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This day I love.......

 It has been a while since I last wrote a post. In fact it has been a while since I last did anything related to the blog. That hasn't been intentional, like most other people lockdown has changed routines and habits. Covid has pretty much changed everything.

September last year saw a major change for me, I returned to full time employment. After working for myself for so long it was a scary but exciting change and a leap I am glad that I took. With the children at school I had a really good work life balance and was finding time to tick off many things I had been meaning to do for sometime. At the moment though the children are home and I am juggling homeschooling and working full time. Everything else has taken a back seat.

I worked really hard just before the first lockdown and managed to pass my strength test to run again, but I have taken it easy. I do not know if this is due to a lack of races and things to train for or if it is a fear that is now inbuilt subconsciously to stop me breaking my ankle again. Whatever it is I now cover the same mileage in a month that I used to cover in a week. I will build it back up again but am in no rush.

Running over bridge

Which again sees another mind shift. I now just run. I don't actually know where my running watch is, I haven't worn it for such a long time and I am ok with this. I enjoy just running. I have an approximate idea how far the distance is from running the roads around here for years, but in terms of pace I really do not know. I actually really like it. I like just running and listening to my body. Slowing when it needs me to and pushing when it feels ok. 

Whilst I might not wear a running watch I do sometimes set a timer and just go for a run for a set period of time. I will set a challenge of trying to get further than the last time I ran that route. With home schooling I am not able to get out as often as I would like to but when I do get out I am really enjoying my running again.

This day I love It's been a while 


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 For Halloween the girls received a copy of the book the Tipple twins and the gift. Aimed at children aged 8-12 it was age appropriate for both girls and something they would both enjoy,

Tipple Twins and the gift is a fun adventure book featuring a pair of identical twins that are drawn into a secret world of mystery and magic. My eldest child loves books featuring magic and wonder and so I knew this would be perfect for her. The text is written in such a way to captivate children and is only slightly spooky.

One of the wonderful things about the book is that the author, Michelle Cordara, is an identical twin herself. This shows in the book as she draws upon the special relationship that twins have but also how unique and individual they are too.

Tipple twins book cover

The book touches on history by featuring the Salem witch trials, which my daughters did not realise was a real thing. The way that the author weaves this into the story is incredible clever and done incredibly well. I personally feel it is a great touch to have this there, to add history into the book.

Both girls found the book really gripping and exciting. They even laughed in places, which is great to hear. The Tipple Twins and the gift is part of a series and I know the girls are looking forward to reading the others too.


The book was sent for the purpose on review, all words are our own personal opinion

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I have had several friends talk about the benefits of Lo-Dough and I have always been keen to try for myself. Lo-Dough got in touch and challenged us to get creative with our Back to School lunch boxes. They sent us a selection of their products including Lo-Dough bases, Lo-Dough brownie mix and their crumb coating. All I had to do now was get creative and come up with ideas for their lunch boxes.

Since school returned all three of my children have had packed lunches. Our school could not provide a hot lunch option due to COVID restrictions and rather than paying for for school lunches it worked out more cost effective to make lunches at home for all of my children. I try to be as creative as possible but sometimes at 6am whilst making lunches my creativity can sometimes be a little lacking. Lo-Dough gave me the opportunity to try something new with the kids and a chance for us to get creative together.

The girls decided the bases looked like pizza bases and so immediately wanted to make pizza. I decided this would be a good opportunity to create something in the kitchen and any left over pizza could be used for lunches. I would recommend heating up the bases before hand to make them crispy. We made our own sauce for the pizza and then covered them in cheese. Lo-Dough has 90% less calories than a regular pizza base. 

Lo-Dough with tomato sauce

The pizza took around 10 minutes to cook, we watched for the cheese to melt. The girls had a base each and so did Little Man.

Lo-Dough pizza

So much for hoping there would be some left over for lunches the next day, the girls demolished them. The bases are very light and fluffy, but worked really well as pizza bases.  

Girls eating pizza

Lo-Dough also works well as a pastry. I was very tempted to make a pie or a quiche but I didn't think the kids would eat them in their packed lunches. Instead I decided to make something I know they love almost as much as pizza, sausage rolls!

The sausage rolls are made by taking the skin off a sausage before wrapping them in a Lo-Dough base. The base is then given an egg wash before putting in the oven for 20 minutes.

Lo-Dough sausage rolls

Whilst the sausage rolls were baking I began to make the brownies. The mix is very easy to use as you simply add water.  Once cooked they have 65% less calories than usual brownies. You can add other ingredients if you wish such as peanut butter to the mix, however I decided to cook them as they are in case of nut allergies at school. Once cooked they were lovely and gooey and perfect to eat warm. I kept three to one side for lunch the next day, along with the sausage rolls.

Kids packed lunch

The kids really enjoyed their Lo-Dough packed lunches. Whilst I might not win any prizes for taking photos of a lunch box, the kids were really impressed with their sausage rolls and brownies and asked for more. I think it made a nice change from sandwiches

Made entirely from protein and fibre, Lo-Dough can be eaten uncooked, heated or baked as a soft, light and versatile alternative to bread and pastry. As well as being low-carb, Lo-Dough is gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, sugar-free and fat-free. It’s rich in fibre, containing an impressive 9 grams. We will certainly be using  Lo-Dough again. I am keen  to try and use the bases to make a pie!


Thank you to Lo-Dough for sending some samples for us to try. We have not received any other compensation and all words are my own personal opinion. 

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This article features gifted items from MoonPig.com, however all words are my own personal opinion.

Little Man was really lucky, his birthday was just before lockdown. We had a fantastic weekend away celebrating his birthday, we didn't know at the time that this would be our last holiday for some time. Our holiday plans have all been cancelled thanks to covid19 and the plans we had in place for his sisters birthday were all cancelled too.

With my youngest daughter her birthday fell right at the start of lockdown. Presents arrived late, cards arrived late and it was all a bit chaotic. Our sorting office had closed down due to a covid outbreak. Everything had to be ordered online, as we were shielding. Family stood on the end of the drive to watch her open presents and her friends joined her on zoom for a birthday party.

What started out as the unknown has now become the new normal. We won't be visiting shops any time soon, in fact we can't any way until August 1st due to us classed as at risk. Which means my eldest daughter will also have to have her birthday lockdown style. I am once again buying presents online and trying to organise a socially distanced style party. 

I was thrilled when Moonpig.com got in touch to help me with my daughters birthday this year. I was not aware that as well as personalised cards they also offer a great selection of gifts. I will admit to the skeptical side in me thinking that the gifts would all be alcohol related or of an adult theme so they would perhaps be unsuitable for a 10 year old. I was wrong. There is in fact a great selection of gifts for a pre teen child!

selection of gifts

I always try to make their birthdays special but I think this year I have tried to make it extraordinary. I guess that is what happens when you are in lockdown. Whilst my children have all had helium balloons for their birthdays they have never had one arrive in the post before. It was really interesting them say to each other there is nothing in this box, why have you got us an empty box and then watching their reactions as a balloon pops out the box. It certainly put a smile on their faces.

Child face behind balloon

When I asked her what she wanted for her birthday she replied sweets. Now this could be that during lockdown we haven't bought any chocolate or sweets and just had whatever was in the house, or it could be she just wants sweets. Either way a hamper full of sweets arrived for her, so many in fact that she could lie in them! She was rather pleased.

Girl laid in sweets

Whilst the girls may not have had the birthdays they had planned and whilst there are no big parties I think I have made them extraordinary for them. Bringing smiles to their faces and hopefully giving them very memorable birthdays. 

It is not always easy to do but with thanks to companies like moonpig.com it is a little bit easier!

MoonPig.com have a brand new app which you can download here and if you buy a gift via the app use the code APPFREEWGIFT  at checkout. You will receive 1 free card, the promotion starts on July 13th and ends 17th August 2020. 


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Another week of home schooling but as we can now venture outside our learning has taken a more practical role. Little Man continues to learn through play. I play games with him rather than sit him down to learn and he responds better to this. 

Playing with letters

Our new found freedom and ability to get out and exercise has given the girls something to look forward to. They each take it in turns to plan somewhere to go and it is the highlight of the day getting out and exploring somewhere new.

Girls walking down footpath

I have been making progress with couch to 5km and felt ready to try a socially distanced run with a friend. It felt so good to be outside and to be talking to another adult. We went on an adventure around some footpaths and the time was so needed to refresh batteries after a tough few weeks.

running view

We had lots of left over rock from trips to the seaside in the cupboard and so for our baking this week we decided to use them up. I made a chocolate rock bark. Melted dark chocolate with crushed up rock mixed in them, and then some rock sprinkled on top. It tasted amazing and was great to finally use up the leftover rock.

Chocolate rock bark

On my run the previous evening I had found lots of tiny frogs, it turns out they are toads but at the time I thought they were frogs. It was a bit of a walk but I took the kids there for the afternoon to see the toads and we spent a couple of hours exploring there.

Girl holding tiny toad

When the rain came we took shelter and played out some more, the kids didn't want to leave and wanted to stay and find more toads. We stayed until early evening and even then the kids were all asking to come back.

Three children under bridge

We had been invited by Viking direct to take part in a virtual craft event. Earlier in the week a huge box of craft materials had arrived including some items we were not expecting. I wasn't aware that Viking direct also stocked cleaning supplies as well as office and craft supplies. In addition to the craft items we were also sent toilet rolls, hand sanitizer and hand wash. 

Girls on craft zoom meeting

There were three activities to take part in, the first was chocolate bubble wrap. We cleaned the table using the surface cleaner we had been sent and washed our hands with the hand santiser ready to begin. The first job was to cut out a section of the bubble wrap and give it a clean. Next we tore up our chocolate into a bowl and melted it in the microwave.

Child tearing up chocolate

Once the chocolate had melted we very carefully spread it over the bubble wrap before placing it in the fridge to cool down.

Whilst we were waiting for the chocolate to set we started our next activity. We were making ice breathing dragons. Little man chose red for his dragon and marked out neatly where to cut. The paper would be wrapped around a toilet roll tube and he marked the length he needed.

Marking out paper

The coloured paper was wrapped around the tube and then we began decorating them with stickers and even making eyes and nose for our dragons.

Kids crafting

The fun part was to add the ice. We did this by cutting up strips of tissue paper and sticking them into the bottom of the tube. Little Man then blew into the top and it looked as if the dragon was breathing ice.

Boy with craft dragon

Our chocolate had set and so after playing with the dragons for a little while we then got the chocolate out of the fridge. After peeling away the bubble wrap the chocolate had made a rather interesting pattern. The kids all loved it and wanted to make it again. 

Bubble wrap chocolate

Our butterflies were now ready to be released and as the weather was finally dry and not too windy to do so.

butterfly on hand

Most of the butterflies flew straight off but one of them hung around for a little while.

Butterfly on flower

We decided to make the most of the sunshine and head for a walk to the river. I think it was the perfect way to end the week.

Children playing in river
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About me

About Me

Welcome to This Day I love.

My name is Leyla, also known as Mum to my 3 humans and dog Mum to J. I have a passion for the outdoors and love to run. I can often be found off road exploring the trails and fells and covering distances all the way up to 50 miles. As a family we love travelling and discovering new adventures, as I try and run around the world!

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