Girls Summer Fashion from Melijoe

Although I'm a little disappointed the Easter holiday has now come to an end and the Mini Mes have returned to school, I'm still feeling rather content due to the endless sunshine that we seem to be having at the moment - I love it! It really reminds me of summers gone by which always bring thoughts of BBQs, afternoons in the garden and of course lazy days spent on the beach. The pace of living seems to slow down between July and September and everyone just seems so much happier, don't they.

With this in mind I started to think about how unprepared I actually am for the warmer weather, and our holidays abroad, as our wardrobes are some what lacking in suitable summer fashion! Minxy in particular has had a bit of a growth spurt recently so I soon found myself browsing Melijoe for some key designer pieces. 

I put together these three lovely outfits...

I selected the Rykiel Enfant Flared printed cotton poplin skirt as it is a piece that Minxy could wear all year round. It goes perfectly with the pretty Pom d'Api sandals but at the same time she could team this with some tights and boots when Autumn arrives. Being black and white it would go well with a lot of her existing clothing and the Liu Jo top I've teamed it with is such a lovely deep shade of fuschia and a style that can be both dressed up or down for any occasion making it very versatile.

Ladybird Egg Box Bugs

With Spring upon us, I've been thinking about clearing out some of the clutter and it has enabled us to be quite creative in the process. All of the packing from various things can easily be transformed into something fun for the Mini Mes and these Ladybirds are an example of that!

They are rather cute and so simple to make all while using up old egg boxes from the recycling tubs. Your little ones could make an entire family too just like we did.

You will need

Easter with Thorntons

When it comes to Easter I generally leave buying gifts until the very last minute so that I can shop around for the best offers and save money - but the great deals at Thorntons really caught my eye this year.

They have 3 eggs for £25 (which includes their delicious Fudge Brownie, Raspberry Cheesecake and Banoffee Pie versions), 5 eggs for £25 and 4 gifts for just £12 which makes your pennies go that little bit further. They have such great variety and create beautiful and quality chocolate that it makes it hard to decide which to choose! 

We were asked to take our pick from the goodies available to review and I would've been crazy to refuse. I selected the Easter Chocolate Surprise hamper which at just £25, reduced from £50, is a complete bargain. It has something for every member of the family and was therefore ideal for us.

Help Your Kids Engage With Nature This Spring

As the nights become longer and the days warmer millions of families around the UK will get off the sofa and of the house to enjoy the great outdoors. But as spring bulbs bloom and new bursts of foliage turn our landscape lush green, how knowledgeable are we about the plants and wildlife around us?

Do you struggle to name a bird when your little one hears a cooing sound coming from a tree in the park and do you find it hard to name the flowers that are coming into bud? Now is the time to brush up on your knowledge about nature so you can tell your children about the exciting world of plants and wildlife in their own back garden, or the local parks and woodlands.

Join the live WebTV show where Zoologist and nature writer Jules Howard will reveal some interesting facts about nature in Britain and guide you through what to look to out for this spring when you are in the great outdoors. Following a survey conducted by Cbeebies show Tree Fu Tom which revealed that many parents admit to feeling stumped when put on the spot by their children to identify the name of a plant or tree, now is your chance to swot up.

Zoologist and nature writer Jules Howard will be live online at www.studiotalk.tv today (20th March) but you can also watch live right here at 2pm.

Feel free to submit your questions below before it begins!

Spring Into Action

Credit

March is here and spring has sprung – depending on who you believe!  I’m never sure whether the spring season starts on the 1st day of March or when British Summer Time begins – this year that’s 30th March.  Personally I prefer the first option, if for no reason other than the fact that spring shouldn’t be marked on a date that refers to summer and saying spring begins at the start of March gives us a whole month more to put the winter blues behind us. 

One thing that is consistent, though, with the changing of the seasons - from the depths of darkness

Spring Bird Cake Pops - Cooking with Kids

With the Daffodils and sunshine making an appearance more regularly we decided to make some Spring Bird Cake Pops.

These were inspired by an Easter recipe I discovered on Baking Mad, although ours look a bit more like a cross between owls and chicks, so we just settled with a bird theme in general!

The Mini Mes enjoyed making them and they taste delicious so that's all that really matters, right?!

Outdoor Family Fun - 5 Cold Weather Activities

We all know how important it is to be active but when the sun hasn't got it's hat on and Jack Frost lurks around every corner we often need encouraging to go outside.

Hopefully these 5 ideas will help to persuade you and your family to pop on your boots and get moving outdoors, regardless of the weather!

Shadow Fun

With darker days until Spring it's the perfect opportunity to take advantage of all of the shadows on the ground. Use them as stepping stones, play shadow tag or see what interesting shapes you can make with your hands and body. 

Star Gazing

Enjoy a lovely evening walk and see if you can identify the sounds of the wildlife before laying on the ground and staring up into the nights sky. There are so many constellations to look out for but you can also look for planes, bats and owls in the process. 

For a warmer alternative take a tent.

Puddle Jumping

Your little Peppa Pig fans no doubt like to get messy so put on some sensible footwear (I love my new women's Puma trainers), some waterproofs and get splashing. You can stand nearby for some great action shots or join in too. Warm up afterwards with a hot chocolate, plenty of cream and marshmallows with a great family movie.

Winter Games

With the Olympics in progress it's the ideal time for recreating some of the activities safely at home in the garden. Use cardboard boxes as bobsleighs and your imaginations for some competitive play. You could always do some baking and make some cookie medals to reward yourselves after!

Woodland Creations

With high winds there are many broken trees and plenty of branches around. Go on a scavenger hunt to collect some and then use your materials to make your own magical broomsticks and stick characters. Cuddle up with Room on the Broom and Stick Man for a read too or get back straight back out there for some kite flying action!

Which winter activities do you enjoy as a family?

Reasons to be happy

 

My reasons to be happy

It's beginning to look a lot like spring! Waking up to sunshine is fantastic and walking through my garden of baby daffodils each day always puts a smile on my face. Sunshine is an instant mood lifter and I can already smell the BBQ's.

 

We had a lovely weekend at Drayton Manor and the weather didn't disappoint either. It was great to have a family day out at a theme park now that Mini Mes are a little older as they go on all the scary rides too - woohoo!

 

 

 

My weight loss continues and I'm not craving junk food at all as yet. I'm focused and completely in the right mind set to do this. My goal weight doesn't seem so far away!

 

We have a weekend in Blackpool ahead. It may be a little challenging with my diet but I can't wait to have fun at the pleasure beach, see my family, have a meal and drinks out to celebrate my birthday.

 

  

What reasons to you have to be cheerful this week?

Get the kids springing into spring!

Finally it feels as if spring has arrived! At last, winter has hung up its dreary rain coat and has honoured us with some delicious sunshine but before you send your little ones out to play ensure they have the energy to do so with these top tips!

Breakfast

It isn’t called the most important meal of the day for no reason! In order to start the morning on a positive note, it’s important that your kids are full of energy and are ready and raring to go. So don’t neglect their breakfasts. It’s an age-old fact that children are fussy eaters. Perhaps they complain that it’s too early to eat, that they don’t like breakfast, or even that they don’t need it. Well, no matter what the excuse, make it a priority of yours to incorporate a wholesome breakfast into their daily routine. Even the most basic of things like a slice of toast is better than nothing. Do they have a sweet tooth? Then why not treat them to some tasty chocolate almond milk? It’s as easy as that!

Sleep

Another means of keeping your kids cheery for spring is to ensure that they get lots of sleep. The younger your child is, the general rule is, the more sleep they need. For instance, if your youngster is seven to twelve years old then they require at least ten hours sleep, and for twelve to eighteen year olds, it’s a minimum of eight hours. Sleep can have a huge impact on productivity, so ensure they’re well rested and fully prepared for the school day. Make sure they have an early night and encourage them to read rather than watch television. Little things like these can really make a difference!

Exercise

A final key aspect is to be sure that your child is getting enough exercise. After hours staring at a white board or computer screen, it’s easy for little ones to forget about the great outdoors. But the truth is, participating in a few hours extra exercise (in addition to PE lessons) could do your kids the world of good. Not only will it keep them nice and healthy at a time when they need to be fighting fit, but making the effort to exercise will also provide them with a much needed break from their studies. As they say, work hard, play hard!

How do you prepare for spring?

 *Sponsored guest post*

Maternity fashion

I found it really difficult to find clothes while pregnant that were stylish, comfortable yet affordable  and I virtually remained in the same few boring tops and dark trousers for 9 months!

With the weather constantly changing from snow to rain and then sunshine, it also makes deciding what to wear to cover your bump quite tricky at times. Ideally it's nice to have a few key pieces that you can dress up or down to suit any occasion and Vertbaudet have some lovely items available that won't break the bank!

Jeans are almost an essential part of a maternity wardrobe and these great value straight-cut style ones come in white, blue and untreated for a bit of variety. Worn with trainers or flats they can create a casual look or when paired with heels or boots they make a great outfit for work or more formal occasions. With an adjustable waist these can expand as your tummy does and the wide stretch jersey panel and mock fly makes them comfortable with nothing to dig in to your bump. In sizes 6-20 there is something to suit most tastes and sizes.

This pretty pink top, which is perfect for the arrival of spring, will provide just the right amount of warmth from the winter wind with its long sleeves without the risk of overheating from the sunshine. The stretch fit and draped panel to the front provide added detail and support as your body changes. This would look lovely teamed with leggings or with trousers - a versatile top.

Being fitted for a bra is really important during the various stages of pregnancy to help cradle your bust properly. With lace trim, under-wire and breastfeeding clips this maternity bra has everything has everything you need from conception to feeding your baby once it arrives. It comes in 3 colours or black, white and coral in sizes 32B to 44F.

Vertbaudet have a lovely collection of maternity wear including dresses, lingerie, sleepwear and coats.

What items are essential for your maternity wardrobe?