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Simplified Mum Life

Nina A Spencer – Motherhood Mentor – Simplifying the every day for busy overwhelmed mums -Mum Of Twins Twice! Placenta Accreta Survivor, Mental Health Champion, On my own simple living Journey filled with adventure and travel . Embracing The Imperfectly, Chaotic moments of motherhood.
Screen Free Weekends

Screen Free Weekend – Splash Park Fun #Linky

Good morning everyone.
It’s Monday. And time for Screen Free Linky
So this weekend was not so good in the giving up screens. Hubby went easy Saturday and I like to check his journey.
On Sunday morning the kids woke and wanted their tablets. So while I looked up somewhere to go for the day they watched YouTube!
After we had got up and dressed however the screens went off. We had breakfast and spent the day at the park.

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I did check on hubby via Text message but for the most of the day we were screen free.
In the evening we had dinner at Nanny’s and then home to bed. Where we watched a little tv. And after the kids had gone to sleep I txt chatted with Hubby.
So not a total fail. However. I vow to do better in the coming weeks!
Watch this space

 

Here are a few reasons why screen free time is important.

  • Screen time can be linked to childhood obesity. – The more time you spend online the less time you spend outside playing and exercising.
  • Screens at bedtime and in the couple of hours before bed has been proven to disrupt sleep patterns. Not just in children bug in adults too.
  • Childhood Psychological problems such as emotional issues, hyperactivity and social skills are more likely to occur in those who have more than 2 hours screen time a day.
  • If you are immersed in screen life you are almost cutting yourself off from “real life. – living in the moment.
  • More Screen time means less time connecting with people in the real world.

 

So with these reasons in mind I will try harder next week.
How did you get on?
Have you blogged about it?
Leave your Linky here.

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So linky rules
Each Monday evening I will post how we were screen free over the weekend

  • Linky will be live from Monday evening to Friday morning.
  • Posts should be your own work.
  • Only one post per person please.
  • It’s only fair that we share the linky love by commenting on at least two other posts.
  • I will feature one blogger each week in my post so unplug those cables & let’s have some screen free time.

Share your posts on Twitter or Instagram using the #screenfreeweekends @readyforacuppa I will try to comment & retweet each one

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Health & Fitness

Fitness Friday – Feeling Fluttery

Good Evening,

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I last weeks post I said i was going to put up a vlog on how I got on with my yoga – This is a big fat fail.

I did have 3 days of doing my yoga in a morning but time just runs away with me.

We’ve had a few upsets this week a couple I’ve vlogged about (Video Due Monday)

And a couple I’ve not really spoke about.

Anyway

Fitness wise here is where I am –

I have been swimming 3 time this past week and done on average 6000 steps

I have also started with a better diet. cutting out a lot of rubbish.

Apart from a little niggle I’m having with flutters in my chest that I think are part of my anxiety I feel a little healthier as I write this! (I have been to drs and I’m awaiting a 24 ecg monitor)

Next weeks goals

Average of 8000 steps through the week

Swim three times

Get outside more!

This weekly blog is not only for my physical fitness but my mental fitness to!

So I have also started listing 3 things I am grateful for each day in a journal. I have only started a  couple of days a go but I want to keep this up next week also!

Sorry I haven’t really words of inspiration for you this week but I hope it might help you to know that we all have off days!

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Collaborations

Me Time for Mum- #AD 

In July I attended Tescos Christmas in July  event. While I was there I called in to Focus PR’s event too. At the event were a number of different company’s some I’ve heard of before some I had never heard of but liked the sound of them. one of these latter was a company called Conscious Water.

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Conscious water make water enhancers these are to be enjoyed while you take a moment. They don’t claim to have healing powers it’s all about the flavour and the experience.

Give yourself 5 mindful minutes

Pick the aspiration you need, take a few deal breaths then Grab a 250ml glass of water and simply fold the sachet in half over the glass and the essence will drop out of the bottom. Give it a stir and enjoy the moment.

There are several essences to choose from

  • Serenity – ”

    God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

    Reinhold Niebuhr

  • Sweet Dreams –

    “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them”

    Walt Disney

  • Clarity –

    “A lack of clarity could put the brakes on any journey to success”

    Steve Maraboli

  • Happiness –

    “Happiness is not something ready-made it comes from your own
    actions”.

    The Dalai Lama

  • Love – ”

    Where there is love there is life”

    Mahatma Gandhi

  • Rejuvenation –

    “We must always change, renew, & rejuvenate ourselves, otherwise we harden”

    Goethe

Each one is blended with flower essences that are specifically chosen to help create the above aspiration.

The aspirations are safe for children to drink as the only contain natural ingredients.  When I spoke to one of the team at the event they also told me that they are soon to bring out a range specifically for children. To help them concentrate on study, sleep better and more.

Conscious Water can be bought directly from the company for further information please head on over to their site for more information.

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This post is not a sponsored post, however, I did receive the sample pack free as a taster from the event!

All the opinions are my own

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Adventures

Family Date Night – Roof Top Starlight Cinema – Lanzarote

A while back I spotted on someone’s Facebook page an article about a new roof top cinema in Lanzarote. We often head to Lanzarote for our Holidays so put it on our list of must visit places.

Its such an amazing space with all the up to date films showing and a few of the classics 

Open Air Cinema

 

Our first visit back in 2016 was Enchanted which was the only film really suited to our big twins. At the time they were our only twins.

While we were there we had an ice-cream just outside the cinema area. Where you can sit and have a drink & snack either in the day or before you film. There is also a 6D Cinema experience at the rooftop. Although we didn’t go this time we have been to another one on the island.

For me & Hubby we booked a deal where you get entry, popcorn and a drink for just 20euro the popcorn came in quite a big tub so we had one tub and J & M had the other.

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On the day we arrived early to get a good seat, it was a good job we did as it soon got busy! The seating area is at the top of the shopping centre with views over Puerto Del Carmen and out towards the sea.

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As we were early we had a bit of food from the Starcaf before the film. There are Panini’s, cocktails, beer, sweets, cakes and of course popcorn. I had a cheese & Ham croissant. Which was delicious.  There is even a service button on the tables so that you can order drinks and snacks throughout the film. M kept pressing ours by accident.

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Soon after the sun had set headphones were handed around enabling you to listen in English or Spanish.

The film then started and J & M snuggled down with the blanket and cushion that are provided on each seat.

The film ended and we J had fell asleep & M was about to so we scooped them up and as we left they were given a balloon each.

I loved our Family date night at the Starlight Cinema and I’m looking forward to our next trip to Lanzarote So that we can go again.

If you are visiting Lanzarote anytime soon I would recommend an evening at the rooftop Cinema.

You can more details  here.

Nina x 

This post was written without compensation, payment or discount.

The views are entirely my own.

Adventures

500+ women camping in the forest  – can only mean one thing. 

Yes two weekends ago it was The unofficial WI camp “Tea & Tents”

For months us young uns of our WI have been planning for our 3 night camping trip to Walesby scout camp with over 500 other members of The Woman’s Institute.

This year Tea & Tents is in its 3rd year and our 2nd year of attending.

Last year we were newbies not only to Tea & Tents but also to the WI. This year we sort of knew what to expect.

We put our names down to volunteer at a slot over the weekend.

We ordered our merchandise.

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And then on the Friday we packed up my VW and off we went.

We arrived not long after 6pm,  the camp opened at 5pm yet there were already loads of camp areas already set up with pretty bunting and lights.

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We finally found a space to park Delilah ( my VW)  And set to putting up our tent and making our area look pretty .

Then we changed into our new T-shirts and grabbed our picnic and headed over to the main marquee to listen to the “camp opening meeting” unfortunately we were only able to listen from outside as it was already full inside.

We sat and listened through the canvas while we ate our picnic.

There were still people arriving as it was turning dark.  A few of us went to help one lady set her tent up as she was on her own and had arrived in the dark with the biggest tent on site I reckon.

Afterwards we headed back to the tent and snuggled down for the evening.

Saturday we got up and after we had made breakfast & had a Cuppa We headed to put or names down for some of the workshops. Unfortunately by the time we arrived our first options were already full up. So me & S decided to go for a facial.

After a late lunch it was time for the market place.

Lots of lovely stalls selling craft packs, homemade items, jams and cakes.

While a couple of our group went to do their volunteer slot I ordered pizza for us all.

We were going to join the camp fire but we just ended up chatting and made a little fire in the BBQ to have our own little bonfire. We even toasted some marshmallows.

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Sunday  morning was my volunteer slot. I was in charge of the photo booth with another lady but it seemed after Saturday night 9.30 was too early for anyone to want their photos took.

When I had finished my slot I rejoined my friends who had brought me over a bacon buttie and we lined up to get our names on a workshop. Myself and H booked onto vintage curtain ring brooches and S & E booked onto square weaving.

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Before our workshops started there was time for a bit of yoga.

In the afternoon we had booked a dip in a hot tub. By the time it was our slot it was quite windy and the hot tub didn’t feel very hot!

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While in there we got talking to one of the *squirrels she was telling us about her own WI in London. She also gave us a bit of inspiration for our position in our own WI.

By the time we got out I was shivering and couldn’t seem to get warm.

Sunday night was the Big Quiz.

We cooked some jacket potatoes warmed some beans and took them up to the quiz.

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We did quite well in the quiz. And we’re quite impressed with ourselves. Especially on the Tv themes round.

There was one theme that hit with all of us. If I just say “In west Philadelphia born and raised on a playground is where I spent most of my days…..” Leave in the comments below if you know what this is. 🙂

A marquee full of women singing was one of the highlights of the weekend!

Monday morning came and I actually forgot it was my birthday! Until I came out of the tent and the E had put some gifts out on my chair. 🙂

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Everyone woke up and we slowly took down our home for the past 3 nights.

We got bitten to hell on camp and there were a couple of things that were a bit rubbish but all in all the camp was amazing. A great time to get to know one another and to meet new friends.

A chance to take part in activities you might not take part in any other time!

We just found out yesterday that the organisers are taking a break in 2017 but the camp will be back in 2018 and I for one am looking forward to doing it all again!

 

It seems I didnt take as many photos as I thought! I must try better next time!

*squirrel – one of the volunteers that help in the running of the event. Making sure the other volunteers know what they are doing and generally making sure the camp is going ok.

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Where to next?