Family days out are some of my favourite days. Those morning where you wake up early and everyones excited about the little adventure that's been planned for that day, or even those days where nothings been arranged and we just jump in the car and find somewhere new to explore. Those are the best days and the ones I cherish the most.
Recently, we took a little trip to Whitstable, even though it's less than an hours drive from us, We had never been there before, so, as it was such a lovely day, we decided to head down for a day at the seaside.
It's such a quaint little seaside town, with lots of cute, quirky shops. Everything from unique gift shops, childrenswear boutiques and charity shops, to trendy little restaurants and the world famous Wheelers Oyster Bar, which is a bit of an Instagrammers dream!
I love the atmosphere down there, it was pretty busy the weekend we visited, but we didn't really have any plans so we just wandered in and out of the shops until we had reached the sea front.
The beach is so pretty, but as it's a pebble beach it's not really the sort of place you can stay all day and relax, but Archie loved running in and out of the sea and picking up little shells to give to us. We finished the day with an ice cream in the sun. Perfect!
It's lovely to do these spontaneous trips where you don't know where you're going to end up, but Archie's also getting to the age where he wants to visit those places which need a little more planning and a lot more money! We already have Chessington and Legoland on our list, he asks to go at least once a week and it's hard to explain to a 3 year old that those sort of trips need to be saved up for. That's where The Tesco Clubcard comes to the rescue! they have just relaunched it with a new app and a contactless card which gives you 1 point for every £1 spend on everything from groceries and fashion to fuel.
With the new Clubcard, a tap is all it takes. Just tap your card on the card reader to collect your points at the end of your shop, Simple! And you can keep track of how many points you have on the app, so you know when you can redeem them on a whole range of things such as cinema tickets, fun, family days out and money off at your favourite restaurants. If you're doing your shopping each week anyway, why not earn some rewards at the same time! It soon adds up.
Take a look at the website here to find out more and see all of the rewards and activities available. Are you planning any trips big or small soon? Let me know in the comments!
This bank holiday weekend was a bit of a scorcher! So one of our favourite things to do as a family on sunny Summer days is head to the park with a full to the brim picnic basket, some cosy blankets and a game or 2 and enjoy a few hours relaxing in the sunshine whilst it lasts!
On bank holiday Monday we got up early and decided this was exactly what we should do and planned a trip to one of our favourite parks that has a beautiful manor house in the grounds, but before we could head over, there was the crucial matter of food to sort out. We had managed to clear the cupboards after Archie's Birthday party that weekend, and, as Tesco had asked us if we would like to go and try out their new Scan as You Shop System, this was the perfect opportunity, so we headed to our local Tesco to stock up on some shopping and our picnic favourites.
Scan As You Shop is a new system for Clubcard Members which helps to make your weekly shop that little bit easier! Especially if you're trying to get it all done with a toddler and a baby in tow which has not been easy lately! You simply swipe your Clubcard to release a handset from the wall and you're ready to shop with your own personal barcode scanner. You can tot everything up as you go and you can completely avoid having to get your shopping out of the trolley, onto the conveyer belt and then back into bags, as you can bag everything up as you shop.
It's such a clever idea and actually really fun too! Archie loved helping me scan all of the items and he got really involved in the shopping process, so it was actually an enjoyable experience instead of a toddler battle! I did wonder at first what to do with items such as a couple of clothing items I picked up for Elliot which had security tags, but you simply leave them to one side in your trolley and once you've finished shopping someone at the Scan As You Shop payment area assists you with this step. Simple!
I love the fact that you can see what you're spending as you go, which really helps with budgeting for your weekly shop, or even making sure you're not going overboard on buying food for a certain occasion like a family picnic or party. Once you're finished you simply scan the barcode at the top of the till, pay and you're done. It couldn't be easier and is definitely a bit of a game changer as I've found shopping with 2 little ones a bit of a struggle and have found myself sending Rikki out to do the food shop!
Once we were done we headed to the park and I've honestly never seen it so busy! but luckily it's absolutely huge, so we found ourselves a quite spot under a tree, ate some yummy food, played with some of Archie's new birthday toys and relaxed. Elliot was so happy on his little blanket chilling in the shade and Archie was in his element running around and rolling in the grass. After a lovely afternoon we headed home with 2 very tired but happy little boys and 2 rather relaxed parents, which is saying something!
So next time you're doing your weekly shop in Tesco, give the Scan As You Shop System a go, I'd love to know what you think and if it helps take some of the stress out of food shopping for you.
what did you get up to this bank holiday weekend?
Summer. It's definitely my favourite season. Light evenings, warm days and summer dresses are among the things that make me happiest. I think the sunny weather is good for your soul and instantly puts you in a good mood. However, sometimes the Great British weather has other ideas and this week we've found ourselves saying bye bye sunshine, hello wind, rain and thunderstorms. Did I fall asleep for 3 months and wake up in October? (Haha who am I kidding? I have a newborn, I don't go to sleep). So whilst we wait for the sun to put his hat firmly back on, I wanted to share with you a few things we recently got up to on a very rainy Sunday.
We had just got back from Grufflalo hunting at a Bedgebury Forest (see our new vlog here) and jumped into the car as the heavens opened and we narrowly missed being drenched. We were more than ready to go back home and snuggle up in front of a movie! So when we got in, I put some cookies in the oven (sounds more impressive than it was as they were the frozen ready to bake ones!) and Archie decided he wanted to watch Hotel Transylvania 2 which will only have been the 3458th time we've watched it. Now he's a little bit older and has the patience to sit and watch the majority of a film, it really is one of my favourite things to do. I forgot how brilliant kids movies are and I love when I get the chance to watch an old favourite, especially when it becomes one of Archie's favourites too. Our little tray is from Amazon, they have so much tableware available and I love these especially as they look like china but are actually made of melamine, so they're Archie proof and perfect for little picnics, whether you're indoors or out! (The cookies were a winner too!)
Once Archie got a bit bored of watching the film, we decided to do a little activity I've been wanting to try for a while. Elliot is now 8 weeks old and I feel like I can see him getting bigger everyday! So I wanted a way to remember how tiny he is right now. We got the Baby Art Magic Box to try. It's a little kit consisting of clay, rolling pin, display tin and stand, to make a special hand or foot impression keepsake. I thought it might be a bit messy, but the clay comes ready made, you just roll it out and set it in the tin, I also twisted some of the clay together to make a little decorative boarder around the edge (get me!) Its not the easiest thing getting a wriggly 8 week old to keep his feet still, but I was actually really pleased with with how it turned out! It's really sweet and Archie loved helping us press elliot's feet into the clay, in fact he liked it so much we had to get the play doh out so he could have his own foot impressions done after! It's also dermatologically tested and safe for baby's skin. Amazon have some lovely keepsake gifts and impression kits, including ones you can frame which I've got my eye on next!
After that we all (apart from Elliot) tucked into a Sunday roast. We hadn't had one for a while as it's been so hot, so I was really looking forward to it! Once the boys were in bed, I took the chance to do a bit of pampering. It's not something I get to do much at the moment, so I grabbed the opportunity whilst I could to pop on a face mask, and paint my nails. The colour I went for is this beautiful gold by OPI called Gitzerland It's a really pretty metallic, perfect for sunny days, holidays or just to cheer up yourself up on a rainy day! It felt SO good to get a bit of me time, and it reminded me that I need to take more time to look after myself, it's amazing how much better these little things can make you feel.
I'm definitely looking forward to more summer days with the boys this year, but I think a cosy, rainy day every once in a while is a good thing. They say a Sunday well spent brings a week of content, and It certainly did just that.
This post was in collaboration with Amazon's #NowItsSummer campaign. As always, all views and opinions are 100% honest and my own.
It seems like moments ago I was looking down at my bump and wondering who you were. Did you have hair? Would you look like your big brother? Well it didn't take us long to get the answer to that question as you are the image of him, but so completely unique at the same time. My beautiful Elliot, it's sounds like a total cliche but I can't imagine you not being here now. Part of this crazy little family. The house that's slowly being taken over by boys and I couldn't be happier because I get to be your Mummy...
The past 6 weeks have been a whirlwind to say the least. I've been dreaming of those first newborn cuddles and lazy days doing nothing but looking at my tiny baby for months and it really is so lovely, but you forget the toll that the sleepless nights and an unsettled newborn have on you. Elliot isn't quite as calm and content as his brother was, which I feel so bad saying as he's so tiny, and 5 minutes ago he was cocooned in a little snuggly world of his own. He already seems more cuddly and likes to be held or wrapped up, and all hell breaks loose if he's anything less than toasty warm, (he gets that from me). His big brother has always been fiercely independent, and I like that they already have their own personalities.
During that first few weeks, I was surprised to find myself, at times feeling helpless all over again, as if I had never done this before and was once again a first time Mum. I'd forgotten how exhausting it can be, It sounds weird to say, because as I said, their personalities are already quite different, but at first I felt as though I'd woken up in some weird parallel universe, where I'd gone back in time 3 years and was looking after a newborn Archie again. However, that little baby is now a whirlwind of a little boy and lazy baby days are not so easy to have when you're being asked to play in the padding pool at 5:30am by your toddler.
There's no doubt about it, becoming a Mum of 2 is a learning curve, a big one. But everyday I feel like I'm getting the hang of it that little bit more. They both teach me so much without even knowing it. Elliot has brought out the most loving, caring side in Archie. He wants to be with him all the time, cuddling him and helping me look after him. He goes up to everyone he meets and tells them about his new baby brother, and for some reason, he says 'Elliot' in a little welsh accent which is honestly the funniest and cutest thing ever, and a total mystery to us!
One of the things I was looking forward to once Elliot was born was putting the boys in matching outfits! We we really kindly sent some beautiful pieces from My 1st Years recently which has been on my list of favourite baby brands ever since I had Archie. They do some adorable matching outfits for siblings and Archie actually screams with delight when he sees his little bro's been dressed the same as him! So I'm going to take full advantage of that whilst I can! As well as matching sets, My 1st Years are home to some of the most beautiful personalised gifts for little ones, Which would make the perfect present for anyone that's just had a newborn. Everything from the softest, monogrammed hooded towels and robes for bedtime (Prince George has one you know!) to their very own teddy bear complete with name jumper. Archie also has a personalised toy bag which has been home to all of his soft toys for the last few years and it looks beautiful in his bedroom. Their service is second to none and everything comes wrapped in a luxury gift box which I always think makes it a little more special.
So now days you'll often find me sitting in Archie's room, cuddling Elliot, playing with Archie and wondering what it'll be like when they're old enough to play in there together, imaginations running wild. Having one was fun, but It's definitely better with two!
Here's all of the beautiful My 1st years pieces featured in this post if you'd like to have a look, as well as some of my other favourites!
This post was kindly sponsored by My 1st Years. As always, all options are 100% honest and my own.
