Author Spotlight: Oliver Jeffers


Every so often I'm going to tell you all about my favourite kids authors. Working in a book shop means I spend most of the days rummaging through the kids sections of the store. I always manage to find something new.
First up is Oliver Jeffers, I love this author. He is pretty underrated for the amazing stories he writes and the illustrations that are just breathtaking. Here are a few of my favourite stories.
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How To Catch A Star is one of a boy that sends a rocket to catch a star, as he loves them so much he wants one of his own! Obviously to catch a star is a very tricky thing to do but the real question is will he manage to keep it?
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The Heart And The Bottle is a book about love and loss. A little girl loves to tell her dad all about the amazing things she learns. That is until one day her dad’s chair is empty. She puts her heart in a bottle to keep is safe so it is never damaged again. But surely that means that her love of everything else will be lost. It’s a tough subject to talk about but it’s such a beautifully told story that you forget how sad it really is.
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The Way Back Home is another story that is based around the little boy that is in How To Catch A Star, Lost And Found and many other of Jeffers books. The boy decides to get on a plane and ends up traveling to the moon. Only to discover that an alien had the same thought and they are both stuck. Until they hatch a plan to find their way back home.
The Incredible Book Eating Boy is a book about Henry. Henry is no ordinary boy. He likes to devour books by eating them rather than reading them. And obviously because he is eating them he is taking in all of the information making him one of the most smartest boys out there. But there isn’t a lot of nutrition in books and unfortunately he begins to learn eating books isn’t all that good. The illustrations are hilarious and this book seems to be so different but still has that classic Jeffers wit.
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The Great Paper Caper tells of a story in the forest. Things are beginning to change when all of the trees start to lose their branches. And when whole tree trunks seem to be lost, animals start losing their home. Of course a full-blown investigation is started within the animals to find out what exactly is going on in their home. Who committed this crime, and are all the animals innocent?

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Max had his two year review today. It's basically a check to make sure that his development is on the right line and we have no issues or problems. We wanted to ask some advice on things such as potty training and trying to get rid of the dummy but she reassured us that he will eventually stop using it and the potty training seems to be right around the corner. She remarked how well spoken he was and how outgoing and social he seemed which I am probably most proud of! Max loves meeting new people and I'd hate for him to be a social wallflower. 

He is so funny, always making me laugh with funny songs. He seems to have more style than me and Scott rolled into one (having said that we aren't that stylish haha)

I still can't believe he is 2. Some of the things he loves to do include lounging on the sofa either eating or singing along with songs he loves. Dressing up and playing with his toys making stories and scenarios. Running and jumping in puddles, off kerbs and rolling in grass. Asking questions and attempting to do things himself. And looking after his 'baby', one day he will make an amazing big brother. 




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I have quite an obsession with a certain website. Each morning over my breakfast I'm scouring the site to see if there are any deals that catch my eye.

Zulily is a website that hosts discount price deals that last 72 hours before they are replaced with new deals. It specialises in childrens wear, toys, home items and womens wear. I've picked up some amazing deals on brand named toys and cute clothes for Max on there that when they asked me to write for them I jumped at the opportunity.

Zulily are hosting a blogger competition this month for each blogger to reveal their top three tips for photographing children along with some of your favourite photos.

Since graduating university I've actually only picked up my camera to take photos of Max (there have been a few other jobs but nothing regular) It's made me re-evaluate the way that I shoot as taking photos of toddlers is a really tricky job.


Spontaneity Is Key - I find some of my best photos of Max are taken when he is completely unaware. In his own little world or playing with daddy so that I can snap away and not have him trying to grab my camera or pulling a face because he doesn't want his photo taken. I always have either my phone or camera on me so I can snap away at any given moment. Those are the best photos as they capture life as it really is. I don't sit him down and try and do photo shoots. He has the attention span of a fly so to capture something unaware is the perfect image.


Try Something New - Sometimes I'm fed up of seeing the exact same shot of children, you know those ones in studios where they're sat on a box looking prim and proper. I know that it's hard to take a photo of Max doing something different. But I love seeing photos or framing that isn't conventional I love these two images that I've put together in a diptic, they really capture the action. And whilst I may not have caught Scott in the image fully, you can truly see the fun they are both having. 


Get Outside And Use Natural Light - I hate flash, I always have done. It might be something to do with the fact that I found it so tricky to use outside of the studio but there's something so refreshing about using natural light to make the world seem perfect. The skin tones look normal, the world looks exactly how you would see it with your own eyes. The UK sometimes isn't the brightest of places, nor is it the sunniest so you have to make do with what you can. But knowing your camera always helps.

Using all three of the points I have made you can start to capture fun and different images of your children. I know that they may not be the best ideas and may not always be the most original but it's my handy tips to remembering that you don't always need to hire a professional.

For more information and to view the Zulily deals yourself use this link.
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After a serious post yesterday I thought that I would show you all what I'm wishing for (well actually I have some of it already!) I'm seriously lusting over the shoes. To the point where they are sat in my basket waiting to check out!



Hi kids jumper - We actually have this, Max is wearing it at the moment. It's so cute! I also have the hello jumper to match this.
Dr Martens Nixon ankle boot - These are so damn adorable. I swear I have nothing to wear them with though. But I will buy them.
Asos Curve skater skirt - I'm really into skirts at the moment. Not that I wear them, I seem to spend more time in leggings than anything else. Comfort over style when you have a kid it seems haha.
Sophie and Lili Custom boy doll - I absolutely love this, and the fact it can be customised.
Speck Iguy ipad case - Max is always playing educational games on my ipad and this case would be great for little fingers so it doesn't slip out of his hands. Also it's adorable.
Chestnut Zatchel - I've seen so many bloggers rave about these and I'm desperate for a chestnut one, well I have since they first came onto the scene. Maybe when I've saved I will get one for myself.

What are you guys looking at this week?
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The snow was still fresh and crisp on the ground when we went to take Max to get his hair cut. He looks so grown up and smart now!
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Bournemouth is a gorgeous place to live, only downside is because we are right on the coast, we never normally get snow. The last big snowfall was the night that Max was born (over 2 years ago) and even then it was a mighty inch deep!
Last night I went to bed sceptical that we wouldn't get any more than a dusting. When I woke up with Max at 5am there was a full on blizzard outside and I was eating my words from the previous night. Looking online I managed to find out that nursery and uni were both cancelled. Once 8am hit Max woke up and we woke Scott up. Wolfing down breakfast we put on out warm clothes and headed into our private car park to play in the snow. It was covered with a thick white blanket and was still coming down thick and fast.
Max loved it! He was running around with glee and throwing snow at me and Scott. Max and Scott made a snowman but we forgot to bring down anything to make his face with so he sat faceless until one of the girls in the houses that adjoins the car park came and put some stuff on later. Scott also made a snow angel! Silly man got freezing cold haha. 
We didn't stay out for long though as the snow was bitterly freezing and we were in ready to have some warm cups of hot chocolate and a duvet day. Work then called to tell me not to come in as they were closing at 5pm and my shift normally starts at 4. So today has been truly lazy. Dipping in and out of the snow, making cakes, watching tv and playing with some of Max's christmas toys.
The boys are now tucked up in bed. Apparently snow really takes it out of you. And I'm now sat blogging and catching up on news. Also Scott was in our local paper. You can read the article here.



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I love wooden toys, though we don't have that many in our home (due to the lack of space) when we finally expand and get our own place I hope to have a nice selection of both wooden and plastic toys. I love their durability but I would never be able to get rid of Max's beloved Buzz and Woody or his trike.

Carnaby Wooden Play Kitchen
£85
I love this play kitchen and it's something that Max is obsessed with, he is always playing with our friends kids kitchens and the one at nursery. He is constantly playing with all our pots and pans making us lunch and dinner. I love that this one isn't too girly. I've found that lots of them are either pink or white and I love the bright colours and the fact it comes with lots of accessories too.

Spick & Span Toy Cleaning Set
£59
Max is big on cleaning at the moment. Every other word that comes out of his mouth seems to be brush or hoover (yep!) whilst he has a cheap toy hoover that we got from Tesco, it's already falling apart and even though this doesn't contain a hoover I think he would be more than chuffed and would love pushing it around. I'm also loving how everything has it's own place (I like organisation)
Balance Game
£23
Max's fine motor skills are amazing. He loves doing puzzles, stacking blocks and anything that he can knock down and start again! I think this would be great for him as it's all about working out what balances where so things don't fall off and he can use so many combinations to try and work out this puzzle.
Pin Toys Wooden Hospital
£39
Probably a bit too small for Max to play with at the moment. But seeing as he loves his Happyland toy sets this would be perfect for him to play with when he gets a bit older! I love that this doesn't look like the conventional wooden house or play set and it comes with all the furniture and bits and pieces too which is a bonus. 
Alphabet Puzzle
£14
Max is starting to sing the alphabet (with thanks from Elmo) so this would be perfect for him to start recognising the letters with the sounds that he knows they are. I also like that it has pictures of words that begin with the letter underneath so it's a toy that can go with him for quite a long time. 
Large Slatted Pull Along Wooden Wagon
£299
A large amount of money for a wagon you say? This one is gorgeous and would look amazing weathered or painted bright colours. We are festival goers and seeing as Max has already been to his first we have learnt that a wagon is a must have for carting around those blankets, bags, food and children whilst letting them still have a nap. This is definitely way out of our budget but I'd love one for our next festival outing. 




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We're off to Butlins! Our summer holiday this year is booked. Well it's more a September holiday but we are off to Butlins in Bognor Regis for a few days courtesy of the Sun £9.50 holiday deals! Cannot wait to take Max, he will be full of energy and love every minute.

We all need a holiday and its jest before we are due to move in with Scotts parents (so we can save for a house) so this cheap and cheerful deal is a great bargain and not too far away.
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I am the first to admit how rubbish I can be at crafts. I go into it with such optimism and hope but then realise I'm not actually as creative as I once thought I was! That was until I came across this magazine as a recommendation from an amazing friend. 

Homemaker is a new monthly magazine that focuses on crafts, interiors, baking and pretty things that you just want to put everywhere in your home. It makes the steps simple and has things for all abilities. So for the people like me that want to do something fabulous but aren't that great at crafts, you can do something and be proud of it!

While you wait for the third issue (yes the third! It's that new) then check out their website
http://homemakermagazine.co.uk/

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This week we are back to normality. Scott is back at uni, I am back into my normal work hours and Max is back at nursery.

We are fortunate to get the funding for Max to be in nursery 5 days a week due to student loans. This allows Scott to complete his studies, me to clean the house, work and do photography work and blogging in my spare time. Nursery has helped him socialise, excel in his language and come out with amazing things that baffle us every day.

It hurts my heart sometimes when he's in nursery and I'm tidying and getting ready for work and thinking that I'm missing out on time with him. But then I remember how much he loves it there, how small our flat is and how it will all be worth it in the end when we both have degrees and can earn a decent wage to keep us afloat.

Having a child while at uni was tough, tougher than I ever imagined. Scott is lucky to have really supportive lecturers that help him with everything from his dyslexia to his lack of concentration from sleep deprivation. My lecturers on the other hand were horrible, putting me down and tole me to quit right near the end of the course. I've come away feeling disheartened about photography but having Max has slowly reintroduced my love for it. Capturing his little quirks and moments is unforgettable.

I know I don't spend every day with him, and by the time I get home from work he's tucked up in bed but I hope he knows how much I love him and how much I love every waking moment we get to spend together (even if it is at 3am!)
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An old photo but this post is all about this little man. This image was taken nearly a year ago and I honestly can't believe how much he has changed in the past however many months.
He's a complete chatterbox now and repeats pretty much everything that you say (need to watch what we say now) it's great that we can now have conversations with him but he also knows how to chat back and has enough sass and attitude that you normally find in a teenage girl.
He's becoming more and more independent, sitting and playing with his toys and wanting to walk absolutely everywhere. Also dropping that nap, the nap where I got everything done!

I can't believe he's 2 and I can't believe that this year he will be 3, we have so many things changing this year and I love the way that he takes everything in his stride. My favourite little man.
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On Sunday we wanted to venture somewhere that we hadn't been to for a long time. So Christchurch was the first place to spring to mind! I love the historic architecture and the cute shops dotted around. We took Max to the quay to see all the swans and he wasn't too impressed. Big birds seem to scare him at the moment. But he had loads of fun in the boutique toy shops where he fell in love with a £150 kitchen (that unfortunately won't be coming home with us any time soon!) and it was all topped off with a gorgeous lunch at Cheese and Alfies. They had run out of pancakes so I had the soup of the day which was yummy. Max and Scott seemed well chuffed with their burgers and mini fry up. It was all topped off with a trip to American Fizz to pick up some pretzel M&M's and curl up with some films.

Definitely a day for appreciating the small things in life.
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One of our new years resolutions was to try and take Max out to as many different places as we could in the local area or further afield. We've been impatiently waiting to take Max to Moors Valley as we wanted to go and not be restricted with the pram and I'm glad we waited. Max adored running around the place playing on all the playing equipment.

Moors Valley is a country park and a  forest that features everything from gorgeous tea rooms and railway to a fantastic play trail and the hilarious go ape. We decided that due to the weather not being the best (it was spitting with rain on and off all day) that we would stick to the play trail and let Max go wild on all the climbing equipment. This was all wildlife themed and ranged from a massive spiders web (seen above) to wooden teepees and creepy crawlies. There are a few parts that are specifically for older children but nothing that Max didn't want to try though!

The best thing about it is that you only have to pay for your parking (it came to £4 for the 4 hours that we were there for - very reasonable!) and you are free to take a picnic and eat throughout any of the walks and trails.

A great way to start off our resolutions, let's hope that there are many more to come.
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