There is something really special about going for a walk during winter. I love seeing the frost on the grass and hearing the crunch of the leaves on the ground, especially at this time of year when everything feels fresh and new. We love spending time outdoors as a family and we are lucky that we have so many beautiful parks around us. One of the best things about the age Oliver is at now is that he is taking an interest in everything around him. It's so lovely to be able to see the delight and wonder on his face at the changing scenery. 

Oliver is becoming so independent now which is both amazing and sad. Seeing him explore the world and learn new things everyday makes me feel so proud. But I can't help but miss my tiny little newborn. It seems like since he turned 2 a couple of weeks ago, he has become a proper little boy. 

What activities do you enjoy doing with your family in the winter?

(P.S. I am totally obsessed with this red rain mac, which I purchased here from Topshop)

BLACKBERRY PICKING

In celebration of the beginning of Autumn (yay) we went blackberry picking. Autumn is my favourite season; I love the cold weather, cuddling up on the sofa under a blanket and the leaves changing colour. There is something so pretty about this time of year. 

Fruit picking has become one of our favourite things to do as a family because it gets us outdoors and is a relatively inexpensive activity. Oliver absolutely loves helping us to pick the berries and place them into the carton. One of the sweetest things is to see him picking a berry and shouting 'berry daddy!' as he races over to Steve to give it to him. 

If you watch our weekly vlogs, you will know that I love cooking for my family. One of the most satisfying things is going out and picking our own fruit, then coming home and making something with it. I made a blackberry pie which came out much better than I was expecting considering it was my first attempt. 

Recipe: 

Blackberries (we used one full carton pictured above)

Demerara sugar

Plain all purpose flour

Cinnamon
Pre-made shortcrust pastry sheet (or you can make your own)

1. Combine the blackberries, sugar, flour and cinnamon on a low heat. I didn't measure out the quantities as I prefer to taste until it is to my preference, I kept adding more sugar/flour/cinnamon until I was happy.

2. For the pastry I used a ready rolled shortcrust pastry sheet (shh don't tell anyone) and simply assembled in in a round 9" pie dish. I brushed the top with egg and sprinkled a little sugar on the top to sweeten it.

3. I baked for around 35 minutes at 200C, but again I didn't follow timing religiously as I prefer to just check every 5 minutes or so to see if it has browned. 

And voilà, a really quick and simple blackberry pie!