WEEKEND GETAWAYS
Beautiful Barnett Hill in Bloom, Surrey UK
Barnett Hill is a beautiful boutique hotel in Surrey that swept us away. It is also easy to get to, and once there it feels like you are in your own little world of relaxation and luxury. It is a half an hour from London, or a short forty-minute drive from Heathrow. We drove in ...
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BABY
NaturalMat -- the answer to better (and healthier) sleep
Since this little girl, who just turned nine, was a baby, Naturalmat has been a part of our lives. I was inspired by the product range on our Babyccino portal, before I even worked with Babyccino, while I was pregnant and looking for baby cots and soft fluffy sheepskin rugs. Naturally, Naturalmat was the obvious ...
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BOOKS
Brilliantly Designed Board Books for Toddlers from Quarto Kids
The excitement of new books never goes away in our home. Whether it is a trip to the library or a new book for a birthday gift, we always get excited for a new book. But I must say quite honestly, that as a mama of three kids, board books don't often spark joy any ...
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LONDON CITY GUIDE
The Snowman at Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre
'The Snowman' is simply one of the best books, films, and soundtracks of the season. But have you seen The Snowman's live performance in London by Sadler's Wells? If not, I assure you, it will be the highlight of Christmas. Think big heart-warming fun. Children oooh-ing out loud, and perhaps even the smallest tear or two ...
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CRAFTS AND DIY
Baby Bear Family -- all recycled materials make this sweet family keepsake
This is such a sweet and easy little activity. Great to make all year round, but especially wonderful to give as a little Christmas gift to loved ones that you can either pop in an envelope in the post or wrap for under the tree. I made these of my three little baby bears with ...
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HALLOWEEN CRAFTS
Mummy Lights -- Simple Halloween Spookiness
We are big fans of making our own Halloween decorations, and these Mummy Lights are so much fun and so simple I just had to share them. Did I mention they are perfect for last minute crafting and decorating as well? I will share a few material options too so it is more likely that ...
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CELEBRATIONS
Sandcastle Cake -- a show-stopping centrepiece
We had a very little birthday party celebration for our two year old, since we had just arrived the night before to our little holiday getaway by the beach. So to keep it very simple, I used some seashells as decorations, and then the seashell necklaces made years before for as accessories for her siblings! ...
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RECIPES
Victoria Sponge Heart Cupcakes -- Perfect for any picnic or tea party!
I recently made these sweet little cupcakes for my eight year old daughter's birthday picnic and simply had to share them as they are so delicious, and so perfectly pretty too. Victoria Sponge Cake, a staple of a British tea or celebration, is essentially a cupcake sandwich. A simple vanilla cake, filled and topped with ...
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BOOKS
Many Shapes of Clay -- A Story of Healing
This beautiful book, Many Shapes of Clay : A Story of Healing is written and illustrated by Kenesha Sneed, and it is an absolute treasure. It is a piece of art, every page filled with graphic shapes and sensitive lines to create the most thoughtful story on grief, loss, and celebration of diversity. It is ...
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EASTER CELEBRATIONS
Make an Easter Party out of an Easter Egg Hunt!
Instant Easter Egg Hunt party success : Hang up a bunting, put out a picnic blanket and make a central station for the children to gather. Bring some healthy snacks and some real food to balance out the inevitable chocolate and sugar high hit. We made it a little outdoor tea time! For games we ...
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PARENTING
A big chop for charity, donating hair for children who need wigs...
The photos are from a year ago, but the pride remains the same for my brave big girl who chopped twelve inches off of her hair for charity. She was then six, soon to be seven, and more focussed in her desire and more confident than her years, not flinching even once when she went in ...
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FOOD
Chocolate Guinness Cake perfect for St Patrick's Day
I like cake. For our wedding nearly ten years ago we had a cake buffet with four cakes at the end of the night, because I could simply not choose just one favourite cake for the occasion. One of our cakes was Chocolate Guinness Cake, or stout cake. Not because I love stout beer, or ...
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BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Best Tips for Celebrating Birthday Parties in Lockdown or Isolation...
Neither the words lockdown, isolation, or social distancing seem to conjure up the best birthday celebration vibes do they? A part of me just wishes we didn't even have this as a topic to write about. But, the world is the way that it is right now, and so, as my son's 5th birthday approached ...
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FOR MUMS
A Mother's Day Guide (to print out and pass on)
Hello Mamas! In many countries it is Mothering Sunday or Mother's Day this weekend, (including here in the UK) and so we wanted to create a mini cheat sheet of our favourites recipes and ideas to make the day extra special! We know what we would love to make an extra special day -- no ...
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HEALTH & CARE
Essential tips for children's eye health and prescription eye glasses -- tips from a parent that knows
You might not think you need to read this unless you think your child needs glasses, but I promise, it is worth it. I have learned some incredible information from various doctors, opticians, other parents, and eyeglass stores (like our new favourite eyewear shop I wrote about here, Auerbach & Steele). I have become a bit ...
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LONDON CITY GUIDE
Auerbach & Steele -- all your eye and glasses needs for the family under one roof
Welcome to our family's new favourite all-under-one-roof eye health and glasses shop! Auerbach & Steele. This is the place to go, for all ages, for all needs. A curated collection in a contemporary space. And a staff that welcomes you and is patient and caring for both your glasses wearing family members and for the ...
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CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS
The Rule of Four for Christmas
Something to want, something you need, something to wear, something to read. It's the rule of four, a friendly but mannered way to approach gift giving for adults, and children alike. A more economical, environmental, and sustainable approach to a season which has started earlier this year than ever before. Could we all peak too ...
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LONDON CITY GUIDE
Weekends Away -- Wonderful Windsor, Great Fosters, and delightful Duck Tours -- your weekend away
What an interesting opportunity we all have right now to plan ahead for travel to places we have always dreamed of. Or even to start a list of places we didn't realise were so close and so convenient, in the case of a recent weekend trip we took before the UK's second major lockdown of ...
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BOOKS
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse -- a book for all ages
Do you know The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse? It is a book for all ages -- from eight to one hundred and eight. And it is a book full of hope and full of positivity. The perfect book for a gift, but also, as a treat for yourself. This is the perfect ...
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CELEBRATIONS
Little You : A Beautiful Board Book
In November in the United States it is Native American Heritage Month and Thanksgiving is also just around the corner. So I wanted to share a lovely board book which is very timely called, Little You written by Richard Van Camp and illustrated by Julie Flett. This is a book written and illustrated by two Indigenous ...
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FASHION
Good Work Ethic & Entrepreneurial Teenagers
When I was growing up, and as teenagers, we didn't get an allowance. We didn't get pocket money. And we didn't expect to get all the things we wanted. This may sound harsh, but it wasn't at all. It was normal to us and totally fine. We knew that we could work, we could find ...
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AUTUMN CRAFTS
Infinite creative possibilities with Conkers
Even writing about this seems to simple and easy, but I want to plant the seed and let it grow. Conkers are fun to collect as the Autumn winds blow and the leaves fall. They are shiny, they are very soothing to hold. And they live inside of these tennis ball green husks covered in ...
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HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS
Brown-Butter Maple Popcorn -- perfect for all of Autumn's parties
We have been celebrating Halloween for weeks, because, why not? First we did these super simple and very effective oversized spiderwebs, and since then we have been layering decorations. We added in our pumpkins from last year. Our children love to dress up regardless of the season, so we just decided to make some of ...
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