Skiing as a Family

Here are a few of my favourite photos from our recent ski holiday to Puy St Vincent with Snowbizz.  It was sunny, snowy, energizing and exhausting all at the same time and all four of us had such a brilliant week.

My Samsung Galaxy Phone

I love my camera, and ever since taking the plunge last October and investing in a DSLR, I haven't looked back.  I set up little photo shoots, I follow the boys round trying to capture them unawares and I will one day master the stealth shot.  I wouldn't be without it and I can really see that my photography has improved thanks to my shiny new equipment.

This doesn't change the fact that 90% of my photos are still taken with my trusty camera phone.  A DSLR is not always practical and it certainly doesn't fit in my pocket, but my phone is never far, and thanks to that I have some photos I will treasure forever.  I currently have the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the camera on it is fantastic, but the S5 has an auto focus that should put an end to the blurry photos of fast moving toddlers and with 16  megapixels, it doesn't matter if the best photo I take is on my camera, as the quality will be amazing.

Not only that, but the Samsung Galaxy S5 has some amazing technology - combine the pedometer app with the new Gear, and I can prove once and for all that I work very hard during the day! I don't think the bloke appreciates quite how much time I spend chasing round the troublesome twosome, but counting my steps and monitoring my day will show him that I really don't sit around eating biscuits as much as he thinks I do!

And speaking of the little ones, the new fingerprint technology should mean I never have to change the language back to English, apologise for sending messages that read kjdgdlfgdfkjgd or wake up at half past 2 thanks to someone setting my alarm!

All of these photos were taken on my Samsung Galaxy S4 and I would love to win the new S5 and take even better shots! I am entering this competition to win one

Travelling with Toddlers

Toddlers are not known for being easy in any department, and with two under three, you would be forgiven for thinking that holidays are more stress than they are worth.  What we have found is the complete opposite and actually some time away, a break from routine and daily stress means relaxed parents and relaxed toddlers too.  Here are my top 5 tips for travelling with toddlers

1) Relax. 

They can totally sense fear and they play on it.  It isn't always easy when your flight landed an hour ago and you are still waiting for your luggage (us yesterday!), but if you can't change it then don't try.  Hit the vending machine for something sugary, use your hand luggage as a pillow and relax, chances are the kids will too.

Thank goodness for Gatwick airports pushchair service!

2) Don't take too many toys.

It is tempting to pack all their favourite games and puzzles to keep them occupied, and we have been guilty of taking an entire suitcase full of their things from home.  As it turned out, one child was happy to read Dear Zoo to himself for nearly two hours straight, whilst the other was mostly interested in climbing on things.  Taking a couple of well chosen favourites is definitely wise, but children are great at making their own fun, so even without their beloved train tracks, they will still have fun.

All this monkey needed was a pushchair basket to climb in and out of!

3) Don't worry about the mess.

With the space you have saved on toys, take plenty of spare tops, as there is nothing quite like a holiday to make you more relaxed with cleanliness and more likely to dish out the ice creams.  Toddlers have no concept of 'keep clean, you look lovely in that outfit', and will most likely drip ice cream/the blue lollipop you stupidly gave into all over themselves.  Relax, change them and finish those sticky sweet treats.

4)  If you can't beat them, join them.

Sometimes being an adult is great fun, but there are times when it is best to forget about responsibility and etiquette and join in with whatever silly games the little ones want to play.  It will not only leave you giggling all day, but the toddlers find it hilarious too.  Sometimes you have to hop all the way down the high street, some times it is building a snowman, but follow their lead.

Is there anything quite as fun as sliding down a big hill on your bum?

5)  Don't force the photos

Although it is lovely to have everything captured beautifully on camera, toddlers tend to have other ideas that involve either running away screaming or pulling funny faces.  As much as I try to get those lovely candid natural shots (and I do have a few), most of mine seem to come out with rather 'interesting' expressions.  I do have some beautiful shots of the scenery though - that was much happier to stay still!

If you are looking to travel with toddlers soon, then make sure you are fully prepared with passports, sugary snacks and a sense of humour, that is all you really need.

 This post is an entry in the Mark Warner Blogger Competition

Dressing the Bloke

The bloke and I met at a festival, a rock festival in fact and we have always shared a love of metal and rock music.  We have been to so many gigs over the months, both seperately and together and we are looking forward to seeing Arcade Fire in a couple of months.  With that in mind, I have put together a possible outfit from him as part of an entry to Debenham's #LoveDenim competiton

The bloke may be 30 now, but he is a long way from growing up and still has somewhat of a student style.  The outfit I have put together is something he would wear, without having the silly slogans he is prone to buying when unsupervised! 

These jeans are loose fit and look very comfy.  At only £35 I am tempted to buy them anyway as his wardrobe seriously needs an update!

A black T-shirt is ideal for a gig and I like this animal one.  It is still a bit cheeky and young but still acceptable at 30.

There is no point wearing nice shoes to a rock gig as they will most likely end up destroyed, so something simple like these canvas shoes (which are only £6!) are ideal, easy to wear and go with everything.

Although the weather is getting better every week, we are in the UK so some kind of jumper is necessary and I love this grey one from Tog 24.  It is exactly the kind of thing he would wear and that I would pick for him.

Now as you may have gathered from what I have written, the bloke is in need of a little help in the fashion department.  He doesn't do smart well and I have only ever seen him in a suit at weddings.  For a nice dinner out he would still wear a T-shirt and trainers if he was allowed, but I am slowly encouraging something a little smarter.  The outfit below is a compromise between what he would like to wear and my idea of a smart dinner outfit, and I think it would be perfect for him.

These darker straight leg jeans look much smarter than the baggy fits he usually wears

I adore this grey jumper and it may have made the cut mostly because I totally see myself in it too in the taxi home! It is smart for a meal out but still casual and comfy.  The White T-shirt to go underneath.

And finally these shoes would be only the bloke's third pair, he owns trainers and work shoes and I really like these for a smart-casual look.

I would love to win this competition and the chance to inject a little style in to the bloke's wardrobe (and perhaps treat myself to something too whilst I am there!). The children are never short of lovely clothes, but we often neglect ourselves!

A Simple Day

Whilst we love exploring new places, there is always magic to be found in those we see every week, and a trip to the park at the end of our road is still an adventure at two years old.

A pirate ship, a coffee shop, a kitchen and the beach - these are all things that the space underneath the slide has doubled as this week as my little boy's imagination grows.

And from watching in my arms to cruising round the climbing frames, the littlest one is exploring further with every visit.  It won't be long until he is running round with the other toddlers, and I can see that he just can't wait.

For the little people, no adventure is too small, no journey unexciting.

A simple day doesn't mean boring.

Outfits for Mother's Day

This Mother's Day is going to be a special one.  Not only do I get to spend the day with my two beautiful children, the ones that call me Mummy (or mamamamama), but we will also be jetting off on Archie's first trip abroad.  Early on Mothers Day morning, we will be heading to Gatwick, ready to fly off to France for a dream holiday skiing!

Vertbaudet are running a competition and asking bloggers to design the perfect outfit for their chidren to wear on Mothers day, so I have chosen clothes that look comfortable enough for two hours on a plane, yet still look great for a mothers day meal out.  

For Archie:

This 3 pack of vests look super snuggly and having taken a baby on a plane before, I know that a change of vest may well be needed!

The dungarees are fleecy so perfect for when we land, but also comfy for sitting on my lap for the flight.  Who can resist a baby in dungarees?

Finally I couldn't resist this cardigan.  We will be leaving the house very early and so layers are the way forward.

For Dylan:

A potty training toddler needs an easy waist band and these jeans look so comfy - perfect for flying

I love the colours of these tops and they go perfectly with the colour of the jeans.  A long sleeved top will be a warm layer for Dylan too

And finally, my absolute favourite item from them all is this beautiful white sweater.  It is absolutely gorgeous, looks warm and comfortable and really smart at the same time.  Perfect for a nice mothers day lunch!

I even found the perfect outfit for me on the website! I am still breastfeeding Archie and although we usually keep it to morning and evening so that we are at home now, I think I may end up nursing on the plane as I know how much easier it is on their ears, and how much comfort it gives Archie, when flying is something so new for him.  This dress would mean I could feed really discreetly, and still look stylish at the same time.  I would team it with some very thick leggings and warm snow boots ready for landing! 

For Me:

So those are my Mothers Day picks, perfect for travelling, eating out, flying and cuddling!

A Toddler Date at Frankie and Bennys

This weekend saw me go on a little date with Dylan.  He is two and half now, a chatty, confident toddler who has been craving my undivided attention.  I left the baby at home on Sunday morning, and Dylan and I set off on a little date.

A short bus trip, a new sticker book and some crazy dancing later, we arrived at Frankie and Benny's, looking for a table for two, a glass of purple juice and  something yummy to eat. 

From the moment we waked through the door, we felt welcome and the host acknowledged Dylan and offered him a colouring pack.  Our table could accommodate four which meant we could cuddle up on the sofa side and get stuck in with our rocket stickers.  A drink order was taken early on, and the waiter didn't question a request for 'whichever of the child's drink options was most purple'.  A couple of minutes later, and our order was taken.

The kids pack isn't really suitable for a two year old, the activity book is busy and doesn't have space for free drawing or much white for them to see their marks.  There was a puzzle in the pack though, which was a huge hit with my puzzle mad toddler and we completed that together, as well as doing stickers before our main meal arrived.

I ordered Dylan a pizza from the kid's menu which comes as cheese and tomato without the option to add anything extra, which would have been nice.  He loves it though and it is very generously sized, so two toddlers could share it easily.  You do get a free healthy side, but I forgot to ask and we were never offered.  I had a bolognese gnocchi bake from the specials menu which was delicious, and a great size for a greedy lunch.  We both thoroughly enjoyed our main courses and ordered desert as soon as they were finished.

I went for the salted caramel cheesecake which was as divine as the name suggests.  Dylan chose a strawberry ice cream sundae, which came with a mini pack of chocolate buttons on the side.  I was really happy with this as I chose not to give them to him just yet, and as they were in a bag it was easy to take them away for later.  I wanted it to be a treat day, but ice cream, sauce and a wafer is plenty for a two year old and we were both full by the end of the meal.

We are in the midst of potty training and had no problems leaving our table to use the toilet, with the disabled/baby changing room also being perfectly positioned and laid out for us.

As we left, we were offered a balloon and a free apple.  As part of their children's menu, everyone can have a free apple which I love.  There is no fruit option for desert and both my boys love healthy food, so it was perfect to pop in the bag for the inevitable hunger a bit later, or to give to a child that is still hungry.  I love when a restaurant is toddler friendly and offers them a healthy alternative so this makes a real difference to where we choose to eat.  

I really like Frankie and Benny's as a child friendly restaurant - everything from the menu to the layout is suitable for toddlers and they don't mind a little noise!