Last weekend we had a great experience and got lots of inspiration exploring the wonders of Kew Gardens.
The last time I went was 20 something years ago when I was at school and I do not know why I waited so long to go back. My sister-in-law and I took the kids for a day of learning all about the beautiful flowers and some fun, whilst enjoying this British summer before it starts winding down.
For those that are fortunate to have a garden, even if you don't, Kew Gardens offer up loads of inspiration, to revamping your lawn to updating your flower boxes. I've been meaning for a while to update our garden, totally not child-friendly with it being paved, but I never knew what I wanted or how I wanted for it to look, that was not until I went and saw all the beautiful landscaped areas and beautiful flowers at Kew Garden.
With some much wonders and tropical botanical gardens to see, it will certainly help boost your creativity and will turn you into the garden whisperer.
For me a garden is a communal place, it is truly peaceful, I want to wake up in the mornings with a hot cuppa and just breathe in its beauty and the morning air with Leanora running around chasing Milo and I plan on doing just that with a little revamp, thanks to Kew Garden's Inspiration.
Instead of me fighting about how awful tiles or slabs can look, I've decided to give the whole garden a lift and add a lot of greenery to it. Now, I do not have a mower and I certainly won't be getting on my hands and knees to trim the grass, however opting for artificial grass is a lot better, it looks just as good and a lot easier to maintain, plus great for the kids too all season out and is low maintenance and there is a big range of style and colour for you to choose from.
I am not one to shy away from getting my hands dirty, so planting flowers in my garden to brighten and give it an instant lift is a must. We found some stunning roses that smelt like geranium, honey and myrrh fragrance in Kew Garden's our fave had to be the Gentle Hermione, Rose. Whilst we could not take these away with us, we will certainly be heading to our local flower centre to grab some delights to brighten up our garden, plus it is a great way to attract wildlife such as bees.
You are going to need some tools to help prep your garden, such as a garden gloves to brooms and I've literally gone nuts for the stuff, TK Maxx has a great selection of chic utility items for the garden, I'll give you an update in a few weeks on where else you can purchase that attractive compost bin to the stylish hose.
If you are starting out with a blank canvas or not but just need a little inspiration, Pinterest has a lot of amazing pictures and links to guide on where to start on creating your dream garden. You can follow my Pinterest Garden Board here, for some help!
I hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful, I'll be back with some more useful updating tips, but for now, how have you updated your garden or are you thinking about it? I would love to hear in the comments below!
London Mumma
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Remember I have been bashing on about updating the house, well that time has come and I've finally made a decision just in time and I am happy to welcome Spring into my home.
With a glimpse of bright blue clear spring skies yesterday I am more geared up than ever to finally complete the house.
The Easter weekend just went I had a massive spring clean, with a little helping hand from Leanora. Whilst I should have been taking it easy, especially as I made sure to book myself time away from work, I still found myself working, well home working, but it's a necessity and we really enjoyed it.
Nothing like a good declutter at the beginning of a new season, armed with bunny biscuit fuel and a few light refreshments, recycling and rubbish bags at the ready, we set about de-hoarding. Note to self, never declutter with a charged up mad threenager who wants to keep everything that glistens in her eye, I mean we had a 10 minute argument as to why we should throw out a chewed up shimmer and shine pencil (don't ask, I don't know, and I don't care) to which resulted in her FaceTime'ing my mother to tell me off, I mean I pay the bills, kinda glad I was a bad parent and ate half her Easter egg now whilst she was asleep.
I recently attended Amara's home event where they gave me some few tips on updating your home in time for Spring and how to decorate and personalise your home which I will be implementing into my home.
The focus should be on the look and feel that you want to incorporate it into your home adding a little bit of you, once you have your larger items in place, sofas and beds etc, you can then focus on the accessories. This is where I have come to a halt, now whilst I have my larger items, it those little bits that bring a room to life that I've failed to purchase.
I am a firm believer in taking your time, well if you like me 3 years to be precise, but it's all about taking your time and I'll tell you why.
Budget
You got to start off with a budget, whilst I'll know most will go over it or hide the fact you may have done so with your partner, it is always best to have a set budget to work with, it is great for your pocket and knowing where to put your money.
Colour
Look at your room and your space, a lesson learnt if you are bringing in paint for example always purchase a sample, grab a piece of paper and move it around the room, a colour will look different on different sides of the room at various times of the day, so always good to play and move it around to get a good feel. Once you have decided on your colour scheme, stick to it, you do not want soft tones clashing with vibrant colours it won't work and will throw off the whole room, no one wants to walk into a chintz circus. If you are struggling for some help, always head over to Pinterest for inspo.
Blooms
Nothing lifts a room and brings it to life than adding a few plants and flowers into a room. If you can not afford flowers on a weekly basis, Ikea has some amazing artificial and affordable plants, also check out H&M for some amazing vases and the ever favourite Anthropologie also.
Scent
Nothing quite lifts the spirits than a candle burning, I love anything with notes of geranium or Jasmine, perfectly light and fresh and perfect for Spring. A favourite of mine is Baies by Diptyque it just lights up my mood and the house smells insane, in a good way. Looking for something a little more affordable you never go wrong with anything from H&M.
Tell us what you will be doing to inject Spring in to your home?
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London Mumma xx
Ok, so we are halfway through Octobers half term holiday and there is still so much to see and do! From Halloween party makeup practice to going nuts at Kidtropolis and so many other great family fun days out and fun things to make, so why not make the most of it with the kids, ŵith a few half term treats.
Looking to get away and pack up the car, the kids the dog or cat for the last few days this week before the kids go back to school and you return to work, nothing beats heading into the country for some fresh autumnal air, but before you do! Safety comes first in the form of car maintenance, it is so simple and so basic but these things can easily be forgotten when piling up the car with luggage, necessities, and let's not forget to not have a home alone situation, the kids! A quick simple check of your engine oil, brake fluid levels, car tyre tread, keeps your car happy and you all safe, plus can have you saving loads on repairs, with simple car maintenance check-ups on a regular basis, think of it like going to your doctors. Here are the top most important car checks according to me:
• Tyres: It is extremely crucial to make sure that all four tyres are in good condition and there is a spare as well in case of a flat tyre. Make sure there are no cuts or bumps in any of the tyres and tread is also in legal limits. Since tyres are the only part of the vehicle that is in contact with the road, it is essential that they are in top notch condition
• Brakes: Another very important element is the brakes. Make sure your brakes are working fine and that there is enough brake fluid in the car to keep them working properly
• Exhaust: car exhaust helps in keeping the harmful fumes away from the cabin, if the exhaust is broken down or not working properly it can lead to a buildup of harmful gases inside the car which can be very harmful. Make sure to check your exhaust before going on a trip, if you live in or around the area you can book your car exhaust replacement in Dundee from Fife Autocentre
Now, we are not far off from Halloween and if you and the kids are still needing some inspiration, why not look no further than the professionals and the magnificent show, then Cirque du Soleil! They have a great tutorial video for you to master your makeup skills for Halloween.
Leanora and I were invited to attend Kidtropolis, our first ever time going and boy was it fun, plus I wish I wore jeans than a dress! A great family fun day out, filled with shows from an all-time fave sooty, dancing act by flawless, plus Leanora fave a performance by PJ Masks and Octonauts, who she got to meet too. With plenty of time in between shows, why not get crafting with ..... or go roller skating, the Dj will certainly have you all in a spin (FYI, I totally owned that floor, thanks to channeling my 8-year-old self who had no fear), or try the bouncy castle assault course, just don't wear a dress, so your butts not in the air, super embarrassing I must say, especially having to run after a toddler, then the whole of flawless seeing your arse, but they said nothing to my surprise, I would have totally roared my head off, but the gents they were helped Leanora round (thank you) well a little, they couldn't keep up with her little legs, neither could I! But if you fancy something a little bit more relaxed you can go golfing or peruse all the shops or grab a bite to eat.
With the days being a little dark and Halloween only a few days away, why not get your creative juices going and make these easy peasy no-carve pumpkins or head over to my Pinterest page for some more inspo.
For those looking to source Leanora's blue dress, knee high socks and mary-jane shoes you can find them over at Base Fashion and Next.
Happy Half Term.
London Mumma xx
Autumn is officially here, Instagram and Pinterest are awash with Autumn pics and pumpkins have been making an appearance in time for Halloween and with a hovering toddler of my shoulder, we were both eager to get into the spirit and make our own.
Beware our hands or home will never look the same after you have finished decorating your pumpkins this year, but they will certainly look fabulous and make a great centre point in or outside the home, plus it is great fun for the kids and little less mess than carving and a lot less dangerous too, plus food for thought, don't be lazy and get over excited like we did, throw on a cosy knit, grab an old sheet or newspapers and get creative outside!
As you may of not of known, i've recently signed up to Pinterest and have been going mad for it, brain is bursting with decorating ideas and I just can not believe we have not got involved sooner, but we are certainly making it up right now, so please do come over and say hi.
House filled with pumpkins which we bagged at Asda, the large ones for a £1 the little ones for 50p, a total bargain, even if they did not look super great, but the end result will have them looking great in no time.
A tub of acrylic paint, some gold glitter, a little PVA glue and you are set to make these super easy no-carve pumpkins.
1. Wipe down your pumpkins with a dry cloth, then paint twice with your acrylic paint and leave to dry for around 20 minutes.
2. Grab your PVA glue with a little spatula, then thinly apply your circle or striped design, then spring like mad your gold glitter, or fairy dust as Leanora likes to say (we seem to be moving on from unicorns) and leave to dry for a few hours.
There you have it super easy no-carve pumpkins, all sparkly designed and the look great in or outside the home, all in time for the Halloween festivities.
Once you have made yours let me know what you think! not bad for a first timer hey!
Why not pin the pics for some home inspo for you! or check out these super tasty extremely spooky Halloween party food to make after.
London Mumma xx
Well hello there Friday, you looking good and mighty fine! Can you guys believe we are firmly in the Autumn months, be it the sun is making the odd morning appearance here in London, it sure is nippy first thing in, but I am secretly craving for the first of the Autumn leaves to change into various shades of brown and orange, to fall upon the floor, so that I can get my new booties out, Leanora's too. Plus one of my new favorite festivities is soon approaching Halloween, excited to create a costume for Leanora, no doubt if she gets her own way it will be princess related and not a ghastly ghoul in site ha!
I have pulled a few things that I am totally loving right now and have added to my Friday Favorites this week....
Now these tasty beauties are perfect for those Autumn days, plus they make the house smell divine too, for curling up on the sofa, with a hot cuppa coffee, a good book, and these tasty pumpkin Spice biscuits, that last no time in the house.
Can you believe I finally made it out the house, I had organised a Hen Party Dinner, for my darling friend Banke, who is also a fabulous blogger. We ventured to the tastiest of Pan Asian restaurants DSTRKT and dived into its vast menu, if you find yourself in Soho I would certainly recommend
checking it out.
You may of remember from my recent MINTD beauty post, I spoke about this Omorovicza, Queen of Hungary face mist, ever since I have had it, it has become a firm favorite and I take it everywhere with me, not just great for keeping my skin refreshed and hydrated, but is a perfect barrier for the days impurities, as well as leaving my skin glowing even after applied to matt makeup.
As you know, I am currently in the midst of redecorating the house and I have totally fallen in love with the new collection at H&M Home, it was just too good not to share with you all.
With LFW just wrapped up, all over the catwalks, we spotted various shades of girlie pink coats and I am totally in love with this faux fur Mango pink coat, perfect for the Autumn months.
I’d love to hear about your week in the comments!
London Mumma xx
The most tremendous day has finally arrived, FRIDAY! And it is time to plan a weekend of bliss, be it a day of relaxing in the house in your favourite pyjamas or venturing to the great outdoors and looking for an adventure, what ever you do make it your own. Today I am sharing with you some much loved Friday Favorites, a round up of what I am loving, from a beautiful store that I have found and decided to make my home, to books, and so much more.
The most beautiful and heavenly store in Hove, Igigi. Whilst roaming for coffee after a day spent on the pebbled Brighton beach collecting seashells and spotting crabs, I was in need of some rich warming coffee to warm up my cockles. They sell everything from home furnishings to the most beautiful natural milk soaps, to coffee and cakes in the upstairs cafe, it is the best place in Hove for a little refuel.
I finally have gotten round to reading a book, yay! With normality setting back in at work and parenting life, I have found some much needed me time be at late at night with my new Utility Design lamp. I am able and divulge into an amazing fictional book, Domina, the right amount of sex, drugs, and murder, which makes for a good night sleep!
My creative juices flowing, thanks to the fabulous blog, A Pair and Spare. I am updating the living room and thought due to it being Autumn to add a little colour, with some new pillows and I thought purple would totally make it pop, but finding it hard to find the right style, but with a little inspo from one of my fave bloggers I can make my own with this handy DIY post.
This gorgeous Ecoya, Lotus Flower candle was gifted to me at a recent press showcase and it is simply divine, I have only used it once and the whole house smelt exquisite. Its scent is a blend of lotus flower, contrasted with deeper shades of vanilla and patchouli a scent and candle that I never want to run out of and will certainly be purchasing.
Let us know what fun things you guys have planned this weekend and what your favorites have been this Friday?
London Mumma xx
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