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Two little bottoms standing by the sea 

I did a little guest interview for the fantastic web site Kodomo. It specialises in where to go that's perfect for parents as well as kids. Check out my tips and get inspired for Summer!

Mini goes to the ballet

Mini and her best friend India went to the ballet this week to see Sleeping Beauty. What better place to get to be introduced to the ballet than at The Royal Opera House, India's mummy Kate is one clever chicken indeed as she managed to book a box, meaning any squirming would go unnoticed in a rather lengthy three hour performance. India and Mini both dressed up for the Occasion with Mini wearing her favourite white dress with black gross grain bow by Maan and her silver duster coat from H&M's All for the children range.

Mini was captivated by the Queen whilst India fell in love with the Blue Bird in the performance

Mini is really growing up and having fun expressing herself through all her clothes. I love this Isabel Marrant plaid jacket i picked up in the sales years ago. Yay it finally fits! Mini paired it with her JCrew star print leggings, a striped Bon Ton T and her old Bonpoint neckerchief as a headscarf.

While here Mini is rejoicing that spring has finally sprung by wearing knee socks instead of tights! Hers have little bows and are from JCrew Crew Cuts. We paired them with her Boden summer skirt, stripe t-shirt and a Stella McCartney crochet bolero.

Brighten up a dull day

We went full on colour this morning to brighten such a dull dull day. How many shades of hot pink, peach and fuschia can we add together? First there's her cranberry velvet shoes from Bonton, her neon pink socks from H&M, and phin's old peach denim from The Gap.

Next up we layered her floral pink blouse from Bonton over a lilac poloneck

And finally we added her JCrew pearls with their neon orange gros grain ribbon

Now will you excuse me i have to take this call...

Mellow Yellow

Ive been waiting ages for mini to wear her canary yellow corduroy dress from Bonton. It always seemed so long and large but mini has recently had a growth spurt, shooting up a few centimetres, a shoe size, longer hair and weighing more i'm sure, that I felt this dress should surely fit her.
And fit her perfectly it does. We popped an Aubergine ribbed poloneck from caramel underneath and a pair of lilac tights. I love the ruffled shoulder straps, reminds me of my 70's childhood fashions.

Check mate

It was Phins last day at kindergarten today and so the whole family went to drop him off laden with our green class gifts and homemade jam. Afterwards papa joined us for coffee and pain au chocolat. The two made a lovely pair with their mix of checks and tartans. Papa had snaffled his double RL special from a recent trip to Bicester and mini wore her Bonton number with a navy poloneck, mustard tights, rust Bonpoint knitted coat and a brand new ultramarine hair bow from our nanny Sarah-Jane. Check mate!

Gingerbread heart

Mini and I had a glorious girls breakfast with team Red. In honour of Nicola, our fashion director's birthday, we gathered round cappuccinos and soft boiled eggs for a catch up and a squidge of minis thighs. Mini wore her H&M deer print dress with her Caramel emerald green poloneck, Zara tights and chocolate velvet Mary-janes.
Then we decorated our gingerbread hearts for Phineas's teachers. Instead of a name tag on their gift bag we went for something edible.

A tale of two outfits

We're back fashion filers! And even in those few days away, she's grown. Her hair is longer and she's chatting away even if we can't understand everything she says.
Today we were off swimming and she kicked and splashed and jumped galore, Proving that she and her friend Aurelia can swim rings around their brothers.
Post swim Mini wore her Bonton chartreuse knitted waistcoat, chocolate check blouse and olive leggings topped off with big bros Bonpoint shearling booties and puffa to keep super snug.
Later In the afternoon mini went off to her new pal Ludo's birthday picnic. It proved a great occasion to show off a new dress. Typically the minster is bang on trend with her Stella McCartney for Gap rose pink flapper number. 20's drop waists are all the rage for next season and she wore hers with gold sparkle knee socks by Hartford, little mouse shoes and a new rose satin bow from Marie-Chantal.

Grrrr little bear

Poor papa doesn't get much of a look in when it comes to purchasing mini clothes but he couldn't resist buying her this knitted bear hat from The Gap. Chocolate brown like a Grizzly with charcoal fleece lining it has a huge attitude just like its wearer. Mini chose to style it with her favourite mouse scarf from H&M, her grey flannel pants and rose print blouse from Bonpoint, her chunky ruby red cardigan from Bonton and grey Vieja trainers. We went swimming with Papoo so ole grizzly kept her head warm post swim and during her lunch at 202. It's not the most kid friendly menu but our two certainly have refined taste; macaroni cheese with truffle oil. Our afternoon was spent lazing around at home taking things easy before I jet off on a whirlwind one day stop to Los Angeles for the Red March Cover shoot. So no fashion file for a few days but we'll be back at the end of the week. Fret not.

Autumn Leaves

Our Saturday's are usually spent doing the same old same old. And it was lovely to get back into that routine. After a few weeks off, due to runny noses and funny tummies, it was great to meet up with my dad, little bro and nieces and go swimming.
Afterwards Opi takes the four of us to lunch in Regents park. With blues skies and a relatively mild temperature we opted to sit outside and enjoy the autumn leaves and soak up the sunshine. Bliss.
Phin and mini had a great time stomping and swishing their way through the foliage. Phin was dapperly dressed in his Zara herringbone blazer, Bonpoint star scarf, Caramel skinnies and Vieja trainers. While mini wore her Caramel mustard, peach and blue floral dress. We've worn it all peached up to parties but today opted to pair it with mustard tights and her old beige knitted Bonpoint coat that's more like a cardi now shes shot up a couple more centimetres.

Snack a jack love

Mini is in love. With snack a jacks to be precise. Salt n vinegar just like her mama. I ate so many salt n vinegar things when I was pregnant I literally burnt off the roof of my mouth. Both my kids haven't fallen far from that tree and mini enjoyed her snack when we went to the playground. I'd been given the day off jury service and so we just hung out and had a blast. Then Phin and I had quality time together too. A little lunch after kindergarten at Westfield followed by jumping up and down at little gym. Super fun day with the kids.

Bright Smile

Mini is all smiles today. Especially when her big bro is hiding behind my shoulder playing peek-a-boo with her. She just adores him. Today mini is wearing his old Bonpoint grey skinnies with a paisley Bonton blouse and dove grey crochet waistcoat from Little White Company. With mama off on Jury service for the next few weeks she will be ruling the roost.

Autumn days

We took things easy today as I became the last of our family to succumb to a school tummy bug. Phin was the first to fall foul, then mini, Tom the next and finally me. So it was pretty much pyjamas all day round our house but when I finally found the energy to emerge we all donned our tracksuits and leggings and off we trundled through the glorious leaves.
Mini was sporting Phins old cashmere. The charcoal track pants are from...... And her snowflake cashmere sweater from Bamford. She is wearing something new however, her aqua ribbed scarf, a beautiful gift from the girls at Caramel.
Phin rocked his Bonton thermal long johns with an old Bonpoint knitted coat that has morphed into a snug Cardigan and his new Ugg boots. They were a gift from godmummy daisy and are limited edition 'Where The Wild Things Are' covered in gold crowns. So excited they finally fit!

Candy Girl

Minis rocking a cool casual look today. I love her in Phins old diesel skinnies although to be fair it's a tough call when it comes to moving in them. Frankie Cocozza knows the hazard of a skinny only too well but he doesn't have the excuse of wearing a nappy to hinder him, his are just too tight.
Mini however rocked hers with a citrus blouse from Bonton, her denim blue handknit cardi from grandma Eve and a Cos quilted beaded necklace.
It may not be Christmas yet but strawberry fields nursery is already in full swing preparations for their Christmas fair next week. Today I helped decorate a few gingerbread houses. What fun! Below are a few examples of my work with jelly babies, strawberry spaghetti and flying saucers. It's wreaths on Thursday so watch this space for twigs, glitter and orange slices.

Remember remember the 5th of November

5th of November is one of our favourite nights of the year. We are always spoilt with the most phenomenal display and party from my cousins Sara and Edward. This year was no exception in fact I think they managed to surpass themselves yet again with hot dogs and mulled wine, toasting marshmallows on an open fire, Chinese lanterns and one of the best firework displays in town. It was minis first and although her big bro hid in the toilet with a cup of sweets for most of it, mini watched in awe throughout every bang and explosion. To keep chic and snug the terrible two were decked out in their matching green striped Bonton knitwear and converse trainers. What a great night.

Autumn Leaves

Mini has definitely turned a new leaf as far as her sartorial choices are concerned. Gone are the fresh hues of summer and now when I look at her extensive (to say the least) wardrobe everything looks like the palette of a new England Fall. All Tabasco reds and burnt oranges, bark and dashes of ochre. Today's outfit is a case in point with her sale bought Bonpoint rust denims to her bitter chocolate checked Bonton blouse and cappuccino bow cardigan from H&M. I love her dash of salmon sock from under her new mahogany velvet Mary-Jane shoes also from Bonton (we swapped them for wellies for a walk through the leaves later in the day). Phin was joining in the look too with his Caramel claret skinny jeans and two tone cardigan, Bonton checked shirt and Zara tan leather high tops.
Watch out for tomorrow's Halloween special! Pumpkins galore and mini pulls out all the stops with her home made costume... That's if I can actually get her to wear it.

We Stand Corrected

These boots are made for stomping. Well riding to be exact but in the meantime Mini is wearing her big bros boots with pride and stomping up a storm. I mistakenly thanked grandma Eve for her gorgeous leather Chipmunk boots, however they were in fact a gift from Sara (whose pups we played with earlier this week) and I'm only too pleased that these Chelsea style boots are getting a second innings. Today mini is wearing them with her Bonpoint tartan dress and cranberry cashmere poloneck from Caramel.

Little drummer girl

Phin and mini had a blast hanging out with all their cousins in Germany and especially loved the local zoo in Wuppertal. It's so good it puts our much loved london zoo in the shade. The weather was super crisp with sunny blue skies and perfect for finally bringing out our warm winter wraps. Phin was flexing his grey duffle from Marie Chantal and Zara fleece lined leather hi-tops while mini rocked last years Bonpoint knit coat, hat and scarf combo and I relished my new rabbit lined parka from Yves Salomon (thanks to nat for that top tip).
Back home and mini was flexing her muscles at little gym. She managed a wheel barrow walk along the balance beam and loved hanging off the monkey bars in her Bonton leggings and trapeze top, grey marle body from Wheat and her Gap drummer girl jersey jacket topped off with big bros Vieja trainers, the coolest footwear from Brazil.

Little My

Mini's flexing her little My look today with her hair. Mainly because her big bro poured baby oil over her head in the bath and the only thing that can remedy the oil slick is a pineapple hair do.
Mini is layering up now the cold weather is rearing its head. First up her Bonton poloneck, then her chocolate checked blouse and chartreuse knitted waistcoat all paired with a pair of Phins old Gap jeans and Vieja plimsoles.