Tate Modern – Bankside

                   Housed in the former Bankside Power Station (one of the most striking landmarks of the London cityscape), Tate Modern is one of world’s largest Modern Art museums. The vast, industrial space is an impressive sight in itself, and a perfect minimalist backdrop to the Tate’s unrivalled collections of contemporary artworks and installations including many by Picasso, Dali and Mattise to name a few.

Enter through the dramatic ramped turbine hall and the sheer scale of the building becomes immediately clear, leaving you feeling decidedly small. And with a brand new 10 storey building The Switch House built above the subterranean tanks, the Tate’s footprint has now increased by 60 percent.

We recently visited to see the Georgia O’Keefe exhibition (on until 30th October 2016). As there are no public collections of her work in the UK this is a wonderful and rare opportunity to see a diverse range of artworks from this iconic, American artist. Although O’keefe is best known for her close up flower paintings, this retrospective contains many of her less well known landscapes and photographs.

What I find so appealing about the Tate Modern is its relaxed and welcoming attitude towards children inside the galleries. Of all the London galleries we find it to be the most laid back, interactive and inspiring for little minds. We often take sketchpads and colouring pencils so that the children can sit on the floor and draw or mark down observations of their favourite pictures. From experience other galleries have been less encouraging on this front.

Aside from the major temporary exhibitions for which you must purchase tickets the vast majority of the Tate is made up of free galleries. They are so varied and interesting (the entire basement of the switch house is now dedicated to live art) but with so many to chose from we usually only tackle a few at each visit. There are plenty of cafes to grab a bite to eat within the gallery and then there’s the wonderful riverside views of St Pauls Cathedral from the Viewing Level on the top floor of the Switch House. You really need an entire weekend to do justice to this huge iconic London gallery but even a whirlwind visit here is time well spent.

Kate

Tate Modern, Bankside, London, SE1 9TG
Opening Times 10:00am – 18:00pm

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Louis I, King of the Sheep by Oliver Tallec

Never judge a book by a cover – right? So what looks like a really fun picture book has just completely turned our heads upside down. Olivier Tallec’s latest book, Louis I King of the Sheep, is so cleverly compiled with it’s simplistic look yet rich dynamic wording the readers mind will be ensured to be delighted.

One windy day, Louis the sheep is standing on a hill when a crown whisks towards him and lands at his feet. He very quickly takes on the role of King and immediately his character denotes his new and very important role. He strides through the fields with his scepter addressing his people and hunting his land. He strolls through his royal gardens and gratifies as he receives great artists into his palace. Louis certainly embraces his role as King with exuberance until his title is blown away from him as quickly as it’s received.

Tallec manages to acheive to send the message of how quickly it is to fall with such success through fun almost comic-like illustrations and a masterful story. Louis I King of the Sheep is a marvel and a book which all of us should read.

Available in all good independent bookstores and on amazon (UK).

Vanessa x

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A Must-Have DIY Book for Girls!

A couple of weeks ago I was asked if I’d be interested in doing a review on this craft book called I Can Make My Own Accessories (a follow-on from their super successful book I can Make Dolls’ Clothes) and I immediately knew it would be a perfect fit for my Tila, so naturally I said yes. And oh boy was I right.

The book is written by a former head of children’s wear design at Liberty of London and at Caramel Baby&Child, Louise Scott-Smith and graphic designer Georgia Vaux. It’s aimed at girls aged 7+ (I know for a fact that 34-year old ones love it as well) who wish to learn how to make their very own fashion accessories.

There are eight adorable projects super easy to make thanks to the clear and simple-to-follow step-by-step instructions and real size patterns. I also love how the book begins with the basics of sewing like how to thread a needle, sew different kinds of stitches, affix buttons etc.

Having a newborn at home plus two kids on vacation I was a little afraid I said yes a little too soon at first. I mean I love to be creative with my girl and I want to spend some quality one-on-one time with her (especially now) but these things usually take time and patience – two things I’m lacking lately. But this book was just perfect for us because the projects are truly made in no time. And even my 2-year-old Talan helped us out.

In only a few days we managed to finish four projects already and I think we’ll make the rest four by the end of summer!

-Polona

You can read more from Polona on her blog Baby Jungle or visit her online boutique Baby Jungle shop!

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A different kind of BABYMOON (with two babies!)

While in my last trimester I got the super (super) strong desire to go on an adventure abroad. So strong I was daydreaming in foreign languages! It became a craving. Visiting various London museums was fine, but I wanted to be submersed in another culture, and have an adventure somewhere completely new. But… I wasn’t so adventurous that I wanted to give birth to a baby while on holiday, nor did I want to risk being too tired to fully enjoy the trip. So I secretly planned a surprise trip for my family after the baby was born  — to Crillon le Brave, a sweet, small, and perfectly placed little hilltop town with a gorgeous and family-friendly hotel in Provence! A post baby moon, the perfect way to reconnect, and carve out a bit of extra time, in the sweet baby bubble as a new family of four. With sunshine!

So with our 3-year-old daughter and 8-week-old son, we hopped on a Eurostar train from London to Avignon for a lovely family adventure. I pre-packed everyone’s bag, bringing two light suitcases, snacks, a nappy backpack bag, and a bag of train activities. I also revealed little cards along the way with clues about where we were going.

We arrived a few hours later in Crillon le Brave.  (The hotel and the town have the same name). And here is what we discovered on our adventure…

The first day we overdid it, we were action packed, rushing out the door first thing to a nearby town with markets, ruins, and spending time in the car on long journeys. After a few mini meltdowns, we decided we needed to relax a bit more, enjoy the hotel, and all it had to offer, and make sure we all took a nap each day. The next day we took a different approach. We traded in day trips for fun at our hotel swimming, playing boules, and walking around while soaking in the views. Taking it easy, and indulging, that is what our trip was about. Enjoying each other.

And that realisation, that we were now travelling as a family of four with an eeny weeny newborn and a toddler, and that we didn’t need to do anything grand, that realisation made all the difference. So we went into first gear and let the hotel take care of us. That was what it was was designed to do. Whether it was to arrange spa treatments, babysitters, or bike rentals. And especially during our meals, we indulged in slow, long, and leisurely breakfasts (of more croissants than I will admit to!) while we read the paper, did French sticker books with Beatrice, played games, breastfeed, and baby Joseph took snoozy milky naps.

On the way home we all agreed that traveling on trains is much more relaxing (and easier) with a newborn, and perhaps with kids in general. The stunning countryside views are great for entertainment for children too- look for the cows, yellow flowers, tractors, etc on the way!

And did you know that there are family carriages on Eurostar? They are closed compartments in the first and last carriage of every train, and adjacent to the baby change area. It means that you don’t have to worry about making noise and disturbing romantic holiday passengers. (Phew!)

We returned home pampered from our hotel retreat, rejuvenated after our change of (stunning) scenery, educated on how to travel better with children, and prepared for our next adventure.

Our first week away as a family, with a newborn, was never going to be action-packed. Instead we (mostly) stayed in one place… with picture perfect postcard views.  A post-baby babymoon indeed.

Lara. xx

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Thursday Thoughts: Cooking and kids

This summer we have been cooking a lot. Nothing special or extravagant – but simple, good food that you don’t need recipes for. I wanted my kids (now 10 and 8) to be able cook a full meal: starter, main and desert, without a recipe book.

Here is my thinking:  We visit so many friends and family, and nowadays, the kids are also visiting friends and family without me. I feel it is nice for kids to be able to offer to help and to be able to genuinely make something tasty and have the confidence to do it, without much fuss. There is just something satisfying about cooking for a group of people and having them enjoy it, plus, it is a great way of saying “thank you” to family and friends.

Especially since nowadays, we all have become a lot more casual — everyone participates, hosts and guests, when it comes to meal times. (Or is it just me who has the impression we don’t host the same way our parents did when friends come to stay?)

So far Coco has mastered a great cucumber salad with goat cheese as a starter, escalope pané with rice as a main, and she has perfected an apple crumble for dessert. She is also an expert guacamole and humous maker, so the important meal of ‘apéro’ (pre-dinner drinks here in France) is also taken care of.

Violette can prepare a red beet or a tomato salad for a starter (her main skill at the moment is the vinaigrette making), pasta with fresh pesto as a main course and her chocolate mousse is something she is pretty proud of. She also makes a mean fruit salad!

There have been some minor burns and little cuts and failed attempts, but in general the cooking un-aided by adults has been a great success! I am super interested! What are your kids go to recipes? At what age do you expect them to be able to cook a full meal?

Emilie x

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Stylish bamboo plates from UNC

I recently came across these bamboo plates from Amsterdam based online boutique UNC (which stands for Urban Nature Culture) and thought they were too good not to share. I love the funky designs and the pretty blues!

Bamboo is one of the most environmental friendly materials, suitable for hot and cold food and liquids, dishwasher safe and a  strong as plastic or melamine, but without the nasties. So perfect for families with small children, or for those who like to pack up picnics or go camping — in style.

xxx Esther

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The Southbank Roof Garden and Food Market

   

We call it the Southbank Secret Garden and if it weren’t for the bright yellow staircase leading up you’d be forgiven for never noticing it was there. On a sunny day you’ll find this picturesque spot brimming with Londoners, young and old, grabbing a quiet moment with a book, enjoying drinks, picnics and stunning river views from this rooftop oasis above the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Originally built in 2011, the garden was developed in partnership with Cornwall’s Eden Project and Grounded Eco Therapy – a group of volunteers who have experienced homelessness and mental health issues. For many this brilliant initiative has helped them turn their lives around. The result is a lush, secluded hideaway amongst the crowds and stark concrete architecture of the Southbank.

With a wildflower meadow containing over 150 species of flowers, an allotment, fruit trees, woodland garden and picnic lawn, there are plenty of pretty spots to pitch up and take a break. There is also a café/bar run by Company of Cooks, which serves a good barrista style coffee, a handful of snacks, salads and sandwiches and a selection of summery drinks. The garden is open to the public every day from March until late September.

Just below the roof garden is Jeppe Hein’s brilliant Appearing Rooms  aquatic sculpture. Watch the panes of water rise and fall, creating ever changing rooms. If you’re feeling brave and you get your timing right you can navigate the fountain without getting drenched – or not in our case!

If you are looking for a quick bite to eat or for some tasty picnic supplies head down the steps behind the Royal Festival Hall to the Southbank Centre Square – Food Market. Here you will find a great selection of street food stalls ranging from Paella, curries, and wraps to fair trade coffees, crepes, ice creams and our favourite – the giant cookie stall. The market is open from noon Friday to Sunday and on Bank Holiday Mondays.

    

Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1

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