A Little Update

I very much doubt that anyone has been wondering where I have been lately, after all, I have never been the type of blogger who posts daily or spends lots of time on social media. However, for the last week and a bit, I have not blogged or been on social media at all. I did not even post my weekly Other Bloggers Family Lives feature this week, as I simply did not have the time to promote it. I did not intend to take a blogging break, sometimes life just gets in the way and things happen and you realise that actually, a break of sorts is kind of nice. 

So what has been happening?

Project MC2 Doll Review

We are huge Netflix fans in our household, my teen watches it on her ipad every day and my two toddlers are forever watching Paw Patrol on it. I also keep hearing from friends about a new children's TV series on Netflix called MC2, a show that is about a group of friends who like things like science, maths, art, and technology. A great way to instil in young girls that taking an interest in school subjects can be cool. There is a range of dolls to accompany the show, each featuring one of the tv shows six characters with a fun activity in with the doll. 

Disney Tsum Tsums Vinyl Collection - Review

We love Disney in this household, not a day goes by without us watching a Disney film and we are even planning a Disney-themed bedroom for are little two when we move. I have loved Disney ever since I was a little girl who went to see the Little Mermaid at the cinema (showing my age) and visited Disney world Florida as a child. My teen and two toddlers love Disney just as much as I do, we are even planning a trip to Disney world in a few years - once the little two are old enough.

Each year I buy my children a Disney ted each and last year they also got the rather cute little soft Tsum Tsum teds in their stockings too. These were huge hits with my two girls, they loved them so much that they now collect them. Recently Jakks Pacific have launched new vinyl Tsum Tsum toys in a range of much loved Disney characters and we were lucky enough to be sent some to review. 

Other Bloggers Family Lives Featuring Family Fever

Welcome to another week of my guest post series Other Bloggers Family Lives. This week I am featuring another of my all time favourite bloggers, Kate from the popular family lifestyle blog Family Fever. I discovered Kate's blog over two years ago now and I loved reading about her family life in Devon, her pregnancy with her youngest Eliza, the brilliant product reviews that she does and reading about her recent career change. It is such a lovely blog covering a real mix of subjects and beautiful family photos. 

So lets find out more about the family behind Family Fever. 

Scarborough Sea Life Sanctuary

My youngest child Jacob is crazy about penguins, he sleeps with a cuddly one and gets excited whenever he sees them on TV. So when we were selected to be Scarborough Sea Life family ambassadors for the year I knew that he would be so excited, as it meant he could go and visit the penguins whenever he wanted.

Orchard Toys Once Upon A Time Puzzle Review

I am a big fan of Orchard Toys, the puzzles and games are such fun for little ones and best of all they are educational too. We have brought some of the games in the past to help with our three-year-old daughter's speech and we have also reviewed the Little Bus Lotto game. We were recently kindly sent another Orchard Toy to review, this time, we were sent the recently launched Once Upon A Time puzzle. 

Aimed at children aged 2+ this box containing six much-loved storybook character jigsaws - Cinderella, Goldilocks, Aladdin, Jack and the beanstalk, Little Red Riding hood and Dick Whittington. Each jigsaw contains three chunky pieces that are perfect for little hands as they are sturdy and wipe clean with bright pictures on. 

Starting Pre-School At Two Years Old

Exactly one month ago today my little boy Jacob turned two years old and last week when he was two years and three weeks old he started pre-school. Just turned two sounds far too little to start pre-school doesn't it? He is still so little to me, probably because he is my last baby. People are often surprised that we have sent him when he is still so young, I am myself at times. I never intended to send him when he was so little, after all I am a stay-at-home mum so their is no real need for him to go.

So why did we send him when he is only two? 

Simply because he wanted to go. 

Disney Sofia The First Toys

My little girl is called Sophia and since she was tiny she has loved Sofia the first, sharing the same name means that my little Sophia actually thinks she is Sofia the first. They have the same big blue eyes and brown curls and they both love the colour purple. Whenever my little girl sees anything with Sofia the first on she has to have it, she loves it that much. 

Imagine her utter delight when a parcel arrived recently full of Sofia the first toys and accessories from Jakks Pacific, I have never seen her so excited. We were kindly sent a royal tiara, toy camera, a mini royal prep art class playset, Princess Amber's closet playset, three figures, a magazine and a backpack to put it all in. My very own Sophia could not wait to start playing, of course she had to dress up in her dressing up outfit to play with her new toys.

CaseApp Review And Giveaway

My teenage daughter is constantly glued to her iPhone and ipad, she loves them so much and is always buying new cases to customise them with. So when I was recently contacted by CaseApp and asked if I would like to review a customised phone case and ipad or laptop skin, I knew that my teen would love to try these out.

You can either select one of the many pre-designed covers or you can create your own. My teen decided that she wanted to create her own, which was actually really quick and easy to do. It was so easy that she managed to design her phone case and ipad cover within minutes and with no help from me at all.

Coping With Baby Colic

My little boy Jacob very recently turned two and lately I have been doing a lot of reflecting on the past two years. His baby days seem to have whizzed by in a total blur and it is only recently as he has got that little bit older that life is starting to settle down again, I finally feel like I have got this whole parenting three children thing sussed. I actually enjoy family life now as I am no longer constantly exhausted and stressed.

 

My youngest two children were born just 14 months apart (I know I am crazy), I had a newborn a 14-month-old and a tween - who was just starting high school. Life was hectic with three children who needed me, a house that needed cleaning and many, many sleepless nights. The first few weeks whizzed by in a blur of night feeds, constant nappy changes, non-stop laundry and copious coffee consumption.

 

Other Bloggers Family Lives Featuring Emily And Indiana

Welcome to another week of my guest post series Other Bloggers Family Lives, this week I am featuring the super lovely Emily from Emily And Indiana. Emily is actually one of the very first bloggers that I came across when I started blogging, I have read her blog from day one and have loved watching her daughter Indiana grow from a tiny baby to an almost three year old! I have also loved reading about Emily's wedding and her whole pregnancy and first year of her adorable son Parkers life too. Emily and Indiana is such a lovely blog all about family life with two toddlers, family days out, travel and family lifestyle posts, she also has a popular Youtube channel covering similar subjects.

 

Anxiety

Tomorrow my just turned two year old little boy is off to pre-school for the very first time, he is super excited but I am feeling so very nervous. I know that he will love it as he has been desperate to go since his older sister started last year, but to me he is still so very young - he only turned two a couple of weeks ago. I should be looking forward to having a few child free hours four mornings a week, something I have not had at all in over three years. I should be looking forward to being able to drink a hot drink in peace, having an uninterrupted shower and having time to tidy the house again.

 

But I am not looking forward to these things at all, instead I am feeling sick with nerves and terrified that something bad will happen to him. You see I suffer from anxiety, it is not something that I ever really talk about. I did not even realise that I was suffering from it for such a long time as I have always been a worrier, I just thought that it was normal to feel like this. It is not normal to feel like this, I know that now.

Cushions From Sofa Sofa

I have been wanting to redecorate my living room for ages now, however we are planning on moving very soon so decorating is on hold for now. I am a big fan of using accessories to change the look of a room, I always think those little extra finishing touches make so much difference. So when Sofa Sofa got in touch and asked if I would like to review some scatter cushions I thought this would be the perfect chance to update my living room.

 

Other Bloggers Family Lives Featuring Over 40 And A Mum To One

Welcome to another week of my guest post series Other Bloggers Family Lives, this week I am featuring Mary from Over 40 And A Mum To One. I have been reading Mary's blog for around two years and it is such a lovely blog all about life with her six year old son, family days out, reviews, travel and some wonderful photos. 

So lets find out more about the family behind Over 40 And A Mum To One.

Accessible Travel In The UK

Before becoming a stay at home mum,  after my son was born two years ago I used to work in social care. I worked with adults who had learning disabilities and my job was to help them live independently within the community. I studied a degree in social care and also have NVQ's / diplomas in social care, so it is a subject that I know a lot about and I am passionate about as I also have an aunt with learning disabilities. 

August 2016

Today has been a bit of a rubbish day if I am honest, I woke with a really bad headache which has lasted all day. The much anticipated house move has hit yet another stumbling block and we are now back to square one of finding somewhere new to live. Sophia is due to start nursery school and we have been asked to change her sessions to mornings instead of afternoons, so she can get help with her speech; however this would mean separating her from all of her friends. It has been a one of those days where everything that can go wrong does go wrong.

Fisher Price Bright Beats Learnin Lights Dance Mat - Review

My little boy Jacob has just turned two years old and he still adores interactive learning toys, now that he is two he loves playing along with his toys and understand what he is meant to do with them. So when we were recently asked if we would like to review a Fisher-Price Bright Beats Learnin Lights Dance Mat  (RRP £39.99) I knew this would be something that Jacob would enjoy.

Recommended for children aged nine months to three years old, Bright Beats dance mat will help little ones learn whilst being lots of fun. The mat features a popular Beat Bo figure in the centre of the mat, which children will love to spin around. The mat helps to teach little ones their ABC's, numbers, colours and shapes as well as learning some dance moves. Children can sit, crawl, stand and dance on the mat which has sensors on and will light up and reward your child when they follow the instructions.

A Rather Cute Joules Lunchbox

My little girl Sophia will be starting nursery at the local primary school this month, she will have to wear a uniform and hopefully, it will get her ready for starting full-time school next year when she is four. She will be going to nursery five mornings a week from 8.40 to 11.40, meaning she is home in time for lunch and then a lazy afternoon at home. 

In preparation for Sophia starting nursery we have all of her school things ready, her little uniform, her black patent leather Clarks shoes, her winter coat and a little backpack. One thing that I have not had to buy for her yet though is a lunchbox. As she will only be going to nursery in the mornings and will be home in time for lunch it never crossed my mind to buy her a one just yet. 

Thomas & Friends My First All Around Sodor Train Set - Review

My little boy Jacob recently turned two years old and he seems to have changed so much recently, his interests have certainly changed and he is now vehicle crazy! He loves any kind of vehicle from cars and tractors to planes and trains, he really loves trains! During the summer we went on a Thomas train ride at Saltwell park and ever since he has been Thomas crazy, playing with his very own Thomas train non stop and getting excited when it comes on the TV. 

Now that he is two and train crazy we were planning on getting him a Thomas & Friends Train set for Christmas as we seen them advertised and just knew that he would love it. However we were recently sent a one to review and as expected Jacob absolutely loves it - as does his three year old sister.  

Little Dish New Pots & Pies Toddler Meals

We are big fans of Little Dish in are household, my two toddlers love the snack range. Little Dish have just launched a new range of toddler meals called pots and pies, a range of healthy, yummy meals that have been created just for toddlers.