Welcome to #SundayBest! Hayley from Sparkles & Stretchmarks and I host this weekly linky to show off your favourite posts. We want to keep things nice and simple, there are very few rules and if we all play nicely then everybody benefits!

Sunday Best #12

Welcome to #SundayBest! Hayley from Sparkles & Stretchmarks and I host this weekly linky to show off your favourite posts. We want to keep things nice and simple, there are very few rules and if we all play nicely then everybody benefits!

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: Adorable Boys & Quality Time

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. 

If you've been following me on Instagram recently, you will have noticed a gorgeous new accessory adorning my wrist: a beautiful wood watch from JORD, who create unique timepieces for people who value sustainability, efficiency, and experiential living. I had been admiring these unique watches for some time, so when JORD got in touch to offer me one to review I was rather excited. I haven't seen anything quite like these watches and couldn't wait for it to arrive.

JORD-frankie-35-zebrawood-navy-watch-sitting-in-wooden-presentation-box

I have very small wrists, so I asked JORD for their suggestions on what would suit me. There are several stunning designs in their range of women's watches, made out of woods such as sandlewood, maple, ebony, koa and even striking purpleheart. I was recommended to go for something from the Frankie 35 series which has a smaller face and would look great on my dainty arms. After much delibteration, I chose the Zebrawood & Navy watch which JORD had adjusted to my size requirements before shipping it out to me. JORD ship their unique watches worldwide and shipping is free! 

hand-wearing-jord-frankie-35-zebrawood-navy-watch-reaching-for-a-plate-of-watermelon

I am so in love with my new timepiece; I'm almost a little scared to wear it in case I break it somehow! I really needn't worry though, as the natural zebrawood has been hand-finished and treated with tung oils to protect it. It is splashproof and comes with a gorgeous presentation box and cushion which I use to store my watch when I'm not wearing it. It also comes with one year's warranty for added peace of mind. JORD don't just make unique watches for women, check out the range of men's watches, too!

It gets a lot of attention, being both minimalist yet striking in appearance, and it's quite funny to tell people, "yes, it's really made out of wood." It is such a comfortable watch to wear and I often forget I even have it on. And with such a natural look it just goes with everything! Keep an eye on my Instagram feed for more ways to wear it. 

WIN $75 TO SPEND WITH JORD!


JORD have an exclusive giveaway for readers to win a $75 e-gift code to spend in the shop. Simply fill out the form. All entrants will automatically receive a $20 e-gift code, too! 

The contest will close 13th November 2016 at 11:59pm CDT. Both the $75 and the $20 codes will expire on 28th February 2017.

How would you style your JORD Wood Watch?



I was gifted the Wooden Wristwatch for this feature.

Review & Giveaway: JORD Frankie 35 Wood Watch

If you've been following me on Instagram recently, you will have noticed a gorgeous new accessory adorning my wrist: a beautiful wood watch from JORD, who create unique timepieces for people who value sustainability, efficiency, and experiential living. I had been admiring these unique watches for some time, so when JORD got in touch to offer me one to review I was rather excited. I haven't seen anything quite like these watches and couldn't wait for it to arrive.

JORD-frankie-35-zebrawood-navy-watch-sitting-in-wooden-presentation-box

I have very small wrists, so I asked JORD for their suggestions on what would suit me. There are several stunning designs in their range of women's watches, made out of woods such as sandlewood, maple, ebony, koa and even striking purpleheart. I was recommended to go for something from the Frankie 35 series which has a smaller face and would look great on my dainty arms. After much delibteration, I chose the Zebrawood & Navy watch which JORD had adjusted to my size requirements before shipping it out to me. JORD ship their unique watches worldwide and shipping is free! 

hand-wearing-jord-frankie-35-zebrawood-navy-watch-reaching-for-a-plate-of-watermelon

I am so in love with my new timepiece; I'm almost a little scared to wear it in case I break it somehow! I really needn't worry though, as the natural zebrawood has been hand-finished and treated with tung oils to protect it. It is splashproof and comes with a gorgeous presentation box and cushion which I use to store my watch when I'm not wearing it. It also comes with one year's warranty for added peace of mind. JORD don't just make unique watches for women, check out the range of men's watches, too!

It gets a lot of attention, being both minimalist yet striking in appearance, and it's quite funny to tell people, "yes, it's really made out of wood." It is such a comfortable watch to wear and I often forget I even have it on. And with such a natural look it just goes with everything! Keep an eye on my Instagram feed for more ways to wear it. 

WIN $75 TO SPEND WITH JORD!


JORD have an exclusive giveaway for readers to win a $75 e-gift code to spend in the shop. Simply fill out the form. All entrants will automatically receive a $20 e-gift code, too! 

The contest will close 13th November 2016 at 11:59pm CDT. Both the $75 and the $20 codes will expire on 28th February 2017.

How would you style your JORD Wood Watch?



I was gifted the Wooden Wristwatch for this feature.


Halloween and Bonfire Night are fast approaching and Fireman Sam has launched a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of fire safety for children. During October he has been sharing his top tips on how to stay safe at bonfires and fireworks displays, and has been bringing these important tips to life by featuring in animated videos with his team. I've teamed up with Mattel to share with you some of Fireman Sam's Top Fire Safety Tips!


Fire Safety Month and Fireman Sam's Top Tips


Halloween and Bonfire Night are fast approaching and Fireman Sam has launched a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of fire safety for children. During October he has been sharing his top tips on how to stay safe at bonfires and fireworks displays, and has been bringing these important tips to life by featuring in animated videos with his team. I've teamed up with Mattel to share with you some of Fireman Sam's Top Fire Safety Tips!




October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and for the third year running, Mission Deli has pledged their support by giving their Original wrap packs a pink makeover and pledging to donate a whopping £50,000 from from the sales of their packs to Breast Cancer Care. For the #FriendsUnwrapped campaign Mission Deli have teamed up with food writer and stylist, Rosie Birkett, to bring these simple and delicious recipes, each with a hint of pink and both perfect for sharing with friends. Read on to find out how to create a veganised version of the Spiced Apple Tart and a Cheat’s Kimchi & Cheddar Quesadilla at home!

Recipe Takeover with Mission Deli & Rosie Birkett



October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and for the third year running, Mission Deli has pledged their support by giving their Original wrap packs a pink makeover and pledging to donate a whopping £50,000 from from the sales of their packs to Breast Cancer Care. For the #FriendsUnwrapped campaign Mission Deli have teamed up with food writer and stylist, Rosie Birkett, to bring these simple and delicious recipes, each with a hint of pink and both perfect for sharing with friends. Read on to find out how to create a veganised version of the Spiced Apple Tart and a Cheat’s Kimchi & Cheddar Quesadilla at home!

Paradise Wildlife Park has been on my "must visit" list for a while now; we only live about 40 minutes away from the Hertfordshire-based park but I had never managed to be quite organised enough to get us there. When Paradise Wildlife Park contacted me to find out if I'd like to visit and become a blogger ambassador, I was delighted. Almost as delighted as Little N who asked if there would be pigs there. "Oh, I don't know" I said, "but there will definitely be something even more exciting!" 

Days Out: Howl-o-ween at Paradise Wildlife Park

Paradise Wildlife Park has been on my "must visit" list for a while now; we only live about 40 minutes away from the Hertfordshire-based park but I had never managed to be quite organised enough to get us there. When Paradise Wildlife Park contacted me to find out if I'd like to visit and become a blogger ambassador, I was delighted. Almost as delighted as Little N who asked if there would be pigs there. "Oh, I don't know" I said, "but there will definitely be something even more exciting!" 

Welcome to #SundayBest! Hayley from Sparkles & Stretchmarks and I host this weekly linky to show off your favourite posts. We want to keep things nice and simple, there are very few rules and if we all play nicely then everybody benefits!

Sunday Best #11

Welcome to #SundayBest! Hayley from Sparkles & Stretchmarks and I host this weekly linky to show off your favourite posts. We want to keep things nice and simple, there are very few rules and if we all play nicely then everybody benefits!

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: It's Half Term!

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. 


 30th September 2016

I am 13 weeks pregnant; my little Pip is the size of a lemon and is about three inches long. It made me smile as I remembered craving fresh lemons when I was pregnant with my first baby. I would eat them until my lips and tongue were sore! Here's what's been going on during my thirteenth week of pregnancy with baby number three.

pregnant-woman-wearing-black-and-white-stripy-top-sitting-sideways-looking-downwards

Pregnancy Diary: First Trimester - 13 Weeks

 30th September 2016

I am 13 weeks pregnant; my little Pip is the size of a lemon and is about three inches long. It made me smile as I remembered craving fresh lemons when I was pregnant with my first baby. I would eat them until my lips and tongue were sore! Here's what's been going on during my thirteenth week of pregnancy with baby number three.

pregnant-woman-wearing-black-and-white-stripy-top-sitting-sideways-looking-downwards

Back in May, Debenhams launched their #KnowYourSize campaign to encourage women to use their free expert bra fitting service so that they can reap the benefits of a correctly fitting bra. 8 out of 10 women in the UK currently wear the wrong size bra, thanks to outdated fitting techniques such as the "plus four" method. As part of this campaign Debenhams have been kitting me out with some beautiful lingerie. This month I have been sent a beautiful bra from Triumph and Debenhams are kindly giving away a bra to one lucky reader, too!

Debenhams Bra Fit Challenge #KnowYourSize | Review & Giveaway: Triumph Modern Bloom Bra


Back in May, Debenhams launched their #KnowYourSize campaign to encourage women to use their free expert bra fitting service so that they can reap the benefits of a correctly fitting bra. 8 out of 10 women in the UK currently wear the wrong size bra, thanks to outdated fitting techniques such as the "plus four" method. As part of this campaign Debenhams have been kitting me out with some beautiful lingerie. This month I have been sent a beautiful bra from Triumph and Debenhams are kindly giving away a bra to one lucky reader, too!

If you're looking for fun things for all the family to do this half term, then join us in heading to Paradise Wildlife Park in Broxbourne Woods, Hertfordshire, for the spookiest Halloween adventures! 


The fun starts on 22nd October with Wolf Night in aid of the Anglian Wolf Society. Wolf Night on the Saturday, includes a twilight tour of the Park, talks and a very special Howl-o-ween treat for their two wolf ambassadors.

Up until 31st October, the whole Park will be themed with all sorts of spooky treats. There will be free wolf masks when you arrive, animal spooktacular shows, Wolves Woodland Walk, animal pumpkin feeds, bat encounters in Dracula’s Bat Cave, meet and greet the creepy crawlies, a Howl-o- ween hunt around the park, stalls, gifts and competitions throughout the week.


Paradise Wildlife Park is an award winning, family run Wildlife Park set in the beautiful surroundings of Broxbourne Woods in the Hertfordshire Countryside. It is home to over four hundred exotic wild animals and the success of Paradise Wildlife Park has allowed it to make contributions of over £5,000,000 to conservation projects and wildlife causes in the UK and around the World. Paradise is part of the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme, with successful African Penguin, Lar Gibbon, Cotton Top Tamarin, Silvery Marmoset and  Red Ruff Lemur births in the past year alone.


Everything your family could want for a fun filled spooky and furry adventure at the award winning Park! Tickets are priced at £18 per adult and £15 per child - you can get savings by booking online and under twos go free! Find out more about Paradise Wildlife Park's Howl-o-ween event HERE!

Find me on BloglovinTwitterInstagramFacebookPinterest and Google+

Howl-o-ween at Paradise Wildlife Park!

If you're looking for fun things for all the family to do this half term, then join us in heading to Paradise Wildlife Park in Broxbourne Woods, Hertfordshire, for the spookiest Halloween adventures! 


The fun starts on 22nd October with Wolf Night in aid of the Anglian Wolf Society. Wolf Night on the Saturday, includes a twilight tour of the Park, talks and a very special Howl-o-ween treat for their two wolf ambassadors.

Up until 31st October, the whole Park will be themed with all sorts of spooky treats. There will be free wolf masks when you arrive, animal spooktacular shows, Wolves Woodland Walk, animal pumpkin feeds, bat encounters in Dracula’s Bat Cave, meet and greet the creepy crawlies, a Howl-o- ween hunt around the park, stalls, gifts and competitions throughout the week.


Paradise Wildlife Park is an award winning, family run Wildlife Park set in the beautiful surroundings of Broxbourne Woods in the Hertfordshire Countryside. It is home to over four hundred exotic wild animals and the success of Paradise Wildlife Park has allowed it to make contributions of over £5,000,000 to conservation projects and wildlife causes in the UK and around the World. Paradise is part of the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme, with successful African Penguin, Lar Gibbon, Cotton Top Tamarin, Silvery Marmoset and  Red Ruff Lemur births in the past year alone.


Everything your family could want for a fun filled spooky and furry adventure at the award winning Park! Tickets are priced at £18 per adult and £15 per child - you can get savings by booking online and under twos go free! Find out more about Paradise Wildlife Park's Howl-o-ween event HERE!

Find me on BloglovinTwitterInstagramFacebookPinterest and Google+

Before I had my children, I vaguely knew I had an effect on the environment, but it was something that lingered in the back of my mind. Becoming a parent for the first time, suddenly these thoughts were hurled to the forefront of my mind. Almost overnight, I became ultra aware of the effect my every movement has on our planet. I realised that if I was going to bring children into the world, then I needed to take greater responsibility for my actions and be more conscious of the decisions I make. With this in mind, I’ve joined the #brightFuture Challenge all about the Unilever brightFuture initiative and the hopes we have for our children.

Creating a bright future for my children

Before I had my children, I vaguely knew I had an effect on the environment, but it was something that lingered in the back of my mind. Becoming a parent for the first time, suddenly these thoughts were hurled to the forefront of my mind. Almost overnight, I became ultra aware of the effect my every movement has on our planet. I realised that if I was going to bring children into the world, then I needed to take greater responsibility for my actions and be more conscious of the decisions I make. With this in mind, I’ve joined the #brightFuture Challenge all about the Unilever brightFuture initiative and the hopes we have for our children.

Welcome to #SundayBest! Hayley from Sparkles & Stretchmarks and I host this weekly linky to show off your favourite posts. We want to keep things nice and simple, there are very few rules and if we all play nicely then everybody benefits!


Sunday Best #10

Welcome to #SundayBest! Hayley from Sparkles & Stretchmarks and I host this weekly linky to show off your favourite posts. We want to keep things nice and simple, there are very few rules and if we all play nicely then everybody benefits!


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: Feeling Good

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 only seems a few weeks ago that I was complaining to the other mums on the school run about how I couldn't wait for summer to be over. And now, autumn is well and truly here! We are layering up - jumpers on, coats on, boots on - as cooler climes are with us. Jude has a gorgeous new winter jacket to see him through the colder months. It's from Scandinavian childrenswear brand Polarn O. Pyret's autumn/winter outerwear collection, which is super stylish and totally practical.

toddler-boy-standing-in-front-of-white-garage-door-wearing-a-blue-coat

Mini Style: Winter-Ready with Polarn O. Pyret

It only seems a few weeks ago that I was complaining to the other mums on the school run about how I couldn't wait for summer to be over. And now, autumn is well and truly here! We are layering up - jumpers on, coats on, boots on - as cooler climes are with us. Jude has a gorgeous new winter jacket to see him through the colder months. It's from Scandinavian childrenswear brand Polarn O. Pyret's autumn/winter outerwear collection, which is super stylish and totally practical.

toddler-boy-standing-in-front-of-white-garage-door-wearing-a-blue-coat
23rd September 2016

I am 12 weeks pregnant and my little Pip is the size of an apricot. Although that is still so tiny, it's incredible to think that just a few weeks ago, he was the size of a poppy seed. That's a lot of growing that has been done! I've always felt a bit strange about keeping pregnancy diaries before I get to twelve weeks, so that is why my diary for this pregnancy begins now.

dark-haired-pregnant-woman-sitting-sideways-wearing-striped-top

Pregnancy Diary: First Trimester - 12 Weeks

23rd September 2016

I am 12 weeks pregnant and my little Pip is the size of an apricot. Although that is still so tiny, it's incredible to think that just a few weeks ago, he was the size of a poppy seed. That's a lot of growing that has been done! I've always felt a bit strange about keeping pregnancy diaries before I get to twelve weeks, so that is why my diary for this pregnancy begins now.

dark-haired-pregnant-woman-sitting-sideways-wearing-striped-top
I know I keep saying this, but I just love autumn! It's such a magical season: when everything starts to change, when mother nature shows us some of her most beautiful and rich earthy tones, and there are little treasures to be found everywhere. When I was a child, I loved collecting some of these treasures. Conkers. Finding one still in its shell and getting to peel it off to reveal a big shiny conker was the best reward. I even tried (and failed) to plant one; my mum wasn't best pleased to discover I was attempting to grow a tree in a pot of mud in my bedroom! 

A Little Autumn Adventure

I know I keep saying this, but I just love autumn! It's such a magical season: when everything starts to change, when mother nature shows us some of her most beautiful and rich earthy tones, and there are little treasures to be found everywhere. When I was a child, I loved collecting some of these treasures. Conkers. Finding one still in its shell and getting to peel it off to reveal a big shiny conker was the best reward. I even tried (and failed) to plant one; my mum wasn't best pleased to discover I was attempting to grow a tree in a pot of mud in my bedroom! 

Welcome to #SundayBest! Hayley from Sparkles & Stretchmarks and I host this weekly linky to show off your favourite posts. We want to keep things nice and simple, there are very few rules and if we all play nicely then everybody benefits!

Sunday Best #9

Welcome to #SundayBest! Hayley from Sparkles & Stretchmarks and I host this weekly linky to show off your favourite posts. We want to keep things nice and simple, there are very few rules and if we all play nicely then everybody benefits!

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: A Mini Mini Break

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. 



Hands up if you've ever managed to get through the first trimester of pregnancy without experiencing the dreaded "morning sickness"? Hmm, as I suspected - not many of you! Overall, I really enjoy pregnancy and everything that goes with it. But not the first trimester. Those first few months really suck for me, and it hasn't gotten any easier with each pregnancy. It's such a trying time, especially as like a lot of mums I keep my pregnancies secret until I've had my scan, so spend weeks suffering alone. And there aren't many things on the market for helping with pregnancy sickness, especially natural products. That's where fabulous new pregnancy brand Myrtle & Maude come in!


Review & Giveaway: Myrtle & Maude for Mummas-To-Be


Hands up if you've ever managed to get through the first trimester of pregnancy without experiencing the dreaded "morning sickness"? Hmm, as I suspected - not many of you! Overall, I really enjoy pregnancy and everything that goes with it. But not the first trimester. Those first few months really suck for me, and it hasn't gotten any easier with each pregnancy. It's such a trying time, especially as like a lot of mums I keep my pregnancies secret until I've had my scan, so spend weeks suffering alone. And there aren't many things on the market for helping with pregnancy sickness, especially natural products. That's where fabulous new pregnancy brand Myrtle & Maude come in!


Pretty purple, indigo, blue and green and bright yellow. That's the way the colours go, climbing up the rainybow. Sunset orange, ruby red, rainybow above your head. That's the way the colours go, sliding down the rainybow!

Review: Fisher-Price Best Friends Bing & Sula

Pretty purple, indigo, blue and green and bright yellow. That's the way the colours go, climbing up the rainybow. Sunset orange, ruby red, rainybow above your head. That's the way the colours go, sliding down the rainybow!

I've been a mum now for nearly four years. But I still feel so new to all this and I have never managed to feel like I really am a mum. Like a proper grown up. I feel like I'm winging it, flailing along, hoping we all survive the day. I feel like every other mum I know is calm and composed and just knows what the heck she's doing, while I'm struggling with adulting.

Realising That I Am A 'Real' Mum

I've been a mum now for nearly four years. But I still feel so new to all this and I have never managed to feel like I really am a mum. Like a proper grown up. I feel like I'm winging it, flailing along, hoping we all survive the day. I feel like every other mum I know is calm and composed and just knows what the heck she's doing, while I'm struggling with adulting.

Natural Baby Shower are excited to announce the launch of their One for One campaign. During this campaign, for every Finn + Emma's organic hand knitted toys or piece of clothing from the Woodland collection sold between the 01st of October and December, Natural Baby Shower will be donating a like-for-like toy or piece of clothing to mother and baby refuge charities across the UK in time for Christmas.

Natural Baby Shower Launch One for One Toy & Clothing Campaign

Natural Baby Shower are excited to announce the launch of their One for One campaign. During this campaign, for every Finn + Emma's organic hand knitted toys or piece of clothing from the Woodland collection sold between the 01st of October and December, Natural Baby Shower will be donating a like-for-like toy or piece of clothing to mother and baby refuge charities across the UK in time for Christmas.

Welcome to #SundayBest! Hayley from Sparkles & Stretchmarks and I host this weekly linky to show off your favourite posts. We want to keep things nice and simple, there are very few rules and if we all play nicely then everybody benefits!

Sunday Best #8

Welcome to #SundayBest! Hayley from Sparkles & Stretchmarks and I host this weekly linky to show off your favourite posts. We want to keep things nice and simple, there are very few rules and if we all play nicely then everybody benefits!

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. 

Vegan-chocolate-cake-with-four-pink-icing-pigs

Happy Days: Birthdays & Babies

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. 

Vegan-chocolate-cake-with-four-pink-icing-pigs

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