AD - Press Trip | I had such a great weekend at @p AD - Press Trip | I had such a great weekend at @pottersresortsfivelakes with @slwilson84. It was an action packed three nights with a full activity and entertainment programme, great food, lovely drinks and beautiful surroundings. 

The staff go above and beyond to make everyone feel at home and they ensure that everyone has the best time possible. I don’t think I stopped smiling all weekend.

The best thing about Potters holidays is that everything is included in the price you pay. Four meals a day, all your drinks - including wine, Prosecco, most spirits and soft drinks - great accommodation and so many activities. 

I’ll write a full review soon but for now here’s a little Reel of our weekend
I always have a lot of questions about accommodati I always have a lot of questions about accommodation when we stay anywhere as a family so I thought I’d share this little tour of our room at @windjammerlanding which was a pretty perfect place to stay.

It’s the ‘Ocean View Two Bedroom’ which was like a little house, with an upstairs and downstairs, built into the hillside. Both rooms had outdoor space and their own shower rooms. Such a great option for a family.
A little photo dump from our holiday in St Lucia. A little photo dump from our holiday in St Lucia. We’ve been back a few days now but still miss the heat, the food, the pool, the constant sounds of wildlife and the lovely people. It was such a great holiday and I’m sure we’ll be back one day.
And just like that, Athena is 12! What a joy it is And just like that, Athena is 12! What a joy it is watching her grow and what a wonderful young woman she is becoming. We could not be more proud. Love you Pickle, have a great birthday.
We’ve just got back from two glorious weeks in S We’ve just got back from two glorious weeks in St Lucia staying at @windjammerlanding and it was just the holiday we needed. Two weeks of sunshine and relaxation in what must be one of the most beautiful islands in the world. 

We can’t wait to go back again in the future. Here’s just a little snippet of our trip.
AD - Press Tickets | We had such a nice day at @na AD - Press Tickets | We had such a nice day at @national_motor_museum despite the rain! The children loved the Little Beaulieu play area and we loved exploring the National Motor Museum and Top Gear exhibit before having a ride on the monorail! We went on an old open topped bus, explored the Beaulieu Manor House and loved the gardens. 
Beaulieu is always a great day out - whatever the weather. This summer they have a whole ‘Summer of Fun’ planned, with activities most days - parades, bird shows and hundreds of sculptures within the grounds too. If you’re looking for a day out this summer definitely think about heading to Beaulieu.
AD - Press Tickets | Tonight we took the kids to t AD - Press Tickets | Tonight we took the kids to their first concert - but it was so much more than just a concert! @abbavoyage is incredible. With CGI ABBA and a live band, it’s like being at an ABBA concert 40 years ago but with modern lighting, effects and sound. ABBA look and sound real, it’s a mind blowing experience.
The set includes all the songs you know and love as well as a few less familiar ones.
You can’t take photos during the show which actually made a refreshing change. A whole arena focused purely on the show and soaking up the moment. It’s definitely something the four of us will always remember.
Now, I’m off to sing Dancing Queen all the way home.
AD - Press Trip | We had such a great day at @phdo AD - Press Trip | We had such a great day at @phdockyard today. They have a fantastic Ultimate Explorer ticket that lets you visit all the attractions as many times as you like for 12 months - and after a day at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard we can see that you need more than one day to really do everything!

We explored HMS Warrior, HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Exhibition - which is incredible! We also saw where ships are built and restored and spent time in Action Stations where the kids climbed and did an assault course.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is such a fun, educational day out with something for all ages - we can’t wait to go on their harbour tours next time we visit!
AD | WIN!! Would you love to win a holiday? To cel AD | WIN!! Would you love to win a holiday? To celebrate #100YearOfARoads National Highways have launched their #ARoadsToSummer competition! It's all about celebrating summer holiday moments, time together, fun in the sun, days out and more.

So why not be in it to win it? To enter, all you have to do is send @nationalhways a DM on here with a photo or video of your favourite holiday moments. You can also comment on their Facebook or Twitter #ARoadsToSummer posts with your holiday photos. I've shared a few of our favourite photos to give you some inspiration.

The best six entries will each win a £500 @nationaltrust holidays voucher! SO what are you waiting for? Dig out your favourite holiday photos or take some new ones to share!

The #ARoadsToSummer competition runs from 24 July to 10 September 2023. Winners will be announced in September 2023.

Good luck!
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House and Home · November 2, 2016

Our Pre-Extension Home

Well today marks the start of the work to extend our home. All being well it should be mostly finished in time for Christmas – and I cannot wait to see our home at the end of the work. But for now I thought I’d share a before of our home so you can see our current home before the extension starts.

The downstairs of our home is just two rooms, a through lounge and then our kitchen and dining room. The lounge we decorated last year and it’s a really homely room with half dedicated to the children’s toys. More than half actually – toys seem to be taking over!

The lounge has a door to the kitchen and also patio doors to the garden – and a cupboard under the stairs. The cupboard is staying but the existing door into the kitchen will be blocked up, leaving the patio door space as the entrance to the new extension.

Our Pre-Extension Home

The kitchen and dining room space will be almost doubled in width with a vaulted ceiling, skylights and bifold doors out into the garden. Most of the space will be the new kitchen and a more spacious dining area where the table can be in it’s proper place constantly without us having to push it against the wall to walk around. I can’t wait.

Our Pre-Extension Home
Our Pre-Extension Home
Our Pre-Extension Home

The space where our dining table is now will be a new utility room and downstairs toilet and I think this is the part I am most looking forward to. Somewhere I can put all the stuff that our home accumulates and close the door and then a toilet downstairs – I have wanted a toilet downstairs forever!

Our Pre-Extension Home

We are also getting underfloor heating and I’m hoping there’ll be room for a desk somewhere and/or a nice comfy chair and snug area. We shall see. I have been putting together Pinterest boards of extension inspiration, utility room inspiration and potential extension purchases too. I can’t wait to see it all come together!

From the outside, the front of our house will stay pretty much the same, just growing slightly wider towards the back. We’ll also have a new back door, opening towards the front of the house, just inside our back gate.

Our Pre-Extension Home

We’ll be losing our side patio and having a new patio laid in it’s place, taking over the children’s play area – which we’ll move further down the garden. The pitch of the roof will change on our existing extension and we’ll have a shiny new kitchen window too.

Our Pre-Extension Home

I think that’s all I can really show you for now, but I can’t wait until it all comes together and is finished – ready for the big reveal! I’ll keep you posted over on my Facebook page with the progress!

In: House and Home

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Comments

  1. Katy Stevens says

    November 2, 2016 at 7:35 am

    How exciting for you! It’ll soon be transformed!

    Reply
  2. Lucy @capturebylucy says

    November 2, 2016 at 8:28 am

    It’s going to be amazing!!!! I can’t wait to see the progress, iff to check out the pin boards too. I have piles of stuff everywhere and I know how much I long for a bigger kitchen – it’s going to be heaven. Love the before pictures because it’s so easy to forget what it looked like before once it is finished, be lovely to have this to look back on xxx

    Reply
  3. Maria (onetinyleap) says

    November 2, 2016 at 8:48 am

    Very excited for you Donnna!! Can’t wait to see the after photos! Xx

    Reply
  4. Laura Bovington says

    November 2, 2016 at 9:13 am

    How exciting. It will be amazing. I can’t wait to see the end result. You will have so much more space too.

    Reply
  5. Mel says

    November 2, 2016 at 10:52 am

    Exciting times ahead! Your house is pretty much the same as mine in terms of layout and it can be tough fitting it all in with children, kitchen gear, toys etc. I can’t wait to see how it all works out. Extending our kitchen and knocking the wall separating it from the dining room is our next project (if we ever get the money!). x

    Reply
    • Donna Wishart says

      November 2, 2016 at 11:17 am

      Getting to this point is the end of our five year plan – we had to clear debts, increase our income, decrease our outgoings etc to be able to actually get a firm mortgage offer. I can’t wait for it to be finished!

      Reply
  6. Laura - dear bear and beany says

    November 2, 2016 at 11:23 am

    I am so excited for you, its going to be AMAZING!! I am still getting my head around all those fab cupboard options you are getting in the kitchen. We are having under floor heating in the new house and I am excited by this. Am I getting old??? x

    Reply
    • Donna Wishart says

      November 2, 2016 at 1:16 pm

      No! I just can’t bare the sight of radiators! Not old at all! x

      Reply
  7. Maria says

    November 2, 2016 at 12:58 pm

    Oh I wish you the best of luck with it all. Ours started in June and has only ‘officially finished’ builder wise in October.

    Now to lay floors and finish painting.

    Such fun!

    Reply
  8. Sarah says

    November 2, 2016 at 3:57 pm

    So exciting! I can’t wait to see what it looks like. Good luck with the no kitchen bit though!!

    Reply
  9. Amanda Masters says

    November 2, 2016 at 9:18 pm

    Oh my gosh, how exciting! It’s already pretty spacious, but the extra room will be amazing. Can’t wait to see the progress.

    Reply
  10. Natalie Ray says

    November 2, 2016 at 10:18 pm

    Eek exciting times Donna! I hope all goes well with the build and you’ll soon be enjoying the extra space.
    Nat.x

    Reply
  11. Katy (What Katy Said) says

    November 3, 2016 at 6:48 am

    Ooh I love having sneaky peeks into people’s homes! Can’t wait to see the transformation over the next few weeks although I have to say I’m jealous of the size of your kitchen already!! Haha!! xx

    Reply
  12. Donna Wishart says

    November 5, 2016 at 9:26 pm

    You wouldn’t love it right now – it’s like a mud bath outside! x

    Reply
  13. Thanh Knutson says

    April 17, 2017 at 12:48 pm

    All the piece of pre extension installation are looking good, I wish i could see your home, If you are done with the extensions.

    Reply

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Hi everyone! I'm Donna. Mummy. Blogger. Social Media Manager. Traveller. Lover of stars, rainbows and gin. Firm believer that tea and cake can fix most things.

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