Summer Listings

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

In the spirit of easing myself back into blogging I thought I would make one of my absolute favourite things - a list. Oohhheeeeee I love a good list.

(An oldie but goldy)

As I type this it's grey skies and raindrops tickling my windows but with June just a few days away, I'm hopeful for Summer's arrival.

Last year we had an amazing few months. We visited friends, had patio parties and I got really into making cocktails- maybe a little too into it haha. This year, thanks to Sprinkle of Glitter, things are already being put in the diary and fun things are happening around the house. Do you want to hear about them? Hope so because that's kinda where I'm going with this.

June

June is set to be completely manic but I'm itching to go and feeling good about it all. 

I'll be attending Digifest in New York (and standing on stage in front of 10,000 people- oh my!) as well as Vidcon in Los Angeles with my YouTube family. I might also be going to Toronto as well but this is still up in the air because I am weighing it against Mummy/Wifey commitments.

One of my Christmas presents from Miss Zoe was tickets to see One Direction and after weeks of waiting, we're almost there. Outfits have been chosen, travel arrangements have been discussed and lyrics learnt. I don't care how old you are, you can't beat a bit of cheesy pop with your besties!

Renovations are coming along nicely. We recently had decorators in for our hall and landing so feel very swish about this and slowly but surely the office is coming together. We've also shifted things round a bit upstairs so soon we'll have another bedroom which is always handy. My Dad automatically assumed it was for a new baby. Deary me. 

Weather permitting I also want to spend a lot of outdoor time with Baby Glitter. It's good for me to keep up with exercising and I find she is a much happier child when she's had a chance to let off steam and go free in the wild haha. It's also a wonderful opportunity to unplug from technology and really be present with her. 

July

Oh July, what lovely homey things you are set to bring.

We've had a meeting with a landscaper about our perilously boring garden and have designed something a lot better. Think decking, kiddie areas, BBQ zones and outdoor lighting. Fingers crossed construction starts in July and we can party all August long!

Kittens. Yes, you heard it, kittens. I'll say no more. 

I want to spend so much time with my friend's Mark and Clare in July. Clare is a Teacher so will hopefully have some free time and I will be in the country and taking a breather so I want to just hang about with her, sipping drinks, nibbling chinese takeaway and chatting about everything and nothing. She's good for my heart I think. 

I also want to take Darcy for ice creams and on country side adventures galore. 

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Writing all that out has been like therapy. I can't wait. 

What are you excited for this Summer? Do you have any good suggestions for things I could do (and share on here afterwards?)

Toodlepip! 

xx

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Summer Listings

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

As the shops start to stock Autumn clothing and the nights draw in, it has occurred to me that Summer is on it's way out and cooler months are approaching.

Before the Summer fully ends, I would like to complete a bucket list of sorts with my little Baby Glitter so ensure we get the very most out of this hazy season. Since you know I love a good list, I thought I'd share with you. 

Before the Summer ends I want to ::

Paint her finger and toe nails matching and walk barefoot on grass.

Eat ice cream outside in the evening.

Take her Summer photos.

Make a daisy chain crown.

Film a toddler Summer lookbook. (Might be pushing it)

Take her tricycle to the park.

Have a summer evening walk in golden light.

I am going to work really hard to achieve these over the next week because to me, once September hits, it's Autumn. 

I am so enjoying making the most out of every season. What have you enjoyed most about this Summer?

Toodlepip!

xx

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Zoe, Heatwave and Hedgehogs

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Last week Matt and I took a little road trip to visit our best friend Zoe. Since we have the space and the babsicle, she usually comes over to us, but since Matt has started his summer holidays now, it seemed like to perfect opportunity to explore her neck of the woods. 

Heatwave = sunscreen. 

We drove down to a little village where we had a super relaxed lunch in a shady pub garden and Darcy made friends with kiddies, wandered round quaint shops, got way too excited noted that parts of Harry Potter had been filmed there, played in the playground and bought a crazy amount of ice lollies- Zoe likes Zapps. 

After the boiling heat had hit us all we mooched about in Zoe's garden, filled up the paddling pool, played inside, watched films, ordered pizza, listened to Darcy sing us countless song (to which we had to cheer and clap for every single one) and fed the hedgehogs who have taken up residency on the Zoella estate.

We left about 10.30pm, got home shattered but happy at 1am and felt glad for the time and friends we have.

Lazy days with loved ones are to be cherished.

What would your ideal summer day include? Share and inspire in the comments. 

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Toodlepip!

xx

Playing with Chalk | Baby-Toddler Ideas

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

As the Summer draws on and Darcy becomes more and more active, we are increasingly looking for fun, easy things to do. 

My criteria for at home fun is always- easy to prepare, interesting and affordable. 

Drawing with chalks is all three- woop!

Whilst in IKEA a few months back, we bought a pack of chalks on a bit of a whim. Darcy has only recently started showing an interest in crayons so I they were a bit of a gamble. Since Spring (when these pictures were taken, hence the wellies and coat), we have been spending a lot of time outside, renovating our overgrown, crappy backgarden. Whilst we chop and dig and moan about the hard work (mostly me!), Darcy potters about on the raised patio area playing.

We introduced the chalks to her thinking she wouldn't bother but we couldn't have been more wrong! She played for agggggeessss. And by 'aaggggesss' I mean over 10 minutes, which is like 4 years in Tot-Terms. 

As you can see, I was pretty enthralled too. 

I love, love, love the 'naughty' element of not using paper and the fact that with the rain the pictures will be gone.

Since we took these snaps Darcy has decorated the outside bricks and we have bought and installed an outdoor blackboard with holders for her colours, which she LOVES. You might have seen it on Instagram if you follow me over there. 

So there you have it, an easy toddler activity that costs nada (providing you have the chalks in of course) and is completely fuss free! 

Last year we did THIS and THIS, so if you have teeny tiny ones, they might be worth a read. 

What do you do in the Summer to keep kiddies occupied? What did you enjoy doing as a little one? I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments. 

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Toodlepip!

xx

Flamingos and Floaty Skirts

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Last week Darcy and I pootled off on an adventure to Coton Manor Gardens with my Auntie Rose, or 'Wose' as Baby Glitter calls her. 

In a nutshell, Coton Manor is a gorgeous ye olde house with the most beautiful gardens you have ever seen- and I'm not even an outdoors kinda gal. With secret ponds and water features, statues, windy paths, herb gardens, ornamental birds, pigs, horses, bluebell woods, and a stable yard cafe, it's just idyllic. 

As you walk around, the animals just wander free like something out of a film. You can stand right next to flamingos, have afternoon tea with a parrot and watch as a mummy mallard and her tiny ducklings scuttle passed your feet. Darcy thought it was all brilliant. 

I didn't think I was going to be that bothered by the place and partly just agreed to go to take an interest in my Auntie Rose's pursuits but I'm SO glad I did. It's so easy to be swept up in the hustle and bustle of life and work and chores, but to step away for an afternoon and wander around a peaceful, tranquil place where everything seems so relaxed, was just bliss. 

The other part of deciding to go was because I thought it might make an interesting blog post for this week's Friday lifestyle feature so I suppose I have you lovely lot to thank. If I didn't have this blog and hadn't starting doing a weekly lifestyle thing then I might've missed out.

I think this is a lovely place to go with people or on your own with a book or just to sit and contemplate a little. It was like a mixture of The Secret Garden and Alice In Wonderland. 

Have you been here or anywhere like it before?

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Toodlepip!

xx

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Looking Ahead

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

With Spring blooming and the promise of Summer on the horizon, we're all getting pretty excited around here.

(Darcy last year in her first pair of proper shoes and thrifted dress. Love this little outfit)

Last year was my second Summer with Darcy but my first being really confident as a Mother. The first was sleepless nights and long days learning a lot. In 2012 things were a lot more fun with trips to Liverpool, days out, Darcy's first steps, cutie games and a lorra lorra personality!

This year I want things to be just as brilliant, if not more. I'm seriously excited!! Since I have a deep and weird love for list writing, I thought I would share some things I have been daydreaming about recently. 

To Do This Summer

Tea Parties in the sunshine. Darcy is in love with her little tea set (she has three infact!) and likes to bring me little cups of imaginary tea and cake when I'm working. We've never taken them outside but I'm looking forward to it.

Making Daisy Chains. A little crown of flowers in those sweet curls would be just too precious. 

Walking on the Beach. Matt's parents live really close to a gorgeous sandy beach and I can't wait to feel the sand between my toes, collect driftwood and search for shells.

Dress Up. I can't help but buy Darcy a million sweet dresses. We're just waiting for some warmer weather to model them all. 

Projects. I have an old piece of furniture that I have been wanting to sand and paint for months now but want to do it as a family activity on my patio.

Iced Drinks at Starbucks. Yes, I know it's a huge commercial chain but I really bloomin' love it. 

Park Hopping. My friend Marie told me about this. You basically jump in your car and visit as many playgrounds as possible. Big fun!

Liverpool. My old university city will always hold a special place in my heart and every time I visit I love it just a little bit more. I want it to be special to Darcy too, she's half scouse after all. 

Wicksteed Park. This is an old amusement park/adventure playground/scenic area/arcade type place that my parents took me to when I was little and their parents took them too. I want to continue the chain and tell Matt and Darcy all my childhood memories.

Friends! This is a biggie. Last Summer I had some BRILLIANT days with different friends and I want more and more and more of those. I could do a whole blog post on all the highlights from last year, but this is not the time. Our life is so enriched by the friends we have in it and we want to nurture and enjoy those friendships even more.

Gardening. I've talked about this before but I want to really make our garden a space to enjoy. As well as taming the bushes and plants, I'd like to add a trampoline and a hammock. We've already added a water table which Darcy loves and I will share with you soon. 

OOTDS. With Summer comes lovely floaty dresses, bright colours and fun accessories. I've had quite the wardrobe revamp so would like to document some of the outfits I wear. 

MeetUps. Vidcon and Summer In The City are both happening this August and I can't wait to attend both. SITC was one of the most surreal and fun experiences of my 2012 so I have a lot of expectations for it!

Enjoy local things. I live in a really nice area (I think anyway) and I love all the little things about it. I love my neighbours, the corner shop, the local green spaces and all the trees we have around. This summer I'm going to really appreciate the place in which I live.

And that just about wraps things up. 

What are you looking forward to this summer? I feel so excited for life at the moment, I wish I could bottle this feeling and share it with you.

:: Some of my favourite Summer 2012 posts ::

Two Weeks Too Fast

Curvy OOTD Bright White

Love Your Library

The People Online

How To Be Invited To Blogger Events

(That last one isn't summery but I wrote it in the summer and was pleased as punch with it)

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Toodlepip!

xx

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