Men’s Warmer Weather Clothing Trends for Spring 2019

With the warmer weather finally upon us and here to stay (fingers crossed), it's a great time to think about updating your wardrobe for the new season. Generally I will purchase a few keys pieces which I can mix and match, whilst clinging on to a couple of old favourite items, whilst the Mini Mes tend to opt for trusty jeans, funky print tees and some new footwear. It's usually the man in my life I really struggle to buy for! 

This year however I've been investigating the catwalk trends for men and hopefully these ideas will give you some fashion inspiration too. Most items you can pick up fairly cheaply and quickly from large retailers, like Jacamo, and they're practical to wear for everyday family life as well.

Have a Spring Clean to Raise Money for Your Community

Local community groups are one of the most important contributors to fundraising. They directly

affect where we live, ourselves or people we know and places that we go.

However, it can be incredibly hard for these groups to raise money for their causes as they are

usually clubs, groups, churches, schools or sports teams, with limited funding available.

So, here are a couple of tips that you can help your community raise vital funds to help local causes:

5 Safe Valentine's Day Activities for Expectant Mothers

For couples in the first throes of romance, Valentine's day often means romantic treats, dinner dates and the giving of very personal gifts. However, for couples expecting a baby, St Valentine's day is often written off as something that is for the young and free. However, these five Valentine's Day activity ideas prove that romance can blossom during a pregnancy when the big day arrives. 

1. A Maternity Photo-Shoot

Most young couples will wait until their little bundle of joy arrives before thinking about taking some quality photographs, but a pregnancy is part of the journey towards parenthood, and it should be savoured. A romantic way to share a pregnancy with your partner this Valentine's Day is with a maternity photo-shoot. Professional photographers often offer special packages for expectant couples, which sometimes include themed clothing and various backdrops - for a selection of photos that will capture this magical time in your life forever. 

Valentine's Day: Love Bug Pom Pom Craft

Minxy received lots of beautifully coloured yarn at Christmas so we decided to use some for a themed craft activity while it was wet at the weekend. Valentine's Day is just around the corner and these cute and lovable pom poms are actually really simple to create - we made some as key rings and bag accessories too.

Materials

6 Decorating Trends You Shouldn't Follow

People who are fond of keeping their homes looking beautiful don't often think before heading to the high street and splashing the cash on the latest décor trends. They like to follow the famous interior designers on Instagram, read relevant home interior blogs and try to keep up with everything fashionable when it comes to their living space.

There are however a collection of trends, from over the years and present times, which are debatably outdated or inappropriate - would you have any of these in your own home?...

1. Panelling

Panelling on walls was once a widely accepted trend but if you have it in your home today then perhaps it’s time for a change. You could replace the panels with some bold colour paint or even some textured-look wallpaper which is currently very popular. Panelling is apparently quite a turn off for prospective buyers so if you're looking to sell it might be best to eliminate it as soon as possible.

7 Things I've Learnt As A Parent

Since the very first moment I held my newborns in my arms it has been an incredible learning journey. You may think as a parent you're the one teaching your child as you raise them but you certainly do develop and change as a person too. You grow as your little one does.

Here are seven things I've learnt as a parent...

Your best is good enough
Parents really give themselves a hard time but you should know that you're doing a wonderful job and you are a good parent. If you're worrying about how well you're doing that alone is a sign that you care enough to be concerned and you're therefore a pretty good mum or dad.  It's okay for your child to have chicken nuggets and chips from time to time and you shouldn't feel guilty, it's okay to raise your voice or get grumpy when you're sleep deprived and it's okay to leave the dishes on the side for a day. People may judge you at times for your choices on breast/bottle feeding or disposable/cloth nappy usage but if your kids are happy and healthy that's all that matters.

Two Tone Star Biscuits

It was a bit of a wet and wild bank holiday weekend with plenty of thunder storms across the country, so we decided to stay snug indoors and have some baking fun as a family. While I was busy making moist Madeira cake with Jambo, Moomin made a collection of treats by herself including American style muffins and these delicious two tone stars.

They are really simple to create yet the finish is rather pretty. They also fit in nicely with the return of The Great British Bake Off and the first theme - biscuits!

Two Tone Star Biscuits

Ingredients
(makes 16)