Southern Mummy - Page 2 of 12 - A UK Parenting and Lifestyle blog

22
Aug
2018

Hardwearing Back to School Shoes with Jake Shoes

This time last year, Finlay was about to embark on his journey through school. I had heard, I had researched and I had conflicting opinions as to what the best pair of school shoes would be for him. Obviously, I wanted something comfy, something hardwearing, but that wasn’t going to set me back a fortune. I thought I had picked the right pair, what a rookie I was! The first pair hardly lasted the first week. The next pair didn’t last much longer. The third did a good stint, but they defiantly needed replacing come the end of term. I was incredibly excited when I was asked to review a pair of back to school shoes from the wonderful guys over at Jake Shoes!

Jake Shoes is an award winning, independently owned and family run company set up in 1975. They have three high street stores based in Manchester, Stockport and Altrincham and an online store.… Read More

18
Aug
2018

9 Real Truths Mums Need to Know About Starting School!

categories: Nursery and School

It’s that time of year when a lot of mums are experiencing the excitement of their little ones starting school for the very first time. However, it’s a time that is also filled with fear and dread. The unknown is scary and I know all too well. I was there this time last year. The panic and anxiety. Will he be OK, will I be OK? well, I hope I can ease some worries and calm some nerves with what I have learnt this year. Here’s what you need to know and remember, if we survived, you most certainly will!

1: You will cry on their first day and their last day. You will probably cry several times throughout the year too. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Most of the other mums will be crying too. Put some tissues in your bag. My only advice here would be, try not to blub too much until after your child is through the door.… Read More

13
Aug
2018

Anxiety and the Case of the Missing Blogger

categories: Lifestyle

It has taken me over a week to write this post. Something that on paper should be so simple. Just a short note to explain my absence over the last few months. It’s ridiculous it’s been so hard. I have pondered and procrastinated. I have typed and deleted. This paragraph alone must be my third draft! All I want to say is in the months I have been gone anxiety stole my life. However, even in today’s society where mental health openly discussed, I feel almost shameful to admit that I let it take hold that bad.

As a lifelong anxiety sufferer, it never really goes away, but there’s periods of highs and lows. I was in remission (what I call it) for a long long time, but the last few years haven’t been easy. I have tried to manage it, some days more successfully than others, but in general, I have been doing Ok.… Read More

16
Dec
2017

Breakfast with the Elves: Fort Fun!

categories: Christmas, Out and About, Reviews

Fort Fun is Eastbourne’s best adventure park bursting with so many different activities from indoor soft play, a massive outdoor adventure play area, bouncy pillows, American golf and much much more! This Christmas Fort Fun has introduced ‘Breakfast with the Elves’. Every Saturday and Sunday in December leading up to Christmas, from 9 am you can enjoy a buffet style breakfast of pastries and cereals followed by a traditional English breakfast. All while the North pole Elves make sure you have an enjoyable and magical experience! I jumped at the chance when I was asked if we would like to pop down one morning to see what was on offer. It was just up Finlay’s street and I have loved Fort Fun Since I was a little girl myself!

We arrived just after 9 am and we were greeted by the friendly staff. Then one by one Santa’s Elves appeared to greet us.… Read More

14
Dec
2017

Tulleys Christmas Experience | The best Festive Family Day out!

categories: Christmas, Out and About, Reviews

For the second year in a row, Tulleys Christmas Experience has blown us away! Tulleys Farm is situated in Crawley, West Sussex and is renowned worldwide for unique experiences for families, adults and groups. The Tulleys Christmas Experience is set within the beautiful woodland grounds of Tulleys Farm. You and your family can enjoy a magical and unique Christmas experience where there is something for everyone to enjoy. We visited in December 2017, with the lovely Beth, from A Blonde and a Baby and her lovely little family. This is an overview of what was on offer in 2017.

Tulleys Christmas Experience 2017

We booked our tickets well in advance online. I’m guessing you can buy your tickets on the day in person but the chances are the sleigh rides (you choose your time slot) may be sold out. They were quite limited already when we booked back in October!… Read More

06
Dec
2017

Today I am….9 Months Old!

categories: Baby

Today is a very special milestone for little baby Emmeline. Today, and yes TODAY (I haven’t missed this update, first time ever I think!) Emmie is 9 months old. Special because she has been out in the big wide world for as long as she was tucked away in my tummy. So it’s been another month since Emmie’s 8 month update and another 4 weeks that have passed far too quickly. She is growing up very fast and has come leaps and bounds this month. without furthur ado, Today I am 9 months old!

Weight: 16lb 5oz

Emmie and I popped along to clinic this morning after I dropped Finlay at school ready to self weigh. I stripped Emmie off and popped her on the scales. The scale read 7.465kg, I didn’t have my little red book, but It was only 4oz heavier than her last weigh in.… Read More

05
Dec
2017

Luxury Christmas Food Hampers: Prestige Hampers Review

categories: Blogmas, Christmas, Reviews

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The magic has well and truly arrived. I don’t know about you but I get quite nostalgic when it comes to Christmas. Although I have very few memories of Christmas as a kid, I have a few special snippets. Little things can trigger those memories and I love it. Growing up in the 80’s was awesome, and I do remember that hampers were everywhere. Whatever the occasion there was a hamper. It wasn’t like today no way. In my day some old ‘Del Boy’ would turn up at the door, take your order and a few days later it would arrive on a milk float! How I remember the Hamper of Multicoloured Fizzy pop turning up. A hamper that today would have every health professional having a heart attack, but I loved it!

So when I got the Chance to review a luxury Christmas Hamper from Prestige Hampers, I got that that little fluttery feeling deep inside and those luminous bottles of pop from my childhood danced inside my head!… Read More

28
Nov
2017

Win a Selection of Children’s Christmas Books

categories: Blogmas, Christmas, Giveaway

A few days ago I posted about how I was making a Christmas Book Advent Calendar for Finlay this year. Last year we had bought him a Toy advent calendar to go alongside his chocolate one. This year however I wanted something a little bit different. Actually I decided early on in the year and began my planning early. Now planning and oragnising are not the same thing as I had totally forgot what books I had already bought and also how many I needed. So I have ended up with 5 books the same and 5 too many! Not so great for me, but excellent for you. I have decided to run a little giveaway for you with these books as the prize.

They will make a lovely little present on xmas day. Otherwise you could pop them in your Xmas eve Box, or have a mini Book advent counting down the last five days until xmas.… Read More

27
Nov
2017

Felix Christmas Goody Bag Tin – The Purrfect Christmas Gifts for Cats!

categories: Lifestyle, Pets, Reviews

Anyone who knows me knows I am a huge animal Lover. I have had animals in my life since I was born and to be honest I couldn’t ever imagine not having one around. Nor could I imagine the children growing up without a pet. To us, our pets are extended members of our family. We like to spoil them as much as we spoil the kids! This year has been tough, we lost our old Ginger Moggy. He was a beautiful old soul and he has left a very big hole in our lives. None more so than in Sebastian’s, our posh pedigree Havana Brown, Oriental Shorthair. So he deserves some extra special love, treats and affection as he adjusts to life without his much loved brother from another mother!

When Petshop.co.uk got in touch to ask if they could send Sebastian a little treat, it was a big fat yes!… Read More

25
Nov
2017

Christmas Book Advent Calendar | 24 book ideas!

categories: Blogmas, Christmas, Good Reads

There’s something special about books. I think with all the technology about these days, it’s a special moment to be able to pick up a good old fashioned book. To sit with your child and make memories. We read to Finlay a lot and I hope, he too, one day will be able to remember these moments with fondness. So what a better way to make some wonderful Christmas memories than with a Christmas book advent calendar!

So last year Finlay had his chocolate advent and we bought him a luxury toy advent calendar too. I decided that come this Xmas, I would make him a Christmas Book Advent calendar to go alongside his chocolate advent. Really it has been no more expensive, in fact probably cheaper than buying a Toy one! I raided Finlay’s book Cupboard and sneaked out Stick Man, The Gruffalo’s Child, The Snowman and the Snow Dog and The Night Before Xmas.… Read More