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To new parents, welcoming a brand new human into your lives is quite magical, but for all the joy, happy tears and love that these shiny new little people bring, there are one or twenty challenges along the way. Sleepless nights are exhausting, and of course there is the constant feeding. For those of you that are breastfeeding only, hats off to you, the constant cluster feeding throughout the night is particularly hard. For anyone who has decided to opt for formula or combi feeding, the Perfect Prep™ Day & Night machine from Tommee Tippee is a must-have! When your little darling wakes you up screaming for milk at 3am, the last thing you need is to boil a kettle, wait 30 mins for it to cool, run the bottle under cold water and then test the temperature. By this point the whole neighbourhood is awake and your nerves are shot. For me (I’m combi-feeding), one of the most essential things to get my hands on, was the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep™ Day & Night machine. Now imagine that scenario again, 3am…..screaming baby, you run to the kitchen, measure out your formula and have the perfect bottle at the right temperature ready in a couple of minutes. This machine, sent by the Gods (well, Tommyee Tippee actually) is kinda like a coffee machine for babies. You fill a reservoir with water, which has a replaceable filter that makes the water nice and safe for your little sweetheart. The filter’s membrane is designed to remove bacteria, contaminants and impurities from the water. Then whenever you need a quick bottle for your baby, you simply add the desired amount of formula to your bottle and select the matching size on a simple digital display (5,6,7 oz etc). The machine adds an initial shot of hot water, which at 70ºc kills bacteria in the formula powder. A quick shake, then the machine tops up the bottle with cold filtered water to achieve the right temperature. The base of the machine is adjustable to suit bottles of all shapes and sizes, and for the late-night feeds, the water tank has a soft blue glow light to make it easy to make a bottle in the dark. The Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep™ Day & Night has been an absolute game changer for me to be able to prepare a bottle in 2 mins rather than 30 mins. It also uses significantly less energy than a kettle which is a massive win, particularly with the current energy crisis. Amidst all the gadgets, products and…well, stuff, that you will be encouraged to buy when you have a new baby, this is by far going to be one of your best purchases! The Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep™ Day & Night machine retails at £165, and it comes in four different colours, but you can currently buy it for £102.99 online at the time of writing. Purchase from www.tommeetippee.com Written by Nyla S. Photography courtesy of Tommee Tippee #babies #newbornbabies #babyproducts #Feeding #tommeetippee #PerfectPrepDayampNightmachine

In 2019, Ana Rachel Estrougo was searching online for a more sustainable and economically friendly way of shopping for her and her six-month-old baby. With her home already cluttered with barely used baby gear and clothing he had already outgrown. She envisioned a marketplace for parents to pass on these no-longer-needed baby items, but it didn’t exist… So she decided to create it herself. Thus The Octopus Club (TOC) was born. Fast forward to today and this online parent-to-parent marketplace of pre-loved items offers sustainable solutions that help families to save money, while also saving the planet. By signing up to the club for free via the website, parents can buy, sell or donate second-hand baby and toddles items. Extending the lifecycle of products, reducing clutter at home and making way for the next phase in their child’s growth journey. The platform features a wide range of products from both luxury brands, as well as budget labels. Think clothes, accessories, toys and gadgets, such as the Artipoppe baby carrier and best-selling pieces from desirable brands like Ergobaby, Stokke, Liewood, Lovevery, Brio, Lego and BabyBjörn. Parents have complete control over their profile and listings, selling directly to like-minded parents. Which also means buyers get must-have items from leading brands at a fraction of the price. Items must be in good condition to be sold, so quality control is guaranteed. A complimentary personal shopping service, vouchers and discounts with over 20 vetted partner brands are also available. And with resale growing 11x faster than traditional retail, this is not just a trend, it’s a behavioural shift towards a more sustainable future. Website: www.theoctopusclub.com Written by Lupe Castro Photography courtesy of The Octopus Club #baby #secondhandclothes #TheOctopusClub

Parents and guardians of young people assemble! Come join an interactive storytelling session with the legendary character Pippi Longstocking, created by Astrid Lindgren. Expect fun and laughter for ages 4 and up at the Other Palace Theatre with the award-winning show. The 9 year old star Pippi is a strong female character, free-spirited with superhuman strength who uses a powerful mix of anti-authoritarian thinking and kindness to challenge the norm and to bring joy to the lives of those around her. The production is staged with Sofie Miller starring as Pippi. Treat your little ones to a thrilling experience ahead of summer and book now to avoid disappointment. Dates: Thursday, 13 July – Sunday 16 July Running time: 45 mins with no interval | Optional post-show craft activity Tickets cost £12.50 To book your ticket visit: https://theotherpalace.co.uk/meet-astrid-lindgrens-pippi-longstocking Address: The Other Palace, 12 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JA Written by Claire Selby Photos by Martin Bamford #kids #PippiLongstocking #theotherpalace

New parents, congratulations. For those brief moments, the joy of popping your precious cargo into the car seat for the first time and bringing a new human into their first home is unparalleled. Through your red bleary eyes, you gaze at them in your arms as you give them the guided tour and eventually lay them in their first crib and anxiously watch them breathe all night. Fast forward a few months, exhausted from sleep deprivation you kind of want to give you and your baby a bit of space, let them sleep on their own for a while. This brings a whole new set of anxieties. What position are they in? Are they face down? What if they cry? Is the room at the right temperature? Has their strategically placed musical mobile fallen on them? Historically you would nip over to their room every so often and have an ear to the door, or at best, an intercom system to hear them should they need your attention. Now this is absolutely fine and if that works for you then great. But for those who need that extra reassurance, there is another way. The Owlet Cam 2, along with the smart sock, is designed to give you the ultimate peace of mind. The Owlet camera works by pairing to your phone via wifi. Set up is super simple, just download the app and follow the step-by-step setup instructions. This also means that you don’t need any extra devices cluttering up your home. So now you can see and hear your baby from anywhere within your house on your phone. But it doesn’t stop there. The camera also monitors the room temperature and humidity which, if anyone has been terrified by their NCT classes, is great for that extra peace of mind, knowing that the room is comfortable and at a safe temperature. The quality of camera is sharp with 1080 HD video, night vision and a 130 degree wide angle lens. There is an option for two way audio, which is great if you want to talk to your baby or sing their favourite lullaby from another room. The camera can be wall-mounted, and comes with covers for the cables, keeping loose wires out of the way whilst looking neat and tidy. I attached ours to the cot using a clamp, allowing me to easily take it off and use it when I go travelling. For those of you (yep, us too) who tend to anxiously watch your baby sleep, The Owlet Smart Sock is a great addition to put your mind at ease. A soft, and comfortable piece of fabric wraps around your baby’s foot with velcro and uses a sensor to measure heart rate and oxygen levels. The app allows parents to receive real-time notifications and alerts if either of these levels fall outside safe ranges. Originally when we set up the camera we didn’t use the sock, however the first time our baby rolled on his tummy whilst sleeping we really panicked! We gently rolled him back, but he was having none of it, preferring to sleep face down. We put the sock on his foot immediately which gave us (mostly) complete peace of mind, knowing that if he had any trouble breathing, the app would notify us. Thankfully there were no alarms and over the next few days we felt more at ease with him sleeping on his tummy. The Smart Sock comes in two sizes, for your newborn and when your baby is a little older. The baby monitor on its own costs £159.00, which does sound pricey, but it’s ideal for tech-savvy parents who want to keep an eye on their baby on their phone, it’s stylish and fits in any nursery. The price for the baby monitor and sock is £399.00, which is more geared to parents who are in need of some extra reassurance that their sleeping baby is ok. Parents won’t feel the need to stay up and stare at their baby in the early days (which of course we did…), they have the peace of mind of knowing they will be notified of anything alarming. Purchase from https://owletbabycare.co.uk/products/owlet-smart-sock Written by Nyla S. Images courtesy of Owlet #owlet #babycam #babymonitor #babycamera #baby #owlet2

Cast your mind back to when you were a child, reading your most beloved Beano comic under a torchlight when your parents had gone to bed! Fun right, but nowadays who has the time to read comics? With the rise of food waste, we must all make the time and effort to decrease our food waste, and what better way than leafing through the new Beano food waste cookbook! Yes you heard right! Ocado has teamed up with Beano to launch the Food Waste Cookbook, fronted by a Beano-fied Ben Fogle, the celebrity adventurer who embarks on a fun foodie adventure. You will be treated to five recipes, including the aptly named ‘Nearly Gone-offee Pie’ and ‘Bangers and Gnash’, helping families make their food go further, sharing imaginative ways to use up some of the most commonly wasted foods. Which include bananas, bread yoghurt and tomatoes. Children can get in on the action too! The cookbook also features games, tips and an original Beano comic strip, to educate them on making the most of fresh food and making groceries last longer. The physical copy is available from 27th September or you can download your free copy of the book here. #beano #cookbook #ocado

Ever had a baby tucked under one arm and wished you had the spare limbs of an octopus just to get things done? A baby carrier may not help you sprout 6 more arms, but it is a decent solution for when you could do with using the two that you already have. They are also great for those long walks without your pram slowing you down. With so many baby carriers on the market, it can be quite overwhelming, but looking at Baby Bjorn wouldn’t be a bad place to start.  Baby Bjorn is a well-known and popular Swedish company that produces baby carriers, baby bouncers, and other baby-related products. They are known for their ergonomic and comfortable baby carriers that afford parents “hands-free” baby and toddler transporting powers. Some models have features like breathable mesh fabric to help regulate temperature and provide added comfort for the baby. Crafted in a luxurious mesh, The Baby Bjorn carrier is comfy, snuggly soft, very stylish, and has been on our radar for some time. It has a supportive waist belt, and padded shoulder straps, and is adjustable to help fit the size of your precious cargo. Its ergonomic design provides support for the baby’s head, neck, and spine, and also ensures that the wearer’s back and shoulders are well-supported resulting in a comfy baby and comfy parent. Another thing we love about the Baby Bjorn is how configurable it is. Baby can face in or out like most other carriers, and also in newborn position or even on your back from the age of 1 year to give them a different view of the world. Plus, there are seven different colours to choose from. The Baby Bjorn website includes video tutorials on each position, so you don’t have to feel overwhelmed with reading instructions, they make it super simple for you to get stuck right in. As we are in the depths of winter, you may think will it be too cold to carry my baby outside? Fear not, Baby Bjorn offers a winter cover, which is ultralight and padded, ensuring your baby stays warm and cosy when outdoors. The baby carrier Harmony is priced at £208.90 and comes in seven different colours. Suitable for ages: 0–3 years Baby Bjorn sells a range of carriers to suit you and your baby, to see the full range visit www.babybjorn.co.uk Written by Nyla S. Photo courtesy of Baby Bjorn #BabyBjorn #BabyCarrierHarmony

[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1519392503248{padding-top: 18px !important;}”][vc_column] [vc_column_text] A s a response to the incredible demand for Pub in the Park Dulwich, a brand new Friday evening session has now been added, running in addition to its Saturday and Sunday events. Featuring feel good sets from Morcheeba and Stereo MCs, tickets for the event have been receiving an incredible pickup. Offering an amazing range of chefs, musicians, artisanal producers, and a great crowd of people looking to have a good time, the weekend promises to bring together a fusion of some of the things we missed most in lockdown. A truly foodie festival, renowned chef Tom Kerridge will once again be bringing together his group of chef pals including Matt Tebbutt, Atul Kochhar and Jane Alty for a weekend of exceptional food brought to your town. Participating venues include: Kerridge’s two Michelin starred The Hand & Flowers, The Begging Bowl, Atul Kochhar’s restaurants including the amazing Vaasu and Sindhu, to name but a few. This tasty offering will be matched with equally top-notch live music, with performances from the likes of Beverley Knight, Gabrielle, Toploader, Soul II Soul, Basement Jaxx*… plus more to be announced! As a thank you to our NHS heroes, there will be free tickets for those in health care, 8,000 to be exact. Pub in the Park has been designed with these times in mind and has been awarded the Visit Britain ‘Good to Go’ certification, meaning the tour will have covid-safety measures in place if needed. Pub in the Park will be taking place on the following dates at the following venues: Royal Victoria Park, Bath 18th – 20th June Dulwich Park, London 25th – 27th June St Nicholas Park, Warwick 2nd – 4th July Dunorlan Park, Tunbridge Wells 9th – 11th July Chichester College, West Sussex 24th – 25th July Chiswick House and Gardens, London 3rd – 5th September Verulamium Park, St Albans 10th – 12th September Higginson Park, Marlow 16th – 19th September *Music acts and restaurants vary by venue, visit the website for full details – https://www.pubintheparkuk.com #dulwich #festival #pubinthepark #southeastlondon

[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1519392503248{padding-top: 18px !important;}”][vc_column] [vc_column_text] V isitors to Seven Dials in London are being treated to a selection of dreamy acoustic sets performed by up and coming UK based artists in the area’s iconic streets. ‘Seven Dials Unplugged’ supports UK performers heavily affected by COVID-19 over the last year, whilst also giving visitors a taste of the live music we have missed so much during lockdown. Unique pop-up performances are taking place during select Saturdays from 22nd May – 26th June, between 2-7pm. As the team are following strict social distancing guidelines to avoid crowding, all performances will last 15 minutes taking place simultaneously in a number of different outdoor locations throughout the intertwined streets, encouraging visitors to walk and listen to multiple performances at once. There is a real mix of musical styles on offer, including retro-indie-pop singer, Cheriton, singer song-writer duo, The Stone Jets, and the violinist duo Momento which guests can also listen to whilst dining al fresco in the outdoor seating that has popped up in the area. Address: 45 Seven Dials, London, WC2H 9HD Website: https://www.sevendials.co.uk/whatson/whats-open Written by Jordan Crowley #coventgarden #sevendials

Giving visitors the unique chance to eat, drink, and bat, Sixes is the only venue in London to provide cricket simulators with exceptional dining and hospitality. Having re-opened their outdoor offering in Fulham in April, they are now set to launch more sites in the capital. Co- founded by Mac and Wild’s Andy Waugh and Calum Mackinnon, the venue boasts state-of-the-art batting nets available to hire by the hour. The ultimate immersive experience, it takes the style of Top Golf, Flight Club and Puttshack to new, refined heights and they even offer free kids’ cricket, accepting voluntary donations to the Ruth Strauss Foundation. Running alongside the fun and games is English gastro-pub inspired food, offering the best of British produce. Options include well-loved classics such as the Sixes sausage roll, prawn cocktail cups with king prawn, baby gem & avocado, Dorset cider steamed mussels creamed with shallots, and Lemon fried chicken with kiev butter dip. There’s also sharing options for those team players, including crispy shredded pork shoulder served with sticky soft buns, rich BBQ gravy & sweet apple ketchup. Of course there is an extensive drinks menu, with craft spirits, drinks and beverages that add the finishing touches to the quintessentially English Sixes experience. With Fulham re-opening fully from Monday 17th May, the team have announced they will be opening a second location in Fitzrovia on May 26th , with plans to launch two more sites in Manchester and Oxford later in the summer. Website: www.sixescricket.com Address: 18 Farm Ln, London, SW6 1PP Written by Jordan Crowley #cricket #Fulham #sixes

For all those music lovers out there, this is definitely the event for you! This July, #SohoMusicMonth returns to Carnaby and Soho and there really is something for everyone. The free month-long celebration is dedicated to shining a light on the area’s rich and vibrant music history. You’ll be able to enjoy a series of events such as the Independent Label Market down Carnaby Street, as well as exclusive pop-ups from Ronnie Wood, Museum of Youth Culture and Creative Media Network. If that’s not enough, there will be a diverse line-up of in-store activations, competitions, music tours, art exhibitions, talks with influential Soho faces and exclusive, new cocktails and dishes as well as limited-edition products. Visit the pop-up at 57 Carnaby Street where Ronnie Wood will personally curate an exhibition which will include signed limited-edition prints, available to buy in Carnaby. Museum of Youth Culture will exhibit rare, vintage photographic prints from renowned photographers such as Terry O’Neill, Gavin Watson and Normski that feature iconic artists including Blur, The Damned, The Buzzcocks, Rolling Stones and David Bowie performing in and around Soho. Free music history tours will run every Wednesday in July, taking guests on a journey around Soho where some of music’s greatest legends once walked including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. Free talks will be presented by Soho aficionado Chris Sullivan; journalist, DJ, painter and founder of the infamous Wag Club. Sullivan gathers together a line-up of true Soho ‘ace faces’ whose tales of misdemeanour, style mongering and general high jinx within the square mile are not to be missed! Full details can be found on the Carnaby website, including the free ballot for tickets to the talks and music history tours: https://www.carnaby.co.uk/musicmonth-2021 Written by Claire Coveny #carnabylondon #carnaby #music #soho #london #RollingStones

From the team that brought us Pop Brixton and Peckham Levels comes Hackney Bridge’s The Courtyard, East London’s latest venture into outdoor dining which has just opened and is ready for business. The timing could not be more apt as news circulates of a heatwave hitting the UK next month following what media outlets have labelled “washout May”. Who isn’t desperate for some alfresco drinking and dining? Throw in a prime canal side location and some of East London’s best loved street-food traders plus craft beer and speciality wine, and you’ve got yourself a party! Street food in The Courtyard comes courtesy of seven traders who are all from Hackney and the surrounding areas. For those looking for a classic East End treat, The Jewish Deli are onsite with traditionally-made hot salt beef, bagels, latkes, falafel & reuben sandwiches. Seafood fans can expect delicious soft-shell crab and fish burgers from Da Fish Ting, and meat-lovers can rejoice, as STEAKhaus are on hand to deliver succulent and sustainable steak and chips. Filigrillz are serving up authentic Filipino flame-grilled meats and combos, lsewhere, Hermanos Taco House is dishing up mouth-watering tacos and burritos with a twist, and fans of Italian cuisine can enjoy classic neapolitan pizzas from Made in Puglia, and fresh, seasonal pasta dishes from Pasta E Basta. Look out for a number of great events throughout the summer, including screenings of the Euros and select Wimbledon matches on a giant 2m X 3.5m outdoor screen. For dates and times of football screenings, visit www.hackneybridge.org/euros If that wasn’t enough, later in the summer Hackney Bridge is also launching a Sunday Market serving fresh produce from independent retailers and makers. Alongside this will be a giant indoor dining hall called Hackney Bridge Kitchens, with many more street food traders and space for over 100 diners. Elsewhere, Hackney Bridge will feature workspace and studios for artists and makers, and a number of independent retailers currently open for business. For more information, and how to book your spot at The Courtyard visit www.hackneybridge.org Written by Claire Coveney #eastlondon #hackneybridge

Solar Pergola, a new al-fresco terrace is now open at the Television Centre in White City. Solar Pergola is the creation from the team behind the renowned Pantechnicon in Belgravia and The Lighterman in King’s Cross. A true dedication to the summer, the team will be serving up a carefully curated seasonal menu of refreshments and BBQ favourites, to create the ultimate summer dining experience. Aperol and Elderflower Rosé Spritz, Vodka & Rhubarb and Pomegranate Seltzer’s and of course your staple beers and wine can be enjoyed alongside burgers made from the freshest ingredients. A delicious 35 day dry-aged Dexter beef burger and a vegan English green pea and black bean burger will be available, accompanied by a variety of sides. A twelve-week programme of live music, sports and movies on the outdoor screen provides the perfect backdrop for this ultimate summer experience. Highlights include all the action from the tennis, followed by the sporting games in July. Kitted out with plenty of seating options, heaters and with no need to book, Solar Pergola offers a great atmosphere for the collective enjoyment of live sporting events, come rain or shine. Address: Television Centre Forecourt, 1 Wood Lane, White City Bar & BBQ times: Thursday evening from 5pm, Friday from 12pm, Saturday from 12pm #bbq #SolarPergola #terrace