tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65890899595140345752024-03-14T07:19:42.291+00:00One good turnBlogging about babies, food, travel, photography, baking and all other sorts of random things.Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-56256312391803161062015-03-09T22:13:00.000+00:002015-03-09T22:13:07.000+00:00A penguin birthday cakeA week ago my biggest baby turned 3. I'm pretty sure that last year I promised myself that for his 3rd birthday I would stick to a simple cake... But when it came down to it, my biggest little boy loves cake almost as much as I do, so I had to create something fitting for the occasion! And this little boy loves his penguins almost as much as he loves cake.
Number 1 in Bobble's world of soft Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-81348781993626957172015-02-15T22:19:00.002+00:002015-02-15T22:19:56.664+00:00Scrumptious Lemon and Lime Tart
When it comes to making puddings or desserts when friends or family are coming over, I find it hard to stray from anything with chocolate. You just know that chocolate will be a winner with everyone, don't you? But a while ago my Mum shared with me this recipe, and declared it to be both utterly delicious, and extremely simple. I had to give it a try.
If you're wondering whether a lemon and Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-25834843329899765332015-02-04T10:16:00.000+00:002015-02-04T10:16:50.771+00:00Bugaboo Donkey Review
Following on from my post Do I need a double pushchair for a toddler and a newborn? I'm going to share my thoughts and feelings on the Bugaboo Donkey, which was our choice of pushchair for a newborn and a toddler.
What were we looking for in a double pushchair?
First up, here's a quick reminder of what we identified as our top priorities for a double buggy.
It has to have a Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-9247557058120257892015-02-01T22:34:00.000+00:002015-02-01T22:34:11.743+00:0010 things I've learnt about 2 year-olds
I mentioned in a recent post that Bobble is only a few weeks away from turning 3. So as the so-called terrible twos draw to a close, I thought I'd make a handy little list of everything I've learnt about 2 year-olds.
1. Sleep battles
Sleep regression hits big time at 2 years. Don't be mistaken into thinking that this is the end of naps, it's just a phase! It's exhausting and frustrating in Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-74983003115105034332015-01-30T21:15:00.001+00:002015-01-30T21:16:40.615+00:00Feel-good giving - From a Mother to Another
Yesterday an email popped into my inbox from JoJo Maman Bebe that really caught my eye.
Hate landfill, love giving
The headline was 'Give something worthwhile this Mother's Day'. In the email there was mention of the fact that a third of UK clothing ends up in landfill. A third! I hate this kind of waste. In fact, I hate the thought of anything still in working order simply being Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-15542366756125886612015-01-25T23:26:00.001+00:002015-01-25T23:26:55.918+00:00The ultimate highs and lows of parentingIn 5 weeks, my oldest son - my first born, my baby - turns 3. Wow.
It's such a cliché that the weeks and months and years slip by so
quickly with children. But it ain't half true.
This
time 3 years ago I was just a month away from my due date. It's such a
weird time, that pre-baby waiting. And this time of year always makes me
think of it. The cold, biting wind of January. With
all hope Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-71091228099335930802015-01-23T14:41:00.000+00:002015-01-23T14:41:17.070+00:00Introducing Crafty Bird - creator of beautiful homemade personalised baby name pictures
Earlier this year I stumbled across a lovely lady making and selling wonderful things from her shop on Etsy. This site is a treasure trove of gorgeousness, isn't it?
At the time I was looking for something personalised to go on the wall in Little H's room. When Bobble was born we were inundated with so many presents! I think it's quite normal for baby #2 to not receive quite the same quantity Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-87201925508343160472015-01-21T14:24:00.001+00:002015-01-21T14:24:49.784+00:00Do I need a double pushchair for a toddler and a newborn?
When we found on that baby #2 was on the way, it didn't take us long to start thinking about what new baby equipment we could reuse, and what new things we might need to buy. It was exactly the same as when I was pregnant with Bobble, our first initial searches online were about pushchairs.
As I said in my Joolz Day review, it's such an important purchase to get right. Transporting your Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-80161253673551002912015-01-16T14:13:00.003+00:002015-01-16T14:13:47.595+00:00Ending the hiatusTime to throw open the curtains. Blow away the cobwebs. Dust down the keyboard. Have a bit of a stretch and a yawn. It's been a while, hasn't it? Over a year in fact. But I'm back! While I doubt that anyone missed me from this dark and dusty corner of the internet, I am raring to go and so pleased to be back.
So what's new?
Well. I had another baby for starters. To be honest, that was the main Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-24296774300460660742013-12-12T21:14:00.000+00:002013-12-12T21:14:27.176+00:00Christmas present idea - my gingerbread familyFancy creating a homemade and personal Christmas present? I'd like to
share a gift that I made last year. It was so simple, fun and I have it
on good authority that the recipients loved them!
The Big Idea
So, my idea was to immortalise my family in the form
of gingerbread people! Gingerbread is a traditional Christmas treat - I
was inspired by lots of cute gingerbread men decorations, and Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-91966572168825132032013-11-13T12:53:00.000+00:002013-11-13T12:53:02.584+00:00Supporting local businesses this Christmas - Studio Style of Art
First, a quick apology
It's been an awfully long time since I last put finger to keyboard and wrote a blog post... In my defence, I've been busy holidaying (back in September which is pushing it as an excuse in November!) and also trying to get my freelance career going. That and managing a pint-size toddler with more demands than your typical A-lister, has left this blog somewhat neglected andKatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-28043674702535481992013-09-10T14:27:00.001+01:002013-09-10T14:31:17.361+01:00Weaning your baby - Home cooked vs Jars
There's a story in the news today that caught my eye - it turns out that the factory produced jars and pouches sold to help parents wean their babies, aren't as nutritious as home cooked food. Seriously. No schizzle Sherlock!
Baby weaning foods found 'lacking'
I'm not going to wax lyrical about why home cooked food is better for your baby. It's just so obvious isn't it? Food cooked at home Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-26823118059871288532013-08-27T09:00:00.000+01:002013-08-27T09:00:00.194+01:00Travelling with a baby - Baby Friendly Boltholes
I'm a big fan of holidaying (who isn't?) so when Bobble arrived we were determined that we were still going to be able to travel as much as we did in the pre baby days. I think it can be easy to lose your confidence a bit after having a baby, in so many ways, including travelling. Aside from perhaps not having quite a many spare pennies as before, the thought of packing up all of the new Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-13955821827000261742013-08-19T10:30:00.000+01:002013-08-19T10:30:00.748+01:00A unique and personal wedding present idea - 12 months of treats
One of my oldest and dearest friends is getting married this summer. I'm going to be a bridesmaid and can't wait to help her celebrate the big day!
When it came to choosing a wedding present for them, the bride and groom opted for what a lot of couples now seem to do - a request for no gifts, or some cash towards their honeymoon. I can completely understand this, especially when most couples Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-8110471451429862832013-08-14T19:17:00.000+01:002013-08-14T19:24:47.907+01:00I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike
A couple of months ago, around the time that the prices in the car parks of my local town were increased (again!), I made an ebay purchase. I bought a barely used Hamax Kiss bike seat to go on the back of my bike. As well as saving money, I thought this would be a great opportunity to dust off my old bike and have some gentle exercise at the same time.
What a bargain!
As I side note, ebay Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-24496982430445741492013-08-08T21:21:00.000+01:002013-08-13T12:07:15.271+01:00An aMAZE-ing day out for the whole family - Milton Maize Maze
If you live in Cambridgeshire or you're visiting the area on holiday, there's one place that I recommend you visit - the Milton Maize Maze. We had an absolutely brilliant day there recently and as a I make a point of recommending it as a great day out for the whole family (to everyone I know!), I had to share it on here too. But don't delay, the maze is only open until 3 September, so Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-47451968744990931952013-07-30T10:00:00.000+01:002013-07-30T12:32:57.752+01:00A lesson in cupcake decorating with the Butterlicious Cake Company
My finished creations!
I struggled slightly to think of birthday present ideas for myself this year - I must have had too many birthdays! But it wasn't long until I hit upon an idea that satisfied a couple of things that I miss in my new life as a Mummy. Firstly, a chance to do something by myself (whilst Bobble enjoyed some Daddy time) and secondly, having the opportunity to do something Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-55616078225360546812013-07-29T11:30:00.000+01:002013-07-30T12:20:52.238+01:00Introducing Joolz Day - A great pushchair for tall parents
Before I tell you about why we went for the Joolz Day and why I love
it, let me describe what we were looking for in a pushchair. In no
particular order, this is what was on our must-have list.
Top features we wanted in a pushchair
Carry cot and toddler seat - either two separate parts or something
that would covert. I personally don't like seeing tiny babies in
anything other than aKatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-77775415646441289562013-07-25T12:17:00.000+01:002013-07-25T12:17:31.466+01:00A-Z of saving money
Airmiles. If you or your partner travels for work, check whether you're allowed to keep and spend the airmiles personally. Avios (BA) now lets you redeem them against flights, hotels and car hire. We once enjoyed a 4 night break in a 5* hotel in Jersey with flights and car hire for £56, for both of us. What a bargain.
Budgeting. It's kind of obvious, but if you don't work out how much you've Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-792102536027896782013-07-22T12:34:00.003+01:002013-07-22T12:34:35.803+01:00The secret to sitting down comfortably after your baby is bornAs I write, the Duchess of Cambridge is at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, in labour. I can't help but feel a little bit sorry for the poor gal. We opted to only tell immediate family when my labour began. No such privacy for Kate, she has the whole world clammering to know the minute-by-minute details of her labour. For her sake, I hope her birth is easy, uncomplicated and that the baby is Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-52790624969698561252013-07-14T16:00:00.000+01:002013-07-14T21:14:03.614+01:00Through the lens - hello you!When I started the 'through the lens' theme, I planned to share photos of places rather than people. To inspire some wanderlust if you like. But I've been thinking lately about what makes a great photo. You can spend hours setting up the perfect angle, lightening and subject. But sometimes, a picture is brilliant because it's a shot that has perfectly capturing a moment, where you just happened Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-32781794868402952672013-07-13T09:30:00.000+01:002013-07-25T11:25:24.843+01:00Introducing Myakka - fairtrade furnitureAn exciting delivery arrived at our house last week - Bobble's birthday present from his paternal grandparents, Granny and Grandad. A lovely little giraffe bookcase, made from solid monkey pod wood.
Luckily as Bobble is only 1, he didn't seem to notice that his present had arrived four months late. I'd almost given up hope that it was ever going to arrive, but when it did, it was well worth the Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-58783347345645643852013-07-12T11:55:00.003+01:002013-07-25T11:25:24.846+01:00If it ain't broke... - how to mend the 'new' Gmail inboxI'm not a big fan of change. I like order. I like things to be the same. No surprises. You get the picture. So you'll understand my dread when I log in to my Gmail account to be greeted with a 'welcome to your new inbox' message. Uh oh.
So is my dread justified? Absolutely. Don't get me wrong. I love Google. I love Gmail. It's generally a pretty smart, reliable and very user-friendly email Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-79098820878176419762013-07-04T12:46:00.002+01:002013-07-04T12:46:32.107+01:00The best BBQ sauce that you'll ever taste
With a BBQ weekend on the horizon (cross those fingers tight) I wanted to share a recipe that I discovered a few years ago. It is for the most utterly divine BBQ sauce. The best you'll ever taste, I promise! If you like BBQ sauce that is sticky like jam, sweet like brown sugar and so ridiculously moreish that you will want to eat it with a spoon, then you're going to love this.
Smother it overKatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589089959514034575.post-77988851592863760262013-07-01T12:32:00.001+01:002013-07-25T11:25:24.851+01:00Freecycle - One man's junk is another man's treasure
A super quick, super simple post for a Monday. I wanted to introduce
you to the joys of Freecycle. I'm sure many of you have heard of it, and
many more are probably using it. It's not exactly a new website, in fact it's been going since 2003. However, it might be one of those things that you don't quite understand or know much about.
So, I thought it might be helpful to give an easy 5 Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02908156826390903250noreply@blogger.com0