STARTING SCHOOL AND A CHANCE TO WIN £100 HOMESENSE VOUCHER

So it's finally here! September has rolled around and – cue tears and waves goodbye at the gate – my baby is starting school. I'm not quite sure how I have a kiddo old enough for school, I still remember his tiny balled up fits clutching onto my hair as a new born and now he's all smiles and laughter as he gets ready to take his next big step this afternoon.

Getting everything ready to pack F off to school has required some organisation: buying his uniform, his backpack, book bag, and all those little things that will make him feel confident crossing the school yard to his new classroom. Being organised has never been a strong point of mine so making sure everything is ready the night before and having a place for everything is super important for our mornings to go smoothly. So I've teamed up with HomeSense to offer one of you lovely readers a chance to win a £100 voucher this month to get your little and big ones ready for school. What would you need to get organised? For me it's creating a space that makes it easy for F to be a little bit more independent, low coat hooks on the back of his door for his coat and school bag, a place to keep the things he makes, and clearing out his chest of drawers to make space for his uniform.

For your chance to win a £100 voucher for HomeSense simply pop into your nearest store and take a photo of your must have back to school item and share it on Instagram or Twitter, making sure to tag @HomesenseUK to enter. I can't wait to see what you choices.

To all those waving their little ones off this week have courage at the school gate, I know I'll need it to hold back the tears. I'll be over on Instagram today showing F's first day this afternoon.

*In association with Homesense. 

SUMMER STYLE AND JORD WATCHES // MAMA STYLE

So you've survived week one of the summer holidays? Yes? High fives all round. Not that the summer break is something to be feared, but as a mama who works from home I am constantly torn between meeting deadlines and showering my baby -fast growing soon to start school- boy in attention, cuddles, kisses... and  yes this may sound a little dramatic, but you didn't see the crazy lady who started bawling her eyes out at the final pick up of pre-school....oh you did?...erm yes that was me. Thankfully I have the perfect summer style and a new timepiece c/o Jord Watches to get me through the next six weeks.  

Nothing marks the passing of time quicker than having a child, all those important milestones fly by and then suddenly you find yourself in the throws of summer, their first day of school fast approaching and you wonder where all that time went. Even thinking about it makes me well up a little, big school you say? I remember the first few minutes of bringing him home in his car seat, placing him in the middle of the lounge floor and wondering what the hell I was supposed to do next.  So not only have I successfully managed to keep my child alive – because believe me as a new mama that is pretty much what you're focused on – but through all the years, days, hours, minutes and seconds I have somehow managed to raise a beautiful, thoughtful, kind, funny, brilliant and clever little person who will soon be leaving my side and running off into the playground, where to quote Will Smith, he'll spend most of his days.  

So this summer I want to fill all that time with beautiful memories and magic and mostly love. I want him to feel so loved that his little spirit bursts with joy and that way he'll go off to school happy and I'll have filled the memory banks for all those tiny seconds of the day where I suddenly get a pang for my messy haired bundle, his grubby little hands and infectious laugh.

I have decided to go slow, to not worry so much and keep it simple. Simple food, simple clothes, simple fun. I'm practically living in this patterned kimono/cardigan at the moment - you can find one similar here – as it's super soft and easy to throw on, plus makes a great impromptu picnic blanket. But my favourite new summer accessory has to be this beautiful Cora Series Jord Watch, completely crafted out of maple wood this automatic timepiece is so stylish and simple, with a splash of colour punctuated with Swakovski crystals. I love the whole range and the variety of styles, all delivered in a lovely wood crafted presentation box. Oh and did I mention how cool this book is?

Oh and look who couldn't resist being in on the action. The cutest little photobomber!

Wooden Watches by JORD

SCHOOL STRESS AND LIFE LATELY

Hello you lovely lot! Sorry for the radio silence here, it seems I've taken an unplanned Blogiday – is that a thing yet? – anyway I thought I'd give you a little life lately update and jump back on the blogging bandwagon. This lost week has mainly been filled with school stress, spring blossoms and the boy, as I've juggled being poorly and solo parenting without childcare, hence the blog and work in general has had taken a bit of a back burner.

Apart from missing out on the cruise and filming with Interior TV Presenter, Linda Barker, due to being ill, I've enjoyed the focused time it has given me with F. He's requested every meal outside this week and I've loved spending our time outside on a blanket in the sun reading books and just hanging out together, time seems even more precious now that school is on the horizon. Oh how I love this boy.

Last week, like most of you with 4-5 year old's at home, I woke and immediately checked my email to see which school F had been allocated to. There I was anxiously clicking the refresh button ten times a minute, hoping we had gotten our first choice while keeping my fingers crossed. Shortly after 10am it landed in my inbox, I swear I haven't felt so nervous since sitting my A Level exams! My heart sunk a little as were allocated our second choice, equally a great school but just not the one we had wanted for F for various reasons. So now we're facing three options: stay on the waiting list and see what happens, potentially move flats to be closer to our preferred choice, increasing our chance of getting in, or stick with the school we've been allocated.

I've been going round in circles all week and I must admit it's causing quite a bit of stress. Although all the schools in our area are good, I feel the decision we make now will lay the foundation for F's learning and school experience for the next six years, so I'm certainly feeling the pressure to get it right.

Have you had this experience? I'd love to know how you've felt about being allocated a school.