We had a really beautiful summer. I am so grateful for the fun and adventure we were able to enjoy as a family this year. And we had some really amazing weather for a few weeks so we could get to the beach - record-breaking heat for Ireland!
I'm excited to share some of our summer memories with you today and some of our preparations for back to school. As well as some fun summer products I have been enjoying.
Beach Life
The beach has been a highlight of our summer holidays. We are blessed to live only a few miles from the coast, along the West of Ireland. The beaches here are so beautiful because they are natural, with stunning views. We hit 30c and beyond for about ten days. We had the paddling pool, hammock and BBQ out in full swing. It was glorious!
Staycation
At the start of the summer holidays, we went on a mini-break to Bunratty and Adare. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Bunratty Castle so much, it's a really fun day trip to see how people have lived in different times around Ireland. Booking is required, and there are limited numbers at a time, which on the plus side meant fewer cues and a less busy experience.
We had an overnight at one of our favourite hotels, the Woodlands Hotel in the stunning town of Adare. The Woodlands have used the lockdowns to create an amazing new outdoor dining space as well as renovations in the hotel. As always there are tons to do for families there and we had a wonderful stay. Grab all of the details on our trip to Bunratty and the Woodlands Hotel in Adare in my post - Our Weekend Away to Bunratty and Adare.
Westport House
We have had a few trips to Westport House Pirate Adventure Park this summer. Since we live so near, it has been a really handy way to have a fun day out for the family without having to travel. This is the last week left to get a visit in, grab all of the info you need on my Westport House 2021 Season Details blog post. Here we are on our family favourite - the Swan Paddle Boats.
Back to School Treats
As always, the summer has gone by too fast. With only a few weeks until school returns, we are getting organised to go back. It's been a crazy 18 months for kids, with school routines all over the place and sports and activities cancelled, it's nice to consider a back to school treat to reward their efforts and bring some fun into returning to school, whether that be in person or online.
We were sent two controllers, one for each boy from Power A which have made exciting back to school gifts for them. The first one is the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox. This wired controller is officially licensed and is suitable for Xbox Series X / S or Xbox One. Some exciting features include a Share button, Headset Dial, anti-friction rings, and diamond texture grip, plus two mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons to enhance your gaming experience. It comes with a 2-year warranty, and a detachable 10ft (3m) USB cable.
My oldest is using the Power A Enhanced Controller with his Xbox One. He really likes the extra long cord and the cool variety of colours on the controller, especially the gold. It is lightweight and easy to use.
The second controller we were sent is the PowerA MOGA Controller for Mobile & Cloud Gaming on Android/PC. What's cool about this controller is that it is for Android phones or PC's. So if a child doesn't have an Xbox, they can have the Xbox feel and experience with the controller. It is Bluetooth operated or can be used wired from the phone / PC to the controller. It includes a detachable phone clip for attaching the phone to the controller, as well as a variety of cables for charging or wiring. This controller also features the mappable advanced gaming buttons like the Enhanced Wired Controller, giving the full Xbox experience.
My son is using the MOGA Controller from Power A with his Sony Xperia Android phone. He is so happy with having a controller of his own! He loves the grip feeling of it and how it automatically connects with Bluetooth to his phone. It's taken his Minecraft and Farming Simulator to a whole new level by being able to have Xbox controls in the game.
Back to School Resources
We loved homeschooling over lockdown and decided to continue that journey with my youngest two kids. This September will be the start of our second full year of homeschooling. I've found some really valuable resources to help us with materials and learning. This year I am happy to be adding the huge library of resources available on Primary Learning to our collection (gifted subscription).
Primary Learning has a huge library of resources. They have a massive library of downloadable and printable content along with workbooks, worksheets, activities and lesson plans. They would be a wonderful collection of resources for anyone homeschooling a primary age child or anyone looking to supplement their child's learning.
I love that their printables come in options of either colour or black and white, for easy printing. And the library covers many different types of activities so that you can find what is right for your child. They currently have 5 months for free offer available on the Primary Learning website.
Summer Products
I received some gifted products over the summer. I mention all products on my Instagram story - follow me, @CuddleFairy, to see everything and my reviews. I am going to mention my favourites that I received!
First up is the Neutrogena Hydro Boost skincare range. This collection is all about refreshing and hydrating the skin. The smell is absolutely gorgeous. The cleanser is really refreshing. The Hydro Boost Water Gel Moisturiser is super cooling, it was ideal for those hot summer evenings after a shower.
I also found the City Shield Hydrating Lotion to be super beneficial. Not only does it have a lovely smell, a fresh feeling and hydrates the skin, like the rest of the range, it also has SPF 25 which makes it ideal for a morning moisturiser. These will continue to be helpful into the autumn as well to keep that fresh summer feel and SPF protection.
Next, I am going to praise the Flash Powermop from @joyofclean. I mentioned this on my Instagram back in June. I was sent this mop from Burrell PR and had zero expectations for it. Boy was my mind changed. I absolutely love this thing. It has taken the stink out of mopping and I mop so much more than I used to.
It has a clever design that holds the solution which squirts out when you hit a button. So you are only making the floor as wet as needed to get it clean. I have been using the disposable pads multiple times before binning. One improvement I'd love to see is reusable pads which will hopefully be considered soon. Grab my full review on this Instagram post.
Back to School Ready
We were sent this lovely pack of back to school goodies compliments of Johnsons and Burrell PR. Little Miss is thrilled with the rainbow Hype backpack, colours and range of hair products. She can tend to have tangles so we are hopeful that this range will assist in keeping her hair smooth and tangle-free. I'll let you know how she gets on with these products on my Instagram story - @CuddleFairy.
How was your summer? Are you back to school ready? Let me know in the comments! Thanks so much for stopping by and reading. Sending you lots of love. xx
I am sharing with #KCACOLS Linky
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