capturing memories as we make them
The summer is drawing to a close now and I can honestly say it’s been an awesome one with so much fabulous weather and all kinds of adventures for us it a real shame that it has to end.
I am however really grateful to have captured so many of these moments on camera with some of my favourite times being at this years Camp Bestival.
A picture really does paint a thousand words and I hope this little collection gives to an insight into what an amazing place Camp Bestival is!
Well I nearly catching my tail and I have made it to the end of the school term with my ‘Celebrating The Small Things’ series. I have to say that I’m dreading Oscar starting school but I will give me a chance to really get my working day in order and hopefully get more organised…well we will see!
This week I am taking about school awards, park trips and kids fashion.
Dot To Dot London – My blog covers such a variety of topics which I often think I should kerb to be a little more niche but then realise being a bit of everything opens up some great opportunities. One of which being kids fashion that I have a real passion for.
I have always loved kitting the kids out and to be honest their wardrobes are always way better than mine.
The other week I got the chance to go along to Dot London which is a press show for all kinds of fabulous children’s wear brands. There were some of my favourites there that I have worked with before such as Tootsa McGinty and some brand new companies that I can’t wait to see the Autumn/Winter.
Hours And Hours In The Park – One little thing I am certainly celebrating is the amazing weather we have been blessed with this year. We are huge fans of the great outdoors and it has been made so much more accessible with the sunshine on tap that we have had. I honestly don’t think we have had as many picnics and park trips as we have this year.
Feeling Proud – Izzy has just finished her first year at high school and I have to say I couldn’t be prouder of all she has achieved in her time there. She has never been naturally gifted when it comes to the academic side of life but she always gives her all and works to be best of her ability. This was recognised at the end of term when she received an award for all her efforts and I actually think I was happier than her about it!
For some of us the long school summer holidays are already upon us or they are only a few days away and I’m sure that many of you are the same as me and having mixed feelings about it.
I absolutely adore having mine at home with me but it can also be a real struggle to keep them entertained and also work around them when all they want to do is have your attention.
This is where David Lloyd Health Clubs are an absolute godsend and offer anything from a fulfilled day with all the family, a few hours in a club or two to keep them occupied, full days of childcare and so much more.
With Oscar set to start school this September and Frankie needing a little extra extra push with swimming we are booking onto the intense course to really make sure they get their water wings ready!
It is not only swimming that All Stars at David Lloyd offer. They can learn skills in tennis and gymnastics too with the clubs expert coaches who make learning lots of fun!
As well as keeping fit as a family by swimming together, have a game of tennis or taking part in one of the family friendly circuit or spin classes the children can join in one of the many clubs that DL Kids offer. If sport isn’t their thing then there are plenty of other ways to keep them entertained such as film club, arts and crafts or Nintendo Wii sessions.
These clubs are a great way to keep them entertained and make new friends while you can take part in a class, head to the gym or even enjoy a treatment in the spa.
The holidays can be a really tricky time for working parents and finding childcare that the children will enjoy can be a real challenge. At David Lloyd you have the option of half or full days in their very resonantly priced holiday camps where the children can enjoy all the fun of DL Kids plus a yummy lunch…what could they possibly not enjoy about this!
My younger ones are pretty easy to please and are happy to give anything a go. My eldest son however is pretty hard to drag away from the Xbox but by some kind of miracle David Lloyd has managed to do that! He has loved coming to win as a family and of course fill his belly in the DLicious Cafe which is always a hit with us all for its deliiocs coffees, creamy smoothies and vast choice of healthy hot and cold meals. All of which can be enjoyed in the cafe itself or in the dedicated children’s area where the kids can left of steam in the soft play or spend some time on the built-in iPads.
Some thing he is yet to try is are the special 11+ gym, swimming and tennis sessions which he has his sights set on the summer.
With this wonderful weather we are having at the moment we also want to spend as much time as we can outside and David Lloyd has a large number of clubs with outdoor pools which we are itching to try out. Outdoor swimming in the UK is pretty limited these days so this really is a fantastic addition.
I’m sure there are things that I haven’t covered as the fun at David Lloyd is so expense you really need to see it to belive it. Why not nip along to your local club and see for yourself what a membership could offer you and your family this summer.
*collaborated post
For the past few years the Mayfield Lavender fields in Banstead have been my first glimpse that summer has arrived. The magnificent sea of purple that fills the landscape and the beautiful smell that engulfs the air is a sight to be seen and one that I never ever tire of.
Mayfield Lavender has really gone from strength to strength and not only does it offer you the chance to enjoy this natural wonder there is also the opportunity to enjoy a huge range of scrutipous food and drink from the cafe such as juicy hotdogs, delectable homemade cakes and even a lavender cream tea which is still on my wishlist to try.
The shop is also fully stocked with goodies from tolliteries to lavender flavour sweets and of course a change to take home some of your very own lavender.
My little ones love being able to just run free through the fields but if you want a little more adventure then hop onboard the tractor for a ride around the fields to get a completly different perspective.
I am always the one holding the camera on our trips which I absolutly love, but this year it was a little different as we went along to meet the lovely Rachel Thornhill who is an expert when it comes to photography…especially at Mayfield Lavender.
Rachel is in fact one of the photographers recommend by Brendan Maye – The owner of Mayfield lavender and the moment I meet her I could understand why.
Her friendly smile and calm, welcoming nature put us all at ease when we arrived and she chatted at length with the children about what our morning was going to entail and how to care for the fields and the nature living there during the shoot.
I am not a fan of posed images and much prefer a playful, natural style of picture and this is exactly what Rachel tries to create. Capturing the children at play or us all in deep conversation creates a much more natural image and one that tells a story allowing it to be a more memorable capture and something to treasure for years to come.
During our shoot that lasted a little over an hour we got the change to explore, play, chat and giggle and at no point did the children get bored or restless as Rachel worked her magic and kept them happy and engaged throughout, she even managed to keep shooting when Oscar bundled in for cuddles.
What really sets her apart from other photographers is that she creates bespoke museum quality wall art and framed prints personal to you and hand made by professional printers in both the UK and Italy that are designed to stand the test of time, and become a part of your family story. The products are not available to buy from anywhere other than professional photographers, so really quite special?
Mayfield Lavender is a truly magical place that is pretty hard to find in the UK. It is a place to make special memories to keep for a lifetime and with something like a photoshoot with Rachel these special moments can be captured and remembered for many years to come.
*collaborated post
Over the summer I’ve not linked up with the lovely ladies at Truly Madly Kids and have really missed their great linky.
This weeks subject is colour which is perfect to bring some sunshine into this miserable weather we are having today.
This was taken one evening at the beginning of the summer and is one of my favourite photos.
For anyone that knows me they will know that one of my top summer activities is visiting village fairs. I love the feeling of stepping back in time and the simple fun of things like the coconut shy, lucky dips and tombolas.
With the last Bank Holiday upon us we set off to visit the Donkey Derby in Godstone, Surrey. It was everything I love about a village fair, lots of stalls to browse, cream tea tents, Punch and Judy and the added bonus of the donkey races.
The children loved picking a donkey to cheer long and watched them race over the finish line. They sat mesmerised at the Punch and Judy show and had a couple of rides on the monkey swings.
We had our obligatory cream tea under canvas while the children tried their hand at hand spinning and now know where the song ‘wind the bobbin up’ comes from.
The highlight of number five’s day was the ornate wooden organ that he stood by for ages dancing to and popping pennies into the pot.
It was a lovely way to round off the summer holidays and now roll on the Christmas markets.
I will apologise now for the photo spam in this post, but I took so many pictures it was hard to chose my favourites.
For the past few years I have dressed my brood up in white and taken the short trip to the stunning Mayfield Lavender fields to take in their splender whilst taking some great shots.
Even though I have driven past these fields countless times over the years I am still taken back by there beauty every year.
The children still get exited to run up and down the long pathways peeping over at each other as they go.
The fields are located just outside the town of Banstead in Surrey. There is a small charge of a pound per person and there is ample parking; but be warned they are a real crowd puller and it gets very busy.
They have added a tractor ride this year which I should imagine is great but unfortunately we got there to early and couldn’t wait for the first trip out of the day.
We finished our trip off today by getting some freshly cut lavender that we are going to use in our lavender playdough making this week.
There is also a coffee shop serving a small range of hot and cold food. Our relaxing coffee was cut short by poor number five getting a wasp sting to his face!!
We will be making a trip back soon to give the tractor ride a go!
Fruit picking is one of my favourite summer activities.
Out enjoying the weather and teaching the children where the food they eat comes from.
Our family all love fruit and we especially love our annual fruit picking trip.
Today was perfect weather for it so we set off to Flowers Farm in Godstone to start our day.
I only had the two little ones today so it was easier to keep an eye on the amount of fruit that was going into the mouths rather than the baskets!
Number four was quite reserved and only snuck a few, number five on the other hand didn’t get the concept at all and had to have his basket removed!
We got a fabulous crop of strawberries, raspberries and cherries and had a fantastic time running around the fields trying to find the best fruit.
Once we were all done we had a short drive up the road to the newly opened Oldpost.
I had been a while ago and had a beautiful Valentines afternoon tea here and wanted to take my parents and Sister as I knew it would be right up their street.
They were not disappointed as we walked into the beautiful, serene courtyard and picked a table by a tranquil water feature.
To my Sister’s delight they had a Wimbeldon themed menu which consisted of a scrumptious scone with cream and jam and a glass of processo or Pimms.
The staff were extremely welcoming and even though the setting was wonderful they were more than happy to accommodate my two over active little ones!
My Sister made a new best friend when she received a complementary top up on her prosecco.
Tummies full and slightly tipsy we had a walk around to see what else Oldpost had to offer. There is a wonderfully stocked gift shop perfect for something a little different, a light and airy studio which offers a wide range of exercise classes and also classes for little ones; plus a beauty room offering a good array of very reasonable priced treatments.
With my birthday coming up next month my sister and I have a girly day there planned with another few glasses of prosecco to celebrate!
This week we make the most of our passes and had a mid week trip to Chessington World Of Adventures.
I’m trying to savour the last few weeks I have with number four at home before he starts nursery in September.
He is defiantly the hardest of my children and to be honest a few hours a day at nursery with do us both the world of good, but I know I won’t get this time back so I want to make the most of this summer while I can.
