(Ad - Gifted) An Acrylic Photo Block from ASDA Photo - Review!

Did you know that the supermarket Asda isn't just great for food, home things and clothes they are also great when it comes to photo gifts. ASDA photo are specialists in high quality photo printing and personalised gifts at great value prices. With a range of products available online, there is always a special photo gift available, whatever the occasion, you can add your own unique touch to.

Over the past couple of years I have been lucky to review items from Asda Photo. As well as producing fantastic canvases they can put your favourite photos on things like tea towels and my favourite thing which is still on my fireplace the slate photo panel. 

This time I was lucky to be sent an Acrylic Photo Block to have a look at and I must say I am impressed.

Create a photo display with a twist! Turn your favourite memory into a stunning work of art and brighten up any desk or mantelpiece with a personalised acrylic photo block. 

Acrylic photo blocks are the modern take on the traditional photo frames. The frame free style really enhances the photo block into a truly impressive decor item. Your image is printed directly on to the back of a clear, 2cm thick acrylic block. Due to it’s thickness the block is able to be free standing injecting radiance and depth to your favourite image.

Prices start from £23.00 for the 15 by 11cm block and the larger photo block costs £28.00 and that is 21 by 15cm. I chose the larger one and it is a fantastic size.

I have plans for this photo block, my dad will be receiving it for Christmas. He was just saying the other day he doesn't have any recent photos of the kids and he will now get me on the photo as an added bonus.

I did worry about the photo block when it was delivered as the postman posted it through my letterbox. There was such a thud and I honestly thought it would be broken but there wasn't a mark on it, it really is that solid and robust.

It really is gorgeous and it is something different than just a photo in a traditional frame.

This holiday you can make a loved one's Christmas extra special, with a photo gift from the heart. From stocking fillers to heart felt gift ideas, whatever your budget, you'll find something that's one of a kind for this festive season from ASDA Photo.

Using the ASDA Photo website is simple. You just upload your photos that you want to use and position them and then place your order. It is so straightforward. They sell gifts such as personalised calendars which can be enjoyed all year round in a different range of sizes, shapes and styles, personalised cushions and blankets that really add that unique style to the home decor, canvases, wall art, photo books, Christmas cards, mugs, coasters, desk art, jigsaws, towels, keyrings and much, much more.

Do you like to buy personalised gifts? Have you tried ASDA Photo before?

I was sent the Acrylic Photo Block from ASDA Photo free of charge in exchange for this blog post.

Nine years blogging!

Happy blog birthday to me! It is 9 years today since I started blogging. Where has the time gone? I have never stuck with anything this long, well apart from my fella Stu who is my biggest supporter when it comes to blogging.

Nine years ago I started with a free blogspot blog and was called Northumberland Mam. I started to blog after stumbling across blogs hosting giveaways. I was big on entering competitions way back in 2010/2012. Sometimes when I found a giveaway there would be some another blog post which caught my eye and I would keep going back and reading those blogs. It got to a point where I thought this blogging lark was a good idea to record our families memories. I could record our lives and be able to look back on it on years to come, I could rant, share my ideas and have lots of fun too.

I lived in Northumberland at the time and thought Northumberland Mam was a good name. It was until I moved house to North Lincolnshire and then it wouldn't really work. I knew nothing about blogging back then and thought it was so simple, I was a mam living in Northumberland I know now that a lot of thought has to go into choosing a blog name.

Nine years ago I just jumped right in and started with the blog post They shouldn't have bring and buy sales so close to Christmas! All about how Becky was doing a nice thing buying her sister a present from the school bring and buy sale. The same ruddy present we had bought Ellie for Christmas. lol

I don't think I ever introduced my self in a blog post. I think it was a good few months before I even had an "about me page" which I am really bad at updating. I did update it a month or so ago, the last time I did Becky was still 16, she's 19 now. lol

Most of my photos back then were awful. This blog post from Christmas 2012 is a fine example. hahaha Now I use PicMonkey to sharpen, brighten and make photo collages. I have even made all of my blog headers on Pic Monkey. They're not as pretty and professional as some but it is a massive improvement from when I first started blogging.

Not much has changed on my blog since the early days. The heart background has gone and like I said I have a nicer header but I keep it pretty basic. I think the fanciest thing I've done is add some follow buttons for my social media accounts. lol

I went on the Wayback Machine website to find this and it did make me smile because it reminded me how long I had been meal planning and that when I first joined in with a meal planning linky I asked permission to join. I thought you had to be a member of the group to take part. lol I was so naive when it came to blogging.

I used to join in with a ton of linkies but many have stopped now which is a shame. The one's I join in with now are Monday morning blog club, the meal planning linky, project 365, a photo every day for a year and Word of the Week. I have found so many blogs to follow through those linkies and found some fab friends.

I keep myself to myself when it comes to blogging and tend to do my own thing, yes I still review low cost items because I would rather be sent it without having to spend my money. I don't have the money to waste on something I may not like. Many times after reviewing a product I go on to buy more. I am more picky about the things I choose to review now but I don't earn money from my blog from sponsored posts so getting something to review which costs me nothing is well worth my time, especially if my family and I like it.

I have met some pretty amazing people through blogging. I have a handful of  bloggers who I would call real friends and I care about them as much as I do family. 

When we moved house to Scunthorpe I bought a domain name and became all fancy, becoming Life as Kim. I had sleepless nights before we moved house, thinking about adding a domain name to my blogspot blog but it was actually pretty straightforward. I followed guides online and YouTube videos. I had one stressy moment when there was about 10 minutes moving from blogspot to my domain where nothing showed up but it worked. Hooray!

Late last year I did a blog post listing my top 10 blog posts of all time and some of them still surprise me. I do love the summer when I get loads of views about putting Milton sterilising tablets in paddling pools and who'd have thought so many people would have rats under their floorboards upstairs.

Over the last couple of years I have blogged less about my girls. Of course I talk about them as they are part of my life, a massive part but now there is more that I don't tell than do. They're 19 and 14 now not 10 and 5 years old and they want their privacy. I still moan all the time about them on Twitter but here on my blog I don't share as many stories as I could and as much of their personal lives. Their stories are not my stories to tell. Parenting teenagers is hard enough without sharing it online. Yeah, it would be great for others to read about and know they are in the same boat but I know they are teenagers and their friends could potentially read here.

So here I am are nine years into blogging and to be honest I can't see myself stopping anytime soon. I do sometimes think that daily blogging is too much work for me and think I will cut down to a few posts a week especially when I have lost my blogging mojo but then I will find inspiration and then end up with at least 5 blog posts in my drafts and me itching to get them live.

Thank you for reading! Thank you as well to anyone who leaves a comment, likes a Facebook post, retweets a Tweet, hearts and Instagram photo or give a thumbs up to my rubbish YouTube videos. I appreciate you all!

How long have you been reading my blog? Can you remember me as Northumberland Mam?

(Ad - Gifted) Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic!

My girls aren't the biggest readers but I always buy them a couple of books for Christmas which they enjoy. Now they are getting older it is harder to find books that they like but recently I was sent a book to have a look at by Rebel Girls who have recently launched a book called Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic and so far Ellie my 14 year old loves it.

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic celebrates the lives and accomplishments of 100 barrier breaking Black women and girls who showcase the spirit of Black Girl Magic.

This really is a wonderful book and there is so much to love about it. 

Each story is just one page long which makes it great to dip in and our of. The writers do such a fantastic job of giving a snapshot of the individual detailing their childhood, growing up, accomplishments, achievements and legacy. Each story is a lovely introduction to each of the women and many will leave readers wanting to find out more. Each story is written in such a way that is empowering to young readers.

The illustrations are beautiful and are eye catching. They vary in style but it is exciting to turn every page to see what is next.

The diversity and inclusivity is superb in this book. They didn’t just feature black women from the Western world but they included black women from so many different countries and various heritages. It contains some well known names and many unknown names to me, even I have learned plenty.

This book has been created exclusively by Black people. Four Black women wrote the biographies, the illustrations are the work of over sixty Black female or non-binary artists and the Black woman who coined the phrase ‘Black Girls Are Magic’ was responsible for hand-picking the one-hundred women who feature. All of this Black Girl Power does not mean this book is exclusively for Black children though. It is a book for everyone, all children and adults who want to read incredible stories about amazing women who broke down barriers, tore up the rule book and have paved or are paving the the way for future generations.

For ages 6 years and up this is a great book to start a conversation about so many things and it is available to buy from most places that you can buy books including Amazon.

I was sent Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic free of charge in exchange for this blog post.

Our weekly meal plan! 15th - 21st November. #MealPlanningMonday

Last weeks meal plan went pretty well. I managed to empty the freezer enough to fill it with Christmas goodies. I got the turkey, pork, party food and few other bits. I am hoping to be up early tomorrow morning to get a Tesco Christmas delivery slot as they are released at 6am to delivery saver customers. If it's anything like last year it will be chaos but it's all part of the Christmas build up. I am not too fussed if I don't get a delivery on the 23rd as I have one booked with Asda but I do want a different delivery so I can get different things from different supermarkets.

The kids had pizza on Friday and Stu and I had scampi, chips and mushy peas which weren't on last weeks meal plan and on Saturday instead of the Indian fakeaway we had a Chinese one with sweet & sour chicken, egg fried rice, salt & pepper chips, chicken chow mein and spring rolls. 

I have quite a busy week this week which I am very excited about. I am going shopping with Becky on Tuesday and on Saturday I am going shopping with Stu and out for a meal as a pre-birthday treat and then on Sunday it's my birthday. Becky was supposed to be at the hospital on Thursday for a check on her heart but we got a letter saying it had been cancelled and another appointment would be sent out in due course.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Corned beef bakes with chips and baked beans.

Tuesday - Jacket potatoes with tuna & sweetcorn.

Wednesday - Bacon, root vegetable & lentil soup.

Thursday - Lasagne and garlic bread.

Friday - Fish or fish fingers, chips and mushy peas.

Saturday - Doner kebab meat in pitta bread with salad. 

Sunday - A takeaway of my choice. It will either be pizza or Chinese.

What are you eating this week?

I am linking up with Karen over at Cat's, Kids, Chaos who is now hosting the meal planning linky.