Having lost some inches recently thanks to Thinking Slimmer I have been finding that my trousers have been falling down a lot. Now for most of you that would be great you would be thinking about going shopping and what you are going to buy, for me I hate it. I loved my comfy jeans, I really wish they should shrink with me but unfortunately that cant happen.

I find that I have to buy my jeans from the supermarket, I was an 18 to 20 with really fat thighs and branded or high street jean never seemed to fit right. I also have the issue of tops, I hate fashion, nothing ever looks good on me that is in fashion, I tend to wear metal hoodies over everything as I feel comfortable in them an well I realised that I had been hiding inside them.

Now dont get me wrong this is not a sponsored post or anything like that no one has asked me to write this but I wanted to share with you the fact that I have found some clothes that I really love, believe me this is a miracle.

I have a next account and as you can see from my sidebar I am part of the next blogger network now this is nothing to do with them but all the items I bought were in their sales.

My new favourite Brand is LIPSY!!!

Yep they make tops that flatter me even in big sizes which is unusual, if you dont believe me have a look at the photos below where I am showing off my new clothes. Also I would like to mention how great I felt at ordering 3 pairs of Next jeans in different styles in a size 18 that fit perfectly, I know I would not be a size 18 if I went to tescos or asda but in Next I am really happy to find jeans that not only fit but look amazing. Just see for yourself and let me know what you think.

I am sure some of you have been there, you walk into the room to find your child on the phone, not the pretend one, the real one and for a short second you think, **** who has she phoned now.
What you dont want to happen is the following

(You take the phone of said child and hold it to your ear * are me)
*Hello
"999. wheres the emergency"
*Umm sorry there is no emergency my 3yr old got hold of the phone
"Do you know it is a criminal offence to dial 999 when there is not an emergency
*Yes I am aware of that
"Can you ensure that it does not happen again"

Ok so how can I ensure that my 3 yr old doesnt dial 999? She is pretty good with numbers so I could explain that 999 is a number for the firemen, ambulance and police but she is not good at doing as she is told, in fact she is very good at doing the opposite so if I said dont phone 999 she would do it at every possibility. Maybe I should just not say anything and hope that as this is the first time it happened it was a fluke and she wont do it again.

However it got me thinking maybe she is old enough to know how to phone 999 if there is an emergency, she seems to remember my works extension number after only being told it once and that is three digits so I know the number wont be a problem for her but what about the circumstances.

Do you think she is old enough to know what an emergency is?

Have you taught your children what to do in an emergency? 

How have you explained it to them and at what age?

I would love to have your feedback as I really do thin

"Hello..""Can I speak to santa claus.."
"Hi Santa, I want to ask you a flavour..."
"All the presents have been opened and they are all gone, can you bring me some more please..."
"Yes I have been very good..."
"No Alison has been naughty..."
"Well I suppose you could bring her a present too but only one..."
"No Mummy and Daddy do not deserve any presents..."
"No, they keeping making me go to bed..."
"Oh one last thing Santa, can you make it christmas every day.."
"Thanks Santa see you soon"

If you had told me my children could work together and cooperate to make a craft I would have laughed at you, however there is now proof that this can happen. All I have to work out now is how to make it happen again.

Kermit is currently in the Bathroom, they like him joining them in the bath of an evening to have a soak and a bit of a wash, he never did turn into a prince but he is still great fun.

We received the Kermit sticker set and a free 2ltr bottle of milk from Cravendale and Britmums. We should have written this post earlier to enter it into a competition but I dont care, we had such great fun that I still wanted to share it with you.

We have since order two other Muppets characters and we are looking forward to going to the cinema to see Disneys The Muppets which is showing from 10th February, maybe a great half term activity?

We all know how bad the school holidays are and one of my favourite PR companies have been in touch to let me know about some great half term activities taking place in Manchester.

The first is week long fun at the Imperial war museum, below is a list of activities. I will be there on Sunday 12th as they are giving out free soreen malt loaf,  mmmm my favourite

Family Fun Day - Sunday 12th February
IWM North, 11.30am – 4pm
Free activities all day for all the family including:
Storytelling sessions with National Storytelling Laureate Katrice Horsley, 1pm & 3pm, IWM North’s Libeskind Room
Walkabout Performances by masked characters, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm & 3.30pm, Special Exhibitions Gallery
Storytelling Session (Oskar’s Journey), 11.30am, Under the Harriet Jump Jet
Creative Activities & Storytelling (What Nancy Did Next), 1pm – 4pm, Learning Studio

Walkabout Performances - Sunday 12th and Saturday 18th February
Special Exhibitions Gallery 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm
Silent, family friendly masked characters are on the loose in the museum. Will you spot one of these specially developed characters as you explore the Once Upon A Wartime exhibition?  Inspired by the stories featured in the exhibition the characters are brought to life through the use of full face masks & physical theatre techniques. 

Mask Movement Workshops -February 13th, 15th and 17th, 2pm.
Recommended age: 10 – 16 years old
Explore the theme of storytelling, inspired by our Once Upon A Wartime exhibition. This workshop explores mask movement as a way of telling a story. Chose from a range of professional theatre masks to transform yourself into different characters. Experience what it is like to be a masked performer.  Learn how to characterise the exhibition’s themes of survival, excitement, separation, loyalty and identity through using specially created masks.  Get the chance to try out your new skills by performing live in the Once Upon A Wartime exhibition.

Places are limited and booking is required. Guarantee your place by emailing learningnorth@iwm.org.uk or calling 0161 836 4000

Morning storytelling sessions for families
11th – 19th February, 11.30 am, Meet under the Harrier Jump Jet
Recommended age range 4 - 10
Are you sitting comfortably? Gather round for these special storytelling sessions then take your own journey through even more wartime stories in the Once Upon a Wartime exhibition:

Oskar’s Journey - 11th, 12th, 13th February, 11.30am
Meet our charming cat puppet character Oskar and discover his tale of adventure on a journey across a divided city in search as he seeks out a friend on the other side of the Berlin Wall.  The session uses puppets, multi-sensory resources including sounds and smells, and object handling including the chance to see a real piece of the Berlin Wall.  

Shaping Up - 14th, 15th, 16th February, 11.30am
Follow the tale of a group of shapes who discover how much better things can be when we all get along.

Animals & War - 17th, 18th, 19th February, 11.30am
Discover the fictional story of Joey from War Horse in the Once Upon A Wartime exhibition, then join us as puppets and pictures bring to life true heroic and heart-warming tales of wartime animal bravery.

Afternoon Creative Activities and Storytelling
11th – 19th February, 1-4pm in the Learning Studio
Explore the world of wartime stories in Once Upon A Wartime then drop in and join us in the learning studio for hands on activities and storytelling with puppets, sounds and smells.

What Nancy Did Next - 11th, 12th, 13th February, 1-4pm
Meet Nancy and hear her tales of life in the Land Army in the Second World War. Learn about her wartime experiences away from home and making new friends ... especially with a quiet and timid horse called Rufus.  In this interactive Family Friendly session, visitors can choose what happens and so each story-telling session will be different.

Billy’s War - 14th, 15th, 16th February, 1-4pm
Meet our charming rag doll character Billy and discover his tale of evacuation in this Second World War themed session. 

The Adventures of Able Seaman Wally Tobin - 17th, 18th, 19th February, 1-4pm
What have a parrot, a coconut and a motorbike got in common? Find out in this interactive story telling session revealing the adventures of Able Seaman Wally Tobin and looks at how people from different cultures and countries work together in times of hardship and war.  Enjoy the story then let your creativity take flight making your own colourful parrot wings to keep.

Next is Dinosaur fun at the Lowry outlet mall

This February half term, head to the Lowry Outlet Mall for some dinosaur fun! Kicking off on February 11 to February 26, these free family activities will offer something for everyone! So whether you’re getting crafty in the workshops, meeting a 6ft dinosaur or meeting some real-life creepy crawlies, you will be spoilt for choice with the Mall’s Lost World Adventures!

Head to the Mall on the day the prehistoric fun starts and Walk With A Dinosaur (Saturday 11th and 18th February; 12pm, 1.30pm, 3pm). Meet our 6ft, animatronic Stegosaurus, in its own Jurassic setting! You can come and learn more about dinosaurs from its handler and Palaeontologist, including what dinosaurs ate, how they lived and why they became extinct.

On 18th February, as well as the Stegosaurus show, Manchester Museum will be bringing real life dinosaur fossils to look at! They will also be hosting a dino-craft workshop from 11am to 3pm.

Get your face painted as your favourite dinosaur at the Jurassic Face Painting; at the Mall on Sunday 12th, Thursday 16th and Sunday 26th February, 11am to 4pm.

Get creative this half term at the Make Your Own Dinosaur Fridge Magnet Craft Workshops (Friday 17th, Thursday 23rd, Friday 24th February; 11am to 4pm). Decorate your very own dinosaur fridge magnet to take home!

And that’s not all! On Sunday 19th and Saturday 25 February visit the Mall for the ultimate Reptile Experience! Meet real-life creepy crawlies, including crawling scorpions, tarantulas, and a selection of snakes including milk snakes, corn snakes, royal pythons and Burmese pythons! Get involved and handle these fascinating reptiles – or if you’re not feeling very brave you can stand back and watch in amazement!

So come along and join the fun, I hope to see you there.