Me and Mine in April

I have forgotten several times this month that it was actually April.  The middle of the month heatwave felt more similar to a warm July day and as the children played in the garden in just their nappies and the thermostat read 25, it felt like Summer had really arrived.   The end of the month felt closer to November as temperatures dropped to seven degrees in the middle of the day and we bundled up in jumpers and coats, swapping our ice creams for hot chocolate.  

It has been a really fun April though, with two UK breaks, school news and the bold move on my part to pack away the winter boots in favour of sandals (a decision I have been regretting all weekend). Let's pray that May is more consistently sunny!

This month I have loved exploring new parts of the country, eating ice cream at the beach,  buying summer dresses (in the hope it returns) and having my sister back home after her winter season in France

Ed has loved winning the family quiz at Crealy, planning summer festivals, drinking beer in the garden and going to see Ed Byrne.

Dylan has loved finding out that he got into his first choice Junior school, revisiting Blackgang Chine on the Isle of Wight, learning to drive at Crealy Adventure Park and moving up to the next level with swimming lessons.

Archie has loved stomping in the mud at Crealy, moving up to the next swimming lessons, having his arm out of the sling now that his collar bone is healed and sunny days at the park

Finn has loved going on his first rollercoaster at Crealy, roaring at the dinosaurs at Blackgang Chine, doing an extra couple of hours on his two afternoons at nursery and going swimming with Aunty NatNat.

Cora has loved going down the waterslides when we go swimming, chasing and catching her friends, her new purple wellies and using the potty more and more.

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6 Ways to Cut Down on Single Use Plastic

I have been on a mission to reduce our plastic waste for a while but recently I have discovered so many little changes than can have a big impact.  The recent Blue Planet series has brought to light how big an issue it is and it is great to see so many people looking at how they can reduce and eliminate single use plastics.  

I still have a long way to go, but I wanted to share 6 ways in which we have cut down on plastic in the past few months.

1) Reusable Straws

Straws have been big news in the last couple of weeks with a proposed ban on plastic straws coming next year.  We are one step ahead of the game though and have had metal straws at home for the past year.  I have recently invested in a set of Klean Kanteen straws to take out and about with me though as sometimes I just like to drink out of a straw and often the children are a lot less messy with one! They come in a pack of four with different colours and I keep them in my changing bag in a little wet bag so I am always prepared.

2) Shampoo and deodorant.

Moving to solid shampoo and solid deodorant feels like a great move for more than one reason.  Both come packaged in a small cardboard box that is easily recyclable and other than that there is no waste.  I love how natural both are too, with fewer chemicals  and artificial smells.  The shampoo bar is easy to use and leaves my hair feeling clean and soft and the deodorant bar is just held under the tap for a few seconds and then used like a roll on.  I am on the look out for a hair conditioner bar now! We already switched from shower gel and hand wash to soap for the same reasons so our bathroom has considerably less plastic in now.

3) Reusable bottles and cups.

As a coffee fan, I often grab one 'to go' whilst I am out and of course that comes in a paper cup that is very difficult to recycle.  I am embarrassed at how much bottled water we used to buy too.  I now have a Keep Cup that I use in coffee shops when I want a take away lid and we use Klean Kanteen bottles for both the children and I to carry water when we are out.  I get them refilled every time we stop at a cafe or similar and we are buying much fewer drinks when we are out now.

4) Mooncup

We have used reusable nappies since Dylan was little, but it took longer for me to make the switch for myself.  Since Finn was born over 3 years ago, I haven't used any disposable sanitary products for myself and the switch to a mooncup has been one of the best things I have done.  It is comfortable, easy to use and means I am not exposing my body to unnecessary chemicals or disposing of products that take years and years to decompose.  There are many options out there and if you are thinking of making the switch then check out this quiz.

5) Toothbrushes

I am yet to make the switch for all of us, but the smallest two have now got new  Jack'n'jill toothbrushes that are made from cornstarch and are compostable and biodegradable.  Rather than throwing away plastic toothbrushes every few weeks, we can snap off the very end of these and put the rest in the compost.  I need to look into what options there are for adults next! 

6) Loose food bags

Whilst plastic carrier bags are now chargeable at most shops, the smaller plastic bags that we use to buy loose fruit and vegetables are still free and easy to access. It wasn't much effort to start carrying reusable shopping bags and I have now added some reusable loose food bags so that I can cut down on more plastic waste.  Rather than buying the prepackaged fruit and vegetables I choose loose where I can and put it straight into the lightweight mesh bags in the shop rather than taking the thin plastic ones which inevitably go straight in the bin.  

As I said, I still have a long way to go to cut out plastic but every little thing makes a difference and if we all try to implement positive changes then hopefully it will become second nature to the next generation.

How are you trying to cut down on single use plastic?

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What the Kids Wore // XO Kiddo

I love finding new brands to buy for my children and I was really excited to discover XO Kiddo, a London based label from designer Rona which combines bright colours and bold designs with the softest organic cotton.  I mostly buy organic clothes for the children as I love knowing that there are no chemicals next to their skin.  Rona's brand is trying to be as eco-friendly as possible though, aiming to work with factories powered by solar panels who use minimal plastic and recycle.

I was sent an outfit for Archie, Finn and Cora as the brand caters for children aged 1 - 5 at the moment (with hopes to go larger very soon).  I love how unisex all the styles and shapes are and the bright orange was such a gorgeous colour.  All the items are easy to wear, light and super super soft.

Archie's top is such a stunning colour and we love the love heart detail.  Whilst hearts are usually only found in the 'girls' section, I think he absolutely rocks this and he loved the top.  The trousers have a dropped crotch which he wasn't used to but after 5 minutes he loved the freedom and was totally converted.  We ended up down the beach and they were easy to roll up, although everything got completely soaked still!

Finn's top looks great and got so many compliments.  The shorts are exactly what we needed - light, simple and comfy and I know they will be a staple in his summer wardrobe.  I think the top is playful and edgy and perfect for Finn.

Cora's jumpsuit was so simple and so stunning, but unfortunately she is a little on the short side and I think it might fit better in a few months.  There is a popper opening down the front and the cuffs are easy to roll up to suit different weather.  I think the sizing is pretty true, although this romper is more of an 18-24 that a 12-18 (the size is a 1-2 years).  The boys are both wearing their normal size and the fit is perfect.  

I love how well the whole collection goes together and you can mix and match to get some great combos for boys and girls.  XO Kiddo is celebrating their first birthday at the moment and they have a fantastic offer on where you can get a free pair of socks with any order over £20! 

I am going to let the pictures do the talking for the rest of the post .  .   .

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The outfits were sent to us from XO Kiddo for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are completely my own

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Bedtime Routine with Moshi Twilight Sleep Stories

I thought that we had put the bedtime battles behind us when the children started sleeping through the night, but as the boys have got older, there have been new challenges and recently they have been struggling to settle at night. They have chosen to share a room and most of the time it is great as they have their own space away from the little two and they can play their own games up there. At night time it can cause issues though as if one of them isn’t in the mood for sleeping, they keep the other one awake.

Our bedtime routine has always been simple, with pyjamas, tooth brushing and a story, and then the boys can have a few minutes of quiet reading in their beds before the lights go out. We were asked if we wanted to try out the Moshi Twilight Sleep Stories app and it has made bedtime so much easier!

The app was easy and free to download (you can see how here) and there was a choice of a few songs and stories with the ability to unlock them all either for a month or for a year depending on the subscription you choose. It's a mix of story-telling and song thats designed to help your kids drift off at night.

The first night I was a little dubious as we have never tried an app like this. Audiobooks had been suggested to us before to help them settle but the ones I tried hadn’t worked. I set up a simple playlist with one story and one song which came to about 30 minutes. 

I use the app after the usual bedtime routine, they're all tucked up in bed with the lights off, I popped on the tracks with the screen turned off and told the boys I would come back to check on them after a few minutes.

I came back into the room after about 12 minutes and there was silence other than the ‘Sleepy Paws’ story that was still playing. I called out their names quietly and there was no answer. It couldn’t have been easier!

The second night took a little longer and Archie brought the phone back down to me after the half an hour asking for more sleepy paws. The next night I added another story and another song onto the playlist making it an hour long. After a week of later bedtimes due to the school holidays, we needed to start bringing bedtime back earlier and I knew the boys would resist that. They love listening to the app though and it has really helped them settle at night as it is so calm.

This week the sun has been shining and we have been outdoors so much more that they have barely got 5 minutes into the first track before both of them are fast asleep but I am hoping that continuing with it as part of our routine will help them as the evenings get even lighter and they are less convinced it is time for bed!

The app is aimed at children four years plus and you don’t need to know anything about the Moshi Monsters characters before hand to enjoy it. All of the songs and stories are calming and sweet and I imagine the app will be great for anxious children to send them to sleep.

I am hoping that with a good bedtime routine and well rested children we will be able to enjoy so much fun this summer as they will have more energy for after-school adventures in the sun!

This is a paid post in collaboration with Moshi Twilight Sleep Stories

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My Mama Style // Baabuk Shoes

I have never really been a trainers kinda girl.  I wear boots from October-ish to April-ish and then swap into sandals and there is no inbetween.  Well there wasn't until recently.  The people at Baabuk got in touch to tell me about their wool shoes and I fell in love with a pair of blue and yellow sneakers (my favourite colour combo!).  

What really fascinated me though, was the materials.  The couple who started the company, Dan and Galina took inspiration from the Russian's who use wool to keep warm and developed a range of cosy slippers that had no seams, were completely breathable and naturally antibacterial.  From these slippers came the idea to make sneakers and the more I read about them, the more sense they make! 

The dirt wiped straight off when we got home

Wool is breathable, naturally antibacterial, naturally water repellent and renewable amongst many other great qualities.  This means that these shoes adapt, keeping your feet warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  All my other shoes are so season specific, but here is a pair that can be worn whatever the weather.  Because wool is antibacterial it means I don't even need to wear socks with the shoes (a huge bonus in this weather) and they get comfier every time I wear them as the wool adjusts and adapts to your feet.

The material is really soft with no seams as it is felted as one piece and the shoes are machine washable (there are instructions on the website).  I love how they are ethically produced and made and I love the style which is fun and colourful and so easy to wear.  I have worn these shoes everywhere recently and they seem really versatile. There are two varieties of shoe like this, the sneaker and the urban wooler and they come in a variety of colours to suit men and women.  

I would love to try their boots in the future and am considering purchasing some for the winter as they look amazingly comfortable and warm!  They do a range of slippers for adults and children too on the Baabuk website.

The shoes were sent to me by Baabak for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

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Crealy Adventure Park Review

I hadn't heard of Crealy Adventure Park until we were asked if we would like to come and check it out and judging by the website it looked perfect for young families like ours.  My children are 6,5,3 and 1 and the park was advertised as fun for 0-12 with rides, playgrounds and soft play areas.  We were glamping on site at Crealy Meadows and ended up spending two whole days at the Adventure Park.

Crealy Adventure Park was the boys' dream place.  The mix of child friendly rides, themed outdoor playgrounds and indoor spaces where they could bounce around was perfect for them and they loved seeing the animals and exploring everything the park had to offer.  If your child is over 92cm then there is almost nothing they can't do and one of the best parts of the week for us was being able to say yes to Finn so much.  He is used to having to wait whilst his brothers go on rides he is too small for and suddenly he was big enough for everything and he loved it!

The park is a mixture of indoor and outdoor which meant as the weather changed we could choose different activities.  Outside the boys favourite ride by far was the driving school which they must have done at least 8 times.  We went during the Easter holidays but the weather forecast wasn't great and we never had to queue for longer than about 5 minutes which was ideal!  Finn loved the Roman themed rollercoaster although his big brothers were too nervous to go on it and my highlight was shooting the boys with water as they played on the water ride.

Indoors there were three rides including two that Cora was able to go on.  Although she is nearly 2 she is particularly short so her options were limited but there was plenty for her to do with the soft play areas.  There was a huge soft play which was perfect for even the biggest kids and parts were too challenging for my 5 and 6 year old still.  There were drop slides, long slides and all sorts and a seperate area for smaller children.  

Also indoors was an animal barn where you could feed the rabbits, guinea pigs and goats.  There was a bug area and regular shows throughout the day where you could learn more about the insects, reptiles and mammals.  We caught the bug show and the kids loved learning about the tarantulas and touching the stick insects.  All three boys were mesmerised and the woman doing the show was really entertaining.

The downside to being in an adventure park was the food and there was limited choice (pretty much burger, halloumi in a bun or a chicken burger with chips).  I have two children who don't eat chips and there was nothing for them.  We did spot a salad and subs area but it was shut for the duration of our visit which was dissapointing.  There were picnic areas so I would suggest bringing your own food if you have fussy eaters or dietary requirements. 

Whilst we were there, there was a free Easter Egg hunt you could take part in and the children loved following the clues to collect stamps and then trading them in for an egg at the end.  The hunt seemed to be on all week which was nice and the clues helped guide us to parts of the park we hadn't explored yet.

The children absolutely loved Crealy Adventure Park and it was amazing to be able to stay on site. I was exhausted at the end of every day (as were the children!) and it was great not having to go too far.  We spent 4 nights glamping on site at Crealy and had two full days in the adventure park which was perfect for us.  There were areas we saw a lot and a few bits we didn't manage to get to still.  I would recommend the park, especially if you have children between the ages of 3 and 9 as there is so much for them to do.

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We were invited to visit the park and offered our accommodation and park tickets in exchange for a review.  All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

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