bryonyashaw

[bryonyashaw]

How to Make Tanghulu (aka Candy Glass Fruit Sticks) because sometimes, fruit just needs a little drama.

Fruit: Nature’s candy. Tanghulu: Nature’s candy in cosplay.

INGREDIENTS:

• Fresh firm fruit (traditionally hawthorn, but strawberries, grapes, blueberries, pineapple & even cherry tomatoes work!)

• 1½ cups white sugar

• ½ cup water

• Skewers or sticks

• Ice water (for testing the sugar syrup)

METHOD

1. Prep the fruit -

Wash and dry your fruit completely. If it’s even a little wet, the sugar won’t stick. Skewer them onto bamboo sticks — 2–4 pieces per stick depending on size.

2. Make the candy coating -

In a saucepan, combine sugar and water. Stir once, then simmer (no stirring after this point!) over medium heat until it reaches around 150°C (300°F) or the "hard crack" stage. You can test this by dripping a bit into ice water — it should instantly harden and crack.

3. Dip the fruit -

Quickly dip and twirl your fruit skewers in the syrup to coat them evenly. Let the excess drip off.

4. Set the magic -

Place skewers on parchment paper or a silicone mat. The coating will harden in seconds and go shiny like glass.

5. Snap and snack -

Eat fresh — that satisfying crack when you bite into one is part of the joy!

TANGHULU TIPS:

• Don’t make it on a humid day — the candy won’t set right!

• Want to be extra? Add edible glitter or a tiny pinch of chili powder for a fun twist.

Tanghulu (糖葫芦), sometimes called bing tang hu lu, is a traditional Chinese treat that dates back over 800 years to the Song Dynasty. The classic version uses Chinese hawthorn berries (shan zha) - tart little fruits skewered on a stick and dipped in molten sugar, creating that iconic glassy crunch.

[bryonyashaw]

Sesame Balls (Jian Dui) Recipe!

Regional Variations:

• Vietnamese: Called bánh cam, sometimes with coconut in the filling.

• Filipino: Known as buchi, often served in Chinese restaurants.

• Japanese: A similar snack called Goma Dango is popular at festivals

~

Sesame Balls (Jian Dui / Bánh Cam) 🥠✨

A bit of background -

Sesame balls are one of those snacks you bite into and instantly get why they’ve been around for centuries. They started in China way back in the Tang Dynasty (that’s over 1,000 years ago!), and they’re a big deal for Lunar New Year because they look like little golden balls of luck and prosperity.

You’ll also find them in Vietnam (Bánh Cam or Bánh Rán), Japan (Goma Dango), the Philippines (Butsi), and loads of other places. Some are sweet, some savoury, but they all have that magic mix: crispy sesame coating, chewy shell, and soft sweet filling.

~

Ingredients (makes about 12) -

• 200g glutinous rice flour (this is the sticky rice flour – not regular rice flour)

50g sugar

• 125ml warm water

½ tsp baking powder

• 100g sweet red bean paste (or lotus seed paste, mung bean paste – whatever you like)

• 60g sesame seeds

• Neutral oil for frying (like sunflower, peanut or canola)

~

How to make them -

1. Dough first

• Mix the rice flour, sugar and baking powder in a bowl.

• Add the warm water bit by bit until you’ve got a smooth, non-sticky dough you can roll.

2. Shape and fill

• Divide into 12 chunks.

• Flatten each piece, pop about a teaspoon of filling in, then pinch it closed and roll into a ball.

3. Sesame coat

Dab each ball with a little water, roll it in sesame seeds until it’s covered.

4. Fry time

Heat your oil to 160°C (medium heat if you don’t have a thermometer).

Fry a few at a time for 6–8 mins, gently pressing them under with a spoon so they puff evenly.

Turn up the heat to 180°C for the last minute or two to get that golden crunch.

5. Cool and eat

Drain on kitchen paper, let them cool for a few minutes (the filling is lava hot), then dig in.

What to have them with -

• A pot of jasmine, oolong or green tea is the classic vibe.

• As a dim sum dessert after dumplings and spring rolls.

• Just on their own, warm, while walking around a market or festival.

• They’re also great with fresh fruit on the side so it’s not all fried goodness.

Tips:

• Low and slow frying helps the balls puff up without cracking.

• You can also use black sesame paste or sweet peanut paste inside.

[bryonyashaw]

Creative 'mum memes' based off album covers!

- Fall Out Boy - “Doors open all night. No setlist. No breaks. Just vibes and nappies.”

- My Chemical Romance – “Encore? You mean the 3am wake up scream? Iconic.”

- Nirvana - “Snack time: the only moshpit with fruit roll ups and yogurt”

- Pantera – “Sibling harmony? That’s a myth. We only do breakdowns”

- Metallica - "When the baby is clingy but you're the headline act."

- Judas Priest - "Live from the kitchen floor - the Crumbcore Tour."

[bryonyashaw]

Yummy Lactation Cookies 🍪🥛

Milk-Boosting Ingredients:

- Oats: Comforting and iron-rich

- Brewer’s Yeast: B vitamin powerhouse

- Flaxseed: Omega-3s and phytoestrogens

Ingredients:

- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

- 1½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour

- 5 tbsp brewer’s yeast

- 3 tbsp ground flaxseed

- ½ tsp baking powder

- ½ tsp baking soda

- ½ tsp cinnamon

- ¼ tsp salt

- 12 tbsp unsalted butter

- 4 tbsp coconut oil

- 1½ cups cane sugar

- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk

- 2 tsp vanilla extract

- 1½ cups dark chocolate chips

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Whisk oats, flour, yeast, flaxseed, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, and salt.

3. Beat butter and coconut oil until creamy. Add sugar and beat until fluffy.

4. Add egg, yolk, and vanilla. Mix well.

5. Gradually add dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips.

6. Scoop into 1-inch rounds and bake 10��14 mins until golden underneath.

7. Cool completely before storing.

~~

🍪 Do Lactation Cookies Really Work? Let’s Talk Milk & Cookies! 🍼

Mamas, let’s get real - breastfeeding is hard work. Some days it feels like your baby is a tiny milk parasite and you’re scrambling to keep up. Enter: lactation cookies! But do they actually work or are they just an excuse to eat cookies in peace?

Why they might help: most lactation cookies are packed with ingredients called galactagogues - fancy word for “things that might boost milk supply.”

Common goodies:

• Oats – slow-release energy and iron.

• Brewer’s yeast – B vitamins for mama energy.

• Flaxseed – omega-3s and phytoestrogens.

• Fenugreek – a herb that some studies suggest can increase supply.

The science:

Truth? Evidence is mixed from what I've read. Some ingredients may help a little but lactation cookies aren’t magic. Most of the “boost” comes from:

• Extra calorie

•Less stress

• Feeling like you’re treating yourself

Basically, cookies can help keep your energy up which indirectly supports milk production BUT let’s be honest, a happy mama = happy baby.

Bottom line - they can help, especially if your supply is slightly low but they won’t fix major supply issues on their own. For serious concerns, a lactation consultant, proper hydration and frequent feeding/pumping are your real MVPs.

So go ahead, grab a cookie (or three) - because sometimes, the emotional boost is just as important as the milk boost! 🍪

[bryonyashaw]

Here’s a delicious roundup of 🌍 100 sweet treats from around the world. These confections span cultures, flavours and traditions - perfect for recipe cards, educational posters or just a bit of global sugar-spun wanderlust.

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🍰 Europe

- Pastel de nata – Portugal’s iconic egg custard tart

- Tiramisu – Italy’s layered coffee dessert

- Baklava – Turkey’s flaky, nut-filled pastry

- Apfelstrudel – Austria’s apple-filled pastry

- Kardinalschnitten – Austria’s meringue and sponge cake

- Pavlova – New Zealand/Australia’s meringue with fruit

- Custard tart – UK’s creamy pastry classic

- Kanelbullar – Sweden’s cinnamon buns

- Medovik – Russia’s honey layer cake

- Kürtőskalács – Hungary’s chimney cake

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🍮 Middle East & North Africa

- Basbousa – Egypt’s semolina cake soaked in syrup

- Ma’amoul – Date-filled cookies from Lebanon/Syria

- Tamina – Algeria’s semolina, honey, and butter treat

- Qatayef – Stuffed pancakes served during Ramadan

- Halva – Dense sweet made from tahini or semolina

- Zalabia – Fried dough balls soaked in syrup

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🍡 Asia

- Mochi – Japan’s chewy rice cake

- Dorayaki – Japanese pancake sandwich with red bean

- Gulab jamun – India’s milk-solid dumplings in syrup

- Kulfi – India’s frozen spiced custard

- Bibingka – Philippines’ coconut rice cake

- Khanom chan – Thailand’s layered coconut jelly

- Tangyuan – China’s glutinous rice balls in syrup

- Mooncake – China’s dense pastry with sweet filling

- Bánh chuối – Vietnam’s banana cake

- Klepon – Indonesia’s pandan rice balls with palm sugar

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🍧 Africa

- Malva pudding – South Africa’s spongy apricot dessert

- Koeksisters – South African syrup-soaked braids

- Aish el Saraya – Lebanese/Egyptian bread pudding

- Deglet nour date treats – Tunisia/Algeria

- Sweet couscous – Morocco’s dessert variation

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🍦North America

- Tres leches cake – Mexico’s three-milk sponge cake

- Churros – Mexico/Spain’s fried dough sticks

- Maple taffy – Canada’s snow-cooled maple syrup

- Pecan pie – USA’s nutty southern classic

- Pumpkin pie – USA’s autumn staple

- S’mores – USA’s campfire sandwich

- Banana pudding – Southern USA comfort dessert

- Beignets – New Orleans’ powdered sugar pillows

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🍬 Latin America & Caribbean

- Tembleque – Puerto Rico’s coconut pudding

- Alfajores – Argentina’s dulce de leche sandwich cookies

- Brigadeiro – Brazil’s chocolate fudge balls

- Suspiro limeño – Peru’s caramel meringue dessert

- Cocada – Coconut candy from Colombia

- Polvorones – Crumbly cookies from Mexico

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🍭 Oceania

- Lamingtons – Australia’s sponge cake with chocolate and coconut

- Custard square – New Zealand’s vanilla slice

- Anzac biscuits – Australia/New Zealand oat cookies

[bryonyashaw]

Jianbing – China’s answer to the Breakfast Burrito!

Say hello to #Jianbing (pronounced: jee-EN-bing) - the crispy, savoury, slightly chaotic street food hero that’s been fuelling China’s mornings for over 2,000 years. Yes, TWO. THOUSAND. YEARS. That’s older than forks.

It’s basically the Chinese cousin of the crepe and the breakfast wrap - but messier, crispier, saucier and dare we say, better? You get soft AND crunchy, spicy AND sweet, plus all wrapped up in one glorious hot mess of a pancake. If your breakfast isn’t falling apart in your hands a little, is it even Jianbing?

🥢 Easy(ish) Jianbing Recipe – Street Food Without Leaving the Street You Live On

INGREDIENTS -

For the batter:

🌯1/2 cup plain flour

🌯1/4 cup mung bean flour (or just more plain flour if you’re not on a food adventure)

🌯1 cup water

🌯Pinch of salt

For the filling:

🌯2 eggs

🌯A handful of fresh coriander (optional if your fridge is sad)

🌯1 spring onion, finely chopped

🌯1 Chinese crispy wonton cracker or a few crushed prawn crackers (for crunch!)

🌯Sweet bean sauce or hoisin

🌯Chilli sauce (optional, but live a little)

🌯Oil for the pan

METHOD -

1. Whisk your batter until smooth. If it’s lumpier than your toddler’s porridge, keep going. Let it sit for 10 mins while you try to remember where the spatula is.

2. Heat a non-stick pan (medium heat), add a splash of oil, and pour in a thin layer of batter like you're painting a crepe with dreams.

3. Crack and spread the egg over the pancake like a pro. Use your spatula to smooth it out. Add chopped spring onion and coriander before it sets.

4. Flip it! Gently. No pan-flipping acrobatics — this is a crepe, not a trampoline. Cook for another minute until it’s golden.

5. Add the sauce — spread hoisin or sweet bean sauce across the top, plus a dash of chilli sauce if your taste buds are still asleep.

6. Crispy crunch time! Place the wonton cracker (or crushed crackers) in the middle.

7. Fold it up like a wrap, a burrito, or origami — honestly, any shape that holds sauce and love is perfect.

8. Serve hot, eat fast, and accept the mess. Jianbing is not a first-date food. But it IS a “this is the best thing I’ve eaten before 9AM” kind of food.

[bryonyashaw]

Magic 💫

[bryonyashaw]

Surviving a teen, a tween, a kid and a baby

(Serves: one multitasking mum who just wants to snack in peace)

The recipe -

Ingredients:

– 1 teen who loves anime and alone time, especially when family time is suggested.

– 1 tween who games hard, sandwiches harder and hears “bedtime” as a personal insult.

– 1 curly-haired snack thief with a Stitch teddy and zero chill during teeth cleaning negotiations.

– 1 baby permanently attached to your chest, occasionally screaming like mini demon.

– 4 conflicting opinions, 3 ignored instructions, 2 bickering siblings, and 1 mum trying to finish a cake without being spotted.

– A generous sprinkle of boundary reminders (“We respect each other’s space!”)

– 1 comic that somehow captured all of this but didn't make it look charming like social media posts I see where motherhood is beautiful and full of whimsy

Method:

1. Begin with a family time suggestion. Watch everyone scatter like you’ve announced them paying the bills.

2. Attempt to multitask: hold baby, answer tween’s gaming question, referee an outfit dispute, and sneak a snack behind the fridge door.

3. Enforce boundaries. Repeat phrases like “Please listen,” “Respect each other,” and “I am one person” until they become your daily mantra.

4. Navigate bedtime battles. Teen disappears. Tween stalls. Curly one wants snacks. Baby finally sleeps - on you - nap trap ensues.

5. Rock in a corner of a dark room.

6. Collapse into bed with crumbs in your hair and exhaustion in your heart.

Notes:

– May contain spontaneous singing to K-pop Demon Hunters, dramatic sighs and declarations of injustice.

– Best served with humour, low expectations and a hidden stash of chocolate.

[bryonyashaw]

All things beets! Inspired by Nana Marion's vegetable patch in her garden which has tomatoes, courgettes ... And of course beets Dwight Shrute would be proud of! (The Office reference)

13 ways with beetroot!

(Click on link to see the recipes ☺️)

1. Beetroot chips

2. Beetroot and Feta Pasta

3. Beetroot and feta Burgers

4. Beetroot Risotto

5. Beetroot Pickles

6. Beetroot Brownie

7. Beetroot Falafel

8. Beetroot and goat cheese salad

9. Beetroot hummus

10. Beetroot Borscht

11. Beetroot falafel

12. Beetroot and fillet steak salad

13. Beetroot Dill and Feta Frittata

[bryonyashaw]

Haven Cleethorpes: A Family Survival Guide (with meal planning!)

So, we're off to Haven Cleethorpes – home of arcades, seagulls with bad attitudes and the constant sound of 2p coins clattering down machines. It’s a magical place where kids develop superhuman stamina for swimming, scootering and pestering you for slushies.

And instead of living off chicken nuggets and whatever’s left in the on-site shop (which, by the way, will happily sell you inflatables the size of your caravan for £1 but bread costs £4.50), you’ve done the impossible: you’ve meal planned. 👏

The Caravan life -

Your static caravan will be your cosy-but-chaotic hub. Here’s what to expect:

The fridge is approximately the size of a shoebox, so meal planning = fridge Tetris.

The seating area is both a sofa and a bed, depending on how many small people you’ve brought.

Someone will slam a cupboard door so hard you think it’s broken (it’s not, they all sound like that).

Caravan heating is either “Arctic chill” or “Sahara desert” – no in between.

The meal plan reality -

Because you’ve prepped like a pro, here’s how your week might actually play out:

Night 1: Easy meal (pasta or wraps). You’ll be too busy unpacking, arguing about bed spaces and trying to figure out the TV remote.

Night 2: Proper home-cooked meal (your moment to shine).

Night 3: Flex night. This is when fish and chips at the seaside calls your name. And let’s be honest - you’re not ignoring that call.

Night 4: Kid-friendly feast. Jacket potato, tacos, fajitas - whatever guarantees silence for 20 minutes.

Night 5: “Leftovers buffet.” A thrilling medley of Babybel, half a loaf of bread, and the mystery yoghurts no one claimed.

Snacks, always Snacks -

Even the best meal plan can’t stop the inevitable:

“Mum, I’m starving” (30 minutes after lunch).

“Can I have something?” (while waving a half-eaten donut from the entertainment complex).

“There’s literally nothing to eat” (staring directly at a stocked cupboard).

Your secret weapon? Chicken bites, babybels, cereal bars, fruit and biscuits hidden in the caravan. (Bonus points if you stash emergency chocolate for yourself)

The Haven Must-Do’s -

Pool time: Bring extra towels. The caravan will smell like a swamp otherwise.

Arcades: Budget your coins or accept that you’ve basically opened a savings account for the claw machines.

Entertainment: Yes, you’ll find yourself singing along to cheesy songs. No, you won’t admit it later.

Beach: Fish & chips are non-negotiable. It’s seaside law.

Final thought: Haven Cleethorpes with a family is equal parts chaos and comedy. Your meal plan won’t save you from the arcade madness or the 3am caravan heating crisis, but it will make sure everyone is fed, happy and ready to run wild again!

[bryonyashaw]

🍌 Banana Bread (a.k.a. what you use when your fruit begins to brown)

POV - there are three bananas on your counter that now look like they’ve lived through a war.

They’re soft, spotty, and quite frankly - one poke away from a full emotional breakdown.

Which means… it's banana bread time.

Because nothing screams "I have my life together" like turning brown mush into a loaf!

INGREDIENTS

• 3 very ripe bananas (if they're almost talking back, they’re perfect)

• 100g brown sugar (or white, if that’s all that’s left)

• 75g melted butter or oil

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

•200g self-raising flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• Pinch of salt

Optional:

– Handful of choc chips or walnuts

– Sprinkle of cinnamon

– Dash of smugness

🍞 METHOD

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) / 350°F. Grease or line a loaf tin. Bonus points if you remember where the baking paper is.

2. Mash the bananas in a big bowl until they look like baby food. Try not to think about it too much.

3. Stir in the sugar, melted butter/oil, eggs, and vanilla. Mix it until it’s all having a lovely group hug.

4. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Fold gently like you're tucking it into bed, not punishing it.

5. Chuck in any extras – choc chips, nuts, cinnamon – whatever your emotional state demands.

6. Pour into the tin and bake for 45–55 minutes. If a skewer comes out clean (or just a bit gooey with chocolate), it’s ready.

7. Cool (slightly) before slicing. Or don’t. Eat it hot with butter while hiding from your kids. Your call.

🍌 Banana Bread Life Tip:

Letting bananas go brown isn’t laziness. It’s just long-term recipe planning. Very advanced. Very economical. Very delicious (I add lots of chocolate chips!)

[bryonyashaw]

Inspired by yesterday's Milestone talk, I created some alternative Milestone Cards for 0 to 12 month old babies based on Bands! 🎸🥁 had fun doing these!

- Blink 182 "Fresh From the Oven"

- Sum 41 – “Milk Drunk”

- Neck Deep – “First Meltdown in Public”

- Simple Creatures – “On the Bottle”

- Stand Atlantic – “Drool Monster on the Loose”

- Paramore – “Clap Clap Hurray”

- Box Car Racer – “First Latch”

- Slipknot – “First Taste Test”

- Green Day – “Who Needs Sleep”

- Metallica – “Spit-Up Artist at Work”

- Black Sabbath – “First Bath”

- Angels & Airwaves – “Welcome to My Crib”

- Stone Sour – “First Fang”

- My Chemical Romance – “I Can Sit”

- Evanescence – “I Can Clap”

- Yungblud – “On the Move”

- Panic! At the disco "Nap Attack"

- Killswitch Engage "Pee Demon"

- Lacuna Coil - "Sun's out belly out"

- AFI - "Rolling with the homies"

- Fallout Boy - "Sippy cup revoltion"

- New Found Glory - "Snack Attack."

More here

[bryonyashaw]

[bryonyashaw]

Milestones, mayhem and Mum fog

Three months in with Dottie and she’s already a whole little person - she smiles like she’s in on the joke, babbles like she’s hosting a podcast, tracks objects like a mini hawk and startles dramatically at loud noises. She’s found her hands (obsessed) and has different cries for hunger, boredom and pain - like a tiny diva with a soundboard.

Watching her show excitement when she sees me? Best part of my day - my older kids I get eye rolls and answers back!

But also… I’m tired. Like, bone-deep, foggy-brain, “did I eat a vegetable today?” tired. Postpartum is no joke - there’s the hormonal chaos, the hair loss, the body changes (I feel saggy), the weird aches, the tears that come out of nowhere. Some days I feel like I’m doing everything and nothing at once. And the nights? They’re long. Even when she sleeps, my brain doesn’t always switch off.

Being a baby mum again is beautiful and brutal. So I’ve started creating milestone images for anyone else riding this wave - whether it’s your first time or your sixth. Every baby goes at their own pace, and so do we. No comparison, just survival and celebration.

Feel free to save, share, or just nod along while covered in muslin cloths, snack crumbs and a vague sense of “what day is it?”

Welcome to the 0 to 3 month phase, also known as “The Fourth Trimester,” “The Milk Era,” or “That Time I Forgot What Day It Was.” Your baby is technically doing nothing... and yet somehow doing everything.

They can’t sit, crawl, or hold a grudge (yet), but they can scream like they’re auditioning for a horror film, hiccup with dramatic flair and stare at light fixtures like they’re receiving divine messages.

Milestones include:

- Neck strength: floppy with occasional surprise sturdiness that makes you question physics.

- Communication: a complex language of grunts, snorts, and cries that all mean “I’m fine but also fix everything.”

- Sleep: for them, maybe. For you? Only if you’ve made peace with being horizontal for 17 minutes at a time.

They’ll smile once (probably at a wall) and you’ll take 50 different photos at different angles. You’ll Google “is my baby bored?” at 2am, even though they’ve literally just discovered their own feet.

And through it all, you’ll be told to “enjoy every moment,” while wearing a top that smells like cheese and wondering if you’ve hallucinated the sound of silence.

So yes, 0 to 3 months. A time of great mystery, mild chaos and tiny socks that somehow disappear forever.

Welcome to 3 to 6 months, where your baby is suddenly very busy despite having zero responsibilities. They’ve discovered their feet, their voice and the art of fake coughing for attention.

They still don’t sleep like a human, but they do roll over at the exact moment you try to change a nappy. They’re training for Cirque du Soleil and you’re just trying to keep the wipes from drying out.

Milestones include:

- Rolling: mostly during inconvenient moments, like on the edge of the bed or mid-poo.

- Grabbing: your hair, your nose, your dignity.

- Babbling: a mix of vowels, conspiracy theories, and what sounds suspiciously like sarcasm.

They’re teething but also not teething, depending on which relative you ask. Everything goes in the mouth - hands, toys, your debit card - and they now scream when you leave the room, even if you’re just going to the loo to cry in peace.

You’ll be told to “start solids soon,” as if you’re not already elbow-deep in mashed banana and existential dread. You’ll try tummy time, they’ll faceplant, and somehow it’s your fault.

But they’ll also laugh (like, properly laugh) and you’ll forget you haven’t slept since February. You’ll catch them watching you like you’re the most fascinating creature on Earth. Which, to be fair, you are. You’ve survived 3 to 6 months of this nonsense.

Welcome to 6 to 9 months, where your baby is no longer just a potato with feelings - they’re mobile, opinionated and deeply committed to chaos.

They crawl (or invent their own method of floor travel), they sit like royalty, and they bang things together like they’re testing sound for a garage band. They’ve got intentions now and none of them involve staying still.

Milestones include:

- Cruising: aka walking while holding furniture and looking smug.

- Pulling to stand: usually on unstable objects like laundry baskets or your leg.

- Picking up food: and immediately throwing it at the dog.

- Waving and clapping: mostly at themselves.

They now laugh at peek-a-boo like it’s high comedy, cry when you leave the room like you’ve betrayed them, and show fear of strangers unless said stranger has snacks.

You’ll be told “they’re learning so much!” while you Google “how to baby-proof a house built in 1890.” You’ll try to feed them something organic and they’ll lick the table instead.

They’re expressive, explosive, and somehow louder than a blender. But they’re also hilarious. You’ll catch them clapping at their own burp and suddenly everything feels worth it.

Welcome to 9 to 12 months, where your baby is basically a drunk tiny roommate with boundary issues and a strong opinion about cupboard doors.

They’re crawling with purpose, cruising like they own the furniture, and possibly taking first steps - usually toward something they’re not allowed to touch. They pick up crumbs with surgical precision but somehow miss entire spoons of food.

Milestones include:

- Pulling to stand: on furniture, your leg, the dog.

- Cruising: aka side-shuffling with confidence and zero spatial awareness.

- Gestures: waving, clapping, and shaking their head like they’re done with your nonsense.

- Saying “mama” or “dada”: but mostly to the wrong person.

They now cry when you leave the room, laugh at peek-a-boo like it’s Shakespeare, and show fear of strangers unless said stranger is holding a biscuit. They bang things together for sport and copy your actions - so yes, they saw you sigh dramatically and now it’s part of their personality.

You’ll be told “they’re nearly toddlers!” while you’re still trying to figure out how to shower without an audience. You’ll attempt a family meal and they’ll eat one pea, throw two, and smear the rest into their socks.... Buttttt they’ll also light up when you walk in, clap at their own achievements and wobble toward you like you’re the prize at the end of a very chaotic game show. Which is cute.

[bryonyashaw]

Family Day Out at Rutland Aqua Park! 💦

The kids spent an hour at the UK’s largest inflatable water park and somehow managed to achieve the impossible: the kids forgot screens existed. No Roblox, no YouTube, no suspicious requests for “just five more minutes” - just pure, bouncy chaos in the outside world!

With over 40 obstacles including trampolines, climbing walls, balance beams and the towering 5.5-metre Rutland Mammoth slide! They climbed, splashed, slipped and laughed their way through the session like they were auditioning for a stunt show. You’ll find blast bags that launch people like popcorn, Tornado Tower (3.5m) Seadragon (10m) flip stations for the show-offs, climbing walls, balance boards, monkey domes and wobbly walkways!

• 50-minute sessions - enough to burn off sugar and test your core strength

• £20 per person + £5 wetsuit hire (or BYO)

• Life jackets included; waivers must be done online or pay £5 admin fee

• Ages 6+ only; must swim 25m unaided

• 6–7s need an adult on the water

• 8–15s need an adult watching from shore

📍 Location: Bull Brigg Lane, Whitwell, Oakham, Rutland LE15 8BL

🗓️ Opening Times:

— Weekends only from May 10 to September 22

— Daily from June 30 to September 8

If you’ve got time to explore beyond the Aqua Park, Rutland Water itself is huge - 4,200 acres of countryside with walking and cycling trails, a nature reserve, mini golf, a beach (summer only), and play areas at Sykes Lane. There’s even a 15-mile perimeter track if you fancy a scenic bike ride or long walk.

You’ll find cafés at Whitwell and Sykes Lane, toilets, and plenty of parking - even for motorhomes. It’s open daily except Christmas Day, with most activities running from Good Friday to 31st October.

If you’re looking for a summer outing that gets the kids active, off screens then Rutland Aqua Park delivers. Just be prepared for wet socks, sandy crisps and children who somehow still have energy after all that cardio.

What’s your go-to trick for getting the kids outdoors and joyfully exhausted? I’m building a list - preferably ones that come with hot chocolate and a bench.

[bryonyashaw]

A Shaw family favourite - home made Pizza! This is a 'Healthy Pizza' Recipe (with extra Cheese)

Alternatively just make a pizza dough the 'normal' way - you don't need to add all the veg and just go for your classic pizzas without the fuss! When I do those pizzas I have a simple white dough, add tomato puree, layer on salami and cheese and cook!

Two Pizza Base Options -

Option 1:

Wholemeal Yeasted Dough

🍕250g wholemeal flour

🍕1 tsp salt

🍕1 tsp sugar

🍕7g fast-action yeast (1 sachet)

🍕2 tbsp olive oil

🍕180–200ml warm water

→ Mix, knead 5 mins, rise 30–45 mins.

Option 2:

No-Yeast Greek Yogurt Dough

🍕200g self-raising flour

🍕200g Greek yogurt

🍕Pinch of salt

→ Mix, roll, use straight away.

HEALTHY PIZZA SAUCE

🍅200g passata or chopped tinned tomatoes

🍅1 tbsp tomato purée

🍅1 tsp dried oregano

🍅½ tsp garlic granules or fresh minced garlic

🍅Pinch of salt and black pepper

→ Mix — no cooking needed!

Cheese (Yes, Extra!)

🧀Use a smart cheese mix for melty, rich flavour without overload:

🧀75g part-skim mozzarella (melty + lower fat)

🧀25g reduced-fat mature cheddar (sharp flavour = you need less)

🧀15g grated parmesan (adds savoury boost)

🧀Optional: a few spoons of low-fat ricotta or cottage cheese for creaminess

Layer the mozzarella first, then cheddar + parmesan on top.

Toppings That Balance the Cheese:

•Sliced tomato

• Red onion

• Spinach

• Mushrooms

• Peppers

• Fresh basil or rocket (add after baking)

Optional: grilled chicken or tuna for protein!

METHOD

1. Roll dough thin for a crispier base (or thick for a chewier crust).

2. Spread sauce, add cheese and toppings.

3. Bake at 220°C (425°F) for 10–15 mins until golden and bubbly.

4. Slice up and enjoy!

Why it’s still healthy:

• More veg = more fibre and nutrients

• Smart cheese blend = full flavour with less fat

• Wholemeal base = slow-release carbs

• No processed meats = lower salt and preservatives

#homemadepizza

[bryonyashaw]

🛒 Healthy-ish Family Shopping List! Balanced. Realistic. Sanity-saving.

🥦 Fruit & Veg (Fresh or Frozen)

• Bananas (for snacking, smoothies or turning black and into banana bread)

• Apples (preferably the ones your kids won’t bite and leave on the stairs)

• Berries (frozen work great for porridge or yogurt toppers)

• Carrots (raw, roasted, hidden in everything)

• Spinach (goes in pasta, smoothies and your soul)

• Cherry tomatoes

• Bell peppers

• Broccoli

• Sweet potatoes

• Cucumbers (a.k.a. the veggie my kids all actually eat)

• Avocados (for toast, if you're feeling bougie)

• Garlic and onions (essential flavour warriors)

🍞 Bread, Grains & Pulses

• Wholemeal bread (plus crumpets or bagels if you're feeling friendly)

• Brown rice or basmati

• Quinoa or couscous

• Oats (for porridge, flapjacks, or face masks)

• Wholewheat pasta

• Lentils (for soup or sneaky spaghetti bol)

• Tinned beans (chickpeas, kidney, cannellini - whatever sounds posh)

🥛 Dairy & Alternatives

• Milk (cow’s, oat, or whatever your fridge war supports)

• Greek yogurt or natural yogurt (thick, creamy, goes with everything)

• Cheese (my kids and I love the mature cheddar)

• Butter or spread (would get Lurpak but the budget is Norpak!)

🍗 Protein

• Eggs (so many uses, including bribery)

• Chicken breasts or thighs

• Mince (beef, turkey or veggie)

• Tinned tuna or salmon

• Tofu (optional)

🧂Pantry Must-Haves

• Olive oil or rapeseed oil

• Herbs & spices (paprika, oregano, garlic powder – the usual suspects)

• Low-salt stock cubes

• Peanut butter (the good kind, not just sugar paste)

• Honey or maple syrup

• Pasta sauce or tinned tomatoes

• Baked beans

• Wholegrain cereal or porridge oats

🍫 Cheeky Treats (because balance)

• A bar of dark chocolate (we’ll pretend it’s “antioxidants”)

• Ice lollies or frozen yogurt tubes

• Popcorn (lightly salted, not toffee-coated unless it’s Friday)

• Chocolate rice cakes or snack bars

• A pack of biscuits for “emergencies” (read: every afternoon)

• Mini pizzas or frozen fish fingers (no shame in a freezer win)

Bonus Bits -

• Foil, clingfilm, or snack bags

• Coffee/tea (for obvious survival reasons)