RECIPE: Lotus Biscoff Loaded Caramel Swirl Ice-Cream

Lotus Biscoff Cookie Spread is a thing of dreams and almost always a guaranteed winner when it comes to baking, cooking and creating in the kitchen. Making ice-cream at home couldn't be easier and there are varying techniques that go from being a labour of love to being quick and easy. This recipe is a combination between ice-cream and frozen custard, which not only makes it really easy to make but also slightly lighter too. 

BBQ RECIPE: Cajun and Piri Piri Corn on the Cob

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Corn on the Cob is a BBQ classic and as a vegetarian an absolute must. But why always serve it with butter and maybe a grind of black pepper? By adding a few extra ingredients you can transform the humble corn on the cob into something that will truly blow you away with flavour! Simple, easy and quick to prepare, these three ways are sure to be big hits at your next BBQ. There's something so understated about this usual side dish, but honestly the addition of Piri Piri and Cajun takes the corn on the cob to the next level. 

PARENTHOOD: The Differences between having a Spring/Summer Baby compared to an Autumn/Winter Baby

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Prior to having children I hadn't really thought about the potential differences between having a baby in the spring/summer compared to autumn/winter. Expecting and having a baby is such an incredible experience whenever in the year it happens, but after being lucky enough to have three children at different times of year it has been interesting to see the impact the season has. There are perhaps a surprising amount of differences I've personally found with having a baby in the warmer months compared to the colder ones. There is no 'best' time of year to have a baby, anytime is special, so let's look at some of the differences...

CHILDREN: Why Playing Outside Is So Important

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The great big outdoors...a place for learning, exploring and adventuring for all ages, but why is embracing it so important for our children? Anyone who has children will know how hard it can be to keep them entertained; they seemingly constantly need stimulus or focus and making the most of outdoor play is the perfect way to take a step back from technology. Technology is a big part of all of our lives nowadays, there's no escaping it; whether you're watching television, playing computer games, browsing social media, taking photographs or learning via apps it creeps into our day to day life with worrying ease sometimes.

SUMMER: Why you should go to Gloworm Festival with Interplay

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Family festivals are becoming more and more popular, as they pop up around the country offering families endless fun for a whole weekend. Many now offer camping too, so you really can make them into quite the adventure. Gloworm Festival is one that has been on our wish list since becoming parents, so we were beyond excited to be going this year as Interplay Ambassadors. If you're not familiar with Interplay then they have a number of very popular children's brands, including My Fairy Garden, FabLab, Fuzzikins, My Living World, My Mermaid Lagoon, CraftBox Charm Jewellery, Technokit and the revolutionary new Face Paintoos. At Gloworm Festival 2019 Interplay sponsored the Creative Play Zone, which was filled with FabLab Style Labs, Fuzzkins and Face Paintoos. An absolute must-visit for anyone at the festival, especially to help get into that festival vibe style!

PREGNANCY: How to Survive the Summer Heat when Pregnant

The summer. It is hot, sweaty and intense at times; some people love it, others aren't so sure. I'll admit I'm a 'not so sure' person; I'll spend the cooler/rainy days wishing for some sunshine, only for it to arrive then get all hot and bothered. This was me before pregnancy and is certainly me during pregnancy. It is the middle of July and I am 28 weeks pregnant, so my bump is getting bigger by the day and therefore my tolerance levels of heat are diminishing. Although I do have to say that I am feeling extremely grateful that so far this summer has been nothing compared to the incredibly intense heatwave we have in the UK last year. There have been quite a few things I've been doing to try and keep cool, calm and collected during the hotter days of summer, so I thought I'd share them in case you're also pregnant during those hot months.

PREGNANCY: Finding Your Own Spring/Summer Maternity Style 2019

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Finding out you're pregnant can bring on so many different emotions and then the moment your bump starts to appear there's a whole new challenge...what to wear? Despite having been pregnancy twice before I still find myself staring into my wardrobe at 15 weeks wondering what I am going to wear for the day?! I have plenty of maternity clothes from my previous pregnancies, but they were too big and my non-maternity clothes were getting too tight. Like a lot of women, I feel at my most body confident when I'm pregnant and am all about trying to show my bump from as early on as possible. Let's be honest, it's the only time I'm going to be wearing figure hugging clothes so why not make the most of it?

CHILDREN: Keeping Protected this Summer with Splash About UV Sun Suits

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Summer is finally here and we are being graced with more frequent beautiful sunny days. Doesn't parenting just get so much easier in the summer? The children can happily play outside in the garden, holidays may happen and all of the outdoor spaces can be explored again. However, it is vital that we keep our children protected from the sun during the summer months. You don't have to be going on holiday abroad to be thinking about sun protection; if this year is anything like last (kind of hoping it's not, as I'll be pretty heavily pregnant!) then we'll be enjoying another hot summer here in the United Kingdom. Splash About have an impressive range of swimwear designed to protect our little ones from the sun, sea and wind, so that they can have fun in the sun and we can relax knowing that they are protected from the elements.

HOME: Preparing the Garden for the Summer Months

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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.

SUMMER: How to Prepare for your Family Holidays

If you're lucky enough to be heading away as a family this summer then there is a high chance you have lists all over your house, on your phone and stuck to the fridge door with things you need to do before going away. As soon as you become a parent you say goodbye to spending hours browsing for the perfect peaceful accommodation (priorities being the number of sun loungers, minimal children around and a well stocked bar), instead you find yourself drawn towards the places that have entertainment for the children, swimming pool with some sort of sea creature inspired slide and anywhere that isn't too far away. For many of us, just the idea of flying 10+ hours with young children is enough to shut down your computer and stop the holiday searches there and then. Places like France, Majorca, Spain, Germany, Holland, Ibiza and Italy seem so much more feasible or there is always the good old staycation option.

TOUR DE TRIKE: Exploring University of Leicester Botanic Gardens

Exploring the outdoors is one of our favourite things to do as a family because it keeps everyone happy. Isabella loves the freedom, Poppy enjoys watching the world go by and we are happy that the children are happy; that's life as a parent for you. Poppy has recently been trying a whole new mode of transport...the Perfect Fit 4-in-1 Trike from Little Tikes* (£89.99) for our family adventures. It's perfect for letting her see the world, while there are many practical features that make it a breeze to use from a parent's point of view. There's something so much more fun and novel about being pushed around in a Trike rather than a pushchair, which has therefore helped Poppy stay entertained during days out. Little Tikes have an impressive range of Tikes, so it is easy to find one that suits your needs, budget and child's age.

SUMMER: Feeling Nostalgic with Baby Born Outdoor Adventures

If you think back to your childhood are there a few toys or products that really stand out as being special? For me a Baby Born doll does because I spent years and years playing with mine as a child. So when Isabella was kindly offered the opportunity to have her own Baby Born it felt like a trip down memory lane with all the nostalgic feelings that come with that. There's something so special about being able to provide your own children with experiences that you loved all those years ago, isn't there? However, Baby Born has evolved over the years and now has a whole host of accessories and clothing ranges that can add to the imaginary play. 

SUMMER: The Real Flower Petal Confetti Co. Flower Field

Each year The Real Flower Petal Confetti Co. open their colourful flower field to visitors for a very limited number of days. This year their flower field is open between the 29th June and the 8th July 2018, so time is of the essence when it comes to planning a visit. If you're looking for delicate yet pretty real flower petal confetti for a wedding or event then The Real Flower Petal Confetti Co. is the website to visit. To create their beautiful confetti they grow fields of colourful flowers on their farm in Wick, Worcestershire, which is what they open up to the public for 10 days a year. Offering a unique opportunity to be surrounded from head to toe in flowers of varying colours; the photographers dream.

SUMMER: Strawberry Picking at Whetstone Pastures Farm in Leicestershire

When it comes to the summer months there are a few activities we always like to do as a family and strawberry picking is one of them. The summer sun, smell of fresh strawberries and, of course, being able to indulge in the fruits of your labour all make for a fun family summer activity. Most Pick Your Own (PYO) farms open their doors to strawberry pickers in the first week or so of June, though it is very weather dependent as to when the first crops are ready. After a quick check to see if the crops were ready, we headed off on our first strawberry picking trip of the year last Sunday. 

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. 

FAMILY DAY OUT: Kelmarsh Hall & Gardens with a Spring Wardrobe from Little Green Radicals

We're finally in spring and it won't be long before summer makes an appearance too, so it's the perfect time to prepare Isabella and Poppy's wardrobe in time for the warm weather. During the recent stretch of beautiful warm weather we made the most of it and headed to Kelmarsh Hall & Gardens in Northamptonshire. Kelmarsh Hall is a Grade I listed country house built in 1732, set in the most stunning gardens. The Gardens include a beautiful array of flowers, tress and shrubbery all set in a large walled garden, as well as around the Estate. It is the perfect day out as a family because there is plenty of space to run around and most of the gardens are pushchair friendly too (aside from a few steps to get down to the gardens).

SPRING/SUMMER: JoJo Maman Bébé 2018 Collection

As I look outside my window today all I can see is raindrops falling off rather sad looking tree branches, everything is a shade of either brown or green and it's wet underfoot. However, spring is coming and it won't be long before the birds are tweeting, colourful flowers are popping up everywhere and we can all get back outside in the fresh air. There are already subtle hints of spring arriving, with snowdrops peeking through the damp ground and even the odd daffodil adding a splash of yellow to the landscape. I am so ready for winter to be over with now and for our weekends to be filled with family adventures in the sunshine!

SUMMER DRINK: Non-Alcoholic Pimms

Yet another summer...yet another one I can't really drink alcohol. For the past three summers I've either been pregnant or breastfeeding, meaning I've either avoided alcohol completely or only been able to have half a glass. To be honest this doesn't have that much of an impact because I barely drink even when not pregnant/breastfeeding. I just prefer not to, paired with the fact that I don't like a lot of alcohol anyway.

SUMMER RECIPE: Hot Chocolate Brownie Ice-Cream Sandwich

What's not to love about an ice-cream sandwich? There's often ice-cream, TWO biscuits, chocolate, sprinkles...the list of goodness goes on. The only problem I often find with them is that as soon as you take that first bite the biscuits crumble into pieces or push the ice-cream out of the middle. They're often too hard for the soft ice-cream centre, which is where these Hot Chocolate Brownies step in. They're light, chewy and make eating an ice-cream sandwich an absolute dream. To be honest they're delicious by themselves and this recipe does make a fair few, so you can enjoy them with a cup of tea on cooler days and with an ice-cream centre on warmer ones. 

MOTHERHOOD: My Top 5 Summer Essentials for Life with a Baby and Toddler

As I'm now 6 weeks into life as a parent of two I'm starting to learn all the tricks, essentials and ways of coping. Parenting is a constant learning journey, but right now I've got enough tricks under my belt to get through a day with a baby and toddler and still have a smile on my face. As it's summer a lot of these essentials and tricks are based around surviving the hot weather, keeping cool and family days out in the sunshine. As well as being multi-purpose because there is no way I'm strong enough to carry out separate things for Poppy and Isabella; it's all about products being versatile. So I thought I'd share five of my top summer essentials because they've made my life easier and they could yours too.