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Nina A Spencer – Motherhood Mentor – Simplifying the every day for busy overwhelmed mums -Mum Of Twins Twice! Placenta Accreta Survivor, Mental Health Champion, On my own simple living Journey filled with adventure and travel . Embracing The Imperfectly, Chaotic moments of motherhood.
Ever Wondered how your children’s uniform comes home looking like its been worn for 6 months without a wash? Sick of unexplained stains every day? and I dont know about you but I can never seem to get to the bottom of our washing pile,
What chance do I have really with two sets of twins!
Anyway I did a little bit of digging at parents evening this week trying to find out what my kids get up to in a day to create so much washing!
I’ve devised a little mock timeline of what happens to my kids uniform in a day.
9am – All children are sat in their seats and Register is taken.
9.15am – Melody heads to Read write ink where all the children are doing some learning from the workbooks. –
Jake has maths this morning learning about fractions.
No stains up to now! Well you know other than the toothpaste that was dribbled down their tops before the school run!
10.15am its break time – This Morning Melody opts for Toast, Jake is having a pizza slice.
Melody has used her dress as a napkin to wipe her hands. Jake wipes his mouth on his sleeve.
10.30am – They all do some topic learning this term its all about fossils so today digging is involved in the learning.
Soil is splattered all over after they fight over who is using the tools. they wipe themselves down!
12pm Lunch Time – Bolognese – What could possibly be better!
Both end up with sauce on their uniform. I’m not sure how they manage it.
Jake finishes lunch in record time and heads off to play football on the field with his friends.
Trying to score a goal Jake ends up on the floor getting grass and mud all over him.
Melody has other plans and heads off to an art club. But not before she has chocolate custard for pudding
Oh no Melody not chocolate – She drops it down her t-shirt
Then she forgets to roll up her sleeves so ends up with paint on the cuffs of her cardigan.
1.15 Registration then Afternoon lessons – Today its PE for both
Yet another set of clothes to add to the never ending laundry mountain!
Both are running round the hall playing dodge ball – by the time they are done they both are ready for a shower with sweat dripping from them.
3.30 Its finally home time – I arrive in the playground I spot my two among a sea of other suitably grubby school kids. I ask “my goodness what have you been doing all day to end up in that state?”
Time to put the washer on again.
How am I ever going to get these clean?
Well currently I’m trying out ACE Stain remover spray along with ACE for colours.
Click on the video to see my laundry routine using ACE stain remover and ACE for colours.
Leave your laundry tips below!
Right off to tackle another load!
Until next time.
Nina x
“This post is an entry for the BritMums #ACEforSchool Challenge, sponsored by ACE. Get help for all kinds of stains with the ACE Stain Helper. http://www.acecleanuk.co.uk/ or to buy head to your local Tesco’s, Morrison’s, Waitrose or Sainsbury’s.”
We’ve become a bit football mad. We confessed not long ago of not being Football fans other than watching the odd England game. Now we are having a family hotel stay at Hotel Football.
We were asked along to the Lovely Hotel Football to review their family friendly Squad room along side The Class of 92 room which is a must for Manchester United Fans.
Room For 6?
I have to say we don’t tend to book many hotels its hard to find ones that can accommodate all 6 of us in rooms next to one another.
But as me and Spencer’s ARC Daddy had stayed at this hotel before when we attended a blogger conference and loved it we thought we would give it another go as a family.
Arriving at the hotel late due to a baby illness on the way we explained that we had a table booked in the Cafe football. They are such an accommodating team. They told us not to worry they would let us settle in and move our booking a half an hour.
The staff on reception and throughout the hotel and Cafe Football are so friendly and helpful. You really don’t feel like anything is a chore. They are very accommodating too.
Squad Room
Our first room The Squad room located on floor 8 just one floor below “heaven”. Heaven is The roof top pitch where the hotels Football Camp is held .The room has amazing views from the two massive windows. One over looking the city lights and one over looking the Old Trafford Stadium.
Arriving in the room the kids got so excited by the subtle football theming. The goal and ball feature wall. The wallpaper on the way to the room that Looks like old football cards with players on.
MiniBar
When we stayed here previously I was amazed by the Free mini Bar. Yes free and like no other mini bar Its stocked with old favourites like club biscuits, vimto, picked onion space raiders and more besides. They even tell you at reception that even if you don’t eat it during your stay. Just take it with you. It’s free!
On top of the Free mini bar this time the room had two packs of Top trumps cards and a pack of mini chocolate footballs for each of the big kids. The kids spent no time at all eating the chocolate footballs. And ripping open the top trumps cards.
There is also the standard tea and coffee facilities and all of this is within the price of the room.
Bedtime
Climbing into Bed after a long day exploring or in our case driving up to Manchester was like a dream apart from the buzzing from the air conditioning unit from the room next door which luckily we were also reviewing due to the size of our family. The buzz was easily rectified by turning off the air-con. I have to say the buzzing didn’t affect anyone else in our room just me as I have tinnitus and it interfered with my own buzzing ears.
Comfy
I just love comfy hotel pillows and duvets I never seem to be able to buy the same quality for our bed. The ones at hotel football do not disappoint. And they don’t skimp either there are four pillows on the bed so you’re not having to fold them over and over like in some hotels I’ve stayed in the past. To be honest I could have stayed there all day long!
Babies
Sometimes when staying away from home even if the room is advertised as having a cot available it doesn’t mean it fits in the room very well but the room here is so spacious. We managed even to bring in the other cot from the other room so that we could all sleep together.
They even provided an extra cot Mattress and sheets which a lot of places ask you to bring along with you.
Time For A Wash
In most hotel bathrooms there is just a shower, at Hotel Football there is a shower and a bath. The shower is very spacious and you could probably fit the whole family in there. There is no clingy shower curtain its a wet room style shower.
All of the bathroom products are in the style of football shirts bring the whole football theme in with the room.
Squad rooms can be booked as part of a Stay and play package when signing up for the Half Term Football Camp.
Class Of 92 Room
When you arrive at your room you will see there is something different from the other rooms as the Class of 92 rooms have an identifying red number instead of the white that other rooms in the hotel have.
Entering the room you will see signed football shirts and framed signed poster as well as quotes around the room.
In the Class Of 92 room the Complimentary Mini Bar is stocked with the usual sweets and crisps as well as the hotels very own Hotel Football Beer. Which I have to say went down well with Spencer’s ARC Daddy.
This room had been split into twin beds and then the cot for a baby but as I said we managed to fit it into the other room. Even divided like this the room still felt spacious.
In both rooms there is plenty of work spaces if you do have to do a bit of work during your stay.
If you are there for the football then don’t worry the smart TV has complimentary sports channels as well as all the usual channels if you would rather watch the soaps.
You can book a table at Cafe Football during your stay. We had booked for when we arrived and as I’ve said we were late due to a poorly baby. Spencer’s ARC Daddy ended up staying in the room with the little twins while me and the big twins went for dinner.
Food
Both Jake & Melody chose meatballs and spaghetti from the Children’s menu. (Children’s meals are a set price for their main meal, dessert and soft drinks)
Now in hindsight I should have chosen for the fussy little critters as although when I tried the dinner found it nothing but delicious the meatballs were quite spicy and the food was full of flavour. Which most would find delicious. But my kids are on a beige diet at the moment. A better choice would probably have been nuggets, and chips! Which I’m sure would have been equally delicious.
Let me tell you they had no trouble polishing off the ice-cream.
I on the other hand went for vegetable pie with chips and four cheese sauce. With a side of garlic bread. I had no trouble eating up this delicious meal. It was just the right sized portion too.
I opted for a sweetie pic n mix for pudding that I took back to the room to share.
We also had breakfast with our stay and breakfast consisted of continental and or cooked options. As well as obviously tea and coffee or juice! The breakfast didn’t disappoint.
Room Service
When I ordered our meals I also ordered Spencer’s ARC Daddy his to be delivered to the room.
He opted for fish n chips which he said was delicious and when we arrived back in the room there was only an empty plate for evidence of that.
Travel.
When we stayed last we caught the train and then a taxi from the station. I think we could have actually got on a tram but as par usual we were in a time scale and running late.
Parking
This time we drove. There is a dedicated hotel car park which is a set price of £5 overnight. It is a first come first served basis.
Roundup
All in all our Family stay at Hotel Football was brilliant. The whole hotel still feels new and fresh. It’s super clean and tidy and just has a lovely feel about the place.
The kids found it super exciting and we have already booked again for the BlogOn conference in may next year.
Thank you Hotel Football and Cafe Football for this amazing opportunity to review your rooms with our squad!
Although we received a family hotel stay at hotel football and meal at the hotel in exchange for a review all opinions are my own and as always I only work with companies and brands who fit with our family’s ethics and lifestyle.
I’ve never seen myself as a football mum. We are often out and about at weekends so we don’t like to commit to things that would take away our family time.
Training Time
However when Jake came home with a leaflet for the local under 7s team and then begged to let me go I rang them.
Unfortunately the squad was full however they said he could still train with them.
For a while both him and Melody decided they would train. So my Thursday evenings were taken up by football. Something which I never thought about before. But It’s a win win really as we still got weekends as family time while they still got to play during the week.
Football Mad
I’ve no idea where that new passion came from the only football we really watch is the England games for the euros and the World Cup. So being a football mum is quite a step for me.
Don’t get me wrong, when I was younger I had a crush on Giggsy so obviously supported Manchester United. “Come on you reds”. Now here I am football mum to maybe the future crush to some poor girls never to get a look in.
Please leave me some tips for a newbie football mum. I feel I’m out of my depth somewhat.
Do I sit on the sidelines and shout or just keep quiet?
Do I take oranges for half time or is that a thing of the past?
Nina x
Now. If your little ones are football mad like mine apparently are. Or you fancy doing something different with your October half term why not book them in for some FA qualified coaching provided by “Shooting Stars”
Hotel Football
Hotel Football are running their second football camp through the Half Term
The first opened by hotel co owner and former Manchester United star Phil Neville one was such a hit in the summer that they have decided to bring it back for the autumn.
This looks an amazing opportunity to learn some new skills, and to meet new friends.
Unfortunately my two are a little young this year for it however if this new found passion for football continues I think I might sign them up next year.
Heck if I was within the range I might sign up myself. Listen to this.
Breakfast For Champs
The children will revive a breakfast on arrival with a two course buffet for lunch.
They also receive a sticker book, stickers, a certificate and for those that attend all week a medal of attendance.
During the day children will learn all the basics of the game by doing drills as well as games. Afterwards they then will get to take part in a mini tournament.
Hotel Football October half term football Camp is suitable for boys and aged 7-12 years old.
It is based at Heaven – the rooftop terrace pitch inside Hotel Football.
There is a panoramic views of the Salford Quays and of course The Old Trafford ground
For a day at the camp it is £40 per child with a 25% discount if. Booking for the week making the total for the week only £120. Which for a holiday club is an excellent price.
If you aren’t local to Manchester and Hotel Football do not worry. The hotel gave it covered.
They are also offering a limited number of Stay & Play packages which combines the price of the camp with a stay at one of the amazing rooms with the hotel.
The season where we can forget about shaving our legs, we can light those pumpkin candles, eat our weight in comfort food and hide our wobbles behind our chunky knit jumpers!
I can smell Autumn dancing in the breeze. The sweet chill of pumpkin and crisp sunburnt leaves
~ Unknown
Its Autumn!
The summer has been epic and it will be hard to beat it in terms of adventures for our family. Lazy mornings and late nights are giving way to school runs and movie nights!
I dont want Autumn to go without making some good memories though thats why we are here today with The ARC Autumn Bucket list!
Go
Pumpkin Farm Visit
Seaside
Farm visit
Watch
Hotel Transylvania 3
Christopher Robin
Johnny English
Make
Make a scarecrow
Decorate pumpkins
Carrot Cake
Soup
Hot Chocolate
DO
Geocaching
Indoor Picnic
Car Picnic
Family Photo
Trick or treating
Firework display
Movie Nights
Read
Finish Calm Parents
Finish why Mummy drinks
Start Why mummy swears
During Autumn we have a half term and a couple of inset days that’s why the list is so long. Some of the things are personal, some are for myself and Spencer’s ARC Daddy and some are for our whole family.
I’m so looking forward to movie afternoons with hot chocolate popcorn and homemade cake.
Autumn is a great chance to practice a bit of Hygge.
