Category Archive for "Family" | Hot Pink Wellingtons

A National Trust for every month

Thursday, June 27, 2019 Permalink

Max walking under rose covered archway at Mottisfont

If you're a regular reader of Hot Pink Wellingtons, you'll know just how much I love a National Trust property. Their gardens are always absolutely beautiful, and they are guardians of some of the most famous gardens in the world, such as Sissinghurst and Stourhead. They are also wonderful places for families to explore and to teach children about nature and history. I have a huge list of favourites, but it's definitely true that each property has a particular season when the garden is looking it's best, so I've chosen a National Trust for every month of the year, so that you can visit at the perfect time. January - Devil's Punchbowl For me, January is all about a brisk walk, with ...

We Are Official Swimologists with Konfidence – Plus Giveaway! {AD}

Thursday, April 25, 2019 Permalink

I'm so pleased to be able to announce that for 2019 we will be working with Konfidence as Brand Ambassadors and Swimologists, alongside a team of other fantastic bloggers! I believe really passionately in the importance of teaching children to swim so I'm thrilled to be able to work with a brand who share that. I have such fond memories of swimming as a child - I loved the beach, and swimming in the sea especially - and I've been really keen to pass that on to my own children. It's fair to say that our swimming journey hasn't been without it's struggles though, as Max absolutely hated the baby swimming lessons we signed up for, and water in general. He's ...

How to captivate your reluctant reader: Story School at Chessington World of Adventures

Monday, February 25, 2019 Permalink

Last week we were thrilled to be invited to Chessington World of Adventures to take part in a Room on the Broom themed Story School, ahead of the opening of the new Room on the Broom attraction on March 10th 2019. The storytelling workshop was hosted by Master Storyteller, Kevin Graal, along with Binky Felstead and her daughter India, and aimed to help parents bring books to life for their children and guide parents on the most effective story time tips and techniques. Chessington recently conducted a survey, which revealed that 36% of UK parents feel nervous about reading stories to their children at bedtime. I'm almost embarrassed to admit this, but I would absolutely include myself in that 36%. ...

Where To Find The Best Snowdrops In Surrey

Monday, February 11, 2019 Permalink

Snowdrops are one of my favourite signs that winter is ending and spring is on its way. After a long winter, I love when February arrives and a visit to see the snowdrops has become one of our annual traditions. Although the best snowdrops I've come across have been at Welford Park in Berkshire, Surrey also has some wonderful spots to see them if you know where to look. Gatton Park Gatton Park in Reigate has to top my list for the best snowdrops in Surrey. The Capability Brown designed parkland is open on selected days in February for visitors to see the snowdrops. Runneymede and Ankerwycke The Ankerwycke yew is said to be where Henry VIII proposed to Anne Boleyn and each spring ...

We finally got snow!

Wednesday, February 6, 2019 Permalink

Max and Ben sat on wooden sledge in the snow

Ever since we moved to Surrey, we've never quite been blessed with snow. In Max's nearly 5 years on the planet, the first time he saw snow was last February, and even then we only got a sprinkling - not enough to make a snowman (or even a snowball). But we had high hopes this year when we saw the weather forecast last week - the temporary move with my parents in Berkshire came at just the right time for the snow! We went to bed on Thursday night, full of anticipation as to what might greet us when we woke up. And sure enough, we opened the curtains to a blanket of snow! We had a message from Max's school to ...

Tinpo: Inspiring Curiosity for Preschoolers

Friday, January 25, 2019 Permalink

This is a paid review post When it comes to TV programmes, I always know what is likely to appeal to Max, and without fail, it's the science-based, problem solving programmes which capture his attention. Tinpo is a relatively new kids TV programme, having first aired in December 2018, but it's already proved a hit with Max. There are 5 brand new episodes airing next week on CBeebies, and we had a sneak preview of them, which Max was over the moon about, jumping around the room, shouting "TinPO!" We were also sent a few colouring activity sheets, and it says a lot that Max, who usually hates colouring, was more than happy to get stuck in and give them a ...

Riding The Rails on The Watercress Line

Wednesday, January 16, 2019 Permalink

Little blond boy, sat on train, looking out of the window

There's nothing I love better than revisiting the places that hold such fond memories for me of my own childhood. I very clearly remember our trip on the steam train on The Watercress Line, and we first took our boys last year (we'd been meant to go the previous Christmas too, but sadly Max got chickenpox, so we had to abandon that plan). When I tasked my husband with choosing an activity for us to do over the post-Christmas break, I thought his suggestion of a trip on The Watercress Line was a brilliant one. At 4, Max is very into trains, and I knew that Ben (18 months now) would love it too. We arrived at Alton, ready to catch ...

Nature Play with Willow and Wild Box

Wednesday, January 9, 2019 Permalink

Willow and Wild Subscription box contents for January 2019

When I was pregnant, I imagined myself as the perfect Pinterest mum, doing all kinds of crafts with my children. As it turns out, Max isn't really into crafting at all, and is far more excited to get outside and explore, or learn about how things work. When I first heard about Willow and Wild's Subscription boxes, I knew they'd tick the right boxes for both me and Max, with their focus on teaching children about nature and the world around them, with a little bit of craft thrown in too. Willow and Wild is a monthly box which fits through your letterbox, and is filled with a huge range of activities to help children learn about and engage with nature. ...

How I’ve Changed As A Parent {with Johnson’s Baby}

Monday, December 10, 2018 Permalink

This is paid collaboration as part of my Ambassador role with Johnson’s Baby Perfectionism is an impossible thing when it comes to parenting. I’ve always been a perfectionist. I was the child in school who always got 10/10, and I’ve gone through life always aiming to do my absolute best. But more than anything else, being a mum is the thing that I’ve wanted to be perfect at. I’m sure it’s something that all new parents feel - that overwhelming sense of responsibility as you realise that you are the person that needs to look after this tiny, helpless little being, and everything in you wants to be the very best parent you can for them. In that first year with Max, ...

Me and Mine: November 2018

Friday, November 30, 2018 Permalink

Family visiting Father Christmas at Lapland UK

After a long old October, November seems to have gone by in a flash. We've started our Christmas celebrations early this year, so it feels appropriate that our November Me and Mine photos are from our trip to Lapland UK. It's not the best family photo of us I've ever seen, but it's reality - there's always one member of the family not looking at the camera! I can't work out whether Ben is looking at Santa, or at John. Lapland UK was definitely the highlight of our month. It was wonderful to make a return visit when Max really was the perfect age for it all. I hope that one day we'll be able to go back when Ben is ...

A National Trust for every month

We Are Official Swimologists with Konfidence – Plus Giveaway! {AD}

How to captivate your reluctant reader: Story School at Chessington World of Adventures

Where To Find The Best Snowdrops In Surrey

We finally got snow!

Tinpo: Inspiring Curiosity for Preschoolers

Riding The Rails on The Watercress Line

Nature Play with Willow and Wild Box

How I’ve Changed As A Parent {with Johnson’s Baby}

Me and Mine: November 2018

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