I have to admit, after two boys, I've been having a lot of fun buying girly clothes for Essie. I'm still in that mindset where I'm tempted to dress her in sleepsuits all the time, as they're super convenient now that she's eating food and I'm changing her a billion times a day! But I love all the little dresses for babies. Especially the jumper dresses from Ted Wears Organic.
Mini Style: Ted Wears Organic Winter Pandas Jumper Dress
I have to admit, after two boys, I've been having a lot of fun buying girly clothes for Essie. I'm still in that mindset where I'm tempted to dress her in sleepsuits all the time, as they're super convenient now that she's eating food and I'm changing her a billion times a day! But I love all the little dresses for babies. Especially the jumper dresses from Ted Wears Organic.
A few weeks ago I shared an amazing giveaway for the Santa Spectacular event at Willows Activity Farm in Hertfordshire, and last week we got to go ourselves! After the snowfall Noah's school announced it would be closed, so what better way to spend a snow day than with a magical visit to see Santa!
Days Out: Willows Activity Farm Santa Spectacular 2017
A few weeks ago I shared an amazing giveaway for the Santa Spectacular event at Willows Activity Farm in Hertfordshire, and last week we got to go ourselves! After the snowfall Noah's school announced it would be closed, so what better way to spend a snow day than with a magical visit to see Santa!
I remember the first time I ever tried baby-wearing. It was a few weeks after Noah had been born. We lived in a first floor flat and once Ian was back at work I was stuck inside, unable to carry my pram down the stairs as I was still recovering from the emergency c-section. Friends had recommended trying a stretchy wrap, so I ordered one online and it arrived the day the Christmas lights were being switched on in the town square. I wrapped Noah up and out we went. It gave us freedom and as well as a special closeness; I loved having him snuggled up against me and my love of slings began.
Baby Loves: BabyBjorn One Air Baby Carrier | Review
I remember the first time I ever tried baby-wearing. It was a few weeks after Noah had been born. We lived in a first floor flat and once Ian was back at work I was stuck inside, unable to carry my pram down the stairs as I was still recovering from the emergency c-section. Friends had recommended trying a stretchy wrap, so I ordered one online and it arrived the day the Christmas lights were being switched on in the town square. I wrapped Noah up and out we went. It gave us freedom and as well as a special closeness; I loved having him snuggled up against me and my love of slings began.
As I type this, Noah is up in bed after an oaty bath and being smothered with shea butter; yep, chicken pox has struck! He's coped quite well, apart from one tearful day, and I'm hoping his spots will be scabbed over tomorrow so that he can go back to school. He and his friends are really missing each other and it's just no fun being cooped up at home all the time!
Mini Style: Autumn Adventures with Frugi's Circus of Colour Collection
As I type this, Noah is up in bed after an oaty bath and being smothered with shea butter; yep, chicken pox has struck! He's coped quite well, apart from one tearful day, and I'm hoping his spots will be scabbed over tomorrow so that he can go back to school. He and his friends are really missing each other and it's just no fun being cooped up at home all the time!
Essie has always loved sleep aids right from birth when white noise (and rave music!) would calm her during the witching hour and heart beat sounds would reassure her through the night. And now, at 7 months old, I still use them with her! There are so many different sleep aids for babies these days and we have tried quite a few over the past few months. The latest is Betty the Bee from the Summer Infant Slumber Buddies range which we've been trying out for the past few weeks.
Baby Loves: Summer Infant Slumber Buddies - Review + GIVEAWAY!
Essie has always loved sleep aids right from birth when white noise (and rave music!) would calm her during the witching hour and heart beat sounds would reassure her through the night. And now, at 7 months old, I still use them with her! There are so many different sleep aids for babies these days and we have tried quite a few over the past few months. The latest is Betty the Bee from the Summer Infant Slumber Buddies range which we've been trying out for the past few weeks.
Blade & Rose are a family-run British clothing brand which is now stocked worldwide after starting in 2010. Their funky knitted leggings with brightly coloured spots and stripes were a huge hit with cloth bum mums thanks to their stretchy, brushed cotton being perfect for fitting over nappies. This year they have brought out an adorable collection of leggings and accessories for the festive season and kindly sent Essie a pair of their super cute Christmas Gingerbread leggings along with a coordinating long-sleeved raglan top.
Mini Style: Blade & Rose Christmas Gingerbread Leggings + GIVEAWAY!
Blade & Rose are a family-run British clothing brand which is now stocked worldwide after starting in 2010. Their funky knitted leggings with brightly coloured spots and stripes were a huge hit with cloth bum mums thanks to their stretchy, brushed cotton being perfect for fitting over nappies. This year they have brought out an adorable collection of leggings and accessories for the festive season and kindly sent Essie a pair of their super cute Christmas Gingerbread leggings along with a coordinating long-sleeved raglan top.
It feels like only yesterday that I was meeting the team from Graco and the rest of the Generation Graco bloggers but soon my time on the panel is coming to an end! Over the past six months we've had so much fun trying out various Graco baby and child products, learning more about the brand's history and future plans - and getting to finally meet bloggers I have "known" online for years!
What's new from Graco for 2018?
It feels like only yesterday that I was meeting the team from Graco and the rest of the Generation Graco bloggers but soon my time on the panel is coming to an end! Over the past six months we've had so much fun trying out various Graco baby and child products, learning more about the brand's history and future plans - and getting to finally meet bloggers I have "known" online for years!
Every Christmas Ian and I make the effort of going out to dinner somewhere, with the children of course, either on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day or sometimes actually on Christmas Day itself! It's rare that we treat ourselves so this is like a little gift to us. This year we have the addition of Essie and whilst she will be old enough to enjoy some food she's still going to be breastfeeding as well. That means that whatever I'll be wearing needs to be suitable for nursing in and Milk & Mummy kindly sent me the most perfect dress for the occasion.
Mama Style: Beautiful Nursing Dress from Milk & Mummy
Every Christmas Ian and I make the effort of going out to dinner somewhere, with the children of course, either on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day or sometimes actually on Christmas Day itself! It's rare that we treat ourselves so this is like a little gift to us. This year we have the addition of Essie and whilst she will be old enough to enjoy some food she's still going to be breastfeeding as well. That means that whatever I'll be wearing needs to be suitable for nursing in and Milk & Mummy kindly sent me the most perfect dress for the occasion.
The clocks went back last weekend and already the days are feeling incredibly short. Our heating has been turned on, we've switched to our warmer coats and it's getting darker so much earlier! The boys and I love to spend time outdoors and we're super lucky to live in an area of the country with lots of natural beauty to explore.
#NoDullDays with Bassetts Vitamins
The clocks went back last weekend and already the days are feeling incredibly short. Our heating has been turned on, we've switched to our warmer coats and it's getting darker so much earlier! The boys and I love to spend time outdoors and we're super lucky to live in an area of the country with lots of natural beauty to explore.
Nothing stops my boys wanting to play outdoors; if anything the cooler, damper months of autumn and winter are our favourite time of year for exploring the local woods! There are fallen leaves to run through and collect, sticks to play and build with, and acorns and pinecones to inspect. And of course those richly coloured red and yellow leaves make the prettiest of backdrops: last year it made the perfect setting for my gender reveal video when I was expecting Essie.
Mini Style: Muddy Puddles Outerwear
Nothing stops my boys wanting to play outdoors; if anything the cooler, damper months of autumn and winter are our favourite time of year for exploring the local woods! There are fallen leaves to run through and collect, sticks to play and build with, and acorns and pinecones to inspect. And of course those richly coloured red and yellow leaves make the prettiest of backdrops: last year it made the perfect setting for my gender reveal video when I was expecting Essie.
Back in June I announced that I was teaming up with Graco as one of their UK Generation Graco bloggers for 2017. At the launch event for the campaign I got to learn more about Graco's 60 year history, as well as take a peek at some of the products I'd be trying out.
One of those products is the Graco Milestone All-in-One Car Seat. I'm sure you know that Graco is renowned for its tradition of innovation with baby products that offer solutions for the real world of parenting - and the Milestone is the perfect example of that! This convertible car seat can be used from birth up to 36 kg (around 12 years old), making it the only car seat parents will ever need.
Review: Graco Milestone All-in-One Car Seat
Back in June I announced that I was teaming up with Graco as one of their UK Generation Graco bloggers for 2017. At the launch event for the campaign I got to learn more about Graco's 60 year history, as well as take a peek at some of the products I'd be trying out.
One of those products is the Graco Milestone All-in-One Car Seat. I'm sure you know that Graco is renowned for its tradition of innovation with baby products that offer solutions for the real world of parenting - and the Milestone is the perfect example of that! This convertible car seat can be used from birth up to 36 kg (around 12 years old), making it the only car seat parents will ever need.
If there's one thing you get done this half term, make sure it's a trip to the fantastic pick-your-own pumpkin patch at The Pop Up Farm in Hertfordshire. The boys and I donned our wellies and headed over yesterday. We had SUCH a wonderful day!
Days Out: PYO Pumpkins at The Pop Up Farm, Hertfordshire
If there's one thing you get done this half term, make sure it's a trip to the fantastic pick-your-own pumpkin patch at The Pop Up Farm in Hertfordshire. The boys and I donned our wellies and headed over yesterday. We had SUCH a wonderful day!
I am so excited to reveal that our favourite Christmas event, the Santa Spectacular event at Willows Activity Farm in Hertfordshire, is back next month! The boys always love this festive fun-filled event and I am so looking forward to taking Essie as well this year. Willows Activity Farm are kindly giving readers the chance to win up to four tickets so that you can go too!
Giveaway: Win tickets to Santa Spectacular at Willows Activity Farm
I am so excited to reveal that our favourite Christmas event, the Santa Spectacular event at Willows Activity Farm in Hertfordshire, is back next month! The boys always love this festive fun-filled event and I am so looking forward to taking Essie as well this year. Willows Activity Farm are kindly giving readers the chance to win up to four tickets so that you can go too!
I've always been careful about the ingredients that go into the products that I use on my own skin and hair, but even more so with my children. With Noah and Essie especially, as Noah suffers with eczema and Essie has such delicate skin being so young. Natura Siberica have created an award winning range of daily baby care products and we were sent a few of them to try out.
Baby Loves: Little Siberica
I've always been careful about the ingredients that go into the products that I use on my own skin and hair, but even more so with my children. With Noah and Essie especially, as Noah suffers with eczema and Essie has such delicate skin being so young. Natura Siberica have created an award winning range of daily baby care products and we were sent a few of them to try out.
This post contains affiliate link(s) highlighted with an asterisk.
As a blogger who known for being a breastfeeding mum and having written about breastfeeding a few times, I'm often contacted by breast pump brands to feature their products. I'm very choosy about brands that I feature and until now I've never reviewed any breast pumps. And then I heard about Pumpables* and their new Milk Genie breast pump. It sounded great and as I am going to be donating my breast milk again I wanted to give it a go!
Review: Pumpables Milk Genie Breast Pump
This post contains affiliate link(s) highlighted with an asterisk.
As a blogger who known for being a breastfeeding mum and having written about breastfeeding a few times, I'm often contacted by breast pump brands to feature their products. I'm very choosy about brands that I feature and until now I've never reviewed any breast pumps. And then I heard about Pumpables* and their new Milk Genie breast pump. It sounded great and as I am going to be donating my breast milk again I wanted to give it a go!
I've always had a soft spot for Next clothing, especially after having my first baby. Their clothes are such good quality and so well made, in gorgeous styles and designs. I find it impossible to pop in without leaving with something for one of my children - and their sales are legendary! I am just in love with all things cloudy at the moment and Next sent some outfits for the children, including this sweet set for Essie.
Mini Style: Next Grey Cloud Dungarees
I've always had a soft spot for Next clothing, especially after having my first baby. Their clothes are such good quality and so well made, in gorgeous styles and designs. I find it impossible to pop in without leaving with something for one of my children - and their sales are legendary! I am just in love with all things cloudy at the moment and Next sent some outfits for the children, including this sweet set for Essie.
It's safe to say that I'm a little obsessed with doing the laundry. I really enjoy it, like really enjoy it! Maybe it's just me, but there is something so satisfying about a pile of freshly washed soft clean clothes. We're already a fan of Ecover household products in our family, using their plant- and mineral-based washing up liquid, fabric softener and colour laundry detergent. I was sent a bottle of Ecover Non-Bio Concentrated Laundry Detergent to put to the test on our usual laundry loads and see how it compared.
#EcoverLaundry Challenge with Ecover Non-Bio Concentrated Laundry Detergent
It's safe to say that I'm a little obsessed with doing the laundry. I really enjoy it, like really enjoy it! Maybe it's just me, but there is something so satisfying about a pile of freshly washed soft clean clothes. We're already a fan of Ecover household products in our family, using their plant- and mineral-based washing up liquid, fabric softener and colour laundry detergent. I was sent a bottle of Ecover Non-Bio Concentrated Laundry Detergent to put to the test on our usual laundry loads and see how it compared.
My name is Sian and I am addicted to PacaPods! This is the third PacaPod changing bag I have had since having Essie. Firstly the Richmond, my first foray into the world of pink, then the Mirano which is the Mary Poppins of changing bags and allows me to carry so much! And now I have a Hartland, which is from PacaPod's new Travel Lite range launched this summer.
Mama Style: PacaPod Hartland Bag
My name is Sian and I am addicted to PacaPods! This is the third PacaPod changing bag I have had since having Essie. Firstly the Richmond, my first foray into the world of pink, then the Mirano which is the Mary Poppins of changing bags and allows me to carry so much! And now I have a Hartland, which is from PacaPod's new Travel Lite range launched this summer.
It's insane to think that in a few short weeks Essie will start to have solid food as she begins weaning. I honestly feel as if she was born a matter of days ago! Weaning is such a big milestone isn't it; it's exciting but at the same time I'm a little sad that she's growing up so quickly! Here's her latest update, at five months old.
Essie at 5 Months Old
It's insane to think that in a few short weeks Essie will start to have solid food as she begins weaning. I honestly feel as if she was born a matter of days ago! Weaning is such a big milestone isn't it; it's exciting but at the same time I'm a little sad that she's growing up so quickly! Here's her latest update, at five months old.
British weather is a funny old thing, especially as the seasons are changing. We seem to go from having sunny, hot, shorts weather to suddenly needing the winter coats and central heating on within a matter of days! To cope with the ever-changing climate, we were sent a Mama Designs Babasac from Apples & Pips who I'm a blog ambassador for. It's a multi-tog baby sleeping bag, so whether it's warm or cool your baby just needs one sleeping bag as it's a 2.5 tog and 1 tog sleeping bag in one!
Baby Loves: Mama Designs Babasac PLUS Apples & Pips Discount!
British weather is a funny old thing, especially as the seasons are changing. We seem to go from having sunny, hot, shorts weather to suddenly needing the winter coats and central heating on within a matter of days! To cope with the ever-changing climate, we were sent a Mama Designs Babasac from Apples & Pips who I'm a blog ambassador for. It's a multi-tog baby sleeping bag, so whether it's warm or cool your baby just needs one sleeping bag as it's a 2.5 tog and 1 tog sleeping bag in one!
Like a lot of people, I thought maternity leave was going to be a relaxing break from full-time work. That I would get a lot of downtime with my baby and get to unwind. Maybe catch up on a boxset, read some books, take long baths. Oh my goodness, I couldn't have been more wrong! Especially as new research from Graco reveals that new parents are actually MORE active than office workers who regularly exercise. Don't believe me? Let's take a look at the research!
Parents vs office workers - who racks up the most miles?
Like a lot of people, I thought maternity leave was going to be a relaxing break from full-time work. That I would get a lot of downtime with my baby and get to unwind. Maybe catch up on a boxset, read some books, take long baths. Oh my goodness, I couldn't have been more wrong! Especially as new research from Graco reveals that new parents are actually MORE active than office workers who regularly exercise. Don't believe me? Let's take a look at the research!
Back in June I announced that I was teaming up with Graco as one of their UK Generation Graco bloggers for 2017 and at the launch event I got to take a peek at some of the products I'd be trying out. One of those was the new Graco Featherweight, an ultra lightweight stroller that weighs about the same as the average newborn baby and is the lightest stroller in the UK.
Review: Graco Featherweight Ultra Lightweight Stroller
Back in June I announced that I was teaming up with Graco as one of their UK Generation Graco bloggers for 2017 and at the launch event I got to take a peek at some of the products I'd be trying out. One of those was the new Graco Featherweight, an ultra lightweight stroller that weighs about the same as the average newborn baby and is the lightest stroller in the UK.
I seem to be getting later and later at posting Essie's updates - this one is so late that her five month update is actually now ready to post as well! With our family holiday last month, our car accident and then the start of school I'm behind with a lot of things, but hopefully I will be all caught up soon. So without further ado here is Essie's four month update.
Essie at 4 Months Old
I seem to be getting later and later at posting Essie's updates - this one is so late that her five month update is actually now ready to post as well! With our family holiday last month, our car accident and then the start of school I'm behind with a lot of things, but hopefully I will be all caught up soon. So without further ado here is Essie's four month update.
As I've gotten older, and especially since having children, I've become quite minimalist about jewellery. Mostly because when Noah was a baby he would tug and chew on whatever I was wearing! These days I prefer to wear more sentimental pieces, items that are precious because they mean something or were to mark a special occasion. I was sent an elegant little bracelet from the Annie Haak Tiny Tots Collection to celebrate the birth of Essie, and it is SO pretty!
Mama Style: Annie Haak Tiny Tots Silver Charm Bracelet
As I've gotten older, and especially since having children, I've become quite minimalist about jewellery. Mostly because when Noah was a baby he would tug and chew on whatever I was wearing! These days I prefer to wear more sentimental pieces, items that are precious because they mean something or were to mark a special occasion. I was sent an elegant little bracelet from the Annie Haak Tiny Tots Collection to celebrate the birth of Essie, and it is SO pretty!
During my time as a mother, I've really come to appreciate products that are versatile, adaptable and can grow with my child. Baby products can be expensive and are outgrown SO quickly, so third time around I have been far more choosy about what we've gone for. Even when it's something I've been offered to review, my first thought is "how much use will we actually get out of this?" And that's the thought that went through my head when I was offered a gorgeous Nomi Highchair to review.
Review: Nomi Highchair & Nomi Baby by evomove
During my time as a mother, I've really come to appreciate products that are versatile, adaptable and can grow with my child. Baby products can be expensive and are outgrown SO quickly, so third time around I have been far more choosy about what we've gone for. Even when it's something I've been offered to review, my first thought is "how much use will we actually get out of this?" And that's the thought that went through my head when I was offered a gorgeous Nomi Highchair to review.
Welcome to Happy Days! Katy and I host this linky with the purpose of inspiring you to make the most of each day, no matter what you've been up to, and to find happiness in every day. It's where I share the little moments that have brought me joy.
Happy Days: School, Birthday Plans & Good TV
Welcome to Happy Days! Katy and I host this linky with the purpose of inspiring you to make the most of each day, no matter what you've been up to, and to find happiness in every day. It's where I share the little moments that have brought me joy.
I first discovered Blade & Rose several years ago, when my eldest son was a baby and I was looking for clothes that would fit over his cloth nappies. It is a family-run British clothing brand which is now stocked worldwide after starting in 2010. Their classic knitted leggings with brightly coloured spots and stripes were a huge hit with cloth bum mums thanks to their stretchy, brushed cotton being perfect for fitting over nappies.
Mini Style: Blade & Rose Summer Butterfly Set
I first discovered Blade & Rose several years ago, when my eldest son was a baby and I was looking for clothes that would fit over his cloth nappies. It is a family-run British clothing brand which is now stocked worldwide after starting in 2010. Their classic knitted leggings with brightly coloured spots and stripes were a huge hit with cloth bum mums thanks to their stretchy, brushed cotton being perfect for fitting over nappies.
This post contains affiliate links
As you'll know if you've read my other posts about our ongoing toy cull and decluttering mission, I've been slowly working through the boys' toys to get rid of the things that they're no longer interested in and replace them with better quality toys, games and puzzles, and to have things that they will actually love playing with. As a result we have been adding more wooden toys to their play space as they are more sustainable and tend to span the ages that they can be enjoyed by. We were sent a Hape Rainbow Route Railway & Station Set to review and it is a great addition to our play space!
Playtime: Hape Rainbow Route Railway & Station Set | Review
This post contains affiliate links
As you'll know if you've read my other posts about our ongoing toy cull and decluttering mission, I've been slowly working through the boys' toys to get rid of the things that they're no longer interested in and replace them with better quality toys, games and puzzles, and to have things that they will actually love playing with. As a result we have been adding more wooden toys to their play space as they are more sustainable and tend to span the ages that they can be enjoyed by. We were sent a Hape Rainbow Route Railway & Station Set to review and it is a great addition to our play space!
Welcome to Happy Days! Katy and I host this linky with the purpose of inspiring you to make the most of each day, no matter what you've been up to, and to find happiness in every day. It's where I share the little moments that have brought me joy.
Happy Days: Holiday Memories
Welcome to Happy Days! Katy and I host this linky with the purpose of inspiring you to make the most of each day, no matter what you've been up to, and to find happiness in every day. It's where I share the little moments that have brought me joy.
It's funny how different each of my babies have been. Noah needed to be fed to sleep, Jude liked to be cuddled to sleep, but Essie? Well, she is my little miss independent! She likes to be put down after a feed and she likes it to be dark and quiet, then she'll suck her thumb and drift off to sleep. It's amazing having a baby who barely seems to need me, when her brothers were so needy by comparison. I feel somewhat redundant!
Baby Loves: The Gro Company Ollie the Owl Sleep Aid | Review
It's funny how different each of my babies have been. Noah needed to be fed to sleep, Jude liked to be cuddled to sleep, but Essie? Well, she is my little miss independent! She likes to be put down after a feed and she likes it to be dark and quiet, then she'll suck her thumb and drift off to sleep. It's amazing having a baby who barely seems to need me, when her brothers were so needy by comparison. I feel somewhat redundant!
Welcome to Happy Days! Katy and I host this linky with the purpose of inspiring you to make the most of each day, no matter what you've been up to, and to find happiness in every day. It's where I share the little moments that have brought me joy.
Happy Days: Summer & Smoothies
Welcome to Happy Days! Katy and I host this linky with the purpose of inspiring you to make the most of each day, no matter what you've been up to, and to find happiness in every day. It's where I share the little moments that have brought me joy.
One of the most exciting things about this summer so far as been the release of Despicable Me 3, the latest movie featuring the adventures of Gru, Lucy, Margo, Edith and Agnes - and, of course, the Minions! Both Noah and Jude are huge fans, especially Noah, and they had been waiting excitedly for months to see the new film. Ian made their wish come true by taking them to see it at the start of the school holidays and to continue the Minion-mayhem throughout the summer they were sent a big bundle of Despicable Me 3 merchandise to enjoy!
Summer Fun with #DespicableMe3!
One of the most exciting things about this summer so far as been the release of Despicable Me 3, the latest movie featuring the adventures of Gru, Lucy, Margo, Edith and Agnes - and, of course, the Minions! Both Noah and Jude are huge fans, especially Noah, and they had been waiting excitedly for months to see the new film. Ian made their wish come true by taking them to see it at the start of the school holidays and to continue the Minion-mayhem throughout the summer they were sent a big bundle of Despicable Me 3 merchandise to enjoy!
Life with a new baby has been a busy and sometimes overwhelming time, especially with two more young, lively children tearing through the house like bulls in a china shop! I don't have the luxury of being able to hold and cuddle Essie all day long, so having a comfortable place to put her down and know that she is safe is essential. Summer Infant sent me their new Laid Back Lounger to review and it has been invaluable in helping me when I need a hands-free moment!
Baby Loves: Summer Infant Laid Back Lounger | Review
Life with a new baby has been a busy and sometimes overwhelming time, especially with two more young, lively children tearing through the house like bulls in a china shop! I don't have the luxury of being able to hold and cuddle Essie all day long, so having a comfortable place to put her down and know that she is safe is essential. Summer Infant sent me their new Laid Back Lounger to review and it has been invaluable in helping me when I need a hands-free moment!
Welcome to Happy Days! Katy and I host this linky with the purpose of inspiring you to make the most of each day, no matter what you've been up to, and to find happiness in every day. It's where I share the little moments that have brought me joy.
Happy Days: Girly Time & Summer Puddles
Welcome to Happy Days! Katy and I host this linky with the purpose of inspiring you to make the most of each day, no matter what you've been up to, and to find happiness in every day. It's where I share the little moments that have brought me joy.
Welcome to Happy Days! Katy and I host this linky with the purpose of inspiring you to make the most of each day, no matter what you've been up to, and to find happiness in every day. It's where I share the little moments that have brought me joy.
Happy Days: Full Hands & A Full Heart
Welcome to Happy Days! Katy and I host this linky with the purpose of inspiring you to make the most of each day, no matter what you've been up to, and to find happiness in every day. It's where I share the little moments that have brought me joy.
Press release
On Thursday 17th August, discount supermarket Aldi’s hugely popular Baby and Toddler Event returns to stores across the UK! Returning for a third time this year, there is an amazing selection of products and new launches on sale at unbeatable prices for your little tots, including food, clothing, toys and nursery items.
Aldi Baby & Toddler Event returns to stores August 2017!
Press release
On Thursday 17th August, discount supermarket Aldi’s hugely popular Baby and Toddler Event returns to stores across the UK! Returning for a third time this year, there is an amazing selection of products and new launches on sale at unbeatable prices for your little tots, including food, clothing, toys and nursery items.
Essie turning three months old has been quite an emotional point in her little life for me. She isn't a newborn anymore. I no longer have a newborn baby and I'll never have a newborn baby again. It might seem silly and trivial - and believe me, I know I am so very, very lucky - but it's still a bittersweet milestone in my wonderful journey through motherhood.
Essie at 3 Months Old
Essie turning three months old has been quite an emotional point in her little life for me. She isn't a newborn anymore. I no longer have a newborn baby and I'll never have a newborn baby again. It might seem silly and trivial - and believe me, I know I am so very, very lucky - but it's still a bittersweet milestone in my wonderful journey through motherhood.
Essie is really fond of background noise while she naps during the day; it seems to help her sleep better by blocking out the sounds of her big brothers playing and the noise of me pottering about doing the housework. She's has a few different sleep aids and lullaby toys now and her latest one is the Fisher-Price Hippo Projection Soother which was sent to us to review.
The Fisher-Price Hippo Projection Soother is a light projector which shines stars overhead on the ceiling and walls, as well as playing different calming lullabies and nature sounds. There are three buttons plus an on/off switch. One button activates the nature sounds and white noise, the second button turns on the overhead starlight projection and the third button activates the lullabies. You can use the buttons to scroll through the sounds to the one that you want and then it will rotate through them all continuously for 30 minutes or until you turn it off. The overhead starlight projection stays on for five minutes before turning itself off.
The soother has a cuddly soft head and legs to help create a comforting bedtime or naptime routine and it is suitable for use from birth. I don't like to keep anything inside Essie's crib and find that it is better to have the soother placed on a surface nearby so that the stars can be projected above and she can hear the soothing music. She finds the stars so fascinating to look at, she seems completely mesmerised by them!
I find that the 30 minutes of music is about right for her to settle with, but it would be better if the light could stay on longer as it would make such a lovely nightlight. You can't change the volume on this soother but I find that it is just about the right level for us and it has a soft start/stop so that Essie isn't startled by it being turned on and off. I also use this as a tummy time toy during the day with Essie as she seems to find the hippo's face and the pattern on its feet interesting to look at!
This Fisher-Price Soother costs £22.99 and is also available in blue. It requires 3 x AA batteries which aren't included, so don't forget to pick those up too!
Baby Loves: Fisher-Price Hippo Projection Soother
Essie is really fond of background noise while she naps during the day; it seems to help her sleep better by blocking out the sounds of her big brothers playing and the noise of me pottering about doing the housework. She's has a few different sleep aids and lullaby toys now and her latest one is the Fisher-Price Hippo Projection Soother which was sent to us to review.
The Fisher-Price Hippo Projection Soother is a light projector which shines stars overhead on the ceiling and walls, as well as playing different calming lullabies and nature sounds. There are three buttons plus an on/off switch. One button activates the nature sounds and white noise, the second button turns on the overhead starlight projection and the third button activates the lullabies. You can use the buttons to scroll through the sounds to the one that you want and then it will rotate through them all continuously for 30 minutes or until you turn it off. The overhead starlight projection stays on for five minutes before turning itself off.
The soother has a cuddly soft head and legs to help create a comforting bedtime or naptime routine and it is suitable for use from birth. I don't like to keep anything inside Essie's crib and find that it is better to have the soother placed on a surface nearby so that the stars can be projected above and she can hear the soothing music. She finds the stars so fascinating to look at, she seems completely mesmerised by them!
I find that the 30 minutes of music is about right for her to settle with, but it would be better if the light could stay on longer as it would make such a lovely nightlight. You can't change the volume on this soother but I find that it is just about the right level for us and it has a soft start/stop so that Essie isn't startled by it being turned on and off. I also use this as a tummy time toy during the day with Essie as she seems to find the hippo's face and the pattern on its feet interesting to look at!
This Fisher-Price Soother costs £22.99 and is also available in blue. It requires 3 x AA batteries which aren't included, so don't forget to pick those up too!
Back in June I announced that I was teaming up with Graco as one of their UK Generation Graco bloggers for 2017 - exciting! At the launch event I got to take a peek at some of the products I'll be trying out and straight away I spotted the Graco Evo Avant Breton Stripe pushchair. I'm a huge lover of stripes; you've probably seen the photos of the boys and I in our matching stripes, and my stripy bump photos all the way through my last pregnancy! I immediately fell in love with the pushchair so, like the character from Little Britain, I said to the Graco team, "I want that one!" A few days later my very own stripy pushchair had arrived, along with a Graco SnugRide i-Size car seat to complete the travel system.
Review: Graco Evo Avant Pushchair & SnugRide i-Size Baby Car Seat
Back in June I announced that I was teaming up with Graco as one of their UK Generation Graco bloggers for 2017 - exciting! At the launch event I got to take a peek at some of the products I'll be trying out and straight away I spotted the Graco Evo Avant Breton Stripe pushchair. I'm a huge lover of stripes; you've probably seen the photos of the boys and I in our matching stripes, and my stripy bump photos all the way through my last pregnancy! I immediately fell in love with the pushchair so, like the character from Little Britain, I said to the Graco team, "I want that one!" A few days later my very own stripy pushchair had arrived, along with a Graco SnugRide i-Size car seat to complete the travel system.
Whenever we tell anyone Essie's name we always receive lots of wonderfully positive comments. People tell us how pretty and unusual a name it is. And we totally agree, it is such a gorgeous name! But unlike her brothers, there is a story behind Essie's name. We didn't choose it just because we loved it, which is why we chose Noah and Jude. There is something a little extra special behind our baby girl's name...
What's in a name? The story behind Essie's name...
Whenever we tell anyone Essie's name we always receive lots of wonderfully positive comments. People tell us how pretty and unusual a name it is. And we totally agree, it is such a gorgeous name! But unlike her brothers, there is a story behind Essie's name. We didn't choose it just because we loved it, which is why we chose Noah and Jude. There is something a little extra special behind our baby girl's name...
Yes, this is a post all about a nappy bin! But hear me out: it's actually a really useful and convenient baby product to have. Cheeky Rascals sent it to us as part of a bundle of baby goodies to help us adjust to life with a new baby again. A nappy bin might not seem the most exciting thing in the nursery but I think this Korbell one is great!
Korbell nappy bins are a hands-free way of binning your nappies! There are three sizes of bin available: the Mini 9 litre bin which holds up to 25 nappies at a time, the Standard 15/16 litre bin which holds up to 45 nappies at a time, and the 26 litre Plus bin which holds up to 65 nappies at a time. The Standard bin comes in four different colours (white, grey, pink or blue) while the Mini and Plus bins come in white.
I chose the Standard Korbell nappy bin in white, because white goes with everything! It stands at just over 56cm tall and just over 34cm wide, so slightly taller than a regular bathroom bin. It's a stylish design and looks so much nicer than other nappy bins; I find that most others tend to look a bit cheap and as if they won't actually be any good at keeping smells locked away, so I had never used one before.
Originally I had the nappy bin in our bedroom but Essie doesn't tend to poop at night anymore so I've moved it downstairs into our living room. It's tucked away discreetly behind the door and I don't think people would notice it if they weren't looking for it.
Originally I had the nappy bin in our bedroom but Essie doesn't tend to poop at night anymore so I've moved it downstairs into our living room. It's tucked away discreetly behind the door and I don't think people would notice it if they weren't looking for it.
The nappy bin uses scented biodegradable liners to hold the nappies and trap bad smells. The lid is opened using the foot pedal at the bottom of the bin then the nappies can be dropped through the inner flap. The inner flap is lockable so creates a double seal to keep odours inside. And also stop pesky toddlers throwing toys and keys away! It really does do a good job at locking the bad smells away; I never smell a thing until it's time to empty the bin.
Emptying the Korbell nappy bin is so simple. As I mentioned, it uses liners rather than bin bags. The bin comes with a free roll already fitted. All you have to do is open the front of the bin and pull the liner across the little cutter that is built into the inside of the door. Then tie a knot in the bottom of the liner to create your next bag. Close the door and the Korbell nappy bin is ready to use again!
Korbell say that a roll of liners should last for 10-11 weeks based on seven nappy changes a day. Ours lasted much longer as we use a mix of reusable and disposable nappies, so aren't throwing away as many nappies as most other households would do. I actually want to see if I can work out a way of using it as a nappy bin for cloth nappies, perhaps by fitting a mesh liner somehow, as I'm now choosing cloth nappies over disposables more often. Either way, once the nappy days are over the bin can be used as a normal pedal bin using standard bin liners so it will last well beyond the baby years!
The Standard Korbell Nappy Bin costs £29.99 and you can find it here.
The Standard Korbell Nappy Bin costs £29.99 and you can find it here.
Review: Korbell Nappy Bin
Yes, this is a post all about a nappy bin! But hear me out: it's actually a really useful and convenient baby product to have. Cheeky Rascals sent it to us as part of a bundle of baby goodies to help us adjust to life with a new baby again. A nappy bin might not seem the most exciting thing in the nursery but I think this Korbell one is great!
Korbell nappy bins are a hands-free way of binning your nappies! There are three sizes of bin available: the Mini 9 litre bin which holds up to 25 nappies at a time, the Standard 15/16 litre bin which holds up to 45 nappies at a time, and the 26 litre Plus bin which holds up to 65 nappies at a time. The Standard bin comes in four different colours (white, grey, pink or blue) while the Mini and Plus bins come in white.
I chose the Standard Korbell nappy bin in white, because white goes with everything! It stands at just over 56cm tall and just over 34cm wide, so slightly taller than a regular bathroom bin. It's a stylish design and looks so much nicer than other nappy bins; I find that most others tend to look a bit cheap and as if they won't actually be any good at keeping smells locked away, so I had never used one before.
Originally I had the nappy bin in our bedroom but Essie doesn't tend to poop at night anymore so I've moved it downstairs into our living room. It's tucked away discreetly behind the door and I don't think people would notice it if they weren't looking for it.
Originally I had the nappy bin in our bedroom but Essie doesn't tend to poop at night anymore so I've moved it downstairs into our living room. It's tucked away discreetly behind the door and I don't think people would notice it if they weren't looking for it.
The nappy bin uses scented biodegradable liners to hold the nappies and trap bad smells. The lid is opened using the foot pedal at the bottom of the bin then the nappies can be dropped through the inner flap. The inner flap is lockable so creates a double seal to keep odours inside. And also stop pesky toddlers throwing toys and keys away! It really does do a good job at locking the bad smells away; I never smell a thing until it's time to empty the bin.
Emptying the Korbell nappy bin is so simple. As I mentioned, it uses liners rather than bin bags. The bin comes with a free roll already fitted. All you have to do is open the front of the bin and pull the liner across the little cutter that is built into the inside of the door. Then tie a knot in the bottom of the liner to create your next bag. Close the door and the Korbell nappy bin is ready to use again!
Korbell say that a roll of liners should last for 10-11 weeks based on seven nappy changes a day. Ours lasted much longer as we use a mix of reusable and disposable nappies, so aren't throwing away as many nappies as most other households would do. I actually want to see if I can work out a way of using it as a nappy bin for cloth nappies, perhaps by fitting a mesh liner somehow, as I'm now choosing cloth nappies over disposables more often. Either way, once the nappy days are over the bin can be used as a normal pedal bin using standard bin liners so it will last well beyond the baby years!
The Standard Korbell Nappy Bin costs £29.99 and you can find it here.
The Standard Korbell Nappy Bin costs £29.99 and you can find it here.
I'm the first to admit that having a baby has often left me feeling overwhelmed, even third time around! It is such a huge change and I always seem to underestimate the impact that having a newborn can have. Graco put together a great list of to tips with parenting expert Sarah Renshaw from BabyCentre, to help make the early days a little easier.
Top tips for a new baby with Graco
I'm the first to admit that having a baby has often left me feeling overwhelmed, even third time around! It is such a huge change and I always seem to underestimate the impact that having a newborn can have. Graco put together a great list of to tips with parenting expert Sarah Renshaw from BabyCentre, to help make the early days a little easier.
And once again, I am so late in posting Essie's two month update that month three is now due! I can't tell you how quickly the time is passing, it feels like it has only been a matter of days, but before I know it the days have turned into weeks, weeks into months. She is such a joyous baby, I absolutely adore her and can lose hours simply playing and interacting with her!
Essie at 2 Months Old
And once again, I am so late in posting Essie's two month update that month three is now due! I can't tell you how quickly the time is passing, it feels like it has only been a matter of days, but before I know it the days have turned into weeks, weeks into months. She is such a joyous baby, I absolutely adore her and can lose hours simply playing and interacting with her!
Welcome to Happy Days! Katy and I host this linky with the purpose of inspiring you to make the most of each day, no matter what you've been up to, and to find happiness in every day. It's where I share the little moments that have brought me joy.
Happy Days: Friends, jokes & my new sling
Welcome to Happy Days! Katy and I host this linky with the purpose of inspiring you to make the most of each day, no matter what you've been up to, and to find happiness in every day. It's where I share the little moments that have brought me joy.
Last month I showed you the first product out of an amazing bundle of baby goodies that Cheeky Rascals sent to me when I was pregnant, to help me adjust to life with a new baby. In this post I'm reviewing the Meemoobaby Meelight, which has to be in my top ten, if not top five, best baby products ever! (I really should put a top ten list together some time!) I have raved about this product to my online baby group and several of those mums bought one, and they love theirs, too!
Review: Meemoobaby Meelight
Last month I showed you the first product out of an amazing bundle of baby goodies that Cheeky Rascals sent to me when I was pregnant, to help me adjust to life with a new baby. In this post I'm reviewing the Meemoobaby Meelight, which has to be in my top ten, if not top five, best baby products ever! (I really should put a top ten list together some time!) I have raved about this product to my online baby group and several of those mums bought one, and they love theirs, too!
You might remember a couple of months ago I wrote about how I had been decluttering and organising the boys' toys with the hope of creating a lovely play space filled with brightly coloured, wooden toys that will last for years to come. I'm terrible at completing anything in one go (and to be fair I did have a baby and get married!) but we have managed to get rid of anything broken or outgrown, and have been getting rid of any toys they just aren't interested in. The aim is to have quality over quantity; fewer but better quality toys, games and puzzles, and to have things that they will actually love playing with and make use of. I've not completely gone plastic-free - I mean, there are some pretty cool toys out there that are plastic - but I'm being more choosy about what they have and trying to put more thought into what I get for them.
Noah has this thing about jigsaw puzzles and I love that he loves them. And he is so good at them! He's been really into them since he was about two years old and amazed us with his ability to complete them. We bought puzzles with more and more pieces and he'd just do them without any help! This George Luck Ark puzzle from Hape Toys is really cool and really clever. It's like a piece of art, I almost didn't want to let Noah loose with it!
There are 62 beautifully crafted, colourful pieces, all made out of wood. It is completely child safe with non-toxic finishes and water-based paints. Each animal except for the elephant is a single puzzle piece. At first glance it looks really complex as it's not the traditional kind of jigsaw puzzle shape, but if you begin by fitting all the edge pieces you'll soon realise it's not as hard as it looks. It really gets Noah thinking: instead of trying to piece together a picture like a regular jigsaw puzzle, he has to match shapes, for example, looking for a space that looks like the ears of the rabbit, or searching for the space that will fit the whale's tail.
As well as helping Noah's dexterity and hand-eye coordination, we talk about the animals as we complete the puzzle which helps his speech and vocabulary. We're not sure what animals some of the shapes are, so we have fun sharing our ideas on what they might possibly be. It's also fun to count the animals, seeing how many of each colour we can find. Hape's George Luck Ark puzzle is recommended for ages 6-10 years old; Noah might only be coming up to age 5 but he really enjoys completing this puzzle and, actually, so do I!
Hape's George Luck Ark Puzzle costs £39.99 and you can find it here.
With thanks to Hape for sending the puzzle for review.
Playtime: Hape George Luck Ark Puzzle | Review
You might remember a couple of months ago I wrote about how I had been decluttering and organising the boys' toys with the hope of creating a lovely play space filled with brightly coloured, wooden toys that will last for years to come. I'm terrible at completing anything in one go (and to be fair I did have a baby and get married!) but we have managed to get rid of anything broken or outgrown, and have been getting rid of any toys they just aren't interested in. The aim is to have quality over quantity; fewer but better quality toys, games and puzzles, and to have things that they will actually love playing with and make use of. I've not completely gone plastic-free - I mean, there are some pretty cool toys out there that are plastic - but I'm being more choosy about what they have and trying to put more thought into what I get for them.
Noah has this thing about jigsaw puzzles and I love that he loves them. And he is so good at them! He's been really into them since he was about two years old and amazed us with his ability to complete them. We bought puzzles with more and more pieces and he'd just do them without any help! This George Luck Ark puzzle from Hape Toys is really cool and really clever. It's like a piece of art, I almost didn't want to let Noah loose with it!
There are 62 beautifully crafted, colourful pieces, all made out of wood. It is completely child safe with non-toxic finishes and water-based paints. Each animal except for the elephant is a single puzzle piece. At first glance it looks really complex as it's not the traditional kind of jigsaw puzzle shape, but if you begin by fitting all the edge pieces you'll soon realise it's not as hard as it looks. It really gets Noah thinking: instead of trying to piece together a picture like a regular jigsaw puzzle, he has to match shapes, for example, looking for a space that looks like the ears of the rabbit, or searching for the space that will fit the whale's tail.
As well as helping Noah's dexterity and hand-eye coordination, we talk about the animals as we complete the puzzle which helps his speech and vocabulary. We're not sure what animals some of the shapes are, so we have fun sharing our ideas on what they might possibly be. It's also fun to count the animals, seeing how many of each colour we can find. Hape's George Luck Ark puzzle is recommended for ages 6-10 years old; Noah might only be coming up to age 5 but he really enjoys completing this puzzle and, actually, so do I!
Hape's George Luck Ark Puzzle costs £39.99 and you can find it here.
With thanks to Hape for sending the puzzle for review.
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