It's finally Spring and we have been making the most of the beautiful weather we have been blessed with the last few days. We decided to go for a lovely walk and to the park after school one evening. The weather was mild and sunny, perfect for a trip to the park.




We got to the park and the boys noticed there friends were all playing football and scooting on the skate ramp with there scooters! So no photos of the boys unfortunately, I didn't want embarrass them infront of there pals.  The boys are 11 and 13 but I still stayed within a distance I could still keep my eye on them! Ellie and I had a little walk around the edge of the field (and I got a quick jog in because I am determind to loose more weight!) and played frisbee whilst the boys had a kick about with there friends.



We finished up on the play park, Ellie loves the swings, she could seriously spend hours on the swings, bless her. There were quite a few people at the park which was lovely to see so many people out enjoying the gorgeous weather.

The kids break up for Easter this week and we're hoping to have more sunny days so we can get outside more!
We hope you've been able to enjoy the lovely weather, too!

Sarah xXx

Goodness, it has been such a long time (or so it feels) since the last time I blogged. I've been MIA for a while, I took a break from blogging but it feels good to be back! Here are some of the best and worst moments lately.


Negatives:

• I've been poorly a couple of times and my headaches have flared up a couple of times since the last time I blogged but I'm feeling ok now. 
• I've been so busy and haven't had any time to actually blog properly and now I do have time, my mind has gone blank! I had so much to write about. 
• The weather has turned cold again. We were enjoying the sunshine and the mild days. Still though, Spring is not very far away. 

I'm just going to go straight onto the positives because there are SO many positive things to write about and I really don't think I need to focus on anything negative when there are so many positives!

Positives: 

•  I've lost a whole stone since Christmas! Or just before Christmas! A STONE! I've been eating healthy (mostly) and working out. I've still been attending the free fit club once a week, too! My stamina is the best it's been for a long while, I'm more determined than ever to be in those size 10 shorts this summer! I am so proud of myself! It's not easy, not easy at all but it'll be so worth it. I need to do more leg workouts though.
• I've been decorating the front room. Hoorah! Hopefully having the laminate flooring laid this week, again, HOORAH! The front room is now a dark shade of grey on the bottom with a wooden white border (day dough rail.. How do you spell that? haha) in the middle and a pale grey on top. Now I need to save for a new sofa because mine is currently falling apart... 
• Harry's parents evening - I am SO proud of Harry. He is in the top set for English, Maths and will be moving up to the top set for Science next term, too! He's doing incredibly well and has just picked his GCSE options (that's a whole other blog post in itself.) He's doing amazing at school! 
• Ellie's parents evening also went extremely well. Her teacher left Christmas and she has a new teacher. I was a little worried about the change of teachers but I needn't have worried, she's doing great although we do need to work on her times tables and division a little more at home but apart from that, she's settled into year 4 amazingly. 
• The weather has been lovely (minus the last couple of days). We've been to the park a couple of times. 

• I've read a total of thirteen books so far this year. This is such good going for me! Yay! 
• I've been doing some organsing and getting rid of things we don't need. Can't believe how much the kids have grown since Christmas! They're all going to need to be kitted out for summer. Thank goodness for the new Primark! 
• I am still journaling and keeping trackers and lists, which help keep me inspired and motivated! I have quite the pen collection, haha. 
• I celebrated my Birthday at the beggining of March and received some lovely gifts and was spoiled rotten. I feel very blessed to have such an amazing family!  

Things to look forward to:

• Charlie has his parents evening this week! I am of course looking forward to hearing how he's doing at school (Hopefully all good!).
• I am also looking forward to having the laminate flooring laid... I can't wait for that to be done with. 
• Half term and Easter! Not long now, less than two weeks until the kids break up from school, it'll be a well needed rest and break from the school routine. praying for some lovely mild weather, hehe. 

What are your best or worst moments lately? Or what are you looking forward to? Let me know in the comments :)

Sarah xXx

I've done really well with my reading so far this year. I've read a total of thirteen books so far this year. Some short and some longer books. I've stayed up far too late reading & I've read rather a lot whilst I've been on the bus. I wrote a blog post, sharing -some tips- on how to make time to read more.
 I haven't wrote a blog post for a while and I have rather a lot to say but I thought I'd start with some books I've read lately and highly recommend!


In no particular order (because I can't remember what I order I read them in, haha) here are  the books I've read so far this year.

1. Haunted Liverpool 1 by Tom Slemen - A book of short paranormal/spooky/odd/explainable true stories. I really enjoy reading paranormal, spooky stories but I found myself learning a far bit about the past and history of Liverpool in Tom Slemen's books. 
2. Haunted Liverpool 2 by Tom Slemen - Again. A book of short, paranormal and explainable stories. The story where the guy slips back into time... I found that story quite fascinating. 
3. Tressa The 12 year old mum - You may remember this story in the news a few years back. Another true story about a young girl who becomes pregnant at the age 12. Heartbreaking. Truly heartbreaking. 
4. Nobody's Son by Cathy Glass - A true fostering memoir by Cathy Glass. I really enjoy Cathy's books. There's no one I haven't read. Nobody's son tells the story of a young boy who ends up in Cathy's care after being moved from one foster home to another. Needless to say he hasn't had the best of starts. A happy ending in the end and a very emotional read. (Thanks to Harper Collins for sending me this book to review. You can read my full review here) 
5. Between Shades Of Grey by Ruta Sepetys - A re-read. I read this book again because I read the book 'Salt To Sea' and between Shades Of Grey is connected to this book. Historical Fiction that could so easily have been real and so very well researched. Set in 1941, Lina and her family are sent to a camp 6,500 miles away. A harrowing story based on true events. It's truly very sad. Very well written and one of the best books I have ever read. I believe there is a movie coming out some time this year based on this book. 
6. Where she went by Gayle Forman - The sequel to 'If I Stay' A young adult contemporary read. Three years after Mia's devastating accident, she randomly meets up with Adam again...  The first book (If I stay) is from Mia's point of view but 'Where she went' is from Adams oint of view. I didn'f really enjoy this book as much as the first but I am glad I read it! 
7. The Missing by C.L Taylor. Fifteen year old Billy goes mising in the middle of the night, Claire (Billy's mum) blames herself. She does everything she can to possibly find him, putting up poster, T.V appeals and so on... I found this book a little on the slow side and not a book I would personally read again but it had a good plot and the characters ended up being well developed. 
8. Those who Save us by Jenna Blum. Another historical fiction story. Trudy is driven by the guilt of her heritage and is now a professor who un covers the truly harrowing story of her mothers past during the second world war in Nazi occupied Germany. I am really glad I read this book, it's beautifully written and I felt quite connected to Trudy. 
9. My life next door by Huntley Fiztpatrick - Young adult contemporary. Samantha Reed falls in love with the boy next door from the moment he climbs up to her bedroom window, everythign changes. Her mother will never approve. A lovely lighthearted (mostly), fluffy read. 
10. The Secret Of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange. - This is actually a children's book that I found in a charity shop for twenty pence. The best twenty pence I have ever spent! I'm just going to add the blurb here... "1919. Henry has moved to the countryside with her parents and her baby sister, Piglet – all still scarred by the death of her brother. Alone in her head, she begins to explore her surroundings, encouraged by her only friends – characters from her favourite books. Nobody much notices when she wanders into the woods at the bottom of the garden and meets Moth, a striking witch-like woman. Together they form a bond that could help Henry save her family." I rated this book four stars, I really enjoyed this read! 
11. The couple next door by Shari Lepena - I reviewed this book here.
12. The baby laundry for unmarried mothers by Angela Patrick. This book is a true story about a young lady who becomes pregnant in 1963 and is sent to a laundry in Essex as she is an unmarried mother. A few weeks after she has given birth her baby is put up for adoption. Angela really wanted to keep her baby... 30 years later her son contacts her and a reunion is arranged. A truly heartbreaking story. 
13. The Orphans Tale by  Pam Jenoff - "A powerful novel of friendship set in a traveling circus during World War II, The Orphan's Tale introduces two extraordinary women and their harrowing stories of sacrifice and survival" This book is fiction but was very well researched and some parts of the story is based on true events. I rated this book five stars. Beautifully written and easy to read, despite the story being based on very sad and upsetting events. It's a page turner! 
14. The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon. This book is very relevant to today. It's beautifully written but I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would, you can read my full book review 'The Sun Is Also A Star' here.

So those are the books I have read so far this year (although I'm not sure why Goodreads is counting that I have only read ten books when in actual fact, I've read fourteen!) I am currently reading 'The Hospital' By Barbara O'Hare. There are a few books coming out this year that I'm very excited to read! Especially the sequel to 'My Life Next Door' 

If you have any recommendations of books you think I might like, do leave me a comment with the title. I am always looking for book recommendations and as you can probably tell, I'll give anything a read! I like all genres, I have really widened my options as to what I read the last year or so.

What have you been reading lately? Or what books are you most excited to read this year? 

Sarah xXx