This month Center Parcs are asking us to sit down with the little ones and record some of our special memories of this Summer. Steph, a Center Parcs Community Manager has some great ideas on how to get creative with this and below is my favourite tip of hers: "Write down your memories and pop them in an empty jar. Hang onto the jar until next summer, and you can open it and reminisce, or even get some inspiration!" So this is what we decided to do and, as it turned out, we already had the perfect jar! You can find out how to make your own here. The boy and I sat down and had a ...
Awesome Ice Lollies: Center Parcs July Challenge
This month we were totally thrilled with the latest Center Parcs challenge, making our own ice lollies. Little Miss is now at the age where we need to be reducing her milk feeds and supplementing with snacks, whilst keeping up a good calcium intake. This seemed like a perfect opportunity to get a little bit creative. These creamy strawberry ice lollies are so simple to make and use just three ingredients. We got our inspiration from Center Parcs own Deb Rogerson whose tip was... "Want to experiment with different flavours? Mix Greek yoghurt with a squeeze of honey, then just add your own ...
Center Parcs June Blogger Challenge: On Your Bike
This month Center Parcs set us the challenge of sending us all out on their favourite mode of transport, the bicycle. Sadly the only owner of a bicycle currently Chez Bath is the boy. We did not let this deter us though and today, making the most of the lovely sunshine, we set out on his bike and headed to the local park. Here we made use of my new, rather swanky, picnic hamper. The boy and Daddy enjoyed some football, as well as more cycling, and we soaked up some sun. Little Miss had fun exploring lots of new food too, mostly stolen form everyone else's plates. Below is our ...
Win a Family Break at Center Parcs #wincpbreak
If you follow Center Parcs on Facebook or Twitter, you’re sure to have spotted their latest competition. Celebrating the opening of the brand new Center Parcs Village at Woburn Forest the #wincpbreak competition gives families the chance to win a break at a Center Parcs village of their choice. To enter, all entrants need to do is share a photo on Twitter and Facebook that shows what they’ would be doing if they were at Center Parcs today, making sure to use the hashtag #wincpbreak. So, if you would like to enter, the photo could be of a family activity, a meal in your favourite restaurant ...
Center Parcs May Challenge: The Great Outdoors
For this month's challenge Center Parcs are asking us all to get out and about in the great outdoors. This could not have come at a better time having spent all day yesterday cooped up inside awaiting a delivery which failed to arrive. As those of you who have ever been trapped inside with a toddler all day can imagine, yesterday was a LONG day. So, this morning, with the sun shining down we headed straight for the local park. Here is what we saw. (WARNING: Picture heavy post ahead!). Over at the Center Parcs' blog Rich has left some tips for enjoying the great ...
Center Parcs Longleat With Little Ones: Our Review and Top Tips
I was very lucky to have been chosen as one of Center Parcs' Family Bloggers for 2014 and we have recently returned from our short family break at Center Parcs Longleat. We opted for a Monday-Friday four night stay which was within one of their three bedroom Woodland Lodges. A fabulous time was had by all and below you will see how we got on along with some of our top tips to make the most of your stay. Check in online prior to arrival. This made our arrival very straightforward as, on arriving at the check-in lodge, we could simply hand over our booking reference and were given the ...
Painting Flowers: Center Parcs March Challenge
I love that all of the Center Parcs' challenges I have taken part in so far have been really seasonal. For March the challenge is painting flowers which has led to some lovely discussions between myself and the boy about Spring. I really think the challenges so far have helped him to begin to grasp a bit about the different seasons and what they entail. It may be a little over-simplified but he has certainly got to grips with the fact that in Autumn the leaves fall from the trees, that Winter is cold and there may be snow and, now, that in Spring the flowers come back out. We spent ...
A Few of My Favourite (Christmas) Things
In my quest to become a Center Parcs Family Blogger I have taken on their December challenge. Last month saw us putting our poetry hat on and getting creative with Autumn leaves. This month Nick, a Center Parcs Winter Wonderland expert, has asked us to share twelve of our favourite Christmas things. Well, I could have just written them down...perhaps should have just written them down, but instead decided to lose the plot entirely give things a musical twist. So, I can only apologise, but I would suggest that you put on your best Christmas jumper, drink a large glass of egg-nog and sing ...
Toddling Through Autumn
Mummy... Why have the trees turned brown? Why are the leaves on the ground? Can I kick them? Mummy… Why are the mornings so dark? Has the sun gone to bed? Can I go too? Mummy… Where have the flowers gone? Are they hiding? Can I hide? Mummy… Is that a squirrel in the wood? Where is he going? Can I chase him? Mummy… Has the summer gone now? Is it on holiday? Can I go? Mummy… What’s a conker? Can I have one? Ouch. Mummy… Where does rain come from? Can I jump in that puddle? I like puddles. Mummy… Can I wear my wellies to the park? Can I wear them to bed? I like ...