LITTLE MOMENTS: 44/52:OCTOBER HALF TERM

Half term week has been a busy week for us as we had Stuart's Mum and her husband up to visit for a few days and had quite a few days out. Even though its been busy we did have fun and made lovely memories.

Monday

Blake mainly had free time and a few friends pop round for a bit. My in laws arrived around 4pm and we ended up getting in some pizzas for tea. 

Tuesday

We headed to Messingham Zoo which I wrote about here. If you are ever in the area its definitely a lovely little place to pass a few hours and see some animals. That evening we had a fish and chippy tea at a local place where their restaurant had reopened as they had kept close since March 2020 and only had their takeaway bit open until now.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR EARS

*This is a collaborative post

We often take our ears for granted but once hearing is damaged it's damaged for good. So don't wait until it is too late and start looking after your ears today. There are quite a few ways to care for your ears. Some are quite obvious and you most likely do them, others you may not realise affect your hearing.

MESSINGHAM ZOO | LINCOLNSHIRE

It's half-term and we have Stuart's mum and her husband visiting for a few days. Today we headed to Messingham Zoo for a few hours. We like to fit as much fun stuff as we can in as it really helps to stop Blake getting bored. 

Messingham Zoo is a family run business. The primary aim is to offer something different to larger zoos and wildlife parks by focussing on close up encounters with smaller, friendlier animals. 

LITTLE MOMENTS | 43/52 : LOLLIPOPS

There is something about lollipops as a child. Especially the large colourful ones that you spot in shop windows. Blake spotted a picture of one on the side of a local sweet shop and the joy on his face when we said yes filled me with nostalgia from my childhood and wanting the same sort of lollipop. 

It brought back that feeling of being a child and so wanting the sugary treat. I remember getting one from a cousin one year as she had been travelling and came home with ones for my sister and I from when she went to Disney World. I remember how as a child they looked huge and was such a treat for us to have. I can't remember if I ever did finish it but I do remember it being just as bright and colourful as the one Blake got. 

AD | GIFT IDEAS FOR A 10 YEAR OLD BOY

*This post is in collaboration with Wicked Uncle

As boys get older it can be harder to know what to get them as gifts. I certainly find it especially harder for my two oldest nephews. I've found some brilliant children's gift ideas here, not only that but I thought I'd share with you some of my favourites below.

5 Reasons Leeds is the Place to Be

 

*This is a collaborative post

In the UK, it’s easy to forget that there is life outside of London.  

But while the nation’s capital may have international attention, the humble city of Leeds has been ranked the best place to live and work in the north of England, and is ranked as the 12th best city overall! This vibrant, exciting metropolis has risen in popularity over the last few years, attracting businesses, families and professionals from all over the country.

LITTLE MOMENTS | 42/52 : PUMPKIN SPICE LATTES & CINNAMON SWIRLS

 I absolutely love the cosy comfort food and drink this time of year. This past week has been about pumpkin spice lattes and cinnamon swirls. They are definitely my two favourite autumn time treats. 

The cinnamon swirls we have are ones that are pre-made and just need cutting up and baking. However I'm desperate to be able to have a go at making some from scratch. 

As for pumpkin spice lattes I've been getting mine from Greggs and have had 5 since September.  I'm surprised in all fairness that it hasn't been more. I tried making some at home last year which ended up not working out. I need to try again and find a different recipe.

TRADE TO AID REUSABLE SANITARY PADS

*AD – I was gifted a set of Trade To Aid Reusable Sanitary Pads for this review. All opinions are my own though.

For quite a few year's now I've been using cloth sanitary pads. It was a switch I'm glad I've made as not only am I helping the environment, I'm saving money and I've found them much more comfortable than the plastic filled disposable ones. 

Today I am sharing with you a company whose mission is to end period poverty. Did you know that over 500 million women worldwide are affected by period poverty. Meaning that they don't have access to enough feminine hygiene products. 

Should I Encourage My Child to Learn an Instrument?

  *This is a collaborative post

Learning an instrument isn’t just about being able to perform a piece of music; there are many other skills that youngsters can learn through musical hobbies. With this in mind, there’s certainly no reason why you shouldn’t encourage your child to learn an instrument, as long as it’s something that interests them. I have teamed up with a private school in Gerrards Cross to explore the benefits of learning an instrument below…

Helping Your Child Develop their Critical Thinking Skills

  *This is a collaborative post

Critical thinking skills are an important aspect of a child’s educational development. They are essentially what allow us to analyse and compare our existing knowledge with new information to form a logical conclusion. So, critical thinking skills help us make decisions, come up with a line of argument and resolve conflict. With this in mind, you may be wondering how you can help your child develop their critical thinking skills. Here are some tips from a senior school in Northwood.

The Benefits of Outdoor Learning for Children

 *This is a collaborative post

The great outdoors is abundant with a range of learning opportunities for children, and its something that parents should encourage where possible. So many of us are worried about the amount of time our kids spend playing on their phones and games consoles, so getting them out and about is a great way to give them a much-needed digital detox. I have teamed up with an international school in Hertfordshire to share the benefits of outdoor learning.

How to a Raise an Optimistic Child

  *This is a collaborative post*

Maintaining an optimistic attitude can be challenging at times, even for the most upbeat of people. However, it’s a valuable mindset to possess because it helps us find contentment and overcome difficulties with a positive approach. With that said, parents should try and find ways to instil a sense of optimism in their children, using the following tips from a girls’ prep school in Surrey.

4 activities to do with kids

   *This is a collaborative post*

Baking your favourite treats

A wonderful activity to do with kids when it is raining outside is baking. Trade those screens for spatulas and bake your favourite sugary treats. Think about pumpkin spice cookies; a lovely treat for tea. 

Your home will smell like a real bakery and your kids’ bellies will be full and happy. If you want to make it a full-day activity, make that layered cake that you’ve always dreamed of! Invite some friends or family and treat them to your masterpiece. 

Start a crafting project

A good way to stimulate your kids’ creative ability is to start a crafting project. Prepare well and find a project that is suitable for you and your child(ren). Get all the materials you need at the art supply store and start crafting. 

LITTLE MOMENTS | 40 & 41/52 |SOFT PLAY AND ANAWFUL COLD

 The past two weeks have been  a bit all over the place. I've had an awful sore throat on and off still, but made sure we went to soft play on Saturday 2nd October as Blake had been  asking to go. We actually had a great time there minus a little hiccup when  Blake lashed out at another child. But other than that he loved running around and burning off energy. Whilst we were out and about I managed to stop via Greggs to grab a pumpkin spiced latte. I must admit they are one of my favourite autumn drinks.

Then this week Blake has had an awful cough and we've had to do two covid tests. One was a lateral flow and the other was a PCR and both came back negative so he was allowed back to school. Unfortunately he was sent home again Friday after he fell asleep in class, which really is unlike him. He still isn't 100% but I'm hoping next week he has better luck going to school and most importantly starts to feel more like himself again. We did take him to the out of hours Dr to just double check it wasn't anything like a throat or chest infection. It is just a cold but it's obviously a bad one. 

REVIEW| VEGAMOUR HAIRCARE RANGE

Ad/Gifted – The Vegamour Haircare products  featured in this post were gifted to me in exchange for a review. However all opinions are my own.

Recently I've been looking after my hair better. I've stopped washing my hair everyday and since the end of August I've been using products from Vegamour. Vegamour is 100% vegan, cruelty free, safe and uses effective products for achieving thicker, fuller hair. Their products are free of sulfates, parabens, silicones, gluten and artificial fragrance. 

My hair has always been fine (thank you PCOS) so I'm always on the look out for products that will help me to achieve more fuller and thicker hair. Vegamour have a variety of products to choose from to suit your needs. I have been trying the following:

- Gro Revitalising Shampoo and conditioner kit

- Gro Scalp Detoxifying Serum 

- Gro Biotin Gummies for hair.

5 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU MOVE HOME

   *This is a collaborative post*

Moving house is definitely stressful and time consuming. It's not just the packing but the actual process of moving too. We have moved quite a few times and it never gets any easier. But there are things you can do to make it less stressful on you.

5 Products That Can Transform Your Home

   *This is a collaborative post*

Home improvements can be the secret to making your humble abode feel good as new. 

Unfortunately, though it may be cheaper (and less effort) than moving house, it can come with a hefty price tag of its own and cause chaos.

It’s better than the alternative right? And thankfully home improvement doesn’t need to be nearly as high maintenance as you might think. Whilst some of these five products will require a little DIY skill, others will yield instant improvement – take a look and find out how you can transform your home. 

Interior design secrets of Instagram stars

  *This is a collaborative post*

The internet is populated with famous names setting trends across industries, whether its fashion, makeup or interior design. 

There are major misconceptions about how much money these individuals make – while there are many making five-figure sums for single posts, others generate very little revenue and simply create content for the love of it.

Many of these are micro-influencers – creators with follower counts of a mere(-ish) five or six figures. They aren’t working on big budgets, minus a PR package here and there, but many of them are running widely followed interior design accounts that inspire countless homemakers. 

Whether you dream of being a trendsetter or simply want your home to resemble an Insta-ready haven, these are just a few secrets of social media stars and how they perfect their palaces. 

3 ways to nurture your inner child

   *This is a collaborative post*

As Pablo Picasso once famously said, ‘Every child is an artist – problem is how to remain an artist when he grows up.’ 

And what a problem adulthood presents. For most of us, those days before bills and work, punctuated with six-week summers, are a halcyon era wistfully longed for. 

If you dream of reclaiming your childlike enthusiasm and lust for life, check out these three tips to nurture and unleash your inner child. 

LIKES & LOVES| SEPTEMBER 2021

 Some of the items featured in this post include affiliate links. I’ve added a * next to those items for reference. Purchasing via these links does not cost you extra. 

I must say September has been a pretty mixed month. We've had a sickness bug and an awful cold visit our household. But we have had lovely evenings spent with our neighbour, school photos and a first reading book. We've not had many days out during September but now we are fully back into a routine the plan is to plan exciting things to do at the weekends.

Amazon Prime:

Nine Perfect Strangers

Nine perfect strangers is based on the book by Liane Moriarty. Taking place at a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation as nine stressed city dwellers try to get on a path to a better way of living. Watching over them during this 10-day retreat is the resort's director, Masha, a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies. However, these nine "perfect" strangers have no idea what is about to hit them.

Disney + 

LUCA 

I've been wanting to see this for awhile as I'd heard good things about it. Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, the original animated feature is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply held secret: he is a sea monster from another world just below the water's surface.

Netflix 

Open your eyes 

Open Your Eyes' follows Julia, a girl who has been through a tragic accident and is trying to recover from it. The catch: she does not remember anything about it or about her life before the accident.

Clickbait

When family man Nick Brewer is abducted in a crime with a sinister online twist, those closest to him race to uncover who is behind it and why.