Episodes

  • S1 E19: I Love Zilla - more beautiful clothes

    S1 E19: I Love Zilla - more beautiful clothes
    Jun 27 2023

    Today's episode is all about Zilla with supporting information from Viv Groskop of the Guardian. These are clothes to make you feel good in every way. This is not an advert - I have paid for every scrap of Zilla that has come my way, I just love them so much and want you to also.

    Buy Zilla here: https://www.ilovezilla.com/

    Follow them on Instagram here: @zillakids

    Read Viv Groskop's excellent article here: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jun/21/your-body-is-miraculous-enjoy-it-10-ways-to-be-much-more-body-confident

    Keep in touch: stuffbuff@duck.com or @the.stuff.buff
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    6 mins
  • S1 E18: Ruby Speaking and other stories from Jayde Adams

    S1 E18: Ruby Speaking and other stories from Jayde Adams
    Jun 23 2023

    Jayde Adams is a brilliant comedian, actor and all round force for good in the world. You might know her from Strictly Come Dancing but her brilliance extends far beyond that - her latest show is a funny, kind hug of a show called Ruby Speaking about a South Bristol call centre - listen on to find out about that and a smattering of her other projects. Bristol 24/7's person of the year proving over and over that the world is more cheerful with her in it.

    Watch Ruby Speaking here: https://www.itv.com/watch/ruby-speaking/10a3377

    Listen to Welcome to the Neighbourhood here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0c58jnz

    Read about Jayde Adams here: https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/features/bristol247-person-of-year-2022-jayde-adams/

    Watch Serious Black Jumper here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jayde-Adams-Serious-Black-Jumper/dp/B086VY37MW

    Get in touch with me here: stuffbuff@duck.com or on instagram @the.stuff.buff
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    6 mins
  • S1 E17: A Walk in the Woods

    S1 E17: A Walk in the Woods
    Jun 20 2023

    How do you switch off? How do you get away from the noise and distractions of every day life? Thanks to a wonderful podcast I learnt how to forest bathe (or walk, mindfully) and it is now a go to whenever I need to turn down the background noise and return to myself. Today's episode is all about a Walk in the Woods.

    THAT podcast is Right up my Podcast (or RUMP): https://rightupmy.buzzsprout.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts. Kate and Gwen are so lovely and funny and there will definitely be a bit of self care in their archives for you.

    If you want to get in touch - tell me about your favourite forest, or what you like to do to escape I am at stuffbuff@duck.com and on instagram: @the.stuff.buff
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    5 mins
  • S1 E16: Venice with kids?

    S1 E16: Venice with kids?
    Jun 16 2023
    Is Venice doable with children? A question I spent several months googling and never really finding an answer. Well, I have now done it and it turned out OK - not all sweetness and light but certainly not the grim stress of my worst imagination. Below is a pretty comprehensive list of the things we did with our 10yo and 8yo and there were only a couple of major stress points and one absolute refusal to leave the house (for half a day!).Kids focused stuff we did to keep the boys sane and everyone happy:Ca Macana mask making workshop - expensive but worth it. Info here.Kids Sundays at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection - these were monthly when we went but looks like they are weekly in high season - free and BRILLIANT. Info here.Lido - we went to the free beach (walk from the boat to the beach and then turn left and walk another 400m). It is a short boat ride from St Marks.Leonardo da Vinci museum - Venice supports 2 of these approx 5 mins walk from each other which is baffling. They cost the same to get in and have the same score of Tripadvisor. Indiana Jones fans may want to go to the St Barnabas one but we went to the one next door to our apartment and it was great - lots of playing with machines designed by LdV. Details here.Hanging out in the Campo San Polo - excellent nasone (water fountain) for water fights, nice benches in the shade, decent ice cream and, more often than not, a game of football.Gelateria Millevoglie - best ice cream we found in Venice and right by our apartment. Also sells Calzones which were great for take away lunches.Non-kids stuff we did anyway that they really enjoyed despite themselves:The oldest (10) loved St Mark's Basilica and was willing and able to queue to get in. They got there at 9ish and the queue was already 50m long. When the Basilica opened at 9.30 the queue moved super quickly and they got in straight away. Queuing was in the shade. Info here.Scuola San Rocco was a hit for the youngest (8)- he was quite taken with the Tintoretto ceiling of various biblical scenes - some more brutal than others. Info here.The Accademia was good for spotting animals in pictures, learning saint iconography and the Bellinis and Giorgiones which were brilliant. Info here. It is free (but chaotic) on Sundays - we visited on a Monday morning (closed from 2pm on Mondays) and it was pretty chilled.The Frari - good for full Venice lion spotting (including a sad one on Canova's tomb) and an incredibly cool and peaceful place. Info here.San Pantalon - second biggest painting on canvas in the world which is a sight (though the 8yo preferred the blue ceiling with stars on it in a back chapel). Also a Banksy just outside it. Info here and here.San Giorgio Maggiore - extremely beautiful, peaceful church by Palladio opposite St Mark's Square. Very quiet and more than worth the boat trip for that alone. A trip up the bell tower is worth the money for the astonishing views. Info here.Giardini Reali - a beautifully planted shady garden just off St Mark's. No picnics allowed disappointingly but it is the perfect place to escape the chaos and recharge a bit (or play with the pebbles/water fountain). Info here. You won't get the whole place to yourself like Monty Don did, but it is significantly quieter than the surrounding streets.A note on public transport: the vaporettos are frequent and have the city and outlying islands covered. We got 7 day tickets (there are 24 hour and 3 day options) which were expensive but worth it. Any refusals to walk any more meant we could hop on a boat without stress. We took one traghetto - big gondolas oared by 2 people that go back and forth across the grand canal - which cost 2 Euros per person and gives you a slice of the gondola experience for a fraction of the 80 euros for 30 mins gondola price. The ACTV (public transport) employees we came across were completely helpful and supportive and all ticket office staff spoke wonderful English. Info here but I would recommend going and talking to an actual human as they were brilliant.PHEW! Those were quite some show notes. I hope I covered everything but if you have any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch - stuffbuff@duck.com or via Instagram @the.stuff.buffEnjoy!
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    8 mins
  • S1 E15: Jones Rd

    S1 E15: Jones Rd
    Jun 12 2023

    Posh make-up today from The Stuff Buff and I am talking Jones Rd - the relatively new brand from Bobbi Brown, beauty goddess!

    The products I discuss in the podcast are:

    Miracle Balm (I use the shade flushed), the WTFoundation (in Beige for me), the Just a Sec eye cream in Pewter, the Lip Tint (in Valencia Orange) and the Best Pencil in Ivy.

    If you want to know more about the textures of the Miracle Balm or the WTF please do get in touch: stuff buff@duck.com or @the.stuff.buff on instagram (where you will also find a get ready with me showing how I apply all the products).
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    7 mins
  • S1 E14: Printmaking

    S1 E14: Printmaking
    Jun 9 2023

    I have discovered printmaking and am revelling in its delights. Listen to me chat about it, and a rookie error I have made and how it doesn't matter because playing, exploring and learning are key.

    If you want more expert advice/guidance and more beautiful images please follow:

    @caskieprints on Instagram or caskieprints.com : Jay makes beautiful images and they share their knowledge on implements, materials and techniques really generously.

    @maddy_casey_printmaker on instagram has a fluidity and sparseness of mark making that I wonder at.

    @gail_brodholt's urban landscapes and use of colour are intense, brave and seriously beautiful.

    And last but not least @fumiyanagimoto creates deceptively simple prints with such emotional depth.

    If you want to get in touch with me i am stuffbuff@duck.com and @the.stuff.buff on instagram - come find me!
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    5 mins
  • S1 E13: Magazines for kids.

    S1 E13: Magazines for kids.
    Jun 6 2023

    We get Aquila magazine for our older child and The Phoenix for the youngest - here are my musings on magazines for kids and hopefully how to get it right (and avoid plastic tat).

    Today's episode features a couple of very special guests. Definitely worth a listen if you have 5 minutes.

    Aquila Magazine: https://www.aquila.co.uk/

    The Phoenix Comic: https://thephoenixcomic.co.uk/

    Please feel free to contact me via email on stuffbuff@duck.com or via Instagram:@the.stuff.buff
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    5 mins
  • S1 E12: Headspace (and other meditation apps)

    S1 E12: Headspace (and other meditation apps)
    Jun 2 2023

    Ponderings on the Headspace and BetterU apps in particular with mentions of others. Meditation is a game changer for mental good health and is something I have found incredibly useful - listen on to find out how and why and for a huge recommendations of a meditation app for kids that is proving useful in my world.

    Headspace: https://www.headspace.com/

    Ellie's Angels: https://www.elliesangels.org/

    Better U: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nlsltd.betteru

    Insight Timer: https://insighttimer.com/en-gb

    Calm App: https://www.calm.com/

    You can contact me at stuffbuff@duck.com or via instagram @the.stuff.buff - keep in touch!
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    5 mins