It has been terribly quiet around here.

I am sinking in boxes. Everywhere I look there is a half packed box. Rich and I are both having moments where we cannot really believe we are moving, especially as we officially have no where to move to.

An hour before we were due to exchange on the new house in Dorset our solicitor was sent a 40 page planning history document.

On page 22 was an agreement which essentially restricts any form of development on the majority of the land surrounding the house.

In 10 minutes our dream of an idyllic life in the country with parties in the paddock and a new timber office for Rich to grow his new venture were shattered. 

So we are on the hunt again. Firstly for a rental house in Weston and secondly for a new dream house in the Dorset countryside.

This week all my best ones have been on hand, on the phone and on email. We have a place to stay at one of our best friends this weekend (if our sale completes on time on Friday) and I am not so secretly hoping the completion ticks over into the new year!

We know who we can count on in a crisis and I am so grateful for our family and friends.

I feel so sorry for the boys. Festive cheer has been distinctly lacking this year. We have no tree, no lights and everyone will be getting a voucher this year. Father Christmas did very well at an NCT sale last January so at least that is one thing I don't need to feel guilty about!

So we were thrilled to have spent last Saturday at Longleat. My cousin in law and her family took us for a day out as a thank you for the family photos I took of them a little while ago.

I couldn't recommend a day at Longleat more. The safari, the Santa train, the beautiful house. We could have easily spent 2 days there! Standing around the singing Christmas tree, watching Sammy and his cousin dance without a care in the world, made me smile, and for a few moments all the stress and worry disappeared.

Treasure the little moments, they help you get through the tricky ones.

Merry Christmas lovely readers. I will keep you posted on the house hunt.

I have a few Christmas posts from last year to remind you of later this week and next year I will attempt all the ideas that for now, will stay in my little blog notebook.

Linking up with Country Kids and Coombe Mill

I was so happy when Carpetright contacted me to work together as we are on a countdown to the big move now and carpets and flooring are on the top of the to do list!

It all hinges on tomorrow and the big question is, will we or won't we exchange?!

I am so glad that we plan to stay in the new house for at least 20 years because I am not sure I could take the stress again!

The first room that we will be getting up together is the boy's play room. The sooner they have all their toys around them the more settled I think they will feel.

We have big plans for the kitchen (which I will share soon) which means the current dining room can be transformed into a play space for the boys.

The room is a great size at almost 12" by 10". It has a large window over looking the garden and when we have finished the works in the kitchen the 2 doors off the hallway and current kitchen will be replaced with large french doors to let even more light in.

This is the boys current play room (in our dining room). 

It is almost the same size and as you can see bursting with toys! We are taking all but one of the bookcases with us as well as the green chest unit that fits lots of baskets in.

There was no real theme to this play room just a mis match of colours and I rather like that. But with the boys planning to share a new aeroplane bedroom this time, I have an abundance of gorgeous nautical themed accessories from Sammy's current bedroom.

So the question is, do I go for a red, white and blue theme in the new house or stick to a deluge of colour?! You can find all these images on my Pinterest board here.

Here is my current inspiration, if we abandon the nautical theme!

The one thing I know is we will be sticking to a laminate floor! With small children and dogs carpet in a play room is a no in my opinion! The boys love messy play, play dough and paints and it's so easy to just clean it up at the end of a play session.  

With two smelly dogs with scratchy claws I would always go for a laminate finish too, really hardwearing and if you fancy a change bring in a small rug in one corner for a cosy reading area.

What other ideas would you have for an awesome play room - I've seen some wicked ideas with swinging trapezes and hanging chairs.... on the dreamy wish list!

You can follow my Pinterest board for the play room here and I will definitely share the finished room once we are in! 

Posted in collaboration with

Wednesdays are usually dedicated to spreading the word about the incredible charity based in Taunton, The Wedding Wishing Well Foundation. But I know they won't mind if I share another great cause today.

I received an email a little while ago from the The Children's Cancer Recovery Foundation which couldn't be more close to home at the moment.

As I type this a little member of our family, who is just 5, is battling for his life in a London hospital, fighting an aggressive tumour. He is undergoing a treatment plan so intense it brings me to tears just thinking of how brave he is.

The Sponsor Santa Christmas Appeal helps the 3999 other children just like him, who will be in hospital over the Christmas period. The most horrible thing about this evil disease is that for many of these children it may be their last Christmas.

Whilst we all take our photos of our beautifully decorated trees, the stockings being hung, rush around posting Christmas craft ideas and hope our blog posts are well shared, I actually hope that this one will be my most well read in December.

Because this is the one that will really make a difference.

I am urging you to help Santa, creating happy festive memories for families who may not have too much to smile about this Christmas, by buying toys, books and gifts for the wards that care for them.

Even the smallest donation can make a difference, for example:

£3 – will buy puzzle;
£5 – a teddy bear or colouring kit;
£7 – a book or crafting kit;
£10 to stuff a stocking with bubbles, slinkies and fun toys;
or £50 to fill one of Santa’s sacks!

So many generous people drop off actual presents for hospitals but I have seen first hand that sometimes, a typical present for a 5 year old may not be appropriate. There are lots of factors like motor skills, energy and attention span that mean that the people working hard for the Sponsor Santa Christmas Appeal are the best people to choose the presents.

So please donate what you can. Buy one less present for your own child to open on Christmas morning. I believe every single person who reads this post could afford to donate £1.

You can donate here.

It's a surreal and scary feeling trying to make one of the worst Christmases feel like the best. But we will be doing everything we can as a family to support each other and make a brave little boy have a magical Christmas.