2 days ago I hit a milestone – 100 days alcohol-free. I don’t like the word ‘sober’ as it’s a sad-sounding word ( sober: serious, sensible, and solemn ) and my alcohol-free life has been anything but sad. The common misconceptions when you say you don’t drink alcohol are that you are pregnant, an alcoholic or just plain boring. All of which I am not. There is no juicy story of me waking up one morning in a trash bin after 10 too many tequilas vowing to turn my life around, but I will admit that my relationship with rosé wine had become a little too close in the months following my Dad’s death ..read more

Starting school can be an exciting and nerve-wracking time for children and parents. As a mum who has just watched her 1st born complete his Primary school education I thought I would share a few pearls of wisdom. It’s important to prepare your child for this new chapter in their life. To help ease the transition and ensure a successful start, here are ten helpful tips to make the beginning of school a positive experience for your little one. Establish a Routine: Start implementing a consistent daily routine a few weeks before school begins. Set regular wake-up and bedtime schedules to help yo ..read more

It has been 12 months since I wrote my last blog, the reason is in the title.  I have tried to write several, but the 1st line of any blog ( fashion, travel, food ) is always ‘My Dad’s Dead’. I felt that maybe it was time I wrote and published the words, to cure my writer’s block. Greif can be a funny fucker and keeps showing up at the most inconvenient times, doing the ASDA shop, watching a school play,  walking past my Dad’s favourite pork pie shop. I am not the 1st and will not be the last to lose a parent and I thank my lucky stars I had my Dad for 40 years. In the words of the Q ..read more

There is nothing quite like a Spa day to cheer a girl up and help recharge the batteries. I tend to grab my friends and book one at least twice a year. I have had the pleasure ( and on occasion displeasure) of visiting many of the North West Luxury Spas but this was my first time at Stanley House .   What We Booked : THE PERFECT PAMPER £115 PER PERSON MONDAY – THURSDAY £127 PER PERSON FRIDAY – SUNDAY Designed to include time at leisure in our stunning spa, before our skilled therapists provide your choice of V.I.P. treatments to ensure that every guest enjoys the luxury they desire. • A g ..read more

As a family, we spend most of our weekends outdoors exploring woodlands and enjoying nature. Both Harry and Charley love nothing more than bug hunting and looking for animals as we walk along. I am a huge believer in letting children’s imaginations run wild so when Charley tells me in great detail about the Ladybirds house among the Bluebells or the Squirrels family up high in the trees I enjoy listening to her animated fairy tales. Now both kids are at school we encourage independent reading but we still think it’s important to read together as a family each evening. The average child spends ..read more

The way to my heart will always be cake. I was kindly asked by an up and coming bakery to sample and review their new range of sweet treats. Dough Face Bakery was recently launched by Tess after years of baking for her friends and family. Each month she creates dough-based treats that are delivered straight to the door. I was lucky enough to be asked to sample her sweet rolls. Based on the classic cinnamon roll Jess has created an array of flavours to suit every palate. As the picture above shows I was given a box of mixed flavours to enjoy with the family ( well technically I tasted all of th ..read more

Your second anniversary might not sound like it’s as much of a big deal as your first, or your tenth. But every year you spend with the love of your life is another year worth celebrating. Just like every other year of your marriage, the second year that you spend with your other half comes with a bunch of wonderful symbols and traditions associated with it.  By the time you celebrate your second anniversary with your spouse, you’re usually going to be pretty cosy with your partner, and happy to have woven your life with that person. That’s why cotton is a very symbolic and valuable tradi ..read more

  I think we all know how much I love taking photos . Of the kids , holidays , family and friends. I have a camera phone and I am not afraid to use it . Even during lockdown I was snapping away in the garden and on the rare trip out . 2020 may have cancelled many of our plans as a family but it didn’t cancel me documenting the kids as they grow up. Photography is a huge part of my home and working life. I love sharing our adventures on social media but mostly using photography as art to personalise our house. I started using Rebel Moments earlier this year to send personalised gifts to ou ..read more

It’s o.k if you are the worst teacher in the world – You’re a Mummy, not a Maths Professor ( If you are, then do feel free to drop me a message as I have 2 weeks worth of homework for you ) It’s o.k to burn the fairy buns you ‘tried’ to make with the kids – There is a reason Mr Kipling is still going strong after 50 years It’s ok if your normal family routine has gone out of the window – You are just creating the plot for Lord of the  Flies Part 2 It’s ok if you miss your mum and you hate to admit it but you could really do with some of her words of wisdom right now – She is always a ..read more

  You may have noticed a name change over on the blog. Nope, this is not a sign of my impending divorce. It’s just simply me closing one chapter of my life and opening another. The UnNatural Mother was born 4 years ago during Maternity Leave, partly from boredom, partly from needing a purpose other than being a Mummy. She gave me an excuse not to do the housework and dare I say it I loved the feeling when you all commented on my posts. She was the reason I quit my corporate career and has been the backbone of building my own business. That kick-ass voice in my head, telling me to keep goi ..read more