Review: Snow Park at Chill Factore

In May of this year the popular Snow Park at Chill Factore where children and adults alike can dive down on a toboggan or slide in rings down an icy slope, had a re-launch and we were invited along to give it a try. We visited over the summer holidays, which was definitely a novelty going from heat into the snow, but it was actually a great activity for an August rainy day.

Review: Inflata Nation Manchester's Inflatable Theme Park

A few weeks ago we were invited to visit Inflata Nation, the inflatable theme park based in Manchester. We have meant to visit the site a few times as it sounds brilliant and something my two would really love, but have never got around to it. The school holidays was the perfect time to give it a try so myself, the kids and some friends went along to see if it was as good as I'd heard.

Review & Giveaway: Sealife Manchester with Play-Doh

We have visited our local aquarium, Sealife Manchester based in the Trafford Centre, many times in the years since it has opened. It is a regular on our list of activities to keep the children entertained at some point during the holiday period. For February half term we were invited along to try out the new Jawsome Sharks experience with Play-Doh so along with some friends we spent a couple of hours enjoying the underwater life and taking part in the activities on offer.

Review: Treetop Trek & Nets In Manchester

Getting out and about with the kids at this time of year is not the easiest thing - the weather is unreliable, it's muddy and cold and finding things outdoors to do that won't result in complaining after a few minutes can be a challenge. When we were invited to try Treetop Trek & Nets in Manchester, I thought it would definitely be something different to do and I was intrigued to see what the kids would make of it.

Family Days Out in Lancashire: Liverpool

Growing up in Yorkshire I had only ever visited the west coast of England once as a child. That is until I decided to go to university thirty minutes outside of Liverpool and suddenly a whole new area was opened up to me. There are so many places to visit on this side of the country - Blackpool, Southport, Lytham and not to mention easy access to Wales. Of course on top of all these is 2008's capital of Culture and somewhere very dear to my heart, Liverpool.

Family Days Out In Lancashire: Worsley Village

Today's post features a place very local to us - Worsley Village. Despite driving through Worsley many times, I'd never actually stopped and visited, nor did I realise what there is to do there. It's a great place to spend half a day and finish off with a lunchtime treat and definitely somewhere to visit for the day as a family.

Family Days Out in Lancashire: Fairy Glen

Now the weather is picking up a little bit, Mr H and I have decided to try and get out for a family day  at least once over the weekend. This isn't always easy for me when I'm trying to manage having Chronic Fatigue, but if I'm having a bad time we will still try and go out even if it's only to the cinemas. I've been searching and saving ideas for a few weeks now of local places we can try - not being from the area originally myself I don't have my childhood to look back on and Mr H is no help at all! Thanks to various Facebook groups and local friends, I've got quite a collection saved up, so this weekend we decided to try one that looked relatively close to home and make the most of the appearance of the sun.

Ninjago Fun at Legoland Manchester

A couple of weeks ago we were invited to preview the Ninjago event taking place at Legoland Discovery Centre in Manchester. Ever since we first saw an episode of Ninjago at the Manchester site, Jack has loved it and so we were looking forward to a nice morning out where the kids would be entertained for us!

Getting Kids Into Golf?

Something a lot of people don't know about me is as a young person I was quit a keen golfer. My dad had always played and signed myself and my sister up for lessons and I just really enjoyed it. I used to go to the driving range every weekend and often played on the course, although didn't have the strength to hit it far enough most of the time! As an adult I've played once or twice, although without practice I've lost a lot of the skill so end up frustrated. However my dad still enjoys the sport as does Mr H, when he gets the chance.

We were invited to an event in Leeds with Online Golf and I thought it would be interesting to take the children along and have a go themselves. They've had one of those plastic sets of clubs, which inevitably ends up with the balls been whacked over the fence and the clubs turned on each other, but that's as far as their experience of the game has gone.

The event was at the Hilton in Leeds and there were three areas set up for the children to have a go - crazy golf, pitching and knocking down some skittles. The children were split into teams and there was a little competition to which team could score the most points.

My two weren't really interested in the competition, they just wanted to have a go at it all. In particular they seemed to enjoy the crazy golf and it was fun to watch them holding real golf clubs and getting a feel for how 'proper' golfers do it. The people from Online Golf were great at helping the kids, showing them the right way to hold the club and how to swing. Of course, mummy couldn't help but interfere along the way, ever the competitor!

The children had great fun and getting them to play golf at such a young age isn't really something I'd considered before, but realised that it is an option. Being non-contact it's a lot safer than other sports, plus it gets them outside in the fresh air and playing with friends as a group.  A big thanks to Online Golf for a great day out and giving us the chance to try something new!

Building Friendships No Matter The Miles

Crystal clear waters. Golden sands. Meeting new friends you know will become a part of your life for many years to come. Last year we were lucky enough to visit San Lucianu, a Mark Warner resort in beautiful Corsica. Not only did we have an amazing time taking in everything Mark Warner has to offer, we also met some really special people. One such family are The Doves - Charly, who blogs at PODcast, her hubby and beautiful POD. We all first bumped into each on the bus from the airport when Charly's hubby very kindly gave up his seat so I could sit with the children, and then Charly and I bonded over our over-tired kids who eventually fell asleep in our laps whilst we got to know each other.

Finding The Bluebells

For a few years now I've looked at other people's photo with envy, as they visited their local bluebell woods and posed in front of the beautiful blue carpets. I have vowed each year I would find some near us and take my ow photos, but I never have. That is until this year. I heard that Speke Hall had a stunning display, as well as lots of other things to do for the children, so on bank holiday Monday we decided to take a trip. We timed it really well as the sun was out and there was a Tudor event going on with stalls and games for the kids to play, we had a lovely day.

A Visit To Tatton Park in Cheshire

Over Easter we took a little trip to the National Trust House, Tatton Park. Set in 1000 acres of beautiful Cheshire countryside, it is about half an hour from our house but not somewhere we have visited that much. It is always packed, especially in the huge play area out the front of the house, but the vast gardens are renowned for their huge array of plants and hold so much space for the children to run around until they collapse exhausted.

Getting Outside With Your Kids

Recently we have been introduced to the fantastic adventure that is geocaching. Whilst many of you may have known about this for years, for us it is a new discovery and one we are absolutely loving.

Making The Most Of Half Term

Whilst the arrival of half term sees many an excited child, for most of us parents it becomes a balancing act of entertaining hyperactive children whilst not completely wearing out ourselves and our purse strings. So I was delighted when Mr H decided to take an extra day off and join us for the first day of the holidays, and both children adore spending any extra time with him that they can. We decided to take a trip to the coast and visit the seaside town of Blackpool, and we were fortunate that the weather took a turn for the best and we were graced with beautiful blue skies.

Preview of #HogwartsInTheSnow at the Harry Potter Studio Tour

I am so excited to write this post and I'm not going to beat about the bush - this place was fantastic! Probably one of the best trips of it's type I've been on in quite some time and well worth the three hour journey to get down there. It is of course the Harry Potter Studio Tour at Warner Brothers Studios in London.

When I first heard about this place at Britmums Live three years ago I really wanted to go - it sounded so great and whilst I wouldn't describe myself as a 'huge' Harry Potter fan, I've read all the books (first, of course) and seen all the films more than once. The story is such a classic, timeless tale and there is such magic about it all (no pun intended). Needless to say, when I visited for my first time last week I wasn't disappointed.

Travel In Our City: Blackpool

Last week I posted about visiting our local city of Manchester and getting to know more about the history and culture of the area. This week we have spent some time in the seaside resort of Blackpool so today I want to share our day in the UK's favourite seaside resort, which is only fifty miles from me.

Learning How To Be An Allergenic with Hotpoint & AO.Com

Last week we ventured across the border to my home county of Yorkshire. We were invited by ao.com to attend an event held on behalf of National Allergy Week in Halifax.

Things To Do This Easter In The North West

For most of us the school holidays loom up ahead as a never-ending period when the children who are normally entertained and tired out at school are now sat at home under our noses, causing chaos and complaining that they are bored. Whilst my children are still in nursery and so won't be at home an different to normal, I am still keen to take advantage of what is on in the area over the Easter break and enjoy some time together out of the house.

Enjoying A Film at Legoland

Last weekend we were invited to attend the North-West premiere screening of the new Lego Ninjago series, Masters of Spinjitzu, at Legoland Discovery Centre in Manchester. With Miss H and Little J being aged under four, we haven't really branched into Lego much in our house, but we were excited to attend and see what it was all about.

The First Taste Of Christmas

Last week mum and I were invited to return to The Ideal Home Show at Evencity in Manchester, only this time it was the Christmas show. We had a great time at the event in the summer and both being Christmas fans we couldn't wait for this show!