Beautiful eyes

I ♥ Faces is a photography site focused on the art of capturing faces and their various emotions. This week’s photo challenge theme is 'Beautiful Eyes'.

my main passion... or two or three.....

When I started to really get into blogging I was not sure what I would put here, my life abit hectic with me being interested in so many bits of different things and that is why I wanted this blog to be the one blog where I put everything together, but so far I have only really posted about one thing, and to be honest not a great deal of the real me has been put on here, reviews yes, I adore doing reviews, (hey who doesn't love receiving packages from the postman!) But that aside I have one main passion and thats photos, I love taking them, I love looking at them, I love editing them.





I do not have a fancy camera, a mere point and shoot cannon, which was not very expensive, I have had several other equally inexpensive cameras and it has never stopped me loving capturing the moment, because watching my children grow has been amazing and each stage passes so quickly I have an urge to savour every moment in a still photo, I have literally hundreds of thousands of photographs and each one I love, but each day I take more and the next ones always become my new favourite. I am in no way a professional and nor do I want to be, it is just a passion.









And taking a photo is only half of the fun, I love to edit them, I can spend hours changing them, sometimes just tweaking them ever so slightly, sometimes turning them into something completely new, and it is my mad photo taking that got me into digital scrapbooking, which is quite simply an amazing pass time and one which I have neglected so much recently, well for the past year or so really, and it is something I really would love to throw myself back into and get back on top of the game.





So this post is me, reminding myself of how much I love scrapbooking and reminding myself to make time to do more, and that they too can find there place on here.

K'nex Dinosaur Model Kit - Competition!

We're now into our 3rd month of toyologist toy testing fun! and what an amazing 3 months it has been! We are due our 3rd box of toys to test next week, and along with this I have another great competition for you all!

This month the prize is an amazing K'nex dinosaur model set worth £22.99

"The K'Nex Dinosaurs 20 Model Building Set is packed with 326 parts to build a T-Rex, Brontosaurus, Pterodactyl and more. Then bring them to life with the motion-activated sound brick!"

This would be a lovely gift for any creative little mind.

To enter please popover to the Toys R us UK facebook page, and take a look at the ToyBox app,



which can be found on the left hand menu below their profile pic and contains all the great reviews by the toyologists, once you have taken a look come back here and let me know what you think in a comment below please also tel me your full name or twitter ID so I can contact you, or send me an email to Sarahdazjc@aol.com



I will also offer you an additional entry if you pop over to my facebook page here: This is me - Sarah mum of 3 and say hi :)



The winner will be drawn out of my hat on Monday 19th September at 6pm and I will contact the lucky winner asking for delivery details and a contact telephone number, if I am not provided with these details another winner may be picked.



Competition is open to the UK only

Good Luck

Cheap activities to entertain everyone

We're half way through the summer holidays, we've been lucky for the first couple of weeks weather wise which has meant that days can be spent outside with relatively little planning in terms of 'activities' to keep the little ones occupied.



But this great weather as always, doesn't last.

So heres a few of my favourite activities to entertain on a rainy day.







Jigsaws

We all love to do a jigsaw, with shops such as The Works, and HomeBargains, restocking with new jigsaws doesn't have to cost the earth. We picked up these lovely little 25 piece jigsaws from Homebargains for just 29p each! we brought 4 of them, they are simple enough for my youngest to complete, yet the designs are appealing to my eldest as well and they have had races to see who can complete their jigsaw first.







Making Models

Getting creative is always good fun, and you don't have to spend the earth on art supplies, a cardboard box and some paint will create endless hours of fun, you can also hunt out a bargain such as these Harry Potter plaster model kits which are a real bargain for £3.99 and can be brought online from homebargain new online store!







Art

Drawing is one of my daughters all time favourite pass times and we can always be sure with A4 paper some glue and scissors and crayons and she will be happy for hours!











Playing cards

A standard pack of ordinary playing cards can give hours of rainy day fun, there are so many games to play, such as solitaire, or more group games like old maid are favourites of ours. Also who doesn't love building card houses?





Cooking

Simple things are aways the best, rice krispie cakes, jam tarts or gingerbread snakes are always a sure way to make a rainy afternoon seem alot more fun!

The Gallery : Water

This weeks Gallery is Water, now water is an amazing thing isn't it?





I love looking out across it in beautiful countryside,



I love being in it at the seaside,



I love splashing around with it in the garden hose,





hey I even love it when it rains...





there are so many amazing things about water, it is after all the one thing that is pretty much vital for all life. It is one thing that makes childhood so special everyone has memories which include water to some degree, and no matter what sort of water, it always takes the most spectacular photographs!







if you want to go see some more great water entries be sure to pop over to sticky fingers blog and join in the fun!

An AMAZING time at the adventure farm

Yesterday we visited the National Forest Adventure Farm which is home to our local Maize maze
we've never visited a maize maze before although I had always thought they sounded interesting. There are Maize Maze all across the UK and they offer a great family day out be sure to check out the maize maze website to locate your nearest one, it is a much recommended day out!


Our Local Maize Maze is located in Burton On Trent right in the heart of the national forest.

When we arrived just after lunch the car park was already quite full, but there was still ample place to park in an overflow car park, it was a nice sunny day which was great, We headed straight to the Maze which changes theme each year, this year the theme is Shaun the Sheep, which my children were delighted about, as we entered the Maze the staff showed a video and there was a chance to buy a map for £1, and off we set into the maze armed with a flag in case we got lost! they also sell pens for 80p to help you fill in the free activity sheets, so if you don't fancy purchasing pens for your little ones be sure to take one in your bag!)


The maze its self is made out of as the name suggests Maize, with a few wooden bridges and look out towers at set points, there is also a toilet at the top of the maze and several marker points to find, at each one was a new Shaun the sheep character and activity board, if you purchased a map then these were clearly marked to help you find your way around.


We all thoroughly enjoyed our journey through the maze and the children loved following the map to the next marker, we managed to navigate our way around quite easily and didn't need to use our flag to call for help! located in the maze are speakers where music is played and the staff can talk to you it's all a very pleasant experience, and although it was very busy once inside the maze you couldn't really tell how many others were also taking part, only occasionally passing tracks with fellow maze goers.


After an hour or two in the maize maze we found our way out and went to explore the rest of the farm. The whole farm is so very clean and tidy, all the different areas are nicely sign posted and once you have paid your entrance fee activities are free (with exception to purchasing a map for the maze if you require, and the electric cars which need £1 to start them up )


There is plenty to entertain everyone, the staff were all very friendly and approachable, throughout the day there is various animal demonstrations and you're handed a time table as you enter which is great you can plan your activities around these if you wish.

In the fun field there was loads to do, lovely clean sand play areas for the younger children, with a fossil dig area lowered down,There is also a great wooden adventure trail course, lots of 'have a go' activities such as volleyball, skittles & a water squirter area (looked loads of fun, although we didn't take a change of clothes for the children so they didn't get to have a go)


A HUGE hit was the jumping pillow, which is basically a bouncy castle lowered into the ground, the children loved this and played on it for ages, I even had a quick bounce! for the younger children there is also a smaller bouncing castle slide called the bouncy bull, and lots of lovely sandy play areas.


If the weather isn't so great there is a indoor play area too, again entry to the indoor play area is included in the entrance fee to the farm and you can stay and play as long as you like, there is a lovely under 5's area and lots of tables as the indoor play area also incorporates the cafe, with a great menu all reasonably priced.


The older children will love the three slides available, the red slide looks mighty scary with a steep drop, Adults are welcome on the play apparatus if your brave enough to have ago on the slides, so remember your socks!


Back Outside there are lots of animals, plenty of hand washing areas, a great barrel tractor ride which my boys thoroughly enjoyed,

and pedal go karts in two sizes so everyone could enjoy them!


there really is LOADS to do at this aMAZEing adventure farm and I truly recommend it for a great action filled family day out.

Check out the National Forest Adventure farm website by clicking here: Adventurefarm.co.uk
they are open daily from 10am -6pm Entrance price various depending what time you choose to visit, at peak times it costs £35 for a family of 4, however once you have paid to enter everything is included which makes it a very reasonable priced day out and as activities don't involve extra charges it makes for a relaxed day as you can allow your children free scoop to hop on and off the activities. check here for current prices and family discounts: Adventure farm price list

you can also find them on facebook and twitter!

For more great Family Days out Check out my Top Days Out selection!

Breastfeeding doll... why the uproar?

I first heard about the breastfeeding doll, which seemed to be causing quite an uproar in the parenting communities a while ago, and whilst I probably wouldn't buy the doll I didn't see the problem with its concept at all.
Yesterday it was featured on this morning, and daybreak UK morning television shows, the comments that followed these shows on the facebook pages shocked me, the comments were things such as:

'the doll will lower girls self esteem'

'its just creepy'

'teaching children things like this will increase under age pregnancies'

even some people going as far as to say 'you may as well let your children watch porn'

Breastfeeding is something I think gets seriously bad publicity, it seems no matter how you go about bringing it up in the media it always gets slandered, everyone shuns away from it and there are always people eager to say how sexual it is, or creepy or such like.

Its such a shame, when people say a doll 'sexulizes' young girls or 'makes them grow up too fast?' I disagree on both... a doll for a young girl is NOT making her too grown up, and Breastfeeding is NOT sexual... its terribly sad that anything breastfeeding related gets dismissed as 'an awful' invention.

I do understand not everyone can breastfeed, and a doll isn't telling you everyone should, its simply putting the other option in as much view as bottles, defending breastfeeding is a very very difficult thing to do because every time someone comments positively they get told they are being inconsiderate to those who were unable to breastfeed, which in turn mean positive breastfeeding gets absolutely no publicity or defence and that's why breastfeeding rates are so low.

It seems the breastfeeding doll is branded awful and creepy, sexualizing our girls and making them too grown up, yet their is no comment when popstars prance around in skimpy clothes singing songs which girls copy that are far from angelic!
Or boys get action men figures with guns to play with.

To say knowing about breastfeeding when young will lower self esteem is crazy, if anything it will give a girl confidence, she will be more aware that her body is not just a show for the male population, to say it will increase under age pregnancy is even worse, a breastfeeding doll is a role play toy, all children like to act out adult lives, dolls have been around for ever and just because you 'breastfeed' a doll will certainly not increase underage sex!

The main concern seemed to be that people simply thought children 'shouldn't know about these things!'

I breastfed all three of mine, and yes all my children know that mummys make milk, they all breastfed their dolls, and all hopefully have enough confidence and knowledge to not come across with such disillusioned views of breastfeeding when their older, but with the rate of breastfeeding at a all time low, even if they do manage to hold on to the view that it is ok to breastfeed and that a womens body is amazing for so many more reasons than to please a man, it will be a tiny drop in the ocean of those who are so anti breastfeeding, for whatever reason, be it simple uneducation, or resentment because their experience was not a positive one, whatever it may be there are far more children growing up without a positive impression of breastfeeding unfortunately the figures will continue to lower.

some interesting facts and statistics...

According to the World Health Organisation, which strongly recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, breastfeeding reduces the risks of breast and ovarian cancer later in life, and helps women return to their pre-pregnancy weight faster.

According to a survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics in 2005, 35 per cent of British babies were being exclusively breastfed at one week,
21 per cent at six weeks, only seven per cent at four months and three per cent at five months.

3% at 5 months... and that is the reason that a breastfeeding doll is instantly frowned on.

Is it just me who is shocked and saddened at that figure

Summer dayz

Lazy summers afternoons lovely aren't they?

Well they are when they're like today, the sun is shining, my daughter is busy making little puppets out of straws and paper and bits and bobs to put on her own play,

my boys are sat in the garden with their star wars figures engrossed in their own world.

All is calm and peaceful.

Isn't it great when you catch a few hours like that?

Before all changes, and it will no doubt, the boys start to fight over who's going to have Darth Vader, and Chloe ups and leave the room a complete mess with thousands of tiny cut out bits of paper all over the floor..

ah well for now at least, I'm enjoying the calm.

you can make a difference too

I am doing this post because I am passionate about helping people, about giving things back and trying to make a difference. I am not well off nor am I a perfect parent, I do not have it all and I as much as most struggle along trying to find the right way. But one thing that I do is give up a few hours a week to help someone else, as part of my local Homestart, because I know how hard it can be and how sometimes just a little support makes all the differance. I am writing this in the hope you take five minutes of your time to read it and learn about Homestart, share its message.



Homestart is an amazing charity with so little recognition its silly, some people may have heard of home start, others may automatically think of it in the same way as sure start centers or such schemes. Homestart is different. Homestart really makes a difference.



So what 'does' homestart do...

they do so much but from the words of homestarts website



"Home-Start supports almost 73,000 vulnerable children across the UK. Last year, our 16,000 volunteers gave a million hours of support to their families. We help them cope with post-natal illness, isolation, bereavement, disability, domestic violence and much more"



So what does that really mean? it means that in most communities across the UK there are homestart schemes running, often quietly giving much needed and much appreciated support. The Team consist of Trustees, a manger, and organizers who look after everyone in their scheme, they enrol families and train the volunteers, then there are as many volunteers as the organizers can find and train who like me, give up just a few hours of their free time each week with no payment to go and help another family. To offer support in almost anyway possible, they help by just being there, by having that time to really care, to reassure and give confidence to stand with them at mother and baby groups so the new mum is not isolated, to help take twins to doctors appointments or toddlers to the park to run off that energy, they help mothers whos family live miles away, or families who have suffered bereavement, familes with multiple births, or special needs, offering a real person who genuinely cares and is there to help talk things through, to sign post you to services who can help and to have a non judgemental, confidential listening ear, they help support families to enable them to make it through difficult times without the need for intervention from elsewhere, sometimes just a friendly face is all anyone needs.





Homestart not only help the very poorest of families or those at most risk, they offer their support to anyone, of any race, social class and situation, their only criteria is that you have a child under 5, it is a great support to families with multiples or those who have partners who work long hours, or people who are new to an area and just need a friendly person to show them around.

"Many parents need help, friendship, advice or support during those early years when children are young. There is no rulebook for raising a family and sometimes it can seem overwhelming, particularly if your family is going through difficult times."

Homestart volunteers are not social workers, they are not there to judge or tell you what to do, they are there to reassure and support, they give confidence and offer both emotional and practical support. Volunteers are not perfect they are not special they are simply parents who know how hard it is, we volunteers are real people who really care and that is what makes homestart such an amazing support network.



With alot of funding being taken away from services like homestart, now is more important than ever to help raise the profile of the schemes that really do work, that really are making a difference, homestart is one such scheme.



If you can take 10 minutes of your day to read this, to pass it on, to talk about homestart then that is a help, if you can support your local scheme in anyway by doing any funding or by raising its profile it will be appreciated, if you would like to become a volunteer or know more then contact your local scheme it really does make a difference!



And lastly, homestart does make a difference to families the volunteers really do help, but the course to train the volunteers is an amazing experience and being a volunteer is rewarding in itself so not only does homestart help the families it supports, it helps the families who are volunteers too.



Take a look here for some videos of how homestart makes a real differance: Videos and Podcasts

Be sure to watch Actor Max Browns Appeal.

I want to ride my bicycle...

I'm sure lots of children up and down he country this summer will be giving the 2 wheels a try, maybe for the first time, maybe to try and finish what was started before.
Whats the right age to take the stabilizers off? well I guess thats a personal choice, some children will take to 2 wheels straight away and be zooming up and down in no time even when they are quite young, I know 3 year olds who have mastered 2 wheels amazingly quickly and 7 year olds who still struggle.

I've helped several children try and master the 2 wheels, I love bikes I don't drive myself so bike is my mode of transport, I remember many happy childhood days pedaling off on my bike, it gave me a sense of freedom and I still love it today so when my eldest two cracked the two wheels I was thrilled Jake was about 6 when he mastered it, and Chloe was 5 because I taught them together. The key I think is plenty of praise and persistence, it is no good getting snappy because they fall off a few time sand your getting tired of running behind them, keep at it they will eventually get there!

I've spent many days running up and down along the stretch of side road and eventually they were off, Chloe was more adamant to master it herself and didn't really like me helping her along or pushing her, She just wanted to be left to sort it out herself and she did really well. And once they had mastered it we were off we spent the next year or so cycling lots we rode to school and back every day for a couple of years in all weather ( we at the time lived about a mile and half away from the school) I prided myself in their confidence and ability. then I helped teach my neighbours twins to ride their bikes although they weren't as confidence it boiled down to the amount of practise they 'could' do it but just needed lots of reinforcement and lots and lots of practise.

So this summer although Mikey is a fair bit younger he wants to ditch those stabilizers and keep up with his brother and sister.

I don't have a 12" wheeled bike, only a 16" one, which is a bit on the big side, but he could mange it fine with stabilizers so I thought we'd give it ago, if he can't master its size I'll have to get hold of a smaller one for him, my eldest two being that bit older when they got their first bikes only ever had 16" wheels. when it comes to which to buy its a hard choice, to go to a shop is definitely worth it and let your children sit on them, ideally to learn they do need to be able to put their feet on the floor so buying a bike that is too big will be too hard for them to maneuver and may put them off, but equally too small can make it harder.


So yesterday we took Mikey and his two wheeled bike to the park, and we ran up and down, up and down, he did really well although hes not confident enough yet to ride far and hes still wobbles everywhere but we'll keep going and keep practising and hopefully he'll be racing along with his brother and sister really soon!

Anything you can do...

I have really been enjoying my blog, its lovely to be able to have somewhere to express myself and showcase my photos, I love making video reviews its been so much fun that the whole family has been getting involved in.
My daughter whos 8 loves to write, she has always been interested in writing down her thoughts and she has been closely watching when I write my blog and so she asked if she could create her own. I thought this would be a good way for her to keep writing through the summer holidays and help encourage her to learn new spellings and writing techniques.So her and her friend set a blog up this afternoon

(obviously i will always proof read her posts before she posts them to make sure shes not saying anything out of turn and shes not getting into trouble)

So if any of you feel like showing her a little bit of blog love then please pop over and say hi :)

http://chloeandshannonifunny.blogspot.com/

Family Fun at Rosliston

We are lucky enough to live in some amazing countryside, our favourite pass time is to get out and explore!


With the National Forest surrounding us, we're really close to some lovely parks, our favourite Forestry park is Rosliston in Swadlincote Derbyshire, which is a really lovely place to go for a family day out, any time of the year and whatever the weather!

''This Derbyshire attraction is home to kestrels, owls and kingfishers as well as bats and butterflies in summer, while Rosliston's mix of woodland, fishing lake, walks, cycle routes - plus cycle hire- and play areas is tailor-made for a great family day out.''

It really is a lovely place, it is free to enter, except for the small parking charge (80p an hour or £2 a day) There are beautiful woodlands to walk through and several trails to follow, the play areas are all wooden and spread throughout the site.

The main play area is split into three parts, with a huge wooden owl at the front, then as you venture down there are more play areas, sanded areas for the little ones, and adventure courses for the older ones, plus a huge open space of grass.


Picnic tables are close to the play areas so you can sit and watch as the children play, and take your own picnic to enjoy outside

There is also a lovely cafe on site which provided food and drinks if you don't want to do a picnic and there is also an indoor soft play area if the weather isn't great.



The woodland walks are great for bikes or disability scooters, both of which can be hired from the center. Along the paths you can find lovely secluded play areas and more adventure trails which keep the children entertained on the walks.


There are always lots of activities which may included a small charge, but there is something for everyone from pond dipping to archery. But it really isn't essential to participate in any activities to enjoy this beautiful place, every time we go my children find something new and interesting to discover and often meet new friends whilst there as they build bridges in the streams and go on bug hunts!

Check out the Rest of the National Forest by visiting the National Forest Website here: Visit National Forest.co.uk

I'm Bored....

Summer holidays, no matter how much you love or loath them, all of us will have similar dilemmas as we try to plan fun things to entertain the family without breaking the bank!

'I'm bored! will surely be heard more than once or twice through the next six week, but with a little bit of forward planning you can minimize the stress and boredom for everyone!

With this in mind I've decided I'm going to put together a Family Fun Top Days Out list, which you will now see on the right hand side of my blog, when I've finished updting it you will find lots of great fun family days out, some free to do activities and then the low down on those that you have to pay to enter so you can work out if its worth splashing the cash at these venues.

Obviously the six weeks don't need to be taken up planning a trip out everyday, I will be doing lots of posts too about fun things to do in your own home, along with the low down on the best new games and toys!

The Gallery - Travel

The Gallery theme this week is Travel, over at sticky fingers blog, they talk about amazing around the world journeys and mention a wonderful blog I hadn't come across until now but is most definitely worth a look It's a small world after all which is inspiring to say the least, it also makes me think of a blog I stumbled across a few months ago which is life inspiring too The Wonering Wanders, who are not traveling the world but are on a life changing adventure of self discovery around the UK.

These blogs really do take 'Travel' to its full sense and meaning, and where I would love to be able to write about my stories of places far and new, I can't. I have never been abroad, never seen the wonderful places splashed in tourist magazines, so my travel experiences are pretty grim in comparison. My mum and dad had a caravan when we were growing up and although we didn't do anything quite so radical as the Wondering wanders we did spend many many happy weekends around and about in local countryside, blissfully happy running through forests and watching the wildlife. With my own children we did have a caravan a few years back, but circumstances changed and we had to sell it, we also have had many tents and I do love camping, the furthest place we've travel has to be Shell Island in Wales, we went there a couple of years ago. It is a beautiful place nothing much in terms of amusement or entertainment, just other campers and a beautiful stretch of beach.


So this picture is one from Shell Island in wales. It may not be exotic or life changing, we may not have traveled the world but we have seen the sea and one day we may well get to cross it and explore them distant lands.