This week my Word of the Week is: Snow! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

It has to be, we've had snow nearly all of the week! Usually I would complain about the snow and how it was disrupting our lives but this time there isn't much to disrupt it's not like we're going out anywhere.

Last time we had proper snow was back in 2018, the Beast from the East so it seemed very exciting and something a bit different from the boring life we have been having during lockdown.

On Monday Ellie had to finish her online lessons before she could go out in the snow. I felt sorry that her maths teacher was poorly and cancelled a lesson but it did mean Ellie got to finish at lunchtime and then we got to go outside and play. We all went out and a bit of fun in the snow. A snowman was built and we had just about used up all of the snow in the back garden.

We needn't have worried, it kept snowing and there was a new layer by Tuesday morning. Hooray! I was starting to think that it was unfair and how the kids were missing out. If the kids were at school chances are they would have had a snow day where the school would be closed for a day or two and I was thinking that wasn't going to happen.

The headteacher of the school emailed everyone on Tuesday morning and said all the Zoom lessons were cancelled and to go out and enjoy the snow. Of course a couple of teachers set work which was snow related. English was to write a poem about the snow. Ellie is getting quite good at poetry and said it's easier at home, she can go on Google and find words that rhyme with other words. hehehe Science was about freezing and igloos and part of the work was to build one for extra credit. Ellie loves to go that bit extra and dragged Stu out to help her.

Stu had came back in after the igloo was built and I heard screeching and laughing coming from the back garden, I looked out of the window and Ellie and the lad from next door were having a snowball fight. They were having the best time. It was so lovely to see especially since they've never had anything to do with each other. The smiles on their faces really did make me smile.

Wednesday was back to work and the Zoom lessons which was not welcomed by Ellie but thankfully it had some of her favourite lessons and the work was easy. We did somehow manage to miss an English lesson. It's the only subject which seems to get moved around and it is hard to keep track of. She soon caught on yesterday despite the teacher supposedly having tech issues. Lots of the kids were complaining that the teacher was pausing and they couldn't hear her. The kids said it wasn't their internet so must have been hers. I think they were having her on as Ellie didn't have any problems seeing or hearing the lesson.

Yesterday the snow stopped falling and what was left on the ground had started melting. It was fun while it lasted and gave us a bit of excitement which we needed. Stu was very glad that he isn't at work at the moment. He works outside most of the time so he would have been slightly frozen.

Next week is half term which will give us a break from the home learning. Of course we don't have any plans apart from being super lazy, probably spending far too much time playing Fortnite and watching films. I can't wait!!

Some tips for cooking in advance!

When life gets busy, it helps to have a make meal or two in advance to put in the freezer that you can quickly defrost and heat and eat without much trouble.

Cooking in advance, batch cooking or whatever you want to call it is a great way to get a head start on your dinner by preparing several dinners at once. It is a smart way to get a homemade meal on the table even when there's no time to stand in front of the cooker. It is also a great way to save money and time when it comes to your meals. Preparing and cooking your food in advance is a fantastic for families and those who have a busy life.

Pick family favourites!

Make simple dishes you know the whole family will enjoy and when you are cooking them make an extra few portions to pop in the freezer. It ensures whatever you get out of the freezer will be a hit with everyone. Some of our favourites are bolognese, sausage casserole, curries and cottage pie.

Choose foods that freeze well!

Lots of food freezes well but there are a handful of foods that should be avoided which include cream cheese, sour cream, or any kind of milk-based sauce, mayonnaise, egg whites, or meringue, and lettuce.

Use large pans!

A batch cooked meal will start as a large dish so make sure you have a big enough pan. I have 2 big pans but I mostly use the slow cooker when I am batch cooking as it holds the most and I find it impossible just to cook what we'd eat for one meal.

Use a base sauce!

Pick dishes that can be made with the same starter sauce and life will become much easier. You can freeze your sauce in portions ready to defrost as and when you need it. A basic tomato sauce is great for lasagne, chilli, bolognese, curry or even tomato soup.

Cooling is everything!

Allow cooked food to completely cool before freezing or refrigerating to prevent the growth of bacteria. Once cool, pop on your airtight lid and freeze immediately. 

Pick the right containers!

Batch cooking containers need to be freezer safe and airtight. Several containers of the same size maximise space in your freezer. Whenever we get Chinese takeaways we keep the plastic tubs which are just the right size for one portion.

Date those dishes!

Frozen food doesn’t last forever so it’s important to date your food to ensure it’s eaten in plenty of time. Once frozen many dishes look the same so labelling your dishes prevents any nasty shocks when you think you’re making one thing and getting another. 

Do you cook meals in advance to freeze?

(Ad - Gifted) The Birthing Essentials Kit Gift Set from the Natural Birthing Company.

It is over 13 years since I was last pregnant and I always look at the things that are out there now for pregnant ladies and new mums thinking I wish those things were around when I was having my babies.

Recently I was sent some products from the Natural Birthing Company for woman who are pregnant and to use during and after the birth of their baby. A friend of the family was due to have her baby last week and I thought this was a lovely gift for her. Things must be so scary for mums to be and new mums at the moment with the pandemic happening, so anything that can make a difficult time a little easier is very welcomed.

The Mama's Moments Birthing Essentials Kit Gift Set is a fantastic collection of those 'go-to' essentials which you might need during and after the birth of your baby. It all comes in a reusable wash bag which is a lovely touch.

All of the products have been developed by midwives and aromatherapists to safely support women through the journey from bump to baby.

Included in the set is:

Cool it Mama (50ml)

Cool it Mama is the perfect companion in labour; cooling and calming you whenever you need it and giving you that bit of “oomph” if you feel like you’re flagging. Cool it Mama cools hot flushes, calms mood swings and eases headaches.

The key ingredients in Cool it Mama include: Neroli (refreshing and uplifts the mind), Ylang Ylang (enhances the mood), Menthol (cooling) and Grapefruit (helps to lift mental exhaustion).

Relax & Breathe (30ml)

Relax & Breathe is exclusive to our Birthing Essentials set. Relax & Breathe is our beautiful massage oil that contains a blend of essential oils to help calm, soothe and relax your body and mind.

The key ingredients in Relax & Breathe include: German Chamomile (aids in relaxation), Cocoa Butter (keeps skin supple and smooth) and Shea Butter (maintains skin elasticity).

Bottoms Up (50ml)

Bottoms Up provides instant relief to your sore vulva and perineal area following childbirth by soothing, cooling and calming the area. Bottoms Up soothes discomfort, promotes skin healing and is a perfect addition to your hospital bag.

The key ingredients in Bottoms Up include: Lavender (antiseptic, anti-bacterial and pain relieving), Witch Hazel (anti-inflammatory), Cucumber (soothing) and Arnica (promotes skin renewal).

Sleepy Mama (100ml)

Sleepy Mama (Relaxing Pillow Mist) brings the feeling of relaxation to both body and mind when you need it the most! Sleepy Mama contains a blend of Bergamot, Lavender and Chamomile which will help to ease you into a beautiful nights sleep.

The key ingredients in Sleepy Mama include: Lavender (deeply relaxing and calming), Chamomile (aids in relaxation), Bergamot (helps insomnia) and Grapefruit (helps to lift mental exhaustion).

I think this is a lovely set with everything you could need to help you through giving birth. A lovely treat to buy yourself or something to buy someone else who is going to be having a baby. 

The Mama's Moments Birthing Essentials Kit Gift Set costs £20.00 which I think is a great price. If you don't want to buy the whole set you can buy the bottles individually from the likes of Next, Boots, Feel Unqiue, Holland and Barrett, and of course the Natural Birthing Company website.

I was sent the Mama's Moments Birthing Essentials Kit Gift Set free of charge in exchange for this blog post.

An unexpected snowy day. We built a snowman!

 For weeks the weather reports have said it was going to snow here. It tried but never laid. On Saturday it rained all day and at about 8pm I remember complaining about the rain hitting the window. Shortly after we noticed it was snowing but it didn't lay. I had given up hope of getting any snow. I got such a surprise when I opened Ellie's bedroom curtains and was greeted with this beautiful sight.

With it being Monday Ellie of course didn't want to get out of bed and thought I was winding her up about the amount of snow there was. lol She got quite a shock when she saw it and was all set to go outside right then to build a snowman but she had the small matter of home learning and Zoom lessons to deal with first.

During her first lesson it looked like there was sleet and we were worried that it would be washed away before her lessons had finished but we needn't have worried it kept snowing, then stopping and then snowing a little more.

Ellie made it through her 3 Zoom lessons and then it was boots, coats and gloves on and out into the back garden we went.

Ellie started off small waiting for Becky to come outside and built a little snowman. She soon ended up taking her gloves off as they were just getting in the way.

Becky was soon outside and they got on with building their snowman! This is what we've been looking forward to since moving here nearly 2 years ago, having the space in the back garden to build a snowman!

Stu had to come out to lift one of the big snowballs onto the other one and then Becky made the head while Ellie rummaged around in the snow at the side of the garden, finding some stones for the eyes and mouth.

He's not the prettiest snowman but the girls had fun building him. It's the most fresh air they've had in a week and it was fun to do something away from a computer screen.

I am imagining waking up to a new layer of snow this morning as it snowed off and on all day yesterday. I hope so anyway but I don't know where Ellie is going to fit in anytime to play outside as she has a day full of Zoom lessons. Eek. 

Did you have any snow yesterday?