Blogs Up North has provided us with so many fantastic days out as a family over the past few months and today was no exception.

Today we headed over the pennines to Hull to visit The Deep and to meet up with some East side bloggers.

For many of them this was the first time we were meeting and it was great to be able to host something in a city close to their homes.

The Deep is a fantastically intricate building which turns into a bit of a maze when you are inside. It has loads of opportunities to learn and lots of hand on experiments to do.

The Deep has a very large tank which contains rays, swordfish, sharks and more. It is the largest tank of its type that I have seen spanning over three stories high. You can travel in the scenic lift to exit and it feels like you are right inside the tank with the fish.

It isn't the biggest aquarium I have been to or even the one with the most diverse animals but it was certainly a great day out and I would definitely consider going back. If you buy a one day ticket you can also exchange that for a yearly pass allowing you to go as often as you want which if you lived close by would be an ideal opportunity for you.

We did take some snacks for the day but we decided to eat in the café after the smell lured us in. The food looked gorgeous and Hubby had a minced beef and onion pie that he said was divine whilst I had a jacket potato, beans and salad. There was a wide variety of food available including a salad bar, cakes, sandwiches and hot food.

If you are over that way I would definitely recommend going in if only to come face to face with a sword fish!

Let's hear it for maxi dresses! The maxi has been on the fashion radar for
some time now and as a nation of women we're in love with it. There is a style
to suit every figure and, though it is intrinsically glamorous, it can be
dressed up or down to suit mood or occasion using just a few clever accessories
and other pieces from your wardrobe. When it comes to summer holidays, maxi
dresses work hard to earn their position in our suitcase. Taking up little space
it will come in handy more than a few times on a break in the sun.

Which suits me?

They're great for any figure but as there are different styles of maxi dress
you can go with something that really makes the most of your best assets. If
you're plus size then why not show off your fabulous bust with a V-neck maxi, or
something with a fitted bust, empire line style. These will bring attention to
your bust while skimming over the rest of your body gently. A plain, dark block
colour will be more flattering than a light style but choose whatever makes you
feel great and work it!

Going casual

It might be a sweeping floor length style, but it doesn't have to be reserved
for parties or weddings. More and more of us are starting to see the benefits of
a maxi dress for casual wear too. They're comfortable and even better, no-one
will know if you've waxed your legs or not except you! Dressing your maxi down
with flats and a denim jacket is a one way ticket to fast, casual chic and the
perfect look for a day spent shopping or lunching with friends. In the summer go
for flats such as gladiator style sandals or even plimsolls for a fresh and fun
look.

Max out at a wedding

Special occasions require something special from our wardrobes. A trusted
maxi dress is fabulous for dressing up for weddings or other summer events. Showcase your maxi dress with stylish court shoes or flamboyant sandals and elongate your look even further with a pretty fascinator. Complement the colour of your dress with a pretty shrug or smart fitted jacket. Don't forget to add a clutch too for the ultimate glamorous look.
 
For slightly less dressy affairs, dress up your maxi dress with smart wedge
heeled shoes and an elegant cardigan. Gorgeous chiffon scarves in floral designs
add a chic touch to any summer party look too whether knotted around the neck or worn loosely around the shoulders.

Going for glamour

The maxi dress is a good partner for a night out too. No restrictive waistband to have you wanting to undo a button or two after dinner and come rain
or shine you'll feel full-on feminine. This is the time to add plenty of
accessories with sparkle. Like the maxi, heels are the ultimate instant
glamoriser. If you have some killer sparkly sandals with heels then go for it.
If the thought of a night on your feet in heels doesn't appeal then the wedge
heel is a good compromise and looks great with a long length dress.

When the sun goes in and the temperature drops a smart fitted jacket will
work wonders. It'll keep you warm and nip in at the waist giving you a great
shape. There are some great ones available with a little glitter or sequins to
build the evening effect. Jewellery is always a great finishing touch for a
night out. A bold necklace will show off a pretty décolleté to a tee.

Friday morning was another early start for me as I sneaked out of the house whilst everyone was asleep to journey back down to London.

I was on my way to Mums Show live to meet up with some fellow bloggers, catch up with some of my brand contacts and to generally see what it was all about.

I had arrange to meet Boo from Boorooandtiggertoo.com at Kings Cross station and we were going to journey up to Alexandra palace together.

Using my amazing iPhone 5's sense of direction we may have got slightly lost in Alexandra Park, muddy paths, lots of trees and a very large incline to where we needed to be. We soon found ourselves using a little bit too much energy on the steep hill up to the event and I was thankful that I had flat shoes on, a quick glance at Boo and I realised that she was not quite as prepared for our outdoor jaunt as I was. Sorry about that boo.

On arrival at Mums Show Live we went straight to the press room expecting it to be buzzing but unfortunately that was not the case. It seemed that a lot of people couldn't make it. I dropped myself in it by offering to stand in on one of the sessions that wouldn't have been run due to absence and so I found myself hosting a talk on Advanced Blogging at 1:30 in the afternoon.

I think we must have been there on an off day as it was very quiet but that just meant that we had more chance to mingle and talk with all the lovely brands as well catch up with some of my favourite redcoats who were there with Billy bear to entertain the non existent children.

It was lovely meeting new people, seeing all the up and coming toys and getting to eat fudge, lots of fudge.

My newly acquired session went well and I had really good feedback from the attendees afterwards which has given me more confidence about the format of Blog On and I now know it will be a success.

We came away from Mums Show Live with lots of goodies and the girls were happy when I shared out all the bits that I had managed to pick up from the different stalls. A special thank you to UKmumsTV who gave me some trash pack for Alison and to National Geographic for kids who gave me a magazine for Elizabeth. Both girls forgave me for leaving them for the day when they woke up to their special surprises.

With the financial year over and the tax returns starting to be filled in I have been giving out lots of advice and help around how bloggers register as self employed and the things that they can claim back as expenses.

The thing is, although a few years ago I was a fully fledged working AAT qualified accountant I am no longer registered with a professional body and this year was actually my first year being self employed.

It dawned on me that by giving out advice I might be open to being accused of professional negligence. Not that I think any of my advice has been wrong. Its just that by offering advice in a professional way means that this could be the case. As a professional you usually have indemnity insurance that prevents these things having a huge effect on family life.

I think I need to be more careful in the advice that I give but one thing is for sure if you receive money or vouchers for any blog work like I do for things like this then you must be registered as self employed. At least that bit is easy.

If you are earning a fairly decent wage from doing this then I think it is time you went to a professional, the cost of paying for an accountant is soon saved in the amount of money they will save you on your tax bill.

If you had asked me that this time last year I would have said no. Not at all.

Now things have changed. Not only are we coping with Cancer but we are thriving. Ok things have had to change a little bit. Those of you that read this blog a lot will notice a lot more paid posts which I do try to make interesting for you. I am sorry that sometimes like today there are quite a few but I have bills to pay and a backlog after I broke my laptop yesterday morning.

So anyway the reason I am writing this is because of the news that Angelina Jolie had her boobs cut off and new ones put in because she carried a faulty gene. It meant that she had a really high chance of getting breast cancer and so she made the decision to go ahead with preventative surgery and I couldn't be happier for her.

I have seen what cancer has done to this family and I know that if I was the one going through it and not able to be the strong backbone that I am, the one holding it all together and organising everything, I know that this super strong family would fall apart.

Since Elizabeth's diagnosis I have had a fear. A fear made all too real when two weeks ago I found a lump in my right armpit.

I haven't blogged about it.

I couldn't even think about it.

The fear was eating me up inside.

But I have been here before.

I have had a lump before and everything was fine.

But what if.

What if this time it is not an enlarged lymph node.

What if it is not down to stress and exhaustion.

What if this time it is one of the things I fear most.

What if I have got cancer, 

The doctors are not too worried but they have referred me so now I am just waiting.

Waiting for an appointment for a scan for something that could be, and more than likely is, nothing.

But if it is nothing why are they sending me for a scan?

Now I know there is cancer in the family I fear that we will all get it in some form.

I fear that I have a dodgy gene that gave it to Elizabeth.

I fear for Alison.

But most of all I fear that I couldn't cope with cancer in the way that Elizabeth has.

With a smile and a fight.

Once upon a time more than 10 years a go a young girl moved to Shetland, she
dated a mechanic and became a bit of a petrol head.

She had her own overalls and was not adverse to getting covered in a bit of oil or copper grease.

Together they built cars. Using a combination of scrap parts and originals they laboured day and late into the night for months to build a mark two fiesta. It had been welded to within an inch of its life and a case of lager managed to convince the other mechanic to pass its MOT. They just needed to get some specialist car insurance because it was classed as a kit car after all of its
modifications.

It was a beauty but the young girl did not have her license. She was not allowed to drive this thing of beauty which had been built through blood, sweat and
tears. 

She did lesson after lesson, dodging sheep and speeding down single track roads. She became masterful at missing rabbits as they darted across the open roads in the back and beyond. 

She was almost ready to sit her test until one day the mechanic has to leave his car at a friends because he had too much to drink.

The next morning he decides to drive the thing of beauty, put it to the test he says, make sure it is safe. She is too tired to go with him. She does not see what happens.

The car was no more, it was swimming with the fishes. The mechanic had not been properly sober and was driving too fast. He did not see the sheep until it was too late.  

The car was no more and the poor young girl hung up her overalls and lay down her tools and has never fixed a car again.

I promised to never tell this tale but I have seen something I want on Amazon and the vouchers were a way of getting me to spill the beans.

Today we had a lot of parcels delivered. In fact over the last month I have had loads of parcels arrive. Hubby is getting quite annoyed because of how full our house is getting.

Most of the stuff is for the goody bags for Blog On, the cupboard under the stairs is full of boxes, the airing cupboard is full of boxes and even my wardrobe has boxes stacked in the bottom. I am not sure where I will be able to put the next boxes that arrive and think I am going to have to rent one of those storage places.

I was looking at some actually and they are not that bad. I suppose I have to weigh up the costs of storage for two months verses a really annoyed husband for two months. The other alternative would be for him to move out but that isn't really practical as it would mean I would have to do the cleaning. Only Joking obviously.

I was told to look at http://www.loknstore.co.uk/personal-storage/ and they are not bad actually. I could get a space big enough for all the Goody Bag contents and keep my husband happy. I might also have a sort through of some of the other things we have stored around the house. Things I really want to keep but don't need immediate access too.

Mind you if I do get some space I might end up buying even more stuff with the money I make from writing posts like this and I bet it wouldn't take long to fill the house up again.

Today I went to Slimming World and had another weigh in.

I was pleasantly surprised to have lost another 1/2 a pound.

I know its not much but I haven't exactly been on plan this week so anything was welcome.

I only have 2 pounds left to lose before I would have lost two stone since the middle of January.

I can't believe it is going so well, although obviously I wish I had lost more. I am now in the hunt for some new clothes. I have been fat for quite a few years and although I held on to some smaller jeans all of my tops are now baggy and even through they still have lots of wear let in them  It just won't do to throw them away.

I also don't have enough draw space to keep them all and get some new ones and if I add anymore clutter to this house my hubby might divorce me.

I am going to go through all the girls stuff too because for some reason I now can't fit all of their clothes into their drawers and there must be some stuff that doesn't fit them anymore.

The amount of times over the years that I have sorted stuff out for charity and then it has sat in my hallway or landing for weeks before I finally get so frustrated with it being there that I end up just throwing it out. what I really need is someone who does a clothes collection and pays me some cash.

It could be any amount really as every penny helps but it just seems such a waste of good clothes to get rid of it for nothing and I really do need to make money wherever I can now I can't work. Writing like this on my blog is obviously one source of income and I do copy writing too but I need something else.

Maybe I just need to stop spending as much and it could be about time to restart my budget and meal plan as our biggest expense seems to be supermarket shopping.

So what do you do when you have 5 hours to spare in London on a Tuesday?

You spend them enjoying yourself. I loved my day as a London Tourist yesterday. I loved going on the bus, wandering the SeaLife Centre and going on the London Eye. I loved answering emails from my seat watching the sharks. I loved looking at history in the British Library. Yesterday I saw the Magna Carta, Big Ben and a giant sea turtle. You can't say you do that everyday.

Life is for enjoying and I plan on taking every moment I can and fill it with happiness.

Which Household Cleaning Tasks Do Brits Hate The Most?

Who can deny some sense of satisfaction when surveying a sparklingly clean surface as a result of some energetic scrubbing and a good old bit of elbow grease?

For some, cleaning can be a cathartic and therapeutic experience but there are always tasks which we loathe to complete. A thorough clean of your home can de-clutter your living space and blow away the cobwebs both physically and metaphorically – but what chores do Brits hate the most?

Cleaning the oven

In contrast, it would appear that cleaning the oven is the number one nemesis for the majority of householders. This particular task is both time and labour intensive and in today’s world, time is often the one commodity in short supply. So the fact that it feels as though this particular task will take forever may be the reason for its high position on the hate list.

Ironing

Another household chore that seems to have no finish, ironing is often cited as a pet hate for homeowners. The problem is that most households, no matter what their number of inhabitants, has a high turnover of washing. Just as one batch is ironed, another is emerging from the washing machine while another load is getting ready to take its place. Fabrics which crease easily, such as linen, can make the task even more laborious which is why steam irons and presses are proving increasingly popular.

Washing up

Another strong contender for most hated household chore has to be the washing up. From  crockery and cutlery to cooking utensils and pots and pans, the average household can dirty more than its fair share of kitchen items.

Dishwashers have risen to fame as a great way to overcome the monotony associated with the chore of the washing up but there are still those who prefer the old fashioned approach. Getting to grips with the materials you need for the job (scourers, dish clothes and a decent washing up liquid) can help make the task easier and it is important to consider the draining and drying options you have at your disposal too.

Deriving pleasure from a clean home

It seems then that those tasks we have a realistic chance of completing quickly and efficiently are the chores of choice. We’re more likely to pick up a duster or plug in a carpet cleaner as their completion will provide us with the positive and relatively immediate results we require.

Sources:

http://www.zoflora.co.uk/news/dirty-brits-come-clean.aspx ; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2155347/Good-clean-fun-One-women-secretly-love-housework-leave-dirty-work-halves.html