The first picture is just a quick snap at our Grandparents house. We'd stayed for dinner and the kids had been playing in the garden in the sun. It was such a lovely afternoon. The bottom two are candid shots that were taken yesterday at Knowsley Safari Park. One on the steam train, the other on the carousel. Next month we should have some great shots together as we are off to Majorca. We are all so excited!
Mummy & Me - April 2018
The first picture is just a quick snap at our Grandparents house. We'd stayed for dinner and the kids had been playing in the garden in the sun. It was such a lovely afternoon. The bottom two are candid shots that were taken yesterday at Knowsley Safari Park. One on the steam train, the other on the carousel. Next month we should have some great shots together as we are off to Majorca. We are all so excited!
Birmingham & Beyond – 5 Pre-Flight Tips For Travelling With Children
- Post written by Robbie Handy
Project 365 - Week 17/52
Claudi & Fin Greek Style Frozen Yogurt Lollies - Competition
I took a box of them with me when collecting Noah from nursery last week and shared them out with all his friends. It was such a hot day so they made the perfect afternoon treat to cool down with. They walked out of the nursery, lollies in hand and with big smiles on their faces. It was so cute.
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LittleLife Butterfly Toddler Backpack - Review
We are no stranger when it comes to LittleLife Toddler Backpacks as Noah had one when he was a toddler too. He has a very cute Mickey Mouse design and loved wearing it out and about. It was a godsend for when he was finding his feet and we used it for quite some time after that too. It's great for nipping out to the shops with or for days out when they want to get out of the pram for a little while.
The adjustable shoulder straps and chest strap make the backpack supportive and comfortable, the best of both worlds. I found I had to alter them for Ava so it's great that there's the option to do that. I'll also be able to change it as she gets bigger too.
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Creating A Space Just For Me
We are currently undergoing a second renovation on our home. With the extra space we gain a bit of freedom when it comes to room options. Once we've finished the children will have their own bedrooms and we'll have space left over to create a little area for the grown ups. I envision it to be a little getaway area where I can sit down and enjoy a good book, or more realistically, sit down and work without any distractions.
I've already started to plan how I want the room to look and find that putting my ideas down on paper, or via blog post is a great way to brainstorm and document them. With that in mind I've started by choosing four pieces which I must have in our little hideaway.
I think the four items compliment one another tremendously and are pieces which could be reused throughout the house. The neutral tones against the copper gold would give a warm welcoming and authentic touch to the room. The golden accents from the Tear Flower Pot and Drop Tealight Holder would add to the ambience of the room and would give it a little Moroccan touch. I can imagine myself relaxing in the evening, sat on the Elba Lounge Chair, wrapped in the Opart Throw with a glass of wine in hand.
Depending on your area there are lots of different stores you can visit when it comes for inspirations for your home. If you live near Scotland then I'd recommend checking out furniture stores in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Project 365 - Week 16/52
Teaching Your Child Critical Thinking Skills
AD - This is a PR collaboration.
What parent doesn't;’t want to know how they can help their child with their critical thinking skills!? They’re integral to helping your child make good decisions in their lives. That’s why we’ve teamed with a nursery in Romsey to offer a guide on how you can help your child become a stronger problem solver.
Playtime
That’s right, playtime can help with critical thinking! Leaving your child with their toys, particularly toys like LEGO, cna help them when it comes to problem solving. Leaving them to their own devices to figure out how toys and games work is a very fun and engaging means of inspiring your children to engage their critical thinking skills, as well as exploring ideas of cause and effect.
Don’t Intervene Immediately
If you see your child struggling with something, your first instinct is likely to swoop in and help them. Avoid doing that if you can, as giving your child a moment to see if they can figure out the solution themselves encourages them to engage in critical thinking. It also inspires independence and resilience.
Encourage Empathy
Establishing empathy in your children from a young age is important for both critical thinking and their social skills. Being able to see things from a different point of view, and to consider other people’s feelings in their actions, are traits that will prove to be very important in their development. Engaging with characters in stories, and asking questions about how your child responds to each character, can be a fun way to engage a sense of empathy, and get your children to understand that people feel differently about a number of things in life.
Encourage Thinking in New & Different Ways
Even when your child figures out a way to do something, always ask them the question: how else can you do that? If your child is open to the idea that there are different ways that you can achieve the same goal, they’ll be more open to exploring new paths and new ideas that offer a different interpretation of what they’re used to.
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Do you have any garden tips you'd like to share with me?
Noah's Going To School
There's a reason for this sentimental post, it was school admissions day on Monday and Noah was given a place at the school that we wanted. It was such a relief and we are so happy. It's now beginning to dawn on me that he's starting school in September and it's so surreal. It's such a huge milestone.
The next chapter in Noah's childhood will be full of big changes with starting school. It will be just as scary as it is exciting but I'm trying not to think so far ahead. We have Summer and his remaining months at nursery left to enjoy. Starting school is so bittersweet but it comes hand in hand with growing up. I'm so proud of Noah and the little boy that he's become.
Trunki Ride On Suitcase - Review & Competition
I've been a fan of Trunki ever since Noah was a toddler. I was lucky enough to win one for him, just in time for his very first holiday, a week away at Bluestone National Park. Over the years we've used it so many times, just around the house, for days out and of course on holiday too.
With already being such a big fan of the brand I was delighted when I was recently offered the chance to review one here on the blog. With Noah already having one I decided to choose a suitcase for Ava. When looking at the range I really impressed with how much choice there is. From cats and dinosaurs, taxi's and buses, through to beloved characters like The Gruffalo and Paddington Bear. I decided to go for one of their classics instead, a lovely pink, blue and purple case named Rosie.
Inside there's a handy internal pocket, perfect for keeping things separate and safe. There's even a teddy bear seat belt, which is a lovely feature if your kids have a favourite teddy or comforter like Noah and Ava do. Keeping their possessions safe are two secure lockable catches which are located on the outside of the case.
The unique selling points of the Trunki is that it's of course ride-able. Featured on the design is a comfy saddle like seat, perfect for the kids to sit on when they are complaining that their feet hurt. The eye catching horns on the front of the Trunki aren't there for show but for children to hold on to for stability and to help them steer. There's also a tow strap which allows you to pull them a long on it whilst they sit comfortably and when they don't want to sit on it at all there's a handle which you can use to carry it. Trunki really have thought through their design and leaves little else to be desired.
Trunki prices start at £34.99 and the full range can be seen over on their website. How would you like to win a Trunki in your choice of design? To enter simply use the Gleam form below. Good luck and don't forget to enter my other blog competitions!
Terms & Conditions.
1. There will be 1 winner who will the prize mentioned above.
2. Prize sent directly by the PR.
3. Competition ends 20/05/18.
4. Incomplete entries with be disqualified.
5. UK entries only.
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Moving To A New Country With Your Children
Moving to a different country is a dream that many people share. The idea of being able to choose the location you call home is a beautiful one, but this process can be a big challenge, especially when you have a family to look after. Many people find themselves struggling with this process, unsure of what they need to do at each stage along the way. To help you out with this, this article will be exploring some of the key steps that you will have to take when you’re moving your family to a new country. Let’s dive right in.
Visas & Permission
You will need to make sure that you have permission to move to a country before you make any other steps in this process. This will usually be done in the form of a visa, and you can get your hands on this document using a number of different methods. For example, if you have a partner that lives in the country you want to move to, you could look at a spouse visa. But how much does a spouse visa cost? The price of this visa will depend on the country you are looking to move to.
Finding A New Home
Once you have a visa, it will be time to start looking for a new home. It will be best to try and have this organized before the move takes place, ensuring that you don’t have to spend time in costly hotels once you arrive in your new country. This process can be a challenge, though you will find it much easier if you have access to the internet and are willing to spend plenty of time looking around. Most countries have a lot of rental and purchase options for homes.
Finding A New Job
Alongside getting yourself into a new home, you will also need to find a job in your new home. If you have chosen a work visa, you will be able to do just about any job. Of course, though, it will be worth doing some research to make sure that you are allowed to work in your new country before you start looking for jobs. Once you are sure you are allowed to work, you can use online job directories to find the roles you want.
Moving Your Possessions
Finally, as the last stage in this process, it’s time to think about how you will be moving your possessions once you start your move. This can be hard, but there are a lot of international moving companies out there which can help you to start the process. In many cases, this will be faster than simply shipping your possessions, while also giving you the chance to keep them nice and safe.
As you can see, moving your family to a new country can be very hard. This process will take quite some time if you aren’t prepared, but you can get yourself ready for it by doing plenty of research before you take the plunge.