Mothers Meeting x Nike Sports Day...

What do you get when you throw together a bunch of fitness mad mums, a trampoline installation, free Pimms, Shoreditch’s hippest babies and the world’s coolest sports brand? The Nike Flyknit Festival Mothers Meeting Workout Sports Day – that’s what. Tucked away in a cute outdoor space called Aske Gardens, Nike treated the Mothers Meeting crew to a day of sporting fun along with free Pimms for the mums, beer for the dads, food for everyone – babies included  – and some bouncing beats provided by the Get Some sound system. United Artists created a trampoline installation just for us and boy did we bounce. Our super-fit fitness instructor Mark (aka The Terminator) put us through our paces with a mini-workout before we really put the trampoline to the test. 15 ‘responsible’ mums were suddenly kids all over again as much screaming and bouncing ensued. A few injuries and engaged pelvic floors later it was back down to Earth and on the Pimms. Along with ball pools, face painting, t-shirt making and games it truly was the coolest family day out that east London’s ever seen. The sun shone, the drinks flowed, burgers were eaten and babies were impressed by their mum’s trampoline bouncing skills. Check out www.mothers-meeting.com for pics!

Bye bye...

One of my mama besties VH had always been talking about moving back to Sydney where she was from with her hubby and her little baby M. The thing is when she was talking about it, it always seemed so far in the future, like a distant thing that wouldn't really happen in my lifetime and I wouldn't have to ever deal with it. Boy, was I wrong. The move was upon us like no-ones business and all of a sudden last week she left. Okay, not really all of a sudden but it felt that way. It's gutting for so many reasons, not least because Sydney is so far away but because VH was one of the first mamas I met who was like me. She helped find my 'self' again when I was a bit lost in the world of mummyhood. We've been through a lot in a short space of time - dealing with baby tantrums, husband tantrums, learning to live with your post-baby body, making your mummy self work with your old life, all the curveballs that new mums have to deal with we've done it together. It feels so weird that she's not 10 minutes round the corner or at the end of a text. It's chink in my armour just when I thought I was feeling strong. It also makes me feel so sad that she'll miss so much of Nai Nai's growing up and I'll miss baby M becoming a toddler and a little boy. Hey, perhaps the mama crew will take on Sydney one day in a mass visit! But in the meantime - VH, I miss you and I love you tons. Come back please. 

A change of season...

It's been a few of those mad weeks again, meaning no time to blog! So much has happened and has changed in these past few weeks, it feels like life has kicked up a gear in way. Here's an abridged version of my end of summer adventures...

The mama crew took on Carnival in the only way we know how - complete with Crabbies ginger ale, Ruby Woo-a-plenty and dancing like we never will again (or have before)...this is how it looked...

See if you can spot us skanking for our lives...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kAO7UZBJX8

Little Nai Nai and I decided to get some culture in our lives took on the V&A with my brother aka Uncle K. The V&A is surprisingly baby friendly (getting there really isn't) so we had a gorgeous day of wandering round the exhibitions, showing Nai Nai fabulous ball gowns and great British design before hanging out in the garden and splashing in the water fountain. A pretty much perfect summer's day...

My Mothers Meeting crew have taken on an evening at Bliss Spa (facials, reflexology, cocktails, megatron), countless workouts, a whole festival in our name (see post on the the Flyknit Festival) and Shoreditch House lunches. I've slowly but surely started to love running - a sentence I never ever thought I'd say - and I'm now even in the process of signing up for a couple of runs for charity next year. I really will get fit or die trying. Nai Nai and I took a trip back home to Glasgow for a bestie KS's hen do which involved pink limos and amazeballs party bags and I'm so looking forward to her wedding this weekend. What to wear, what to wear.... The Paralympics has been and gone and along with it came buckets of tears whilst watching amazing and inspirational feats and sporting excellence. It's gutting it's only every four years. My TV seems so redundant now...

So the heat in the air has dissipated and fall is well and truly here. In a way I am so glad! I can go back to wearing loads of slimming black mixed with my favourites -  leather, gold and studs. Summer weather is gorge but fall fashion rocks. This also means lots of new threads for little Nai Nai who is channelling stripes, spots, cute cardies and loadsa star prints. It's hard when your daughter's wardrobe is better than yours. We're all caught up and there's loads more exciting things ahead. This fall's looking very fine indeed...