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2019 a year of winning.

Looking back over 2019 competition wins I had a very lucky year with my prize total being just over a whopping 15k!! Yes 15k!! At the begin of the year I struggled for time and motivation winning is not always easy, as in all honesty the more you enter the more you win! (Of course there has to be a bit of luck too!).

How do I find time with 3 kid, work, a house and the adventures?

I try my hardest not to waste time, 90% of the time I go on social media is to comp. I’m one of them people that would just keep going all day I dont just sit down for a cuppa or watch something on the tv (in my eyes wasted time 😛). I like to keep my mind busy so I comp I have always had a lot of energy and been a bit loopy. Somrtimes I will sit for 15 mins for a quick cuppa will comping and other times I can do hours 🤣🙈

we won a family day out at gulliver’s travel

Well what a fabulous year I had I won so many amazing prizes. I love winning it’s not all about the big prizes I love the little ones too. Especially when they come from new brands, small businesses and handmade. Know words can describe what it feels like when you win a big prize though. My whole shakes with excitement, winning £2000 love holiday voucher defently had my smiling and shaking last year! The kids have been well and truly spoilt and in total for birthdays and Christmas I spent a massive £10!! Yes!! I cant believe it myself I won them every single present and stocking filler (I choose to buy 2 personalized items for Ivy that’s all I paid for 😛). I was lucky to win alot of vouchers this year they really make a difference being able to get what you really want.

Some of the birthday and Christmas I won

Family wise this I spent £65 for Christmas in total not bad considering my family is massive! My mum has been spoilt rotten on her birthday and mothers day with toiletries bundles for both worth around £200 when usally I only spend £20! I won all of James he got a bottle of rum, a camping stove and 6 months sock snob subscription for Christmas. I love so much sharing my prizes with freinds and family. We had a day out gulliver’s travel, I had a facial with my mum, than a facial for me & 3 freinds, a night away, a afternoon tea and a breakfast or too! I truly do love my hobby 😛

My 2019 favourite wins. (these too many to list so here’s some of my favourites)

Number 1 – £2000 love holidays voucher from calypso. (We are off to Florida in may we only had to pay £227 bargain 😍)

Number 2 – £300 tesco voucher from mumsnet (brought lots of the childrens Christmas presents)

Number 3 – £250 flight voucher from Lee’s noodles dont know where we are gona go yet 🤷‍♀️

Number 4 – £200 amazon voucher netmums (my presents for the kids)

Number 5 – £225 love to shop voucher from mr freeze (Charlie’s 1st birthday presents)

Number 6 – a glossy box advent calander worth £370

Number 7 – Jungle gym climbing frame £550 from one stop

Number 8 – a years worth of hair cut & blow drys in a local saloon worth £250

Number 9 – Handmade curtains £450

Number 10 – cohort box with luxury slip dress £303

We have so much to look forward to this year already because my comping. In March we are off to planet earth live 2 at the O2, than May Florida for 9 days and than we have that £250 flight voucher to spend 😛 let’s hope our luck continues 👍🤞

Mini Mouse cleaning Caddy

It’s that time of year again when we get in that mood for spring cleaning. Spring Cleaning can be tough with little ones making a mess as you try to clean. Get one room done to find they have destroyed another. So I was excited to try out this Disney Mini Mouse cleaning caddy with Ivy and Charlie. Hoping that I can them busy while I’m cleaning. Maybe even help a little with the cute set.

The toy cleaning accessories come in a beautiful little caddy. With a very handy carry handle and a super cute glittery bow on the front. The caddy comes with a feather dust, scrub brush, a mini shaped sponge, mini bottle, a cleaning list and a real working spray bottle. The kids of course loved the spray bottle and the caddy it’s self the most. The feather dust was also a big hit. As obviously dusting is something we do for fun!

The kids really enjoyed playing with the cleaning caddy. The 1st time they played with it they dusted the lounge and than I got them to clean the kitchen table cloth with the spray bottle. They took cleaning the table very seriously. They got lots of pleasure of squirting water all over the table. What child Doesn’t like playing with water? After the jobs i asked them do they than went off playing Mums and Dads with it. The dusted and brushed lots. Than used the caddy for there food shopping.

The kids have been playing with it a few weeks now and its great for role addition. They also like to use it when I’m cleaning thinking they are helping mum get her jobs done. Especially when I let them fill up the spray bottle. We are very happy with our Minnie Mouse Sparkle cleaning kit.

The Minnie Mouse cleaning kit is available to buy at entertainer, smyths and other toy retailers. RRP £22.00

Links

https://www.thetoyshop.com/dress-up/dressing-up-kitchen-and-home/Disney-Minnie-Mouse-Sparkle-and-Clean-Playset/p/553551?gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0umSBhDrARIsAH7FCodYO2QWx_TSJOZOgZkYSCBwFgq18UnY2kRXg5jukk1wx_qM0hHjdLAaAujmEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Lock down 2 delivery!

Labour has never worried me until having a baby in a pandemic. From the moment I the moment I found out about are little surprises I had worries about having to labour on my own. Honestly my worst nightmare! The rules changed the whole way through my pregnancy so had to just put it at the back of my mind. For the majority of my pregnancy I strongly swaying towards a home birth, even though the consultant at the hospital in Ipswich had advised against it when I had Charlie because my chances of having another big baby.

As my pregnancy progressed my hyperemesis gravidarum became worse and worse. The anti sickness tablets caused made me drowsy so I tried to minimize how many I took. At 28 my iron became low, which my midwife completely missed so by 32 I felt like complete rubbish. I went to attend my midwife appointment but she had double booked me! I decided I was going to go to the doctors for a second opinion. My iron levels and b12 had become really low. No wonder I felt like crap sick everyday as well as anemic! The doctor said that I should been given iron tablets much earlier on especially as I had them with previous pregnancy.

Luckily we where allowed childcare bubbles as my parents helped me get the rest I need to feel better. James works away 3 days solid so usally do everything on my own. I ate foods high in iron and b12, as well as taking the supplements and anti sickness tablets. After about 2 weeks I felt much better.

In the meantime when I finally had a check by a midwife they measured my bump small like all my previous pregnancy, so was referred for growth scans. I requested that I did want my midwife as I felt really let down by her so they changed me. At my growth scan rather than picking up a small baby which is usual for a small bump, they picked up a big baby of course. My 4th small bump, big baby! So was no surprise.

So cue the 3 weekly scans and the Gestational diabetes test (all clear 😉). Going to the scan was pretty scary even though this had happened every pregnancy it still made me worry. In the wait room sitting with my mask on I felt like bursting in tears but as soon as I was in the scan room looking at my beautiful baby I knew she was fine. Espacially when the sonographer said she definitely not a little lady! 10lb3 prediction at due date on my 34 week scan so was referred to the consultant.

I than went for another scam at 37 weeks and had another scan. This time a predicted weight of 11lb. Yeap that put the home birth definitely off the table. As I struggled towards the end of having Charlie I decided it would be safer to deliver at hospital. Not that I would of been given much choice with baby measuring over the 98th line. Finally got a phone call with the consultant and he agreed that I shouldn’t go other due. So would be induced around my due date and offered sweeps from 38 weeks.

So fast forward to 38 weeks and my 1st sweep. The midwife couldn’t find the entrance to my uterus so could even give me sweep. Great I thought massive baby here we come again! After this I was having so many braxton hicks I new I wouldn’t be much long. So came my next sweep for days later at the hospital. The midwife found it very easy and said I was 2cm. So it was very favorable. She said I expect to see you back within the next 48 hours. This was so want I wanted to hear.

Enjoü Gardening Box Review

It’s so important for all families to have some down time. We love nothing more than an adventure but some days we like to chill at home. The kids however dont always get the “chill part”. Ivy is not one to self entertain, she likes to be playing with someone or making something. She very rarely plays alone and moans she’s bored alot. So we was excited to try this garden box out to keep her busy while at home. They are great for keeping the kiddies busy while you can get on with a few jobs.

Enjoü boxes are full of fun, creative learning activities come with almost everything you need. The extra Items that are needed are generally cupboard items or even better can be collected on a nature walks. Enjoü offer 4 different monthly subscriptions to help combat at home boredom with fun learning activities. The boxes are aimed for children 3 to 10 years olds upwards. The other boxes enjoü do are gardening, baking, arts & crafts and stem learning. Prices start from £6.95 per month and can be cancelled or skipped at any time. You can also switch boxes at any time! Not only are these great for a day in, the make a fabulous gift. Weather you area parent trying to keep your kids busy or a family member looking for a gift these are great for you!

Today we reviewing the guarding box. We where pleasantly surprised with how much there is to do in one box. Our box contained 2 nature craft activities, 2 seed activities and a fun activity book. I let Ivy pick which one she wanted to choose 1st.

Ivy choose the cress heads as the 1st activity to do. The easy to follow instruction cards made it so clear to understand what we needed to. The kit came with the cress seeds and pens included in the box. We needed eggs shells, egg cups and some cotton wool from home to complete. I cracked a couple of eggs and saved them to make cakes for later on. Than rinsed the inside of the eggs well. I than instructed Ivy to draw some smiley faces on eggs. She than dipped the cotton wool in the water and put on the top of the eggs. We than placed on the kitchen window shelf so we could watch them grow. It took Ivy around 10 minutes to complete this activity. The majority she completed independently following the instructions.

We than moved on to the tie die butterflies, which has to be Ivy’s favourite activity of the box. Combining colouring, water and butterflies in one activity was bound to be a big hit. Everything for this activity was include and it took around 20 minutes to complete. You colour in the coffee filters, than spray with water to make the colours run. We than placed in the sun for 10 minutes to dry before putting in the pegs and making in to beautiful coloured butterflies. Ivy loved this activity and completed most of it on her own. She only needed to help with putting the peg on and the pipe cleaner.

We than left it a week till we did the other 2 activities. The 1st one we decided to do is the flower crown. We went for a lovely nature work to collect the flowers and leaves to make them. While dodging the lovely British summer heavy showers! Ivy loved picking what she wanted, while smelling and learning a little bit about nature. As soon as we walked though the door Ivy was sitting at they table sticking her flowers on. The Crown and braclet come with easy peel off sticky areas. When she was finished she couldn’t wait to show them off. So she head straight to the garden to show her brothers and Dad. With incredibly pleased smile on her face. This so fun activity took 10 minutes for her to complete and was very simple.

The final task was planting Echinacea seeds and this was Ivy’s least favourite task. Which completely surprised me as we are always out and about getting dirty. So when she refused to touch the wet soil I was quite surprised. The task was super simple you had to soak the soil in warm water till they expand. You than put the soil in the flower pot and plant the seeds. Ivy needed a lot of encouragement to touch the soil and plant the seeds, as she didn’t want to get dirty! My kids are always dirty 😂 but we got there in the end. She completed the task and than washed the tiny bit of soil on her fingers off.

Ivy than completed some of the tasks of the activity box. For this she did need quite a bit of help but it’s great practice for when she starts school in September and she really enjoy!

We are throughly enjoyed review this garden box and the simple activities are really great 👍 check out https://www.enjoiibox.com/ for more information and to subscribe 😀

What is a Giveaway Account!

I’m seeing more and more no giveaway accounts allowed on competitions t.c’s. Which is incredibly confusing!

What is a giveaway account?

So I won a advent giveaway for a baby carrier which I was desperate for, for my cuddly milk monster. In the companies tcs it said no giveaway or spam accounts. My Instagram jolenescrazyfamilyof6 does it look like a giveaway account to you?

Well I don’t think it does, I am a comper but surely a giveaway account is completely different. In my eyes a “giveaway account” is a account that is purely set up to enter giveaways. I have had a Google and read a number of blogs, they state pretty much the same as I thought. So a giveaway account is a account with little followers, which only posts giveaways and only used for the purpose is to enter giveaways. I completely understand why companies are wary of these accounts. As they want prizes to go to someone that’s genuinely going to use it and not just sell it on.

So the company that I won the baby carry from contacted me, to tell me that the collaboration had withdrawn the prize. Feeling absolutely deverstated I was adviced to contact the company direct. So I did and I was shocked by there incredibly insulting response (see below!). They had withdrawn my the prize because I was a giveaway account! How she put it was I’m professional comper. They told me I wasn’t genuine and that I didn’t deserve the prize. Completely bewildered why, this lady had decided to Google me and look through my Facebook. She than took screen shots of other prizes I had won and status about my wins. So she classed me as a giveaway account and she was not happy sending the prize. I have never felt so discriminated against because of the way I choose to provide for my family and for doing a hobby that I love. So we went round in circles with her completely judging me without even knowing a thing about me and try to make out I was the one in the wrong. If she took her time to read my articles or had a look at my social media accounts she may of realise that I was entering for all the right reasons not the wrong. I love nothing more than sharing the prizes, I have won on my social media pages to give brands a thank you and give them a extra bit of extra promotion. I’m a big supporter of small brands and try to support small businesses as much as I can.

After all companies which run giveaways do it to promote there products? So would love to know what she classes as a giveaway and what she actually wanted to achieve. What is a giveaway account I am now clueless. Im usually contacted by companies to enter there giveaways on Instagram, Not told I can’t enter. So because I enter 100’s, putting maximum effort in to provide for my family I’m not a worthy winner!

I honestly can’t get her justification of not wanting to provided me with the carrier that I had won. Firstly you can see clearly that I have a baby so it would be used. The company could that picked me as a winner could see I wasn’t a giveaway account so why couldn’t she!

The baby carrier has arrived and I have used it everyday day but for the 1st time in my 9 years of comping I will not be saying thank or promoting the company in anyway. Its such a shame as I do really like and think its very good quality!

Lock down surprise!

Well a week in to lock down and I started to feel completely exhausted! I can’t be I thought but a did a cheap old test that we had in the bathroom cupboard, it literally showed a clear result in seconds. I was in complete shock, this was completely not part of our plan. We said we where do at 3 and had taken any unneeded baby stuff to the charity shop! I was on the pill but must of fell when I had a sickness bug beginning of march. After the initial shock and the reassurance from James my feeling quickly from shock to excitement. I cant wait to find out what baby number 4 looks like. We started to tell everyone as thought it would give them some lockdown cheer.

So I refer myself knowing that things where going to be different this time. No appointment till 26 weeks and no partners at scans!! Yes 12 week scan completely on my own. I arrive at the hospital for my scan armed with a mask my friend made for me (will be definitely being added to babies memory box). I hadnt really thought about how horrible it would be going on my own but it hit me as soon as I got out the car. I walked down the long corridor which was completely empty on my way to the maternity wing feeling like I wanted to cry. No James with me smiling or holding my hand, just me! I didnt have to wait long till I was being called in for my scan. I asked if I could video call James so he could see the baby but it wasnt allowed. It was honestly the weirdest feeling having a scan being so excited but feeling complete lonely and sad at the same time. After the scan you are ushered to one room to another for all the usual test than finally to see the midwife. I felt so much more happy and relieved when it was familiar friendly face from when i had my previous babies. We had a good chat and off I went with my maternity pack.

Leading up to my 20 week scan I have been feeling really anxious about James not being their. We want to find out the sex but I want us both to be there to experience it? It wont be the same on my own! What if something is wrong? How can I cope on my own if I get any negative news? James is my rock he always has the right words to say I really didnt want to go without him. Pretty much since the moment I have had my 12 week scan it has been playing on my mind. Luckily to my relief the hospital from 6th of july allowing partners and our scan is the 13th so James can come.

I really do feel for all the mums that havent had the pregnancy they have planned. The lonely scans, All the birthing plans that have completely gone out window and many mums delivery with just midwife at there side. Even though things have not gone to plan it is and all will be worth it.

Our favourite cheap/free days out!

Adventures dont always have to be expensive. No matter where you can always find a fun adventures. Here’s some of our favourites in north essex. From beach adventures, days at a free farm to play on penny machines we love a cheap day out.

Our family is most happy when we are at the beach. We are lucky that we have use of a beach hut so we go there quite often but we do love visiting over beaches. Stanley loves a spot of fishing, while the younger to love playing around in the sand. In the summer we love a swim in the sea and a bit of crabbing. Our favourite beaches are Holland-on-sea, Walton-On-Naze, East Mersea, Martello bay (Clacton), Brightlingsea and we have a new found love for Wrabness. Every beach adventure is never the same, sometimes we take packed lunch, other times a camping stove and we grab food while we are out. We love searching for fossils and “interesting things” as the kids call it. We also often take our litter pickers too! We have found sharks teeth, washed up jellyfish & fish, aswell of finding alot of living creatures too. We even got the cutest baby seal rescued last summer.

Next is Hall Farm this farm is 100% free to visit and the kids absolutely love it. The farm has pigs, chickens, Guinea pigs, sheep, peonies, goats, geese and highland cattle! On top of this they have fun little ride on toys, a play castle and tractors you can sit on. For a small charge you can buy a bag of food and mini golf. On peak days these a little cafe too. You can take dogs with you to the farm which is a big bonus for us. They also have a lovely farm shop and restaurant. P.s. most the year wellies are a must!

Next is out raining day cheap favourite a trip to the arcades with just £2 each to play on the 2p machines. We all love it! After many tried and tested penny machines we have to say you get most for your money on Clacton pier. Everytime we go the kids win little prize and than use the tokens to exchange for sweets. Who doesnt love winning 😜 see my previous blog about clacton pier.

A trip to a free museums is always good the kids love a bus trip to colchester. Which has too free 2 free museums just on the entrance to the castle park. Holytrees museum is a toy museum mixed with a bit of history and some clocks. These bits to play with in every room and you can even dress up as a servant. Across the road is the Natural History museum full of fossil, bones and all kinds of interesting things. The host a special events in half term also.

Right outside these the castle park which is always fun with its 2 parks, fish pond, boating lake and the squirrels love being feed a monkey nut. There are events on all throughout the year some are free and the charges vary. Then of course these the amazing castle which is reasonably price. If you live in the co postcode you claim a years pass when you buy a day ticket.

We also love to go walking and having a picnic. Here is a few of our favourite places to walk.

Dedham and Flatford is a big hit these so many different routes you can take through the stunning countryside. In the summer you can even have a paddle or go on a row boat. We also love a stroll into Dedham town with the beautiful church market full of goodies and art. We also love to pop in the nicest charity ever on the high street. Always full of bargains! If the kids are lucky or grab from the essex rose, the are so creamy!

Wivenhoe is also amazing to walk around and is right on our doorstep. These woodland, farm and river walks. Our recent favourite is a walk along the river to the hythe to grab a lunch time pizza deal. Big hit with the kids! Than of course we love to visit the rose and crown pub for a beer in the summer. These also cockayes nature reserve just out of wivenhoe which is fairly new and lots of fun to walk around.

We love walking in all different places especially when we find somewhere new. Other places we love to walk in are mersea, Friday woods, alton waters, harwich, frinton-on-sea and abberton reservoir.

Finally a firm family favourite is crabbing we love it! Our top spots for crabbing are Brightlingsea and mersea. On a good you will fill a bucket pretty quickly. If your lucky you may even catch the odd shrimp or fish too. We also like to crab at holland on sea, along the river in wivenhoe and pretty much wherever we can. It’s so simple all you need is a line, bucket, net and a bit of bacon.

That brings us to the end of our favourite cheap days out 😍

My top comping tips!

When it comes to comping the more you enter the more you are likely to win. You need to find a way that you find it enjoyable, rather than it feel like a chore. For me I like to focus on certain prizes for example toys, holidays and voucher. They are what I want to win so that’s what I focus on. I firstly enter the social media competitions on forums and than web if I have time. I seem to win most on Instagram but that doesn’t work for everyone. Find your own way you enjoy entering!

You should always read the post fully to make sure you enter it correctly. I’m sure sometimes I rush and probably miss out on prizes because of it too. When I’m entering I see so many people not entering it correctly I giggle to myself haha they ain’t going to win 🙈😜

On Facebook comments can win you a prize! Relevant photos also tend to be a big hit! Most of my big wins on Facebook have been a relevant comment with a photo. If a company states the winner is picked at random, it doesnt necessarily mean they arnt going to pick there favourite comment. However if I’m not over fussed about winning I will just give it a simple comment. If it states they are picking using a random generator than it’s pointless wasting time with a photo and comment just do as it states. Dont do sob stories in my eyes they dont work.

On Instagram dont waste your time tagging 100s of people you will just waste time and get banned. 3-5 people is what I recommend and share if they give you extra points. If you have a ban warning leaving Instagram for around 4 hours before trying again and it will usally be ok. If you keep trying your ban will be longer.

Twitter I honestly dont have a clue so if anyone has any tips feel free to share as I’m lucky to win twice a year!

Find your own give aways not on forums is also I great way to win. Instagram search #hashtags and on Facebook search keywords. Finding local competitions pays off. They tend to be lower entry and who doesnt love a treat on there doorstep. For example on Facebook I search “colchester giveaway” “essex competition” etc. On Instagram #essexgiveaway #ukgiveaway.

Dont stress over not having enough time do what you can when you and enjoy it. It’s a hobby that’s ment to be fun not a chour.

Colchester zoo!

I have pretty much owned a zoo pass to colchester for 7 years since I had Stanley and we still enjoy going especially the kids. After all who doesnt love a trip to the zoo. A yearly zoo pass is such great value for money as these so much to see and do at Colchester zoo. Even if its pouring with rain these always the indoor play area, as well as a few indoor enclosures to keep the kids entertsined. Colchester zoo is also brilliant just for a day out if you dont live close enough for the pass to be worth it.

The zoo has changed alot since I 1st started going regularly. It’s constantly getting better and better all the time. My firm favourite for many years was Rajang the orangutan who sadly passed just over a year ago. He was incredibly special to me as he kissed all 3 of my bumps thought the glass and use to spend loads of time starting poking them! Recently the zoo has seen plenty of new arrivals many from breeding programs. My firm favourites at the moment are the 3 baby tiggers, the baby lepoard and the baby rhino. I’m very keen to meet the baby armadillo.

At colchester zoo these a huge variety of animals and a number of walk through enclosers. You can feed the goats and the Australian rainbow lorikeets which is always fun. The train takes you to a walk through lemurs enclosure where if you are really lucky you can get really close! Twice a day you can also feed the giraffes and elephants too. These a nature walk and bird watching hut which is perfect for eating a pack lunch in while seeing what you can spot. Colchester zoo has put real effort in to make the zoo as interactive as possible, the animal encounters are not to be missed especially the tiger one. The sensation station gives you the opportunity to pet all different kinds of small animals. Than these the discovery centre where you can hold bugs and play in a interactive sand pit.

Colchester zoo has the cleanest indoor play area I have ever been too! The indoor was updated a few years ago which they maintain incredibly well with regular deep cleans. The play area is so much fun with a mixture of your traditional soft play and interactive techonolgy. We some times just go to the soft play on a rainy day. These also a number of fun parks dotted around the zoo so can sit down for a cuppa and let the kiddies play.

Food wise at colchester zoo these something for everyone and gold card holders get 10% off. If you are on a tight budget I recommend grabbing some cheesy chips next to the tiger enclosure but if you are looking for something a bit more fancy the patisserie is the place to go. Pengunis resturant has the most variety and SFC is you typical fast food dinner serving burgers and chips. These also lots of smaller cafes servering delicious cakes, sandwiches and lighter meals. I have to say Colchester zoo serves the best hot chocolates!

photos from the dinosaur event, Halloween and Christmas events

The zoo has lots of different events on over the year my eldest son and I’s firm favourite is the Halloween nights (which is supplement of £5) the staff at colchester zoo put on a incredibly scary but fun event. With a haunted house, Halloween train and much more. During the day it’s a toned down family event what younger children can enjoy. My younger 2 children favourite last year was the magic of Christmas event you can visit santa, see the reindeers, there are all sorts of fun events & shows through out the day. We also loved the dinosaurs day too!

We have some many happy memories from colchester zoo and plenty more to come!

My 10 favourite Prizes!

My top prize ever has to be a holiday for 2 to stay at the Hilton Conrad Algarve. The prize include 4 night 5* b&b, a couples massage, transfers and a 7 course dinner in there Michelin star restaurant. No word can describe how amazing this holiday was they meet us at the airport and we where chauffeur driven to the hotel. We where great by a fee members of staff one took our bags, one checked us and another checked us in. In our room was a glass of champagne waiting and some Portuguese cakes. The room made us speakless a huge comfy bed, a sofa, dressing table, loads of storage space, a massive bath with a tv both ends a sound system, A twin shower and a balcony with comfy sofas. The breakfast was absolutely incredible and even had honey so fresh it was dripping of the honeycomb. The 7 course dinner was absolutely delicious, never eaten food that looked so beautiful as well as tasting so good. There was also a sommelier that poured us a glass of win to complement every dish and told us all about the wine. We that had a morning at a spa with a couples massage which we loved. They kindly let us take Stanley too free of charge, so we could go to the spa we put him in kids club for the morning which he absolutely loved. Every single thing of the holiday was luxury and we loved every minute.

Next would be my stove range cooker!

I won this range cooker on Christmas day 3 years ago! Even now I walk into the kitchen and smile it’s worth £1100, I love cooking and use it everyday. It has 5 has jobs, 2 ovens and a grill.

Next has to be my euro camp holiday

I was allowed to pick a holiday of choice upto the value of £1000 for up to 6 people. I chose to go to Bella Italia in Italy with my parents and Stanley. This holiday was absolutely beautiful the campsite was amazing and lake garda is a real beautiful place. The local area is stunning and the food is amazing. This was a very special place for me and made a huge life decision.

Next is a prize we have been on yet

We won a £2000 holiday with loveholidays voucher last year so we are off to Florida in may. We have only had to put £226 towards our 9 nights in a 3 bedroom holiday home with our own swimming pool. I think this may move up to number 1 or 2 once we have been 🤣

Next is my pram

This was my 1st ever comping prize nearly 8 years ago worth £1200 pram system, quinny mood pram, maxi cozy carseat, with cozy toes for both and carseat base. This got me in to comping, I entered it on a whim and won. I have been addicted ever since.

Next was a lovely weekend stay at Braidhaugh holiday park. We stayed in a beautiful one bedroom lodge just out Creiff. These lodge was very clean, modern and well equipped. We especially loved the log burner and hot tub. The views where stunning and the lodges over look a beautiful river. The staff are incredibly freindly and we will definitely be going back!

I love being able to treat my freinds and family with my hobby too! Last year was lucky enough to win 4 tickets to the spice girls so I took my lovely 3 sister. We had the best night and we loved every minute. We also loved the fact Jess Glynn was the warm up!

This prize was a prize for my mum for being amazing. I won a mothers day prize that consisted of a private chef for the day, £100 voucher to buy the food, a camera and a set of sauce pans. Than to top it off we where choufee driven to loved to a venue house to have a photo shoot for the magazine, they did our hair, make up and dressed us in designer clothes. Was a incredible experience.

Next has to be a night away in a b&b with my best friend in Blackpool. I was going through a real crap time and need to let my hair down I definitely came back happier and full of funny memories.

Finally on my top 10 is a prize from cohorted and zuela. This was a prize for me I love skin care and a bit of a pamper. It’s so important to take time for yourself, as a mum of 3 I’m always busy looking after everyone else so prizes like this I love. It included a cohorted box and a zuela slip dress, some crystal and a bracelet.

That concludes my top 10! I love my hobby and when I put the effort in it really pays of but sometimes I like to step back a bit. It helps keep me motivated and happy!

Clacton Pier

After lots of tried and tested penny machines Clacton pier’s are by far the best! Yes penny machines we all love them especially the ones on Clacton Pier! The excitement of trying to win the goodies inside them without out it costing you a fortune is fun for kiddies and grown ups too.

Why are Clacton Pier’s the best?

They are the best because the lovely workers at clacton pier arcade keep them well stocked and you can actually win!! A lot of places we have visited the 2p machines seemed rigged (as Stanley would call it) with prizes getting no where near the edge. Where Clacton pier seems to know what they are doing when it to there penny machines and family fun in general. Most of the time it only takes £1 – £2 to win a prize, Stanley and Ivy have actually got there favourite machines where they can get a handful of sweets, lollies or a key ring in return for a £1 or £2. Giving them entertainment, a sense of achievement and a treat at the end of it too! Aswell as them giving you tokens you can exchange for more goodies (we try to save ours up so for a few months so they can get bigger prizes 😜).

The arcades are full of lots of games to play other than the penny machines. We do love a go on the teddy grabbers and few of the other machines the give you tickets. These ten pin bowling, pool and a over 18’s area too!

The rest of Clacton Pier!

Of course there is a lot more to Clacton Pier than penny machines and it has been working really hard to make a mega all year round a family entertainment centre. They are definitely doing a very good job at it these best indoor play area we have ever been to, which includes role play areas and a mini cinema. Its incredibly clean and well maintained. The food is also very reasonable and tasty too. We really love their pizzas!

These bowling, dodgems go karts, sea aquarium, tarot card reading and a massive indoor crazy golf (which we have tried yet). Also outdoors is the usual pier fairground rides, food stands and a restaurant. They have lots of live entertainment on all year round follow there social media or website for dates.

https://www.clactonpier.co.uk/