The art of autumn

 

Today Rio walked ALL the way home from the park!

 

Also..who knew how much wildlife you could fetch home in a bag of leaves?

Tomy Be Baby Starlight Dreamshow Yellow

A while a go I was sent a Tomy Be Baby Starlight Dreamshow Yellow to try. And although my first impressions were very mixed I decided to keep with it for a while longer..and on Sunday night I was so glad that we did!

Rio's cold progressed and moved on into a cough resulting in him projectile vomiting three times in the night!! He was beside himself, he hates being sick. He was inconsolable and as a spur of the moment last resort I fetched his "night light" into our room and pressed ON. Magic! Within two minutes he had gone from distraught to fast asleep! Me and my OH just looked at each other in awe..and then watched the projections on the ceiling in sheer fascination!

 

 Its so easy to use too. I cant even trick Rio into thinking the "batteries have run out" as he knows to use the switch at the side in correlation to the on/off one! I do however still stand by my original opinions. This product would definitely benefit from a volume button, as at night I find it too loud to be soothing! And that it is more suitable for use from a younger age, I can see little ones loving this, and being absolutely fascinated. (I've already seen this in a few nursery pictures here in the blog world).

Overall I think as far as value for moneys concerned, this ones a real winner! And will definitely be keeping it close to hand to pass on to our next one..if Rio lets me!

Hush Baby Bunting

For me its the little touches that make a room. When I was pregnant with Rio I was hit with the dilemma of decorating his nursery, I did the total opposite to most parents already knowing the sex and went neutral. But now at 17 months he's such a character that his little neutral room seems bland in comparison.

So when the lovely Laura from Polka Dot Teapot designs contacted me asking if she could make him some personalised bunting I jumped at the chance. Not only because this would kick start his nursery makeover but also because they did such an amazing job on my makeup bag and brush roll.

After a few messages back and forth we decided on a nautical boat theme. I'd recently fell in love with some pirate bedding at Next so I'm pretty sure that is the route I'm going to go down.

Que a few more messages, a short wait, and a parcel in the post!

For £1.25 a letter I think this bunting is amazing. I'm in love with the boat fabric!

Discounts can be applied to orders over 10 letters, which is ideal if your wanting it to say 'Happy Birthday', 'Just Married', etc.. Infact the bunting can be made for all occasions as well as just for the home. And can be personalised in any way whether it be by colour, theme, pattern or name.

I think the personal touch is what makes this bunting unique. You can create exactly what's in your mind without having to compromise with something pre made. Why have something every other home in the village has when you can have a one off?

You can find Laura and Polka Dot Teapot Designs on Facebook & Etsy



I couldn't not include a photo of her handmade bears!

This product was made and sent to me free of charge, but the opinions and content (other than final picture) are 100% honest and my own.

Chasing the ducks and other autumn adventures!

Autumn is my favourite time of the year. I get to wrap up cosy but still have the days out that come hand in hand with the sunshine. Todays post is another trip to the park im afraid. Partly because my OH has the car today but mainly because its one of Rio's favourite things to do.

Not only is outdoor play fun, its also important for childrens development. It helps then stay fit and active, encourages creativity, imagination and lets them get face to face with nature. And most of all gives them freedom!

Whilst it is great to keep giving your children different games and activities to do.. its also important to have unstructured play. A chance for them to just enjoy themselves and do what ever it is that takes their fancy. And the park is a prime example of this. Theres always lots to do at the park!

 
 

Much to the Ducks dismay, Rio realised he could touch them today! This may or may not of ended in them running away and him bounding after them..oopsie! His face when he stroked the first one was a picture!

Giveaway: Thomas & Friends All Around Sodor Train Set

Have you heard people use the C word recently? I have! At work we've already had truck loads full of Christmas stock and while at first I thought, are you crazy? I then realised it's less than 100 days away. And if being a parent has taught me anything its that time flies.

It got me thinking of what I was going to get Rio. I then counted my remaining paydays and had a oh lord moment!

So how would you like to win a Thomas & Friends All Around Sodor Train Set to get you started?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can view the prize along with the rest of the Thomas the Tank Engine range here.

Giveaway will end on the 18th October 2013. The winner will be announced on twitter and contacted by me shortly after.

*The prize, although chosen by me, is being provided by Argos and will be sent directly to the winner by them.

Picture heavy playdate

Today was one of those days, no not one of THOSE DAYS, one of the good ones! The kind makes you smile midst soap watching and think "today was a great day". It started as an early one..Rio heard daddy heading out the door and although I wasn't at work, so in no rush to go anywhere, I felt the urge to go out and get some fresh air, gloomy sky or not. The sun took pity on me and came out though..of course, it always does when I wear a jumper!

We started off at the park, it was peacefully quiet with the school holidays being over. The only children there were around Rio's age so it was a pleasant trip all round. Apart from the bread, WE FORGOT THE BREAD. The ducks didn't take too long to realise this however and waddled back into the water to await their next victim. Stalking avoided!! ;)

Not wanting the day to end there I headed over to my sisters where my mum was watching one of my nephews. Cue sandpit play date!

 

We headed home but fitted in some pirate ship play  and 'sneaky dog on the grass-ness' before daddy got home!

Bedlam at the bookcase!

As the proceeds were going to charity, when we bought Rio's pirate ship we also bought a bookcase among other things. Like me, Rio is a bookworm and instead of them being locked away in the cupboard I thought, lets put them in a bookcase so he can help himself. Only..im beginning to think the locked cupboard was the better option ;)

Only joking. Kinda ;) God help him in the library! Some of his favourites include..

Has your little one got a favourite? Or have you got one that you prefer to read over the rest? Personally I cant wait for Rio to be old enough to discover Roald Dahl! ..I may or may not of read Georges marvellous medicine to him already, and by that I may mean I read it, and he..urm hopped off my knee and played/fell to sleep?