2014, like 2013 and 2012 has been amazing. Ever since my Husband Adam and I married each other and decided to start a family together our lives have felt utterly incredible.
A Brand New Year!
2014, like 2013 and 2012 has been amazing. Ever since my Husband Adam and I married each other and decided to start a family together our lives have felt utterly incredible.
Me and Mine: A Family Portrait Project December 2014
Looking at other bloggers yearly round-ups of their family photographs for Me and Mine makes me feel sort of sad that I never joined in with this every single month.. I slacked, massively. BUT I am going to do it every month next year, I've promised myself. PLUS I'm committed.. the wonderfully talented Lucy from Dear Beautiful who created this amazing link up has ever so kindly asked me to help co-host next year, which to be honest was a massive shock and has made me feel really honoured (and of course, I excitingly agreed). The family snaps that come out monthly for Me and Mine from other bloggers are always utterly amazing and so I feel I really need to up my game when it comes to taking my own family pictures. I need to get creative, but mostly I need to remember to get us all in front of the camera!
And that's what Me and Mine is all about really.. getting the WHOLE family in front of the camera. As parents we are far too often the ones behind the camera snapping away at our family aren't we? And so I am utterly excited to say that next month and throughout the whole of 2015 I will be much more focused when it comes to my Me and Mine contribution.. and I'm so looking forward to it!
And that's what Me and Mine is all about really.. getting the WHOLE family in front of the camera. As parents we are far too often the ones behind the camera snapping away at our family aren't we? And so I am utterly excited to say that next month and throughout the whole of 2015 I will be much more focused when it comes to my Me and Mine contribution.. and I'm so looking forward to it!
What I Received For Christmas 2014
I have always been really lucky and super grateful at christmas time, I always receive such lovely gifts and it means a great deal to me, especially now I'm a parent and the main focus is essentially on Ethan.
I have thrown this post together super quickly just to share some of the wonderful things that I was lucky enough to receive this year from the people I love. :)
Managing the Household Budget: My top 5 Tips
Are you currently trying to save up for a family holiday, a house deposit or even something else? It can feel quite difficult to save when you first start and in the beginning you do feel such a long way off. But I've come up with some of my own tips on how you can manage your household budget to allow for more saving!
Our Christmas 2014
Christmas was absolutely wonderful this year, in fact it was probably my favourite christmas to date. There's just something so magical about being a parent at christmas, I think it's actually better than being a child at christmas!
I didn't really take as many photos as I usually would over christmas day and boxing day this year, mostly because I was sort of just caught up enjoying the moments. But I've got a few nice ones to share with you.
I didn't really take as many photos as I usually would over christmas day and boxing day this year, mostly because I was sort of just caught up enjoying the moments. But I've got a few nice ones to share with you.
Baby #2: The Moment I Told Adam He Would Be Becoming a Dad for The Second Time
Adam was at work at the time and Ethan was napping. And so I decided to plan a special 'celebratory' meal at Adams favourite restaurant where I planned to tell him that our family would be growing.
I told him that we were going to celebrate the fact that he had just gone part time at work to focus more on growing his home business and when we got to the restaurant I gave him a card that said how proud I was of him and how much I love him.
On the bottom of the card I had stuck a folded up post-it-note. On it I had written.. "P.S. You're going to be a Dad again. :)"...
Here's how he reacted.. :)
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How to sleep well
With so much of our thinking caught up in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to not give second thought to our sleeping patterns. And when you consider that according to the National Sleep Foundation we should spend approximately one third of our lives asleep, it's worth spending some time making sure that when you sleep, you do it well!
So here's a few pointers on how you can maximise you and your family's sleeping potential.
5 Ways You Can Improve Your Blog
The New Year is just a few weeks away, and naturally most of us will use this time of year for a little introspection. We'll ask ourselves what happened in the past year and what we can improve in 2015. This will involve setting new goals and steering ourselves away from the devil that is procrastination. It should also be a time to think more about your blog. With just a few tweaks you can breathe new life into your blog and exponentially increase your reader numbers. While you'll probably want to do your own brainstorming, here's a list of five things I've found have worked for my own blog this year..
A Special Announcement.. Christmas Came Early for Us! Baby #2
We have some very exciting news to share with you all..
Ethan will be becomming a big brother in June 2015 and we all just absolutely cannot wait :)
How to Get Your Baby / Toddler Used to Going Swimming
I'm not a keen nor strong swimmer myself and I've talked about this a lot here on my blog. But I do like to push Ethan to do things that I may not necessarily feel confident enough to do myself, and swimming is one of those things - I never want any of my own nervousness or anxiety to hold him back.
When we first begun swimming lessons, it's fair to say that we were as nervous as each other, but these days he's like a fish in water and I know that he genuinely looks so forward to Thursday mornings every single week. And quite honestly, that makes me a. very very happy and b. so very proud to see how well he is now doing.
Today I thought I would share some advice on how we went from our very first time in the pool in which Ethan screamed until we finally got out, to now pure joy and excitement every time he realises we are approaching the swimming pool from the car.
Our Christmas Home Decor
As you all now know, I love writing home decor posts, and so a Christmas-themed home decor post is one that makes me very, very excited!
This is our first Christmas in our new house and to be honest I really wasn't sure where our Christmas tree was going to fit in our living room, but luckily I managed to squeeze it in between the armchair and Adams Lego display cabinet. I actually think it's a bit of a good place for it, as it's harder for Ethan to reach (though he still tries!) and it's to the side of our wood burner, which when lit looks really cosy in the evenings.
Prezzo, Bletchley, Milton Keynes Review (Brand new branch)
Prezzo is one of my favourite places to eat out. Adam and I have been going to Prezzo together since we were 14 years old and so it holds a lot of special memories for us. Asides from all the wonderful memories we both have of eating out at Prezzo, we've never left feeling anything less than completely satisfied.
We've visited many branches over the years and always find the staff approachable, friendly and very chatty. They'll go out of their way for you. The food is always utterly amazing and we never have any complaints. The restaurants themselves are always completely clean and the decor is cosy, minimalistic and fresh. And it's for those reasons that we keep going back.
Training Today for a Better Tomorrow
If you turn back the clock four or five decades, you see an employment pattern that is almost unrecognisable now. Men and (to some degree, but not like today) women would emerge from school and enter work for a company. Three or four decades later, they would retire to find a generous pension waiting for them, if they were fortunate to work for a strong enough business.
Today, the pattern is much different. You still see men and women entering the career field, but the four-decade career with one company is almost unheard of in modern times. While this means less security for workers, it also means that there are more chances out there for you to increase your level of income, instead of being stuck in the same pay grade for years at a time.
Knowledge is everything
If you want to take advantage of these opportunities, though, you have to be willing to take part in training classes to expand your expertise. If you are interested in pursuing technological opportunities - and most of the fastest-growing fields involve innovative uses of technology - then the Microsoft training courses online are just one way for you to start enhancing your own suite of skills.
Baby it's Cold Outside + WIN a Trunki ToddlePak Harness
In the summer we'd be at the park pretty much every week. It's only a five minute walk for us from our house and Ethan really loves going. It's never packed as we live in a quiet little village, it's just an ideal place to go for when we want to get out of the house.
Since the weather has turned colder, we've stopped going. I'm a big baby when it comes to being cold and so I just haven't been able to bring myself around to the idea of spending any more time outside than I absolutely have to. But last week, I decided to brave it and with gloves, hats and scarves layered upon us, Ethan and I (oh and Charlie) went for a little walk together. He thought it was brilliant, and I suppose that made the numbness in my hands, nose and feet feel somewhat better.
Frankie and Benny's Review Milton Keynes
Last week we were lucky enough to have been given the opportunity to attend our local Frankie and Bennys restaurant in Milton Keynes, Xscape, to try the new christmas menu out.
Being great lovers of our food (all three of us!) we were more than happy to accept their lovely offer. The restaurant in Milton Keynes is one we'd never visited before and on arrival it was nice to be greeted by friendly staff. Here's how we got on and, of course, what we ate..
Lunchtime with OXO Tot + Giveaway
I've talked lots and lots before about OXO and OXO Tot here on my blog. I'm a really big, outspoken fan of their products and am always happy to collaborate with them whenever they ask if I'd like to. When it comes to quality and design I really struggle to find a brand that tops them and if you've ever owned any of their products then I'm sure that you'll already know exactly what I mean.
Today I've teamed up OXO Tot again, this time to talk about their baby and toddler feeding range, which can all be found [here].
Our Family Festive Christmas Jumpers
If you'd ever had asked me whether or not I was a fan of christmas jumpers before now, I would have firmly said no. I now know that I never truly gave them a chance, because they are utterly AWESOME and just so festive!
All of our christmas jumpers this year are from George at Asda and we are all so pleased with each of ours. We've had so many compliments on them when we've been out, especially so with Ethans mini-jumper, being that it looks super cute on him! They are all reasonably priced (see below for pricing) and really lovely quality too! Oh and I should mention totally warm! Mine's actually made from that super soft material, it's heavenly!
Children’s Christmas gift ideas for under £5
The best part of Christmas is watching your children's faces light up with joy, opening their stockings from Father Christmas. But finding the right toys to fill their stockings can sometimes be a challenge, especially if you’re on a budget!
To help, I’ve picked out some of the best kids toys all under £5 at discount store PoundStretcher, to help you keep costs down and most importantly keep the kids happy this Christmas!
Christmas Gifts Under £5 for Boys
Every child loves to dress up and at Pound Stretcher we have some great outfits for them to choose from. Dress up as a police officer in this fun outfit and let the games begin. This children’s police officer outfit is available from age three to four years old and comes with an authentic looking black and white checked tunic and hat for only £4.99.
Click here to shop http://www.poundstretcher.co.uk/toys/childrens-police-officer-outfit.html
Christmas Gift Ideas for the Person Who Has Everything
Every birthday and Christmas it’s the same struggle, what do you buy for friends and family who seem to already have it all? They wear all the latest trends, have the latest technology and their homes are full to the brim with accessories. You need to think outside the box and give them something unexpected and thoughtful rather than adding another pair of socks to their endless collection. Here are a few ideas to help you out:
WIN a £50 Voucher to Spend with Konfidence!
It's coming to the end of 2014 now and it's also nearing the end of Konfidence's swimologists programme (boo!). Ethan and I have loved working with them so much, we cannot thank them enough for getting us into swimming. They offered us the chance to take up 10 baby swimming lessons using their swim suits and products and though I wasn't sure myself as I wasn't a fan of swimming pools or swimming in general, I felt that I couldn't turn down such a fantastic opportunity for Ethan.
The Fifteen Festive Favourites Tag
I really enjoyed reading Hayley's (Sparkles and Sretchmarks) answers to the fifteen festive favourites tag and I was lucky enough to be tagged by her to answer the 15 Christmas-themed questions myself. (Thanks Hayley). So here goes, here are my 15 festive favourites..
Omega 3 For Vegetarians
EvirOmega by Efamol is their first pure fish free, plant based source of DHA and EPA extracted from sustainable and renewable marine micro algae.
The high levels of omega-3 in fish are a result of their algae diet, meaning that Efamol’s EnvirOmega is a supplement direct from the source.
Asus ME176 MeMoPad Review
I was recently asked by the PR for ASUS whether or not I would like to review their ME176 MeMoPad. I didn't own a tablet prior to this, so I agreed to review it and feedback my honest opinion. I should state right abut now, that I am in fact an Apple girl at heart, my Husband works for Apple and we both have the latest iPhones and other Apple gadgets and we love them. I'd never go back to any other brand of phone after owning all of the latest iPhones for years now.
My 1st Years Review + £20 Voucher Giveaway
If you haven't already seen it, it's worth having a little browse of the My 1st Years Christmas section over on their site. They have some truly wonderful gift ideas for children. So much so that I actually found it very difficult to pick out just one thing when they offered us something to review. But after lusting after pretty much everything, we finally decided on a personalised dressing gown. How could we not? It's perfect for this time of year! (I think I pretty much live in my own dressing gown!).
Christmas Gift Inspiration | For Toddlers + What we've brought for Ethan!
This year feels that much magical with Ethan being older. I feel like he understands much more than last year and it feels so special because of that. It's been much easier to buy for him this year too and I've sort of had to stop myself from buying anymore!
Here's the final decision of toys that we got for Ethan this year. Hopefully it'll also offer some inspiration for you if you are buying for toddlers this year too..
Here's the final decision of toys that we got for Ethan this year. Hopefully it'll also offer some inspiration for you if you are buying for toddlers this year too..
(Yay for christmas presents!)
Introducing PricePeg - Buying smart and getting more for baby
When I was expecting my first baby, I wanted the best I could afford for her but didn't want to spend too much. Obviously the first thing that came to mind was getting hand-me-downs - this is the advice that everyone gives and I maxed out my allocation I think! But in spite of being the first to have kids in the extended family, there wasn't as much around as I'd hoped. So my thoughts turned to the next source of saving: eBay.
What my Home means to Me + WIN £200 to spend at made.com
Being an introvert, I am homely sort of person. My home is my shell, the place where I go to completely chill out and relax. It's the place where I get to be with the most important people in my life. It's the place where I get to have it (nearly) exactly how I like. It's the place where I dream up my dreams. It's the place I get to have a good old cry if I want to. It's my special place. My home.
Christmas Gift Inspiration | For Him
They say 'ladies first' and that's exactly what we did, this years first ever christmas gift guide 'for her' was posted a couple of days ago and we hope that you hopefully got a little gift inspiration from it to start off (or even finish, if you're super organised) you're xmas shopping!
Today it's all about the guys and we've got some cracking gift ideas for the men in your life that they'll no doubt love!
Today it's all about the guys and we've got some cracking gift ideas for the men in your life that they'll no doubt love!
Christmas Gift List | For Her
Now that we are officially into December and are all buying our Christmas presents for friends and family. I thought it was about time to put some of own gift ideas up on the blog to hopefully inspire anyone who's sat there quietely thinking to themselves 'WHAT do I buy??!'
I'm kicking my festive gift lists off with what I think is a lovely choice of gifts for women! I hope you like my choices this year. :)
Dream Bathroom Inspiration Mood Board
A couple of weeks ago I showed you what my dream kitchen looks like, I had had so much fun putting it all together and so when the opportunity arose to put together a dream bathroom mood board featuring all of my favourite bathroom furniture at Bella Bathrooms, I couldn't resist.
Frameless hinged shower door // Freestanding bath // Bathroom floor tiles // Basin mixer tap // White high gloss unit // Diana wash bowl
My in-laws are currently redoing their downstairs toilet in their house and though it's a small space they've put in a new modern toilet and sink and it looks amazing, so we'd love to upgrade our own similar to the above.
In my head my dream bathroom is very white, with big mirrors, modern furnishings and possibly even has a window on the ceiling. Like the rest of my house, I like open, airy bright spaces and my dream bathroom is no exception.
What does your dream bathroom look like?
Christmas Energy Use
Today is the 1st of December and the countdown to Christmas has now officially begun (yay!). I am all about the christmas cheer and the festive spirit, but after receiving what was a pretty huge unexpected water bill through the post yesterday, it has made me stop and think about how much all of us use our utilities every single day and especially so during the christmas period and winter time.
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