Category: life

  • Our Top 5 Camp Bestival Tips for Families 🎪✨

    Our Top 5 Camp Bestival Tips for Families 🎪✨

    Our first Camp Bestival as a family of four was everything we hoped it would be… and a little bit more chaotic than we perhaps anticipated!
    There was so much to see, do, eat, and to and explore that we quickly realised you simply cannot do everything. And, actually, that’s probably the whole point.

    Camp Bestival is one of those places where you have to leave your expectations at the entrance. Embrace the madness, let the kids be kids, stay up later than you normally would, eat something ridiculous, dance badly and just enjoy being there. No pressure, no rules!

    We went as part of a group of friends, which I honestly think made a huge difference to our weekend. It meant more adults to share the load, more people to keep an eye on the children and more opportunities for everyone to get a little breather.


    So, after our first family adventure, here are the five things we’d definitely recommend if you’re heading to Camp Bestival with children.

    Cheeky!

    1. Pack food. Lots of food. 🥐 🍌

    Or, as I like to call it: prepare for the snack apocalypse.

    If your children are anything like ours, they will spend the entire weekend saying “I’m hungry” usually approximately 30 seconds after you’ve just bought them something to eat.

    We took plenty of breakfast bits, snacks, cereal bars and fruit with us, and I would absolutely recommend doing the same. Although next year milk and cereal for my eldest is getting thrown in. He was obviously near death without it.


    We also bought our eldest the extra food pass, which was £50 for the weekend. This included lunch and dinner from Friday to Sunday, unlimited fruit and water, plus a daily “sweet treat”.

    It was actually really useful for us because it meant he was getting proper meals and, importantly, it helped reduce the constant requests for food every five minutes!

    The downside was that the queues could be difficult, particularly when you’re juggling tired children, and the food choices were fairly basic. The lunches were a sandwhich/wrap/pasta along with a snack, fruit and a drink. Nothing exciting but it filled a hole! (albeit bottomless)

    The evening meal voucher could be used at different food trucks, which was a nice touch, and the sweet treat could be chosen from various vendors. Henry enjoyed, mac and cheese, pizza, chicken and chips, ice cream and all the sweets! Such a treat!

    Our verdict? The pass was handy, but we’d still absolutely recommend bringing your own breakfast and a serious supply of snacks. You’ll thank yourself later.

    For adults, the options were endless, we tried so many different things! We also spent what felt like £500 on frozen margaritas. Because… Essential!

    2. Prepare for the walk. 👟⛰️

    Welcome to Leg Day: Festival Edition.

    There is a LOT of walking at Camp Bestival. And there are hills.

    We clocked up nearly 90,000 steps over the weekend, which is impressive I think!

    Some of those steps involved chasing children who had spotted something exciting in the opposite direction. Some were dancing and some were trips to the bar and back. But most of them were the journey to and from the campsite to the main festival.

    Proper footwear is a must.
    We’re talking trainers or boots — shoes you can genuinely walk in all day. Leave the questionable festival footwear at home. Your feet will thank you. Although my trusty birkenstocks did do me well!

    If you’re taking a trolley or pram, be careful not to overload it. It is very easy to look at your camping gear and think, “We’ll just put that in there too.” You will then find yourself pushing it up a hill while questioning every decision you’ve ever made.

    Pack light where you can. You’ll be doing enough heavy lifting already.

    I enjoyed stretching out my body at the ‘Slomo Village’ it was a little slice of heaven for my tired legs. There were yoga classes and sound baths running all day and a mini retreat with sauna and cold plunge (for an extra cost). Definitely a godsend if you need a moment of peace and to ground yourself in the chaos.

    3. Go with friends. 👯‍♀️👯‍♂️

    The more adults, the better.
    Honestly, if you can go to Camp Bestival with friends, do it.

    It’s brilliant having other adults around because you can tag-team the children, give each other breaks and share the general parenting workload. Everyone needs a solo shower at some point!

    Our crew

    Someone can take the kids while someone else goes for a coffee. Someone can head back to the campsite for forgotten essentials. Someone can take the children to an activity while the others watch an act. And, perhaps most importantly, you get to enjoy it together.

    Our last day!

    We were able to camp on our friends’ campervan pitch, which meant we could all be together. If you fit within their designated pitch area, this is allowed, so it’s definitely worth looking into if you’re travelling with friends who have a campervan.

    The campervan field did have one slight issue, though… There were only 10 showers for the whole thing.
    Ten.
    For everyone.
    We quickly discovered that around 4pm was the magic shower time because there was no queue. It actually worked brilliantly for us. We’d head back for a little “refresh”, get everyone showered and changed, and then let the children have some downtime before heading back out for the evening.
    It gave everyone a chance to reset before the late nights.
    And believe me, you need those little resets.

    Festival bestie

    Camp Bestival is magical, but it can also be very busy and overwhelming, especially for younger children. Having friends around made everything feel much more manageable.

    4. Find your spot — and make an itinerary. 📍🎶

    One thing we learned very quickly was that you cannot do everything.
    There is simply too much going on.

    There are shows, music, crafts, activities, food, dancing, characters, performances and things you didn’t even know existed until you walked past them.

    The Dingly Dell!

    We spent quite a lot of the weekend saying, “Oh, we’ll come back and do that later.”
    Spoiler: we didn’t.

    Making their own tie-dye t-shirts!

    Next year, we’re definitely going to make better use of the Camp Bestival app. You can like the different shows, acts and events you want to see, and it creates an ordered itinerary for you.

    We’re also going to deliberately schedule some downtime for the amazing arts and crafts on offer. There were so many things we wanted to stop and do, but when you’re rushing from one thing to another, it’s easy to miss them.
    And then there’s the main stage.
    Find your spot early. If you’re a group with children of different ages, finding a place to stand together later in the day can be really difficult when it’s busy.

    We figured out on Saturday that the best approach was to set up our spot early with chairs and blankets. Then, throughout the afternoon, the adults could take turns going back for a “refresh” or heading off to grab drinks while someone stayed with the children.

    By the evening, we had a comfortable little space where we could all watch the main stage together. We stayed quite far back because it was simply too loud for our youngest closer to the front, but honestly, it didn’t matter. We could still see the stage, the children had room to move around and we could all enjoy a dance together.
    Sometimes you don’t need to be right at the front to have the best time.

    5. Stay the extra night. 🌙✨

    If you can stay until Monday, do it.

    This is probably our biggest regret from the weekend.
    We unfortunately had to leave on Sunday night because our youngest had reached the point where it was all becoming a little too much.

    We packed up early on Sunday morning and then tried to stay until the headline act, Fatboy Slim, who was on very late that evening. In hindsight… that was probably ambitious.

    By Sunday evening, everyone was tired, we’d already had an enormous weekend and the thought of packing everything up after a late-night headline act was not exactly appealing.
    Next year, we’re staying the extra night.

    Lulworth Castle by night

    The plan is to have a slower Monday morning. Have breakfast. Let the children roam around. Have one last wander. Take our time packing up.
    No rushing.
    No trying to squeeze every last drop out of the weekend.
    Just one more slow morning to enjoy the magic.
    And finally… leave your expectations at the entrance.

    If there’s one thing I’d tell another family going to Camp Bestival, it’s this:
    Don’t try to make it perfect.
    You won’t see every act.
    You won’t make every activity.
    Someone will probably have a meltdown.
    Someone will definitely be hungry.
    You’ll forget something.
    You’ll get tired.
    You’ll queue.
    You’ll walk up a hill and wonder why you brought so much stuff.
    And then you’ll turn around and see your children dancing, laughing or completely fascinated by something you’ve never seen before — and you’ll remember why you came.

    Whizzing around

    Camp Bestival feels like a little world of its own.
    It’s busy and chaotic and sometimes overwhelming, but it’s also incredibly joyful. We found everyone we met to be so kind and happy, and what really stood out was how much the children were thought of.
    So let the kids be kids.
    Stay up late.
    Eat the ice cream.
    Dance.
    Get involved.
    Take the silly photos.
    Let your hair down.
    And embrace the madness.
    Because somewhere between the hills, the tired feet, the queues and the snack negotiations, there’s a whole lot of magic happening.
    And we can’t wait to do it all again next year. 🎪❤️

    P.S pack hand sanitiser like it’s going out of fashion 😂 IYKYK

  • Learning to Love Yourself Again

    Learning to Love Yourself Again

    Many mums often lose their sense of identity after having children, or at least they feel as though they have. I certainly did. I lost myself to the early years of my first child’s life. Nursery rhymes, comfy clothes, a non-existent relationship with the gym or any kind of exercise. I ate what I could and when I could. I was in survival mode.

    The first child is always a shock to the system. Everything you thought you knew about yourself is tested in every way, and you have to forge a new version of yourself to adapt to your new life. You have a small person to care for now, and life is, mostly, on their terms.

    After a while, you find your feet again, your flow, and your desire to become ‘you’ again. But what is that? WHO was that?

    I think the problem here lies with a lot of pressure from social media and other sources spreading the ‘bounce back’ message to new mums who are merely trying to make it through the night with a new-born, let alone fit back into their pre-baby jeans.

    It is so detrimental to women (not all, but some). They can often find themselves falling out of love with themselves, their bodies, and their lives. I believe that the message should be less about how us mums look and more about how we feel.

    The message should be ‘learning to love again’. Yourself, that is. Not just your new baby and your partner, if you have one. Because once you start to love yourself again, in every way, you show up as a completely different person. A better one. Not the same as before, looking slightly different, but most of all FEELING very different. Better, nourished, wiser, a survivor of one of the biggest and most powerful, momentous shifts in your life: becoming a mum.

    What REALISTICALLY Loving Yourself Again Will Start to Look Like – In My Opinion

    Eating well – I’m not talking about a drastic diet change or counting calories. I’m talking about eating proper, nutritious, wholesome food that feeds your body and your soul. I’m talking about choosing healthier options and choosing whole foods over processed foods. When we eat well, we feel well. It’s a fact.
    Moving your body – Finding movement that works for you and your lifestyle. Whether it’s a long walk with the pram, booking a class that you’ve wanted to try for a while, a gym session with good music that leaves you feeling pumped, a home workout, or a full-body stretch. Any kind of movement your body and mind will thank you for.

    Connection – To learn to love yourself again, you need to connect with yourself again. Follow your passions. Art, nature, reading, running, cooking, journalling. Whatever it is that brings you a sense of calm and lets you tap into your inner self. Then do it. Even 10–20 minutes of something you love each day can help you to feel like yourself again.

    Do not compare – Comparison is not necessary. At. All. You are an individual, unique, amazing human being, and you do not need to live up to anyone else’s standards. The quicker you get to live by that mantra, the better. Everyone is living their own life, their own story. Don’t let anyone else influence yours. It’s your own, and it’s precious. Live your life, be individual, be weird, speak your own truth, and never apologise for being you.

    Mindfulness – Taking moments to step back and evaluate things properly is always helpful. You are a mum now. Just look at the beautiful human, or humans, you have created and realise how lucky you are to get to do life with them. Parenting is not an easy job, but it’s the most special job in the world. Everything you say and do, they are watching. Show them how to love themselves by showing them that you love YOURSELF. The way you talk to yourself will be how they talk to themselves in years to come.

    Take a break – It’s OK to rest, Mama. It’s OK to sit down and breathe for a minute. You are doing a lot. Your mental health comes first, before any sort of glow-up. If you can’t show up, you can’t glow up!

    I say these things with the hope that they help even just one new Mama out there who is anxious or worried about the way she looks or feels after having a baby. You’re not alone! Just take baby steps, day by day, to come back to yourself.

    The girl you see in the mirror may look different. But it’s because SHE IS! She’s better than she was before, she’s stronger, and she’s full of purpose. She’s YOU!

    If you’re struggling postpartum and you need to talk to someone, you can reach out to a professional for help, OR you can talk to any other mum, and she will reassure you. That feeling won’t last forever. It takes a village. Let’s hold each other up and not tear each other down.

    Here’s a poem I wrote.

  • Soaking up the summer

    Soaking up the summer

    The longer days have arrived, and so has the chaos that comes with them. The sweaty, sticky, sun-creamy children running wild, fuelled by ice lollies and picky bits. The discarded clothes, the wet towels from yet another water fight. Nobody is sleeping well, the house is a mess, nobody knows what they want to eat, and you’re forever chasing the children around with the factor 50 and a water bottle.

    The moment you sit down, you have to go and lifeguard your makeshift water park in the garden that’s filled with bugs, grass, stones, petals—you name it. Then, just when you think everyone is finally settled, they all want to go back inside because they’re too hot.

    It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the madness and become frustrated. But if you actually stop for a moment, pause, breathe, and watch, you’ll see something magical. Their childhood. It’s unfolding right before your eyes, and although it’s hard to see sometimes, it’s there.

    Being a 90’s baby there’s something so nostalgic in going back to basics and letting it all just be. No frills, no fuss, just raw childhood. Being in it with them is something I know I won’t regret.

    The sticky little fingers. The pitter-patter of wet feet running to the freezer for another ice lolly. The wonder in their eyes as you simply put the slide into the paddling pool and create their very own water slide. Their need to be close to you, even when it’s hot. Their skin against yours while they doze in the afternoon sun. The squeals of happiness as the hosepipe makes its first splutter of the day. The late nights spent laughing and running around because the sun’s still up and they don’t want to sleep.

    Those extra hours are the golden ones. Make them count. Be present with them, play with them, let them be children.

    I wrote a poem earlier this week.

    Soaking up the summer

    The longer days,
    the warm air,
    the sun-creamy cuddles,
    the sticky little ice lolly fingers,
    and the last summer that your children will be this little.

    The paddling pool puddles,
    the grass trodden through the house,
    the sprawl of discarded clothes
    in the too-hot weather.

    The mess won’t be forever.

    The sun-kissed noses,
    the hosepipe squeals,
    the picnic lunches
    and late evening meals.

    The trips to the beach
    where things are forgotten,
    but the days are not.
    Those will be remembered.

    Memories that last.
    The laughter,
    the sunsets.

    Soaking up the summer,
    It will never be quite this good.
    Take in their smiling faces.
    This is their childhood.

    Ask yourself: will you embrace it, or fight it?

    Life is short. Soon you’ll be longing for these summer days. You’ll miss the chaos and the noise, and you’ll wish you could go back to a time when you were all together.

    So even when it’s hot, allow the cuddles. Allow the late nights. Adapt to a new routine. It will be brief, but so worth it.

  • Showing Up — For Yourself

    Showing Up — For Yourself

    It’s so easy to get wrapped up in your own life — the daily tasks, the appointments, school clubs, family birthdays, and whatever else life throws at us. But when was the last time you actually did something for yourself? Just for you?

    I’m not talking about the small things this time (self care etc) I mean something more — goals, a challenge, a qualification, or simply something that gives you a sense of self achievement.

    In the last year, I’ve really felt a shift in my sense of purpose since I started working towards things that make me feel good. My graduation was an emotional turning point. It filled me with pride and was definitely a “pinch me” moment when I walked across that stage in London to collect my graduate scroll.

    More recently, I’ve started to run. Running has opened up a whole new world for me — one with no limitations — where I’ve started pushing my body and mind to places I never thought possible. Squeezing in runs around family life and work commitments hasn’t been easy, but I’ve made it work somehow. I think it really comes down to mindset and discipline when it comes to exercise and goal setting. Getting it done feels good, but getting to it can be hard. You have to push past the “I don’t want to,” because on the other side, you’ll find “I’m glad I did that.”

    Today, I’m sitting here after completing my first half marathon this weekend, and I feel completely alive. Whether that’s a runner’s high, I don’t know — but I can definitely feel a change in myself. The need for more just grows with every goal I surpass.

    And those goals? They don’t have to be huge. Big or small — a goal’s a goal, right?

    Some days I think, “I’d really like to paint something,” so I do — goal achieved.

    Some days I think, “I’m going to rearrange my living room,” so I do — goal achieved.

    Some days I think, “I fancy booking a 21k race and running it,” so I do — goal achieved.

    The pattern here isn’t the goal itself — it’s the doing.

    You could set yourself a list of goals that are amazing to have, but unless you start ticking off the smaller ones, the big ones just feel out of your reach — and that can set you up to fail before you’ve even started.

    Life is short. If you want to do something, do it.

    I understand that things can get in the way of your goals — money, time, resources. So be realistic. Don’t set yourself up with something completely out of reach. Set goals that, deep down, you know you can achieve with a bit of blood, sweat, and tears.

    Because who knows? Once you start building momentum and completing the things you said you would, the world around you starts opening up new doors and opportunities.

    Create the life you want. Don’t sit back and wait for things to happen — make them happen.

    Do it for yourself. Because when you start showing up for yourself, you show up better for your family too. You bring more positivity, more confidence, and you set an example for others who might be waiting for their moment to start.

    Maybe this is it.