A GOOD BOOK // Maps

I have been thinking a lot about 2013 and one of my regrets for the year was the lack of travel. There were no adventures to far away lands or last minute jaunts to bustling new cities. This was partly due to financial reasons and partly due to my fear of flying kicking up a notch. Either way I know for 2014 this has to change. One of my great loves is to travel to new places and meet new people, oh the excitement of it all! So imagine how happy I was when I received this good book.

I have a few educational kids atlases in the house already which I use to teach F about different countries, but they're nothing compared to this glorious large format book. Maps is a true celebration of the world using fantastic detailed illustrations to help your kid learn about geography, culture and people from across the globe. The book starts off with a pictorial contents page making it easy for children to use, and each county gets a whole double page spread allowing room for fun facts about each destination. The atlas includes the name, capital, language, population and geographical area of each country including an illustration of the flag which is great for eager minds to process, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Even if you're child is not interested in the quirky illustrated landmarks that are scattered across each nation, you can guarantee that the Moreška sword dance in Croatia or cage diving in shark infested waters of the South African coast will get them wanting to read this over and over agin. Each page has an antique feel with its cracked and yellowed aesthetic and when you've had enough exploring foreign lands then head over to the back page a fun game of guess the flag. A definite for any bookshelf.

December's Good Book posts are sponsored by Foyles Bookshop but all words and thoughts are my own.

GOODBYE 2013

Image via Pinterest 

It's the last day of 2013 and to be honest I'm ready to say goodbye to it. This year has been a tough one, with more downs then ups. Looking back over the last 365 days I know I didn't make enough of my time, I coasted along with no real direction while feeling cast under dark clouds. I didn't love or laugh enough. So with a new year comes a new start, a blank page, one I'm excited to write on.

I'm quite superstitious when it comes to New Years Eve, I believe your mindset and the people you carry in your hearts as the clock strikes twelve is the driving force for the year. This is good thing as it encourages me to surround myself with fun, laughter and people I love, and I always contact absent friends at midnight to let them know there in my thoughts and therefore keeping them connected for the year ahead. Some of my friends think this is nuts but I'm a hopeless romantic with a love for cosmic signs, fate, karma and serendipitous moments. It's also a time for reflection and looking back on the year, to understand what you want going forward, how best to use your time, who you want to spend time with.

So what are your plans for tonight? This year my folks have offered to stay over at our house so we can go out with friends, dance, drink and generally have fun while F is tucked up in bed. This will be followed by fresh air and a family breakfast if our heads aren't too bad.

So to all you lovely people, whether you're tucked up at home or out partying on the dance floor, have a great night, stay happy, stay safe and have fun. 2014 is a whole new adventure where anything is possible.

A CHRISTMAS WISH TO YOU

 Image via Julep

I'm taking a break from blogging so I can enjoy the Christmas holidays without distraction. There'll be a few posts here and there but mainly you can find me over on Instagram – come say hi. So here's a quick post to to wish you a magical Christmas full of family, friends, love and warmth. No doubt I'll wake early to a bouncing toddler enthusiastic to open the presents under the tree, before heading over to my family's house for a delicious feast prepared lovingly by my wonderful mum. It's having a child that makes you appreciate your parents efforts over the years in making this one day ever so special.  I hope you eat well and laughter is your companion tomorrow, and to those far away I send you my Christmas love.

Merry Christmas  xx

A GOOD BOOK // The Bear's Song

OH CHRISTMAS TREE // Nature in the Home

There's nothing quite like the twinkly lights of the Christmas tree to keep you company on a cold blustery evening, giving way to nostalgic memories of childhood. Every year I get over excited by the appearance of a tree in our home. Always real, with pine needles eventually carpeting the floor and branches bowed under the weight of the shiny baubles. The smell is heart warming, as is the carefully collected memories which hangs and adorns its branches. Our trees are always big, some have been huge in fact. This year we have adopted an almost 9ft tree for the holiday season. There's no tinsel here but rather a collection of red and golds, with lots of wooden toys, delicate porcelain, glittering baubles, knitted or hand crafted gifts, birds and bells.

My tree is full of stories depending on which ornament you choose to admire, each with its own tale. The word love hangs from its branches, a gentle reminder that kindness is a free gift to give and goes a long way. You can also find a small bell delicately hanging in the hopes that it will ring out in the dark, after decades of watching A Beautiful Life.

This year I have had to reassure F that even though the tree has blocked the fire place, Father Christmas will still find a way down our chimney to deliver presents on Christmas Eve. This year F decorated his own little wooden tree which we've displayed on the mantle piece, keeping our monster tree company.

IT'S A WRAP // CHRISTMAS INSPIRATION

If you're anything like me, you'll be spending the weekend wrapping presents to go under the tree. So if you fancy getting creative and giving beautiful wrapped gifts this Christmas then check these for inspiration from lino printing pieces to twine.

Images via Pinterest

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR HIM / FOR HER

Okay so the kiddos are sorted and fingers crossed there'll be no tears on the day, but how about your other loved ones? You know the grown up ones. Here are a few last minute Christmas gift ideas to help get that perfect gift for under the tree.

For Him //
1. London Crumpled City Map £7 / Amazon
2. Freja Copper Table Light £199.99 / Bodie & Fou
3. Hay Brass Scissors £9 / Something Else
4. Herschel Charlie Cardholder in Chevron Print £20 / Urban Outfitters
5. Humans of New York £16.49 / The Book Depository
6. Bloc Notes £7 / Something Else

For Her //
1. Oh Comely Magazine Subscription £22 / Oh Comely
2. Rifle & Co. Botanical Rose iPhone Case £30 / Papermash
3. La Sardinia Camera and Flash Cubic £99 / Lomography
4. Touche Eclat Radiant Touch £25 / House of Fraser
5. Non Je Ne Regrette Rien Poster £25 / Sarah & Bendix
6. Stag Brooch £12.50 / SketchInc

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR KIDS

The clock is ticking and soon it will be time for the jolly fat man in a red coat to drop the presents off under the tree, except I haven't quite managed to organise any of my Christmas list yet. Don't get me wrong there have been a few evenings of button clicking in front of the computer and at least three failed trips into town – who knew toddlers weren't keen on the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping. So to clear my mind I have pulled together a few last minute kids gifts, with a For Him/For Her to follow.

1. Sally Nencini - Scandi Doll £37 / Archies Boutique
2. Endless City London - Gwen Lee £14.95 / The Pippa and Ike Show
3. Quad Roller Passion €70 / My Little Square
4. *A to Z Magnatab lowercase letters £26.99 / Toyella
5. Mama Bear Print by Jana Klouklova Kudrnova £14 / Sarah & Bendrix 
6. Feiyue Delta Mid x Milk On The Rocks Tiger Trainers €70 / Feiyue Shop
7. Astronaut Costume White £50 / Hedgehog
8. Around the World Matching Game - Micah Player £10.99 / Scout & Co
9. Wooden Camera with Interchangeable Lenses £32 / Egg & Yolk
10. Plan Toys Green Dolls House with Furniture £135.11 / Play
11. Man / Woman Cushion Cover by Depeapa £25 / Southwood Stores

Don't miss the deadline for online orders, so best get clicking ay x

*Images differs slightly to that sold by Toyella

A GOOD BOOK // Red Cat Blue Cat

I love discovering a new book with a super story and illustrations to match. Then when you realise it's their debut book it somehow makes it even better, like you've just discovered a secret. Well this good book must be the best kept secret I know. 

Red Cat Blue Cat is a brilliant tale of a clever cat and a nimble cat who on meeting become jealous cats. A great moral story for kids and adults alike, and a fun look at our furry feline friends. Why can't red cat be like blue? Or blue be like red? We follow the cats as they try everything they can to change colour, from eating red food to rolling in blue paint, always trying to be like the other. After a cat fight or two they spend time together and realise something has changed, they like the way they are. So putting their differences aside they become friends. I love the colourful and energetic illustrations of this book, and in particular the fantastically grumpy expressions of the cats drawn in such a rough and edgy way. This is a must have for Christmas.

Don't forget to come down to Foyles in Bristol tomorrow at 10.30am for our first Cool Kids Book Club, where we'll be taking a look at your kids favourite reads, grabbing a coffee and making friends.

December's Good Book posts are sponsored by Foyles Bookshop but all words and thoughts are my own.

Linking in with the lovely Tigerlilly Quinn

ARE YOU FEELING FESTIVE?

Are your little ones feeling festive? With another week of solo parenting starting and Christmas rushing in fast, we're trying our best to keep the magic alive even if we're all a bit frazzled. F is totally buzzing about Christmas and has finally revealed his Santa letter to us after weeks of asking – cue *ahem* Santa Claus rushing through an order of one red bike and a bell to his elves – no stress there then. I've been assured that Santa can of course bring him the exact bike he wants as the elves make it from scratch, no flies on this kid.

After last weeks low I'm taking a vow to be kinder to myself. So I'll be doing lots of playing with F, catching up with dear friends, taking some me time where possible and roping in a babysitter for a night out, avoiding the manic last minute shop  – who am I kidding, I'll still be doing that but hopefully with an air of calm around me and taking some time to pamper myself. After all a happy mama makes a happy babe.

In the last week we've managed to feed Santa's Reindeer, eat mince pies on a steam train, watch a Christmas film or two, visit Bath Christmas Market and decorate the tree – not a bad effort. Today we'll try our hand at baking butter biscuits, decorating them with colourful icing and I'll just keep playing Christmas music until I'm feeling festive.

EVENT // COOL KIDS BOOK CLUB

It's no big secret that we love to read. Books are our thing, especially kids books...and coffee. So what better way to combine these great loves then to host a cool kids book club, where like minded mamas and babes – dads too – can come and share their favourite kids books, swap ideas and grab a coffee in the process.

Come and join us at Foyles Bookshop in Cabot Circus, Bristol on Wednesday 18th December at 10.30am. You'll find us in the children's department at the back of the shop on the ground floor. Your kiddo's can have fun discovering new reads before heading upstairs to the cafe where parents can meet, chat and make friends.

Come along to Foyles, 6 Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus, Bristol BS1 3BU, we hope to see you there x

THANKFUL FOR FRIDAY

Image via here

I've been a bit absent on the blog this week. All those exciting Christmas posts I'd planned have fallen to the wayside as I've struggled through the last few days. Not to get into everything right now, but my ability to cope with the day to day has been challenging to say the least, so I'm thankful for Friday. I'm doing what I do best, forging forward, maintaing a festive spirit and planning in some fun activities. All while trying lift my head out of this fog.

This weekend we'll be: Getting merry with friends at their festive Christmas party / Celebrating my dearest Dad's birthday / Meeting Santa on a steamtrain – F couldn't be more excited / Going on a winter walk through the woods / Watching The Hobbit at the cinema / Wrapping presents by the warm glow of the twinkly tree lights / Making a happy hamper for a friend / Listening to music and drinking sherry.

Have a great weekend x

A GOOD BOOK // Mr Tiger Goes Wild

Occasionally the day to day can get on top of you, the same routine, the same places and all you want to do is break free and run wild. Just for one day. If you want to break free from boring take a look at this good book.

A BETTER PLACE TO REST MY HEAD

Image via Pinterest

With Christmas on its way and the avalanche of toys sure to follow, I have been casting my eye over our flat. A spacious place with lots of light but not so much on the storage front. I've always tried to be sensitive to the adult / child balance of the flats interior, the lounge being a neutral space of well designed products and a spattering of regularly used/easily hidden toys, F's room full of easy accessible toys and then there's our room. Over the last few years the bedroom has turned into a multi purpose junk room with the addition of a bed. Unframed prints stacked on the fireplace, a desk littered with letters and magazines, clothes limply hanging on the drying rack and a battered wardrobe bursting at the seams.

Rather than wait for the annual spring clean I have taken matters into hand and decided to extend the same interior styling into the bedroom, hopefully making it a place of sanctuary rather than a pit stop. I'm thinking affordable scandinavian style sliding door Pipari Wardrobes or chest of drawers as seen in the bedroom furniture from Argos, copper bedside lights, bold printed textiles, white walls, mirrors to reflect the light, a gallery of prints, a pile of good books and the occasional pot plant. The first step in this master plan is to pull everything out and organise into four piles: Sell / charity shop / keep / bin. So hopefully over the next few weeks F will go to stay with my folks and I make a start before Santa Claus comes to visit.

*This post is in association with Argos, but all words and thoughts are my own.

MY PRE-SCHOOL WOBBLE

You might remember this post detailing my first time mama nerves about F's taster day at pre-school. After months of fretting, stressing and postponing pre-school the time has come to hand him over. In fact he should have started in September but I bottled it, convincing myself that in January he/I would definitely be ready. So this week we were back to square one and heading to another taster day, this time on a different floor with older kids. After all the praise and prep for pre-school I've put in over the last six months I though this would be a doddle.

I could not have been more wrong. What should have been a calm drop off turned into an onslaught of guilt with a red faced, sobbing and slightly hysterical toddler wrapped around my leg. Him choking out the words 'mummy don't leave me, don't leave me'. That's heartbreaking stuff right there.

All the soothing tones and face strokes couldn't sway him and so I waited for a moment of distraction to make a quick and quiet exit. No screams, no hollering to be heard, I naively thought that he was fine and headed off for two precious hours of toddler free time. On my return I found him standing frozen in the playground clutching his toy dog to his face, while other children played around him, his eyes puffy and red. I rushed in all smiles and kisses, snuggling him into my hair while a quiet voice whispers to me 'I've just been standing here waiting for you, you came back'. That, right there. Heartbreak a thousand times over. How could he think I would not come back for him, that little face. So I had a pre-school wobble. Is he ready? Is this the right one? Will he be ok? I am assured ten times over that he has been fine and only got emotional towards the end of the two hours, and I know deep down that he'll love all the activities and making new friends. Oh the guilt of motherhood to come. The knowledge of responsibility; that sometimes I will have to make decisions he won't understand. Me, this 33 year old woman muddling through.

I breathe, we hold hands and head home. He still isn't sold on the idea but I'm sure come January he'll be fine and fingers crossed I will be too.

A BOY AND A BOOKSHOP

Now we have our feet firmly in December I wanted to take a moment to say hello to our new sponsor, Foyles *waves*. It couldn't be a better match as many major moments in my life have happened while surrounded by books: memories of me and my oldest friends hanging out in the local library, nervous adolescent love notes passed through books in class, working in a bookshop, breaking up in a book shop, meeting a dark handsome stranger then marrying him five years later in a library. Those books sitting silently on the shelf have witnessed a lot, and now I'm passing on that love to my boy.We are lucky to have a Foyles in Bristol, F's eyes practically light up when I take him in there as a treat. He stands and stares at all those colourful books towering above him, taking it all in before excitedly jumping and pointing, with an exaggerated  'read it now, read it mummy pleeease'. We headed down there this weekend to look for some potential stocking fillers, and take a peek at there Christmas selection and stationary before heading upstairs to the new coffee shop. What could be better than taking a minute to relax, sit and breathe in the wonderful aroma of coffee while your child is engrossed in a good book? The cafe is very spacious, perfect for pushchairs and a holds a wonderful view over Quakers Friar which is perfect for people watching when you're not being bounced on by a toddler.Named the Bookseller of the Year for two years running in 2012 and 2013, you will find the widest range of books housed over two floors in the boutique Bristol store. There is also a regular programme of exhibitions and events for those that fancy something a bit different. This month I will be hosting a mama & co. coffee morning  – I'll post the date soon – for those who want to get their kids hooked onto books as much as me, chat about what stories your kids like and have a general natter over coffee. I hope you can join us.

A GOOD BOOK // I Am An Artist

 
So many times I have followed F around, picking up his trail of destruction and not stopping to really ask why? Rather falling back on the no/don't/shouldn't/can't lines that so easily trip of most mamas tongues at one time or another. Then along came this good book and made me stop and question what exactly IS he trying to do?

I Am An Artist is a great story told from the viewpoint of a child. No they're not trying to purposefully drive you out of your mind by using the twenty seconds you've taken to go to the toilet, to get creative on the walls/doors/floors/themselves with a biro. They're just being expressive. Okay that might not be true, but the quirky and colourful illustrations tell a great tale of a child just wanting to explore his senses and use it to create magnificent art. I particularly found the ...perhaps I haven't given her more attention line funny, flipping the roles of mama and toddler on its head. F loved this read and giggled throughout, promptly taking himself off to draw on his blackboard wall – parents note this will save your walls from biro – where he busied himself with chalks.

December's Good Book posts are sponsored by Foyles Bookshop but all words and thoughts are my own. 


Linking in with the lovely Tigerlilly Quinn

DIY DRIFTWOOD TREE DECORATION

It's officially December and it's hard to stop my thoughts wandering to Christmas festivities and the excitement of decorating the tree. Every year without fail I buy or receive a new ornament, adding to my collection of memories for the year. I have beautiful hand crafted clay hearts from Budapest given to me by a work friend in 2006, a Liberty's minimalist glass bauble passed down to me from a dear friend before she headed off to South America, a small knitted dog from F's godmother/a most lovely lady. The list goes on, each hanging ornament with it's own story to tell – I feel another blogpost coming on.

So to get me in the mood for Christmas and joining in with the lovely Lou's Nature in the Home, I decided to make our own decoration from the driftwood we'd collected earlier in the year. It involved glitter much to F's delight and my OCD horror, but F had fun and I'm loving his first homemade decoration.

To make your own Driftwood Tree Decoration you'll need:

• Found pieces of wood in various sizes and thickness – we used driftwood but any twigs and branches will work.
• Glitter, in whatever colour works for you. We went with gold.
• Very small screw hooks –  these should work fine.
• Copper or silver coloured wire.
• PVA glue.

1. First arrange your sticks in size order to create a christmas tree shape on the table, snapping off bits if needed. 

2. Spread a thin layer of glue along the branches in a random pattern, I would do one stick at a time. 

3. Sprinkle your glitter over the glue areas making sure it's evenly covered. Shake off any excess and leave to dry.

4. Screw in the hooks so that the sticks balance when held in the middle, for sticks that are too narrow you can coil the wire around it. 

5. Take your wire and feed through one eyelet to another, connecting the sticks. Use a wire cutter to remove any excess wire.
6. Bend the wire to make a star shape and add twist onto the wire to join. 

7. Once all connected hang and admire your sparkly handy work. 

You could decorate your tree with small hanging beads but I quite like the minimalist look. 

HELLO DECEMBER

It's here at last! Hot cocoa, popping corn, mittens, bobble hats, little black dresses, shiny baubles, the smell of pine needles, sherry and clinking glasses, cold noses and toes, wrapping presents, tearing paper, dancing feet, 80's feel good films, great friends, warm embraces, family laughter, excitable children, mistletoe kisses, smiling strangers and me feeling full of winter love, nostalgia and the magic of Christmas.

These are all the things that make December special for me and you'll often find me extremely bubbly during this dark winter month, making time for everyone. Here's hoping your Christmas wish comes true x

ARE YOU READY FOR ADVENT?

Image via Sweet Paul Magazine

Are you ready for advent? Have you opted for a shop bought advent calendar with the rewards of chocolate behind each door or have you taken the much more fun and creative route of making your own? We've been pushed for time this month and I can admit I'm not quite prepared for December 1st. Thankfully F's Uncle and Grandpa have saved the day with advent calendars that give both chocolate and toys so that should keep him going until I cobble something together.

If you're feeling creative and still have time to spare then why not try making some of the beauties over on my Christmas board to delight the kid in you.