Where Should I Go For My Holidays In 2014

Ok, So I know it is only a matter of weeks until Christmas, but I have already started to think of places to visit next year. Now obviously I would love a holiday abroad but with my current position at work being only temporary, holidaying abroad will have to wait for a more stable work front. I have however been looking at all the wonderful places within the UK that wont break the bank and still be an enjoyable and memorable holiday for us both.

More and more families are taking short breaks within the UK and Butlins has always been a holiday I wanted to take with Aalliyah. I think the thing that appeals to me most about a Butlins holiday is the vast amount of activities and adventures that there are to enjoy. Whether you are an active, sporty family or prefer to relax more on your holidays there is literally something for everyone in the family to enjoy on a Butlins holiday. Everyone knows that Butlins are most well known for there infamous shows that they put on but there a many other things to indulge in such as traditional fairground attractions, sports activities and coaching and plenty of water fun with their fabulous pools and slides. I know Aalliyah would be in her element and would jump at the chance to enjoy some professional sports coaching and would definitely enjoy trying out some activities for the first time like archery or rock climbing. A holiday is the perfect reason to try something new so what better way than taking part in some fantastic activities.

All this fun isn't just for the young ones either, there is plenty of fun to be had by the adults too with wonderful evening shows, aerial adventures, bowling or relaxing in one of gorgeous luxury spas. Plus who says you cant enjoy the fairground or the Splash Waterworld as much as the youngsters? I know we could have so much fun on a Butlins holiday and certainly have every opportunity to make some wonderful memories. After looking at the parks I think I would be most likely to visit the Skegness or Bognor Regis parks, both such beautiful places and perfect for beach sports. I am strongly considering booking a Butlins break and look forward to planning our break next year wherever it may be.

Have you started making holiday plans yet? Where are you planning to go? Why not find out more about 2014 UK Holiday Breaks at Butlins and see if its something you fancy for your family.

Center Parcs Family Blogger Club - #CPFamilyBreaks.

Center Parcs has always been a place I wanted to visit, In particular their Sherwood Forest village. There is just something magical about that place! With all the activities you are able to do at a Center Parcs resort I know it would make for a perfect holiday for Aalliyah, who likes nothing better than activity and adventure. Which is something I love too! But I fear I may enjoy the spa just a tad more :) Well I need to relax somehow after all the non stop action throughout the day. Bike rides, nature, sports... Fantastic!

We would love to become an official Center Parcs Family Blogger and have made a video showing how we like to have fun as a family. This is our entry into the Tot100 Center Parcs Family Blogger Challenge which you can find out more about by clicking here.

What ways do you like to have fun as a family?

Travelodge Review

When going on holiday one of the most important things is choosing the right place to stay. Whether in the UK or abroad a bad hotel can ruin the holiday. Whilst on a recent visit to Blackpool, we had the opportunity review a local Travelodge located in the South Shore region of Blackpool.

The location of the hotel is fantastic as it literally takes less than five minute to walk to the beach and Blackpool front, but it far back enough that you still get peace and quiet at night which is great as everyone knows how lively Blackpool gets at night,

The hotel is large with over 400 rooms on 4 floors. We were on the top floor which was not a problem as there were elevators if you didn't fancy the stair climb. The room itself was a double. It was immaculately clean when we arrived. I was really impressed at how neat and tidy everything was. Nothing was out of place and there wasn't even a spec of lint on the carpet. 10 out of 10 for the housekeeping. We had an en suite which was designed lovely and featured a bath and a shower. There was a TV with free to air channels , a kettle and plenty of tea and coffee which all got replenished when the room was cleaned. The bed was amazing. If I could have sneaked out with it strapped to my back I would have! Super comfortable.

I know that Aalliyah would choose the breakfast as her favorite thing of the whole holiday! Travelodge offer a fantastic breakfast service. It is an all you can eat buffet style breakfast featuring cooked breakfasts, cereals, jams etc and what's more is that children eat free with a paying adult. Fantastic value for money and on the second day we visited the Blackpool pleasure beach and our hearty breakfast kept us going right through until later that evening when we went out for dinner. If you don't fancy eating out they served dinner too and always have a full stocked bar.

The staff were always on hand to answer any queries and there was someone at the front desk at all times. The service received at Travelodge was outstanding and I wouldn't hesitate to go back. I am returning to Blackpool in April next year and I am certainly going to be staying here again. You are guaranteed a pleasant stay here in a nice clean hotel with everything you could need and I recommend Travelodge to anyone whether single, couples or with children.

Going away? Why not check out Travelodge where you can find great rates across many different locations.

*Complimentary stay received for review purposes. All opinions are 100% honest and my own.

Silent Sunday

Blackpool Bound..

As much as I would love to be going on a "proper" holiday in the summer holidays (and by proper I mean abroad and for at least a week) sadly its just not going to happen yet. Among other things money just isn't flowing too much right now. So while most of the summer holidays is going to be filled with swimming, cinema, picnics and country parks, I did want to have at least a night away somewhere just me and Aalliyah.

I decided on Blackpool as I havent been for years and Aalliyah has never been and with so many local attractions making Blackpool a very appealing choice we are all booked up for a 2 night break. We are really looking forward to all that Blackpool has to offer. Can you believe that Aalliyah is 10 years old and this will be the first time we have actually been to a beach together?? MADNESS!!

We will be visiting the Pleasure Beach and the Blackpool Tower and then the rest of the time I'm sure will be spent relaxing in the sunshine watching the waves. Being a MASSIVE Spongebob fan Aalliyah is super excited to visit Nickelodeon Land and we are both pretty nervous about going to visit the tower with its remarkable glass floor.

We are setting off on the 22nd of August and already counting down the sleeps...

Are you planning a trip to Blackpool? How about winning a ticket for 2 people for the Blackpool Tower!!

Valid until December so plenty of time to use it.

Fill in the rafflecopter below and best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Summer Holiday Essentials

It's that time of year where most of us are packing our bags and jetting of to a far away land of sun, sea and sand. Sadly for me this years holiday is not going to stretch much further than the good old English beaches, but for the rest of you lucky lot I have come up with a top ten of your holiday essentials from T-Shirts to Tea bags. Now you might be looking at some of them and thinking "Well obviously!" but you would be surprised at some of the simple things us Brits forget to pack.

1. Luggage - OK,so before anything else, the first thing you need is luggage. The type of luggage you need will depend on where you are going. Are you traveling with someone? or children? Then you will need a fair sized suitcase for all your things. Going on a short city break then check out the smaller sized cabin suitcase ranges available.
2. Clothing - Yes I'm talking about your T-shirts, shorts and what ever else you plan to wear out and about on your holidays. It's all very well to get the sexy swimsuit and designer sandals sorted but when it comes to walking around town or going out for dinner your bikini just wont cut it. Don't forget the wardrobe essentials!
3. Swimwear - Most guys will just pick out any old pair of trunks and be done with it. But for us ladies picking the perfect swimsuit takes time, planning and lots of prototypes! We take this kind of thing seriously. After all this is the thing that we have been dieting for , this is the single most important item of clothing in the suitcase and the reason we have been doing early morning sit ups religiously for. We can all look decent enough in a pair of linen shorts and a cute T-shirt, but when it comes to the swimsuit we have to look "bellissimo".Lucky for us ladies we are inundated with women's swimwear designs so you are sure to find one that's perfect for you.
4. Cables/Leads/Chargers - Nearly all of us will take some sort of gadget with us on holiday and with the iPods, Kindle's, Smart phone's, digital cameras and camcorders taken away with us it's not surprising that many of us will forget the necessary chargers needed to use them. Don't forget your chargers and if needed an adapter for your plug dependent on the country you are visiting.
5. Toiletries - Forgetting your essential toiletries on holiday can be as bad as forgetting your clothes. After all imagine having to go for week without your shampoo and skin cream. Granted we could get some toiletries at the hotel but us ladies know how naked we feel without our favorite perfume on. Get yourself a toiletry bag and fill that baby right up. You can never take too many toiletries.
6. A Good Book - Delays are inevitable when travelling. Even if travel plans go smoothly there will be some point in your journey that you will be waiting around whether its waiting to check in or even on a long plane journey a good book or even a couple of your favorite glossy magazines are a must. Beat the boredom and pass the time a little quicker by getting lost in some literature even if it is from "Vogue".
7. Protection - No, I'm not talking about the rubber kind (although if you are single and looking to mingle then go for it) I'm talking about UV protection. Too many people get ill from not taking the necessary precautions in the heat, so remember your sun cream, hats and your sun shades. Enjoy the sun as much as you like after all that's why we go, but stay safe and sensible in the sun.
8. A Good Brew - Chances are that when you are away you will have to endure some not so pleasant local teas and coffees. So if like me you know what you like (in my case a good strong mug of Yorkshire tea) then don't forget to pop a few tea bags in your case or if coffee is your thing put some into a zip lock bag and tuck it away. I personally can't start the day without my brew and I would never go abroad without taking some...just in case.
9. Sensible Shoes - While we have so much fun purchasing our sexy sandals we just now are going to look so hot against our tanned feet on the beach chances are you are going to be doing much more walking than you would at home. Even strolling along the beach is bound to clock up those miles. If you know you are going to be going sightseeing or maybe visiting some nearby towns then comfortable footwear is a must! Don't let painful blisters ruin your day and cut your walks short. Try out your footwear before you by them. Can you imagine walking all day in them?
10. First Aid Kit - You don't have to rush out to the nearest chemist and purchase an expensive first aid kit. Get yourself a cheap toiletry bag and fill with the first aid essentials should you have any minor injuries  Make sure you have some plasters, insect repellent, bite/sting cream, painkillers, diarrhea remedies and some antihistamines. Chances are your wont need to use any but if you get in any trouble at least you have it to hand. Also you could be charged an obscene amount of money for emergency treatment/medicines, even if it was just Piriton!

So there you have it, my own top ten holiday essentials. Yes I could have easily wrote a top 100 as the list is endless when you start thinking of what to bring on holiday but with these things you are sure to have a safe and worry free holiday! With so many places online now, its easy to snap up some last minute bargains for your holiday. Take a look on Littlewoods online and check our their range of everything you need for a perfect summer vacation.

Are you going away this year? I'd love to know where you are going? What do you pack and more to the point what do you always forget?

Playing Catch Up..

I have been out of Twitter and Blog land for just a few short weeks, but its seems like a lifetime! It seems to have the same kind of ratio as human to dog years and I have so much reading to catch up on it is unreal. Things took priority for the past few weeks and with Christmas fast approaching, I had so much to do, so my poor blog had to take a back seat.

Things are still going great with Weight Watchers, I have officially lost 2 stone and reached my 10% milestone so I am very happy with that. So besides the weight watching, Christmas shopping and catching up on bits and bobs, that's pretty much what I have been up to these past few 
weeks.

I have so much reading and writing of posts to be getting on with so TTFN.. :-)