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Mamma Fairy

Home & Interiors

Lights, Camera, Action….

Lights, Camera, Action or not as the case may be!! I know you are probably totally fed up of hearing about our renovation woes! We are very much nearing completion with the bulk of the structural work completed.  While we have had disagreements over some of the larger elements of this project a serious bone of contention has become the interior details and most specifically the lights/lighting.

I quite literally spend hours turning off lights in our house. The Dada Fairy and the kids cannot seem to master the art of turning off the light when they leave the room.  The house was completely wired in the new and the Dada Fairy insisted on tonnes of lighting both inside and outside. My neighbour was only half joking when he said to my husband one day you wont be happy until the house is visible from space!!

Who knew  choosing light fittings would be so difficult. We are poles apart in terms of what we like. He likes the almost industrial vibe im more in favour of warm cosy type fittings. He wants tonnes of light in rooms. I can see where he is coming from as living at the end of a hill our house can be quite dark.

lightbulb

Pic Credit: Pixabay

For me however lights are a lot more than just that, lighting can transform a room. Also for me the energy efficiency of the bulbs is key. Our bills previous in Winter could top 300 however after the initial outlay on the LED bulbs we have noticed a marked improvement.  Our November/ December bill for last year was only 120 for 2 months.  For us it has been totally worth the initial outlay. Once we have all in place, ill be looking into the smart home features like the Philips Hue. My sister has this and finds it brilliant.  Being able to turn on and off lights from an app on your phone, no more running after the boys to turn off lights!!

Because my husband often works from home, he is very aware of the lighting needs in areas of the house, for example task based lighting, ambient lights and general lighting.   Who knew there was so much to consider!

One other item that I was indifferent about was a sensor light out in the garden.  This has been a great addition as it illuminates the area very quickly.  As we are often away the motion sensor light is another device which will hopefully help protect the house for unwanted guests! While no light will keep a thief out it will hopefully create the illusion that somebody is home. Separate to that, its great when you pull up outside late in the evening the drive is lit up instantly.

If you do have any pictures of your inside lights I would love to see them. I have been searching on line for weeks now for inspiration but we still cant agree. We are getting there though and when we do ill be sure to update this article.

 

Home & Interiors

How to Choose a Rug that Perfectly Matches Your Flooring

Looking to buy a rug but are unsure of where to start? The first thing to consider is how well it matches your floor. When you find a nice match, the entire room looks so much better, with improved décor that really enhances the space and works well together.

Yet it’s not easy to find the right rug for every floor. Many assume you only use rugs on laminate flooring, but rugs work amazingly well on virtually every type of flooring – even carpets! So, it’s important to think about the type of flooring you have and how to find a rug that matches it well.

Going to a reputable well known company such as Rug Shop Nottingham is a good starting point as experts on hand can answer a lot of the key considerations and queries you might have.

There are a few things to consider, with size and shape being obvious places to start. However, to ensure you get the perfect match for your flooring, you want to think about a few more things, including the colour and pattern and how it works with the floor.

Other important considerations to make include the texture and overall style of the rug – choose wrongly and the rug won’t look that great at all.

Check out this infographic from Land of Rugs for all the help you need to choose a rug that perfectly matches your flooring! Land of Rugs have also kindly offer 10% of code for Mamma Fairy readers simply input blogger01 at the checkout.

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Musings

My Untold Story

This story was prompted by a video I saw recently, talking about Untold Stories. I have a story quite similar, but I was almost afraid to share it  as I though my story isn’t about overcoming adversity, or  health issues or traumas.

My story is old school romance that would warm even the coldest of hearts.  There are people in this world who leave a lasting impression where ever they go and with whomever they meet.  This story is about two of those people.

Take a seat! Make a cuppa and grab some tissues.

Ill set the scene – its the early 1950s bad boy meet upper class girl, girls family disapprove. Bad boy gets the hint and runs away to the Navy.  Lets roll on five years.  Bad boy returns to his old stomping group and bumps into said girl. She is upset, very upset. She was engaged to be married the following month. She had just found out her husband to be had a gambling problem and had just sold the furniture of the house they had planned to move into when they got married to pay his debts. She was distraught.  She is comforted by bad boy, two years later they were married and thus began one of the most romantic love stories.

So who are they? They are my dads parents my Nannie and Granada. Their remarkable love story doesn’t end there.

They were the epitome of the popular hash tag used today of “couple goals”. My Granada had a deep love and respect for my Nannie that reflected in everything he did. She got breakfast in bed  almost every morning, her toast cut just the way she liked it.  He opened doors, he pulled out chairs, a gentleman through and through.  If my two boys grow up to respect woman even half of what he did ill know I did my job well.

Lets jump to the 1980s their two kids grown up and married themselves (one being my own dad). The house now empty except when the growing number of grandchildren come to visit to be utterly spoilt.  One morning my Nannie was outside cleaning as she would have done probably every day, she was incredibly house proud. You could have ate your dinner off the glistening floor.  However this day was different, having finished clearing the back garden she looked down and her wedding ring was gone.  She always took off her engagement ring for safe keeping when she was cleaning but never her wedding ring.  In fact she often said she never took it off from the minute my Granda put it on her finger when saying their vows all those years ago. But it was gone. She was utterly distraught.  My Granda searched, the neighbours searched but it was not to be the ring was gone. My Granda bought a replacement ring a couple of months later.  While my Nannie wore it everyday it just wasn’t the same for her. She always believed she would find her wedding ring, countless hours weren’t spent over the next few years looking for it out the back garden in the vain hope her instinct was right.  When she told the story I used to remark she would say the ring was misplaced – not lost, just misplaced.

Ten years later and my Grandas world came crashing down, my Nannie, his beloved wife passed away. I was only young yet I remember it like it was yesterday. My Granda gave me the locket that he gave her before they got married, the date of July 1956 inscribed on the front and black and white pictures of my grandparents when they were 21.  That is my most treasured possession.

holding hands

Pic Credit: Pixabay

From memory it was about two years later when my Dad came running in from the hall way after being on the house phone. My Granda had been out cleaning the shores in his back garden that had become blocked and had found my Nannies wedding ring.  That same shore my Nannie had cleaned multiple times over the previous ten years. None of us could believe it but she was totally right all along, it was never lost, just misplaced.  For a ring that had spent ten years lodged in an outside drain it was still in almost perfect condition.   I actually have tears in my eyes just thinking of this story again.

The ring had been sitting in a little crack just below the shore in their back garden all this time, it was like something out of  movie. It was like a dark cloud lifted from my Granda and from that house that they spent so many happy years.  That was the turning point, he knew then everything was going to be ok.  She was watching over him. He guarded that ring with his life from that point on ward.

My Granda, my best friend passed away in 2015.  I have written about him before.  He was the kind of man that left a lasting impression wherever he went. What I would give for five minutes more.  Maybe one day who knows.  As I write this post that ring that has been on quite the adventure sit proudly on my right hand where it will forever stay until I can pass it to the next generation. That ring could tell some stories…

When my Granda died a good friend bought me a  necklace with the words “Miss me but let me go”, my Grandas last words to me were not to worry that he was ready to go that he lived his life and I was to make sure i did too…….I do try to follow these words…… the missing you is easy its the letting go that will never be.

 

I guess there is a lesson for us all there.  Life is to be lived – there is no trial run, no second chance.

 

 

 

Reviews for Mama & Babas

Meegos – The new collectable in town??

My kids like most kids their age love collectable items. They will collect pretty much anything from cards, to pencil toppers to their latest TV favourites and everything in between.  Don’t get me wrong I don’t mind buying them for my kids of course they want to join in the fun at the school yard. However perhaps its the Accountant in me or something but im always searching for that added value.  I realise im fortunate enough to be sent lots of bits and pieces to review some we love some we don’t but these little guys really got my attention and thats not just because they are super adorable.

What are Meegos?

crochet dog toys

Our collection of Meegos

Meegos are crochet dogs handmade in Bangladesh (yes you read that correctly), each one is handmade. That is so impressive.  Behind these adorable pups is a co op of workers in over 200 villages creating an incredible 4,000 jobs for women.  The organisation is non profit fair trade organisation adding a superb ethical dimension to any purchase. I really love this.

The Meegos come in two sizes a 5inch Meego and a mini Meego which is 2inches.  They take five and 1.2 hours respectively to make.  When you actually hold them you can really see the quality of the workmaship.

 

The collection

mini crochet teddies

All the Mini Meegos to collect

The collection is made up of 6 different Meego dogs and 12 mini Meegos. The mini Meegos are blind boxed – making it fun to find which one you have got. There is an associated website – http://mymeegos.com where you can find out lots more about these guys from personality traits to favourite food.  The website link is a nice touch and definitely engaged my oldest.

You can see from the picture of the box opposite all the different characters to collect. Our Meego is called Duke and we happened to get mini Meego Duke also however the Nana Fairy seems to have taken possession of him! I cant blame her, he is pretty adorable!

 

This current rage is quite literally just hitting the shelves and will be followed later in the year by series two featuring Wild Animals. You can purchase these little cuties in selected Sainsburys and Debenhams stores.

Note: We were sent a selection of the above to review however all opinions as always remain mine or the boys where appropriate.
Reviews for Mama & Babas

Some Star Wars Porg Lovin’!

My oldest loves Star Wars and with all the hype surrounding the latest in the series and being that bit older now he is really into it.  We were sent two adorable Star Wars characters for the boys to review. The owl like guys are known as Porgs and they first appeared in the new Star Wars Movie: The Force Awakens so very topical.

Star Wars Porgs

Just look at those eyes!!! Pic: The Mamma Fairy Blog

I had to ask my better informed brother in law about these cute and cuddly Porg creatures! I am reliably informed that the Porg characters in the film have become somewhat of an internet sensation due to how cute and cuddly they are.  He reckons commentators were saying they were the real stars of the film!  I also believe they were inspired by the puffins that live on Skellig Michael in Kerry, where the final scenes of The Forces Awakens were shot. How cool is that.

We were sent two of them the 10 inch tall version and the keyring sized one. My oldest immediately nabbed the bigger and the little guy took the keyring one and utterly adorably they claim they represent each other the big and small one.

If you have a Jedi in your house we can definitely recommend these guys. The fur is so soft and the character very true to life as they are in the film. My oldest has him sitting on his bed every night since they joined the Mamma Fairy house.

The lovable character is made of super soft fur and is 10″ tall, making him a real collectable item for any little Jedi Masters like my pair! The little guy is about 7cm and ideal to clip on school or sports bag.

 

Note: We were sent the Porgs to review however all views are mine or my boys were appropriate.

 

Brilliant blog posts on HonestMum.com

Mamma Reviews

The Golden Rules For Amassing an Antique Watch Collection

We are collectors by nature, and millions of people around the world spend their leisure time collecting various items. Collecting can be very addictive, with many people who spend their entire life building up an impressive collection, and obviously, collections like these increase in value over time. While financial gain might not be the main goal, it is nice to know that one day, your efforts could be handsomely rewarded should you ever decide to sell the collection. It might be beermats, stamps, vinyl records, or even antique watches, and with that in mind, here is some very useful information for those who are looking to start collecting antique watches.

Love to Learn

If you have decided that beautiful antique watch your partner bought you for your birthday is the start of a new passion, it makes sense to learn what you can about these precision made timepieces, and the Internet is the perfect platform for doing just that, with many websites that are dedicated to providing information about all aspects of antique watches.  It is also worth bearing in mind that collecting antiques watches may require some upkeep and maintenance and therefore it is important to know where to purchase a suitable watchmaker tool  if you do in fact need one.   If you would like to browse an extensive collection of antique watches, check out https://www.kalmarantiques.com.au/, where you can find many fine examples of antique and vintage watches. The knowledge you gain will prove invaluable as time goes by, and if you are passionate about antique watches, you will naturally want to learn as much about the hobby as possible.

Define Your Focus

Antique watches are a very wide scope, and most collectors will focus on one manufacturer, or type of watch, such as fob, pocket, or wristwatch, and by defining your collection at the very outset, you are eliminating the need to look at anything else. There are many different categories of antique watches, so you need to spend some time deciding which category you will target which will get you started on a firm path.

Go With Your Emotions

Let’s be perfectly honest about this, antique watches are not cheap, and whatever items you acquire will be with you for most of your life, and for this reason, you should only invest in watches that take your fancy. There’s little point in collecting for the sake of numbers, so make sure your collection is filled with quality timepieces that strike a chord with you.

Buy The Best You Can Afford

Whenever you are in a position to add to your collection, always try to purchase something in the upper price range, and never forget that a high-priced item is likely to increase in value more than a cheaper model. Be patient when searching, and by using an online jeweller, you have access to a larger collection, and if you strike up a relationship with one, you can ask them to search for specific items on your behalf. A jeweller is much more likely to find a specific make and model than any collector, and with their help, you will always be happy with your next purchase.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Features

How to dress your kids for all summer occasions

kid clothes

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Summer is fast approaching — and as a parent, you have a responsibility to make sure that your kid is the most stylish on the block. With your diary full of summer events and escapades, it’s your duty to plan outfits in advance so that your little one can rock up to any event feeling like a million dollars.   However, dressing your little boys and girls for different activities throughout the summer can be challenging. Whether you’re on the guestlist to a fancy wedding or have planned a little trip abroad — we’ve teamed up with River Island to bring you this life-saving style guide for all occasions.

Summer Weddings

Styling your little ones for a wedding was once quite restrictive, but not anymore. Forget finding the perfect suit — there are plenty more child-friendly options. You know your child better than anyone else and it’s guaranteed that they’ll be on the dancefloor all night long — so make sure they’re comfortable!

Boys

Summer weddings make for the perfect opportunity to experiment with your little man and create a versatile outfit for both the day and evening event. Make a bold statement with a white shirt that includes bright and colourful prints — such as tropical leaves. Then, match with a sage green blazer jacket that will complete the outfit for the daytime ceremony but can later be removed for the afterparty when your child gets too hot from running around.

Pick a light pair of chino-styled bottoms and go with a beige or grey colour — however, we recommend staying away from white to avoid any of those notorious spill stains that might appear throughout the night. The options are endless when it comes to your child’s footwear, too. Go for loafers that match the blazer or white laced-up trainers to create that pristine look.

Girls

Make your little girl stand out from the crowd with a bright print, double ruffled Bardot dress that is suitable for both the daytime ceremony and evening event — removing the need to conduct a quick outfit change on the big day. Bardot dresses will allow your child to feel like a true princess, with the freedom to run around playfully and not feel restricted in the slightest! Pair this with chunky sandals or backless plimsolls to highlight that summer-fun vibe!

Alternatively, you could mix and match products to create that one-off look for your daughter and make her feel on top of the world. Tiered frill cami tops are essential for any wedding in the summer — and we recommend choosing a pretty pastel shade to complement a spring-summer vibe. Partner with light blue, wide leg jeans to help show off those buckle, block-heel sandals. Then, add the finishing touches of the outfit by letting your little one model a white straw sunhat with a yellow ribbon as well as yellow tinted oval sunglasses to give off that retro style.

Beaches Abroad

beach in Portugal

Pic Credit: Mamma Fairy Blog Location: Alvor Portugal..

Mastering beachwear for your child can often seem like an impossibility as a parent — you want to be prepared for all scenarios such as your little one climbing the rocks, swimming in the ocean or being buried deep in the sand.

Boys

The number one rule to dressing your little one when abroad is to stay away from black clothing, as you don’t want your child to feel too hot. Let your little boy channel his inner sailor by ordering a light blue striped shirt which should be left unbuttoned to create that effortlessly stylish effect — also allowing him to take it off easily when he wants to venture into shallow water.

Match the shirt with a pair of printed trunks that allows him to show off his child-style status. For footwear, you have two options — pair with traditional boat shoes or nostalgic jelly cage sandals. Now it’s time for accessories and there are a few key things that you should have in mind: shades and sunhats!

Girls

It’s important that your little girl feels comfortable on the beach. So, before you buy, ask her what type of swimwear she would like — a tankini, bikini or a swimsuit? Whatever she chooses, we have the lowdown of the type she needs to feel like a fashion star in the making. All three swimwear types should be bright in colour and could even include a graphic such as “LOVE” or “QUEEN” to help boost self-confidence on the beach.   Trapeze girls’ dresses are must-haves when you go to the beach, as it allows your little one to cover up when lounging on the sand and keeps the sea wind at a minimum — which is vital after coming out of the cold water on to hot land. Pair with light, double-buckled sandals or jelly wedges then add cat-eye shades and an elegant beach hat.

Family excursions

It’s always difficult to decide how to dress your children for family get-togethers — do you stick with formal or turn up with informal attire? We’ve come up with the perfect balance for both your little boy and little girl, so that you don’t have to decide!

Boys

Let your boy rock the cool-dude look with a faux-suede biker jacket that will add an element of sophistication to your family gathering. Keep it unzipped so that you can show off a dark printed short-sleeved shirt that sits underneath — be adventurous with the design, whether this is flocking birds or waves of the ocean.  Go with light-blue tapered jeans to tuck the shirt into and a buckled belt to match the jacket to create that suave, mini gentleman look. Don’t forget that black leather plimsolls are in for the season — and it’s your boy’s chance to add a touch of informality to a formal escapade.

Girls

Your little girl must have a faux-suede waterfall jacket in her wardrobe, and pairing it with a light lace top makes for both a wonderful yet powerful combination that will surely get family members talking. Whatever colour her jacket is, you must go for a light tone underneath to enhance the elegance of the outfit.   When it comes to bottoms, go for light, tie-waist tapered trousers that allow room for comfort during all occasions. However, that’s not all! Your little girl needs a chain trim captain’s hat, a chain bucket backpack and some cork sole sliders to match!

How will you be dressing your child this summer?

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Musings

Easter Hols time for some de-stressing!!

There is something about the Easter holidays above any other time of the year that means I can actually relax and de stress.  It really is a rarity for me, two young kids, a full time job together with the blog, time off is a precious commodity. I vowed earlier this year that I would make more time for me and more time to relax and de stress.  This has been happening with mixed levels of success.

Rattan Direct have produced a useful guide with tips to help us to destress at home.  The guide talks about the Danish concept of Hygge. Believe it or not I have only been introduced to this concept in recently months. I’ve obviously been living under a rock or something as this seem to me anyway to be really popular.

I am reliably informed Hygge is pronounced hue-guh not hoo-gah and  is a Danish word used to refer to or a conscious appreciation or feeling of content.  Sounds exactly like something we all need.  Basically you don’t buy a Hygge piece of furniture, you buy a piece or repurpose an old piece to bring the feeling into your life.

The Rattan Direct guide sets out 19 helpful hints to help us to invoke that feeling in our own homes.  One of the take away points for me and also the one I should action more is decluttering.  There is something very theraputic about throwing out or giving away things you no loner use, need or want.

One other point I always do for myself and the kids is focus on relaxing sleeping arrangements. Rooms are kept tidy and clutter free, sheets are kept fresh and refreshed often.  I loathe getting into an unmade bed so I have got myself and my kids into the habit of making beds each morning.

If you have any tips for destressing at home do let me know in the comments.

Note: This is a collaborative post.

 

Features

Our Easter holiday weekend Netflix picks

With the weather not looking the best for the long weekend ahead and the kids off school, we have you covered with some great new Netflix picks for the long weekend ahead.

Jaws  (Available from 1 April)

I still remember watching this a kid! Directed by Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg, this really was the movie of our time. The village of Amity finds itself under attack by a dangerous great white shark, the town’s chief of police (Roy Scheider), a young marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a grizzled shark hunter (Robert Shaw) embark on a desperate quest to destroy the beast before it strikes again. Featuring an unforgettable score that evokes pure terror, Jaws remains one of the most influential and gripping adventures in motion picture history.

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Home & Interiors

Top Interiors Blogs for some #syleinspo

funky chair

Pic Credit: Pixabay

I have spoken at length about our renovation projects, thankfully they are drawing to a close which can only mean one thing! It is time for the fun part….designing the interiors. I am one of  those people who pour of beautiful pictures on Instagram accounts and Pinterest. I love creating mood boards and wish lists that contain items way out of budget. I have serious envy of those stunning interiors. Unfortunately I am not a creative type person so I rely on those far better at it than me for inspiration.

Thankfully in order to help me in my quest Sloan & Sons have produced a really useful guide which list the Top 32 interior blogs of 2018.  I’ll admit there were blogs on that list that I have never heard of before. Its not a word of a lie when I say I have quite literally spent hours pouring over stunning interiors shots wishing I could just win the lotto!

If you looking for some new interior blogs to follow, I have totally fallen in love with Design Hunter. The blog itself is crisp and cool, the posts equally so.  Don’t just take my word for it have a nosey. One word…..stylish! Another new blog for me was Rose & Grey  another blog with lots of informative content and swoon worthy pics.

Are there any blogs not on that list you think should have been? Would love to hear in the comments.

Note: This is a collaborative post however I retain full editorial control.