm gonna go and take myself off to bed in a bit.  Is 9:00pm too early?  Probably but I don't care.  I'm goosed! 

 

Returning to work after holidays is HARD WORK! 

 

 

 

 

Unexpected Fun in York

Yesterday we decided to go to York for the day.  The reasoning behind the trip was that Mini Greenoid has a project to do for school and has decided to do it on Vikings.  I'm all for a bit of hands on experience when it comes to kids learning about things so I thought a trip to Jorvik Viking Centre would be the ideal thing to do. 

 

 

 

York's an hour and 45 minute drive away for us so its a fair way.  We had a fantastic day though and I thought I'd share some of my snaps and experiences.

 

Jorvik was good but not at all what I expected.  I've been before as a kid but couldn't remember it at all.  It's right in the centre of York (the entrance is in a shopping centre next to TopShop and JaneNorman I think) and it's a reconstruction of Viking Age streets 1000 years ago.  There's also a range of exhibitions in a museum style setting. 

 

 

 

After our visit to Jorvik Viking Centre we decided to take a stroll around the streets and I'm so glad we did.  There were street entertainers and mini festivals around every corner.  We watched RobRoy who is an amazing escapologist, some very talented people doing Capoeira, singers and dancers and Samba bands.  We strolled through the farmers market, smelled all the fabulous street food on sale from Indonesian to Italian and bought ice cream down by the river.

 

 

 

It was a wonderful, unexpected day of so much fun.  As we were leaving Mini Greenoid said 'I'm glad we came to York, can we come again?'  and that, in my book counts as a success.

 

I would definitely recommend a trip to York for any age and I think we're going to go back soon.  I just so love exploring new places. 

 

Do you know any good places to visit for a day / weekend? 

 

Hasta Luego Sparkly1s

Gemzicle Sprinkles

xoxo

 

Adoption Party

This weekend my sister & brother in law came to stay for a few days.  After a long & difficult journey to try & adopt a child, they were finally matched & the adoption of little Alicia was finalised a few weeks ago.

 

 

I'm always up for a party & this was a wonderful chance to have one!  Parties take so much organising but it was all worth it in the end. I got some personalised things & lots of pink from Party Delights.  Having had a boy it was good fun shopping for a 2 year old girls party! 
The weather here has been awful all week but on Saturday the sun shone & it was a beautiful day (which was a good job as we had a bouncy castle for me to act like a big kid & jump around on the kids)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

I'm so pleased for my sister & her husband I'd like to wish them all the happiness & joy for the future.  Parenthood is the hardest job anyone can ever do but the rewards are indescribable.
I've got a ton more photos so I might make another post later in the week.  Do you like organising parties?  What are your top tips for a less stressful day?

Hasta Luego Sparkly1s

Gemmy Sprinkles

xoxo

If you're thinking about adoption or are an adoptive family there's a lot of help & advice HERE

Finally BBQ weather!!

This weekend was finally hot enough here in the UK for the first BBQ of the year!  For anyone who isn't from the UK we all tend to get rather excited when the sun finally shines & we can have a BBQ for the first time, I don't know why, it's just what we do.

My BBQ was a kind of last minute idea as you can tell by the photo.  It was actually really nice.  Me & Mini Greenoid sat round the BBQ on the floor & helped ourselves to stuff off the BBQ.

This disposable one was stashed at the back of the garage & I fished it out late Saturday afternoon.  BBQs are an odd thing in my house as I'm a vegetarian but I still love a veggie kebab, corn on the cob & a potato salad! I also had some marshmallows I'd bought for a party (oops I'll have to buy some more) that we toasted up yum yum!!!

Did you have a BBQ this weekend?  What's your favourite food on the BBQ?  I love my barbeque marinade - I marinade my veggies in for my kebabs & also meat for others.  Have you got a favourite marinade you use on the BBQ?  I'd love you to share it with me if you have.

Hasta Llego Sparkly1s

Gemmy Sprinkles

xoxo