5 Easy Self Care Moments

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Whether you work full-time, part-time or are a stay at home parent, life can throw a lot at you. 

If you start to feel a little bogged down and that everything is getting a bit much its important to take a step back and have some time to yourself. Maybe act as your own therapist. Being busy and stressed though doesn't always make this easy, so here are five easy self care things to do. Little moments for you.

Have a cup of tea and a slice of cake

Us Brits love our cups of tea and we're fond of a piece of cake too! In times of crisis we often dish out cups of sweet tea, like a band-aid to fix everything, no matter how big of small.

Grofresh Kitchen Garden Update!!!

Gifted

Growing food or herbs at home can be hard if you're limited for space or have no garden at all. It can be even harder in winter! 

BlogOn Toys Goody Bag Haul

Press Trip Gifted

Have you ever wondered what people get in event goody bags?

Maybe you're a blogger and you've wondered whether the hype of the BlogOn goody bags is all it's lived up to be!

Well, now you can find out and as you can see its quite a haul!

September Giveaway!

Many of you will know that I love a good bit of crafting! I'm always conscious though that crafting can be expensive, so I try my best to keep any crafts that I share on my blog as low budget as possible. Luckily, that's something I have experience of from being a Snowy Owl! 

Crafting with little ones is a great way for them (and you) to practice your creative skills. It can also help fill the time on those long parenting days!

This month's giveaway is to help you all get a bit crafty with the kids, as I'm giving away a Giant Box Of Craft from Hobbycraft! 

Dream Home Wishlist - Orangery

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I need to confess something. I have a habit of searching Rightmove and looking at properties I can’t afford. I consider what furniture I’d have and where I’d put it. I pick which bedroom our son will have and check if there’s space for a hot tub. I even check the school catchment areas.

Yes, I realise I may have a problem!

Since going self-employed my secret habit has worsened and spread over into what I watch on TV. I’ve found myself having the TV on in the background and more often than not a property programme is on the screen! Homes Under The Hammer, My Dream Home, reruns of Location, Location, Location are regulars in my viewing!

Now and again I also buy a home and interiors magazine to have a flip through, and again look at things I can’t afford.

Painting With Leaves!

Inspired by our recent Mud and Bloom box we've recently tried painting with leaves! This is another craft that is ideal for autumn, especially with the leaves falling!

Here's our little creation!

Autumn Tealight Holders

Leaf tealight holders seem to have been on Pinterest since it began!! 

I've tried to make them once before with real leaves and it was a disaster! They wouldn't stick and/or fell apart. It was one big sticky mess!

So, when I spotted a pack of fake leaves at The Works I thought I'd give them another go! Here's the results!

Autumn Wreath

I've already mentioned my love of autumn in my last post but in case you missed it I'll tell you again! I LOVE AUTUMN!

The cooler months, the falling leaves, the downward slide into Christmas, I love it!

So many of you loved my Flower Wreath that I thought I'd create another with a touch of autumn! So, here it is!

My Favourite Spooky Movies For Halloween

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The kids are back at school, the weather is cooling and we start to look towards autumn. For me, autumn is one of my favourite seasons, with the other being winter, because, well Christmas!

I love autumn because not only does it bring my birthday and Halloween, it also means its socially acceptable to be inside, snuggled under a blanket, eating yummy treats and watching the TV!

Whether you're the type of person that streams their viewing on a tablet, sticks to Freeview and a standard TV or pays for a subscription service and watches on something fancy, maybe a 4K HDR TV by Panasonic or the like, there's plenty to watch on the run up to Halloween.

Goodbye Preschooler

A few hours ago I made a complete fool of myself on Instagram stories. I cried. A lot. No doubt some people rolled their eyes and skipped passed but for me it was an intimate and vulnerable moment I chose to share.

I hadn't intended to cry. I expected to perhaps feel a little tearful but once I started there was no going back. 

The reason for my tears, tears that I'm still fighting back as I write this hours later, is that my 4 year old son starts school tomorrow and I'm heartbroken.

This is the boy I waited 6 long years for. 6 very difficult, hard, excruciating years for.

How To Get The Best Character Interactions At Disneyland!

Many of you will know that we love Disney! The movies, TV shows, toys, clothes and the parks! We love it all!!

We're incredibly fortunate to have taken our 4 year old son to Disneyland Paris twice but for now our Disney holidays are on hold and we are on the big save to go to Walt Disney World!

It's going to take a LONG TIME but we hope to take him in 3 years, although it's highly likely to be much later than that! 

5 Tips To Prepare Parents For School Life

For us the fun of the school run starts next week but as I recently went self-employed we've got into a bit of a relaxed routine.

Sleeping in later, getting to nursery when we feel like it and faffing around a lot!

We need to be organised and get into a routine! As a family we get a bit lazy and forgetful if we aren't sticking to a plan and schedule, so I'm getting organised ready for commencing the school run next week!

All my other school posts have been about preparing the kids but this post is for preparing us grown-ups! So, here are 5 things you can do to be prepared for school life!

1. Label clothes

Have you been so busy buying uniform and PE kit that you've forgotten the all important labelling? It's not too late! I used a stamp from Stamptastic, which I love but if you've not got time to order one have a look in your local school uniform shops for iron on labels. Many of them offer a service where they'll print your labels whilst you wait. Failing that a simple Sharpie or pen offer a quick fix!

5 Budget Garden Activities

Entertaining children during the school holidays, or anytime for that matter, can be pricey.

If you're on a budget or simply don't fancy the stress of taking the kids out, I've put together five activities that are cheap and entertaining!

So, standby for some budget fun!!!

1. Bubbles

Return To Wray Castle

Unbelievably it's been over a year since we first visited Wray Castle. On our first visit we were really impressed by how child friendly it was. With it's baby and parent room, Peter Rabbit Adventure and soft play, Wray Castle makes visiting a historic place easy.

But nearly two years on does it still offer a happy kid friendly adventure?

Tips On Moving Overseas With Children

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Are you planning on moving abroad in the near future?

There are many different reasons why families decide to move overseas. For some families it's for a better life for the children and for some it's a new job. No matter the reason for moving abroad, the whole process has to be done carefully, especially when children are involved.

Getting Crafty With Printkick

Gifted

Here at Mummy Snowy Owl we love crafting. Whether it be for grown-ups or kids, we love to be creative.

Whether it be making something from scratch or a bit of colouring in we try and put some time aside each day to get crafty.

This isn't always easy though and not everyone wants to start making a spaceship out of toilet rolls when they get home from a day at work. If your budget allows though, the easy way around this is to buy kits and sets to help you get creative.

Places like Printkick offer a wide range of colouring kits including backpacks, fridge magnets and books, as well as mini brain teaser games.

I was recently gifted a box full of their goodies! Take a look at what was inside!  This is just a small sample of what Printkick have to offer.

Bug & Bee Home

Some items gifted for competition entry.

Bees and bugs are important to our gardens. Many of us know that bees help us pollinate our flowers and crops and bugs feed the birds and small animals like hedgehogs.

It’s easy to tempt little creatures into your garden. They simply need a warm and welcoming environment!

This easy to do bug and bee home craft involves recycled and natural items, making it even better for the planet!

How To Bag An Electrical Bargain!

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Making large purchases can be a bit scary, especially when it comes to appliances or technology. There’s a lot to take into consideration and you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the best deal for your money.

Do you want to make sure you’re getting the right item for a decent price? Here’s my top tips!

Decide what you want!

This sounds obvious but if you want a fridge, is that all you want? Do you want a fridge freezer? Do you want an ice maker? If you want a washer, do you want a washer dryer? Should it come with a child lock and a timer?

Making Moving Home A Little Less Stressful

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Are you about to move house? Are you preparing to uproot your entire life and move across a street, town, city or maybe the country to make a new home elsewhere? When you've got a family take care of at the same time though, its a lot harder to do than some people realise, but it doesn't have to be an impossible feat.

Living DNA

Gifted

Family history and your ancestry can open up a door to the past that you didn't know existed. 

Tracking your ancestry through resources like birth, marriages and death records though can be costly and time consuming. You can sometimes only get so far and if you have a common surname there can be some stumbling blocks too! An alternative to the official records is an obituary search, which can often give you more information than just knowing when your ancestor died. For instance, you can find out how they lived, loved, and how they were remembered too. 

This is where DNA testing can help. A simple swab can give you a deep insight into your family tree. Living DNA goes deeper than any other company I've ever come across and can breakdown ancestry to 80 worldwide regions including 21 within the UK. 

Summer Spotters

Here in the UK we have had a super hot summer but the nights will soon start to draw in and the weather will cool. Before the fun in the sun is all over though here's a little activity for the kids, Summer Spotters!

This is an ideal activity if you're going on a long journey or just want something that is free to do! 

So, can you spot the 10 signs of summer?

1. Clear skies and sunshine!

The UK summer isn't all clouds and rain, can you spot a clear sky and sunshine?

Keeping The Cost Of The Family Holiday As Low As Possible

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Summer vacations and holidays with the family are not cheap, are they? 

It's not just the cost of the vacation to think about, but also the spending money for when you are there, the holiday clothes and accessories, as well as the toiletries you'll need.

South Lakes Safari Zoo

Based in Cumbria, South Lakes Safari Zoo offers an experience different to many other zoos! Walk around many areas of the zoo and the animals will walk alongside you! Without fences!!

When we planned our visit to the zoo I wasn't really sure how I'd feel with the animals walking around, especially some of the larger birds and kangaroos, but our 4 year old was really excited about our latest adventure so I just had to be brave! 

Lemon Curd Cupcakes

My husband is a huge fan of lemon cake. Unfortunately though, due to a strange allergy I have, lemon cake is something we rarely have in the house.

Back in May when I attended BlogOn, a bloggers conference, we were gifted a pouch of the Cake Angels lemon icing and when I got home my husband's eyes lit up! He's waited a while but I've finally got round to making some lemon cake!

You'll see from the recipe that there's no lemon zest or juice and that's so I can avoid handling it. I went with lemon curd as an alternative and easy option for lemon flavouring. 

These are the results and according to my husband they are the best cakes I've made! EVER!!! I will admit I had some help from our 4 year old though!

Cost-effective Alternatives To Wood Flooring

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For many people the height of interior design comes with the elegance of wood flooring. Whether you prefer a contemporary style or a more traditional decor for your home, wooden wooden floors can make all the difference.

There's no denying though that buying wood flooring can be very expensive!

3 School Prep Activities

It's already August and the new school year is just around the corner! For many of us it will be the first ever year of education for our children as they head into Reception class.

My last post about getting ready for Reception, Preparing Your Child For School, was quite popular so I thought I'd do another! 

These activities are aimed at helping your little one be ready and maybe a little more confident for starting school.

1. Writing and recognising their name

As I mentioned in my last post, teachers, teaching assistants and nursery staff have all told me that it's ideal if a child can write and pick out their name. That way they can name their work, sign themselves in on a registration board and pick out their school jumper from a pile.

Mud & Bloom

Gifted

With forest schools and mud kitchens, outdoor play is becoming more and more popular. Getting outside in the fresh air can help you get active and encourage creativity in your little ones. 

What if though you struggle with activity ideas? Maybe your outdoor play activities only go as far as mud pies and jumping in puddles in the winter and sandpits and paddling pools in the summer! 

This is where Mud and Bloom can help. 

Sizergh Castle

Nestled in the Lake District, Sizergh Castle is a stunning medieval home and estate maintained by the National Trust. With the Strickland family still resident the property offers a mix of modern and old.

Picking The Perfect Rug

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There's lots of finishing touches when decorating a room that can really complete it. Pictures, photographs, candles, cushions and rugs can all help set the scene for a warm and welcoming home. 

Picking a couple of cushions and framing a few photos is easily done and doesn't involve a huge amount of money but picking something like a rug takes much more consideration.

Rose Gold Letters

After the results of JJ's Marvel letter I've been really tempted to try a more grown up version and with the bedroom makeover on the horizon (yes, its actually happening!) now seems a good time!

As always I'm sharing this with you so you can try it for yourself! These are so easy you will definitely want to!

Penwizard Personalised Books

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We love books, but I'll admit that we love TV too! Combine the two and what do you get?

Well, the team at Penwizard have the answer!

A super cool personalised book with your little one featured in the book as a main character, alongside their favourite TV star! There are lots of characters to choose from including Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig and Ben and Holly! 

I chose Blaze and the Monster Machines! 

5 Family Friendly Things To Do In Lanzarote

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Holidays. Summer Holidays. Laying by the pool with the sun on your skin, chlorine in your hair, relaxing, may sipping a cocktail (or 3) can be amazing. 

One of my favourite holidays was doing just this and is also happens to have been our honeymoon! Our two weeks in Lanzarote were so blissful and holds many happy memories for us.  

We'd love to go back as a family and see what Holiday Gems Lanzarote has to offer. So I've done a little research into the top 5 places to visit in Lanzarote as a family!

1. Aqualava Water Park

Tidy Stuff - The Cupboard Under The Sink!

I don't know about anyone else but the cupboard under our sink is a dark and dreary place. There's things in the wrong place and you can guarantee when you open the cupboard something will fall out and land on your foot!

I've recently mentioned on Instagram stories that I've been getting organised in the kitchen. I've joked that cleaning out two food cupboards has changed my life. I realise this is a little over the top BUT we are no longer routing through the cupboard looking for snacks we haven't got and disappointing the four year old, and we don't find ourselves missing dinner ingredients when we were sure they were there, somewhere behind the 5 bags of flour!

With those now done I decided to tackle the cupboard under the sink and as someone who pours over home organisation on Pinterest, I thought I share what I used and how I got organised!

Grofresh Kitchen Garden - Setting the seeds

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Ever since we took part in a sustainable living program we've been very conscious of waste. We've also wanted to grow our own veg, fruit and herbs but having very clay soil brought that hope to a swift end.

We've just managed to grow some rosemary in a pot but there's been little more success. So, when I was offered the chance to try the Grofresh Kitchen Garden I jumped at the chance!

Hill Top

Regular readers will know that I love a day out! Especially a National Trust one!! On our recent holiday to the Lake District we put our membership to work and visited three places in five days!!

My favourite though has to be Hill Top, the former home of Beatrix Potter. The 17th century farmhouse is a time-capsule of her life and gives a true insight to both Beatrix and her home.

Flower Wreath

Visit any homewares or interiors store, or even an interiors blog, and the chances are you've seen a wreath similar to this one.

The No More Worries Kit

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Growing up should be worry free and full of fun but for more and more children this is simply not the case.

More and more children are suffering from anxiety and have too many worries for their little selves. 

To help children deal with their emotion and worries, and to also open up conversation between parent and child, The Irish Fairy Door Company have created The No More Worries Kit.

Fabric Decoupage Letter

Ever since I first came across Pinterest I've wanted to try decoupage. I've had friends try it with some success but I was really concerned that I'd end up with a Pinterest fail! 

After spotting some wooden letters whilst out shopping and knowing I had the fabric at home, I decided to give it a try, and it was a success!! So I'm going to share with you how I did it. 

Preparing Your Child For School

I know people say time goes quickly, even more so when you have children, but where have the last 4 years gone!

It seems like yesterday that I waddled across the hospital car park, as Daddy carried out new born in his car seat, yet here we are preparing our little one for school!

CanvasChamp

Gifted

Photos. We taken them at any and every opportunity, but how often do you print them off? Frame them?

So many of our memories are stuck on our phones. How many do you flick through and feel a rush of emotion when you see a favourite. I know I do!

We still have pictures from our 2016 trip to Disneyland Paris that we haven't printed off! After our most recent trip I wanted to make sure to print off some of our favourites.

Regular readers will know we've had work done to our house and redecorating our bedroom is the next job. I planning a photo shelf and Disney photo is a must for us! In preparation for our newly decorated room, and as a reminder to the husband to get the paint brushes out, I decided to start picking which photos I wanted.

One of my favourite photos of our latest Disneyland Paris trip is this one.

Fair Squared

Gifted

Soap, shampoos, gels and creams are just some of the toiletries we use everyday. Their daily use is probably something we take for granted, unless of course, you have a problem.

In November of last year, and again this January, I was the person with a problem! On both occasions I had an allergic reaction to shampoo, with each being well known leading brands that I'd used before and boasted about new formulas!

My face was a horrible red colour, like I had severe sunburn, swollen and tight. I was prescribed steroid cream by my GP and swigged antihistamines from the bottle! Not one of my finest moments!

Since then I've avoided anything with a massive amount of chemicals or a formula change and more natural products have become my go-to.

So I've recently tried Fair Squared shampoo, along with their shaving treatments. Fair Squared products are made using fairly traded natural ingredients and are suitable for vegans.