Comping

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I started entering competitions at the beginning of March this year. It look a couple of weeks to get my first win which was a can of soup and a soup mug. Just over a week after that I got my second win, a 12ft trampoline, enclosure and cover! I was over the moon and so were my children. The only condition was that I had to review the product which was fine by me. Last year we threw away the children’s old one because it ripped so winning one meant we didn’t have to buy one. We haven’t set it up yet as we like to make sure the ground is dry but that should be within the next couple of weeks (fingers crossed). Since winning this prize I’ve been hooked. I joined the website  Competition Database which lists competitions and links to website, facebook page or twitter page that it is. It’s really easy to use and helps you keep track of what you’ve entered and shows you how many you have done over certain time periods. Another website I use is ThePrizeFinder this website seems to have more competitions listed but there are a few spam.

Total wins for March was 7 which included the 2 already mentioned, a Paw Patrol personalised mug and Easter egg for my little boy which he was delighted with, A lego set, DVD, VR headset and an apron. You need to look at comping as a hobby not so much the winning else you would get frustrated. It seems at times you are are putting a lot of time in and not getting anything for it and then all of a sudden you will get 2 or 3 wins at once.

So far in April I have won 7 prizes, A storm tropper dress up outfit which I thought would be good for my son but when it arrived it was an adults, a suedette tunic from Klass, a £50 Harbour Living spend, some half head extensions, a sand toy, a nail polish set and a £50 Hungry House voucher code. Luckily the Hungry House code is valid for 12 months as none of the takeaways in our town are signed up with them but there are a couple in towns a few mile away that we occasionally visit so I’m going to save it for one of those occasions. With the Harbour Living £50 spend I got a new ironing board, a dinner set and a sundae dish.

I’ve made some new online friends through comping and they help by tagging me in competitions and I do the same for them. On facebook there are a number of comping groups which I am part of and everyone helps to look out for members who have won something and maybe don’t know about it. Some companies or pages don’t tag or message the winner, possibly hoping they won’t see and won’t claim their prize.

I’m enjoying entering the competitions and I try and do as many as I can but I don’t really get a chance until I put the little ones to bed and then it’s my time and that’s what I now do. On average I am doing about 120 daily which sounds a lot but not compared to what some people do. It is amazing to read up what some people have won but even the small wins give each of us a buzz. Since starting I think I’ve done pretty well and I hope that my luck continues 🙂

 

Catch up of the week

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Well my little boy got into his chosen school. That was a huge relief seeing as it was the only choice I put! He was very happy that he will be joining his sister but every day he has asked if he is going to big school, it’s going to be a long few months until September!

On Monday I went to my Slimming World group. I lost 2lb and was received my 1 stone award  :). Just 1.5lb to go for my club 10 award which I am hoping for this week but I’ve had a couple of naughty days so I’m really not sure I will get it. I’ve found I am an emotional eater and once I start that is it, everything BAD enters my mouth in mammoth quantities.  Today has gone well and I’m going to try and be good tomorrow but I’m going to a baby shower and I’m not sure I will be able to resist the buffet. I do intend to make good choices and fill up before I go.

We use to shop at Morrisons but our local store closed a couple of weeks ago. The last couple of weeks we have shopped at Iceland and Home Bargains but I think we need to try somewhere different. My husband doesn’t like change and all the other supermarkets are the other side of town. I’m hoping a supermarket will open up this side soon but in the meantime I am thinking of trying Aldi this week. We tried there a few years back and didn’t like it but so many people rave about the savings there maybe it’s worth giving it another go?

Our little boy had his first full day at pre-school on Wednesday. It was very strange having a full day to get my jobs done and I was expecting a phone call after lunch to say he was upset but they said he did really well. I made him a packed lunch to take and all he wanted in it was jaffa cakes and yogurt. I made him a sandwich and put that in but he was adamant he wasn’t going to have it. At lunch they tried everything to get him to eat it without putting too much pressure on him but he was still adament. This week I’m going to either help him make a list of what he would like or take him to the shop to choose so he at least gets what he wants in his lunch. I’m really proud that he was ok and that since going back this term he has settled. On and off since he started he has cried when he leave, it’s more for my benefit because as soon as I am out of the door he stops! I spoke to his key worker the other day and she said he is more settled and concentrates better since his friend left to go to another school.

I’ve had a few competition wins this week but I will do another blog about that.

That’s about it for the catch up, nothing interesting to report. Thanks for reading and if you haven’t already and you would like to please follow 🙂 thank you x

 

Primary school admissions

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Well I suppose a lot of parents are feeling the nerves right now waiting to find out which school their baby is going to. I’m one of those parents. My little boy is my 4th and last and I think knowing he’s growing up and no longer my baby is hard to accept. I only put one choice down for a primary school place and I’m feeling a little bit of regret about that now. My decision to only put one was based on that we already have a daughter at that school and our older two had been there too. I can’t see any reason for him not getting in but it is that little percentage of uncertainty that is worrying me. 

Fingers crossed everyone gets a place they are happy with and their children are too 😊

Slimming World Week 11

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At times I love following the slimming world plan and at others I beat myself up for not being able to stick at it. This is my second time following the plan and it has been fairly slow but at the same time most weeks I’ve not really been 100% on plan. I started off at 11 st 10 1/2 lb and in the 11 weeks since I’ve joined I’ve lost 12 1/2 lb.

This week I’m really hoping for my 1 stone award :). I’ve been on plan all week apart from we had takeaway tonight but I choose a better option to what I usually have and I’m cutting out the wine too. I get weighed on a Monday which I don’t really like as most Saturday nights we have a takeaway and it doesn’t always give my body enough time to recover from that. Hopefully the takeaway tonight won’t affect my weight loss too much else I will be very disappointed on weigh day.

I’m 5′ 2″ and I’ve set my target at 9 st 7 lb but I think once I get there I will lower it again. Last time I got down to 9st 3lb and I felt so much better. I promised myself I would never weigh over 10 st again and there I was looking at the scales edging towards 12 st! I got my bronze body magic certificate last week for doing exercise and I’m continuing on with this to get my silver certificate. Most of the time I just follow a dance workout on YouTube or jump on the exercise bike. I would like to join the gym but finances or time don’t permit that at the moment.

I won the raffle this week in group which was a £10 spend at the group shop. I got a couple of the recipe books I’ve had my eye on and they have been great for helping with new ideas for meals. Last night I made the meatizza meal which is basically a burger base with a pizza topping. It was delicious and will definitely be something I will make regularly.

Here is hoping to the 1 1/2 lb loss I am needing this week!

 

 

 

 

 

Just a quick hi

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My name is Anna, I’m 33 and married last year my partner Shane of 17 years. We have 4 children Jordan 16, Chanel 14, Gracie 7 and Kai 4. The children keep us on our toes without anything else and it can be very hard to find any ‘me’time.

My hobbies include fashion, make up, comping, reading and listening to music. I’m currently following slimming world which I enjoy doing when I can get my head in gear. Going to group is about the only time I get on my own without one family member with me.

My whole life is centered around my family and I wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re far from perfect and the older children especially bring us many challenges to face. I worry constantly as a parent if I am doing the right thing, bringing them up properly, teaching them as I should, just like many parents do.

The children bring lots of joy and laughter to our home and I’ll be blogging about some of our antics. I hope that the blogs will be enjoyable to read (although I know they will not be for everyone) and that the reader will want to follow our family stories.