Books for toddlers 3 to 4 year old

Books for toddlers ireland books for 3 year olds books for 4 year ols the two darlings mummy blogger ireland parenting blog

November 30, 2017December 4, 2017 | thetwodarlings

The last post I did on our favourite books was such a success I decided to follow up with a post on what the big lady is currently enjoying. We’ve joined the local library which is quite possibly one of the best value things you can do with children. Our local library is pretty new and the kids section is nicely removed from where the students who are studying tend to sit. Online if you want to buy books Amazon is great of course as is the Book Depository and the Book People. Continue reading →

The wonderful world of weaning

October 23, 2017 | thetwodarlings

Three kids in it’s fair to say I have a good bit of experience with the world of weaning. I remember back on my first lady the whole idea of weaning being so daunting, it felt like the first time as a mother I was left to my own devices, the advice of the midwives or public health nurse was long gone and I felt there was so much out there saying ‘oh if you give too much sweet food they’ll be fat’ and I was petrified of giving the wrong food. Continue reading →

All hail the slow cooker!

September 26, 2017October 3, 2017 | thetwodarlings

If there is one item in the kitchen that makes life so much easier it is my slow cooker. It stood in my cupboard, grossly under used for years until lady number three arrived as did I to my senses. I have a lot hate relationship with cooking, I like it and I hate it in equal measures. I try so hard with my efforts often falling short of the cullinary delight I expect after all the effort I put in. The slow cooker is perfect not just for time pressed parents but for me it is great because it takes my average cooking to a whole new level, meals are so much tastier when they’ve been stewing away slowly for hours. Continue reading →

Finding the middle ground with breastfeeding

May 28, 2017 | thetwodarlings

I really wanted to put some thoughts together on my whole breastfeeding experience, not because I want to pitch a tent in that camp, I don’t, I’ve said it a million time I’m neither ‘pro-breastfeefing’ or ‘pro-bottle’, I am ‘pro-feeding your baby the way you want to’ and that’s my stance on that. That said I do want to make comment on how I got on with breastfeeding, the good and the bad, and maybe it might give someone who is wondering about it all a bit of impartial advice. I’ve written previously about what I did differently this time round with this baba compared with my two previous attempts, so it wasn’t for lack of trying that I got it right eventually! Continue reading →

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

April 4, 2017 | thetwodarlings

I watched a film recently that made me cry. Me! Cry! Rarely, rarely happens I can assure you but something about it really resonated with me. It’s a documentary called Embrace by Taryn Brummfit which explores the relationship women have with their bodies and encourages us to be more body positive. Not the first of its kind but I think its the way she gets all the different women to open up and talk about their journeys is what really struck a chord with me. It showed how magazine’s photoshop models so that not even the models recognise themselves and then these are the images being fed to us, that we are supposed to aspire to? Continue reading →

Baba Box – quirky gifts for Mums and babies alike

March 22, 2017March 22, 2017 | thetwodarlings

I find with Instagram there are some accounts that you constantly go back to check on because their feed is not just aesthetically pleasing but the content is fantastic too. This I find with Sarah’s Baba Box account and when she kindly offered to send me the February box for a look see I was delighted. Baba Box is a brand that provides both a subscription service and a one off gifting option. The selection of products contained in the boxes Continue reading →

Abosca – baby gift boxes and hampers

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February 22, 2017November 26, 2018 | thetwodarlings

10 % Discount code until 20th March 2017 for Abosca.ie is darling10

The one thing about this blog that continues on a daily basis to provide me with such a feeling of content is the people I connect with. They are all facets of myself, Mums to be, Mums on maternity leave, Mums back at work and Mums working for themselves. So I can identify with them all and everyone of them, of you, that makes contact with me makes me smile. Continue reading →

Stocking fillers for kids from Irish businesses

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November 17, 2016November 19, 2016 | thetwodarlings

So this is the start of it! I love doing these sort of gift guides as early as possible because it gives busy people plenty of time to get their sh*t together. That said I’m usually the very one that leaves it until the last minute to sort out gifts but sure I love the stress of it all! So like always and like last years gift guides I will lean towards supporting small Irish brands and businesses. First up I want to share some gift ideas for kids, stocking fillers really as I guess most kids get their big gifts from parents or Santa so this is more a stocking filler type guide for parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, godparents, friends etc! Continue reading →

5 breastfeeding tips from a mother that finally succeeded

November 15, 2016 | thetwodarlings

I had originally written this post in advance of the latest arrival but then I felt i had to hold off publishing it until I tried and tested my own advice! We’re five weeks into the journey this time round, and touch wood, all is going well, I’m out the far side of soreness, we’re settling into a lovely rhythm together, and most importantly the small lady is piling on the pounds, literally!! I think if you can survive the first couple of weeks you’re on the road to success. I’ve written before about my hit and misses with breastfeeding in the past, not through lack of wanting to do it did things not work out but for various reasons which have led me through a good journey of discovery! BUUUT, this is my time to shine. I really, really want to make a proper go of it this time round so I put together this list of breastfeeding tips I’ve learned to date, for other Mums that may want to try it out or that tried and failed but want to try again. Continue reading →

DIY scan picture frame

November 9, 2016 | thetwodarlings

I have seen all sorts of beautiful picture frames to record a baby’s birth or to mark a special occasion like a christening and always loved how special they are. I’ve even received some from some very generous and talented friends, and these frames are always the type of gifts that I really adore because they are so special and personal to each child. I had the two oldest girls scan pictures displayed side by side in a lovely frame but when number 3 came along her picture wouldn’t fit in the same frame as her sisters so I decided to get creative and give their all important first ever pictures a new lease of life and created these scan picture frames. Continue reading →

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