LOVING : New Tripp Trapp® in Lava Orange and Aqua Blue

I very rarely blog about my clients but when you are lucky enough to work for a brand that you love, their has to be the odd exception to that rule.

Today is one of those days because I'm head over heels in love with the two new Tripp Trapp® colours that were launched today. Meet Lava Orange and Aqua Blue.

I'm in LOVE, like really in love but then I have a full on Tripp Trapp® fetish. 

I bought my first, second and third Tripp Trapp's before I worked for Stokke and over the years as old colours are retired and new ones come into the collection I buy another (or three). I have these grand ideas that I'm going to give the kitchen a make over by changing the Tripp Trapp's (well that was my idea when purple was launched) but I love the loved, used nature of my original chairs that have now been in daily use by my children for 12, 11 and 9 years.

We all sit on Tripp Trapp's when we are round the table - we own adult dining chairs, Varier (was Stokke) Date's but don't use them. 

Tripp Trapp® addicted.... and I NEED that orange beauty in my life - and quite probably the blue beauty too.....

Which would you choose?! How do you choose?! HELP!

The new colours will be in store from May. 

*Disclosure: I work for Stokke but my addiction and views are entirely my own

Youth, me, The Gallery

They say that 'youth is wasted on the young' and now that I'm into my 41st year, I have to agree. I wish I'd appreciated my teenage years and not been in such a hurry to grow up. But that's an easy reflection to have all these years later.

I found this photograph of me in a big folder with my name on it, when I was sorting through my mums things after she died.

It's 1983, I was eleven, the same age as Biba is now. It was taken for the round of auditions I did for residential dance schools ahead of my senior school years. The auditions were scary and it turned out that we couldn't afford the fees despite my success. 

My life path would had been so different if I'd spent those final school years training instead of being headstrong and breaking all the rules for the hell of it.

Parenting really isn't easy and I'm deeply regretful of my grumpy teenage attitude now that my mum is gone. I truly hope that my children have a safe passage to adulthood and that they reflect on their youth  with love and happiness.

For The Gallery : Youth, do stop by some of the other posts on the link, even if it's just for the 80's perms. They are epic.

Bloggers Needed

Are you a blogger with a baby under 12 months - or are you currently pregnant? If you are I'd really like to hear from you for some client review opportunities over the coming months.

I'm looking to expand my list, so if you've never worked with me before please do give me a shout. 

If you are interested can you please email me with your name, blog url and the age of your baby?

Filofax Doodle Review Part 1

I LOVE Filofax, I'm a long term user. That sound's wrong but you know what I mean?!

I received a press release a couple of weeks about about the new Filofax Doodle and yesterday that release was followed up by a Doodle for me to try out and share my views on.

We love it. I love it... it's like being back at school but being allowed to write what the hell you like on your English book.

A real review will be coming soon but the excitement got the better of us last night and we made this little vid. Enjoy...

Disclosure : Filofax sent me this item to review. All views are my own.

Together : The Gallery

This is me, aged 12, taken on holiday in Cornwall...the year was 1984.

I din't speak to my parents much that year, or the next, or the next and in all honesty I didn't really speak to them much at all in the years after 1984. 

Me - aged 12 in 1984. Already bang into The Smiths and with a face to match. 

I don't know why, but I do know that look on my face because I see it every day when my own daughter looks back at me.

When I see that look... I hope, with all my heart that she is bigger, better and stronger than I have managed to be in my life and I hope more than anything that she manages to secure that bond with her sister and that they are there for each other.... together... forever...

Photo of my girls as seen in the Annabel Karmel Princess Cookbook

For The Gallery over on Tara Lara's epicness... She's be the real No 1 Mummy Blogger to those who've been around long enough to know what shit sticks.... 

Word.