Our Disneyland Paris Plans | March 2018

23.2.18

Waaay back in August, with a little Lilah still in my belly, we made the crazy decision to book a family Holiday to Disneyland. Of course we’d LOVE to visit Disney World, but with three little ones aged 4, 2 and just 8 weeks when we travel, we knew Paris was definitely the more suitable option for us.

Our trip is now just a few weeks away, so I thought I would write a little post documenting our plans! We booked through a travel agent (directly through Disneyland Paris), as we wanted the ease of changing details and talking to someone if we needed to. It was super simple, and as they did the calling and sorting, we both felt a little more relaxed about it all.


When we booked, Disneyland had their ‘kids go free’ AND the ‘2 nights free’ offers on, so we took advantage of both. So we’re travelling Monday - Friday, which therefore worked out as 4 nights for the price of 2! We’re also staying onsite at the Hotel Santa Fe, which although on the more budget end, still looks and sounds perfect for us.

To get to the magic, we opted to travel by Eurostar. It seemed the most direct choice (and there was nooo way I was braving a flight with two toddlers and a newborn!). We paid a little extra for two year old Parker to have his own seat, as well as the Magical Express - meaning we can head straight to the parks when we arrive!

After talking to lots of people and manically googling, we also decided to prepurchase a meal plan to make meal times a little easier. We went for the Half Board Plus option, which gives us two meals a day at a range of restaurants. I have already booked all our of dining reservations (you’re advised to do this 60 days in advance), and we’ve chosen:

Monday - Plaza Gardens buffet
Tuesday - Chez Remy
Wednesday - Character breakfast and Hunter’s Grill
Thursday - Auberge de Cendrillon (Princess Character Dining)

Another little extra we’ve purchased is the Photo Pass. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be necessary, as I doubt we’ll be going on many of the biiig rides with the littles. But as long as we get at least one of two family photos, I think it’ll be worth it!

I think that’s everything to cover about our trip for now. We’ve bought all the Disney clothing, passports are sorted and I’ve started thinking of my packing list... eek, I am just SO excited!

Our Future Travel Plans | A Trip to Costa Rica

When we announced that we were expecting our first daughter Indiana, many people said that we were too young. That we should have been making the most of our younger years, travelling the world and going on as many holidays as possible. But we of course disagree! We want to enjoy our younger years with our children. And then once they're all grown up, we've got biiig plans to go on all of our adventures.

One destination I've never really considered, but after researching sounds absolutely amazing, is Costa Rica. The most visited country in Central America, Costa Rica is full of culture, beautiful scenery and there's plenty of activities to enjoy as well!

Where to Stay & When to Go?

As it would just be the two of us, I think staying in a beautiful Costa Rica beach house would be ideal. What's more romantic and luxurious than staying right on the beach? Most villas come with their own pools, wi-fi and are suitable for couples or even families if we did decide to take the Littles with us.


Away from the beach, there are plenty of other accommodation options. Smaller hotels are ideal for travellers who want to immerse themselves more in the culture of Costa Rica - with a more relaxed and 'home from home' environment. The Caribbean side (known as Limon) is a great location if you wish to stay away from more touristy spots, and prices for hotels are usually lower too.

Our favourite way to travel though has to be All Inclusive (what's not to love about food on tap?). AI means that nearly everything is included, so you can put all your savings towards activities - of which Costa Rica has plenty!

And in terms of when is best to travel? Peak season, as you can imagine, includes the Christmas and  Easter holidays so it's probably best to avoid those few weeks. As we would most likely travel without the kids, we have the luxury of visiting whenever we wish (most likely during the mid-season between May and November).

What to Do?

As I mentioned above, there is plenty to keep you busy on a trip to Costa Rica. We are definitely not 'sit around the pool' types when we travel, so I know we'd love to get out and explore as much as possible. A lot of these activities depend on where you decide to stay though, as the country covers such a large area. I've picked a few I know Jack and I would definitely love to experience below:

Explore the National Parks 

Costa Rica draws most of it's visitors to it's expansive National Parks. One of the most popular is the Arenal Volcano, which is located in northern Costa Rica. You can explore the rainforest, waterfalls, a volcano (which until recently was the country’s most active volcano with an average of 41 eruptions per day), the country's largest lake, or go on one of the many tours of the area. I know this is definitely somewhere we would love to explore.


Go Ziplining or on a Canopy Walk

Probably not one for me, but definitely for Jack, is zip lining across the canopies. Costa Rica is perfect for canopy exploration thanks to it's thick branches, and it's a perfect way to see the vast plant and animal species. There are a number of different types of adventures you can take, from slow canopy walks in San Luis, to whizzing through the Jaco Canopy.

Visit the Hot Springs

If you want to take a few days off from exploring, there are plenty of more relaxed gentle activities to enjoy in Costa Rica. Their hot springs are a perfect way to relax and rejuvenate after a busy few days, and I know they'd be somewhere I'd really love to visit. One of the most popular springs is located at the Arenal Volcano National Park. The Springs Resort offers multiple hot springs and beautiful landscaping across an expansive area. Meaning you can really find the perfect spring for you!


Discover the Wildlife

Thanks to it's millions of years of history, Costa Rica is the perfect place to discover wildlife, with it's rainforests and jungles containing more than 230 species of mammals alone! Everyone loves monkeys, and a number of species can be found up and down both coasts. One of the most well-known destinations for sightings though is Manuel Antonio National Park. The monkeys there are nearly tame (although still can be aggressive).


As you can see, Costa Rica really does have so much to offer as a country. Whether you want a relaxed and slow paced holiday, enjoying the beaches or the hot springs. Or whether you want to really get stuck into high adrenalin activities, whizzing through the trees on a zipline or getting close to a volcano. You can find out more about the activities I mentioned above, and a whole lot more on the Costa Rica Experts website.

Just from doing some quick research I already cannot wait to visit - although the more I think about it, maybe I would consider taking the Littles with us. There's plenty to do for families too!

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Lilah at One Month Old

18.2.18

Oh little Lilah Bear, how are you already one month old?

One month of broken sleep, constant nappy changes and countless bottles washed. But my goodness, it's all worth it for that little bundle of love isn't it? And it's crazy just how quickly you adapt to the new normal too - it really feels as if Lilah has been part of our family forever!

So at one month old, Lilah is now weighing 9lbs 12oz (which is 10oz up from 2 weeks ago) and almost out of up to 1 month clothing. We switched to formula and bottle feeding at around a week for number of reasons. She dropped a lot of weight in the first few days, was never satisfied (and I mean NEVER), and I just didn't feel it was working for us personally.


It was completely the right decision for us though, and she is thriving on formula now. I know breast is best, but for us it just works! She has around 3-4oz every 3 to 4 hours, and has already got herself into a nice little routine. It's nothing too strict yet though, as we're still very much in the eat, awake for a little bit, sleep, repeat, newborn cycle still.

Saying that though, we're definitely getting to enjoy awake periods for a little bit longer now. Lilah is oh so alert and loves to sit in her bouncer, or just lay on our bed just watching the world go by. Of course she's usually got one sibling or the other close by to chat too, which she seems to enjoy. She's soo close to smiling now too, and I have no doubt those first smiles will be for her big brother and sister!


We are unfortunately struggling with wind and colic, and she's already suffering with her first cold the poor little thing. We've been through colic with both of the older two though, so we were quick to pop out and get Infacol this time, which does seem to help. On those horrible colicky evenings she loves nothing more than to snuggle up against Jack - he has to be standing though.

I have definitely tried to embrace the fourth trimester a lot more this time around, and Lilah is never really far from Jack or myself. She's sleeping in her Knuma Huddle (in her Sleepyhead which is amazing), so she's close enough to touch at night. There isn't really a day that goes by where I'm not carrying her in the wrap either, which is something we both absolutely love!


It's definitely been a challenging month, adjusting to life with three little ones. But Lilah has just slotted into our family beautifully, and three definitely feels like our magic number. She's oh so loved by all of us, and I just cannot wait to watch her grow each month. It already feels as if it's going too fast though.. she's already 5 weeks old today. Agh!

The Siblings Project | February 2018

17.2.18


Another late Siblings post, but life is still a little bit crazy with three little ones to look after! It's crazy that Lilah has now been a part of our family for almost 5 weeks. They've been exhausting. They've been hectic. But my goodness have they been full of love!

We took this month's siblings project pictures on a rare sunny day at the beach. It was one of the best days out we've had in a long time (definitely helped by the warmer, sunny weather), so of course we wanted to capture the moment. Although they're not perfect - featuring the many faces of our cheeky little Parker - I'm definitely going to look back on them and remember the lovely day we had.

This last month has been a definite learning curve. With Jack back at work, I've had to learn to juggle all three. We've quickly found our groove though, and it's as if Lilah has been here forever already! Indie and Parker are both just as obsessed with her too, and constantly want to cover her in kisses and give her snuggles. It's so lovely, although I do wish they would give her a bit of space sometimes...



My big two have been on half term this last week, and although they've had some lovely moments playing together, we've had lots of arguments and bickering too. They are both at an age (4 and 2.5) where they need a little space from each other I think, so roll on the regular routine on Monday! Indie especially loves to play independently, and I think she easily gets annoyed when her little brother doesn't understand how to play.

Overall though, we've had a good month! They big two are settling into their new rolls nicely, and they've been coping pretty well with the change a new baby brings too. Parker was acting up a little in those first few weeks, but now I think it's more the terrible twos we're dealing with than jealously thankfully!

I'm still pinching myself that I have three little loves. A brother and his two sisters. How lucky am I?

The Siblings Project - Dear Beautiful

Parker at 2 1/2 Years Old

14.2.18

I used to love write monthly updates about my littles, but of course as they got older these got less and less. So I thought as Parker is now over 2 1/2, it was time to share a little update on him! He has changed so much since his second birthday. He's definitely more of a little boy now than a toddler, not only in his looks but with his development and personality too.


Parker talks constantly, and there's only a few words that we struggle to understand now. He can have full conversations with you, and boy can he argue! He's definitely picked up some cheeky phrases from his big sister, and we're currently well into the 'why?' stage. He is still incredibly shy when it comes to strangers talking to him though. He can be chatting away and then as soon as someone talks (or sometimes just looks at him), he shuts down and hides away.

Development wise he's coming on in leaps and bounds. He can now count up to 15, and thanks to the help of his big sister, he is really trying with his alphabet and shapes. At the start of January we enrolled him at the same Preschool as Indiana, for a couple of mornings a week. I was worried he'd feel a little lost, as he's never really spent time apart from myself or Jack. But he absolutely loves going! He's settled in so well, and you wouldn't think he was one of the younger ones there.

Another big milestone for Parker, is that we have taken him out of nappies. We completely followed his lead with potty training, and he has taken to it really well. He started at the beginning of December just before Lilah was born, and I will say we have noticed a regression since she arrived. We're still persevering though as he's doing so well in general, I just hope he settles back into it a bit more now Lilah isn't so new.



Parker still has his cheeky personality, and my goodness have we been experiencing the 'terrible twos' in full force. We thought he was bad before his second birthday, but he has really taken things to the next level over the last few months. Not listening, doing 'naughty' things on purpose, annoying his sister... the list is endless! He is generally such a sweet little boy though, and loves nothing more than cuddles and kisses - especially with his sisters.

Parker loves to sing and dance, preschool, running wild and free, being silly with daddy, allllll the food, and being a new big brother!

Parker hates sitting still, being out in the cold (he's not loving this winter weather at all!), talking to people he doesn't know and being told what to do...

Whisbear The Humming Bear {with CRYSensor} | Review

11.2.18


When Indiana and Parker were little, the one thing I knew we could rely on to settle them was white noise. Whether that was popping the hairdryer or vacuum on during the day, or playing countless white noise videos on Youtube - it worked! But this wasn't always practical, and we were soon hunting for a better way to play the white noise.

We had a 'soothing seahorse' with Indie that played a selection of melodies. It didn't last long though, and the bright light it emitted wasn't great either. With Parker we tried Ewan the Dream Sheep. But with it's large size meaning we struggled to place it anywhere in the moses basket, and the fact we had TWO break within a few weeks. We gave up with him in the end, and went back to white noise on our phones.

So when I was looking for baby products when I was expecting Lilah, and I came across Whisbear The Humming Bear, I was understandably skeptical.

What made this sleep aid any different than the ones we had tried previously? 

But now Lilah is here, and we've been using the Whisbear religiously for over a month now, I can tell you just how fab it is!

Whisbear The Humming Bear is different from other sleep aids, thanks to the addition of it's CRYSensor. The bear is designed to help soothe and settle babies with it's gentle hairdryer-like sound (similar to the soothing sound baby would hear from the womb).



With a click of the button, Whisbear will emit an initial 40 minutes of the soothing sound. It doesn't just shut off once this is completed though, instead switching to standby mode. If it hears baby cry or fuss loudly, it will automatically switch itself back on for a further 20 minutes - in theory settling baby before they wake fully. I have found that any loud noise (coughing, dropping something, etc) will set it off, although this isn't the end of the world.

You can also just switch it straight onto the CRYSensor mode, without the initial 40 minutes of shushing. This is a fab addition if you want to use it when baby is already in a deep sleep, or when out and about. We haven't really used this mode yet, as we find it best to just switch it on as soon as we lay Lilah down.

Another fantastic feature of the Whisbear is it's magnetic legs. These allow you to attach it to practically anything with ease! We pop it over the side of our co-sleeper or the moses basket, but you could easily attach it to the carseat or bouncer too.



Of course like any product we have found a few issues with the Whisbear. Firstly I find the volume adjust to be quite fiddly. You have to switch it on, wait for around 10 seconds and then hold down the sensor. The volume will rise and then switch off, so I found myself having to do it a couple of times before finding the volume I want. The batteries do drain quite quickly as well - ours is already in need of new ones after a month of use. Although I am very happy to do this if it continues to work so well!

Whisbear The Humming Bear comes is a selection of colour ways and is suitable from birth, due to it's high quality tested fabrics and hypoallergenic filling. The legs and ears also have rustling elements for baby to enjoy when they're a little bit bigger - as if you pop the little CRYSensor out of the bear's head, it's a perfect cuddly toy too!

Whisbear The Humming Bear has definitely been helping us get a little more sleep at night. Lilah settles so much better when we turn it on, and I absolutely love the CRYSensor feature. It currently retails at around £49.99 and is available at John Lewis, Amazon, and Kidly.

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

Must Do Attractions When Visiting Singapore

5.2.18

Singapore is not a destination that most people think of when planning a trip. But it is full of excitement and sites to see, that even some of the locals don't know about! Today I am going to share a selection of things that I think you must do if you visit Singapore.

Tree Top Walk at MacRitchie

MacRitchie is a beautiful nature reserve, that has a suspension bridge through the treetops. It connects the two highest points of the park and will give you views of the different parts of the forest. It takes about an hour to walk to from the car park, and a bit longer than that to cross it, but it will definitely be worth it! Just one word of warning though - mosquitos love it as well, so make sure you are well sprayed with repellent before walking across the bridge.


Forest Adventure

This is said to be one of the most underrated experiences in Singapore, and most locals do not even know it exists. Forest Adventure is a very challenging obstacle course that includes lots of climbing, zip lines and finishes with a free fall at the end. The safety system is amazing, and even though you feel you are taking risks, you are of course safe at all times. Corporate bodies often use it as a team-building exercise, and it is good for bonding sessions or just having fun. This is a fantastic experience, that barring medical conditions, everyone should try.



Surfing At Wavehouse

The sea around Singapore is known for its lack of waves, which might be perfect for swimmers, but is not much good if surfing is what you want to do. If surfing is what you are after though, Wavehouse if the place to go. The wave simulator can create them up to 10 foot high making it very popular with tourists. They also have a pool, bar surf shop, and restaurant for you to finish your day off at Wavehouse.

Singapore Zoo

Singapore Zoo is considered to be one of the best there is! The animals are well looked after and they have plenty of open space to live in. Their environments have been thoughtfully built and landscaped to make them as near to their natural habitat as possible. Animals are even separated from visitors by moats and wooden fences - but don't worry, there are elevated platforms and viewing galleries so you can see the animals.

Their 300 species of animals include white tigers, Asian elephants, pygmy hippos, otters, and kangaroos, as well as reptiles and birds. The most popular though are the large families of orangutans and chimpanzees who provide many hours of pleasure for zoo visitors. You can walk around the zoo or take a guided tram tour with audio commentary too.



Public Swimming Pools

Public swimming pools in Singapore are nothing like the ones here. For an entrance fee of just $1.50, you get to use wave pools, slides, jacuzzis and both indoor and outdoor pools. They are spotlessly clean, just like everywhere else in this wonderful city, and much underused. You can go to any one of them and not find many people there at all.

Cycling in Pulau Ubin

While you’re travelling in Singapore, you simply must take a very short boat ride to this island just of the coast of Singapore. For $5 a day you can hire a bicycle to explore around the area, with views that will never leave you. There are a few locals on the island, but it is mainly a case of riding through natural habitats and landscapes, the best of Singapore’s eco-systems being located at one end of the island.



Stay Local

Of course, there are plenty of good quality accommodations for tourists in Singapore, but why not experience living more like the locals do. Renting an apartment during your stay will let you make more connections with the people that live there, who are said to be some of the friendliest around. Just make sure you know the hdb rental rules first. It’s pretty simple to rent, but it pays to be prepared. 

Board Game Cafes

Leave technology behind, gather a few friends and have a great evening of fun in a board game café. This is a fun social activity that will be much better than sitting in a darkened room watching a film! It can cost as little as $2 an hour to hire the games, and there is always drinks and snacks so that you do not go without while you are playing.


The National Museum

The beauty of this museum is that before you even go inside, the building itself is incredibly to see. The architecture is a sheer delight and as you walk through the doorways, you should check out the rooms you are entering before looking at any of the exhibits.

It has two parts to the building that are joined by a huge glass concourse. The Singapore History Gallery with its stunning display of a day in the life of Singapore is a magical experience for anyone the least bit interested in the past. The displays are changed periodically, but there is so much to see here, you could easily spend a full day wandering around and admission is free.


Midnight Shopping at the Mustafa Centre

Located in the heart of Little India, the Mustafa Centre is the only shopping mall in Singapore that is open 24 hours. Go along at midnight and it will be quieter than in the day, but it will still be very busy. There is not much you cannot buy there, and it is renowned for its low prices. Both the locals and tourists love the Mustafa Centre and if you have the urge to shop late at night, this will be the place to head for.

Picnic In The Botanic Gardens

If you ask the locals where the best picnic spot is on the island, most of them will tell you the Botanic Gardens. If you do not have the inclination to make your own picnic, there are several shops nearby that will put one together for you too. You can spend a few lazy hours relaxing in the gardens, and take a stroll through the many plants and trees in this beautiful place. There is an orchard garden within the boundaries, but that will cost you an extra $5 to get in to.


Haji Lane

Visit Haji Lane in the daytime and you will find independent Singapore designers showing their creations in the local stores. It is one of those places where you will find original clothing at a very reasonable price, but come evening time and the whole atmosphere changes in just a few minutes.

The stores close and the cafes and restaurants spill out onto the pavements. You can sit back and relax in Haji Lane and be entertained by the many street performers, who make their way here on Tuesday to Sunday evenings each week.

Lots More To Do In Singapore

It is said that many people are put off visiting this wonderful island because it is too clean, and because they are strict with their litter law. But surely that is a plus, right? To be able to move around without overflowing bins, without stepping on chewing gum and without worrying if the bench you are about to sit on is clean, has to be better than the situation you find in any of the large cities around the world.

It is not just the streets though. Whatever attraction, stores, apartments or anywhere else you go while on the island you will find they are well maintained and kept clean, as well as being great fun!
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