Reasons to be Cheerful - Part 1

Sometimes I just forget how lucky I am, so to help me remember why I should be grateful for all the fantastic things in my life I thought I would join  Mummy from the Heart's Blog Hop  - Reasons to be Cheerful!

So this is this weeks Reasons to be Cheerful are...

• I have got back in the saddle this week (after a week's break due to illness).  It is so relaxing viewing the countryside on horseback.  I definitely am very cheerful about having the opportunity to ride every week.
  
• I have been invited to an interview for a part-time position that I have applied for (so will keep my fingers crossed for that interview).
  
• My children always make me cheerful (well except when they are fighting), but this week the one thing that stands out is that during the time that I was ill and stuck in bed, both my son and daughter regularly came to check on me and to ask if I was feeling better, which definitely made me feel warm and fuzzy inside, despite feeling ill.

If you would like to join the Reasons to be Cheerful Blog Hop, then please click here for all the information you need.


Why not make yourself a cuppa and take a look at the other Reasons to be Cheerful Blog Posts using the links below...

Love is in the Air

Yes that's right in just over a month we will be all loved up for Valentines Day.

If you are looking for something that little bit different to show that someone special how you feel about them, then look no further, we have a wide range of Valentines Day gifts.  Shown below are just a small selection to give you some ideas....

 

 

  

      

 

We have a wide selection of Gift Experiences for both him and her, so why not treat your loved one this Valentines Day.

Perfect Pumpkins

Not long now before Halloween will be here, so as a special treat for all those Halloween fans who are planning to carve a pumpkin this year -check out these amazing examples for inspiration. 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/oct/29/pumpkin-carving-ideas-halloween#/?picture=354786364&index=3

So do you want to find out anything and everything there is to know about pumpkins, well this is the place - yep there is a website dedicated to pumpkins!....

http://www.pumpkin-patch.com/ 

and if you don't, why not visit the other Pumpkin Patch website that sells lovely children's clothes

http://www.pumpkinpatch.co.uk/Default.aspx?source=google&gclid=CIb84fmhyaQCFcH42Aod6Sg_Dg

they have a sale on at the moment with up to 50% off selected products, so might be worth a look!

If you want some ideas of what to do with all that lovely pumpkin then this is the site for you

http://www.pumpkinnook.com/cookbook.htm#recipe

I would love to see your own pumpkin creations and would love to blog about them - so please feel free to send photos to info@squeakypigshop.co.uk

Family Favourites - Stourhead

As a family we regularly make the short drive and take a walk around Stourhead.

 

This tradition started in October 2005, when we decided to join the National Trust a few months after our son was born.  This allowed us to wonder around the gardens each weekend enjoying the views (admittedly in a daze after all the sleepless nights) and ensuring we both got some fresh air and exercise, with my son fast asleep in the pushchair.

As we visit the gardens on a regular basis we are able to appreciate how it changes throughout the seasons, and the National Trust regularly have events running at the weekends, so there is always something new to see.

It never ceases to amaze me that despite the car park being full to the brim, it is still possible to enjoy the gardens with only seeing a handful of people, which makes it so much more enjoyable.

  

We plan to continue this tradition as our children grow up, and it is, and always will be, a very special place for us as a family.

So if you ever find yourself in this part of the country, make sure you take the time to enjoy a walk around this beautiful place.

BOO!!

Halloween is creeping up on us, so for those of you who are organising parties, I thought I would help you out and list a few sites that might assist with your spooky plans.

Try these links for ideas for games, activities and recipes:-

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/halloween_party_games_for_kids.htm

http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/category/topics/halloween

http://www.halloween.co.uk/

http://www.netmums.com/things/Halloween_Ideas__Crafts__Food__Costumes___More_.1586/

http://www.askamum.co.uk/Family/Search-Results/Days-out/Halloween-Games-for-Kids/

http://www.101halloweenideas.com/halloween_ideas_01.html

http://www.celebrations.com/halloween-party-ideas

http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/halloweenfun.htm

http://www.halloweenpartyideas.org/

You should find something on those sites for both the young and the young at heart!

For those of you looking for costumes for your little ones, don't forget to check out our Halloween fancy dress range on Squeaky Pig.

Pig Gifts

Had a nosey the other day at my Google Analytics account and noticed that some of the visits to my site were from 'Pig Gifts' keyword searches. 

Now I am presuming these are people looking for gifts with a pig theme, rather than gifts for pigs, (hmm.. not sure what you would buy a pig as a gift) so thought I would list the piggy products on my website that might of be interest just incase they happen to visit this blog.

 

 

So there you go pig fans, just a few pig gifts for you to chose from.

New Arrival - Squeak Piggy Squeak

The new member of the Squeaky Pig team arrived this morning!  Travelled by first class too, obviously wanted the extra leg room!

I am pleased to introduce SQUIGGLY the Squeaky Pig...

Yep thats right he really does Squeak!!

Once settled in Squiggly got straight to work...

You will be seeing alot more of Squiggly, so watch this space to find out what he gets up to!!

Big thank you  to Treachers Creatures for agreeing to make and send me Squiggly!  Dawn you are a star!