The Herniman House

*this post contains items that I have been sent or previously sent to review. I will clearly state which items these are. All opinions and thoughts are my own*

Over the last 4 years (so not ok with saying I have a 4 year old *sobs*) we’ve got to use a lot of different travel products and I’m starting to know what we really need and what we can do without taking up suitcase space.

Recently we went on what’s becoming our annual family holiday to Portugal and we’re very lucky to be looking forward to a couple of staycations, camping trips and a holiday to France later this year. Packing space isn’t going to be excessive for any of these trips so these 5 products really are my must haves.

Babymule changing bag – I was sent this to review just before B was born and it’s still an essential these days, possibly even more so with two young children!

It’s the perfect bag to use for carry on luggage and for day trips. The different compartments and accessories mean I can pack plenty for everyone and access it all. The separate bag, I use for nappies and wipes, is perfect for a quick dash to the loos or to pass to someone else taking them to get changed without having to take the entire bag or pull everything out in the search for stuff.

Diono buggy buddy – there’s a fair few different brands of these organisers, but this is the one we use and love since G was tiny.

It always hangs at the right angle whenever the pushchair handles are adjusted, and it’s got a great amount of space to be able to hold some essentials. It’s also got two cup holders for yours or the kids’ drinks.

Nom Nom snack pouches – we’ve previously reviewed both the purée pouches and snack pouches and have been brand reps for them too, and I still can’t fault them. Snacks are an essential part of keeping everyone happy on holiday (and at home!) and these are a brilliant way to pack an easy to grab selection. And when they’re pressed closed they really are super strong, which means snacks aren’t exploding all over the place.

Nuby Flip It Beakers – there’s lots of cups and beakers we’ve tried and use in the house, but I’ve found these to be my favourite when traveling.

They’re suitable to be used by both kids, less arguments about who’s is who’s, and the straw can be closed easily to keep it cleaner. And it doesn’t leak much when launched across a restaurant *facepalm*.

Snoozeshade – we were recently sent the Snoozeshade plus deluxe to review, but we’ve been using the original for years and it’s just brilliant. It’s fantastic to have the reassurance that the children are able to have some safe space out of the sun and a darkened place to nap on the go.

The deluxe plus (not surprisingly) is even better than the original. The double front panels are perfect for nosey children (oh hi B!) to be able to see out but have some cover and sun protection even when not asleep, so there’s no need to take the whole shade off which is what we used to have to do. Now the shade can stay on, great for days out in the sun, and just close up the panels for an on the go nap.

It’s also great for light rain showers, so when packing space is limited I can get away without packing a rain cover.

There’s definitely a lot more that I like to pack for trips and holidays, but these are the 5 items that I really REALLY don’t like to be without. In fact on our recent trip to Portugal we didn’t take a Snoozeshade with us, and I genuinely missed having it every day we went out. I will not be making that mistake again!

What are your holiday essentials that you cannot be without?

Mrs H xxx

If you follow me on social media, either via my blog or on my personal accounts, you will see that I have been increasingly vocal regarding the irish referendum this week.

And I guess unsurprisingly I have received a couple of messages questioning my strong views because I’m not irish. That’s right, I’m not. None of my immediate family is irish. I have never lived there. In fact I’ve only ever visited northern ireland for one weekend (side note: definitely something to rectify travel wise!). So why would I care so much?? My answer; why would I not?!

I know it’s what everyone says, but seriously. it’s 2018!! Why are women across the world still not trusted to have autonomy over their own bodies. They cannot make decisions about themselves. Ireland is literally the closest country to the uk and the law is so unbelievably outdated that there are humans refusing other humans life saving treatment. Women are dying, suffering, physically and mentally hurting, because of the decisions of others. Decisions that are made on their behalf and in spite of what they need. And despite the divide in the actual country, the republic of ireland still has influence over the laws in northern ireland, so they do not have the same rights as the rest of the uk. Repealing the 8th amendment could mean that the rights of those in part of the UK are changed to catch up with the rest of us.

I cannot comprehend someone telling me what is right for me and my body and therefore I cannot comprehend keeping quiet about the rights of other women, mothers, sisters, friends, aunties, cousins, that are sentenced to suffer alone, ashamed and in a strange country or a darkened bedroom. That are left to take unimaginable risks to be able to control their bodies. That are quietly bleeding, unable to tell anyone in case they are reported and arrested. That are mentally struggling and recieving no help or support. If a woman was raped and fell pregnant, she could face longer in jail for that the despicable being who raped her. Because please make no mistake, abortions being illegal will never stop abortions. It merely stops safe abortions.

Let me just say that again. A woman could be pregnant as a result of a brutal rape, an event no one would ever forget or fully move on from, but would be expected to carry a pregnancy to term if it occured, and if she made a decision that that wouldn’t be possible, which I don’t know how anyone can argue with, she could face a longer custodial sentence than the person who violently and cruelly raped her. It’s like something out of a television drama, but this is what is facing the lives of every single woman in ireland.

Perhaps the story that stands out the most to me is the utterly tragic story of Savita Halappanavar who in 2012 – a mere 6 years ago – went into a Galway hospital at 17 weeks pregnant. She was miscarrying and the pregnancy turned septic. A miscarriage is a tragic and awful thing to happen and completely impossible to reverse. There was zero percent chance of saving that pregnancy. absolutely impossible. But when doctors scanned Savita, they found that the poor baby still had a faint heartbeat.

That poor baby that sadly would never, ever have the chance to live had the faintest of heartbeats and therefore for those doctors, took precedence over its mother. Savita requested a medical abortion as the natural process was very prolonged, but this was denied as her life was not seen to be in danger. She was denied medical treatment because of a baby who, very sadly, was not going to live. Because of this delay in treatment Savita developed fatal sepsis and died. So when I hear that keeping this archaic and outdated legislation is about saving lives, I really cannot get my head around it. Instead of saving a woman’s life, a life with history and much more potential two lives were lost, one completely pointlessly.

This law is about so much more than just abortions, and whether they are right or wrong.  The presence of the 8th amendment is quite simply a source of discrimination against women. It ensures that the health system discriminates against them. That professionals discriminate against them. It ensures that pregnant women are subjected to intense physical examinations against their will. It means that a healthcare professional can decide what a pregnant woman can and cannot do. All this in a country where contraception was illegal until as recently as 1980 and where a percentage of the population still opposes the use of artificial contraception.

Repealing the 8th will allow the regulation of pregnancy. It will mean that women are not psychologically tortured, that they are not forced to leave their homes to travel for treatment, victims of rape and abuse will not become more criminal than the vermin who subject them to it, and that those who tragically have pregnancies that are impossible to survive are not forced to prolong their pain and suffering.

No, I’m not irish. but I am a woman. I care deeply that others may have the same rights, may be trusted to make their own decisions, may know what is best for them and their bodies as I have.

You only have to look at the hashtag #HomeForYes to see how important this is, how far people are traveling to use their vote – as postal votes do not exist for Ireland, nor can you vote if you left Ireland over 18 months ago, even if it was your home for decades.

If by chance you are reading this ahead of the vote and you have the right to vote, I implore you to please vote yes. Vote to trust, vote to change and vote to care. Every single vote for yes matters. Please. Repeal the 8th amendment.

Mrs H xxx