Hand Luggage Only Travel Tips.

Travelling with hand luggage only has become increasingly popular among families seeking convenience, flexibility, and a stress-free holiday experience and it is my favourite way to travel now. Packing light means never having to worry about missing bags on a flight, and having plenty of space in the car for a UK break (crucial when we already fill up all 7 seats in our car!). Prioritising items that work well from day to night and are versatile is important for both adults and children and we worked with Very to choose some items for Cora and I that are perfect for this

When travelling with limited luggage space, it's crucial to choose items that work well for both day and night. Both parents and children can benefit from packing multi-functional pieces that can be dressed up or down, allowing for maximum versatility. A few essential items for us include:

1) The Great White Dress

A white dress is a timeless and versatile piece that can be easily accessorized to create a variety of looks. Pair it with sandals and a sunhat for a day on the beach, then add a jacket and swap the beach bag for a bright statement bag for a nice dinner out in the evening. This versatile dress can be adapted to suit any occasion and is a holiday staple for Cora and I. Very have an extensive collection of white dresses in both the adults and child's section and you will find both the dresses we are wearing there.

2) A Jacket That Goes With Everything

Travelling light for us means choosing one jacket that will go with everything and a denim jacket is perfect for that. As the temperature drops in the evening we can cover up and keep warm. Opting for a neutral colour that can be paired with various outfits makes sense. These jackets are both from Very's own range and go well with shorts and t-shirts or a nice dress so are our holiday staple. Cora loves that we have matchy too (I am a bit jealous of her little frills)!

3) Stylish Footwear

We usually choose to travel in trainers and pack a pair of sandals as they are smaller and lighter to fit in our bag. For Cora and I, they need to be secure enough for adventures, comfy enough for every day wear and pretty enough to work in the evenings too. I went for some neutral coloured Teva sandals which go with everything and are supportive and Cora's colourful girl's shoes go with her bright taste and look nice in the evenings. Important tip before packing - make sure you wear your shoes in, or make sure they are comfy before you choose them!

You can find all the items Cora and I are wearing on the Very website. Let me know if you have any hand luggage only trips planned and what your essentials are! 

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Autumn Style with Angel's Face

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In the lead up to giving birth, I wanted to spend some quality time with Cora, reminding her that she is special and loved and that even though she won't always be the baby of the family, she will always be my baby and she will stay as the only girl.  In many respects she is one of the boys, she answers to the collective of 'boys', if they are doing something, she is more than capable of it too and she is part of their pack.  In other ways she is very much different to them and she loves to embrace her more feminine side too with some girls activewear.

These photos are from our last trip out together before her youngest brother arrived wearing some gorgeous new girls designer clothing- in fact he was born about 4 hours after some of these were taken.  I think I must have subconsciously known that something was about to happen as it felt like a good day to get out with just her for a walk along the seafront and a hot chocolate and she was desperate to wear her new cosy clothing from Angel's Face.  I used to love dressing her but now she is very much self-styled and led by comfort so the moment she pulled this velour set out of the box she wanted it on.  The hooded top  from the girls designer jumper section has a beautiful pattern on the arms and the joggers are warm and soft.  I used the sizing info on the website when deciding what size she needs and it fits perfectly (she is nearly 5.5 years but 104cm tall so wearing age 4-5). 

We walked through the town and along the seafront and she collected special things like colourful leaves to put in her bunny bag.  The bunny bag is ridiculously soft and you can leave the padding inside and remove the strap to snuggle up with it as a cuddly toy (I need to get a photo of him snuggled up in her bed) or take the padding out and wear it as a bag. 

Cora knew exactly where she wanted to go for hot chocolate and as it was just the two of us, it was easy to follow her lead.  We spotted a big letter A along the seafront though and she wanted a photo with her new girls designer jacket from Angel's Face.  Not only is it comfy and long enough to keep her legs warm too, it is the perfect Elsa coat for any Frozen fans and I just love her in this shade of blue.  The wind really picks up along the coast so warm and cosy is a priority and we both love how incredibly soft the hood lining is.  Cora has been wearing this coat for a couple of weeks now, including to school and I can also report that it still looks immaculate despite her love for playing with mud and in the sand.

Spending time with my children one on one will always be important to me, although there will be a break for a while as we adjust to life with a newborn and how much he needs to be with me. I know Cora will be warm and snuggly all Winter in her new clothes though!

Visit the Angel’s Face website to see the full collection.

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Time with Just One

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I feel like she missed out on the final months of having me to herself.  She had waited three and a half years for it, always with brothers around and then that final stretch before school when it should have been just her and I was taken over by home-schooling and living through a pandemic and she probably got the least attention as I tried to balance the educational needs of her three big brothers.

She won't be the baby of the family forever, so getting out with her now, just for little walks is important. She is absolutely dog obsessed (which can get interesting when we are out as the big two are completely petrified) and our local park has a little nature area with some dog statues that she loves visiting and petting. She managed to find some friendly real dogs to throw balls for and play with too.  

Our walks usually involve her picking up any stray snails that may have wandered onto a path too so she can move them to safety and stop them getting crushed and I always have to check her pockets as she likes the idea of choosing herself a pet.  She also likes directing the photos she wants me to take of her, demanding extras if she doesn't like my first efforts!

I couldn't resist this Molo dog dress for her and I think it is going to be a real favourite.  Childrensalon have a brilliant selection of girls dresses from lots of our favourite brands and she has had a bit of a growth spurt recently (I think she is still the shortest in her class though) so there is an excuse for shopping!

My plan over the next few months is to carve out as much one on one time as I can with these four little individuals because I know how consuming having a new baby is, and that it will be a while before I can take them out alone again.  I want to let them know that they are loved and special and unique.  I have something booked for Dylan and I, but I am still thinking of ideas for the other three.  Hopefully the summer holidays will provide us with plenty of time!

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What the kids Wore // Nununu

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It feels like we skipped Spring this year.  Before half term the children were still taking their winter coats into school, after half term we are in shorts and polos with not even a jumper. We have swapped our hot chocolates for ice creams and I am loving the sunshine on my skin each day.

The children were sent some clothing from one of our favourite brands, Nununu and the first thing they commented on as they came out the box, is how soft it all is.  The boys all have thin cotton summer joggers which are perfect for keeping covered up and cool and come in a selection of colours. I love how it can match their personalities, my rainbow boy looking as bright as ever and Archie sticking to his trademark black.  Cora has red leggings and a stripy tee which again are lightweight and incredibly soft.  Nununu is an edgy brand, making clothes for cool kids that still want to be comfortable.

The children have been wearing Nununu for years, we have some items that are on the third child and I am always so impressed with the quality.  Each collection goes well with the past ones (Cora has a romper that matches Finn's trousers perfectly) and it is definitely Archie's favourite brand.  I love the photo below as I can see how much of a gang these little people of mine now look like.  It seems crazy to think they were once all aged 4 and under!

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Little Adventures with Regatta

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As the world opens up a little, we are enjoying exploring somewhere different, visiting attractions that we have missed and seeing people, but we are still making time for the simple things, the little adventures close to home that were available all along and kept us going through the past year.  The beach is my favourite place to be and we are lucky enough to live within walking distance.

Whilst it is a fun summer day out, I have written regularly about how we enjoy the beach in all weather and this windy bank holiday weekend was no exception.  We met up with my parents and my nephews (they are a childcare bubble) at their beach hut and spent the day building sandcastles, eating chips and splashing in the sea.  Cora was sent a raincoat and wellies from Regatta's new Peppa Pig collection and whilst there were no muddy puddles to jump in, there was a sandy sea.

Cora prefers wearing wellies to shoes as she can take them on and off easily and it means she is always prepared for puddles and adventure (are you a parent if you haven't tried to prevent a child in inappropriate shoes not to jump in a puddle?).  These boots have an adjustable toggle so you can fit them snuggly around the legs which should stop water splashing into the boots on the biggest jumps too!

As the weather is warming up, the children are keen to ditch their bigger coats (as is the person who seems to end up carrying them most of the time), and we are looking for coats that protect from the elements without being too warm or bulky.  Cora's Peppa Pig raincoat is ideal for this, it protects from showers without getting in the way of climbing, running and sea splashing.

We are looking forward to a year of adventures closer to home (we haven't risked booking any foreign travel yet) and with the British weather so unpredictable I think wellies and a thin raincoat are going to be essentials!  The Regatta Peppa Pig collection is available  in size 12-18 up to 5-6.  Cora is a petite nearly 5 year old in age 4-5.  We found the wellies were generous sizing so don't size up!

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Making Autumn Leaf Crowns

It is taking all my will power not to wish away November and get the Christmas decorations out.  I have already cleared a path to the boxes of baubles and tinsel, cards and festive washi tape and I have chosen where the tree will go.  November is going to be great though, lockdown will give us the opportunity to get out in nature without worries that we could or should be doing something else.  The request for shops and cafes from the children can (hopefully) stop for a few weeks and we can take a thermos with us and make our own coffee shop at home (I have already bought some of those hot chocolate lumps on sticks that you stir into hot milk as they love them).  I am trying to find the positives in it all and see the privilege in getting to spend extra time with my favourite little people.

It feels a bit like winter now, even though we are still not wearing coats every day, but the heating is on, my slippers are out and the trees in the garden are looking bare, the ground a sea of brown but disappearing fast.  Before the last leaves fell, we collected some up to celebrate the consistency and inevitability of the seasons and made leaf crowns.  Unfortunately our glue has had the lid left off a bit too long each time so I ended up popping tape round to keep everything on which feels much less like a nice natural activity.  The little two loved creating their crowns though and both wearing them and putting them on the dogs that are dotted around the nature garden in our local park. They wore new clothing, sent to us as press samples, which is not only made of organic cotton but is also certified fairtrade, from Little Green Radicals.

Every year I think I declare each season my favourite, Spring is full of promise, flowers springing up, bright colours and the feel of the sun on my skin after so long, Summer is long days and going to the beach after dinner for a swim in the sea, the freedom of sandals and salty hair.  Winter is the magic of Christmas, the feeling of hot chocolate by a toasty open fire, snow if we are lucky, but I think of them all Autumn is the most beautiful.  The rich rusty tones, the sound of leaves crunching under my feet, reds, browns, I love the colours the most.  Of course this year has been unlike any others, but we swapped trick or treating for a pinata and snuggling up with a film and it was just as wonderful and special and the children maintain they enjoyed it just as much. Autumn is passing and the leaves have fallen but I am going to carry on walking without a coat when I can get away with it, marvelling at any leaves still clinging on to the branches and crunching through (if the ground actually dries out enough to!).  I took these photos because I couldn't resist the tones of Autumn and I want to share them so I can look back at these strange days of unpredictability coupled with the consistency of the seasons beginning and ending, the leaves changing colour and falling, just as they always do.

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Staying outdoors with Reima

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At the moment our area is considered 'medium risk' but I have seen how quickly things can change and so I feel more comfortable preparing for a stricter lockdown and closures over the next season. For me the prospect of a winter spent inside is a scary thing so we have been making sure we have everything we need to get outdoors whatever the weather.  I am going to be working with one of my favourite outdoor brands, Reima this winter and they sent the children waterproof trousers and jackets each. Of course Finn and Cora see the term waterproof as a challenge so we took them to our favourite puddle (surely everyone has a favourite puddle?).  My plan is that we continue to get out come rain or shine and make the most of the nature around us.  

We are lucky to be surrounded by beaches and parks and have woodland a short drive away.  We will be getting out as much as possible and so it is important to have the right gear.  We will get some thermals for the coldest days and waterproof boots and warm outer layers so there are fewer barriers to our outdoor adventures.  These Reima jackets are not only perfectly designed for having fun outside all winter, but they are also sustainably made of mono material which means they are easy to recycle when they finally give up too! We have had Reima products for years and they are all still going strong so I don't think we will be testing that for a while.  (Some are on the third child and still look almost new)

My plans for the winter don't involve soft play passes and cinema tickets but instead thermos flasks and hand warmers.  I am hoping that our options stay open, but if not we are making sure we are prepared for a winter using our energy elsewhere.  My children bounce off the walls if we stay in all weekend but they can't if we take away the walls!  Time outdoors is good for their physical and mental health  The children are wearing Kulkija jackets and Sild trousers and despite the mud Finn covered his in, it looked perfectly clean again before we got home!  The trousers are waterproof and warm however if you sit in a puddle (as Finn did of course) the water could go in over the waistband.  As you can see from the pictures, my children don't hold back when it comes to mud and puddles so I think these are going to be vital this winter!

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