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Family Life Spotlight

Up Close with Marina Fogle

When I was first pregnant, one of my first missions was to decide which pre natal course to do. As it wasn’t obvious which to go for, I went on 3. Yes 3… hospital, private and NCT. I was certainly keen that’s for sure, but it was purely as I hadn’t been given a good recommendation so took it upon myself to investigate. Had Marina Fogle’s antenatal ante natal classes been around back in 2010, it would have been a no brainer to go with The Bump Class.

Marina Fogle

Their Eight Week Antenatal Course are tailored to meet the needs of mothers to be who want to learn about the practical elements of pregnancy, child-birth, breastfeeding, parenting from a supportive, pragmatic and unbiased point of view. They also have a fathers evening so you don’t have to drag unwilling participants to every class – just the part that involves them.

With classes all over South & West London, you will meet other mothers who are expecting at the same time, whilst also learning about everything from labour to weaning from experts.

The Parent Hood

If you aren’t able, or the moments passed and you have had your little one, Marina and her sister (Dr) Chiara Hunt have a new podcast covering topics that will suit parents of all age children. I particularly liked the podcast when & how to discuss sex with your children.

So, let’s get Up Close with Marina and hear her recommendations.

What’s your secret to working whilst raising a family?
Being mega organised. I buy as much as possible online so I’ve got more free time to hang out with the people who really matter.

What advice to you for people who have a business idea?
Be prepared to sacrifice things to get it off the ground.

What do you work wise?
I run The Bump Class that prepares women for the birth of their children.

We’ve written a book; The Bump Class; An Expert Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond and we’ve just launched The Parent Hood, a podcast that gives expert advice on all aspects of parenting delivered by professionals.

The Bump Class

What’s your favourite aspect of your business at the moment?
The Parent Hood! I’m having such fun getting together with experts and chatting about everything from whether dummies are good or evil to who to talk to your child about terrorist attacks.

What’s your fashion style?
I try to be smart in my working life but it’s got to be practical.

3 favourite small clothing brands
Wiggy Kit for beautifully cut summer clothes that I end up wearing all year round

PB 0110 for exquisite bags that get better and better with age

Natural Gold Shoulder Bag

North Sea Clothing for knitwear that’s made for men but looks great with skinny jeans.

North Sea Clothing

3 favourite high street shops
– Zara always seems to nail it
– MiH for jeans
– I love Me+Em’s trousers which are cut beautifully

ME + EM

Top 3 go to items in your wardrobe when you are in a rush
– a wool midi skirt from JCrew
– simple cashmere crew neck
– a statement necklace and some boots

3 items that make you feel a million dollars
– an ancient pair of gold Louboutins that add another 3 inches to my already quite substantial height
– a traditional Austrian hat (my mother is Austrian)
– an onyx and diamond ring I inherited from my grandmother.

1 item that everyone asks where you got it from
A simple white Wiggy Kit shirt that always looks amazing

Wiggy Kit Shirt

Biggest purchase mistake ever
A second hand Chloe coat – it was a bit small. Never buy clothes that you have to lose weight to fit into.

Best return of investment
A pair of JCrew loafers that smarten up any trousers.

Boots or trainers?
Boots – trainers are for working out

3 Instagram accounts you enjoy
Dee Caffari – she’s skippering a boat in the Volvo Ocean Race, around the world. I love this little window on to her challenge.
Bert & May I love their reclaimed interiors

Bert + May

– My husband Ben Fogle. He used to be a picture editor and his eye for interesting photos from around the world I love.

Interior style
Quirky!

Interior tip
Good lighting is essential

Bare faced or full face?
Full face that looks like bare faced beauty!

Best beauty buy on the market
Rosehip oil – great for eczema

Rosehip Oil

3 items in your make up bag
– Shisedo foundation
– No7 eyebrow pencil
Shu Umera eyelash curlers

Shu Uemera

Hair tip
It’s easier than you think to create a bed head wave using a cheap hair tong!

Life saving hair product
Batiste Dry Shampoo

Batiste

Silver or gold jewellery?
Gold

Keep fit activity
Sweat with Kayla This app has changed my body thanks for 30 minute work outs three times a week.

Kayla

Best exercise that works for least amount effort
Plank

Best hotel with kids
Soneva Fushi in the Maldives. Not cheap but amazing…

Soneva Fushi

Last supper
Ramen from Bone Daddies Japanese Soul Food

Default kids supper
Every week I poach a whole chicken which gives me tender meat and delicious broth. My kids love chicken soup which I pack with whatever veg I have in the fridge and add some noodles

Hangover cure
Extra strong mints – trust me, they’re amazingly effective

Beach or pool?
Beach, every time!

Swimsuit or bikini?
Bikini

What you do to relax?
Take my dog for a walk

All time favourite film
The Thomas Crown Affair

Thomas Crown Affair

Last book you read
Homo Deus

Homo Deus

Favourite box set
The Night Manager

The Night Manager

The song you pelt out on your own in the car
If my daughter’s with me, anything by Ed Sheeran

Most evocative smell
Proper homegrown garden roses

Homegrown Roses

Most bonding family game
Consequences

3 favourite apps
Bubble which makes booking my favourite babysitters easy
Ocado
my podcast app

3 favourite websites for passing time
I don’t really spend much time online – I prefer to listen.

Can I give you my three favourite podcasts instead? (Of course!)
The Parent Hood (obviously)
Desert Island Discs
No Such Thing As A Fish

Best tip for building Instagram following
You tell me!

A quote you try and live by
Add life to your days rather than days to your life.

What tests your patience?
Learner drivers

3 words to describe yourself
Busy, creative and happy

thebumpclass.com

Family Life Reviews

Hello Fresh : How To Please Everyone at Meal Times

Every family has a picky eater. Some families have a lot. Who has time to cater for everyone’s likes and dislikes. I certainly don’t! As our kids get older, we are eating altogether as a family more.   I don’t fancy cooking two separate types of meals to please all palettes (I would rather eat nursery food than do that – hmmm yummy actually, I love the odd fish finger!) However, I don’t want to bow down to the kids all the time. There is a middle ground and I have found a way to meet it.

So, what’s the answer? 

We tried Hello Fresh Family Boxes for a month. 1 box a week with 4 bags of recipe’s ready to construct.

I can’t tell you how easy this made my life.

Pick a recipe card from the box, find the accompanying brown paper bag of ingredients, chop a few veg, cook and voila – a meal for the whole family.

Recipe Card

How Does The Food Arrive? 

I was most impressed by the presentation of the food – each box arrived with its own recyclable freezer bag for the cold food and the dry food was compartmentalised into brown paper bags, with a colour coded sticker so you could easily find which food went with which recipe!

Hello Fresh Box

 

What Does It Include? 

You can choose how many meals you would like each week.

Each meal includes a generous amount of meat, fresh vegetables, a carb (not just your usual tattoos) and seasoning ingredients.

It was evident from the quality of the food, that each ingredient is carefully selected from high quality, often local, producers.

Top notch ingredients!

Local Ingredients

 

Turn It Into a Cooking Lesson! 

Not only is it an easy way to cook with your little ones as you you don’t have to think too much but they still believe they are the reason such a feast has been created, as they are cooking it – they are more likely to eat it!

On the recipe cards, they do include add ons that you can include or not (i.e. sweet chilli’s) so we left a lot out to get them used to the more sophisticated flavours before we blew their mind with chilli!

Who is it perfect for? 

A busy family, who don’t have time to think about creating new meals but are open experimenting.

So, if you are too busy to prioritise cooking for the family and want a constructive  cost affective way (no waste) to eat together without having to think too much – you have to try a box!!

It has given me so many ideas – it is like going on a cooking course in your own home, and you are the teacher! 

Hello Fresh are currently doing a 50% introduction offer with GET COOKING at checkout and includes free delivery.

No Brainer!!

Right, I am off to salivate over this weeks Family Menu Sausage Pie and Pan Fried Gnocci!

This post was written in collaboration with Hello Fresh, however all opinions are my own. 

Family Life Travel

10 Easter Holiday Ideas For Families

With Easter falling early next year, it’s great news for skiers but warm weather in mainland Europe will certainly be quite a gamble. So, where do you go if you fancy some sun at that time of year?

Ed Burke from Seventy Ten Travel has shared all his experience and ideas with us today to bring so many ideas for the Easter holidays.

Ed

Seventy Ten Travel was started by Ed in 2015 having worked at t two large luxury holiday firms. It is is a dynamic and forward-thinking luxury tour operator, travel agency and concierge service.  The difference is with Seventy Ten Travel is you are dealing directly with a small team. Ed and and his wife Rani started the business in 2015 later joined by business partner Rosie Kennedy a year later.

They are approved members of the Travel Trust Association, which means we uniquely offer 100% financial security on any experience you book which in this current erratic climate it is great to have this for peace of mind!

 

Family Road Trip and Safari to South Africa (best for children 4-14)

In my opinion South Africa is the best option for a first time family long haul adventure. With no jet lag, superb hotels and perfect late summer weather, you can really hit the ground running.

Cape Town the “Mother City” is full of interest for young and old, the little ones will enjoy the major sights like Table Mountain, The Waterfront, Cape Point and the Two Oceans Aquarium. From Cape Town, it’s about a 6 hour drive or a short flight to the Garden Route. You could stop for a night or two in Oudtshoorn the Ostrich Capital of the world (it will be worth it if Daddy takes an ostrich ride!).

On the Garden Route, you can have your fix of beach. But there is so much more; coastal forest walks in Tsitsikamma (you could try and spot the elusive Knysna Forrest Elephant), Ocean Cruises as well as Elephant, Wildcat, Bird and Monkey Sanctuaries. Now the kids are fully briefed on the animals, they can see them in the wild! There are many excellent family friendly malaria free lodges an easy drive from the Garden Route.

 

Tenerife (best for children 0-10)

Come Easter, you and the kids may well be exhausted! In which case you want an easy flight to warmer climes and an excellent family friendly hotel. Tenerife ticks all these boxes. It’s protected from the winds and the hotels are masters at creating an atmosphere that keeps everyone happy.

 

tenerife-coast

 

The best 2 options in Tenerife would be the Grand Hotel Bahia del Duque and The Abama, though they do charge a premium and will be very busy; the Roca Nivaria is a better value for money option. We also know some excellent options in Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.

Morocco (best for Children 4-14)

Early Spring is the best time to visit Morocco. It’s perfect if you want something culturally different, without going too off grid or sacrificing any luxury. There’s a host of superb family friendly hotels within the surrounds of Marrakech; many of which you needn’t leave for the week.

Though if you do, el-Fnaa square and the Souks will be an eye opening experience for the children. The Oasiria Water Park is a must for families of all ages. We can also arrange a day trip into the Atlas Mountains with lunch in a Berber Village, which is an incredible experience for young and old. If there are 2 or 3 families travelling together we know some superb catered villas.

Florida Road Trip (best for children 3-15)

I took my 3 and 6 year old on a road trip to Florida this summer. We had an amazing time but concluded it would be better weather wise over Easter or Christmas.

 

miami-beach-florida-2

 

Regular direct flights make the travel easy and the jet lag is manageable. Miami, Disneyland, The Everglades and Gulf Coast are a must.

 

eople-on-airboat-in-the-evergladesflorida

 

Read all about our Florida trip here

 

Oman (best for children 4-15)

In my opinion, Oman offers the most authentic and refined Middle Eastern experience. The friendly and laid back capital, Muscat, is easy to explore with little ones and there are some absolutely superb luxury family friendly hotels just up the coast.

The Gulf of Oman is rich in marine life (though April is a bit early for the turtle laying), so great for marine cruises, snorkeling or diving. If you’re looking for a mini-family adventure we can organise a desert camping trip or a luxurious night or two in the stunning Jabal Akhdar mountains.

 

Skiing – Saint Foy (best for children 3-12)

With snow already falling and an early Easter, 2018 promises to be a great year for Easter skiing. Our hot tip for families, especially first timers, is Saint Foy. This cute and quirky resort has great nursery slopes and excellent ski schools who magnify the fun.

There are some really lovely chalets and apartments, within a stone’s throw of the slopes, minimising the dreaded long walk or ski bus. For those with babies there are some excellent creches who will look after your loved one whist you hit the slopes.

 

Costa Rica (best for children 6-15)

If your children are curious; love nature and animals, then Costa Rica is just the ticket. For the curious there’s active volcanoes, indigenous tribes and a national sustainability blue-print that puts the world to shame.

 

red-eyed-green-tree-leaf-frogcosta-rica2

 

For animal lovers: sloths, turtles, monkeys galore, toucans and even jaguars are common encounters. For nature lovers: there’s pristine rain and cloud forest, untouched beaches, winding rivers and tumbling waterfalls. All this comes with warm and welcoming people and excellent (very safe) food and drink. All in all the perfect enriching family destination.

 

wild-beach-chiquita-and-cocles-in-costa-rica

 

Mauritius (best for children 0-15)

This idyllic Indian Ocean island has become somewhat of a luxury family hotspot over recent years. With a long history of first class hospitality, many of its iconic luxury hotels have embraced the needs of the modern family.

 

aerial-mauritius

 

We are particularly excited about the reopening of the One&Only Le Saint Geran, after a full scale renovation. It’s always had the best natural location on the island and now will have the best facilities. Thanks to the extensive and excellent competition, the prices are very reasonable for a hotel of this standard.

Thailand (best for children 6-15 years)

April is the perfect time of year to visit Thailand. There are so many exciting options for a family holiday. You could do a simple beach break to Phuket, Krabi or the surrounding islands. (We would recommend escaping the hustle and bustle by going to one of the smaller islands, though this does involve a bit more travelling.)

 

copy-of-elephant-family-walking

 

Or you could add in a touch of adventure with a stay in the Khao Sok National Park just north of Phuket. Or to make it a trip of a lifetime, add in the awe inspiring Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Jet-lag can be a bit of an issue going out so we would recommend a minimum of 10 days to 2 weeks.

Cyprus (best for children 0-10)

If you want to stay within Europe and not travel too far, then the weather in Cyprus is normally quite a good bet. There are some excellent family friendly hotels which are excellent value for money if booked well in advance.

For beach lovers we would recommend the Anassa, whilst those with very young children may prefer the Almyra, much closer to Paphos, who offer a unique baby-go-lightly programme which covers any needs or requirements for travelling with very young children.

So many fantastic ideas, now to decide which one to book #wishfulthinking 

Contact Ed on  info@seventytentravel.com or call him on 020 8004 7937 and he will be able to help you with any ideas, itineraries or bookings at a fair price and a personal service. 

Bon Voyage xx

 

Days Out Family Life Fashion Little

Warwick Castle : An Educational Christmas Outing

A visit to a castle conjures up school outings, tours of the castle room by room and if you are lucky a token whip around the hedge maze. When we were asked to visit Warwick Castle with* Joules Clothing, we decided to give it a go as both boys have recently had Castles as their class topic.

Warwick Castle

Situated above Banbury and below Coventry, it was an easy journey along the M40.  The castle is hidden until you are through the gates.

Joules Coat

It is truly magnificent from the outside but only when you go over the draw bridge do realise the enormity of it.

img_1665

I felt the interiors were much more accessible than a lot of castles with few barriers and wax like assistants growing at you if you go too near the four-poster bed. As it is run by Merlin Entertainments who also have Seaworld and Chessington to their name, they have made it child friendly and interactive.

img_1642

Sadly as it was mid winter, the maze and adventure playground were closed. However, Christmas at The Castle is on till 31st December.

img_1668

The story time with Santa was enchanting and the visit to the Princess in the tower was a treat for little girls.

Father Christmas at Warwick castle

My highlight other than using the castle as an adventure playground (you can navigate your way around the whole castle along the top, weaving through small passages and up and down-arrow staircases.

img_1733

Be warned if you suffer from vertigo though – lots of see through walk ways. The 4 year old wasn’t too delighted by the narrow spaces so managed to wrangle being carried around.

img_1676

All this exercise built up a bit of an appetite and given a choice between the sit down courtyard restaurant and the all you can eat pasta and pizza buffet – yup you guessed it – we went for the latter and were pleasantly surprised by how tasty the food was for only £12 per adult and £6 for a child.

Peacocks

The highlight of the day was the Time Tower.

Cauldron

It consisted of an interactive video taking you through the history of Warwick Castle, the battles and the families that resided there. Its was a great brush up on Common Entrance history!

img_1682

Despite the freezing temperatures, we were all kept warm with our new Joules coats.  They are very well made, well insulated, comfortable and good shapes.

Here they are…

Belmont Padded Coat £59

Belmont

Noah Parka Jacket £69

Noah Coat

 

 

Farrington Jacket Was £99 Now £59

Farrington

I chose the Gosling Padded Coat due to the curve at the bottom and the flattering lines at the back.

Gosling Padded Coat

Sadly the red is sold out but there are still some Burgundy, Navy and Caramel left.

Gosling Caramel

H’s coat is also sold out but I love the Stafford Marine Navy Quilted Jacket as a smart alternative.  (They also do a mens version!)

joules_stafford

When I am next on the hunt for a proper winter coat I will definitely head over to Joules. The selection is vast and you know everyone will be properly insulated!!

PS. I have added these to my basket, as they aren’t just good at coats!

The Mens Crew Neck Jumpers £49 are very smart.

This Navy Boys Rugby Shirt is unbelievably in the sale!

I love this Pincord Dress – very original.

What do you think?

This is not a sponsored post however entrance to Warwick Castle and the jackets from Joules were gifted. 

 

 

Family Life

Audrey Wiggin on Christmas Without The Panic

Is anyone else feeling the pressure and panic of Christmas and trying to get organised before the kids break up? We aren’t hosting Christmas but I certainly feel I have a lot  to accomplish before the official holiday season commences (i.e. end of term!)  Audrey, a life coach from Audrey Wiggin Associates is giving us some pointers today. So much practical advice. I am going to print this post out and devour it! She runs group courses for female business owners from her home in Fulham, the next one starting in January, so if you found this post helpful, email her to find out more!

Take it away Audrey!

Do you feel your body tensing and a wave of panic rising over you every time someone helpfully reminds us how many sleeps till Christmas? Choose a) Head in Sand and hope the problem goes away or b) Plan ahead and relish how delicious smug pie is going to taste the week before Christmas.

As a coach, I get asked about time management, planning and organisational skills all the time. Christmas is probably the finest test of these put together, with the ingredients for a perfect storm of stress. But it doesn’t have to be….

1. Work out what’s important to you.

Time, Energy and Cash are Finite Resources.
You can’t do everything. Much as we can aspire to be domestic Christmas Goddesses, you must focus on what’s important to you. I love food, so what I feed my family on Christmas day really matters. But when it comes to aesthetics, for me, that’s lower down on the list.

Don’t get me wrong, I would love my table to look like the one in the White Company
Catalogue, but I neither have the skill nor the time, and I just don’t care!

White Company

** ACTION
Draw up a list of tasks and work out what you can do, what someone else can do, what just needs to be “good enough” and which ones you can drop (in my case, that’s Christmas cards – sorry!)

2. What can be done in advance and when?

Once you have ascertained the list of priorities, you now need to work out what you can do in advance, and the earlier the better. For example – can you make the pudding for the Boxing Day gathering now and freeze it? Can you place your order for your Christmas tree to be delivered (I highly recommend Kirkland Garden Services who will deliver your tree in SW London).

orig

Can you buy the crackers now whilst the shops have plenty left in stock? Do any job you can now in the wonderful peace of November, and you’ll start to sense that very slight smug feeling, which feels oh so good!

** ACTION
Work out a timeline for your tasks and get started on as many as possible.

3. Presents – who, what, how?

When it comes to presents, the same rule applies. What can you do now? I ask my relatives and godchildren what they want, and the smart ones write back with a list or even better, a web link! It saves me a huge amount of time and I know I am spending my money on something they want. I know it sounds obvious, but if you know what you’re buying, you can do it all from your armchair.

There is no need to battle the traffic, weather and crowds and drag yourself round the shops. Those are the people who are aimlessly wandering around searching for the perfect gift. Forget it. Know what you want and do it on the ipad.

Feeling slightly smugger still?

** ACTION
Work out a plan of what you’re buying for who. Ask them for ideas if necessary.

Shop online wherever possible. (www.tlmedit.com is a good place to start!)

4. Wrapping – seriously?

If you really do find yourself in a shop buying a present, please ask them to wrap it.

If you’ve bothered to slog out there, that’s got to be the minimum payoff. If you’re an online shopper, then either send presents wrapped by Amazon, or find some way to outsource your wrapping. My au pair has helped me on many an occasion, as has my young niece who always wants to earn a bit of cash. I can think of worse holiday jobs. Or if that idea abhors you, then wrap as you go. Don’t leave it till Christmas Eve. Wrap, label, bag it up / post now.

Oh – and buy tons of wrapping paper and Sellotape, more than you think you could possibly need, as running out is the most tedious thing in the world. Get it on your online supermarket shop this week, and then you know it’s done.

 

** ACTION
Wrap as you go, or outsource. Buy wrapping and tape now.

5. What else can you delegate or drop?

Delegate as much as you can. Don’t be afraid to ask a relative to bring some part of the meal. My gorgeous sister in law always brings the roast potatoes and vegetables on Christmas day, as part of her contribution. Delegate errands to teenage neighbours for cash and get your own kids in on the act too depending on their age obviously. (I know sometimes that can be more work than help!)

** ACTION
Decide what can be delegated, to who and when. Build mental address book of youngsters who might want to earn some cash in the holidays.

6. God created circles so corners could be cut….

Get out of this “I must be a domestic Goddess” mindset and reckon on being “good enough”.

Cut every corner you can. This goes back to priorities. Focus your time on where you really care, and cut corners where you don’t. I must admit my table would not win any prizes from the judges at Lakeland, but its festive enough with heaps of candles, some holly, and a pretty tablecloth that comes out once a year. One of my girlfriends has her Christmas lunch from “Cook”.

I wrap stocking presents in newspaper and Amazon brown packing paper saved from parcels delivered – it’s not glamorous, but the kids don’t complain as it’s what’s inside that they’re really interested in.

newspaper

One friend uses Aunt Bessie frozen roast potatoes, another buys ready-made gravy from Marks and Spencer’s. Corners are there to be cut! I guarantee your family would rather have you in the room opening presents and enjoying Christmas, than sweating away in the kitchen missing all the fun and laughter.

** ACTION
Work out your short cuts and don’t believe the lie that says, “you’re cheating”.

7. Don’t say yes to all the parties

When I asked my girlfriends what stressed them out about Christmas, interestingly many of them said it was all the parties and Christmas drinks, both for work and home.

Firstly – don’t say yes to everything. Be selective and realistic. If you go out every single night, you are going to get exhausted. Pace yourself. Likewise with alcohol intake. You can’t drink a boatload in the evening and then expect to operate on all cylinders the next day. Let alone do that every night.

Plan what you’re going to wear in advance, especially if that’s something you find stressful. Don’t leave it till 7.27pm with the taxi coming at 7.45pm, two children demanding stories, a long fingernail laddering your only new tights as you put them on, and then realise you haven’t got a bottle or gift to take with you…. Sound familiar?

** ACTION

Work out which parties you want to go to, and send a fast and polite decline to those you don’t.

8. How to stay on speaking terms with your rellies

Relatives – we all have them, we love most of them… but smaller doses can work better. I know some travel from a long way, so overnight stays are often involved, but think about how long is an optimum amount of time to spend together such that you still love them when they leave.

My brother said that he loves coming to our house for Christmas day, with our little kids running around like maniacs, but he also really enjoys waving goodbye after tea and going home with his teenage children to slob out in the front of the telly on Christmas day evening. Funnily enough, I feel the same. Happy days!

** ACTION

Set firm boundaries with relatives

9. What about work?

I haven’t mentioned work – a blog post in its own right. For those of you in full time employment, Christmas brings its own string of deadlines, Christmas parties, drunk bosses and the rest. If you’re running your own business, there are clients to look after, year-end targets to hit, 2018 agendas to be implementing.

** ACTION

The advice is the same – plan, delegate, postpone and be realistic.

10. Self-preservation

This needs a higher place up your list of priorities.

Look after yourself. As the Mum, if you go down, the whole ship goes down. So somewhere in all this, there needs to be a bit of self-care. Mums are notoriously bad at putting themselves first, so why not diarise a facial or something you find relaxing where you’ve paid in advance and have to turn up.

Christmas quote

If you put “gym” in your diary, you’ll cancel that for some other pressing engagement. If that sounds too energetic or expensive, then a simple walk can work wonders. Even a walk round the block and a coffee for twenty minutes can restore your sanity. Sleep is the other thing – easier said than done but even if you only manage one early night per week, that’s going to help. Aim for seven hours wherever possible.

** ACTION

  • Book a slot in your diary for something that’s just for you, and stick to it.
  • Preferably pre-pay so that you’ll not be tempted to cancel. Regular walks wherever possible.
  • Seven hours kip.

Coffee Shop

11. Your homework

I always like to set my coaching clients homework, so if you’ve read this far, your homework is to write a list of Chrimble tasks and a time line of action points. Ascertain how much can be done in November, and use Google alerts to remind you of things that you need to do over the coming weeks. Your ultimate challenge is to get to Christmas Eve feeling like the prep is all done, and now it’s time to enjoy yourself.

There are no prizes for martyr mothers, so get planning, delegating and remember, “good enough” rocks.

Good enough rocks

www.audreywiggin.com

Activities Days Out Family Life

9 Festive Family Activities

Christmas lights were switched on on Marylebone High Street last night which has given me the red light to go into full Christmas mode. What better way to start the Festive season on The London Mummy, with a ‘What’s On’. The lovely Melissa Gauge from Spare My Time is sharing her top 3 places to visit this Christmas with your family to get you in the festive mood.

Take it away…

1) Santa and his huskies at London’s Wetland Centre

Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes, London, SW13 9WT

2 & 3 December

WWT

Christmas is coming early thanks to a magical Santa’s Grotto with free husky and donkey rides for little visitors at the WWT Wetland Centre, Barnes Father Christmas tickets are selling out fast but there are plenty of other festive activities on that weekend – husky and donkey rides are free with admission (children 8 or younger, with weight restrictions) or you can lend a hand at the Elves workshop, making festive decorations or small Christmas gifts to take home.

(If you’ve not been to the Wetland Centre before it’s a must even without the Christmas activities – over 100 acres of managed wetland reserve, nature at its best.)

Top Tip: Apart from Father Christmas, there is no advance booking so make sure you get there early to avoid disappointment.


2. South Bank Centre

Belvedere Rd, London, SE18XX

10 November – 4th January (10am-11pm)

image-3

From Christmas Markets to roof top saunas, from Skandi rooftop bars to giant snow globes, from ABBA sing alongs to Nordic folk tales there really is something everyone at the Southbank Centre.

Top tip: try visiting the cosy Rekorderlig Cider Lodge for a glass or two of mulled wine


3. Winter Wonderland

Hyde Park, London, W2

Friday 17th – 1st January

Winterwonderland

A Christmas Bonanza – your only problem will be where to start!

Here is a pick of what’s on:

 Skate on the UK’s largest outdoor Ice Rink

 Take a journey in the deep sea at The Magical Ice Kingdom

 See the enchanting fairy-tale Cinderella on Ice

 Watch jaw-dropping acts in the Circus Megadome

 Experience spectacular views from the Giant Wheel

 Join the family fun in The Sooty Christmas Show!

 Drink festive cocktails at Bar Ice

Tickets get booked up fast however there is still plenty to see and do even if you do miss out on the big events.

Top tips : Keep your children close – this is a very busy event! We write our telephone numbers on our children’s arm just in case they decide to go for a wander.


Outdoor Ice Skating

With so many options of outdoor ice skating on offer we’ve narrowed it down to our top 5:

Hampton court palace: Open from November 24th – January 7th 2018.

This has to be one of the most picturesque ice rinks, overlooking Henry VIII spectacular home beside the Thames.

Tower of London:

Open from 17th November – January 2nd 2018.

Tip: visit in the morning if you are taking children, it does get busy later in the
day!

Somerset House:

Open from 15th November – January 14th 2018.

In our view, one of the most romantic ice rinks – perfect for that elusive date night. For an extra special touch try one of the Fortnum’s Skate Extras

Skate Extras Festive

Natural History Museum:

Open from 26th October -7th January 2018. The Natural History Museum is our die-hard Christmas visit. Be sure to book a penguin for the kids – they do run out quickly

Top tip: Outdoor ice skating does get VERY wet and cold! Bring plenty of layers, gloves and hats (possibly waterproofs for children!).

Covent Garden Christmas Pudding Race

2 December.

Great Pudding Race

Did you know that for the past 36 years there has been a Christmas Pudding race to raise money for cancer research? This fancy dress fun run is full of entertainment and amusements.

Children are not able to enter but not to worry, there will be a lot to see!


Operation Christmas Child

Be a part of changing a child’s life this Christmas and donate a shoe box with a few small gifts and necessities inside. This wonderful tradition started in 1990 and has helped over 146 million children in 150 countries.

Spend the morning compiling your gifts with your children and drop them into your local centre.

Operation Christmas Child Festive

Here is a link giving you do’s and don’ts to put inside your box.

Top tip: Remember to wrap the box and the lid separately so they aren’t stuck together when checks are done.

Shoeboxes need to be in by 18 November.

Melissa’s blog is well worth signing up for if you want to be kept informed of new businesses and what’s on in and around London and sign up to Spare My Time if you need any jobs done in your house or garden with a trusted tradesmen recommended by Melissa.

Read her Spotlight interview here!

 

Family Life Fashion Spotlight

Up Close with Leonora Bamford

Continuing on my Up Close series, I am delighted to be interviewing the lovely Leonora Bamford, founder of My Baba THE parenting website.  I first met Leonora (or Leo as her nearest and dearest call her) her when our sons were doing football (or chasing a ball like drunk toddlers) together. I pretended I didn’t know her (come on, we all do that with high-profile peeps, don’t we?) even though I knew where she had been the night before from her tweets! 

I had been following her blog since it started (originally called My Baba Blog) and have watched it grow exponentially. My Baba now boasts an online Magazine and videos as well as the daily scoop on food, family and lifestyle for all your parenting needs.

Leonora Bamford

Leonora has also collaborated with Zita West to develop a range of children’s multivitamins so if your kids are sniffling at the moment, this multi biotic powder is for them. (They love sprinkling it on their breakfast).

Zita West

My Baba  is also supporting the charity Child Bereavement UK. Leonora is hosting an event at the Tory Burch store on Bond Street this week, so follow my Instagram to see photos and lots of instastories! (So excited!)

So, let’s start with most people’s favourite topic. Fashion. What’s your fashion style?
I would love to say I’m a fashionista but really I’m not. I have 5 minutes to pull a look together in the morning and if I’m organised I do it the night before. If I could have a Fashion Style it would be Olivia Palermo but I have a feeling that might take some time!

3 favourite small clothing brands
She’s not small any more but I LOVE Zoe Jordan for everything but particularly her knitwear.
I lived in Clare & Peg when I was pregnant and for kids I’m crazy for Love My Smalls.

3 favourite high street shops
Zara, M and S and Sandro

Top 3 go to items in your wardrobe when you are in a rush
Dare I say Leather trousers – they’re from Ralph Lauren and fit like a glove. Worn with a crisp white Bamford shirt and a bright red handbag.

White Shirt

3 items that make you feel a million dollars
A great pair of Tom Ford sunnies
My mothers old fur coat or my grandmothers old Chanel blazer.
A killer pair of heels can also have the same effect.

1 item that everyone asks where you got it from
A pair of Joseph hight waisted suede trousers I got this year.

Leo

Biggest purchase mistake ever
Head to toe Burberry!

Best return of investment on an item
Chanel bag!

Boots or trainers
Trainers, my husband is a big trainer buyer.

Favourite fashion bloggers
London Chatter, Fashion Mum Of 40The Frugality, The Fashion Bug Blog, SheerLuxe, Wardrobe Icons

Interior style
CLJ Home, Turner Pocock

Interior tip
Spend time at antique stores.

Where do you get your interior inspo from?
Pinterest, I get totally sucked in!

Bare faced or full face?
Bare with a touch of powder

Leonora Bamford

Best beauty buy on the market
Charlotte Tilbury anything!

3 items in your make up bag
Pommade Divine, Tom Ford red lipstick and a palette from Charlotte Tilbury

Pommade Divine

Hair tip
Always have dry shampoo!

Life saving hair product
Dry shampoo and a Tangle Teaser.

Tangle Teezer

Silver or gold jewellery
Both

Lustful Jewellery brand
i’m crazy about Rebecca de Ravenel earrings.

Rebecca de Ravenel

Keep fit activity
Walking and pilates

Best exercise that works for least amount effort
Does a massage count?

Most romantic restaurant in the world?
The one in Hotel Costes in Paris

Best hotel with kids?
I hear the best things about Borgo Engazia in Puglia

cala masciola restaurant

Last supper meal
Baked potato or my grandmothers chicken noodle soup

Your default kids supper when you can’t think
Pasta with secret tomato sauce that’s loaded with everything.

Hangover cure
Paracetamol and lots of water and salty crisps.

Beach or pool?
Beach for the kids

Swimsuit or bikini?
Loving both at the moment

What you do to relax
Meditate or Yoga, doesn’t happen very often!

All time favourite film?

Romeo and Juliette, Baz Luhrmann

Last book you read?
The Bump Class: An Expert Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond.

The Bump Class

 

I’ve got a stack of books from my favourite shop, Jaffe and Neale in Chipping Norton but I’ve yet to read! Christmas is around the corner.

Favourite box set
Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls

 

The song you pelt out on your own in the car
Aerosmith Crazy – I feel like I’m 16 again.

Evocative smell
Sun cream – Anya Hindmarch has launched a range of candles and that’s one of the scents, takes me back to very happy times.

Sun Lotion

 

Bonding family game
Certainly not Monopoly! My husband and son have just started playing chess which is adorable.

3 most useful apps
My taxi, Calm and The Mail

3 websites for passing time
Cool Hunting, Food 52 and Matches Fashion

Best tip for building Instagram following
I’m not very good at this but they say, posting regularly and engaging with others.

A quote you try and live by

 

Treat others how you would like to be treated.

 

Always expect the unexpected

 

What tests your patience?
Bad internet

3 words to describe yourself
Honest, Reliable and Loving

What do you want for Christmas?
A Votary silk pillow case, apparently it takes years off!

Votary

So many lovely great tips, I am off to investigate her website and app recommendations!

www.mybaba.com

Follow Leonora on Instagram

Family Life Services

13 Websites For Early Years Education

After a shout out on Instastories asking for educational aids and websites, I thought I would write a quick post sharing them all.  This isn’t a pretty post but I guarantee you will click on one of these websites if you have kids between the ages of 3-10!

Educate With Iona is run by … Iona and she runs workshops aimed at parents to help their kids with early years education. You can hold a specific workshop at home and Iona can host it.

Ideal for getting to grips with early years education. 


Not only does Laura at Little Learning Seeds offer tuition for kids (West Country mainly) and guidance for parents, her blog is a good one to sign up to as it includes lots of information on books, games and ideas to support learning at home.

Ideal for top tips for activities at home. 

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Katie’s Classroom has online video tutorials for children in Year 4 (year 3 to 6) coming soon. She also sells National Curriculum Revision Cards from Recption to Year 6.

Ideal for kids who love learning online. 


If you think you need to develop your little ones common sense and confidence, Role Models might be helpful. They host life skills workshops!

Ideal for non teachable subjects!

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If you are struggling with times tables, you have to watch the Quick Brown Fox TV Times Table series that puts time tables into famous pop songs!!! I like the 9 x table (a bit of One Direction..)

Ideal for a bit of fun maths. 

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I have just been introduced to the Look Read Write Check method for spellings and it has really helped with the kids spelling as they are actually learning and thinking how to spell a word rather than parrot fashion and phonetically that can cause problems! This is the best method we have used so ask your school if they can introduce it!

Ideal for learning how to spell beyond cvc words!


 

Apps & Website 

Tapestry – follow your childs learning journey at school – both parents and teachers can update and follow progress.

Brightware – a good selection of early years apps.

Sumdog – maths games

Mymaths – bringing maths alive

Mathletics – support your childs maths learning at home

Teach Your Monster To Read – get your children to teach others how to read!

London’s Little Thinkers – Great website and newsletter for educational ideas activities

 

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Please let me know in the comments below if you have any other ideas, especially Apps! xx

Images taken from Pinterest