Yankee candle haul

I arrived home from work today and to my surprise Hubby's car was already on the drive! Before I got to our front door he was stood in the doorway and said 'come on you! we are going to check out the Yankee candle sale'

I had noticed on Facebook that our local garden centre were having a Yankee candle party. I didn't mention it to hubs because im not one for spending money on myself. He knows I love Yankee Candles and usually gets me one for my birthday or xmas etc but to my surprise he had seen it on facebook too and decided to treat me!

The had a deal on where if you spent £30 you get a free goodie bag and a 15% discount on what you buy.

My favourite Yankee candles are Back cherry, clean cotton, wedding day and black cherry blossom. Ive noticed that the scents that i usually go for are clean/fresh scents and berry scents so I'm trying to try out something some seasonal and foodie smells. The gingerbread, Cinnamon and spice ones are not for me but I loved the smell of the berry trifle, There was also another one that smelt like candy canes (it had a ginger bread house and candy cane on the front)

I got 3 large jars and they were....

Black plum blossom - one of my favs

snow in love - this is a nice seasonal one

fireside treats - YUM!  

The 3 of these Jars with the 15% discount came to £50 

I wasn't really bothered about the goody bag as I thought it may just be one or 2 tea lights and a wax tarts but when the lady handed me the bad and I felt the weight in the bag I started to get excited!

Here is what I got in my goody bag for free!!

1 x medium Jar - Lavender

1 x small jar - Black plum blossom (my fav)

1 x votive - Honey and spice

2 x wax tarts - french lavender & salted caramel

So its safe to say Im a very happy bunny with what we got and my house is going to smell yummy for a while!! I would love to know what your favourite scents are, pop them in the comments box!

speak soon 

K

you tube blind bag craze!

right so I know I cant be the only parent that has noticed this but whats the fascination with kids watching the egg / blind bag opening videos! Munchkins is obsessed and would spend all day every day watching them if I let him.

Lately ive noticed how BIG the world of toy reviews has become! Munchkin will watch a shopkin basket opening video while they open up to 40 shopkin baskets and reveal each shopkin.
I love the way he uses the word duplicate because hes heard it being said on these videos.
Hes now into Mashems! due to seeing these youtube videos.
Munchkin is really showing an interested in wanting to do his own unboxing, blind bag videos so we let him record himself and then watch it back on the camers/laptop.

Please tell me that I'm not the only one who's child is completely addicted to these types of videos!

Family Years plans! bucket list

The day after we got married I got to thinking and suggested to Hubby that we make a brain storm type of thing with things we would like to do, places we would like to go and things that we would like to do. Then next year we can check back to out list and see how many of the things we can tick off.

Its not neccessarily a 'to do' list but more of a wishlist. Anything that isnt ticked off simply gets put onto the following year or removed from the list totally depending on how we feel and our circumstances!

Here are some of the things that are on our year plans list (or year bucket list if you like)

•  Family holiday to Disney world
• Go on more Beach days out together
• Take munchkin swimmin more often
• Go back to our wedding venue for a meal or afternoon tea
• More picnics together
• Family photo shoot/canvas
• Take R onto a steam train in Breacon
• Buy a DSLR camera
• Go on a boat ride as a family
• Laugh more!
• Fly kites
• Spend more time with friends and their children on days out
• Look towards buying a house
• New Car
• More fun things as a family
• Go out in the pouring rain and giggle together as a family
• Andy promotion
• New Laptop
• Visit more places within Wales
• Organise the house more (more storage)
• Create a better blog and more content
• Go back to Butlins
• Collect conkers
• Do more messy play with Munchkin
• Create Mummy son time.
• Do date nights in, once every 2 weeks
• say 'I love you' at least once every day
• Take more photos
• Go to Bristol Zoo
• Go for long family Walks
• Do more home baking 
• Try for another Baby
• Make a family scrapbook

Go and create your list! its good to look back on!

speak soon 

K

Honeymoon booked!! eeekkkk!

Yey!!!! we have finally booked our Honeymoon!

We asked for money for a wedding gift from our guests. some people find this cheeky but we didnt want gifts that we wouldnt use and alot of our guests had already said to us they would rather give us money then search for endless hours for a gift that we may not even need.

We put a nice poem in our wedding invites that explained we were asking for money to go on honeymoon if they wish to give something but their presence was more important than anything to us.

After the we got married and opened our cards we were so overwhelmed with the generosity of our guests. We sat down and talked about where we would like to go on honeymoon. We decided to have munchkin before we got married so leaving him at home while we went on honeymoon was NOT an option. We are a family and knew that we wanted to honeymoon as a family.....and where would the perfect place to go as a family be?!.......

Yep! DISNEY WORLD!!!

So we finally booked it for next year as it would allow us to save the extra we needed

next year is my 30th, Andys 40th and munchkins 5th so we thought it would be the perfect celebration holiday!

We have booked a Disney hotel as we wanted all the extras like dining, transport etc

I am sooooo excited as ive only been once for 1 week a few years before I had munchkin. Andy had never been! He thought Butlins was exciting so I know hes gonna love Disney!

Munchkin always talks about Disneyworld and how he would love to go.....we have decided to keep it a secret from him until on the plane or at the airport.

So im welcoming any comments on good tips and tricks for what to do at disneyworld and also good places to eat.

Yummy chocolate flapjack recipe

Chocolate flapjacks

These are an absolute favourite in my house, My boys cant get enough of it!

You will need....

150g butter

75g light brown soft sugar

3 rounded tbsp of golden syrup

250g porridge oats (I use smart price)

300g milk chocolate (I buy mine from home bargins 89p)

Preheat the oven to 180C (160C fan)

Grease and line a tin with parchment paper

Put the brown sugar, butter and golden syrup into a pan and gently heat until melted

Add in your porridge oats and mix together.

Turn out the oats into your lined pan, level and press the mixture evenlyand firmly with the back of a spoon.

Bake for 20-25 mins or until golden around the edges. Remove from the oven and cool for 10-15 mins

While your cooked flapjack is cooling melt your chocolate. I use 300g as my boys like thicker chocolate than the ones you buy in the shop but you dont have to use that much if you dont want to.

Pour the melted chocolate over and allow it to set.

Before the chocolate has turned into complete solid (soft but not runny) cut your flapjack into cubes or slices and place back into the fridge to set completely.

Then serve and watch them magically disappear!!

Enjoy!!!

Update & working guilt

Blogging has had to take a back step for me over the past few months as I went back to work! Ive had so many mixed emotions about returning to work as I've not worked since having munchkin!

I knew I needed to get a job as Hubs had started a new job in a new line of work and started as an apprentice so it ment in the short run that he would be on a basic wage until they increase it a few months in.
Munchkin was going full time in school so now was the right time for me. I only work part time (22hr) and I find that it is the right balance for me because I cant take munchkin to school then go back home, do some cleaning, washing and prep dinner then go to work. I finish work just after his school finish time so he goes to an after school club until I pick him up.
I was so lucky to find a job which gives me the same school holidays off so i don't have to worry about finding childcare within school holidays.
For the first month I had loads of feelings of guilt about him being at school for so long and not being able to pick him up at the school gates each day with everyone else. As time went on I realised that he actually loved after school club and me working allows us to still have nice holidays etc.

Ive been working now a few months and I'm loving it! 
I don't have many family members who live close to me so to be like 'Mum, can you collect from school today' is not an option for me.
Going back to work is bringing a little bit of confidence back for me and I'm enjoying the social interaction.
I have so so so much coming up on the blog within the next few weeks so keep your eyes peeled!!
speak soon!
       K