My Bedroom Dreams

Once upon a time my bedroom was a place for peaceful, childhood slumber.  A place to dream of wondrous and magical things, as vivid and as exciting as a child's endless imagination allows.  A bed filled with stuffed toys for cuddling and keeping any hint of monsters far away.

Later, it became a place for teenage solitude.  Away from parents, away from rules and regulations.  A place to hang out with friends, listen to angsty music and grow in the privacy of my own space.  With posters adorning the walls and shelves lined with books that would later shape my mind, my room helped me turn into who I would become.

Then came romance.  A love nest.  Somewhere to be alone with a loved one, safe, secure and happy in the company of the one I loved. A place for first kisses and the warm glow of  new romance.  Scented candles softly glowing and Endless Love playing on repeat to set the mood.

Being carried over the threshold saw the beginning of a new adventure.  Married life. The marital bedroom was a place for decision making.  Late night chats planning an exciting future together, snuggled in the security of each other's arms. A future full of possibilities lying ahead of us.  A wedding photo hanging on the wall.  Ornaments on the window sill.

Pregnancy made my bedroom my safe haven.  A cocoon to snuggle up inside at the end of each day.  Resting and waiting as the baby inside me developed and grew.  Extra cushions for comfort.  A cot positioned beside the bed in readiness for the new arrival, a promise of the changes to come.

A new baby brought sleepless nights, night time nursing and silent moments where I gazed upon my tiny miracle and felt the enormity and wonder of motherhood.  My bedroom was our sanctuary at 3am.

By the time that my fifth child came into my life, my bedroom had become a dumping ground for the kids' toys and clothes that they bring into my room with them as they seek me out to ask for things.  An overspill from their own bedrooms. My much loved bed has become a trampoline or a place to play hide and seek beneath the covers.  They play video games and watch TV in my room so my bed is always dishevilled by the time I get to crawl under the duvet at the end of a busy day.  My youngest wakes up most nights so his cotbed stays by our bed for convenience.  My sanctuary has become a family room. Some days the curtains don't even get opened in my rush to get up and out on the ever hectic school run.  I don't think I've had a full night's sleep for years.

With the cost and responsibilities of having five children, my bedroom has been sorely neglected and in dire need of some tlc.  The brown and beige paintwork is tired, the decor is shabby and there is a distinct lack of anything 'pretty' or feminine to mark it as my space.  My room is functional, but not personal, relaxing or tranquil.    Where once I had framed, family portraits hanging on my wall and beautiful wicker baskets on my shelves I now have a utilitarian storage unit holding plastic boxes filled with functional things.  The gorgeous co-ordinating bed linen  and cushions that once graced my bed have given way to mix and match duvet covers and fitted sheets. Spilled drinks, kids with tummy bugs or leaky nappies have ruined most of my luxury bedding.  Practicality and necessity has taken over from beauty and comfort.  I have no sanctuary anymore, nowhere to unwind and relax and simply be me.  I'd love to reclaim that space again.

My Drab Bedroom

A new colour scheme would be a simple yet uplifting start to a makeover.  Goodbye brown, dark and dreary, hello fresh and clean.  Natural hues would add a beautifully, delicate look. New lighting and fitted blinds would brighten up the room, inviting natural sunlight into our lives.  A beautifully framed mirror would reflect the light, opening up the room giving the illusion of extra space.  Luxury bedding, soft furnishings and rugs would give a fresh new look and add a subtle splash of colour.  Soft femininity would remind me of the woman behind the mother.  Shabby chic, vintage furniture would replace utilitarian storage units. A feature wall would add a striking statement and add a boldness that pays  tribute to the vibrancy of my remembered youth.

A wonderfully comfortable bed at the heart of the room would once again become a place to dream, to grow, to love, to reminisce, to relax, to unwind and to simply be. A comfortable space would help sleep to find me.  A room makeover could makeover my very being.

My Dream Bedroom by wendymcd83 on Polyvore

This blog post is part of the Silentnight Spring Bedroom Makeover Challenge.

Melody Xylophone Review

Plan Toys is an eco-friendly brand that really believes in the environmentally friendly methods in which their toys are produced. For more than thirty years they have used innovation and creativity to manufacture  products in the greenest, most socially responsible way possible, minimizing their impact on our planet.  Their toys are both beautiful and durable.

Freddy was sent a Melody Xylophone to try out.  It produces musical sounds true to pitch from the eight brightly coloured bars. Musical sheets are also included featuring popular songs that children can learn to play.  It also helps children to recognise colours as they learn to play the colour coded notes on the sheets, and familiarises them to the concept of written music.

I love the beautifully simple, curved wooden design of the Xylophone.  There are no fancy embellishments to distract from this fabulous starter instrument.  It provides a great introduction to playing an instrument, teaching pre-schoolers auditory and musical skills and developing their fine motor skills.  It is a true classic and a wonderful addition to the toybox.

The wooden mallet fits neatly and securely into the back of the xylophone in a clever little holder for storage, which I think is a brilliant idea, keeping it all together between uses.

Freddy had a go at following the coloured notes and understood that the solid colours were one beat and the   notes that were just outlined were two beats.  He liked listening to the pitch of the different coloured bars as he banged them in order from low to high and back again.   But most of all he enjoyed free styling and rocking some crazy improvised xylophone tunes!

Plan Toys are available to buy on Amazon.

Premium Dining For Vegetarians At Butlin's Bognor Regis

Part of our Ambassador's holiday at Butlin's Bognor Regis included testing out the Premium Dining Plan.  This is a flexible half board plan which provides breakfast and an evening meal throughout your stay.  As we are all vegetarians, this was something that I was particularly interested in trying out, to see how well it would cater for our family. 

The Deck restaurant is close to the Wave Hotel and is a self-service buffet.  The atmosphere is very relaxed and perfect for family dining.  There is ample seating in different arrangements to suit families of all sizes.  Hosts show you to your table after you are greeted at the door.

The evening buffet counter includes a carvery alongside an array of international and traditional dishes.  There are daily fish and veggie options.  Two live stations prepare fresh food to order while you wait.  One is a grill for burgers and kebabs and one is for pasta.  A children's buffet counter features kids' favourites and is low enough for them to help themselves.  There is also a salad bar, soup and bread rolls.  A hot dessert counter with two pudding choices, an ice cream machine and a selection of cold desserts and fruit caters for sweet toothed guests!  There are two self-serve drink stations serving both hot and cold drinks.

The choices on offer changed everyday and I was delighted to see a fair few vegetarian options being rotated, so we didn't end end eating the same everyday.  A spicy chickpea burger, spinach and ricotta canneloni, cheese tortellini, macaroni cheese, vegetable kebab, vegetable curry and mushroom stroganoff were among the options we had. We also had a pick of the carvery vegetables, noodles, rice and potato options.  The Pasta station made delicious dishes to order which we really enjoyed.  The desserts included cheesecakes, gateaux, crumbles, hot sponge puddings, cheese and biscuits and jellies.  We enjoyed sampling the different dishes and the children liked being able to serve themselves.  Being buffet style meant we never had to wait for food which helped prevent Freddy getting restless between courses.  Also, if there was something the children didn't enjoy, they could go and get something different (or help themselves to seconds if they did like it!)

The breakfast set up was similar.  Hot and cold drinks are available from dispensing machines.  There are hot cooked English breakfast items served buffet style and I was delighted to see the inclusion of vegetarian sausages.  Continental breakfast foods such as Danish pastries and croissants along with cereals, fruit, yogurts and toast add some lighter options.  There are also boiled eggs, porridge, pancakes and kippers on offer.  The live stations make up toasted sandwiches and omelettes.  I loved the cheese and onion omelette for my breakfast along with a veggie sausage and some beans.

For a restaurant catering to so many guests, I felt The Deck had got it very right!  Huge choice, efficient service, continually stocked up pots of food and plenty of plates made the experience very positive.  The vegetarian options were varied and very good.  I did not feel cheated in any way, knowing that our plan cost the same as those who could eat the meaty dishes too.

My only criticism would be the labeling of the dishes, as it was sometimes difficult to work out what something was.  With things like soups, breaded burgers and curries it can be hard to tell exactly what's in them.  Even more important if you are a vegetarian or have an allergy.  The staff were happy to answer questions, but labels would have made it much easier. 

The cold drinks were OK but the juice drinks tasted a bit artificial and very sweet and the kids were not keen on them.  We stuck to the chilled water.  It would have been nice to see a real fruit juice on offer.  However, drinks could be purchased from the bar at an extra cost.

The Premium Dining Plan allows guests to swap a dinner for vouchers to spend at one of the other restaurants on site such as Turners, Papa Johns or the Beachcomber Inn.  We did intend to take advantage of this, but we all really liked the flexibility, the choices and the atmosphere of The Deck and decided to eat there everyday.  Freddy can be difficult when eating out but loved The Deck.  Although he didn't eat much (as he doesn't have a big appetite) he enjoyed what he had and liked trying different things, so it suited us perfectly.  We loved not having to think about food or where to eat, and having the pre-purchased plan mad
kes it very simple to feed the family.  I'd definitely recommend this option.  It was such a treat not to have to worry about cooking or clearing up!

The cost our plan was £21 per adult and £10.50 per child per day for half board dining.

We were given a four night break with a Premium Dining Plan as part of the Butlin's Ambassador Program 2012/13.

The Wave Hotel at Butlin's Bognor Regis

We had the pleasure of staying in the newest hotel at Butlin's Bognor Regis, The Wave.  We stayed in a Reef Apartment, which had three bedrooms, a lounge and a kitchen, combining the luxury of a hotel with the freedom and convenience of a self-catering apartment.  With daily housekeeping included, it really did tick all the boxes of what we were looking for in holiday accommodation.

The hotel itself is clean and well designed.  It is clearly signposted with its own entrance from the road.  On arrival we were informed that the car park was full but were told to park outside the main doors in order to book in and unload our luggage.  We were then directed to an overflow car park where we were to be picked up by a driver and driven back to the hotel doors.  However, we spotted a space in another car park from our hotel room and went there instead.  Problem solved!

Checking in was easy although the foyer was very busy and the queue for the lifts were huge with everyone arriving at the same time.  We picked up our key cards and our Premium Dining card and made our way to the room.

The lifts were great!  Each one was decorated with a different underwater theme and played music.  We found our hotel room and from the moment we opened the door we were absolutely delighted.  The spacious hallway had a space for shoes, coats, luggage and would easily fit a pushchair (or two!)  The rooms all came off this large area.

We loved the attention to detail that has gone into designing the rooms.  A blue and yellow colour theme ran throughout the apartment, giving it a sunny feel.  The underwater mural in the living area was a lot of fun and the yellow starfish cushion was a huge hit with the kids. The corner sofa was a great spot to watch the wall mounted TV.  The kitchen area came complete with a microwave, a dishwasher, cooker and fridge.  It was equipped with cutlery, crockery and cookware, so would be perfect for self-catering.  There are also table and chairs. A fish shaped chalk board added some fun and the kids enjoyed scribbling up messages. The main bedroom has a king size bed, a light up unit above the bed, built in cupboard space, a vanity unit, a flat screen TV and its own en-suite bathroom.  The en-suite bathroom was lovely with a massive walk-in shower with a light-up, colour changing shower head.

There was a bunk room with fabulous built-in TVs and DVD players at the end of the beds.  The kids thought this was amazing.

The twin room had its own vanity unit and hairdryer and storage space.  A family bathroom was equipped with a big bath and overhead shower.  Through the patio doors in the lounge, we could access a wrap around balcony with outdoor furniture.

The housekeeping kept us in fluffy, white towels and ran our washing-up through the dishwasher.  The beds were made each day and we were left a towel at the end of the bed which had been shaped as an animal such as a crab and a dog.  It was a lovely touch!

I couldn't have been more impressed with our accommodation.  It was perfect for us!  None of us could fault it.  Even down to the complimentary toiletries, dishwasher tablets and the tea and coffee sachets in the kitchen, everything was thoughtfully considered.

Also in the hotel is the Soho bar area and a fantastic games room, the Games Port.  The Games Port is a spacious, light and airy area with all kinds of video games for the kids to enjoy.  With 3DS, Mac, Wii, PS3 and Batak, the children (and their dad!) were in their element playing the latest interactive games.

At reception you can hire Kindles, iPods and borrow DVDs and DS games.  There is also free Wi-Fi throughout the building.

This is a great hotel for families.  It was great to have all the amenities of a hotel but still have a kitchen and living areas.  We spent some time in the apartment relaxing before going out in the evening.  This was really good for Freddy who gets over tired, allowing him to chill out.  The kitchen meant we could make him warm milk for his supper or knock up a snack if necessary and make ourselves cups of coffee without having to leave the room.

Our rooms were clean, well maintained, well equipped, very spacious and extremely well designed.

Here is my guided tour video of our accommodation (filmed on day 2 so not as pristine as it had been on our arrival!!)

We were given a 4 night midweek stay at Butlin's Bognor Regis as part of the Butlin's Ambassador Program 2012/2013.

Childhood Memories of Butlin's

We have just returned home following our Easter Holiday break at Butlin's Bognor Regis, as part of the Butlin's Ambassador program for 2013.  During our stay we paid particular attention to the accommodation, the entertainment and the food, to see how well Butlin's could do at keeping our family, which includes a tot, a tween and a teen, holidaying happily together. We stayed from Monday to Friday in a Reef Appartment at the Wave Hotel and we had a Premium Dining Plan giving us half-board for the duration of our stay.

Being there, brought back so many memories of my own childhood and of Butlin's and how it used to be in the mid to late 70's.

As a child, we would regularly take our annual Summer holiday at Butlin's Barry Island.  I remember the rows of rather utilitarian self-catering chalet accommodation and the chilly outdoor swimming pool.  We would take the train to our destination, armed with buckets and spades.  We always went self-catering and would eat out for a treat.

Ready To Brave The Pool 1974

My parents enjoyed the evening entertainment and we'd ensconce ourselves at a good table and watch the all singing and dancing Red Coats.  I was always painfully shy and although I desperately wanted to join in with the kids' dances, I never was brave enough to do the "Wiggle, Wiggle, Whoops" with the other children.  I remember the comedians, the singers and even the guy who played R2D2 in Star Wars making appearances on stage.  My dad always liked to introduce himself and collect signed photos of the 'stars'!   One comedian did an act where he put a skittle in his mouth and invited the audience to throw balls to try and knock it out.  Most balls fell short of the target, but my dad with his strong right arm, took it upon himself to throw his with total accuracy and the look of shock on the comedian's face was brilliant as the ball connected and almost knocked out his teeth!  The talent shows were always a favourite and I vividly  remembered an entrant singing "I Wanna Be Like You" from The Jungle Book.  He was clearly a little bit drunk but that only enhanced his King Louis impression!

Ready For An Evening Of Entertainment (Little Me with My Daddy!)

Personally, I am a creature of habit who loves her home comforts.  I have always found it hard to justify paying out a big chunk of our hard earned annual income to fund a single week away, unless it promises something really fabulous.  We are also all vegetarian, so worry about food being a disappointment when we are away from home. So, I had very high expectations for our holiday and I hoped that today's modern Butlin's would be able to live up to them.

While we were there Butlin's celebrated its 77th year.  So much has changed over the years but the fundamental ethos to provide seaside holidays for families remains at its heart.

Over the following days, I will be writing all about our holiday at Butlin's Bognor Regis and sharing our thoughts and our experiences.  I hope you enjoy reading about how we enjoyed  holidaying at Butlin's in 2013.  It's a far cry from my childhood memories!

Making Messy Goo

Our favourite thing for some messy, sensory play is to make some messy goo!  Using cornflour, water and food colouring, this goo takes advantage of the strange properties of the mixture.  It isn't a liquid.  It isn't a solid.  The more you mix it, and handle it the stiffer it gets.  Let it run slowly through your fingers and it liquefies.  It is fascinating stuff and an ideal play idea if you want to get messy but are short on time and space.

To make it, simply take a cup of cornflour and add warm water slowly to reach the desired consistency.  Not too much though!  Add a couple of drops of natural food colour and you are ready to play.  It is really quick and easy to set up so little ones can be having fun fast!

• You can roll it into a ball in your hands.
• Let it drip through your fingers.
• Break it into pieces quickly.
• Hit it.
• Drop it from a spoon.
• Squeeze it slowly.
• Stir it fast or slow.
• Cut through it.

The mixture responds differently to quick and slow actions which gives so much scope to explore the properties  Kizzy was interested in the science behind what was happening.  She would lift up a lump of it as a solid and watch in amazement at it dripped through her hands.  I explained about it being a suspension of solid particles within a liquid.  Impact traps the water molecules inside the long starch chains forming a temporary semi-rigid structure.  It is a non-Newtonian liquid where force alters its viscosity.  It doesn't follow the usual rules!

Freddy was fascinated by the mixture, but also slightly afraid of it!!  He was a bit freaked out by how it would solidify on his hands.  He kept washing it off in the sink and enjoyed seeing it turn the water blue because of the food colouring.  He must have got messy and then washed it off twenty times making his own entertainment!!

The bits that fell on the floor could be vacuumed up easily as solids and the surfaces were easily wiped down with a damp sponge. Adding extra water to the bowl turned it into a free flowing liquid which could then be poured away. So tidying up afterwards was really easy.  It is an easily containable, small scale activity that still allows little ones to get messy and explore their world through play.

See More Ideas at Edspire

Colour Splasherz Purse Set Review

Colour Splasherz is the cool jewellery range that you can transform with water. Dip the beads in warm water and watch as the colour of the beads instantly changes. Then when you want to change back simply dip in cold water and reverse to its original colour. The jewels will keep their colour until you reverse the temperature. There's so many different patterns to create and effects to design by dipping between the warm and cold water!  Kizzy enjoyed experimenting with techniques such as using ice cubes to draw on the beads.

The Colour Spalsherz carrying case keeps everything together neatly when not in use. It opens up to become a water container for the hot and cold water needed to dip and design the beads.  It has a built in strainer so you can get creative without too much mess.  It is a very sensibly designed set with everything being integral. The set includes enough beads to make two necklaces and two bracelets.

1 x Purse Carrying Case set that opens into a dunking station with built- in strainer

2 x Colour Splasherz pendants with settings

10 x Large Colour Splasherz beads

90 x plain beads

Stickers for masking areas

2 bracelet and 2 necklace cords with built in lanyards 

The finished result can be worn as a pendant or bracelet.  If you get tired of the design, you can simply re-dip it into water and start again.

Find out more at Character Online. 

RRP £12.99