Christmas is rolling in fast!! And today we talk about the pressure mums feel at Christmas to look a certain way, eat a certain way, and still enjoy the season without guilt. We chat honestly about body image, festive food, and the tension between dressing up and staying comfortable.

This is your reminder you don’t need to earn Christmas joy. Please wear the dress, eat the food ... at the same time!

And let yourself enjoy the magic exactly as you are.

Love

Jen & Marina

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In this episode, The Gift List, we are talking all about the Christmas pressure to buy, buy, buy and why so many of us carrying the entire mental load of presents for everyone. We chat about the pressure of trying to get “the perfect gift,” the pressure to keep up with what other families are doing, and that nagging mum guilt that whispers “Is it enough?”

We also dive into something one mum shared with us in our research: kids don’t actually need more things ... they want your time. So we explore what that means in real life, how to reframe gift giving this year, and some beautiful, simple “time gifts” that create real connection without the stress.

If you’re feeling the present buying pressure or you’re questioning whether you’ve done enough this year, this episode will feel a bit like a warm hug and a gentle reminder the magic isn’t in the stuff ... it’s in you Mama.

Love

Jen & Marina

Christmas lights in November? Mince pies already on the shelves? Yep… we’re asking “Xmas already?!” in this week’s episode of Mamas Mess & Magic.

We chat about the timing, the comfort, and the cosy early-sparkle that’s creeping in this year. Plus a heart warming chat about the big festive magic that makes this season so special for our kids. (Santa Chat! Headphones recommended if you’ve got little believers nearby! 💛)

A fun, relatable episode to make you laugh, nod along, and maybe even sneak on a Christmas playlist a bit early, even if you're team Grinch!

It’s beginning to look a lot like… November! 🎄hahaLove

Jen & Marina

This week on Mamas Mess & Magic, we’re celebrating Children in Need with this episode: “Pudsey Power.”
Join us as we chat about the joy of giving, the lessons in kindness our kids teach us, and how small acts of love can make a big impact. From bake sales to bedtime talks about compassion, this episode is a warm reminder that when families come together, real magic happens. 💛🐻Love

Jen & Marina

Fireworks! Woohoo!

The noise, the sparkle, the squeals of delight (and maybe a few hands over ears). Jen’s got the safety goggles, Marina’s got the sparklers, and our kids? They’ve got all the fun. Join us as we talk about the big booms, the little joys, and how mamas can make magical memories whilst keeping it real.

Tell us are you and your kids firework lovers? Comment below.

Love

Jen & Marina

Mornings. For some mums, they’re calm and cosy. For others… total chaos.
In this episode, Jen and Marina compare their very different starts to the day.

Marina’s up early, soaking in the quiet before her kids wake, no TV, just peace.
Jen? She’s hitting snooze, clutching coffee, and letting the TV keep things calm while everyone gets ready.

But after a Netmums article said no TV before school, we’re asking ... is it really that bad? And should schools be telling parents what to do in their own homes?

Join us as we chat guilt, screens, sanity, and finding a morning rhythm that actually works for you.

Do you ban TV before school... or is it your secret survival tool? Let us know, comment below.

Love

Jen & Marina

This week on Mamas Mess & Magic, we’re opening our hearts for a very special episode; our Baby Loss Round Table, recorded as part of Baby Loss Awareness Week.

Joined by the incredible and brave Bev, we talk openly about loss, love, and the parts of motherhood that often go unspoken. This conversation is honest, full of compassion and while it’s not always easy to hear, it’s one of the most meaningful we’ve shared.

💛 Trigger Warning:
This episode includes detailed and unfiltered discussions of pregnancy and baby loss, including ectopic pregnancy, medical termination, and seeing or holding babies after loss.
Please take care of your heart!

If you’re pregnant, in a tender place, or not ready to hear these stories, it’s absolutely okay to skip this one for now.

If you do listen and feel you need additional support, it is available to you wherever you are:

UK: SANDS | Tommy’s | The Miscarriage Association
Australia: Pink Elephants | Bears of Hope
USA: Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support | March of Dimes

Your story matters. Your baby matters.And you are never, ever alone. 💫

Love

Jen & Marina

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Follow us on Instagram @mamasmessandmagic

This week, things get itchy as we dive into one of the least-glamorous sides of parenting: threadworms (aka bum worms 🪱).

From the horror of discovering them to the endless laundry, midnight itching, and awkward pharmacy chat, we’re talking about the realities.

We share our own family experiences, a few shudder-worthy facts (did you know one worm can lay up to 10,000 eggs in a night?!), and the weird comfort that comes from knowing you’re definitely not the only one.

Expect laughs, ick and a reminder that mamahood isn’t just mess and magic ... sometimes it’s worms too!!

💩 Honest chat. 🧼 Hygiene hacks. ❤️ Solidarity for every parent who’s ever muttered, “What is my life right now?”

Jen & Marina