Quick note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links; if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
It is clear our little one is musical. She loves singing and dancing and often falls asleep when we have loud music playing. Therefore, we need to eventually take her to a music festival. She would absolutely love it. Are you also looking for Friendly Festivals?
It got me thinking about what is on offer. Here is my rundown of family-friendly and affordable festivals for you to attend as a family.
Either look to attend this year or keep them in mind for next year!
PLEASE NOTE – I have no affiliation with any of these organisers. The list is from my own research about places we would visit as a family
This is based in York on 12th & 13th August and looks to have everything you could want as a family. There is even camping available to get the full festival experience. Check out ticket prices here
This looks like a great range of activities, including comedy and literary activities. However, you can only book weekend tickets and it is quite pricey. Check out ticket options here.
OK, where do I start? The Great British Seaside Holiday. Going on a UK Staycation. I am aware some of my readers may not know what it is. Do not fear, I will explain below. As kids, we visited many places in Britain. Mainly because of lack of money and well, traveling abroad with two kids ain’t fun.
I’m calling it the “British” holiday because that’s mainly where we visited as kids. Since being an adult, we have visited Wales quite a lot and I will talk all about this in future blog posts.
I wanted to discuss this subject because my younger sibling has grown up not valuing this type of holiday as much as I do. My reaction is totally different. These holidays make me really excited and I absolutely love everything about it. Based on our family experience, I suspect other people out there either love or hate it.
If after reading this article, you feel inspired to book your next UK Staycation, I have included all the links you need…
Quick note: Mummy Conquering Anxiety is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and thinkwould be useful for you.
History of the Great British Seaside Staycation
Butlins is a household name in the UK. My Grandma had the same pictures of my Mum on the beach as us when we were little. The only way you could tell the difference was one set of pictures was black and white, and one was in colour.
I’ve also stayed in a few Pontins holiday parks, for party weekends. Back when I was young and full of energy.
The fascination with this type of holiday began in the 1950s and this article explains the history in more detail.
We have a Haven holiday coming up and also regularly visit Parkdean. With our little one becoming more aware of the world around her, these types of holidays will soon become the norm. I pack up the car with everything we need and the drive is generally about two hours away. Perfect when you have a toddler!
What attracts me to these holiday parks, over a different type of holiday?
1. Bingo
Who doesn’t love bingo?
Quite often these parks will offer linked bingo, where you can win a large prize, and it’s fun, sitting in the entertainment room with the kids zooming around.
It reminds me of a bit more upmarket Working Men’s Club. When we were young teens, everyone had their parties here and it was right across the street from us. It is now a housing estate. This Guardian article explains how some have remained and adapted to the current times.
2. The entertainment
I must say the quality of entertainment has improved over the years and I am very impressed with the activities we have been able to pre-book for our upcoming Haven holiday.
The joy of getting ready to go out and knowing there will be something to entertain the kids. Family fun for everyone involved and I just love it.
3. Cheap drinks & lovely food
Parking the car up, throwing the bags on the bed, walking to the pub. Can’t wait. We already have a table booking just after our check-in time, haha!
It’s great for us because we know the setting will be child-friendly and we don’t have to worry about disturbing other people who are also trying to have a nice meal. Our little one can make friends, play in the arcades, we can eat and drink, safe in the knowledge she is entertained and looked after.
This is a huge bonus for families with young children!
Pre-children, we also visited as a couple and absolutely loved it. We rented a caravan for a weekend and enjoyed the bar, minus the kid’s entertainment (there is usually a separate entertainment room and the bar is a bit quieter). I did insist on playing bingo though and hubby wasn’t that impressed.
These days we book the top brand of caravan, this allows us to have more bedrooms, bathrooms and overall comfort. As we stay with the in-laws it gives everyone a bit of personal space. Having decking is also a must. Our little one can play outside, but she’s safe in an enclosed space, and it’s also nice to sit there in the morning with a coffee, or a drink at night.
4. Play area for kids
Now I have a child, it’s also beneficial to have a play area and this is usually right outside the bar, making it convenient for everyone to have a good time.
Whilst I love our local park, the play area tends to be far away from the cafe, which I totally get. However, when you’re on holiday it’s a different vibe. It’s accepted there will be children around and everyone has fun together.
It reminds me of the vibe I get in Spain, where families go out more and do things together. Children are welcome everywhere. I am not saying in the UK they aren’t, there is just still this stigma of child-friendly and non-child-friendly places to eat and drink. I totally understand. If we had a date night, I wouldn’t want a screaming child next to me.
Maybe we are all just a bit more relaxed when we’re on holiday, and it’s a great thing.
If you don’t have a holiday planned, you can check out my blog post, which includes 20 ideas for fun activities adults and children can do together…
I’ve made use of the list this year, as this is the first holiday we’ve been on over the summer.
As we usually have a week of school activities to keep the little one entertained, she will need something similar when we go on holiday.
In the past, I’ve booked a bug hunt, nature trail, and slime-making class. This is quality family time spent together and uses up some of her energy.
6. The accommodation
When planning a Great British seaside holiday, there is something that always attracts me to stay in a caravan.
Staying in a caravan isn’t the most luxurious accommodation I’ve ever stayed in, but it’s nostalgic and fun. There is just something about it I love.
These days we book the top brand of caravan. This allows us to have more bedrooms, bathrooms, and overall comfort. As we stay with the in-laws it gives everyone a bit of personal space. Having decking is also a must. Our little one can play outside, but she’s safe in an enclosed space, and it’s also nice to sit there in the morning with a coffee, or a drink at night.
I can picture myself now! Having a sneaky look on Twitter and a lovely coffee, hopefully, before anyone else gets up, breathing in the sea air. I need it after the year I’ve had.
Check out my other blog posts in the holiday section:
We also want a dog to join our family, eventually. When the time is right. This year we have family members joining us with a new puppy and we were struggling to find accommodation to house us all, along with the dog. This caravan site is the perfect solution.
It’s great that some of the parks we visit are dog-friendly. Another bonus of staying in the UK for a holiday is for those who don’t want to leave pets behind.
8. Amusement arcade
When the hubby & I got together, one of our shared passions was travelling to the seaside and spending hours on the 2p machines. We did this even before having a child. It’s something we both did as kids, we’ve grown up loving caravan holidays, and we want our little one to experience the same joy.
But he draws the line at loving the bingo and entertainment as much as I do. That’s why I bring my mum along. Eyes down…
9. Near the seaside
These caravan parks are perfect to use as a base camp to explore other nearby areas.
During our stay, we usually split our time between park activities and going out for the day to the nearest seaside.
Other holiday parks, booking sites & hotels I want to mention
As I am usually the event planner in the family, I’ve spent many hours researching holidays and know quite a bit about when prices spike and what facilities are available in which parks.
The Great British seaside holiday, happens to be my area of expertise, simply because it’s where we visit the most as a family. When you go abroad, the work is taken care of for you, but these types of holidays need someone organised at the helm.
I frequently use Hoseasons, as their website has a large range of bookings at other caravan parks. You can also filter by holiday type, whether it be adult-only with hot tub, child-friendly, activity parks, cottages, or large houses. They also have a range of special collections you can search by. If you sign up for their email list, you also get sent regular offers.
I’m also a huge fan of Booking.com. The biggest selling point of Booking.com is free cancellation. With what’s going on in the world recently, this is a huge benefit. It gives you peace of mind if for any reason you’re unable to travel.
We have a Village hotel near us and it’s where we go if we want some child-free time to relax. What I love about their hotels is the layout. Everything you need is onsite. You just park the car up and get ready to relax and indulge.
They have a Starbucks, a pub, a restaurant, and leisure facilities including a swimming pool, gym, and classes. A spa. Room service, rooms you can upgrade to with a coffee machine and sky package.
What more could you possibly want?
The pandemic & its impact on UK holidays
The pandemic caused a whole different take on the British holiday. All of a sudden, people couldn’t travel outside the UK and therefore had no choice but to book a holiday in this country.
This article provides some practical guidance on how to ensure you are covered when booking a holiday.
Due to the high demand for UK holidays, we struggled to find suitable accommodation for this break, at a reasonable price. We had to compromise on the location and duration of the stay, but I am looking forward to a break and that’s what matters.
Hopefully next year we can get back to our usual routine, of going abroad, with some holiday parks scattered throughout the year, so I can get my bingo fix!
Before I pack up my car & get going…
Do you have any holidays coming up? Tell me about them below or add me on social media – for updates on mine.
I can’t wait to hear from you.
Feel like booking a stay at Village Hotels?? Click below…
We visited Billy Bobs Parlour Skipton – on a day outside of the school holidays and it was nice to finally see the car park half empty. We’ve tried to visit in the school holidays before and we couldn’t even get in the car park.
Post updated 13 July 2023
The place is so popular, and you can see why. You can check out their website here. And book a table here. Since the day we were disappointed and couldn’t get a table, we always book a few weeks in advance, if we can.
Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and thinkwould be useful for you.
My review of Billy Bobs Parlour
PLEASE NOTE – this review is based on my own experience after visiting for a day out.
Walking in
From the moment you arrive, the place screams fun. Our little one couldn’t wait to jump out of the car and start zooming around. You just feel relaxed, ready for fun. Ready to indulge in yummy food, drinks, ice-creams.
Inside – takeout and ice creams
We went inside for some take-out coffee. It was nice to stand waiting with the music on in a very cool environment. I took this opportunity to take some pictures whilst it was quiet. I started writing this blog post in my phone notes whilst waiting for the coffee, hehe! The whole atmosphere made me feel like I was still on holiday at the Haven caravan park.
Our little one loved the slide and because there are hay bales everywhere, we could let her climb up by herself, without fear of her falling. There are plenty of benches to sit in the sun and around the sides for larger groups who all want to sit together.
There are also benches inside the barn, so you can sit and watch the little ones as they play. Perfect for tired mummies & daddies like us!
The climbing frames are all cool buses, and fire engines, and made of sturdy stuff. Grandad is talking about having one made for the garden, haha!
Dining at Billy Bobs Parlour
Inside we booked the family area and the table is equipped with drawing pencils & paper. Perfect for the little ones. There is a separate adults-only dining area, which I think is great. The hubby and I booked this pre-children.
Our bambino noticed some other boys & girls with the Cadillac car housing their sandwiches. This led to a slight meltdown, but some colouring seemed to help things. She is now at the stage where she knows they cook food in the kitchen and being the impatient child she is, constantly points to the kitchen waiting for the food to cook. These data and distractions are very welcome when we eat out.
The food arrived and it was so yummy. Sorry, no pics as we were too hungry and focused on the cardboard car. I promise I will take them next time!
I can tell you the buttermilk chicken burger was melted in the mouth. Perfect, even down to the toasting of the bun. Our little one also loved her cheese sandwiches. Crusts cut off, thanks to Billy Bobs. She was given cucumber, carrot sticks, and a pot of jelly. Everything she could want. It was one of the best children’s lunches I’ve seen. We also bought a Kool-Aid for her. I’ve never had it before but it’s like drinking sweet, yummy sherbert.
Playing outside after food
Outside we went straight into the other play park, which is situated outside the main doors and she was off with Daddy, whilst we sat in the rocking chairs looking at the beautiful view.
The play area is set out well. Lots of sturdy climbing frames, and seats around the edges for parents and prams, so you can see your little one from where you sit, which is a bonus. Even though she’s a toddler, she was able to play on all the equipment and we usually have to tell her no to things in a public play park.
Facilities
It’s important for parents to be aware of the facilities available before visiting. There is a nappy-changing cubicle in the ladies toilets, but there was no nappy bin, which would have been useful. I didn’t personally go into the disabled toilets, but I am assuming they also had a baby change, and possibly there was a nappy bin in there that I didn’t see.
The toilets are located outside the main doors, which means you can use the facilities even if you’re only visiting for ice cream, or playing.
How to get there
The all-important opening hours and map can be located here.
Rules
You can visit this page for more information. During term time, when it’s quieter because the kids are at school, you can pay £3.00 to play for an hour. Perfect if you want to just let the little ones play, or only want a take-out coffee. Now I know they offer this option, I would be inclined to visit Billy Bobs Parlour again whilst out and about doing other things. It goes without saying, we will also be back at some point for food.
AD – own products. If you haven’t already heard, we launched our family T-Shirt business today! roaringpumpkintees is born. We’ve worked hard over the last six months – drawing, editing images and creating the look and feel of the website.
I’m so proud of my achievements with the launch of this blog, then the second and third blogs. In addition to a new family endeavour, which allows us to get our little one involved in the whole process. She even helps me click buttons to create designs for my blogs. And it’s teaching her great lessons, about working hard, managing money and following your dreams.
I wanted to go into a bit more detail on why I chose this name for the first business I set up
My toddler is full of sass, definitely has a fierce spirit and is exactly like her mummy in this respect. We are both stubborn and when we put our minds to something, we will not be stopped. Under any circumstances! I am proud of my toddler and I want to always nurture her roaring pumpkin spirit. Even if she can be frustrating at times (as I’m sure all toddlers are). I’ve spent my life being misunderstood by many people around me. But I am now at a point where I value the people who make time to understand me. We are all unique and it should be celebrated.
Following a difficult pregnancy, mental health problems throughout early pregnancy. A traumatic birth, returning to a high-pressure job just as covid hit, and then work pressure whilst working from home. This perfect storm would be enough to push anyone to breaking point. For me, it inevitably resulted in a mental breakdown. And it would be a full 18 months before I felt anything like myself again. During this time, I felt compelled to set up my first mental health blog. And subsequently set up another twoblogs. I completely changed careers, twice, and worked on my self-development through a hypnotherapy course – with a great therapist.
Here are some reasons you should start your own, online business
Low Start Up Costs
The only cost to you is setting up a website. The actual printing is facilitated by another company, meaning the risk to you is minimal.
Everyone loves T-Shirts
Who doesn’t love a quirky design on a T-Shirt? I’ve always loved them and as a family, we own loads of them. Why not put your own creative ideas out there, for other people to buy?
Add another income stream to your life
It’s no secret that I would love to run my blogs full-time. However, anyone in the blogging industry understands these things take time. And in the meantime, I have bills to pay. It’s also wonderful that I’ve finally found a day job I love so much!
Adding another income stream to your existing side hustles can allow you more financial freedom, to make decisions about your future. Or address anything you need to pay off before you start meeting your future financial goals.
The ability to work from home
The world has changed dramatically since 2019. Working from home is now the norm for a lot of people. Setting up any online business will allow you to work from home, on your own terms.
You get to do something you’re passionate about
We are all creatives in our house. It’s something I want to nurture in my toddler. Staring your own online T-Shirt business can allow you to show off your creative side. And basque in the excitement of coming up with new designs. Sharing your passion with everyone else.
If you’re ready to start your own T-Shirt business, sign up to Teemill with my referral link
Some of our designs – click on the image to purchase…
Final Thoughts
I’m so happy we now have a family-run business. With designs, we have created together and that means something to us. Hopefully, they will also mean something to you.
We want to do fun activities, but like a lot of working families in the UK, we have overstretched ourselves this year and are only just managing monthly outgoings. Some big bills will get paid in the next few months and I’m hoping this will ease the pressure. Given my fragile mental state over the last year, I’ve struggled to cope with the money worries.
Therefore, we’ve had to adjust our social life and how much it costs to go out for the day. But we still want to have fun on a budget.
It’s annual leave time coming up and we have a week together as a family. We plan to spend part of the week going on days out and a little rest time in between, to do some activities at home.
I have a list of 10 activities we are doing this week. All of them are within our budget…
Quick note: Mummy Conquering Anxiety is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
Lets get started on the list…
1. Visit the local park
We are lucky, where we live has lots of green space and it’s great for children. We have a cafe in the park, two playgrounds and a huge amount of open space to run around in.
I plan on packing our picnic bag and paying a visit to our local park. Obviously, we need a ball and some other games to keep us entertained. At the moment, we constantly chase our little one around. This really helps. Anything to keep her entertained and create a distraction makes less work for us.
Mummy might also take a bottle of prosecco because all that running around deserves a reward.
Because we all have a week together as a family and toddlers have way too much energy, we will be making use of the car journey. See where we end up. Stop for a coffee if we see a cafe, or just park at the side of the road and take in the view.
2. Go for a walk
If you’re also looking to have fun on a budget, this activity is perfect for you…
Our little one loves to be pushed around, taking in the sights (our Joie pushchair has taken some stick, but it’s still working!). As we walk, she points at the birds and flowers. We have a sing-a-long most mornings on the way to nursery. If she sees a bus, we have to sing Wheels on the Bus and do the actions.
This week we will be going out for a walk. Maybe we will just set off in one direction and see where it takes us (the hubby & I have a secret love of checking out houses with for sale signs and looking at where we want to live next!). I must have a browse on Rightmove beforehand and check out what is available in the area, hehe!
3. Window shop
We have an old mill near us, with a cafe, and shops you can browse in. It’s a short train journey, so you can have a fun day out, without spending too much money.
As we keep promising the little one a train journey, it’s a great day out for us, because you don’t have to spend a lot of money and it gets you out of the house.
4. Visit English Heritage & National Trust sites
You will hear me talk about these days out in future blog posts. We were former members of English Heritage and have visited many sites, including Stonehenge. We even planned holidays solely around visiting these places. More on this when we renew our membership… CAN’T WAIT!
There are several sites where the grounds are free to walk around, it’s picturesque and something different. As a member, you get free parking, which is also a bonus.
Our local site will receive a visit from us, for something a little out of the ordinary, that our little one hasn’t seen before. We love visiting the cafe (if they have one) and maybe buying her something from the gift shop. Fun for all the family.
You can view details about English Heritage Sites here. For National Trust information click here. If you have a membership with one, they will often allow free entry or discounts on the other one.
To sign up for an English Heritage membership click here.
5. A drive in the car
Parents, hands up who takes their toddler out in the car, with no destination, just to get them to sleep? My hand is up! Pre-children, the hubby & I loved driving down a country lane and picking between left and right turns, to see where we ended up. Driving around, listening to music, without a care in the world. There is something relaxing about it.
Because we all have a week together as a family and toddlers have way too much energy, we will be making use of the car journey. See where we end up. Stop for a coffee if we see a cafe, or just park at the side of the road and take in the view.
These days we have a sing-a-long in the car, with some dance moves. I might create a Spotify playlist, including some of our favourite nursery rhymes for the car journey.
Entertaining kids at home can be difficult. Hopefully the following steps will help with some ideas to have fun on a budget…
6. Baking
Given my love of baking (read more about it in this post), we will be doing some this week.
Maybe something easy like shortbread biscuits. We have a cupboard full of icing pens and other decorations we can have fun with. After that, we will eat all the biscuits as a reward for cleaning up the mess. Pass me the baking supplies.
7. Read books
As we have a toddler creating chaos in the house and they often have way too much energy to read a book, we are trying to make a big deal about gathering a pile of books and reading them together.
Sometimes when we’re busy, reading gets pushed aside. We let her watch Peppa Pig on her tablet and try our best to watch educational cartoons and talk about it, but sometimes it’s an easy solution for a busy life. Any parent will understand the need for 30 minutes to do the dishwasher whilst the little one is distracted.
But this week is about making use of our endless one-on-one time. A great opportunity to read stories aloud and enjoy the fun. She can have a bit of tablet time as well. I’ve chosen easy to read picture books with a small number of words, a compelling story, and lots of animals. Let’s see how it goes. I will make a bookworm out of her!
We bought a lovely book package, which included a bookmark, drawing sheet and children’s book. You can find more details here. Before she was born, I also bought one of The Works books bundles. Affordable and great for toddlers. Although we showed her these too early and she was ripping the pages out! I would say they are perfect for ages 2+.
Charity shops were also a fantastic source of affordable book bundles. She has the Roald Dahl and Mr. Men complete sets sat on her bookshelf, and they were reasonably priced.
Books are the perfect way to have fun on a budget. I also try and give money to this charity when I can, to ensure disadvantaged children receive books because it’s so important for their development.
8. Home cinema
We are finally at the point where our little one will sit through Toy Story. How exciting.
As we’ve snapped up a free Disneyplus membership for three months, we are making use of this and have Disney films on most nights now (the hubby is on a mission to convince me to keep it).
During our annual leave, we will be watching the classics. Snuggled up in our blankets with some snacks, on the sofa together. Quality family time.
Luckily we have a lot of ducks near our house. For a toddler learning about animals at nursery, this is the best free activity we have access to. Most nights we take our old loaf of bread and give the ducks a slap-up meal. It’s always fun and exciting for all the family and gets us out of the house for some fresh air.
As we don’t have to worry about getting up early this week, we will be making the most of this time and taking our time in the evenings to enjoy the scenery.
This leads me onto the best and final activity of all…
10. Chilling in bed
After all that money-saving fun, I bet you need a snooze!
I am so happy our little one now wants to lay in bed and chill in the mornings. It’s horrible when you have to dive out of bed, still half asleep and tend to a crying baby!
On our rare days off, how many adults want to watch TV in bed, snuggled up without a care in the world? We will all be doing it this week. Our little pumpkin can fit in the middle of our bed and we will be snuggling, with snacks, and probably watching Disney films. Sometimes the sofa just doesn’t cut it and you need to be in a sleepy mode to enjoy your chill-out time.
Bring it on!
Final thoughts
I hope this post will be useful to anyone trying to entertain a toddler on a budget, or if you have children to entertain during school holidays at the moment.
Let me know your money-saving hacks for days out with the kids, or entertaining activities to do at home. I plan to take control of our family finances and keep saving money, so more ideas are welcome.
I can’t be alone in wanting to get the perfect Christmas Eve Box for my toddler. How many other parents out there end up with the same, generic gifts from discount stores?
These treats are some of the highest quality, cute gifts I’ve seen and I just had to share them with you today!
Quick note: AFF-GIFTEDSome of the links contained on this page are affiliate links. If you go through an affiliate link to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be helpful for other people.
DISCOUNT CODE – SAMXMAS – FOR A WHOPPING 20% OFF
DONT FORGET – In some of the boxes, there is the chance to find magical tickets to win wellness products or the ultimate prize – a family trip to Lapland.
Let’s dive into the list of items to make a magical Christmas Eve Box
Elfland Sleepy Bedtime Giftset
Elfland Sleepy Bedtime Giftset
What’s included in the box?
1 x Box of 5 Sachets of Elf Eyes Self-Heating Eye Mask (worth £16.50) 1 x Magic Wish Wand (worth £5.95) 1 x The Lost Wish Book (worth £9.95) 1 x Happiness Spells and Wish Wand Instructions 1 x Sleepy Elf Meditation (worth £3.95) 1 x Lost Wish Colouring Page
What other goodies are on offer, for my Christmas Eve Box?
1 x Box of 5 Sachets of Elf Eyes Self-Heating Eye Masks (worth £16.50) 1 x Magic Wish Wand (worth £5.95) 1 x The Lost Wish Book (worth £9.95) 1 x Sleepy Elf Pillow Spray (worth £8.50) 1 x Sleepy Elf Pulse Point Oil (worth £8.50) 1 x Lost Wish Colouring Page 1 x Sleepy Elf Meditation (worth £3.95) 1 x Happiness Spells and Wish Wand Instructions 2 x Camellias Tea House Very Berry Tea (worth £0.88)
Discover The Lost Wish by Clare Anderson and Emily Jacobs, illustrated by Emma Kurran, where imagination is limitless, and pure adventure awaits. It’s a tale guaranteed to excite and inspire young readers everywhere.
Set off on a remarkable journey through a mystical land! Join Siena, a bright and brave little girl, who one stormy night, steps through a magical archway and into Elfland; a thrilling world of friendly elves, dangerous dragons, flying pixies and talking rats! Discover what adventure awaits her.
I will be purchasing this today, as an addition to my little one’s Christmas Eve Box. And to tie in with the theme of the book.
Buddy Soft Toy
Meet Buddy, Siena’s faithful and loyal companion from The Lost Wish, now available as a cute and cuddly plush toy.
This super soft and squishy plush toy is made for hugs and playtimes. Take Buddy everywhere with you as you adventure together day and night.
Where you go, Buddy goes! Just like in the book, The Lost Wish, let Buddy be your most loyal friend and protector, someone who you can enjoy life’s adventures with. Just squeeze him tight, and Buddy will always be by your side, on hand to protect you no matter what.
The Lost Wish Gift Box
The Lost Wish Gift Box
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
2 x Elf Eyes Self-Heating Eye Masks (worth £7.90) 1 x The Lost Wish Children’s Book (worth £9.95) 1 x Magic Wish Wand (worth £5.95) 1 x Sleepy Elf Relaxing Pillow Spray (worth £8.50) 1 x Lost Wish Colouring Page 1 x Sleepy Elf Meditation (worth £3.95) 1 x Happiness Spells and Wish Wand Instructions 2 x Camellias Tea House Very Berry Tea (worth £0.88)
In every box, there is the chance to find magical tickets to win wellness products or the ultimate prize – a family trip to Lapland.
Elfland Wish Wand
I am so in love with this product because it’s really special and a keepsake. These items can be used for every Christmas from now on and I can’t wait for my little one to open this item in her Christmas Eve Box.
Elfland Wish Wand
Suitable for age 5+ the Elfland Wish Wand is the perfect gift for all wannabe wizards and little elves, pixies, fairies, or just anyone who believes in the power of the imagination to bring dreams and magic to life.
Elf Eyes have been created for children but are suitable for the whole family. Each mask is unscented.
Elf Eyes Self-Heating Eye Masks are Especially Good For:
Creating a magical experience for children as the eye masks heat up when placed over the eyes
Helping to calm and relax overactive minds when excitement is high
Christmas Eve boxes and stocking fillers
Helping the whole family relax and sleep the night before Santa comes!
How to use your Sensory Retreats Elf Eyes Self-Heating Eye Mask
Find a quiet cosy place to rest and recline
Open the pouch and unfold your Elf Eyes Eye Mask
Gently place the mask over your eyes and fit the loops comfortably around your ears
Within a couple of minutes, you’ll begin to feel a gentle sensation as the Elf Eyes warms up
Simply allow yourself to drift off as you enjoy approximately 25 minutes of deeply relaxing and soothing warmth
If using on children (aged 5+), you may need to secure it with an extra knot to tighten the loops – adult supervision is advised while children wear the mask
Other wellness products for your little ones, to add to your Christmas Eve Box
My mental breakdown happened in May 2021. A culmination of a difficult pregnancy, work stress, birth trauma, no self-care whatsoever, lack of sleep for a prolonged period and caring for a small child. I found the whole period overwhelming and there were not enough hours in a day to juggle the unmanageable load. The breaking point seemed to come when my workplace started adding too much pressure on everyone. Up until this point I was keeping my head above water, even though hindsight tells me it wasn’t a healthy way of living.
You have some pretty random thoughts when you’re in the midst of a mental breakdown and you cannot decipher fiction from reality. All the thoughts passing through your mind become your reality and you rely on the people closest to you to tell you which ones you should listen to.
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Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I know some people are dubious about awareness days. I totally agree with the point that mental health should be spoken about every. single. day. However, I will use awareness days to talk about my own personal experience. If one person who wasn’t aware of my situation, learns something new, I am happy. For me, it is all about raising awareness. In the hope that one day in the future, these small actions will amount to huge systematic changes.
Today I want to talk to you about where I am with my mental health journey and how long it took to be well again
Full system reboot
In previous blog posts, I discussed the feeling of my brain switching off and it couldn’t be restarted again. Throughout the aftermath of my mental breakdown, I spent my days pretty much switched off completely. Sitting on the sofa for hours on end, watching TV, but not really paying attention to anything. There was no sense of time. Depression made my cheeks hurt. I never thought you could get a cheek ache from a sad face, but you can.
My friends and family were very adamant about the fact I should continue a “normal” routine. I hate that word, because what is normal? It has a different meaning for each individual and I think the word acts as an unattainable standard. This is true in my life, anyway, so I avoid using the word.
Battling with your own mind is a daily challenge
During this period of recovery, every action, movement, and the daily task was a challenge. I had to work myself up to get a bath. My hubby pretty much forced me to go on a long walk one day and it took every ounce of energy I had to get out of the house. I still look at these pictures and remember the pain and general numbness I felt.
During this period, I absolutely focused my energy on looking after my little one, on the days she didn’t attend nursery. But, sometimes I just didn’t have the resources and therefore a lot of it fell to my hubby and parents to help out.
She also knew something was wrong and would come and “look after” me. Young children have a sixth sense and they can pick up on emotions, even if you think you’re hiding them well. I still feel mum-guilt for taking time out for self-care, sometimes. Especially napping in the afternoon if I need to. I’ve come to realise there are precautions I need to take in order to maintain a good standard of mental well-being. And I will always be honest with my little one, about emotions and why self-care is needed. Parents cannot parent well if we don’t look after ourselves. It’s a constant battle.
Bringing me back to life
My family and friends surrounded me with love, but I was emotional, worn down, and temperamental. It would be months before I had my life back, my personality and gained a sense of identity again. Depression strips you of all these things. The system reboot is what it says on the tin. You are stripped back to factory settings. A blank canvas. And hitting rock bottom is a horrible experience. But there is hope. Things can get better. But I won’t lie and say it is easy. It is one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life.
The self-care routine that helped
During this period I was off work, and largely by myself, whilst everyone around me went about their daily lives. I spent my days having long baths, using all my trusted self-care products. My local park became my haven and I would sit on a particular bench, soaking up nature, thinking about life and watching the world go by. A world I wasn’t fully part of yet. In my mind, I was a bystander, invisible to everyone else.
My friends and family were very adamant about the fact I should continue a “normal” routine. I hate that word, because what is normal? It has a different meaning for each individual and I think the word acts as an unattainable standard. This is true in my life, anyway, so I avoid using the word.
I honestly never thought of the secondary impacts of being depressed. But there are so many. As the money organiser of the house, being switched off, reset, and rebooted isn’t exactly great for maintaining a household, or remembering to pay bills. I just didn’t care about organising life anymore. And it impacted our family.
I started baking to bring myself back to life and clinging onto anything I previously loved, to ignite a passion. To bring back a spark. But I still felt unhappy, and numb. I had affirmation cards and motivational quotes scattered around the house. These massively helped and I still use them to this day. I even visited the local spirit church, in the hope of finding some peace. It worked.
Toxic workplace culture
Reluctant to carry on as normal, when I was off work due to mental health problems, I was scared and filled with irrational fears. What if someone from work sees me? What would they think? Looking back, these thoughts were the negative anxiety voice in my head. And they were created from working in toxic workplace cultures for so long. Something I will never go back to!
Dichiperhing fiction and reality
My family were right. Normality, routine and self-care were all needed. A focus on my health, not the workplace which had basically sent me to this negative place in my mind. Why on earth did I still want to focus on them? But the mind does this. You have some pretty random thoughts when you’re in the midst of a mental breakdown and you cannot decipher fiction from reality. All the thoughts passing through your mind become your reality and you rely on the people closest to you to tell you which ones you should listen to.
What mental illness really looks like
I see a lot of debate on this. The answer – every single person will be impacted by mental illness differently. I hid my anxiety for years. therefore I looked fine. But I wasn’t. That said, I look back at the photos just after my mental breakdown and I remember how I felt. Going through them today actually makes me quite sad. I need to not dwell on them for too long.
The photos show bad skin, a blank look behind the eyes, and tiredness. Throughout my journey back to recovery, I sometimes compared these pictures with ones where I looked slightly happier. To me, it meant progress. When you’re in the midst of recovery, it is sometimes difficult to see any progress and look at the situation objectively.
There was an element of ‘putting on a brave face’ for my little one. But mostly, I accepted my situation and allowed myself to feel the pain and numbness. Something I had masked for so long was finally let out! In order to heal, you have to acknowledge your situation. And I had battled with anxiety for too long.
The journey back to life
I still have gripes about the NHS and the procedures in place to help someone who has suffered a mental breakdown. Looking back, the doctors didn’t really focus on support around me and my circumstances. I didn’t feel heard, or looked after. A doctor pretty much told me they cannot be responsible for me staying off work any longer and I would have to take it up with my workplace. A workplace they knew had put me in this situation and was not helping me during the period of time I was unwell. During telephone calls with the doctor, I was distressed, and emotional, asking for help. And I felt like a burden. They made me feel like I was being dishonest to get time off work.
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Systematic change in mental health care
It is important to say, I know NHS staff are overworked, unpaid and bound by ridiculous policies. However, they are also human beings. For anyone who watched the recent Panorama documentary, when did we stop caring for other human beings, just because we have a certain job title?
I am writing this post today because there is clearly a lot of work to be done around mental health awareness. A systematic change must happen.
I’ve accepted I will never be fully healed. We are all a work in progress and life will continue to throw us challenges. Our job is to work on how we respond to adversity.
Allowing adequate time for recovery
At the time of writing this post, it has taken me a total of 18 months to consider myself fully recovered from my mental breakdown. Our financial circumstances took a hit as a result. I was expected to return to work, by both the workplace and the NHS when I wasn’t ready or well enough to. Why aren’t we looking after people who find themselves in this position? Both in the respect of health and finances. If you had a broken leg, your sick note would be issued for longer, without question and I am sure you would be entitled to some sort of financial help. Arguably, fighting a battle with your mind is worse than a physical ailment. So why as a society do we treat people with mental illness so unfairly?
Finances and mental health
I honestly never thought of the secondary impacts of being depressed. But there are so many. As the money organiser of the house, being switched off, reset, and rebooted isn’t exactly great for maintaining a household, or remembering to pay bills. I just didn’t care about organising life anymore. And it impacted our family. If you or your family are impacted by similar issues, Mind has a great section on how mental health can impact finances and vice versa.
Where am I in my life now?
At this point, I finally feel somewhat recovered. My hypnotherapy course has provided the tools I need to move forward with a weekly self-care routine. It’s a way I can look after my mind and keep myself healthy. I’ve accepted I will never be fully healed. We are all a work in progress and life will continue to throw us challenges. Our job is to work on how we respond to adversity.
I also finally feel able to take on more hours at work and look to the future. But also keep in mind that my family life is a priority as well. This being the case, I am taking steps to plan our next five years as a family. We need slightly more money to set in motion everything we want to achieve. But I still want us both to have one day per week with my little one. And of course, a family day together.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, hitting rock bottom allows you to create a blank canvas. You start afresh with brand-new building blocks. And you have the power to change things in your life that no longer serve you.
It’s strange to say this, but hitting rock bottom has transformed my life. Would I choose this experience if I could go back? No! But am I thankful for it? Yes.
A family holiday is an exciting time to enjoy quality time with your family. However, it isn’t a small feat to pull off, as many people find it overwhelming. Several factors guarantee that your family holiday will go on without a hitch. From knowing where to travel, the best way to travel, and making those exciting life memories last forever, here are four tips for planning an exciting holiday for your family.
Select the right holiday spot
It isn’t easy to choose a holiday destination for your family. Imagine the feeling when your kids want a winter location to enjoy the snow while you want to lounge and unwind in the sun somewhere. Your budget and how long you intend to stay are other factors worth considering. To choose the right destination, make a list of the interests of every member of the travelling party. Whether it’s hiking, seeing historic sites, or having some fun time at the beach, paying attention to the small details can be useful for selecting the best places and activities that appeal to everyone.
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Know your budget
Vacation costs vary greatly based on where you stay, mode of transport, the number of people you are travelling with, and your planned activities. While the average Brit pays less than £4000 per person, families, especially large ones, can expect to pay more. It can be useful to determine how much money you are willing to spend on the holiday. However, don’t forget that you will return to real life after the holiday. You can’t afford to blow your entire savings on a once-in-a-lifetime family trip. Therefore, set strict spending limits and stick to them. This could mean reducing one budget area to satisfy other needs, including emergencies and unforeseen costs.
Having determined how much you are willing to spend, it is now time to figure out how to get to the destination. Many families wonder whether to fly or how far they can drive, especially when taking a holiday to a theme park. Unfortunately, there is no set mileage limit for driving versus flying. You can use Google maps to determine the quickest route via scenic locations if you’ll go by car. If you have driven or flown with kids and didn’t enjoy either, measure flying costs vs the benefit of reduced travel time. You may be better off taking a road trip. In that case, ensure your vehicle is up to scratch. For example, if you are taking a road trip in a Mini, you can find specialist technicians at any Mini dealership to put your car in excellent condition for an amazing experience.
Prioritise health and safety
The safety and well-being of kids are a primary concern for every parent, and holidays are no exception. There are a few things worth considering, including the availability of doctors or healthcare at your proposed destination. It is vital to know any required vaccination if you travel out of the country. Travel protection plans are usually advised for family and other travel types. This way, you can protect your family from the unexpected, including medical expenses, trip delays or interruptions and cancellation fees.
If you want to have a perfect family holiday, begin planning before you leave. Paying attention to these details should ensure a terrific, stress-free family holiday for the entire family.
I know everyone is talking about Christmas, but I’m not ready to let go of Halloween just yet. Can we keep talking about Halloween?
One last look back at the fun we had before I put the decorations away until next year.
I had big ambitions for Halloween this year. As part of the blogging community, I loved the build-up of autumn-related content and the excitement of the impending spooky season.
But parenting wears you down. I no longer have the energy to preplan Halloween parties and make Halloween-themed food. I wish I did. Maybe next year…
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Despite the lack of proper planning or big extravagant celebrations, we did have a lovely family celebration, and to be honest, I loved it more than the big parties. Maybe it’s just our life now. With a toddler running around, there are only limited activities available and she is still a little young to fully participate in everything Halloween has to offer.
A look back at our pumpkin adventure and Halloween activities
Pumpkin picking then decorations
As with everything in parenting, Halloween was a fun last-minute celebration for us.
Following an afternoon of pumpkin picking, we were truly in the Halloween spirit and very excited to carve our pumpkins.
A visit from my family made us even more excited.
Our celebrations were then completely unplanned. We proceeded to get the Halloween decorations out of storage and our little one loved rooting through them.
We put Halloween songs on Alexa, danced around, tried on outfits. We put a few decorations up and then of course we had to watch Ghostbusters. And introduce our little one to the Slimer Teddy we’ve had for years.
It was a fun night.
Our usual fun night outwith family
The following night was spent with my parents. After a few drinks, our little girl dressed in her Halloween outfit with Tutu. We had a walk to the shop to fill her bucket with treats. And then an impromptu meal out, all celebrating together.
A wonderful evening.
HALLOWEEN!!
Sunday was a chilled day, in the afternoon we carved our pumpkins.
My hubby did a fab job and we let our little deocrate the smaller ones. This year we managed to pick up some small quirky ones. I’ve honestly never seen any pumpkins like this before and they add to the decoration in the living room.
Final thoughts
Can we all just agree to treat Halloween like Christmas from now on please? Leave our decorations up, talk about the aftermath, and don’t be so eager to get to Christmas yet. Thank you in advance.
Let me know how you celebrated Halloween in the comments below. Let’s keep the spooky season alive for another, final moment.
Why I was apprehensive about allowing my toddler to use technology
Before our little one was born, I was against the use of technology. I had a minimal allowance for a TV schedule planned out for her and we made a cage to hide our mobile phones. I never considered the possibility she would be allowed a fancy tablet.
Yes, I know. It all quickly went out of the window.
She now has a top-of-the-range tablet, access to Amazon Prime, Netflix, BBC iPlayer. She’s a toddler! Ohhh I also forgot, she now has Disney Plus on her tablet too. I remember VHS and we were lucky if we got a few Disney films for Christmas!
I mean let’s be real for a second. The fear parents have in this day and age is whether exposure to technology could potentially pose risks further down the line. Does allowing her to have a fancy tablet cause her potential danger?
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The real issue
I mean let’s be real for a second. The fear parents have in this day and age is whether exposure to technology could potentially pose risks further down the line. Does allowing her to have a fancy tablet cause her potential danger?
An addiction to video games. Setting up social media accounts at 13 years old, pretending to be 16. Demanding a personal mobile phone. We all read the horror stories and thankfully it isn’t something I have to deal with yet. These sensitive issues are for another blog post, probably from someone who has lived through these experiences. I truly feel for any parent worrying about the online world when it comes to their children.
It can absolutely be a scary place for adults and I see examples of it every day.
Techology taking over
Part of my anxiety about ‘screen time’ was caused by a world in which I feared large corporations were taking over. I wanted to support small businesses and not buy from Amazon. I didn’t want Google to know everything about me. But whether I like it or not, it’s how we live these days. And you cannot very well start a blog without accepting this reality.
We, as adults are allowed a fancy tablet, mobile phones, a smart TV, Alexa. How can we have all this in the house and say no to her accessing technology?
This NY Times article really resonates with me, because it talks about setting an example. We do still have the ‘phone cage’ and this blog post I wrote, 9 easy steps to ensure quality family time is a top priority talks about how we prioritse family time by putting our mobile phones away at a certain point in the evening.
For two years I didn’t go anywhere near social networks. I wouldn’t even allow my hubby to show me funny posts on Facebook. How ironic!
Since having a child, allowing her to have limited use of technology, and experiencing a mental breakdown, I’ve now embraced technology to its full extent. I mean, I set up a blog, pretty much by myself (hubby & Bluehost support get a special mention for the handful of tasks I couldn’t fathom!)
Since starting the blog, I’ve realised it’s time to embrace the technological world we live in. I mean it’s pretty hard to ignore, unless I actually get my wish of living in a log cabin in the woods, in peace. No toddler coming to the toilet with me. Let me dream for a second, please!
How I made technology work for me
Using technology on your own terms, for its intended purpose. Limiting the amount of screen time or personal details you divulge, can be helpful if privacy is a concern for you. Setting boundaries is also a great way to remain in control. My blog is anonymous at the moment and I’m still making valuable connections with people.
I want to mirror this with my little one and set a good example for her by how we as adults use technology. I found this interesting study by the Lego Foundation, which heavily focuses on technology for learning and developing creative skills. When the question about limiting screen time is posed, they correctly say it isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach and they include some practical guidance for parents. The full study can be found here.
In summary, whilst she is allowed a fancy tablet, this comes with certain boundaries. Child lock being the most obvious one, limited screen time and since she first got it, we’ve added learning and development apps. We frequently play these together and talk about what she is learning.
I think the use of social media can be beneficial if you have boundaries. It sounds a bit silly, but I can personally step away from my social media platforms when I need to because of the blog. I have many other tasks on my plate and social media is just one of them.
This doesn’t take away from the genuine connections I make and how supported I feel by others. This is all real, I just don’t constantly live in the online world. My post mentions how the blogging community is also the most understanding bunch of people I’ve ever connected with. And that definitely helps.
Some of the boundaries I set for myself
I have a personal rule, where I would never post pictures of our little one on social media. The hubby rarely does and asks permission from me first, because he respects my decision and the thinking behind the decision. Everyone is different. We all have different values and just like our decisions in life, we will decide what’s best for us when it comes to the use of technology and social media.
Measures you can put in place for young people using phones and social media
A friend of mine has the family tracking app. It gives her peace of mind when her young teens are out of the house, with friends, for a bit of freedom. They also regularly check social media accounts for dodgy messages and all the other scary stuff. It’s something I would definitely use when the time Is right!
I also think being honest with a child is valuable. As parents, we already try to do this with small things and she’s only two years old. I would like to find a balance between honesty and not completely dulling her spirit. Hopefully, the world we live in will be better in the future, when this conversation arises.
Summary
In summary, I think the use of technology in a safe way, with set boundaries and measures in place, is harmless. Technology can be a benefit to us all if used in the correct way. It should be viewed as a useful addition to our lives. Social media breaks are needed and I intend to take them regularly. We should be living in the real world and not focusing solely on our social media friends, evening though some of mine are amazing and funny Tweets are addictive.
I just wish I was lucky enough to have on-demand cartoons when I was a kid. Don’t worry, I will remind her daily just how fortunate she is.
What are your thoughts on these issues raises in this article?
Let me know in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.
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