My experience of staying at Holiday Inn Express - Hull City Centre.

Holiday Inn Express is a hotel brand, a subsidiary of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), known for offering simple, convenient and a budget friendly options for travellers. I have stayed in Holiday Inn Express in Hull quite a few times over the last couple of years and all of the stays have been so different so I thought I would write about them.

The first time we stayed in the Holiday Inn Express in Hull was as a family just over a year ago when we stayed for two nights. We found it so handy with it being right near the bus station, offering a free breakfast and of course it was reasonably priced. Since then Stu and I have stayed for a night, Becky and her friends have stayed and Becky and I have had a night there too.

Checking in has always been quick and easy. Say your name and they find you on the computer and then you can pay there and then or they will take the money later from the bank card that you booked with. I always find it so strange that they don't take the money when you book especially if you chose the non-refundable option which is always cheaper. The first time I was starting to panic why the payment hadn't been taken and gave them a ring, they said it was quite normal.

The rooms have everything you would expect and we love them. They are clean, simple but big enough to have everything that you need: A decent sized bed with extra pillows and bedding, a desk, chair, flat screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities, hangers to hang clothes an en suite bathroom with power showers and fab mirrors with really good lighting and we have been lucky each time with a great view.

You can actually have 4 adults sleeping in one room if you were willing to share a double bed and the sofa bed. More recently Becky and I slept in a twin room and those rooms were just as good as the double rooms.

It took a couple of visits to get the hang of getting the heating/air conditioning just right. We went on a very hot weekend and left the air-con on and came back to the room and it was freezing and in the winter put the heating on and came back to the room and it was sweltering. We have found the best way to use it is just not touch the heating/air con at all.

The hotel offers free Wi-Fi and it is a decent speed. I have never had any issues with it or getting connected. The only thing I am not keen on is that there are no plugs or anywhere to charge your phone next to the beds. It means if I have to charge my phone during the night I never know what time it is if I wake up as the curtains are so good, the room is dark when they are closed and it is so confusing if my alarm clock goes off and it's at the other side of the room.

The idea of a free breakfast sounds amazing but in my experience it hasn't always been great. The only time we've enjoyed it is when we were there just after they started serving breakfast. 

Later on during the breakfast serving time the food looks past it's best. I usually make do with toast and jam. They stop serving breakfast at half past 10 on a weekend but on our last stay we got downstairs just before 10am where they had stopped refilling the food and bringing out clean cutlery and glasses so we couldn't even butter our toast or get a glass of juice. So if you do want a breakfast you need to go early. What made it worse that morning was that people were filling bags with muffins, fruit and anything they could to take away and leaving nothing for people who were wanting to eat there.

This hotel doesn't serve food during the day or on an evening but people do order in from apps like Uber Eats and the hotel does supply plastic plates and cutlery which I thought was brilliant of them.

The Holiday Inn Express in Hull has a good bar and a roof terrace and it was wonderful to sit outside on a summers evening. The drinks were not overpriced and the views are beautiful when the sun is setting.

The staff are lovely! The same staff have been there each time I have visited and they are cheerful, helpful and go above and beyond even if they are rushed off their feet sometimes.

You would expect a hotel being so close to town you would hear a lot of noise but you really don't, the windows don't open but you can see all sorts of vehicles going past but not a sound from them. Sometimes you will hear people coming in, walking down the corridor and doors banging but it is not enough to keep you awake on an evening!

Prices do vary depending on what night you stay. I have paid as little as £48 per night for two of us and up to £100 per night. I think it really depends on the time of year and what is going on in town for the prices that they charge.

Have you stayed in a Holiday Inn before? What did you think?

Whitney - The Candlelight Concert at Jubilee Central in Hull!

I do love going to concerts and shows but don't go to them often enough so when Becky, my eldest offered to treat me to a night out as a late Mother's Day gift I jumped at the chance. We had originally planned to go to a Wicked sing-a-long but when we realised it was just the movie with the words on the screen and they were charging £35 we had to find something different as it seemed over priced for what it was.

We soon came across the Xperience Live shows and saw the Whitney Houston one which took our fancy and we went to it on Saturday!

We didn't really know what to expect as walking into the venue, Jubilee Central it looked a bit rough and ready but is in the middle of being modernised. It is run by Jubilee Church Hull, a local charity who are heavily involved in supporting those with the most need in the city. The revenue from Jubilee Central is reinvested back into the local community through the many projects that Jubilee Church are involved with. It smelled old, a nice old smell though with church pew type seats but it really added to the charm of the building and the seats were actually really comfy! We settled down and waited for the show to start.

Prepare for an electrifying night as Xperience Live presents - Whitney The Candlelight Concert bringing you the unforgettable music of Whitney Houston in a tribute like no other! This breath taking show will feature a world-class live band with one of the UKs leading Whitney Houston tribute artists, delivering Whitney’s greatest hits with an amazing passion and energy.

In the glow of hundreds of candles, feel the thrill of Whitney's iconic songs, including "I Wanna Dance with Somebody," "One Moment in Time," "I'm Every Woman," and "I Will Always Love You," performed with the dynamic presence of a live band. From soaring ballads to dance floor anthems, every note will immerse you in the power and emotion of her legendary catalogue of hits.

Wow! What can I say! Marcia Lynnette the singer was amazing! She said she wasn't and impersonator of Whitney Houston, no one could live up to her but she was a tribute and she was good! She hit all the high notes and when you think of Whitney Houston songs there are a lot and was just a nice person on stage.

The band was fantastic too, especially the saxophone player who played almost the whole night through.

I imagined that it was going to be such a sophisticated evening, with everyone sitting in their seats and quietly singing along but by about the 4th song we were told to get up, dance and sing along. It was such a fun! Of course during the slow songs we all sat down and just enjoyed the music but it was nice when a dancey song came on, we weren't expected just to sit!

The outfit changes were impressive, the singer would nip off the stage while still singing and then come back in a whole different outfit. There were about 6 changes and there were a lot of sparkles.

I of course loved Whitney Houston. Her songs were there all the way through my life until she sadly passed away. I know so many of her songs and loved hearing them all. What I didn't expect was Becky to know so many, she knew almost all of the songs which were sung. I guess it's true that Whitney's music really does live on.

We had such a great evening and will be keeping an eye on what other concerts are on at Jubilee Central. If you fancy seeing Whitney - The Candlelight Concert there are future events and performances up and down the country.

Were you a Whitney Houston fan? What is your favourite song?

5 things that I bought in January!

I said to myself at the start of the year that I would try not to spend much on things that I don't really need like takeaway coffee, lunch out and magazines and so far I am doing well. I have been buying over things, things we probably don't need but have made mine/lives a little easier, these are some of my favourites.

Air Fryer Liners!

We got an air fryer at the start of the year and read about the paper air fryer liners that you can get. They fit into my 9L air fryer perfectly and really saves on the cleaning of the removable trays in the air fryer. I did learn that you shouldn't put one in when you are pre-heating the air fryer with no food in as it burns. Eek! It did feel a bit wasteful buying paper one's so I have since gone on to buy silicone one's which are reusable. 

Kitchen Tongs!

I realised when I got the air fryer I would need some sort of tongs to get the food out, especially after burning myself a couple of times, not badly but enough to realise I needed a little something to help get the food out. These kitchen tongs did the trick!

Nail Polish Remover Clips!

I have been using gel nail polish and to remove the gel you have to soak your nails in acetone. I had read that you could use cotton wool and tin foil to hold it in place but that seemed like a bit of a faff and waste so I bought some of these Nail Polish Remover Clips which are reusable. You put a bit of soaked cotton wool in the clip and then pop them on your nails. I have used them a couple of times and they do the job perfectly!

Kitsure Shower Caddy - 2 Pack Shower Rack! 

We realised we needed some sort of shelving above the bath soon after we got the shower put in late last year. Our bathroom walls are not tiled so the usual shelves with the suction pads wouldn't work so when I came across these Kitsure Shower Caddies I wanted to give them a try. They use adhesive tapes and I did wonder if they would be strong enough to hold the shelves up and things in the shelves but so far so good. I have told the girls not to overload them though. The bottom of the shelves lets the water drain out, they are rust free, are a good size and look perfect in my bathroom. 

A Tumble Dryer!

Our biggest buy for the month and probably the next 6 months was the CANDY Condenser Tumble Dryer. It has made such a difference to our lives by being able to get the washing dried quickly! We now tend to save the washing for a Sunday afternoon because we are with British Gas and they have their Peak Save Sunday's where electricity is half price. It is a 9kg one which is bigger than our washing machine so there is plenty of room in to to dry everything. We only use one setting on it, the mix and dry one which dry's different materials easily and it only takes about an hour and 20 minutes to dry a full load. The only thing that I don't like about it is that the condenser tray which collects the water is right at the bottom of the dryer which is a bit of a faff as you have to take the front panel off each time that you empty it.

Have you bought anything good lately?

My top 10 blog posts from 2023

Last year I have been trying to find a new balance in blogging. Not sharing too much about my girls private life and blogging more about me and my thoughts but also trying to share some family life. It's been hard at times but a lot of my girls stories are not mine to share anymore, that's what happens when kids turn into adults and almost adults. I still have plenty to say and share though.

These are my top 10 blog posts from 2023! Some of these came as a surprise to me and the last one especially made me happy. Years ago when I was sent things to review they would always appear in my top 10's but this year I have chosen to review less from PR's and chose to review things that I have bought myself which makes me happy to see in my top 10. 

The Harry Potter Hedwig Lego set - Review!

I loved putting this set together and I received more Lego for Christmas so there will be more Lego type posts coming!

My top 5 favourite Sci-Fi Movies.

I have been doing a series of blog posts about my favourite movies and the Sci-Fi one was a big hit.

Dresses, skirts and shorts. A teenagers shopping wish list.

Ellie has made many wish lists on Shein over the last year and one time I decided to share what was on her wish list. She now owns half of those outfits.

A Crystal Epilator Hair Remover. - Review!

I am guessing people want to know about the crystal epilator hair remover thingy. It was a massive craze on Tik Tok a few years ago and I finally got around to writing about it last year.

A Savoury Tea For Two from Piglet's Pantry!

I realised I had some left over credit with Red Letter Days and used it to order an afternoon tea.

Sleeperz Hotel, Newcastle. - Review!

When I was looking at booking this hotel there were lots of reviews on Trip Advisor but not many other places. Even Sam who blogs at North East Family Fun and knows everything about the North East didn't know much about it.

Taking a step back from social media.

I think we all need to take a step back from social media sometimes and during the summer I did. It has been very freeing and I still don't feel tied to it like I used to.

Not Just a Mom! Something new for me.

I have been joining in with a linky over the past year and I have loved it. A prompt is given, you write about it and then link up with others blogging about the same. I do love a linky and I have loved finding new blogs to read.

Pea and Ham soup! - Recipe!

This is one of those meals which I made which I wasn't sure that my family would love but they did and it was a massive hit with them as well as readers of my blog.

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week 2023!

I am so glad this was in my top 10 blog posts of the past year. I do like to raise a bit of awareness about heart defects but sometimes it feels like I am shouting into the wind.

How many of these blog posts of mine have you read?

Halloween treats from Lush!

Halloween bath bombs are not your average bath time treat. They come in a variety of spooky shapes and colors from pumpkins and ghosts to skulls and witches cauldrons. I think each bath bomb is a miniature work of art. 

Once a year in the run up to Halloween I always have a bit of a splurge in Lush and buy some of their spooky offerings. I love how each year they keep coming up with different things. The things I got last year are totally different to this years range.

Ghostie - Bath Bomb - £5.00

One for brave bathers. Let the Halloween ghost bath bomb put on a show for you with lemongrass, Sicilian lemon and Persian lime oils that'll definitely lift your spirits. As your warm bathwater floods with colour, listen closely for the crackling of popping candy!

Bubble Lugosi - Bubble Bar - £7.50

For mounds of skin softening bubbles you have to invite berry scented Bubble Lugosi into your bathtub! Charge this glow in the dark bubbler in the light before throwing on some Bauhaus on the stereo, lighting a candle and lying back in the bath with arms crossed across the chest. Crumble this illuminating bubble bar under running water. Then settle in as you're surrounded by bubbles, steam, and an eerie glow.

Magic Potion - Bath Bomb - £6.00

Transform your bath time with an alakazam! Watch the bright colours fizz and pop, casting a spell of warm. spicy, and fruity fragranced notes across enchanted elixir waters. Drop into your bath to release magical purple waters, bewitched with jasmine absolute, bergamot, and ylang ylang oils.

Pumpkin Crumble - Bubble Bar - £8.00

Light your candles, run a hot bath, warm your pyjamas and indulge in skin softening cocoa and shea butter bubbles. Soak in the creamy, pumpkin coloured autumnal waters while invigorating your senses with citrus top notes and spicy juniperberry oil. Crumble under running water and then slip into your perfect pumpkin spiced Halloween bubble bath, sipping your favourite seasonal beverage.

Screaming Banshee - Bath Bomb - £3.50

This wailing banshees's pairing of sweet apple powder and sea salty tears seal your fate, you're in for an otherworldly bath. Bergamot and grapefruit oils swirl around you, creating a bath time worth howling about! Drop into warm bathwater for a soak that's a real scream.

Screamo - Bath Bomb - £5.00

Wanna scream? Watch your fears fizz and fade away into cobalt blue waters, fragranced with a cheering cherry almond scent. There’s nothing to be scared of! Run your bath, drop in, and indulge in the ultimate scary treat for your bath.

I have already used the most of these bath bombs and bubble bars. I do love a soak in the bath, especially at this time of year. I think my favourite was the Pumpkin Crumble bubble bar and the Screamo bath bomb. The smells from them were amazing and the Screamo bath bomb was a bit of a surprise when it turned my bath almost black. hehehe

Do you like seasonal bath bombs?

(Ad - Gifted) Experience the thrill of music trivia with the I Want My MTV card game!

At the beginning of the summer I shared 5 fantastic travel games and now we have found another to add to the list!! Get ready to test your music knowledge and relive the iconic moments of MTV history with the thrilling game by Ginger Fox, "I Want My MTV." If you like music this is the game for you!

Get ready to test your music knowledge and relive the iconic moments of MTV history with the thrilling game by Ginger Fox, "I Want My MTV." Designed for music enthusiasts of all ages, this game combines trivia, music videos, and strategic gameplay to offer an unforgettable entertainment experience.

I Want My MTV challenges players to dive into the world of music, trivia, and nostalgia from the 80s, 90s, and 00s. The goal is to answer a variety of trivia questions spanning different eras of music, music videos and MTV's iconic sessions. With every 4 correct answers, players earn one piece of the MTV logo. But in an exciting The twist: players must collect all four pieces of the MTV logo to complete their puzzle. The first player or team to successfully assemble their MTV logo will be crowned the winner. It's a race against time and wit to see who can showcase their extensive music knowledge and strategy skills to the fullest.

I Want My MTV comes complete with everything you need for an engaging gameplay experience:

100 Playing Cards with over 750 music trivia questions diverse music related questions!

24 Logo Pieces that form the iconic MTV logo!

Rule Sheet for easy reference and gameplay guidance!

Optional Digital Features for an enhanced interactive experience!

Suitable for 3 to 6 players, ensuring fun for everyone!

My girls always say that they know more about music than my fella and I we are going to test this out. hehehe We are going away for a night soon and I can't wait to play this with my family in the hotel! It is the perfect size to pop into a suitcase or bag to take on your travels and can be played just about anywhere. Train, hotel or even on the beach!

I Want My MTV includes a variety of music questions from different eras. Do you know which foot-loosening party anthem Deniece Williams took to Number 2? Or which video sees the Beastie Boys having a custard pie battle? How about who George O'Dowd is better know as? or which future husband and wife were 'Crazy in Love'?

Looking through the questions there are some my girls would never answer with a million guesses but there are plenty that they can. I would say this is a fantastic game for older teenagers and adults who love music.

The Ginger Fox I Want My TV card game costs £4.79 from Amazon which I think is a fantastic price but do check as when I looked on Monday it was reduced to £3.00.

We were sent the I Want My MTV game free of charge in exchange for this blog post.

A Savoury Tea For Two from Piglet's Pantry - Review!

I always thought that Red Letter Days just did day out, adventure or night's away experiences, I didn't realise they deliver things to your home like afternoon teas, steak dinners, a set where you can create your own perfume or a Calligraphy Home Starter Kit until I was browsing a couple of weeks ago. I had some left over credit from a voucher I won last year and wanted to see what I could get.

We love an afternoon tea here a couple of years ago we tried a classic afternoon tea from Piglet's Pantry and we loved it so when I realised I could get one through Red Letter Days I thought I would treat us to A Savoury Tea For Two, again from Piglet's Pantry.

Ordering was easy, eventually. I tried putting the code into the Piglet's Pantry's website from Red Letter Day's but it wasn't having it so I emailed them and they were quick to reply and sorted everything through email. They were a fantastic help and within a few emails my order was complete. It arrived packed perfectly with the ice packs in and everything was chilled. 

If you don't have much of a sweet tooth Piglet's Pantry have you covered. The Savoury Box is perfect for those that favour savoury products over cakes and scones but still want to enjoy a delicious Afternoon Tea. Stu is more of a savoury person and I thought I would get this box to treat him since he was on holiday from work.

Included in the Savoury Box there are:

Two Cheese Scone's.

Two Ham Hock and Cheddar Quiche's.

Two Traditional Scotch Egg's.

One Traditional Sausage Roll.

One ‘Nduja Sausage Roll.

Two Chutney's - Caramelised onion marmalade flavour.

Four Cheeses - 2 Cheddar Cheese and 2 Red Leicester Cheese.

Two small blocks of butter - which I thought was a great addition.

Two Tea Bags.

Two Banoffee Loaf's

I decided to let Stu, Becky and Ellie had this afternoon tea. I am not a massive cheese lover and they wanted to try a bit of everything. Even though it says it's a tea for two there is more than enough for two people, they were happy sharing and there was enough to go around. It easily fed three with me having a try of the scotch eggs and sausage rolls. Everything was so fresh and despite coming in a box in a delivery van. My family thoroughly enjoyed this delicious treat and their favourite parts were the cheese scones, quiches and scotch eggs which were massive!

Piglet's Pantry have created a delicious twist on the classic British tradition of afternoon tea which can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home or even as an indulgent picnic now that we're in the summer.

Being sold for £42.50 the Savoury Tea For Two is one of the more expensive tea's that Piglet's Pantry offer but it is nice to have as a treat and would make a fantastic gift for someone.

I was not asked to write this blog post, I paid for the Savoury Tea For Two with a gift voucher I won in a competition.

A Crystal Epilator Hair Remover. - Review!

Last year I saw these crystal epilators on TikTok and of course had to buy one to give it a try. I did mean to blog about it and then when the weather turned colder I stopped removing the hair off my legs as much so forgot all about it until earlier this year when Ellie decided that she wanted to remove the hair off her legs. So far she's got away with having really fine, light hair which didn't show but now she's at that age where hair on your legs should not be seen so she started using it.

Crystal epilators are handheld hair removal devices that fit into your hand. The top is smooth and the bottom has a crystalline surface which is nice, less scary way to say etched glass.

If you lightly rub the crystal epilator on your skin in a circular motion the hair will clump together and come off. The result is similar to shaving as you’re removing the hair at the follicle opening not at the root like you do with waxing. The crystal epilator buff's the hair off your skin and exfoliates it too. According to the adverts it means you can say goodbye to strawberry legs, ingrown hairs, skin irritation and razor burn and hello to softer, smoother skin.

Like I said I have been using it off and on for a year and more recently Ellie has started using it so I decided to buy another one for each of us. With the previous one it had started to take longer and more rubbing to get the hair off, I have read they last between six months and a year so the first one did well.

It is painless and easy to use although does take a little longer than shaving but I like the fact that you can use it on dry skin without any shaving foam or lotion so that saves time and evens it out compared to shaving. It is very handy if you are in a rush and realise that your legs need a little de-fuzzing. I have found it leaves my legs smoother than if I use a razor.

I have tried to use it on my armpits before but it is awkward as it is used best on flat surfaces like arms and legs although it is great for going over your knees which I have always found quite tricky with a razor, ending up in little cuts.

I think these are fantastic for tweens or teens who are just starting to remove the hair from their legs when razors or waxing can seem very daunting. Ellie has got on well with it and can use it easily.

I have read that some people do get some irritation from using a crystal epilator as they have sensitive skin but we have been fine. Ellie did get a little redness the first time she used the crystal epilator but that was because she was pressing too hard and she soon realised that she didn't have to be so forceful.

Not only are these a faff free way of removing hair, using them does a bit for our planet too as they are reusable and there is no waste from them for at least a year and you don't even have to run any water.

Last year when I bought one and they were all hyped up I paid around £9.99 but this time they cost just over £4 off Ebay with free delivery but they are also sold on Amazon and other websites which sell beauty products. I think paying under £5 for something that lasts a year is great value for money.

Have you used one of these Crystal Epilator Hair Remover's before? How did you get on with it?

My favourite things from our latest Shein delivery.

It's Ellie's birthday in a couple of months and I was struggling with what to get her. She seems to have everything that she needs and has said she's can't even think of what she wants apart from clothes so I got her to make a list of things that she wanted and I would order them from Shein. 

The delivery arrived last week and I was pleasantly surprised with everything and so was Ellie. She is gutted that I am making her wait until her birthday to get her hands on everything. I only ordered this early because I always worry about ordering from Shein as their deliveries can sometimes take a little while.

These are some of my favourite things that we ordered.

Anime Sun & Wave Graphic Ribbed Tank Top - £5.99

I think this is really cute and pretty and it is quite a thick material too. I love the design on the front and that Ellie is wearing something apart from dark colours.

Cartoon Pattern Knit Top - £8.49

When this arrived it took me a few seconds to make out the picture on the top. It is so cute and it is a really soft material.

Fairycore Mushroom & Frog Pattern Button Front Pocket Cardigan -£12.45

I think this is so cute although it does look quite large. I am guessing it's one of those oversized cardigans. We could have probably sized down. I am starting to think Ellie has quite the love for frogs.

Grunge Plaid Print Knotted Front Lace Trim Dress - £9.75

This is a lot longer than it looks and is made of a really nice material. Ellie has already said that she is going to wear a top underneath it at the top does look quite low cut.

Patchwork Print Drawstring Waist Flap Pocket Side Cargo Trousers - £6.99

Ellie has wanted a pair of these pants for ages. They remind me of the tie dyed paints from the 90's even though the pattern is completely different. They are made from quite a thick material and I can see Ellie wearing these a lot.

Goth Butterfly Print Lace Trim Cami Top - £5.49

I don't know how I feel about Ellie wearing this. It makes me think of some sort of negligee, it is a silky like material and really thin but even so, it's still so pretty.

Care Bears 4pcs Cartoon Bear Design Brooch - £2.00

How cute are these! It's funny when I was way younger than Ellie Care Bear's were a big thing and now they're cool again. hehehe

Corpse Bride Graphic Small Wallet Stitch Detail With Zipper - £4.75

I love this and it was a lot bigger than we thought it was going to bed. It was more the size of a clutch bag than a wallet. We have seem similar one's in shops in town for about £16 so this was a real bargain.

Do you like any of these things?

I am linking up with Erika and Andrea for their Friday Favourites.