Jen Walshaw | Mum In The Madhouse

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Author name: Jen Walshaw

Mum-in-charge Jen Walshaw runs the UK’s top parenting blog Mum in the Madhouse, and she describes herself as a “fat, feisty and over 50” Northerner. Based in North Yorkshire, she’s mum to young adults and a big believer that family life is messy, creative and fun. In 2009 a double mastectomy gave her the nudge to start blogging; with two boys under three she needed an outlet and a digital scrapbook to capture their chaos.Jen’s posts are a mix of crafts, kid‑friendly recipes and honest parenting, peppered with northern humour. She’s happiest when up to her elbows in tea, fabric and pizza dough – sewing and making homemade gifts – before sneaking off to write about it. As a proud Northerner she warns PRs that a “quick pop down to London” isn’t quick at all. Her blog has earned her a stack of accolades, including the Cision #1 Mummy Blogger title in 2024  and consistently topping Vuelio and Tots100 parenting‑blog charts. Whether she’s advocating for diversity and body neutrality or sharing tales of parenting teens, Jen keeps things chatty, real and refreshingly down‑to‑earth.

3 Tips for a Happier Family: Simple Strategies for Building Stronger Connections

While some struggles can be normal for families, others may be causing quite a lot of strain. Considering the current state of your family life, you may be able to identify areas of improvement. Spending a bit of time thinking about possible solutions, and putting plans in place, could help to give you a bit

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How to Choose the Right Blanket for Your Baby: Essential Tips for Comfort and Safety

When you get the news that you or someone you know is expecting a baby, your first thought is to get the best quality items for all their needs. Baby blankets are one of those essential items, helping you to keep the baby cosy and warm even when the weather isn’t great. However, choosing the

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How to Make the Perfect Toad in the Hole Every Time: Foolproof Recipe and Tips

How to make the perfect Toad in Hole every Time is a paid collaborative post with Richmond Sausages. With two growing teens, there is one thing I know is that hungry teens are unhappy teens and that my army marches on a full and satisfied tummy. This is never more important than on a cold

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A Guide to the Perfect Christmas Card for All Your Loved Ones: Tips and Ideas for Heartfelt Greetings

When it comes to our favourite holiday season, there’s nothing quite like Christmas; the festivities, the decorations and the excitement, all come together to make it a magical time of the year. From finding the most incredible Christmas gifts to adding festive decor in every nook and cranny of your home, we try to embody

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Decorating Your Garden for Christmas: Festive Ideas to Transform Your Outdoor Space

Christmas will soon be upon us once again, and before long, we’ll be adorning our homes with festive decorations. But what about the outside of our homes? Decorating the garden for Christmas can add a bit of extra sparkle to our lives. And that’s something we can all appreciate.

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The Benefits of an Adjustable Desk for Crafters: Enhance Your Crafting Experience

We received a Flexispot Standing Desk E8 in exchange for this post – The Benefits of an Adjustable Desk for Crafters. I was first introduced to adjustable desks in my life before children when I worked in Facilities for a large software company. We fitted out the whole R&D team in the UK with them and they

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