Where have you travelled? - Day 29 of 31 Day Blog Challenge.

Not many places really. I've travelled all over the Scotland and England when I was younger with my family then when I was a teenager I woke up in those same random places with a hangover and no recollection of how I got there.

Only been out of the UK twice.

Once when I was a teenager I visited Italy with a youth group. We sang for the Pope and what not but I really wish I could remember more of it. I feel like the sights such as the Vatican City and the Colosseum where a bit lost on me when I was in my early teens. I remember how beautiful they were but I feel to go back and see them ten years later would be so much better. Such beauty. Also, remember one women outside the Vatican with one eye begging for money, could be the first and last time I have seen an infected empty eye socket.

Also went to Tenerife with my grandparents when I was a teenager. I didn't enjoy it much, that's not a reflection on my grandparents, it was great of them to take me. But sitting in a hot country by the pool in a bikini is not my idea of a holiday. We did do some mountain walking, which is right up my holiday street, but by then I had a tan and my feet were so sunburned they'd swollen up really badly that I was just miserable.

Yes, boring post was boring, sorry guys.

love from

ZXSquecktrum

Mini Make Up Madness: Bruise Edition.

So, Hello, remember me?

I'm Jen and I ran this blog before I was distracted with such things in life as college, video games, books, Christmas shopping and dog sitting. I believe I have not posted on this blog since late September which is terrible and I want to jump back into the swing of things with a fun little blog post.

Auntie Julia Comes Bearing Gifts.

Back when we had a little heat wave, my best friend picked up a few thing for Reuben but life got in the way and we ended up not seeing each other for a while. We arranged for her to come over last night for a little visit and it was lovely. Not only did she pick out some great clothes for Reuben, I got a little surprise too! A skirt and a McDonald's! My first ever Big Mac!

OOTD: Comfort at the museum.

Very rarely to I choose frump, ahem, I mean comfort over what I think looks good if I'm going on a day out but I was very lazy today:
Rocked a pair of shiny grey skinny jeans teamed with black ankle boots with a few tank tops to cover my belly in case I ate to much and got bloated, which turned out to be a great idea.
Tops: Primark
Jeans: New Look.

Bracelet: Vivienne Westwood
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell Gene Ankle boots.

Extras-
Hair Dye: Special Effects Atomic Pink
Lipstick: MAC Haute Altitude.

This is my first Outfit Of The Day post so be nice. These might not be something I do often thought I'd try it out and see how I feel about these posts.

love from

ZXSquecktrum

£5 = £10 = New Make Up!

So Tesco sent me a a  £5 'Clubcard Boost' voucher that I can exchange for £10 to spend in certain departments which seemed pretty cool really. You can also use them for days out, for example £2.50 in vouchers can be used to a cinema ticket. I must admit, I was tempted to try to have a social life sometime soon but then I found out that one of the departments covered is the cosmetics department.

£10 isn't much but when you are in need of new mascara and eye liner you're not gonna give it up to sit in a dark room full of people you don't know talking over a the film you are trying to watch, are you?? Well, I'm not!

Marimo : Easy Plants for Children.

So, my son loves plants. We planted some Thyme a few months ago and he's really enjoyed watching they grow. Every few days he comes up and shouts 'baby plants, baby plants!' and we go and look at them.
So naturally I wanted to get him a few more plants and even after Granny donated some Basil, it was not enough. I wanted the worlds cutest plants. Marimo!

Marimo are a rare type of algae that grow in balls at the bottom of lakes/lochs in the nothern hemisphere. They are only known to grow in Japan, Scotland, Iceland and Estonia. I think they are the cutest thing ever. Like little green balls of velvet!
Not only are the one of the cutest plants in the world, they are super easy to take care of.
They only need minimal sunlight and a water change every 1-2 weeks. They grow at a rate of about 5mm a year and can grow up to 20-30cm!
Just keep the water at room temperature and pop in the fridge if they get above 25°C. Careful though, they don't survive freezing temps!
Oh, and, you can use them in fish tanks as mini filters as they clean the water!!

Colour Co-ordination Game. (using coloured pasta)

A simple little game that's tonnes of fun for who ever is involved!

Simply by using a few coloured bowls and pasta dyed to match those bowls, you have a super fun activity both you and your toddler will love! Super simple and can be put away and played over and over again. Actually, for a few days after, Reuben didn't want to play any other game!
Pasta Dying Tutorial Here!

Best thing to happen this year? - Day 22 of 31 Day blog challenge.

When I asked Michael what is the best thing to happen to us this year, Reuben told me that it was being on a bus. It's nice to know the highlight of my sons year has been a trip on a bus.

I don't know what the best thing to happen to me was. I want to say going to college but in all honesty, I was miserable at my course. If I get into college again this year to study Make Up Artistry  i'll say that.

love from

ZXSquecktrum

Dying Pasta For Crafts.

This is a super simple tutorial that can get used in all sorts of different arts and crafts as well as fun learning activities.
I will link any activities I use the dyed pasta in so you can have as much fun as we have had with them!

Quick note; I did notice that the blue did not seem to take as well but i'm assuming it's because it is not a natural colour like the others.

A difficult time in your life? - Day 20 of 31 Day blog Challenge.

I suppose I've had a few difficult times in my life. Without trying to sound melodramatic and attention seeking I genuinely have. I will put it in a read more in case anyone is sensitive to triggers.
I also will not link this post to my various social media sights as it would take you into the read more and I don't want to trigger you lovelies <3

17th June : Coffee Mornings, Free Flowers and Squizzle Throwing.

I may have mentioned it on this blog before but, One of my local churches runs a little coffee morning on a Wednesday morning. If you wanted, it's free, but Michael and myself give a wee donation. Reuben refused to give them a couple of pennies from his wallet this day though, which was quit embarrassing.
As I was getting ready Reuben decided to pick himself out a outfit...

I appreciated his enthusiasm but no underwear, no trousers, a pyjama top, sun hat and welly boots on the wrong feet is not an outside outfit! Think Mummy will pick out your outfits from now on Mr.

What is your most proud moment. - Day 17 of 31 Day blog challenge.

I don't know, anything to do with Reuben learning new things makes my heart swell with pride.

Like just now, he's transitioned from the phonetic alphabet to the ABC's  without a problem. Well, aside from that things kids do when L, M, N, O, P becomes one word! PROUD MAMA.

He's can count to twenty. Knows 20, 30, 40 etc. Knows 100, 200, 300 etc. PROUD MAMA.

Today I taught him about how food gets to your belly and he totally understood. PROUD MAMA.

First time Reuben sat up. PROUD MAMA.

First time Reuben walked. PROUD MAMA.

First time Reuben does anything PROUD MAMA.

Any time he recalls the events of a day in a picture taken weeks ago. PROUD MAMA.


Just anything really. Everyday with a child just fills you with this undying pride that can not be overshadowed by anything. They are constantly learning and there is no greater feeling knowing you have contributed to that knowledge.

love from

ZXSquecktrum

A selection of funny pictures from the past few days.

So, Reuben has been feeling a bit better now that it has cooled down a bit. So here is the funniest pictures from the past few days. Some of them have been intentional funny faces, some just ended up funny.

love from

ZXSquecktrum

What's your earliest memory? - Day 13 of 31 day blog challenge.

I don't know. In all honest, I can not remember much of my childhood at all.
Although, I can vaguely recall hiding in a suitcase while my mum went to the toilet then jumped out and scared her when I was very young.
I also remember going to a restaurant with my mum and her friends and loudly telling every one at our table that my mum lies in the bath with sliced cucumber over her eyes.

Basically me just upsetting and embarrassing my mum is all I remember off my childhood. Sorry Edith.

love from

ZXSquecktrum

What's inside your fridge? - Day 12 of 31 Day Blog Challenge.

Let us do this thing shelf by shelf.

Top Shelf.

9 Gala apples.
2 tubs of butter.
4 pack Alpro soya Vanilla desserts.
Michaels pickle-type things.
Mayonnaise.
2 orange juice boxes.


Middle Shelf.

1/3 Watermelon.
Tub of Coconut oil.
Elderflower cordial.
Lemonade.



Bottom Shelf.

2 bags of carrots.







Door.

Unsalted butter.
Block of mature cheddar.
Cheesestrings.
2 tubs soft cheese.
Soya milk.
2 cartons whole milk.



Please do not judge me that not everything is organic.
If I could afford it, everything in the kitchen would be.

love from

ZXSquecktrum

List your fifteen favorite things. - Day 11 of 31 day blog challenge.

Favorite TV Shows:
1. Doctor Who.
2. Bones.
3. Criminal Minds.

Favorite Games:
3. Army of Two.
4. Pokemon (any pokemon game really)

Favorite food:
5. Cheese.

Favorite Drink:
6. Lemonade served on a tonne of ice with a drizzle of Elderflower cordial.
7. Guinness.

Favorite Band:
8. The Cure.

Favorite books to read to Reuben:
9. Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers.
10. Dinosaurs love Underpants by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort.

Favorite Activities:
11. Baking.
12. Eating.
13. Sleeping.
14. Pampering myself.
15. Teaching Reuben lots of new things.

love from

ZXSquecktrum

10th June: The Perfect Present, Pictures with Daddy and The Un-wanted Lollypop.

So, as most of you may know, I am a huge Pokemon fan so naturally I would try and get my child into Pokemon as well. Started him off on Black and White a few months ago and we've also watched a few movies together and he loves it. Or more so, he loves Pikachu. When we are watching he basically shouts 'LOOK MUM LOOK, IT'S PIKACHU!!' whenever he is on the screen, then when he's  not in the shot shouts 'MUM, WHERE'S PIKACHU?'. over and over again. I was having a little look through eBay a few weeks ago when i can across a pikachu baseball cap and how could i resist. Wednesday morning as a sick little toddler was getting his jimjams on for a nap the post man came. I got a video him opening it and his initial reaction to the hat, let us just say he loved it. I did get a few pictures but keep in mind he was having wee hot sweats; so his hair was a riot!!
Look how happy he is in some of the pictures <3

9th July. Pasta Races with Auntie Charlotte.

So the heat wave was still hanging around this day and I think it was one of the warmest days by far. Tried to keep Reuben out the sun as much as possible but we had to go visit my sister as we had not seen her in forever.

Cutie Patootie on the walk down.

Out playing football in the garden.

George Pig socks given to Reuben just Auntie Julia a few weeks ago that he wouldn't wear because they are 'too pretty' and just wanted to look at them and carry them everywhere. Finally got them on, you proud Auntie Julia?

Reuben wouldn't eat his pasta so I challenged Auntie Charlotte and Reuben to a Pasta Race to see who could eat the most pasta, needless to say Auntie Charlotte won!!

Unfortunately both mummy and baby got very grumpy because of the heat and we had to leave and come home.

It had been a long and eventful day so I let him watch a little bit of TV so he put his bean bag in his toy box and just fell asleep in about three minute. Tried talking to him to get him to wake up by himself so i could get a nappy on him and get him up to bed.

it worked for a whole of thirty seconds as he got this far over to me, in a sloth like manner, before crashing on the floor. Needless to say I scooped him up and got a big hug before getting him ready for bed. I always miss getting hugs like I used to when he was tiny, so I take any opportunity I can to have him in my arms.

love from

ZXSquecktrum

What's your best physical feature? - Day 10 of 31 Day Blog Challenge.

I don't know, I've just lost almost two stone since November so I'm feeling pretty body confident all round. Found out I was ten stone on November 25th and vowed to do something about it, and I totally have.

Nothing make me more confident than rocking a size 6.

love from

ZXSquecktrum

What are your worst habits? - Day 9 of 31 Day Blog Challenge.

I can only think of a few:


Smoking.
Smoking is by far my worst. I really do wish i could quit.

Social media.
It's like my morning 'Reuben is eating breakfast' newspaper. Then mid day 'Reuben is napping' newspaper. Then my night time 'Reuben has gone to bed' newspaper.

Leaving everything at my tail.
I'm am not, nor have i ever been, one to tidy up after myself. I leave everything until the last minute before I actually put it away where it's supposed to be.


So I asked Michael:

Breathing.

Leaving things at my tail.

Moaning about Michael waking me up after I've slept through my alarm.

love from

ZXSquecktrum