Our Experience of Baby Sensory Class and How I Teach My Baby At Home

Our Experience of a Baby Sensory Class

Beach Theme – Under The Sea.

Using textures, sounds, bubbles, bright colours, animals, music, voices, singing, shiny surfaces, sign language and toys… Baby Sensory has something for babies of all ages. This class that I attended was for babies of only a few weeks old right up to 13 months.

Our son Baby A has just turned 6 months old, so he was able to appreciate a great deal of what was going on. There were various mats on the floor for parents to sit upon and soft mats to lay babies upon in front. The class interacted with the children on many levels, be it laying on their back, sitting up, laying on their fronts, and sat upon their parents laps even!

There is always a hello and a goodbye section of the class, then in between is a theme plus a short break midway through for feeding and changing, or just more playing.

Sand was substituted for oats so that babies weren’t in any danger if they happened to eat any. I thought this was a great idea! A variety of textures were used doing the hour, silk, organza, bubbles and soft mats. Sign language is used during songs to make the babies think about the words being sung and said. This is also a really nice part of the group activities.

Baby A enjoyed some aspects of the class more than others, such as the objects and instruments that he could personally interact with, especially when he could hold and feel them. He very much liked the shells and wooden objects that were in the bucket I was given in this class.

I have paid for a course of classes for my son and I to attend. I feel it’s a good idea to introduce him to other babies, various sounds and activities that I cannot do very easily at home. Plus it’s a good reason to get out of the house and for my son and I to have some fun learning things together.

If there are classes in your town I recommend that you give this type of learning class a go! If you find a good one the activities can be essential to your baby learning things and experiencing things in a safe environment.

Baby Sensory Class
Bucket and Mat for the Under The Sea Theme

How and What I Teach My Baby At Home

There are many things that I teach Baby A at home, and also when we are out and about. Such as pointing out colours, numbers, weather and words as well as the basics like animals and objects. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on things, and you can use items at home to create sensory things.

I really enjoy showing my son real objects. Ones that make noises and have great textures are the best types. We often use toys and explain what in reality they are based upon. We try and expose him to educational television programs and we try and use books daily too. Ones with pictures are best at the moment but we always interact with the books with words and noises to help him understand further.

Young babies can only see Black, White and Red colours, so it’s a good idea to begin showing them shapes and every day objects and short words that are designed in this colour pattern. As baby gets older you can show them more colours and build upon it week after week.

Repetition is the best way of learning, and a baby will begin to recognise objects from an early age when shown them on a regular basis. Our son liked particular animals that were on flash cards, so we aimed to buy him other things that had these things as the theme. Such as he liked the image of a snail in one of the books and so we attached a snail hanging toy for the arch on his play mat.

My Top Tips for teaching your child things at home, are to incorporate a section of learning time into your routine so that once a day your baby is learning. Use repetition and do any teaching when your baby is most awake and alert. Making the learning fun means your little one is more likely to enjoy it and recall aspects of it.

Learning with your child should be an activity that you can both enjoy, you can always get other people involved too such as grand parents and friends. If there are babies of different ages in the room you can get everyone to do things in a way that they would all benefit. Such as explain colours and objects to the younger baby while getting an older child to spell the word for example.

Baby Sensory Light Display


If anyone found this post useful then please leave me a comment. I may elaborate on ways that I teach if people would find it beneficial. And also explain about the items that I have made and created for our at home sensory experience.

Thank you for reading my blog today and for visiting Severn Wishes, I hope you’ll stop by again soon. Have a great day!

✩ Sabrina ✩

My Goals & Aspirations for 2019 as a Writer & as a Mother ​

The past year has been a roller coaster of highs and lows. The main event was of course me giving birth to our son. I don’t often say that I’m proud of myself unless I feel it’s justifiable, but in this particular case it definitely is. I’m proud of myself for not giving up when I found out I had Stage 4 Endometriosis, I’m proud of myself for staying strong, and I’m most proud of myself for carrying and nurturing my son.

Another thing is I’m proud of the mother I have become, and I’m so grateful to everyone who helped me to get to where I am today with my gorgeous little boy. My husband and I have been through a lot in our eleven years together. Though I feel it’s made us stronger every time that we have felt tested by our life together. I have a lot to be thankful for and I’m grateful to be living the life that I am with my wonderful family and those of my friends who have stuck by me through some very hard times.

My main goal for 2019 is to devote more time to my writing, the last year has flown by, but all my focus has been on family. I have blinked and 12 months have happened. So I’m not going to make many new year resolutions, only to keep eating healthy and looking after myself.

My Main Goals This Year as a Writer


♡ Finish One Of My Books – Final Complete Draft.

♡ Maintain My Blog with 1 Published Post Each Week.

♡ Make More Time for My Hobbies like Reading and Walking.


My Main Goals This Year as a Mother


♡ Make Time for more Family Fun Things.

♡ Spend More Time as a Family – Days Out and Learning.


Thank you for visiting Severn Wishes, I hope to see you again very soon. Have a great January!

✩ Sabrina ✩

January 2019 Treatbox Reveal

Hello and Welcome to the January 2019 Treatbox Reveal
with Sabrina of Severn Wishes Blog.

Happy Treat Box Day! It’s the very first Treatbox of 2019!

The little sticker reads With Love and the tissue paper is light pink.

I have waited a while longer for the box due to the Christmas break, with the dispatch day being delayed. It was just sods law that my family were all ill around that time so this review has had to come later than I had planned.

So here are all of the contents of the first box of the year, the January 2019 Treatbox.

This month there are 7 physical items, plus the Calendar Print and an A5 Print as well.

Calendar Print for January 2019
A5 Print – “New Year, New Feels, New Chances, Same Dreams, Fresh Starts”
Designed by Treatbox – Desk Planner – Goals and Daily Organising
2 Tea Bags – Pukka – Cleanse
Baume Du Sourire – Lip Balm – Mint Aroma 15ml
Willow and Rose Mobile Phone Holder Ring Clip
Vitamasques – Strawberry Yoghurt Mask 15ml
Designed by Treatbox – Magnet – Happy Clouds and Suns

January 2019 Treatbox Reveal

Here is a selection of my photographs of this month’s box, I hope you enjoy seeing the items up close.

Treatbox January Desk Planner
Face Mask, Magnet and Lip Balm.
Pukka Tea Bags and Magnet.
Magnet and Mobile Phone Holder Ring Clip

My Favourites

My favourite pieces in this months box are the Desk Planner, the Magnet, the A5 Print and the Calendar Print. I’m hoping to make use of the planner as often as possible and hope it will aid with both my blogging and organising my time at home.


My Overall Opinion

I really loved the Treatbox originals and I’m happy with the Magnet. It’s been nice to receive new things, and useful items. Though we have yet another face mask… I was a little disappointed with that as I haven’t yet used the previous one we got. The phone clip ring is a nice idea but it would ruin the design on my phone case so I won’t be using it. It’s a great idea for the younger generation though who take a lot of selfies!

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Treatbox January 2019

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Are you thinking of ordering a TreatBox for yourself or for a gift for someone?
Then you can find Treatbox subscriptions and build your own box at their website.

Check out my previous posts in this unique category of my website called ‘Treatbox’ especially for these box reviews and reveals – Severn Wishes Treatbox.

Thanks for reading this months box reveal today, if you have any thoughts of your own that you would like to share or if you have purchased a box after reading one of my reviews then I would love to hear your from you, why not leave me a little comment in the section below.

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Thanks for reading this Reveal and Review today, I hope you have enjoyed it. It’s the start of another year of Treatbox, though I’m unsure as to how much longer I will be bringing you these reveals. So please let me know in the comments section below if you enjoy reading them.

Thank you for joining me on Severn Wishes, I hope to see you again very soon. Have a great January!

✩ Sabrina ✩

December 2018 Treatbox Reveal

Hello and Welcome to the December 2018 Treatbox Reveal
with Sabrina of Severn Wishes Blog.

Happy Treat Box Day! It’s the last Treatbox of 2018 and it’s the Christmas box!

The little sticker is a stag on a winter scene with pale yellow tissue paper.

I have been very much looking forward to this box, it had been delayed due to Zoe awaiting an item, and you know that Zoe puts a lot of effort into every single month of Treatbox, therefore I eagerly wanted to know what it could be…

Without further ado, here are all of the contents of the December 2018 Treatbox.

This month there are 4 physical items, plus 12 square card prints accompanied by 10 golden pegs with string, plus a Calendar Print and an A5 Print.

Calendar Print for December 2018
A5 Print – Rocking Around The Christmas Tree
Twelve Square Card Prints Designed by Treatbox for Christmas Time
11 Golden Pegs with a Piece of Green and White String
Treatbox Designed 2019 Diary and Planner
Gnaw Chocolate Bar – Winter Wonder
Vitamasques – Cranberry and Apple Sheet Face Mask
Teeny Bobeenie Boutique – Snowberry and Mistletoe Wax Brittle
Selection of Christmas Related Sequins Thrown In For Fun

Here is a selection of my photographs of this month’s box, I hope you enjoy seeing the items up close.







My Favourites

My favourite pieces in this box have to be the Diary/Planner and the original cards. You can’t go wrong with chocolate and pamper products. I’m hoping to get some evenings to relax once the main Christmas days have been and gone, and enjoy what has been discovered in my box. The 12 cards are very sweet and awesome for making a home Christmassy and bright.


My Overall Opinion

I really loved the Treatbox originals and unique items this box. Once again we have lots of effort that has been applied and a theme that is well thought out. You can apply your face mask and eat your chocolate whilst writing your Christmas Cards for example…
I appreciated that this box was delayed, however I was more than happy with the content, it was worth the extra few days wait. This Treatbox has certainly ended the year on a high, and I look forward to the January box.

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Are you thinking of ordering a TreatBox for yourself or for a gift for someone?
Then you can find Treatbox subscriptions and build your own box at their website.

Check out my previous posts in this unique category of my website called ‘Treatbox’ especially for these box reviews and reveals – Severn Wishes Treatbox.

Thanks for reading this months box reveal today, if you have any thoughts of your own that you would like to share or if you have purchased a box after reading one of my reviews then I would love to hear your from you, why not leave me a little comment in the section below.

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Thanks for reading this Reveal and Review today. It’s been another whole year of Treatbox already, where did 2018 go?! I’m looking forward to all that 2019 will bring and also eagerly anticipating what will appear in the first boxes of the new year.

Thank you for joining me for my blog Reveals, hope to see you visit Severn Wishes again very soon. Have a very happy holiday!

✩ Sabrina ✩

Reviewing Winnings – Personalised Notebooks from the Facebook page Heather’s Home

Reviewing Winnings – Personalised Notebooks from the Facebook page Heather’s Home

I received my notebooks that I won from the Facebook page Heather’s Home, and the quality of them is excellent. Because they are personalised as well this makes them so much better! I’m really happy with the service provided and I would use this page again. Even though I won these particular ones but I would consider buying for friends and family because of the ability to personalise the books.

I chose;
“When it rains look for Rainbows, When it’s dark look for Stars”.
and
“Letters to my Baby as I watch you grow. Due July 2018”.


Great Quality Personalised Notebooks.
Lined Paper inside.

If you want to visit this lovely page for yourself then here you go.

Page Link Here

 

Thank you for visiting Severn Wishes today, I hope you have enjoyed this content. Have a lovely day.

✩ Sabrina ✩

How a simple Cropped Hoodie from BooHoo is changing the way I consider breastfeeding in Public this season

How a simple cropped Hoodie from BooHoo is changing the way I consider breastfeeding in Public this season

 

It’s not always easy to find comfortable and practical clothing that you can wear in the colder months that’s both suitable for breastfeeding and preventing you from freezing in the process. I’m like many other mum’s out there who consider buying things to help themselves out, are usually last on the list of priorities. However on a recent window shop scroll through the boohoo website I saw something that I knew for me would be a game changer. For £12 boohoo are selling cropped hoodies. This might not sound like anything special, but we’re fast heading into winter now. Considering I’ve been getting cold in cardigans and other loose articles of clothing that won’t get in the way of my son feeding… this was exactly what I had been waiting to find.

Not only has this hoodie allowed me to feed more comfortably, but it’s changed the way I feel about feeding my son around people who are not immediate family. It has given me confidence and hasn’t cost the earth. So many Maternity and Nursing items are highly priced, and at a time when you’re already forking out lots of money, you shouldn’t have to spend a ton on items to simply help you to accomplish what is both natural and a necessity for you and your baby.

The hoodie material is soft and thick, because it’s cropped it means that I can keep my arms inside the fabric, and just simply lift one corner to expose what I require for the feed.

This hoodie is ideal to wear all year round, with shorts and a T-shirt or with jeans and a tee in the colder months.

I’ve found this hoodie to be more than adequate for what I need, it’s both comfortable and practical, and doesn’t cost the earth either!

I highly recommend this style and quality of item from BooHoo and am very happy with the ones I bought.

As you can see me demonstrating in this image above, it’s easy to lift one corner of the hoodie. I normally am able to simply tuck the fabric up underneath and out of the way.

BooHoo Cropped Overhead Hoodie

Link


Was Available in
Black, Navy, Wine, Pink, White, Grey and Tan.


Quality of Material
– Very good, it washes well and wore well afterwards. The material is soft and comfortable on the skin.

Fitting to Size – I ordered a Small size because I’m usually a Size 8. It fitted perfectly along my arms and around my back and neck.

Details of the Small Size

60% Cotton and 40% Polyester.
Sleeve Length 63cm / 25”
Bust 53cm / 21”

Overall I’ve been very happy with my purchases, and I would purchase items like these again.


Thank you for visiting Severn Wishes today, I hope you have enjoyed this content. Have a lovely day.

 

✩ Sabrina ✩

Health and Well Being – Steps to Smarter Eating


Well Being and Health – Steps to Smarter 
Eating

Smarter Eating is something that we can all get into doing more often. Because some of these things are so easy to become good habits too, you just have to be patient. Try introducing them one at a time, and after some time why not do several on occasion and then give yourself a day off from them once a month? There are many ways in which you can look out for your health, and these are the ways I have found to be quite easy. Remember food should be enjoyed but some things need to be in moderation.

 

✩ Hydration ✩

So we all know that we should be drinking a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day. Depending on the size of the glass that you use, this can equate to anything from 1.5 litres to 2 litres each day. When they say “a day” they mean within 24 hours.

So here is my Top Tip – Keep a reusable bottle or glass by the side of your bed, make sure that when you wake with your alarm in a morning that you drink before getting out of bed. Not only are you having your first glass of water, but you are also helping your body to wake up and your blood pressure to regulate as well.

Another tip is to carry a reusable bottle of water with you everywhere you go. Not only will it remind you to drink, but it will also save you money because you won’t be buying drinks from shops or vendors.

 

✩ Embrace Your Favourites ✩

Favourites! We all have them! Embracing the ones that are good for you is definitely the way to go. And if not then why not try and add good things to your faves. Such as halving your bowl of ice cream and adding fresh fruit. Or you could add frozen spinach on top of your favourite pizza! Enjoy your foods but make them better for you.

 

✩ Boost Flavours ✩

Boosting the flavours of bland foods that are good for you but not entirely pleasant to eat is a great idea. Why not try and add low fat yoghurt to a bowl of fruit or to a bland (but good for you) cereal. You can try low fat versions of your tastier favourites such as cheese, or add fresh herbs to your meals.

 

✩ Eat More Vegetables ✩

It may sound easy, but sometimes we get lazy after a long day when we look at a pile of vegetables that need to be prepared. The trick and tip from me here would be to buy frozen. You waste less doing this and can only get out what you are going to use. It’s faster to measure up portions too! Easy to add two cups of mixed diced vegetables into a curry or a pasta sauce, for example, than counting out how many carrots you need to peel and then chop and then cook…

 

✩ Eat More Grains ✩

Dependent on your dietary requirements getting more grains could be difficult. However if you don’t have any allergies you should consider this. Getting more fibre through your diet. I love cereal, and my favourite happens to be high in fibre. Why not make a switch for a week if yours does not and see how you feel. Add fruit or jam if you require a sweetness rather than adding sugar.

 

✩ Try Something New ✩

We all get curious from time to time. My most recent example of this would be when I tried the new range of juice drinks from Tropicana – Tropicana Essentials. Although more expensive than my usual choices I wanted to try something that was meant to be better for me, and more beneficial to my health…  It is made of fruit and vegetables and I did notice I had more energy after consuming it on consistent days.

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Thank you for joining me for this next installment in my well being and health related posts today. I hope that you are able to take something from my tips and they can help you improve your lifestyle.

✩ Sabrina ✩

 

 

November 2018 Treatbox Reveal

Hello and Welcome to the November 2018 Treatbox Reveal
with Sabrina of Severn Wishes Blog.

Happy Treat Box Day Everyone! It’s the last Treatbox of the year before the Christmas box!

This month the Treatbox UK theme is “Freedom and Me Time”.

The little sticker reads “With Love” attached to a deep navy blue tissue paper.

Here are all of the contents of the November 2018 Treatbox.

This month there are 6 items in the Treatbox plus a Calendar Print and an A5 Print.

Calendar Print for November 2018
A5 Print – Definition of Hygge
Treatbox Colouring Book featuring Treatbox drawn pictures
Set of Colouring Pencils
Pair of Socks – Polar Bears Design
Treatbox Rose Gold Heart Wish Bracelet
Spacemasks – Interstellar Relaxation
Kiwi Slice Eye Pads

Here is a selection of my photographs of this month’s box, I hope you enjoy seeing the items up close.

My Favourites

My favourite pieces in this box have to be the Colouring Book with Pencils, the Socks, and the Bracelet. As a mum to a young baby I don’t get much time to do things like face masks anymore! Ha! Ha! Maybe one day I can get an afternoon to myself, have a pamper! And with that in mind I hope that they will keep! It’s a lovely idea for a proper pampering though!


My Overall Opinion

I enjoyed the fact that we had several Treatbox Original and Unique items this month. The bracelet is beautiful and the over all quality of the items is good. Although we only received socks in the September box I do love socks, I always have cold feet and you always need quality and cute socks! Especially now with Winter fast approaching, Socks are indeed wanted!

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Are you thinking of ordering a TreatBox for yourself or for a gift for someone?
Then you can find Treatbox subscriptions and build your own box at their website.

Check out my previous posts in this unique category of my website called ‘Treatbox’ especially for these box reviews and reveals – Severn Wishes Treatbox.

Thanks for reading this months box reveal today, if you have any thoughts of your own that you would like to share or if you have purchased a box after reading one of my reviews then I would love to hear your from you, why not leave me a little comment in the section below.

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Thanks for reading this post everyone! I hope you have enjoyed this months reveal and review. Have a great November! Check out my social media especially Instagram for more Reviews and products in use!

✩ Sabrina ✩

Well Being and Health – Easy Ways To Make The Most Of Vegetables

Easy Ways To Make The Most Of Vegetables

 

We often throw away a lot of fruit and vegetables that have a habit of going off before we get around to using them. In this post today I’m going to outline the ways in which I make the most of vegetables and how easily you can so to.

 

Sabrina’s Top Tip is to invest in a blackboard or a meal planner or even both! That way you won’t forget to use what’s in your fridge! Plan out one night a week that is a Treat Night where you can have something tasty like chips with your evening meal, but otherwise mix up your vegetables so as not to get bored with the weekly selection.

 

Buy Frozen

You often get a lot more veg for your money with frozen, and it’s just as good for you with most brands choosing to freeze hours after the vegetables are picked. Frozen often gives you more per kilo as well, with things such as broccoli because you’re not paying for the weight of its stork, or spinach for example which is frozen in far larger quantities than you find it in fresh packets. Frozen veg also has the added benefits of you only using what you need each time rather than you wasting with cutting sections of fresh veg up when preparing them.

 

Make a Soup or Sauce

Usually I make a soup or a sauce out of veg that needs using up, or left over veg that wasn’t all eaten during something like a roast dinner.

 

Use your Peelings – They are the most nutritious parts!

If you often peel potatoes, parsnips, carrots and sweet potato, but throw those peelings away, you should consider making your own vegetable crisps out of them.
A greatly tasty and healthy snack for children between meals or as a starter while the evening meal is cooking. Keep them for 48 hours in a clean lidded Tupperware box to keep the crunch!

 

Save Money By Using the Stems

If you prepare Cauliflower and/or Broccoli regularly, do you ever use the stems? There are a few options to save you throwing them away.
Make Cauliflower Rice by putting the stems and any left over florets into a processor to make cauliflower rice.
Make an easy vegetable curry by cubing the stems of cauliflower with any left over potato and cook them a little longer than you would usually to soften them up.
You can take broccoli stems and either shave them finely using a peeler and fry them with stir fry vegetables or dice them and add them to pasta dishes.

 

Buy Seasonal to Save Money

Look into buying Seasonal Vegetables that are on offer in Supermarkets. Some of the larger ones in the United Kingdom do weekly deals too! Make sure you plan your week around this and use up the items that will spoil first so as to ensure no waste.

 I hope you’ve enjoyed this short post and my vegetable tips!

✩ Sabrina ✩

 

Reviewing the Wacom Bamboo Fineline 3 Smart Stylus


Wacom Bamboo Fineline 3 Smart Stylus

The Wacom Bamboo Fineline 3 Smart Stylus is an ergonomically designed piece of equipment ideal for writing notes on certain apps. It’s black and grey with a similar length to an ordinary pen, but triangular in shape.

The Bamboo Fineline is created for Apple products with iOS. There are Wacom apps available to download from their website in order to use the stylus. I tested these using my iPad and iPhone and found it worked better on the iPad due to the screen size.
The stylus has a usb charging cable (included) and a retractable tip.

The App available is called Inkspace and you can use Bamboo Paper to write and edit using the stylus. It was fairly easy to pair with my devices and once that was done it’s easy to use.

The Bamboo Fineline is designed for natural writing and has pressure sensors and many smart features. One of these is a shortcut button and the other is it’s ease in pairing with note taking apps. I found the stylus was accurate when I was using it to write. What is written can be exported to other Apple apps.

I have also discovered it works well with apps sensitive to touch such as colouring apps. I was able to use the stylus on the Colourfy App where I used it to colour in some pictures.

Ease of Use 4/5
Accuracy 5/5
Battery Life 5/5
Compatibility 4/5

Over all I feel like this stylus is a great item for people who specifically need this type of technological equipment. If it will be used regularly then it’s a great tool that is very useful. It’s a shame that it is only compatible with certain apps and devices. It is obviously only usable with Apple products which could put some people off. But it’s accuracy was excellent, it’s lightweight and portable which really go in its favour.
I would consider using it every time that I use my colouring in apps now, where as before I tested this product I hadn’t even considered using a stylus.

Thank you to Argos Testers for allowing me to Review this product.

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Here are some images of my using the Stylus and the results when using it of Colourfy.

Above: Writing on the Wacom Bamboo App – Bamboo Paper.

Above: A result from Colourfy using the Bamboo Fineline Stylus.

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Thank you for reading this short review post today. I hope you’ve enjoyed it.

✩ Sabrina ✩