• coping with new parent worries
    baby - Family Life - parenting

    Coping with new parent worries

    May 14, 2018 - By 

    I’ve been pretty emotional lately, realising that my children are growing up so quickly right in front of my eyes. Last week they were going through their toy boxes and decided to give away so many of their toys they loved when they were younger. I’m not ready for them to be growing up so quickly and really wish I could slow down time. It’s funny that those baby magazines I used to obsessively read before I started my maternity leave were full of pregnancy and baby advice. They never seemed to mentioned that babies would grow into toddlers, be…

  • Family Life

    5 reasons why playing dress-up is great for kids

    March 27, 2018 - By 

    Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash All kids love to dress up, so many parents will be pleased to hear that it is a great activity for their child’s development and wellbeing. Whether they want to be Disney characters or cowboys, here are all the reasons you should let their imaginations run wild while they rummage through the dress-up box. 5 reasons why playing dress-up is great for kids It helps them socialise Letting them role-play with other children is a great way for kids to socialise and also pick up those all important social skills. By creating different scenarios in their game, kids…

  • Family Life

    Spring cleaning with the Laundryheap app

    March 21, 2018 - By 

    This time of year is the perfect time to start thinking about Spring cleaning the house. The hours of daylight are noticeably longer, the days are warmer and I feel hopeful that Winter is over for another year. It’s also the perfect time to be thinking about deep cleaning your house, getting the Winter duvet dry cleaned and perhaps even washing the curtains. I love airing the house and have been taking every opportunity to open the windows and let the fresh air in, when the weather permits. Spring cleaning with the Laundryheap app Last week some friends came over…

  • baby products - Family Life - parenting

    Everything you need with Smyths 2018 Baby Catalogue

    March 17, 2018 - By 

    If you’re a parent then you’re probably familiar with Smyths. It’s a huge toy store and we regularly visit our local one as they have a great selection of toys. Whereas me and my husband are happy to shop online it’s no surprise that my children love to visit an actual toy shop. Nothing beats the excitement of walking down an aisle stuffed with the latest toys and choosing a toy to buy. Everything you need with Smyths 2018 Baby Catalogue I find Smyths toys a great experience. They’re big, with wide aisles and it’s easy to find everything. I’m excited…

  • 7 travel essentials for car journeys with kids
    Family Life - parenting

    7 travel essentials for car journeys with kids

    February 4, 2018 - By 

    We’ve enjoyed a few long car journeys over the summer holidays. As my children have got older they need different things to keep them busy. Gone are the days of a dummy and a cuddly toy. Now my 6 and 7 year olds demand iPads and endless snacks. We’ve always said they can only have screen time in moderation so we balance the use of iPads with other things. With half term in sight I thought it was a good time to pull together my 7 travel essentials for car journeys with kids. 7 travel essentials for car journeys with kids…

  • 5 Creative Date Night Ideas for Busy Parents
    Family Life - parenting

    6 Creative Date Night Ideas for Busy Parents

    January 31, 2018 - By 

    With Valentine’s Day now just 2 weeks away my thoughts have been turning to how to mark the occasion. I’m not a huge fan of overly commercialised days. Instead my husband and I try to make time for each other through the month, rather than go all out on one day each year. We’re huge Netflix fans round here. Lack of a baby sitter means we often watch a film when the children have gone to bed. Sometimes it’s good to plan something which doesn’t revolve around a screen though, so I thought I’d share 5 creative date night ideas…

  • Baby Annabell Learns to Walk
    Family Life - toy review

    Challenging childhood milestones with Baby Annabell

    December 18, 2017 - By 

    We were recently sent a Baby Annabell Learns to Walk doll to review at home. This is a lovely 3 in 1 doll and with very realistic movements. You can place her on her tummy for tummy time and watch her crawl, she can be sat up and then take her first steps! My daughter has always loved playing with her dolls. The Baby Annabell range focuses on all the caring and nurturing aspects of being a mummy or daddy making it ideal for introducing little ones to the idea of a younger sibling coming along. Playing with dolls is also…

  • parenting

    Writing letters to Father Christmas {2017 edition!}

    December 7, 2017 - By 

    Every year my mum organises for the children to receive the NSPCC Letters from Father Christmas. These are sweet personalised letters, and the money goes to a great charity. This year she was super organised and the letters arrived before we had written ours! So yesterday I sat the children down to write their letters to Father Christmas. Writing letters to Father Christmas I would love to tell you I was super organised but I’m not. I had to do a quick search on Pinterest to find a suitable free printable. I really wanted one which included “something I want,…

  • DisneyStore magic
    Christmas - parenting

    Giving #GiftMagic this Christmas with the Disney Store

    December 5, 2017 - By 

    My children are so excited for Christmas. I feel a huge amount of responsibility to make it truly magical for them, without making them into spoilt children along the way. I thought this year might be the year that my son discovered that Father Christmas wasn’t real. Thankfully he is still a 100% believer and has been so excited to come downstairs every day, open his Advent calendars and see where our naughty Elf has moved to. Of course Christmas can be magical whether you believe in Father Christmas or not. Christmas is my most favourite time of the year,…