I know I say this every year, but time really does fly and I cannot believe I have been blogging as One Frazzled Mum for 5 years. Looking back on my old posts, they were so shockingly bad. I have no idea how I plugged away at it for so long, but in true Tracey style, I never take the hint. And here I am today, 5 years later.
If you have followed me from the beginning, thank you so much or if you are a new reader, thank you again. I love doing this and I so am happy I think I might celebrate with cake! OK, I’ll definitely celebrate with cake. I know it’s actually Valentines Day, but I haven’t celebrated that for years, so it is now officially my second birthday!
As has been the way for the past few years now, I am running a little competition to not only celebrate but say thank you too. This year, I am running it myself to make things easier for everyone. The prize this year is everything in the photos below (and possibly a few extra bits too). These are items I have either received via the blog this past year or have accumulated thanks to overzealous sale shopping!
But before we get to the good part, I wanted to share with you some of my favourite posts from the past 5 years. I have moved away from traditional blog posts for the most part and this blog is now probably more fiction than inspired pieces about the world we live in. (well aside from sponsored content but a girl has to pay the bills!)
- There’s Something I Need To Tell You. This was my first ever series. Every time I thought I was done, another part popped into my head. It was dramatic and emotional and still is one of my favourite blog series to date.
- The Secrets of Saltlake. This is the series that made me want to write a book so badly. I still do especially as Ariel encroached on another series, Saving Kiranthia. The girl has a story and I need to tell it.
- To The Newly Single Mum. This is a post I wrote after reading a blog post from another single mum blogger. It really touched me and this post was the result of reading hers.
- The Best Things About Being A Single Parent. I rarely cover anything to do with either being a single parent or parenting these days now Olivia is older but I thought this would be a great post to boost and inspire any single parents reading.
- Darkness. I wrote this randomly one day. I have no idea what I was feeling or why I wrote it but this piece of writing is one of a few things I have written that has actually touched so many people and meant so many different things to different readers. I really loved the feedback and was proud it could reach so many who read it.
- The Top 7 Tag. I wrote this recently after struggling to write a completely different post. I reached out to other bloggers and was so surprised when it took off as it did. Like an overexcited child, I have been trying to comment on all posts I have found that took part and sharing them on Twitter.
Competition Time
Terms and Conditions
- The competition is run by One Frazzled Mum. No other parties or brands are involved included any featured in the above images.
- Details entered into the Gleam widget will be used only for the purpose of checking correct entries and choosing a winner. Details are not stored once a prize has been received by the winner.
- The competition will run from 14/02/2019 until 10/03/2019.
- The winner will be chosen within 7 days of the competition ending.
- Please allow up to 28 days for delivery.
- Please enter all the options correctly. Incorrect entries will be void. I do check.
- Bulk or third party entries are not allowed. Multiple entries from the same IP address will be void.
- Competition is open to UK mainland residents only.
- Over 18’s only.
- The prize will be as specified in the images above. The prize cannot be swapped or exchanged for cash.
- The winner consents to their details being displayed on the widget and upon request.
36 1 - 37Shares
A spa day weekend getaway with my friends
A day relaxing a the spa with some delicious food for dinner
My ideal birthday is to just chill, have fun with family and friends, and have a memorable day (I cannot drink due to health) so a nice family meal in Cosmo, and just have a good day.
All my family around eating nice food and drink
A day out somewhere with my fiancé and our son then back home for snuggles with my two cats.
A nice meal out with my wonderful fiance Mark awww and a few drinks.
Spending time with family x
My ideal birthday would be spent in the sun, Happy birthday to you
A spa day with my daughter x
Family time with good food and plenty of laughs
Some sleep! But that’s unlikely, so a day with my friends and family xx
A day in Las Vegas with friends and a LOT of money to spend on food, drinks, shows and gambling!
A delicious meal with my family
A relaxing day surrounded by family and someone else doing the cooking!
Spending time with the family, eating lots of chocolate and nice meal in the evening!
well some sunshine wold be nice – i have a winter birthday and its always chucking it down and the kids always have a bug! So some sun and healthiness would be my ideal birthday!
a nice get together in a country pub with family and friend with a great meal and lots of laughs!
My perfect birthday is spending it with my family and lots of cake
on a beach watching the sunset with a cocktail and the kids playing and making sandcastles x
I actually had my ideal birthday last year – a break away at a country gastropub with my husband. Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast, a glorious day out in the countryside then back to our cosy room to change before a delicious dinner in the pub. Perfect.
My friends and family to remember would be number one on my list. A nice get together would be number two.
Definitely a relaxed feel nice pub lunch then afternoon in the local with friends and family
It’s my birthday this Saturday and i’m having my ideal celebration, which is a takeaway and a film to watch with the family and hopefully some chocolate.
Absolutely anything as long as I’m surrounded by my loved ones!
Spending time with my family especially my children
Apparently I don’t really have an ideal birthday – I have no idea! It would probably involve a meal out and a get together with friends (doing what I don’t mind)
A day with my 5 kids.
I’ve just had my birthday and it wasn’t too far off ideal – relaxing with my family, lots of new books to read, cake and take away and watching my favourite film.
My ideal birthday would be a meal out with my family.
A day out with my family and lots of cake.
I love having a meal with the whole family on a Sunday whether at home or eating out
A family meal and a few drinks then a film at home to end the day
id have a quiet one with family, pizza and a film
I nice meal with friends and family in a country pub with an open fire.
A delicious dinner somewhere fancy, kids behaving themselves and a yummy dessert served by my other half dressed as Dracula ( I have a thing for vampires!)
Well it’s my 40th in a couple of weeks I’m hoping for nothing too loud and lairy. Boring maybe but that’s how I like it
Breakfast in bed, a bit of shopping and a lot of reading.
It would look like a re-creation of a 1930’s party full of glamour, the dresses, the hair, lipstick and shoes 🙂
Either a night out filled with drinking or a cosy night in with my kids, depending on my mood
My ideal birthday would be spent in South Africa with my family who I never see since I’m in England 🙂
A day out somewhere nice followed by a nice meal with the family
A nice family meal to an Italian restaurant on holiday would be amazing
It would start with leisurely breakfast in bed, then a visit to a vintage fair, garden centre or craft centre for a bit of a ‘mooch’. Light pub lunch with friends and family, then a trip to the theatre or cinema, followed by Indian takeaway at home – with wine. (Oh, and the cleaning/washing up would be done by someone other than me that night, and not left for me on the day after…..!)
theatre trip with my partner
a quiet night in with a meal for one and no kids
A nice picnic by a lake with our children and grandchildren 🙂
My birthday is in the middle of Summer so I would spend it at our favourite location, Goathland in North Yorkshire. It is so quiet and peaceful with stunning views across the moors x
A lovely family meal
My family around me, some lovely food and happy faces!
I’d love to have a picnic on the beach with my family followed my a meal out in the evening
A nice family day out followed by a Chinese for dinner and some wine!
A spa day with friends & a meal out with my boyfriend
Spending the day at home with family and close friends, a takeaway and a glass of wine.
Well with Winter being my favourite season my ideal birthday would be over in Lapland staying in a wooden cabin with a view of the night stars, Ah perfect! I just love the snow!
Jason Mamoa and a vat of Baileys would do me. Happy birthday!!
i would love to have a nice day with all my family have a big bbq with every one there we never seem to get together as a whole anymore as someone is always busy
Day at home with friends, family and dog
Probably a shopping trip, afternoon coffee and then a meal with all my family and friends!
I would love a day out to the sea front, a lovely lunch at a beachside cafe and an evening in with my husband and some wine!
A family bbq in the day, sun shining, kids playing and sun out then a romantic getaway with just me and my husband in the evening.
I’d love to visit YOrk with my family for my birthday and spend the day sightseeing and going for a nice meal
I’d love a big disco party with dance music not had a party for years and I’m getting on lol
I want to spend my 30th in New York drinking cocktails and watching a musical on broadway. That’s my idea of a perfect birthday.
i dont celebrate birthdays anymore, but still love treats just generally
It would be with my family at home having a nice takeaway and watching a film together while we play board games too.
Mine would be with my four kids and picnic at the seaside with loads of laughter ball games jumping around in the sea xx
My ideal birthday would be visiting an art exhibition followed by a slap-up meal, cocktails and a hotel stay.
Day at the football followed by beers afterwards
Happy 5th birthday have been living reading yourblogs, they made me laugh. I’d it was my birthday I would have a spa day with my friends and at night a massive takeaway with a bottle of wine and my partner
my ideal birthday would be a day with family and some close friends and a small get together
id love a birthday abroad sitting on a beach with a cocktail! heaven!
my ideal birthday would start with a lay in and a full english in bed,then a day out somewhere night followed by a visit to the theatre and a night in a posh hotel
My ideal birthday would be waking up and looking 10 years younger
Happy blog birthday! I’m going to check There’s Something I Need To Tll You.
Lovely flowers, some Lindt chocolate & a day at the beach with my family.
I’m not sure how the day would go, but it would definitely start with a lie-in!
my ideal birthday would be a day with family and some close friends and a bbq in the garden
Happy blog birthday!
I’d love a nice long lie in and then an afternoon in the sun with family and friends. 🙂
My ideal birthday would be sipping cocktails on the beach with a hunky guy
Breakfast in bed then a day out with family and dinner cooked for me
Congratulations on 5 years! For my birthday this year (18th Feb) we played 4D golf which was amazing it’s all glow in the dark and you wear 3D glasses so it looks like everything is moving, went to an amusement arcade and then went to watch the new Lego movie at Cineworld VIP. It was great fun! I may be 35 but it was fantastic to have a kids day #KCACOLS
Party with all my family attending, hopefully warm enough to go in the garden but that might be optimistic in May
I am a bit of a loner so it would go like this! It goes a little something like this, the evening to myself, the house is fairly clean, clean bedding, a pamper shower (a shower where I shave myself and exfoliate!), moisturize, clean PJ’s, a takeaway, diet cola, movie of my choice! WOW !
My ideal birthday is spent with family and friends – but as I am christmas baby it always is!
My ideal birthday would be a day at home with family, birthday cake, a Chinese takeaway and watching films!
A massive movie themed party surrounded by all my friends and family… oh and a chocolate fountain.
Lots of balloons , games , BBQ and cocktails
My ideal birthday would be a day off work and a day shopping and a nice meal out
Mine would be dinner out with the family, followed by some drinks at a local bar
A nice meal, trip to the theatre and a few drinks in the evening in a cosy pub
Great giveaway!! Happy Blog Birthday!! Here’s to more amazing content! Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time!
Best dress for a night out
My birthday normally lasts for a week and includes wearing a crown. happy Birthday! #KCACOLS
Wow, 5 years! Go you!
I loved your The secrets of saltlake series. Brilliant. hope you’re still here in another 5!
happy blog birthday. xx
thanks for sharing with #pocolo
My ideal birthday would be lots of food, lots of gin and all my best friends!
i hate a fuss so i love a good meal and a glass of wine with my family and im happy, maybe some cake for pud 😛
Hubby is in the army and very rarely here for any of our birthdays lol So mine would be a night in with him x
My ideal birthday would be cake, wine and all my mates celebrating!
As it is my birthday today e hope I win#kcacols@_karendennis
My ideal birthdaywould be a weekend away with my husband and grOwn up children.. we rarely get together all under the same roof at once nowadays, it would be lovely to spend some quailty time with them all!
I would love to go on a flight in a hot air balloon with my partner. And party with my family afterwards.
Congrats on 5 years blogging. A steak meal with my husband in a local restaurant would be my birthday choice
Happy Blogiversary! My ideal birthday would be one where I don’t have to do any housework for a day.
It certainly looks like your giving away a revival pack!!
A DAY OUR EXPLORING A CITY WITH MY BOYFRIEND FOLLOWED BY A NIGHT IN A HOTEL
Happy birthday to your blog!
My ideal birthday would have to involve a lot of food, cake and wine x
a lovely afternoon tea in the country with my other half x
It would be very chocolatey, Very Big and be stacked with bits of CHOCOLATE bars on top! x
Amazing giveaway. Happy blogversiary 🙂 X #pocolo
plenty of prossecco and chocolates lol x
I would love a nice meal with family and friends
Happy Blog Birthday – Mine would be spending quality time with my family x
Happy birthday to you FRIENDS and family choc and BUBBLY CAKE AND CHOC and a great big knees up
I’ve never had a birthday party since I was 21 I’m 65 so well overdue I’d love a disco party with all the people I know before I’m too old to enjoy one
a trip to san fransisco
Happy Blogaversary – My Ideal birthday would be a seafood bonanza with a retro 70s disco and fancy dress
my Ideal birthday would be a fantastic tour around southern spain with my hubby. i would love on the day to go to a top notch restaurant and have lobster and champagne
I know exactly how my ideal birthday will look – i’m 50 in july and we are having a couple of nights in london, eating street food in soho, dinner wherever takes our fancy and, of course, a visit to the west end to see a show. Might manage to fit an afternoon tea in as well – there are some fantastic themed ones available in our capital city! oh, and let’s not forget the cocktails 😀
Ah happy blogaversary. Enjoy your cake. (Weirdly the tele just said that too, as i typed it!). My ideal birthday would be chocolate, good food and Good company.
when im out celebrating my own birthday
Happy 5th blog birthday to you. I’d be away on holiday in Australia, relaxing with a good book, for my perfect birthday.
I’d have a big afternoon FAMILY party followed by a lovely quiet dinner with my other half
my family around me and lots of chocolate to eat!
A meal with family,then a little get together with friends x
A special meal with the family
Just a quiet night in these days.
my ideal birthday would start with a lazy morning and a full cooked breakfast. then s trip to the city, in my case Glasgow, for some shopping and then a nice restaurant for lunch. then home for a quiet evening with a movie and some nice wine.
Just a really good knees up with music, dancing and all my friends and family there.
My ideal birthday would look a whole lot like a rock festival! \m/
Happy 5Th blog birthday!
My ideal birthday would be an afternoon tea (with birthday cake) with my family.
Happy 5th blog birthday!
My ideal birthday would be on a luxury holiday somewhere warm and exotic.
My ideal birthday would be having a nice meal and relaxing with friends and famiky.
A dinner party with all my family and friends.
A nice picnic in the countryside with my children, parents and our dogs!