Blog : Little Lilypad Co

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The Little Lilypad is a lifestyle blog mostly written by a mum to two beautiful, cheeky and entertaining daughters. It is sometimes written by the Man on the Pad or by one of our baby bloggers. Occasionally we accept guest posts too. There is frequently talk of sustainable living, saving money, lifestyle and travel. It is hopefully helpful, sometimes funny and always honest.
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Category: Views & Ramblings

  1. Gangnam style : How to put some "seoul" into your life

    Posted on

    Let's be honest, unless you have been living under an enormous rock for the last twelve months, then the chances are you have heard (and probably seen) Korean pop star Psy’s mega hit Gangnam Style. We have seen children and adults of all ages doing the "Gangnam Style" and it is a phenomenon you can't escape. Named after a trendy area of the South Korean capital, the song apparently pokes gentle fun at the trendy hipsters that live in the district. Whatever the message, a billion views on YouTube means that it is one of the most watched things in the history of mankind. It’s also become an international dance craze. Not bad for a day’s work all in all.

    It’s not just Psy that is putting Korea on the map. He may be leading the charge but Korea is big in other areas too. Seoul is widely considered to be one of the coolest cities in the world right now and is really having an influence on global trends. Young people in the country are very fashion and style conscious and Korean design is currently riding the crest of a wave. So, all this means it is the perfect time to add a touch of Korean flair to your living room. What better way to do that than with a new sofa .... especially if your little ones like to use it as a climbing frame like ours, it maybe time to look for a new model? 

    Korean style sofas come in a few different shapes and sizes but the most common design is the large, flat corner sofa with extended area for a bit of ultra cool slouching (we know your mum told you not to slouch but trust us, it’s the only way to relax on a Korean sofa). The main distinguishing feature of Korean style sofas is the colour. It has to be bright and bold.

    Korea is a bright and vibrant place and this is really reflected in the bold colours and patterns they use. The fabrics they use hold their colour really well and don’t be afraid to mix it up with some really contrasting cushions, in terms of colours and patterns. (Again, we know that mum always told us that we should colour co-ordinate but sometimes it's good to be different).

    This kind of colour confidence is indicative of a country on the up and that definitely sums up Korea right now. It’s certainly a good time to try and get a bit of that confidence to rub off on us. With the doom and gloom around in the news at the moment, we could definitely use a little bit of positivity to give us a lift. Why not start with your sofa and work up from there.

    This is a guest post from Sainsbury’s. If you’re looking for new sofas for your home then take a look at their impressive selection online today. Taking inspiration from around the world, they’re sure to have just what you’re looking for.

     

    Disclaimer :  This is a sponsored post but having used the Sainsbury's website personally, it is also a natural recommendation too, I just haven't blogged about it before! :-)

  2. When will spring arrive?

    Posted on

    I can't believe it is March already and Easter is weeks away. Wasn't it Christmas last week? Where has the year gone?

    I actually like spring, I think that there is something innocent about it and it is a time when we tend to look at redecorating or even moving, so whilst we are spring cleaning our houses, it is probably a good time to spring clean our finances too.

    Having children means that Christmas is always over indulgent (although I have always loved buying presents, so maybe I just have more of an excuse these days) and Easter is no different. I will happily add chocolate egg after chocolate egg into my shopping trolley and put money in cards for my god children without thinking how much money I am actually spending. I always intend to budget but this goes out of the window more often than not. (do you think I could be addicted to shopping??).

    I am a regular reader of the MyFamilyClub website and they have some fabulous budgeting tools available but I particularly liked their suggestions on How to Spring Clean your Finances. There are some really simple suggestions and even an avid spender like me can make a difference if I just take half an hour to go through my monthly expenditure.

    I have always said that shopping is my hobby and if I can spring clean my finances, maybe this will mean I may even have a little extra at the end of the month ..... for a new pair of shoes :-)

    Sponsored post

  3. International Women's Day : Tips for surviving motherhood

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    Today is International Women's Day, which is held annually on the 8th March and thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. I have to be honest and say that the most inspiring women I know are mums who are juggling children, careers, domestic and professional demands .... what's not inspiring about that?

    Most mums will tell you that they just "get on with it", so after speaking with some fellow bloggers, we have compiled a very tongue in cheek survival guide to being a happy mum.

     

    1. Accept the fact that you will say all the things your mom said and you promised you wouldn't.

    2. Find some perspective and hang on to it.

    3. Accept that you will never have a tidy house again (or for the next 20 years anyway) - From Suzanne Whitton 

    4. Accept that going to the toilet is no longer a private affair.

    5. It is normal to think of the dishwasher as your best friend.  - Both 4 & 5 are from Emma CrazywithTwins

    6. Accept that you can't do everything on time, to the standard that you'd like you and also accept that if you do manage to do this, other mums, like me, will get you when we next see you in the playground. - Love this one from Liz Weston

    7. Don't worry about leaving the house in your pajamas/ with shreddies in your hair/ with yesterday's make up on- as long as you leave the house! - From Susanne Remic

    8. Come to terms with the fact that the music you randomly start humming at the bus stop will no longer be the latest chart topper but instead your childs favourite nursery rhyme or theme tune to their most watched TV show! - From Jennifer Dixon 

    9. Put everything of value (financial or sentimental) on a high shelf and move it upwards as the children get taller. By the time they're 15 you should probably have anything you care about (that isn't human) stored in the loft. - From Jenny Leonard

    10. Expect nothing. Enjoy everything!

     

    "Here's to amazing women, let us know them, let us raise them, let us be them"

     

    IWA 2013

  4. Seven going on Seventeen

    Posted on

    Do you remember when you were younger and your mom would say "she is 12 going on 21" and typically you would roll your eyes and think it was just Mom being silly and dramatic? Unfortunately when I became a Mom myself, I find myself saying the same old cliche's I heard my own parents say but the worrying this is ..... my daughter isnt 12, she is 7.

    Everyone says that children grow up faster these days and I frantically hold onto my daughter's childhood because once that innocence is gone, it is lost forever. With the introduction of technology into their little lives, they are exposed to different mediums of influence (a previous post shared my "love"  and consequent confiscation of the iPod) I was a little horrified to hear slight twangs of an American accent coming out of her mouth influenced from some of the programmes she watches and I long for the day when Fifi Forget Me Not was the programme she loved most!

    This weekend everything was "boring" or "borrrrrrrring" if I am saying it correctly (am clearly down with the kids) and this is where I have to remember that I am the grown up. Sometimes her behaviour amuses me as I see her growing up and developing her personality but arguing with me is not amusing and we had quite a bit of that this weekend! She was certainly reminded about her boundaries!

    I am sure I could start a whole new blog about how my 7 year old thinks she is a teenager but I am sure she will get to a point where she doesn't want me to write about her at all, so for now I will just say that she is "7 going on 17" and wait for her to roll her eyes at me, like I did when I was 12.