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I've always been a city girl. I was born in the city (in fact, my first home was opposite our current house), grew up in the city, and I'm now raising my own family in the city. I get that the countryside has it's advantages, especially when it comes to the amount of space (often for much less money) making it perfect for growing children; that it's peaceful and there's not as much traffic but I wouldn't switch our city abode for any of it. And, believe me, we've thought about it. When it comes to a house with more bedrooms and a cheaper price tag, moving into the countryside would certainly make sense, but we just can't bring ourselves to do it. We love living so close to the shops, the buzz of town, the supermarket, museums, galleries, restaurants - the whole shebang.

So, I thought I'd start a little series all about our life in the city; raising a family in the middle of the mayhem. You never know, one day, when we're old and grey, Ben and I may look back on these words and these pictures, as we sit in the garden of our little country cottage, remembering what crazy cats we were to live in the big smoke... but, I doubt it ;)

As a family, one of our favourite past times is to simply go out for a walk. No matter what the weather (although, the arrival of spring definitely makes it more appealing!) and no matter how much spare time we have, there's nothing like a walk to reconnect, have some fun, talk and relax. Plus, well, it's free! And that's always a bonus. We walk a lot. In fact, we rarely use our car, so our feet can carry us all over the place; to the supermarket or the local shops, along the canal or through the meadow, into the town centre or round our neighbourhood.

We walked these streets when both our babies were due, and then when labour had started. Both Josephine and Coralie's first outings were short strolls along these pavements. Ben walks to work every day. We've talked about the little things and the life-changing things. We search for treasure with Josephine, pretty leaves being the loot du jour, we choose our favourite dream house and look out for cats and birds and planes. Once Josephine and I stumbled upon a house that had unfortunately been broken into, but one of the attending policeman waiting outside let Josephine look in the police car and he even turned on the flashing lights for her. Another time a builder taking a break from landscaping someone's front garden with a mini-digger saw us looking at it and started it up so Phiney could see it in action. Such things make a three year old's day, for sure. We never know what we'll see when we're out for a walk.

Sometimes we head out for a quick stroll around the block when tensions before bedtime are running high and sometimes we pack drinks and snacks and seek adventure on foot, and everyday the girls and I head into the village near our house for groceries, to post letters or just have a rummage in the charity shop.

Climbing the steep hills and meandering down the little roads and busy roads of our beautiful city, perfect moments and ever-lasting memories are made doing the most simple of things.

Ben and I would love to thank Brantano for providing us with our super cool kicks, perfect for city walks. We were both spoilt for choice when we looked at their website, but are so happy with our picks. Ben's Adidas look awesome and are perfect for walking, with 'the comfiest insoles ever' apparently, while my Espirit trainers and ideal for the warmer weather especially, are crazy comfy and are, well, gold! We are both ready to walk our way into spring now, and can't wait to see what adventures our new shoes take us on.

 

This is a collaborative post. All thoughts, words, images and opinions are my own.

 

GEORGE HOME: my wishlist

On the tight budget that we're on, I'm always on the lookout for pieces for our home that offer good value for money. Absolutely I'd love to shop with independent brands making handcrafted items all the time, and yes I agree with buying less rubbish and spending more on quality items; but you know what, you can find some lovely pieces in unexpected places too that, importantly, look great and won't blow the budget.

Supermarkets are one such place, where you can find a little bit of treasure amongst the milk and frozen pizza, and the new ranges at George Home are particularly nice.

As I'm sure is the case for most parents out there, when you have a spare bit of cash it tends to go on the children, and there are certainly a few lovely pieces the would be quite at home in Josephine's room (sometime soon to be 'the girl's room'!)

Firstly, in the Kid's Room section, I love this toy box. It's clean and simple style is timeless and will grow with the girls as they get older. Plus, you can never have too much storage as for as I'm concerned.

There is also a really wonderful selection of wooden toys, perfect for (dare I say it) Christmas. From farm set to pirate ships, and the sweetest shop and café stand that may well be finding it's way to our house on Christmas morning. And all at really great prices.

Finally, if you're on the look out for a stylish and contemporary bunk beds (that's a bit further down the line for us!) you should check out this one. I love the wood, the simplicity and the desk and storage on the end. What more could you ask for?

This is a sponsored post, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Photos taken from the George Home website.

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When I was pregnant with Josephine, I searched for little leather moccasins everywhere, but could only find ones made in the US with huge P&P charges. As soon as I saw Amy & Ivor's amazing handmade moccasins, I knew they were a must for Baby. 

Designer and Maker Alice is the sweetest lady, and the craftsmanship involved in her handmade leather moccasins is nothing short of incredible. Coming in the most beautiful colours (new season shades are just making their way into the shop and it took me ages to make a final decision on which to order...in the end I choose soft grey and cinnamon for Baby and this amazing pewter for Josephine) they are super soft and I know will only get better with wear. 

I can't wait for springtime and for Josephine to be able to wear hers outdoors, and for teeny toes to fill those little ones. Josephine and I were equally floored by the absolute cuteness of the little grey ones - I forgot how small babies feet are! 

Josephine was pretty reluctant in taking hers off before nap time and only gave them up with the promise of them sitting on the floor at the end of her bed whilst she slept. They'll make perfect slippers for now, and when the sun starts shining they'll be the ideal alternative to bare feet when little stones and spiky sticks litter the garden. 

Most definitely one of the best mail days ever when these arrived at our door. Thank you so much Alice :) 

WHAT PHINEY WORE: joules

WHAT PHINEY WORE: Raincoat c/o joules // Leggings c/o joules // Cardigan homemade // Wellies second hand 

For the first time in what like seems like forever, Josephine and I headed out into the garden for an hour last week and our girl couldn't have been happier about it. She adores the garden. From sweeping the leaves to digging the soil, watching the birds and smelling the flowers. 

The sun even shone on us for a moment or two. 

And what more could you want in spring gardening clothes, than beautiful floral prints and homemade knits?

No matter what the season, wellies and a raincoat is a must in the UK, and this Joules jacket is ideal. It's sometimes so difficult to find pieces like this in anything but pink or emblazoned with carton characters, so both Josephine and I love this one. Super sweet and feminine, but not sickly and not a Peppa Pig in sight. 

The girl's clothing section of Joules has some really lovely pieces in. Unusual colourways and classic designs, and I love the muted tones of these leggings (they hide a multitude of muddy knee stains!)

I've written here before about my Mum's expert knitting skills, and her latest handiwork is one of my favourites ever. Josephine looks like she's stepped right out of the 1940s when she wears this cardigan, with her ringlets tumbling down her back, which is pretty much my main aim when I dress her! 

Roll on springtime and more fun in the garden...can't believe they'll be a tiny baby hanging out with us by then.

REVIEW: designers at debenhams

Finding beautiful clothes and dressing Josephine is most definitely something I love doing. I can't help myself. In fact, I think I have more enjoyment finding her pieces than I do myself. It probably has something to do with the fact her teeny clothes are often substantially cheaper than the items I want.

I'm proud of the fact that the vast majority of her wardrobe is filled with second hand or vintage finds, so it takes something special to make me hit the high street in search of something for her to wear. 

This summer, we were very grateful to be contacted by the British department store Debenhams. Stocking everything from men's, women's and children's clothing to homeware and beauty, this store is a staple of the high street. I was asked to pick out a few of my favourite pieces for Josephine to road-test and I couldn't see past this adorable blue summer, covered in little embroidered fish, and the floral top below, that comes with matching. Both have been worn constantly throughout the summer, and I'm happy to say that the floral shorts will continue to be worn with tights this autumn (her tiny bottom meant they were too big until now!) There is also a delicious chunky cream knit waiting to be pulled out as the cold weather arrives. 

All pieces, by Designers at Debenhams, have been faultless. The quality is sublime and the cut and fabric both quality and traditional - I'm a firm believer in children being dressed like children, not mini-adults, so the traditional and classic silhouettes of all these pieces really appeal to me. 

As for Josephine's opinion - she can't help but swish and swirl in that fish dress...it's most definitely been one of her favourites :)

 
 

SPONSORED POST: express your personality

If I was given enough rooms, and a big enough budget, I think I could develop a bit of an obsession for bed linen. Is there anything better after a long day than climbing into a freshly made bed with clean covers that are still warm from the dryer? I don't think so. Especially in this freezing weather. 

The bedroom has always been a place to retreat to, a space to call your own in the craziness that can often consume the rest of a busy family home. And the bed linen you choose offers an opportunity to really indulge in some individualism. 

At John Lewis right now there is a fantastic array of duvet cover designs to express your personality. Choose from classic white spreads or retro prints; stripes, florals or spots; brights or muted tones. And for the kiddos there are ballerinas, dinosaurs and sail boats to make their space their own. 

Personally, I'd happily snuggle up with this ditty print from Orla Kiely or maybe this fruity number. And if Josephine was in a bed already, I'd be buying this circus set for sure. 

So if you're wanting some new sheets this spring, whether it's to wrap up against the cold rain in or to inject some sunshine into your room with a bold print, John Lewis has something for everyone. 

SPONSORED POST: spa in the city

When Fritha contacted me about arranging a little local blogger meet-up, I was all for it. When she mentioned that she'd managed to get us four free entries to the Thermae Bath Spa including a yummy lunch, it sounded even more tempting. 

Fritha had also got in touch with my fellow Bath blogger Lia and her fellow Bristol blogger Abi, who were both lovely - it was really fun to soak in the mineral filled waters and chat about family, babies, life and blogging (It's so funny to meet people for the first time and yet know so much about their lives!)

Often, when you've lived in the same place for so long, you can forget how wonderful some of the attractions are; that people flock from around the world to come and visit what's on your doorstep. I often felt that way when we lived on The Circus a few years ago. Sometimes you need to stop and take a proper look around, remind yourself of the beauty in where you're living. So it was great to get a little tour and hear the history of the spa in Bath before our session started, and to experience the lovely warm spa waters in a modern/historical setting. 

The indoor pool offered the perfect setting for a good chat with new friends, and the water seems to have done wonders for my cold weather induced dry hands, while the rooftop pool was amazing and offered awesome views across the city. But I think my favourite part was the steam rooms, each of which had been infused with aromatherapy oils; very hot and sweaty, but super refreshing and it was lovely to feel so warm after the arctic temperatures we've been experiencing lately. 

And when all the steam and spa waters were enough, we were treated to a delicious three course meal, of which the marshmallow and white chocolate semi-freddo was most definitely my favourite. Mmmmmmm.....

Ben and I went to the Spa many years ago but this trip reminded me what a great date destination it would be; just a couple of hours alone to sit back and relax, and discuss future plans and adventures.

SPONSORED POST: joules

I'm sure you'll have noticed by now our very lovely main sponsor, Joules. This awesome British brand is packed full of beautiful and classic designs, colourful and fun details and lovely pieces for the whole family. When they became an advertiser they were kind enough to send Josephine some of the sweetest little things to try out.

Josephine is an avid animal lover, and this adorable top got her smiling from the moment she saw it. She regularly looks down and points to her tummy when she's wearing it, happily chatting to the little cat. At Joules it's all about the attention to detail and the contrasting neck, hem and cuffs, the poppers and the beautiful applique are what make this top so sweet. Plus the thick 100% cotton stripes are super soft. We were also lucky enough to get this lovely babygrow. It's still a little big but will make the most colourful pjs in the months to come.

There are plenty of pieces I'd happily take right now (how gorgeous are these pillowcases...and how sweet are these ones?) and with their amazing sale now on, you can get your hands on some really good quality items for a fraction of the price. What's not to love?!

LOVELY SPONSORS

Hello! After a week of constant headaches and sinus pain, today I feel like I'm properly back in the land of the living. Plus Phiney has slept through the last three nights, after more than 2 weeks of getting up at least once. After 2 months of undisturbed sleep, getting up in the night again has been tough and I'm hoping we've now turned a corner and are back to getting lots of lovely sleep. That's until the next tooth decides to break through of course...

Anyway, with being ill and launching all the new Happy Circus goodies, I realised I haven't told you more about our lovely sponsors. If you're still stuck for some Christmas presents ideas, look no further...

Firstly, the ever wonderful All About Heidi. You know how much we love these gorgeous shoes in our house; you can see Phiney wearing them here, here and here. And whenever she wears them, people come ask where they're from. They're beautifully made and come in the most fantastic range of colours. It broke my heart a little when Phiney grew out of hers, but we'll be back come the spring to buy another pair...or two. So if you have a little one in your life who's feet deserve only the loveliest of shoes, head to All About Heidi.

Next up is Little Green Shed. You all know Lou, right? She's one sweet lady with a sweet shop selling very awesome prints and other pieces for your house. Her blog is always a funny, honest and pretty-to-look at read and her designs are a must-have for every stylish home. Right now I'm wanting this print...it's on my Christmas list, for sure. Plus she just got more of her brilliant teapots back in stock, which are sure to make the ideal present this year.

Finally is the brilliant Tori Hancock Photography. You can read about how much we love Tori and her beautiful pictures here, and see more of her amazing work here and here. If you're looking for a very special gift to give this Christmas, or perhaps want to give your family something wonderful in 2013, a session with this lady will be a present you'll cherish forever. Tori is a very lovely person. She is happy and easy going and fun and takes truly wonderful pictures. I can't say enough good things about her and her talent, so go and check out her work.

Thank you to these lovely sponsors for all your support this month, and I'll be back later in the week with more about the ever-so-stylish Joules. There are still a few spaces left for advertising in December, so please drop me an email for our media pack. Our rates are nice and low and we'll be offering a little Christmas discount too if you're interested.

*GIVEAWAY*

I've said before how much Ben and I love and cherish our photographs. Our walls are plastered with them and I always have a 'to be printed' folder on our desktop. As you can imagine, since the arrival of a certain little bird the number of pictures in this folder has increased dramatically and is added to almost every day. My 32GB memory card is actually full right now. How is that possible?!

But you know what, we don't actually have any pictures up in our home of our darling Phiney yet. Uploading 100's of pictures to a photo printing website simply takes too long, and how on earth are we meant to choose which to frame? I have a feeling that after our session with this pretty lady next weekend that will be a question even harder to answer.

Recently I was contacted by a great company called Hello Canvas. The largest photo on canvas website in the UK, Hello Canvas prides itself on beautifully reproducing your favourite pictures and most cherished memories to the highest quality and for really great prices. We know, they sent us this amazing canvas to hang in our home and it's really lovely. Printed using the latest techniques, on 100% cotton and bound round a sturdy, 1.2 inch deep wooden frame each canvas is carefully sent in a custom-made packing box to protect your purchase. The lovely team is always there to help if you have any questions and we couldn't fault the excellent service we received.

Of course, I'd hate for you lovely people to miss out on all this photo-goodness so not only are Hello Canvas offering everyone a very lovely 10% off every purchase using the discount code 'firstdayofmarriage', but they're also giving one lucky reader the opportunity to win a fantastic 20x28 inch canvas print worth nearly £40. This is a giveaway open to international readers too, so if you've got a photograph that's screaming to get up on your wall get entering!

All you need to do is become a follower of the blog, if you're not already, and leave a comment below. If you're the lucky winner just email me a high res JPEG of the picture you'd love printed and I'll forward it to the team at Hello Canvas. Then quick as a jiffy you'll get your print in the post. Simple.

Good luck and I'll be announcing the winner next Wednesday, the 18th July.