CHILDRENS PARTY: Having Fun with Messy Senses

When I started planning Isabella and Poppy's joint birthday party I wanted to concentrate on finding the perfect entertainment that would appeal to both of them. Last year, for Isabella's second birthday party, we hired a bouncy castle and I really wanted to think of something a bit different this time. After researching what was available in our area, from parties at restaurants to soft play centres, it became evident that there wasn't anything suitable for both a 10 month old and three year old. I know that Poppy wouldn't really mind what we were doing, but as it was a joint party it only seemed fair to find something they'd both love.

CRAFT ACTIVITY: Ice Cream DIY Party Bags

Party bags are one of those things I really love putting together on the run up to a party because I know how excited Isabella gets when we are handed one at the end of other children's parties. That exciting moment you glance inside to see what goodies the bag holds; a classic childhood memory. As their party was going to be ice-cream themed I had a look around to see if there were any party bags already on the market that would fit the theme. I came across a few different 'sprinkles' ones, but nothing that caught my eye too much so I decided we'd have a go at the DIY approach instead.

HOME: Creating a Peaceful Bedroom Environment as a Parent

Parenthood and sleep don't typically go hand in hand, that's for sure. Since entering the world of parenthood just over three years ago sleep has been a luxury that comes along very rarely. If you're a parent then you'll understand and if you're someone who's children slept through the night from a young age...please tell me your secrets?! As sleep is so precious once you become a parent then creating a calming and peaceful bedroom environment can be key to feeling well rested (even if you're eye bags tell a different story).

CELEBRATIONS: Ice-Cream Themed Joint 1st and 3rd Birthday Party

When it came to choosing a party theme for Isabella and Poppy's joint birthday party I knew it had to be Ice-Cream. It's Isabella's favourite treat and such a fun theme for getting in the mood for summer. We did originally plan to have the party nearer to the end of May, so it would be more in the middle of their birthdays but to ensure most of Isabella's little friends could come we had to bring it forward. This did make it harder to find ice-cream themed items in the shops and online, as a lot of retailers hadn't brought out their summer ranges yet. If we'd gone for a Bunny theme again, like we did last year, then it would have been a dream with all of the Easter ranges available! That's one of my biggest tips when it comes to party planning - think about your theme in relation to the time of year and party ranges that are easily available.

GARDEN: Supporting Childrens STEM Learning Outdoors

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, which focuses on how parents and educators can support children to think in a more connected or holistic way. Toddlers are naturally curious, so are often taking part in STEM activities without even realising. Being curious and playing go hand in hand, as questions are always being asked and answered. All we have to do as parents is provide stimulus, materials and experiences for our children's to explore and discover. 

MOTHERHOOD: The Struggle of Staying Social as a Second Time Parent

Life as a second time parent is different from the moment you find out your pregnant or at least it was for me. First time pregnancy was filled with shopping trips for tiny baby clothes, choosing paint for the nursery, a baby shower, spending hours packing and unpacking my hospital bag just to make sure I had everything we could possibly need, having long baths to ease back ache, going to weekly NCT classes to learn all about what was ahead of us and perhaps most importantly sharing our excitement with our friends and family. When we found out we were pregnant for the second time I naively entered into it expecting the same five star treatment and excitement levels from those around us.

FAMILY: Aldi Baby and Toddler Specialbuys Event April 2018

It's that time again - Aldi are having their Baby & Toddler Specialbuys Event, which is always such a popular one with parents nationwide. The wide range of products available for very affordable prices makes it ideal for stocking up on gifts, activities, bedroom accessories or simply just the essentials. In previous Aldi Specialbuys events I've picked up Nuby bath toys, Organix snacks, book carts, Gruffalo Activity Books and big boxes of wipes (our personal favourites), so it's always exciting to see what the latest event has to offer. The event starts online from Sunday 15th April 2018 and instore from Thursday 19th April 2018, so not long to wait!

MATERNITY LEAVE: Returning to Work then Leaving Again

As I write this I've just realised that it is about a month until I return to work and my tummy has flipped, my heart is racing and I'm wondering where the past year has gone. By the time I return to work I will have had my full year of maternity leave, so I've been extremely lucky and my return to work isn't as simple this time as it was with Isabella. A while ago I wrote a blog post about whether I should return to work or not at the end of this maternity leave and after a lot of deliberation we have decided that I will return to work for a short amount of time and then leave.

BIRTHDAY: Three Year Old under £35 Gift Guide

I can hardly believe I'm writing this post, let alone that I now have a three year old. Where has the last three years gone? In one way it feels like only yesterday I was heading into hospital as my waters had broken, then finally meeting Isabella a mere four days later! But in another way that feels like a lifetime ago now that Poppy is in our lives and Isabella is so grown up. Well we survived the 'terrible twos', so now have the 'threenager' phase to look forward to but in all honesty I am absolutely loving the age Isabella is now. She's able to chatter away, enter a world only her imagination knows and she really has become my little buddy. Every day is different and the lines she comes out with are hilarious! So when it comes to buying gifts for these funny not so little three year olds it can be a tricky one, as they now want to learn more and become even more independent. 

TRAVEL: Our Family Holiday at Burnbake, Dorset

When it comes to looking for a family holiday in the UK there are so many different types of holiday to consider. Do you go Camping? Glamping? Self Catering? Bed & Breakfast? City Break? Countryside Break? Near Tourist Attractions? In the Middle of Nowhere? Since having children we have become big fans of 'staycations', simply because they are relatively easy. You can pack the car up and be exploring somewhere new in a matter of hours, without the hassle of airports and fitting everything into a suitcase!

CORNWALL: 10 Family-Friendly Places to Eat

While on a family holiday to Cornwall we had the pleasure of enjoying (well as much as one can with two young children!) lots of delicious meals, many of which came with beautiful views too. Whenever I go anywhere new to me I will usually do lots of research into tourist attractions and places to visit, but rarely consider where we are going to eat. I'm not sure why because eating is probably one of my favourite parts of the day, but it is perhaps as there are just so many places. Where do you start? As we had stumbled across so many amazing places to eat in Cornwall I thought I'd put them altogether, so that if you're planning a trip there anytime soon then you'll know exactly where to head for delicious food.

PARTY: Ice-Cream Theme Inspiration

When it comes to planning our daughter's birthday parties I absolutely love the planning, preparing and creative side. We hosted Isabella's first birthday at our house, which was floral themed and then last year we had her second birthday party at a local village hall. This year we're returning to the village hall, which is a fantastic space but you aren't allowed to put anything on the walls which limits decoration options. After a lot of deliberation we finally settled on an ice-cream theme, as it is certainly something Isabella loves and we were originally going to have it in late May so it would be nearer to summer. It is in fact in April now, so perhaps a bit early for ice-cream weather which is why I've decided to mix in some pretty florals and rose gold touches.