Hey guys,

What a fantastic summer it has been! Mine has been full of keeping my girls entertained. We have been on our annual trip to Drayton Manor Park & Thomas Land as well as so many family trips away to places like Barmouth Beach in Wales and Chester Zoo. Memories have definitely been made, and last week me and the family got invited to a fabulous pre-launch event at Inflata Nation in Stechford Retail Park - Birmingham, and I just had to tell you guys all about it as we had so much fun.

Inflata Nation is basically one big, inflatable theme park. It is full of inflatable slides, which vary in height and are surrounded by ball pits. There's a gladiator duel where you can joust away to your heart's content, hopefully knocking your opponent off their podium! There's a fun wrecking ball game too. If all you want to do is jump then you can do this too as they have a really big area which has an uneven, bubbly surface and is extra bouncy so be prepared for some tumbles. The climbing wall was also fun to jump off. I loved the fact there was an area for under 4's as my little one, who is only three, found some of the larger slides a bit daunting but was happy in the smaller area.

The assault course was probably where we had most fun, climbing through tunnels, over obstacles and sliding to a finish. I nearly won but Aaron couldn't handle it and pulled me back at the last second, while he practically flew past me! The girls loved it and wanted to do it over and over again. My fitness, or lack of, wouldn't allow me to do more than two rounds but the girls must have gone around it more than five times!

It is great for a family day out and is not just for kids. Prices for under 4's are £5.95, for children over 4 and adults it is £9.95. So for a family of four, you are looking at around £40, which is not cheap but I think you have to see it as more than just a soft play. Something you do every so often rather than every holiday. The fact that it is indoors is great too, as you are protected from the elements. The only thing that worries me are the injuries! I saw a few collisions and near misses while I was there, so be prepared. And remember to wear socks and long sleeves as the friction burns aren't fun. It's definitely something I would recommend to anyone looking for some family fun.

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen my recent post about a collaboration with Cheerz*. Now Summer is coming to an end, it's the best time to be printing off all the memories we have made (and clearing some of that phone storage!) What's more, Cheerz have given my followers an amazing £8 off using the code 'AMINA', with no minimum spend. They do everything and anything when it comes to printing, from magnets to canvas prints. The picture below is of the Big Fat Box which has been amazing, as I can keep adding to it as and when I need to.

Hey guys @cheerz have given me a code ‘AMINA’ for £8 off any order (no minimum spend) to share with you guys! Here is the Big Fat Box with polaroid style pics but they do all sorts including magnets, canvas prints and posters. Perfect for anyone who loves taking photos but is alao starting to run out of storage! Head to my highlights for all the deets and the link to their website is in my bio ❤️ #ad #cheerz - #photobook #photomemories #photography #instantphoto #photobooth #pics #birminghamblogger #birminghamuk #photowebsite #photoprinting #pursuepretty #pursuehappy #pursuewhatislovely #lovepics #familypics #memories #familymemories #bankhol #polaroidsnap #makingmemoriestogether #printingmemories #photolab #canvasprints #photomagnet #posters

A post shared by Amina Ali Ulhaq (@aminaali_mua) on Aug 27, 2018 at 11:54am PDT

So that's all folks. I hope your summer has been as fab as mine! Leave me a comment below to let me know what you have been up to while the weather has been lovely and if there is anywhere you think might be suitable for a young family. Also, can I just add, I am dreading the forthcoming darker months! Yes to the cosy knits and pumpkin spice... everything, but no, just no to the lack of sunlight! *Takes deep breath*.

Amina xx

*PR gifts/samples. All opinions are my own.

Hi everyone,

I am currently on summer holidays and really enjoying time out from blogging and work in general. I can't remember the last time I felt so relaxed and destressed. I recently got back from a holiday to Ibiza for my 30th Birthday which you may have seen on my Instagram (there is a stories highlight on my profile if you want to catch up) and it was my first holiday away from the kids, it has been over 5 years since I've been on holiday without them. They say travelling is good for the soul and this trip really was. I had time to myself and time to think without being interrupted. My thoughts were allowed to wander, to work themselves out, to understand. And this is how I have come to this post today.

I came to the realisation that the last decade had been quite a crazy one. I almost felt like I had lived a lifetime in 10 years, graduating, getting engaged and married, having my first baby, buying my first house, having my second baby, buying my second house. I realised I had been doing a lot of chasing, trying to reach goals, always wanting more, always trying to achieve more. But now it is finally time to accept. Accept what I have, what I have achieved and to be satisfied with it. 

Acceptance is so important, just being able to go yes I am where I am and that is ok can change everything. I think social media makes it very hard to accept our lives. We are constantly watching people with lives that are so much more luxurious than ours, that it sometimes becomes a bit of a normality. It can be a good thing as it makes us ambitious, working harder to earn a bit more money to buy that designer handbag, or in my case coffee table. I'm obsessed with home interiors at the moment, especially since I moved house. My Pinterest account is full of ideas. But anyway, it can also be a bad thing as sometimes some of these ambitions might be unrealistic which can in turn make us unhappy with what we are unable to achieve. Accepting where I am and not knowing what the future holds feels good for once.

I've learnt to accept people change. I am at a different place now with what I want. Things that made me happy a few years ago, no longer mean anything to me, relationships I had, no longer mean anything to me. Accept not everyone is going to be genuine and on your side. One thing I have learnt is it is important to make and break relationships, especially toxic ones, or even ones with people who just don't do anything for you. Relationships are all about give and take so don't be afraid to end relationships where it is all take.

Relationships take so much more work when you get older. Life gets busy, you need to make more time to see those family and friends who are important to you, I lost two friends last year one very suddenly and the other to a long term illness, but it taught me to really value those people who mean something to me and make time for those relationships. It's so easy when we are younger to see your friends and family all the time. But in the real world relationships become so much harder.  So if you are in my life at the moment, it's because I genuinely value you and love you.

I have honestly learnt to accept myself, love myself and my flaws. I don't care as much for my appearance anymore, I'm so much more interested in being a good role model for my girls. Showing them it's ok to be completely natural and still own it and be confident. Don't get me wrong, I still love to get my glam on as you can tell from my Instagram, but it just doesn't matter as much anymore.  I think finally at the age of 30 I am learning to love my natural curls, although it is always a love hate relationship as they have a split personality.

Accepting yourself and loving yourself is really hard but essential for happiness and maybe with age mentality changes a little. Accept not everyone will like you, I care less about what others think about me now and more about what I think about myself. People will always judge and there is no point putting energy into things you can't control. Since I have started thinking a little more selfishly for myself and my family, I have genuinely become happier.



I have also accepted not everything has to go to plan as there is a bigger plan and bigger picture. So I  go with the flow a little more and have learnt to be a little more spontaneous. I have got so much more I want to achieve in life, charity work, write a book, start my own business, maybe more kids? Ahhhhhh. I said MAYBE. But what I know is I have achieved so much already. By the age of 30 I am  married, have two babies and have bought my second home and have my shit together - kind of. But for once I am owning it. I am not chasing anything. I have everything I need, I am grateful and I accept it. Thank God.

Amina xx