Music that screams summer - My nostalgic playlist!

Isn’t it funny how a song can act like a time machine! One moment you’re sat there doing the washing up, and then a few notes float through the radio and bam, you’re fifteen again, dancing barefoot on the lawn, eating ice pops and hoping your crush walks past! Summer, I think more than any other season, has a soundtrack. It’s the season of car windows down, festivals in fields, beach days and spontaneous BBQs. So, I thought I’d share my nostalgic summer playlist, the songs that instantly take me back to those golden days, whether I was a teenager riding my bike or a twenty-something dancing at weddings with bare feet and a Pimms in hand.

Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams!

Let’s start with a proper classic! I wasn’t even alive in 1969 but this song makes you feel like you were living that carefree summer where everything was simpler and the biggest worry was probably what you were doing the next day. I remember this one always being played at family BBQs when I was younger. The grown-ups would be standing around with their drinks, getting all nostalgic and singing along at the top of their voices while us kids pretended to be embarrassed. We’d roll our eyes, act like they were so uncool and fast-forward a few years and now I’m the grown-up shouting the chorus, thinking I sound amazing while my girls are probably looking at me the exact same way I used to look at my parents.

Miami - Will Smith!

Party in the city where the heat is on! This track came out in the late ‘90s and made every British teenager, me included, dreamed of jetting off to palm lined streets and beach parties where everything glowed orange and cool people danced in slow motion. I never made it to Miami, but that didn’t stop me from blasting this on my CD player while lounging in a back garden on a plastic sun lounger.

Steal My Sunshine - Len!

This song is an instant mood lifter! The second it starts playing, you can’t help but feel a little bit happier. Maybe it’s the weird talking bit at the beginning or just the fact that it sounds like sunshine. This song was everywhere on every summer playlist, every radio station and definitely every homemade CD. I can still picture listening to songs like this on a chunky portable CD player. Summer just felt different back then. Days were spent outside, sitting on the grass with friends, chatting about absolutely nothing and thinking we were much cooler than we actually were. Now when I hear it, I’m instantly transported back to being younger.

Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega!

Did you even have a summer in the late '90s if you didn’t dance to this? It’s pure cheese, but in the best possible way. Every time it starts, I grin. It’s got that carnival vibe, a bit of silliness and it’s impossible not to dance along to it even if you’re just doing the mum shuffle in the kitchen these days.

Mr. Brightside - The Killers!

Technically, this isn’t a summer song but it somehow became one. If you were anywhere near a pub beer garden, a BBQ or a house party in the mid-2000s, there was a very good chance this song was going to get played. It didn’t matter if you knew all the words or only knew the loud bits. Everyone shouted along like they were auditioning for a band. Even now, when those first few seconds play, you can’t help but join in.

Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen!

This is bubblegum pop at its absolute best and I’m not even going to pretend I didn’t love it from the very first time I heard it. It was impossible not to sing along, even if you tried to convince yourself you were too cool for it. I remember it being one of those songs that everyone knew whether you were a teenager, a parent, or someone who claimed they didn’t listen to that sort of music but somehow knew every single word when it came on.

Dancing in the Moonlight - Toploader

You know when the sky turns that perfect shade of pinky orange, the fairy lights come on and you’ve just poured another drink? That’s when this song comes on. It's mellow but joyful, like the musical equivalent of a warm breeze. This one makes me think of summer holidays.

Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus

It’s angsty and slightly awkward and yes, I still know every single word. This one’s for the eyeliner-wearing, guitar-strumming, misunderstood teen in all of us. I remember blasting this on a dodgy stereo with the windows open during a heatwave, trying to look moody and cool while melting in black jeans. It’s the ultimate I'm not like the other girls” summer anthem and now it makes me laugh and sing every time I hear it.

Hot in Herre - Nelly

“It’s getting hot in here! This was a summer anthem that felt like it had played in every club, car and back garden for about three years straight. It was the song to dance to at every party, and I remember shouting the lyrics with my best mates, even though we absolutely weren’t taking off all our clothes!

I Gotta Feeling - The Black Eyed Peas

Now this one was practically law at every summer party in the late 2000s. Tonight’s gonna be a good night. As soon as that line hit, you knew it was time to abandon your flip-flops, grab your mates, and dance like you had no responsibilities. It was the song I blasted while getting ready for a night out, the one that played as the sun set over a BBQ and the one that somehow gave me a second wind just as I was thinking about calling it a night.

What songs scream summer to you?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #69

I hope you are all having a good week. It's Wednesday, which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. August 19th is National Aviation Day...do you like to fly? Last time you were on an airplane? The date is chosen in honor of the history and development of aviation, and celebrated on the birthday of Orville Wright. Have you ever been to the Kitty Hawk area of North Carolina? The city of Dayton in Ohio (their birthplace)

I know for some people it probably sounds quite strange that I’ve never flown anywhere or even stepped foot on a plane but the idea of being thousands of feet up in the air inside a giant metal tube terrifies me. So nope, I haven't visited those places! I totally get why so many people love travelling by plane, it gets you across the world in hours and opens up endless adventures but I’m more than happy right here at home, with my feet firmly planted on solid ground!

2. In what area of your life do you tend to 'wing it'? Is this an area you should be winging?

Parenting! There isn't really a handbook that prepares you for everything that comes with being a parent, especially when the kids get older. I sometimes feel like I've got it all worked out but then they throw something unexpected my way and I think what do I do now. lol As they have got older, parenting hasn't got any easier, the challenges and problems just change. When they're little, I would worry about them falling over or putting something in their mouth. Then they get older and was worrying about school and friendships and now I am worrying about work, money, relationships and all the other things life throws at them. Sometimes I think I've got the answer and other times I'm just figuring it out as I go along. I probably shouldn't have winged parenting as much as I have but it has all worked out OK. I think I have raised two fairly decent, hardworking humans!

3. A favorite book, song, or movie that relates to flight in some way?

I couldn't think of anything apart from the TV show Lost that all started off with Oceanic Flight 815 crashing on to a very strange island. The passengers had no idea where they were, what had happened or why the island seemed to have so many secrets. I was a big fan of Lost and I remember getting hooked on it. Every episode seemed to give you another question and just when you thought you might have worked something out, it would throw something else at you. There were flashbacks, mysteries, strange people, smoke monsters and plenty of moments where I had absolutely no idea what was going on! I still don't think I understood the ending but it was a good show!

4. Soft serve, gelato, sherbet, frozen yogurt, or good old fashioned ice cream...what's your pleasure? Your favorite flavor? How often do you indulge?

If I had to choose, I'd go for good old-fashioned ice cream. You can eat it so many different ways and I do. My favourite flavour would probably be chocolate, which is pretty basic but I am not fussy. I like all flavours of ice cream. I always have a tub of Neapolitan in the freezer for those days when we can't decide between vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. The best treat is a 99 ice cream from the ice cream man. A wafer cone filled with vanilla soft-serve ice cream and a Cadbury Flake pushed down into the side. I probably have at least one serving of ice cream a week during the warmer months and would probably eat more if I could catch the ice cream man every evening.

5. I never get tired of___________.

I never get tired of watching the same TV shows over and over, even if I have watched them a hundred times. Shows like Friends, Grey's Anatomy, The Simpsons, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, The Office and Gavin & Stacey. They never get old, I know them word for word and I know what to expect from them. They are perfect for when I want something on the TV where I don't have to concentrate.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I've had to come back and edit my random thought. Originally it said: If the weather forecast is right, we are expected to get some rain this week! Finally! It seems like such a long time since we had any where I am in North Lincolnshire. It couldn't come at a better time as we had a government warning on Friday that no one should be using disposable barbecues, fire pits or starting any fires, as everything is just so dry and there is the risk of wildfires. It's funny at the start of the year we were all complaining about the amount of rain we had. There were records being broken with the wettest January recorded in something like a 100 years and now it was the driest July for England since records began in 1836!

Update: We have had rain every evening this week and it has been fantastic for the garden! Even now when I am writing this, yesterday it looks like it could rain again. The good thing is that it has been mostly dry and warm all day and then the rain comes when it gets dark and we're all settled at home so it hasn't ruined any of our plans.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt sculpture trail in Scunthorpe!

When I first saw on social media that there was going to be a We're Going on a Bear Hunt sculpture trail in Scunthorpe, I knew I wanted to go and have a look. I don't have little children anymore but that didn't matter. I love anything that gets us out and about and it sounded like a fun way to spend a day with Ellie.

From 11th July until 1st September, ten giant decorated bear sculptures based on the much-loved We're Going on a Bear Hunt story have been placed around Scunthorpe town centre, with eight smaller bear cub sculptures dotted around local attractions too. Each bear has its own unique design, giving families something different to discover as they make their way around the trail.

Ellie and I decided to make a day of it, head into town, have a bit of brunch and then see how many bears we could find. We had no real plan apart from a starting point and a vague idea of where we were heading. I sensibly had a map on my phone with the location of the bears and off we went! We started off full of energy, convinced we'd find every single one in no time at all. It didn't quite work out like that.

We saw our first bear just as we got off the bus. We weren't the only ones hunting for bears. There was a queue to get a photo. The only difference between us and the other people was that they had a car and we heard them saying they were driving to the park to hunt for more. Ellie and I decided that was cheating. If you were hunting bears you should walk and walk, we did.

After the bear outside the theatre we made our way to North Lincolnshire Museum for the next bear. Well tried to. We got a little lost but found ourselves exploring streets we had never been down before. After the museum, we knew where we were going, the train station, leisure centre and then onto the university campus to find our first bear cub. That was a bit of a puzzle. We knew what we were looking for with the big bears but the bear cubs were much smaller and hidden away in the windows of buildings. By now we had walked around a mile and a half.

Next up was Central Park! It covers around 55 acres (22 hectares) making it the town's largest and most well-known park. It was lovely to have a break from the busy town centre. We strolled along past pretty flowerbeds, decorations and of course, the big water fountain until we realised we were heading in the wrong direction. oops! We needed to be in the bug area, which is a small wildlife-friendly space that's been created to encourage insects and other mini beasts to make themselves at home. I think this was the prettiest bear of all the ones that we saw! Every bear had its own personality and style. You could tell that so much thought had gone into each one, and it made the trail much more interesting than if they'd all looked the same.

We carried on through the park and found another and then we got a little stuck. We couldn't find the next one even after walking for a bit. We had a sit down for a think and to have a look at the map and spotted it in the distance. Hooray! Every time we found another bear we'd get a little burst of excitement. Then it was straight over for a closer look and, of course, a photo. I'm pretty sure anyone watching us would have known exactly what we were doing because every few minutes we'd suddenly change direction after spotting another bear in the distance.

The weather helped too. It wasn't too hot, which made all the walking much easier. If we'd picked one of those red hot summer days, I think we might have given up halfway through. After walking around the park, we had probably walked another 2 miles.

After a half-hour walk back into town, we found another bear cub, two more big bears and called it a day! We'd managed to find 9 out of the 10 big bears and 2 out of the 8 bear cubs, which I was quite pleased with. Of course, I would have liked to have found them all but we had run out of energy.

The walking did seem so much easier when we had something to look for. If someone had told me to simply walk around town for hours, I wouldn't have fancied it but a bear hunt and suddenly walking for miles doesn't seem like such a big deal.

Have you ever been on a sculpture trail?

Our weekly meal plan! 17th - 23rd August! #MealPlanningMonday

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a lovely weekend. Ours was a good one and we had a lovely time celebrating Stu's birthday. We went out for a meal on Saturday and had a lazy day at home yesterday. That was what he wanted for his birthday, so that's exactly what he got! We have a little break from birthdays now and then it's Ellie's in less than two weeks. I don't know where this year is going.

Last week's meal plan went really well. We ate everything on the day I had planned until we got to the weekend and swapped things around a bit. It all worked out well though. I feel all off with what day it is, as Becky and Stu both took the weekend off work, so every day has felt like a Sunday. I am writing this yesterday afternoon and it looks like it might rain, it probably won't but it's chilly compared to what it has been and we can hope!

Today is going to be a busy, productive day. Ellie has a job interview, I have paperwork to sort out, I have no idea what Becky is doing but I don't think she is home and Stu is going to do some more work on decorating the bathroom. Today also marks 17 years since my eldest had open-heart surgery to fix a hole in her heart and tomorrow is 17 years for my youngest! Those days were some of the hardest days of my life. I never thought we were going to get through the day, the week or even the month at the time. There were so many worries and so many things going through my head but here we are 17 years later and they are both fit and healthy.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Cottage pie and baked beans!

We eat cottage pie in this house, not Shepherd's pie because my family have decided that they don't want to eat lamb again. It makes no difference to me because beef mince is cheaper than lamb anyway. Cottage pie is one of those meals that everyone seems to enjoy and it's also a great one for a Monday because it's filling and doesn't take too much effort to make.

Tuesday - BBQ pulled pork in buns with potato salad.

We only had this last month but it has been requested again. I use the simplest recipe and it will be cooked slowly throughout the day in the slow cooker. We will have it in buns and a side of potato salad.

Wednesday - Sausage casserole and mashed potato!

This is a proper family favourite, especially with the girls. I keep it simple and use a packet mix, then add sausages, onions and mushrooms and let it all cook away in the oven until everything has thickened up. I’ll be making extra of this one because it freezes really well and it's great to have something as a backup in the freezer.

Thursday - Vegetable pasta bake!

This is my attempt at getting a meat-free meal onto the table without anyone complaining too much. My family hate the idea of vegetarian meals but I like to try and sneak one in now and again. They love pasta, so they probably won't even notice it has no meat. Lol.

Friday - Pizza!

Homemade or just frozen ones out of the freezer, I am not too sure yet.

Saturday - Burgers in buns!

We'll have burgers in buns with fries and onion rings. I'll put out the usual toppings and everyone can make their own. It's one of those easy meals where everyone can have exactly what they want.

Sunday - Undecided!

Sunday is still undecided! I have no idea what we are having yet. I might see what's left in the fridge and freezer and make something around that or we might have a roast if I fancy doing one. I will decide later on in the week.

What are you eating this week?