A baby boy is born

2019 was a rollercoaster of a year. The most wonderful high of the year came at the end of the year with the arrival of our bundle of love, our third beautiful baby boy.

I just can't believe how quickly the weeks are flying by. Cherishing every moment.

Life as a family of five is bliss and our new addition is all we could have wished for and more. He is adorable and I am totally in love with my new little star.

Walkers search for the Spice Girls' #BestEverFan

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90s girl power is back with a zig-a-zig ah!

The Spice Girls are spicing up our lives once more on their reunion tour. As Geri, Emma, Mel C and Mel B, AKA Ginger Spice, Baby Spice, Sporty Spice and Scary Spice dazzle on stage during their Spice World 2019 UK and Ireland tour singing sing their hit songs, 90s nostalgia and girl power has filled the nation.

Why I aspire to be like my mum

My mum and I are very close. Since I was a child we've been as thick as thieves and as I got older I came to consider her as a close friend. Even now with us living miles apart, over an hour's drive away and in two different counties, we speak everyday one way or another and regularly meet up in person at least a couple of times a month.

She is my rock. She's been there for me during the good times and the bad. There for me during all the momentous milestones of my life.

I think my mum is awesome and in many ways I aspire to be like her. If I could be half the woman she is I would be happy. Here are just a few of the reasons why I aspire to be like my mum.

Walking With Dinosaurs The Arena Spectacular review

When I heard that the Walking With Dinosaurs Arena Spectacular show was stomping to arenas across the UK on a final dinotastic tour I was eager to witness the world renowned show before it becomes extinct.

Like most kids my boys are fascinated by dinosaurs. My youngest loves dinosaur shows such as Dinosaur Train and Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures, adores dinosaur toys and is fanatic about imaginative dinosaur play and dressing up as dinosaurs. Not only does my eldest also share the same dinosaur interests as his little brother but his obsession has progressed to being interested in learning everything and anything scientific about dinosaurs. The beauty of dinosaurs is that there is always more for him to learn as paleontologists discover new dinosaurs and facts all the time plus dinosaurs leave awesome skeletons and fossils.

Disney on Ice Worlds of Enchantment review

Disney stories and films (plus an enchanting visit to Disney World Florida) are entwined in many memories from my childhood. They evoke thoughts of the people I watched them with and the joy I had and still have in watching them. Winnie the Pooh, The Fox and the Hound, Honey I Shrunk The Kids, The Little Mermaid, Flight of The Navigator, Beauty and The Beast, Fantasia to name but a few. Then in later years Hocus Pocus, Cool Runnings, The Lion King, Finding Nemo and the Toy Story series. Really those titles are just the tip of the iceberg of Disney films that I love.

Fast forward too many years for my liking, now as a parent I get to share my love of Disney with my children. From a young age they have been bewitched by Disney magic. Disney old and new has been embraced by us. Whilst they love all Disney productions they do have a soft spot for the animated films.

Favourite holiday moments with Holiday Gems

As the weather here in the UK fluctuates between harsh cold, snowy Beast from the East weather to torrential rain showers to glorious spring sunshine I have been reflecting on holidays past and wishing for future holidays with beautiful weather.

So when Holiday Gems - who specialise in short-haul travel destinations - reached out to hear about my favourite holiday moments, thinking about memorable holidays I have enjoyed was a breeze. The only difficult thing was to pick a couple of holidays from all the wonderful ones I have enjoyed over the years.

Thinking about the holidays I have experienced so far in my life there are two holidays in particular that were remarkable for different reasons.

My love of Orlando, Florida

There are many amazing places all across the globe. Places I’ve visited and loved, and places where I’ve never been to that are top of my travel bucket list and where I long to visit. Whilst naturally the places that I’ve yet to visit overtake the places I have been to as I want to see and experience new things and places, there is one location that I have been to that still takes top spot on my travel bucket list of where I want to visit in the future - Orlando, Florida.

My first visit to Orlando, Florida was 20 years ago when I was on the brink of entering the age of teenage. It was a wonderful and unforgettable experience. It was the spark that ignited my love of Orlando, Florida.

Here are just a handful of reasons why I love Orlando, Florida.

Travelodge Manchester Birch M62 Westbound review

When I was a child my mum would take my sister and I on short breaks to explore various locations across the UK. We’d often borrow my grandparents caravan, hitch it up to the car and off we went on adventures. When we could not or did not want to use the caravan she would book for us to stay at Travelodge. We were a Travelodge holidaying family. Staying at Travelodge was ideal for us as it was cheap, had the basic necessities we needed and was a comfortable place for us to lay our head and get a good night’s sleep after a day exploring whatever location we had rocked up at.

Now a parent myself and the other side of 30 I have not stayed at a Travelodge for about 15-20 years since my childhood. 

Caring for clothes - care symbol labels

When I found I was pregnant with my first born I was very eager to start buying little baby clothes ready for my little bundle of love. After my first scan at 12 weeks Lee and I bought our little unborn baby’s first ever outfit. Then once we reached the halfway mark and had the 20 week scan where we were reassured that all was okay with baby we slowly started buying clothes ready for his arrival.

During the last few weeks of pregnancy I went into full on nesting mode. The house was cleaned from top to bottom in a whirlwind, spring cleaning blitz. The nursery was re-decorated with a jungle theme and furniture assembled all ready and perfect for baby. The tiny baby clothes were washed, dried, ironed and folded neatly into the baby’s wardrobe and drawers.

Love of photography - #throughmyeyez

From a young age I loved photos and cameras. My Dadcu (grandad) was a keen photographer with all the kit and it was a running family joke that you had to watch what you were up to on family days out and special family events because he was sure to capture you in the act as he always had his camera to hand and was watching everyone through the lens.

Those photos he took and old black and white photographs of family and times before me sparked interest in photography and a sentimental love of photographs to capture special moments in time.

Babywearing adventures

I love babywearing.

There are so many wonderful benefits of babywearing.

From my very first experience of carrying Bug nearly 6 years ago in a Moby Tattoo Noir stretchy wrap, I fell in love with babywearing.