IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS with FATFACE


Last weekend was one of those really lovely weekends, you know that weekend when you start to feel all Christmassy but you've yet to feel any of the stress of it? I've got that light festive feeling, not yet consumed with what presents I need to be buying or menus I need to be planning. It was just a bust your new knits out, get all wrapped up and finish the weekend off with a lovely Sunday in the city.


Thanks to the lovely people over at FatFace, who gave me a little sneak preview of their winter collection this season, I'm feeling well-equipped for the quick change in weather. I love their Catherington Cable Jumper, to me it's not winter without a big chunky polo neck and I love the button back detail on this one. My absolute favourite item though has to be their Cumbria Longline Puffer coat. Have you ever had major coat envy when it comes to your children? I do, every year when I wrap them up in a good coat with a big fluffy hood. I've been on the hunt for a decent coat (that doesn't cost a million pounds) for. ever. Well the search is over, the child coat envy is over, I have my very own one, and it has a massive hood which actually covers my head when it rains. Tall girl problems ;)

I really like FatFace's ethos, they believe in good quality clothes that are made to last and with each wash just get better and better, which can only be a good thing when kids are involved ;). NEVER have I washed my clothes as much since becoming a mum.


Caleb asked for a picture with his branch and of course, I obliged. He really has that model staring off into the distance look nailed, doesn't he?!


We decided to head over to Stockbridge for a nice little walk and to have a mooch around their Sunday market. If you've not been it's definitely a must, lots of lovely yummy food cooked there and plenty of fresh supplies to take home with you. I did hope to capture some pictures of it but it was absolutely rammed (with good reason) and a little too busy to see everything with the boys. Mikey and I both had the same thought, ditch the kids one sunday and come back to really sample all the offerings.


We left the market and headed over to Comet & Blitzen, a new Christmas pop-up bar in the area. Now anywhere that sells good wine and has a Christmas-inspired menu is good with me. The atmosphere is chilled and welcoming with an elegant nod to Christmas, the perfect start to getting into the festive spirit. As we sipped on prosecco and the boys coloured with the crayons and paper quickly supplied by staff we decided what to order.


Archie gasped when he saw the presents and cried, 'Santa!!', quickly followed by, 'For me?'. Eh, no son, not for you I'm afraid. Something tells me Christmas morning is going to be a whole lot of fun this year though.


We decided on the Big Christmas Sharer, Brie and Spiced Cranberry open sandwich, and macaroni cheese for the boys, and a side of thick cut chips. Everything was delicious with lovely attention to flavours. You will not be finding dry turkey and soggy veg at this establishment. I'm hosting Christmas this year and it really has me inspired for cooking classics with a little twist.


The meal wouldn't have been complete without the chocolate fondue. We actually missed the fact it said chilli chocolate with the fondue, huge parent fail potential right there ;) Thankfully the staff doubled checked with us and then offered that they could do it without the chilli element for the boys. It was the boys first chocolate fondue and a huge hit. 


Michael and I are always on the search for places like this. Somewhere where you can get a nice drink, some good food, and feel comfortable with your kids there, knowing they'll be welcome and well catered for. This ticked all the boxes and has kicked off the festive season good and proper.


I just had to include this shot. Daddy, Archie and the big giant red peppermill. A picture taken by Caleb. I may have found myself a new chief blog photographer ;)


Can we just take a moment to all hail the hood. Seriously, I will not miss the front of my hair getting wet every time it bloody rains. Happy, happy girl.

You can find my new love, aka 'The Coat' here. The jumper I'm wearing is here, along with the scarf and mittens.

*this post is in collaboration with FatFace, all opinions are my own. Thank you for continuing to support the companies that help make this blog possible.
Wednesday, 30 November 2016 Comments: 0
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OCTOBER IN NOVEMBER & EMBARRASSING STORIES


Who doesn't love some pumpkin pictures in November? This is so me and my life right now, forever playing catch up. All good intentions but the time just gets away with me. You know I'll be the person talking about Christmas and sharing pictures in February ;)

So October, it was a bit of a whirlwind month. I took my driving test. Failed. Turns out I'm an overall good driver but when I mess up, well, I go big. In truth I didn't feel ready to pass and then drive around with my two boys in the backseat. The idea of driving doesn't freak me out, I actually quite enjoy driving, but the thought of my babies in the car with me makes me feel sick. When you're learning to drive (and doing so correctly) you realise just how many people drive like it's wacky races. I know it's a confidence thing and I'll get there. For now though it's more lessons for me and throwing even more money at the situation, joy :/


Halloween was a huge hit with the boys this year. Before now it's been an occasion that has pretty much passed us by. I remember our first ever experience of pumpkin picking being very anticlimactic but this time the boys loved inspecting all the different pumpkins until we made our final selection. We had to laugh though, they were still more enamoured by the apples rather than the pumpkins. Well I guess you can eat an apple right there and then. Pumpkin Shumpkin.


This was also the year the boys discovered trick or treating. Before now we didn't live in an area big on trick or treating, Caleb used to hate dressing up, Archie was too little, and so it was a holiday that would just pass us by. Fast forward to now and Caleb absolutely adores dressing up, we planned to do a quick trick or treat in our own street with the young kids living there, but once we went out we bumped into lots of other people we knew and ended up out around the neighbourhood. I was curious as to what the boys would make of trick or treating. Out after dark knocking on houses they didn't even know. The penny dropped by the first house though that sweets were involved, and right there two Halloween converts were born. It once again has made me feel so happy we made the move when we did. Can you believe come the end of this month we will have been in our home a year?! Crazy. Especially since I still have boxes I haven't even unpacked, ha!


October break meant some much needed time spent with our family in Liverpool and celebrating my cousin's birthday and my sister's 30th too. I love how excited the boys get at the mention of going to Liverpool, Caleb now proudly tells me he has two beds. One at home and one in Liverpool. He even asked if he could stay in Liverpool. Ahh making this mama's scouse heart proud.


Talking of Caleb and his various chats recently, I've come to realise that due to his speech delay I've gone fairly unscathed when it comes to the embarrassment brought on by your children loudly declaring something in public that makes you cringe to your very core. Well, rest assure I think my time is up, and Caleb may make up for it two fold now. He's yet to embarrass me in public but oh the questions he has asked me recently!!! The one that tops them all off has to be when we were in the Marks and Spencer's disabled and baby change toilet (thank god we weren't in the public cubicles). As usual we all piled into the toilet, complete with Archie's pram. As Caleb finished up washing his hands I decided to have a quick toilet stop myself. Oh the days of peeing alone, I miss them, like REALLY miss them. Usually the boys don't bat an eyelash, because well of course they see me peeing often enough as solo peeing is not allowed. This time however I could see Caleb watching me curiously. He was about to speak, I braced myself for the usual questions....'Have you had a poo or a wee?'....'Can I see?' (eh no you bloody can't!!). But oh no, not today, today he would ask....'Mum, why do you have a beard?' (As he intently looked at my nether regions)

Yep, that's right. Now I have a four year old slating me for not being more attentive to that poor area. I felt like replying, 'Mummy has a beard there because mummy has two kids and no time to herself!'. But instead, I laughed, I laughed hard, which let's be honest is never a good thing to do if you'd prefer your child not to repeat 'said' phrase. Caleb starting laughing too, 'Mummy, has a beard'. Then Archie joined in. I then had visions of the world (more importantly his nursery) being told, 'Hey my mummy has a beard down there.'

Someone please dig me a big hole to crawl in, or better still book me a bikini wax.

Oh and feel free to share your embarrassing children stories with me, come on, make me feel less alone out on this ledge here ;)

Annnnnd on that note, I'll say goodbye for now, and happy November!! I'll schedule in my November update for January ;)


If you want to read about our first ever pumpkin experience you can find it here. Classic case of a parent being far more excited then their own child. It would also seem I have a thing for posting pumpkin pictures in November too ;)

Also I know this post would have been more helpful in October for those locally looking for pumpkin picking, but if you're thinking for next year we picked ours at Craigie's Farm.


Thursday, 10 November 2016 Comments: 7
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