//farmer palmers//

Day out to farmer Palmer's 

On Friday the 8th of May we went to farmer palmer's, it was a planned trip for Theodore's birthday! (Caspers best friend and my best friends son)

I personally had never been before but had heard brilliant things about the place, and we had the best day ever!

admission was £8 for us adults and free for the children which isn't bad really, we arrived at about 10.30 so not long after the park had opened and was it was a school day it wasn't rammed which is always good when you have under 2's :)

the kids ran straight for the haystack slide area! which they loved :)

there was all different slides placed on haystacks and hay was all over the floor, which is good as Casper is VERY clumsy! :)

as you can see he loved it, no tantrums when it was time to leave as there was so much he could see that he was just excited to carry on to the next part of the farm.

next up was the goat feeding time, the staff were funny and really didn't wait around which is good when you have toddlers that HATE sitting still..

Casper being the milk enthusiast he is tried to neck the bottle before the goats even came out... hes such a plonker :)


next we took the kids for a play in the park area...

Love this part, as its sandy my clumsy boy cant hurt himself.. always a worry when i take him to a park,  again there was lots to do so he really had fun in this part of the farm.

then was time for the bumpy tractor ride. this was £1 per adult and lasted around 5 minutes ...

            as you can see we really did enjoy the bumpy tractor ride!

the kids especially loved the tractor ride, was fun and again the staff do really help with anything especially as there is someone to stay behind and watch your strollers ect :)

after the tractor ride we decided to have some lunch, the kids has really tired themselves out and i think us parents were tired too.

there is a cafe which sells hot food but we didn't know what the costing would be like, we opted for a packed lunch and a seat at the picnic benches, there is no shortage so we didn't have to worry about not having anywhere to sit.

we then after out lunch decided to have a go on the Go kart's, they come with two seats (parent and child) and there is also a little track to race them round, the boys loved it! especially the little ones :)

i even had a go and ended up not wanting to come off! it wasn't our only go on the go kart's but it was time to go feed the sheep so didn't want to miss out on that!

we then went off and fed the sheep.. sadly i didnt get any pictures of this part as i was saving my battery on my phone, again a lovely activity to take part in the boys loved watching the sheep race around and they were very gentle so Casper was at ease as he isnt always keen on big animals.

we then went on the bouncy castle which i think the adults preferred more that then littlies!

 as it wasn't busy there was only the adults and Casper and Theodore on the bouncy castle which was nice as the kids got to spend as much time as they wanted on there :)

we then went to feed the pigs, again a lovely activity to take part in and the boys loved stroking the pigs... Casper and Theodore were following the pigs around and as the animals are so used to humans we didn't have to worry about any sorts of incidents and we all had a lovely and very safe time :) 

the big boys then too the littlies back on the tractor ride as it was the second ride of the day, us mummies recharged with a drink in the cafe where we discovered lots of reasonably priced cakes and food.. we were good though but them cakes did look lovely! :)

another quick go on the go kart's and then it was off inside as it started to drizzle!

we then took the boys in the indoor soft play area- it was clean and very safe with a gate for an exit that little hands couldn't open.

i didn't take any photos of the soft play as the boys were to busy zooming around but as the farm is aimed at 8 years and under the soft play had something to tiny babies all the way up to bigger kids , the boys loved the slides and then started to become tiresome.

before we left the the adults decided they wanted to go on the bigger bouncy castle on the way out! lots of silly videos and silliness later the kids were exhausted and we thought it was the perfect time to leave which was around 3.30 as we left there was a gift shop but as we plan on coming back we didn't buy an souvenirs- what i did see was reasonably priced so we will be sure to pick something up next time.

we really enjoyed our day at farmer palmer's and for that reason we will go again 

i would rate it 8/10 only because we didn't try the food- when we go back if the food is nice i will rate it higher.

also the toilets were clean and there was around 2

two baby changes which is always good. the cafe had plenty of high chairs and even a small play area for the kids to play while you ate- it was also next to the larger soft play which is ideal if you have bigger kids so you can enjoy a coffee while they play! :)

cant wait to return to farmer Palmer's.

if you are in Dorset- especially near Poole i would recommend a visit- i will leave a link to the website down below

FARMER PALMERS WEBSITE/

until next time!

take care :) 

-Leona Charissa ❤️‍

//THE PALM HOUSE CAFE//

       The Palm House

"The Palm House is a unique café-bistro and activity centre located in The Swannery, in the heart of Weymouth, Dorset."

The Palm House is a Cafe/Bistro in the heart of Weymouth by The Swannery, The Palm House was once a run down old Edwardian green house with no purpose... Until Nigel duff took a chance on the place and renovated it! it was in a very bad way when Nigel got his hands on the place... But he turned it around and made the space clean, bright and re-purposed.

BEFORE

AFTER

Nigel transformed the palm house! he's invested so much time and money into the place!
You can clearly see in the before and after pictures that the space was very run down!

The play area has lots of different toys. From slides to kitchens to cars and dolls, houses and castles the perfect space from children from 0-5!
There is enough seating for up to 30 people and enough space to stand also!

When the weather is nice there is also seating outside in the outside space which has more wendy/play houses .. lots of ride on cars and hoppers and even a Disney princess castle!

Then there is the actual cafe! a cool and calm place to sit and relax! with a gorgeous menu of food, drinks and homemade cakes on offer. browse the area with delight at the handmade gifts and gorgeous homemade cards.. Local sellers from all over Weymouth and Portland have the chance to showcase there items in the space which gives this place a real sense of community.


Also situated at the back of the Palm house is The Starfish Craft Studio which people of all ages to make and take their creative pieces home! great for children's parties or even and evening activity for adults!

Food
I love the food at the Palm house, my personal favourite is the panini. I also love the coffee and Frappes :)

example of food:

Panini's - Sandwiches - Full English breakfasts - Jacket Potatoes - Lasagne - Nacho's

Fishcakes - Pasta - Home Made Soups - Gluten free and Vegetarian options

Fresh Pastries - Muffins - Homemade Cakes - Homemade Scones -

Crisps - Fresh Fruit - Ice Cream Specials - Tea - Coffee - Cookies

Cappuccino - Latte - Healthy Smoothies - Thick Shakes -

Home-made Dorset Cream Teas and lots more!

Macaroni Cheese - Pasta and meatballs - Sausage & Beans - Toasties

Spaghetti Bolognaise - Mini Jackets - Mezzi -  cold meal snack boxes

Unique home cooked baby food menu

The reason I'm writing this blog post?

The reason I am writing this blog post is... The Palm House is in danger!

They want to knock this precious place down and build a modern arts centre!

Weymouth for those of you who have never been and are just reading this blog post is a seaside town in Dorset, United Kingdom.

We have old buildings and a giant esplanade with various different types of architecture from different time periods... we used to have quaint fairy lights running down the seafront... the Olympics came and they were replaced with modern lasers ... which quite frankly no one I've asked likes.

With the distinctive and rare (yes, they are rare now these greenhouses) look of the Palm house why would we want to lose it... especially in The Swannery area!

There is another site in Weymouth that would benefit from the type of building that would replace our dearest Palm House!

ITS NOT JUST FOR KIDS,CRAFTS AND COFFEES!

If you are reading this and thinking.. "I like the sound of this place... "

It's also used for support groups... I know a group for Post Natal Depression runs from there

It's a vital community source that so many people can tap into!


COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

Here are a few comments from a status I posted on my Facebook: -

"It's a genuine lifeline for me. Honestly. It's more than just a play cafe. As a single mummy with no family it's the only place I can go and have a break and my toddler enjoys himself. I literally don't know where I'd be without it. It's a source of support for my mental health, and respite, a place in can get decent food and relax. Also expecting a new baby soon I was relying on it as a place I could go with both my baby and toddler and the toddler can safely play and I can comfortably breastfeed and relax "

-Becky Osborne

"Such a calm environment for parents to go and be able to leave there children to play, all the staff have always been so friendly and welcoming. Would be a massive shame to see it go!"

-Alanna Jayne Callon

" Although I no longer live in Weymouth. I regularly visit my family. And the Palm house is somewhere my son always likes to go when we are visiting. Nowhere else like it in Weymouth. Would be gutted if it goes!"

-Amy Ellen Mills

"I used to go there as a kid when it was literally just a huge green house, and it's come such a long way!!!! My mum and I used to take my sister there when we lived in Weymouth. It's a great little respite for parents and kiddies."

-Daisy May Hall

"A good place to take young children where they are safe to play,"

-Ben Garbutt

"It's in a great location after dragging kids all round town shopping... It's also right next to the park so great when it starts raining so you don't have to end a fun day because of the weather! Only been a couple of times but think location is key!"

-Yentl-Rose Hayter

"It's the ONLY place in Weymouth that under 5s can play safely and the mums and dads can relax with a coffee knowing their children are safe. Why anyone would want to get rid of it is beyond me! But that's Weymouth council for u . Brilliant food. The staff are lovely. My 2 children love it there. They are 1 and 2 so hard work! So it's nice that I can go somewhere and catch up with my friends while they are playing."

-Leah webber

"They do amazing cooked breakfast! Probably the only place in town that provides good nutritional kids menu with a play area! Promotes breast feeding and not to mention how far it has come since it was taken over from the absolute wreck and eyesore it use to be! "

- erin-kerry skerritt

If you would like to Save The Palm House then please follow the link *below*

https://www.change.org/p/weymouth-and-portland-borough-council-re-new-the-lease-of-the-palm-house-play-cafe-weymouth-dorset?recruiter=286978453&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_facebook_responsive&utm_term=des-md-no_src-no_msg

Website link *below*

http://thepalmhouseweymouth.co.uk/

Thanks for reading!

Until next time!

-Leona Charissa ♥

//APRIL FAVOURITES //

Jasmine and henna hair treatment- LUSH

I have Wavy and unruly thick hair! Some days I roll with it! Other days I don't want to have to blow drying straight and put all kinds of serums on it !

So I treat myself to abit of this! Whack it on dry hair for 20-30 minutes and then wash it off before you wash your hair! 

Definitely recommend this! 

Real techniques Brushes 

the purple ones are the starter eye kit and the orange are the core collection  face set!

I was never really one for using alot of brushes!  Always just applied my foundation with my fingers! The core face collection comes with the following

-buffing brush 

-foundation brush

-contour brush

-Detailer brush 

the Buffing/ powder brush is AMAZING as is the contour brush! the foundation brush is good prefer , I just prefer the real techniques "Stippling brush"

the  detailer/concealer brush again is good! Especially if you use concealer under your eyebrows for definition! 

The eye brush set comes with..

-Base shadow brush 

-deluxe crease brush

-accent brush

-fine liner brush

and finally and eyebrow brush 

I use most of these brushes most days depending what I am doing makeup wise! I highly recommend this set as my eyeshadow and liner game is now "ON POINT "

ALL THESE BRUSHES CAN BE USED TO MULTIPLE THINGS SO JUST BECAUSE IT SAYS "DETAILER BRUSH" DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T USE IT FOR LIPS ECT ECT..

I have quite a few new things to try this month so ill look forward to that and will let you know next month! 

-Leona Charissa ♡

xo

//Folic acid awareness day //

Hello guys!

This isn't really the direction I was going to take this blog straight away.

As you know I am a mother! To a beautiful boy called casper . He is 18 months old...

And was born with spina bifida

What is spina bifida?

"Spina bifida (Latin: "split spine") is a developmental congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube. Some vertebrae overlying the spinal cord are not fully formed and remain unfused and open."

When I found out I was pregnant I was shocked to say the least! Wasn't planning a baby at all! But wasn't upset about it either!

Went to my scan to find out how far along I was ... maybe find out if it was a boy or a girl...

I was quickly told I was in fact 29 weeks and that my baby had spina bifida

I threw up

I went for special scans ... even an mri...

Why am I telling you this?

Because today is folic acid awareness day!

Basically studies have show that taking folic acid can help REDUCE the chances of a child being born with spina bifida.

I'm not trying to ram information down your throats... I'm simply sharing my story.

I just feel it's important people are more aware !

Casper is lucky in that he has closed spina bifida and has no major issues with mobility. .. He can walk (not for ages) he can run abit and can climb!

There are a few forms of spina bifida but ill leave that stuff for you to research or can do another post about it and more in depth about my story if people would like to read that.

Basically the point of today is that people know more about neural tube defects...

I am very open on all of my social media accounts  (some people get annoyed but whatever!) I do it to help people more than piss people off but people see things in different ways!

Anyway basically they say for people to be taking folic acid 3 months before conception and spina bifida and other neural tube defects occur in the first 18-21 days of conception.

- it's why I don't get why most people are told to start taking it when they find out they are pregnant cause more often than not (and to put this bluntly ) it's already happened.

I just don't want people to go through what me and so many other women ... Fathers. .. families and more importantly the children have to go through!

Basically do some research and have a think .

If you want more information visit the go folic website or Facebook page! And if you have any further questions you can find me on any social media by searching

"Leona Charissa callon "

Thanks for reading!

Until next time

Take care!

- Leona Charissa♡