72 hours in York with kids

Katie Collins February 6, 2018

There are two things that are a pleasant surprise about York.

1. It’s actually just 2 hours from London by train
2. You can easily walk everywhere when you're there.

My husband acted as expert guide on our 3 night mini-break with the girls (both under 4).

He could easily identify with the three young guys swaying down the road in 70s get up for he was once a student there himself.

17 years later and with two pre-schoolers in tow, would York offer a good respite after a hectic Christmas?

The answer is a definite yes.

What to see

In our short few days in York we visited the breathtaking York Minster - the biggest of its kind in Northern Europe immense in scale and with some stunning stained glass. The closer you peer, the more you notice. The detail is incredible. The kaleidoscopic ceilings are something to behold and admire.

We also visited the Jorvik Viking Centre. In slow-moving cars (a bit like the waltzers at the fairground but about 200 times slower) you get taken on a 16 minute tour through life in a 10th century Viking city. With animatronic people and animals, the ride offers in insight into life back then - complete with sounds and smells. It’s something for all ages to enjoy.

The National Railway Museum is also a must. An impressive collection of old locomotives showing how people used to travel (spoiler alert - it was a hell of a lot nicer than now). We timed our visit perfectly as Tim Peake’s spacecraft is currently on display there - a reminder of one hot and (I imagine) uncomfortable journey back to Earth (the Soyuz Descent Module is tiny for three men to be cramped inside).

Where to Stay

We stayed at The Grand Hotel which was perfectly placed close to the train station and a short walk to York city centre with all its restaurants and shops. The Grand offers large rooms - perfect for a family of four and a big highlight for our 3 year old was an indoor pool. ‘We wanna go back the room’ became a familiar sentence from our two girls. After a hectic morning of walking more than they normally would, the girls were more than happy to arrive back at the hotel for a swim and a movie in the room (the hotel kindly provided a DVD player.)

For the best coffee...

Head to Spring Espresso (named one of Britain's 30 best and buzziest coffee shops by The Daily Telegraph). This stylish and relaxed cafe (child friendly) served up a delicious marmite toast. The marmite is pre-mixed into the dough with a sprinkling of cheese. The coffee was the best I’ve had for ages. This place will offer a great caffeine hit to start your day and they also serve babyccinos for the little ones. Brownie points for mum and dad.

Restaurant-wise we ate at the family-run Mamma Mia in Gillygate. A simple spicy Arrabiatta hit just the right spot washed down with a chilled glass of Pinot. There is a children’s menu with pizza and pasta options to choose from.

Gusto in Little Stonegate is a lovely, atmospheric brasserie we ate at, offering an extensive range of pizza, pasta, steak, salads and more. Again they offer a good selection for children.

So while the temptation in January may be to hop on a plane and escape the rain and drizzle - we wrapped up warm and embraced it. York has lots to offer for a few days away. Only last night we were chatting about how relaxing it was being out of London. The kids clearly loved a change of scene and being somewhere new. I’m sure it won’t be long before we head back - I miss it already.

7 Valentine gift ideas

Katie Collins January 28, 2018

Buying for Valentine's Day - it's a tricky one.

Some couples will happily spend a fortune lavishing gifts on one another, others will ignore it all together and refuse to be drawn into the commercialism of the day.

I think I'm somewhere in-between. A small gift and a home-cooked meal - maybe an episode of Black Mirror thrown in - that's probably my perfect Feb 14th.

If you're stuck for ideas I've put together a few suggestions for this Valentine's.

From £5 to £100+, there's ideas whatever your budget:

1. Sheepskin slippers by The Small Home - £38

You'll feel like you're stepping on clouds wearing these little beauties. They are handmade using techniques passed down through generations of a Polish Family. There are men's, women's and children's styles and sizes available. If you are a half size when it comes to shoes I would size down as they do give a little as you wear them (I am a 3.5 and the size 3 is a perfect fit for me).

2. Nuclear Launch Codes notebook - £5 - ZeebenDry on Etsy

Making notebooks that little bit more unique and interesting is the shop ZeebenDry on Etsy. I had a good laugh scrolling through the different titles on offer which include My List of Bodies Buried in the Woods, List of Purloined Super Powers, The Art of Cultivating a Beguiling Resting Bitch Face and Ex-Lovers In My Freezer. I bought the notebook (above) for my husband for Christmas - it now sits on his desk at work and has become a bit of a talking point!

3. Quarterly Indoor plant subscription £35 - Bloombox Club

I put my hands up; I'm a sucker for a subscription box. After visiting our nearest (very underwhelming) homeware and plant shop (a big store with lots of withering and dessicated plants), I decided to try Bloombox Club. I'd seen lots of lovely Instagram pictures of exotic looking greenery and was keen to give it a whirl. A £10 off Facebook code made it even more appealing. Within a week of placing my order a courier was delivering a large box with this beautiful Aechmea Tayoensis plant (which comes all the way from Ecuador) in a gorgeous, rustic pot.

4. Nokia Activity & Sleep Watch - £119.99 - John Lewis

This just looks like a regular watch when you first glance at it. But if you take a closer you'll notice the small circle is actually monitoring your steps and activity - 100% equals 10,000 steps. If you then head to the app on your phone, you can see more detailed data for your daily activity and sleep. You can even put your finger up against the camera and it measures your heart rate. All very clever.

5. Large Felt Letter Board - £50 by gingersnap *

Letter Boards are perfect for brightening up your home and adding your own special message or to-do list. These from gingersnap come in a range of colours - my favourite is this burnt orange colour (above), there's also mint green, midnight blue, sunshine yellow and hot pink. There's also a smaller size available for £30. www.getgingersnap.com

6. Photostrips - £12.99 for 10 - Inkifi

My new favourite photo printing company is Inkifi. Based in Manchester, the company produces these fun, retro Photostrips and plenty of other products from posters to photo books, square prints to calendars. I always think photo prints make the best gifts and these will not disappoint. If you're looking for photo frames, Oliver Bonas have a beautiful range right now.

7. Personalised Gift Wrap - £7.95 from Pretty Gifted *

Film quotes, song lyrics, pet names - this Cheshire based brand have got it covered with their personalised giftwrap. You get to choose from a range of colours, the foil, the font and even an icon. Delivery is within 3 working days and the giftwrap is fully recyclable which is great news (did you know that most types of wrapping paper cannot be recycled?). I've been lucky to try this great product and if you fancy giving it a whirl, I have an exclusive 10% off voucher code. Just use the code katie18val here when ordering (valid until midday on Friday 9th Feb).

Items marked with a * are gifted items or collaborations with brands. All views are my own.

Learning to Scrapbook

Katie Collins January 8, 2018

I remember when I was about 11 years-old - it was September, a brand new term at school. Sharpened pencils, a new shiny pencil case and maybe even a pristine set of new colouring pencils, too good to be removed from their box.

A friend had returned from a Summer holiday adventure and was neatly arranging her keepsakes from her trip in a scrapbook.

Photographs, tickets, notes, all mixed with pretty pastel coloured card and intricate designs printed on delicate paper.

I was mesmerised and watched wide-eyed as she glued, coloured and weaved together her findings in a book bound together with ribbon.

The truth is for a long time, and particularly at school, art was never my thing. Painting and drawing I loved but I was simply not good enough (or encouraged) to take art as a subject at GCSE.

It's only now, in my thirties, that I'm exploring new crafts and having fun trying new skills. There's no pressure to pass exams, just to learn and have fun.

I came across Project Craft at Paperchase by chance when looking for a new diary on their website.

I discovered the flagship store in London's Tottenham Court Road offers a range of craft classes, just a few hours long and enough to dip your toe in to see if you warm to it.

I chose the Scrapbooking class for a very reasonable £20 (including all supplies). There's also Card Making, Creative Journaling, Origami Flowers, Paper Cactus making and more.

Cameron, a friendly and enthusiastic art student (who also works part-time at Paperchase) was my teacher for the afternoon and encouraged me to choose a theme for my scrapbook - I chose travel.

I had brought along pictures, tickets and cuttings from a previous (poor) scrapbooking attempt and he helped me weave all the materials together into a double-page spread using coloured card, designer paper, washi tape and coloured string (for the bunting). He also showed me how to create pockets to store tickets and small mementos.

This was a brilliant introduction to Scrapbooking. My main reason for booking the class was so that for future travels I can involve our two girls and we can continue to create the scrapbook together.

In the two hours I also learnt:

How to be more confident using a cutting mat and knife
That it's much better to use double sided tape than Pritt Stick (curls at the edges)
How to be creative with washi tape (I always just used it like sellotape before - hello washi tape bunting!)

So thank you Paperchase (and Cameron) for a great introduction to Scrapbooking - I hope to be back soon. in the meantime here's a Pinterest board I've put together with Scrapbooking ideas.

You can read more about Project Craft classes (available in London, Manchester & Glasgow) here

Christmas in the countryside

Katie Collins January 3, 2018

For the first time this year I really witnessed how exciting Christmas Day is through the eyes of a child.

It was the first year our eldest, who’s three, really experienced the build up - Nativity at school nursery, learning Christmas carols, writing a letter to Father Christmas and streaming Arthur Christmas on Netflix on an almost daily basis during December.

The 25th was therefore an exciting, eagerly anticipated day for her, her sister and three young cousins (all under 4 years old) as we gathered together to celebrate Christmas in a beautiful rented house in the countryside.

I had my camera close by as I really wanted to take lots of pictures this year.

I also edited the pictures as I went along this time by using an Apple SD card reader that plugged straight into my phone. Once imported, I edited the images in Snapseed, my favourite editing app.

Once I returned home I did a more thorough edit on my iMac using Adobe Lightroom but it was great to have the option of editing on the go, without packing a laptop for our travels.

Now the Christmas decorations are packed away, I'm looking at the photos and thinking how pleased I am that I didn't just rely on my phone to capture Christmas Day.

I love my iPhone but it just doesn't cut it sometimes when my children are running around like crazy.

My new motto this year is to print more pictures. So next on my list is to get some hard copies and make a good old fashioned photo album to look back on in years gone by.

8 ideas for creating a New Year Mood Board

Katie Collins December 30, 2017

In the corner of our bedroom sits my little office.

And one of my absolute favourite things in this corner is my wire mood board.

I love gathering together pictures, cards, little notes and drawings from my girls. Sitting on my bed and looking up at this collection always made me smile.

I don't get round to changing it as much as I'd like but I use it to help me come up with ideas and inspiration.

If I take a picture I am really proud of, I clip it on the board and this helps boost my confidence. If there's a place I'd like to visit, I'll add a picture too so the idea is never too far from my mind.

I'm also a big believer that by writing things down you have a clearer focus and get more done. It's the same with pictures.

So as we begin 2018 I've updated my board and I have some ideas if you want to create your own.

1. Wire Mood Board - The board itself is a great modern take on the cork pinboard. It's made by Block Design and is available from Amazon or Black By Design.

2. Quotes - Kikki.K do great quote cards perfect for attaching to boards. I've also recently discovered personalised gift wrap. Instead of using it to wrap presents, I've personalised the paper with my own quote 'Seek the Light, Take the Picture' and added it to my board. The gift wrap is by a lovely new company called Prettygifted.co.uk and the Quote cards are by Kikki.K

3. Photos - I really learned the hard way a few weeks ago when my main external back-up hard drive just simply failed. I'm still trying to figure out how to save the data which includes a huge stash of photos of my girls. So printing for me is more important than ever. I've just tried a company, based in the UK called Inkifi. They have an app and produce these wonderful photostrip prints (as seen below). They are well priced and have a range of other high quality products.

4. Inspiring pictures - I'm always keeping an eye out for pictures that inspire me and I collect these together for my board. It could be an image that has great composition or that evokes an emotion. Having great pictures on my board helps me learn, makes me work harder and keeps me passionate about photography.

5. Places to go - I really want to go on holiday in 2018 and keep getting drawn back to stunning Fjords of Norway. The main picture on my mood board is taken in the Fjord town of Olden. Both of my girls and my husband are sitting beside the lake with snow capped mountains in the distance. It was a really special trip and having this picture on my board is not only a lovely reminder of a great holiday but it's a reminder to book another one!

6. Children's Drawings - I just love to wake up and look at drawings by my girls. Alice (3) is just learning to draw faces and each new picture is an amusing, quirky treasure!

7. Hanging Ornaments - In my case it's a palm tree as I just love palm trees. I've seen some mood boards with real hanging plants and this looks great - (see Pinterest for ideas). It adds a bit of colour and fun to the board.

8. Lights - Definitely not just for Christmas. Fairy lights are great for finishing off a mood board. In the evenings, if I am working at my desk or reading in bed, it adds a gentle warm light and cosy feel to our room.

I've also put together a board on Pinterest with more mood board inspiration. You can find it here.

5 reasons to try family cruising

Katie Collins December 19, 2017

Ahhh… holidays with young children. Those wonderful memories of those special early years - first steps in the sand, first ice-creams at sunset…

But let's be honest, getting ready to go away isn’t exactly a walk in the park.

Firstly you literally have to pack up the whole house and try to fit it in a couple of suitcases.

Then you have to deal with airport tantrums, being the couple with THAT SCREAMING BABY on the plane and the toddler who kicks the back of the seat in front.

We have taken the stress out of the equation and take to water instead.

Friends may look at me like I am mad when I tell them we’re off on another cruise. I guess to non-cruisers it may seem like an odd choice when you have young children.

But to me it’s the perfect solution.

Our eldest who’s 4 next March has been on three cruises, our youngest (22 months) has been on two.

My husband and I fell for cruising just before we got married. Our second cruise and honeymoon took us to Caribbean.

When we had our first child, we presumed our cruising days were on hold.

But when I looked into holiday options when our eldest was 14 months, I realised children are very much included in the cruising experience.

These are five of the reasons why we choose cruising as a family:

1. Kids are well catered for

Anything from bottle warmers and sterilisers to baby baths. It’s all taken care of if you put in the request either when you book or are on board. Baby food is also supplied and children are more than welcome during the evening meal.

2. Play

There are children’s clubs full of toys, soft play equipment and family movies. There’s a creche and kid’s club and numerous swimming pools on board for potty trained toddlers.

3. Stress free travel

Imagine hopping on the train for a few hours and straight on to a luxury cruise liner? Each time we cruise with children we head to our nearest port - Southampton and step straight on board. No plane delays, no airport stress, the holiday can begin right away.

4. Staff friendliness

That extra scoop of ice-cream at dinner, adoring smiles when you walk around the ship with the little ones, peek-a-boo with the stateroom attendant. The staff onboard can’t do enough when you take children on board. That makes for such a special experience and a memorable family holiday.

5. And relax…

So what about mum and dad? When I am on board I make the most of a few hours to myself while my husband babysits - a trip to the cinema, a luxurious deep tissue massage, a glass of fizz by the pool (maybe with snow-capped mountain as your view), or even something as simple as breakfast on the stateroom balcony. There’s simply nothing better than enjoying a steaming cup of coffee, a pastry, the sound of the waves beneath you and a grinning toddler at the glass door - watching mummy and also watching the world go by…

5 tips for Winter photography

Katie Collins December 12, 2017

Last Saturday, for the first time in absolutely ages I got up early to take photographs.

It was a crisp Winter’s morning - bitterly cold and frosty with a hint of sunshine.

I’d checked the weather forecast the night before and set my alarm.

My plan was to take the bus up the hill and be on Wimbledon Common as the sun started to rise from 7.30am.

Why was I doing this? (when I could easily have rolled back over and gone back to sleep)

The first reason is I’ve started an online course learning about photographing in Winter - the colder and darker time of year.

The course is called Gloom and Glow and there’s a lovely group of us cheerleading each other on as we set out to brave the elements and get the shots.

The second reason is that I have realised I need to make more time to get back to nature and take pictures. There's no better practice than working with the elements.

Hand on heart it felt really good to be photographing at this time of day. My fingers may have felt like icicles but it made that first hot coffee even more delicious and special.

Photography-wise it could have gone better. My Fuji X100 camera could not cope with the cold so froze up after about 45 minutes.

But I found myself paying attention to the little things - how the morning light catches the leaves on the trees, the crazy patterns created by the frost and ice before anyone has set foot on them. Most of all the feeling of calm and peace at being one of a handful of people on such a big open space.

About 8 years ago and working as a press photographer, I’d often be up early with my camera. It’s a time I look back on fondly as I took some pictures I’m really proud of.

Last Saturday reminded me of those days and how sometimes you just need to go that little bit further to make the picture. It’s easy to say there’s not enough time in the day but actually you can factor it in and it will be worth it.

Snow in London, February 2009 - Katie Collins/Press Association

So I have a few suggestions if you are setting the alarm early -

1. Dress warmly - particularly your feet - there’s nothing worse that bitterly cold toes. Not to everyone’s taste but my Ugg boots have kept my feet so warm over the years. I tried so many shoe/boot combinations, but for me, these are what worked best. Gloves or mittens are equally important. I wear warm trousers by Craghoppers and rely on Uniqlo’s Heattech range -it’s amazing!

2. Check the weather - decide where you want to shoot and check the weather. Check what time sunrise is and what conditions you might be facing.

3. Camera vs iPhone - I prefer shooting with my DSLR. I use SD memory cards and I have a card reader by Apple that connects to my phone. It means that if I want to look through my pictures or upload to social media I can do so quickly and easily. You just pop the SD card into the card reader and plug into your phone. It will then import the images to your camera roll.

4. Edit on the move - it’s worth looking through your shots and editing your favourites. My go to Editor on the iPhone is Snapseed. VSCO is also popular. On these apps you can adjust the colours adding warmth or coolness, add contrast, brighten up. There are lots of editing options at your fingertips.

And finally...

5. Share your work - there are the obvious routes - Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest. If you’ve been up at the crack of dawn you may as well share what you’ve been up to! There’s also a great app called Stockimo which gives you the opportunity to sell your work. It’s run by the stock photo agency Alamy and you simply upload your images and if accepted, Stockimo sell them on your behalf giving you a cut of the profit.

Snow on Wimbledon Common in 2010 - Katie Collins/Press Association

For more information about Gloom and Grow run by Sara Tasker head to this page - https://meandorla.co.uk/gloom-glow/

10 books to read in 2018

Katie Collins December 6, 2017

At the start of 2017 I promised myself I would do more reading.

I've kept a list of the books I've read this year - a real mix as you'll see below.

I'm not saying I'm racing through the classics or anything but I've picked books up that have been recommended to me or well reviewed.

I'm realising the more I do sit down to read that it’s a wonderful feeling to get lost in a book for hours on end.

I always seem to sleep better too if i read a chapter before bed (rather than faffing on my phone!).

So here are some of my favourites from over the past 12 months:

If you like...Real Life Stories

How To Murder Your Life by Cat Marnell

This is one of the first books I read during 2017. It's a memoir by 30-something Beauty Editor Cat Marnell (I had never heard of her when I picked up the book). She lands her dream job at Lucky magazine in New York but her life spirals into addiction. She loses her friends, her self-confidence and strains family relationships along the way. Sounds bleak, why read it you may say? Well there's something in the way that Marnell writes that kept me captivated through the book. It's a raw, unglamorous account of life with an addiction to medication and drugs but I found it a fascinating read.

If you like...Productivity

The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod

This concept has really taken off in the US and basically involves starting your day earlier. By doing so you make more time for yourself so you can exercise, do a hobby, meditate, read etc. In a time when our lives can be rushed and stressful, this could just be what is needed. I managed my first earlier start the other day and even if the kids did wake up just as I'd taken my first few sips of tea (typical), 5 minutes to myself was pretty amazing! You can read more about The Miracle Morning here.

If you like...True Crime

The Adversary by Emmanuel Carrere

A family are murdered in a small French town and the author seeks out to unravel why it happened. Without giving too much away, it's fair to say he comes across much more than he bargained for in this gripping real-life murder mystery.

If you like...Photography

Street Photography Now by Sophie Howarth

At the beginning of 2017, I decided I would spend more time during the year reading about famous photographers and their work. I have so far read at least 15 photography books, many borrowed from the library. A couple of those really stood out for me. Street Photography Now introduced me to a range of different street photographers. It taught me more about great composition, brilliant use of light and about observing all around you, all the time. After reading this book, I booked myself onto a street photography class in London with Paul Russell - one of the photographers who features in the book.

All That Life Can Afford by Matt Stuart

This great book is by photographer Matt Stuart, who is now a member of the Magnum photo agency. Matt's book is full of humour, witty observation, great use of repeating colours and shapes. I look at his work wishing I had taken many of his great shots. A really inspirational book for keen photographers out there.

If you like....Travel

The Worrier's Guide To The End of the World by Torre DeRoche

A few years back Torre DeRoche wrote a great book called Love With A Chance of Drowning. It's a feel good, funny book about her travels on the high seas in a sailing boat with a guy she met one night in a bar who became her boyfriend. In the aftermath of the book and while there were talks about it being made into a Hollywood film, her relationship broke down and her cherished father died. The Worrier's Guide to The End of The World sees Torre setting off to travel again, this time solo and to explore Italy and India. It's an emotional and soul searching trip with humour and unforgettable memories along the way. Torre's beautiful description of Italy will have you booking plane tickets in a second.

If you like...Inspirational Reads

The Little Big Things by Henry Fraser

Author Henry Fraser had a swimming accident at 17 which has left him paralysed from the neck down. Henry talks us through what happened that day in Portugal, his time in hospital, rehab, moving back home and how he turned to and developed his art (he uses a paintbrush in his mouth to paint). This is far from being a weepy book; Henry is incredibly positive despite all he has been through. It sounds like he has a wonderful, fun family and as a team they have adapted together. This book is about the importance of loved ones, about being positive, about appreciating everyday. It's a very special book I'd urge everyone to read.

If you like...Confidence Boosting Books

Your Inner Critic is a Big Jerk by Danielle Krysa

I wrote more about this great book here. This is a wonderful read if you are stuck in a rut creatively, desperate to start a new hobby but lacking the confidence. Or maybe you are simply having doubts about your own work. This book will give you the confidence boost to get back on track, simple as that.

If you like...Quirky Children's books:

Eat Your People by Lou Kuenzler

My favourite book as a child was all about a Hippo who sat on a roof eating cake. It was quirky, strange, weird, full of bold colours and images and I remember it vividly from my childhood. Eat Your People is equally quirky, weird and funny. The story is set around the dinner table of a family of monsters. Monty, the boy monster is fussing over his food (a plate of small people) as the rest of the family encourage him to 'Eat your People.' It's a funny take on fussy toddlers at mealtimes and our eldest (3) loves it!

If you are thinking of....Blogging

My Blogging Secrets by Amber McNaught

I decided earlier this year to get back into blogging. It's something I started six months after my eldest was born. Blogging can be puzzling to some people and everyone has their reasons for doing it. For me, it's a creative outlet and one which I really enjoy. My Blogging Secrets is written by Amber who writes the blog Forever Amber. I raced through this book and learnt so much from it. It helps that Amber runs a successful blog herself but the fact that she's put in years of dedication to get to where she is now is a great inspiration. Million Dollar Blog is another read I'd highly recommend if you are looking to go down the blogging road or make improvements.

Got any suggestions for good books I should read in 2018? Let me know in the comments below.

Santa's Grotto at The Rainforest Cafe - London

Katie Collins November 27, 2017

Last Christmas, and the Christmas before in fact, we tried out a few Christmas Grotto experiences.

I won't lie, they didn't all go according to plan.

Tears, tantrums (we have the expensive photo to prove it) and also car sickness meant an adorable Christmas treat quickly turned into a stressful morning.

But here we are with two little girls, a year older and our eldest starting to recognise that Father Christmas is a 'thing' and he may be worth paying attention to.

This year we were kindly offered the opportunity to try the Santa's Grotto at The Rainforest Cafe.

For those who may not know, The Rainforest Cafe is a themed restaurant just off Leicester Square in London.

Stepping away from the hustle and bustle of central London and down the stairs you're greeted with a colourful, jungle-themed restaurant, lifesized animatronic elephants, large fish tanks, gorillas, parrots and every fifteen minutes or so, the sound of a rainforest storm.

Throw into the mix Santa/Father Christmas and his cosy grotto and you're onto a winner.

What's really nice about this grotto is that it's more personal than others we have been to.

After booking online, the cafe sends you a questionnaire asking you to fill out specific details - what your child wants for Christmas, who they will be spending it with etc.

When we entered the grotto, Father Christmas casually dropped these nuggets of information into the conversation which made for a really special experience.

He took the time to chat to the girls and it didn't feel like we were being rushed.

So what's included in the price? A meeting and chat with Santa in his grotto, a bag of treats (a book and large toy - worth about £30), a two course-meal and a drink in the restaurant afterwards. Extras not included are the photo packages and any meals or drinks for adults.

Now a heads up: this won't be the cheapest grotto in town - you pay central London prices to dine at the cafe and for the experience, but our girls LOVED it.

Stepping into the restaurant afterwards and soaking up the atmosphere was a fantastic way to end a lovely treat. The gift shop is an experience in itself with a talking tree, lifesized crocodile (who occasionally wakes up) and baskets and baskets of toys and games.

The grotto is open until Christmas Eve. Tickets are £40 per child (adults don't need tickets) and are available from here or by calling the Cafe direct on 020 7434 3111.

10 minute Pilates for busy mums

Katie Collins November 22, 2017

A few months back I started Pilates.

With my brand new gym gear I energetically went off Tigger-like to my first class and loved it.

So I went each week for about 6 weeks and was starting to feel the benefits (my back felt less stiff and I was regaining strength in my stomach).

It was all going really well until life got in the way - one of the children was poorly one week, the class sold out the next, my husband worked late one Thursday and the classes ground to a halt for me.

And now it's been about 5 weeks since I last went.

The thing is I know Pilates is a good fit for me personally.

I want to regain strength in my abs after two c-sections.

I want to ease the muscles in my back where I feel strain from lifting heavy toddlers and pushing a ridiculously heavy double buggy.

A few weeks ago, as I feeling a bit useless at my bad pilates attendance, I came into contact with Louise - a Pilates teacher and founder of Studio 44 Pilates.

She offers online classes that are 10 minutes long which you can access and do at your own pace.

I've been trying out Louise's videos at home and it's been wonderful being able to fit them in to my routine.

Many of the stretches are familiar to me from the class I have been going to locally, so I feel like I am building on what I have already been taught.

I caught up with Louise to find out a bit more about Pilates and whether 10 minute workouts really can make a difference:

As a mum of two little ones, I find the frequent carrying my children & pushing their double buggy quite tough on my body and back. How can Pilates help?

Pilates is all about strengthening the core (the deep supporting muscles in the centre of the body) to help improve our posture. So when you are carrying your children you need to hold them in front of you rather than on one hip, as this puts all the weight on one side which can put the pelvis out of line, causing issues now and later in life. Improving your posture and strengthening your core will ensure that when you are pushing the buggy you stand in the correct position to benefit your body, rather than pushing through your shoulders and leaning into the buggy. A win win!!

10 minutes sounds quite manageable to a busy mum - can it really make a difference?

Lack of time is the main reason people do no exercise at all! The recommendations state that you should do 30 minutes of exercise every day. This doesn’t mean going to the gym each day, this is about general exercise which elevates your heart rate, so pushing a buggy will help towards this goal. Pilates improves strength, flexibility & balance. 10 minutes will help towards this. Done 3 – 5 times a week it will help increase all of the above, make you more aware of your body and reduce the risk of injury as well as improving your mindset.

How has Pilates helped you over the years and since you have been practicing/teaching?

I have been teaching Pilates for 17 years now and have had my fair share of back problems (should I admit that being a pilates teacher?!) I find if I haven’t done any for a few days I can really feel myself stiffening up and tweaks in my back. I love the exercises that mobilise and stretch my spine (that’s an age thing!!) but I also love the strengthening exercises. Everyone thinks Pilates is easy, but once you have been doing it for a while the exercises become really challenging! Now at 52 I feel fitter and stronger than when I first started teaching!

Is there a perfect time of day for Pilates?

This really depends on the individual and also the TIME you can fit it in. I really like exercising first thing, so this usually means I have to get up at 6am before everyone else is up and do my session, which always involves Pilates. There is no best time and I think it depends on the individual, some people like to get up and moving before even thinking about it! Doing something at any time of the day is better than not moving at all!

Pilates helps physical health, would you say it helps mental health too?

Yes! Joseph Pilates who developed Pilates states that “Pilates is the complete coordination of body, mind and spirit.” You learn about your body through the exercises which “develops the body posture, invigorates the mind and elevates the spirit.”

Thanks to Louise for letting me try out her 10 minute online classes.

You can try out a 10 minute taster video and sign up to a free 7 day trial at https://studio44pilates.com/online-classes/

10 Christmas Gift ideas for pre-schoolers

Katie Collins November 15, 2017

With Christmas Day just weeks away and Black Friday on the horizon, I've started thinking about what to get our two (aged 3.5 and 22 months).

So I'm sharing my top 10 gifts for pre-schoolers from a mix of High Street and independent shops. Happy shopping!

1. Princess Tower Playset

2. Sleepy Moon Personalised Print

3. Space Print Pyjamas

4. Peter Pan Novelty Backpack

5. Lego Duplo Family House

6. Three Kings Biscuit Card

7. Yellow Hooded Rain Mac

8. Little London Play Set

9. Hopster Kids TV App

10. Disney Classics DVDs

1. Princess Tower Playset - My eldest shrieked in the store when she saw this the other day and it went immediately to the top of her Christmas List. What's great about it is that it is neatly folds up and is portable. Marks & Spencer £30

2. Buddy & Bear Personalised prints - I first spotted the gorgeous Buddy & Bear on instagram. The UK company does a wonderful set of kitchenware for children. Now they are offering personalised prints and just look at how adorable they are! Buddy & Bear print from £30

3. Space Pyjamas - Not only are these pyjamas space-themed, they also Glow in the dark. They come in ages 2-12 and are available from John Lewis from £22 - £24

4. Disney X Cath Kidston backpack - Disney has teamed up with Cath Kidston to offer a magical Peter Pan themed collection. Many of the items sold out quickly but are now back in stock, including this Peter Pan backpack, perfect for young children. Cath Kidston - £30

5. Lego Duplo Family House - One of the biggest hits in our seemingly endless toy collection is a Lego Duplo house. Our two girls treat it like a dollhouse and love creating scenes with any of their little figure toys. It's sturdy, you can change the configuration and its covers the toddler into preschool years. Lego store £39.99

6. Three Wise Men Christmas Biscuit Card - This is such a great idea if you'd rather avoid toys and clothes. We received one of these beautifully handmade biscuits in the post last year in The Snowman theme. Our little girl's face lit up when she opened the box and discovered a large biscuit just for her. From Biscuiteers £10.95

7. Yellow Rain Mac - There's something timeless and adorable about one of these yellow fisherman style macs. I was on the lookout for one for our 3 year-old and discovered Dorothy Perkins do a kids range online (it launched in July). This jacket comes in ages 18 months to six years old. Dorothy Perkins £22

8. Little London playset - Including The Shard, The Globe Theatre, Tower Bridge and St Paul's, this Little London Playset is perfect for introducing them to the city. Jojo Mama Bebe £15

9. Hopster kids app - Packed full of TV shows, games, lullabies and nursery rhymes, the Hopster App (aimed at 2-6 year-olds) is a safe space for pre-schoolers to explore and learn. We downloaded the app last week and our 3 year old has already discovered her favourite songs and shows. There's a 7 day free trial, a great chance to see how your little one gets on with it. Hopster subscription from £3.99 a month

10. Disney Classics DVD Collection - All the favourites are here as part of this classics collection. DVDs from £3.99 at HMV

And all wrapped up with - Personalised paper

If wrapping Christmas presents by a lit fire gets you excited, this is for you. This personalised paper comes in range of colours and fonts. You can have any message you like (and it doesn't have to be for Christmas). The gift wrap comes with a stylish gift tag and gel pen. Prettygifted.co.uk

10 things having Type 1 diabetes has taught me

Katie Collins November 10, 2017

There’s a lot I can tell you about Type 1 diabetes.

For starters it's 24/7 and yes, I can still eat chocolate.

It's a total pain having to know your blood sugar ALL THE TIME.

Before I reach for something in the fridge I need to know what my blood sugar level is and that means doing a finger prick blood test.

I can sometimes be found in the kitchen at 3am drinking Coca-Cola to stop a hypo (low blood sugar). That can be pretty disruptive too.

But I don’t want this post to be doom and gloom. Ahead of World Diabetes Day on November 14th, I wanted to sit back and reflect on my time with Type 1.

It’s a condition that’s changed me in many ways and I’ve put together 10 things I have learned and am grateful for since being diagnosed 2.5 years ago:

1. Health is key - Type 1 is autoimmune so there’s nothing I could have done to prevent it. I now focus on looking after myself with balanced meals and regular walking. Type 1 has definitely made me pay more attention to my body.

2. I CAN have chocolate - Phew... My first thought on being diagnosed was that chocolate was out the window. I can eat chocolate as long as I inject for it though the best bet for me is to eat smaller amounts at a time.

3. I CAN eat out - sounds silly but when I was diagnosed this was a total nightmare, the same with takeaways. I would stress out at the size of portions -how would I know how much insulin to give? Now I look at menus online and in advance and I am upfront with the staff, explain I'm Type 1 and ask about the sizes of portions.

4. Relaxation is really important - massage used to be a luxury, now I see it as a necessity for helping me feel less anxious, relaxed and on top of things. I try to factor in a deep tissue massage every 4-6 weeks.

5. A support network is everything - even a Type 1 diabetic with good control has bad days. Days where you can eat the same food as the day before but for some unknown reason your blood sugars rocket or crash. Having family and friends who you can talk to or offload to is really important. I still don’t know many people with Type 1 but having family who can listen when times are tough is amazing.

6. A good hospital team makes all the difference - a diabetes nurse you can call or email when times are rough, a dietician who can help you make changes to your diet, a consultant who listens and understands. A strong team is crucial.

7. Illness is tough - Flu is rough but for a diabetic it can be dangerous. Sickness bugs can play havoc with blood sugar (I have been in hospital twice needing a drip). I try to keep on top of sleep, eat plenty of fruit and veg and I always have the flu jab as soon as I can when flu season approaches.

8. An online support network - There’s an online network of Type 1 diabetics who help and support each other - I find this particularly on Twitter. There are monthly meet-ups, Twitter chats & Facebook pages you can join. Whilst you can feel like the new kid at school, it doesn’t last long as you gradually get to know others with Type 1.

9. The NHS is amazing - Since being diagnosed in 2015, I have been sent on a diabetes education course DAFNE and been given an insulin pump. This has cost the NHS over £5,000 and I don’t forget for a second how lucky I am to have these things along with the staff who have made it happen.

10. Don’t sweat the small stuff. OK, I do sweat the small stuff sometimes; we all do. But I’ve learned to live my life more, try new hobbies and activities, be grateful for each day and always try to focus on the positives. Type 1 diabetes is part of me now and I need to do my very best to look after myself physically and mentally. Looking for the positives and making the most of every day is crucial - simple as that.

Books of the month - November

Katie Collins November 2, 2017

Your Inner Critic is a Big Jerk by Danielle Krysa

This is a book for Creatives.

Think you're not creative? Author Danielle Krysa believes we all are and should embrace our inner child.

If you enjoyed drawing as a kid, why not pick up a pencil? Enjoyed playing around with your polaroid as a teenager? Pick up a camera and get exploring. It's never too late.

This book is also for the self-doubters out there.

Maybe you have days where you question yourself, your abilities, feel like you are ‘winging it’ or take an overly critical look at your own work?

Danielle is a successful collage artist, but she was once told by a professor 'You should never paint again'. Instead this spurred her on and led her onto the path she’s on today.

I think a lot of us have doubtful moments about our work. Are we good enough? Or maybe we compare ourselves to others doing something similar.

Let's face it, platforms such as Instagram are incredibly inspirational for photographers and artists but also a bit overwhelming sometimes. There is so much GREAT content out there.

Danielle’s book is uplifting, encouraging and full of wise words. I had a lecturer once who didn’t make me feel great about my work. Reading this book reminded me of that but most importantly it's made me realise I must not let it hold me back.

The book also includes a Thirty Day challenge - subjects to get your creative juices flowing when photographing/drawing/writing stories.

Your Inner Critic is a Big Jerk is available here or on Kindle.

Little People, Big Dreams - Audrey Hepburn by Isabel Sanchez Vegara

This beautiful hardback book is a short snapshot of the life of Audrey Hepburn so young children can get a flavour.

From tough beginnings to a successful movie career and on to a charity ambassador role for UNICEF, this charts Audrey's life in a short bedtime read.

Our eldest is three and a half and loves this book. It holds her attention, isn't too long and she loves the colourful illustrations.

This is the second we have bought from the series - the Coco Chanel version was read many nights for months!

The Little People, Big Dreams series of books are available here.

I'm on the lookout for good books to read this month. Got any suggestions? I'd love to hear your suggestions in the comments below.

Shaking up your morning routine

Katie Collins October 26, 2017

How do you fit in 'me time'?

Being a mum of two girls (3 and under) I admit I find it pretty hard.

Every evening the girls seem to be full of beans until about 9pm.

When they're in bed, I think of all the things I want to do in the small window before lights out - new Netflix shows, a stack of unread magazines, that book I've been meaning to start...

But usually, I am pretty worn out.

And I’d love to say I go to bed early but I usually don’t.

I am guilty of losing precious minutes aimlessly scrolling through my iPhone.

I'm the person reading a random Buzzfeed article like ‘Here's What The Kids from Neighbours Look Like Now!' - (it's here if you want to read it...) and then next minute I realise it’s gone midnight...

So I’ve been thinking about how to find more hours in my day.

Time to read, time to listen to podcasts, take some more pictures - basically relaxing doing the things I enjoy.

Could earlier mornings be the answer? Getting up earlier, before the girls wake up?

I've been nosing into other people's morning routines to see if I can improve mine and here are some great things I can recommend if you, like me, are thinking of shaking up your morning routine:

The Miracle Morning

Could I actually get up an hour earlier to get more done? This is what The Miracle Morning is all about. You get yourself up at say 6am and spend an hour or so reading, doing yoga, listening to music/podcasts/journaling or even just sitting with a cup of steaming hot tea (a novelty). There’s a whole Miracle Morning community out there I have discovered. I LOVE this idea and it's something I want to try. Maybe not everyday but once a week to start with...baby steps.

My Morning Routine

This is a great website and Twitter handle that explores people’s morning routines. What is the first thing they do when they wake up? What is their breakfast? Personally, I’m fascinated by other people’s mornings. I’ve had a few good ideas from reading these articles. This site is where I first heard about the Five Minute Journal (a templated journal) I wrote about here. It’s now part of my day and when I use it properly (remember to fill in the blanks) I feel much better for it.

Spirit Animal podcast- Kristina Karlsson interview

I have listened to this podcast a couple of times. Kristina set up the Kikki.k stationery brand, she also has two young children. In this podcast she talks about her habits and morning routine (she’s also an early riser). It’s a lovely listen by an inspirational woman.

The Artist’s Way

This book is pretty well known in the journaling community. The author Julia Cameron talks about Morning pages. The idea is you sit down and write 3 pages of whatever is on your mind. You then throw the pages away. It’s a way of clearing your head first thing and working through problems by writing them down. It’s definitely an idea that I’ve tried and continue to be intrigued by.

So I'm bracing myself to give these early mornings a whirl. Maybe on a weekend to start with. An hour to myself sounds pretty idyllic. Are you an early bird or a Miracle morning fan? I'd love to hear your tips in the comments below.

3 must-see movies

Katie Collins October 20, 2017

Every October for two weeks The London Film Festival comes to town.

Anyone can book tickets to see the selected movies - some will go on to become big blockbusters - other smaller independent films will have quieter releases.

Every year there’s a great mix on offer and i make it my mission to study the festival programme and book to see at least 3 films.

For around £16 you can expect to see a film plus the bonus of a Q&A with the director afterwards - sometimes the leading stars will be there too.

So this year we saw a complete mix of movies - a selection of short animations from around the world (with the kids), a horror documentary (with my husband) and a New York set rom-com (just me). All were fantastic and well worth a watch:

Catherine

This wonderful, funny, (sort of disturbing but gets away with it) cute animation centres around a girl called Catherine. To put it mildly she’s clumsy with her pets and keeps accidentally killing them off. It sounds dark but our two were not remotely bothered by the content and were wide-eyed and captivated by the brilliant animation. It’s only 5-10 minutes long but well worth a watch when it’s released. This was part of the Animated Shorts for a Younger Audience screening and is a lovely way to soak up the festival atmosphere as a family.

78/52 - release date - November 2017

The famous Psycho shower scene is the focus of this engrossing documentary. Famous directors, editors and producers talk openly about how it changed cinema and in some cases was referenced and influenced in their own work. There’s fascinating insider information - how did Hitchcock create the sound effect for the stabbing? Was it really Hershey’s chocolate sauce used as the blood in the bath? All will be revealed in this this brilliant film perfect for film nuts.

The Boy Downstairs - release date - April 2018

Zosia Mamet from Girls plays the lead in this indie rom-com set in New York. Imagine you break up with your boyfriend, find a great new apartment and your ex is living downstairs with his zero personality girlfriend. This is the perfect tuck yourself up on the sofa on a Sunday night movie. It’s a very funny, dry script with great casting. It’s director and writer Sophie Brooks’ first film and speaking during the Q&A her advice for aspiring filmmakers was to write a movie that can be made without a crazy high budget - i.e. don’t make your first film a war movie!

https://www.facebook.com/theboydownstairs/

Calming a tired mind

Katie Collins October 9, 2017

It creeps up slowly and the same signs start to reappear.

My head starts to feel full, my brain goes into overdrive, overthinking things. I can feel jittery and tense.

At 3am I can find myself awake and stewing on things, unable to roll over and get back to sleep.

This is my experience of anxiety.

I've come to recognise the signs of when I need to switch off, not make too many plans and look after myself a little bit more.

I think anxiety is something more common than people realise but still not openly talked about.

I've realised over the past year or so what helps me personally and I'd love to hear your suggestions too.

These are the little things I do, that make a big difference:

1. Removing Apps from my phone. I woke up one morning about a year ago and picked up my phone. I headed to a news app I'd read all the time and the first story I read was a scaremongering health report. Don't get me wrong, I like to know what's going on in the world but it was too much. I didn't want to start my day like this. I removed the news apps from my phone. Twitter is now my main source of news and from a short headline, I can decide if I want to read it further.

2. Massage - I have been a fan of massage for years and now make time for it once every 4-6 weeks. At first it felt like a bit of an indulgence but then I realised it helps me physically (I push a really heavy double buggy around) and mentally. I usually find at the start of a massage everything on my mind bubbles to the surface but I process it and by the end I am so much calmer, re-energised and relaxed. I usually need an hour to really get the most of a massage. For those in South West London, a great massage in the comfort of your own home is Home Spa London.

3. Change of scene. For me this could be as simple as taking a magazine or book along to a new coffee shop. Or it could be a day out in the fresh air with the family a few stops on the bus or train. A few hours at the cinema getting lost in a good movie does wonders, buying a slice of cake from my favourite cake shop or buying some posh new tea or coffee to try at home. All these things help me relax and take some time out for myself.

4. Headspace. I first listened to meditation when I was feeling stressed and nervous about my c-section. I'd always dismissed it as being a bit hippy but it really helped me at the time. I then went on to discover Headspace, trying the app on my phone. The idea is to just take even 10 minutes a day to meditate, following a guided meditation. I now try to do it most days and I find it really helps calm me if I am feeling stressed or anxious.

5. Exercise. Now I'll be honest, I am no great exerciser but I do walk a lot. I have also just started Pilates, one hour a week and am really loving it. Maybe it's being forced away from my phone that helps but I feel like Pilates is a good fit for me and I am already physically feeling stronger from it.

6. Hobbies and courses. When I pick up my camera I get lost in another world, completely distracted by what I am photographing. My 92 year old step grandmother was still doing collage up until the died (she even had her own collage room). Calligraphy is another hobby I enjoy when I get time to practice. These are all things that I try to do more of when I feel anxious. Setting myself a simple photography project or taking my camera somewhere new always reinvigorates my love of photography and helps my mind feel rested. I highly recommend setting yourself a little photo project, even if it's with your phone.

What helps you feel calmer? Let me know in the comments below:

Still Life on the kitchen table

Katie Collins October 3, 2017

The Still Life Masterclass I took part in a few weeks ago with The Photographers' Gallery and Jonathan Lovekin has really left an impression.

I have been desperate to practice still life at home. Last weekend I popped into a local art shop to stock up on coloured card for backgrounds and black and white foam boards.

I sent my husband out with the girls for half an hour so I could have a practice run, photographing fresh fruit and vegetables on our kitchen table.

I wanted to try a black background which helps the vibrant colours of the fruit and vegetables pop and alternated between using the black and white foam boards to reflect the light (white board) or cut the light (black board).

I also wanted to try shooting with a wider aperture, something I'd been avoiding on the masterclass.

Aren't these Isle of Wight tomatoes a great mix of colours? They were in the flash sale section on my online supermarket shop.

So here's my kitchen table setup. I move the black and white card around to play with the light.

A top tip - about a year ago I bought a Manfrotto Single Arm with super clamp. It's like a tripod, holding the camera steady, but it clamps to the table, rather than having legs.

I find it so much less clunky than my tripod and great for this kind of photography.

Still Life & Food Photography Masterclass - Day 2

Katie Collins September 26, 2017

Day 2 - In the studio

Back in the studio my bag of produce from Ridley Road Market awaited, ready to be photographed.

A handful of radishes, spring onions and aubergines were joined by a quince from my garden.

Spotting an H&M home store across the road on Oxford Street, I'd decided to buy a few props. These included a grey dinner plate, grey napkin, mustard-coloured cushion cover and floral paper napkins.

Jonathan Lovekin, our tutor for the weekend, had also provided us with patterned and textured papers to use as backdrops.

During the morning I used the natural window light, using black and white card to adjust how the light fell on the food.

I switched to artificial light in the afternoon and used a softbox as my light source. I traditionally use natural light in my photography so this was great to try.

Towards the end of the day we chose our favourite pictures to share with the group. Sat around the screen, I was mesmerised by what everyone had shot. So many beautiful pictures and ideas - and all so different. Some shot with a wide aperture almost looked like beautiful paintings.

I had a spring in my step when I headed for home, excited to have been learning and exercising my brain and meeting new people.

So where to from here? I've earmarked our kitchen table, which gets good natural light, as my indoor studio.

My plan is to try and try some more, experiment with food and still life, get better at it and most of all have fun and enjoy it.

And a peek behind the scenes...

Left: Daylight - it was mainly an overcast day so I used window light for some of the shots before using artificial light (right) later on in the day.

Still Life & Food Photography Masterclass