Wednesday 27 March 2019

Décor tips for a colourful interior design both you and your kids will love


As a mum, you probably spend quite a lot of time at home with your children. Even if you might not have thought about it that much, the way you interior design looks like can actually influence your mood and state of mind. 

* Sponsored guest post

Besides comfort and functionality, your home should also benefit from visual appeal, and if you have neglected the premises’ aesthetics for a long time, things might not actually be great in this department. Giving some new aesthetical touches to your interior doesn’t have to be complicated, pursuing a few decorative projects being all it takes to obtain the desired improvement. Because this is a household with kids, you will need to take this into account when you are making visual changes around. A colourful approach in terms of décor is the recommended option here. 
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Wednesday 20 March 2019

The Ultimate Guide for A Family Trip to Disneyland Paris


A family holiday to Disneyland Paris is the experience of a lifetime for both children and parents, yet they can require quite a lot of planning. The opportunities are endless at Disneyland Paris and you have the chance to experience the unique magical atmosphere that exists in one of the world’s greatest theme parks.

* Sponsored post

Here is the ultimate guide on how to plan a family trip to Disneyland Paris, to ensure that you and your children make the most of the place where dreams really do come true.  
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Tuesday 19 March 2019

Sullivan so far - three month update, baby number two

So, our little Sulley bear is three whole months old now - THREE! - and is just the sweetest soul ever. His face lights up with ease when he sees us, he's cooing all the time, making a good effort with grabbing for things and still sticking to the same routine, which helps as he is predictable, and we can't really complain about a thing.

You can read his five week update and two month update posts, but now it's time for Sullivan's three month update:


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Monday 18 March 2019

Loads of laughs at THSH

This past week alone, there's been two comedy events right up my street at Town Hall and Symphony Hall Birmingham and as blogger ambassador, I was excited to review them.



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Friday 15 March 2019

The Siblings Project - Ethan & Sullivan, February and March 2019

Ethan is still completely besotted with Sullivan and it's clear that the feeling in mutual. Their first month together went well, as they got to know each other and Ethan got used to being a big brother, and there being a baby in the house, for the first time.

And since then, their bond has only grown.

We are so proud of Ethan and how he has taken it all in his stride. He is a very caring boy, don't get me wrong, and was very interested and excited throughout my pregnancy. But I guess you never know how a child will react when a sibling comes along and with Ethan being five and a half when Sullivan came into the world, we did wonder if it might take some adjusting for him.

Three months in and Ethan still thinks Sulley is the best thing since sliced bread. Making up nicknames for him, giving him a fuss, barging into our bedroom in the morning just to see his baby brother, picking out toys he think he will like (of course, Sulley just stares wide-eyed at anything he is shown!).

As Sullivan's eyesight and awareness has grown stronger, he is working us all out and he turns when one of us walks into the room, or if he hears us speak. Especially Ethan. When he hears Ethan talk to him, his face lights up and Ethan seems to love making his brother smile and gurgle.

It's wonderful to see them together and to see how Ethan is doing in his big brother role. Long may it continue this way...!
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Tuesday 12 March 2019

Make mum say 'I just love it!' this Mother's Day - Rose Gold Personalised Picture Frame review

Mother's Day is just around the corner so if you're looking for some inspiration, I have a beautiful, personalised gift idea perfect to make any mum smile - a rose gold picture frame, complete with personalised engraving detail, from Ijustloveit.com.


When it comes to buying presents for any special occasion, I always tend to favour personalised gifts and love finding new places to shop and fun new gift ideas. Especially when you have no idea what to buy something, opting for something personalised is a great way to give a gift they will treasure and I think it shows just how much thought you have put into it too.

My Mum is one of those that always says she doesn't want anything, for her birthday, let alone for Mother's Day. In addition so some nice flowers or a potted plant when I next see her, I will be giving her something that she hasn't asked for but something I know she will love.

Ijustloveit.com kindly sent me this customised picture frame and I am so happy with it. It's a simple, sleek design in on-trend rose gold finish (which I have a real thing for) and you can add a personal inscription at the top and bottom to turn this into a unique gift.

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Monday 11 March 2019

Keeping our family car organised - competition to win a Surdoca car seat organiser!

With our family growing recently, a new car was on the cards and this week, we picked up our new wheels, which offer us more boot space and more room in general, so we're pretty pleased - especially as we travel regularly, to see friends and family or go on a staycation, so we were desperate for a bigger car that could carry all our stuff. Kids - babies, in particular - come with a lot of things, a lot of bulky things!

* Gifted / content collaboration

Because the car is new, I am more keen than ever to keep it clean and tidy. I am the main driver in the family and I am amazed at how quickly clutter can accumulate in our car, so everyone has a responsibility to look after it.

I even bought a new car seat for Ethan, because his was looking a bit grotty and I wanted a nice new seat that matched the interior. I know, I know... but this car looks so lovely, I am determined to ensure it stays looking its best!

Another new addition for our new wheels is this fab back of car seat organiser, from Surdoca. Perfect for families, I have put this on the back of hubs' chair so that it is positioned in front of Ethan and gives him somewhere to keep his drink, his toys and the odd snack (if he can be trusted...) within reach.

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Saturday 9 March 2019

Visiting Bright Minds Daycare, Jewellery Quarter, and why nursery can provide a bright start for little ones

When Ethan was small, I returned to work four days a week when he turned eight months old, and this soon became full time when I realised I'd spend my day at home with him on emails anyway. We always knew I was going to be a working mum and nursery was the option for us as we didn't have family who could help and we were keen for him to socialise and be around other babies and then children his age.

* Advertorial feature

When you become a parent, you want to do your best by your child and no doubt have read up about every which way of taking care of them. But you learn on the job, and you become the expert on your baby. For me, as Ethan got older, I knew there would be a limit on the experiences I would be able to offer him - after all, I have no formal qualifications to look after a child, so I really thought to myself, what do I know?! - and I was keen to introduce him to some structured learning in an environment beyond what we could offer.

So whilst the first day of nursery was really hard (for me), and days following on from that, I soon saw how much he was benefiting from his new routine, new pals and new stimulation.

And if I were to sum up the brand new Bright Minds Daycare nursery at Summer Hill Terrace, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, it would be just that - stimulating.

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Monday 4 March 2019

How to use hair chalk - from parties and festivals to World Book Day

I am a child of the nineties and have fond memories of the days where body glitter and hair mascara were the go-to looks for teenagers. Fast forward to today, and whilst the beauty faux pas of my youth are behind me, there are some trends that have evolved and one is temporary hair colour. Forget the sun-in and spray in colours - the kids (and big kids) of today can use hair chalk to add a flash of colour or change their look, be it for a party, a festival or even for World Book Day, which is later this week.


I was kindly sent some fab hair chalk pens by Pixielots, which come in a set of 12 different colours of the rainbow, and launch this month at just £14.99 (although they're currently on offer for £9.99). I wanted to share them on here as they are super fun, easy to use and could be just the thing if you have children who like to dress up or if you're the one that wants to get a bit creative.

Having recently gone blonder, these hair chalks show up really well on my locks and are easy to apply, wet or dry.



Great for a pop of colour for a party or if you're off to a festival this summer, you could get really creative with them, especially if you're able to style your hair (I can't even manage a proper plait!) as you could shade different sections, or the ends, to a colour of your choosing.

They wash out really easily, and work on all hair shades, so are worth looking into - if you want to change up your look, or perhaps if you're looking for a safe, quick and non-permanent way to get into character. Great if you're recreating a favourite character for World Book Day!



Follow PIXIELOTS on Instagram for more hair chalk inspiration.



* I was sent these chalks free of charge, but under no obligation to review on my blog.
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