Like an ocean liner we’re at the point of no return in the summer holidays – we’re slap bang in the middle and knee deep in the joys of trying to fill our children’s days. Enter the main offender… the park; hands up who hates the park – because I do.

The park is supposedly where it’s at, it’s where we as parents should flock with our children for fresh air, fun and frolics, the reality is it’s a mediocre hell and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who feels lie this. We have too local parks, one across the road and one in the village – brilliant you’d think how bad can it be to have choices but whilst different they’re both equally hell.

Firstly just because it’s gated it’s anything but safe, the constant “Mummy the slide is too shiny”, “Mummy the rope is a bit rough” and then there’s the dreaded sand pit – who ever though a massive litter tray for the local wild life would be a good idea so I spend the first ten minutes of every trip to the park reminding Boo that I’m one of those horrible mummies who won’t let her play in the sand; always great for Mummy and Boo relations.

Time and time again I think the park will help with being a WAHM so I dutifully pack my laptop to get some writing done or catch up with e-mails on my phone but then comes to the judgemental glances from parents for being the mama who’s looking at her phone. One of the biggest reminders that the melting pot that is the park serves is that motherhood would be a heck of a lot easier if we all just gave each other a break and cut the judgement.

As an only child the park can be a bit of a let down for Boo, no matter how hard I try I just don’t cut it in the play stakes like a fellow child. So for us the only way trips to the park get better are if we do them with friends; Boo gets playmates and I get some much welcome adult company. winner!

And the worst part? Despite me hating the park it’s universally accepted that I will continue to partake in this parent torture for years to come; so until an antidote is discovered you’ll find me hugging a Costa. But smiling knowing that it’s ok to hate the park…

Creating a focal point in your kitchen could be the perfect opportunity for your household. Whether you plan for it to act as the main attraction, go with the look and feel of a freestanding piece of furniture, or function as an efficient workstation to hold appliances, an island is hugely versatile.
Size, of course, isn’t everything and islands can vary considerably depending on the shape and capacity of the room. Take care not to make your island too big. It might seem like a good idea to have a huge centerpiece that’s packed with appliances, but if you can’t reach the centre of it without stretching, or can’t open doors or manoeuvre around it because it’s too close to other furniture, it won’t be right. You should also guard against making it too small, particularly in open-plan, high-ceilinged spaces as it could feel completely out of place.

Bear in mind too that a kitchen island allows you to create a multi-functional area that can make for the perfect place for the chef of the house. A shaped island will also help to direct the traffic flow away from busy areas of the kitchens.

When planning your kitchen island, aim to add a unique part to your kitchen that will have an impact on your entire cooking area. Also look to create a standout and eye-catching focus point that gives you the freedom to be more flourishing with colours and texture in the entire room. It will often act as a divider in a space as well, so it’s also worth considering its looks from every angle to ensure it appears warm and welcoming within an entertaining or dining area for instance.

If your island is to be a hardworking as well as attractive centerpiece, it’s wise to think carefully about what you do and don’t want to fit in and where. An island is a great place for prepping and cooking so a hob is often on the wish-list, as is a dishwasher and sink. However, this will need plenty of pre-planning to ensure you have power and plumbing supplies on the island before you start and factoring in those additional costs if they’re already there.

Consider how your island fits into the traditional working triangle too by ensuring that the sink, hob and fridge are all within easy reach of each other, without making them so close that the working space becomes crowded. Think about the flip-side, too, particularly where the island faces out onto a living or dining space. While a seating area may seem the simplest option, a row of bar stools could end up creating too much of a barrier, and may leave the island area feeling cluttered, particularly if it is adjacent to a dining table with lots of chairs. In this situation, an overhang to one side, with cupboards to hold crockery, glasses or even space for a wine fridge, all of which face out into the living area, are all good choices.

With an island, you have the ability to create a seating area of any size. Even the smallest of islands can accommodate a work surface overhang with a couple of stools below. The current trend for long, narrow professional kitchen islands, which have the appearance of a restaurant ‘pass’, allows for plenty of seating space. On squarer islands, an integrated table and seating area at one end, set slightly lower, adds somewhere to work away from the food preparation. This is also where you can be a little more playful with the shape, by introducing curves and several levels which are particularly useful if you want the island to perform a variety of functions. Add in plug points and niches specifically for tablets, computers and phones and you’ll soon have all the family gathering round as they work or while their various appliances recharge and it will make the perfect kitchen design that everyone will envy.

Disclosure: A fee was received for this post.

I’m a teeny weeny addicted to Instagram, it is by far my most favourite social media channel – and my most successful. I love the image led feed and with the introduction of IG stories in August 2016 the impulsive sharing of our days has exploded. Just as much as I enjoy posting IG stories I love love love watching other people’s stories. Here are my top five favourite Instagram follows for IG stories…

Alice – Alicej_t
I bloody love this woman, she’s the perfect mix of fashion, motherhood, feminism and travels. Be warned though, watching Alice’s stories will have a direct effect on the amount of internet shopping you do and she has expensive taste (probably one of the reasons why I like her!) oh and if you’re wondering what she’s like in real life? Well I met Alice a couple of months back and she’s really rather lovely and someone I could easily see myself sharing a bottle or two of bubbly with.

katie – MummyDaddyMe
Katie and her beautiful family are the stuff of Instagram dreams, her feed is a grid of beauty showcasing their amazing family travels. Her IG stories on the other hand are hilarious! I love that Katie shows the everyday behind the scenes and keeping it real on just how hard it is juggling being a WAHM oh it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who loves the Diet Coke a bit too much!

Sarah – ThisMamaLife
I’ve only been following Sarah for a few months but it’s her IG stories that have my keeping up with her and young family on a daily basis, she offers a great insight into life as a military wife (her husband is in the Royal Navy) and she’s always smiling and showing off her aldi finds!

Rebecca – MrsrMeldrum
Mrs Meldrum is a Scottish pocket rocket who’s vlogs and lives have deservedly earned her a massive audience, I really enjoy her balance her of family life, Primark (she literally is the queen of Primark hauls!) and laughter. With the recent birth of her third daughter it’s been so encouraging as they share her journey through NICU, it’s so refreshing to see this perspective; Boo was premature and it’s not often you see parents sharing this precious (with both highs and lows) start to life.

Nyomi – Nomipalony
From her weekly boob room update (you’ll have to watch to understand but trust me you’ll be in stitches!) to keeping it real with the kids bedtime, Naomi is one of those IG story creators that instantly makes you feel like you’re sat on her sofa with her. I actually met Naomi in real life before I started regularly falling her IG stories and it wasn’t long until I was hooked, her husband was making her a surprise and I honestly was checking IG every couple of hours waiting for the big reveal!

So there you have my favourite Instagram follows for IG stories – who’s IG stories do you enjoy watching the most?

Any Londoner will know all about Crossrail, it’s construction (and disruption to London) has been constant since 2009 but the much anticipated Elizabeth Line will be well worth it; apart from the rail infrastructure that will be gained the other greatest gift from Crossrail has been the archaeological discoveries that have been unearthed – revealing over 8000 years of London history.

Thousands of artefacts have been discovered during Crossrail and the top 500 are currently part of the exhibition Tunnel: The Archaeology of Crossrail at Museum of London Docklands. We were invited along at the weekend to discover just how rich in history the ground beneath our feet in London is.

We began our adventures with a trip on the MBNA Clipper from Westminster Pier to Canary Wharf; I can;t believe that I’d never been on a Clipper up until now (although might have something to do with suffering with sea sickness – which i’m pleased to report didn’t affect me on the clipper), I’m putting it out there now, it’s our new favourite way to get around London; bonus is that you can use your Oyster/contactless!

The boat ride took approx thirty minutes and on a sunny day is the best way to take in all the sights and makes journeys so much more fun or young families – plus I don’t care how old you are, there’s something pretty cool about passing under Tower Bridge.

We disembarked at Canary Wharf and it’s around a five minute walk to Museum of London Docklands and is really well signposted. As you approach the museum the fun starts before you even get inside with this optical illusion which blew Boo’s mind…

Once inside we were greeted by Jackie Keily, curator of Tunnel: The Archaeology of Crossrail – her passion for the exhibition was immediately apparent with her favourite objects being the tiny fish and mouse bones (keep an eye out for them during your visit). The exhibition itself is an intimate setting that takes you on a journey east to west (or vice versa depending on which way you begin) and each area shows the archaeological discoveries made which range from flint tools from 8000 years ago right through to Victoria chamber pot.

The exhibition is perfectly pitched at children (Boo still can’t stop talking about the skeleton lady with her head between her legs and loved building her very own tunnel) but there is also plenty of detail for adults – they’ve achieved a rarity in museums: the ability to keep everyone engaged and entertained without being cheesy, not an easy feat.

After Tunnel: The Archaeology of Crossrail it was time for lunch at Rum and Sugar, the restaurant attached to the museum and we tucked in to some tasty burgers which are served in a black bun which as I explained to Boo was pirate bread (see what I did there) and tasted really good. I opted for some social spiced plantain fries which were authentically Caribbean spiced and a-maz-ing. Plus currently kids under 10 eat free when accompanying and adult ordering a main course from the a-la-carte menu.

Our day of discovery wasn’t over there – we made our way upstairs after lunch for Time Tunnellers show, where kids get the chance to don hard hats and in the interactive family show seeing them discover the different archaeological layers of Crossrail London and with talk of wee and poo within the first five minutes it’s an instant hit with the little ones.

Museum of London Docklands has so much to offer and is super family friendly it’s one of those family days out that is so often overlooked; but once discovered is somewhere I guarantee you’ll want to return to again and again – me and Boo are already planning our next trip. With 10 free galleries within the museum the only thing that will dwindle is the hours of the day. Definitely a London destination not to be missed.

The Museum of London Docklands is open daily from 10am-6pm and is FREE; Tunnel: The Archaeology of Crossrail is on display until 3rd September 2017.

Eating out is a past time that me and Boo do oh so well, and the summer holidays are no exception. However constant trips to restaurants throughout the school break can add up so it’s great to learn that kids eat free throughout the whole of August at Jamie’s Italian. When the team at Jamie’s Italian invited us down to their Westfield restaurant to celebrate this, there was a catch: Boo would be cooking our lunch! I’ll hold my hands up and know and admit that I didn’t have high hopes for our lunch – oh how wrong was I…

We were greeted by the culinary legend and mentor of Jamie Oliver, Gennaro Contaldo – he really is as charming and lovely as he is on the tv and instantly had the children excited about cooking up a storm in the kitchen. We were in Jamie Oliver Cookery School which is located in Jamie’s Italian which is so far removed from the drab that was my Food Tech classes at school that I was actually excited about donning an apron.

First things first we were given a quick safety talk and all the children knew the first thing to do before cooking: wash you hands! We were then treated to a quick demo on how they make they’re special seven vegetable sauce that’s a perfect base for pasta sauces but can also be served as a soup; it’s great way to maximise the amount of veg your children are getting and whilst Boo will eat absolutely anything she though t was so fun to see how many veg they could cram into one sauce.

Soon it was our turn to head to our cooking stations and get started on our meatballs, sauce and spaghetti dish; Boo was an absolute pro and remembered all the steps that Gennaro had shown us and even pulled me up for forgetting to salt the pasta water!

Boo even got to try her hand at producing her own spaghetti from the pasta machine with the help of Ben, one of chefs on hand – it was great to be able to cook a classic dish with Boo taking the lead.

Next was my favourite part, eating the fruits of our labour. I’m so proud of just how well Boo did and I can honestly say it was one of the nicest pasta dishes I’d eaten in a long time, well done Boo!

In addition to kids eating free throughout August at Jamie’s Italian, kids can also cook for free at Jamie Oliver’s Cookery School with a full priced adult.

Big thanks to Gennaro Contaldo and all the team at Jamie’s Italian for teaching us just how much deliciousness goes into kids meals at Jamie’s Italian.