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This day I love.......

This is a featured post. 

I know first hand the pain from a bad back. I have experienced not been able to uncurl my back and stand up straight. I have been hit with such excruciating back pain that I couldn’t stand up and I know if I don’t get a good night's sleep that my back is going to suffer for it the next day.

One of the most important things with a bad back is to try and stay as active as possible. I appreciate that this can often be tricky but by staying active and continuing as normal as best you can you can actually speed up the recovery process. If the pain is too great you could try painkillers to help manage it so that you can continue.

Another way to help with a bad back is to use both heat and cold therapy. Some people find that heat works well to reduce their back pain. A hot water bottle for example is a great way to apply heat to the back. Other people find that cold therapy works better, however be careful with cold therapy and avoid applying it directly to the skin. A hot water bottle whilst lying in bed is a great way to apply heat therapy.

There are back stretches and back exercises which can be recommended to you from your GP or physiotherapists. Performing these stretches can help keep your back strong and again will help with recovery. Other forms of exercises such as swimming, yoga or even pilates can also be good to help keep mobile with back pain.

One of the ways I find works with back pain is to relax and trying to remain positive. Stressing causes the muscles to tense which in turn makes the condition worse, keeping a positive mind sight can help to reduce the stress. I also know that if I don’t get a good night's sleep that my back pain will be worse as I haven’t managed to relax and unwind. One of the best ways to ensure this is to have an orthopaedic mattress. Investing in a good mattress can help you to relax and ensure a good night's sleep, which in turn helps to reduce stress and reduce the tension caused in your back.

Having the correct mattress also ensures you have the correct support needed for your back. Looking after a bad back can often be as simple as going back to what is causing the pain in the first place. This could be posture, so looking at your posture as you sit and walk may help alleviate some of the back pain. 

Back pain can be incredibly frustrating and painful and getting to the cause is not often straightforward. Trying some of the ideas above may help to improve symptoms however if the pain persists then it is worthwhile revisiting the GP as they may be able to offer you further advice.

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This is a featured post. 

Little Man has just turned three. His sisters were in proper beds long before this age. My eldest moved into hers at fifteen months, as we needed the cot for her sister. My youngest daughter moved into hers at eighteen months old. I am not sure why Little Man was not moved into his bed sooner? Perhaps the task of finding a bed and fitting that into the daily life with three children meant that it kept falling further and further down the to do list. For whatever reason, three years old was the age he moved into his new bed.


Choosing the right bed for Little Man was not as straightforward as it first might seem. His room is the smallest room in the house. In addition it has awkward room fixtures meaning a bed can only go in one place. I therefore had to find a bed that would maximise the only space available. I also wanted one that would last, as in one that would grow with him. I didn’t want a theme bed, although I had to really talk myself out of the Lego bed I saw, and because he is in the smallest room he also needed a bed with storage.

The task was simple create a bedroom that has plenty of storage to keep clean and tidy, yet also has plenty of space to play and have fun. My Mum accompanied us and we went to look for a bed for Little Man.


I am pleased that Little Man chose his own bed. Although I was less pleased about how long it actually took me to build it! The great thing is not only does it have under bed storage but also a bed that pulls out and the bed can be stored all made up ready to sleep in. Now when Little Man wakes up in the night I can lie next to him in his bed whilst he falls asleep.

One of the items I do want to change in his room is his blind. Whilst it is a blackout blind it was in the house when we moved in. I never got round to changing it when I put his nursery together and it is something which I always wished I had changed. It is plain black and not very exciting. I am currently looking at Direct blinds to find a blind for his room. I am still undecided if to go for a plain colour or to pick one with a pattern, I might have my eye on the storm troopers [although it wouldn’t match his bedroom].


I have no plans to decorate his bedroom walls, as they are a nice neutral colour and so I can change the accessories in his room to suit his taste as he grows. He picked out a fun undersea bedding, which I also really like and plan on matching the rest of the room to the blues and greens in this. I might even pick out a blind to match this colour, or see if there is a sea themed one.

By simply changing the cot to a bed the room somehow seems bigger and brighter. The extra storage the bed provides means I can keep the room clean and tidy and the new accessories and blind create a fun space for him to grow up in. It would appear Little Man likes the change too as since he moved to his new bed he no longer wakes up as often during the night. 

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I do struggle to buy for the girls, they change their minds on the presents they would like, often dictated by the latest TV advert. I wanted to try and stick as best I could to the four gift rule:

Something they need

Something they want

Something to read

Something to wear

Something they Need

This is perhaps the hardest category to fill. The girls need clothes and PJ, but they come under the something to wear category. Same I guess as shoes and wellies, which they both need but also come under something to wear.  In the new year I am planning on decorating both girls bedrooms and have wrote about my plans for my youngest bedroom. My eldest would like a Harry Potter theme and so as a result they both need new bedding and furnishings for their bedrooms. I really like the look of this one



Something they Want

My youngest daughter loves Disney and Beauty and the Beast. The enchanted Rose light from Paldone is simply beautiful and something I know she will love. She loves lights, having several night lights on her bedside already and this one will make a wonderful addition. The light is powered by USB, but this cannot be plugged into the mains, instead I plugged it into my tablet to power it. Even with out the light on it is still really pretty and my youngest daughter is sure to love it. To activate when it is plugged in you push down on the dome and the same again to switch off. 




Something to Read

We love to read and on Christmas eve I always give the girls a new book which we read before bed. This year I am giving the girls a pair of books which really compliment each other, whilst also working as stand alone books. Hedgehogs Don't Live in the City! and also the debut book Parrots Don't Live in the City! from doodles and scribbles an independent book publisher. These books are beautifully illustrated and tell a lovely story by publishing duo Lucy Reynolds and Jenna Herman.  In addition to the story at the end of each book is a double page spread on facts on each animal. There are also things to find within each story which adds to book. I cannot wait to share the books with the girls on Christmas eve


Something to Wear

After our visit to the Frugi store in Leeds the girls have been asking for Frugi dresses and clothes. My youngest in particular loves wearing dresses and she loves all the bright patterns. She has asked for a few of their dresses for Christmas and in particular the one with the penguin on. The jumper dress is perfect for winter. Warm and cosy inside and as it is a dress the extra length also provides extra warmth on her body too.


I have purchased some of the items in this guide and been gifted others, however I would have purchased them. I decided to put the gift guide together and have received no other payment except product.
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“This post was created in collaboration with Leesa, who provided a Leesa Mattress for review, but all views and opinions expressed are my own. In addition some links in this post are affiliate links. This means I may receive a small percentage of a sale if you click these links and purchase a product”.


If you’ve been following my blog for some time you will know that this year I am aiming to complete 12 Marathon/Ultra runs within the year. This is no easy achievement. One marathon along takes months to train for, and the recovery afterwards is just as important. To put the body through 12, and with some been of distances greater than a marathon is a very big ask. Whilst there is no exact formula to how many days it takes your body to recover fully from a marathon, some experts say 1 day for every mile and others 1 day for every kilometer. Therefore that’s between 26 and 42 days of rest just to recover. I am therefore asking a lot of my body and as a result need to make sure I do everything I can in both training and rest days.

There are only so many external factors I can control. I can, to some extent control my training. Of course I have ‘off days’ and days when I could do more. I can control my nutrition, although I tend to make very bad food choices and it is something I am working on. To some extent I can control my sleep too. I say to some extent because I have three small children, and my youngest rarely sleeps through the night. With this in mind I therefore need to make sure the sleep I am getting is good quality and I wake up feeling rested ready to tackle the day ahead.

Unfortunately for me this wasn’t happening. I would struggle to get to sleep at night, unable to get comfortable. Our mattress had dropped in places, causing you to roll into a groove that you became stuck in. Any sleep I did get was poor quality, and I would randomly wake up in the night as I turned over to find a new sleeping position. Let’s not mention the aches and pains every morning would bring as I desperately did my stretching and foam rolling to alleviate them. A new mattress was needed.

I searched high and low for a new mattress. Read countless reviews and watched several videos. Probably in the same way you are reading this now. Trying to weigh up what would work and what would meet my needs. As far as mattresses go I prefer one with support and a medium firmness. My search brought me to the Leesa mattress.

The Leesa mattress is a luxury mattress  with  3  foam  layers  that  adjust  to  your  body  to provide  optimum  support  and  comfort  for  each  individual. The Leesa mattress on paper seemed like it would meet my need for a mattress with support and given there is a 100-night  risk  free  trial I was keen to give the Leesa mattress a try.

First challenge was taking the old mattress off the bed. This was a lot easier said than done, but I got there in the end. The next challenge was getting Little Man off the box that the Leesa mattress was in!


He kept curling up on the box to go to sleep. This was a promising sign surely? I was now more keen than ever to get the Leesa mattress out of the box and on the bed. It was really easy to do so. I had no issues unrolling the mattress and removing the plastic outer. The Leesa mattress had come vacuum packed in the box and so was now unfolding in front of my eyes. I had lined it up wrong on the bed, as the stripes go at the bottom, so a quick move around and I left the mattress to air and unfold.

A few hours later and the Leesa mattress was ready. I had read in several reviews online about a slight odour when the Leesa mattress is first opened and used. I will admit to noticing a really slight odour, nothing unpleasant, when I first removed the plastic but leaving the Leesa mattress in the air for a good few hours and the odour had disappeared by the time I came to put the bedding on to it.


I remember the first time I sat on the Leesa mattress and my immediate thought was ‘oh, it is very soft’. I was worried it might not give me the support I needed. Then I laid down. ‘Ah’ was my next thought. I did not want to move. The Leesa mattress was providing the right amount of support in the areas I needed it. The areas I would normally suffer pain the next morning, including the base of my back. I could even feel the Leesa mattress gently supporting my calf muscles. My legs were for once rather happy with me.

The first night on the Leesa mattress was the first night in memory that I remember sleeping. I wasn’t woken up as I tried to get comfy during the night, in fact I didn’t move. I wasn’t woken up when my husband sat on the bed to get ready for work. The Leesa mattress had given me back good quality sleep and if it wasn’t for Little Man waking me then it would have been a perfect night sleep.

I was keen now to see how my recovery process would progress. I had a week before Berlin marathon using the Leesa mattress and I felt great leading up to the run, in fact I started the marathon feeling the best I have felt in a long time and had a really good run. I had no aches in my back, shoulder or neck where I used to suffer with them, and I think it is down to finally having a supported and well rested nights sleep. Then came the real test. Could I run another marathon within 7 days?

Three days after running Berlin marathon I went to club and ran a very comfortable 6 miles. I was shocked. It would appear having good quality sleep was really helping speed up my recovery times. 3 days later I ran another marathon. I ran this marathon 20 minutes faster than I ran Berlin. I hadn’t changed anything else in my training or recovery except from the mattress. My children's sleep habits haven’t changed. Yet it would appear something is making a difference. The only thing that has changed in this time is my mattress. Changing to a Leesa mattress has helped improve my quality of sleep which is helping with my running.

Leesa as a company believe in better rest for everybody, and that has certainly been the case for me. Leesa donate one mattress  to  charities  supporting  the  homeless,  as  well  as  those  seeking  refuge  from domestic  abuse  and  human  trafficking,  for  every  ten  sold.  To  date  Leesa  has  been  able to  donate  or  pledge  over  30,000  mattresses  to  charities  worldwide  including  30  charities in  the  UK. The only negative for me is that they don’t mean dogs when they say everybody. I wish they would make a Leesa dog bed because one certain J keeps sneaking upstairs to sleep on mine!


I am actually really surprised by the Leesa mattress. I have managed to run two marathons in a week and am preparing for my next at the weekend. I am actually really looking forward to Little Man sleeping through the night, as now that is the only thing stopping me from getting a good night's sleep! If you want to experience the Leesa mattress use code THISDAYILOVE for a £100 discount! 



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When Little Man decided to start climbing out of his cot bed I made the decision to remove the side for his own safety. Falling from a small height much safer than the top of the side. Only with it has brought about new challenges, he falls out of bed. The girls never fell out of bed. Tell a lie my youngest fell out of bed once, but never after that. Little Man however falls out several times a night.

This unbroken sleep is no good for him or for me. I hear him not only fall out of bed but then scramble around on the floor in his half asleep state. I have found him under the cot before and whilst I put cushions to help pad his fall he always seems to end up somewhere random in his room. I knew if I put up a side he would climb over it but I needed something to stop him falling out of bed.

Purple Daisies got in touch at just the right moment and asked if we wanted to try one of their bed bumpers. The email could not have come at a better time and of course I said yes. I opted for an original bed bumper and shortly after responding to the email a long package arrived at my house.

Inside where two foam wedges. Incredibly light weight and soft and with full instructions of how to place on the mattress. There is no assembly required and this also makes them fully portable. The bed bumpers whilst made of foam are also firm so they retain their shape. Given how lightweight they are I shall be taking them with us on holidays too. 

I placed one of the bed bumpers on the mattress and pulled over the fitted sheet. It created a side that looked just enough to stop him falling out but not too tall so he couldn't get out of bed on his own. He never noticed the bed bumper was there and climbed into bed as normal that night. I was pleasantly surprised he was able to do so and even more happy that is stayed in place. He went to sleep and I waited.

I waited for a bang

I kept waiting.

I hardly slept as I kept waking up and checking he was still in bed.

For the first time Little Man slept through. I did think it might be a fluke but sure enough he now sleeps through the night. 

Purple Daisies bed bumpers are not only award winning they are life changing. I now have a Little Boy who can sleep in his own big boy bed without falling out. I shall soon be removing the other cot side and placing a Purple Daisies bed bumper here too. They are really discreet so I tried to take a photo from a different angle to show you it in place, but both Little Man and I are really happy we can finally get some sleep!


Product mentioned was sent for review, all words are my own opinion 
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You may have seen on my Instagram feed that my youngest had a rather nasty accident.  Without going into the gory details we have another follow up appointment next week to check again for any permanent damage, as when we first went there was too much swelling.  She still has no feeling in her top teeth and has to avoid food of extreme temperatures, and we won't know until she looses her baby teeth what, if any, damage has been done to her adult teeth.  In a bid to cheer her up she has had a few new treats, I know Christmas is coming but when your daughter has a very nasty accident you have to do something to take their mind away from the pain, try and pick them back up again and let them know how proud you are of them for their bravery.

The day after her accident I put on brand new bedding for her that I had been sent from Character World.  Both girls are desperate to watch the Trolls movie but even though they have not seen the film they have picked up on the troll hype.  My youngest loved the bright purple and pink colours and the troll design.


Normally the girls share bedding, but given this is a polyester blend my eldest daughter is unable to use it as it would trigger her eczema so it is just for my youngest.  She loves that she has her very own character bedding, and that she does not have to share it.  

I have tried to get a few photos of her in the bed at night but they turn out really blurry and you cannot see the bedding, so my apologies for that.  Her face when she walked through the door to see the new bedding was amazing, she was so surprised and it really helped to cheer her up.


We have also been having lots of cuddles on the sofa and watching films together.  I think some times when you feel a bit ill watching a film helps you to take your mind off the pain and you can loose yourself in your imagination.  My youngest has been choosing the films and one she has been going back to is the BFG.

As a child I remember two books and films that scared me one was the witches and the other was the BFG, so when the BFG was released recently in the cinema I decided not to take the girls and instead wait for the DVD so I could assess how scary it was.  The story follows Sophie, an orphan, who accidentally sees a large clocked figure in the night.  The large figure is the BFG, Big Friendly Giant, who takes her away to Giant Country.  The concept of giants taking children from their bedroom window always scared me and it was this I wanted to check to see how it had been done.


Like my youngest I fell in love with the film, it is such a beautiful rendition of the BFG and not scary at all.  Neither girl has been scared by it and they both ask to watch it.  They even mention is in one of my Vlogmas videos.  The film stays true to the book and follows the story as I remember it.  I have to say I wish the film had been done this way in my childhood, I would have wanted to watch it a whole lot more!

Watching the BFG, cuddling and her new bedding seems to have cheered her up!  I just hope the appointment goes well next week, fingers crossed.

The bedding and BFG DVD was sent for review, all words are my own opinion 



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There is a lot it be said for a good nights sleep. The next day you feel better, you feel relaxed, re-energised and ready for the day ahead. I feel better to tackle the challenges the day may bring and more confident to make decisions. For children, sleep is the time when they process the day and when a lot of the learning is done. It is no surprise that tired children are cranky and ratty and have difficulty processing, which means a good night sleep is vital for them too.


I have just attended a sleep retreat with Huggies, as part of our DryNites ambassador program, and I felt a little bit of a light bulb moment. My youngest daughter occasionally wets the bed, but can you imagine what it's like for her not knowing if she is going to get any sleep. Subconsciously I think it must really affect her, that uncertainty. I know at the sleep retreat it felt great knowing I was going to get some sleep and not get woken up in the night and I was confident I would have a good nights sleep. This is a feeling I want her to have. I want her to feel confident she is going to get some sleep, to feel happy about going to sleep and not dreading the thought of bed time, not having those what if moments. I want her to feel safe to sleep.

At 4 she is not alone as 1 in 4 four year old still have night time accidents. I want her to know that it is ok, and to allow her to grow up to be a confident little girl. DryNites are not nappies, they are designed to look and feel like pants, and I am hoping that as our journey progresses she will become more confident and happier about bed times.


This post is part of my partnership with DryNites 
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Now thing 3 has arrived we have been reminded how little new babies sleep.  In fairness baby sleeps a lot but for short periods of time, which means we all have broken sleep.  I had forgotten all the little things I used to do with the girls to get them to sleep.  My eldest liked white noise and my youngest the sound of water.  


Today is World Sleep day, I hope my kids take note of this and let me get some sleep tonight!  Although I think baby will have other ideas.  As a new parent I have tried the following:

White noise

My eldest loved white noise.  She has an Ewan Dream sheep which she loved and helped her to settle, there are also lots of white noise apps available to download.

Singing songs

Certain songs helped to settle the girls.  A familiar song sang each night before bed helps baby to settle and become familiar with bed time

Pushing the pram

Thing 3 loves to be pushed in the pram and will often fall fast asleep in it.  I can then transfer to the crib where they sleep really well.

Pretending to fall asleep

My youngest will fall asleep if you pretend to fall asleep next to her.  I think the motion of her watching your eyes close really helps her to settle.

Bath time

Bath time makes my children wake up but I know for many it helps them unwind and can be a great signal for bed time

Quiet time

Before bed every night we have quiet time.  This can be doing a jigsaw to reading a book, something to help them relax.

Baby massage

I give baby a massage before bed, which I think is helping to signal that it is time for sleep.

Bed Guru would like to know what are your top tips for helping children to sleep, or unwind before bed?  Feel free to leave them in the comments.  Once the kids are asleep Bed guru are offering one lucky reader the chance to win a bed time hamper full of things which will help a good night sleep.  As an example the hamper includes; Bettys tea room tea and biscuits, Yorkshire Soap co. candle,  coconut and Shea butter face mask and Sally Hanson French manicure kit, however contents may vary.  To be in with a chance of winning simply follow the instructions below.  

Bed time hamper from Bed guru
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Spring is in the air and with it the desire to clean and unclutter.  The house begins to be filled with the warmer spring air and the house is seen in a new light.  A desire to update, or simply refresh is felt and we begin searching for the latest trends.

I’ve been looking around the internet to see what modern room themes could work for my home and whether it’s the latest industrial kitchen chic, or even the luxurious range of TV beds, it looks like there’s lots of fun to be had.

Keeping it minimal

With the imminent arrival of Thing 3, I have been trying to have a bit of a declutter.  Tidying each room and donating to charity unused items.  A third child means more clothes, toys and baby items and so space is at a premium.  I have tried to keep the nursery as clutter free as possible and make best use of the space available.

The nursery

Making a statement

One of the big things about modern interiors is the way that they’re not afraid to make a big statement through a particular piece of furniture or aesthetic motif. For example, this bedroom uses just a few bold items such as a bright red bedside table and a striking contemporary painting to provide bursts of colour against the cool and classy decor.  There are, of course, few better ways to make a statement than by investing in a modernist piece of furniture. It could be a striking bedside cabinet or a fun globe chair, and also there are cheap TV beds available at the Bedstar website that are the perfect example of how modernist furniture can be seriously luxurious, as well as stylish and chic.

Futuristic themes

Implementing technology in a thoughtful manner is another way to give your decor a modern revamp. Whilst I hate endless cables and power adaptors trailing over our living room, by narrowing down all of the clutter into a few multipurpose devices, it can suddenly make our homes feel a little more modern.

I would love a new kitchen but it is a little out of our budget at the moment, I do love this modern kitchen that features industrial touches such as shiny metallics that are nicely contrasted to the retro mint green lamps.

Whether it’s a nice and bright new colour scheme, or even an extravagant new TV bed, there’s much that can be done to give our homes that extra special modern touch!
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In my latest Things for Thing 3 post I mentioned that we had been very kindly sent a SnüzPod.  In the post I also mentioned the reasons why I am so excited to have been sent one and cannot wait for Thing 3 to arrive.  I felt it would be a good idea to split my review posts of the SnüzPod into a few posts, with the first a first impressions and assembly post.  I will be making a video when Thing 3 arrives of our day to day to use of the SnüzPod to document how we get on on a day to day basis with the SnüzPod.


The SnüzPod arrives in one box with full assembly instructions.  If you follow the instructions it is really easy to put together and took no time at all to assemble.  I had planned to assemble it myself but my Dad wanted to put it together and I was more than happy for him to do so.

The SnüzPod has a shelf at the base, I am planning a trip to find some boxes to place on here as this will make handy storage for all baby related things, especially things you may need during the night.  The rocking action appears to be really smooth and both girls have put their dolls in and rocked them to sleep.  Finally the bassinet can easily be lifted and removed to be used away from the base.  I love that this also has a rocking feature and can easily be slotted back into the base when needed.  The base is also easily fold able and will fit underneath my bed for storage, should I not wish to use it.

The SnüzPod is made from Quality Beech wood low in VOCs and formaldehyde emission free.  Along with the SnüzPod we were also sent a Little Green sheep natural mattress which feels incredibly comfortable and I did look to see if they made them to fit my own bed.  In addition we also have the recommended mattress protector and the gorgeous SnüzPod bedding sets.  


The bedding is incredibly soft and feels really snugly, I cannot wait to wrap Thing 3 in them.


 Once Thing 3 arrives I will be attaching the SnüzPod to the side of the bed with the included straps.  Thanks to the adjustable height of the SnüzPod I have also got it set at the correct height ready to be attached.  All we are missing now is Thing 3.

I keep sitting in bed and looking over at the SnüzPod.  Peering in through the mesh window at the gorgeous design of the bedding and thinking to myself 'not long now'.  Not long until Thing 3 arrives and will be sleeping in the SnüzPod next to me in comfort.

All products mentioned have been sent for review, all words are my own personal opinion 


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As any mum with a home and more than one child will tell you, shared bedrooms can be a nightmare. Of course, while they’re young, kids don’t tend to mind sharing a room, but as they get a little older, the idea of sharing with their sibling can become less appealing.

Sometimes when you have more children than bedrooms, there is no other option than to put the kids in together. The main problem for many parents is the fact that when it comes to creating a joint bedroom, it can be tricky to get right. As well as taking into account each child’s personal tastes, there’s also storage and layout to think about.


Decide on the layout and design

When it comes to creating a shared bedroom that your children will love, the layout is one of the most important aspects. The layout that you opt for will depend on what type of space you are trying to create. Ask yourself whether you want to create a cohesive look or a room with two different zones. This will most probably depend on the ages of your children and whether they have similar personalities and tastes.

Creating a cohesive space is simple, it’s just a case of doubling up on furniture, bedding and accessories. Bunk beds can be ideal as they save space. As well as saving space, bunk beds can also add an extra boost of style to the room. For the perfect beds, have a look at designer furniture online. There are some amazing designs out there, so whatever style bedroom you've opted for, there should be beds that are perfect.

For a bedroom that’s split into two zones, the layout becomes a little more tricky to get right. Although you want to create two areas, you also need to ensure that the two styles complement each other. For instance, clashing colours like lime green and orange. Before you start to think about the layout, take the time to get some inspiration. This will give you ideas and help you to work out what will and won’t work in the space.

Give each child their own space

Even young children need their own space, and it’s important that you find ways to give them it. A great tip that interior design experts swear by is using something to divide the room, such as a tall bookshelf or curtains. This gives each child their own space, as well as a sense of privacy. 

There are plenty of ways that you can give your child their own space; it’s just a case of being creative. Bookshelves, curtains, and wardrobes are all ideal for adding a little privacy.

Use accessories to add personality

In a joint room, the best way to add personality is with accessories. Aim to keep the walls fairly simple, and then use accessories to add a sense of personality and style. By keeping the walls plain, when it comes to updating the room in the future, it will just be a case of switching the accessories.

While each child’s area of the room can incorporate different colours and styles, just make sure to use pieces that work well together. The last thing that you want to do is design a bedroom that clashes. Be choosy about the colours and prints that you use, and you can create a beautiful joint space.

It isn't always easy to know how to go about designing a shared bedroom for your children. However, by taking note of the tips above, you can create a beautiful space that your kids will love.

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Last week 20th-25th April was National stop snoring week.  A recent survey by Mattress online found that 2/3 of people suffered a bad night sleep from a partner who snored.  

sleeping infographic
'A Good Night’s Sleep - An infographic by Mattress Online to promote Sleeping Well for ‘National Stop Snoring Week’. To view the full image Click Here.' This infographic has been used free of charge and I have not received any payment to use.


I myself suffer most nights from the lack of good sleep.  Part of it is snoring [not from me I might add] and the other I believe is down to our bed.  The bed I am sorry to say has seen better days and a new one was in order.

A few months ago I had attended the opening of a new JYSK store and I had seen the perfect bed  


JYSK new bed


The SILKEBORG S.king oiled oak bed was perfect for us.  We are currently in the process of re designing our bed room and oak is one of our favourite woods.  The whole bed looked perfect, solid wood and a traditional yet modern look.  I was very excited for the new bed to arrive.

The bed was delivered via special delivery and came in two boxes.  Building the bed was straight forward and the new bed looks fantastic.  We just need to hurry up and save to get the rest of the room finished.

We have now had the SILKEBORG S.king oiled oak from JYSK for just over a week and I am pleased to say we have seen some improvement.  The new bed from JYSK has provided me with a good night sleep, and I am pleased to say also reduced the snoring from some one else [again not me].

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As a parent we put lots of thought into designing our children's and babies bedrooms.  Many parents like to find out the sex of their baby before it is born and one of the many reasons for this is to be prepared.  They like to prepare the nursery in advance, choosing colours and themes to suit.  

We begin with the decision of Moses basket or crib, finding mattresses for these can be tricky.  We then begin looking at cots and cot beds.  Cot mattresses like adult mattresses come in a wide variety of types.  As parents do we give much thought into the type of mattress our children sleep on? 

Children like adults may have a preference as to the firmness of the mattress they sleep on.  Choosing the right cot mattress can be a tough choice and Tesco have a wide variety of cot mattresses, there is sure to be something to suit all tastes.

sleeping toddler

Time is also spent choosing the right furniture for our babies nursery.  Looking at feeding chairs, rocking chairs, changing stations, wardrobes, dressers and more.  Pondering over beautiful nurseries on Pinterest and trying to replicate the designs, often with mixed success.  

These nurseries develop into the bedrooms for our children.  Growing and changing as our children get older.  Themes grow from animals to Disney characters to Lego.  Beds change from cots to cot beds to single or double beds.  Rooms take shape to suit our children's personality and grow with them.  New choices and decisions are made.

Written for Tesco
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For lots of parents, the winter season is one marked by a constant headachy feeling. Screaming children, nothing to do, horrible weather and back to school tantrums; nothing comes close to it during any other point of the year, and the perils of the season can leave many parents burying their heads in their hands. There's no need to feel down during the cooler months though, and there's plenty of things you can do with your kids during the winter months that will help alleviate the burgeoning feeling of cabin fever!

Stargazing

Winter is the time of year when your area of the Earth receives least sunlight, and all of those long, dark evenings can be excellent for prospective star and planet gazers. You don't need a telescope to enjoy the stars; indeed if you have a good pair of binoculars a huge amount of stellar and planetary objects are visible; and the experience will help you explain to your children their place in the universe, the vast scale of the sky, and what particular objects in the night sky are.

Wintry Walks

Throw on your walking boots, get those fingers tucked into gloves and strap on the woolly hats; winter is a great time to wrap up warm and enjoy the great outdoors. Although your destination of choice will greatly depend upon where you live, great choices can be large parks, forests, woodlands, or even (for the adventurous and hardy) beaches!

wintery puddles


Spot the Difference

Although playing in the snow is something that every child relishes each year, there's always more to do than sledding, snowman-making and snowball fights. Get a piece of dark fabric, catch a few snowflakes, pop them in the freezer for ten minutes, take them out and marvel at the wonderful shapes and patterns using a magnifying glass! The kids will love it!


playing in snow


Snuggle Up Together!

When the weather is awful and the house is freezing, sharing a bed, throwing on the covers and snuggling up with your kids can be a lot of fun! Beds can get rather overcrowded however, especially if you, your partner and a few little ones are all sharing the same space. You could pop online and get a surprisingly inexpensive king sized bed- they can be great value, especially clearance items from sites such as Bedstar- however if there's no room to move, perhaps have a snooze in the living room instead!

cuddled up

This is a collaborative post with Sean Thompson 
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My youngest is waking up more frequently in the night and I think part of it is to do with her bed.  She is in a very beautiful toddler bed, but I often hear a large bang just before she wakes up as she catches herself on the side of her bed.  She wants me to sit in bed with her, but I cannot fit in the toddler bed.  The decision was therefore made to get a new full sized single bed


We had seen a beautiful bed from Noa and Nani and knew immediately that it was the one for my daughter.  Her room was one of the first in the house to be decorated.  I wanted the room to reflect her personality.  Whilst she shows some feminine traits, she prefers mud and mess.  Her bedroom is the smallest room and it needed to be kept light, the furniture is therefore white.  Her walls are painted with paint from the Nursery Paint company in 'His Sunday Best and a feature wall in 'Dolly's frock'.  This great mix of paints keeps the room feminine and matches her personality.

Her bedroom has space for her to play, space to relax and space to read.  She adores reading and we purchased a tidy books book case for her so she can easily access her books.  


Her Noa and Nani bed arrived and I began to assemble.  It was easy to put together by myself and had clear instructions.  I was rather proud of my achievement and impressed that I had managed by myself.  

The Astrid sleigh bed is simply beautiful from all angles.  The head board and foot board have subtle curves which give the Astrid a real sense of elegance.  Astrid is a great height making it easy for a 2 year old to climb into, and giving great storage options underneath.  The design of the Astrid is one which should last my daughter for some time to come.


My youngest daughters bedroom has been transformed from a toddler room into a little girls bedroom.  It is now a room which we can add to as she grows up and her beautiful Noa and Nani bed takes pride of place


The Noa and Nani Astrid sleigh bed was sent to us for a review.  All words and opinions are my own
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Regular readers and followers of my Instagram feed will know how much the dogs mean to me. 6 years ago my parents got a dog. Up until this point I had been scared of them. My Dad had asked me to go and collect him and fetch him back to their house. I remember the journey on the cold and wet December night and this tiny little puppy who was very badly car sick. I took him to my house cleaned him up and put him in an open box with lots of towels.

A few months later I made the same journey to collect J. He travelled home in a banana box, which I still have. J was very quiet and simply wanted to sit in his bed. After a few days he soon came out of his shell and began to interact and play with us. He was relatively easy to toilet train and enjoyed nothing more than chasing balls and digging!  J love for balls has gotten him into a few scrapes, thankfully we have a great vets and great pet insurance company who took care of everything.




J worked out I was pregnant with both girls before anyone else did, including myself. He used to sit on my lap and curl into my tummy but when I was pregnant he stopped doing this, as if he knew. He always knows when I'm upset and comes and gives me a friendly head nudge. J is one of the best listeners I know and he has never told a secret. He is my best friend and without him I'd be lost.


It became apparent though that J needed some dog company. Whilst he loves his own space he seemed to crave the attention that only another dog could give. Deciding upon a rescue dog we travelled a 6 hour round trip twice to rescue a spotty dog from the RSPCA. our little spotty dog has made herself firmly known.




She's very different to J. As mad as they come and loves to hide under things. Her favourite spot is under the chair and J simply looks at her baffled as to how she got there. She is now 6 months old and we are struggling to toilet train her. Everything else she is perfect in every way. Has a wonderful temperament and gets on great with the girls, who adore her.







My youngest in particular is really attached to both J and spotty dog. She seems to have a particularly close bond with both of them, I think she might be Dr Doolittle. Our dogs are certainly part of the family and without them I think we would all be lost.



I was sent a hamper from Petplan in exchange for a post about my dogs.


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About me

About Me

Welcome to This Day I love.

My name is Leyla, also known as Mum to my 3 humans and dog Mum to J. I have a passion for the outdoors and love to run. I can often be found off road exploring the trails and fells and covering distances all the way up to 50 miles. As a family we love travelling and discovering new adventures, as I try and run around the world!

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