Monthly Musings - September

So September is coming to an end.

This has been my first month blogging and i am really enjoying it.
I'm finding it very therapeutic and have more to say than i thought i would. 
But i'm wary of being too negative because we carers we do smile too! 

So ive decided that i will do a monthly summary of my month and share some things that ive discovered or grown to love over the four weeks and of course anything that has made me frown.

So lets started-

The National Express

I don't drive so if we are going away then we use the dreaded public transport. 
I've always used trains, ever since the kids were small but this year the train network has been awful and after a stressful and anxiety provoking experience in August i decided to give a coach a try. National express was the only real choice of coach company because their website was easy to use and it also has a great app. 
I've travelled with National Express twice in September and had a great experience both times. 
The first was a day trip to the Science museum in Bristol, i was travelling in a group of eleven people, eight of which were children ranging between the ages of six to sixteen. Travelling on public transport with kids always feels me with dread, its difficult keeping little people occupied, especially with the anticipation of a fun day out but it was great.

Because we knew we were guaranteed a seat, there was no stress of rushing on that you get at a train station, once inside the coach it was spacious, the seats were comfy and slightly reclining, We had a little adjustable air conditioning device above us, an electrical socket by our feet and free Wifi. The kids were soon plugged into their various electrical devices and it was heaven!

Our second trip was for a week away in Devon. My favourite part of this travelling experience was that i could give our suitcases to the driver and forget about them until we arrived at our destination, no lugging them up flights of stairs and no changes- straight to our destination. 

I also loved the coach tracker feature on the app, much to the amusement of the kids i was able to give them regular updates as to how long the coach would be and where he was currently travelling. When you travel with someone that suffers from anxiety this is very helpful and lets you stay in control. 
So to summarise It was heavenly to pop my seat belt on, recline my chair and browse the web.  National Express now have a life long customer! 

Feather & Down Sweet Dreams Pillow Spray

This month i was kindly given some sleep spray from Feather & Down.
I was dubious as to whether i would get on with this product as a few years ago i had used another brand and found the smell of the lavender overbearing and clinging to me the next morning.
But i have to say i love this product!  I love everything about it!  
The design of the packaging is luxuriously calming and in my opinion looks more expensive than it actually is,  as a proud Brit i also love the 'made in England' statement on the box.

Its a pump spray bottle which is easy to us, just spray about 5 sprays onto your pillow. 
The smell is gorgeous, the packaging describes it as 'an Infusion of Lavender and Chamomile essential oils' and i'm pleased to see the scent is very balanced and the Lavender is not the prominent aroma as with other brands. 

It smells divine and definitely has a relaxing effect, and i love the fact that when i wake up neither the bedroom or my PJ's smell strongly of the scent.

I'm not promising that this sleep spray will cure an insomniac but this product will definitely help you to wind down and relax. 

I am planning a Sleep matters Giveaway next week so check back for an opportunity to win a Feather & Down gift set and some other sleep goodies.

You can also buy this fab spray at Boots . 

Knorr Beef Stock Pot

I am not a particularly adventurous cook. And like all families we sometimes fall into boring eating routines so i was excited to add something different to my bolognese sauce.

My kids love pasta dishes. Lasagne, Meatballs and spaghetti, spaghetti Bolognese, they love them all. I try to avoid jarred sauces as i know the sugar content is high but i always find when i make a homemade Bolognese sauce it tastes a bit bland.

Knorr stock pots have really given my sauce a much needed kick, it seems to make the sauce thicker and and has a great flavour. 
I have also been adding a stock pot to my Sunday roast gravy and it tastes and smells yummy
There are a variety of stock pots available, including vegetable, chicken and fish.
They are sold in packs of four and are priced at around £1.50

You can view the Knorr products here for product info and some delicious recipes.

Pop back later in October when K and i will be sharing some Autumn cooking ideas.

I don't really have any frowns this month so i will spare you any moaning! 

Please check back in October or subscribe by email for an upcoming Sleep competition, blogs on Separation Anxiety, our experience with CAMH's and some Autumn cooking.