Little L is 31 months old

Oh gosh, it seems like I notice less changes in L, she grows and develops but with me being around her 24/7 I stopped noticing obvious things for some.

I am very proud of her though as L is very good with her numbers both in English and Russian, she knows her colours. I have tried to make it less pushy as possible so it all comes naturally for her and I think I did a great job, not without a help of L's favourite Youtube educational videos. 

Potty training at the nursery hasn't moved anywhere I'm just hoping one day it clicks that it is OK to do it there too, rather than to say "No" to it.

We have more meltdowns and tantrums, which is impossible to stop until she finally gets what she wants or we manage to destruct L. It just seems like such a sudden change to L that takes time getting used to and hopefully it will pass as quickly as it appeared! 

Review: Gro Anywhere Blackout Blind

When it comes to creating spaces for kids parents try to design comfortable environment for little ones to play and sleep in. I'm one of those mums who like to be very organised and have a certain routine which helps me to get on with my day and stay sane. Sleeping during the day plays major role in L's mood be it weekday or weekend at grandparents. As napping at in laws doesn't always go to plan (I blame non-blackout blinds for that) I might have found a solution for that- Gro Anywhere Blackout Blind (£34.99). 

Our surprise delivery arrived few weeks ago giving us enough time to test it fully. Gro Anywhere blackout blind can be easily used whilst you are away travelling or visiting family or friends as it is packed in a lightweight travel bag. The blind itself is made of a thick and durable fabric with cute stars and moon print, it measures 198 x 130cm and can be adjusted (depending on the size of the window) by Velcro straps attached to it. 

Few other pros:

- offer maximum protection from sunlight

- can be easily cleaned with a cloth or washed 

- can be used at home or when travelling for both kids and adults

- minimal sound isolation 

- seems to reduce the heat (tested on a sunny day)
- Velcro fastening to fit any size and shape windows
- suction cups all round 

Applying process is very simple and doesn't need any manuals: 

- make sure the window is clean and dry

- slightly moist the centre of suction cups prior to applying to window

- attached suction cups by pressing firmly on the middle of each cup

- pull on and release the tab on each suction cup when the blind is not in use.

Tip: I would advise to trial and test Gro Anywhere blackout blind first before using to see how well it fits the window or if the width needs adjusting. It will also give you an idea which side of the window gives away more light. 

With these all in mind we have tested the blackout blind for the first time at my in laws. The applying process seemed a little fiddly at the beginning but once suction cups were applied I have noticed a difference, the room that was full of light before became much darker than it normally would be.

I have tested Gro Anywhere Blackout Blind in different rooms so that it gives us a feel of what it may be like when we are on a holiday abroad or somewhere in the UK. Here are some of the pictures with before and after shots which speak for themselves:

We will be certainly using our new blackout blind on a more frequent basis and it even prompted me to allow L to stay at grandparents overnight too! 

Disclaimer: I was sent the item mentioned above for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits overview and competition

"Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group will have you singing and dancing in your seat with the release of A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits on DVD 6th February 2017. 

The musical film stars Sofia Carson (Descendants) in the lead role of Tessa (“Cinderella”); Academy Award® nominee, Jennifer Tilly (Bullets Over Broadway) as the cruel stepmother Divine, and Thomas Law (EastEnders) as The Prince.‬

In tune with the timeless magic of the Cinderella fairytale, this contemporary musical finds Tessa Golding (Sofia Carson) forced to go on vacation with her evil stepmother, Divine, and evil stepsisters, Olympia and Athena.

Once at the posh resort, she realises she was brought only as a servant to assist the stepsisters as they compete for the lead roles in a live musical performance of “Cinderella" with Reed West, the infamous pop-star, as the Prince. ‬Tessa secretly dreams of auditioning but Divine forbids it.

Georgie, a make-up artist, transforms Tessa’s identity to “Bella Snow” so she can audition without Divine and her mischievous daughters getting in the way. 

Now, Tessa must juggle her dual identities as the demands of her stepfamily, the Prince and the show complicate things!"

Fancy winning yourself a copy? All you have to do is Retweet the Tweet below (the competition Ended earlier due to unforeseen circumstances).