A few weeks ago I talked on IG stories about not being able to drink my beloved mug of English breakfast tea since starting on new medication for chronic migraines. Whilst a seemingly mild side-effect it has left me with the quandary as to what to drink by the bucket load during the day. Coffee is out the question as I have been caffeine-free (my tea previously had been caffeine-free) for over four years and hot chocolates, whilst an indulgent treat are far too heavy to be drinking on the regular. I wasn’t ready to abandon hot drinks altogether so was keen to find an everyday substitute; and as if by magic the team behind Ciao Gusto got in touch to see if I’d be interested in trying out the Bonomelli’s herbal fruit teas.

I’ve previously drunk fruit teas but found them sometimes to be a bit too sweet and more like warm squash (nothing wrong with that on a cold day, a staple of a British winter but too sickly for 4-5 cups per day) so was interested to try the three flavours

Bonomelli is part of the Ciao Gusto family which is available on Ocado – I’ve come to see it as a dedicated one-stop Italian delicatessen offering all the Italian food brands that are so hard to come by during your weekly shop but bring those authentic tastes of Italy into your home. Being in one easy place means it’s so easy to shop, there’s so much to discover.

Back to the teas – ginger and tumeric is as the name suggests, the most spiced of the three and one that’s perfect for a blustery winter’s day and could help with the symptoms of a cold. The sweet and wild and fennel was best in the evening, I found it really gentle on my stomach and calming. My absolute favourite of the three has to be the goji and hibiscus herbal tea – the perfect balance of flavours means that I could drink it all day and have been doing just that.

Each tea comes with advice on how long to infuse and suggest to sweeten if desired not with sugar but honey which I did with fennel and it gave it such a different spin on the taste, it was lovely.

Bonomelli herbal fruit teas and so many more much loved Italian brands are available through Via Gusto on Ocado.

Disclosure: A fee was received for my time.

As I approached the big 3-0 last year I felt this building pressure for an epiphany of sorts – my twenties had been pretty pivotal in making me a mother and I’m immensely proud of the career I’ve worked towards. But a higher level of adult as the clock struck midnight? I’m afraid not… I’m still amazed that every day I’m entrusted with Boo’s future – not to mention running a house. There was no lightbulb moment – instead a chorus of people ‘welcoming’ me to the old club, and asking me how I felt. I’ve never feared ageing, as my Grandma used to say the alternative is really rather morbid, I choose to view it as a lovely privilege.

So no inner lessons from turning 30 last year – however as I approached 31 this year I’ve noticed a change within; it’s as if the last year has seen me bed into my thirties and finally (only taken me 13 years) become truly comfortable as an adult and all that comes with it.

Motherhood has a habit of eclipsing your growth as a person as you quite rightly focus on the needs of raising your family but as Boo is now 8, it’s all aligning, in terms of our lives, goals and needs – less running of baths and more discussions with actual viewpoints – our home is alive with shoots of new growth and new development for the both of us.

I feel a sense of zen (trust me I’m as shocked as you to be writing the words, never thought they’d be ‘me) but also a sense of great enthusiasm and great energy and as cheesy as it sounds I think it comes with the self-assurance of being in my thirties.

I’m a maximalist who laughs too loud and too often and I’ve spent over a decade apologising for this; 31 brings not only acceptance but love for myself – I’m a great friend.

So has the first year of my thirties been more formative than I had imagined? Or has the societal pressure of milestone ageing quietened enough to allow me to grow at my own pace? AS such with self-reflection it’s too soon to know the hows and whys but it’s good to feel it consciously happening.

It’s only been a couple of days but I can already tell that 31 suits me better.

It’s less than two weeks until back to school – some of you will be counting down and some will be savouring every last day; being a WAHM during the summer holidays is never easy however with Boo starting Year 4 I like to think I’ve found our groove when it comes to being organised with back to school and all that comes with it. I’m super organised and it’s often assumed that it’s a trait you’re just kind of have, but the truth is I’m naturally the most disorganised person you’ll meet; I made a conscious decision when I was a teenager to become organised and the rest they say is a history… of lists!

There’s no crazy secret, just tried and tested tips and most importantly not leaving everything until the last minute; even if you’ve not made a start, there’s still plenty of time – here are my top finds this year.

Our school like lots of other schools does restrict what Smiggle items are allowed however, I still find the back to school bundles offer the best value and the rucksack is perfect for clubs and weekends. I really love the bright print, and the added treats available help to make shopping that bit more fun. But hey anytime we step foot in a Smiggle store or browse their website it’s never boring for Boo.

I am OBSESSED with labels – I have one of those handheld label printers and I will readily admit to labelling you if you stand still long enough! Jokes aside, they’re not messing when they say label everything that goes into school. Each summer I order a batch from Tinyme and this year I opted for two sheets of the stickers plus iron on stickers and shoe overlays. The shoe overlays have been an absolute game-changer – Boo came home with her school shoes every single day of Year 3 which if you know Boo is an achievement! 

If your child needs glasses, then it’s also worth checking before the big return that they still have the same prescription, and if they need new glasses there are plenty of suitable options at www.eyeglasses.com which will help them return to school primed and ready for a new term. Things change quickly at their age, so always make sure kids have the right strength of glasses; they’ll need them considering how much reading they’ll be doing.

Back to school can feel like a chore but as Boo is that bit older it’s really nice to do things together, even if I do have to explain seventeen times why you can’t put hot tea in a water bottle – can’t blame a girl for trying… 

Disclosure: We were gifted the Smiggle back to school bundle pack.

Who’s old enough to remember the tell tell sound of dial-up internet? It was the soundtrack to the beginning of the millennium and my teenage years. A lot has changed since then but the ‘5 more minutes’ plea hasn’t – navigating the digital landscape as parents is important and ever-changing.

Tech is a big part of our lives and in large it’s such a positive aspect of our day-to-day activity, it enhances so much of what we do and I’m a big believer in introducing children to it in a safe and managed way with parents leading the way when it comes to healthy and responsible use.

We’ve been with Sky for our TV, phone and broadband for over 4 years so were excited to try the new Sky Broadband Buddy App; launched in May as part of their new Sky Broadband Boost pack, it’s been designed to give parents ultimate control of their family’s internet usage. The app itself is super easy to set up – it took me less than 5 minutes to download and set up the parent profile. I then began adding devices for both me and Boo. Each device can have different time limits, content restrictions for age.

I’m a big advocate in being open with Boo about boundaries so when it came to setting up her profile on the app we sat together, I talked through why it’s important that we get a variety of stimulation, not just digital and how screen time can affect our concentration and interaction with each other. throughout our time testing the app Boo has really enjoyed checking in on it and seeing how much time she’s got left on specific apps and even what digital bedtime I’ve set myself!

One feature of the Sky Broadband Buddy app that I was really surprised by is that it not only works at home on wifi but when you’re out and about over 3G and 4G, meaning that even when Boo is at a friend’s or at Grandma’s I’m able to keep tabs on what she accesses online.

The app is essentially a very intelligent remote for the internet, absolutely perfect for helping manage modern family life. We all know the importance of striking a balance between screen time and family time so we were set a challenge by Sky to see how we could use the Sky Broadband Buddy App to cut down our screen time; challenge accepted.

I looked at potential ‘problem’ areas and whilst dinner time is already a screen-free time that we fiercely protect.
I have found myself subconsciously reaching for my phone during the mornings not only slowing me down but eating into quality Mummy and Boo time. So I set some limits mainly on myself to make sure I was present and to make sure that on non-school days Boo wasn’t reaching for the iPad until a time I’d specified on the Sky Broadband Buddy App – plus it was brilliant being able to pause the internet, something I’ve introduced into my working day as well. It was pleasantly surprising how such a small tweak to our screen time usage had an impact – it seems so simple but sometimes we all need to stop and take stock; it’s not about reinventing the wheel but about keeping a watching eye in a way that works for the 21st century.

The Sky Broadband Buddy App Gets a thumbs up from me – it helps me with important parent digital admin meaning I can get on with the serious business of having fun…

The Sky Broadband Buddy App is available to Sky Broadband customers with the Sky Broadband Boost pack.

Disclosure: This is a Collaboration with Sky, a fee was received for my time.

The school summer holidays are around the corner and with them hopefully lots of great weather making it the perfect opportunity for a family road trip.

After our holiday to Crete later this month we’re hoping to make the mammoth drive down to Devon during August to visit dear friends and escape the city but as we all know it pays to be prepared especially when it comes to long journeys so here are my top car care tips:

Check, Check and Check Again

I’m not talking about the naughty list at Christmas, I’m talking about levels. Before you set off on a long journey it’s good to check the water, oil and washer levels; whilst the former two are important for the engine the washer level will help care for your windscreen and importantly keep mean you can see where you’re going.

Keeping It Clean

We’ve all had that one friend at some point who had the muckiest of cars and it’s no fun, parenthood brings with it sticky fingers and an avalanche of snacks which is why it’s important to keep on top of the res and regularly clean your car. I love keeping Microfiber towels at ONLINEcarparts.co.uk in the car, they’re so versatile and great for most surfaces both inside and outside of the car.

This Youtube channel www.youtube.com is also great for tips on car maintenance, diagnosis and repair with super simple instructions.