What Parents Of Teenagers Need To Know About TikTok

Disclosure: This is an advertorial post in partnership with TikTok, however, all words and opinions are my own. 

 Have you heard of the popular app TikTok? As a parent to a 17-year-old, I certainly have as my teenage daughter has been a fan for a while. However, I thought it was an app where you made music videos - but I was wrong. TikTok is much more than that and I have to admit since downloading the app, I am now a fan myself.

What is TikTok? 

Things I Loved October 2019

October is normally one of my favourite months as I love autumn, the kids get a week off for half-term and it is my eldest's birthday month and we had some lovely things planned. However things did not go to plan as most of the month was hit with illness, meaning October was a bit rubbish if I am honest. I bore the brunt of it and have had the most horrific sickness bug followed by a bad chest which has resulted in me feeling very run-down and sorry for myself for the past three weeks. I was so ill I even missed my teens birthday and I have been feeling all of the mam guilt for that. 

This month I struggled thinking of the things that I have loved this month as so much of the month was taking up with illness and so many things got cancelled. Anyway, we still had some nice moments so here is a look at some of the things I loved in October 2019. 

Finding The Perfect Christmas Gifts For Children

AD

Now that it is November everyone's thoughts are turning to Christmas, the shops are playing festive tunes and they have their decorations up and children are starting to visit Santa and send off their Christmas lists. I know that my own children are getting super excited already and are on a countdown to December the 25th. But like a lot of people, I am struggling with what to buy the other children in the family as let's face it buying toys for other kids can be pretty hard work, you don't want to buy something they already have or something they might not like. So I was interested in reading this article The Secret Life Of Toy Designers to find out what makes Christmas toys a hit, give it a read if you are looking for some inspiration on what to buy the children in your family this year. 

As a mam of three with 17 years worth of present buying and Christmases under my belt, I thought that I would share some of my tips with you for buying Christmas gifts for children. 

Destination 1850 At Newcastle Central Train Station - Review

Complimentary Review Meal. 

Destination 1850 has recently opened in Newcastle's Central Station, train station and it is a great new place to eat. Now you might be wondering why I am writing about train station food as its normally fast food or sandwiches well Destination 1850 is different and has changed that preconception. Destination 1850 is from the people behind popular North East venues YOLO and STACK and is the ideal place to grab a bite to eat before or after a train journey - or even just lunch out if you're passing the area. 

Located just inside the train station entrance you will find Destination 1850 inside the glass covering, beautifully decorated it is cosy and welcoming and even has heated seats to keep you warm. Serving a range of hot drinks, wines, soft drinks and cocktails it also has an impressive food menu - expect to see the likes of pizzas, wraps, salads, loaded fries and sharing boards as well as brunch on the menu. 

Cookhouse And Pub Holystone Family Meal - Review

AD- Complimentary Meal

I love autumn time, it is definitely my favourite season, I enjoy wrapping up warm, crunching through leaves and being cosy. Autumn is always a time for craving comfort food and I always think pub meals are proper comfort food that you just can't beat at this time of year. So at the weekend, we headed to our local Cookhouse and Pub in Holystone, North Tyneside.   

We have visited the Cookhouse and Pub Holystone a few times over the last couple of years but this was the first time we have visited with all three children. After a busy morning of swimming lessons and shopping, we headed to the Cookhouse and Pub with rumbling tummies on Saturday lunchtime, along with my dad who was joining us (my husband was at work). We were warmly greeted and shown to a seat in the conservatory area which is bright, modern and perfectly cosy on a crisp autumn day. 

Activity sheets and crayons were provided for the children along with little pots of popcorn for them to nibble on whilst we pursued the menu. They were also offered vegetable sticks but they passed on these. 

Alnwick Castle

AD- Gifted Entry

As part of our magical stay at Macondland Linden Hall experiencing the Harry Potter Package we were given a family ticket to Alnwick Castle as this is where part of the first two Harry Potter films were filmed. Alnwick Castle is somewhere that I have visited before but it has been around seven years since my last visit and my youngest two children had never been before so they were very excited. 

Alnwick Castle is located in Alnwick, Northumberland in the town centre and right next to Alnwick Gardens and the famous treehouse restaurant. We had a family day ticket as part of our Harry Potter package but you can buy tickets for either just the castle or the castle and the garden combined on the day or in advance online (and save 10%) and they will last for the full year - making them really good value. 

Our Wedding - The Venue Backworth hall

When we got engaged back in June 2016 we knew we wanted to start planning the wedding straight away as we knew if we didn't get things booked quickly then we would never get around to it. We had been together for almost five years when we got engaged but we didn't actually know where we wanted to get married. I had always wanted to get married abroad as I loved the idea of getting married in the sunshine and having a holiday as well as a wedding. The other half really didn't want to get married abroad, it was important to him that certain family members were there and eventually after a few heated arguments he talked me out of it. 

Leaving us with no idea at all where to get married.