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This day I love.......

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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Reading is such a wonderful gift, and one I love to share with my children.  During the day Little Man and I love reading a book together and he has now got to the age where he will crawl to the book shelf and point at his books.  Whilst he may not understand the story, what he does understand is that the book means a cuddle together and sitting close listening to his Mum.  It means quality time to him and something he loves.

Parragon books have a beautiful range of books, Little learners which is aimed at this precious age group, babies and toddlers.  The range has recently gone through a re vamp and we were delighted to take a look.

Little Learners box

Our Little Learners book box contained 5 titles:

Mummy and Baby - A beautiful book with different surfaces for baby to touch and explore.  

Cow Says Moo  - A book with finger holes for the farm animals

I can Say please - A Really fun beek a boo play book

Mummy and Me - A finger puppet story book

Twinkle Twinkle little star - Light and sound story book

Parragon books Little learners books

Little Man rushed in to take a look in the box.  He began exploring each of the books, picking them up and looking at them.  Opening the books, testing them in his mouth and putting his fingers through the holes.

Little Man exploring books

His favourite though was 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'  The sounds and flashing lights I think drawing his attention.  Although it could have been the fact that each of his sisters would give him a cuddle and sing the song to him too!

Reading with his sister

The Little learners books are really popular with Little Man and his sisters.  My youngest who is at the start of her phonics journey picks the books up to read to her brother and my eldest will sit and sing the songs with him.  It is wonderful watching them all interact together and share the gift of reading.


Thank you to Parragon for sending the Little Learners books mentioned in this post, all words are my own opinion. 
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Whenever we travel I always pack both girls a book each.  Reading a book takes the girls into an imaginative world and seems to help pass the time on our journeys.  The books act as more than something to read, often we use them to discuss certain themes or concepts and sometimes we use them to play games.  For our recent visit to York we were able to take with us two new books from Maverick.

Our first book was 'As Nice as pie' by Gary Sheppard and Tim Budgen.  A rhyming book with bright colourful cartoon like illustrations.  The girls did get a little worried the first time we read the book as to what would happen to the birds, but on subsequent readings find it rather funny.  I won't say as it may spoil the book.  I think the book is a great way to illustrate the importance of not taking someone for granted and not to take advantage of their kindness.

The second book was 'Stone Underpants' by Rebecca Lisle and illustrated by Richard Watson.  This book has crept into most bedtimes now.  My eldest can often be heard reading it out loud in her bedroom to her teddies, or to anyone who will listen.  The story is really light-hearted and a joy to listen to my daughter read.  For a book to engage her this much it is certainly something special.


Thank you Maverick books for sending over the new titles for us to read.
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win a top travel read

Morgan Pryce, experts in office rentals in Mayfair asked their staff to choose their favourite books for spring 2016 based on what they are reading on the commute to work. From that four were picked and I am offering one as a prize, the winner can pick which book out of the 4 they would like, subject to availability.  

The four books are:

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade’s training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, the next he was a patient struggling to live. 

When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi’s transformation from a medical student asking what makes a virtuous and meaningful life into a neurosurgeon working in the core of human identity – the brain – and finally into a patient and a new father.

‘Sadly Paul, the author, died shortly after finishing this book. If anything the fact it is real life makes it such a greater read and although at times sad it was a wonderful book and so inspiring’ Dani, Morgan Pryce

Making It Up As I Go Along by Marian Keyes

Marian gives her guide to breaking up with your hairdresser? Along with the warning she has for us all after a particularly traumatic fling with fake tan. Not to mention the very best lies to tell if you find yourself on an Arctic cruise. She has words of advice for those fast approaching fifty. 
You'll be wincing in recognition and scratching your head in incredulity, but like Marian herself you won't be able to stop laughing at the sheer delightful absurdity that is modern life - because each and every one of us is clearly making it up as we go along.

‘I have read loads for Marian Keyes books and I love her sense of humour. It’s light-hearted but also spot on, you have to laugh at yourself sometimes. I love reading something upbeat when I travel into work’. Gina, Morgan Pryce

Pretty Happy by Kate Hudson

A smart beautiful book from a smart inspirational actress and fitness icon. Kate Hudson will share her insights into how every woman can live healthy, strong and beautiful – from the inside out. For Kate Hudson the key to living healthfully is simplicity and positivity. The book includes lots of real-world ideas for eating better, making exercise enjoyable and for clearing the mind to leave space for positive thinking. Kate Hudson’s subscription-based fitness clothing retailer, Fabletics, has been a massive success. Packed with information and inspiration, Kate Hudson’s relatable beauty and dedication to wellness will come through on every page.

‘I love to live healthy but it’s tough when you work long hours but this book is great. Kate is a busy lady and she gives tips you can use in a busy lifestyle’. Anon, Morgan Pryce

Sleepless in Manhattan by Sarah Morgan

Great friends. Amazing Apartment. An incredible job. Paige has ticked off every box on perfect New York life checklist. Until disaster strikes and instead of shimming further up the career ladder, Paige is packing up her desk. Her brother’s best friend Jake might be the only person who can help her put her life back together. He also happens to be the boy she spent her teen years pining after, and Paige is determined not repeat her past mistakes. But the more time she spends with Jake, the more Paige realises the one thing that was missing from her world all along. The perfect New York love story…

‘I love Devil Wears Prada and Sex in the City, so this book was a sure win with me. It has my favourite components New York and Love! A joy to read’ Zoe, Morgan Pryce

Entry is via the widget below which contains full terms and conditions. Prize supplied by commercial offices in Shoreditch


Top travel read
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My daughter is about to start her second year at school.  I remember this time last year worrying about everything, about how she would cope and looking back I had no need to worry.  My youngest will start school next week, just mornings for now but it is a big step.

Having gone through this once before I sort of know what to expect, although every child is different.  This time I feel much better prepared at supporting them with their learning at home.  The books my daughter used to come home with from school were uninspiring and as a result she did not want to read them.  In order to support her I bought some early reader books with much more interesting stories, and she loves to read those.  

Her younger sister also has started showing an interest in reading these books, and I think if you make the stories interesting they want to read more.  Maverick books have launched their Early readers which have been carefully adapted from the original picture books by the author and Catherine Baker, an educational specialist.  There are also a host of learning resources available to help both teachers and parents on

http://www.maverickbooks.co.uk/activities/learning-resources/

This adaptation means the girls are already familiar with their favourite stories and love that they then have independence in reading the books themselves.  


The girls love the Maverick Early Readers books that much that I often find them playing libraries with them.  They set up the library then check out a book, read it and then return it!

Maverick Early readers

We were sent the Maverick Early readers for review.  All words are my own opinion. 
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We were very kindly sent three books from Maverick books

Preposterous Rhinoceros by Tracy Gunaratnam
RoboPop A Dad in a Box by Alice Hemming
Daniel O'Dowd was ever so loud by Julie Fulton

The girls love reading and book deliveries are met with great delight in our house.  They could not wait to get started on the books and immediately chose to read RoboPop.

RoboPop makes the girls laugh.  They love the story and they love looking for Dad hiding on the pages as he watches RoboPop.  It is a lovely book to read and a great one to practise your robot voice.  Daniel O'Dowd was next on our list.

Daniel O'Dowd was ever so loud, the book is beautifully illustrated to match the rhyming story.  The story follows Daniel who is very loud.  One day disaster is approaching Earth and it is up to Daniel O'Dowd to save it.  The girls love listening to what he does and the story is very captivating. 

Finally Preposterous Rhinoceros has to be my favourite of the three.  The story follows Rhinoceros who wants to read the bed time story to the animals.  Rhinoceros has never read the story before and so he must learn how.  This book is so lovely and with a daughter learning to read is such a great story to tell.

Three really lovely books which the girls enjoy reading, thank you Maverick books
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We love books.  I love nothing more than sitting all cuddled up with my girls looking/reading a book together.  It is such a great way to spend time together and bond with the girls.  My eldest has always loved picking up a book and bringing it to me, from the time she figured out how to move and carry and now my youngest is following suit.

At Britmums Live I met with Parragon Books.  They kindly gave me three books to review and share with my daughters.

My youngest was given a hard back book, 'Peek a boo Rainbow'.  The lovely rainbow at the top acts as a little handle which my daughter carries the book around with.  It is a really lovely book to teach young children colours.  Each page looks at a different colour and features lovely stories and illustration.  The illustrations are wonderful for my daughter, who is 1, as they are a nice soft warming colour and the pages are not too busy for her.  She loves to put her fingers in the little peek a boo holes and point at the different pictures on the page.  

looking through peek a boo rainbowpeek a boo rainbow


enjoying peek a boo rainbow

My eldest really loves dragons and dinosaurs, it was great that her book from Parragon was all about Dinosaurs or rather 'Things you never knew about dinosaurs' by Giles Paley-Phillips.  The colours are really bright and bold which make them very eye catching and the amount of text on each page is pitched just right for reading to her, she is almost 3.  She loves to pick the book up and flick through all of the pages and make dinosaur sounds as she goes.  It really has captured her imagination.  

reading all about dinosaursdinosaurs and you

looking at dinosaur book

Goodnight Little one by Margaret Wise Brown is now one of our bed time books.  We find the book very calming and peaceful and the illustrations reflect this with there dream like manor.  The relaxing story asks each animal in turn to close their eyes before asking the little child at the end.  I like the tone and feel to the story how it relaxes before bed.  A really lovely bed time read.

Goodnight little one

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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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