Welcome to Mum Talks and Toys: a new space for mums like you

Hi, I’m Mariana — welcome to Mum Talks and Toys!
I’m a mum to a spirited 2-year-old boy, in my late twenties, and currently living in Portugal. For a while now, I’ve felt a strong pull to create a space where I can share the real, raw, and relatable moments that come with raising a little one and navigating life as a wife and woman in today’s world.

Why this blog?
Because I believe there’s space for something more honest in the world of motherhood content. So much of what we see falls into two extremes: the polished, picture-perfect version of mum life where everything seems effortless and serene — or the opposite, where it’s all chaos, exhaustion, and survival mode.

The truth? Most of us live somewhere in between.

There are nights when it’s 3am, the baby won’t stop crying, your nipples are sore, you haven’t slept in days, and someone’s telling you to “just breathe.” And then there are days when the sun hits just right, the house is semi-tidy, your little one’s giggling, and you feel a wave of joy and gratitude for this wild, beautiful life.

That in-between space — messy, magical, frustrating, fulfilling — is what I want to write about.

In this blog, I’ll be sharing stories from my own motherhood journey: the raw moments, the small wins, the traditions I’m passing down, and the lessons I’m constantly learning (and unlearning).

A bit about me: I’m Romanian, raised in a small village in the north where I grew up on a farm surrounded by simple, grounding values. At 12, I moved to London, and spent over a decade there — so my perspective is a blend of old-school and modern, rooted and adaptable.

I’ve experienced relocations, separations, big transitions — and I know how isolating and overwhelming that can feel. If you’re in that space now, I hope something I share here brings you a bit of comfort, clarity, or simply the reminder that you’re not alone.

What you’ll find here isn’t expert advice — just stories from a fellow mum, wife, daughter, employee, and woman doing her best. Everything I share is drawn from real life, therapy sessions, parenting books, and the podcasts that have kept me company on long walks and sleepless nights.

I hope this space feels like a warm cup of tea on a tough day.
And if you ever want to chat, vent, or share your own story — my inbox is always open.

Welcome to Mum Talks and Toys. I’m so glad you’re here.