National Jigsaw Day!

That's right you read it right....it's National Jigsaw Day!

The 3rd of November is a day that all jigsaw fans, young and old can come together to celebrate the past time of many that is rarely discussed - or celebrated!

The 2017 Jigsaw Day Jigsaw Party is hosted by Wentworth Wooden Puzzles who you can find out about here. The party starts at 1pm on Twitter you just need to find @WentworthPuzzle to join in. Oh and hashtag for the party will be #NationalJigsawDay

If you, or a loved one, enjoy puzzles it's worth checking out as the hour long party will include giving away spot prizes and limited edition National Jigsaw Day puzzles. All you have to do is join in - simples! Even Radio 2 are getting involved....

This will be the second year of celebrating all things jigsaw (and not the scary horror movie version). We are talking about puzzles, the nice peaceful past time that you used to do as a kid and gradually find yourself doing more and more as you get older. Even in a world of online games, brain training and puzzles there there is something relaxing about switching off technology and completing an actual puzzle. We often do it on holiday and love when an AirBnB we stay at has their own selection.

The strange thing is as a kid I used to be very particular about my puzzles - I had to complete them alone. Piece together the outside then work in. Help was a distraction and I wouldn't move until it was complete. Nowadays though jigsaws are an activity I enjoy with Laura. We both use the method of 'getting the edge first' which means I find it less confrontational.

To help us get involved this year Wentworth have kindly sent us a limited edition jigsaw that I'll be trying to complete during the party and they have kindly offered to give one away to one of our lucky readers.

So if you used to love jigsaws but it's been a while or you're an avid jigsaw completer let us know in the comments, on Twitter @SarahplusLaura or on Facebook @SarahplusLaura and we will put your name in the draw to receive your very own puzzle!

Even if you don't win check out Wentworth wooden puzzles - they make a great gift and count as brain training so are perfect for any age. Plus there jigsaws range from 25 pieces to 1500 so you can be a beginner or hardcore veteran there's something for everyone!

Happy National Jigsaw Day

Is Halloween Overrated?

So before we race of and start getting all festive-y I thought I would take a quick moment to ask a big question..... Is Halloween Overrated?

Here in the UK Halloween has historically been about dressing up as a kid usually in something scary and maybe knocking on a few people's door when trick or treating. It was never a major holiday. No-one ever decorated their house unless it was for a party.

Fast forward 20 years and Halloween has become so much more, well for me. We can blame the Americans, I blame my American, we can blame commercialism or we could just accept that people love the opportunity to dress up and Halloween is the perfect excuse.

Over the years this blog has featured many of our Halloween celebrations. A lot have included a night at the Rocky Horror Picture show but more recently it has involved family costumes. The change happening when we bought our house and could actually decorate and welcome trick or treaters.

This years Rocky Horror Picture Show outfits!

As with most things I took some convincing on Halloween. I'm not a fan of scary things and I used to prefer to turn off the lights and wait out the trick or treaters rather than encourage them. But then I realised it was me missing out in that situation. I was the one wasting an evening avoiding Halloween.

The first time I embraced Halloween as an adult was at Uni. Thankfully there are no photos in existence but I can guarantee 'scary' and 'not wearing much' would have both featured. Ah the shame!

Then when I moved to London, just before Halloween, it seemed like a great theme for a housewarming party. The only challenge was with everyone fully embracing the dress up, my 3 housemates and I had no idea who people were and it turned out by the height of the night we had a ton of strangers as well as friends. Thankfully we and the flat survived!

That year was the year I met Laura. We had just started working together and Halloween was some of our first pictures together. I should have sensed then that Halloween was going to be something I celebrated every year!

It's fair to say that we have celebrated Halloween in some way every year. Even our low key Halloween nights involve a fully decorated outside - complete with spider webs on the bushes and purple covers on the lights. For added scariness this is also scary music playing when the door opens.

Laura's proudest Halloween achievement is that in 3 years we have gone from being the only decorated house to now being one of 5 - all because of her :)

Last night we had a record 100 pieces of candy and we still ran out! That's 3 years in a row we have had to put out a sign saying 'Sorry we have run out of candy'. That also involves giving away our favourite pieces that we save till the end in the hope that we get to eat them :)

This year was fairly low key though, well for us.

Previous years Laura had baked for work and held party games, see the outcome here and here.

Or there was the year we bought Paul the Pumpkin into the world and spent the entire evening making him do things pumpkins shouldn't do! Check out the photo shoot here.

A personal highlight of that night

Last year studies by Mintel showed that spend in Britain now hits £300 million on Halloween! With 40% of adults saying they would do something for Halloween. That is a significant increase from the previous year in a trend that is set to grow.

So whether you are a Halloween lover or hater one thing is clear - it's only getting bigger! If you think it's overrated now, prepare yourself it's only getting spookier!

I've accepted it for all the joy it can bring. Seeing kids faces when Bisbee shows up in her outfit, the sheer confusion on their faces when Laura asks who they are dressed as (either it should be obvious or their parents have just chosen a random outfit and they genuinely have no clue), the fear and anticipation of the first trick or treater. Laura's always convinced it's going to be teenage boys, it never has been. Laura's strict 'TAKE ONE' rule that I find so awkward (it's being British I think) but if she didn't do it we'd run out far sooner so I know it needs to be done.

It's a shame Halloween is but once a year!

Birmingham's Best Dog Walks!

As dog owners there are few things better than a long stroll in a beautiful location where your dog can run free safely. We are lucky that Birmingham is one of the greenest cities in Europe so wherever you are you're never far from a park. It's one of the reasons we choose to move here.

So in no particular order here are our recommendations for parks to enjoy with your four legged friend!

Cannon Hill Park
Depending on what you want from your park you can find playgrounds, mini theme parks, lakes, rivers and mini golf! One park combining it all is just outside the city centre and is called Cannon Hill park. Complete with a cafe and plenty of space for dogs to run free or chase squirrels this park is family friendly and great on warm summer days.

The MAC is an activity centre that holds art and music fairs on a regular basis and there are tennis courts if you fancy trying your hand. Plus it has a cafe and toilets so you can spend the day in the park and have everything you need.

Or if you feel even more energetic Cannon Hill also does park runs at the weekend! Turn up at the wrong time and you could well find yourself swept up in a crowd of joggers.

The only downside is you have to pay for parking (£2 for 4 hours or £3 all day - at time of publishing).

If you want more info and location details all park related activities and details can be found here.


Kings Heath Park
Not far from Cannon Hill is Kings Heath Park. This park has the added benefit of a garden centre if you time it just right - it seems to open odd hours but mostly during the week. You can also find puppy schools and dog socialising classes. The reason we love Kings Heath park is an area towards the back of the park, there is a mix of woods and a sunken garden space. It's the perfect spot to let dogs wear themselves out. Every single time we've been we have met lovely dog owners who have had the same idea. It's a safe, enclosed area that means you can easily keep an eye on even the most energetic dog.

Car parking is free but is often busy but you can park on the street near by.

All park details can be found here.

Warley Wood
Our recent favourite discovery is Warley Wood. A green flag park and one of the UK's current top 10 parks this area has a history that you can explore inside the grounds. With trails for Halloween, dog socialising events and plenty of other activities this park has a lot to offer. There's even a golf course!

The signs tell you the history of the park and the fact that it goes back over 500 years. Originally it had Warley Abbey within the 100 acres but only the gardens still exist. (Some of us were more interested in the signs than other...Bisbee!)

Located at the end of an urban area of Bearwood in the area of Smethwick we spent the drive up convinced the Sat Nav had the wrong place. Thankfully it didn't and the unfolding green space provides the much needed breath of fresh air.

We parked in the street but there is a car park.

The area is one third woodland and with 450 million leaves falling in the park each autumn it's the perfect location for dogs who loves leaves or just for autumnal strolls. However if your dog is an all out runner the slight hill that leads up to the woods is a perfect place to wear them out.

The circular routes around the park take less than an hour so it's great for an easy walk but still offers the variety of scenery you'd get to enjoy from the bigger parks.

You can even find fairy doors on some of the trees....this puppy was happy about that!

All details can be found here.

Wasley Hills Country Park
A long time favourite park of ours is Waseley Hills Country Park near Rubery. As the name suggests the area is hilly but it is beautiful. Voted the number one dog park in Birmingham we tried it out over a year ago and have taken everyone we know, and their dogs there. The park has a small cafe and toilets but after you head through the first gate you are in the country.

Highlights for us include the wood that fills with bluebells in spring and the hilltop views over the Cotswold's and Malverns. You also get a great view of Birmingham city if you follow the suggested loop. There are actually a few trails you can follow but we have learnt to go our own way. It's hard to get lost.

We've bumped into cows grazing and have often taken picnics to sit and enjoy the view. We have watched Bisbee run up and down the hills until she's laying out huffed and puffed and we managed to walk 5 miles without noticing. It really is a great location to stretch your legs.

With 150 aches in total this area has plenty to explore.

We do suggest taking at least a drink but a picnic is always appreciated after the hill walking. It's also a good idea to take stuff you can carry easily as there is a lack of bins.

It's also worth noting that you have to pay for the car park. It's not much but does require change and there is no cash point for miles!

All details about the park can be found here.



Clent Hills
10 miles south of Birmingham and technically in Worcestershire are the stunning Clent Hills. Owned by the National Trust this beautiful park has plenty to over - especially if you have 4 legs! Although for those of us on two the views alone are worth the walk.

The National Trust has put in an accessible path meaning those with buggy's or that struggle with uneven surfaces can get to the main vantage point. You know when you get there because of the Clent stones.

Although if you fancy a more adventurous ascent try the horses mane - starting from the road this route is steep and under the cover of trees. Bisbee loved it as there were plenty of squirrels to chase and trees to runaround. We liked it because it was shaded from the sun.

From the top of the hill you can make your way down into woodland towards an abandoned tower or through into open fields. Like the Wasley Hills you are surrounded with great views - the Cotswold's, Malverns and Birmingham are all visible on a clear day. There are also plenty of suggested trails to follow.

This park also has toilets and a cafe. If you are a National Trust member the car park is free, if you aren't you do have to pay. Or there is plenty of road parking.

You can find all the details here.

Have we missed any?

Happy Autumn

You Should Experience City Kitchen At Least Once And Here's Why

Earlier this month we received a package from City Kitchen containing a wonderful selection of pre-prepared meals. As newbies to the whole 'here's your dinner, just heat it up concept' we were apprehensive. We thought it was about time we embraced it though and it was exactly why we jumped at the chance to be taste testers for City Kitchen.

From the moment we opened the box we were impressed. What was in front of us was a multi coloured selection of food from around the world. You have to check out their website to see that they aren't afraid of colour....

The concept is simple, a variety of fresh, ready made meals inspired by travel. It means you can eat dishes from around the world from the comfort of your own home. Who doesn't love that?!

On opening the box there was a very simple task that needed completing first - who would eat what meal. Here's the thing, I'm kinda fussy. Part of the reason I wanted to try the range was have the opportunity to try something new and not risk doing it in a restaurant.

Laura's selection was:

My selection was:

Laura found it hard to pick a favourite but when pushed thought the paella was her standout. For me it was the katsu chicken curry. Much more flavourful than the one I get from Wasabi.

The surprising thing with these meals is that they are nothing like the usual microwavable meals you usually get. Maybe it's the fact that they haven't been frozen, maybe it's the combination of flavours, it's also definitely down to the quality of ingredients. The taste of the meat was superior to any pre-prepared meal we've ever had and the amount of meat in each dish was more than you'd expect. For example the pulled pork steam bun (which was fantastic) had so much pulled pork in it we actually shared it!

You can tell that thought has been put into each dish. The chef's have clearly done their research and stayed true to the authentic flavours while making them accessible in an easy to eat format.

We're suckers for great packaging and this brand is on point with theirs. The colours grab your attention but my favourite thing was that I had something to read while eating as each meals wrapper gives you details about the meal.

For example here's the story behind the katsu chicken curry:

If you look online you can also get all the nutritional info, see here.

Or the pulled pork bun straight from the markets in Taiwan - such a great lunch!

In addition to the great tasting food they also have great competitions if you check out their chatter page here. It's as if they love travel as much as we do. They are clearly a brand that want to engage with the people they are feeding.

So in short if you want great tasting food, with delicious flavours that you don't have to cook head to your nearest Tesco and find City Kitchen dishes in the fridge area. You certainly won't regret trying them.....and it's cheaper, tastier and healthier than a takeaway!

Let us know which ones you try......

Disclaimer: We were given the opportunity to try City Kitchen free of charge, however were under no obligation to provide a positive review - all above opinions and experiences are our own