ENGLISH MUM

Juggling a new baby and a tight budget can be a delicate balance.  When you shop at Boots.com, you’ll find exclusive online offers on the biggest Mother & Baby brands, along with helpful advice and children’s health news to help you every step of the way.  Parenting Club members also get 10 Advantage Card points for every pound spent, so new parents can make the most of their budgets and stretch...

Whether it’s the kids’ old school reports, their football kit, your collection of shoes or even just the bathroom towels, adequate storage is essential in any home.  Just about everything needs a place to live, and good storage solutions are even more important for busy families. Living areas Whether it’s your family room, dining room or games room, communal living areas always need good storage....

In my opinion, one of the best things about travelling is the food that comes with it.  I’m sure I’m not alone in my view of the importance of good food while travelling to new destinations. I recently took a trip to San Francisco.  Quite far from home, I was excited for this mini-vacation for many different reasons, but the main reason was to attend a wedding.  While the day that ran long into...

In recent years, the trend has always been to go somewhere else on holiday and to leave the UK behind. The logic is clear – head anywhere south of the UK and you’re more likely to get sunshine, and sunshine really can make a good holiday great. But by doing so, we’re missing out on a lot of amazing holidays that we could be having in the UK – the kind of holidays you probably enjoyed as a child.  Traditional...

Finally, the sun’s out, and we’re all clamouring to be outside again.  Last week, Charlie went to his friend’s barbecue. They had the most amazing time: a day in the sun with loads of friends that they’ll probably remember for a long time to come.   The biggest surprise hit of the day?  A trampoline.  Yup, a party with a big bunch of 15 year olds all leaping around on a trampoline....

I have never been that worried about my looks or how in “shape” I am until recently.  I have been spurred on by my children to make sure that I stay healthy for their sake.  There are a lot of people who would say that I am just fine the way I am and to be honest, I agree.  However, there are little things that I can do to make myself just a bit healthier.  I found some Athleta coupons to buy...

So you might remember a little while back (actually 2009, can you believe it?) that Evian produced a really clever video with some really cute babies performing some pretty epic roller skating stunts to ‘Rapper’s Delight’.  The video was a huge success and went viral, even entering the Guinness Book of Records as the most viewed online advertisement of year. They’ve now, frankly, excelled...

The town of Sorrento lies on a peninsula just north of Italy’s sparkling Amalfi coast, and makes a beautiful backdrop to a family holiday in the sun.  All the traditional Italian charm, historic sites and scented citrus groves will please the adults, while kids will love exploring the region by boat and train, discovering the story of Pompeii and sampling the local gelato.  Here’s a brief guide...

Malaga at night by Andor Malaga and its surrounding resorts has long been a favourite holiday location for travellers from all over Europe and beyond. It’s not surprising that Malaga airport is one of the busiest in Europe, with passengers flying in to stay at the nearby resorts of Torremolinos, Marbella, and Fuengirola. The warm, sunny climate and wide array of tempting beaches, bars and restaurants make...

“Are we nearly there yet?”  It’s the question that every parent dreads hearing on a long journey, and it invariably comes just a short time into the trip.  The answer to keeping family stress levels low on journeys, and avoiding a chorus of “I’m bored!” from the back seat of the car, is to plan ahead.  Putting strategies in place to keep the kids entertained avoids the potentially dangerous distractions...

Superdry My boys are massive fans of Superdry clothes.  Their jackets (why is it so difficult to persuade teenagers to wear coats?) are brilliant quality.  Current discounts from Superdry include a free delivery code and also a next day delivery for £3.95 – handy if you’re in a hurry.  There’s also 10% off your first online order if you go through the mydeals.com site. Housetrip.com Housetrip.com...

Kids today seem to have a natural affinity with technology. They’re surrounded with it as they grow up; the fast-paced change and development of new apps, gadgets and ways of doing things often seems like a natural process to the younger generation. If technology leaves you baffled or you constantly find yourself asking the kids how to do something on the computer, it might be time to take some tips to...

I’m almost loathe to type this, as some of the country is still swathed in snow.   I do wonder if people will throw things if I suggest getting out and about with the kids?! Still, Lands’ End have challenged me to seek out a few days out for Easter, so let’s be positive and hope that this wintry weather will soon be behind us and we can finally get to experience a bit of spring!   If not, I can recommend...

Oh this did make me chuckle.  I love Center Parcs and they’ve just gone up about a gazillion times in my estimation by publishing this: a Dictionary of the Teenage Slanguage.  Next time your tame teenager describes something (or indeed someone) as ‘blates dench’, you won’t have to scratch your head or resort to Urban Dictionary (be REALLY careful on there, by the way), you can just...

Got a family?  Gone are the days when you could choose a car for its style, engine power or even a particularly fetching shade of blue.  Having a family to transport changes your outlook entirely when it comes to owning a vehicle and there are often so many requirements it sometimes seems impossible to find a car to meet all of them.  However, by following these general guidelines and conducting your own...

I’d love to know how many families now have a tablet of some sort in their homes.  Before we had our Xperia™ Tablet, well, I suppose we had a phone for talking to people (we don’t bother with a home phone any more), when I went on holiday I’d lug a big bag full of books and magazines with me to read on the plane and on my sunbed, I watched the news on the television, and took photos with...

Half-term is always a funny time when deciding what to do with the kids – not long enough to warrant a flight and a holiday miles away, but too long for a couple of days out to sustain their interest and your sanity! Determined to get away from London, after much planning and plotting, we eventually looked towards Scotland, our beautiful northern neighbour – a perfect choice as, although it was nearer than...

Before we had children we used to try and see the world whenever our working lives would allow.  My then boyfriend (soon to be lucky husband) and I enjoyed trips to the exquisite beauty of Kenya, nights out dancing in New York, and alone I travelled round the breathtakingly evocative scenery of Costa Rica, seeing sights that I will always carry with me. Then our three lovely children came along, and holidays...

There is something about buying seasonal food that creates an idyllic image of long country walks followed by cooking in a farmhouse kitchen, complete with a range cooker and a Collie dog asleep in the corner. Despite the fact that living in a city flat with no pets means that no matter how much seasonal food I buy this idealised image will not become a reality, there are still many benefits of purchasing and...

If you’re feeling exhausted from work and the cold weather, then it’s time to give yourself the break you rightfully deserve. Take some time off to recharge your spirits and bring vibrancy back into your life by going to a far away land that offers not just the sun and the sea, but also a glimpse into unknown cultures and traditions.  Recent years have shown that tourists are foregoing the chance...

I’m not big on going out.  I’m happier in my own home with a few friends.  I’m a bit of a wuss, really, when it comes to going out: I don’t like crowds, hate fighting my way to the bar, don’t really like drunk people and am a complete baby about catching taxis or, worse, having to get a train at night. No, I’m far more at ease with a girl’s night in.  My friends are...

Taking the whole family away can be an expensive hobby, but it is an important part of family life.  When I nostalgically think back to my childhood, the things I remember most are holidays away with my entire family, both in the UK and abroad. My memories are filled with laughter and lots of fun-filled activities with my parents and siblings. Vacations tend to be the perfect stress buster and certainly that...

We love Pancake Day.   With two teenagers in the house, we tend to dispense with any form of dinner and just move straight on to the pancakes. If you’re watching the calories after the excesses of Christmas, you might be interested in this little beauty, sent to me by Jenny Craig.  I tried the recipe and I have to say, it works really well: If you’re going for savoury pancakes, remember that...

Today, more and more tech devices are targeted at our children’s education and reading skills are high on the agenda. A core part of their learning and development, here is a brief look at some of the best reading tools to help your kids master their ABCs. PocketPhonics This app is for pre-school and kindergarten aged children and focuses on the fundamentals of literacy. It teaches children to recognise the...

Let’s face it: money’s tight.  We’re all pulling in our belts a bit, and I think everyone’s a little bit more careful.  Often the first things to go are the ‘luxuries’ like holidays.  I can remember when it was a yearly practice for us to pop into the travel agent on the high street (those were the days) to sort out our holiday for the year, be it a Christmas/New Year splurge...