Tuesday 31 October 2017

Me and Mine in October

October has been mild and bright and full of orange with the falling leaves, the odd sun and sky in the middle of the month and the pumpkins at the end.  We have been busy and we have had fun and our Me and Mine snaps were taken on Saturday whilst we were at Port Lympne.  


This month

Mama is loving freshly baked bread each morning, getting my yellow coat back out, the warm winter duvet and falling asleep listening to the bears on our overnight trip at the zoo.

Daddy is loving baking bread in his new breadmaker, carving a pumpkin, watching Stranger Things on Netflix and going on the safari at Port Lympne

Dylan is loving looking for painted rocks in the park, collecting Pokemon cards, hot chocolate with marshmallows and writing stories.


Archie is loving his swimming lessons, discovering all the dinosaurs at Port Lympne, a sleepover at Grandma and Granpas and playing Pokemon.

Finn is loving seeing the tigers at the zoo, looking for numbers when we are out walking, singing to Cora at bedtime and brushing his teeth

Cora is loving climbing on the sofa, being allowed to walk more outside, dancing around the living room with Finn and giving kisses to everyone.

We have pretty much no plans for November at the moment so I am excited to see how it goes!

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Monday 30 October 2017

We Love Rocks

It has been a busy half term and amongst the day trips, lunches out and ice creams we have been looking for free activities, especially ones that involve wearing out the four children.  We recently discovered a facebook group called Love on the rocks that encourages people to paint or draw on rocks and hide them in public places as part of a national hide and seek. The groups (there are lots of local ones too) mean you can share where you have hidden your rocks and find places nearby where others have hidden them.

Reima, love on the rocks

It became our go-to activity for the week, something to get us out the house and encourage the boys to be active.  They love the hunt, they run from tree to tree searching and the excitement when they find one is brilliant. 

Reima, love on the rocks

Today we headed to the park with friends and managed to find 8 different stones including an alien, a bunny rabbit and a frog.  We examined each one before hiding it somewhere new and the game is never ending as we know by the time we visit again each of the stones will have moved.  

Reima, love on the rocks

My top tips for rock hunts

1) Check on Facebook for local parks or areas that people have hidden them.  Our local park has its own group, but there are national and county groups too.

2) Make sure you are dressed for the weather.  Wellies are a great idea as are warm layers so that you can stay out a bit longer.  The big two are wearing fleeces from Reima here that are warm and quick drying.

3) Take drinks and snacks - sometimes the rocks are hidden really well so it may take you a while!

4) Check the bases of trees and around statues as they seem to be the most popular hiding places.  They aren't always on the ground though.

5) If your children are old enough, then taking a bag and a litter picking stick means you can do a mini park clean at the same time.

6) Hide your own creations whilst you are hunting and don't forget to share where you have hidden them so others can join in the fun!

Reima, love on the rocks, painted rocks, rock hunting

Reima, love on the rocks

Reima, love on the rocks, active kids

Reima, love on the rocks


Reima, love on the rocks

Reima are encouraging kids to stay active and you can win a trip to Finnish Lapland by sharing your children's active hour
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Monday 23 October 2017

Leaf Kicking


The half term holidays are here and the weather is still pretty mild for this time of the year.  We aren't reaching for our coats most days, we are managing long afternoons at the park without getting too chilly and it feels like we can really take in the beauty of Autumn together.  Dylan was sent home from school with a list of activities to do in half term, things like going on a train or bus,  baking a cake and kicking leaves in the park.  

Leaf throwing, Autumn activities with kids

We are going to try and fit in as many of the activities as we can and kicking leaves was one of the easiest to cross off.  Our local park has plenty of leaves so armed with our best leaf kicking shoes, we went exploring.  I was sent a pair of Chatsworth boots from Strive Footwear and I love being able to join in with the children. 

Autumn activities with kids, Boden boys

Strive footwear

The ground was damp from rain and the leaves were more soggy than crispy but it didn't stop the fun.  We threw them in the air and danced as they fell, we built mountains and snowmen and stomped through them.  We kicked the leaves as high into the air as we could and we sat in the middle of them to examine them properly.

Autumn activities with kids

Autumn activities with kids, Maxomorra

We found fallen trees and practiced our balancing and jumping off the ends and we played hide and seek amongst the ones still standing.  My boots have supportive technology which follows the natural contours of your feet which makes them not only super comfortable but also orthodontic and better for my posture.  Being on my feet so much with the children has made me think a lot more about the shoes I wear and these are perfect for our Autumn activities.

Autumn activities with kids, Maxomorra, fire engine boys clothes, strive footwear

Autumn activities with kids, fire engine trousers, strive footwear

Cora loves the freedom of the park and the space to explore.  Whilst the boys are kicking and jumping she is learning to run and climb, discovering different textures and sensations and gaining independence.

Autumn activities with kids, maxomorra, baby bogs

Strive footwear, Autumn activities with kids, maxomorra, mother and daughter

We have so many more autumn adventures planned for the week and I think these experiences are so valuable for my curious, imaginative children as they learn about the world.  

Autumn activities with kids

leaf kicking, Autumn activities with kids, strive footwear



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Friday 20 October 2017

A love like this.

I have never known a love like this.  So strong, so fierce, so all encompassing, so blinding, so powerful.  As her little hands grip tighter and tighter around my neck, her hot, hot head nuzzling further into my neck and her perfect little body presses against mine, trying to become one with me yet again.

I have never felt needed like this. I have never been everything to someone, an answer to every question.  When she is sad I comfort, when she is hungry I feed, when she is cold I wrap her up in my arms.  I am needed with such urgency and so completely.

I have never understood contentment like this.  I have never felt so close to the generations and generations of women who came before me.  I have never understood how somebody else feels so intently until I felt this feeling myself.

I don't remember it lasting this long with the others, not in the same way anyway.  I felt it all with each one of them though - the raw, primal need for me, but with her it is still the same as it was when she was so new and tiny.  Not all the time, not everyday but enough.  Others can now feed her and satisfy her thirst.  She will go to you for a game or a cuddle.  She will hold her hands out to you to ask a question, look at you curiously with her big blue eyes.  But when she needs me, nobody else will do.  I am her mother, I am the one and now, as she lies feverish in my arms, her whole body warm to the touch, I know that it is me she needs, I know that even in her fitful slumber she is aware that I am the one holding her and she is more peaceful because of that.

Nothing ever prepared me for parenthood, for this love





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Monday 16 October 2017

My Blogging Work Space

I have been writing this blog now for over 5 years but it was only this month that I got my own work space.  Our old house didn't have space for an extra desk (Ed works from home too) and so I would balance my laptop on the edge of the sofa with paperwork and review items scattered around the house.  I wasn't as productive as I should have been and when we found our current house, creating my own little work space was a priority.

Colour Pop Blogging Work Space

I only have a laptop and I didn't need a big desk.  I was sent this one from Kit out my office and it fits the bill perfectly.  It is simple, easy to use and it has a pop of colour with the yellow drawer.  It was ridiculously easy to put together (thank goodness as we are so fed up with flatpack furniture now!) and I love the little space I have created around it.

Colour Pop Blogging Work Space

The white theme with pops of colour seemed perfect for me, but I fell in love with the brightest chair that Ikea sold and I just had to have it.  It is so comfy, the pattern will hopefully hide dirt well and it makes my space stand out in the room.  I went for all white accessories for on the desk and then used two photoframes that were up above our sofa in the old house to go on the wall.

Colour Pop Blogging Work Space

I painted the glass on one with blackboard paint so that I can write daily to do lists for myself, and I bought a print from Freddie and Co for the other one.  My new work space is clear, inspiring, colourful and perfect for this blogger.

Colour Pop Blogging Work Space

The desk is from Kit out my Office
The chair and photo frames are from Ikea
The print is from Freddie and Co
The white accessories are from Amazon

Colour Pop Blogging Work Space





Blogging Workspace, themummyadventure.com
Pin Me!



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Saturday 14 October 2017

My Little Pony Movie Toys from Argos

My Little Pony is a toy I remember from my childhood and I am really enjoying watching my children connect with the same make believe world that I did.  We have been working with Argos ahead of the My Little Pony Movie being released on October 20th and we were sent some of the toys for the boys to play with.

My Little Pony Movie Toys from Argos

I chose two of the larger ponies as I thought they would be perfect for Finn to enjoy and the Canterlot Castle Playset looked perfect for Archie.  All three are available from Argos along with a selection of other My Little Pony products.

My Little Pony Movie Toys from Argos

We have watched some of the episodes on TV and the boys really enjoy it so I was excited to show them the toys.  Finn loves unicorns and happened to be wearing his favourite 'loonycorn' trousers when I got out the toys so he was straight away drawn to Twilight Sparkle and Spike the Dragon. 

My Little Pony Movie Toys from Argos

 Twilight Sparkle has a star on her side that makes her sing when pressed and if you hold her best friend Spike up close then they sing a duet.  Both toys came with batteries already included (a huge plus!) and Finn loves carrying them around.

My Little Pony Movie Toys from Argos

Rainbow Dash is one of my favourite ponies from when I was young and her rainbow mane is so distinctive.  Rainbow Dash has a button on her side that when pressed lifts her front leg to give you a hi5 or to connect with the other ponies.  Inside her hoof is a light and I think these ponies work really well if you buy both from the set so that they can connect with each other.

My Little Pony Movie Toys from Argos

The Canterlot castle playset comes with lots of little features as well as Princess Celestia and the Storm King.  The boys haven't yet seen the film but they got stuck in playing straight away, creating their own scenes and letting their imaginations run wild.  

My Little Pony Movie Toys from Argos

From the tiny table and toy cakes to the opening front door, there was plenty for them to interact with and I can imagine them using the castle set alongside other toys in the future.

My Little Pony Movie Toys from Argos

We can't wait for the film to come out next week and to probably expand on our pony collection with a visit to Argos.  Their My Little Pony movie range varies in price from £14.99 to £79.99 and you can get free same-day delivery for only £3.95, seven days a week or you can reserve and collect in store for free.

My Little Pony Movie Toys from Argos

This post is in collaboration with Argos


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Tuesday 10 October 2017

Cleaning the House with Seventh Generation

We have recently moved to a bigger house which has many perks but one huge downside too.  More space to play means more space to clean too.  Keeping the house clean has been even more challenging whilst we have been surrounded by boxes (and we still are in some rooms).  When we moved we cleared out the old cleaning cupboard, discarding products we never really used, no longer have a need for and the bottles that have probably been sat there since we moved in.  Seventh Generation sent us a hamper with some of their cleaning range to try out and I have been using them around the house since we moved in.


We had already switched to the Seventh Generation washing liquid which comes in completely recyclable cardboard packaging.  The bottle has 66 doses in and has no fragrances, dyes or optical brighteners.  It tackles the everyday mess that the children completely cover their clothes in and is hypoallergenic and not irritating to our skin.  Full of plant based power, we love the fact that this has a much smaller environmental impact that the washing liquid we were using and we are pretty converted.


I have been trying a few of the other products thanks to the hamper and I am really impressed with the streak free window cleaner.  We have big glass doors at the back of the new house which are a magnet for small sticky fingers it seems so this is definitely getting a lot of use! It is plant based and has no harsh fumes.


I have been looking for a biodegradable toilet cleaner too and we are really impressed with the Seventh Generation cleaner which has no harsh fumes and is scented with essential oils. It is easy to use and is a product we will continue to use.


All seventh generation products are not tested on animals, are derived from renewable plant based ingredients (which are completely disclosed on the packaging) and are designed with the next seven generations in mind and the world that they will inherit.  They are available to buy in select Tesco stores.

I have collaborated with Seventh Generation to offer a hamper of their cleaning products including three three mentioned above, their all purpose cleaning spray and their biobased natural wasing up liquid.  Entry is via the rafflecopter form below.



This post is in Collaboration with Seventh Generation

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Monday 9 October 2017

5 Things to do with a Spare Room


We have recently moved in to a bigger house to give us a lit the idea of an upstairs office where doors can be shut is very appealing!tle more space, but as the boys have decided that they would prefer to still share a room, we have ended up with a completely spare room.  There have been many suggestions from all members of the family with what it should be used for, here are our top 5

  1. A guest room.  The obvious choice is to buy a guest bed and keep the room for when family and friends come to stay.  Guest beds are great for when one of the boys has a friend to sleepover too.
  2. An upstairs office.  We have an open plan downstairs and currently our desks are set up down there, but having a space where we can shut the door is very appealing

playroom 690.jpg

  1. A walk in wardrobe.  I have always dreamed of a simplistic and minimalist bedroom, and having our wardrobes in a seperate room would help keep our sleeping space calm.
  2. A kids den. The boys would love either an upstairs playroom or as they get bigger a games room or den for playing computer games and hanging out with their friends.

pacca-alpaca-youtube.jpg

  1. A room for students. Having a spare room can allow you to earn a bit of an extra income by hosting foreign students.
How would you utilise a spare room?

Collaborative Post

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Thursday 5 October 2017

A Rainbow Bedroom

When we moved house we decided to move the two little ones in together and create a rainbow themed room for them.  As we are living in a rented house we kept the white walls and went with a fresh white feel to the whole room with some colourful accessories.  Finn and Cora are loving their shared rainbow room and sleeping really well in there together.



Both children have white cot beds and Cora has a new NaturalStart mattress from Harrison Spinks which combines hundreds of baby springs with luxurious natural fillings.  I bought both Finn and Cora's sheets from etsy and Finn's pillow case in part of the Little Bird bedding collection that I bought him last year.




Finn's rainbow blanket was lovingly knitted by my talented mother in law and we bought Cora's whilst on holiday a couple of years ago.  Both of their cots are cotbeds so will be turned into beds as they get bigger.

Above Finn's beds are the words 'You are my sunshine' in acrylic from Baby Abode.  They custom make acryclic and ply wall art and I love how different this looks.


Above Cora's cot I have hung some cloud bunting that I bought from Etsy. She has her two favourite dolls in her bed including her mermaid which was a birthday gift and made by Little Lapins.




I bought a white chest of drawers from ikea and I put three pictures on the top.  The first was painted by a friend for Cora for her birthday, the second was made by Lavender House Gift Company and is so beautiful.  I love the delicate details and it is something that we can keep for Cora.  The third is a print from Kirsty Mason designs and goes perfectly in their rainbow room.



On the floor I have made a comfy play area with a Little Bird rug, cushions from Mama Designs and Tiger stores and a lovely little shape sorter we were sent from Born Gifted which the children play with every day.



There are three shelves above their play area for their Grimms rainbow and bobbins from Babipur and I have put some of their Pantone books on the third, although I need to find the rest of the collection in one of the unpacked boxes.


We have kept the room simple and minimalist, giving the children more space to play and keeping the room calm to help them sleep.  In the evenings we put on their rainbow light which projects a rainbow across the room.  It is the perfect nightlight to help them fall asleep in the evenings.


I have loved decorating this rainbow room for them.



Some of these items were sent to us to include in these photos and others were purchased by me.  I have only included things that we genuinely love.






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