Project 365 - Week 27

3rd July - 9th July

03/07/16

04/07/16

05/07/16

06/07/16

07/07/16

08/07/16

09/07/16

Where has the sun gone? For the entire week we've pretty much had rain here in Lancashire bar one day which thankfully we made the most of and blogged about here. It was such a great day and was certainly the highlight of our week that's for sure. The rest of the week we've just been playing indoors or heading outside in the garden when the rain seemed to ease for a moment but other than that it's been super quiet! We did go for a lovely lunch out with family today though which was nice but now Noah seems to be unwell. Keeping my fingers crossed for nice sunny weather next week and hoping that Noah feels better in the morning.


What have you been up to this week?

A Spontaneous Picnic with Higgidy #higgidypicnic

Sussex based pie and quiche maker Higgidy are currently celebrating the season of spontaneous picnics, come rain or shine! They are celebrating the pop up picnics under the kitchen table, secret picnic parties in the garden shed and unplanned picnics in random car parks and the quick run to the local park as soon as the sun comes out. To mark the occasion Higgidy have teamed up with British lifestyle brand Joules in a special on pack promotion throughout Summer where hundreds of Joules picnic goodies can be won. So if you pick up a pack and notice the Joules sticker, make sure to enter because you've gotta be in it to win it!

To celebrate the fun collaboration I was recently asked if I would like to take part in a blogger challenge. The aim of the challenge was to create a picnic spread wherever and whenever the moment takes me. We are always having family picnics and of course already loved Higgidy pies so it sounded like the perfect opportunity for us. 

A few days after I agreed to take part a huge hamper of Higgidy products arrived. Ham hock and petit pots quiche, peperonata and feta cheese quiche and feta and red pepper veggie rolls. It all looked so delicious and we couldn't wait to get stuck in. In fact I think we sampled a couple before we even had our picnic, they were far too tempting! 

Here in Lancashire we've not had the best weather lately so I decided to wait until the sun made an appearance before we went out and had our picnic. A couple of days passed and I thought you know what, rain or shine we are going to have our picnic today! 

So that's exactly what we did. I packed all our Higgidy quiches and veggie rolls, prepared all our favourite accompaniments and headed to one of our favourite places, Towneley Park. Once we got there the rain had just stopped so the grass was still dewy and the picnic bench was still damp but the place was deserted so we had the whole place to ourselves! 

It was great to get out in the fresh air and enjoy our #higgidypicnic dinner! The quiches are out of this world and it's no surprise we got through the lot of them in such a short amount of time, they are divine. After we had our fill of the picnic I packed up and we spent a good hour playing on the park, playing tag and picking buttercups. When we got home that evening all Noah could talk about was the picnic in the park, it must have been a success! 

Have you tried Higgidy pies and quiche before? What do you think of them? 

- In collaboration with Higgidy.

Top Family-Friendly Cities to Discover in Europe

When travelling with kids, you want to choose places that are not only safe for them but will also offer tons of fun and experiences that will make positive impacts in their lives. You certainly want your kids to have wonderful childhood memories that will become their ‘bonfire stories’ when they become adults, stories they will also share with their own children someday. With this in mind, Europe is definitely among your top choices as this continent houses some of the best cities that are family-friendly. And don’t worry about your transportation because many companies are specialised in luxury car hire in Europe like Primerent for example that offer high-end cars for short and medium term rentals. They guarantee excellent cars for families wanting to travel in comfort and style.

So, without further ado, here are five of the best family-friendly European cities:

1. Amsterdam

There’s more to Amsterdam than Heineken tours and the red light district. Its laid back culture is perfect for families, along with abundant kid-friendly food and activities like pancakes and biking around town, respectively. It also boasts several amazing museums such as the NEMO Science Museum, Van Gogh Museum, Ann Frank Museum, Tropenmuseum, and so much more. And, you will surely enjoy the Canal Tour that does not only offer a break for the weary feet but impressive sights, as well.

2. Dublin

There are tons of stuff for you and your kids in this city. Some of the must-see places include the Dublin Zoo, National Museum of Ireland – Natural History, Phoenix Park, and the Ark, a children’s cultural center in Templar Bar. Also, feed countless of ducks at Stephen’s Green, ride the Viking Splash Tour, visit the aquarium, hike up to Bray Head or just take a family stroll by the sea. If you are fascinated by history, you will also be thrilled to visit Glendalough and Kilmainham Gaol.

3. Copenhagen

If your kids are into fairy tales and castles, they will surely love Copenhagen where you can also all have a thrilling ride at the Tivoli Gardens amusement park. With beautiful landscapes, colourful buildings, wonderful culture, and the capital’s safest streets, you and your kids will surely have the best vacation. Don’t miss the famed Little Mermaid statue and the largest aquarium in Northern Europe.

4. Rome

For kids fascinated with gladiators and ancient battles, Rome is the city that blends history and modernity. A trip to the Colosseum and Ostia Antica, a splash in the Trevi Fountain, and a visit to the Vatican should all be on your list. Who knows, you might even be lucky enough to meet the Pope. And while pizza is plentiful, you will better appreciate Rome’s love for great food through the Elizabeth Minchilli’s food tours.

5. Paris

This is the most visited city in all of Europe and for many reasons. Your kids will surely be delighted with all the street performances in every turn and abundant food on every corner – crepes, baguettes and croissants! Everything in this beautiful city will leave you bedazzled. The Louvre, the Notre Dame, the Luxembourg Gardens and the Eiffel Tower - all these will absolutely mark your memories with nothing but greatness!

These five cities cannot define the wonder that is Europe. There are several places to see, stories to learn, food to taste and lovely people to meet in a lifespan. So, if you are searching for family-friendly places to discover in Europe, you can start with this list. Good luck and enjoy!

- Written in collaboration with Mary J.

Appy Kids Drinks - Review & Competition

I've never had an issue with Noah when it comes to food and drink. He's always ate whatever has been put in front of him and he also doesn't have a problem drinking water, he's really good that way. That being said every now and again I like to treat him to a juice carton which he always finds exciting and really enjoys. Appy Kids are a juice brand that I'd heard around the blogging community but hadn't tried them before so when I was asked if Noah would like sample some of their drinks I happily obliged. 

We were sent a couple of packs of the Orange & Pineapple/Spongebob, Tropical/Dora the Explorer and Apple & Blackcurrant/Turtles cartons to try out. When they arrived I noted how attractive they look and I love how they incorporate such beloved characters onto their drinks. I made the mistake of opening the box in front of Noah just as he was having his breakfast so I couldn't refuse letting him try one straight away. All three flavours were liked by Noah but his favourite by far was the orange and pineapple. So much so that every time I opened the fridge he would shout bob bob at the top of his voice! 

Appy Kids don't just get a thumbs up from Noah though as they also get one from me too. What I love about Appy Kids drinks is that they are made from natural ingredients, are low calorie, low in sugar and contain no artificial flavourings or colours. Appy Kids drinks are perfect for a treat every now and again and are ideal for trips out and for picnics. I would definitely buy them again and you can too at stockists such as Tesco, Ocado and Whole Foods.

I've teamed up with Appy Kids to give away a hamper of their fabulous drinks, see the photo below. If you'd like to win make sure to enter using the Gleam form below. Good luck and don't forget to enter my other blog competitions! 

Hamper of Appy Kids Drinks

Terms & Conditions.                                                                                                 
1. There will be 1 winner who will win the prize mentioned above.
2. Prize supplied directly from the PR. 
3. Competition ends 15/08/16
4. Incomplete entries with be disqualified. 
5. UK entries only.

A walk in the park

Yesterday was one of those days were I felt sheer and utter contentment and I just had to write all about it. Back when my maternity leave ended almost two years ago I was faced with a big dilemma which you can read all about here and in the end chose to not return back to work. I can safely say that it was one of the best decisions I ever made and there hasn't been a fraction of a second where I've regretted it. Perhaps if it was a job in which I enjoyed or a job in which I was valued but it wasn't.

Being a stay at home mum can sometimes be harder than going to a full time job because there are no breaks, especially when they drop a nap. You also get zero adult conversation so sometimes I miss that but I wouldn't trade my position for the world. By staying at home with Noah I've seen every milestone, heard every new word, wiped every snotty nose and kissed every grazed knee. I wouldn't of had it any other way. 

As I said in my opening paragraph yesterday was one of those days were I appreciated every moment. The sun was shining and after lunch we decided to take a spontaneous trip to Towneley Park. This is just a 15 minute walk from our house and surrounded my dense woods, ponds, parks, cafe's and even has it's own museum and art gallery.

Once we got there our first stop was to the park, Noah's favourite place. He hogged the swings for a little while before heading over to the giant sand pit where he ended up falling bum first into a moat of water some children had built. So he had a sandy and wet bum for the rest of the day but he didn't seem to mind! We then walked up to the cafe where Noah enjoyed an ice cream and I drank a diet coke in the sun. He then decided to show off in front of everyone there and ended up making friends with half a dozen old ladies. 

We then headed for Towneley Hall which is the heart of Burnley. It's a beautiful historical building which has now been converted into a museum and art gallery. We've been bringing Noah here ever since he was born but he's recently started to really appreciate it and is eager to learn and explore. His favourite things to view are the Egyptian Mummies, the puzzles and the animal and wildlife room. I like the art gallery on the top floor where there's a painting of the behind of a greek god and Noah shouted "Daddy's bum!" on the top of his voice! Toddlers are a laugh a minute aren't they?

We spent a good hour walking around the huge building, up and down many flights of stairs, even took a few rides in the lift. It was lovely to have that one on one time with no distractions. I'm already thinking of taking him back at the weekend because he seems to enjoy it so much!

By the time we had our fill of the hall we had an hour to burn before Nick met us after he finished work so we took to the fields. Like all toddlers Noah loves running round and burning off some steam and at one point he was running so fast that his pants and undies fell down and he just  stood there laughing his head off. Thankfully there wasn't anyone around to witness that part, ha ha.

Once Nick arrived we spent another half an hour running about and playing catch before we headed home for the night. We had such a great day and I can't wait to repeat it again soon.


Have you had a day lately where you get in bed at night and think "today was a good day!?" I'd love to hear about it! 

aden + anais Disney Collection - Competition

To commemorate its 10th anniversary, aden + anais has collaborated with Disney Baby for its first-ever Disney-inspired collection. Combining the magic of soft, breathable muslin with the wonder of Disney, the aden + anais x Disney Baby collection includes a range of the lifestyle baby brand’s most popular styles in 100% cotton muslin, featuring illustrations of iconic Disney characters. Launching across Europe in June 2016, these hand-sketched, nostalgic designs are sure to delight everyone, from little ones to the young at heart.

Commenting on the partnership, aden + anais’ co-founder Raegan Moya-Jones shares her longtime love of all things Disney: “I, like everyone else in the world, grew up with the magic of Disney around me. My four girls love Disney as much as I did, and it’s a dream come true for aden + anais to have created a range in partnership with them. Disney is such an innovative brand, always looking to push its creativity to the next level and strive to create something beyond the ordinary. It is wonderful that their vision has extended to aden + anais.”

Both Disney and aden + anais are known for designing products with parents and babies in mind and share a commitment to reaching the highest possible standards in terms of quality and innovation. The aden + anais and Disney Baby collaboration is no exception. aden + anais’ signature muslin will feature iconic prints depicting three of Disney’s most popular stories: Winnie the Pooh (bottom right), Bambi (bottom left) and The Jungle Book (centre). The products will be sold through aden + anais retailers throughout Europe and through the aden + anais website: www.adenandanais.co.uk

Bambi
This muslin collection’s ornate patterns and intricate details capture the enchanting world of Bambi. aden + anais’ vibrant hand-drawn designs feature original Disney art that has been water-painted for a beautiful vintage feel. Products include 4-pack classic swaddles, 3-pack musys, dream blanket and burpy bibs.

Winnie the Pooh
Drawing inspiration from the original storybook, this muslin collection features classic vignettes from Winnie the Pooh’s whimsical adventures. aden + anais enhanced the original black and white illustrations with splashes of colour for an authentic, storybook look. Products include 4-pack classic swaddles, 3-pack musys, dream blanket and burpy bibs.

The Jungle Book
Colourful and fun, this muslin collection features graphic prints that are a playful celebration of The Jungle Book. aden + anais depicted Mowgli and his friends in bright colours and energetic postures to capture the spirit of this classic tale. Products include 4-pack classic swaddles, 3-pack musys and burpy bibs.

As a fan of both aden + anais and Disney I'm naturally a huge fan of this collaboration! To celebrate the launch of this exciting new range I've teamed up to give away a Dream Blanket worth £44.95 in either the Bambi or Winnie the Pooh print, winners choice! To enter all you need to do is use the Gleam form below! Good luck and don't forget to enter my other blog competitions! 

aden + anais dream blanket

Terms & Conditions.                                                                                                 
1. There will be 1 winner who will win the prize mentioned above.
2. Prize supplied directly from the PR. 
3. Competition ends 12/08/16
4. Incomplete entries with be disqualified. 
5. UK entries only.