Financial checklist for new parents

Expecting or just welcomed a tiny human and wondering how your bank balance is going to cope?

Becoming a new parent is brilliant, overwhelming and utterly life changing. You get endless cuddles, a dramatic new sleep schedule and a list of expenses that seems to grow overnight.

But breathe easy. With a few sensible financial tweaks and a bit of planning you can keep your family on solid ground without crying into the takeaway tonight.

In this post we will run through the key money matters new parents should sort, from saving for future schooling to making sure you are covered if life throws a curveball. Think of it as a friendly financial checklist for new parents that won't judge your chosen brand of baby wipes.

Semi-Permanent Eyebrow Healing Journey | Emergency Removal

At the end of last year I went for my first 'powder brow' session at a Yorkshire based beauty salon. Unfortunately I was unable to have the treatment as planned as I was informed once there that I needed to have stopped breastfeeding for AT LEAST 2 weeks before I had the semi-permanent eyebrow tattoo. I ended up going back in April this year for my first session, which I was happy with, and this blog post and video shows the healing process. A few weeks ago I went back for my top up session and I'm afraid to say that this wasn't a positive result and I ended up having emergency tattoo pigment removal using 'Botched Ink' 24 hours later...

I had saved up for semi-permanent Ombre / Powder Brows for a while, but had always put off booking a session because I was so worried that I would come away with brows that I hated, were uneven, the wrong shape or the wrong colour. Read on to find out what happened and why I ended up needing emergency removal....

Checklist | Baby Hospital Bag

 

I initially wrote this post after just having just given birth to a new baby a few days prior,  with fresh (but tired) eyes and the most up-to-date advice possible, because, you know, my hospital bag was still slumped on my bedroom floor full of all of the stuff I took with me and most definitely needed!

This post will give you a handy hospital bag checklist for everyone involved in your birthing journey...

Breastfeeding Essentials for New Mums

Hello gorgeous new mum, mum to be, glowing Goddess and grower of tiny humans… it’s finally happened, hasn’t it?? The day has indeed arrived where you are forced to think of doing something else with your boobies other than ‘tit taping’ them to your dress, hoisting them a few inches higher or using them to convince your husband that you absolutely, definitely do need that new pair of heels ( which you won't be wearing by the way, but more on that later!)
 

Yes, their true purpose has been realised: You are going to sustain life! (And kill germs, and heal sticky eyes, and sort out stretch marks, and increase IQ scores and a whole manner of other debatable possibilities that I promise you will come across in your Google search results at some point during your breastfeeding journey!)

You are about to become Milk Maker Extraordinaire. Congrats! It’s a tough old role, but highly rewarding. Here are a few things that will make it easier for you...

Breastfeeding : My Embarrassing Moments

The thing with breastfeeding is that it is a learning curve (you assume for yourself) but actually, the real student in this life lesson of keeping a human alive via milk alone is actually your baby!

 

That’s right - this teeny tiny human who can’t walk, talk, recognise their own name or see clearly past 30cm is about to attend their first class, and you: Mamma, are the Teacher. You’ve got this...or at least you will do, but if it goes a bit tits up in the process, hey, no matter. It happens to the best of us...

57 EYFS Tuff Tray Ideas

I love our tuff tray, (probably even more than the children do), and thinking up tuff tray ideas - and although it can be a challenge to set them up sometimes - I love the wow factor a new tray play activity brings to young children and how excited and enthusiastic they are to go and explore straight away! I know that my carefully laid resources will be scattered around within minutes, but honestly, that's the beauty of it. A well played with EYFS tuff tray, where learning opportunities arise, does not come from children feeling like they can't touch, move, reorder or explore. A day without some 'mess' has usually been an unproductive one...

 I've picked out 57 tuff tray ideas (originally 19 but I keep updating!) of our current favourite EYFS tuff tray ideas here for you to enjoy and feel inspired! I also have a post showcasing our best sensory tray play ideas here.  If you want to learn more about tuff trays first - have a read of our complete guide to tuff trays here. 

You can find many of the resources mentioned over in my Amazon affiliate ideas list here (click here for USA version).

What Every Parent Should Know About BMW X3 Tyres Wear

 

When driving a family SUV such as the BMW X3, safety and reliability are always your main concerns. However, you may not realise tyre wear is one of the aspects that can significantly affect all your safety, comfort, and, indeed, the running costs of the vehicle. By knowing what causes the tyres to wear, you can make a more informed decision on when and what to replace them at the right time without wasting money. 

Gray Hair Transition: A Guide to Going Grey Gracefully

So, you're thinking about ditching the dye and letting your grey hair shine through? Welcome to the club! It's a bold move, a statement, a declaration of independence from the tyranny of hair colour. This guide is your roadmap to navigating the transition to grey hair with grace, humour, and maybe a few strategic hair styles. 

My journey of transitioning grey hair