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Family-Friendly Easter Recipe: Mars Bar Cornflake Nest Cakes If you’re looking for a super easy, no-bake Easter treat that the kids will absolutely love, these Mars Bar Cornflake Nest Cakes are always a winner in our house. They’re quick to make, require just a handful of ingredients, and are perfect for getting little hands involved in the kitchen. We usually make our Easter nest cakes with Rice Krispies, but this year we decided to try them with cornflakes instead — and they turned out so well. 🛒 Ingredients 200g cornflakes 6 Mars Bars (or non-branded alternative like Aldi Titan bars) 70g unsalted butter 3 tablespoons golden syrup 1 bag of mini eggs (or non-branded alternative) 🍫 Method Line a cupcake tray with cupcake cases. Chop the Mars Bars into small pieces so they melt more easily. In a pan on the hob, gently melt the butter. Add the golden syrup and Mars Bars to the pan. Stir continuously until everything is fully melted and smooth. Place the cornflakes into a large mixing bowl. Pour the melted mixture over the cornflakes. Mix well until all the cornflakes are evenly coated. Spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases. Add 2–3 mini eggs on top of each nest. Place in the fridge for around 15 minutes to set. 👩‍🍳 Makes Up to 24 cornflake nest cakes 💡 Top Tips for Making Cornflake Nests with Kids Let the mixture cool slightly before mixing with cornflakes if little ones are helping Great for sensory play – mixing and decorating is always a hit with kids Perfect for Easter parties, school treats, or a fun afternoon activity You can swap mini eggs for chocolate buttons, sprinkles, or even raisins 🐰 Why We Love This Recipe These Mars Bar Cornflake Nest Cakes  are one of those recipes that feel like a proper childhood classic. They’re quick, mess-friendly (well… mostly 😅), and ideal if you want something fun without spending hours baking. They’re also a great option if you’re juggling a busy week but still want to do something special with the kids. ✨ Final Thoughts Simple, chocolatey, and always a hit — these little nests are the kind of treat that turn an ordinary afternoon into something a bit more magical. .. A crunchy, gooey, chocolatey Easter treat that’s as fun to make as it is to eat! 🐣🍫

A Squash and a Squeeze at Waterside Arts We were kindly invited to review A Squash and a Squeeze  at Waterside Arts on Wednesday 8th April, and it ended up being such a lovely, easy morning out with the kids. Lawrence was working, so my brother came along with me and the children, and my dad very kindly dropped us off at the venue. We arrived at around 10am for the 10:30am performance, which gave us plenty of time to settle in before the show. 🎨 A Calm Start in the Creative Corner Before heading into the auditorium, the children spent some time in the little creative corner at Waterside Arts—and this was such a lovely touch. There’s a low table with bean bags for the children to sit on, along with pots of pencil crayons and paper ready for drawing. There are also small shelves on the wall filled with books, so children can sit and read while they wait. Alice and Leo were both really happy here, quietly drawing and looking at books, while my brother and I grabbed a seat in the café area nearby. It made the whole experience feel really relaxed and family-friendly from the moment we arrived. 🎭 Heading Into the Theatre The auditorium opened at around 10:15am, and after getting our tickets scanned, we headed to our seats. We were sat in Row G, seats 5–8 , and the view was really good. The seating is nicely raked, so you tend to get a clear view no matter where you’re sitting, which is always reassuring when you’re taking little ones. One of the things I really liked was that the experience actually started before the show officially began. The Wise Old Man came out into the audience, chatting to the children and handing out his “easy peasy solutions” business cards. It was such a fun, interactive way to draw the children in right from the start. 🐄 The Show – A Story Brought to Life The show itself runs for around 60 minutes , which felt like the perfect length for younger children—long enough to tell the story, but without losing their attention. It follows the familiar story of the little old lady who feels her house is far too small, and the rather unusual advice she’s given to fix it. Watching it unfold on stage is so much fun, especially as the animals are gradually brought into the house and the chaos builds. What really stood out was the creativity in the puppetry. Each animal is made from everyday objects, which gives the whole show a really imaginative, handmade feel. It’s simple but so effective, and it really captures children’s attention. The set is equally clever, with the cottage opening up to reveal the inside, which adds a lovely visual element and keeps things engaging throughout. There’s also a great mix of songs, movement, and audience interaction, which keeps the energy up and the children involved. Alice especially loved the pig with its love of biscuits, while Leo couldn’t get enough of the moment the cow danced on the table—those little character moments really stayed with them afterwards. 💛 Final Thoughts This was such a lovely, easy theatre trip and one I’d definitely recommend for families with younger children. Everything about the experience felt really well thought out—from the relaxed pre-show setup to the interactive elements within the performance itself. It’s the kind of show that feels welcoming and accessible, especially if you’re introducing little ones to theatre for the first time. Although the run at Waterside Arts was only for a couple of days, A Squash and a Squeeze  is continuing to tour until the end of May, including a stop at Leeds Playhouse. If you’re interested in catching it, it’s definitely worth checking the official show website for full tour dates and venues. 📍 Practical Info Location:  Waterside Arts (The Robert Bolt Theatre) Duration:  60 minutes Age Guidance:  3–8 years Performance Times: Tue: 16:30 Wed & Thu: 10:30 & 13:30 Ticket Prices: £17 Adult £15 Child £60 Family Ticket (1 adult + 3 children or 2 adults + 2 children)

Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos Exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum Manchester – An Out-of-This-World FAMILY SPACE ADVENTURE 🪐 We visited the Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos  exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum Manchester on Tuesday 17th February, and it turned out to be such a fun, interactive family day out. We had booked the 1:45pm time slot and paid £32 for a family ticket. In the end, we spent just over an hour exploring, which felt like the perfect amount of time to see everything without it becoming too much for the kids. From the moment we arrived, everything felt really well organised. After showing our tickets at the desk, we were directed round the corner to a waiting area. Opposite the desk there was an accessibility hub with ear defenders and other items available to borrow if needed, which I thought was such a thoughtful touch. There was also a buggy park in the waiting area, which makes things much easier if you’re visiting with younger children. In front of the doors, there was a countdown screen showing when the next session would begin. It’s such a simple idea, but it really builds excitement while you wait. As soon as it reached zero, the doors opened and we were let in together. Even though our time slot — and most of the others that day — were sold out, it never felt overcrowded. There was plenty of space to move around, we didn’t feel rushed at all, and we rarely had to wait long to try anything. That made a huge difference and meant we could just enjoy it at our own pace. 🚀 Blast Off: Stepping Into Dr Big Brain’s World As soon as you enter, you’re welcomed by a short video that introduces Dr Big Brain and sets the tone for the whole experience. It immediately makes the exhibition feel more like an adventure rather than just a series of displays. From that point on, you’re moving through different space-themed zones, all connected by the story and characters from the BBC Horrible Science  series. The kids really responded to this — it gave everything a bit more purpose and made it feel like they were part of something rather than just walking around looking at things. 🌟 Alice & Leo’s Favourite Bits There was so much to see and do throughout the exhibition, and the fact that it’s so hands-on really keeps children engaged. Some of the biggest highlights for us were seeing the real space toilet from the Soyuz-Mir spacecraft, touching a real piece of the Moon, and learning how astronauts eat, sleep and train in space. Both kids thought taking a selfie on the space toilet was absolutely hilarious — definitely one of those moments that really stuck with them. Alice also loved dressing up as an astronaut earlier in the exhibition, while Leo was more interested in the interactive challenges and moving between the different activities. The rover activity was another standout. Programming it to move across the crater was such a fun way to introduce problem-solving, and it didn’t feel like learning at all — just play. There were also lots of sensory elements throughout, which made it feel really immersive. There’s always something to press, move, listen to or try, so it never feels like you’re just walking around reading information. 🌌 From Astronauts to Alien Worlds The exhibition is set out as a journey through different parts of the Solar System, and each section feels slightly different as you move through it. Some areas are bright and energetic, while others are darker and a bit more atmospheric, especially as you move towards the deeper space sections. It keeps things interesting and stops it from feeling repetitive. I also liked that there were quieter moments mixed in with the more interactive areas. Spaces like the cosy crater give children a chance to slow down for a minute before moving on again. Despite it being a busy day, the layout meant it never felt stressful or overwhelming. There was always enough space around each activity, and you could easily move around without feeling like you were in anyone’s way. 🪩 The Grand Finale: Disco Planet & Dress-Up Fun At the end of the exhibition, there’s another short video before you move into the final room — Party Planet. This space has a big screen, music, and silver astronaut costumes and wigs for children to dress up in. It’s a really fun way to end the experience and feels quite high-energy compared to some of the earlier sections. By this point Alice and Leo were starting to get a bit tired, so they didn’t want to dress up, but I can imagine this being a big highlight for lots of children. After that, you exit by the gift shop. Alice chose a robot arm and Leo picked a little Earth plush, both £6.99, and they were really happy with their choices. 💭 Would We Recommend It? Definitely. Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos  is one of those exhibitions that gets the balance just right. It’s educational without feeling heavy, interactive without being overwhelming, and genuinely fun for both children and adults. There’s so much to do, and the mix of real space artefacts, hands-on activities, humour and sensory elements makes it feel really memorable. If your children enjoy space, science, dressing up or interactive play, this is absolutely worth a visit. A brilliantly bonkers space adventure that makes science feel hands-on, exciting and genuinely fun for the whole family. Top Info ℹ️ 📍 Science and Industry Museum, Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4FP 📆 13 February 2026 – 3 January 2027 💰 £10 per person, family discounts available, under 3s free ⏱️ We spent just over an hour exploring 👶 Buggy park available in the waiting area ♿ Accessibility hub with ear defenders and other items available 🛍 Gift shop at the end of the exhibition 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Recommended for ages 7+, but younger children can still enjoy plenty of it too 🎥 Watch Our Visit in Weekly Vlog #442 If you’d like to see what we got up to during our visit to the Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum Manchester, you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #442 below. Our trip to the museum is at the beginning of the video, although the vlog also includes some other moments from our week.

Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts at The Lowry On Tuesday 7th April, my mum and I headed to The Lowry for a press night of Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts  — and it turned out to be such a lovely midweek theatre trip together. With a 7:30pm start, my dad dropped us off just outside the Imperial War Museum North, and we walked across the bridge over to The Lowry. It’s one of my favourite ways to arrive at the theatre, and at this time of year it’s still light in the evening, which made it a really nice, relaxed walk over before the show. A Lovely Evening at The Lowry Once inside, I headed to the press desk to collect our programme before we made our way into the Lyric Theatre. We were seated in the stalls, Row O seats 31 & 32 , slightly to the side rather than central, but the view was still really clear and we didn’t miss anything on stage. The show started promptly at 7:30pm, and from the opening moment, it definitely grabs your attention with a very dramatic and unexpected start. A Mystery That Keeps You Guessing The story begins during a theatre performance where things suddenly take a very dark turn — and from that moment, the mystery unfolds. I really liked the concept of the story, especially the way it links back to Morse’s past. There are lots of twists throughout, and it’s one of those shows where you’re constantly trying to work out what’s going on and who might be involved. Act one was around 60 minutes long , and by the interval, my mum and I already had a few theories about who the killer might be — which made it really fun to chat about during the break. Interval Theories & Mid-Show Chats The interval lasted around 20 minutes , and we decided to stay in our seats and chat rather than head out — mainly because we were so invested in trying to piece everything together. It’s definitely the kind of show that gets you thinking and keeps you guessing, and I always love when a show gives you that to talk about mid-way through. A Strong Finish with Plenty of Twists The second act was also around 60 minutes , with the show finishing at approximately 9:50pm , making the total runtime around 2 hours and 20 minutes including the interval . Overall, I found this to be a really interesting and engaging theatre experience. The mystery itself is strong and full of twists, and I liked how everything came together by the end. At times, it did feel quite dialogue-heavy, and I would have loved a little more action on stage to bring some of those moments to life. But that said, it still kept me fully engaged throughout, especially trying to work everything out alongside Morse. Final Thoughts This was such a lovely theatre trip with my mum, and I always enjoy shows that give you something to talk about during the interval and on the way home. If you enjoy a good mystery and like trying to piece things together as the story unfolds, this is definitely one to consider. And if you’re a fan of Inspector Morse, I think you’ll especially enjoy seeing the character brought to life on stage in a new way. Planning Your Visit 📍 Venue: The Lowry (Lyric Theatre) 📅 Dates: Tuesday 7 April – Saturday 11 April 2026 ⏰ Runtime: Approx. 2 hours 20 minutes (including interval) 👶 Age guidance: 12+ 🎭 Start time: 7:30pm There was no merchandise available for this show apart from programmes, which were priced at £6.

Family Weekly Update Some weeks feel really full, and this was definitely one of them. Between catching up on editing, a lovely theatre night with my mum, Easter prep, and a busy weekend of baking and celebrating, it ended up being a week packed with both productive moments and really special family time. Here’s everything we got up to this week. 🎬 Editing Catch-Up & A Late Night Monday was all about catching up on editing. I spent most of the day finishing the weekly vlog that should have gone up the week before, along with writing the blog post to go with it. Once that was done, I made a start on editing the next weekly vlog, which ended up taking much longer than expected. I didn’t finish until around 11pm, so I decided to leave uploading it until the next day so I could get everything ready properly. 🤒 A Poorly Day & Theatre Night at The Lowry Tuesday was a bit of a mixed day. Leo was poorly with what seemed like the same stomach bug Alice had the week before, so the morning was spent looking after him and keeping him comfortable on the sofa. As he was too ill to walk to school, my parents kindly stepped in to take Alice, which was such a big help. While Leo rested, I managed to finish writing my weekly update blog post and got everything ready to go live just in time before heading out. That evening, my mum and I went to the press night of Top Hat The Musical  at The Lowry, and it was such a lovely night. We were dropped off near the Imperial War Museum North and did our usual walk across the bridge, which always feels like the perfect start to a theatre trip. Once inside, I collected our programme and drinks vouchers, had a quick look at the merch stand (and added another magnet to my collection!), and then we headed into the auditorium. Our seats were brilliant — really central and a great distance from the stage, which worked perfectly for the tap numbers. The show itself completely surprised me. It’s such a light, glamorous and feel-good musical, full of incredible dancing, classic songs and plenty of humour. The storyline is simple and easy to follow, which makes it perfect for just sitting back and enjoying the experience. What made it even more special was sharing it with my mum — she absolutely loved it, and it was just such a lovely evening together. 👉 You can read more about our visit HERE 👉 And my full review HERE When I got home, I attempted to start writing my review but ended up falling asleep on the sofa and finally heading to bed at around 5am! ✍️ Reviews, Reels & Easter Hat Making On Wednesday, Leo was still off school as he needed to stay home for 48 hours, but he was starting to feel much better. I spent the morning finishing my Top Hat  review for All About Theatre, then wrote up my Sarah Monaghan blog review and created a reel to go with it. After school, Alice and I started working on her Easter hat for a school competition. We made pom pom chicks and rabbits, and she absolutely loved getting involved. We didn’t quite finish it before bedtime, so I carried on working on it afterwards… and didn’t realise quite how long it would take! I ended up finishing it at around 5am. 🛍️ Shopping Struggles & Piñata Prep Thursday was the kids last day at school before the Easter holidays, and I headed out to B&M with my parents. Getting there was a bit of a nightmare with roadworks, and unfortunately they didn’t have what I was looking for. I was hoping to find some Mario Hot Wheels cars for Leo’s birthday, but there wasn’t much choice. We then tried Home Bargains, where I had a bit more luck picking up some Easter party bits like plates, napkins and balloons. Once I got home, I started working on the Easter piñata, which this year was a chick hatching from an egg. 🧁 Easter Holidays, Baking & Party Prep Friday marked the start of the Easter holidays, so the kids and I spent the day baking cupcakes and biscuits while I continued working on the piñata. On Saturday, we carried on with the baking, making cornflake cakes, chocolate pretzel nests and chocolate-covered breadsticks, as well as decorating everything we had made the day before. It felt like full-on Easter prep mode, but the kids were loving it. 🐰 Easter Sunday & Family Celebrations Easter Sunday was such a lovely day from start to finish. The kids woke up to a surprise from the Easter Bunny, and while they were busy playing, I finished off the piñata and got everything ready for the day. While they had lunch, I filled all the eggs for the Easter egg hunt, and later the kids helped me fill the piñata with sweets, which they were very excited about! Lawrence got busy tidying the house and putting up decorations while I prepared the food, and by the time our guests arrived, everything was ready. The afternoon was filled with food, games and lots of fun. We had an Easter egg hunt in the garden, did egg and spoon races, played party games, and of course finished with the piñata — which was definitely a highlight. It was such a lovely way to spend Easter together as a family. 🎥 Watch Our Weekly Vlog If you’d like to see everything we got up to this week, you can watch this week’s family weekly update vlog  below — including our theatre trip, Easter prep and party fun.

🎭 Theatre Night at The Lowry On Tuesday 31st March, my mum and I headed to The Lowry for a theatre night to see Top Hat the Musical , which was playing in the Lyric Theatre. Now, I’ll be honest — old-school musicals aren’t usually my go-to, but I’d heard really good things about this one, so I was really looking forward to seeing what it was like. My dad dropped us off outside the Imperial War Museum North, and we did our usual walk across the bridge to the theatre, which is always such a lovely way to start the evening. It was one of those evenings where everything just felt really relaxed from the start. We arrived at around 7pm, and I headed to the press desk to collect our programme and drinks vouchers before having a little wander around. 🛍️ Merch & Pre-Show Of course, we had a look at the merch stand (as always 👀), and there was quite a good range available: Magnet – £8 Keyring – £12 Pin – £9 Pin Set – £18 Bottle Stopper – £6 Umbrella – £28 Tote Bag – £16 T-shirts – £30 Programme – £6 I couldn’t resist picking up a magnet for my collection — it’s definitely becoming a bit of a tradition now! 🎟️ Seats & View We entered the auditorium through Door B and were seated in Row L, seats 24 and 25. The view was excellent — really central and a great distance from the stage. It actually worked perfectly for this show because we could properly see all the footwork during the tap numbers, which made such a difference. ⏱️ Show Running Time & Interval Act one was around 60 minutes long, and during the interval (about 20 minutes), we headed to the bar — I got a Diet Coke and my mum had a J2O. We ended up chatting about the show, and I was honestly surprised at how much I was enjoying it already. The humour was landing really well, and the tap dancing had completely won me over. The theatre had such a lovely atmosphere too — you could tell everyone was really enjoying it. Act two was slightly longer at around 75 minutes, with the whole show finishing at about 10:05pm. 🎶 Top Hat the Musical at The Lowry Top Hat the Musical at The Lowry  really leans into that classic Hollywood glamour and escapism, which works so well for a night at the theatre. The story itself is quite simple and really easy to follow. It centres on Broadway star Jerry Travers, who arrives in London to work on a new show and ends up meeting Dale Tremont after a slightly chaotic first encounter. He quickly falls for her, but things don’t quite go to plan because Dale mistakenly believes Jerry is actually her friend’s husband, Horace. From there, everything turns into a bit of a whirlwind of misunderstandings, near-misses and some very funny moments. As the story moves from London to Venice, the mix-ups only get bigger, with everyone trying to fix things but somehow making them even more complicated along the way. It’s definitely not a show you go to for a deep storyline, but that’s part of the charm — it just gives you a fun, light-hearted way to enjoy all the big musical numbers. 💃 Tap Dancing, Music & Standout Moments The choreography is definitely the highlight of the show. There’s so much tap dancing, and it’s honestly mesmerising to watch — especially in the big ensemble numbers where everything is so precise and in sync. The opening number sets the tone straight away and gives you that “wow” moment right from the start. Phillip Attmore, who plays Jerry, is incredible to watch — his tap dancing looks completely effortless and full of energy, and you can tell he’s really enjoying every moment on stage. Nicole-Lily Baisden brings a lovely warmth to Dale, and I really enjoyed the softer, more romantic moments between the two of them. James Hume and Emma Williams add so much humour as Horace and Madge, and their scenes together were some of the funniest in the show. James Clyde also nearly steals the show as Bates — his timing is spot on and he had the audience laughing throughout. Zak Edwards was on as Alberto at this performance and added a really fun, playful energy to the role. And then there’s the music — I didn’t realise quite how many songs I’d recognise! From Puttin’ on the Ritz  to Cheek to Cheek  and Top Hat, White Tie and Tails , it’s one of those shows where you find yourself smiling as soon as the music starts. ✨ What I Loved Visually, this show is absolutely stunning. The Art Deco-inspired set is beautiful, with its sweeping curves and rotating centre that allows the scenes to move smoothly from London to Venice without breaking the flow. Combined with the lighting, it creates such a polished and immersive feel throughout. The costumes are exactly what you’d hope for — elegant, glamorous and very 1930s — and they really add to that sense of escapism. 💛 A Lovely Evening Together One of the nicest parts of the evening was just getting to experience it with my mum. She absolutely loved the show — especially the humour and the big tap numbers — and it was just such a lovely evening to spend together. I really love that we get to share these theatre trips and enjoy them side by side. 💭 Final Thoughts I went into Top Hat the Musical at The Lowry  not quite sure what to expect, and it completely surprised me in the best way. It’s one of those shows where you can just sit back, relax and enjoy it — light, glamorous and full of those feel-good musical theatre moments. If you’re looking for something fun, easy to watch and packed with incredible dancing and classic songs, this is definitely one to see. 🎟️ Booking Info Top Hat the Musical  is at The Lowry until Saturday 4th April 2026. 👉 You can book tickets HERE 🎭 You can also read my full theatre review over on All About Theatre HERE

Family Weekly Update Some weeks feel really productive, and others feel a little bit all over the place — and this was definitely one of those mixed weeks. From a frustrating start and a not-so-great dentist appointment to Easter prep, a theatre trip and a cosy weekend at home, it ended up being a full but very real kind of week. Here’s everything we got up to during our week of 23rd – 29th March. A Slow Start & A Frustrating Dentist Visit 😩🦷 Monday felt like a bit of a write-off if I’m honest. I had a dentist appointment booked for 2:15pm, and whenever I’ve got something like that — especially the dentist — I find it really hard to focus on anything else beforehand. After dropping the kids off at school, I ended up just scrolling on my phone and watching TV, which was frustrating because I had loads I wanted to get done. The appointment itself didn’t go very well either. I’ve been saying for a while that I could feel a hole in one of my teeth, but I kept being told it was fine. It turns out it isn’t, and now the tooth needs to come out, which I’m really not happy about. By the time I finished at the dentist, it was basically time to pick the kids up from school, so the whole day just disappeared. ASDA Trip, Trafford Centre & Parents Evening 🛍️💛 On Tuesday, Lawrence had the day off, so we got the bus to ASDA to pick up some Easter bits and grab Alice a new cardigan and some leggings. Once we’d finished shopping, we headed across to the Trafford Centre for lunch. I’m definitely a creature of habit, so we went to KFC and I ordered what I always get. After lunch, we had a look in the Haribo shop where I picked up a pick and mix, and then popped into Primark where we ended up getting a couple of bits for Leo as well. We then headed home to pick Leo up from school before my parents kindly watched him so Lawrence and I could go to Alice’s parents’ evening. It was such a lovely evening. Alice has her challenges, but she tries so hard and is such a determined little girl. The teachers had such lovely things to say about her, and we both came away feeling really proud of how well she’s doing. Eric & Ern at The Lowry with My Dad 🎭 After parents’ evening, I had some dinner and then headed to The Lowry with my dad to see Eric and Ern . My mum dropped us off opposite the Imperial War Museum North, and from there we walked across the bridge towards the theatre. It was absolutely chucking it down 🌧️ and so windy that an umbrella didn’t stand a chance, so we just pulled our hoods up and made a dash for it! Once inside, I collected my information sheet and drinks vouchers from the box office before we headed over to the Quays Theatre. We decided to use our drinks vouchers straight away — I went for a lemonade and my dad had a Guinness 0.0, which felt like a nice little pre-show treat. We were sat in the Stalls Tier, Row O, seats 37 and 38. It was slightly to the side, but still a really good view and nothing felt obstructed. The only downside for me was that the seat did get a bit uncomfortable after a while, but overall it was still a great place to sit. The show itself had a really nostalgic feel, with lots of classic-style comedy and variety moments throughout. It wasn’t necessarily my usual type of humour, but I could really appreciate how talented the performers were and how much effort had gone into recreating that classic style. In the interval, my dad and I had a chat about it, and he absolutely loved it. Having watched Morecambe and Wise when he was younger, it clearly meant a lot more to him and brought back so many memories, which made the whole experience even more special. After the show, my mum picked us up and dropped me off at home, and I made a start on writing my review before finishing it the next morning. 👉 You can read my full reviews here: Sarah Monaghan review   (my personal experience of the night) All About Theatre review   (a more detailed look at the show) Easter Prep & Filming 🎥🐣 On Wednesday, I got all the Easter bits I’d bought out and organised everything into the kids’ Easter baskets, which I always enjoy doing. I also filmed an Easter basket video for YouTube and went through all our Easter decorations to see if there was anything else we needed. I managed to get the video edited before heading out to pick the kids up from school, which felt like a productive day after the slow start to the week. A Productive Day at Home 💻✨ Thursday was all about catching up on jobs at home. I got on top of the housework and also went through the files on my external hard drives, organising everything and labelling them properly by year, which has been on my to-do list for ages. A Poorly Day & Cosy Sofa Time 🤒🎬 On Friday, both Alice and Leo were off school ill. Alice had a stomach bug and was really poorly, constantly being sick and unable to keep anything down, which was horrible to see. Leo had a bit of a cough, but seemed absolutely fine otherwise — I think he was quite happy to stay home with us! I spent most of the day cuddled up on the sofa with Alice while we watched films, including Zootropolis and a few of the Toy Story films, which are her favourites at the moment. A Much Better Day & Toy Story Fun 🧸✨ By Saturday, Alice was thankfully much better and able to keep food down. By the end of the day, she was back up playing and feeling much more like herself. She watched Toy Story 3 and 4 and then spent the rest of the day playing with her toys with Lawrence and Leo, which was lovely to see after how poorly she’d been the day before. I spent a lot of the day editing some older party supply haul videos that I’d completely forgotten about, so I got those finished and uploaded to YouTube. A Quiet Sunday & Catching Up 🎬💛 On Sunday, we decided to stay in just to make sure Alice had fully recovered. The kids spent time playing with Lawrence, while I focused on editing the weekly vlog from the previous week. I was a bit behind, and because it included all the St Patrick’s Day party prep, there were loads of clips to go through, so it ended up taking most of the day. Final Thoughts 💛 This week definitely had its ups and downs, from a frustrating start and dentist news I didn’t want, to lovely proud moments, a theatre trip with my dad and some cosy family time at home. Sometimes those slower, quieter days — especially when everyone just needs a bit of comfort — are just as important as the busy ones. And as always… I’m already looking forward to the next adventure ✨ Watch Our Weekly Vlog 🎥 If you’d like to see everything we got up to this week in real time, you can watch this week’s family weekly update vlog, Weekly Vlog #447 , below — come and join us for Easter prep, days out, family moments and a real look at our week.

Family Weekly Update Some weeks feel full of preparation and build-up, and this was definitely one of them! From baking and party prep to a lovely family celebration and a well-timed rest day, this week had a really nice mix of busy moments and slower, cosy ones. Here’s everything we got up to during our week of 16th – 22nd March. St Patrick’s Day Prep Begins 🍀🧁 On Monday, I got started on all the preparations for our St Patrick’s Day party, beginning with baking cupcakes and biscuits. I managed to get the cupcakes decorated, but by the evening I started to get quite a bad toothache, so I ended up heading to bed earlier than planned and left the biscuits to finish the next day. On Tuesday morning, I finished decorating the biscuits and carried on with the party prep. I was supposed to be heading to The Lowry that evening to review a show, but because of the toothache I decided it was best to stay home and rest. Later in the evening, once I was feeling a bit better, I made some more themed treats including leprechaun chocolate hats, chocolate lollies and chocolate-covered breadsticks, which all turned out really well. Our St Patrick’s Day Party 🍀🎉 Wednesday was finally party day! While the kids were at school, Lawrence and I got everything ready. I focused on preparing the food, while Lawrence cleaned the house and put up all the decorations. For the party food, I made shamrock pizzas , puff pastry wrapped hot dogs and green lemonade , which all went down really well. By the time everyone arrived at around 6pm, everything was ready to go. We started with food and then moved on to games, including find the leprechaun’s treasure and pin the shamrock on the leprechaun’s hat, which were lots of fun. It was such a lovely evening, and all the prep was definitely worth it seeing everyone enjoy themselves. A Well-Deserved Rest Day 🛁✨ After such a busy few days, Thursday became a much-needed rest day. I slowed everything right down and treated myself to a long, relaxing bath using one of the bath bombs I got for Mother’s Day. It was exactly what I needed after all the party prep and running around earlier in the week. A Late Mother’s Day Treat 💐🍽️ On Friday, I took my mum out for a late Mother’s Day lunch at Nando’s, which was really nice. After lunch, we had a little look around the shops before heading home — a simple but really lovely way to spend some time together. A Cosy Weekend at Home 🎬✨ Over the weekend, things were a bit more relaxed. I spent some time writing blog posts, creating reels and catching up on housework. We also had some really cosy family time watching Toy Story films with the kids, which they absolutely loved. It was such a nice way to slow things down after a busy week. Final Thoughts 💛 This week felt like a really nice balance of preparation, celebration and slowing down when needed. From baking and party planning to a fun family evening and a bit of self-care, it had a bit of everything. Sometimes it’s those busy, creative weeks that end up being the most rewarding — especially when everything comes together in the end. And as always… I’m already looking forward to the next adventure ✨ Watch Our Weekly Vlog 🎥 If you’d like to see everything we got up to this week in real time, you can watch this week’s family weekly update vlog, Weekly Vlog #446, below — come and join us for St Patrick’s Day baking, party prep, family moments and a little bit of everyday life.

✨ A Theatre Night with My Dad On Tuesday 24th March, my dad and I headed to The Lowry to see Eric & Ern , a tribute to Morecambe and Wise. My mum dropped us off opposite the Imperial War Museum North, and from there we walked across the bridge towards The Lowry. It was absolutely chucking it down 🌧️ and so windy that an umbrella didn’t stand a chance, so we just pulled our coat hoods up and made a dash for it. Luckily, it’s not too far to walk! We arrived at The Lowry at around 7:30pm, where I picked up my information sheet and drinks vouchers from the box office before heading over to the Quays Theatre. 🥤 Drinks & Getting Settled We decided to use our drinks vouchers straight away rather than wait for the interval. I went for a lemonade, and my dad chose a Guinness 0.0 — a nice little pre-show treat before heading into the auditorium. Our seats were in the stalls, Tier Row O, seats 37 & 38. We were sat slightly to the side rather than centrally, but as you can see from the photo, the view of the stage was still really good and nothing felt obstructed. The only downside for me was that after a while I did find the chair a little uncomfortable, but overall it was still a great place to sit. 🎭 What to Expect from Eric & Ern The show is presented in a variety-style format, recreating the feel of a classic Morecambe and Wise television special. It’s made up of a mix of comedy sketches, musical moments and a few bits of audience interaction, all tied together with that nostalgic, old-school charm. Even though I didn’t recognise many of the sketches myself, you could tell they were incredibly well recreated. The timing, mannerisms and chemistry between the two performers were really impressive, and it was easy to see why so many people in the audience were enjoying it. There’s also a musical guest element, which adds a nice bit of variety and breaks up the comedy throughout the evening. 🎭 The Show Experience The show itself was 1 hour 50 minutes long, with a 20-minute interval. As someone who’s only ever seen a few clips of Morecambe and Wise, I didn’t recognise quite a few of the sketches. However, the atmosphere in the theatre was brilliant — there was lots of laughter throughout, and it was clear that many people were reliving memories of watching the originals. During the interval, my dad and I had a chat about what we thought so far. I said it isn’t really my type of humour, but I thought the two performers were incredibly good at what they do. My dad absolutely loved it — having watched Morecambe and Wise when he was younger, it clearly meant a lot more to him and brought back so many memories. ⭐ Second Act We both agreed that the second act was better than the first. It felt like it really found its rhythm, and we both enjoyed it even more as it went on. Even though it’s not entirely my personal style of comedy, I really appreciated the performances and the atmosphere in the theatre. Seeing how much my dad enjoyed it made the evening even more special. It turned into such a lovely night out — a mix of theatre, nostalgia and spending quality time together 💛 💭 Final Thoughts Eric & Ern at The Lowry  is a warm, nostalgic show that clearly resonates with audiences who grew up with Morecambe and Wise. While it might not be everyone’s style of humour (especially if, like me, you don’t have that same connection), it’s still a really enjoyable evening with strong performances and a great atmosphere. And honestly, seeing my dad laugh the whole way through made it completely worth it 🥰 *Our tickets for this show were kindly gifted in exchange for an honest review.

Weekly Update This weekly update is a mix of Easter prep, birthday shopping, a lovely theatre trip and celebrating Mother’s Day a little early. From Haribo treats and school concerts to St Patrick’s Day crafts and a magical morning at Z-arts, it ended up being a really full but fun week. Here’s everything we got up to during our week of 9th – 15th March. Editing & A Productive Start 🎬 On Monday, I started the week as I usually do — editing last week’s weekly vlog. It always takes up most of the day, but I do like getting it finished and uploaded before the new week properly gets going. It’s become a bit of a Monday routine now and a nice way to ease into the week. Easter Shopping & Trafford Centre Wandering 🛍️🍗 Tuesday was Lawrence’s day off work, so we got the bus to ASDA in the hope of picking up everything we needed for Easter. Unfortunately, they didn’t really have their Easter range out yet — just Easter eggs, which actually seemed quite expensive as there were no multibuy offers on like there usually are. Because of that, we decided not to buy any there. After that, we headed across to the Trafford Centre where we grabbed some lunch from KFC before having a little wander around the shops. We popped into Lush and the Haribo shop, where I bought a Haribo mystery bag. On the way home, we stopped at our local Home Bargains to see what Easter bits they had in, and I had much more luck there. I managed to get everything I wanted for the kids’ Easter baskets, which felt like a big win after not finding what I needed in ASDA. We then went to Aldi and picked up some Easter eggs, which were much cheaper than the ones in ASDA. Blog Work & Organising Craft Supplies 🏡✨ Wednesday was a quieter day at home. I spent the day working on my blog and organising my craft supplies, which definitely needed doing. It always feels so much better when everything is sorted properly and easy to find, especially when I’ve got lots of projects on the go. Birthday Shopping in Manchester 🎮🎁 On Thursday, Lawrence was off again so we headed into Manchester city centre to look for a few bits for Leo’s birthday. First, we went into CEX because Leo had asked for a Yoshi game for his Switch. They did have one in stock, but unfortunately they couldn’t find the box, so we decided to leave it and see if we could find another one complete elsewhere. After that, we went to The Entertainer where I managed to pick up some Super Mario wrapping paper and a birthday card, which was helpful. We then went to Argos and bought a Switch game, so that was another thing ticked off the list. We grabbed lunch from KFC again before heading home. A Proud Mum Moment & A St Patrick’s Day Craft 🎶🍀 On Friday, Alice was taking part in a singing concert with her school at Waterside Arts. Lawrence and I went along to watch her and she did so well. It was so lovely to see her up there joining in and taking part, and it definitely felt like a proud mum moment. Later that day, when the kids got home from school, we made a shamrock paper chain craft  together, which was really fun and a lovely little activity to do as a family. Brave Bettie & Early Mother’s Day Celebrations 🎭💐 Lawrence was going to be working all day on Sunday, so we decided to celebrate Mother’s Day a day early on Saturday. In the morning, we took the kids to Z-arts to see Brave Bettie  (gifted tickets), and it was such a lovely start to our day. We always try to arrive a little early when we visit Z-arts because there are lots of fun things for the children to explore before the show. Alice and Leo headed straight to the big red bus in the downstairs play area, where Alice quickly decided she was the driver and “picked us up” before driving us all to the show, which was really sweet to watch. After that, we went upstairs to the café area, where there’s a little play kitchen. The children happily spent time making pretend lunch for me and Lawrence while we waited, which is always such a nice, relaxed way to start the visit. The show itself was a magical woodland adventure full of storytelling, music and lots of moments for the audience to join in. Alice and Leo were both picked to share their favourite animals before the show started, which they absolutely loved and really helped them feel part of the experience. It was such a lovely, engaging show and a really special family morning. 👉 You can read more about our visit in my Brave Bettie review at Z-arts Manchester  on my blog, or my Brave Bettie All About Theatre review  for a more in-depth look at the show. After the show, we got the bus to Coppice Wood Farm for lunch. Alice and Leo loved playing in the play area while we waited for the food to arrive. I had the carvery, Lawrence went for the chicken tikka masala, and the kids had chicken nuggets with chips and garlic bread. After lunch, we got the bus home and spent the afternoon watching Zootropolis 2  on Disney+, which was a really nice way to relax after a busy morning. St Patrick’s Day Prep 🍀 On Sunday, the children and I spent some time getting ready for our St Patrick’s Day party later in the week. We made some shamrock pretzels  and also made leprechaun hats  for the kids to wear on Wednesday. It was such a fun little activity and got us all excited for our party. Final Thoughts 💫 This week felt like a really nice mix of productive days, family time and a few special moments. From Alice’s concert to our early Mother’s Day celebrations and getting organised for both Easter and St Patrick’s Day, it’s been a week full of little highlights. And now everything is starting to feel very busy with upcoming birthdays, celebrations and lots more content to come. Watch Our Weekly Vlog 🎥 If you’d like to see everything we got up to this week in real time, you can watch Weekly Vlog #445  over on my YouTube channel — including our Easter shopping trip, Manchester day out, theatre visit and family moments along the way.

Looking for a fun and easy St Patrick’s Day food idea that even picky eaters will love? These Shamrock Hot Dogs  are the perfect festive snack! Made with simple ingredients like hot dogs and ready-rolled puff pastry, these cute little treats are wrapped and topped with a green pastry shamrock for a fun seasonal twist. They’re ideal for parties, after-school snacks, or a themed family movie night. 🍀 Why You’ll Love These Shamrock Hot Dogs Super quick and easy to make Uses just a few simple ingredients Perfect for fussy eaters (hello hot dogs + pastry!) Great for St Patrick’s Day parties Fun to make with kids 🛒 Ingredients Hot dogs Ready rolled puff pastry 1 egg Green Gel food colouring 👩‍🍳 How to Make Shamrock Hot Dogs Line a baking tray with greaseproof or baking paper. Take the puff pastry out of the box and let it rest at room temperature for 10 minutes before unrolling. Unroll the pastry and cut off a strip large enough to cut out 8 small shamrocks using a shamrock cutter. Use a toothpick to add a small amount of green gel food colouring to the cut-off pastry. Knead gently to mix the colour, being careful not to overwork the pastry. Make sure to use gel food colouring rather than liquid, as liquid can make the pastry too wet and sticky to roll out properly. Roll the coloured pastry out with a rolling pin, adding a little plain flour if needed to stop it sticking. Cut out 8 shamrocks. Cut the remaining pastry into vertical strips using a pizza cutter. Wrap each hot dog with two strips of pastry and place them on a lined baking tray. Add one shamrock to the centre of each wrapped hot dog. Make a green egg wash by beating 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water, then mixing in a small amount of green food colouring. Brush the egg wash over the pastry using a pastry brush. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve warm. 🍽️ Tips for the Best Shamrock Hot Dogs Let the pastry rest before unrolling Giving it 10 minutes at room temperature helps prevent cracking and makes it much easier to work with. Use gel food colouring, not liquid Gel colouring keeps the pastry easy to work with, whereas liquid food colouring can make it too wet and sticky to roll out properly. Use a toothpick for the colouring This helps you control how much gel you add so the pastry doesn’t become too soft. Don’t overwork the pastry When kneading in the colour, try to handle the pastry as little as possible so it still puffs up nicely in the oven. Lightly flour your surface If your pastry starts to stick when rolling out the coloured section, add a small dusting of plain flour. Keep an eye on them in the oven Every oven is slightly different, so check towards the end of cooking to make sure they’re golden and not overdone. Serve warm for the best results These taste best fresh out of the oven when the pastry is golden, flaky and crisp. Perfect for picky eaters If your little ones love hot dogs, this is a really easy way to make them feel fun and special without changing the food they already enjoy. 🎉 Perfect For… St Patrick’s Day parties Kids’ lunches or snacks Family movie nights Quick party food for fussy eaters ✨ Final Thoughts These Shamrock Hot Dogs  are one of those simple ideas that turn into something really special. They’re fun, festive, and guaranteed to be a hit with kids (and adults too!). “A little twist of pastry and a touch of green magic turns a simple hot dog into a lucky St Patrick’s Day treat!” 🍀

🍀 Shamrock Mini Pizzas – A Fun St Patrick’s Day Treat If you’re looking for a super simple, fun, and festive food idea, these shamrock mini pizzas  are absolutely perfect! We made these for our St Patrick’s Day celebrations and they were such a hit—especially because they’re so easy to customise. They’re ideal for picky eaters, quick party food, or just a fun kitchen activity with the kids. Alice and Leo loved using the cookie cutter to stamp out the shamrock shapes—it was definitely their favourite part before we even got to the toppings! 💚 🛒 Ingredients Tortilla wraps Tomato purée Cheese of your choice We used Red Leicester and Mild Cheddar to represent the orange and white of the Irish flag Green peppers (for the green in the flag 🍀) Ham Pepperoni Optional: any other toppings your family loves 👩‍🍳 Method Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper or baking paper. Use a large shamrock cookie cutter to cut shapes from your tortilla wraps. We made 14 shamrocks You can usually get around 3 shamrocks per tortilla Add a small blob of tomato purée to each shamrock and spread it to cover the base. If needed, grate your cheese and sprinkle it evenly over each pizza. Add your toppings (pepperoni, ham, and green peppers—or whatever your family prefers). Place in the oven at 200°C for around 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbling. Remove from the oven, allow to cool slightly, and serve. 💡 Top Tips ✨ Great for picky eaters—keep toppings simple or let kids customise their own ✨ Perfect for lunchboxes, party platters, or after-school snacks ✨ You can swap toppings to suit any theme (not just St Patrick’s Day!) ✨ No cookie cutter?  Draw a shamrock on card, place it on the wrap and carefully cut around it with a knife—it takes a little longer but works just as well 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Why We Loved This This is exactly the kind of recipe I love sharing—quick, affordable, and fun for the whole family. There’s something about turning everyday food into something themed that just makes it feel a bit more magical—and these shamrock pizzas definitely brought that extra bit of joy to our day 💚