Jun
2017

It’s #GrinUpNorth – Talking Mortgages with The Cumberland

categories: Cumbria, Home life, Reviews

Starting a family is one of the stages in your life when home becomes more important than ever. You want a happy, stable home that will suit your family lifestyle, and you might be thinking about moving to find it. Moving home when you are expanding your family is about much more than just needing extra space – although that is a big factor. You might be considering moving closer to a good school, or you might just feel like your current home isn’t really designed for life with a young family.

We are moving house in a few days and the main reason is that we have simply outgrown our current home. With two young children, we would like more space and a bigger garden for them to play out in. We had a list of criteria of things we wanted from our perfect home, and all centred on finding somewhere that is more suitable for our family life.

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Jun
2017

My Skydiving Experience

categories: Cumbria, Our Family Life, Reviews

Skydiving has always been on my bucket list. One of those things that I’ve always wanted to do, but I never actually thought I would.

But in April, I actually did it. I jumped out of a plane.

Last year my Husband did a sky dive with some friends and really enjoyed it. I regretted not booking to jump at the same time but after a few months of deliberation, and after mentioning it to four friends who also fancied giving it a go, I finally booked a date. And then the panic set in.

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Jun
2017

24 Hours with a Newborn Baby

categories: Our Family Life, Parenting, Pregnancy

I wrote this post when Clara was just under 5 weeks old, and had planned to type it up into a blog post soon after. In my sleep deprived state I forgot about it, until I recently came across it in an old notebook (almost 3 years later!). This is my account of 24 hours as a Mum to a 5 week old and a 3 year old… it involves sick in my bra, 12 breastfeeds in 18 hours and a good old dose of mum guilt.

3:45am – Woken up by Clara crying for a feed. I’ve had 3.5 hours of uninterrupted sleep which is something of a record, probably the most I’ve had since before she was born.

4:35am – Wake up suddenly, realising I’ve fallen asleep feeding Clara, who herself is now happily asleep in my arms. Put her back in her moses basket, hoping I won’t see her again until 7am.

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May
2017

Celebrating Star Wars Month with Hallmark

categories: Reviews

Throughout May, Hallmark are celebrating Star Wars month and they sent us some of their Star Wars gifts and cards so we could join in the celebrations – including their new range of Itty Bittys.

Both my daughters love Star Wars. Izzy has watched all the films and went through a phase of wanting to be a Stormtrooper when she grows up, and Clara mainly just likes hitting people with a lightsaber bubble wand. So they were both over the moon to get their hands on the latest Star Wars Itty Bittys and you can see what they thought over on our YouTube channel!

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May
2017

#GrinUpNorth in Cumbria with The Cumberland Building Society

categories: Our Family Life, Reviews, Things to do, Trips and Travel

As a Cumbrian born and bred, I know it’s far from grim up North. We’ve partnered with The Cumberland Building Society to shine a light on all that is great about our county, through the #GrinUpNorth campaign.

When The Cumberland Building Society asked me to take part in their #GrinUpNorth campaign and profile my favourite place in Cumbria, my only issue was picking just one. I’m incredibly lucky to have the Lake District on my doorstep – in fact I probably have one of the most picturesque commutes to work ever, right through the heart of Cumbria. However, as well as the fells and lakes that this area is famous for, we also have the benefit of living next to a beautiful coastline that overlooks the Irish Sea.

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