Review: La Coqueta Childrenswear

We've recently been sent a beautiful coat from Spanish childrenswear brand La Coqueta for Holly to try out. La Coqueta was set up in 2013 by a mum of five with the aim of promoting Spanish design and creativity to the English market.

Browsing their website you can't help but be awed by the beautiful traditional pieces with a contemporary twist - empire line dresses with delicate floral prints, dungaree skirts with frilly straps and mother of pearl buttons and patent Mary Janes are just some of the items you will find for girls. Plus the sizes go up to ten years, which is such a refreshing change to me as often at Holly's age the clothing is not always suitable and I feel too old, so it's nice to find clothing that celebrates children being children.

Review: Snow Park at Chill Factore

In May of this year the popular Snow Park at Chill Factore where children and adults alike can dive down on a toboggan or slide in rings down an icy slope, had a re-launch and we were invited along to give it a try. We visited over the summer holidays, which was definitely a novelty going from heat into the snow, but it was actually a great activity for an August rainy day.

Review: Comfortable Footwear for Travelling With Hotter Shoes

We've all done it before - bought beautiful new shoes for our holiday only to wear them once and our feet be ripped to pieces. Hard plastic, rough leather, painful heels - you name it, I've been there. However thanks to Hotter Shoes' Tourist sandals, this Summer my feet were given a reprieve from the pain. Read on to find out why!

Review: Inflata Nation Manchester's Inflatable Theme Park

A few weeks ago we were invited to visit Inflata Nation, the inflatable theme park based in Manchester. We have meant to visit the site a few times as it sounds brilliant and something my two would really love, but have never got around to it. The school holidays was the perfect time to give it a try so myself, the kids and some friends went along to see if it was as good as I'd heard.

Review: Finding A Local Babysitter with Childcare.co.uk

"It takes a village to raise a child", or so the saying goes, but in today's society those villages are smaller and smaller and often parents have very little support or backup and are raising their children with little to no help from outside. I am fortunate that I have a great family and although they're not on my doorstep, they help out as much as they can and when they can with the children. That being said, though, when John and I just need an hour to ourselves or if we want any adult-only time, we don't really have anyone we can call on to lend a hand. That's where childcare.co.uk comes in.

Review: L.O.L. Surprise #HairGoals

Holly isn't a girl that particularly sits down with dolls or Barbies and will play endlessly, she tends to flit from one activity to another and can end up with every toy she owns out in a short period of time. However one toy she does go back to time and time again are her L.O.L. dolls. She was a fan from the day they came out and loves the collectible concept where she can unpackage each layer, enjoying revealing the surprises as she goes along. On top of several dolls we now have the pop up store where she can play with her dolls but also store everything that comes with them.

Review & Giveaway: Sealife Manchester with Play-Doh

We have visited our local aquarium, Sealife Manchester based in the Trafford Centre, many times in the years since it has opened. It is a regular on our list of activities to keep the children entertained at some point during the holiday period. For February half term we were invited along to try out the new Jawsome Sharks experience with Play-Doh so along with some friends we spent a couple of hours enjoying the underwater life and taking part in the activities on offer.

Review: Treetop Trek & Nets In Manchester

Getting out and about with the kids at this time of year is not the easiest thing - the weather is unreliable, it's muddy and cold and finding things outdoors to do that won't result in complaining after a few minutes can be a challenge. When we were invited to try Treetop Trek & Nets in Manchester, I thought it would definitely be something different to do and I was intrigued to see what the kids would make of it.

Review: David Charles Partywear For Girls

There are some beautiful clothes out there for girls and finding the right party dress can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. I tend to turn to the usual supermarket find or maybe a trip to Next or Monsoon. However from time to time I do like to splash out on something extra special and when I was looking for a dress for Holly that would be suitable for her birthday and into the Christmas party season I was really thrilled when David Charles Childrenswear got in touch.

Review: Brompton Lakes Self Catering Lodges in North Yorkshire

Last weekend I was invited to stay for the weekend at Brompton Lakes self catering lodges in North Yorkshire. Myself along with five other bloggers head over the Dales for two nights of relaxation, food and laughter. What I didn't expect was the peace and companionship I found from spending time with women who expected nothing from you but to be yourself.

Review: Christmas Winter Wonderland in Liverpool

We absolutely love December and the build up to the Christmas season and usually have a few different events to go to get us in the festive spirit. For the first time this year, Liverpool have opened their own Winter Wonderland and we were invited along to give it a try. The event is set in the Bombed Out Church in the city centre, which I have never actually been inside before and with lots of activities set up, it looked like it would be a good one.

Men's Winter Style With Jacamo

With Winter well and truly upon us we've dug out our thick coats and put away the lighter, and not quite as protective jackets and raincoats. As always at this time of year, someone is short on a good quality coat - usually due to a growth spurt - however this year it was Mr H whose coats seemed to have had a little too much wear and tear. Thankfully the people at Jacamo offered him some pieces from their Winter range so he could look a bit more presentable.

Between us we browsed their site looking for the right coat - he already has a smart work one but really needed a more casual coat for standing on the side of the football pitch in whatever weather or walking the dog. He can be a bit particular with what he likes, which always makes it fun for me at Christmas ad birthdays, but eventually he opted for a black parka which, with its fur lined hood, would keep him warm and also suited his frame.

Review: Poopsie Unicorn Slime Surprise

If your child is like mine, they will love slime - I don't think there's many children who haven't latched on to this craze which sees kids messing with glue and chemicals to create something that sticks to carpets and fabric and will not be removed. As you can probably tell, it isn't my favourite trend! However the kids love it and on occasion I have relented and let them get some, and when we were recently sent the new Poopsie Unicorn Slime Surprise to try that was one of those times.

Review: L.O.L. Surprise Pop-Up Store

L.O.L. dolls were the latest in the collectible toy series in 2016 and since then have become one of the main collectible toys for kids. Holly has several of the dolls herself and loves opening the different parts and then dressing up the dolls and swapping their clothes about. The Pop-Up Store is the latest expansion to the L.O.L. doll range and sets to be a bestseller this Christmas - it has actually been voted in the top toys for Christmas by Dreamtoys. We were sent one to try out and I thought Holly's eyes would pop out of her head when she saw it!

Review: AEG Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

I swear by our Dyson vacuum cleaner, we've had it for years and as we have pets it is brilliant for getting up all those hairs that stick down into the carpets and refuse to budge. However after trying out a cordless vac last year we were won over by the idea of not having to deal with wires and cords but also that quick jobs are so much easier to tackle without having to untangle the wire and find a free plug.

Getting Ready For Winter With Simply Be

The last couple of days have definitely seen a cold snap hit the school run and we've started adding gloves and hats to our array of jobs before we leave the house. I am a big coat fan and have somehow collected my fair share over the years, however my old yellow coat wasn't really cutting it for me this year. When Simply Be got in touch asking me if I'd like to add one to my wardrobe I jumped at the chance.

I scoured their site for the perfect coat as there was so much choice. I really loved the teddy coats that are in at the moment, but figured it was probably a bit impractical for the school run and may make me look like a bit of a furry lump anyway. In the ended I went for this pink parka with a faux fur trimmed hood and I'm so glad I did! 

A Week In South Tenerife with Clickstay

On October 13th myself and two fellow bloggers, Sian and Laura, jetted off  to stay in a villa for a week in south Tenerife with Clickstay. I have visited Tenerife when I was a child, however I don't remember much about it at all so really had no idea what to expect from the island. When I was given the chance to spend a week abroad without my family I jumped at the chance - not because I don't want to spend time together, but I know how important time to yourself is. As a chronic fatigue sufferer, Autumn is a particularly difficult time of year so the chance to spend seven days in the sun and take time away from every day pressures was too good to pass up. Fortunately John was open to the idea and with the help of my mum we managed to sort out childcare so I could go.

5 Tips for Getting Outdoors in Autumn with Chronic Fatigue #HotterWalkies

As someone with a chronic illness, I know that getting outdoors is both a huge challenge and an important thing to do. Add the cold and varying weather temperatures, Autumn can be a difficult time of year to get outside. Finding a balance between getting some vitamin D and not overdoing it isn't easy. I also have a little sausage dog who adores her walks and whilst my husband does the majority of them, it is a joy for me to be able to go along with them and watch her skipping in delight at all the pleasures of walking outdoors. I thought I'd put together a few tips for getting outdoors in Autumn that I have come across over the years, which can enable people with chronic fatigue to enjoy their walks without overdoing it.

What Age Should Children Have Their First Phone?

Holly and Jack are only seven and six and yet for the last year they have been constantly asking me for a mobile phone of their own. Of course the answer is no, however it does occur to me how aware of technology our children are at such a young age but also at what age is it suitable for children to have their first phone?

The Launch of the Microsoft Surface Go #GoImagine

Last week myself and Holly were invited down to London to attend the launch of Microsoft's latest product, the Microsoft Surface Go. Not only was I interested to learn more about this product but also looking forward to spend a day with Holly just me and her, as it's been a long time since we've had the opportunity. I left Jack with my mum, who was happy to be taken to the cinemas for his treat, and Holly and I boarded the train, much to her excitement.