Today is mine and Dan’s five year anniversary. Five years seems like such a long time and while on the one hand I feel like we’ve been together much longer than that, it also feels like I’ve blinked and suddenly we’re here. So much has happened in the duration of these five years, we’ve had four house moves, three holidays, one baby and have made countless amazing memories along the way. To commemorate this day I wanted to write down our story, as briefly as I can, to have to look back on in the years to come and for Darcie to also read one day and to know the story that led to her. (more…)

Ahh my little blog, I feel it’s been a long time since I sat down and had a real heart to heart with you. My lovely readers who have been with me from the start, and everybody else who has joined me along the way. You’ve probably already noticed a slight shift around here. It started with the re brand back in July when I bought my own domain and started dabbling with different types of posts. As you may know, I started out with mostly personal, diary type posts and letters to my daughter, which I will always love to do and never stop doing (I’ve actually got some real tearjerkers ready to go in a few weeks so get ready!). But you’ll have noticed that I’ve started throwing some other posts into the mix which I am also really enjoying and that are bringing in different types of readers too. I’ve been reviewing  products and writing lists of advice for new mums and any tips and tricks that I have learnt in my 17 months of parenting so far. I’ve also recently starting writing about blogging itself as I noticed that many of my readers are also bloggers, who might enjoy reading those types of posts.  (more…)

After the success of my post So You Want To Start A Blog? I have decided to start throwing in more of these blogging related posts. While I know I have a lot of mums that read my blog who might not be interested in the ins and outs of blogging, I am also aware that some of my readers are bloggers themselves who could find some of my tips useful. These are just some tips that I have learnt over the last year and a half on how to increase my blog traffic.

Post shareable content
All the tips that I am going to list will only work if you have good, shareable content. No amount of promotion will help if you aren’t writing posts that people want to read or share. I tend to write a mixture of posts, some that I just really want to write (that I don’t really care if they are popular anyway because I just want to write them) and posts that I know will do well in terms of views. Lists, reviews and tips, tricks and hacks will generally do better than little Tim’s 14 month update, that is what I’ve found anyway. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write those posts but just be aware that they probably won’t be the ones to make it big. (more…)

Ever since I found out I was pregnant I have become borderline obsessed about decorating my daughter’s bedroom. The day that I found out I was having a girl I started hunting for those perfect pieces that would make her room just as beautiful as I knew that she was going to be. That hunt has never ended really; as she has grown and developed I am constantly on the lookout for things to add to her bedroom to reflect her developing personality. When Created by Magic offered me the chance tor review one of their products I was thrilled as their prints are absolutely stunning and they have a fantastic selection to choose from. (more…)

I’m sure it won’t come as a big shock to anyone when I say that I have noticed that there is a big culture these days of veteran mothers going around scaring new mums and mums to be. From the moment you announce your pregnancy, there will be people who want to tell you all about their stepsister’s aunt’s friend’s horrific labour, their emergency cesarean, or their work colleague who developed postpartum psychosis. I’m not sure quite what the point of it all is, personally I have never felt the need to scare pregnant women or reduce a new mum to tears with a few horror stories over cocktails. Some people do it, I’m sure, to come across as a superhero who has survived all these experiences and other people probably just enjoy the drama of it all. But I’m not about that, I’m here to tell you that it really isn’t all as bad as you’ve been told. You’ll more than likely be okay and be able to survive what pregnancy, labour and motherhood has to throw at you. Let me reassure you… (more…)

A few weeks ago we were invited to go along to one of the Big Fish Little Fish Family Raves that was taking place in Engine Rooms in Southampton. I’d never even heard of a family rave before and not being someone to turn down a chance to do something different, I gladly accepted the invitation to go along and review the rave. This particular event was Heroes and Villains themed fancy dress and I was apprehensive as to how dressed up most people would be. We went for a cop out costume, of Cops and Robbers (sorry I couldn’t resist!). Darcie wore a striped t shirt and I made her a criminal ID number that I stuck on her top and Dan and I wore black and had Police hats that we could choose to wear depending on the level of fancy dress we encountered once we got there! (more…)