I had to make a reel of our first holiday abroad since 2019!
We went back to Valencia, staying in a villa in Monte Pego which was amazing.
Sad it's all over and already wanting to plan the next one....
#SummerHoliday #Spain2022 #Valencia #MontePego #Espana #mycameracapture #100thingsthatmakemesmile #kidtraveler #kidtraveller #kidtravels #familywhotravels #kidstravelling #travellingwithchildren #travelwithchildren #tripwithkids #familytravelmoment #kidswithpassports #kidadventures #showthemtheworld #adventurefamily #familyexplorers #exploringfamilies #family #travelblog #lifeofadventure #travelfamily #uktraveller #familytraveltribe #travelmyheart #myheartwasmadetotravel
[AD] We’re super excited to be chosen to be Stay Active Ambassadors alongside Olympic Champion @gregjrutherford. Over the summer months ☀️, we will be tasked with reviewing some products from @CharacterToys' Stay Active range. 👟 🏃♀️🏃♂️
This month the boys have been getting to grips with the Hip Hoppa.
Suitable for kids aged 6+, it can be:
⭐ used both indoors & outdoors
⭐ is a fun bouncing game
⭐ helps with improving your balance & coordination
⭐ buildings your core strength, fitness & stamina
The Hip Hoppa is available from @veryuk
#StayActiveWithCharacter #ActiveKids #HipHoppa #KidsActivities #StayActive #OutdoorToys #HealthyKids #HealthyMind #ActiveKidsAreHappyKids #ExplorerKids #LetsGoLittles
[AD - Gifted] Stand out from the crowd with a @liferyder.uk scooter!
The boys have been getting lots of compliments on their new rides. M scoots to and from school on his every day and loves how fast they go. I've had a little go on them too and would love if they did an adult version so I can join in the fun.
I've written a full review of these awesome all-terrain scooters with interchangeable grahpics over on my blog (link in bio)
What do you think of the LIFERYDER scooters?
[AD - Gifted] The boys were over the moon when their awesome scooters from @liferyder.uk arrived on our doorstep. So much so, Mr H had to get building them straight away so they could take their new wheels out for a spin. We're really impressed with them so far - the intructions are super easy to follow and put together.
LIFERYDER scooters are all-terrain and designed to grow with your child, they're also customisable with a range of super-cool graphics too!
I've written a full review over on the blog (link in bio).
#liferyderuk #LetsScoot #JustGoOutside #BigWheelScooter #BigWheelsKeepOnTurning #AllTerrainScooter #KidsScooter #UKexplore #justgetoutside #letthembewild #moretoexploreoutdoors #ourplayfulstyle #outdoorsandfree #outdoorsandhappy #whatevertheweatherkids #screenfreekids #kidsfunday #mycolourfulkids
[AD - Gifted tickets] Made a reel of our @carterssteamfair visit. Don't forget its the last time Carters are in Hersham Green this weekend (11am-8pm). Entry is free and you get free rides when you book online.
#Carters2022 #CartersSteamFair #VintageFair #Funfair #HershamGreem #SteamFair #Fairground #FairgroundRides #VisitSurrey #surrey #surreydaysout #visitsurrey #elmbridge #discoversurrey #cometothefair #familyfun #familydayout #surreymums #surreyfamilies #daysoutwithkids #familydaysout #elmbridgemums #weybridgemums #daysoutwiththefamily #fairgroundrides #whatsonattheweekend #daysoutwithkids #funwiththefamily #familydaysout
I am so busy running around that sometimes I forget to take a breath and just stop for a second.
May is birthday season over here so it's a rather chaotic month.
I think this quote needs to be my mantra to repeat to myself over and over again!
[AD - Gifted tickets]
We have SO many lovely memories of visiting @carterssteamfair over the years. You may have heard that this is their last ever tour as the owners are looking to find a permanent site for the fair.
We went to our last ever Carters Fair at Hersham Green over the weekend. The sun was out and the kids had an absolute blast going on their favourite rides.
The fair is still on at Hersham Green this weekend 14-15th May - if you love traditional fairground rides and games make sure you visit.
Thanks for the memories Carters!
It felt like we were on holiday when we went on the @phdockyard Harbour Tour over the Easter Holidays!
We bought an annual pass last year and returned this time to visit a few more attractions. Hoping to plan at least another trip before our pass runs out. It's a great day out - even better when the sun is shining!
I'll pop a reel on here soon so you can get an idea of the things you can see.
[AD]
We had a fantastic afternoon at @hobbledown_epsom over the Easter holidays. So much has changed since our last visit. More animals + more activities = hours and hours of nonstop fun. The boys had an absolute blast and already can't wait to go back.
Things to do at Hobbledown at a glance:
- Indoor and outdoor play areas
- See and feed Animals (you can even book Experience Days)
- Birds of Prey at The Raptor Centre
- Storytelling sessions
- Animal demonstrations
- The Imaginarium
- Zorbing
- High Ropes
I have been working with @dayoutwiththekids and have written a detailed review of our trip over on their blog: https://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub/things-to-do/family-day-out-at-hobbledown
📍 Hobbledown, Horton Lane, Horton KT19 8PT
🚆 Nearest train station is Epsom
⏰ Admission includes a 4 hour stay
🎠 Farm animals, huge outdoor play area, Indoor playbarn and Zorbing. High Ropes (at additional cost)
⭐️ Restaurant and gift shop
#dayoutwiththekids #DOWTK #actionandadventure #adventurepark #adventuredayout #adventureplay #adventureisoutthere #castleplayground #undergroundtunnels #playoutside #zorbs #highropescourse #playvillage #hobbledown #hobbledownepsom #Epsom #surreywithkids #whatsonlondon #londonwithkids #londondaysout #IndoorSoftPlay #KidsDayOut #mycolourfulkids #surreyfamilydaysout #surreydaysout #surreymums #familydaysout #screenfreekids #adventureenthusiasts #kidfriendly
It's felt like forever since we've been into London so we made the most of it and kickstarted the boy's Easter holidays last week with an overnight stay at Novotel London Bridge.
We took them on the HMS Belfast which M has been desperate to go on. It was really interesting to see what life was like for those at sea. There's plenty to see and the boys loved going up and down the ladders exploring the 9 decks. There are interactive games and a trail - not forgetting the amazing views of the Thames too!
If you’ve not been before - I highly recommend a visit, tickets start from £11.80 for kids aged 5-15 and £23.60 for adults or, a family membership for 4 is £114 this gives you entry to HMS Belast and other @imperialwarmuseums sites for the whole year.
📍 HMS Belfast, Queens Walk, London SE1 2JH
🚆 Nearest train station is London Bridge or a short walk from Waterloo, Charing Cross, Victoria, King's Cross and Euston
⏰ From 90 minutes onwards - we were there for over 2 and a half hours!
⭐️ Cafe and gift shop
#HMSBelfast #HMSBelfastShip #RiverThames #TowerBridge #LondonBridge #LondonMuseum #London #DayOutWithTheKids #visitlondon #myfamilyadventures #mybritainwithlove #fearlessfamtrav #Mondayescapes #UKexplore #justgetoutside #Familygoals #Familyof4 #Familydayout #Familyfunday #ourweekendhappy #familydaysout #kidtraveler #kidtraveller #kidtravels #familywhotravels #kidstravelling
Snow on the day the energy prices go up, you couldn't make it up!
I couldn't believe it when I looked at our Smart Meter this morning as we'd already used over of what we normally use in a day.
I've spent the spent the last month or so attempting to reduce our energy usage to bring the cost down.
As well as making this quick reel, I've also written a blog post about it all here: https://www.suburban-mum.com/reduce-energy-usage-at-home/
Do you have any tips to share? Let me know in the comments.
#EnergySaving #ReduceYourBill #ReduceYourEnergyBills
#ReduceEnergyBills #EnergyReduction #energyprices
[AD - Gifted]
With the Easter holiday fast approaching I know it’s going to be tricky to keep the boys busy while both Mr H and I are working from home. They will want lots of screen time (obvs) but we’ll also be encouraging them to get some fresh air and play outside as well as do some other activities that are screen-free.
K’Nex is a great activity that both the boys can get stuck into. It allows them to get creative and make all sorts of 3D creations and is something that will hold their attention for longer than just a few minutes!
Both the K’Nex Beginner Builds and City Builders set from @BasicFunUK are available to buy from @johnlewis I’ve written a more detailed review over on my blog (link in bio)
Day 8 of covid and I'm not going to lie, I am missing being able to squeeze these two.
Mother's Day was rather different this year, they made me breakfast and left it at the door along with the card they had bought.
I don't think I've ever experienced tiredness like this before but I am "hopefully" turning a corner now. I spent most of the weekend resting and feel so much better for it.
*Pic was taken back in February at Great Nanny's 100th Birthday.
[AD - Gifted]
Are your kids football mad? Help them build on their skills using the Messi Training System. The training footballs are available from @smythtoys with prices starting from £9.99
There's also a fantastic competition for your chance to #MeetMessi in either Barcelona or Paris.
To enter, simply head over to www.meetmessicompetition.co.uk
The competition closes on 31 May - good luck!
I had a poll on my stories earlier this week asking for help on which colour vinyl to go for to change the colour of our IKEA TV unit. Before redecorating, the living room had a blue theme but now we've updated the room, the blue doors are completely out of place.
Which would you go for?
From L-R:
A - Matt Sage
B- Matt Ivory Cream
C - Matt Sahara Cream Beige
D - Gloss Almond Cream
In other news, I tested positive for Covid this week after two years of trying to avoid it. I'm trying to take it easy but it's easier said than done. When Mr H told the boys I had it, their first reaction was "Whose going to cook dinner?" Thanks, boys! 🤣
[AD - Gifted]
The boys have been busy testing out some footballs from the Messi Training System to build upon their football skills - from improving their speed and reflexes to accuracy when shooting and scoring goals.
I've written a review on the blog (link in bio)
The full Messi Training System range is available from Smyths Toys so your kids can also train like Messi!
#MeetMessi #TrainLikeMessi #FootballSkills #MessiTrainingSystem #LeoMessi #LionelMessi #Messi #FootballSkillsTraining #FootballAtHome #OutdoorKids #UKexplore #justgetoutside #letthembewild #outdoorsandfree #outdoorsandhappy #whatevertheweatherkids #adventuresofchildren #countrykidsfun #freespiritedchildhood #lifewithkids #lifewithboys #mamaofboys #kidfun #childrenofinsta #screenfreekids
A different type of post from me on the grid today. If you've watched my stories recently you'll know what we've been busy redecorating our living room ready for our new sofas.
There's still finishing touches to do - we need new lights/lamp, blinds and a rug but I am SO pleased with the results. Our sofas are from @scssofas and we couldn't be happier with them.
The dining room is next on the list but the thought of redecorating again so soon is filling Mr H with dread!
#LivingRoom #MyHouseThisMonth #HomeDecor #NewSofas #SCS #SCSIllustrious #DailyHomeShare #MyHouseAndHome #MyColourfulInterior #RealHomes #HomesOfIG #LivingroomDecor
The sun is making an appearance this week which means I can hang my washing out on the line!
The boys are loving the sun too, they even had an early morning kickabout in the garden before school today.
Are you enjoying the warmer weather?
It’s fast approaching that time of year again – the big “C” is just around the corner! I very surprisingly managed to do about 70% of my present buying for all the children I needed to buy for last friday. They have some fantastic offers in The Entertainer at the moment so I ended up finding the majority of my gifts there.
So, with it being December this week I wanted to show you some old and new Christmas crafts/makes I have done with my boys.
Salt Dough Hand print decoration
I made this with E a couple of years back when I was pregnant with M and am planning on making them again this year. They make great gifts for grandparents too! I used red paint for the hat and a black permanent marker for the rest. Once all dried I then applied clear nail polish on top to seal the colours.
The salt dough is made up of:
1 cup of flour
1 cup of salt
1 cup of water
You just mix all the above together until it forms a dough. Roll out and get your little ones hand and press firmly into the dough (I did six incase some of them didn’t turn out right). Once this is done use a knife to go round the outline of the print and make a hole where the base of the palm is so you can thread ribbon through for hanging when it is finished)
These then need to go into the oven for a few hours at around 100 degrees C, turning half way through.
Mine were actually quite thick so took way longer than this! In the end I took them out of the oven and left them on the radiator to dry out properly for a few days. I have heard you can also do them in the microwave too.
Ginger Bread/Ginger bread house
I always, always wanted to have/make one of these when I was a child so I finally managed to make one with my little helper last year! I cheated with the gingerbread house and bought a kit from Sainsbury’s for a fiver and it was definitely a fiver well spent! I know you can buy ones that are ready made which you just assemble together but I love the smell of ginger in my home! E absolutely loved helping me decorate this.
We also made loads of gingerbread decorations too and attempted to melt down boiled sweet for a stained glass effect. We had hours of fun! (annoyingly I can’t find any of the pictures we made of these) Have a google around there are lots of gingerbread recipes.
Christmas Tree decoration
E came home with a note about a Christmas decoration competition for the school last week. Cue lots of panic as it meant I had to think of something he could make! After a quick google, we decided on making a really simple 3D christmas tree out of cardboard that he could cut out (with help!) and decorate. He was so proud of the finished item he couldn’t wait to take it into school today!
Fab ideas, we made Christmas trees to hang on the tree and coloured glass decorations, activities set up at the school Christmas fair! Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts x
Hello and welcome to Suburban Mum!
I'm Maria and I'm mum to two boys - E who's 12 and M who's 9. This blog is about my little family, the ups and downs of being a working mum and everything in between. If you want to find out more about me and my family head over to our About us page.
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I had to make a reel of our first holiday abroad since 2019!
We went back to Valencia, staying in a villa in Monte Pego which was amazing.
Sad it's all over and already wanting to plan the next one....
#SummerHoliday #Spain2022 #Valencia #MontePego #Espana #mycameracapture #100thingsthatmakemesmile #kidtraveler #kidtraveller #kidtravels #familywhotravels #kidstravelling #travellingwithchildren #travelwithchildren #tripwithkids #familytravelmoment #kidswithpassports #kidadventures #showthemtheworld #adventurefamily #familyexplorers #exploringfamilies #family #travelblog #lifeofadventure #travelfamily #uktraveller #familytraveltribe #travelmyheart #myheartwasmadetotravel
[AD] We’re super excited to be chosen to be Stay Active Ambassadors alongside Olympic Champion @gregjrutherford. Over the summer months ☀️, we will be tasked with reviewing some products from @CharacterToys' Stay Active range. 👟 🏃♀️🏃♂️
This month the boys have been getting to grips with the Hip Hoppa.
Suitable for kids aged 6+, it can be:
⭐ used both indoors & outdoors
⭐ is a fun bouncing game
⭐ helps with improving your balance & coordination
⭐ buildings your core strength, fitness & stamina
The Hip Hoppa is available from @veryuk
#StayActiveWithCharacter #ActiveKids #HipHoppa #KidsActivities #StayActive #OutdoorToys #HealthyKids #HealthyMind #ActiveKidsAreHappyKids #ExplorerKids #LetsGoLittles
[AD - Gifted] Stand out from the crowd with a @liferyder.uk scooter!
The boys have been getting lots of compliments on their new rides. M scoots to and from school on his every day and loves how fast they go. I've had a little go on them too and would love if they did an adult version so I can join in the fun.
I've written a full review of these awesome all-terrain scooters with interchangeable grahpics over on my blog (link in bio)
What do you think of the LIFERYDER scooters?
[AD - Gifted] The boys were over the moon when their awesome scooters from @liferyder.uk arrived on our doorstep. So much so, Mr H had to get building them straight away so they could take their new wheels out for a spin. We're really impressed with them so far - the intructions are super easy to follow and put together.
LIFERYDER scooters are all-terrain and designed to grow with your child, they're also customisable with a range of super-cool graphics too!
I've written a full review over on the blog (link in bio).
#liferyderuk #LetsScoot #JustGoOutside #BigWheelScooter #BigWheelsKeepOnTurning #AllTerrainScooter #KidsScooter #UKexplore #justgetoutside #letthembewild #moretoexploreoutdoors #ourplayfulstyle #outdoorsandfree #outdoorsandhappy #whatevertheweatherkids #screenfreekids #kidsfunday #mycolourfulkids
[AD - Gifted tickets] Made a reel of our @carterssteamfair visit. Don't forget its the last time Carters are in Hersham Green this weekend (11am-8pm). Entry is free and you get free rides when you book online.
#Carters2022 #CartersSteamFair #VintageFair #Funfair #HershamGreem #SteamFair #Fairground #FairgroundRides #VisitSurrey #surrey #surreydaysout #visitsurrey #elmbridge #discoversurrey #cometothefair #familyfun #familydayout #surreymums #surreyfamilies #daysoutwithkids #familydaysout #elmbridgemums #weybridgemums #daysoutwiththefamily #fairgroundrides #whatsonattheweekend #daysoutwithkids #funwiththefamily #familydaysout
I am so busy running around that sometimes I forget to take a breath and just stop for a second.
May is birthday season over here so it's a rather chaotic month.
I think this quote needs to be my mantra to repeat to myself over and over again!
[AD - Gifted tickets]
We have SO many lovely memories of visiting @carterssteamfair over the years. You may have heard that this is their last ever tour as the owners are looking to find a permanent site for the fair.
We went to our last ever Carters Fair at Hersham Green over the weekend. The sun was out and the kids had an absolute blast going on their favourite rides.
The fair is still on at Hersham Green this weekend 14-15th May - if you love traditional fairground rides and games make sure you visit.
Thanks for the memories Carters!
It felt like we were on holiday when we went on the @phdockyard Harbour Tour over the Easter Holidays!
We bought an annual pass last year and returned this time to visit a few more attractions. Hoping to plan at least another trip before our pass runs out. It's a great day out - even better when the sun is shining!
I'll pop a reel on here soon so you can get an idea of the things you can see.
What an awesome little collection. I’ve done the first two so will give those trees a go I think! x x
The tree was E’s favourite – he loved getting messy with all the glitter and glue! Thanks for commenting. x
Great ideas! Love that salt dough santa x #brilliantblogposts
Thanks, I have to say the salt dough santa is one of my faves too! x
Fab ideas, we made Christmas trees to hang on the tree and coloured glass decorations, activities set up at the school Christmas fair! Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts x
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