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.
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.
This year I plan to really make the most of our garden. It's a decent size and was one of the reasons we chose to move to this house from our old apartment, but so far we haven't done much other than keep on top of the weeds and put a hanging basket by the front door, and we have been here for nearly 3 years! Oops.
My Child-Friendly Garden Ideas
This year I plan to really make the most of our garden. It's a decent size and was one of the reasons we chose to move to this house from our old apartment, but so far we haven't done much other than keep on top of the weeds and put a hanging basket by the front door, and we have been here for nearly 3 years! Oops.
To everyone that told me I should put my baby down. To the people that told me that I cuddled him too much. To the ones that said I'm making a rod for my back. To the relatives that said he should sleep on his own. To those that said he would grow up to be clingy. To the friends that said he would never learn to be independent. And that he would never want to leave my side.
You were all wrong.
To everyone that told me I should put my baby down...
To everyone that told me I should put my baby down. To the people that told me that I cuddled him too much. To the ones that said I'm making a rod for my back. To the relatives that said he should sleep on his own. To those that said he would grow up to be clingy. To the friends that said he would never learn to be independent. And that he would never want to leave my side.
You were all wrong.
So you’ve decided to embrace living a zero-waste lifestyle, hurrah! I’ve noticed that a lot of people start their zero-waste journey by asking “what can I buy to use instead of...?” Stop right there! Zero-waste living doesn’t have to be costly at all and chances are you already have plenty of things in your home that you can reuse and repurpose without spending any money.
5 Simple Zero-Waste Ideas That Won't Cost a Penny
So you’ve decided to embrace living a zero-waste lifestyle, hurrah! I’ve noticed that a lot of people start their zero-waste journey by asking “what can I buy to use instead of...?” Stop right there! Zero-waste living doesn’t have to be costly at all and chances are you already have plenty of things in your home that you can reuse and repurpose without spending any money.
They say it takes a village to raise a child yet in these modern times how many of us actually have that kind of support? Motherhood can sometimes be a lonely place, but I found my village online. Thanks to you, the mum friends in my phone, I'm never alone. I've always got someone I can turn to.
To the mum friends in my phone - thank you...
They say it takes a village to raise a child yet in these modern times how many of us actually have that kind of support? Motherhood can sometimes be a lonely place, but I found my village online. Thanks to you, the mum friends in my phone, I'm never alone. I've always got someone I can turn to.
Originally published 29/01/2020 Updated 05/03/2024
The bathroom is where we as a family produce a heck of a lot of waste. From shampoos to shower gels, shaving products to styling products, dental care to menstrual care, the list goes on. I've been a long time fan of solid products like soap and shampoo bars for many years, but recently I've been switching more of what we use over to more eco-friendly options and trying to get the rest of the family on board too. Here are some of our bathroom swaps so far.
Zero Waste Bathroom Made Simple
Originally published 29/01/2020 Updated 05/03/2024
The bathroom is where we as a family produce a heck of a lot of waste. From shampoos to shower gels, shaving products to styling products, dental care to menstrual care, the list goes on. I've been a long time fan of solid products like soap and shampoo bars for many years, but recently I've been switching more of what we use over to more eco-friendly options and trying to get the rest of the family on board too. Here are some of our bathroom swaps so far.
Originally published 21/02/2021 Updated 05/03/2024
Let me introduce you to the book that I have read about eleventy billion times this half term: Grumbalina and The Day Everything Changed by Karina Frederiks, which was kindly sent to us to review. It is the first book in a modern children's book series about Grumablina the fairy, her friends and their world of magic. Why have I read it about eleventy billion times? Well, because my daughter utterly loves it!
Review: Grumbalina by Karina Frederiks
Originally published 21/02/2021 Updated 05/03/2024
Let me introduce you to the book that I have read about eleventy billion times this half term: Grumbalina and The Day Everything Changed by Karina Frederiks, which was kindly sent to us to review. It is the first book in a modern children's book series about Grumablina the fairy, her friends and their world of magic. Why have I read it about eleventy billion times? Well, because my daughter utterly loves it!
Originally published: 14/10/2021 Updated 05/03/2024
Still Awake is a book by Lyndsey Hookway, published by Pinter and Martin who kindly sent me a copy to read and review as part of their book club. Lyndsey Hookway has a very impressive CV; she is a London-trained paediatric nurse, health visitor, IBCLC, holistic sleep coach, independent lecturer and international speaker. I heard Lyndsey speak about night waking at The Breastfeeding Festival in Milton Keynes a couple of years ago, so I was already feeling pretty positive that this would be a good book!
Review: Still Awake by Lyndsey Hookway
Originally published: 14/10/2021 Updated 05/03/2024
Still Awake is a book by Lyndsey Hookway, published by Pinter and Martin who kindly sent me a copy to read and review as part of their book club. Lyndsey Hookway has a very impressive CV; she is a London-trained paediatric nurse, health visitor, IBCLC, holistic sleep coach, independent lecturer and international speaker. I heard Lyndsey speak about night waking at The Breastfeeding Festival in Milton Keynes a couple of years ago, so I was already feeling pretty positive that this would be a good book!
This month's Bostik Blogger box had an Easter theme. Easter falls pretty early this year, on 27th March, and I've come up with a really simple and quick craft idea using pipe cleaners and pom poms that your toddler or preschooler will love. As I write this post I can hear Little N downstairs playing with his finger puppets and singing "Old MacDonald" - cuuuute!
Easter Craft Idea: Pipe Cleaner Finger Puppets
This month's Bostik Blogger box had an Easter theme. Easter falls pretty early this year, on 27th March, and I've come up with a really simple and quick craft idea using pipe cleaners and pom poms that your toddler or preschooler will love. As I write this post I can hear Little N downstairs playing with his finger puppets and singing "Old MacDonald" - cuuuute!
It was my smallest boy's 7th birthday last month. Since Christmas he has been saving up his pennies to buy a Nintendo Switch, and with the money he got for his birthday he was able to buy the console, while relatives got him some games to go with it.
Review: The Addams Family Mansion Mayhem
It was my smallest boy's 7th birthday last month. Since Christmas he has been saving up his pennies to buy a Nintendo Switch, and with the money he got for his birthday he was able to buy the console, while relatives got him some games to go with it.
Originally published on 18th September 2016, updated 13th October 2021.
September's Bostik Blogger craft box has a Halloween theme and we were sent lots of fab craft materials to come up with a simple craft tutorial. We love to go trick or treating at Halloween and where we live people show they're taking part by putting decorations in their windows and on their doors, so we have made a spooky Halloween door hanging decoration. If you want to see last month's pencil pot craft idea you can find it here.
Craft Idea: Spooky Halloween Hanging Decoration
Originally published on 18th September 2016, updated 13th October 2021.
September's Bostik Blogger craft box has a Halloween theme and we were sent lots of fab craft materials to come up with a simple craft tutorial. We love to go trick or treating at Halloween and where we live people show they're taking part by putting decorations in their windows and on their doors, so we have made a spooky Halloween door hanging decoration. If you want to see last month's pencil pot craft idea you can find it here.
Originally published on 21st October 2016, updated 13th October 2021.
October's Bostik Blogger craft box has a Bonfire Night theme and we were sent lots of fab craft materials to come up with a simple craft tutorial. I knew that most of the other bloggers would be coming up with firework-related crafts, so we came up with something a little different! Dry leaves and twigs are used to make bonfires, but the piles often become home to animals sleeping during the day. It's always best to check your pile before lighting your bonfire. Hopefully our craft idea will be a good reminder! If you want to see last month's Halloween craft idea you can find it here.
Craft Idea: Leaf Foxes
Originally published on 21st October 2016, updated 13th October 2021.
October's Bostik Blogger craft box has a Bonfire Night theme and we were sent lots of fab craft materials to come up with a simple craft tutorial. I knew that most of the other bloggers would be coming up with firework-related crafts, so we came up with something a little different! Dry leaves and twigs are used to make bonfires, but the piles often become home to animals sleeping during the day. It's always best to check your pile before lighting your bonfire. Hopefully our craft idea will be a good reminder! If you want to see last month's Halloween craft idea you can find it here.
Baking sourdough. Reading challenges. Gardening. These are some of the things I have done a bit more of during lockdown. It came as no surprise to me to learn that sales of board games and puzzles are up 100% since last year, as people look for new ways to fill their time. From the classic games like Monopoly and Cluedo, to newer ones like Taskmaster which was sent to us to review.
Playtime: Taskmaster The Board Game | Review
Baking sourdough. Reading challenges. Gardening. These are some of the things I have done a bit more of during lockdown. It came as no surprise to me to learn that sales of board games and puzzles are up 100% since last year, as people look for new ways to fill their time. From the classic games like Monopoly and Cluedo, to newer ones like Taskmaster which was sent to us to review.
A Girl's Guide to Being Fearless: How to Find Your Brave was kindly sent to me to review before Christmas. Published by Capstone and described as the "ultimate self-help guide for teenage girls", I thought it sounded perfect given that my tweenage stepdaughter is going through all of the trials and tribulations of her first year at high school. Adjusting to high school life is tricky enough at the best of times, let alone in the middle of a global pandemic! (How is lockdown 2.0 going for you, by the way?!)
And while I wish, wish, wish someone had written this a couple of decades earlier for teenage me to read, don't let your age or gender stop you from picking it up. We could all learn a thing or two about building our confidence, resilience and self-belief, and that of those around us.
Review: A Girl's Guide to Being Fearless by Suzie Lavington & Dr Andy Cope
A Girl's Guide to Being Fearless: How to Find Your Brave was kindly sent to me to review before Christmas. Published by Capstone and described as the "ultimate self-help guide for teenage girls", I thought it sounded perfect given that my tweenage stepdaughter is going through all of the trials and tribulations of her first year at high school. Adjusting to high school life is tricky enough at the best of times, let alone in the middle of a global pandemic! (How is lockdown 2.0 going for you, by the way?!)
And while I wish, wish, wish someone had written this a couple of decades earlier for teenage me to read, don't let your age or gender stop you from picking it up. We could all learn a thing or two about building our confidence, resilience and self-belief, and that of those around us.
Forget the presents, the thing that I get most excited about at Christmas is putting up the tree! We have had a real Christmas tree for the past few years, including this year's which arrived courtesy of The Christmas Forest. They sent us an absolutely beautiful 6ft Nordmann Fir, which the children and I thoroughly enjoyed decorating with our growing collection of pretty baubles.
Our Christmas Tree is up! | The Christmas Forest Review
Forget the presents, the thing that I get most excited about at Christmas is putting up the tree! We have had a real Christmas tree for the past few years, including this year's which arrived courtesy of The Christmas Forest. They sent us an absolutely beautiful 6ft Nordmann Fir, which the children and I thoroughly enjoyed decorating with our growing collection of pretty baubles.
I have a bit of a bone to pick with baby and pregnancy magazines. When I
was pregnant for the first time, I bought loads. I'd get excited when the new
issues came out each month. I would spend hours poring over them, circling all
the things I wanted to buy, and filling my head with totally unrealistic ideas
of what having a baby would be like.
At some point those magazines would do a
relationships feature. And when they did, the point of the feature seemed to be how to keep
the spark alive in the bedroom. In a nutshell: we must keep our sex lives exciting, or our relationships will suffer. Never mind what our bodies and minds and emotions are going through whilst we grow whole other human beings, that isn't as important!
Sex, Motherhood & Magazines
I have a bit of a bone to pick with baby and pregnancy magazines. When I
was pregnant for the first time, I bought loads. I'd get excited when the new
issues came out each month. I would spend hours poring over them, circling all
the things I wanted to buy, and filling my head with totally unrealistic ideas
of what having a baby would be like.
At some point those magazines would do a
relationships feature. And when they did, the point of the feature seemed to be how to keep
the spark alive in the bedroom. In a nutshell: we must keep our sex lives exciting, or our relationships will suffer. Never mind what our bodies and minds and emotions are going through whilst we grow whole other human beings, that isn't as important!
Christmas is all the more magical since becoming a mother. Especially this year. Now that Little N is 3 years old he understands what Christmas is about and he recognises lots of things related to the festive season, like snow, Santa, reindeer, Christmas trees and, of course, presents! It makes the planning and preparation for Christmas so much more fun for me, knowing that my little boy is brimming with excitement. To get us in the festive spirit we have been playing the Orchard Toys Christmas Surprises game which was sent to us to review.
REVIEW: Orchard Toys Christmas Surprises
Christmas is all the more magical since becoming a mother. Especially this year. Now that Little N is 3 years old he understands what Christmas is about and he recognises lots of things related to the festive season, like snow, Santa, reindeer, Christmas trees and, of course, presents! It makes the planning and preparation for Christmas so much more fun for me, knowing that my little boy is brimming with excitement. To get us in the festive spirit we have been playing the Orchard Toys Christmas Surprises game which was sent to us to review.
November's Bostik Blogger craft box has a Christmas theme, hooray! I am so excited about Christmas. We were sent lots of fab craft materials to come up with a simple craft tutorial and I thought it would be lovely to make a Mini Christmas Wreath. If you want to see last month's Bonfire Night craft idea you can find it here.
Craft Idea: Mini Christmas Wreath
November's Bostik Blogger craft box has a Christmas theme, hooray! I am so excited about Christmas. We were sent lots of fab craft materials to come up with a simple craft tutorial and I thought it would be lovely to make a Mini Christmas Wreath. If you want to see last month's Bonfire Night craft idea you can find it here.
December's Bostik Blogger craft box has a snow theme, which is what Little N has been learning about this week at nursery school! We were sent lots of fab craft materials to come up with a simple craft tutorial and we made some cute rolled paper snowmen. If you want to see last month's Christmas craft idea you can find it here.
Craft Idea: Rolled Paper Snowman
December's Bostik Blogger craft box has a snow theme, which is what Little N has been learning about this week at nursery school! We were sent lots of fab craft materials to come up with a simple craft tutorial and we made some cute rolled paper snowmen. If you want to see last month's Christmas craft idea you can find it here.
With Christmas fast approaching I thought it would be a good time to bust some of the breastfeeding myths. When I had my first baby I thought there were all these things that I couldn’t do, eat or drink, but it turns out that most of it was utter rubbish!
Busting The Breastfeeding Myths
With Christmas fast approaching I thought it would be a good time to bust some of the breastfeeding myths. When I had my first baby I thought there were all these things that I couldn’t do, eat or drink, but it turns out that most of it was utter rubbish!
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