FRAMED - Fia's painting this week

39/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year

Christmas Pudding leggings by Blade & Rose - a review

Have you started a Christmas wish list for your baby yet? Well if you have, and you are looking for something warm yet fun for your own little pudding this festive season, then these adorable leggings ought to be on it!

First ever musing of a 6YO

E: (At the dinner table). I think it would be fun to be a boy. Because of my willy.

Parenting is...

...Giving so much more than love

Sofia you are three...

...it feels like it ought to be more than that - you are and have been, such a big part of our lives. Vivacious and carefree. Independent and strong. Feisty and determined. Funny.

You look so much older. You are tall my girl. Often wearing age four to five year-old clothes since you were two. That athletic build of yours announcing your passion for the outdoors.

Your white blonde locks wind in part over your bright eyes and cheeky grin, and now cascade down your long back. I suppose I ought to cut them again, before you do.

38/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year

Can't believe my little girl is 3!

FRAMED - Birthday cake is a winner!

Fia has had her third birthday party today. She loved every minute of it, and so did I!
Her little face when she saw the cake I had made - well she was astonished. That's because usually, I can only do a Victoria sponge. Oh how magical it would be to be three once again!

FRAMED - hubs in holiday mode

iCandy Emilia East West bag AW2014 - A review

It has been London fashion week after all, so here on the GraceFaith blog, and especially to accessorise with the stylish shoes that Shoe Therapy sent me recently to review, feast your eyes upon one of the collection of brand new baby bags from top Brit baby label, iCandy.

Huh? Baby bag - I hear you gasp, does this mean YOU of all people are having another? God no, don't be silly. As much as I like the ring of a trilogy name wise, Esme Grace and Sofia Faith will remain a further sibling free, and Clementine Hope will remain a figment of my imagination. Come on really... hubby's had the snip - not too mention the fact that I've only just managed to settle into motherhood!

The point is, you don't have to be pregnant, or even a mother, to want to wear one of these baby handbags. This Autumn/Winter 2014 must have, is far more sweet accessory, than it could ever be baby bag. Perhaps that is why iCandy have billed them as a bag collection and not a baby bag collection?

I for one will be wrapping my coffee in the bottle warmer, and stashing my laptop in place of the changing mat before dashing to the office. Yes I already checked. It fits!

Headaches (dim eyes - dimwit)

I'm having them each and every day since I came back to work. That's about ten days now. It's no coincidence that I'm suddenly sat in front of a screen after six weeks of not. Reading and writing. Squinting. So I thought I'd better get my eyes tested - its been a couple of years. And yes, my eyes are actually quite dim. I've ordered a new pair of specs which can't come quick enough. In the meantime, in the process of booking the optician appointment, I told a member of staff that I loved her before hanging up. Not just the eyes then huh?

FRAMED - A beetle in monochrome

37/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year

A brilliant thing we did in the holiday was to visit Farnham's ceramics cafe. 
To avoid disappointment, I'd advise booking your two hour session in advance. 
The session costs £2, and on top of that, you pay for the item your child picks to paint, which can vary between £8 and £16. We highly recommend this great rainy day activity.

Ceramics Cafe - Farnham
13, Downing Street
Farnham
Surrey
GU9 7PB

Tel: 01252 727555

Pink Lining & Shoe Therapy merger results in SHOE ENVY - A review

Adj.1. comfy - providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief - 

Yep, that's right, look again... cute aren't they? What you see before you are the new season's must haves, complimenting your look day or night, they are seriously stylish and super comfy - plus they even come with a health benefit thrown in.

To put the Frankie pumps to the test, I wore them to London for the day and walked my socks off. Actually I wasn't wearing any socks, but it didn't matter, for these happen to be the comfiest pair of shoes I've ever slipped on my feet. Don't believe me? It's all true.

Never before have I put on a pair of shoes for the first time, walked miles in them - around the streets of London no less - and still felt like I could walk further at the end of the day. NEVER. So what's the secret?

Destination Greece: Happily Ever After in Halkidiki - Travel review

EVER DREAMED OF BEING A PRINCESS? At Eagles Palace Hotel & Spa in Greece, a fairy tale holiday unfolds from the moment you open your suitcase.

Expecting a baby? A new parent? Want to know about your rights?

Did you know that workingfamilies.org.uk provide a downloadable maternity calendar, offering info on rights and benefits for mums and dads to be?

For more on this, you can call the helpline on 0300 012 0312.

FRAMED Currently my 1Grace1Faith

Countdown to cupcakes & chaos...

Time to put the party frocks on.
Not sure who is more excited?
Duh...
Obviously it is Daddy.

36/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year

This coming Tuesday, Fia will begin her new routine of two mornings a week, at two different nursery environments. I think she will take it in her stride, as she does pretty much all of life, fortunately.

She had an hour at the new setting yesterday without me. I picked her up to find that she had made a picture for Esme Grace. The love heart is all her own work and quite simply, considering she turned three this week, it took my breath away. Proud Mummy or what?!

Why our nation's children are known as the 'Indoor Generation'

With the summer holidays having just ended, now may well be the exact time to remind families of the importance of spending more time outside, and teaching children to enjoy nature in their own back yard. There are so many benefits to a child being outdoors. 

Shockingly, our nation's 5-8 year-old children are becoming known as the 'Indoor Generation' with so many of them spending far too much time indoors watching TV and playing on computers and tablets, so much so in fact, they lack any basic knowledge about common garden flowers and vegetables. 

Growing flowers QVC Watch Them Grow Kit review (2)

A full on nine out of ten parents surveyed this year• said they had happy memories of spending time in the garden as a child.

I have. And I would like my two daughters to have those sorts of memories too.

New-look Baby London Magazine - have you seen it?

The beautiful new-look issue of Baby London is out now – and for those of you who have not yet seen it, why not click here to preview the digital edition 

Oh my disappointed but frankly bemused 6YO

I wrote the 'Settling into motherhood' feature a few months ago, and since then, it does indeed have to be said that I've settled into motherhood even more.

Get me!

No doubt a good Summer break has helped.

And along with the Summer, having my children turn 6 and 3 has helped.

Although, it would appear I am still a shit mother...

Eating pizza on her birthday, Esme was asked by her good friend Taylor...

'So what did you get from your Mum and Dad?'

And she replied:

'A watch that doesn't work; it has to go back to the shop. And a bike that's too big for me; it has to go up in the loft.'


For the record, Esme and I then both burst out laughing.