This week has been busy with the girls off school. My younger daughter finished school first, so we had a coffee date and she made some people with plasticine 🙂 We went to the charity shops and she found two huge dolls – one for her and one for her sister. After my other daughter got out of school, we went to the Ulster Museum. We looked at the art and clothing and then went to the art room. They had changed it around and there were new objects to draw. We each made a picture and coloured it with the watercolour pencils they had there. Then the girls discovered a dress-up area and tried on the clothes. There was some toy food so they had a picnic at the little table. They had also added a living room set with painted walls and a fireplace. It was so colourful and I wanted to steal some of it for our house 🙂
After the museum, we went for bubble tea. We tried a peach one with tapioca bubbles in it. I’d had it a few times before but I hadn’t found a fruity one since I went to Camden Market with my sister. It was really refreshing. We shared a chocolate bubble waffle too. I’d like to go back to try some of the other teas too. They had set out post-its for kids to write messages on and stick them to the wall.
The following morning, I took the girls to the cinema. Beforehand, we went to the huge charity shop there and had a look around. We went to see Sing 2 in the cinema and I just brought snacks with us. The girls love the recliners there. They make me almost fall asleep during every kids’ movie 🙂
We have been working our way through the girls’ art box at home. It is based around weaving this month and the girls made some dreamcatchers. My boyfriend helped us make them, which was helpful because they kept unravelling 🙂 My daughter had the important task of sticking stickers onto everyone.
On Valentine’s Day, I took the girls on “holiday.” We stayed for a night in town at a hotel. When we arrived, we found a mini Starbucks in the bar. We had a drink/coffee and waited to check in. My daughter made herself at home while I got the key to our room 🙂 After we checked in, we went for a walk around town. We went to Primark, which the girls get very excited about. They chose some clothes and make-up. It was a really beautifully crisp Winter’s day. So much has changed in the city centre since I was last there. The trees were decorated with little lanterns for Chinese New Year 🙂
We went to Frankie and Benny’s for dinner in Victoria Square. It was really kid friendly. The girls loved the puzzles they gave them. My daughter had to pose beside one of the Valentine’s balloons 🙂 They had kids’ cocktails included in the kids’ set menu and the girls were amazed by the graduated colours 🙂 After dinner, the girls ordered some ice-cream sundaes. Going there was a spur of the moment decision but it ended up being such a good choice for kids 🙂
After dinner, we walked back to the hotel. The girls stopped to dance in Cornmarket. There was a busker playing music and they gave him some change and skipped around to the music 🙂 It was nice walking through town at night. I’ve been noticing more street art too. I love the way it brightens up the most mundane objects. The city hall was lit up red and pink and it looked beautiful 🙂 When we got back to the hotel, the girls used the vouchers the hotel gave them for a free treat each. They got some crisps and I had a glass of wine.
The following morning, we had breakfast in the hotel. It was self-service and the girls loved getting to make their own hot chocolate at the machine 🙂 We all got a fry and the girls got some yogurt too. It was really peaceful sitting there.
Afterwards, we walked into town again. We got some more photos of street art and walked to the Cathedral Quarter. We discovered a playground had been added to it. We tried to go to the Mac, but I found out that it isn’t open on Mondays and Tuesdays, so we went for coffee instead. The girls had some orange juice and I got an espresso. They loved my cup and kept pinching it to pretend they were drinking coffee 🙂 We called into the kids’ play area in Victoria Square and we had a quick look in the shops. We had to check out of the hotel after that (which was probably the best thing for my bank account!) We didn’t travel far but it’s funny how much a change of scenery can reset you 🙂
The Funky Thrifter 