Our First Ever No School Snow Day

I have been meaning to write up our snow day for the last few weeks but time has kind of run away with me.

On the Thursday we woke up to a thick blanket of snow. Hoping for a snow day we waited and waited for school to message to say they were closed, we were ready and waiting by the door to head out when they finally messaged us at 8.05.

We quickly changed and headed out into a winter wonderland, stomping through the snow drifts and catching the snow flakes as they fell from the sky.

We headed down the hill to the local park, since this is the first snow we've had at our new house it was the first time we had been there for some snow fun.

I had expected it to be really busy but had forgotten it was only about 8.30, so we had the slope to ourselves for a while and had lots of fun sledging and sliding down the hill.

Afterwards we walked across the beautiful white field on freshly laid snow to the park, the kids had fun pushing the swings and throwing snow, it is however possible to have the wrong type of snow for snowballs and this was it.

 



On the Friday we headed up to the field behind our house, i'd seen on our community Facebook page that there were some really big snow drifts against the hedges. The kids weren't up for it to begin with as they just wanted to sledge, but once we got up there they were super excited by the deepest snow I have seen in years and certainly the deepest snow they've ever seen.

It was about four foot deep in places, we all had lots of fun falling through the soft snow up to our knees and for the kids up to their waist, we even found a little igloo that someone had dug into the snow.

The wind made it bitterly cold which made heading back to the warm house even more comforting, hot chocolates and snuggling up to watch films was certainly the order of our Snow Days.

As much as I enjoyed our Snow Days I have to say I am looking forward to warmer weather.

Wonderful Wellies from Term Footwear - Review

Since we can often be found out and about in the countryside exploring, nothing is more important than good footwear.

As the saying goes there is no such thing as bad weather only bad clothing, so when we were offered some wellies to review from Term Footwear I knew they would come in handy.

Term' school shoes and outdoors is a British brand from a husband and wife team, who have been importing and selling a variety of children's footwear brands in the UK.  They started their business 6 years ago, to supply school shoes to the UK market and have learned much about the types of shoes British children need.  Term was born out of the desire to make a great shoes and boots that children want to wear. 

Term Footwear launched their brand with their own design of wellington boots, perfect for the winter weather!  The wellies are manufactured in the EU from high quality materials and conform to EU standards.  They are flexible and lightweight with an added advantage of a removable roll top sock.  The sock provides great warmth  and comfort (as wellies can be very cold in the winter) and when the spring arrives you can simply remove the sock and the boot will be one EU size larger, so they will last the child for the spring/summer too. 

The wellies come in several bright and funky colours and patterns, something to suit all tastes and with the inclusion of welly socks they are perfect for some winter outdoor fun. They also come with a handy reflective badge at the back, perfect if we are out walking in the evening

I would never normally buy footwear online, however the Term website comes with a measuring print out sheet, so you can be sure to get a good fit. The wellies cost £21.99 which are more expensive than your usual supermarket ones. However these are a sturdy welly and with the addition of the welly socks they will last a few seasons too, I love the super thick soles with contrasting colours and overall am pleased with them, as are the kids.


We were sent these wellies to form this review, all words and opinions are my own.

Festive Bar Fun

Last year I saw a post over on Capture by Lucy's blog, where she had created a wonderful bar area in her home.  I decided to do something similar, sourcing beautiful vintage decanters for my rather empty looking cupboard top.

Through each season it has been home to new things, in spring we had our Easter eggs, summer our brightly coloured picnic ware, and then in Autumn our pumpkins.

Now we are back to Christmas and New Year, so it has been festively adorned with berries and lights and is back to being my bar area.

This year I have a new addition of my peg board, I bought this in the sale and love that I can add messages, lists and even menus to it.

So what drinks do we have? I love rum so bought some as a treat for myself, the lovely people at Tia Maria sent me some of their fabulous coffee liqueur, great on it's own or as i've found in an Espresso Martini.

Then I have a whole host of non alcoholic drinks, perfect for non drinkers and then some traditional port, a Christmas must.

It is an easy and fun way to display any bottles you have and looks great for Christmas, it also makes it a breeze to prepare drinks for guests.

Keeping Warm with Trespass

It only occurred to me as I shivered my way into the school yard that I didn't have a super warm and snuggly jacket for winter, so when the lovely people at Trespass asked me if I’d be interested in reviewing their Glacial Long Length Down Jacket I obviously said yes.

I hate being cold and nothing makes the school run more miserable than the bitter wind that always seems to whip through the playground, but with my new coat I am as snug as a bug. With a mix of duck down and feather it is a super warm coat. 

It comes with plenty of large pockets to keep mum rubbish and keys in and when I lost my gloves last week the two fleeced lined chest pockets on the front were the perfect place to keep my hands warm.

With a double zip it means I can unzip from the bottom, great for when I need to wear in the car or when I am out and about and need to bend down to talk the children or when I taking photographs.

The coat even has inner cuffs to stop drafts from finding their way up your sleeves, the fur lined hood is great for keeping your ears warm and head dry in the rain, although this coat isn't waterproof it is ok for light rain and snow.

I absolutely love the style of the coat, it is smart enough for the school run and trips out to the shops but equally as casual for our days out and visits to the park.

The coat comes in two colours either Black or Khaki, I chose the Khaki for something a bit different and I really like how it looks on. It is also a good length, being tall it is always a problem finding a coat which covers my back, this fits just perfect.

This coat is currently on offer over on the Trespass website for £75.99 which I think really good value and for that you get a lot of coat. It is super warm, looks good and is the perfect winter coat.

I was sent this coat to form this review, all words and opinions are my own. Pictures taken by Max, aged 8.

Keeping Feet Warm with Morlands Glastonbury - Review

When I was given the opportunity to try out some gorgeous sheepskin slippers from Morlands Glastonbury I jumped at the chance. I hate nothing more in this world than cold feet and as Autumn rolled in so quickly, they couldn't have arrived at a more perfect time.

With several classic and modern designs there is a slipper for all tastes and for me I chose these gorgeous classic loafers in chestnut. Coming up a smidgen small I had to opt for a 9 instead of my usual 8, so this is something to bare in mind.

With non slip bottoms they are perfect whether you have wooden, tiled floors or carpet, since we have a bit of everything they are great for me to wear around our house.

I adore the classic chestnut colour however they also come in mocha, navy and taupe, all beautiful colours and something for everyone. They have some other classic styles, shapes and patterns too, including ballerina, backless and leopard print.

For me though I love the loafers, they look lovely with jeans and are just the perfect modern slipper, with that snuggly sheepskin to keep my feet warm on those cold winter mornings.

They also do the most snuggly looking boots and some beautiful accessories such as gloves and scarves.

These slippers cost £64, which for sheepskin is about what i'd expect. They are an investment piece and not something that will last you a few months and then fall apart, with sturdy bottoms they support your feet and could be worn out of the house too.

I absolutely adore these slippers, so much so I took them with me on holiday, they were the great accessory for our cabin in the woods.

I think these would make a brilliant Christmas present as they come in a gorgeous classic green box, and the slippers arrive in dust covers and with a shoe horn.

Morlands Glastonbury have been making classic items for over 150 years, so their knowledge and experience in creating beautiful well crafted pieces is second to none.

NB: I was sent these slippers to form this review, all words and opinions are my own.
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Bringing Birds into Your Garden

Even though we used to live in the city boundaries, our garden had lots of trees and was always teaming with wildlife, from foxes to squirrels and many different birds. However, since we moved and only have a hedge behind us before fields, the amount of wildlife we see in our garden has dropped dramatically. For me and the children, this is somewhat of a loss. I had seen a few birds moving about in the hedge but with a few cats next door, they seemed reluctant to come down onto the garden to eat some mealworms we had put out for them.

So when we were at the local garden centre and spotted some suet blocks, we decided to get some to put on the fencing at the back of the garden. The idea came from when we visited Center Parcs last year and one of their wildlife experts gave us some to put on the window of our lodge. It was an instant hit with the birds who would fly up to the corner of the window and eat the suet. The children and the adults loved to watch the birds and it was a great feeling to be able to feed these wonderful little creatures.

So why I am telling you this, well this simple and relatively cheap food is a great way to bring wildlife into the garden and so easy to get your children involved in, all you need is a suet block, available from most garden centres and some supermarkets, you can even make your own if you fancy. You can even put out a few mealworms for them, these little fellas are super nutritious for our little garden friends, full of protein and a sure fire way of getting some visitors.

You’ll need to find somewhere that the birds will visit, our fence backs onto the hedge and the birds also have a good vantage point to spot cats so they are happy to visit here. We stuck some of the suet blocks onto the top of the fence and then on the ground below on our side of the fence we poured some meal worms, the black birds really love the meal worms and although I can't stand to look at them they are the perfect source of protein for the birds.

You don't need a lot of be able get these little feathered friends into your garden, with just a few simple ingredients some time and a little love you too can bring some wildlife close to your home, as well as helping to protect our beautiful birds.

Lovely Christmas Lighting

I love pretty lights and have a few up all year round, nothing says cosy winter evenings and Christmas like twinkling lights.

This year I want to light up the house, from the dining room to the kitchen and the lounge to the hallway I want to make sure the house sparkles and make it as magical as possible for the children.

Here are just a few of some of the wonderful lights available online and on the high street, how do you make your house sparkle?

Lovely Lighting by themummydiary featuring John Lewis

John Lewis wall art / Mercury glass globe / Glass jar / String Lights Festive Selection by Cable Cotton / Buy John Lewis Noel Christmas Light Sign, Soft White | John Lewis / Buy John Lewis Pre-Lit Copper Twig Tree, 6ft | John Lewis / Buy Lit Red Berry Willow Heart from the Next UK online shop / BO White Rattan star

Cosy Sunday Morning Wishlist

Sunday mornings, you'd think after almost 10 years of living in my own home i'd of had lots of lazy Sunday mornings but the truth is I haven't. As an early bird with a husband who likes to lay in, I am often out of bed before him and that is that.

Since we moved into our new home though, I have managed a few. Snuggling up with a coffee, the sunshine streaming through the windows, surrounded by crumpled sheets and and in my favourite bed socks. And with the mornings getting colder there is nothing I would enjoy more than to snuggle up in some of these beauties. This is my Cosy Sunday Morning wishlist...

Cosy Sunday Mornings by themummydiary

Top / Nightgown / Robe / Socks / Blanket / Lazy Cotton Bed linen / Grey Toasty Cable Knit Socks , Size One Size | Joules UK

Autumn/Winter Boot Wishlist

A pair of good boots are a staple for your autumn and winter wardrobe, whether for work, wearing with your favourite comfy jeans or dressing up with a skirt. Now more than ever, there are a vast selection of ladies boots out there to enjoy.

I love these Timberland boots, they would look absolutely fabulous with skinny jeans and a big chunky coat, a stylish look for cool dry autumn days.

Next up, another great pair, these boots are a classic chelsea boot and a staple for wearing with jeans, trousers or skirts, this dark rich brown is the perfect colour for autumn.

And finally, I have never owned a pair of knee high boots, I would love to though and I adore these Rieker Boots, the buckle detail is great and the not overly big heel is ideal for someone tall like me, great for busy mums on the school run or for a day out shopping.

Nothing says autumn more than boots, snuggly coats, scarves, gloves and hats and with these boots then the cool days are sure to be even more stylish.

NB: This is a collaborative post.

Black & White Photo Project Wk 25

We ventured out into the snow covered world yesterday and went sledging, this is our local park. So many people out enjoying the fresh air.

Visiting London

With this Christmas and New Year falling around the weekend, there is no better time to make the most of the extended holidays and visit our wonderful capital, London.

Since we have had children, New Years Eve has no longer been the expensive late night out that it used to be. So, as we didn’t have a sore head in the morning, last year on New Years day we decided to visit the Natural History Museum.

We arrived at the museum itself just before lunchtime and spent a good few hours discovering the delights that it held.

After we finished seeing all the exhibits, including the mammal gallery with its Blue Whale, the largest creature ever to have lived. We caught the tube over to Westfield White City for some shopping and a spot of dinner at Mexican chain Wahaca.

There are many other attractions to visit in London, with BuckinghamPalace, Hyde Park, Big Ben and the London Eye to see, you can count on a fantastic time seeing the wonderful sights that this city has to offer.

If you are looking for somewhere to stay then the Holiday InnKensington Forum hotel is in the perfect location, it is a short tube ride from the main attractions and is a great location away from the main hustle and bustle of the city.

The hotel also offers a wide range of events for its guests, from Theme Nights to the Caribbean Experience, not to mention it also having its very own Starbucks.

NB: This is a collaborative post with IHG.

Winter Wonderland at Center Parcs

Last weekend, we visited Center Parcs. I had never been before and as the last few months have been quite hectic, we decided to book a weekend away to spend some quality time as a family.

We had so much fun whilst we were there and I will blog more about the rest of our trip another time,  but I wanted to tell you all about the fabulous Winter Wonderland.

The spectacular tree made it all seem so real, and as Christmas songs rang out through the trees I wanted to cry a bit with excitement.

The lovely and enigmatic reindeers, all so cute and really added to the atmosphere, anyone remember the reindeers in Santa Clause the movie? I loved them so much!

We visited Santa, it was obvious where he was as he had left his sleigh and reindeers on the roof of the grotto.

Me & my hubby drank mulled wine and ate mince pies whilst listening to the Christmas songs.

The tree was really beautifully decorated and looked great in the day and at night.

Along the route from the village square to Santa's grotto were lots of little huts with beautiful characters to watch.

The trees were decked with snow and there was even a snow machine.

We must have walked past the little houses a dozen times, and each time we stopped to look.

All around the village square and main buildings there were things to see and watch, each one as magical as the next.

As we watched the lights for one last time, it really got us into the Christmas spirit, yes it was early but sometimes you need the magic, sometimes you need to experience the lights and sounds of Christmas that little bit earlier.

Gorgeous Boots for Winter

We live on a huge hill, in fact in the middle of a street with two huge hills at either end, although we haven't had snow yet I am pretty sure it is going happen soon and as much as I love my Fly boots they are not waterproof in the slightest and well wellies are damned cold unless you have a pair of welly socks on!

So when we were in Bakewell at the weekend I got looking at some of the gorgeous Hi-Tec range in the walking shop so thought i'd share them.

I love these Harmony boots, I think they look great and not particularly like snow/walking boots which I think makes them perfect for every day use, from icy days to full on snow days. With 200gsm Thinsulate to keep you warm and a Vibram sole to give great non slip action I love these.

Next up are these fab Talia boots, I think they would look great teamed up with skinny jeans, again perfect as every day wear boots and ensure you stay looking good on the school run without falling on your bum ;) Super warm and non slip Vibram sole, plus a super soft lining for comfort.

And finally these gorgeous Sierra Pamir 200, again with 200gm Thinsulate, what could be better to keep you feet toasty and warm whilst still being stylish, oh and dry

So will the snow come? We have certainly already had some frosty mornings and moss covered pavements only add to the drama, so could these stand up to moss and frost? I wonder :)