My Top 3 Child and Pocket Friendly Places To Visit In Tipperary!

With only a few weeks left in the summer holidays and back to school fast approaching you may be looking for something to do with the little ones. I personally love going on day trips and I know the kids love it too. Tipperary is a County full of great facilities and beautiful places to visit. I think if we are honest a lot of us are guilty of not making the most of whats close to us. Some of us might not have even been to a landmark in the town where we live or a beautiful park that's only a ten minute drive away. I've made up a list of a few places that I regularly visit and why I love them. 

Templemore Park
Price: Free
I can not rave enough about this place. Set on approximately 72 acres, this magical park is home to a beautiful lake, historic ruins, a fantastic playground and a woodland filled with fairies. The park woodland which was planted by the Carden family over two centuries ago located in my home town has always been a favourite place of mine to go.
 As a child I used to go there with my parents and spend the day running through the woods trying to find hidden trails and hideaways. As it went from season to season there was so many different things to watch and see, from the leaves falling off the trees, the bed of snow on the ground to the tiny buds appearing on the trees and the little ducklings and cygnets hatching.
Now that I'm a parent myself I definitely try to make as much use of this beautiful park as possible, going on daily walks during the summer and getting out at least twice a week in the winter. The one big change here since I was a child is the recent addition of the magical fairies who have now taken up residence in the park. The fairy trail is such good fun and children absolutely adore running from tree to tree trying to find the next magical door. There are a lot of children leaving letters and gifts for the fairies which I'm sure they are delighted with. So why not pack a picnic and follow the winding paths which lead through the oak and beach filled wood's.
Follow the links below for more info!
Templemore Park website
Fairy Trail Facebook page

Places of interest nearby:  The Devils Bit Mountain Range. 

Price: Free

So as the legend goes the devil took a bite out of the mountain. It is believed he broke his teeth  taking this bite and the Rock of Cashel fell from his mouth to where it now stands. This climb is not for the fainthearted. It is a super fun day out if you enjoy hiking and walking. Those of you with babies, leave the buggies at home you wont get too far with them. Instead opt for a baby carrier. Bring plenty of drinks too, you'll need them.

Click here for Devil's Bit info

Monaincha Abbey, Roscrea
Price: Free
This little treasure is hidden in the idyllic countryside just outside Roscrea. This is somewhere that we frequently visit as it is just a stones throw away from my husbands family home. This Abbey seems to have been completely left behind in this modern world in which we live and how lucky we are that this is the case. The Abbey dates back to 1140. It used to be surrounded by water, so you'll find the Abbey sitting on its own little raised island. In the 10th Century this abbey was described as the 31st wonder of the world and is still believed to be one of the most intact early Christian monastic sites in the world. To get to the abbey it is best to park at the end of the walk way, because if you drive up there is not a lot of room to turn at the end. Also it has a nice wooded walk leading up to the Abbey, which the kids will enjoy. The Abbey is located in a large field which may sometimes have cows in it, so just watch out for them. Children will love learning about the history of the Abbey which is on a sign as you enter the field. They will also love looking at the decorated entrance to the nave and going into the well preserved priest quarters which boasts a barrel vault ceiling.  If you have kids who love to run and jump like mine, they'll probably love climbing up the stairwell to the roof and using it as there own watch out in a game where their protecting the Abbey from enemies. Which in our case is usually "Orcs" because they are Lord of the Rings mad..! If the weather is nice its a lovely place to sit and have a picnic. It also makes for some amazing pictures for anybody that is into photography.

Click here for more info on Monaincha Abbey

Places of interest nearby: Roscrea Castle and Damer House
Price:Adult: €4,Child: €2,Family: €10
Nestled in the heart of Roscrea town, stands this beautiful castle and house. The Castle was built in 1281 and it is unknown exactly when or who built Damer house.They are beautiful pieces of history and well worth a visit. If you go on the first Wednesday of the month entrance is free as its run by the office of public works.
Click here for more information on Roscrea Castle

Parsons Green
Price: Adult:€4, Child:€3.50, Family: €15
This is a family run pet farm, which is set in the scenic valley between the Knockmealdown and the Galtee mountains. We have visited here many times and each time we had more fun than the last. There is a lovely little pet farm here with garden and river walks, farm museum, 18-hole mini golf, and tennis. You can also avail of boat rides and pony and trap rides, which the children absolutely love. There is both an indoor and outdoor play area and a small gift/coffee shop and a take away. I think what makes this pet farm stand out for me is the lovely people and atmosphere here, the owners and staff are so welcoming and friendly and will always try their best to accommodate any request you may have. We usually go for just a day trip but you can stay there as they have mobile homes and camping facilities. My parents brought the kids for a weekend and they found the mobiles clean and warm and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Click here for more info on Parsons Green.

Places of interest nearby: Cahir Castle
Price: Adult:€3, Child:€1, Family: €8
Cahir Castle is one of the largest, best preserved castles in Ireland and is situated on a rocky island in the middle of the River Suir. This is actually on our must see list as we have not yet visited it. I have heard lots of good things about it and am looking forward to bringing the boys soon. This is another OPW building, so again it is free the first Wednesday of every month.
Click here for more info on Cahir Castle.

Sinead.x

Teething Time..!

The appearance of our children's first teeth is bound to fill us with joy. But the journey there can be a long and tiresome one.  Maybe its because I was young and had a lot to juggle when my older boys were babies that I didn't notice as much and just got on with it. But thinking back teething was a fairly smooth joyful process with them. It didn't keep them awake at night or put them off their food. Ryan got his first tooth at 8months and the rest came within the next three months. Sean got his first tooth at 7months and the process was pretty much the same thankfully. Cillian seems to be suffering with his alot more. He started getting the normal teething signs such as uncontrollable dribbling, continuous chewing on anything he can get his hands on and occasionally refusing to drink his bottle and just choosing to chew on it instead. Then after 3months of this he got his first tooth 3weeks ago aged 6months. Our other two boys bottom teeth both came up within days of each other but three weeks later Cillian still has one lone tooth and his teething symptoms are as bad as ever. Although luckily enough even with the discomfort he still manages to spend his whole day laughing and smiling.

Chewing is an instinctive reaction to teething, because of this giving your child a teething ring is a great idea. Depending on the age of your child some teething rings may be hard for your child to grasp, so start with something chunky and easy to hold onto. If your baby's a bit older other things that are great for chewing on are raw carrot and baby rusks. Always make sure you are supervising your child if they are chewing on food in case of a choking risk.

Sometimes chewing on something just wont be enough for them and you may feel they need some pain relief. There are loads of options for this out there. Some of the ones I find work best for us are Nelsons Teetha, Teething Granuals and also Nelsons Teetha, Teething gel. All you need to no about these products is in the link below. I found these worked for us and took away any mild discomfort that Cillian had. If he was having a bad teething day I found the gel was great to rub on his gums before a bottle and that he would drink the bottle, rather than just chewing it. Of course if your child is in alot of pain and these products are not helping to relieve it you can also give your child a stronger pain relief such as calpol.

I hope these tips help and remember every child is different and always trust your instincts when it comes to your own child. Please feel free to comment below, I'd love to hear about a teething story or tips that you may have.
Nelsons Teetha, Teething Granules

Nelsons Teetha, Teething Gel  


Sinead.x

The 'F' Word!!!

Yes I'm going to talk about the 'F' word...FASHION!! Yes I no, but I'm a mum, what would I know about fashion. Once your a mum don't you start wearing baggy pants and over sized jumpers that smell of baby sick? Well that might be the misconception but I would just like to say that I for one still like nice clothes and feeling good about what I wear. Ya ok when your a mother your disposable income is reduced severely and buying clothes and accessories is at the bottom of a very long list of nappies, baby food, kids clothes, school books and summer camps but it doesn't mean you cant treat your self every once in a while.

There are so many affordable shops now such as Pennys, Dunnes, Tesco and H&M but to name a few. All of which stock fashionable affordable clothing.  I think the secret to smart shopping as a mother or anyone for that matter is to first buy staple pieces. A good pair of jeans, a nice blazer a neutral pair of killer heels a little black dress, all theses things will go with so many pieces you all ready have in your wardrobe and you will be able to use them season after season, year after year.
Many people think oh well now that I'm a mum I have to dress a certain way. Yes your a mother but your also an individual person with your own fashion sense and your own style.

I think that if your going out at the weekend whether its to a party, wedding or just a few drinks with friends, you shouldn't be afraid of fashion. Don't be the one sitting in the corner saying 'oh that's lovely, I wish I could wear that' instead be the one that's wearing it. I think when looking at clothes the most important things are to know your body and what suits it and to trust your own instincts and style. Not everybody has the same opinions in life and the same goes for fashion, so just do you and don't worry about other people reactions and opinions.

Realistically during the week both stay at home and working mothers most likely don't have the time to be getting all glammed up before work or the school run. But I think that even taking 5minutes out to put in a bit of extra effort, whether it's slicking on a bit of mascara, popping on a bit of tinted moisturiser or ironing out the creases on that cliche oversized jumper, it will give you more confidence and make you feel better about yourself. It may seem vain to some people but as the old saying goes 'A happy mother means a happy baby' and probably a happy husband too. :)

'Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak'

                                                                                  Rachel Zoe
 
Sinead.x

6 things that happen when you have a C-section

My first child Daniel came into this world via emergency C section, or as a friend stated "he came out through the sun roof!" Here are somethings I wish I had known beforehand........




 1. The actual C-section is not that bad!!

With pain relief a-plenty, multiple doctors and nurses fussing over you, no pushing and your little bundle of joy arriving rather quickly, it kind of takes the "labour" out of labour! The thoughts and fears of going in to have a C-section are quite often worse than the reality,







2. The lost hours


Bearing in mind that you have just had major abdominal surgery, you will have to go into solitary recovery for at least two hours after your section. This can mean that you miss out on that special first few hours bonding time with your baby and partner.  They also put you on some pretty hardcore painkillers for the first few hours, so when you do get to properly meet your little one, it can all seem a bit surreal and woozy. Don't be too hard on yourself if you can't remember it clearly or if you don't get that movie style burst of love and emotion for your baby, you have just birthed a human, which is pretty overwhelming! You have plenty of time to make up for the first few lost hours.


3. Breast feeding is really hard!


Some mother and babies are a text book example of natures intention for our bosoms and others find it near impossible. Now it is possible to breastfeed after a c-section many mothers do, but it is difficult trying to get your baby to latch on correctly when your attached to a morphine drip and feel more out of it than a student at freshers week! There is no shame in turning to formula. Most of us we reared on bottles and we are all kind of o.k...........right!?!




4. You may become very swollen....


And I don't mean "ooooh I feel a little bloated", we are talking Stay Puft man from "Ghostbusters" here! Because during regular labour a lot of the excess fluid gets pushed out of your body with the force of contractions, this process does not happen with a c-section birth. From the waist down you can become very swollen for approx 10-14 days after. My ankles were pretty much the same width as my thighs for about a week, which meant I couldn't fit into shoes or my lovely new hospital pyjama's, and had to wear very attractive thigh high support bandages for a fortnight.......oh the horror!!



5. The recovery time

Although we may have had a sightly quicker or easier labour than our pushing sisters, the recovery period can be considerably longer. Instead of the regular three day stay in hospital, your stay is extended to 5 days. There is no heavy lifting, driving for six weeks and you may be on strong painkillers for a week or so. You also will have acquired a quite impressive abdominal scar! I personally don't mind the look of mine, and I was lucky enough to have those nifty dissolvable stitches which meant minimal aftercare, although some ladies do have to get metal staples to close their c-section which have to be removed by a doctor at a later date.



6. It is all worth it!


You have a wonderful new little person in your life, what is more special than that! Now just look at that ickle wickle chubby face..............!!











Katie :)

DIY Photo Booth Props

Whether its a wedding, a big birthday or even just a kids party there is nothing more fun than a photo booth. It can be as big and elaborate or as small and cute as you want.
 I got married last year and while planning our wedding we decided it would be fun and would make for some funny pictures if we had a little photo booth. As it was my first time trying anything like this and I was going to be making all the props myself I decided to go with a small scale operation.
 I liked the idea of having a frame that people could hold up and stand behind for the pictures so I enlisted the help of my husband and father in law for this task.  They just used some beading from the hardware shop and this added a simple design to the frame.
 For the props themselves I looked up free prop printable s online, but instead of printing them out I zoomed in on the pictures till they were the size I wanted and I traced from the computer screen onto white paper. I then cut them out to make templates. I used plain coloured card for the mustaches and lips and I used patterned card for the dicki-bows and hats. When I had all this done I got a pack of skewers from Tesco and cut off the sharp ends to make sticks.  I then simply taped the card cut outs to the sticks and voila I had my props for my photo booth.
 When displaying the props at the wedding I left them in jam jars with some ribbon tied the jar for that chic vintage look. It was something that we enjoyed making and using and I would recommend it as an easy DIY project for everyone.

Sinead.x

Bumbo Seat Review

So like many parents out there, we hear about the latest fads and gadgets, the Bumbo seat is one of these. It sounds good but does it live up to the hype? The answer is contradictory... Yes and no! I was given this as a present from a friend and was thrilled as I had heard good things about it. It says on the box it's for 3months plus, but this really depends on the strength of your baby's neck muscles, some kids might be able before 3months some maybe a bit later. Cillian was nearly 4months old before I could leave him in it for more than a couple of minutes as he kept slouching to the side. When he was strong enough to sit in it, he absolutely loved it. He was able to sit up and look around and I was able to put toys on the tray for him to pick up and play with. I also found it excellent for sitting him in when I was weaning him as he was still a little but small for the highchair. The seat is lightweight and compact which makes it perfect for traveling and bringing along when going visiting family and friends. Cillian is 6 months old now and we are still using this seat regularly, although the last week or two I have noticed that he is stretching his feet out and arching his back when he wants to get out and I'm afraid that this may lead to him knocking the seat over. I also find as he's a chubby baby his thighs are getting a bit big for the leg slots, although my 6year old can fit in it and seems reasonably comfortable, so this leads me to think that it's the kind of purchase that I may have to stop using for a few months but that I'll be able to go back to when Cillian is about 18months old. At this age he will be able to get himself in and out of it as he chooses. Overall I think it is a good product and a nice gift to get. Although I feel it is slightly overpriced for the limited time you do get the use from it. 

Sinead. x