Monday 29 October 2018

What I Wore in Disney - October

We recently got back from a quick weekend trip to Disneyland Paris. As it was a last minute trip I decided not to do a Disneybound but I still wore Disney clothes. If you want to see outfits from a previous trip then read the following post, What I Wore in Disney.


Friday:
We travelled up on the Eurostar on the Friday and we arrived to gorgeous sunshine. We didn't arrive at our hotel until quite late in the afternoon so I decided to wear the outfit I was travelling in and pair it with some beautiful autumnal ears from Hannah Marie Magic. I had a tan coloured jumper and wet look leggings. 




I also used my amazing travel themed cross body bag which I was kindly gifted by Yoshi*. It's such a perfect bag for me as I am travel obsessed. We had a travel themed wedding and our wedding cake looked just like this bag. It was a vintage suitcase with travel badges from our favourites places we've visited together. 



The bag is great for Disney as it's close to your body to help keep your belongings safe from pick pockets.



Saturday:
I was a bit of a diva on the Saturday and wore 3 outfits. Technically they were all just layers underneath each other but in photos it looked like I changed 3 times. Even though it was beautifully warm and sunny most of the day, the mornings and evenings were icy cold. 

My first layer was well suited for the halloween season at Disney. It was the 'What's up Witches' baseball t-shirt from Truffle Shuffle*. I'd hardly had any sleep the night before as my youngest daughter decided it would be a great time to party hard and kept me awake from about 12.30am-4am. Therefore, I was feeling quite witch like myself. I'll be wearing it on Halloween during the daytime. 



My next top was one of my own from Magically Jasmine which is launching very soon. It's our 'Ultimate Villains' baseball tee which can be worn all year round and not just over the Halloween season.




I wore it with my Team Villains badge from Quackers and Co.




Last up was my 'A whole new world' off the shoulder jumper, which again, is soon to be released from Magically Jasmine. I had fab character interaction with Jafar who was not very amused with my outfit in the slightest. 



To keep up the Aladdin theme I also had Princess Jasmine ears which were from Ears Ever After and the Vintage VHS clutch bag by Oh My Disney from Shop Disney UK. Jafar took pride in covering up all the other characters on the bag except himself.






I also wore my Team Agrabah badge from Quackers and Co.



Sunday:
I have literally waited all year for the 'Spirit Jersey's' to arrive at Disneyland Paris so all that was left to do was to decide whether I was going with the black or the pink. I obviously wanted both but I could only buy one on this trip. I went with black and I couldn't be happier. It's a lovely fit and matches pretty much everything. I teamed it with my Disney rose gold ears that were also purchased in Disneyland Paris.












*Items marked with an Asterix were Kindly gifted to me. All pictures and views are my own*



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Friday 26 October 2018

What to Pack in a Changing Bag for Disney during Winter

Packing a changing bag for Disney shouldn't be another one of those dreaded, stressful tasks on your to-do list before you leave. With planning and organisation, you can pack all the essentials for a fun-filled successful day at the parks. We've visited Disneyland Paris a few times now during various seasons and I think we've now perfected packing the essentials. One season that requires more items to pack than usual is winter and that's due to the cold weather.

Here's what we pack in our changing bag for winter:

1) A large but Comfortable Changing Bag*
I've tried various bags whilst at Disney and I've finally settled on taking a backpack by Fact + Fiction. The main reason why I love it, is simply how comfortable it is to wear. Even with the amount of items I pack in it, it never feels to heavy on my shoulders. It has multiple compartments which is great for storing/hiding things in a safe place. It's also water resistant inside and out so it's great for wet rides, rainy weather and spillages. 




2) Re-fillable Water Bottle
This is the ultimate essential no matter what time of year you visit Disney. All of the parks have water fountains so you can fill up your bottle all day for free.

3) Blanket*
The nights can get very cold and if your children are in a stroller they become even colder because they aren't moving. I always try and take a couple of blankets but as you can imagine they take up a lot of room in a bag. The blanket we have been using on our last few visits to Disney has been our Aden and Anais Winnie the Pooh blanket. It's a fab size for tucking around the girls whilst they are in the stroller. You can also pop it on the floor if you are sat waiting for any parades. It's made of 4 layers of 100% cotton muslin so it's nice and soft. 


4) Snacks

Taking plenty of snacks in your bag can not only save you money but I also call them boredom busters whilst queuing. I usually take things like crisps, popcorn, babybells, raisons, rice cakes etc. Whenever the kids are getting bored in the queues I either whip out a snack or we play a game.


5) Ponchos
After being caught out one year with heavy rain, I now always pack ponchos. We did buy ours from Disney so we take those with us but you can buy cheap ones in places like Tiger before you go.



6) Extra Layers/Clothes
I've been caught out a few times when we haven't managed to get the children to the toilet on time. Yep this can definitely happen. I think they get so distracted through excitement that they forget to say when they need to go until it's too late. I now always pack a spare outfit for these mishaps and also for any unwanted puddle jumping.
The evenings get very cold so I always pop in a few extra layers such as vests, tees and hoodies.



7) Glow-Sticks
Glow sticks are great for 2 reasons. First up they serve as great stroller locaters in the dark. If you are hiring a stroller from the parks they all look the same. If you decorate them with some cheap glow sticks you'l instantly spot yours in the dark.
By night there are lots of light up things for sale which usually cost a lot of money. Get some glow-sticks out and make them into shapes for your kids.


8) Nappy, Wipes, Nappy Bags
Kind of an obvious one but make sure you have enough nappies and wipes.

9) Muslins*
I always take a couple of muslins as they are handy for lots of things. I usually use them to place over the changing mat areas when I'm changing my little one's nappy. 
The Muslins I love are from Aden and Anais. They have adorable Disney patterns available and they wash very well.



10) Wallet, Tickets, Camera, Spare Camera Battery, Phone, Power Bank and Cable
These are fairly obvious items but sometimes when we're busy we do forget these things. Camera and phone batteries can run out quickly so I always pack a plug and power bank. I'd also advise you hide these items in your bag for safe keeping.


11) Lip Balm
The wind and chill can cause sore, chapped lips so we regularly use lip balm to keep them moist and soft.

12) Hand Warmers
Hand warmers are great for using when you're standing around waiting in a queue or when you're waiting for the fireworks at night. It can honestly get really cold.

13) Wet Bag*
I always take a wet bag with me for multiple uses. If one of the girls' end up getting their clothes wet or dirtying them I can pack them away in those. I also use them for storing snacks and for using to carry my valuables when it's raining or when on a ride. I use the Disney themed bags from Bumkins. Their patterns are super cute.



14) Autograph Book and Pen
The last thing you want after waiting in a queue to meet a character, is to get to the front and realise you don't have an autograph book and pen. You can either get these before you arrive at Disney or at the parks themselves.



15) Mouse Ears
Last but not least, you can't go to Disney without Mouse Ears.




What do you pack in a winter theme park changing bag?




*Items maked with an asterisk were gifted to me. All views and opinions are my own*


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Monday 15 October 2018

Creazione's Shape Up Challenge - Winter 2018

Today I started an 8 week Shape Up challenge with my gym Creazione. The challenge basically pushes you to shape up your body in 8 weeks through guided training sessions set by a team leader, group training sessions and a nutrition plan. You are measured on your weight, body fat and inch loss.



You are placed into a team which is led by one of the fantastic trainers at the gym who is your guide and support for the 8 weeks. 

At the end of the 8 weeks there is a big party where all the winners are announced. There are prizes for individuals who 'shape up' the most and also the teams that perform the best. 

I have taken part in the challenge in previous years and I love it. I can't recommend it enough. Creazione is without a doubt the friendliest gym I've ever been a member of. The support that you get from the gym, your team and other members is incredible. It enables you to stay focused and determined. 

This time around I am going into this challenge with a new mindset. I am placed in a team led by my amazing personal trainer, Elliot Williams and I couldn't be happier. I've had 15 personal training sessions with Elliot (one a week) since the summer and I have already achieved and progressed massively. My fitness levels and techniques have improved greatly since we started. Honestly, I was a shambles beforehand. How I hadn't injured myself on a weight machine I'll never know. He has taught me technique, tips, tricks and has given me his complete support. One of my first goals was to be able to do a press-up on my toes (I couldn't even do them on my knees). I thought this was going to take me ages to master but he managed to get me to do them within in 2 sessions. 

Above all he has managed to change my attitude towards the gym. I no longer see it as a chore but it is something I enjoy and look forward to. Also the benefits it has had on my mental health have been incredible. I haven't had a relapse in my postnatal depression in a very long time which I know is down to my new lifestyle. Elliot is a great team leader and I know I will do well in this challenge under his watchful eye. He's also setting an example to our team by doing the whole challenge with us. 

My goals for this challenge are to drop a bit of weight, increase my strength and build some muscle definition and hopefully a dress size which I know I can achieve. I am also hoping to be able to do pull-ups by the end of it (they are my ultimate weakness at the moment).

I'll be sharing the whole challenge with you over on my instagram (kerrylouisenorris) and through blog posts and youtube videos. This is to keep me focused and to also show you what a positive effect it will have on my lifestyle and my mind. I'll share my ups, my downs, my swearing (probably) and my wins. At the end of the challenge I'll reveal my before and after pictures and all of my stats.
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Wednesday 10 October 2018

Wishlist Wednesday - Disney

Welcome to another Disney Wishlist Wednesday. As always I've been browsing the internet daily for new things to add to my list. If you missed last week's post you catch it here, Wishlist Wednesday. Also if you pop over to my Disney Instagram and head to my story highlights on my homepage you will find a 'wishlist' cover and 'xmas finds' cover for more inspiration.


1) Minnie Mouse Hoody - Boohoo


This hoody from Boohoo is perfect and snuggly for the winter weather.

2) Disney x Vans Old Skool Shoes



These Vans shoes have been all over my instagram feed this week and I need them in my life. Just look at all of the colours. I love the retro vibe of them.

3) Alien Sweatshirt - TEEQ


I've had my eye on this Alien sweatshirt from Teeq for a while. In fact most of their clothes have been grabbing my attention. Toy Story is one of my daughter's favourite films and I hadn't realised that the sweatshirts were available in children's sizes too. Therefore, they'll be ideal for our next Disney twinning outfit.

4) Jiminy Cricket Pendant Charm - Pandora 





I haven't bought a Pandora charm for my Disney bracelets since our trip to Walt Disney World last year. Their latest release is from Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket is actual one of my favourite ever Disney characters. He is super cute.

5) Toy Story Wallet - EMP



I still find Loungefly products difficult to come by and undoubtedly their best ranges are in Florida. However, lots of it is starting to creep though into the UK. EMP stock quite a large range of their products and this Toy Story character wallet is very high on my wishlist. The pattern is just adorable.

6) Mary Poppins Cup and Straw - Truffle Shuffle



This drinking cup from Truffle Shuffle is ridiculously cute. I can't help but smile when I look at it. They have an awesome Mary Poppins range so make sure you pop over and have a browse. 

What's your favourite from my list?

*All images are from the brand website's*



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Talk To Me - World Mental Health Day

When you're feeling overwhelmed and stressed
and the world is on your shoulders,
and you can't shake the feeling off, you hide away,
Talk to me.

When you say you're busy,
too busy to see friends and family,
you have no plans you made them up,
Talk to me.

When you feel you're not good enough,
you compare yourself to others,
you become obsessed with social media and comparisons,
Talk to me.

When you feel tired, so tired,
when all you want to do is lie on the sofa,
you have no energy, you are drained,
Talk to me.

When you feel sad, confused,
nothing makes you happy,
you don't even know why you're sad,
Talk to me.

When you analyse yourself in the mirror,
you hate what you see,
you have no self confidence or self-esteem,
Talk to me.

When you find yourself in a daze,
you can't complete tasks,
you make endless lists but achieve nothing,
Talk to me.

When you lie awake at night,
desperate to go to sleep,
but your mind is in overdrive and you're hyper,
Talk to me.

When you feel you can't do your daily tasks,
everything is a struggle,
you can't cook, clean, read, do the school run,
Talk to me.

When you have a headache,
you feel sick, so sick,
your legs ache, your back aches,
Talk to me.

When you feel like the walls are closing in,
you feel trapped, you feel anxious,
you want to leave but you can't,
Talk to me.

When you decide you are worthless,
when you think that everyone would be better off without you,
when ending your life seems like a form of escape,
Talk to me.

I have been you, somedays I still am you,
most days I am a superhero,
once in a while I'm a superzero,
Talk to me.

Talking is a form of medicine,
it's a relief, it's offloading,
talk to anyone, people will listen.
Talk to me.
Everything will be ok. 


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