World Diabetes Day 2018 - One year after diagnosis

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World Diabetes Day 2018 - One year after diagnosis

World Diabetes Day 2018 - One year after diagnosis

As most of you will know in September 2017 our then 2 year old daughter was taken ill and diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

I don’t really write about her condition as it wasn’t why I started Mammaprada and it’s still very raw. However given the significance of today and maybe in the hopes of raising awareness of Diabetes and especially about Type 1. I thought I’d share how we are getting on.

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Strong, Bright and Pink! How loving yourself can be so simple

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Strong, Bright and Pink! How loving yourself can be so simple

Strong, bright and Pink! How loving yourself can be so simple

I remember growing up some well meaning relatives telling me that the only important thing in life was your health. Obviously I nodded and promptly ignored this! It’s something you just can’t comprehend when you’re young.

Now having just turned 40! Being a mother and having one child with a long term illness it has become glaringly obvious that this is something we all take for granted.

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So you think you know who you are? Love your true DNA story

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So you think you know who you are? Love your true DNA story

I’m sure many of you will feel you know exactly where your family origins lie. Maybe you’re aware of many interlocking layers of language, culture and nationality. Maybe you are convinced that you are 100% British/French/Chinese.

I love hearing stories passed down through families where one Grandma, like my own was convinced that there is a Spanish connection and no one. Not even her own Brother agrees! I always wonder how much of this is true?

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The Reasons A Luxury Watch Needs To Be Your Next Big Fashion Spend

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The Reasons A Luxury Watch Needs To Be Your Next Big Fashion Spend

The Reasons A Luxury Watch Needs To Be Your Next Big Fashion Spend

Your smart watch might be useful and fun, like the way it tracks your steps so you know how much exercise you are getting. And how it alerts you with incoming mail, so you’ll never miss your boss again.

But, what about lifestyle, luxury & joy?

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Achieve An Italian Styling With These 5 Beautiful Venetian Blinds

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Achieve An Italian Styling With These 5 Beautiful Venetian Blinds

Achieve An Italian Styling With These 5 Beautiful Venetian Blinds

With the italians being well known for their wonderfully stylish interiors. The way that they accomplish this is by using soft furnishings and window dressings, with colours and styles that help to match their homes interior styling. Back in the 18th century Venetian traders discovered window blinds which were constructed using a number of horizontal slats which had the ability to be adjusted. Allowing or blocking out the light entering a room. They brought them back to Paris and Venice.

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What to do in May Half Term?

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What to do in May Half Term?

What to do in May Half Term?

Some of you will be looking forward to the May Half Term holidays. Others will be dreading them! What to do with little ones for a whole week. How to keep them occupied and not bored or bickering.

How to stop it costing a fortune?! It can be tempting to book holiday clubs, but they can be expensive and some children will not want to be out all day, every day of their holidays. Mine are tired already! And you might actually want to see them too!

So how do you find a balance?

I asked lots of experts! Yes that means mothers! What they are planning this May Half Term and what they can recommend.

Have a read, we have got you covered!

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Summer events in Italy - Turin Epicurean Capital

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Summer events in Italy - Turin Epicurean Capital

What is Turin Epicurean Capital?

Turin Epicurean Capital is a 3 day event in Turin, Italy. The year 2018 marks the 5th edition of the festival and it will take place from 20-22nd June. I organize the event to help promote Turin and shed some light on our beautiful royal city that is still pretty much under the radar despite most famous Italian brands and products being born right here.

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4 Italian cheeses to try this Summer

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4 Italian cheeses to try this Summer

4 Italian cheeses to try this Summer

Who loves great meals with friends? Cheese, wine and conversation? I feel like the older I get the more I crave this than chocolate and dancing!

Before my children arrived I would head out into London with my girl friends for dinner and the highlight of our meal was always the cheese board and wine! 

Now I'm married to an Italian, cheese indulgence has taken on a new meaning! There are so many incredible varieties to try but where do you start and what can you pair them with? 

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How to cook pasta... but not just any pasta!

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How to cook pasta... but not just any pasta!

I recently asked my Instagram followers if they would like to know more about how to cook pasta the Italian way. How to marry together a sauce and a pasta shape.

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Protein Packed Pasta Alternative

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Protein Packed Pasta Alternative

Protein Packed Pasta Alternative

Alternative pasta is a growing trend in the food industry at the moment. You may have seen some unusual colours making their way into the pasta aisle at the supermarket and wondered if you should give them a try.

As a family who consume a considerable amount of pasta we have also been dabbling in these new varieties!

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Ragu' or Bolognese?

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Ragu' or Bolognese?

Ragu' or Bolognese?

In the UK we've all grown up with Spaghetti Bolognese thinking we were eating an authentic Italian dish! In general terms it's partially Italian but there are key differences! 

Ragu' alla bolognese which is the name of the meat sauce, is from Bologna. The Bolognese means something from Bologna. A local could say they are Bolognese, the same as my Husband is Milanese as he's from Milan.

It's served with tagliatelle not spaghetti. Spaghetti doesn't hold the thick sauce the way tagliatelle does. 

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Perfect Pesto Pasta

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Perfect Pesto Pasta

Perfect Pesto Pasta

I've got a series of Pasta posts coming up so I thought it only right that I also arm you with some sauces. Here you have the easiest, quickest and most delicious family meal, Pesto. 

Yes you can buy it in a jar but if you get used to making it yourself you will wonder why you ever went to the shop. It's so quick and can be adapted to what you have at home. 

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7 Ways to Prepare Your Garden for Summer

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7 Ways to Prepare Your Garden for Summer

7 Ways to Prepare Your Garden for Summer

If you're anything like me, the minute the weather starts changing you have a renewed excitement for the garden!

My neglected small London garden is looking a bit tired but this is a great time to start revamping it ready for Summer. You actually still have plenty of time to create something you're proud of.  

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10 Things to Do in Mevagissey

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10 Things to Do in Mevagissey

10 things to do in Mevagissey

There’s something quite special about Mevagissey. It doesn’t get the unbearable hoardes of visitors of some more famous Cornish towns. Thankfully here you will find a proper working Cornish fishing village. Still filled with locals, artisans and no chain stores or cafes, just independent businesses.

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Find Beautiful Cornish Gifts & Support Small Businesses

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Find Beautiful Cornish Gifts & Support Small Businesses

Find Beautiful Cornish Gifts & Support Small Businesses

The Roberts Gallery - Mevagissey

If you're on the look out for some beautiful unique Gifts and preferably Cornish, I may have done all of your hard work for you!

Last week I met with June one of the artists who has founded The Robert's Gallery in Mevagissey, Cornwall. I always like to support small businesses while we're away and this one is quite unusual. 

The Roberts Gallery is a gallery shop on Mevagissey, High Street. It's run by a co-operative of 7 artists. They all work one day a week in the shop in-between creating their unique pieces of craftsmanship.

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Easter at the Eden Project

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Easter at the Eden Project

Easter at the Eden Project

Are you in Cornwall this Easter and looking for something memorable to do with the children? Have they all had far too much chocolate and you want to find an activity that’s a little bit different?

This is how we’ve been feeling and as we are in Mevagissey for the school holidays we decided to try Easter at the Eden Project.

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5 Ways Wall Art Breathes Life into Your Home

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5 Ways Wall Art Breathes Life into Your Home

5 Ways Wall Art Breathes Life Into Your Home

We recently redecorated and since then I've found our minimalist walls a bit lacking! We love white or pale spaces as it brings in so much light but you do need that extra something to breathe life into your home. 

I didn't want to just buy a group of 'nice' pictures as I think for it to feel right, the wall art needs to represent a bit of you. If you choose carefully you can find things that have a meaning and make you happy each time you pass them. A trip you went on, a phrase your partner is always saying or an affirmation that you know will be helpful to look at each day.

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Benefits of Blogging

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Benefits of Blogging

Benefits of Blogging

Every month WordPress members produce 69.5 million new blog posts. Blogger has over 46 million unique viewers per month, and there are thought to be over 350 million blogs in the world. A small portion of these bloggers make a full-time living from their blogs, some even achieving international fame. What starts as a "hello world" post on WordPress can grow into book deals, TV shows, clothing ranges, beauty products and more. Blogging can change your life.

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