Kids Style Challenge with Bonprix

With golden leaves falling down from the trees and conkers ready to pick, it would seem that we are in autumn. As sad as I am and as much as I will miss summer, it does mean cosy jumpers, sumptuous fabrics and beautiful autumnal colours.

So, when Bonprix challenged me to come up with some outfits from their children's range for my son and daughter, I knew I would take my inspiration from the season.

With plenty of bright colours, styles and matching sets it was easy to pick out what for me were the perfect autumn outfits for my children.

My daughter loves dresses so I chose this gorgeous turquoise dress with leggings to match, the colour is far from her normal favourite, pink, but she loved the flower detailing and lace around the bottom.

This dress is great for autumn with purple and green leaves on the skirt section, I also love that it has pockets, fantastic for putting in any leaf and stick collections.

The fabric is loose fitting so ideal for active children, the dress itself is easy to layer with tights or leggings and will look super with boots for adventures out and about kicking piles of leaves.

For my son I chose this fabulous stripy jumper and petrol blue chinos, he looks great in this colour and it really is the perfect colour for autumn. The jumper is a looser fit so ideal for putting on over a t-shirt or shirt and the chino trousers are thick so brilliant for keeping warm on cooler walks and days out.

The trousers also come with fasteners on the inside so perfect for a slimmer fit and meaning they can grow with your child.

As we picked some blackberries from our garden, it was really easy to see how these colours suited them both and how fabulous it looked against the autumn sunshine.

I am really pleased with my selection and with the whole lot coming to little over £42 I was happy with my choice, the itms are beautifully made and the dress certainly different from a lot of items you find on the high street.

Most importantly though the children loved them and it is always great to find something that they both love and want to wear.

Bonprix have a huge selection of clothing for men, women and children so why not pop on over and have a look and see what goodies you can find.

NB: We were sent the items of clothing to form this post, all words, opinions and photos are my own.

Hazy Summer Sun - An Evening Amongst the Gold

As the evenings get darker and the mornings cooler, I am holding on to the moments of sunshine we've had this summer. Just before the wheat in the field behind us was harvested, we managed to go and spend an evening investigating its golden beauty and the tiny sheaves almost ready to carry on their journey.

It has been magical to watch the wheat grow, from nothing but tiny shoots, to a field of gold, the children and I have loved watching the tractors as they drive up and down the fields.

We were a little miffed to have missed the combine harvesters and the actual harvesting itself, however, we were there to watch as the tractors swept up the leftovers and bundled them into perfectly rectangular parcels.

Late into the night they worked, picking up and building a huge hay castle, it was truly magical and should they go ahead and build on the land, we will miss watching the earth change through the seasons. But for now we will enjoy whatever grows there, last year was a beautiful field of oilseed, it’s bright yellow flowers swishing in the wind and turning into tiny rattling pods.

As the nights draw in we look forward to candle lit evenings and snuggly jumpers, blankets and stews, but for now, I hope I can get a few more wears out of my sandals and summer dresses and the children out of some of their clothes, for next year they will no doubt be too small.

What have you been up to this summer?

Decades at School with Marks and Spencer

Do you have any favourite memories of school? Milk in bottles with little straws, recorder lessons and the school dentist, getting your five meter swimming badge and one computer for the whole school, wheeled in and out of the rooms on a trolly.

Well, times have changed, milk comes in cartons and each class has a few computers and even iPads, but sending your children off to school for a new year will still be the same.  That pang of sadness at not getting to spend time with them even if they were causing you to tear your hair out at times, that dread of early mornings and lunch box making.

New uniforms, shoes, bags and lunch boxes and now it seems we need to add a pencil case to the mix and it got me thinking about what it was like for my parents when I was at school? What hopes, dreams and feelings did they have for me starting a new year?

I remember going to look for a new school uniform and new shoes with my mum, it was one of those defining moments of the school holidays and nothing got the excitement going more than a crisp new pair of shoes and school uniform. Trying them on when we got home and showing dad when he got in from work, just to get the approval.

I took that approach when my son started school and it was a big occasion for us to go and look for school uniform, however it wasn't as easy as i'd hoped and we couldn't find everything in his size, it was a little stressful to say the least, that happened for a few more years and then last year as much as I would miss the shopping ritual with my daughter I decided to order everything online.

We'd had uniform from Marks and Spencer since my son started school and they always lasted and stood the test of time, so with everything in one place I ordered all the school uniform for next day delivery and we had the same excitement levels, albeit in a different place, when two bags of clothes arrived.

We went through them and tried them on, I cried a little and my daughter told me I was being silly, it was a new experience and I suppose an updated and modern version of my memory.

For me my memories are happy ones and are deep in my core memory, they are what makes me tick and so I hope I can pass some of them on to my children, even if they are as different as our one computer at school to the whole row of them in each class now.

Nothing says the first day of school like a baggy jumper and shoes too big for those skinny legs, here is me surprisingly smiling for my first day at secondary school.

This year Marks & Spencer have yet another brilliant uniform collection, in a range of sizes, colours and styles. There are some neat touches to their uniforms, including, Stainaway™ shirts, made with a special finish to help make stains disappear, adjustable hem trousers to adjust the hems without a needle and thread and machine washable jumpers that stay bright and bobble free.

My two children love their new uniform from Marks & Spencer, they are just what we need to allow them to run, jump and explore. With ribbed cuffs, easy to do up buttons, zips and hooks and fabric that moves with them, I am sure these will last them the year as they have always done before.

Our holidays only started this week and they will be back at school earlier than everyone else too, with just five short weeks for their summer, even so, we hope to fit lots in. I am sure the time will come for first day back photos before I know it and most likely tears from me as I see the changes in them and the different a year makes.

Marks and Spencer are currently looking at school uniforms throughout the decades, they have changed so much and it is fascinating to see what we used to wear, you can even share your own memories with them over on Twitter using the hashtag #MySchoolYears

What was your favourite school memory?

NB: This is a collaborative post.

No Such Thing As Bad Weather

With the weather in England being more than a little unpredictable, you have to be prepared for everything from wind and rain, to sunshine with a bit of snow, all on the same day sometimes.

Last year, we were sent some Helly Hansen waterproof clothing for the family and some fantastic matching wellies for the children, they haven't left our adventures since. So, when they asked if we'd like some fleeces to try on our glamping adventure holiday last month, we obviously said yes.

The fleece jackets are so toasty and warm, whilst also being light weight and comfortable. Meaning we could all wear them under our waterproof jackets to layer up without looking too much like the Michelin man!

Being lightweight meant that they could be worn instead of a coat or cardigan, perfect for jumping about or digging in the sand. The colours are great for children, my daughter loved her sorbet coloured fleece and my son, being a little more reserved, liked his navy with its light blue piping. With little loop holes for their thumbs, it meant they could keep their sleeves down whilst they explored, meaning no cold wrists.

When combined with the waterproof trousers, I think the fleeces look fantastic and they are so bright and just what you need to get children wearing them.

But it's not just the children who love theirs, I love mine too, the colour is great and the arms are the perfect length, even for my long arms. The perfect finishing touch to an outfit for some rock pooling and cool beach walks, I love the softness and the pink detailing on the zips.

Thank you to Helly Hansen for sending us these fabulous fleeces and keeping us warm on our seaside adventures.

NB: We were sent these fleeces for the purpose of this post, all words and opinions are my own.

Keeping Warm with Mountain Warehouse - Review

Just before we went away glamping, I was chatting with Mountain Warehouse about the chilly evenings and mornings on the farm, so they kindly offered to send me some bits to keep us warm.

We were sent some fabulous merino wool base layers that we could wear both as pyjamas and under our clothing if it was cold in the day.

They proved to be a hit, with the bright colours making sure that the children wanted to wear them, I was a bit worried about the wool being itchy on their skin but they both loved wearing them and the stretch gave them the freedom to run about. They even wore them to pop down to the chickens and check for eggs in the morning without the need for any clothing on top.

Not at any point did they need any extra blankets on their bed and both were quite happy to get up and run around in morning without extra layers. We were lucky to have sunny days so they didn't need to be used as base layers but they'd be perfect if you were going somewhere cold and needed to put clothing on top after you'd got up.

I get cold quite easily but thanks to the merino base layer and Hebridean melange fleece hoody I was kept snuggly and warm on those cool mornings, it hasn't left my side since and I have been wearing it every evening at home instead of turning the heating up.

As we sat on the edge of the pod decking looking at the sheep, it made me realise how well insulated we all were and that the pyjamas had done their job.

We were also sent some other goodies including a fabulously huge beach towel, which proved handy for some sandy toes and hands and to wrap round us on those cooler beach moments, as well as a super cool flying missile, the children both spent hours throwing this to each other, trying to get it to whistle.

Mountain warehouse also have a range of Steve Backshall clothing, which my son, who is a massive fan, absolutely loved. He jumped with excitement when he saw them and has loved wearing them ever since, he lost a tooth whilst we were away hence the cheeky closed mouth smile.

Thank you to Mountain Warehouse for sending us these goodies to keep us warm during our trip, we'll be using them to head out into the garden for some weekend outdoor breakfasts and hopefully if we get some camping gear they will come in handy too.

NB: We were sent these items to form the review, all words and opinions are my own.

House of Fraser Children's Clothing Review

I was recently asked to review some children's clothing from House of Fraser, now it was news to me that they even sold children's clothing, as we have a House Of Fraser in Nottingham but they don't sell children's clothing there.

So, I had a look on their website and found a few pieces that I knew my daughter would love, they have some great brands including Polarn O. Pyret, Mango, Lily & Sid to name but a few. They arrived a few days after I ordered them.

I chose this fab top from Polarn O. Pyret, the print looked really playful and it is in my daughters favourite colour, pink.

The fabric itself is soft, the sleeves loose enough to allow her to play and the length perfect. I loved the detail of the button on the shoulder and the general feel of this top is one of quality. She has loved wearing the top and it goes great with leggings or jeans, this top was £20.

The next top was from Mango Kids, I really loved this top when I saw it and the price was very reasonable, the colour is a hint of pink and looks very pretty. The fabric is soft and I love the attention to detail on this one too, my daughter instantly loved the pocket and I thought the linen tag was a nice touch. This top was £7.99.

My daughter really loves this top too, my only gripe with this one, is that it is slightly cropped. My daughter is about 101cm and this top is for a 104cm child, yet, when she lifts up her arms, it shows her tummy and this isn't something I would normally choose. It is a very pretty top and with some high fitting leggings or jeans it will be fine. The sleeves are a really practical three quarter length, meaning we don't have to roll them up when we are baking and crafting.

Overall I am really impressed with the clothing from House of Fraser, they have a lot to choose from, whether you are after smart or casual. You can pick up in store for free or delivery is between £3 and £8, depending on what you spend and how quick you want it.

I have put together a little Pinterest board of some of my other favourites from House of Fraser, they have a great range of clothing whatever your budget.

Follow The Mummy Diary's board House of Fraser Kids on Pinterest.

NB: I was sent the tops to review, however all opinions and photos are my own.

Olive Wishlist

I have been swooning over the gorgeous items over at Olive now for some months, I need to revamp my wardrobe for work and play so here are just a few of the things I would choose.

Olive Wishlist by themummydiary on Polyvore

Real leather lunch bag / Buckle Detail Chelsea Boots, Beige / Slim- Fit Zip Detail Dress, Check / Shirts Long Dress, Camel / Wool Boy Trouser, Khaki / Feather Print Dress, Green / Brixton Messer fedora hat, Black / Chiffon Layered Boucle Top, Black / Multi Print Balloon skirt, Beige / Pleated Mini Skirt, Beige / Short-sleeve crew neck jersey, Grey

My Nextmas Wishlist

My Nextmas Wishlist consists of warm snuggly jumpers, pyjamas and slippers because there is nothing I love more at this time of year than getting snugly and warm. I have also opted for a sparkly skirt, for the Christmas party of course and something I can only dream of owning, but that I would love, a freestanding mixer!

Nextmas Wishlist by themummydiary

Fair isle sweater / Brown top / Merino sweater / Funnel Poncho/ Navy Star Pyjamas / Knit shoes / Next Stand Mixer

I seem to have chosen a lot of grey and blue, this was a coincidence and simply down to how I thought the pieces looked in those colours. I have always wanted to own a fair isle sweater and love this one it looks perfect for Christmas, mulled wine anyone?

NB: This post is my entry to the Next Blogger Network #NextmasWishlist competition

Boys & Girls Raindrop Dress from Sidneyboo Review

I blogged about Sidneyboo, a fabulous online boutique a while back when they launched and bought some gorgeous shorts for my daughter from them. So, when Sarah from Sidneyboo asked if I’d like to review a dress for my daughter, I knew she’d send me something pretty special. 

And she did, this most delightful raindrop dress from Boys & Girls is the perfect Autumn outfit, my daughters first impression was that she loved the colours of the raindrops. Her normal favourite colours are pink and purple, but even so she loved this print.

The fabric is similar to sweatshirt material, so it is really snug and warm, and being organic cotton it is super soft. I loved the cuffs, so chunky and perfect for keeping the cold out and little arms warm.

The attention to detail is divine, with the Girls & Boys logo sewn on the outside of the dress. Although not unisex as it’s a dress the colours don’t sway to those of the normal run of the mill high street colours, which for me is great, as it has opened my daughters eyes to other colours.

At just £24 this dress is perfect for dressing up with tights and pretty shoes or down with a pair of jeans. Great with jellies or wellies we love this dress and it has been a hit with both my daughter and I.

Not only is this dress gorgeous but it washes well (we should know, as we had a major chocolate incident in it) and with the philosophy behind Boys & Girls being Out to Play it allowed my daughter to enjoy being a child in comfy fashionable clothing,

She absolutely adores this dress and was so happy to run around showing it off.

It really is the perfect exploring, running, jumping and being a child kinda outfit!

I absolutely adore everything from Sidneyboo, with brands such as Indikidual, Gardener & the Gang, Tootsa MacGinty and Slugs and Snails there is something for everyone.

And finally Sarah is offering my readers 15% off with code MUMMYDIARY15 so why not pop on over and see what you can find to brighten up a rainy day.

NB I was sent this dress for review, however all words and opinions are my own,

Papu Stories Bow Beanie Dress from The Dandy Kid Review

I was recently approached by the lovely Sarah at The Dandy Kid asking if my daughter would like to review one of their dresses. My daughter loves dresses and with the collection at The Dandy Kid being so fabulous, of course I said yes.

We were sent this beautiful, soft and timeless dress by Papu Stories. I absolutely adore black clothing on a child, my daughter has really blonde hair so I thought this would look stunning on her, teamed with some Sun Jellies of course.

My usually pink loving daughter loved this dress, the bow detailing is so different and I love that the dress has a little bit of stretch in it which is perfect for when she is running and dancing around.

It is safe to say my daughter loves this dress and with it being 95% GOTS certified organic cotton I know it is going to be soft against her skin as well as being great quality. As a rule these days I tend to buy fewer higher priced pieces that I know will last, this dress is £28 which I think is great value.

I can't find any fault with it, well maybe one...it doesn't come in my size!

Thank you Sarah at The Dandy Kid for sending us this to review, it is going to make for some even more awesome pictures on our holiday!