Innocent Alphabet Champions - X is for...

I'm a big fan of innocent as a brand. Not only are their smoothies and veg pots really delicious and convenient when on the go, but they make sneaking in a couple of those well needed 5 a day a doddle, especially when it comes to the kids! They use plenty of fruit in their drinks so they are bursting with flavour and they even make tubes which are 100% puree and juice that are ideal for lunch boxes. I couldn't really ask for more, especially with them currently being half price in many supermarkets too. We certainly took advantage of the offer recently.

Center Parcs Family Blogger Club

Most of our trips within the UK involve camping but we would love a more luxurious retreat to a Center Parcs Village, Elveden Forest in particular. Having access to the Subtropical Swimming Paradise and Wild Water Rapids, going on the TORNADO™ and the BehemothBOWL™ and staying in a beautiful 3 bedroomed Woodland Lodge would be amazing. 

The perfect location to create more magical memories together as a family.

We have NEVER been to Center Parcs before so it would be a wonderful experience for us.

I'd love to hire bikes to explore the area, have a go at some water sports on the lake and have a relaxing treatment at the spa. 

It sounds like the ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of every day life.

Center Parcs currently have a bloggers challenge where you can win a break to 1 of 4 of their villages -

 the video below is our entry.

It shows who we are as a family, our love of playing outdoors and what activities we really enjoy.

What do you love to do as a family?

We want to be members of the Center Parcs Family Blogger club #CPFamilyBreaks and this is our entry.

You can find out more information on the challenge here:

http://www.centerparcs.co.uk/blog/the_blog_competition.jsp

Mussels in white wine sauce

Having received a lovely bundle of seafood from Fish is the Dish and wanting to take part in their Healthy Happy Hearts challenge, I found myself cooking mussels for the first time earlier this week. Eating two portions of fish a week can help to improve your well being so it's definitely worth a go! You can read more about the benefits of eating fish here: http://www.fishisthedish.co.uk/category/health/the-benefits-of-2-a-week

 

Ingredients

Mussels (debeared and cleaned)

50ml olive oil

2 cloves of garlic or 1 tbsp garlic puree

1 onion, chopped

120ml dry white wine

1tsp thyme

1tsp parsley

 

Method

Heat the olive oil in a pan and add the onion and garlic, allowing to soften for a few minutes.

Add the herbs and stir through

Add the mussels to the pan (I found this helpful to read on how to clean and debeard them http://www.wikihow.com/Cook-Mussels) and pour over the white wine.

Bring to the boil and serve once all of the mussels have opened (takes around 5 minutes, if any do not open dispose of them).

 

 

 

Scoff!

 

 

My dream kitchen

I don't have a fairy godmother, genie in a lamp or a money tree growing in the garden so unfortunately for me my kitchen will have to remain how it is for now. I feel ashamed to let people in it at the moment with the plaster and wallpaper falling off and the old fashioned, tatty worktops.

Whenever we save up the pennies there is always something else that ends up breaking down/needs replacing/takes priority - isn't that always the way?!

However I am quite a dreamer and this is how I would love my kitchen diner to be, one day....

Image from Homebase 

I love the light wood and dark worktops of these units. I pop into our local DIY stores quite frequently, collect brochures and admire it on display.  I'd love a breakfast bar so we can sit and natter in the mornings and so the Mini Mes can watch me cooking away in the evening while we talk about their day at school. Some under unit lighting and lots of storage would be perfect and a nice new shiny floor as ours was damaged by a leak last year. I wonder if the wine comes with it...

Images from Kitchen Science 

I'd like a new cooker that actually has space in it for more than one tray at a time. One with lights so I can see the food without opening the oven and making my cakes go flat! I'd like gas hobs rather than electric to be able to monitor the temperature better.

Images from SavesDirect and Faucets

Somewhere funky to wash up to make it seem less of a chore. Our current sink is square and rather boring, I love curves.

Image from Mosaic Village.

Some red thrown in to to make it super vibrant. With red tiles and some red accessories I think it would look lovely.

Image from Blinds4UK

Some blinds (as simple as it may seem) as the window is not currently covered and I'd like to save the neighbours from seeing me in my dressing gown every day.

Images from Amazon and Vinyl signs by ornamentation

A beautiful new table. Somewhere classy yet comfortable to enjoy meals now that the Mini Mes are older and wont destroy it with crayon. Plus some wall art about family as that is so important to us.


But back to normality. This is our kitchen at the moment. Erm, beautiful hey!