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Recipes

Making a meal of it – the roast beef version

February 3, 2026February 22, 2021 by Lavania Oluban
Making a meal of it - the roast beef version

I previously wrote about how I like to make the most out of a roast chicken by stretching out the leftovers to make additional meals and I had so many questions and requests to showcase what I would do with other meats. This week we had a Sunday roast with beef and so I had … Read more

Categories Food and Recipes, Recipes Leave a comment

Greetings, fellow brummie mummies, parents and adventure enthusiasts! I'm Lavania, the driving force behind "The Amazing Adventures of Me." If you're on the hunt for family-friendly escapades and hidden gems in and around Birmingham, you've just stumbled upon your new favourite hub!

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Air Hop has levelled up! /ad The kids were buzzi Air Hop has levelled up! /ad 

The kids were buzzing to be asked to attend a relaunch of @airhopbirmingham this evening - and so was my sister! 

They have had a brand new makeover with some fab features such as the Soccer 360 and the new interactive Valo Arena as well as having loads of space for the kids and adults to bounce off the walls (literally). 

It’s a fab space with a great team who really enjoy their jobs - we visit quite often, not just for PR events (this was Paloma’s choice for her last birthday party). The  DJ this evening was playing some banging tunes and we had a dance off before a high octane dodge ball match - Air Hop hosts After Dark sessions at the weekend for a disco with a difference! 

Not only that but they also have a great term time after school offer where you can pay one price and bounce until close because a mid week after school bounce is exactly what these kids need to let off some steam. 

They’ve got a mezzanine cafe with plenty of seating so grownups do not have to bounce, with cold drink, slushies and a simple menu with hot food to replenish the energy levels. Lockers in the arena to store your stuff safely are available too. 

As part of my commitment to sharing activities which are inclusive I wanted to mention the SEN friendly session the venue hosts on a Monday evening too.
It’s raining ☔️ Looks like it’s going to rain al It’s raining ☔️ 

Looks like it’s going to rain all week and through in to half term, It doesn’t mean that you have to stay stuck indoors.

I have a blog post full of thirty different places to visit in and around Birmingham including some of our faves and will be adding more to the list very soon!
Inclusivity matters If you’ve met one child with Inclusivity matters 

If you’ve met one child with autism then you’ve met one child with autism so I’m not for a second going to assume I know what it’s like for every parent with a neurodivergent child, or in fact what it’s like to be a neurodivergent child. I’m just talking about my child. 

What I do want to say is that I have seen some disgusting and ableist comments from people over the last couple of days. 

Every child deserves inclusivity and to not feel like they are on the outside looking in. For Arlo he just needs a few little things which other children might not. A couple of toys in his hands, his ear defenders or a little time out in a sensory space. 

When we go to any new place he spends most of his time doing his own thing. At theme parks he’s usually happy to spend hours looking at animals and maybe go on a couple of rides. Being able to use the Ride access pass is amazing for him and means he doesn’t need to spend an hour in a confined queue space feeling dysregulated and then upsetting everyone around him. 

The way a pass works in theme parks is via an app which has timers so ride and then you then have to wait a while before you can book another ride. So we just go somewhere for a bit of a break. With the fidget toys and the space to move etc. 

He’s not taking the mick, it’s a reasonable adjustment just like his ear defenders and his fidget toys and movement breaks are which enable him to participate in activities just like everyone else does. 

What you won’t notice is the little things I do which demonstrate how anxious or worried he is feeling. You won’t realise that we have had to spend hours discussing how every roller coaster has been manufactured and also watched it from several POV on YouTube and then more times doing circuits around the park to look at all angles in real life. 

When you see a child “acting out” you might assume he is having a temper tantrum and/or that I’m a bad parent. Believe you me I’ve been in these situations and it’s not nice. 

I will always find a way for him to do whatever he wants to in life. I’m his mother so that’s sort of my job but it’s also the law to make reasonable adjustments for accessibility.
I 💖 Drayton Manor This isn’t an AD although I ha I 💖 Drayton Manor 

This isn’t an AD although I have worked with this Midlands based theme park in the past. I received an email today which basically clarifies that Drayton Manor is still an accessible park for neurodivergent guests. Which sadly is not the case for some UK theme parks. 

We go out all the time all over the UK and share our adventures and I can hand on heart say that the guest services team are the best @draytonmanor - They’re absolutely fabulous with Arlo and we are always made to feel welcome and supported. Taking the time to check his his height, show him the map, answer a million random questions and even allow him to attach his wristband to his belt loops or backpack as he finds  them irritating and often rips them off. 

We usually spend most of the day looking in the reptile house and singing to cockatoos (it’s not like he’s fast tracking rides back to back which is what some people think the nimbus card is about🙄) Arlo always has a fabulous day and always plucks up the courage to try a few things out on his own terms.

I’m a glass half full kind of person so with this park being about 40 mins from central Birmingham and having such fab ticket offers on at the moment especially in combination with @westmidsafari and @waterworld.sot.official it is a bit of a no brainer for us and a place I’ll happily shout about and recommend to families all day long!
Fresh Pasta Quite a few of you asked me for the Fresh Pasta 

Quite a few of you asked me for the recipe when I shared this in my stories. It’s a really basic pasta dough with 00 flour and egg. The ratio I use is 100g flour to 1 egg. 

The trick is to knead it until your arms ache and the carry on pushing through! At least ten minutes. If the dough is a bit dry then I wash my hands, leave them wet and carry on. That’s usually enough moisture. 

Then let it rest. Fridge for a while before rolling it out until you can see through it. I tend to put it through the rollers 4-5 times and fold in between to give it an extra level of kneading first. 

Then fill it, shape it and boil it for a few minutes. 

I’ve gone for ricotta and spinach adding seasoning and  nutmeg - and these pieces were drizzled with a brown butter infused with sage and served with chilli flakes and chives. 

Delicious!
Tag - you were the best cat who thought he was a d Tag - you were the best cat who thought he was a dog, and an excellent guardian of the garden.

It’s been an honour to be your human. 

For the first time in over twenty years I’ve come home to a house with no cat waiting for me at the door 💔
Pinch me moment! ♥️ I love being an ambassador fo Pinch me moment! ♥️

I love being an ambassador for @cricut_uk - you guys know I can talk about crafting all day long and that @hobbycrafthq stores are like a second home to me….so imagine how excited I am to be working on @hobbycrafttv! 

I’m so grateful for the trust, the support, and the chance to share what I love doing with so many people - live TV is something else. I can’t remember the last time I felt nervous about anything but the time just flew by. 

Thank you to everyone who’s followed along, and sent kind messages - it really means a lot! 

If I get time this week I’ll pop up a blog with links to all the projects and I’m also very tempted to do a little giveaway with all of the Valentines things I made ♥️
2016 Seeing as everyone else is doing it. 2016 2016 

Seeing as everyone else is doing it. 

2016: Working hard and playing harder. Setting goals for myself and then smashing them all. Living by my only rule - Make it happen! 

1. Selfie in a hammock in Mexico 
2. Final obstacle at the Military mud run 
3. Lunch on the Royal Yacht (because why not) 
4. Muse at Benicassim - had the best night all on my own 
5. Selfie in Spain - checked in to 5* hotel after the festival to recover just because. 
6. On my way to V fest 
7. Snapchat selfies before Tinie Tempah
8. London for Notting Hill Carnival (and Pokemon Go) 
9. Mexicooooooo - doesn’t count unless you get a pic at Chichen Itza 
10. Visiting an ice bar all on my own - again because why not?!
11. I swam with turtles that day - magical! 
12. Jumping on the bar at Coco Bongos. Got told to stay upstairs with the tourists. No regrets!! 
13. Exploring the jungle 
14. Clambering around the lake district 
15. Another medal for my collection 
16. Arlo made his first appearance 
17. Preganncy sucked - HG was not fun 
18. Still made it to Christmas - squeezed in one more little all night rave too! 

Now almost ten years later I still live by the same mantra and have a little side kick I made to share all my adventures with. 

Life is what you make of it peeps.
2025 was full of so much fun Arlo’s highlights w 2025 was full of so much fun 

Arlo’s highlights were @officialbutlins and @legolandwindsor 

Mine was completing @the_wolf_run after an eight year OCR hiatus and being able to take Arlo on a @jet2pics holiday to Portugal for work. 

Will always be grateful for the opportunities and collaborations and also going to give myself a little pat on the back for making it all happen. 

Social media can make everything look so shiny and polished  but the reality is I’ve worked harder than I ever have this year, started a new job, run dozens of craft workshops, launched and published books and hit so many more milestone achievements in my long term plan. Huge shout out to my parents who have helped me with Arlo over so many weekends when I’ve been putting in seven days straight at work. 

It’s difficult trying to find the work life balance but when I scroll back it always feels worth it. Memories have been made which we will treasure forever.

I’ve spent Christmas having a much needed break before kicking off the new year with yet another exciting project and lifelong dream of mine. 

Bring on 2026 ♥️
Discounts for teachers /ad Super excited to work Discounts for teachers /ad 

Super excited to work with @discountsforteachers - I’d already registered a while ago and saved some cash this year but now it’s even easier to save money when shopping as they have an app you can download (link in bio). 

The best bit is that this app is for all teaching and education staff including TA’s, support, admin, caretakers, catering, lecturers and anyone else you can think of….. and it’s totally free to use too! 

I placed a quick next day delivery order to get my Christmas Day outfit with @newlook - one of many brands featured on the app and it’s been handy for my Christmas gifts and of course the sales shopping so far too. 

Share this with all your teacher friends 🥰 
 
teachersofinstagram #teacherlife #education #teaching discounts #SMG0fitqwngQ2
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