activities

Oh my little blog how I have missed you……

- TracyB 2 Comments

I took a break, not a pre planned determined break but an impromptu, had no time or inclination to write sort of break all over the festive holidays. I was about on Twitter and Instagram and very occasionally on Facebook, but my little spot on the world wide web I completely stayed away from.

There was just so much going on to be honest and I applaud all of you who managed to cope with and enjoy the festivities and find the time to show your blog’s a little love! Anyway I did keep up with all your goings on via the other more instant platforms and loved seeing how you all enjoy the festive season with all your own little traditions and quirks.

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Virgin Active- ‘Active Crew’ review

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We were invited to be one of the first to try a new exercise class soon to be launched in Jan 2015 aimed at 8-16 year olds in particular called ‘Active crew’. My 14 year old son decided he would give it a go to see what it was like.

We headed over to The Virgin Active Club in Acton were the launch was taking place and were lucky enough to grab a chat with the founder of ZUU Chimps, Nathan Helberg who was extremely lovely, chatty and enthusiastic about the exercises the kids were about to try. He explained how it was fun so kids didn’t realise that they were exercising and empowers them at the same time.

The class itself was broken down into several stages ranging from ‘animalistic’ style movements to  coordination and agility style exercises that included the use of Sandbells and Fitlights with rest periods in between and a lot of high fiving along the way. Another element of the Active Crew is SAQ (Speed, Agility and Quickness) training, a programme that has actually been used by a variety of sports starts from Andy Murrey to the Manchester United Football Team.

At first my youngest thought the exercises were a bit weird considering they were called ‘gorilla’ and ‘bear’ and ‘iguana’ amongst others! But as the time went on and the high fiving continued he felt more relaxed within the group which is essentially one of the key characteristics of the class anyway.

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Gift Ideas for Older Teenage Boys

- TracyB 2 Comments

xmas gift pic for blog

When your children are young it’s easy to get ideas for Christmas, lets face it their lists normally have absolutely everything except the kitchen sink on them. Every time they see an advert for something they want it.

However, when they get older it gets a little more difficult. My boys are now 16 an 14, they have all their gadgets either bought as gifts or saved for and bought by themselves. That makes finding something to get them for Christmas that not only do they want or need but that doesn’t cost an absolute arm and a leg. I have definitely found that as they have grown up their pressies have got smaller and smaller in size yet the value has increased tenfold!

My youngest is in need of a new portable TV for his room ( something they have both been allowed from the age of 13 as we live in a small house and I do not want xbox and 2 smelly teens constantly fighting over who’s turn it is in my front room!  so shoot me now for being a bad mother, but that’s how it is here.) So I have a main present for him and that can be easily filled out with DVD’s, CD’s, a boardgame or two, some clothes and treats.

My eldest though is much more difficult as h has his game station, tv, Ipod and docking station, phone and all the usual trappings. When I have talked to him about some ideas he has just asked for a few DVD’s and that’s it!! NOT Helpful, and I do not agree with giving my children money on these occasions as I tend to ask family to give them money so they can save for the bigger items when they want them. So I have had really had to dig deep for ideas and trawl the internet and shops looking. I was looking mainly for what would be a ‘main’ pressie for him.

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Have PR’s forgotten about teenagers?

- TracyB 8 Comments

I have definitely been thinking about this for a while now with regards to the blogging world.

It almost seems like companies and their PR’s are only interested in children under a certain age. Once they hit major the major teenage years it looks as though there are no need for reviews from any sort of company!

Yet I think this is an important part of the market. People are always talking online about their teens, how to engage them in activities with the family, how to occupy them over the school hols etc.

Gone are the days of walks in the woods, trips to the park and indoor craft days! Teenagers like technology, films, music, apps, online games, games for consoles all of which do not stop being interesting at the age of 12. So how do these products get reviewed, say games or films aimed at a 15 and above age group. Also, do companies then think that all teens do not want a day out with their family? Of course they do but they want a day out that is aimed at their age group, Theme parks, theatre shows, beauty and hair products, clothing, books,  films , tourist attractions or even restaurants such as TGIF’s etc that are aimed at the teenage and above market.

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Activities for Teenagers over the Half Term

- TracyB 4 Comments

 

Now when I say teens I don’t mean a 13 yr old with younger siblings, those teens are normally more than happy to engage in the family activities that their brothers or sisters like- a day at the park, walking in the woods, cooking/baking at home and Halloween crafts , bike rides and meeting up with friends while mums can grab a coffee and a natter and a bit of moral support!

But my eldest is 16 and has a younger 14yr old brother who is mature for his age and so thinks he is 16 himself. There are no younger siblings to occupy so we have moved on from planning every day to within an inch of it’s life and gone for a few planned things throughout the week with free time for the rest so they can either lounge in bed watching DVD’s or playing Xbox ( shoot me now for being a bad mother).

So as the net is saturated with activities for younger kids here is a few ideas that your older teens may enjoy (and you may earn some brownie points for).

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Our week in Yorkshire

- TracyB 4 Comments

Again this year a beautiful hot sunny holiday abroad eluded us, in fact if it wasn’t for my mum even our yearly UK camping trip wouldn’t have taken place this year! Finances have been dire for one reason or another these last few months however, with a very handy loan from my mum our camping trip was back on.

This year we decided to go further afield than our usual south coast visits and Yorkshire seemed to be calling us. We found a great campsite near Pickering on an actual working farm which we absolutely adored. The farmer and his lovely wife could not have been more friendly or helpful throughout our week and the view from our tent was to die for.

Told you it was fab!
Told you it was fab

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Would you rescue a pet?

- TracyB 2 Comments

The answer for us is YES. We did in fact get a rescue kitten in January and she is a complete sweetheart, friendly, loves cuddling and continually sits on my lap or lays on me in bed!

I defy you not to fall in love with her!
I defy you not to fall in love with her!

Last week I had the opportunity to visit Battersea dog and Cats Home for a chat and a tour of their cattery. My OH was supposed to come with me but had to work last minute instead but he left me with a parting message………… DO NOT BRING ANYTHING HOME!! He knows me far too well.

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So the event started off with a chat from a few peeps from Bob Martin who are now in partnership with  Battersea Dog and Cats home and provide their cattery with all their cat litter……….. tons of it as you can imagine.

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Popping my Britmums Live cherry

- TracyB 3 Comments

Popping my Britmums Live cherry- 2014

First of all this post is really, really late but I will explain that in another post!

Anyway, on to me popping my Britmums Live cherry.

After listening to all the talk on Twitter last year, looking at all the fab pictures and generally feeling like I had missed out. I decided that 2014 was definitely the year I was going to go to the Britmums Live event in London.

An amazing venue
An amazing venue

The venue was fabulous even on the outside.

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My Britmums Live sponsor

- TracyB 4 Comments

My Britmums Live sponsor

This post should have been done well before now and for that I apologise!

Britmums Live

Anyway, last year I was at home too scared to get a Britmums Live ticket and kept up with all the goings on via Twitter and really felt like I had missed out. I was determined to go this year. Although as the day approaches I am getting very nervous and hoping I wont be the ‘Billy No Mates’ there.

However, I was lucky enough to be offered a Britmums Live Sponsor from a really lovely guy and his company who I had the pleasure of reviewing the products.

Ade is a great fella to deal with. He’s very chatty and down to earth, and lets face it when you are talking about the things that are concerned in a Will then you don’t want to be dealing with some stuffy suit in an office. I was lucky enough to be close enough for him to come an visit personally while sorting my will however, even over the phone he is very friendly and comfortable to talk to.

Those of you that subscribe to my blog will have received an email before Christmas about his company’s Will service with a special offer thrown in for good measure. Those of you who haven’t sorted a will can easily get in contact with him by visiting his website Maximum Inheritance Specialists.

So thanks to Ade I will definitely be attending Britmums Live this year. In less than a week (nerves are kicking in) and I am really looking forward to actually meeting those of you I chat with online with.

 

How to de-stress family car journeys

- TracyB 4 Comments

As most of you will know by now I have to teenage boys. Just because they are teens does not make car journeys any less stressful than with a journey with toddlers. I remember when they were little they always took books, colouring stuff, small toys. Then as they got older it was Gameboys, audio books and DVD’s and now that they are teens they automatically lift their headphones for their phones or Ipods etc.

One thing that is easier to deal with is the fact they have a concept of time so they know on a long journey not to ask ‘Are we there yet?’ They also know and understand they have to wait until the next service station to go for a pee rather than having to stop on the hard shoulder to pee in the bushes!! We also do our game of Yellow Car on long motorway journeys although I do tend to become a bit competitive with this one.But they have learned from an early age to bring stuff to amuse themselves.

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