![[AD] We’re a cricket-mad family, so we’re buzzing that @thehundred is back this August! 🏏🔥
To get ready, M tried out the official FREE Activity Pack — and it’s brilliant! 🙌
Packed with fun games, creative challenges and sporty tasks, it’s perfect for getting kids hyped whether you’re at home or on the go.
👉Download yours now (link in bio)
@londonspirit @ovalinvincibles #EveryMomentCounts #TheHundred
#EnglandCricket #CricketFamily #TheHundredCricket #LondonBloggers #Cricket #CricketIsLife #kidsfun](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/505472555_18531279601016840_7092520074819907569_n-180x320.jpg)
![[AD - Press visit]
We enjoyed the glorious sunshine this weekend with a trip to Brighton. We went on the @brightoni360official which is right by the sea front.
The i360 pod take a slow journey up, allowing you to take in views across Brighton and the South Downs 450ft above ground. There’s a bar inside with drinks and snacks available to purchase and the experience lasts 25 minutes.
Afterwards, we headed to the open air roller rink for a roller skating session!
The roller rink is:
⭐ Suitable for over 5s
⭐ £6.50 if you have your own skates or £9.50 if you need to hire them
⭐ 45 minutes per session
Full details to visit the i360 + skating
📍 Brighton i360, Lower Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2LN
🚗 Parking nearby (we parked in the Regency Square Car park)
🎟️ Prices start from £25.40 for an adult and £16.90 for a child
🕐 Opening hours are currently Sun-Fri 10.30am-18.30pm and until 19.30pm on Saturdays
☕️ Bar inside the i360, cafe and gift shop
Book tickets here:
https://tickets.brightoni360.co.uk/tickets/?_ga=2.195305772.1869001490.1689671753-1757164059.1689671753/#events?eventid=157](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/417980235_313576471048632_3682382982231216432_n.jpg)
![[AD] ***Summer of fun at Barracudas Activity Camps!****
There is plenty for kids to do at @barracudas_activity_day_camps
From Tennis, Archery, Swimming, Motor Sports and more you can be sure that there will be something for kids aged 4.5-14. ⚽🏈🥅🎾🏓🏎️🏹🏊♂️🏉
You can book on a day by day basis - so it can fit in with any other days out/activities you have planned and there are early drop off and late pickup options available. Barracudas are also Ofsted registered so you can use your Childcare Vouchers too.
⭐⭐⭐Get £20 off a week or £4 off a day using my discount code: MARIA20⭐⭐⭐
#BarracudasActivityDayCamp #BarracudasActivityCamp #BarracudaAmbassadors #SummerHolidays #SchoolHolidays #Summer2023 #SummerCamp #DayCare #Camp #KidsCamp #surreymummy #surreymums #SummerOfFun #ActivityCamps #HolidayCamps #Childcare #SchoolHolidays #schoolholidaycamps](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/353583570_625625966167953_545896259645102575_n.jpg)
![[AD] We have some super exciting news...we have been chosen to be Laser Quest Ambassadors, and the boys are over the moon!
We are really lucky that our local Laser Quest (@laserquestkingston) is just around the corner from us. It means we can pop in of a weekend or anytime during the school holidays, and with summer just around the corner, I know Laser Quest will be one of our go-to places for some family fun.
As well as games of Laser Quest, there are also VR experiences and arcade amusements too. To find out a bit more about how Laser Quest works, you can read my blog post: https://www.suburban-mum.com/laser-quest-kingston/ (clickable link in bio)
Don't forget to keep an eye out for our Laser Quest posts - I'm going to be giving away two family passes to use at Laserquest Kingston!
If you can't wait and want to head down to Laser Quest to try it out, use the code SUMMER30 for 30% off your booking. The code is valid from now until the end of August 2023 and can be used on Laser Quest games and birthday party bookings.
#LaserquestAmbassador #Laserquest #LaserquestKingston #ActivitiesForKids #FamilyFun #DaysOutWithKids #Lasertag #LaserquestVR #Kingston #ThingsToDoInKingston #SurreyFamilyDaysOut #ThingsToDoWithKids #RainyDayFun #SurreyMummy #SurreyLife #LifeWithKids #LifeWithBoys #familyfunday](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/353230107_797358078406942_2405522556733455165_n.jpg)
![[AD] The sun has finally made an appearance and the boys have been making the most of it by spending it
in the garden.
They’re go-to is always football and they’ve been trying to improve their aim and accuracy with the new Messi Foldable Footlball goal from the #MessiTrainingSystem range.
I love the fact the goal is foldable, making it easy to store away when not in use. It is also lightweight so you can effortlessly pack it up and take it to the park or to a friend’s house.
The Messi Foldable Football Goal retails at £36 and can be purchased from @argos
You can read my full review here: https://www.suburban-mum.com/messi-foldable-football-goal/
#TrainLikeMessi #FoldableFootballGoal #FootballSkills #OutdoorFun #LionelMessi #LeoMessi #FootballAtHome #OutdoorKids #JustGetOutside #OutdoorsAndFree #ScreenFreeKids #WhateverTheWeatherKids @flair_gp](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/341194882_615024710178056_41977149395989448_n.jpg)
![[AD] We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we are Barracuda Ambassadors again this year.
With Easter just around the corner, the boys were sent the @barracudas_activity_day_camps new camp kit in preparation for the school holidays.
There’s a wide range of activities for kids aged 4.5 - 14 including Tennis, Archery, Basketball, Arts & Crafts and more.
If you like the sound of Barracudas, find out more over on their website. You can also save £20 a week or £4 a day, using my discount code: MARIA20](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/336812306_765234558514317_685553691647241974_n.jpg)
![[AD - Gifted]
Last weekend we were invited to try out @tsarettaspice’s new Bottomless Brunch menu and I can tell you it was thumbs up all round!
There’s a good choice tapas on offer from Punjabi fish fingers, Indo Chinese Chicken to Spiced Lamb Scotch Eggs and Manchurian Cauliflower (which was amazing!)
If you’re local to Twickenham and fancy giving them a try here’s are the details.
Tsaretta Spice Bottomless Brunch
⭐️£37.50 per head for bottomless Prosecco or cocktail of the day
⭐️£55 per head for bottomless Champagne
⭐️ Food included: 4 tapas selections and dessert or 2 tapas selections, a pav or naanwich and dessert
⭐️ Non-alcohol brunch is also available
Tsaretta Spice
55 Church Street
Twickenham
TW1 3NR
You can also read our full review over on the blog (link in bio)](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/334565436_5960402314015030_663031098700829518_n.jpg)
![[AD] What does family look like for you?
I am fortunate to be surrounded by strong, powerful women in the form of my mum, sister and mother-in-law (along with many others). With Mother’s Day just around the corner, @BootsUK want to celebrate all the different mums and mother figures we are lucky enough to have in our lives. They have a huge range of Mother’s Day gifts to choose from so we can show them how much they mean to us. (swipe to take a look at some of my choices)
If you want to express love and appreciation for the mother figure(s) in your life, head to Boots.com to find the ideal gift. They have a whole host of gifts, so you can be sure to find something to suit all tastes. Celebrate the #LoveForAllMums this Mother’s Day with Boots.
](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/334276459_136658625736352_6403224988403337253_n.jpg)
#SagaHomeImprovements: Adding value to our family home
We moved into our home over a decade ago. It’s a 3-bedroom mid terrace with the potential to extend outwards (single-storey extension or conservatory) and upwards (loft conversion). Previously we’d rented a flat and so owning our first home was something we were very proud of. We spent months and months updating the each room to our tastes and making the house our own.
Looking back there are definitely a few things I wish we had done sooner but they say hindsight is a wonderful thing right?
Driveway
When you’re a young couple, you don’t think much about not being able to park right outside your property. Fast forward a few years later when you have a new baby and a toddler in tow and it’s a completely different ballgame! You need to be able to access the car within a few footsteps so you can get them in the car safely. It also makes life easier so you don’t have to lug a car seat, and heavy shopping half way up the road too!
We started work on our driveway back in 2014 and I cannot tell you what a huge difference it made being able to park our car right outside our house! Our road can get quite busy so it was a nightmare at times trying to find a car park space.
Garden
One of the main draws of our house when we moved in, was the size of the garden. We are lucky to have over 90ft of space which the boys love using in the warmer months. Currently, we are in the middle of putting new fencing in and once that is done we’ll be pulling up most of the plants to make the garden wider, pull up the paving stone path, flattening out the ground and taking up the grass to put Astroturf down so we can use the garden most of the year should we wish to do so. It’s a bit of a sun trap right at the bottom of our garden too so we would like to build an adult seating area down there and look to convert the garage which is down there into an office too.
Kitchen
I wish we’d tackled our kitchen sooner but there were only two of us back then so we didn’t think too far ahead about how impractical a galley kitchen would be for a family.
We have plans to knock down the wall between our kitchen and dining room to open up space for a while now and I have been dreaming of a sparkly new kitchen as I really hate how dated it is and it’s definitely seen better days.
An open plan living area is sought-after and top of most families checklist when looking for a new home and whilst we aren’t looking to move anytime soon it’s good to know our plans for our kitchen/dining space should be a desirable one.
These are just some the things that we are looking to do to give our family more space and hopefully add value to our property at the same time. Moving house is an expensive business these days so it really is a no-brainer to try and stay and improve upon what we have. We are very lucky to live in a nice area that is close to the boy’s school (within walking distance), with lovely neighbours and be close to the local shops and station.
As part of the #SagaHomeImprovement campaign, Saga have created this really useful infographic below that shows you the potential percentage of value added to your home, depending on the type of home improvement you are looking at undertaking.
The campaign idea comes from research Saga has undertaken and 61% of people use their money generated from equity release for home improvements.
If you are looking at updating your home it’s worth taking the above into consideration. I think we’d all love to potentially add value to our home whilst updating it to how we’d like. If you after some Home Interiors inspiration why not check out the Ideal Home Show? You have the chance to win four tickets to the Ideal Home Show Manchester show on 10th June so why not enter?
I best get back to digging up that garden – wish me luck!
*In collaboration with Saga
About The Author
12 thoughts on “#SagaHomeImprovements: Adding value to our family home”
Wow, lots of people to hand I see. We are in the throes of lots of renovations to our home. #kcacols
This is very interesting as we are always on the brink of deciding to move house. Maybe we should just have a loft conversion, it could be a great investment! Thank you for linking to #KCACOLS
I love a home project and can heartily recommend knocking through the kitchen/dining room – we love our space now!
I’m all about thinking long term and for future flexibility in home design, using sustainable materials, and of course, nice cushions! #KCACOLS
Great post. We are in the process of (hopefully) moving house. The new house has potential for a loft extension which is something we might do when we have the money… so in about 20 years! But I’d love to do it. #KCACOLS
I’ve just dug up all my grass single handedly to make that area an adult shingle area. Moving shingle we already have. The existing shingle area will then become a flat child friendly area.
I love that you did your driveway yourself. I’m all for cost cutting by trying to do as much as possible myself.
#KCACOLS
We’re in the middle of renovating our forever home at the moment. Love getting the kids involved! #kcacols
I love seeing house makeovers and if it adds money to your property then even better! good luck with the renovations 🙂 #kcacols
I love home renovations and designs. I’m currently doing a bit of DIY in our home but nothing major as we’re only tenants #KCACOLS
We are still saving to buy our own house, but when we do I know I want to put my own stamp on it. I completely agree about the driveway. We have a big one at the moment and would really miss it.
#KCACOLS
We still don’t own our own home – the things I’d do to it if we did! #KCACOLS
Wow 90ft of garden?! You’ll have to show us some pucs when it is done. You have been busy in your house! #KCACOLS
We don’t own our home but it needs redecorating as my boys write and draw on the wall. We’re considering doing it but we have to wait till they get a bit older to understand they can’t draw on the wall lol I would love doing these things too if we own a house. #kcacols