20 Ways for kids to connect with nature during lockdown

We all know that getting outdoors, in the fresh air and connecting with nature can be beneficial for both our physical and mental wellbeing at all ages so striking the balance between being safe, following government guidelines and still keeping a connection with nature, especially for my two young boys has been a priority of late. While the world feels anything but normal having a sense of normality for a family unit is important as children will without a doubt also feel any stress or worry an adult is exhibiting. Unlike some other European countries we are still able to go outside, for an hour, once a day for exercise and as long as it's safe for you to do so, especially if you don't have a garden, terrace or a balcony, I would encourage you to use this time, to help with perspective, mental health and physical wellbeing for not only the adults but also children. The focus should remain on exploring your local environment, staying within walking distance of your ho......

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Body Positivity in motherhood

Body Positivity - the hot word right now and for the right reasons although I often feel people get little confused about what it means and feel it only fits to one section of society or is an excuse for women to wear inappropriately short shorts which simply isn't the case and it's something that can really affect us all. Body positivity isn't about size it's about how you feel in your body wether you are petite, normal or plus size and what bothers one person about their body will not be the same for others but that shouldn't devalue their feelings. For a long time for us ladies (of course men are also included in this) the media have sold what an ideal women is and that just isn't reality in fact the typical 6ft size 6 model is very much the exception and not the rule and that has left us all feeling inadequate when it comes to how we think we should look and society perceives us. Before I had children I didn't have that many hang ups, okay I was......

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My Ultimate Pre-Holiday checklist for families

A relaxing and enjoyable family vacation can be one of the most rewarding experiences anyone could ever hope to share with loved ones. Or it can prove an unmitigated disaster that you almost immediately regret. Often, whether your vacation is a success or sinks depends largely on your preparation for it. So, to make sure your next family vacation gets off on the right foot, check out this definitive list of everything you need to do –– before you hit the road: Get the Papers in Order If you’re taking your family on an international adventure, then you’ll need to ensure you all have the proper paperwork first. Visas, identification forms, and/or passports all need to be up-to-date and correct, otherwise your dream holiday could get stalled at the starting gate and it's surprising how many people don't check the expiry on their passport and especially with children's passports which need to be renewed more often than adults. Take some time a few months before to get ......

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6 Meaningful Ways to Fit More Exercise Into Your Life

Sometimes it seems there isn't enough time in the day to do everything. Most of the time, people tend to prioritize other tasks and forget to take care of their health. However, there are many ways to fit small exercises into a busy schedule throughout the day. If you wake up slightly earlier, you can easily gain some precious minutes to work out or go jogging. But in case you need some extra motivation, finding a willing companion might be the best course of action. Another option would be to enjoy the outdoors and engage your kids in some outside games, in fact I've written a post before about some ideas on keeping fit with your kids . Exercise Early in the Morning The easiest way to find more time to exercise is to create it. By waking up 30 minutes earlier, you have now created enough time to go for a walk or jog around the block. Some people plan their workout in advance by setting out their workout clothes, running shoes, and water bottle the night before s......

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Win a pair of Emma Bridgewater DAB Radios

I don't know about you but I love when form and functionality come together so well especially when it involves music. My VQ , a Independent British audio brand does this perfectly with sound and style being forefront to their brand ethos and they have created some very unique and stylish retro inspired digital radios, collaborating with designers such as Emma Bridgewater and Lulu Guinness to create something that is classic but modern in equal measures. Both John and I collect vinyl and music is something that is very important to us, especially as my eldest is starting to develop his own likes and dislikes when it comes to musical choice (my youngest just dances to everything right now) and we want to continue to encourage his interest in it. I still remember the first time I got my own radio, I was very excited and it was my pride possession for years. We feel our 7yr is at the age he can have his own radio and this Men at Work print is so much fun and perfect a cool kids ......

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How to talk to children about cancer

So this post deals with a more sombre topic than usual but it's something that has been on my mind and have had to deal with lately so I wanted to share my experience on talking about this subject in a sensitive an respectful way to your children. Earlier this year I lost one of my oldest and dearest friends from South Africa to colon cancer, she was only 32 and despite losing my Aunt to breast cancer a few years prior this one was hard for me to get my head around, it was all so unfair. My eldest son luckily had the chance to meet my best friend when she was over here with her boyfriend and we all met up in London before the cancer diagnosis. When I found out about the news my son knew who I was talking about, he knew she was ill, he knew she had cancer but children always look to the positive, he just kept saying to me "she is going to beat it right, beat the cancer". I didn't want to scare him but as the end came near I didn't want to lie either so ......

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5 sweet & simple things to do this summer

Summertime in the UK is a glorious season (when the rain lets up that is) of sun, garden parties, Pimms and outdoor adventures. I love when these warmer months roll around and I can break out my go-to summer outfits and enjoy spending time in the fresh air with the kids. There’s quite a few things on my to-do-list this summer, easy days out and new places to visit and as always we have a bucket list of things we try to achieve each year. If you need a little inspiration – or just want to get the kids out of the house – here are five small things to bring you and your family some enjoyment this summer. Pick your own fruit One simple joy in life is being able to harvest your own fruit and veg, whether it be in your own allotment or garden, or at one of the many farms around the country. We have a small vegetable patch in our garden but this past year we have taken a break, mainly because my 2yr finds pulling everything we plant out as a game we are going to focus on n......

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A Mini Break at The Vale Hotel, Wales

Whether it be near or far a mini break as a family is always something we look forward too especially when its in such a beautiful location of that of The Vale Hotel which has so much greenery surrounding it. The Vale Hotel and Resort is only around a 20 minute drive from Cardiff city centre yet you instantly leave that busy city life behind you for a far more tranquil spot. This hotel is very popular spot with Golfers and those looking for somewhere that is stylish and relaxing but with easy access to both the city, coastline and beautiful boutique towns such as Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan. We have actually been to the Vale Hotel a few times before as wedding guests or to use their amazing gym and spa facilities but we have never actually stayed the night so I was really interested to see what it was like having a little bit longer here instead of our previous flying visits. This time of course we also had the kids with us and as they actively encourage families to vis......

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A Guide to buying kids beachwear

Everyone needs a vacation, even if it's just a night away and a seaside getaway can be really good for the soul as it's known that the ocean has a real calming effect on people. If you are planning to escape to the beach sometime soon with your little ones for complete unwinding and relaxation, you have reasons to choose proper kids' beachwear. The beachwear will not only make your child stylish but also it will make him/her comfortable and with most offering UV protection it's also saving your kid's skin from sun damage. What is beachwear for kids ?   Children and baby swimwear is actually the mini version of an adult’s swimwear. There is no difference besides the print and slight change in the design. But this doesn't make it an easy decision, choosing beachwear for a child is much more difficult and challenging than choosing for an adult, due to the wide range of prints available. So when deciding on the swimwear for your kids, make sure you have the......

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