Those Christmas adverts and Christmas shop windows are here, and are here to stay for the next six weeks, whether you like it or not.  With each passing year, it seems that Christmas is coming round faster each time….. It only feels like yesterday that we wrote last year’s Christmas gift guide here at NotSuchAModelMum.  Perhaps time really does fly when you get old like me!!!  To help ease that sometimes hair raising rollercoaster that can be the Christmas silly season, I have compiled a few favourite items of ours which will  come in useful when trying to think what the hell to buy people!  First up is my gift guide for kids.

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Now that Summer is well and truly over, and, despite the fact that I live in balmy Barcelona, we have just returned from Thailand and got a tropical blast of Summer sun.  Yes, it’s an extravagance, but, given that my family and I love to chase the sunshine, and, given that we had a wedding in Bangkok to go to, we made the most of this opportunity and headed to the Far East to enjoy some sticky rice and mango!  Having had my third baby seven months ago, summer fashion at the moment is all about a great cover up and supportive swimwear for me, and here is my edit of my favourite pieces.  So, even if you have nowhere warm to go to before next summer, this is a great chance to update next year’s summer wardrobe… and some of the pieces are even on sale!

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After the UK’s epic summer, it has been pretty exciting to slowly dig out those snuggly jumpers and demoth our winter coats that have been hiding in the loft.  Each year both of us buy at least one new winter coat, and, because this season, it seems like anything goes, we are casting our shopping net wide and checking out all the trends.  There is so much to choose from, so here’s a selection of our favourites, along with a couple of cheeky discount codes, ’cause every mama loves a discount!

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After having my third baby four months ago, I am slowly but surely navigating my way out of that perpetual haze of newborn sleep deprivation.  With two full nights of sleep in the bag(!), I am feeling a little more human once again and, third time round as I get to know my little bundle of joy, I have really noticed that each child is so different.

But it is not only my kids who are so different… I have also changed with each pregnancy.  And to top it all off – so has my environment!  Having gone from living in central London with two kids (walking everywhere and using public transport) – to living in Barcelona by the sea with three kids (where I rely almost entirely on my car)…Everything seems to have changed.  Struggling through this whirlwind of change – one element has kept me sane in my ever-transient lifestyle: my incredibly versatile pram.

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For the first time ever, Royal Ascot’s prohibitive dress code allowed race goers to wear jumpsuits.  For a traditional event to allow this style of clothing shows how far the humble jumpsuit has come in its fashion trajectory.  We didn’t go to Ascot this year, but that won’t stop us planning our Ascot outfit for next year… and it will clearly involve us wearing a jumpsuit.  We have raced to the shops ( pardon the pun) and hunted down our favourite jumpsuits to wear come 2019 …if anyone invites us, that is!!

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With three kids constantly using my handbag as some kind of bin, I am aways finding half eaten lollipops, broken toys and other such useless paraphernalia stuffed inside my Balenciaga.  The one thing my two eldest boys know not to touch is my tiny make up bag, or “facial repair kit” as my eldest calls it.  My youngest doesn’t adhere to that rule …there has been many a time where my mascara has been used to paint the cat or the walls, but that’s a blog post for another time!  Thanks to my third child, there’s not much in that sad little sac, but a good cover up is always in said sac.  This time, my cover up comes in the form of a cushion compact (yes i know i sound like a granny, but hear me out) and it has revolutionised my little ” facial repair kit.”

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If you hadn’t already noticed, we love Missoni.  And it turns out that we are not alone in our obsession for this brand – which is jam-packed full of eclectic colours and crazy prints.  They have a unique ability to put together colour combinations and prints that, on paper, should be ghastly, but in reality are effortlessly stunning.  And it is this that sets Missoni apart from other brands.  It is therefore no surprise that our Missoni obsession has now spilled over from our wardrobes into areas of our homes as well.

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Whilst pregnant with my third baby Darcy, I decided to join the gym at 8 months pregnant, in a moment of pregnancy craziness.  It was mostly for the amazing spa that is located in the gym, but I did suddenly have the urge to feel fitter and generally do a bit of exercise.  This was essentially rather amusing for anyone that knows me, and this exercise involved me sitting on an exercise bike for ten minutes and then having a massage – but that’s better than nothing!  Having decided to dedicate my last months of pregnancy to this good cause, I began to look for workout clothes that fitted, supported and suited the larger me.   If this maternity activewear could also work post pregnancy then even better.  In my quest to find maternity activewear, I am pleased to say that I have found some fantastic brands that have designed brilliant bits with maternity in mind.  All that lycra has finally found its calling!

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On the day before our little road trip as a new family of five, there was a mad rush and panic of packing bags for four people and a newborn.  Now, with said newborn in tow, there’s even more to pack!  Ofcourse, that includes surfboards, snorkels, pillows and the kitchen sink- complete must-haves for our first small driving holiday with three children.  Another necessity, aside from that kitchen sink, is sunscreen for the face, essential when living in the Spanish sunshine.  On this particular last minute rush trip to the shops, I found a new one called Frezyderm, SPF 50 Velvet Face Suncreen. (Interesting name choice for a brand, but hey ho.)  I didn’t let the somewhat odd brand name put me off- I mean, I never thought I would buy a product called Bum Bum Cream, but I do, so a name like Frezyderm shouldn’t make me bat an eyelid!

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Yes, yes it is still freezing, and the snow has frozen any hint of daffodils… But it’s Easter soon, which means spring has sprung and that means that summer is just around the corner!  It is never too early to look for lovely party looks that can be worn in those sultry summer evenings in London – or more probably, Ibiza – so here’s the first of our many party outfit edits!
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