• family - Mother's Day crafts - motherhood

    How to Show Mum How Much She’s Appreciated

    April 19, 2025 - By 

    Mums often wear many hats. They can be caregivers, chefs, chauffeurs, cheerleaders, and confidantes, all rolled into one. They do so much, often without expecting anything in return. While Mother’s Day is a lovely reminder to celebrate them, showing appreciation shouldn’t be limited to just one day a year. Our mums deserve to know how much we value them all the time. But how can you show your mum she’s truly appreciated? It doesn’t always require grand gestures or expensive gifts. Often, it’s the simple, heartfelt things that mean the most. Thinking about what makes your mum unique and what…

  • baking - Day Zero - gingerbread - handbags - motherhood - parenting

    Day Zero – Month 19 (April)

    April 28, 2012 - By 

    On the 19 September 2010 I started a Day Zero list: a place to record your goals, discover new challenges, and gain motivation to achieve them. I have a list of 100 things I want to do over 1001 days. The list is due to be competed by 16 June 2013. Life with two children is hard. I knew it would be but it’s really hard and I don’t seem to have much time for much besides looking after children. There are also lots of fun times though and I’m never happier than when we’re all snuggled up in bed…

  • motherhood - parenting

    Competitive mums

    April 11, 2012 - By 

    Like a scab that can’t be left alone I follow someone on twitter that I shouldn’t. We are complete opposites but we are both mothers. She does nothing but boast about her child. To be fair she works hard to give him the best. He goes to a good nursery, has his name down for private school, has beautiful toys and clothes. I’m a stay at home mum of two. I run myself equally ragged but cooking, cleaning, taking trips to the park and dreaming up messy activities. She goes to gigs, concerts, weekend breaks in Europe and has membership…

  • book review - motherhood - parenting - reviews

    Stories of Motherhood

    February 26, 2012 - By 

    One of my favourite dates in the year is Mother’s Day! There’s something rather lovely about celebrating mum’s and I remember celebrating my first Mother’s Day just days after my son was born a couple of years ago. I really don’t expect a present from my two this year (a day off from nappies and bottles would be enough – I hope my husband is reading!). Published in time for Mother’s Day on 18 March, Stories of Motherhood, the latest title in Everyman’s Library’s Pocket Classics series, celebrates all aspects of motherhood. This beautifully packaged anthology gathers together more than…

  • motherhood - parenting - reviews

    I don’t know how she does it

    September 13, 2011 - By 

    It’s five months since I handed in my notice at work and a couple of months since I received my P45 – nothing says unemployed more that a P45! The good bits I don’t have to commute I can wear what I like I can work on my blog, with the excuse that I’m ‘keeping my hand in’, for when I manage to land the perfect job I can say I’m bored, tired, stressed out and people empathise – a privilege not given to many people in paying jobs! I’m my own boss I have time to renew old friendships…

  • motherhood - parenting

    Top 10 naughty toddler moments

    August 19, 2011 - By 

    I wouldn’t say Edward has a naughty streak and I certainly don’t want to start giving his behaviour a label at the ripe old age of 17 months. However, I’ll be the first to admit he has his moments as he makes the transition into toddlerhood. I thought I’d make a top ten of his most challenging activities and boy was it a hard job limiting it to ten…   constantly playing with the tv cabinet, switching the xbox on and off and pulling cables out taking advantage of my forgetting to put all the stair gates up and climbing…

  • motherhood - NCT - playing

    Playgroups and cliques

    May 18, 2011 - By 

    Yesterday I ventured to our local NCT playgroup for the first time. I’ve been meaning to go for ages but never got round to it. The playgroup was held in a lovely building with plenty of outdoor space. Indoors, the room was split into different play zones with space for soft play, art and crafts, musical toys, a pretend kitchen, a jigsaw table and dressing up clothes. We paid £1.50 for the play session which lasted 90 minutes and ended up with a singing session. I was really disappointed with it. It was our first time there and no-one spoke…

  • CyberMummy 2011 - CyberMummy11 - maternity leave - motherhood

    Reasons to be cheerful

    April 7, 2011 - By 

      1. This was meant to be my first week back at work after maternity leave but as I resigned it’s been the first week of my new role as full-time mum. I’ve had a few wobbles about my decision this week but I know it was the right decision for me and my family. I’ve spent a lovely week with my husband and son, the sun has been shining and I’ve felt very happy. 2. I’ve got a Cybermummy sponsor! Completely out of the blue but a great brand. More details soon! 3. Edward and I have been to…

  • flexible working - motherhood - parenting - post-pregnancy - pregnancy - weight

    Losing the baby weight

    February 8, 2011 - By 

    Little Man is now 10 months old and I have arranged an interview with my employer to discuss flexible working. Today I went shopping to buy some new work clothes and I came away empty handed. I’m sure I’m not the only one who is struggling to lose their baby weight. I wasn’t too worried about my weight while I was pregnant and happily bought lovely maternity clothes and lots of cake. My weight began to drop off after I gave birth and a couple of months after my son was born I packed away my maternity clothes and slipped…