Living Arrows - July 2020



I wasn't going to post anything this month. I didn't get my camera out as much as I liked to and quite frankly, most of July featured terrible weather - so most photos were so dull and dreary. I convinced myself to post something, as I know that I will like to look back on them in the future - here is last month's post for your consideration. I did find these two shots, hidden between pictures of review toys, and although they aren't all that interesting they pretty much sum up the month. We've all been feeling lockdown so much more in July - especially when the government put restrictions on Lancashire again. We are feeling a bit deflated and I know many other families will be in the exact same boat. Here's to a better August.



Living Arrows

Disney Marie & Thumper Plush Soft Toys from Siso Toys UK - Review


AD - We were sent these products for the purpose of this review.


Disney is near and dear to many people's hearts and it's no different in our family. We love the classic Disney films and the new - Disney+ has been a lifesaver during lockdown! I also have a secret to share - Noah and Ava don't know it yet but we are going to Disneyland Paris next year! With this in mind, you can understand how excited I was to accept some of the new Disney Plush toys to review.

Brought to you by Siso Toys UK there's an array of different Disney characters to collect. The new range features classic characters that we all know and love, favourites from Bambi, The Aristocats, 101 Dalmations, Lady & The Tramp, and more. They are also available in two sizes, 17cm & 35cm, with a third size, 25cm, being released later on in the year. I'm glad we didn't have to choose which ones we wanted to review as we would struggle because they are all so beautiful and many of them are our favourite characters.


We received a 35cm plush of Marie from The Aristocats - RRP: £19.99 and a 17cm Thumper from Bambi - RRP: £9.99 for the purpose of this review. As you can see they are very true to their characters in the classic movies and they are absolutely adorable. You can't beat a classic soft toy, especially when they are made to this standard. The attention to detail is astounding and they are so soft and cuddly.


Ava has cuddled both plushes ever since they arrived and the day they arrived she insisted on watching The Aristocats and Bambi with both sitting on her lap - as you can see by the photos above. With so many Disney characters being immortalised by film I can imagine this collection will be ever so popular. As well as the Classic collection, there are more of Disney plushes to collect 
across a variety of ranges, such as Frozen 2, Toy Story, Mickey, Minnie, and more. The range is available to buy now instore at Tesco - I think we might have to collect a few more!


Is Polyflor an Eco-Friendly Solution?

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Many homeowners are now much more conscious to install eco-friendly and green products in place of their older housing fixtures, looking at multiple ways of how their house adds benefits and saves money.

Much like everything else in today's world, small steps toward a better outcome need to be taken. Going fully eco-friendly cannot be done overnight - however, some steps can be done within a single afternoon, starting from the ground up and slowly building towards the full transformation. When it comes to luxury vinyl flooring, Polyflor is committed to the green promise.

Popular Design

Being an interior design specialist recommendation for many years, Polyflor Camaro Rigid Core has been manufactured in line with the environment’s needs. It was not always the case, with prior vinyl products containing PVC made from highly toxic ingredients, which leech into the environment whenever produced or disposed of. This would harm human, animal, and plant life for many years until they innovated into greener products.

With the drive on manufacturing more eco-friendly flooring, Polyflor has moved away from environmentally harmful manufacturing processes. Consistently measured for safety and using adhesives that have the lowest possible impact on the environment, Polyflor is a reputable brand for high-quality, environmentally safe flooring.

Safe Environments

Polyflor factories meet the criteria for environmental and social practices, ensuring that everything down the packaging, transport, and storage is adhered to. The durability and design are not compromised by the amount of safety and eco-precautions put in place, with Polyflor flooring using compounds to soften the product whilst increasing its durability to make it last much longer than a real hardwood or stone product would.

Limited Waste

In choosing luxury vinyl flooring for your home, you can have sections cut to size to fully limit any leftover waste. With vinyl flooring as a recyclable product, any sections that are leftover or in the advent of any sections needing replacing, vinyl planks or tiles can be cut up and disposed of. Vinyl flooring does not require vast expense on specialty chemicals to keep clean, with simple warm water being enough to do the job. Vinyl flooring can be fitted within the course of an afternoon for those looking for a fun DIY exercise and can provide safety for your home for upwards of 30 years if cared for properly. If you look for greener steps, luxury vinyl flooring, such as oak herringbone flooring, provides the right steps toward a green home.

Top Tips For Travelling Abroad With Children


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Travelling is a big part of our life, especially when it comes to going abroad - it's one of our favourite things to do as a family. I have fond memories of visiting different countries as a child (although I never went anywhere exotic) so it's always been something I wanted to be able to experience with my own children - create our own memories in new places.

Noah and Ava have been fortunate enough to go on holiday numerous times already, both abroad and locally. Noah was two years old the first time he went on holiday and Ava was just 12 weeks old - everybody wanted to cuddle her on the plane! We had planned to take them abroad with us every year but of course, 2020 has been a write-off. When COVID struck we knew it wouldn't be on the cards for us this year, like many other travelers, and that was ok. There's always next year or the year after. We've already been pricing up holidays to Spain with Voyage PrivĂ© - it's something to look forward to.

I know that many people feel anxious about the thought of traveling abroad with young children - so much so that some of my friends have vowed to wait until their children are older, or refuse to even entertain the idea. Personally, I've found travelling abroad with babies and children relatively easy and it shouldn't be something that needs to be shied away from. With this in mind, I decided to put together some of my top tips for traveling with children.


Prepare everything in advance.
This is a no-brainer, but preparing everything in advance is the key to making travelling a no-stress zone. Weeks before we travel I create numerous lists; items I need to buy, things I need to pack, points I need to remember, and so on. I pack all of our cases at the same time and make sure that everything is ticked off before I zip up those suitcases. The night before we travel, I have the buggy and the suitcases lined up by the door and the passports, money, documents, and tickets secured in my hand luggage. I cannot sleep unless I have done this - travelling is perhaps the only time that i am this organised! I also recommend weighing your suitcases and hand luggage before you go so you don't have to reorganise your belongings at the airport.

Keep them awake at the airport.
We usually book flights for 6am as they tend to be cheaper and it means we don't lose a whole day due to travelling. The early flight times mean that we have to be up and out the door for 2am and although it's very tiring it adds to the excitement - the kids love it! We then attempt to keep them awake during the transfer and while we are at the airport so they have a nice sleep on the plane. It's usually quite easy to do because they are so excited to be going on holiday! 

Pack a flight bag for your child.
Speaking to fellow parents, I know that the flight itself is the part of travelling which they worry about the most. They hear and read stories about children screaming the entire time and them having to be seated next to complete strangers (honestly, just prebook and pay for designated seats for peace of mind.) In all the flights we've taken together as a family we've never had either of those problems and we haven't witnessed other children have them too. It's quite easy to keep children entertained and preoccupied even when in a plane, high up in the sky. My top tip is to simply pack a flight bag for your child - fill it full of new and old surprises for them to discover on your journey. Noah and Ava both have their own little rucksacks that they use every time we travel. I fill them with blind bags, books, stickers, play-doh, toys, snacks, and a favourite cuddly toy or two. I also make sure to take an iPad with me too but more often than not it's not needed as they often fall asleep mid-flight. When they do finally fall asleep, enjoy a gin or a cup of coffee - you deserve it. 

Do you have any tips that you would like to share?