Center Parcs (English/German)

Not one to pass up on a chance to win a free holiday - and even less if it is going to be at Center Parcs, I'm going to tell you all about them!

We have been going to Center Parcs on a regular basis since before Robert was born, I think it was in my nieces first year, she'll be 9 this year, so for the last NINE years! We have visited quite a few of their parks and keep going back for more.
Why, well basically because it is just perfect for a young family with kids. Whilst the kids were still both at Kindergarden it was cheaper for us, as we didn't need to go in the school holidays. Now we do have to go in the school holidays, but if you book early enough, or wait for last minute deals, you can get a pretty good offer.
We LOVE the swimming pool there, and spend most of our time in the water. Different parks have different specialities - Park Hochsauerland, has this great Water Playground with a HUGE (and I mean 900 litres HUGE) bucket, that regularly empties out over the playground. So much fun for all ages, when the boys were small, they would sit for ages (in the cafe so we could have a drink) and watch it empty out, now they are bigger, they have even stood under it!
Bispinger Heide - that had a great slide, that was wider and went outside, once they had been down it a few times with Daddy, Robert was off on his own (of course with Daddy right behind him).
Park Eiffel - has a great current going around and around. They also had some water toys, some boats for the kids to sit on and use the current to get around!

And not only do Center Parcs have these amazing swimming pools, some have indoor playgrounds (BALUBA) and some have petting zoos (Richard once wanted to adopt a goat!). We also love that the parks are car free (except for Park Eiffel - we won't be going back there, but if you don't mind a bit of traffic, it is a great park), being car free, we can let the kids out without too much supervision - chalking on the road is a great favourite.
We are already planning our next trip, roll on autumn holidays!

So und nun noch mal auf Deutsch!

Ein Chance versäumen einen kostenlosen Urlaub zu gewinnen - ich nicht, und schon gar nicht wenn es um einen Urlaub in Center Parcs geht, und deswegen erzähle ich Euch jetzt davon!

Lange bevor Robert auf der Welt war haben wir Center Parcs für uns entdeckt, ich glaub meine Nichte war damals noch nicht eins, und jetzt wird sie 9, d.h seit NEUN Jahren fahren wir regelmäßig hin. Wir haben schon viele Parcs besucht und fahren auch immer wieder hin.
Warum? Tja eigentlich weil es einfach der perfekte Urlaub für junge Familien mit Kindern ist. Während die Kinder beide noch im Kindergarten waren, war es natürlich billiger, da wir nicht während den Schulferien fahren mußten. Jetzt müssen wir während den Ferien fahren, aber wenn man früh genug bucht, oder auf ein Last Minute Angebot wartet, kann man durchaus ein Schnäppchen machen.
Wir LIEBEN das Schwimmbad dort (AQUAMUNDO), und verbringen die meiste Zeit im Wasser. Verschiedene Parks haben verschiedene Spezialitäten - Park Hochsauerland hat z.B. einen SUPER Wasserspielplatz mit einem riesigen Eimer (und ich meine ein 900 Liter Eimer) das sich regelmäßig über den Spielplatz ausleert. Das macht jedem Spaß - egal wie alt - als die Jungs kleiner waren, konnten die ewig lang still sitzen und gucken (meist im Cafe dort, damit wir was trinken konnten) und jetzt wo sie größer sind, waren sie auch schon mal drunter!
Bispinger Heide - da gibt eine genial Wasserrutsch, schön breit und mit Fahrt nach draußen. Sobald die Jungs ein paar mal gefahren waren, wollte Robert alleine rutschen, kein Problem (aber Daddy war ihm dicht auf den Fersen!)
Park Eiffel - dort gibt es einen ganz tollen Strömungskanal. Und Wasserspielzeug gibt es dort auch, u.a. große Boote wo die Kinder (auch größere) drauf sitzen können und sich von der Strömung mitnehmen lassen können.

Und Center Parcs hat nicht nur diese genialen Schwimmbäder, sondern einige haben auch Indoor-Spielplätze (BALUBA) und einige haben einen Streichelzoo (Richard wollte eine Ziege sogar mal adoptieren). Wir lieben auch daß die Parks Autofrei sind (außer Park Eiffel - da fahren wir nicht wieder hin, aber wem der Verkehr nicht weiter stört - es ist ein toller Park). Dadurch daß die Parks autofrei sind, können wir die Kinder fast unbeaufsichtigt raus lassen, ein favorit mit Kreide auf der Straße malen!

Wir planen schon unseren nächsten Urlaub in den Herbstferien - wollt ihr auch planen, dann klickt Euch mal auf die Seite von Center Parcs  Familienurlaub

Thanks for reading and now for some pictures, danke für's lesen und hier noch ein paar Bilder

Strömungskanal im Park Eiffel - Current at Park Eiffel

Minigolf in Hochsauerland

Bis Bald

Funky Playground Designs

Where to start, where to start...there is so much going on in the Digiworld at the moment, it's hard to know
I'll start I think by inviting you all to join me at FPD for the May Technique Challenge. This month we are stacking papers. It's a lot of fun, and you get the chance to win a gift coupon - details in the thread (image linked)
This is my layout for the challenge

I used the Free with Purchase Kit - Family Matters by Roseytoes Designs and DonnaDuncombeDesigns.

You can get this kit free, if you spend more than $12 in the store, and what better time to spend your money in the store than now! With iNSD right around the corner the store is on sale from May 6th - May 9th

OK, what else...LOTS....first the new Store Collab is out and its GREAT -so glad I got to play with it "Salt water Taffy" - is it OK to admit I have no idea what that is...!?! But the colours are great!

And I made a layout using it, the pics were taken on our last holiday, so much fun!

OK, and there is still more going on at FPD, but I'll let the ads speak for themselves!

CU soon!

Font Challenge at FPD (and a Free with Purchase plug!)

I took a break from ADSR today (after finishing and posting Challenge 5) and took part in the FPD Font Challenge!
The font that you have to use is called "Throw your hands up in the air", I think you do that in delight, cause it is such a lovely handwriting font! Well, here is the layout that I did using it! (layout linked to challenge)

And this is the kit I chose "Funny Bunny" by River Rose (image linked to store)

And whilst you are browsing the store, check out this bright fun kit, you can get this FREE if you spend $12 or over in April!

CU at Funky Playground!

Funky Playground Collab - Butterfly Kisses

The new FPD Collab is out, and what a girly girl beauty it is!

Having boys, it was a bit difficult using it, BUT a friend had a baby girl, so I just had to make their card with it!

So if you like what you see, pop on over to FPD (image of kit is linked) and if you go before April 12th, you get it for 50% off!!

Oh and when you are there, how about joining in my fun photography challenge!
CU there

Photography Challenge at FPD

This month I am hosting the photography challenge at Funky Playground Designs. I have made it pretty easy for the first photography challenge there. I am challenging you to turn the camera on yourself, in other words hold it out at an arms length and "click"!
Here is my layout for the challenge (image linked to challenge)

I used Remember this Day by shanmomto4 designs (image linked to store)

I hope I see you there
Bye 4 now

Proud to be an Etceterette!!!

Woohoo, finally we can all brag about some GREAT news!
Danyale has opened up shop at the DigiChick, where she will be selling exclusive kits, and look what she has created for her debut! With this kit you get more than what you are paying for, I swear. I saw it all coming together over the last couple of weeks, and you would be amazed at the goodies inside, and all the etcerettes are rocking those layouts!
But first let me show you the kit and accessories

And when the first challenge for the ADSR was posted, and I saw Jan's layout for it using Childhood Magic, I knew then what I was going to do, and this is it

The images of the kit and bits are all linked to Danyale's new store, so run on over and snap them up, I assure you, you won't be disappointed.
Oh and in the shop you can see LOTS of wonderful layouts using the kit for some inspiration!
CU again soon

Speed Scrap layout

I had such a great time at the speed scrap last night, it was great fun chatting to everyone, and I had my layout already finished, so I didn'T have to scrap and chat! Cheating really, but fun!
So I thought I would show you my layout

I used a St. Patricks Day kit by Sweet Tomato Designs and Geek Chic. I love that it is so versatile, cause we don't celebrate St. PAtricks day in Germany, but THIS I can use! (image linked to store)

CU soon!

Fotokasten

Well, I'll admit it, with this post I have the chance to win a €50,-- voucher for yet another photobook. Doesn't she have enough I hear you say, but hey, I take about 10.000 pictures a year, I have no where near enough photobooks!
Fotokasten is another German place to get all sorts of products with your photos. Their main "thing" are photobooks and calendars, but they have some other great products there.
I have only just finished testing a different photobook software for trnd.de, so if I do get this voucher, then I will be able to make a direct comparison, and decide for myself, where I get the best deal! So far I have been won over by the other software, so I wonder if Fotokasten.de can convince me too!

So as I am not sure, about the blogging rules of the competition, I am now going to repeat myself, BUT in German! You don't need to worry that I am talking about you all behind your backs, promise!

Also ich muß zugeben, mit diesem Blogeintrag habe ich die Möglichkeit einen €50,-- Gutschein für NOCH einen Fotobuch zu gewinnen (www.meingutscheincode.de). "Hat sie nicht langsam genug Fotobücher?" höre ich Euch sagen...hey, ich mache ungefähr 10.000 photos im Jahr, da hab ich noch lange nicht genügend Fotobücher!
Fotokasten ist hier in Deutschland ein weiterer Anbieter von Fotoprodukten. Ihr "Ding" sind Fotobücher und Kalender aber die haben auf Ihrer Homepage auch andere Tolle Fotoprodukten.
Ich bin gerade mit einem Produkttest bei trnd.de für eine weitere Fotobuchsoftware fertig, d.h wenn ich diesen Gutschein kriege, kann ich problemlos einen Direktvergleich machen, und kann dann für mich selbst entscheiden, wo ich den besseren Service und Produkt kriege. Bisher hat mich die andere Software überzeugt, aber vielleicht kann mich auch Fotokasten überzeugen! Ich bin da ganz offen!

Hab ich Euch neugierig gemacht, schaut Euch mal selbst bei Fotokasten um

www.fotokasten.de

Bis Bald
CU soon

Speed Scrap - Tuesday March 22nd

Woohoo, tomorrow Bianca (Project B Designs) and I are hosting a European Friendly Speed Scrap at Funky Playground Designs (that is 8pm German time). Bianca has some awesome instructions for everyone, there are participation prizes going and I know we are going to have a fun chat!

 Image is linked to the forum, you can find the chat room half way down (7th from the top)
CU all there

Call at Funkyplayground Designs

Check this out!

See you can all come and join me on the Playground Peeps! The community over at FPD is great and we all have a good time over there!
Can't wait to see who comes and joins us!