Oust your house!

I love a clean tidy house.  Most people know that about me.  It's no secret.  I've written about it here before.  On top of liking a clean house, we live in a hard water area.  Anyone living in a hard water area knows that means one thing - limescale!

Anything in our house that has regular contact with water has a limescale issue.  Taps, the loo, the kettle.  Even toys the boys play with in the bath and the draining rack in the kitchen.  Limescale, the cheeky thing, builds up on everything.  So, when a huge bundle of Oust products arrived in the mail I was very happy.  Something that would come in very handy and be satisfying to use!

I have to descale our kettle very often, I would say every 2-4 weeks.  Most often I use white vinegar to do the job because it works and it reduces the amount of chemicals being used.  However, I do have to use something a bit stronger from time to time because the vinegar, whilst it does work, doesn't seem to do quite as good a job.  Personally, I've always used Oust for the kettle.  In the package we received there was a kettle descaler sachet included except it was a little different to the one I'd used before.  Usually I use one which is in a plastic sachet you have to cut open and poor in.  Oust have got a bit clever here though and come up with a nifty little bag that can be placed straight into your kettle and disposed of afterwards.  Very handy and means it's less likely you'll come into contact or get chemicals on your hands.

I found it worked very well.  I just followed the instructions on the box (fill your kettle half full, boil, place in the sachet and leave for a while).  You just have to look at the pictures to see it did the job!

Oust also sent me some other limescale removing products including one for dishwashers and washing machines.  I've never used anything on either of those before so I was happy to give them a go.  I have to say that using limescale removed on the dishwasher and washing machine doesn't really give you results you can see but knowing how well it works on my kettle and knowing how hard the water is where we live I can be sure that it's been beneficial to use!

All of the Oust products are easy to use with clear instructions.  I'm not just saying that, look at my gleaming kettle!

**The products were very kindly provided by Oust but all opinions are genuine and my own**

Fitted furniture? It fits in!

We've been in our house for over 10 years now and in the last few months we've started to think about the possibility of moving.   We're in no rush, we have enough room, but the boys are growing older, getting bigger, and we would like to have somewhere a little larger one day!

As moving has been at the back of my mind, I've started to pay a little more attention to the houses for sale in the local paper and online.  Something that's struck me is that quite a few houses seem to have built in furniture such as wardrobes.  Built in furniture has never been something that's really appealed to me, in my mind it brings up memories of dated decor and, quite frankly, bad taste.  The houses I've seen advertised with fitted furniture mostly seem to fit into this category as well.  Which got me thinking.. Sometimes, it does make sense to have fitted furniture or wardrobes built in.  There are some rooms that really do lend themselves to it, perhaps wardrobes fitted either side of a fireplace in a bedroom.  Still, if I were to have built in wardrobes, I'd want them to look good.  I'd want them to fit in. Not stick out like a sore thumb!  After all, that's the point of built in furniture, isn't it?  To save space and to fit in!

Having a bit of a browse online I have managed to find one place that offers modern fitted furniture.  Urban Wardrobes.  They seem to have a pretty well rounded collection to me.  There are classic ranges like the Windsor shaker style range.  I can see that working really well in period properties - I've always wanted a 1930's house, I could see this range fitting in!

If you're looking for something really modern, they have that covered too.  Take the Liverpool Street range, I could see that looking fantastic in a city flat!

Something I'm really loving the look of is their range of built in bookcases.  I could see these working in any home!  I really want to have white walls and exposed floor boards in my next house.  I wouldn't mind adding in one of these too then I wouldn't have to limit myself to how many books I keep anymore!

Do you make plans for your next house?  It can't just be me!  Any thoughts on fitted furniture?

Dunster Castle without a bump!

We are huge National Trust fans in our house.  We've been members for 6 years now (well, I was a member as a child for most of my childhood too) and we get so much out of our membership.  If ever we can't think of something to do there's always a National Trust place to visit.   I love how if we go on holiday somewhere else in the UK there are places for us to visit at no extra cost.  When we visited Yorkshire two years ago it was wonderful to know we'd have activities that wouldn't cost us more.

There are many properties local to us that we visit several times a year such as Tyntesfield and Stourheard.   Then there are other places that we visit every few years such as Dunster Castle in Minehead.  We visited Dunster last Saturday as the weather was beautiful.  The last time we had been was almost exactly two years ago when I was heavily pregnant with Felix.  The time before that I was pregnant with Ethan.  This was the first time in 6 years I'd visited Dunster without carrying around a baby bump!

There's lots to enjoy in Dunster.  When you arrive there are a few fields next to the car park in which you can walk and picnic.  Last Saturday and the time before we had a picnic on one of the picnic benches.  This area is fenced off from the car park so it's nice to know your child can't get too far!

There are some beautiful grounds to walk around and a really lovely natural playground that was built a few years ago.  Our boys loved this.  We all did actually, especially the huge tree trunk stepping stones!

The castle itself is fascinating.  We like the spooky areas best!

Once you've looked around the castle, walked through the ground and enjoyed the beautiful views it's always nice to walk into the village itself.  My parents had their honeymoon in Dunster 40 years ago this March so it's quite a special place for our family!  There are some great little shops, cafes and pubs.  We particularly like the chocolate shop!

I heartily recommend Dunster for a day out!

Linking up with Coombe Mill.

Everyday sexism

It wasn't until about 5 or 6 years ago I started to think about feminism.  Until that point I'd never not considered myself to be a feminist, I just didn't really think about it.  Having children has made me much more aware of my place in society.  In the last 6 or so years I have become a much more confident and aware person.  Several things have contributed to this; age, being a mother, not working, knowing myself better, meeting new people.

Having had children I am so much more aware of how important it is that we teach our children the right things and that we lead by example.  So many things we say and do have an undertone of sexism or stereotyping.  Most of the time we don't even realise we are doing these things.  Have a boy?  Suddenly without realising you're buying blue, tractors, planes and cars.  Next child a girl?  Find yourself thinking you'll have to buy everything new again because "I can't use a blue buggy with a girl!".  Many things are even more subtle.  Ever noticed yourself making more of a fuss if a female child falls over than you would if it were a male child?

It's really hard to buck the trend.  I know, I've done it.   Throughout my life I've not been afraid to stand out a bit.  Well, I wasn't always so happy to stand out when I was younger but my desire to look the way I wanted to and dress the way I wanted too was stronger than my fear!

When I was pregnant with Ethan, my first, I was convinced I was having a girl.  So convinced.  I bought items in all colours and patterns for my "girl" to wear.  When he was born I was handed a boy - shock!! Did I get rid of any more the more "girly" items I'd bought?  No.  I dressed him in them any way.  I let his hair grow long.  I bought him a buggy to play with.  Dolls.  A play kitchen. A dolls house.  I let him dress up as a princess as well as an astronaut.  I let him play with cars and roll around in the mud too.  Of course I did.  Those are things that a child does.  A child.  Not a boy or a girl.  Child.

When Felix was born it was the same.  He's worn every colour.  He has exceptionally long hair and I can't bear to cut it.  One of his favorite toys is his baby.  Mind you, he's obsessed with cars.

Every single day and I do mean EVERY day Felix is mistaken for a girl.  It'll happen up to 5 times a day.  Only once or twice has someone tactfully said "Mind out for that child" or "what a beautiful child".  It's usually "Let the little girl have her go" or "My, she's beautiful, what curls!".  If I correct them, they are apologetic and I'm not really bothered but I am starting to wonder what Felix thinks.  He's 2 in May and he's not stupid.  I wonder if it'll bother him to be called a girl all the time?

It's not easy.  Do I give in to society's pressures?  Cut his hair and only dress him in green and blue?  I don't want to though!  So.. I keep on down this path.

Why?  Why am I doing this?  Because I want my boys to treat people, everyone, with dignity and respect.  I want them to know about equality.  I want them to strive for equality.  I want them to know they can do anything and be anything they want to be and anyone can.  Every day I send Ethan off to school and I pat him on the chest and say "believe in yourself" and he repeats it back.  I want strong children.  Fair children.  I'm trying my hardest to equip them with the tools to deal with small mindedness.

As a woman I encounter sexism every day.  Years ago I didn't notice it, or didn't want to.  These days I sometimes don't realise it's happened until I've thought about it.  It's not always blindingly obvious.  In fact, the people doing it probably don't mean it as sexist in any way, but when you really think about it, it is.

An example.   I've had short hair for years now but a few weeks ago I decided to have a grade 3 cut on most of it.  I love it, I'm so happy with it.  When women see it they all tell me "Wow! I love your hair!".  Do you know what all the mean who have commented on it have said?   "Wow!  That's a change.  What did your husband think?".  Innocuous?  Maybe.  But think about it.  What did my husband think about it?  I'm sorry.  Who's hair is it?   It's MY hair.  I can choose how I want to wear it.  Pete is in a relationship with me, not my hair.  If he can't look past something like that (which grows!) and still love me then heck, that's not a good relationship!  I'm not saying that as adults in  relationship you can't discuss these kinds of things together, but ultimately it's my hair and I feel, my choice!

A few men have even seen fit to see my short hair as an expression of my sexuality.  Yes, because short hair on a woman means they are gay.  Right.  Can we not get past this sort of thing?  Short hair on a woman has nothing to do with sexuality.  Sure, you might get lesbian with short hair but you're just as likely to find one with long hair.  If my son has long hair and wears a pink top it doesn't make him gay.  If I paint one of his bedroom walls pink or let him push a doll in a buggy, none of these things will have an impact on his sexuality.  All it will do is allow him the freedom to be him.  To explore himself and find his place in society.  And then maybe, one day in the future, when one of his female friends has a short hair cut he won't make a judgement on her sexuality or ask her what her husband thought of it.  This is feminism.  Feminism is EQUALITY.  Equality for ALL.

Swing time! Having fun close to home.

Some weekends you just want to take it easy.  Of course, there's a limit to how "easy" your weekend can be with young children in tow.  Gone are long lazy lie-ins, drunken nights out, hangover Sundays, or, in our case, 48 hour The Sims marathons (yes, for real. Shush now).

Quite often we go out for the day.  We visit a National Trust property, go for walks, a picnic.  Those sorts of things.. but sometimes we just want to hang out at home and then pop out to a park for a bit.  That's exactly what we did last Saturday.

We took ourselves for a coffee and after that took a small drive to a playground near my parents house (where we were going to stay that night) and spent 45 minutes mucking around on climbing frames and having a long swing-a-thon.

 
Despite the fact it might seem a bit boring and run of the mill, we actually had a really enjoyable tome and managed to take a fun family photo of all of us on the swings - no mean feat with just the camera on my Nexus and no one to take the photo.  I had to get the boys swinging then run around in front to position the phone, start the timer and jump on a swing myself.  It came out well though!

Do you just keep it simple sometimes?  Linking up with Coombe Mill for #CountryKids.

Local Limelight - The Dig For Victory Show

This weekend just gone we visited the Dig For Victory Show at the North Somerset Showground.  What was it, you ask?  Well, it was billed as a "1940s festival" and that sums it up well really.

We weren't sure exactly what we would find but we thought it would be fun to dress up.  Pete wore my Grandpa's old suit.  It was probably more early 1950s rather than '40s but still, an old suit getting some new wear is good!  I wore a vintage looking dress that I thought would look the part and be comfy.  Felix has grown out of his What More Wore vintage look romper so he had to make do with some slightly vintage looking dungarees and a tshirt.  Poor effort on that front!  Ethan rocked a Joules shirt I found in the charity shop, his braces and a pair of shorts from H&M.. and his hat.  I think he looked adorable!

So, what did we find?  Well, there was heaps to do, see and hear.  Thankfully a lot of people had dressed up, not just the folks working there. I think there were fewer people not dressed up actually!  There were so many stalls to look at, we didn't know where to start.  As it was lunch time we thought food would be the best thing to sort out first!

We were spoilt for choice but plumped for two fresh stonebaked Pizzas from Encasta Pizza.  They were yummy but between three of us (Felix was asleep) didn't go very far so Pete and I unfortunately had to try Chilli Dogs from Shakey's Diner! We also sampled some fresh lemonade and a gorgeous mars brownie.  Yum, yum and more yum!

We enjoyed listening to two lovely singers, the Goodnight Sweethearts - they were really good fun!

We had a good rumidge at the vintage stalls.

We loved having a look at the vintage cars and Army memorabilia - Ethan loved hearing an air-raid siren going off and "bombs".

Even the portaloos were nice!  The only difficult part of our day was that Felix was not a happy boy at all.  We suspect teeth - he has 7 all trying to break through at the moment.. 7!!  They are proving very slow to come through though..  It was hard work trying to stay happy and enjoy ourselves when he was screaming away but we made it through.  These things will improve as he gets older!

The show is on again next year I believe so I'm sure we'll be back!  I'm afraid I didn't take as many photos as I'd have liked - I blame the stress of a crying baby!!

Linking up with Coombe Mill for Country Kids.

**What is Local Limelight? I am writing a series of posts featuring local events, places, people etc.  Whenever I do, you will see Local Limelight in the title!**

Growing up is bitter sweet

At this time of year I am painfully aware of life flying past me.  The school term is drawing to a close and I just can't quite get my head around it.

This time last year Ethan was preparing to leave preschool.  He had had his school visits with his "big school".  I remember attending with him (along with a tiny baby Felix who didn't really move and didn't mind being stuck in a buggy!!) and thinking how small he appeared in comparison to the children currently in the reception class, in their uniforms, knowing the teachers, knowing where everything goes.   They seemed so grown up and now, one year on, my own little boy is just the same as them - at least in the eyes of the new school Mums attending the settling in mornings with their preschoolers.  In my eyes though, he's just the same.

Accept he's not, is he?  If I look at it objectively, if I look back at the year as a whole, I can see so many changes, physical, emotional, educational.  He is taller.  He still seems diddy in comparison to much of his class but I know he's grown.  I can see the evidence in black ink marked up on our wall chart.  He's actually shot up by about 7cm in the last year.  He can read. He wasn't able to do that a year ago.  He can write far more than his name.   He can write phonetically.  Even if words aren't spelt correctly, they sound right when you read them out.  He can count far beyond 100.  He talks to me of diagraphs and trigraphs.  Things I am supposed to understand but at not yet 5, he is already talking to me in a language I am struggling to decipher!   Just today, on the school run, he said "Mummy, let's count in even numbers!".

This time last year, the stabilisers on his bike had just come off.  Today he whizzes around at breakneck speed and is about to move onto his THIRD bike (when you include the balance bike he had from age 2).  An age 5-8 BMX with skulls on it!

He can swim almost without any support.  He will jump in the pool and go underwater.  All things he wasn't doing a year ago.

Right in front of my eyes my little boy is disappearing.  I just want to press pause.  Each morning I drop him at school and on the walk home, find myself tearing up behind my sunglasses.  How can this be?   Where has this year gone?  How can he be moving into Year One?  He's not ready, is he?  Yes.  Yes he is.  It's me who isn't ready.

I know he still needs me and boy do I cling to that.  When he is ill, it's me he wants.  I have to admit that in some weird way I rejoice a little when he is ill.  It's a rare chance to hop off the cartwheel of life and just be together (well, as together as we can be when Felix is jumping all over us).  I can keep him home from school for a day or so and we can have some time.  It feels like precious stolen time.  Life is SO busy these days, the weeks pass in a blur and one day runs into the next.  There hardly ever seems to be time to stop.  It it's the week, we are busy with school, swimming, dance class, reading homework..  If it's the weekend we are busy going out and about, visiting friends and family.  If we get the chance to have a day at home, the car needs washing, the windows need washing, the lawn needs mowing, the fences need painting. There is ALWAYS something.

This is why it is speeding by so fast.  That and the fact we have Felix.  He adds a whole extra layer of busy to the mix.

Sometimes, I fantasise about a time a few years from now.  When Felix is 3 for example, maybe at preschool a few times a week.  In my fantasy I get more time to work on my blog, time to look for a job, time to myself.  I also have two lovely boys in my future fantasy;  Ethan will be 7, Felix 3.  Those are nice ages I think.  I suspect that this will be the "golden time".  The boys will be young enough to still be sweet and un-jaded.  They will still question everything and enjoy being with us, like to snuggle up on the sofa together.  I can image us as a family of four getting out and about. Camping, travelling, going to a festival.  Unencumbered by baby gear, nappies, buggies etc.  When I have a hard day dealing with Captain Energy (Felix) I think of those days.

I worry that Ethan doesn't get enough of my attention at the moment.  It's worse than when Felix was a newborn.  At least he slept more in the day then and I could have a conversation with Ethan uninterrupted.  These days, with Felix only napping for about 20 minutes all day long and not sitting still for a moment in-between I get very little time I can dedicated solely to Ethan.  This is another thing that makes me sad.  My little boy is slipping through my fingers and I don't have time to catch him.

Gosh, I am getting maudlin! I have Slipping Through My Fingers by Abba going through my head and tears forming in my eyes as I sit in a busy Starbucks.  I don't want him to turn 5 in two weeks.  I don't want him to move into Year One.  I want him to stay in my arms forever so I can stroke his cheek and smell his wonderful "Ethan" smell. Unless he farts. Then he can get the heck off my lap ;-)

I'm just going to share the Abba lyrics so you can all blub along with me and then I'm going to eat a Krispy Kreme donut.

Slipping Through My Fingers - ABBA

Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
I watch her go with a surge of that well known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while
The feeling that I'm losing her forever
And without really entering her world
I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter
That funny little girl

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what's in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sleep in our eyes, her and me at the breakfast table
Barely awake I let precious time go by
Then when she's gone, there's that odd melancholy feeling
And a sense of guilt I can't deny
What happened to the wonderful adventures
The places I had planned for us to go
Well, some of that we did, but most we didn't
And why, I just don't know

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what's in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture
And save it from the funny tricks of time

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile

OK.  I'm totally crying now...

Felix's Room Tour

For SO LONG now I have been planning to feature the boys bedrooms on the blog.  Out of all of the rooms in our house, they are quite possibly my favourite.  I enjoy being in them and I have real fun decorating them.
One of the reasons I've held back on writing about them is that they never seem to be "finished" or "perfect" but I've come to realise they probably never will be.  After all, they are children who are growing and changing every day.  Their rooms reflect that!

There are two things that I would like to change in Felix's room to make it feel more "finished" in my eyes, but I can't see that happening any time soon.  I would like him to have a cotbed and I have the perfect one in mind.  Cosatto sell two beautiful cot beds and either of them would look amazing in his room.  I have my heart set on the Babushka though.  Why do I want one of these?  Well, they are a little bigger than a cot so will last him longer.  What I'm really attracted to, though, is the storage space.  They have draws underneath them.  Storage is an issue in Felix's room because there is only space for a chest of draws, not a wardrobe.  All of his clothes and cloth nappies have to fit in there.  Extra storage that is purposful and tidy under a cot bed would make a huge difference.

Image Source: Cosatto

The second thing I would really love to change is the carpet.  A few days ago was the 10 year anniversary of the day we moved into our house and apart from the living room carpet, the carpet in Felix's room is the only  other one we haven't changed.  It's not bad quality but it's not a style I would ever pick.  Firstly, it has a really dated pattern on it.  Secondly, it is covered in marks and stains.  Really covered. I don't like it at all.  Every time I go in the room I feel it brings it down.  I would really like something hard wearing in there instead and there are some amazing hard wearing and forgiving carpets you can choose from these days.

Having had a quick nosey on the Carpet Right website this evening, I've picked out what I would go for.  Something that will work with all of the colours in the room (we do like colour in our house!) and something that will be very forgiving when it comes to stains.  I have to be realistic, what with it being a child's bedroom, stains are inevitable.  Just think about what happens when you have a screaming feverish baby in the middle of the night and you're trying to doll our calpol in the dark..

This is what I'd put in there if I could:

Tivoli Cream Loop Pile Carpet - Image Source: Carpet Right

Due to the two tone pile, it'd be very forgiving!

Well.. on to the main event.  Felix's room as it stands.  I really am very proud of it, I feel it's such a happy space.

There is such a lot going on in this room which I know won't be to everyone's taste, but I feel it makes a good reflection of a child and in particular, my child!  The walls are quite a bold solid green colour.  We actually painted this room green when I was pregnant with Ethan, we felt it was a good colour for a young child.  Since then, fashions have changed a little and it seems paler walls or even white walls are much more in, but I can't see us getting around to painting any time soon, and whilst it is a statement, I do think it still looks good.

Felix's chest of draws I found in a charity shop when I was pregnant.  We sanded them down, re varnished and attached some cute new draw knobs.  A nice easy facelift!

I love the iconic Farg Form cloud print and found these storage boxes on offer at The Pippa and Ike Show.   They have proven to be very useful.  I keep nappy changing equipment in the middle sized one and medicins/creams etc in the smallest one.  The largest one has bandanna bibs in at present!

Felix loves "cat clocks" so we bought one with his birthday money which really made his day (week, month, year!).  He enjoys watching the tail and eyes move.  Orange looks gorgeous against the green walls we think.

You can't have a child's room withiout some Lucky Boy Sunday cuddlies.  Fancy Nulle is just about the best cuddly ever.  He's pretty much the same size as Felix at the moment and so soft.  Felix likes to roll around the floor with Bow Jovi, kissing him..

I'm a bit obsessed with wall stickers (or decals as they are often called).  Why do I like them so much?  Well, they are a quick and easy way to update a room.  Many of them are easy to remove and are even re-positionable (or, in my experience, even if they aren't officially re-positionable, you can move them around if you are careful!).

Felix has heaps of wall stickers in his room.  As you can see above, there is a cute hello from Hello Apparel via Southwood Stores.  The birds & leaves I bought a long time ago and in all honestly, I can't remember where.   The Be Brave is a Shanna Murray design stocked by Deco Baby.  I love this one.  It's simple, sweet and inspiring.

We also have a huge love of Totoro and other Ghibli films in our house so you will find a great many soot sprites on Felix's wall.  I found a gorgeous Totoro under an umbrella on eBay which works perfectly with Farg Form's raindrops.

Speaking of Farg Form, look closely and you'll see some of their cloud stickers on the walls too!

I adore displaying Felix's clothes.  Items that are especially beautiful or perhaps too big from him yet.  That's where the Red Hand Gang come in handy.  Abi makes these beautiful hangers which are perfect to display clothing.  I even had my own one commissioned!! 

Even just looking through pictures of this room I can see how much it changes week on week.  Mostly because I buy new additions for it like the pom pom garland from Woody & Florence.  Run by Chloe, you'll be hard pushed not to want to buy everything they make (which is why I've had to ask her to make me some bedding!!).

Some things I have to move around because Felix's is getting taller and more able to pull at things but not old enough to fully understand being asked not to do something... the tiny felt bunting has had to move around a few times.

How amazing is the fox rug?  Felix has a bit of a fox theme, he's my Felix Fox.  I had to get this for him when I saw Molly Meg stocked them!

There are just so many items in Felix's room I don't think I could list them all.  I will include a list of my favourite stores to buy from at the end of this post though.  How would I describe the style of Felix's bedroom?  Hmm.. Most of my house I would call scandi-shabby-chic and I suppose this is in a similar vein.  There is no doubt I am very inspired by scandi style but I don't have the white walls they often do.  I do love white walls but am somewhat frightened of them in children's rooms!

I plan to share Ethan's room soon and probably other rooms in the house if this is well received.  I adore decorating my home.  It's not what I'd call my "forever home".  I'd like a 1930s property ideally but until I am working we have to stay where we are.  We are lucky, we have three bedrooms and it is a good size.

Favourite stockists:

Molly Meg

The Pippa and Ike Show

Southwood Stores

Bimbly

Woody & Florence

The Red Hand Gang

Deco Baby

Cissy Wears

Velveteen Babies

Westbury Court Garden - National Trust

Lovely bank holidays - an extra family day!  If there is something we love in our house, it's a bank holiday. I love the way it stretches the weekend out.  An extra evening off chores and the like!

This bank holiday just gone we took ourselves for a picnic.  We like to picnic as often as we can throughout the year.  We have a little tradition, we go to the shops, buy fresh bread, cured meat, olives, salad, cheese and something nice to drink and then we head out on the road.  We usually go to a National Trust location because we are members.  On this occasion we visited somewhere new.  Westbury Court Garden in Gloucestershire.

The journey there was very pleasant.  We came off the motorway and travelled over the old Seven Bridge.  Something Ethan always enjoys.  We drove through some lovely towns and villages and enjoyed seeing sheep at the sides of the road.

The gardens themselves were very pretty.  As National Trust properties go, it's one of the smaller locations.  There is no house, there are few facilities, just a loo.  It was perfect for us though - lots of space for the boys to run around in and explore and lovely picnic areas.

We found a spot and settled down to eat.  Felix spent most of his time romping around.  Ethan managed to get sheep poo on his foot.  Nice!

After our picnic we strolled around the grounds.  It was lovely being able to let Felix go off a little now he's starting to walk.

There were quite a few long grass areas which Ethan enjoyed running through and Felix enjoyed batting with his hands and shouting at.

A lovely peaceful way to spend our afternoon!

Linking up with Coombe Mill for Country Kids.

Being a Mum of two: One year in

Felix turned one this Sunday just gone.  One year old.  Just where has that year gone?  I really can't tell you.  It's been a blur.  Becoming a Mum of two has been a really... interesting experience.  It's a strange thing.  Obviously, on the one hand, you are already a Mum, you know about children and babies.  But like everything to do with this parenting lark, nothing can prepare you for the reality.

Felix Jakub a few moments old

In the early days, something I really struggled with was a feeling of loss.  Just like the first time around when you morn for your old life.  I wasn't expecting this, it was a surprise to me.  I felt sad because I missed my one on one time with Ethan.  I didn't like the way Felix had interrupted our routine, our little unit of three.  I was worried Ethan was missing out.  I kept crying, I felt so detached from him.  With time this feeling eased.  That's all it ever comes down to really, time.  You adjust.  Your lives chance but you adapt.  Before long, you can't remember the old days and all of a sudden, you are a unit of four.  And that feels nice.  To us, four feels like a "proper" family, whatever that may be.  This is a personal thing though - three was good too!

Felix has grown from a small squeely helpless thing into.. well, an absolute bloody nightmare really.  I should have known from the moment he turned from his back onto his front at 3 days old.  As we've gone through the different stages there have been easier times and harder times.  It was tricky in the early days when Felix was waking for a feed 3 or 4 times each night.  Having to get up and get on with things due to having a 4 year old could be hard.  But on the other hand, it was good to have purpose.

I am finding the current stage quite hard.  Felix gets into everything and does things over and over again.  He is switched on there is no doubt of that but he has no fear and the sense of a lemming.  One of his current favourite games is putting toys in the loo.  So lovely cleaning them after he's given them a "bath".

He started walking at 11 months old - I thought he would walk earlier to be honest because he's been standing for months.  It's so cute seeing him staggering around.  We've had quite a few words from him now (although as his parents it's easier for us to understand what he's saying, let's be honest!).  His first word was clock but we now have:

Clock

Granddad

Grandma

Mumma

Daddy

Deden (Ethan)

Dog

Alfie

Cat

Owl

Ham

Bye bye

Night Night

Clock as a first word might seem a bit strange - we have a Kitty Cat clock at the bottom of our stairs; one of those ones with a swinging tail.  It's always caught Felix's attention (funny really, Felix The Cat!).  He likes to look at is as much as possible.  He makes a ticking noise and waves his hand from side to side to mimic the tail.  Eventually he started saying "cat clock".  I've just bought him one with birthday money to go in his bedroom so I hope he'll still like it!!  Will he sleep again I wonder!

Felix at 8 months

I find being a Mum of two is such a balancing act.  I am someone who likes order.  I like my house nice and tidy.  I like to be able to keep it in good nick.  If I can't vac one week or clean the bathroom I start to feel stressed and quite down about it all.  This week, for example, has been quite a trial.  With Felix as he is at the moment, I've not had a moment to get anything apart from the basics done.  I am currently in the process of coming off my anxiety meds and quite possible suffering PMT as well.  A great combination with a rainy half term!  This is when I feel low and start to pine for how things were.  I'd never go back.  I can't.  I love my two boys so much my heart bursts but as I ended up blurting out today, sometimes I just want to be ALONE.  I'm quite an introvert really and I need time to myself, time to be quiet with no one badgering me.  I'm lucky in that Ethan is at school and often once a week my parents take Felix for a few hours.  I am not joking AT ALL when I say that those few hours are what sustains me throughout the week.  That and the few late nights.  Though I suspect they are as detrimental as they are good.  Lack of sleep doesn't do you good either.. back with the balancing act again!

Brothers

Having a second child was not a decision we took lightly.  I had PND and anxiety after Ethan and we both knew we wanted a reasonable age gap.  I think overall that our nearly 4 year age gap has worked well for us.  I must admit that at the moment I spend time each day telling myself that these hard times won't last for ever.  I tell myself I've just got to get through the next couple of years and then I'll have two delightful boys who listen to me and are easier to communicate with.  I hope!!  Ethan is already at that stage but obviously Felix has a way to go.

Felix is One!

I think one of the hardest parts of motherhood is remembering to stop and enjoy the moment.  They are so young and innocent and they won't stay that way for long at all. Every night I go in to my boys rooms and I hold their hands.  I lean over them and take in their beautiful scent.  I stroke their heads and kiss them and say "I love you".  They look so peaceful and beautiful.  I am stuck between wanting them to grow up and wanting them to stay frozen in the moment.

One of the best things about having both boys is seeing the bond between them grow.  Felix idolises Ethan and Ethan does like being a big brother deep down.  I know they will look out for each other.

I know, I just know these days are SO precious.  However flipping hard they are, I expect I will look back and remember them as the best days.  These are my salad days and the boys are my salad dressing!!

Sleeping in style - obsessed with bedding

If I ever want to freshen up one of our bedrooms, I start with a new duvet set.  I am rather addicted to them.  Luckily we have a large airing cupboard and under-bed storage so I am able to store quite a few.  We probably have too many, but at least we have plenty of bedding available for guests or when the children are sick (or have an accident!!).

I love how you can keep your room fashionable with something as simple as changing the bedding.  You can suit the season, your mood and for such a small cost.  What is even more fantastic is that it is so easy to pick up bargain bedding these days.  Whilst I really love buying from smaller independent companies, I am also a bargain hunter.  These days I have to admit that the supermarkets are the places to go for bedding.  In particular, George at Asda are brilliant at staying on trend and affordable.  You can often pick up a new duvet set for around £12.  Fitted sheets come in at around £5 so for less than £20 you can have a completely new set!

I thought I would share my top 5 places to buy bedding and some of my favourite picks from their current collections:

1) George at Asda

George are excellent at staying on trend, their prices are hard to beat and the quality is actually very good:

Bedding from George at Asda

2) Ikea

Ikea bedding makes my palms sweaty.  When I visit Ikea my heart rate increases once we reach the bedroom part of the showroom.  I find it very hard not to buy bedding when I go to Ikea.  Good prices, some are crazy cheap, most are average prices.  The quality is astounding though:

Ikea bedding

3) Wilkinsons

Wilkinsons were a real surprise to me.  I hardly ever go in "bargain" shops like Wilkos, I always think it's a little like a 99p shop.  However, I ended up on their online shop a few months ago and was astounded at the choice. Like Asda, their bedding prices are amazing and very up to date:

Wilko Bedding

4) H&M

I started shopping online with H&M a few years ago when I discovered just how good their children's clothes are.  I love them for me and the boys.  Even hubby relies on them for their underwear!!  Their homewear range is growing all the time and is very stylish.  Their bedding sets are fantastic and often sell out within hours (anyone who knows about their very Mini Rodini style tiger bedding set will know what I mean.  I actually feel like crying when I think about missing out on that..).  Prices are very good and quality is also great:

H&M Bedding

5) Argos

I stopped buying from Argos a while ago feeling they were very old fashioned and out of date.  However, a recent Google for geometric bedding led me back to them and boy do they have a good selection!  Prices range from the very cheap to the much more expensive so there's something for everyone.  I'm impressed!

Argos Bedding

How do you like to brighten up your bedroom?  I hope I've inspired a few people today to try some new bedding out and maybe try somewhere new to buy from! Have fun!!