10 survival tips for stay at home parents

I was watching one of my favourite influencers Sinead from The Beautiful Truth recently and she was talking about the repetitiveness that sometimes comes with staying at home and minding kids. And she is so right, kids, unlike some adults, are creatures of habit so routine suits them well. And we as parents, once a routine is working, are loath to change any aspect of it until it needs to be changed. However, in doing so it is sometimes easy to get stuck in a rut where everyday begins to feel like groundhog day. I have always found this to be particularly 

Continue reading

The most perfect apple pie with Pink Lady®

AD ¦ I love baking but it’s one of those lovely pass times that has had to take a backseat over the last few years making way for dinners and snacks and lunches and snacks and breakfast and did I mention I serve up a lot of snacks during the day!?!? I think by the time I’m finished feeding my brood I’m spun out and just don’t have the energy for baking and cleaning. Continue reading

A little round up – upcycling IKEA furniture, simple makeup routine and more

I feel like this website is sorely neglected and to be honest I should be pumping more time into it. I feel lately like all my social media or online time is directed solely at Instagram and sure if that were to vanish in the morning where would I be! And I started blogging as a way to channel my creativity and writing is one of the best ways to do that so from time to time I might throw up a quick blog post covering a few bits and pieces that I’ve been up to over the last while. Continue reading

How and why we switched to cloth nappies

It’s one of those things that has been on my mind for a long time, the volume of nappies we have gone through in the last 7 years between the ladies is nothing short of shocking. Our bin destined for landfill felt as if it was 50% household waste and 50% nappies most of the time. I had thought about going reusable when Lucy was small but then it transpired she had a dairy allergy and lets just say I didn’t have the energy or the enthusiasm for that level of washing!  Continue reading

Fota Wildlife Park Cork – family pass and VIP family experience review

fota wildlife park cork review vip family pass fota wildlife park family pass

Last year one of the first big purchases I made with money I earned myself was the yearly pass for Fota Wildlife Park here in Cork. So many of my friends have it and even though its about a half hour drive from the house I just knew it was something we would get a huge amount of use out of. And I was so right, I would estimate we have been about 20 times in the past year and honestly there has never been a time where I have suggested going to Fota and the girls have been anything less than ecstatic. And it’s been a joy to watch Lucy change over the last year going from a ‘baby’ that stayed in the buggy the vast majority of the way round to a little lady that literally walks or runs the whole route now and grows more and more fascinated by the animals every time we visit. And the park has changed loads since we started going, there have been new animals introduced and new babies born so it really is a new experience every time we go. Continue reading

Our sleep journey with the help of Lucy Wolfe

Ah sleep, it’s one of those topics that I think most parents could talk at length about. We’ve had a checkered history with sleep – the first two ladies were, in general, pretty good. Then our third lady came along and I’m pleased to say that she has slept through the night consistently now for the last week so yay…she’s two and a half!! Disaster but it’s not her I’m here to talk about, it’s the smallest lady! Last night she slept through the night for the first time and she’s 7.5 months so I am thrilled. Sure look she may not sleep through again for another month, at this age between teething and leaps and milestones it’s important we, as parents, manage our sleep expectations, sure some babies sleep all night from the start etc but lots of babies go through phases where they’ll sleep really well and then they get sick or get teeth and sleep is broken for a while. Anyway, this is a long post so I’ll get straight into it!   Continue reading

Holidays in England – tips on travel and where to stay in the South West

We have been holidaying in England for years now mainly because that is where my inlaws live so it makes sense we visit there so the girls will get time with that side of the family. All that aside however it is a wonderful place to visit – you might think sure how is it any different to Ireland it’s so close but yes it is, the picturesque old villages, the beautiful coastal paths and the traditional pub lunch are among some of the differences I love. Last time we holidayed in Cornwall I got SO many questions about getting there, it is a bit of a trek but obviously far easier to get to than say France for a camping holiday (where we have been once with the girls and I wrote about it here and will again but not at the moment when the smallest lady is just so small, renting a house in the south of England is far more appealing than a mobile home at the moment). 

The advice here on travel would apply to any trip to England if you are travelling by boat then then by road! 
Continue reading

January Sales – investing in quality

Ah the sales, who doesn’t love a bargain but I suppose the thing with sales is not to get sucked in. Yes it’s easy to be dazzled by that jumper that only costs a tenner or whatever but the reality is that we need to stop and think about what we buy. Regardless of whether it costs practically nothing because sometimes a bargain isn’t a bargain if we’re not going to wear it all that much, that said if it does cost a tenner and you will wear it loads then yay for that! I love the sales for investment pieces, things that would ordinarily be way out of my budget are suddenly within reach so I jump. I want to pad out the basics in my wardrobe with really good quality clothes so the sales are a great time to look at investing in leather, wool, cashmere, denim; materials and pieces that will last.

That said it can also be a good time to step outside your comfort zone – for me it’s a great opportunity to buy dresses that I have notions of wearing everyday but in reality I rarely get to but I do love them all the same and someday I’ll wear them more I swear!!  Continue reading

Winter wardrobe essentials – investing in quality pieces that last

I have spoken about it more and more lately that I’m eager to move away from trends and fast fashion and to start investing in decent, hardworking, classic pieces of clothes. I don’t have the energy to style outfits in the morning and I find myself gravitating towards the same pieces over and over. So I want to make sure these pieces are really good quality, they need to wash and wear well and they need to look smart. I don’t always get my hair done or any makeup on but if my outfit is smart at least I feel like I’m somewhat presentable. Next year for me will be about focusing on buying less but buying better, and that won’t be just when it comes to clothes. Continue reading

The ultimate directory of small creative Irish companies

I’ve long since been a supporter of small Irish companies who focus on creativity and sustainability. I applaud any man, woman and parent who takes on the challenge of coming up with an idea, of creating a business and being everything and everyone that is required to run a company, from marketing to designing, they do it all. I’ve reviewed many a product from these wonderful companies and wonderful people but in the run up to Christmas I wanted to do something that I don’t think exists out there already – a proper, constantly updated, list of all the wonderful small businesses out there. A place where people can come with an idea they want to support local, support Irish and they can find what they want here, from these wonderful businesses.  Continue reading