Katy Hill's working mum diary

As a Blue Peter presenter Katy Hill had her fair share of adventures, but these days she faces tougher challenges - juggling full-time motherhood with a TV career. From Daybreak to day’s end, Katy and husband Trey have their hands full with a five-year-old daughter and toddler son. And there’s not a nanny in sight. This could get messy…

Maximum effort - maximum effect!

By Katy Hill on 28 Oct 2011 No comments

Hope you’re having an amazing half term!

Trey and I always joke that being a parent is a bit like that nursery rhyme about Michael Finnegan...'Michael Finnegan...Begin again.' Just as your day with the kids is over, it doesn’t feel like very long before the whole process starts again!

It has to be said, however amazing being a parent is, there’s a certain 'groundhog day' existence to the whole thing, and whilst some days I totally manage to 'live it' and channel my brilliant, fun, entertaining inner mummy (!) there are days when I’m just getting through. Not every day can be a maximum effort, maximum effect day - but occasionally those days are AMAZING.

I had one such day last Saturday. I decided to take my lady to London to celebrate the first day of half term in style.

First off, an Ugg Event at Selfridges where she was so excited to get her face painted and customise her own pair of Uggs! I managed a quick catch-up with the yummiest of mummies Jo Whiley (four kids and looks amazing!), Gail Porter and Meg Matthews (who’s daughter Anais is basically Noel Gallagher with long blonde hair!). We then had hot chocolate in the gorgeous Aubaine cafe in Selfridges’ Shoe Gallery (BEST shoe department I’ve EVER seen!), before jumping on the tube and heading to the O2 for Disney on Ice! (how much fun can a five year old handle?)

Kaya LOVED the show, although she ended up sat on my lap the whole time since we were behind some very tall people! The first half featured Cars, Tinkerbell and Ariel, which she adored, and the second half was all Toy Story. If you’re going, have a great time! But careful what you promise in the excitement! The programs were £10... and they had these light up wands you could buy. I chased one of the guys down with two very excited girls during the interval, only to be told they were £16 EACH?! Seriously?! For a bit of flashing plastic? I felt like the world's biggest loser of a mother when I realised I only had £20 cash on me. So we left empty handed and I had to tell the girls the ones they had left didn’t have any batteries!!! (well, it MIGHT have been true!)

Hi-light for Kaya was totally Queen Clarion from Tinkerbell - she loved her 'lighting up' dress, wings and crown, and I couldn’t help but chuckle to my mate about how she looked a bit Big Fat Gypsy Wedding!

And it was too funny - the friend I went with had a daughter of eight, who’s that bit more savvy than five year old Kaya, and kept coming out with things like 'that Barbie is the same lady that was dressed up as Ariel before!' 'NOOOOOOOO!' Thankfully Kaya just looked a bit confused, but continued to buy the fact that these were infact the REAL princesses ;-)

After the show and a 'grown up' dinner at Cafe Rouge, Kaya and I jumped on the tube and headed back to the enormous TopShop at Oxford Circus. I’d heard about their amazing new nail bar, Wah Nails (check out your closest at www.wah-nails.com) and took my lady to have her nails done. She thought it was amazing and I have to say, they did a GREAT job. So many designs to choose from - and their 'quick dry' totally worked. Not one smudge for the first time EVER! ;-)

It was too funny seeing my little lady sat there, having her nails done next to twenty-somethings, all dolled up and ready for the night of clubbing ahead! It was a flash forward into her future! (just don’t tell Daddy!)

It was the BEST day. I made it all about Kaya, so we ended with a bit of window shopping at Hamleys (she had to be the only kid leaving empty handed!), then back to our car, into her pj’s for the drive home, and after choking me up completely with 'Mummy - I’ll remember this day FOREVER' she was out - before we even left the car park!

Maximum effort - maximum effect!

And you know what? Mummy will remember the day forever too.

This week I’m loving:

Merino Kids

www.merinokids.co.uk

With the changing weather at the moment, getting your baby/toddlers temperature right at night is tough. And so many of the sleep sac options are made from cheap, synthetic fabrics that make your little person sweat!

Merino Kids make 100% natural sleeping products for kids, using New Zealand’s Merino Wool. I’ve been testing a sleep sac on Akria and it’s amazing! I love it! Merino Kids make them for two-four year olds where everyone else seems to stop at three, so the sac is long enough for him, and fitted around the body. The wool keeps the body warm in the winter and cool in the summer and, most importantly, allows the skin to breathe. There’s a genius hole so you can use the sac for naps in a car seat or pushchair and there’s even a 'duvet weight' sac for toddlers.

They’re not cheap, but they are amazing. So worth it for the peace of mind that your child isn’t inhaling anything it shouldn’t be. Natural all the way baby! x