Finally Found!

A few months back I saw these awesome stacking tiffin boxes on RTE's Kitchen Hero and lusted after them.

Tracked them down online in John Lewis (Don't deliver to Ireland), M&S (none in any of the 6 stores nearest me and my mum) and on Amazon (wa-hey too expensive).

Then on Saturday, doing the weekly shop in Newry, there on the window for Debenhams was the picnic box of my dreams....... WITH HALF OFF!!!!

I was so excited- 'Giddy' is the word I think himself used!!

The ex-display one was the only one left, so great timing!!! Used it the very next day on our picnic on Carlingford Lough!

Ah, Happy Days!!

August Bank Holl

Last weekend, we were luckily enough to have a long weekend, not lucky enough to have good weather, but that didn’t stop us exploring me more of this beautiful country!!




On Sunday we drove to the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre to take in a tiny portion of the biggest lake in Ireland. Dyl had a great time playing with the Arcemedis Screw. Thenwe headed on to the Holiday Inn, Ballymena Road, Antrim where we checked in to the biggest family room I’ve ever stayed in right by the Junction One Outlet Centre. So of course I forced myself to do some shopping, picking up some cupcake liners and a few small Christmas gifts- Get me for the super-organisation!!!! John and Dylan had a round of pirate mini-golf and afterwards we tried to eat all we could at The Red Panda~ Delicious but very rich sauces, so you can’t eat too much~ Sneaky!!!!



Monday morning, fuelled up with our hot chockies and full-Irish breakfasts we headed to Bushmills to the Giants Causeway. Words cannot do it justice so here are some snaps to show off such a dramatic landscape!!

After our Irish style picnic (eating in the car!) we drove to the Carrick-a-Rede ropebridge and I’m glad to say we all made it over and back! It was the scariest thing I’ve ever done!

I think when you have kids, fears get exaggerated, and you worry more, however irrationally, especially when crossing over rocks with a baby in her sling dancing and laughing as I practically wet myself!!!



Still twas a fabboo weekend, a nice break from the norm!!

Best Mother's Day Ever!!

Happy Belated Mother's Day!!!

Hope all the mums out there had a great day, I know I did.

At 7:30am Dylan crept into my bed (Arabella had been asleep for about 15mins...) and we shared a Thorntons chocolate covered strawberry fondant pig, my break from Lent. Yummy. When himself got up at about 8:30, he was sleeping in the spare room because of his snoring, he took Dylan downstairs and they made me breakfast in bed and brought me my pressies; 2 handmade cards, Harvest Fishing for the DS, Look magazine and oh so yummy, Hersheys kisses: Cookies n Cream!!! Fabbooo, what a healthy breakfast!!!

When we were all up and dressed, we decided to go out for the day. Dad had given me a 'Discover Northern Ireland' leaflet with 2for1 deals on and loads of suggestions for family days out. We chose the Navan Centre & Fort, Armagh, about 50mins away. It was the perfect choice and I can't write enough nice things about the place.

Going in there were only about 5 cars in the carpark despite the great weather. It was cheap admission (£8 for us all) and the staff were so helpful and accomodating. The interactive exhibition was so interesting and Dylan got to make 2 badges to take home. They put on the film in the theatre especially for us, we chose the shorter version and when we went up to the settlement we had 2 staff members dress up and reenact what life was like during the bronze age. We got to sit in their house and experience bread and butter making and the various ways of cooking. Dylan loved their stories especially to hear that the warriors fought naked and painted in blue!!! A bit different to his knights costume!!!!!

After our picnic we climbed the hill to the fort and Dyl and me had great fun rolling down again, I was exhausted but never laughed so hard (since watching 'The Human Centipede' last weekend!!!!!)

Must dash now and put some swaps together and do some housework while Arabella sleeps....

March Madness

Well, we’ve had a great week here, weather glorious, although we had a return to the usual wet today...




Been keeping busy with baby~ she’s growing big, and boy~ getting more homework, baking and making.



Projects completed this past week:

• Baked Hazelnut Cookies (yes they look like dog pooh but they were yummy!)

• Made a Paddy’s Day Banner & matching biscuits (lucky teacher even got one!)

• Dusted off Knitting Needles and have whipped up 3 ears, 2 heads, 2 torsos for Tiny Easter Bunnies

• Cut Out Felt Pieces to make Gio’s belt (from ‘Team Umioomi!!)

• Moved baba to the cot and decorated a space in our room for her

Also may need to start on another knitted cupcake for swap-bot, the last one may be lost somewhere in the post. I’m waiting on a rating...



At the weekend we made the best of the good weather and went to the National Leprechaun Hunt in aid of Crumlin Children’s Hospital, in Carlingford. 50 leprechauns were hidden up a mountain, each worth a cash sum between 5-100 yoyos. We arrived in good time, for an Irish event, paid our 5 yoyos for our hunting licences and followed the band to the hunting ground.... So far so good...

BUT

What they failed to tell us was that it was about a 2mile trek up the mountain to the big field. This was all well and good for those without kids... Knowing it was in the mountains I had baba in her sling but many Mammies and Daddies were forced to push buggies up tiny stoney, bumpy paths to reach the top. Those of us with younger kids with little legs had to carry and stop for rests (and supplies) every now and then before we reached the hunting ground. This meant that groups of teens and families with older kids reached the destination first and by the time the rest of us arrived most of the lerechains had been found. TBH there wasn’t much ‘finding’ to be done apparently the wee leprechauns were sat out in the open on a first come first served basis.... Not exactly fair for the wee kiddies who were promised a good hunt if they dragged themselves on their wee legs to the top of the hill.... I had a very put out wee man on the way back down the mountain....



Still it was all in aid of a good cause, and we’ll know for next time. At least there’s only one little boy at our exclusive Easter Egg hunt in a few weeks time. He might be in with a chance of finding something then!!!!