Three reasons I love baby wearing... 1. It keeps Three reasons I love baby wearing...

1. It keeps your hands free and means you don’t always need to take a buggy everywhere. Also perfect when places might not be buggy friendly. 

2. Keeps baby close and encourages all the oxytocin you need for breastfeeding and baby bonding. Plus, they usually love being close to you too so they tend to sleep the whole time they are in the sling. 

3. You can start as soon as they are born and carry on until they are just too heavy. I carried P in a fabric sling like this until she was over one, then we swapped to a more rigid one. 

They also don’t need to cost the earth. I have this one from @freerider.co for Indie as I liked the prints and the fabric is sooo soft. They also have a great tutorial video on their website to show you how to use the sling, which is so handy for first timers. I’ve also got a couple of £10 ones from Amazon that do the job just as well, so you can spend as much as you want to. 

Did you baby wear, or planning to? 

#babywearing #babysling #freerider #babywrap #newborn #babyinlockdown #secondbaby #mumofgirls
To our first born, Life is all a little mad righ To our first born, 

Life is all a little mad right now, your world has been turned upside down and I know you are feeling like you have to share the limelight. It’s ok, it’s going to take us all a while to adjust. But we still love you more than you know and are so proud of the Big Sister you are being.

I am sorry that Daddy is always the one to put you to bed at the moment. I’m sorry that I am breastfeeding when you want me to play. I’m sorry that dinner time is interrupted by a crying baby and that you have to share your bath times. I’m sorry that I can’t sit in your tent and read books for hours or draw all afternoon like we used to. I’m just sorry that life is different right now. 

But this won’t last forever and we also need to thank you. Firstly for making us Mummy & Daddy, but secondly for teaching us how to be so much more chilled this time. We know we can do it because we did it with you. We know we can survive the sleepless nights and cluster feeding days, because we survived them with you. It doesn’t feel like learning the second time around, it feels like growing and we are all growing together. Bigger and stronger. 

So thank you, little Pepper, for being patient and loving. This madness won’t last forever and soon it will feel like we’ve always been a family of four. You are doing a great job at being a Big Sister and we all love you so much. Just forgive us for the tears, lack of patience and endless times we have to say “in a minute” - it doesn’t mean we love you any less, we are all just working out this new normal. 

Lots of love, Mummy & Daddy x

Photos by @hayley_wilkes_
Big Sister Pepper reporting for duty ❤️ #bigsi Big Sister Pepper reporting for duty ❤️ #bigsister #lockdownbaby
Was so lovely watching them meet for the first tim Was so lovely watching them meet for the first time ❤️ #sisters #girlgang #lockdownbaby
Indie Lilac Lourdes Spinks 💜 Our beautiful lit Indie Lilac Lourdes Spinks 💜

Our beautiful little girl made her arrival on Monday 4th January at 2:55pm, weighing in at a mighty 5lb 9oz. 

Pepper is already loving life as a big sister and giving her new bestie lots of cuddles. We didn’t think we’d ever be having a baby during a global pandemic, let alone be plunged into a lockdown 2 hours after her birth, but here we go! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

#lockdownbaby #newarrival #babysister #birthinapandemic  #familyoffour
Because yesterday I wore this dress for approx 5 m Because yesterday I wore this dress for approx 5 mins and felt super sassy. Today, not so much! #pregnantinapandemic #mumlife #lockdownlife
Well 2020 you’ve sure thrown a lot at us all, bu Well 2020 you’ve sure thrown a lot at us all, but I can honestly say I’ve never entered a new year feeling happier. We have been able to spend so much time together as a family, reach milestones and embrace new beginnings that we could have only dreamt of, even with all that 2020 has chucked at us. 

So I am leaving 2020 a happier and healthier person, with a more grateful outlook on life. Here’s to 2021, a new baby girl and whatever the year decides to bring. We will take it all, day by day! ❤️
More Christmas spam, because Pepper was just too c More Christmas spam, because Pepper was just too cute not to share ❤️
And just like that Christmas has been and gone... And just like that Christmas has been and gone...

I usually feel really sad on this day each year, but although this year was different to any other Christmas, I had the most wonderful time watching Pepper learn and understand the magic of Christmas, that there really was no time for sadness. And now, we have a very short countdown until this little one arrives and makes our world even more magical 👶🏻

Bring on 2021! 🥂

#lockdownchristmas #christmas2020 #mumofgirls #pregnantinapandemic #thirdtrimester
Load More…
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Lifestyle, Travel · 4th May 2018

How to travel the world without quitting your job

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Many of us will have been there, the tug of war between travelling the world and building a career. We really can’t have it all, we think. I was lucky in a way as my decision was made for me. I have never been very good at saving and leaving University with a ton of debt meant that I couldn’t afford to swan off with a backpack so I chose to build a career instead. Luckily for me, that career has since allowed me to travel the world, just in a different way.

I think there is a common misconception that in order to see the world and experience new things, you have to quit your job, leave your life and jump on the first plane out of Heathrow. Luckily for most Millennials we live in a world where this just isn’t the case. We can build great careers, earn good money and still have the time and funds to visit all the countries on our bucket lists.

Last year I managed to visit nine countries - Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, China, Paris, Dubai, Barcelona & New York - and I also had three weekends away in the UK - Dorset, Cornwall & Brighton. I am not trying to brag I am just highlighting that it is possible to see lots of the world whilst still holding down a full time job (and a blog.)

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So how can you do it?

Keep an eye out for good deals

I love websites like Secret Escapes because I am a sucker for a bit of fancy. Secret Escapes is a great website for luxury travel on a budget. You can get five star hotels and travel for great prices and the deals change on a regular basis too, so there is always lots to choose from.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

One of the most stressful things about trying to travel and hold down a full time job is finding the time to plan your trips. Research, bargain hunting and itineraries all take time and sometimes you just don’t have that time. Last year I was introduced to a wonderful travel agent called Neil Pirie. He took a brief from me for my Dubai trip and came back with a perfect travel plan for us at a very good price. Everything was looked after and I didn’t have to stress one bit. We have used him multiple times since and have recommended him to everyone we know. It’s worth finding someone like that to ease the stress.

Get savvy with your annual leave

The bugbear of travel, your annual leave allowance. But if you get savvy with how you take it then you can cram in even more trips. Try and book flights to leave and arrive on a weekend, bolt your holidays onto a bank holiday weekend so you get an extra day or two, fly out in the evenings after work and fly home late on your return, and don’t forget that you can take half days. Don’t waste a whole days holiday unless you need to. If you have a flight at 5pm in the evening, take a half day instead of a full day, then you can make more from your allowance.

Book things up in advance

I know it always feels like it will take ages to come around, but having things booked up far in advance means you can spread the cost. If you can spread the cost of your holiday over a longer period of time then it will be easier to budget for more trips in between. Unless you won the lottery overnight it just won’t be feasible to book everything you want to do in one go. And don’t forget that leaving it to the last minute isn’t always a great idea either, sometimes flights can actually skyrocket in price the nearer to the departure date. Last minute doesn’t always mean cheap.

Head somewhere for a night

On more than one occasion I have taken a trip somewhere in the UK or in Europe for 48 hours. Paris is a great example, I have visited the capital for just one night three times, but I didn’t miss out on a thing. Many city breaks can be achieved over a weekend or by just taking a couple of days annual leave. An early flight on the way out and a late one on the way home means you can get two whole days of exploring in whilst only paying for one nights accommodation and if you head off over a weekend you don’t even need to take a days leave.

See, travel doesn’t need to be as complicated and life-changing as you may think. You just have to be savvy and you can experience just as much, if not more than the backpacker you once dreamed of being. Who said us Millennials couldn’t have it all aye?

dannag5
 See all my travelling pics on my Instagram
@Spinkdot

 

danang3

In: Lifestyle, Travel · Tagged: asia, backpacking, cambodia, career, Dubai, europe, Girls Trip, Holiday, honeymoon, maldives, New york, Summer, thailand, travel, travelling, vacation

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Comments

  1. Jo says

    6th May 2018 at 1:17 pm

    I agree there isn’t a need to stop working, although I love to build in breaks when I change jobs because it is for me, perfect timing. I do think working and travelling has benefits like you can afford to stay in nicer places etc. It’s nice to hear some realistic tips as opposed to the usual ‘Yolo, drop your entire life right now and get on a flight’ haha.

    Enjoy your holidays,

    http://www.jettravels.co.uk
    J
    X

    Reply
    • Gemma Spinks says

      8th May 2018 at 11:38 am

      Thanks so much for the comment, glad you liked the blog. I love the fact that people can build a career and still find the funds and time to travel the world. Yolo, drop your entire life just isn’t feasible for some people, I know it wasn’t for me. 🙂 x

      Reply

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Three reasons I love baby wearing... 1. It keeps Three reasons I love baby wearing...

1. It keeps your hands free and means you don’t always need to take a buggy everywhere. Also perfect when places might not be buggy friendly. 

2. Keeps baby close and encourages all the oxytocin you need for breastfeeding and baby bonding. Plus, they usually love being close to you too so they tend to sleep the whole time they are in the sling. 

3. You can start as soon as they are born and carry on until they are just too heavy. I carried P in a fabric sling like this until she was over one, then we swapped to a more rigid one. 

They also don’t need to cost the earth. I have this one from @freerider.co for Indie as I liked the prints and the fabric is sooo soft. They also have a great tutorial video on their website to show you how to use the sling, which is so handy for first timers. I’ve also got a couple of £10 ones from Amazon that do the job just as well, so you can spend as much as you want to. 

Did you baby wear, or planning to? 

#babywearing #babysling #freerider #babywrap #newborn #babyinlockdown #secondbaby #mumofgirls
To our first born, Life is all a little mad righ To our first born, 

Life is all a little mad right now, your world has been turned upside down and I know you are feeling like you have to share the limelight. It’s ok, it’s going to take us all a while to adjust. But we still love you more than you know and are so proud of the Big Sister you are being.

I am sorry that Daddy is always the one to put you to bed at the moment. I’m sorry that I am breastfeeding when you want me to play. I’m sorry that dinner time is interrupted by a crying baby and that you have to share your bath times. I’m sorry that I can’t sit in your tent and read books for hours or draw all afternoon like we used to. I’m just sorry that life is different right now. 

But this won’t last forever and we also need to thank you. Firstly for making us Mummy & Daddy, but secondly for teaching us how to be so much more chilled this time. We know we can do it because we did it with you. We know we can survive the sleepless nights and cluster feeding days, because we survived them with you. It doesn’t feel like learning the second time around, it feels like growing and we are all growing together. Bigger and stronger. 

So thank you, little Pepper, for being patient and loving. This madness won’t last forever and soon it will feel like we’ve always been a family of four. You are doing a great job at being a Big Sister and we all love you so much. Just forgive us for the tears, lack of patience and endless times we have to say “in a minute” - it doesn’t mean we love you any less, we are all just working out this new normal. 

Lots of love, Mummy & Daddy x

Photos by @hayley_wilkes_
Big Sister Pepper reporting for duty ❤️ #bigsi Big Sister Pepper reporting for duty ❤️ #bigsister #lockdownbaby
Was so lovely watching them meet for the first tim Was so lovely watching them meet for the first time ❤️ #sisters #girlgang #lockdownbaby
Indie Lilac Lourdes Spinks 💜 Our beautiful lit Indie Lilac Lourdes Spinks 💜

Our beautiful little girl made her arrival on Monday 4th January at 2:55pm, weighing in at a mighty 5lb 9oz. 

Pepper is already loving life as a big sister and giving her new bestie lots of cuddles. We didn’t think we’d ever be having a baby during a global pandemic, let alone be plunged into a lockdown 2 hours after her birth, but here we go! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

#lockdownbaby #newarrival #babysister #birthinapandemic  #familyoffour
Because yesterday I wore this dress for approx 5 m Because yesterday I wore this dress for approx 5 mins and felt super sassy. Today, not so much! #pregnantinapandemic #mumlife #lockdownlife
Well 2020 you’ve sure thrown a lot at us all, bu Well 2020 you’ve sure thrown a lot at us all, but I can honestly say I’ve never entered a new year feeling happier. We have been able to spend so much time together as a family, reach milestones and embrace new beginnings that we could have only dreamt of, even with all that 2020 has chucked at us. 

So I am leaving 2020 a happier and healthier person, with a more grateful outlook on life. Here’s to 2021, a new baby girl and whatever the year decides to bring. We will take it all, day by day! ❤️
More Christmas spam, because Pepper was just too c More Christmas spam, because Pepper was just too cute not to share ❤️
Load More…

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Three reasons I love baby wearing... 1. It keeps Three reasons I love baby wearing...

1. It keeps your hands free and means you don’t always need to take a buggy everywhere. Also perfect when places might not be buggy friendly. 

2. Keeps baby close and encourages all the oxytocin you need for breastfeeding and baby bonding. Plus, they usually love being close to you too so they tend to sleep the whole time they are in the sling. 

3. You can start as soon as they are born and carry on until they are just too heavy. I carried P in a fabric sling like this until she was over one, then we swapped to a more rigid one. 

They also don’t need to cost the earth. I have this one from @freerider.co for Indie as I liked the prints and the fabric is sooo soft. They also have a great tutorial video on their website to show you how to use the sling, which is so handy for first timers. I’ve also got a couple of £10 ones from Amazon that do the job just as well, so you can spend as much as you want to. 

Did you baby wear, or planning to? 

#babywearing #babysling #freerider #babywrap #newborn #babyinlockdown #secondbaby #mumofgirls
To our first born, Life is all a little mad righ To our first born, 

Life is all a little mad right now, your world has been turned upside down and I know you are feeling like you have to share the limelight. It’s ok, it’s going to take us all a while to adjust. But we still love you more than you know and are so proud of the Big Sister you are being.

I am sorry that Daddy is always the one to put you to bed at the moment. I’m sorry that I am breastfeeding when you want me to play. I’m sorry that dinner time is interrupted by a crying baby and that you have to share your bath times. I’m sorry that I can’t sit in your tent and read books for hours or draw all afternoon like we used to. I’m just sorry that life is different right now. 

But this won’t last forever and we also need to thank you. Firstly for making us Mummy & Daddy, but secondly for teaching us how to be so much more chilled this time. We know we can do it because we did it with you. We know we can survive the sleepless nights and cluster feeding days, because we survived them with you. It doesn’t feel like learning the second time around, it feels like growing and we are all growing together. Bigger and stronger. 

So thank you, little Pepper, for being patient and loving. This madness won’t last forever and soon it will feel like we’ve always been a family of four. You are doing a great job at being a Big Sister and we all love you so much. Just forgive us for the tears, lack of patience and endless times we have to say “in a minute” - it doesn’t mean we love you any less, we are all just working out this new normal. 

Lots of love, Mummy & Daddy x

Photos by @hayley_wilkes_
Big Sister Pepper reporting for duty ❤️ #bigsi Big Sister Pepper reporting for duty ❤️ #bigsister #lockdownbaby
Was so lovely watching them meet for the first tim Was so lovely watching them meet for the first time ❤️ #sisters #girlgang #lockdownbaby
Indie Lilac Lourdes Spinks 💜 Our beautiful lit Indie Lilac Lourdes Spinks 💜

Our beautiful little girl made her arrival on Monday 4th January at 2:55pm, weighing in at a mighty 5lb 9oz. 

Pepper is already loving life as a big sister and giving her new bestie lots of cuddles. We didn’t think we’d ever be having a baby during a global pandemic, let alone be plunged into a lockdown 2 hours after her birth, but here we go! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

#lockdownbaby #newarrival #babysister #birthinapandemic  #familyoffour
Because yesterday I wore this dress for approx 5 m Because yesterday I wore this dress for approx 5 mins and felt super sassy. Today, not so much! #pregnantinapandemic #mumlife #lockdownlife
Well 2020 you’ve sure thrown a lot at us all, bu Well 2020 you’ve sure thrown a lot at us all, but I can honestly say I’ve never entered a new year feeling happier. We have been able to spend so much time together as a family, reach milestones and embrace new beginnings that we could have only dreamt of, even with all that 2020 has chucked at us. 

So I am leaving 2020 a happier and healthier person, with a more grateful outlook on life. Here’s to 2021, a new baby girl and whatever the year decides to bring. We will take it all, day by day! ❤️
More Christmas spam, because Pepper was just too c More Christmas spam, because Pepper was just too cute not to share ❤️
Load More…

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