GARDEN: A Beginner's Guide to Growing Your Own Vegetables

*Advertorial Content - Gifted Items

Life is all about finding the small joys that you love and then embracing them on a daily basis. Gardening is a small joy that I've recently indulged in and it has quickly become part of my day-to-day life that I love. It isn't in fact a new love, however since having my first child seven years ago I had struggled to find the time to garden, as there was always a little person toddling around needing my full attention. Now that my children are all that bit older I'm able to rediscover my love for gardening and if it is something you think you'd find joy in then I urge you to do the same. 

HOME: Preparing the Garden for the Summer Months

*Advertorial Content with Fishpools 

Summer is quickly approaching, in fact we've already been treated to a few warmer days here in the UK. The moment that the sunshine appears Isabella and Poppy are eager to get out into the garden and I love that it expands our space to play dramatically. But going out into the garden for the first time post autumn/winter can be a bit of a shock, as there are a lack of plants/flowers, garden equipment has become more 'weathered' or even perhaps broken and the grass often looks very sorry for itself. Our garden is a really good size, however almost all of the grass area is on a hill which comes with a whole host of challenges. It is also on two different levels, so the seating area is separate to the grass area. This does allow us to create a more 'grown up' seating area down on the patio and then embrace the children's interests up on the grassed area. However your garden or outdoor area is laid out, transforming it into a practical yet beautiful space to enjoy the sunshine is such a fun activity to embrace during the spring months.

CHILDREN: The Ultimate List of Fun Garden Activities to do this Summer

Summer is well and truly here, which I for one am so thankful for! Parenting two children while being stuck indoors thanks to the rain is hard work, so we are truly making the most of being able to be outdoors all day long. As the UK summer holidays are quickly approaching I thought I'd put together some of our favourite garden activities that will keep children of all ages busy for hours and hours. There are activities for children that love being creative, sporty and/or imaginative, so hopefully something for everyone. 

OUTDOOR LEARNING: 10 Number & Counting Activities for Pre-School Children

I honestly can't believe that Isabella is now three years old and classed as a 'pre-schooler' rather than a 'toddler' - where has the time gone? Since turning three her level of interest in the world and learning as much as possible has noticeably increased, as we are greeted with around 10485943 questions a day. It always fascinates me quite how quickly children learn new things; they're like sponges at this age. Due to this it makes it the ideal age to start introducing key life skills, such as counting and phonics. I'm not talking sitting down and working through workbooks for hours on end, but more exploring the world with a slight twist. 

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. 

TODDLER: 12 Easy Garden Activities

Despite almost being in June the weather in the England has been very unpredictable. We've had it all: hot days, rainy days, days that were rainy, cold, hot, hailing and cloudy all in one. However, we've not let that stop use having fun in the garden.