Friday, September 30, 2016

Vegan Courgette Spaghetti With Velvety Butternut Squash Cream | Recipe ♥

 Photo by Viktor Hanacek

This is an easy, but impressive and really tasty gluten free-vegan option that is perfect as a lunch or dinner option.

Ingredients:
3 spiralized Courgettes
300 g of butternut squash peeled and chopped in cubes
1 medium golden onion thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves unpeeled
Pine nuts to taste
Cracked black pepper to taste
Dried red chilli pepper to taste
Salt to taste
5 Fresh sage leaves
Olive oil
+/- ½ cup lactose free milk*

*A sweet milk, such as almond milk is not recommend, the butternut squash sweetness is more than enough.

Method:
1.Cover a tray with baking paper and place the butternut cubes all over, dressing it with a little olive oil, sprinkle salt and cracked black pepper to taste. Place the garlic cloves among the butternut cubes (remember: unpeeled!).

2. Put the tray into the pre-heated oven and roast the butternut squash up to 25-30 minutes or until the squash is tender and lightly browned.

3. In the meantime, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add the thinly sliced onion and sprinkle some chilli pepper to taste, the pine nuts and sage leaves.

4. Once the onion and pine nuts have a light golden colour, add the courgette. From this point stir the ingredients for 1 minute, then add a little bit of water, just enough to produce some steam with covering the skillet with the lid, about a ¼ of a cup, leaving it cook fir up to 5-7 minutes until the courgette is softened.

5. Put the roasted butternut squash into a blender cup and join the garlic (peel it off before; it will be easy-peel and very soft after roasting in the oven) and milk. Blend it up until the result is a creamy sauce. Taste it and, in case, add either more seasoning (salt & pepper) if needed or milk, to have less of a thick texture.

6. Bring the butternut cream to a saucepan over medium heat and stir for a couple of minutes, until it comes to a high temperature, as a pasta sauce needs to have.

7. With the help of a fork and a ladle, join part of this cream to the courgette on the skillet, stirring it carefully to do not smash the spaghetti courgette.

8. Serve immediately and sprinkle grated parmesan cheese or, if you want to keep the recipe as a vegan option, use lactose free parmesan cheese type.

The idea is to use as much sauce as you like in a spaghetti dish, so let your eyes guide you.
It will really look like a traditional Italian spaghetti, but with super low carb, no gluten and no lactose!

If you don’t need the whole butternut sauce, you can keep it in the fridge and consume later as a creamy soup or a toast spread or joint the cream to another savoury dish as you prefer.

This recipe has been kindly offered by Hen Party Latino, a hen party company that organize hen party activities in Dublin.

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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Using Debenhams Promo Codes To Save With Online Shopping ♥

Christmas is swiftly approaching (just three months away, eek!) and if you're anything like me you're going to be doing a lot of online shopping. I've already picked up some Christmas presents online and anytime I shop online I'm always looking for the best deals and money saving offers. I always use a promo code website to search for offers and savings and these really help me to grab some bargains.

The theme of Beau's gifts this year is Peter Rabbit, Belle and Boo and Guess How Much I Love You, so I've been searching the internet for some lovely gifts within these ranges. I used some Debenhams promo codes to pick up this gorgeous Beatrix Potter music box and because I also got this warm and cosy duffle coat for Tyler Lee, featured here on the blog, I also got free delivery - yay for free delivery by the way because shipping costs are usually what put me off making an online order, tell me I'm not alone with that?

Debenhams have a great range of Peter Rabbit toys and gifts so it's probably where I'm going to end up getting a lot of Beau's Christmas gifts there. I have my eye on the tummy time activity mat they've just added to the range and the puzzle train too, I just love wooden toys for my boys. You can browse the Debenhams Peter Rabbit range for yourself here if you're also looking to pick up some things for your own little one.

The above picture is just a peek at Beau's Christmas gifts, I don't want to get him too much as he'll only be seven months old at Christmas, but I don't want him to be left out either.

Whatever I end up getting, I'll definitely be using more discount codes to save some pennies. I'm such a bargain hunter and am always looking to get a good deal, I mean, why pay more when you don't have to? Also, using a promo code site such a Discount Promo Codes who donate 20% of their profits to charity, means that you're also donating to charity by using their voucher codes and what could be a more fitting thing to be contributing to for Christmas shopping? Christmas being the season of giving and all that.

What are you getting your little ones for Christmas? Do you also use promo codes when shopping online?




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Home Decor | Using Flooring To Make A Room Appear Bigger ♥

Most people have a small room in their home that they would like to look bigger. Using clever design tricks, like including a big mirror that catches the eye as people enter, make a huge difference to the look and feel of this type of room and these are things which I have implemented in my own home to make the small rooms appear bigger than they actually are.

There are many other ways to make a room appear bigger. Tricks that people are aware of, and employ when they redecorate a small space. However, an element of home decor that many people overlook when decorating small rooms is the floor and this is a real shame, because choosing the right flooring can make a huge difference to how big a room looks.

The width of the planks matter - If you have a small room, opting for a wood style floor is a good idea. The lines help to draw the eye, which helps it to appear larger than it actually is.
However, you need to be careful. In a small room, the width of the planks is an especially important consideration.

Opting for wider planks really helps. There are fewer lines, which creates a less fussy pattern, which looks cleaner, less cluttered, and fresher.

Choose larger tiles
If you are going to opt for a tile or stone floor, use the same principle as above. The bigger the tiles or slabs are, the less fussy the pattern is, so the bigger the room appears.

Opt for darker colours
This one is counterintuitive, but it works. Richer and darker colours advance the eye, they make the space seem warmer, more vibrant, and inviting. However, it is also important to couple a dark floor with light coloured walls. The contrast helps to make the room appear bigger.

Use the same flooring in other areas
If you can, use the same flooring materials in the spaces that are adjacent to your small room. Doing so provides continuity for the eye, and mind. This gives the illusion that the small room is a part of a much bigger space.

Opt for a high gloss finish
In most rooms, a high gloss finish is best. This is because in small spaces light is especially important. You need to make the most of the little light that is available. Using a glossy finish will reflect some of the light back into the room, which will help it to seem brighter, and therefore more spacious.

Buy high quality flooring
In a tight space, it is especially important to use the best materials, and get the finish 100% right. This is because even the tiniest flaw will be highly visible in a small room.

You can easily source high quality flooring from www.discountflooringdepot.co.uk. Unusually, this firm will send you samples before you buy, which allows you to determine whether the quality, look and feel of the product you are thinking of buying is right.

For more information about using colour, and other decorating tricks to make a room appear larger, there's lots of helpful tips and tricks in this article.

You can browse the home decor section of the blog for more interior design and home decor tips and inspiration.

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Tips To Avoid Everyday Hazards For Children ♥

Every year, millions of children suffer accidental injuries in their own homes. Young children, aged between 0-4, are most likely to be affected, and statistics suggests that boys are more likely to be involved in accidents than girls. Young children are naturally very inquisitive and their curiosity can often lead them into danger.

Below are some of the most common causes of accidental injuries in the home and things that parents can do to help avoid them.

Choking - Sadly, choking is a common cause of death amongst young children. Many common household objects can be identified as potential choking hazards - including coins, safety pins, marbles, jewellery, pen caps, magnets, and bottle caps. Such items should be kept safely out of young children's reach. In the early stages of weaning, most foods have the potential to cause choking incidents, but some foods are more likely to be responsible for choking than others. Such foods typically include grapes, nuts, and hard fruit. Hot dogs have also been reported as a leading cause of choking amongst children under five. Care should be taken when preparing young children's food to reduce the risk of choking; grapes should be cut in half, hot dogs cut length ways, and nuts avoided.

Suffocation - Plastic bags (including nappy sacks) pose the greatest threat of suffocation to children. Bags that are left within easy reach of young children are likely to be placed over the head. Nappy sacks are often used during changing routines and can be easily grabbed by little hands. Nappy sacks are not as noisy as other plastic bags when grasped, meaning carers may not immediately alerted to their child having grabbed one. They are also smaller than other bags, and therefore easy for children to inhale. Care should be taken to keep nappy bags out of children's reach at all times, and to dispose of them properly.

Strangulation - Blind cords have been identified as leading cause of strangulation. Most accidents involving blind cords occur in the bedroom and typically involve toddlers aged between 16 and 36 months; such children are generally mobile, but lack the muscle control required to free themselves from an entanglement. Children's windpipes are also less rigid than adults, and therefore more likely to be constricted. Ideally, only blinds without cords should be fitted in children's bedrooms, and cots, beds, chairs, and highchairs should be positioned away from windows. Cleats, cord tidies, or cord clips are also available to tie cords up out of children's reach.

Drowning - Drowning is a leading cause of accidental injury and death. Children can drown in as little as 2 centimetres of water. Accidents involving drowning typically occur in the bathtub, in the garden (particularly if a pond is present, or rainwater has the potential to collect), and in swimming pools. Adhering to safety signs when you visit any pools is a must. Paddling pools that are only slightly filled can also be dangerous for young children. Children should be supervised at all times when in or near water. Any ponds in the garden should be covered as many incidents occur when parents open doors and sneak into the garden without their parent's supervision.

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Sunday, September 25, 2016

My Weight Loss Results With MaxiNutrition Sculptress | Review ♥

I'm now eight weeks into my weight loss journey and I'm actually surprised that I've kept up with the shakes this long. I've never had a lot of willpower - one of the attributing factors for my weight gain in the first place, but I believe that this time I've found something that works for me and I'm spurred on by the fact that I'm really wanting to change and am actually seeing the changes for myself.

The quote - "It takes 4 weeks for you to see your body changing, It takes 8 weeks for friends and family and it takes 12 weeks for the rest of the world. Keep going", is spot on because this past week my mother, Jacek and my friend have commented on the changes they've seen in my appearance, all saying that my face has gotten slimmer and that's the first thing they noticed about me.

I have to admit, hearing these things from them is really spurring me on to keep going and I actually feel fantastic. I have a long way to go, I'm in no doubt about that, but I'm over the first hurdle and two months in I'm more than determined than ever to achieve my weight loss goals and become a better me.

I've so far tried out three different meal replacement shakes on the market, all aimed at weight loss, the first being Forza, you can read my review and results here and Yokebe, you can read my review and results here. For the past two weeks I've been using MaxiNutrition Sculptress (€34.99), a high protein diet meal replacement shake that I decided to try with 17g per serving (much less than the Yokebe at 28.3g per serving).

I picked up the Strawberry Sundae Flavour hoping that the taste would be better than the Yokebe shake I had previously tried, however, it was much worse. Jacek has told me that this is simply the taste of protein drinks, so I just sucked it up and drank the shake as quickly as I could in the morning just to get through the tub of powder (700g). I'm still trying to find a shake that tastes as good as the Forza ones did, but at €38.99 for a seven day supply I'm not willing to fork out that much money at the moment for them, especially as the others have lasted me two weeks for their price. I hated the taste of MaxiNutrition Sculptress so much that instead of mixing it with water as per the instructions on the tub, I mixed it with unsweeted soya milk instead and this made it drinkable for me at least.

However, it's not all about the taste, what about the results? I used MaxiNutrition Sculptress for the past two weeks and I've lost a total of 21.5cm off my body, 8.5cm the first week and 13cm the second week.

I don't weigh myself, I take my measurements every Sunday morning and that suits me fine, I don't want to be jumping on the scales every day to see if I've had a loss.

I must admit, I haven't been strict with myself this past week. I've had cake, fizzy drinks, a takeaway, cocktails and lunch out, but I'm not going to deny myself anything, knowing that I just have to exercise a bit more if I have these things.

Would I try it again? Probably not, the taste is just too off putting for me, even though it did still give me great results when I wasn't being very strict with myself food and drink wise. The shake did keep me full but it wasn't enjoyable at all or something I looked forward to in the morning. Also, there are shakes the same price or cheaper available that have higher protein values too.

Have I noticed any changes? My clothes are a lot more loose fitting then they were before, in fact, I'm having to keep pulling up my leggings and jogging bottoms as they're too loose! I've dropped a dress size too. My skin also seems to be in a lot better condition, a product of all the protein I've been having I think.

Since I started having meal replacement shakes in the mornings my results are as follows -
22/08 - -22cm
27/08 - -8cm
04/09 - -16cm
11/09 - -9cm
18/09 - -8.5cm
25/09 - -13cm
Total so far = 77.5cm

I started a new shake yesterday PhD Woman Meal Replacement and I'll be sharing my results and review on that shake in two weeks time.

Wish me luck as I continue on my weight loss journey.

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4 Ways To Get Money Fast When Unexpected Bills Arise ♥

There are times in life when unexpected bills or costs arise, things we haven't budgeted for and don't have access to the funds for straight away. So what can you do when you find yourself in these finance predicament situations? I thought I'd share today some ways I've been able to get funds fast for unexpected bills (usually car repairs in my case) or costs that I simply hadn't budgeted for.

1. Sell things you no longer need. There are a whole host of places to sell your unwanted things - both online and in your local community and this is a great way to make some money fast. I've sold things via Facebook selling groups and on Etsy (here is my Etsy shop if you fancy taking a look) and Ebay, finding that things I list on Facebook selling groups will sell quite quickly as they're localised buyers. In fact, I'm about to sell a lot of the boys things that we no longer need this way and it'll help to pay for Christmas. There are also lots of selling apps you can use for getting rid of your unwanted items, easily downloaded for free via your smartphone.

Another great (and fun!) way of getting rid of your unwanted items and making money quickly is selling at a car boot sale. You can check your local community pages to find out when they're on and these are usually quite busy - a great way of reaching buyers for your things and building up your funds.

2. Take out a short-term loan (if you're sure you can repay it). This is something that a lot of people find themselves having to do, especially if the unexpected bill/costs are urgent and just can't wait. This is something which I've had to do myself during my college years (again for another car bill - not having much luck with the cars!) and I was even able to repay my loan before time. Lenders such as Vivus offer competitive rates and are ideal for those who need funds fast. However, I would only ever consider taking out a loan if you are 100% sure that you will be able to repay it.

3. Offer your services. If there's something you're good at then why not utilise your skills and offer your services to others who would be willing to pay for them? You could offer your babysitting services to family and friends or within your local community, or if you're good at gardening/painting you could offer your services to those looking for them in local community groups online or by checking notice boards in local shops/community centers. This is a great way of making money fast, especially if you have some extra time on your hands.

4. Work overtime. If you work at an hourly rate, offer to work some overtime or if the opportunity arises volunteer for overtime at work. Overtime hours can really help to top up your weekly wage and are ideal if you can spare the hours to make some extra money doing what you already do for a living.

If you're in need of some more ways to save money then please do read my fiance related posts which are full of money saving tips and ideas.


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The Trampoline Designed With Your Child's Safety in Mind ♥

If you are searching around online for the safest trampoline then you should definitely think about taking a look at the trampolines manufactured by companies that actually care about the health and welfare of children, and not just the bottom line. Since its invention in 1936, traditional trampoline design had not changed. In fact, it failed to keep kids safe; exposed metal frames and springs could cause scratches, cuts, bumped heads, sprained extremities, and even severe pinches — or worse.

Frustrated by the laundry list of regular injuries associated with trampolines, father and mechanical engineer Keith Alexander (who currently sits on the ASTM Standards Committee on trampolines) created a revolutionary new design in 2004, allowing children to play safely without their parents having to carpet the backyard with pillows in an effort to improve trampoline safety.

Springfree Trampoline has taken Alexander’s revolutionary design and manufactured the safest trampoline, one that compensates for many of the more dangerous design flaws present in typical trampoline models. As the safest in the market, they have earned awards like the International Design Award, the Parent Tested Parent Approved Award, and the US Family Choice Award. There are a number of key features present in the design that have helped the company set new industrystandards for safety.Springfree Trampoline featuring the tgoma tablet app also encourages your children to combine screen time with outdoor play time, much to the pleasure of parents.

They use a SoftEdgemat that boasts shock absorbance level 30 times higher than the foam pads affixed to the frames ofnormal trampolines. The edge of the mat is then encircled by a FlexiNet that helps catch and deflect any who might otherwise go tumbling to the ground. Instead they bounce back onto the safe, shock absorbent mass of the SoftEdge mat.

 The thicker SoftEdge mat is supported by a unique hidden steel frame. Unlike traditional exposed frames most people are familiar with, the hidden frame supports the trampoline from below with a ring under the edges of the jumping mat. This protects children from coming into contact with the metallic support structure, which is the cause of most trampoline related injuries. What makes this design possible is the replacement of the metallic, horizontal springs with flexible composite rods that are woven into the ring that supports the SoftEdge, providing a signature bounce while protecting jumpers from ever coming into contact with the frame and eliminating springs altogether.

In a further effort to support the health and welfare of kids all over America, Springfree has introduced tgoma, a revolutionary new trampoline-based digital gamedevice, creating the world’s first smart trampoline. According to leading experts, kids today are spending more than 60 hours per week on screen consuming media and less than an hour playing outside. The interactive tgoma system taps into the natural desire children have for interactive gaming through competition, and takes it outside into the fresh air. As the world’s premier outdoor interactive digital gamesystem, tgomaencourages kids to go outside and be active — introducing a new way to play on the trampoline.

Not only are these trampolines the safest, but they also have the benefit of being highly weather resistant. The waterproof mat and steel frame are highly resistant to heat, rust, and staining due to exposure. This combination of safety and durability help make Springfree the best option available for your family.

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Wednesday, September 21, 2016

How I Gained 2,000 Instagram Followers & Doubled My Engagement In One Month ♥

Instagram is by far my favourite social media platform. It's what wakes me up in the morning and what puts me to bed at night, the beautiful images shared on there and the sense of community keep me interested and excited to see what will appear on my feed.

As a blogger, growing my social media presence is a very important aspect of my work and for the past month now I've been trying to grow my Instagram organically, and thankfully I've had some success with this, gaining 2,000 new followers in the past month and passing the 7,000 follower mark. My Instagram is @fiandtylerlee for anyone reading this who's curious about my account.

However, when it comes to Instagram, the number of followers you have isn't everything. I've come across accounts with 10,000+ followers but with very low engagement, getting 100 or less likes on pictures and very little comments, and for me, Instagram is all about engagement and community. So, as well as growing my followers I also wanted to grow my engagement, and thankfully that's gone very well for me too, with my pictures going from an average of 150+ likes and a few comments to 300+ likes and 50+ comments on pictures, doubling my engagement if you will.

So, I thought I would share how I've grown my Instagram organically, for anyone else who's trying to grow theirs too. There aren't any special secrets, just tips and tricks that have really paid off for me. I hope they'll be useful to others too.


My Instagram feed - bright, light and full of what I love in life

Keep it consistent. My Instagram is very personal. I share pictures of my boys, my photography and lots of things I love on there. I don't use it for promotional purposes, unless something will fit in well on my gallery without sticking out like a sore thumb.

For example, I'm happy to share pictures of my boys wearing clothes that were sent to us for a collaboration, but a household item we may be sent for review on the blog, such as a vacuum cleaner, wouldn't look natural on my feed so I don't share things like that on my Insta. Basically, I keep everything on topic and don't post anything that would look far-fetched and out of sorts on my feed.

Have a theme. The most successful Instagram accounts all seem to have a theme, and although mine never really did, for the past month I've been trying to establish one by focusing on my boys, my photography and bright, beautiful flowers. 

I try to post just three times a day and my first post of the day is always a nature/flower picture with a 'good morning' greeting and then my other two posts are usually photography, my boys or anything I love and want to share. I think my theme is very 'me' and identifiable to my personality and my blog theme too and I think it's good to have everything tie in together and be representative of me and what I love.


My picture of Beau's 4 month update as a top post in three of the tags I used in my picture description
Post bright, good quality pictures. All the pictures I share on my Instagram are my own, apart from the daily feature I do every second day for mine and Hayley from Sparkles and Stretchmarks new Insta community #themagicineveryday. I'm very into my photography, but you don't have to be the best photographer to have good quality images on your Insta gallery. 

The brightness tool on Instagram itself is great for making pictures lighter, but my favourite app for sprucing up pictures that I want to post is Snapseed, which is free. The brush tool for increasing exposure works really well and helps to make pictures light and bright.

Engage with your followers and those you follow. It's 2016, everyone's busy, I get it, but, if you don't engage with people and show an interest in their pictures or in what they say to you, then they're going to give up engaging with you altogether and may eventually unfollow you too. Sometimes when I have a free moment I go through my most recent likes, click onto those people's profiles and give them a few likes and comments too.

I also make sure to go through my live feed throughout the day and like some pictures there too. For the past month I've also begun replying to each comment I receive on my pictures too as I think it's nice to show people you appreciate their compliments on your pictures.

Hashtags, hashtags, hashtags. This is the most important element to getting your images seen on Instagram and something which I had been slacking on before. The more hashtags you use, the more your picture will be seen by different people. Instagram allows a maximum of 30 hashtags per picture, so I always put three or four in my picture description and the rest as the first comment.

However, it's important to know your niche and not spam hashtags that have no relevance to your pictures. I have three sets of hashtags I use for each of my photo themes - nature/flowers, photography and my sons and for the past month my pictures are getting into the 'top posts' section of these hashtags, meaning they may be seen first by everyone who clicks onto that hashtag.

A recent picture of my boys got into the top posts for the hashtag #brotherlylove, a hashtag with over 1,350,000 pictures. I was amazed. My image is the one on the bottom left and I've noticed that my pictures are appearing as 'top posts' for a lot of the hashtags I use now.

I try to use a mixture of very popular, medium use and niche, lesser used hashtags so that my pictures are seen by a lot of different audiences and this method has been working well for me.

Join a comment pod. I recently joined the Instagram Posse Facebook group and was able to fill out a form to request to join their group for setting up and joining in with comment pods. Comment pods are a group of 14 people maximum, who converse via DM on Instagram and share the pictures they'd like some love on from the group. I've found some lovely new Instagram accounts to follow from my pods and the support we all give each other is lovely.

Plus, the Instagram algorithm gives more weight to comments rather than likes, so basically, the more comments your pictures get, the better chance it has of being seen - when you use hashtags of course.

Follow people within your niche. Deciding your blogging/Instagram niche is a must when it comes to choosing the people you want to follow. The people I follow on Instagram are mostly bloggers, parents/grandparents, photographers and nature lovers. I find that when I follow these people and they see that my gallery features something they're also interested in, that they're more inclined to follow back. 

I follow back a lot of the people who follow me but not all, I'm selective as I only want to see pictures that interest me on my Insta feed (personally I can't stand accounts that just post memes, quotes or dark, blurry pictures). You'll find that a lot of people who follow you that you don't follow back may then unfollow you and while that's annoying I say good riddance as I only want people to follow me if they're genuinely interested in my pictures, not just for a follow. 

I find that these people are doing the follow/unfollow method to grow their followers - where they'll follow you and then when you follow back they'll unfollow in a day or two. I now just ignore these accounts, which can be spotted as they have a very high following number compared to the number they're actually following.

So there you have it, the things I've been doing which have helped me to grow my Instagram followers and double my engagement. Hopefully these tips and tricks will be useful to others and if anyone has any questions please leave them in the comments and I'll do my best to answer them.

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Friday, September 16, 2016

Family Holiday 2017 | Destination Ideas ♥

Jacek and I love to travel, and a sense of wanderlust is something we also want to instill into our boys. We're fortunate enough to be able to go on a family holiday every year, it's something we save up for all year round and it's something we always look forward to.

We're just back from our first holiday as a family of four, which you can read all about here. It was a last minute booking - we weren't planning on going on holiday initially as I was due Beau and we thought he'd be too young to take away, but in the end we threw caution to the wind and booked a great, last minute deal.

Booking a last minute deal can be a great way of saving money and still getting the accommodation and location you wanted to holiday at in the first place. The Falcon blog has great information on the savvy way to book a last minute holiday - a must read for anyone who's like us and loves a bargain when it comes to travel.

Even though we're just back from holiday, we've already begun thinking about and saving for our next and there's a few destinations that are at the forefront of our minds right now.

Croatia | This is somewhere which I actually suggested we go two years ago as it's not an overly popular tourist destination but every picture I've seen of it looks beautiful and I've only ever heard positive things about it from anyone I know who's visited. I know Jacek would love the culture and sight-seeing there and the boys and I would love the beaches, so it'd be a perfect holiday destination to please us all.

Mexico | This is actually a destination which Jacek suggested the other day and another which I've only ever heard great things about. The white sandy beaches and warm turquoise waters are definitely enticing me to want to visit. Being history lovers we'd also love to see the Mayan ruins and immerse ourselves in Mexican culture. Plus I've never traveled out of Europe before so Mexico seems like the perfect destination for people like myself who want to broaden their horizons.

Jamaica | Ever since I was a teenager I've wanted to visit Jamaica, or any of the Caribbean islands to be honest. Any pictures I've ever seen of the island look like paradise on Earth and it's the perfect destination for us all to sit back, relax and enjoy the white sandy beaches and the crystal clear waters. I think if we do get married, it'd be the perfect honeymoon destination too and the perfect place to soak up the sun and just enjoy life for a week or two.

Those are my top three family holiday destinations for next year. Venturing to a destination outside of Europe for the first time would be amazing, but if that doesn't work out for us then Croatia is a great European destination to consider. The fact that it's a bit of an undiscovered gem really appeals to me.

Where are you and yours planning to visit for your family holiday next year?

*Destination images courtesy of Falcon.

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Sunday, September 11, 2016

My Weight Loss Results With Yokebe | Review ♥

For some time now I've wanted to improve myself, not just my body but how I think about things too. I've been learning to practice mindfulness, trying to look at the positives in everyday life and not focus so much on the negative - even though this is quite hard at times. And although it's been difficult I think I'm doing okay with this and am getting better at thinking about things in a more mindful way.

However, the way I look has been a very negative thing for me these past few years. I hate how I look. Every time I look at myself in the mirror all I see is flaws - things that are a fault of my own and things that have occurred over the course of two pregnancies. I know there are lots of things that I now won't be able to change, but there's one thing I can and that's my weight.

Believe it our not I used to be someone who'd go on a two hour walk around the country roads, up and down hills everyday. I also went to the gym everyday, even if it was just for half an hour and I was a size ten, the healthiest and thinnest I have ever been in my life.

These days I'm not too bothered about going for a walk, it's such a hassle trying to leave the house with the two boys and once we get two minutes down the road Tyler tells me that he's tired and no longer wants to walk. I need to start walking though and now that he's back at school it gives me the perfect opportunity. So that'll be my daily exercise.

Since July 30th I've been improving on the diet part too. I began having shakes in the morning, just for the convenience factor really, but they've really been helping me lose some weight, just as they did when I began my Herbalife journey two years ago.

I like having the shakes because it's easy. It doesn't seem like a chore, I don't have to make any meals from scratch with a whole plethora of healthy ingredients and it's super simple to just mix one up in between feeding Beau and giving Tyler his breakfast.

The first shakes I started on were Forza Diet Shake It Slim and they worked really well for me, helping me to lose 31cm in a month. You can read all about it here.

When I ran out of the Forza shakes I went to Boots to buy some more (they're available in Boots and Holland and Barrett) but saw that Yokebe was on offer for €14 per tub and I went for the strawberry flavour.

Yokebe has 28.3g of protein per serving - this is five scoops of the powder mixed with 250ml of water or skimmed milk, however I use unsweetened soya milk. I wanted a meal replacement powder with a high protein content to keep me full for the morning and this seemed like the perfect option.

My Yokebe shake does keep me full for the morning until it's time for lunch, however, the taste is disgusting. It does not taste like a strawberry shake, at all. It's got a powdery, thick taste that's hard to get through and it doesn't leave me wanting more. The Forza shakes really did taste like a milkshake and were something to actually enjoy in the morning, this is not.

But it's not all about the taste though, what about the results? I've been having the Yokebe shakes for two weeks now and am almost finished the second tub (I bought two at the same time as they were on offer) and after the first week I lost 16cm off my body. Really great results and one that surprised me.

The weighing scales are buried at the back of the junk cupboard downstairs and getting them out seems impossible so I haven't been able to weigh myself so I just take my measurements and that suits me fine, I don't want to become obsessed with standing on the scales.

I just took my measurements this morning and have had a loss again of 9cm, which surprised me really as Jacek brought cake home from work and we went for scones when we were shopping too. It's hasn't been a week where I've been strict with myself but that fact that I've still had a loss makes me think that Yokebe shakes really do work for people who are looking for a high protein meal replacement.

Would I try it again though? Probably not, the taste is just too disgusting for me and I've already purchased another brand of shake, MaxiNutrition Sculptress, to start on tomorrow and I'll be posting my result with that too next Sunday. It did give great results, 25cm lost of my body in two weeks and it does keep me full but the taste really is it's downfall.

So have I noticed any changes? My clothes are a lot more loose fitting now. I can see that my arms and legs are slimmer and I've been drinking a lot more water throughout the day too as it's a requirement with the shakes, so it's all been quite positive really.

Since I started taking my measurements my results are as follows -
22/08 - -22cm
27/08 - -8cm  
04/09 - -16cm
11/09 - -9cms
Total so far = -55cm

Wish me luck as I continue on my journey to becoming a better me - both in body and mind.

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Wednesday, September 07, 2016

Swiss Cottage, Co. Tipperary | Guide Of Ireland ♥

At the end of August my little family and I went on a road trip to Co. Tipperary to visit Cahir Castle and Swiss Cottage. Cahir Castle is actually the first place Jacek and I ever visited together, so it was lovely to return with our two little boys in tow and I'll share some pictures and words about our visit there in a separate post.

Swiss Cottage was closed when Jacek and I first visited, so he was adamant about showing it to me this time - knowing that I'm a lover of nature and have always wanted to live in a cottage. Ever since I was a child I've wanted to live in a beautiful little countryside cottage with a garden of wildflowers, maybe one day my dream will come true.

We had quite a long walk to Swiss Cottage from Cahir Castle, 2k to be exact and typically it was raining. We walked through woodland alongside to the river to reach the cottage and it was quite scenic really, a lovely walk if you're up for it, although you can also drive to the cottage if needs be. Tyler Lee did get a bit tired along the way and had to sit on his daddy's shoulders for awhile. It was definitely an autumnal looking walk too with brown and golden leafed trees leading the way for us.

Once we reached the cottage the sun had peeped out from behind the clouds, even if it was only for a short time. Swiss Cottage is absolutely beautiful, surrounded by woodland, a river close by and a veranda of flowers all around the outside. It really is so picturesque and it was lovely to sit on the benches on the veranda while we waited for the tour to begin.

While we waited for the tour to begin (you can't explore the inside of the cottage on your own or take places due to the preservation of the original features) I took lots of pictures of the beautiful flowers growing on and around the veranda - I can never resist photographing flowers, they're my second favourite thing to capture on camera, after my adorable little boys of course.

We all went inside for tour and Tyler Lee was actually fine for the two downstairs rooms, but then he started acting up a bit so I asked Jacek to take him outside seeing as he's done the tour. Beau and I continued upstairs with everyone else and surprisingly to me, I was actually quite interested in the tour. Usually I prefer exploring places by myself but it was good to learn the history of the cottage and about some of it's beautiful features too.

As I mentioned, you're not able to take pictures inside the cottage but it really is quite charming - all the different windows were my favourite features, and there's lots of nods to nature within the decor and that really appealed to me, being a nature lover and all.

Swiss Cottage is probably the best example of a cottage ornate in Europe and if I could have lived there I would. The place was even abandoned during the 1980's and was left fall into destitute so to see it looking lovely again today is quite special, especially as it was built in the early 1800's.

This was the boys first proper day out together ever, so it was quite a special one for us and I did my best to capture a photo of them together on the veranda of Swiss Cottage, even though Tyler Lee is going through a 'no I won't let you take a picture of me' phase.

Swiss Cottage isn't the most family friendly place we've ever visited but we managed, it is a very old building after all. You have to enter the cottage through a narrow corridor which you can only get up to via steps, so if you do bring a buggy be prepared to carry it up. We left our buggy in the reception area and just carried Beau around. There was another lady there with a baby in a sling and that's probably the best option to go for if you have a baby in tow.

You can read more about Swiss Cottage and find opening times, etc. on the Heritage Ireland website. Entry is €4 for an adult, €2 for a child and €10 for a family - our two boys were free. Swiss Cottage really is a place to visit if you're a history and nature lover like myself, even if it's just for a sit down on the beautiful veranda.

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