Butterflies & Fire

Mental health and well-being blogger.

[butterflies-and-fire]

Cannot thank Dan at @skinfixpiercing enough for being able to change the offending Daith piercing. Top tip if you’re piercing comes out / feels difficult to put in go to your original piercer!!! Don’t be a ‘DIY Katie’ cos it will get stuck and it’ll hurt like a bastard! Thankfully Dan got it out (it’s in the bin now) and got a gorgeous new bit of bling and two new bling helix hoops 😘 #daithpiercing #helixpiercing #qualitypiercer https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqc7JjANFWz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[butterflies-and-fire]

Good morning @lner tucking into my full lner with poached egg on this mornings train journey south. Great way to wake myself up #breakfast #train #earlymorning (at Northallerton) https://www.instagram.com/p/CotoUdytQBu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[butterflies-and-fire]

Let’s do this - kick my immune system and general overall health back into shape. Especially after been so ill from this flu/virus. @vitlhealth personalised daily vitamins. Easy to swollen, nice neat 14-day pack popped through the letterbox. Minimal packaging, especially like that all 4 vitamins in same blister pack and not separate. https://www.instagram.com/p/CnCaGWJNn2sg5lriW_dmmxBLm6xql-Zr_EuLsc0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[butterflies-and-fire]

Look what I received from @google @googlelocalguides #recognition It’s such a cute little pin badge thank-you 😊 #recognition #supportlocal #googlemaps #googlelocalguides https://www.instagram.com/p/ClDncXcLRNMQxmQYQDTTS_JzElq9HWbSQUdMKw0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[butterflies-and-fire]

It’s been just over a week since Vegas and my body is still there. Jet lag has well and truly knocked us all but what an experience we had. Originally said would never do it again but perhaps one day we’ll add it as a bolt on to another USA trip (at Las Vegas, Nevada) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch-iX1VL3MHsTmOoc6V9oavbfkvgRtTEvkIato0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[butterflies-and-fire]

It’s summer and it’s getting hot. Yes we all go on holiday and are use to it. Some of you are complaining about others going on about the heatwave BUT this is the UK we moan about weather(!) But in all seriousness look out for each other. The UK infrastructure isn’t prepared for ‘weather’ and neither are some people. Use my free poster to be aware of heat stress and exhaustion https://www.instagram.com/p/CgJ3DhIN81F/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[butterflies-and-fire]

50% mark 👍🏻👍🏻 wolf diamond art. Very therapeutic and a change of pace. Much needed form of distraction from my busy schedule. Now that I’ve put a pause on uni I can do things like this. I’m building myself up to do a big tiger piece 😁 https://www.instagram.com/p/CgCjUlNtnaW/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[butterflies-and-fire]

10 posts!

[mammab2017]

Kid Connection Dino Play Centre

Overall Verdict: 1.5 pushing 2 stars

Concept: 5/5

Age recommendation vs real world: 2/5

Ball pit:1/5

Slide: 0.5/5

Dino arch 0.5/5

Today I’m reviewing the Dino Play Centre by Kid Connection.

Its one of those rare weekends in the UK where we get our wobbly white bits out hoping to either get a tan or not burn too badly that we look like over cooked lobsters on Monday morning.

The wee man wanted a paddling pool, he had a choice of an actual pool with no frills or this dinosaur pool. Of course he opted for this one and why wouldn’t he he’s 4.

Out the box, it looked ok but the assembly stage happened. Oh feck me the sweat was dripping and not in a sexy way. Manual inflation only 😫🤬 Base ok, slide a bit of a flaff then the hideous Dino arch. That bloody thing felt like I was inflating a car. 3 hours later the pools up but oh shit there’s another bloody piece - the ball pit.

Whoop it’s finally assembled and all I have to do is add water - fairly idiot proof….

Time to connect the hose pipe to the arch to Dino arch to cheat filling the pool. If you value your life don’t bother. It pisses water out the valve and the pressure of the water makes the arch topple over if not fully inflated. The hose wasn’t even on that much just a quarter turn of the tap barely a dribble. Gave up and lied to said child that the arch doesn’t work when the oils full 😂😂

Slide. Yeah what can I say about this pointless add on. As I said my child is 4 and the box say this product is for age 3+ it should be weight limit. Every time the wee lad uses the slide the water comes out from underneath. Perhaps that’s why you need the hose connected to keep the pool full and flowing… there’s not much water in the pool even if you push the limits to add more so there’s no woo hoo splash.

Ball pit - waste of frigging time. It comes away all the time so all I hear is “it keeps falling down”. Bit of wind touches it and see ya later.

Overall. The idea is good but because you have to purchase some extra bits to make the hose connector work this isn’t worth the money. Also ball pit only comes with 5 balls; surely the manufacturer could have stretched to 10 or an inflatable ball.

All in all, expensive shopping trip, feeling hot and sweaty. Kids slightly happy and I’m a mam needing a bottle or two or Coors. Cheers fellow parents and thanks for reading.

[butterflies-and-fire]

Nearly forgot to post this weeks @freddiesflowers the first pic is today and the second is delivery day. Beautiful peonies in the display Take To The Dancefloor. The peonies are opening up nicely and the scent reminds you that summer has finally arrived. The roses in my garden have also started to bloom so double win for the flowers this week. Arrangement contains: Peonies, stocks, Solidago, LA Lillies, Delphiniums and Alliums #freddiesflowers #flowerstagram #brightenthehome #fresh #discoverunder1k #discoverunder2k https://www.instagram.com/p/CfOikNIrRb7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[butterflies-and-fire]

Had a fab time last night with my bestie @charlotte.smith3333 Need to do this more 😂😂 we were clearly the best darts players in the pub (ok we were the only ones in the pub) double birthday 🥳 celebrations 🍹 Somehow I have no hangover despite the bizarre concoctions we consumed 😂😂 #besties #bestiesforlife #drunkpeopledoingthings #happybirthday (at Brancepeth) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfOQjkrLPBI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[butterflies-and-fire]

Day 9/30 of the yoga challenge. I haven’t done todays session yet that’s been left for before bed to help me relax. I have learnt a lot in the last few days; in particular that yoga isnt all about the poses (Asana). There are actually 8 limbs (Niyamas). I have been trying to focus on Pranayama - breathing techniques, been aware of how shallow I have been breathing. I have also been doing self reflection (Pratahara) and concentration (Dharana). If I can get the foundations especially the breathing techniques it will help me with my posture leading to calm mind for meditation (Dhyana). I also hadn’t realised but the recent house clear out of junk is part of the Niyama (observations) to leading a simpler life. I’m far from reaching this but it shows you how much these yoga limbs can integrate into your everyday life. #yoga #30dayyogachallenge #yogainspiration #yogapractice #yogalimbs #niyamas #freethemind https://www.instagram.com/p/CelU4pDrGwP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[butterflies-and-fire]

Day 1/30 done ✔️ and my god I am unfit and out of practice. Need to focus on my breathing technique over the next week. Also massive thank you for my recent donations 🥰 https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/katherines-yoga-challenge-giving-page-2 #30dayschallenge #30daysofyoga #cancerresearch #yogaforcancer https://www.instagram.com/p/CeQhXHTLDsj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[butterflies-and-fire]

Step aside butter / beans or even cheese on toast. This morning I decided to have this @aldiuk Soecially Selected Spicy Smashed Avocado on toast. Verdict: delicious Nutritionally it ain’t fantastic however, since it has more protein than my normal breakfast of a coffee it’s a good choice for me. Link in the comments for full nutrition values and ingredients. Now looking for ideas of what else to have this with. Normally it’s reserved for nachos / Fajitas etc but for some super weird reason I’m inclined to try this with banana pancakes… #aldiuk #avocado #smashedavocadotoast #smashedavocado #spicyavocado #breakfast #breakfastideas #protein https://www.instagram.com/p/CeLhEaLrwj0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[butterflies-and-fire]

This weeks beautiful @freddiesflowers and the still lovely flowers left over from 2 weeks ago placed in the fab mini jars. I also received my flower press kit so looking forward to testing that over the weekend. #flowers #freddiesflowers #flowerstagram #flowersofinstagram #flowerarrangement #powerofflowers #discoverunder1k #discoverunder2k #flowerhappy https://www.instagram.com/p/CeBSZKCNPOc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[butterflies-and-fire]

New pen from the hubby. It’s got my first ships crest HMS Norfolk. It is a beautifully made pen with a screw cap that also screws to the bottom of the pen. It has some weight to it, so if your use to typical throw away pens you will have to relearn your old days handwriting skills. Made in Devon, England by Crafted Ink @craftedinkuk you can find them on Facebook. #militarymemorabilia #mod #pens #luxurypens #madeinengland #madeinuk #handmade #military #discoverunder1k #discoverunder2k #discoverunder5k https://www.instagram.com/p/CeA7GwwOa02/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[butterflies-and-fire]

What a fantastic day for @weardalerailway and @theaucklandproject I was one of the lucky ones to be part of todays test train onboard the Class 122 DMBS 55012 (bubble car). Reopening to the public: 28th May 2022 History on train: preserved.railcar.co.uk/55022.html Tickets & news: www.weardale-railway.org.uk #railway #trainspotting #55012 #restoredtrains #heritagerailway #discoverunder1k #discoverunder5k #discoverunder10k #trains #bubblecar (at Weardale Railway Heritage Services Ltd) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd8Ct3SrX0W/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=