#LITTLELOVES: Birthday Party, Quiet and Fun in the Garden

It's been a funny old week, as I've had some very rare time away from both Isabella and work. Isabella was in nursery for 1.5 days, so one of the days my husband and I had a working lunch together and for the half a day I went food shopping. It was so quiet and strange if I'm honest, pick up time couldn't come quick enough. It's made me realise I need to have some proper plans/jobs to do when I start maternity leave properly, as I'll have three days a week by myself and I don't want to waste that precious time.

PARTY: Isabellas Second Birthday

On Sunday we had Isabella's much anticipated second birthday party, with a floral bunny theme. The fact that my baby is now two is hard to believe and because it's her last birthday as an only child I really wanted to make it special. Last year we had a floral themed birthday party for first birthday (have a nosey here), which was so lovely but Isabella was too young to really understand that everyone was there for her. However, this year she knows what's going on and it made the party planning so much more exciting!

TODDLER STYLE: A week of outfits #60

Happy 1st October!!

We're back with Toddler Style this week, after taking last week off because I was poorly. I'm loving the autumn vibe coming into everyone's wardrobe, toddlers and adults alike. Layering, scarves and wrapping up warm are all my favourite things, so I'm welcoming autumn with open arms. However, we still have loads of summer dresses that are a bit big for Isabella. So I'm hoping we can layer them up and at least get one day wear out of them!

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TODDLER HAUL: 7 Outfits for Autumn

Changing Isabella's wardrobe around when she goes up to the next size or if a season changes is one of my favourite things to do. I do a lot of toddler clothes shopping in the sale the previous year, so at the end of this summer I was picking up summer clothes in 2-3 years ready for next summer. Forward planning saves money! However when I got out all of the 18-24 month clothes I'd bought her last year I realised I hadn't picked that much up. We therefore went shopping and picked up most of the pieces below. Instead of just doing a normal haul I thought I'd put together 7 autumnal outfits including the new pieces...

TODDLER STYLE: A week of outfits #55

The weather this week has been so nice - we've had lots of afternoons playing in the garden (hence outfit 3), picnics in the park and a quick sale shopping trip. Whoops. I did pick up some bargains from Mothercare though - just in case you're in need of a shopping fix. Also this week I decided to set up a new Instagram account - treasureeverym - which is open for everyone to enjoy! My other Instagram account I still use (and share different photos), but that one will remain private because it has photos of Isabella's face etc. Things I don't necessarily want to share with the world. I'd love it if you checked out my new account and followed if you want to follow our lives and see what we get up to :)

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TODDLER STYLE: A week of outfits #54

I managed to put Isabella's hair into a pony tail for the first time this week! It wasn't easy with a wriggling toddler (how old are they when they'll sit nicely to have their hair done?), but I managed it nonetheless and she looked so grown up. Now to look forward to doing plaited bunches in the next year or so :) My husband and I actually had our first night away from Isabella this week. We went to London to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the Westend and it was amazing! Highly recommend it - the stage is so clever, actors/actresses so talented and I'd say it's on par with my all time favourite show, Matilda. It was nice having time with my husband, but I missed Isabella like crazy and I really hate the emotions of missing someone. She had a lovely time with her Grandparents though, not bothered at all!

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TODDLER STYLE: A week of outfits #52

We have had such a lovely week this week - I got a lot of work done, we visited the farm and have done loads of cooking. I'm usually quite apprehensive about taking Isabella out on my own these days, dealing with the tantrums alone is quite daunting. However, I put my worries aside and we had such a fun day at the farm. Last time we went there Isabella couldn't walk, so she loved running around looking at the chickens, goats, sheep, duck, rabbits etc. She enjoyed riding on some toy tractors, playing in their huge sandpit and staring at all of the other children there. Does anyone else's little one do this? She'll stand and stare for such a long time if I let her, it can get a bit embarrassing! Anyway, our day out has encouraged me to do it more often :)

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TODDLER: Next Summer Sale Haul

I thought I'd share what we picked up for Isabella from the Next sale this weekend. We are currently buying clothes in the summer sales in 2-3 years, with the hope that they will fit Isabella next summer. They look so huge, but then I can remember buying her 12-18 months last summer and those seeming huge. It's all relative I guess. I was surprised at how quiet our local store was yesterday and I heard a number of people working there saying how unusually quiet it had been so far. This was obviously good for us sale shoppers as it meant there was plenty of stock and choice. There are also a couple of sale bargains from Morrisons at the end of this post that I picked up this week. 

TODDLER STYLE: A week of outfits #50

This week has been a lot more positive than last week - with some good news about a relative who isn't very well, changes at work and far less tantrums! Thursday seems to be Isabella's worst day of the week, with tantrum after tantrum, however hard I try to make the day nice and fun. I'm not sure if it's because it's the first day of the week she's not at nursery, or that she gets so overtired from being at nursery for three days that I get the brunt of that? Who knows. She's also continued to wake up in the night with the most horrendous screams. One night this week we couldn't settle her until 9pm (Thursday night in fact), which hasn't happened since she was very little. I'm not sure if she's at an age where this happens, but we aren't in a Wonder Weeks thunderstorm so I'm at a loss as to why.

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TODDLER STYLE: A week of outfits #47

Well what a potentially life changing week this week has become in light of the EU Referendum results. I don't want to get into politics on my blog, but I personally found the results shocking and the now uncertain future for Isabella concerns me massively. It's the unknown and hopefully it will all work out for the better, even though it won't be the world I thought Isabella would be growing up in. In other news Isabella has been suffering with post jabs/teething with a reduced appetite, temperature and lack of energy. We've had so many cuddles (the silver lining of her feeling poorly) and she's had the longest naps! Hopefully she'll start feeling better soon, as I miss my energetic toddler.

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BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #45

It feels like I haven't done a Baby Style post in ages because I missed last week. We were away with my family for a few days and there was seriously limited/if any wifi, so I couldn't publish the post from last week. Anyway on to this week - it's flown by with work whizzing past at the start of the week and then Isabella and I have both relaxed and hectic days at the end. I've been busy working on some new blog posts, new pieces for my business Isabella Mai-de (follow here to keep up to date) and creating new refined sugar free recipes for Isabella to enjoy. I didn't realise how much I missed creating recipes until I started doing it again! Now it's all about preparing/thinking about Father's Day next weekend...when did that sneak up so quickly?! 

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BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #44

Happy bank holiday weekend everyone! I've actually got a few days off next week, so I'm looking forward to a bit of break and lots of quality family time. It's been so busy with the launch of Isabella Mai-de (which is now available on Etsy), Isabella's had conjunctivitis and trying to keep on top of blogging. We've got some fun plans over the next few days, including a trip to the beach to celebrate our niece's third birthday and lots of quality family time. There's also a whole day to myself when my husband will be at work and Isabella will be at nursery - the first day alone since Isabella was born almost 14 months ago! What to do?? I'll probably just enjoy working on Isabella Mai-de and this blog with a hot cup of tea. Hope you all have a lovely long weekend, whatever you get up to :)

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BABY STYLE: A week of outits #43

Aside from work, this week has been filled with exciting preparations for Isabella Mai-de. All of my plans, products and spreadsheets are ready to go, so it's now a waiting game until the launch date - Wednesday 25th May 2016! I will be selling my hand stamped children's clothing on the isabellamaide Instagram account and via the Isabella Mai-de tab here on my blog. I'm so excited (and extremely nervous) to share the designs and receive feedback. There may be a sneak peek of one of the trial designs in this post, but I'm not saying anymore than that! You'll have to check back on Wednesday 25th May to see the whole collection :)

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BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #42

This week has been a VERY big week - two very exciting things finally happened. Firstly, the plans for starting a new venture are really starting to take shape now. I will be selling selected summery designs from my hand stamped baby and toddler clothing range!!! I can't believe I've been brave enough to take this leap, it's very unlike me. I'm just so excited to start creating new designs, making unique hand stamped clothing for your lovely little people and seeing the way you style them. I have been working hard on the summer collection this week and without giving too much away expect bright colours, fruity designs and nautical themes. I hope you're as excited about it as me - if you want to follow the journey and be one of the first to find out when the selling begins follow the 'isabellamaide' instagram account where it will all be happening! 

The second exciting thing that happened this week is that this blog finally became self hosted, now it's www.treasureeverymoment.co.uk. It's something I've been meaning to do for a long time, so pleased to have finally ticked it off the to-do list. Now to work on increasing my DA! 

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BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #41

Well hasn't the warmer, sunny weather been lovely this week? On my two days off Isabella and I have spent hours playing in the garden, collecting stones, going on the swing, practising her walking and having our first ever picnics together. These are the kind of days I dreamt of when I was pregnant and I couldn't be more filled with love for these days. Spending time showing Isabella the big wide world, that she has so much to learn about, is truly an honour. However, we do now need to work out how to teach her to explore safely. Any tips? Roll on the summery outfits...

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BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #40

This week has truly flown by - I was back at work, Isabella was back at nursery and now we're looking forward to a long bank holiday weekend together as a family. Isabella came out of her most recent 'developmental leap' this week and there's been such a change. She's so much more smiley, giggling at everything (even me and that's usually saved for "Dada") and the tantrums have been few and far between. Isabella learnt to stand up from sitting all by herself this week and has suddenly become so much more confident with her walking. We even walked to the village shop together, hand in hand. It took a while, but was one of the moments I had dreamt about since before she was born. So special.  Last weekend I also set up a Pinterest account for my blog, which you can see here. I'd love it if you could check it out and perhaps hit the follow button - you'll find baby/toddler style, tasty recipes, baby friendly munchies, craft activities, home dreams, hand stamping, children's bedroom inspiration, parenting etc. :)

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BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #38

This week has been a really positive one - Isabella is now eating more and sleeping longer at nursery, I had a good half week at work and filled the other half with seeing friends and family. Sometimes I get nervous about filling up my diary with seeing people because it means Isabella doesn't nap for as long, often resulting in less sleep at night. But this week I've realised I need to change this attitude and embrace everyday as it comes. Recently Isabella hasn't been sleeping well at night whether we go out for the day or not, so why not have a lovely day anyway?! 

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FIRST BIRTHDAY: Isabellas Outfits...yes there were two of them!

For Isabella's first birthday I had been searching for her birthday outfits. Yes...outfits, because if you can't wear two outfits on your first birthday then when can you? I really wanted an outfit that showed Isabella was turning 1 and a 'party' outfit for when her birthday party began in the afternoon. 

BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #35

This week Isabella started her settling in sessions at nursery, which thankfully went really well (you can read all about them here). We didn't leave a very long period of time to settle Isabella into nursery, about 2 weeks, so it's such a relief she is enjoying it. One day when I went to pick her up she had a completely changed outfit, due to trying to dive into the water box! Apparently many of the other children then tried to follow her in, causing havoc and a lot of outfits need changing. Whoops! All good fun though. I've been using this time to do work, blogging and most importantly preparing for Isabella's first birthday party...one week to go :)

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DIY: Easter Inspired Hand printed Leggings

Easter last year passed in a blur of pregnancy, labour and meeting Isabella for the first time, in fact she was born on Good Friday last year. It meant that we didn't get time to eat our body weight in Easter eggs or appreciate all things Spring. So this year I've enjoyed having a much more relaxed run up to Easter and completing a couple of craft projects too. I've written about my new hobby of hand printing baby clothes here and thought I'd create an Easter inspired outfit for Isabella.