Bluestone Wales Resort | The Perfect Holiday for Under 5s

28.10.17


We all know that holidays with little ones can be stressful. Just the thought of travelling with small children is enough to put some parents off the idea all together. But there are some amazing resorts in the UK that are perfect for families - especially ones with really little ones.

One of these resorts is Bluestone Wales. Situated in the heart of Pembrokeshire National Park, the resort is surrounded by countryside, beaches, wildlife and plenty of history. It boasts 'free-range fun' for all ages, and honestly, it doesn't disappoint!

We enjoyed our second visit to the resort back in September; this time with an almost 4 year old and a 2 year old. It was just as lovely as I remembered from our first visit, however there have been some lovely additions making it even better for little ones.

Accommodation

I think my favourite thing about staying at Bluestone is the accommodation. We stayed in a Ramsey Lodge, which is suitable for up to 4 adults plus a little one in a travel cot (already provided in the lodge on arrival). These lodges feature 'upside down' living, with the bedrooms on the ground floor and the living space upstairs.


The lodges are perfectly equipped for a self catering break, with everything you would expect in a kitchen included (as well as a dishwasher which is a lovely little bonus!) One highchair is provided in each lodge, and stair gates are fitted as standard at both the top and the bottom of the stairs.

The only negative I will say about this style of living, is that the kitchen is very accessible to little hands. There are no cupboard locks - even on the ones containing glassware and the sharp scissors - and our two year old Parker had great fun with the oven / dishwasher buttons over the week too. I do think this is something they really need to consider, as I'm sure I'm not the first parent to notice this!



Food / Eating Out

Although the lodges are completely self-catering friendly, there are still plenty of places to eat around the resort.
Grab a snack prepared that morning at Tŷ Coffi, go for al fresco dining in the forest at Camp Smokey, settle in for a hearty pub lunch at the Knights Tafarn or try a delicious pizza at the Oak tree. You can head to the Farmhouse Grill where you will find a menu filled with delicious Pembrokeshire produce or dine with a difference at one of our dinner shows!
We ate out a few times, and found each location to be super child friendly. We loved the children's lunch boxes (a big favourite of Indie and Parker!) available at Ty Coffi, the dedicated children's menus at the bigger restaurants, and the fact that everywhere had colouring sheets and crayons on offer.



Even when there wasn't a child's size available, we found that the staff were always accommodating. For example when we popped to Ty Coffi for milkshakes one rainy afternoon, the staff didn't hesitate to split an adults sized portion into two. Even adding extra marshmallows which the littles loved!

Unfortunately we never made it to any of the dinner shows, but they looked and sounded amazing. Especially the Camp Smokey Shindig, which involved yummy food, singing, dancing and lots of family fun!



Activities / Things to Do

There are a plenty of things to do at Bluestone for little ones, and many of them come included in the price of your holiday. You can also book a number of activities at a small charge, including baby / toddler sensory, messy play, Mini Rangers, bug hunting, story time and there's even a fully equipped creche (because it's our holiday too!).

We didn't book into any payable activities this time, instead letting Indie and Parker decide what they wanted to do each day. They loved the adventure play area (a fantastic addition to The Village), and would have happily spent hours each day playing there. Now they're a little older they definitely got more out of the activities in The Adventure Centre. The Lego wall and soft play were probably their favourite parts though.





A highlight of visiting Bluestone has to be The Blue Lagoon swimming pool. Entry is included with your holiday, and resort guests get private access between 9am and 12pm. We never had any issues finding a family change room and it's gorgeously warm! The pool is great for little ones as it has a beach style layout, so they can sit on the edge and play. There are also two small 'coves' with water fountains and very shallow water to choose from too.

In general though, my two love nothing more than running around and exploring, and there was plenty of opportunity for that at Bluestone. We loved wandering around the lake, spotting the fairies and animals along the nature trail, and roasting marshmallows at Camp Smokey. Bluestone is car-free too so adventuring is a lot safer - you will still need to watch out for the golf buggy, bikes and resort vehicles though.






We had the loveliest mid-week break in Wales, full of fun adventures, cosy evenings in our lodge and lots and lots of memory making. We of course didn't manage to do enjoy even half of what Bluestone has to offer - a 5 day break just simply isn't enough time. But I think that just gives us a perfect excuse to come back time and time again!

We received a midweek stay in a Ramsey Lodge in exchange for our open and honest review. All opinions are my own and we were not compensated in any other way for this review.

28 Weeks Pregnant {Baby Number Three}

26.10.17

So here we are. The third (and final) trimester. I feel as if the countdown is really on until bump's arrival now. Eek! I'm been constantly fighting with my emotions recently, switching between being oh so excited to meet our littlest lady, to terrified that WE ARE NOT READY. 

HOW FAR ALONG?
28 weeks & 5 days

DUE DATE?
14th January 2018

GENDER?
Girl!

HOW’S BABY DOING?
I use the Baby Centre App to check on baby's progress - baby girl weighs just over 1kg now (roughly the same as an aubergine) and is at least 37.6cm long. Her heart rate has slowed down, she now has delicate eyelashes and her eyes can produce tears. Ooh and she may be hiccuping now!

I saw my midwife on Monday and everything is still going well so far. She's currently breech (which probably explains the large lump under my ribs!), but measurement wise bump is bang on 28cm. I had my bloods taken to check my iron levels, but apart from that it was just a routine check.

WEIGHT CHANGE?
I. Feel. Huge. This last few weeks I really feel as if baby girl has piled on the pounds, and my bump has grown loads. Although I still don't think I've put on my weight elsewhere... yet!


SYMPTOMS?
I've had a couple of dizzy spells again, but thankfully nothing that some sugar and a sit down couldn't sort. I just feel huge, heavy and reaaaally pregnant now. Rolling in bed requires a lot more effort, and I can tell I've slowed a lot when walking. 

The biggest symptom has probably been bump's movements though. They hurt! Long gone are the gentle nudges and kicks. She's doing huge rolls and is constantly pushing against my ribs / hips / everywhere. I loveee it most of the time, but I've had to stop to catch my breath a few times now.

SLEEP?
As I mentioned above, getting comfortable in bed is proving to be much tricker these days. I feel as if I have to physically move my bump when rolling over! I'm also waking up to go to the loo again, after a few weeks of escaping it. Thankfully getting to sleep hasn't be a problem as of yet though!

CRAVINGS?
I'm loving anything chocolatey at the minute. Or biscuits. Mmmm.. a chocolate digestive would be amazing right now!

HOW I’M FEELING?
Oh so tired! I thought pregnancy was exhausting with one child, but it's a whole new level with two to run around after! I'm loving experiencing it all with them around though. They love feeling bump kick and giving it all the kisses. It's so lovely.


MISS ANYTHING?
Being able to walk without feeling exhausted after 5 minutes. Oh bending down - you really forgot how much you take advantage of it when there's no bump there.

FAVOURITE RECENT OUTFIT?
I'm excited to be working with Mothercare at the moment, trying out their new Denim Range. There will be a post up in the next few weeks. But so far I'm looooving having more variety of bottoms to wear - especially as my one and only pair of maternity jeans have broken!

BEST MOMENT THIS FORTNIGHT?
Getting the all clear for our home birth! Of course there's still time for things to change, but I am so pleased all is looking good for now. I really need to start looking into to hiring a pool now.

LOOKING FORWARD TO?
It's my sister's baby shower this weekend, which is going to be lovely. She's due just a couple of weeks before me with her first - a new nephew for me, and a little play mate for bump to grow up with!

You can see how this pregnancy compares to Parker's (my second) here.

Second Trimester Essentials {Baby Number Three}

23.10.17

I cannot believe I'm 28 weeks into this pregnancy, and now into the third and final trimester. This pregnancy is going by so fast! Back in July, I created a list of essentials I couldn't have lived without during the first trimester. So I thought I'd create a similar list for the second trimester - things have definitely changed in these last few weeks!


Longline Vest Tops - These have been my wardrobe staple over the last few months for a number of reasons. Firstly, they are long enough to stretch over my ever growing bump as well as my bum (perfect as leggings have been my bottoms of choice too!). They're also easy and cheap to pick up in stores such as Primark, and fingers crossed they'll last throughout the last few weeks of this pregnancy too!

Deep Freeze Pain Relief Patches - I have been suffering from back pain from quite early on in this pregnancy, so these have been perfect. They're drug free and oh so easy to just pop on, making them great for pregnancy aches and pains.

Theraline Nursing and Maternity Pillow - Thankfully sleep hasn't been too bad at the moment, but maybe that's because of this bad boy. I was kindly sent the Original Theraline Nursing Pillow to try and it's been perfect for helping me comfortable at night. The filling means it can be moulded into whatever shape you desire while still being stable. It's really lightweight too, so I don't feel as if it's a burden to have in bed with Jack and I.

Maternity / Nursing Bras - I've actually been in nursing / maternity bras from very early on, but most people find they don't need to until the second trimester (especially as your breasts grow and change so much in those first fews weeks). I cannot believe I stuck with underwire bras in my first pregnancy - maternity bras are life!

Bubble Baths - As I've got bigger, and everything has been busy growing and stretching during the second trimester, an evening bubble bath has been just what I've needed! Adding a cheeky Lush bath bomb or bubble bar of course makes it 100x better too.

Love Your Bump Bando - Although I did have to buy quite a bit of maternity wear this time around, I did manage to stay in lots of my pre-pregnancy clothing with the help of my Bando. Made of seamless, stretchy material, the Bando is fab for covering the gap between your bottoms and your tops as well as giving bump a bit of support too! I was kindly sent the white version, but it comes in black too.

I'm so excited to experience these last few weeks of pregnancy, especially as this is most likely going to be my last! I'll of course write up my third trimester essentials when the time comes though.

What were / are your second trimester essentials?

I received some of these products in exchange for my review. All opinions are honest and my own

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch | Pick Your Own Pumpkins, Ashford 2017

17.10.17


If you scroll through Instagram at the moment, it will most likely be awash with crunchy leaves, conkers and all the orange pumpkins. Not ones to miss out, of course we had to visit a pumpkin patch again this year - especially as we had so much fun last year!

There are a number of patches popping up over the South-East now, however as we had such a good experience at Pick Your Own Pumpkin in Sevington (Ashford) last year, we knew we wanted to head back there. Due to regulations they have switched fields this year, but the experience was exactly the same. Just remember if you're using a Sat-Nav that it will only take you to the house, so just keep an eye out for the orange flags to find the actual pumpkin field!




We arrived around 10.30am and managed to grab a couple of wheelbarrows easily, despite it already being pretty busy. By the time we were leaving an hour later though, there weren't any at all - definitely something to consider if you've visiting over half term.

Before we could even walk a few metres all the littles were busy collecting pumpkins. Big ones, white ones, tiny ones, and lots of unusual squashes too. I think our wheelbarrows were full within about 5 minutes! It was so much fun though, and I'm so pleased we decided to start this little tradition.





With all the pumpkins we could possibly need collected, the littles spent the rest of our visit running around exploring the field. They found wriggly worms, icky squashed pumpkins and even a squash in the shape of a rugby ball! The wheelbarrows were put through their paces too, with literally wheelbarrow races - probably the littles favourite part of the day!

Despite the field being busy, it didn't feel as if we were on top of anyone at any point. There were definitely enough pumpkins for everyone, and we didn't struggle to find the perfect ones for us. The prices at Pick Your Own Pumpkins are also really reasonable, with tiny ones starting at £1 and huuuuge ones costing only £4 each.


The Siblings Project | October 2017

14.10.17

What a wonderful month we've had since our last Siblings Project post! Lots of lovely days out, a week away in Wales and plenty of Autumnal fun thrown in too. This month's siblings pictures were taken on a spur of the moment trip to Emmett's Garden NT. We went in search of conkers, and my goodness were we successful! 

Like a lot of days out recently, Indie and Parker loved spending time together. Searching for conkers together (and even sharing them too!), playing together in the adventure play area, and scheming at every possible moment against Jack and I too... 



I think a lot of this has come from spending so much quality time together, on our holiday a few weeks ago. They were like two little peas in a snuggly pod while we were away, and it was oh so lovely to witness.

Parker is never far behind Indie, although this isn't always such a good thing. She has a terrible habit of leading him astray - such as running off when out and about, so he runs after. And although it's so sweet to hear Parker call "Naaaaaanaaaaa, wait for me!", it's not so fun when you have to run after them!



I don't think I'll complain too much though, as I'm just so pleased they're getting along so well recently! Indie even came home from preschool this month with a picture of a dinosaur, and written underneath was 'for my best friend Parker' - how lovely is that?

The Siblings Project - Dear Beautiful

26 Weeks Pregnant {Baby Number 3}

11.10.17

With my ever growing bump, and big kicks and wiggles, there's no doubting I'm nearing the 'heavily pregnant' stage. And boy oh boy do I feel it! I'm seeing my midwife every 3 weeks now - a sign that things are progressing quickly. Anyone else agree?

I've also had my whooping cough jab (ouch!) and my flu jab now too. It's definitely been a busy few weeks!

HOW FAR ALONG?
26 weeks & 3 days

DUE DATE?
14th January 2018

GENDER?
Girl!

HOW’S BABY DOING?
I use the Baby Centre App to check on baby's progress - baby girl is now about 760g (as much as a red cabbage), and over 35.6cm. Her response to sound is growing more consistent as her brain becomes more developed - she may even be able to pick out mine and Jack's voices! Her tastebuds are now fully developed, her nostrils are beginning to open, and her mouth and lips are becoming more sensitive - how exciting!


WEIGHT CHANGE?
I've still not hopped on the scales, and I'm not planning to for a while either. I wrote a post this week about body positivity in pregnancy, and I 100% stand by it!

SYMPTOMS?
The biggest symptom I've been experiencing recently is dry and dull hair. It honestly looks and feels soo lifeless, and no matter how often I wash it, it still has no 'oomph'. I'm hoping it's just a pregnancy thing that goes away once baby girl is born - although I'm fulling expecting the hair loss to replace it instead...

I've also had some pretty awful vivd dreams these last few weeks too. I've never really had this symptom, so it really took me by surprise! One dream I had was SO real, I woke up almost in tears. In my dream baby girl was kicking so much she broke my ribs (I know right!), and then she needed to come out asap as her heart was frozen? Not nice!

SLEEP?
Apart from the crazy dreams, I'm sleeping really well. My body clock seems to have got into a routine of waking me up at 4am every morning for a wee though. And then once I'm back in bed baby girl seems to do her biggest movements.

CRAVINGS?
Nothing of note this week.

HOW I’M FEELING?
Pretty knackered if I'm honest, and sooo heavy down below. I'm used to having a high bump, but this time it feels so much lower. I also think my blood pressure has dropped again, as I had a funny turn on Monday where I almost fainted. It was awful!

MISS ANYTHING?
Being able to do my shoes up easily.. I must admit I'm missing the sun, but only because it meant I could get away with slipping on sandals and ballet pumps.

FAVOURITE RECENT OUTFIT?
I picked up this long-line cardigan in Primark at the weekend, and I'm loving it! It's added some colour to my usual maternity jeans and vest top outfits - plus it's super snuggly too.


BEST MOMENT THIS FORTNIGHT?
Probably seeing my midwife last week. I love listening to baby girl's heartbeat and being able to chat about all things pregnancy. She felt my bump too and said all seems to be growing perfectly so far!

LOOKING FORWARD TO?
In the next couple of weeks I'm off to The Baby Show in London, and then it's my sister's baby shower. It's going to be a lovely couple of weekends focused on all things baby!

You can see how this pregnancy compares to Parker's (my second) here.

Body Confidence in Pregnancy, with the help of Bravado Bras

10.10.17

I have never been a confident person. Not with my work, talking to people, and most definitely not with my body.

Growing up I was 'lucky' to always been on the smaller side - although try telling 18 year old Emily that! Since having my little ones though, my weight crept up and my body confidence absolutely nose dived completely.

Now at 26 weeks pregnant with our third little bundle, I am probably at the biggest I've ever been. But honestly, I think I am the most confident and comfortable with my body than I have been in years! Every extra curve, and every stretch mark is a reminder of what an amazing thing my body has, and is doing. 

And I bloody love my pregnant body!


"We aspire to make nursing bras that are exceptionally comfortable while giving you confidence in how you look and feel. We also want to empower you with the information and support you need to embrace breastfeeding" - Bravadodesigns.com

Of course finding pretty but of course practical maternity wear, is SO important when it comes to feeling good in pregnancy too. I have found this is especially important in regards to maternity / nursing bras - your boobs go through some crazy changes, so a good supportive bra is essential!

I have been sent some lovely bras from Bravado Designs, including the Body Silk Seamless Yoga Nursing Bra, and I've honestly been living in them ever since they arrived. They are not only the most comfortable bras I've ever worn, but they look lovely too - something I think is rare to find in a maternity bra. The one-handed Bravado 'B' nursing clips means they'll be perfect to wear during my breastfeeding journey too.


Of course I am hoping to return to my pre-pregnancy weight after baby girl is born, but I don't think I'm going to be in a very big rush this time around. I want to enjoy every moment with our newest family member, and I definitely want to embrace the fourth trimester. But most of all, I'm hoping that I can hold onto this new-found body confidence!

I received these bras for the purpose of this review. All opinions are honest and my own.

Baby Annabell Learns To Swim Doll | Review

7.10.17

If you ask anyone in my family what my favourite toy was growing up, they would most definitely answer Baby Annabell. She came everywhere with me, and I took such good care of her she's still working now, for my little ones to play with when we visit nanny's house.

So when I was offered the chance to review the new Baby Annabell Learns to Swim doll*, I jumped at the chance! Indiana (and Parker of course), were both thrilled as well - especially as this new doll has a very special feature.




The Learns to Swim doll is full bathable, meaning that she can not only be taken into the bath, but even the swimming pool if your little one wanted a swimming companion. When Baby Annabell gets in contact with water, she giggles and will wiggle her arms and legs to 'splash' (3 x AA batteries are needed). She can also float on her back as if swimming too.

The doll comes dressed in an adorable pink swimming costume, and swimming essentials, arm bands and a purple hooded towel, are also included. All of which feature the lovely little sheep logo that Baby Annabell is known for.



The doll is a lovely size and both littles have loved carrying her around. However I do think that some of the features are a little disappointing. The splashing motion is very basic, and the noises become quite repetitive. However I don't think Indie has noticed these problems at all. She absolutely loves the doll, and I know it will be played with for a long time to come!

*We received this doll is exchange for our review. All opinions are honest and my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Barbie DreamHorse Doll and Horse | Review

5.10.17

Now Indiana is getting older, she's getting into more 'grown up' toys. She loves to role play and can spend hours in her own little dream world, making up stories with her toys as she goes. So when we received the Barbie DreamHorse to review, she was absolutely over the moon - "Mummy, thank you sooo much!" were her words if I remember correctly!


The Barbie DreamHorse comes with a Barbie doll (all geared up for a horse-riding adventure), 3 accessories, and a beautiful white horse, which is actually Barbie’s most interactive pet yet! It reacts to touch and sounds, and features more than 30 realistic reactions. And if I'm honest, I'm not sure who's had the most fun playing...

The horse is really interactive and could provide hours of fun for little ones. When in it's normal mode it can walk along by either the press of a button, or by touching or speaking to it. If you tap it's left side it will turn left, the right side will turn the horse right, and tapping the horse in the middle will send it forward. You can also call the horse from either side to change it's direction too.




The horse also has a fun mode, where it will play 3 different songs and 'dance' to each one (it's more of a nod motion). It can also nuzzle if you stroke it's neck, nod yes or no to questions and my favourite interactive feature, is that it will 'eat' the provided bunch of carrots when you put them in her mouth! Overall I've been really impressed with the amount of features the DreamHorse has.

I will say that the horse can be a little too sensitive at times, and the sound feature means it can end up walking all over the place. You also do need to make sure it is on a completely flat surface (it won't work on carpets), as otherwise it will easily topple over. We have also found that even with very delicate, or even no brushing, the horse's hair does fall out really easily.




Indiana absolutely loves the Barbie DreamHorse though, and I think it will be one she'll continue to play with for a long time. She loves that the Barbie can sit on the horse, and has enjoyed playing with her separately a number of times too.

The Barbie DreamHorse retails at £89.99, and I think it would be a fab toy this Christmas.

We received this product in exchange for our review. All opinions are honest and my own.