Summer | An Essex Wife

I love a festival. For me they, alongside picnics and lazy afternoons watching cricket, are the epitome of British summertime. For more summers than I care to remember I have donned my latest maxi dress, put plaits in my hair and let the bohemian in me shine through while dancing the day (and night) away with my friends in a field somewhere.

Now I’m a mother I also like to make sure I include the children in at least one of my festival plans over the summer. I normally take them along to the Ben and Jerrys festival with us, what child wouldn’t appreciate being taken to a music festival where is there is free ice-cream all day? but this year I am thinking of taking them to a festival all of their own, one designed just for children.

The Lollipop Festival – Regents Park 17^th-19^th August

Back again for huge amounts of summer fun, this child focused 3 day festival is just too good to miss. With Halfords sponsoring the event and bringing along their new range of Balance and Apollo bikes for the little LolliBoppers to have an exclusive ‘first ride’ on, the Since Museum returning alongside old favourites, including ‘LolliSports‘, ‘Imagination Stations‘, ‘Itsy Bitsy Strictly‘ and ‘The Enchanted Forest‘ and excititng new editions such as The ‘LolliBop Kitchen‘, ‘The Disco Shed‘, and the ‘The Village Green‘ (with its own live music, craft stalls, and street theatre) it really is looking like another amazing event!

Super early bird tickets are already on sale for the price of £19.50pp (children and adult tickets are priced the same – babies under 12 months enter free of charge) from http://www.lollibopfestival.co.uk

I was tagged by City Girl Turns Suburban Mum to share with you the next 5 songs on my iPod playlist

I apologise in advance….

Carly Simone – You’re so Vain

I love this song and it never fails to put a smile on my face. It’s a real sing-a -long and reminds me of a many an Essex boy I have had the (dis)pleasure of meeting during my single years.

King of Leon – Notion

Listening to any KOL track makes me think of summer, festivals and dancing round in field with my best friends.

Adele – Rumour Has It

When I was growing up, my mum listed to Whitney Houston and Gloria Estefan in the car constantly and to this day whenever I hear one of those songs it makes me think of my childhood and going on adventures with my mum. The amount I listen to Adele, and the volume at which I sing along to it, I think my girls will feel the same about Adele and I do about Whitney and Gloria.

Beach Boys – Surfin’ USA

Now you think I’d be ashamed of this one wouldn’t you? But I’m not, not even a little bit. I love the Beach Boys with all my heart, perfect feel good music. Windows down, volume up and imagine you’re driving along Santa Monica Beach. (I lost all street cred now haven’t I?)

The Ronettes – Be My Baby

Ah I’m so glad this song come on, it was the first dance at our wedding last year so it will always be one of my favourites.

So that’s me and a snippet of my music tastes……I’d love to know yours.