Category: Views & Ramblings

1. How much can you fit in an Orla Kiely bag?

   Posted on 5:34pm Thursday 15th Oct 2015

   I have a love of bags (although my husband doesn't seem to have the same appreciation for the quantity of bags that I need in my life) but over the years as my collection has grown, it has become apparant that some designer bags never seem to be particularly practical for every day use. So when I got the opportunity to review the Orla Keily Midi Sling bag, I was determined to put it through its paces.

    

   The handy bit for mums:

   The first thing that struck me was the fabric. It is nylon and I have to admit that initially I was unsure about it but unlike other fabrics, the nylon wipes clean which is a HUGE plus when you have small sticky fingered children around. I have found that the rain also just runs off it .... a big plus for me as I am usually carrying a small child and trying to juggle an umbrella so my bag is flung over my shoulder somewhere getting soaking wet.

   

   The info bit:

   • Beautiful handbag to wear for all occasions
   • Nylon bag with magnetic closure
   • Webbing handles and leather trims with logo card holder
   • Inside includes small zip pocket, key chain and mobile pocket
   • H 27 cm x W 30 cm x D 9 cm
   • Handle Length 116 cm - this adjusts too which is handy.

   

   The useful bit:

   I mentioned at the top of this post that some designer bags aren't always practical but I shared this photo on Instagram the other day showing just how much room is inside the Orla Kiely bag as I could fit my purse, phone, baby wipes, hairbrush, hair grips, phone charger, perfume, notepaper and a random green balloon and there was still ALOT of room left. I could easily get a spare outfit for one of the children in there too, which is always handy with those aforementioned sticky fingered children!

   Retailing at £119.99 it is not the cheapest bag you could find to use everyday but the quality of the stiching, zips and handles shout quality and it is currently on offer at Cloggs for £80.00*, so it is a great time to grab a gorgeous bag at a discounted rate...... or if you have been a really good girl, you could just put it on your list for Father Christmas!

    

   *price correct at the 15th October 2015. I was gifted the Orla Kiely bag for the purpose of this post.

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2. If you see a fairy ring in a field of grass.

   Posted on 8:22pm Sunday 11th Oct 2015

   There has been lots of talk of fairies recently, so when we were invited to a nature birthday party we went in search of fairies. It was such a beautiful day and the sun was streaming through the leaves as we went sneaking through the trees looking for signs of where fairies were sleeping.

   

   

   We climbed over tree trunks seeking adventure.

   

    If you see a fairy ring,

   In a field of grass,

   Very lightly step around,

   Tiptoe as you pass,

   Last night fairies frocklicked there,

   And they're sleeping somewhere near.

   If you see a tiny fay,

   Lying fast asleep,

   Shut your eyes and run away,

   Do not stray or peep,

   And be sure you never tell,

   Or you'll break a fairy spell.

   ~ William Shakespeare

   

   Can you see them?

   

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3. Choosing the right footwear for children’s activties

   Posted on 9:08pm Saturday 12th Sep 2015

   This week I went through my eldest daughter’s wardrobe and found a Beavers outfit that had barely been worn. She has chosen lots of different clubs and extra-curricular activities over the years and we have bought lots of different uniforms and outfits for each of them.

    

   

    

   Dance classes

    

   I danced as a child (well until I was 16) and I squeezed my feet into pointe ballet shoes and despite my feet never really recovering from that kind of abuse, I really wanted my daughter to enjoy dancing as much as I did.

    

   So I attempted to convince her that she loved ballet.

    

   I bought all the outfits. The leotards, the leggings and let’s not mention the sequins.

    

   I had her feet measured to make sure those feet were looked after.

    

   

    

   Unfortunately for me …… she didn’t love ballet as much as I did.

    

   Brownies / Beavers

   Again, I loved being a Brownie as a child but once again, she wasn’t a fan of being a Brownie, opting for the “more adventurous” option of Beavers.

    

   So I bought her the outfit. The modern Beaver doesn’t wear a neckerchief and woggle, opting more for cargo trousers and a polo t-shirt.

    

   Thankfully I didn’t actually need specific shoes this time.

    

   She went on camp but after doing it once, she decided she wasn’t a big fan and the Beavers uniform was relegated to the back of the wardrobe.

    

   Gymnastics

   One of the things she did love about dancing was the acrobatics, so I relented when she asked to do gymnastics, especially when she could start WITHOUT me having to buy another outfit.

    

   But guess what …… I bought the outfit.

    

   But gymnastics don’t need shoes! (another win for me!)

    

   But the very best activity is ……

    

   ….. playing with her little sister. Running through the fields by our house, feeding the horses and generally having fun. I do worry about their little feet though and this is definitely not the place for ballet shoes or bare feet. They frequently wear wellies as they run through the long grass but I recently saw some childrens walking boots, which would protect their feet more so it maybe another shoe purchase on the cards.

    

   

    

   Last time we had all the snow, I bought the girls salopettes and snow boots to wear but I think they have been used more at our local Snowdome than outside but at least they looked good and were safe whilst playing in the snow!

    

   I wasn't sure how to finish this post but having just read it back to myself, I have realised that whilst I always ensure that my girls are wearing the right footwear for the activity they are doing, it seems to me that my favourite activity is shopping for the girls!

    

    

4. Back To School : Getting the right shoes for your child's feet.

   Posted on 8:35pm Sunday 23rd Aug 2015

   I bought my eldest daughter some sandals at the start of the summer. They are now too small for her so I haven't even considered buying school shoes just yet, although I am not particularly looking forward to it, despite my love of shoes as we tend to have very different ideas on what is appropriate for school shoes these days. I want well fitted and practical whereas she wants whatever all her mates are wearing!

   

   It is therefore interesting to learn that barefoot shoes pioneer, Vivobarefoot, have launched a nationwide campaign to highlight the damage ill-fitting, tapered non-foot shaped shoes do to children’s feet. Supported by medical professionals and parents across the UK, the barefoot shoe brand is mounting pressure on mainstream footwear manufacturers and retailers to carry warnings informing people of the proven[i] danger of conventional footwear design on a child’s natural foot development.

   • To launch the campaign, an army of frustrated parents and children took to the streets of London barefoot to highlight the dangers of wearing standard tapered, cushioned shoes.
   • With 200,000 nerve endings, 33 major muscles, 26 bones, 19 ligaments; the human foot is a natural feat of biomechanics, and is the most sensitive part of the body after the hands and mouth.
   • Cushioned shoes compromise vital feedback to the brain from the feet, and a tapered shape, which does not mirror the natural shape of the foot, prevents the foot from splaying when you step, limiting toe mobility and weakening the foot.
   • Up to the age of ten years old, the bones in a child’s foot are soft and can be easily misshapen by external forces like poor fitting shoes and in a matter of weeks a child’s foot development can be compromised.
   • The company is campaigning for footwear that does not meet the standards required to avoid damage to feet to carry a formal warning on packaging and sales material in the same fashion as cigarettes and other products proven to damage health and wellbeing.
   • As evidence surrounding the dangers of conventional footwear on children’s feet grows, Vivobarefoot is building an army of medics, scientists and health professional to take its barefoot message global and lead a revolution within the footwear industry.
   • Barefoot footwear, which provides wider, flat-soled, flexible shoes without cushioning is proven to mitigate issues of footwear damaging children’s feet.
   • In order to educate parents, Vivobarefoot is running parent learning sessions at its London store in London and has provided a guide to buying safe shoes on its website www.vivobarefoot.com

   I have got terrible feet from doing pointe ballet at a (too) young age and squeezing my feet into fashion heels for the last 15 or so (ahem) years so making sure that the girls have the right footwear is really important to me. I love being barefoot, so I already have a pair of Vivobarefoot trainers myself, so welcomed the chance to get some for the girls. They have a handy size chart on their website which you can download so you can buy online confidently and my youngest daughter wont take them off her feet .... even when she is watching TV.

   

   We will be reviewing them fully once the girls have had a chance to give them a good run out and we will let you know how we get on!

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