Collaboration | The Perfect Mums Night In

Christmas can be a stressful time for everyone but I personally find it so tiring. I don't know whether it's a Mum thing but I like to take charge and make sure everything is perfect for the big day. If like me you need to have a relaxing evening before the festivities begin then check out my recommendations for the perfect Mums night in.

Collaboration | What We Will Be Watching This December

There is nothing better than curling up on the sofa on a cold Winter's evening catching up with your favourite TV programmes. I want to have everything sorted for Christmas soon so that we can just sit back and relax in December. I have a few Christmas movies on my watch list but I also want to start a new series too.

Collaboration | Steps to Make a Bed Look Plush and Beautiful Like a Dream Bedroom

Chic sheets, plump pillows and sumptuous luxury throws are all crucial elements of a perfectly plush bedroom. But simply putting all these components together will not automatically create a ‘beautiful dream bedroom’. You will need to follow a few certain style steps to achieve a luxurious and exquisite bedtime resting place. Have a look at our steps below

Collaboration | Tattoos Are Not For Life Anymore

John has been talking for some time now about getting a tattoo. He only wants a subtle one on his lower arm near his wrist. He wants the black flag logo from the game Assassins Creed. He has asked my opinion and I have been very honest in saying that tattoos are not for me but it's his body and if he wants one then he should go ahead and get one. Times have moved on with regards to tattoos and they are not for life anymore. If you change your mind you can have laser tattoo removal done. I think knowing that this is available is making a tattoo more appealing to John right now.

Parenting | Preparing For Year One

It only seems like yesterday that little J was starting Reception but fast forward a year and we are almost at the beginning of his second half term of year one. For me this is when school really starts. I think it's been a big shock for him as in Reception it is mostly learning through play, however his classroom is very different now. There are almost no toys but lots of desks. He still seems so young and although he has lots of energy he does get tired quite easily as I've mentioned before. He's usually in bed before 7pm and needs his 12/13 hours sleep. John and I have discussed whether he may need to take a multivitamin as he is quite fussy when it comes to eating foods that are good for him. We were delighted when Bassetts vitamins sent over their Omega-3 + Multivitamins Orange Pastilles. They were just what we needed.

Collaboration | How To Create A Warm And Cosy Home This Winter

This year will be our first winter since our whole house had a makeover. Everywhere feels so fresh and new but it just needs some finishing touches to help create a nice warm and cosy feeling for the winter. We have already started buying a few little bits and pieces and Christmas decorations too. There is nothing better than snuggling up on the sofa while the weather is cold outside. We have created some tips for you all on how to create a warm and cosy home this winter.

Collaboration | 5 Ways To Make Some Extra Money Before Christmas

Those who know me, know I like to find ways to make a little bit of extra money each month. It helps pay for days out with the kids or a meal. This part of the year I start thinking about Christmas and how using Cashback Apps, Coupons or finding the latest deals can help save some pennies for my most favourite time of year. I've popped below 5 ways to make some extra money before Christmas.

Collaboration | How To Keep Your Home Safe

There's been a chill in the air the past few weeks and we've already noticed that it's getting darker much earlier than it was before our Summer holiday. It's always this time of year I start to feel a little anxious and probably more aware of keeping our home safe. We are very good at making sure our home is secure and we still use our Piper camera however darker nights and mornings attract opportunists so I've created a list of top tips for keeping your home safe.

Collaboration | 5 Reasons Why I Love Autumn

We have been so lucky to have such lovely weather that it feels like Summer has lasted almost all year so far. We have just started to have cooler nights which is perfect for me because I can not sleep in the heat that we've had, it's so uncomfortable. The change in the weather has made me think about Autumn and I am really looking forward to it. Here are my top 5 reasons why I cannot wait for Autumn to begin.

Collaboration | Creating A Space Themed Bedroom

You may have read my post yesterday about Little J's ambition to be an Astronaut when he grows up. He's really into Space at the moment and is always trying to make rockets out of plastic bottles or building spaceships out of Lego. I love how creative he can be at times and he will sit for hours trying to perfect his latest model. I hope his love of Space stays, as he now wants a Space themed bedroom. We have not long decorated his room however we just painted it, we didn't give it any type of theme as he wasn't really passionate about anything at the time.

How To Educate Your Child Through Gardening?

I have to admit that I never been been a huge fan of the garden. Although my mum and dad love gardening, planting flowers or just sitting out it's never been my thing. I've always said they could have been professional gardeners because they definitely have an eye for garden design. When I became a nursery nurse I found that a huge part of my job is outdoor play and how important it is especially with children spending more time indoors now on consoles and tablets, it’s important for them to know that enjoyment can be found outdoors, too.

Learning To Love My Body

I wrote a post recently about when we take little J to the swimming pool it is mostly dad's in the water with the kids. Whenever I look around it is mainly women watching from the viewing area, me included.  I know how much little J enjoys swimming and going to our local pool so I have promised to make more of an effort and visit the pool with him.

Our Top Tips For Moving House

I have mentioned it before on our blog that last year we had a full home and garden makeover. It was long overdue and although it took almost a year to complete if was definitely worth it. We did think about moving house first as we knew it would be quite costly to have a complete makeover but we also had to consider the cost of moving house. We made a Pro's and Con's list for staying and moving but in the end we decided we wanted to stay where we are. If you are in the process of moving or just even thinking about it, I have created a top tips list for Moving House I thought I would share with you.

Dealing With Unexpected Expenses

I am really looking forward to the Summer holidays this year and being off with the boys. Although we haven't booked a holiday or got any days out planned, we will be hoping to book something shortly. We have had lots of unexpected bills and expenses recently so unfortunately our savings had to come to the rescue. We often have months like this when we seem to pay out more than we expect and it is something that I do try and plan for because obviously you never know what's going to happen but unfortunately I hadn't planned well enough.

Exploring Cheshire This Summer

The Summer Holidays is one of my favourite times of year. I get the whole school holidays off with the boys and together we love planning all the things we want to get up to. Days out is usually top of the list as we love being out and about and this Summer we are going to be #ExploringCheshire. We are so lucky to live close to Cheshire as we get to experience all the fantastic things to do and see.

Designing My Home Office

You may have read my post recently about the pros and cons of working from home. Whilst I love having the opportunity to be able to work from home unfortunately at the moment I don't have a work space or office. As I don't have a desk I tend to just sit at the kitchen table which frustrates me sometimes as all my 'stuff' is spread about everywhere and I don't have anywhere to store it. I would absolutely love my own space in our home to sit at and do my work and I have lots of ideas on how I would decorate it.

What To Prepare and Pack Before Taking The Kids Abroad

This time of year, most of us are thinking about holidays. I love preparing for a holiday as I like to be organised and have everything ready quite early on. I think the earlier you prepare, the less stressful it can be. especially if travelling with little ones. I am one of those parents who has a huge tick off list of all the things I need to do, prepare and pack for the trip. These are my top 5 tips of things I prepare and pack before taking the kids abroad.

Limassol Wine Festival, Cyprus 2018

We have visited Cyprus a few times now and have another holiday planned. Other than the Disney parks its our favourite place to visit. Whenever you visit a new country or resort you are naturally a little nervous about what it will be like but as soon as we went to Cyprus we fell in love. Everyone is so friendly and families are more than welcome on the island. John and I were actually thinking about going to Cyprus, just the two of us for a little break and to experience one of it's many festivals it celebrates throughout the year. The Limassol Wine Festival looks amazing and it's the perfect time of year for us too in August / September.

The Pros and Cons of Working From Home

John and I are both lucky that we have the opportunity to work from home some of time. It has proved to be quite convenient at times however like most things it has it's pro's and con's. Most of our friends are now taking advantage of home working as and when they can, so it seems to be a choice some employers are giving to their staff.

Why A Hotel's First Impression Is So Important

Last weekend we visited a hotel that we have never been to before. I am always wary visiting new hotels as you never know what they are gong to be like. Obviously like most people, I visit trip advisor to check out other peoples views but for me first impressions are so important. The outside of the hotel and the reception are usually the first thing you see and it sets the tone for the rest of the hotel.