Big boot, economical to run, top of the class safety, better for the environment – when it comes to picking a family car, the criteria seems to be endless. Can you really have it all with a realistic budget? Kia seem to think you can with the Niro, a petrol hybrid and were sent one a few weeks ago for an extended test drive giving us the opportunity to put the car to the ultimate test: a jam packed Mummy and Boo week.

After the lovely man from Kia dropped the car off, and gave me a whistle stop tour of the car and it’s features I set off on my errands (aka heading to the Costa drive through!!) and immediately I felt an affinity with the car. It grips the road firmly and the driving position is elevated enough to feel that bit safer but not too high so as to feel like you’re driving a truck! The Kia Niro 2 is a 1.6 dual hybrid and petrol crossover SUV currently available in the UK starting at £21,295 and comes with the enviable Kia 7 year/100,000 miles warranty. Kia is a brand of car I’ve driven in the past through fleet and hire cars yet I was surprised at just how far they’ve come in the style department. The tiger nose of the Niro is a real style feature and helps to give the car a grown up feel that isn’t all about boot space and ISOFIX – speaking of which it has and the I’m fairly confident that you could fit three car seats side by side in the back, although with it just being me and Boo that was something we couldn’t test!

It was soon time to pick Boo up from school and she loved the car, especially colour – temptation red in metallic. Whilst it was only the two of us, it wasn’t too lofty inside for us to feel lost which is great and the impressively large boot meant her school bag and scooter were a doddle.

Day 2 saw us head to Kidzania at Westfield, London to meet up with Donna and A for a fun packed day. It’s less than 9 miles from our house to Westfield and was the perfect opportunity to put the Niro through it’s inner city paces. It was an icy start and the Kia with it’s intelligent climate control (you can heat/cool just the driver if you like!) had us toasty within a couple of minutes. It wasn’t long before Boo was taking advantage of the USB charging point for her Kindle and I soon got to grips with the built in satellite navigation system; part of the 7inch touchscreen console that houses pretty much everything you may ever need in a car!

The self charging hybrid nature of the Niro means that it gives families the best of both worlds, the reliability and familiarity of a petrol engine with the eco friendly and future proof self charging battery – meaning no plugging in to charge, it does that all by itself every time you touch the break pedal.

Day 3 and it didn’t matter that there was gale forces winds, we were off to Brighton, for a family tradition of Sunday by the sea. My Mum came along and within minutes I discovered another handy feature of the Kia Niro; with in sound settings you’re able to alter the focus of sound (away from the centred default) – so I could happily belt out some old school classics with Kisstory while my dear mama kept her sanity.

Brighton is just under an hour from ours and it was great to open up the Kia Niro on the motorway, could a hybrid possess enough power to hold it’s own with other comparable SUV crossovers? Despite me being resigned to the idea of spending the whole journey in the inside lane I was soon pleasantly surprised at just how much power the 1.6 petrol engine translated to. With impressive acceleration for this class of car and it gripped the road meaning it’s not left behind on long journeys.

With the start of the school week I headed to Costco to stock up ready for our Christmas Fair, putting it to the ultimate boot space test. Two hours later and a groaning trolley, the Kia Niro made easy work of our buys and there was even room for a little one in the back. The seats were easy to fold down and the large tailgate made loading a doddle – another family car win.

Check out our week with the Kia Niro on YouTube…

The Kia Niro boasts 74.3mpg which is impressive and what’s better is that it’s CO2 emissions of 88g/km means it’s exempt from road tax. Yes I could throw facts and figures at you, but that’s easy to find – what you really want to know when you’re choosing your next family car is how it will adapt and make your life easier. The Kia Niro since it’s launch earlier this year has been likened to the Toyota Prius but for me that’s an unfair comparison. The Niro knocks the Prius out of the park – yes it’s a hybrid offering future proof automative technology but first and foremost it’s a family car and it’s obvious that Kia never lost sight of that throughout the design phase. Instead of designing a car that requires a crash course in self charging blah blah they developed a car that fits in with family life and for that the Kia Niro is the obvious in crossover family travel. The worse part of the review? Giving it back!

Disclosure: I am a member of the Mumsnet Bloggers Panel, a group of parent bloggers who have
volunteered to review products, services, events and brands for Mumsnet. I have not paid for
the product or to attend an event. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity.

Have a good night’s sleep is something we all want. Whether you’re a sound sleeper with a solid pattern or a tosser and turner that can never settle down, being able to rest well and feel refreshed is a goal for everyone. But it isn’t always that easy to achieve

If you struggle to get a good night’s sleep every night, have you thought about the things you do that might be stopping you? Sometimes, it’s just down to your evening routine. By trying to be mindful of your actions, you can make a huge change. So, if you’re keen to start sleeping better, follow these steps and see if you notice a difference.

Wind Down

First of all, it’s important for you to start calming your body down ahead of sleep. If you’re too wired before you try to shut off, it just won’t happen. It might even be something you’ve started to notice yourself. But if you’re not sure why it happens, there could be a range of reasons. Are you checking your smartphone before bed? Screens generally keep your mind more active, so it’s best to set them aside for an hour or so before bed. You want your mind to start calming down at this stage, not starting to race.

Calm Down

Next, you’re going to want to get your body to relax. You now know what not to do before bed, but what should you be doing instead? One of the things that can help your body to relax is chamomile tea. It has soothing and calming qualities that can assist you in your search for the land of nod. On another note, it’s also important to stay away from caffeine before bedtime. If you’re drinking coffee at 9 pm and wondering why you’re still away at midnight, that might be why. Instead, sip your chamomile and start to relax. You might even want to take a bath with soothing scents to help your muscles and mind unwind.

Get Cosy

Then, as your body is preparing itself to slip into sleep, you’ll want to help facilitate it. Do you love to be in your bed? Is it relaxing for you? If you’re uncomfortable, it might be another reason why you’re tossing and turning all night. At the same time, if you bring your work into the bedroom by reading papers or working on a laptop, it can also stop you from seeing your bed as the place to sleep. So, you need to turn it into a slumber paradise. If your mattress is lumpy, invest in a new one. If you can’t get comfortable, then why not use a v shaped pillow or choose some better quality bedlinen. It might be all you need to do to rest better.

Get In The Sleeping Frame Of Mind

Now that you’ve ditched the distractions, your body is starting to relax, and you’ve made yourself comfortable, you’re going to want to make your mind sleepy. One of the best ways to do that is to read before bed. It can help you switch off, unwind and your mind into another state – which is what you’ll need to do when you sleep. Or, if you really can’t bring yourself to find any kind of book you’d enjoy, listen to soothing music and see if that helps you to switch off instead. Either way, your mind should start to relax and allow you to slip off into a sound sleep in no time at all.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

Christmas is a busy time of year. There’s a lot to do, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t look stylish doing it. If you’ve got a packed schedule ahead, here are some fashion fixes to ensure you look great for every occasion.

Party dressing
Have you got a work Christmas party coming up? Have you been invited for drinks on Christmas Eve or are you gearing up for a night on the tiles for New Year? If so, you may be looking for that all-important party outfit. Most of us automatically think about buying dresses when we hear the word party, but there are other options. You could consider buying a jumpsuit or some leather pants if you’re keen to look stylish and keep your pins warm. Or you could go for a skirt and top combination. This winter, jewel tones and textures like velvet and leather are all the rage. When you’re shopping, be open-minded. If you’re not used to being experimental, try and be more adventurous. You can try things on without anybody else seeing you, and you may find that you love styles that you assumed wouldn’t suit you.

Once you’ve got your outfit sorted, don’t forget about underwear. Buying new pieces like those from the Tutti Rouge underwear collection will help you to feel even more gorgeous. Pay particular attention to the garments you buy if you’ve bought a backless or strapless dress.

Comfy casuals
When it’s freezing outside, there’s nothing more appealing than wrapping up and keeping warm. If you’re off for a wintry walk, for example, it’s essential to master the art of looking great and keeping the cold at bay. Winter is the perfect time of year to layer up and get snuggly in jumpers, cardigans, and coats. Keep your feet warm with trainers or boots, and add a bobble hat and a woolen scarf to complete the look. Parkas and puffas are fantastic options for winter 2016. Make sure you stock up on thermals too.

Daytime chic
Are you going for a festive lunch with friends or treating your mum to a bit of retail therapy? If so, you want to get dressed up without going over the top. Smart casual is often a tricky dress code to master. Go for something like slim-fit jeans, ankle boots, a plain polo neck, and a faux fur gilet for a laid-back but sophisticated look. Add some leather gloves, a fedora, a tote bag to round off the outfit in style. Jumper dresses and riding boots are also an excellent option. Throw a fur coat or a cape over your shoulders, and you’re ready to go.

Festive staples
No Christmas is complete without a festive jumper and some new pyjamas. It’s socially acceptable to wear Christmas jumpers throughout December, so don’t be afraid to get some serious wear out of your new purchase. You can go all-out with the Christmas cheer and buy a novelty jumper with Rudolph motif or a singing snowman. Or you can pair things back a touch with a classic fair isle knit. When it comes to nightwear, you’ll be spoiled for choice. At this time of year, the shops are packed with snuggly fleece onesies and cute two pieces.

Christmas Day dressing
Most of us like to make an effort when it comes to Christmas Day. The key is find something glamorous, which is also comfortable. We all tend to get carried away with buffets, roast dinners, and bowls filled with chocolates and nuts. You don’t want to be feeling like you can’t breathe before you’ve even started your Christmas pudding. A loose fitting dress or an A-line skirt will work well. You’ll look the part, and you’ll be comfortable all day. If you’re visiting friends or staying at your parent’s house, take some lounging attire to change into later in the day.

Christmas is coming, and it’s time to figure out what you’re going to wear in the coming weeks. This is a perfect time of year for fashion fans, as you can try out all kinds of different looks. From lounging around in festive PJs to tearing up the dance floor in a stunning gown, this is the season to have fun, and celebrate your sense of style. Don’t be afraid to try new styles or opt for something different to the classic LBD for a festive party. Think about comfort, as well as style, when you’re putting together casual outfits, and embrace the festive spirit. You can never have too many pairs of Christmas pyjamas.

This is a collaborative post.

It’s freezing at the moment and with the beginning of December and Christmas less than a month away, Boo is starting to really get into the festive magic. One of Boo’s greatest things to do at Christmas is go ice skating (something she normally does with Daddy as I’m worse than Bambi on the ice!). So when Mother’s Meeting invited us to the Tower of London to ice skate with the cast of Frozen Disney on Ice, we jumped at the amazing icy opportunity. As I picked Boo up from school and told her where we going she was so excited – once we were off the tube, she instantly recognised the Tower of London and started reeling off some impressive facts and figures as she’s currently studying London as their topic at school.

The Tower of London never fails to wow but seeing it lit up waiting for us, made it an extra special evening. we got booted up and then it was time to hit the ice. Now I feel in the spirit of honesty that it’s important that I describe just how bad I am on the ice. Boo got straight on with it and used a push along penguin to find her skating legs and it wasn’t long until she was picking up tips from the Disney on Ice dancers who were there to teach us some tricks of the trade. I on the other hand, clung on to the side railing for dear life slipping and sliding everywhere – oh the shame!! After a while Boo came over and asked me to skate with her, so I parked my dignity and grabbed my own penguin and for about ten minutes if you ignored the fact that I was using a penguin, I looked semi normal in the ice and it was lovely to share such a magical time on the ice with Boo.

Once our skating session had come to an end we were treated to a sneak peak of the amazing skating skills that you can expect to see at this year’s Disney on Ice. This year it’s Frozen and promises that audiences can expect the full experience on ice. Both Boo and I were mesmerised by the dancing on the ice, it was amazing – Boo hasn’t stopped chatting about the twist, flips and spins.
Disney on Ice Frozen comes to the o2 on the 21st December and is the sprinkling of magic to add to your little one’s festive memories.

Massive thanks to Disney and Mother’s Meeting for an amazing Monday evening on ice – Boo has got the Frozen on Ice bug!

Disclosure: We Were invited to an ice skating session with Disney on Ice and Mother’s Meetings. All opinions are my own.