BREASTFEEDING A TODDLER

1st - 7th August is World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated in more than 170 countries every year.

I am a proud breast feeding mumma! When I was pregnant I hoped I would be able to breast feed but wasn't going to put pressure on myself if I couldn't.  As Harriet turns 2 this month and we are still  nursing, I think it is important to write this post. 

Most people who find out I'm still nursing my toddler are sadly shocked and some even horrified.  She has teeth!  You're doing it for you not her.  You need to tell her no.  Sadly this is what I hear day in day out.

Even though I was happy and ready to stop nursing when she turned one, Harriet had other ideas.  Not interested in dummies or comforters, I was always and still am her comfort.  When she is hurt, scared, tired, upset, poorly, breast feeding works wonders.  Through sleepless nights of teething and more recently with colds and viral infections, when she's too poorly to eat, thank god I've got boobs. Yes sometimes, when it's bed time and she will only fall asleep whilst nursing, I think have I made a rod for my own back?  But she is two not twenty two, her needs will change.  She will grow out of it like she's grown out of baby toys, like children grow out of using nappies.  I think a lot of people forget she is still very young, still solely dependent on me.  Yes her speech is excellent for her age and she can have quite the conversation with you, but she still gets scared, frustrated, tired.  Toddlers feed for many of the same reasons as infants: nutrition, security, comfort and reassurance.  Even the World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend that babies be breastfed for at least two years.

Some say that a breastfeeding toddler will have difficulty becoming independent.  My child is the most independent little girl you've ever met.  She is confident around her peers and adults, she makes friends easily and is quite happy to be left at nursery or with grandparents.  She sleeps all night and eats a balanced diet.  Does she sometimes mess about and want 'boobie' because I've said no to something, or told her off or because she's trying to avoid bedtime?  Yes.  But this is all part of learning.  She is starting to understand boundaries and how to push them.  Her personality is blossoming and with that comes testing times.  It doesn't mean I stop nursing her, this is when she needs reassurance and familiarity

I am also asked constantly when am I going to stop.  Although I am ready and have been for quite a while, she still feels she needs it and whilst she wants to nurse it is fine by me.  Some mums chose not to or couldn't breast feed, some only nursed for a few weeks and some for a few months, and you know what?  That's ok too.  You have to do what is right for you, your needs and your babies. 

But for those that are doing extended nursing... in this modern world where children grow up too quickly, I say to you all; relish this time.  Who cares what anyone else says?  It's your body, your baby and there's no right or wrong.

Just keep on boobing

Victoria
xx

MY FAVOURITES THIS MONTH

It's August, school's out, everyone is on a wind down and guess what? It's pretty much rained every day!  Typical British weather!  It's sweltering one week and the next I'm turning the heating back on (just don't tell my husband)!

I sit and stare at my pile of ironing that I should be doing whilst Harriet has a nap and I find my eyes and my mind creeping over to Instagram.  Social media has made a massive impact on the way we live our lives and for businesses, especially smaller companies and start ups, it has been a huge platform particularly those that don't have the marketing budget of international companies.  Thanks to artistic photos, bloggers, influencers and of course whether you love it or hate it, the new algorithm, you can find lots of new companies to buy from, bloggers to follow and  events to attend.

When I first started writing this blog I wanted it to be informative and well written, I wanted to  include my home life, fashion and interior design, but I find myself more and more talking about just my home life, my life with my family.  Initially, I wanted to have the most amazing pictures, I needed the latest digital camera straight away, I tried to make my husband become an Instagram husband (yes, I did and Nathan I'm sorry ha ha).  I read other blogs and wanted my life and my blog to be just like theirs. But for a blog to be genuine and capture peoples hearts, it has to be organic.  Yes we all post our best pics, I'm not going to lie about that but what I write is what happens to me, what we get up to, things I've purchased or recommend using.  Sometimes I think I should write a post and then I think to myself, what on earth am I going to write about?  Who cares what I've been up to this week?  But really, I am not writing this blog for popularity.  If any of my posts entertain you, inspire you or are informative then I'm truly grateful.  This is a way to express myself, my views and opinions but also to share memories' special events and the whirlwind that is becoming a mum.

Here are some of my favourites this month.

Parents of Fussy Eaters Rejoice
Someone I stumbled across on social media is  My Fussy Eater a blog dedicated to recipes, diet plans, tips and tricks, all for the most fussiest of eaters.  Harriet went through a phase of only eating yoghurt and spaghetti hoops, not even chocolate was appealing.  Luckily we seem to have moved through that stage but I found some great recipes on this blog.  One of her favourite snacks are Cheesy Puff Pastry Stars, not the healthiest snack in the world but if your children are already eating plenty of fruit and veg, who doesn't love a cheesy snack that's super easy to make?!

Ingredients

• 375g ready rolled puff pastry sheet (who has time to make their own?!?)
• 1 egg
• 50g grated cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180c and line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper.
2. Roll out the puff pastry sheet onto a floured surface. Use a star shaped cookie cutter to cut out individual pastry pieces and place them on the baking sheet. Using the egg, apply a thin layer of egg wash to the top of each pasty star and then top with a little cheese.
3. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes until the stars are golden.
4. Serve immediately or keep in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Supporting Small Independent Businesses

I love supporting small businesses and was so happy when I stumbled across Bohemias Closet on Instagram I fell in love straight away.  A British company selling clothing and footwear created by a mum.  Beautiful handmade leather shoes and cotton rompers all packaged in drawstring bags.  Luxury items without a luxury price tag, be sure to check them out.  I am in love with Harriet's rose gold shoes!

Crafting

When I am trying to juggle pipe cleaners, paint, glue and feathers and also trying to stop Harriet gluing something on the dogs or painting my walls/floor this apron has been a life safer!  With a super fun colourful pom pom trim and made from hardwearing durable linen.  Its the perfect accessory for a busy mum and an even busier artistic toddler!  The length of the apron makes it perfect for me or a child, even Harriet who is shorter than most 2 year olds managed to wear it, in fact I couldn't get it back off her!  Such a fun design, who doesn't want to look this stylish whilst crafting and playing?  Available from Hoi Interiors

If there are any blogs or companies you follow, be sure to write a comment with their details.  Let's share the love.

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend

Victoria
xx

Supporting Friends In Business

Little Welly Gifts

Last night I was lucky enough to be invited to the preview and launch of Little Welly Gifts .  A beautiful gift boutique situated in the picturesque market town of Usk, Monmouthshire.

My lovely friend Sarah who I have known since our teenage years, firstly helping out at the local riding school, mucking out and gossiping which then moved on to terrible boy and outfit choices into our teens and early twenties.  But after babies and marriage things change, our outlook, goals and aspirations change.  We mature, we evolve and we have different priorities.

The name 'Little Welly' came from personalised, illustrated welly pictures that Sarah drew herself and sold through social media channels.  These gathered a huge following so other illustrations and gifts were also added to her business model and again proved popular thus propelling her into looking for ways to expand the business even more so.  Then finding inspiration from other home and gift boutiques around the country, Sarah wanted to open a  store, her gift boutiques ethos to be that they stock as many products as they can from the UK and if possible manufactured here as well.  She is also constantly on the look out for companies that ethically source their materials.  Sarah, didn't want to stock mass produced items, she wants to support British businesses and manufacturing.  To know where items are sourced and knowing those paid to make them have been fairly treated is very important to her and her business.

Some of the beautiful products Little Welly Gifts stock include Wild Olive bath products.  These deliciously, pretty soaps and bath melts are handmade in the Peak District, using natural ingredients, paraben free and vegan friendly.  Carrie Elspeth handmade jewellery from South Wales.  Luxury soft toys by Ragtales, handmade baby shoes by Starchild and handmade wooden toys all made in Britain.  There are also unusual and quirky gifts including scarves, ornaments, mugs and much more. 

On the night, I purchased a beautiful pinafore skirt and blouse for Harriet by Pigeon Organics.  They use fairtrade cotton and manufacture in a small factory in Nottingham.  The set is beautiful and very well made.  The babygrows are delightful and I cannot wait to surprise my friends with these beautiful gifts when their babies are born.

They also offer a free embroidery service which can really make your gift stand out from the crowd.  A unique and totally personal item you can treasure forever.

I was self employed, I ran my own ladies boutique.  I know how scary it can be to leave a job and start from scratch.  If you're passionate and it's something you believe in and you have a good a solid business plan then I say definitely take the leap.  Being your own boss can be hard, if you're ill you can't just call in sick, you have to make the difficult decisions, profit, reputation, success; it's all on your shoulders.  But the rewards definitely out weigh the bad stuff.  One of the things I will never forget is those friends that celebrated my launch and continued to support me.  They shopped at my boutique, they shared my posts on social media and they told their friends and colleagues.  For that I am forever grateful.  So it is important for me to do the same for my friends.

By spending your money at local businesses you are helping the local economy.  You may create more jobs as the business grows in popularity, you get that personal service and most importantly of all, it's fun!

Who doesn't love shopping and finding unique items makes it even more enjoyable!

Happy shopping all!

Victoria
xx

BEAUTY AND BODY TREATMENTS

Waxing, shaving, epilating, you name it, I've done it trying to keep that pesky body hair away.  Most of us have it, mot of us hate it and most of us are always looking for the most efficient way to keep it at bay.  The amount of times Harriet has had a swimming lesson and I've been between waxes and the last thing I wanted to do is pop on a bikini.  Let's face it, we all are too busy to wait these days so when I heard about a treatment that is a lot less painful than waxing, quicker and more efficient I couldn't wait to try!

Yesterday I underwent Intense Pulse Light treatment which uses SWT, a unique waveband technology to permanently remove hair on my bikini line at Beauty Oasis Day Spa & Salon.  I've heard about laser and IPL  hair removal in the past.  I thought it was a fad, probably excruciatingly painful and probably didn't work.  But how wrong was I?!

I opted for a full Hollywood, the treatment itself was over a lot quicker than waxing and a lot less messy too!  The procedure doesn't hurt, it's a little uncomfortable, like little elastic bands flicking you, it's not painful, just makes you jump a little.  I would opt for ten hours of the elastic band feeling rather than ten minutes of waxing that is for sure!  The hairs are only destroyed when they are in a certain stage of growth so after one session you should see a difference however a course  of 6 - 8 sessions is recommended to ensure all hairs are treated.

So how does this marvellous miracle work I hear you cry?  Basically, to achieve long lasting or permanent hair removal, it is necessary to destroy the hair follicle from which individual hairs grow.  Controlled pulses of light penetrate the epidermis and are absorbed by melanin in the hair contained in the follicle.  Melanin converts the light energy into heat.  This heat is transferred to the hair follicle, which is destroyed, making it unable to produce a new hair. 

It has only been a day and I'm not tender or sore, which always happens after waxing.  I'm a total convert.  It is definitely the way forward.  I am looking forward to my next session and I shall definitely be booking my legs in soon!

SWT laser treatments are also available at Beauty Oasis for skin rejuvenation, facial thread veins and acne clearance.  So basically, I am going to be living in the salon!

For more information about this procedure head over to http://www.beautyoasis.co.uk/   or follow them on facebook https://www.facebook.com/beautyoasisdayspa/ Alternatively tel 01495 762736

Here's to a fuzz free future!

Victoria
xx

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

It's May, the sun is shining (most days) so we've been able to spend more time outdoors.  It's not that I'm a fair weather kinda gal, but I spend so much time in the rain, in the mud, in the river with the dogs, it's nice to be clean (ish) and feel the sun on my back.

As soon as we have a week or more of nice weather everyone just seems happier.  I meet more people whilst walking the hounds; mind you this can also be a bad thing as they aren't the most obedient of dogs!  I meet up with other mum friends and let the children run wild on the local playing fields, we explore and I can wear nicer outfits.  The latter makes for a happy mummy!

Although it is lovely to go on day trips, we visited Pepper Pig World last week.  Sometimes you have the most fun doing the simplest of things.  We explore the garden, creepy crawlies are her latest favourite.  I'm not a huge fan but I pretend to be as excited as her and not at all scared, even though I want to run a million miles away from anything with eight or more legs!!  We have visited lots of parks and I've come to realise, that my outfit choices are not always suitable when you have to climb up a slide or through a tunnel and you are wearing a rather flimsy, semi see through Zara shirt dress!! 

But the highlight of this week was watching Harriet sit on Ellie, my Section A pony, for the first time. 

A couple of weeks ago we visited my 18hh ex showjumper at his fantastic retirement home Grosmont Farm in Abergavenny.  This superb retirement facility is just what my much loved old boy needs.  A relaxed and calming environment but still enough going on with the lambing and the dairy herd to keep his interest.  Their care of the horses is second to none and I have regular updates via social media and email.  Whilst visiting Lurch, horse mad Harriet was lucky enough to have a ride on Appy, a fantastic bombproof, kind, honest pony owned by the Robinson family.  She enjoyed it so much I couldn't wait to arrange a visit to see my pony Ellie who is currently on loan to an older, horse mad little girl. 

From the minute she spotted Ellie and the other horses in the field she was shrieking 'horsey, horsey'.  As we led her around I saw the moment she was hooked.  You see ponies and horses have grace, they have beauty and they have spirit.  It's an addiction  I just can't explain.  From the first moment I sat on a pony I knew they would forever be in my heart.  Watching her have so much enjoyment made me miss riding so much.  I'm looking forward to reconnecting with my passion and encouraging hers as she grows.  Yes I probably will be that push pony club mum!

And finally I actually had a night #outout! One of my lovely, beautiful work colleagues from a previous job is finally getting hitched!  I am so over the moon for her but sadly I cannot make the wedding in India.  I am absolutely gutted so there was no way I was missing out on the hen party!  Delicious Mexican food and far too many cocktails but what a fun  night.  I wore a jumpsuit from Warehouse that is from their Spring/Summer range.  It's still quite cool in the evenings so I teamed it with my ever faithful leather jacket and a statement next necklace.  I love that fact you can add some bold colours to khaki green.  It's so easy to wear dressed up or down, I decided to team it on this occasion with coral strappy sandals. 

Home by midnight for us rock n roll stars.. not like the old days.  But back then I could wallow in self pity in bed until midday and then bribe someone to bring me a McDonalds.  These days I'm woken abruptly around 7 am on a good day and there's no rest all day.  But would I change a thing?  Definitely not!

Victoria

xx

ACTIVITIES AND ADVENTURE

Over the last couple of months I have discovered some fantastic places.  Some I have enjoyed with Harriet and others Nathan and I have enjoyed on our own with the hounds. 

Brecon Beacons 4 Waterfalls Trail (near Ystradfellte) 

On a sunny Thursday in May, Nathan myself and the dogs set off to discover some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world that are right on our doorstep.  The four falls trail can be found within the Fforest Fawr, which grows in the stunning rolling hills of the Brecon Beacons national park.  We parked at Gwaun Hepste Car Park but Cwm Porth car park is a little closer to the start of the trail.  The car parks are pay and display and I've been told wardens do visit frequently so best to be safe than sorry. 

From the minute you start this trail it's magical.  From the forest on either side of you to reaching the first waterfall, Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, I felt like I was a child all over again.  Bounding along with the hounds, excited as soon as I started to hear the roar of the fall.  (Famous Five eat your heart out!) From this we then headed to Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn and then Sgwd y Pannwr.  We decided at this point to leave the main path and test our rock climbing skills and climb up the bloody rocks! As I constantly remind my husband, he is six foot two, climbing up rocks isn't that difficult when your legs reach the sky.  Me on the other hand; being just over five foot I need lifting over a large branch on the floor I'm so short!!!  But I prevailed and the dogs loved it and even though my muscles were burning like I had just completed ten thousand burpees, we got to the top!  We then sensibly followed the path to the final and most photographed waterfall, Sgwd yr Eira.  This epic waterfall is the stuff of movies, you can even walk behind the curtain of thundering water.  I could have stayed here for hours, it was magical. 

The walk itself is around five and a half miles and should take around 3 or 4 hours, more if you want to stop and soak up the natural beauty of the place.  As usual Nathan and I were on a tight schedule, and we managed the walk in just under two hours.  We walk ridiculously fast and the dogs are twice our speed!  We will definitely visit again and take more time, take more pictures and I can't wait to take Harriet when she's a little older!

The Stepping Stones at Ogmore Castle

We visit Merthyr Mawr sand dunes and Ogmore beach fairly regularly with Harriet and the hounds but we decided to visit the stepping stones on one occasion. 

The stones were originally in place instead of the Merthyr Mawr suspension bridge but when this was built, the stones were taken and placed near Ogmore Castle, where they remain today. Along with their original name: Stepsau Teilo.

You can park next to the castle, head over the stones and continue on your walk.  We just wanted to do the stones and then we drove to the beach.  Such fun and a little scary, I'm glad Nathan was holding on to Harriet however Buster and Harry bounded across barging other walkers as they went.  I would say get there early.  It's an awfully long wait if there's a queue both sides!

Gruffalo Trail Mountain View Ranch

Silly old thing, doesn't he know ~ there's no such thing as a Gruffalo?!

A couple of months ago on a crisp, Spring afternoon, Harriet and I headed to Mountain View Ranch in Caerphilly to the toddler afternoon Gruffalo story.  I was pleased that the trail was buggy friendly and the wolf storyteller captivated his audience straight away.  What fun we had listening to the story and seeing the willow characters, it really brought the story to life.  

After the story had finished, we visited the pygmy goats.  I grabbed a coffee in the immaculate café and headed out to the adventure play area.  Harriet played for ages and I literally had to drag her kicking and screaming back to the car!  She did not want to leave but we only had a couple of hours free.  I cannot wait to visit again in the summer.   There is over one hundred acres to explore including a badger wood, indian village and fairy forest.  Not to mention tree houses, tree swings and a zip wire for the older children.  Such a fantastic setting and lovely for the children to be outside running free.  If you haven't visited then this place should certainly be on your list!

Over the next few weeks I have more adventures planned.  I don't think the building work will ever get finished at home seeing as I keep dragging everyone off somewhere new every weekend but it wears Harriet and the dogs out and that's all that matters!

Victoria

xx