STOCKING FILLERS UNDER £10: Christmas Gift Guide 2017

This is the final Gift Guide for 2017 and it's all about stocking fillers! Helping Father Christmas out is perhaps one of the most important jobs of the festive period, so this Gift Guide is filled with affordable inspiration to help with writing those wish lists this year.

STYLE: A Week of Mummy and Daughter (Breastfeeding Friendly) Outfits

Breastfeeding brings a whole array of logistical challenges, whether it be where to feed, trying to feed on-the-go or finding suitable clothing. Back when I was breastfeeding Isabella I really struggled with adapting my wardrobe to not only suit my 'post baby' body, but also that were nursing friendly. I spent many months feeling really self conscious and unsure of how to approach this new way of life.

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!

Day 1

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 #58

This week has been crazily busy with so much to do, a toddler to entertain and guests over. This has meant that the week has passed in a flash, with not a moment to relax. I've also been having car issues, long story short my car is old and I need a new one. However, the worrier in me is really scared about driving another car so I'm putting it off. Resulting in a trip to the garage and a loss of £50. I need to be brave and go and buy a new car, but which one? Do you know of any good small/medium (but big enough for a car seat in the back and pram in the boot) family cars?

Day 1

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 :)

Day  1

BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #46

Another week has flown by and yet it still doesn't seem like summer! When will the sunshine make an appearance and stay?! Trying to keep Isabella entertained inside has its limits, so I can't wait to be able to get back outside more. Isabella's comprehension and vocabulary has improved so much recently, she can now say 'duck', 'hello', 'muma', 'dada', 'kisses' and 'gone'. It's so strange hearing her say actually words, she just seems too small to be able to understand! We've been preparing for Father's Day all week, with various card making activities, cooking and wrapping presents. It's harder now because I organise my husbands Father's Day as Isabella is clearly too young, as well as my own Dad's. Splitting our time fairly is a big cause of guilt for me, but guilt just seems to be a 'thing' once you're a parent...oh joy.

Day 1

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?! 

Day 1

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 :)

Day 1

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. :)

Day 1

BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #39

Isabella has been really poorly this week, all starting with a rather unpleasant sick episode on Sunday night. We then had two days of her being sick and three days of feeling very poorly. She obviously didn't go to nursery and we had to juggle our first 'poorly child and we work' situation. My husband ended up taking Monday off and then I had to have Tuesday and Wednesday off, resulting in major cabin fever and lots of cuddles. Luckily by Thursday Isabella was feeling a lot better, by Friday we were back at soft play and dealing with all the tantrums! 

Day 1

BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #34

I've completed/survived my first week back at work after maternity leave! It's been a busy, tiring yet good week - I didn't find it half as hard as I thought I would, though Isabella was with family and not nursery. We start her settling in sessions next week, but I'm feeling positive about them. She didn't cry once when I left her this week, so I'm hoping she continues this attitude when at nursery otherwise things could get harder. It was nice being back with my friends at work and getting stuck into all things work. Looks like I'll be going to be at 8.30pm on work days now though!

 Day 1

BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #33

This week has been my last week of maternity leave - a full year since I last went to work and I'm feeling a mixture of emotions about the impending return. I'm excited to switch the 'work' side of my brain back on again, though it's going to be a challenge initially - stringing a sentence together can be hard some days! I'm apprehensive about settling Isabella into nursery and just leaving her in general. I've really been trying to look at this next chapter in our lives as a positive thing, after all it's going to happen whether I like it or not. As a result of going back to work I've been thinking about what to do with these BABY STYLE posts. I won't be getting Isabella ready in the morning on the days I'll be working (three days a week), so I'm going to reduce the number of outfits to three per week. This way we can still continue these posts, without putting the pressure on my husband to take outfit photos in the morning before nursery. I hope you'll still enjoy seeing what Isabella wears on three days of the week.

Day 1

BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #30

In honour of Valentine's Day tomorrow Isabella's been wearing all the hearts this week. Despite the fact that my husband and I don't actually do anything for Valentine's day. It's been a lovely relaxed week, with visits from family and trips to the park. In fact a good couple of trips to the park, which Isabella loved! The swings are her favourite, seeing her smiling makes me very happy so lots more trips to the park are needed in the future. We also braved soft play again and had to drag Isabella away from the ball pool and flashing rocking horse!

Day 1

BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #25

This week was back to normal with my husband back at work and all festivities over, which was both nice and sad. I've loved having two people on the parenting job, but I was looking forward to having mine and Isabella's little routine back up and running. Now that we're into 2016 it doesn't seem that long until I return to work so I'm determined to make the most of every single day. We've spent so much time playing this week with all of Isabella's new toys and enjoying being out and about now it's quiet again. Quality Mummy and daughter time is the focus of the next few months!

Day 1

BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #22

So it's only 2 weeks until Christmas Day now - how?! Though I've finished all of my Christmas shopping I still feel very unprepared. The to-do list just keeps getting longer with wrapping presents, festive baking, family get togethers, handing out Christmas cards and inevitably helping my husband sort out his families presents too...there's not much time! Yet I find myself painting my nails ready for my work's Christmas party while Isabella naps, not the most essential job but a relaxing one nonetheless.

Day 1

BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #21

This week we had our first Christmas party at one of our lovely NCT friend's house! So exciting seeing all the babies dressed up in their festive outfits, we went for the robin tu-tu bodysuit on day 5. I'm really looking forward to getting Isabella's Christmassy outfits out now that we're only a few weeks away from Christmas - eekk!
 

Day 1

BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #20

Christmas preparations are really stepping up a gear now, with a big gift shopping day on Black Friday. I definitely didn't wake up at 3.30am and spend 1.5 hours looking at the online deals that had been released at midnight and I certainly didn't regret it in the morning when I hadn't bought one thing!! Whoops. However I managed to get a couple of good bargains online while Isabella was napping, thank goodness for her 1.5 hour naps lately! I had made a very long list of items I was looking for and was actually pretty impressed with the variety of deals available. Can't wait to receive my goodies now! 

Day 1

BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #19

This week we've been absolutely loving this really cosy romper from Little Green Radicals, it's double layered detail has been perfect now it's so cold. It's made from 100% pure organic, Fairtrade cotton, which is ideal for keeping Isabella's skin  free from heat rash (see my Winter Skin Care with Bepanthen blog post for lots of advice on caring for babies skin during the colder months). The hood has also been helpful for the short trips out we've made this week, it keeps her warm enough without me having to remember to pack a hat everywhere we go!

Day 1

BABY STYLE: A week of outfits #15

After a couple of long weekends away in a row it was nice to get back into our Mummy Daughter routine again this week. We went to Hartbeeps on Monday, which had a fun Halloween theme and it was our last one in the smallest baby group. Next course we're moving up to the 'sitting to walking' class - how Isabella is already in that class beyond me! Time is flying by. There are also a lot of birthdays around this time of year in our families, so there were a few trips into town to buy cards/wrapping paper etc. Wrapping up the presents got me so excited for the mass Christmas present wrapping that will be here in no time!

Day 1