Saltskin Wetsuits – rocking the beach this summer

30 Friday May 2014

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Saltskin

When we moved to Devon last summer we pledged to buy ourselves a wetsuit each. Living so near the beach means we spend a lot of time by the sea and it’s certainly not just a bonus we enjoy in the summer. The beach is for all year round, in my opinion.

Being in my pregnant state means that I haven’t got around to getting a wetsuit yet. Nor has the (self-proclaimed) Northern Love Machine. My daughter, on the other hand…

Saltskin Wetsuits

This is from the shorties range at Saltskin Wetsuits, possibly the coolest brand of wetsuits available for kids.  Continue reading »

The Blogger Bump Club Week 3 #BlogBumpClub

29 Thursday May 2014

Posted by in Pregnancy

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Blogger Bump Club

Somehow, I am hurtling towards being 23 weeks pregnant. Somehow, we’re in our third week of the #BlogBumpClub (the new blogger antenatal club!). And somehow, it’s Thursday of half term already. I swear time is speeding up for me at the moment.

That’s sort of how it’s been throughout this pregnancy actually. Although I felt really sick and tired in the first trimester, it did hurtle along pretty quickly. And now I’m already over halfway there it seems kind of unreal. I remember being pregnant with Frog four years ago and forgetting what it felt like NOT to be pregnant. Time seemed to move more slowly back then! Continue reading »

Confessions of a Pinterest-Party Mum

28 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by in Motherhood

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Pinterest Party

This time last year I was firmly in the No Party camp. It was a month before my daughter’s third birthday and her only request was to spend the day riding a pony, eating cake and opening presents. Easy. I was totally let off the party hook.

I looked on with amusement as friends organised parties for their soon-to-be three year olds. They posted Facebook updates about feeling stressed, alongside pictures of intricate handmade party invitations. “They’ve totally brought this on themselves,” I thought with smug disdain.

You see, I saw these mums and secretly judged their choices to host spectacular parties for their kids. To me, it seemed like the parties weren’t really for the children but were for the mums themselves, giving them the opportunity to show off their amazing motherhood skills – a chance for a bit of one-up-mumship, if you like.  Continue reading »

A bit of retro pretty from Yellow Mellon

26 Monday May 2014

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Summer dress from Yellow Mellon

When I first became a mum to a little girl, I didn’t realise that I would suffer wardrobe envy quite so soon. At the tender age of almost-four, Frog has a better collection of clothes than I do. Annoying.

Whenever we go into charity or vintage shops looking for the odd treasure, I often come out armed with something cute for her. She also gets given lots of clothes from generous family and friends (it’s SO unfair) and, of course, I sometimes treat her myself. I mean, how am I meant to resist when there are so many cool brands for kids around?!  Continue reading »

Dreaming of Paris

23 Friday May 2014

Posted by in Travel

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Paris Panorama

Photo Credit: Panoramas via Compfight cc

When I was 18 I went on a short break to Paris with my mum, dad and sister. It was amazing. We went to art galleries, ate in lovely cafes and I discovered the best bookshop in the world – Shakespeare and Company.

Since that short trip I’ve been dreaming of going back. I’ve never been to the French capital with my husband, but I know that if we were to go, we would have the best time. Living in the countryside means we love the odd break to a city (we honeymooned in Havana) and Paris is a city and a half. We also love a nice hotel, and a quick look on Hotel Direct shows there’s no shortage of those in Paris.

Last year the NLM’s cousin moved to Paris for work. Ever since then a mini break there has been even more real, as it might finally give us the kick up the backside to organise ourselves. Continue reading »

The Blogger Bump Club Week 2 #BlogBumpClub

22 Thursday May 2014

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Blogger Bump Club

When I posted about The Blogger Bump Club last week I was a bit worried no one would join in. Despite blogging for more than three years I’ve never hosted a proper linky before, and it felt a bit like organising a party and waiting for people to show.
But I was overwhelmed with the response and loved reading all the posts that were linked up. I found some new blogs to follow too, which is always a bonus.
We have a brand new blogger to add to the group this week – Karen from Well I Guess This is Growing Up announced she’s pregnant with her first baby! Reading Karen’s post about the first trimester made me realise how much better I feel myself now compared with a few weeks ago. Although I’m still exhausted in the evenings it’s nothing compared to the bone-aching tiredness of those first few weeks of pregnancy.

Continue reading »

Let’s talk about tyres (and not the one around my middle)

22 Thursday May 2014

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Tyres

Photo Credit: Idiolector via Compfight cc

Today I’m welcoming the team at Point S to the blog to talk about the important issue of tyres. OK, so it might not be the most exciting of subjects, but did you know that the tyres on your car are an ESSENTIAL part of your car safety? Of course you did. Well read on to find out how your tyres could be keeping your family safe next time you drive somewhere…

*** Continue reading »

Can you help us plan our Cornwall Adventure?

20 Tuesday May 2014

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Cornwall Adventure

A couple of years ago we had an incredible family holiday in Crantock, just outside of Newquay, at a place called Trevella Park. It was a special holiday for all sorts of reasons, not least because our hypermobile two year old had only recently started to walk. Watching her tottering around on the beach, running towards the sea, is a moment I’ll never forget.

Two years on and we’re returning to Trevella. Last time we stayed in a safari tent. This time I’ll be coming up for eight months pregnant, so as much as I loved the safari tent, I’d rather be near my very own toilet for those frequent nightly toilet trips. We’re staying in a luxury holiday home which has a loo, proper bedrooms and a kitchen and living area. I’m a fan of camping, but the comfort of a static caravan rather appeals to my pregnant side. Continue reading »

Just the two of us

18 Sunday May 2014

Posted by in Family, Motherhood

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Sunshine outside

I used to roll my eyes when doting parents would harp on about their children growing up too quickly. To me then, as a young woman without kids, it all seemed a bit sentimental. I mean, children grow up don’t they? They get bigger and move onto new exciting phases of development – it’s just part of life.

But now, as a mum myself, I can totally relate to that slight tinge of panic that your child is growing too fast.

As we hurtle towards Frog’s fourth birthday I’m reminded of this time four years ago. I was getting ready to go on maternity leave, nervous, excited and more than ready to welcome my baby into the world. We didn’t know if we were having a boy or girl, which – for us – added another element of suspense to what was to come. Continue reading »

Introducing The Blogger Bump Club #BlogBumpClub

15 Thursday May 2014

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Blogger Bump Club
I can’t be the only pregnant woman to develop a serious case of the nosies when it comes to other peoples’ pregnancies.
Whether it’s watching One Born Every Minute, reading pregnancy-related articles in Mother & Baby Magazine or simply chatting with other pregnant mums in real life and online, I can’t seem to get enough of the bump chat.
There’s something really comforting to know other women are going through the same experiences and can relate to weird cravings, getting up five times a night for a wee or simply worrying about how you’ll cope once the baby comes. Of course I realise this is all probably pretty tedious stuff for my non-pregnant mates (and husband), so I try to minimise the bump chat – or at least contain it – to others in the same bump “condition”.
Blogger Bump Club Banner
That’s why I thought it would be pretty cool to create an online antenatal club of sorts, for other pregnant bloggers to link up their posts about pregnancy each week, so we can “share the journey” (*cringey soppy wording*) with each other.

Continue reading »