Cowboys And Rockets (Featured Post)

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As part of my acceptance that September will happen and that The Boy will have to go to school, I've been starting to think about moving him out of his beautiful nursery into a big boy bedroom. Only starting to think about it however, but the realisation is there.

I've been toying with a variety of themes for his room, and as I'll be painting a mural on his walls it has to be something that can last a few years; I really don't want to have to repaint a very complicated picture after only a year or two. There have been a variety of ideas from a zoo, space, the countryside, pirates, the sea, a farm, the wild west with cowboys and then back to space again. Knowing me, I'll probably try and fit all of these in to the small room and completely overpower it! I have a vision of a landscape (of some sort) and the sky fading up to a darker blue with a rocket zooming through the stars and planets. I just hope it won't be too much!

Of course the added complication comes when finding soft furnishings to match. Many of the bedding sets I've seen are quite stereotypically boyish, which is not The Boy. I definitely prefer the hand-drawn style prints that are available as they look more child friendly. However, finding curtains and bedding to match is very difficult and leaves me to think about buying a ream of fabric and making it. This Gary curtain fabric turquoise fabric seems ideal as it has the watercolour and hand-drawn appearance that I've been hankering after, plus it isn't too boyish.

Gary Curtain Fabric Turquoise

I think a picture like this would make an ideal mural for a young boy's bedroom. The only question is where I can still have rockets zooming through space three foot above a cowboy and his horse?

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Devon Duvets Three Fold Wool Pillow (Review)

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Last year we started going away for weekends or short breaks a fair amount with The Boy. Most of the time we stayed in a Premier Inn where the quality is guaranteed and consistent; the beds are always of a certain firmness, the duvets are warm, the pillows are plentiful and varying in thickness.

However, there were occasions when we stayed in non Premier Inn accommodation and then the one thing that is guaranteed to give me a good night's sleep was inconsistent; pillows. I'm a bit fussy with my pillows, I like two, one of which must be hard-ish and thin and one which must be fluffy. In getting one of both types then I can usually get them the right way around somehow to suit my head that night! What I can't bear is one pillow that's too flat, or two really fluffy pillows where I end up feeling smothered. I'm getting fussy in my old age.

A few weeks ago, I was sent a soft pillow made with 3 fold wool made by Devon Duvets. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I read that it was a small travelling blanket that folds up into a pillow, something not soft and fluffy though.

travel bedding

Inside the box was a thick fluffy pillow encased in 100% cotton which was soft and comforting to lay on. It's a standard size pillow (measuring approximately 48 x 74cm) which means it could comfortably be used on a bed normally. The Boy was very intrigued to discover the fold of fabric and quickly undid it to discover a duvet style blanket (approximately 74cm by 130cm). Obviously this is not big enough for an adult to sleep under, but would be perfect to use in the back of a car to keep passengers warm, or on a single bed for a child.

The wool used as the filling is not bleached or chemically treated during any stage of its processing. The aspect of this pillow that I find comforting (apart from it's softness) is the hygiene; the natural properties of wool resist dust mites, making these pillows suitable for allergy sufferers. This is also good to know as I could easily use it as The Boy's main pillow on away trips, meaning he has a consistent pillow to sleep on with no dust mites. And it's easily cleaned using a machine wash on a wool settting.

Ever the eco-warrior, I also find it reassuring that Devon Duvets wool pillows are sustainable products; the sheep is reared solely for its wool and returns to the pasture after shearing.

At £69.00 it's not a cheap option for a pillow in comparison to the average polyester filled alternatives. However, it's not comparable because of the filling, and because of its dual use.

I was sent this product for the purpose of this review, my opinion is honest and unbiased.

Bedding by Kings & Queens: The Specialist Duvet Company (Review)

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I can't think of a single person in the world who wouldn't name sleep as one of their favourite pasttimes or a bed as one of their favourite places (and not like that!). I think it was Gloria Hunniford who said (in an advert promoting a mattress company) that you should invest in good quality shoes and beds, because if you're not using one then you're using the other. It's why we spent £500 last year on a really good quality mattress, because every parent out there knows that every second of sleep is a treasured moment and should be enjoyed as much as possible.

However, it's not just the thing that you sleep on but what you sleep under that can ensure a good night's sleep and so we were recently sent new bedding for all of us to try out. I know, I needed to spend more time sleeping for the purpose of a review. It's a hard life, hey?

First up were pillows from the Silk Indulgence range by Kings & Queens, The Specialist Bedding Company. Mr. TBaM and I were sent these, but seeing our heads on them would be slightly boring and so I asked The Boy to see how fluffy and comfortable they were.

bedding

I think it's safe to say that they passed the crash test he subjected them to, and having then had a pillow fight with him I can verify that they are very soft and fluffy indeed. With 5% of the filling being silk I'm not really surprised.

Next up was the Silk Indulgence duvet from Kings & Queens in king size and 4.5 tog thickness which is perfect for hiding under and making dens, as well as ensuring you head off to the land of nod with a smooth ride.

bedding

It shocks my mum that we still have both windows in our bedroom open every night (even if only a fraction) but I find that a cooler room gives a better night's sleep. We've just switched back from our 7.5 tog duvet to the 4.5 tog duvet featured above, and it is very comfortable indeed and really keeps its shape. The Silk Indulgence duvet is available in single through to super kingsize, and with a choice of 4.5, 10.5 or 13.5 tog. Certainly something for every sleeper!

The Silk Indulgence range uses Kings & Queens' Smartfil® advanced fibre technology which is "four times finer yet plumper than ordinary hollowfibre fillings and has been blended with silk here for added indulgence; allows 30% more air to circulate around the body, creating greater warmth efficiency and a fresher sleeping environment; has been uniquely blended and tested to ensure greater durability than standard hollowfibre."

Kings & Queens duvets, pillows and mattress toppers are available from Tesco Direct, Littlewoods, Grattan and JD Williams.

I was sent these products for the purpose of this review, my opinions is honest and unbiased.

Goose Bedding (Review)

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I seem to post a lot of photos of my son asleep in his toddler bed; mainly because I can't believe how quickly he is growing and changing, where did the last three years go? However, it's no wonder that I was asked to review a duvet set, and more recently a bedding set.

The Boy was sent a feather duvet and pillow set from Goose, who have created a range of feather and duck down bedding for our little goslings!

I'll put my hands up now and admit to having always disliked sleeping under feather duvets, mainly because my one main experience was in my inlaws' house and I always found that the feathers slumped down to the bottom of the cover overnight, leaving my feet boiling and my shoulders freezing.

However, when I read about the 'technology' behind Goose bedding, I was happy to give it a go and be proven wrong. Anything to try and keep The Boy sleeping longer in the morning, and for us to regain the hours of sleep that we crave.

I'm a big fan of sleep and will happily sleep anywhere, but it transpires that for us to get the best quality sleep (which is after all what we want for our little ones to help them grow) we need to maintain an even body and skin temperature. It seems obvious when stated, but clearly when we get too cold or too hot it disturbs our sleep and we either throw off the duvet covers or try and snuggle in more. In the middle of the night, when our body temperature drops, this is even more important. The natural materials (like the lightweight 100% cotton casing and 100% down fillings) used in Goose bedding result in reduced moisture levels (approximately 80% of perspired moisture during sleep is transported through the duvet and evaporates; the duvet acts like a filter in a way), helping to maintain the right temperature and a better quality, deeper sleep. And because they use natural materials, they are more breathable; down fillings offer three or four more air circulation than synthetic fibres, making it lightweight, breathable and allowing moisture (and nasty bacteria) to escape more easily.

With a family history of eczema and asthma, allergies are something that concerns me. However, most allergies come from house or dust mites (or rather their excrement), but they are nigh on impossible to avoid with modern living arrangements. The advantage to Goose duvets in this case, is that dust mites do not feed on feather or down. The tightly woven casing of the duvet works as a barrier preventing the house dust mites from penetrating the fabric, and stops the down from sticking in little (human) bodies while they sleep.

children's duvets

The photo on the right looks a little odd, but I wanted to show this to you. When I help the duvet up to shake it out, the light shone through and I realised that at regular intervals all over the duvet outer, there are small sections sewn together which obviously hold the shape correctly. Furthermore, they prevent the feathers from working their way down to the bottom. Impressive.

Both the pillow and the duvet are fluffy and plump, much softer than the normal bedding that The Boy has on his bed. We put them on his bed on Friday night and it's like a miracle; he has slept soundly every night since, waking up after 7.30am each morning! The Boy is obviously very comfortable while asleep, and I've noticed that the pillow retains its shape really well during his nightime gymnastics (which are also less as he sleeps more soundly).

I like the plumpness of the bedding, the quality feel to it, the fact that it's breathable and helps him to sleep better. It's also machine washable, making it practical with a pre-schooler. The duvet is perfect for his toddler bed, measuring 120x150cm, and is a 4 tog duvet which is great for all-year round bedding.

And what better review point can I make than highlighting that my son is sleeping longer in the morning?

The Goose down duvet (4 Tog) measuring 120x150cm costs £48 and the feather & down pillow measuring 57x35cm costs £18. Available from Goose Bedding and Not On The High Street.

I was sent this set for the purpose of this review. My opinion is honest and unbiased.

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