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

MANAGING TIME

Sometimes I look at my watch and it is already 10:30am and I have literally done nothing.  Sometimes the simplest of tasks like convincing a child to eat their breakfast and then get dressed take me over an hour.  Sometimes it's 5pm and all I've managed to do all day is walk the dogs and feed my child. 

There is always a never ending amount of washing and ironing, there is always a never ending amount of dog hair on my beautiful cream tiles and there is always, always glass that needs cleaning thanks to two wet noses and a pair of constantly sticky hands!!

So how do some do it?  They work full time, their house is immaculate and they still have spare time for playing, arts and crafts and family time.  I barely have time to straighten my hair! 

I'll admit, Harriet isn't the earliest of risers (lucky me), so I take full advantage of this and stay in bed too!  I'm not a morning person, even when I worked full time I would hit the snooze button 74 times before I dragged my butt out of bed.  This I fear, may be my biggest down fall. 

I am always complaining that I can't get any housework done when I'm alone with Harriet.  She tries to ride the hoover and clean the dogs.  She empties the cupboards and drawers as fast as I'm putting things away.  I end up getting about one quarter of my list of jobs completed and it takes me all day.  On the very rare occasions that I am bright as a button early in the morning, it is true I get so much done.  But other days I take full advantage of my husband leaving at silly o'clock for work and I starfish in our bed until I hear 'Mummy, mummy, mummy'.   Does this make me selfish?  Lazy?  I think not.  We all have good days and bad days.  Sometimes Harriet sleeps all night, sometimes she doesn't.  Sometimes I nearly murder my husband when his snoring is still keeping me awake at 4am and sometimes I don't. 

But from the minute she wakes we don't stop.  Most mornings Harriet accompanies me on the morning dog walk along the canal.  It's so peaceful in the morning and so beautiful.  Now she's a little older she can help feed the ducks and we talk about the different animals we meet along the way.  It's then home to quickly change and eat a snack before we head out to her first activity of the day.  We meet friends, we play, we make things and we walk the dogs again in the afternoon.  We are always super busy but sometimes I am my own worse enemy when it comes to time management.

I have really enjoyed writing my blog over the last couple of months but I have been quiet for a couple of weeks.  I complained to my husband I hadn't had time, that every time I sit down to write, a toddler is screaming for my attention.  But truth is, I could be a little more organised.  I do think that because I am not working I am missing structure.  I insist Harriets days are quite structured (but not regimented) but I never follow my own advice.  I need to be more disciplined with myself and start organising my days better especially when she goes to sleep in the evening. 

So although I plan to be more organised and I have promised my husband I will cook more (yeah right!), if you do visit me and my home doesn't look 'insta-beautiful', that's because we are out having fun; we are learning and exploring.  Let's face it, the dogs are going to shed more hair tomorrow and Harriet will spill more food! 

Victoria
xx
   

 

BEING MUM

This has been a post that I wanted to write for a while, something that is very close to my heart since having Harriet.  Before you have children you think that having a baby won't change anything but it changes everything.

Whatever I do, I am always aware that I am responsible for someone else, that every decision I make can affect them.  So what do you do after having a baby?  Do you go back to work full time?  Part time?  Self employed?  Do you work around them, use childcare or do you decide to become a full time parent?  Whatever decision  you make, someone will always have an opinion. 

Before having Harriet I ran a successful ladies boutique but I knew even when pregnant that I didn't want to be going to work every day.  I couldn't bare the thought of missing out on one nugget of anything she did.  When she first smiled, took her first steps, her first word, I wanted to soak up every minute of it.  Like everyone always tells you, they aren't little for long.

For the first year we did everything from baby massage to music and singing groups to swimming.  Every day was filled with learning, laughter and fun.  But all my new mum friends I made slowly started to drift away back to work.  Of course we always kept in contact but I didn't see them on such a regular basis.  When Harriet turned one, I started to feel like I was missing a part of me.  I am aware that I am currently in a very fortunate position and I can be with Harriet full time but I feel I am not contributing anything to the household and I'm slowly losing my identity. 

But what can I do? Having left the office grind a few years ago to venture into the self employed world and now for nearly 20 months being mum, I feel like I don't have the confidence to walk back into a management or supervisory role.  Would anyone take me seriously?  Have things changed too much?  Do I even remember how to do a formula in Excel? 

My passions always have and always will lie within fashion and horses.  Sadly I have zero time for the latter at the moment.  My own horses are on loan and there is no way I could dedicate long hours to a horsey job right now.  So do I venture into the fast paced life of fashion?  I have always had a love for styling and I enjoy helping people feel confident in what they wear.  I am thinking of a move towards personal styling and image consultancy.  I have been researching this for quite a while.  I can chose my hours and days, I can balance both work and spending time with Harriet all whilst indulging in my favourite pastime.... shopping! 

So as I start to research my options and look ahead to the future, I am starting to realise that whatever you choose to do, there will always be positives and negatives.  I am so excited to dip my toe back into the working world.  The most important thing, whatever you choose to do, is valuing every precious second spent with your children and knowing they value it too.

Victoria
xx

BEAUTIFUL GIFTS

So where did the last week go?  I have been poorly which meant it took all my energy to be mummy  let alone do anything else but I have been so excited to share with you some amazing new companies, fabulous products and unique gifts.  Little gems that I've stumbled upon and companies I have used previously and can't fault. 

I shall start with the most luxurious mothers day present ever for the Mother-In-Law (yep, super daughter-in-law points here).   I loathe buying every year the same old same old, for loved ones.  I like to think of new ideas and unique items they will use, not tat that will just gather dust on the shelf.  Ila & Lane https://www.ilaandlane.co.uk/ offer bespoke luxury gifting.  They take the hassle and worry off your shoulders I basically told them my budget, told them a little about her and what she loves and doesn't love, paid and just waited for her amazing gift to arrive.

I was delighted at the quality, size and presentation when her gift arrived.  Such unique gifts all together in one box.  Unicorn chocolate lolly and a chocolate bar finished with 24karat edible gold leaf by Babushka Boutique. This handmade Belgian artisan chocolate is too pretty to eat and who isn't obsessed with unicorns?  The Prosecco and Peony candle smelt divine.  I was so tempted to sneak this out of the gift box and keep it for myself.  Even without lighting it, the fragrance was delicious and I loved the sleek glass jar. Korres bodymilk is perfect for anyone with sensitive skin.  This organic brand use skin friendly ingredients with essential fruit oils and zero unwanted synthetics.  I love brands that have a strong natural approach so I can't wait to hear what she thinks about this.  Last but not least I was really pleased that  Gin & Tonic flavour lip balm was included.  She has been eyeing mine up for a few weeks.  Small and compact, perfect for coat pockets and handbags plus it has been a life saver whilst walking the dogs in the miserable Welsh weather we have had recently.  All in all this gift box was a huge success and I am so pleased with the results.  The fact that Ila & Lane, as well as offering this unique service, also provide a platform for small businesses I think is amazing.  To be able to purchase from lots of different brands all on one website or to receive gifts and discover new brands is such a good idea.  When large companies have huge marketing budgets and a massive presence on social media, small companies sometimes get lost but thanks to Ila & Lane I am discovering new and unique things all of the time.... just don't tell my husband!!!

Roath Farmers Market

Last Sunday we decided to visit Roath Farmers Market in Cardiff.  This market has everything with up to 30 producers selling the best in fresh, local Welsh and organic food, together with delicious home-made ‘world’ foods representing the diversity of Cardiff, from bread and cakes, fish and meat, flowers and fruit & veg, to farmhouse cheese and Welsh organic whisky and a craft section.

I met a lovely lady from Garlic Meadow. A smallholding that is home to award-winning Dorset Downs, geese, ducks and chickens. Producers of Handmade Goats Milk Soap, sellers of their own wool.  I bought some goats milk soap in Strawberry dust and Lavender flavours.  These soaps are completely natural, free from palm oil, harsh chemicals and suitable for vegetarians.  Goats milk is rich in lactic acid which helps remove dead skin cells, rich in vitamin A which helps skins to rejuvenate and rich in natural fats to moisturise.  It is great for both dry and acne prone skin.  A natural product which is excellent value and looks pretty too!

You can purchase these item plus many more from Garlic Meadows Etsy Shop https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/GarlicMeadow

Another company I found at the market although I had already been stalking them on Instagram was Clams Cakes.  An artisan, award winning local bakers that use no hydrogenated fats and only free range eggs.  Follow them on insta and order from their website or pop down to the market.  Trust me you will not be disappointed.

https://www.instagram.com/clamscakes/

Sadly I scoffed all of my cake before taking photos so here is a couple from their own Instagram account.

Roath Farmers Market is every Saturday at the Mackintosh Centre on Keppoch Street, Cardiff (in front of THE GATE Art Centre.

Please support local businesses, visit local markets, eat local food.  Small businesses fuel the economy and invigorate the community.  Don't forget, it only takes one person to start the trend....

Victoria xx