My kids, Oliver (4 nearly 5 and Alexander, 2) have never been the greatest of sleepers (they take after me) but sleep patterns seemed to have gotten worse towards the end of the summer with a serious lack of structure, outbreaks of tonsillitis for my toddler and a period of nightmares (my eldest and I to be honest) pre-school starting!
We were all shattered!
Fast forward to Oliver starting and settling in at school (he's so happy), a more structured routine and a few dietary changes and the boys are sleeping better than ever. So, I wanted to share what has worked for us.
This Sunday I turn 34 and on the 10th my blog turned a whopping 4! Honest Mum was officially born on the 10th of November in 2010 but like to celebrate my very FIRST POST along with my birthday!
I love Manchester, it reminds me of London-vibrant, multi-cultural, eclectic and a friendly city to boot with just so much to do and see for all the family.
A huge fan of the delectably original and beautifully quirky Too Wrapped Up, I wanted to bring you a Christmas competition where a lucky Honest Mum reader could win £55 worth of goodies from them!
The National Media Museum, situated in the heart of Bradford, UNESCO City of Film, frequented often as child, truly contributed to me becoming a filmmaker.
Ok I realise it's a a BIG Hollywood-worthy TITLE, a grand old statement but it's the truth, really-changing my diet has changed my life!
I know, I know, I've written about my relationship and complete and utter love affair with food a lot here (along with sharing my recipes) but hear me out (again) recently I've had an epiphany, a change of heart somewhat, a shake up in my fridge and life.
My work as a professional blogger is so diverse that no day is ever the same and I love it all, firstly documenting our lives as family right here along with my other passions-writing, food, beauty and style.
As a list maker and lover, and sometimes it must be said, forgetter of things I love and need-this week I'm noting all the lovely items we've been sent for review recently that are making me smile!
We're often kindly offered breaks away thanks to this blog here but they're usually a little far for us to head to for a weekend now that Oliver has started school...However, thanks to the lovely The Boy and Me who recommended us to review the Ox Pasture Hall Hotel, we found ourselves not too far from home, in the picturesque seaside town of Scarborough for a gloriously sunny weekend of fresh country air, fine food and family fun!
Yes I'm a full time professional blogger but I'm always learning. Some refer to me as an expert but this is an ever-changing, exciting brave new world so not sure about that but let me tell you, parenting bloggers are HUGELY influential game-changers.
For those who follow my blog, you'll know just how passionate I am about healthy food and snacks for my kids and myself.
I love that this video by Ella's Kitchen has been dubbed a 'Good Snacking Revolution' and is basically a mini picketing demonstration from a bunch of socially conscious tots who are standing up for their right to healthy snacks!
So those reading my blog last week will know, it was a pretty rubbish time for myself and Alexander. A lot of tears were shed (by us both).
The nursery induction was hard going, which is inevitable but it was worse than expected, Alexander was beside himself and despite another session with me, he just wasn't settling, my toddler wasn't ready.
When yoga's not in my life I'll be honest, I feel pretty rubbish, and I did for a lot of the summer- along with eating far too much sugar, I let my exercise routine go to the wayside, I stopped running and yoga and quickly felt the healthy glow diminish along with my energy levels.
