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Review: The Day That and reader offer

jenny — Sat, 19 May 2012 20:19:46 +0000

A couple of years ago we came across a small company who every day, come rain or shine, would go out and take a photograph of dawn. The idea really stuck with us, so when we were offered the opportunity to review the service we just leaped at the chance!

The photographs are a brilliant way to commemorate a special day and, since they have been taken everyday since 2005, make great personalised baby gifts or a unique wedding day present.

Online shopping can be hard but The Day That has a really easy to use website. The process is quite straightforward, simply choose an image taken on your special day, then pick the size of image and frame. You also have the option of adding an inscription of your choice, which will be handwritten on the mount.

We already have photographs and prints to commemorate the births’ of our two children so I thought it would be lovely to have an unusual souvenir of our wedding day. We picked a beautiful photograph of dawn on our wedding day and added the caption – Robin and Jenny’s wedding day – with the date. I think it’s lovely and is so different, especially as I’d rather look at a beautiful photograph of dawn over the sea than any of our wedding photographs! Although we live in London we got married on the Isle of Wight and we both adore being by the sea so the photograph is perfect for us.

If you fancy getting your very own personalised photo, The Day That have a fantastic offer just for you, where you can get a mounted, unframed print absolutely free with every framed print you order. To claim your free print, or just to find out more about them, phone The Day That directly on 01736 758109 and tell them I sent you. Their personal customer service is second to none, and they’ll be absolutely delighted to take your call!

Help with moving house

jenny — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:53:21 +0000

We spent yet another weekend house hunting. Whilst at home we spend our evenings narrowing down an area we want to look round and make sure we can afford. Then we like to bookmark a couple of houses to look at when we’re out and about.

There are a couple of apps we usually use on our iPhones and iPad as there are a growing number of apps available. Last weekend we used the new free FindaProperty.com property search app for the iPad, which provides a convenient search tool for those looking to buy, rent, let, sell or simply browse homes on the move.

It has many of the features you would expect such as full property information including asking prices, number of bedrooms, screen photos and pinch-enabled floor plans. The app also allows users to save and forward details of favourite properties and contact estate agents directly.

Utilising the iPad’s GPS functionality, the FindaProperty.com search app also enables browsers to identify and review properties near-by, before mapping a route to reach them for a viewing.

We found the app simple to use but there were a couple of issues. The most important is that you can’t login to your account on the app so can’t see searches you have saved at home when you’re out. This was quite frustrating and something I hope will get fixed in the next upgrade.

The other niggle we had was that the graphics weren’t optimised for the iPad 3. My husband is a complete geek so we always have the latest versions of Apple products but I know this isn’t the case for everyone. However, it would be good if the images looked as good as they could do.

The FindaProperty.com app is available from the iTunes store.

Disclosure – I was compensated for reviewing this app but all thoughts are my own.

Tips for Creating a Safe and Fun Learning, Playing and Resting Environment for Your Child

jenny — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:53:20 +0000

One of the best things you can do to promote your baby’s learning and development is to start reading to your baby from a very early age. Even before your baby can understand the words, he or she will benefit from time spent with you and a book. This stimulus is the base for more complex learning as your baby grows. Reading helps your baby learn different sounds and understand how communication works, by stimulating cognitive functions.

Be prepared to read the same book over and over again, as repetition is the only way your baby will learn new words. Start a bedtime routine with a book, but make sure you chose chunky books with big and bright pictures.

You may also want to buy some toys to stimulate and entertain your baby. There’s an infinite range of toys available, and it’s sometimes difficult to decide what’s best.

From a very early age, your baby will enjoy looking at bright colours and exploring different textures. At this stage soft toys are the best option, to avoid any injury to your baby. You can also try mobiles with different shapes and sounds to keep your baby entertained.

As your baby grows, he or she will enjoy biting and chewing on toys, so safe teething toys are advisable. In addition, as his or her coordination improves, rattles and music toys are excellent options. You can also try stacking toys, and balls.

The claims that exposing your baby to classical music will make them more intelligent may be clearly unsubstantiated, but it is true that music is an excellent tool to promote your baby’s development. Singing nursery rhymes together or listening to music helps your baby understand rhythm and improve later development. Also, as their coordination develops, you can start dancing with your baby, which is a fantastic form of exercise for you and the baby!

An essential toy is a play mat or baby gym, where you can lay your baby down and spread some of his or her favourite toys around. A consideration to have when you use this toy is to make sure you don’t leave your baby in the same position for too long laying on his back. Give them plenty of ‘tummy time’, as this will not only avoid your baby developing flat head syndrome (where the skull flattens at the side or across the back, also known as plagiocephaly or brachycephaly), but it will also stimulate crawling.

Another important aspect is how your baby rests. During the day, modern car seats can be connected to a base and used as a buggy, which means your baby is actually spending long periods of time in the same position, risking the development of flat head syndrome.

Additionally, at night, parents are advised to place their baby in bed laying on their back to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). However, the baby must not spend too much time with his or her head in one position as this may also lead to the development of flat head syndrome. Babies may need your help to change their head position until they can do it on their own. As your baby sleeps, gently turn their head to vary the position that it rests in. For when the baby is awake, you could also place a mobile above the cot or decorate the walls with bright pictures to encourage the baby to move their head.

Post written on behalf of Technology in Motion – UK flat head syndrome clinic.

Mini micro 3in1 scooter

jenny — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 08:33:57 +0000

We’ve just come back from a lovely week away visiting family. We’re fortunate that the grandparents live by the sea in Devon and the Isle of Wight so there’s no excuse for not getting plenty of fresh air and exercise when we visit. One of the things we packed this time was Big Brother’s mini micro scooter. He’s been having loads of fun with it at home but we knew he would have even more fun scooting along the promenade!

Putting the scooter together with daddy

Both grandad and nanny were suitably impressed with his scooting skills. The clever little mini micro 3in1 scooter comes with a seat and O-bar handle which is absolutely perfect for him at 24 months. We often see bigger kids out with their micro scooters, and whilst they look lots of fun, I know Big Brother doesn’t have the necessary skills just yet. That’s why the 3in1 is so good as the seat clips into a mini micro scooter and the O-bar handle can eventually be swapped for the T-bar handle when he’s ready.

scooting along the prom

It’s great watching him learn how it works and I love the fact the seat and handle give it a bit of stability. I think I may be investing in a couple of accessories, such as the scoot ‘n’ pull for when the toddler is feeling tired, the drinks holder as, like me, he always has to have a drink and the shoulder strap.

If you need more information about how they grow with your child take a look at this video:

Disclosure – we were sent the mini micro scooter to review

Labour of Love: over 20 knitting patterns for treasured girls

jenny — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:26:20 +0000

One of my crafty passions is knitting so I was delighted to be sent a copy of Labour of Love: over 20 knitting patterns for treasured girls. This is the first book by Vibe Ulrik Sondergaard who studied fashion design at Kingston University.

This book is absolutely beautiful! I would be happy to keep this on my coffee table but it is also full of contemporary patterns I would love to make, in fact I’ve already marked a few for my to-do-list! The photographs are gorgeous and really help illustrate each project. The projects are divided into types: sweaters, cardigans, dresses and tops, skirts and snoods, and charming accessories. Each chapter is for one pattern which is well set out so you know exactly what you need, the instructions are clear and each tells you how to bring the finished garment together. The book also contains a list of abbreviations, choosing yarn, yarn information and suppliers.

Would you like to see two of my favourite projects?

I can’t resist this lovely Laura Frost Flower Hat and Poncho for autumn, I think Little Sis would look beautiful in both items. The measurements are for a 5-8 year old but I don’t think it would be too difficult to re-size.

I’ve also fallen in love with this adorable Matilda Round-neck Textured Sweater. You can see from the image that the photographs are lovely and make me want to knit everything in the book!

I think Labour of Love is a great book with a range of patterns for the experienced knitter although there are some simpler patterns too. The photography really makes the book stand out and I can’t wait to get my knitting needles out to share some of my attempts with you!

Labour of Love: over 20 knitting patterns for treasured girls, Collins & Brown RRP £16.99

How to Con Your Kid

jenny — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:12:55 +0000

We received a copy of the new book ‘How to Con Your Kid’ by David Borgenicht and James Grace. I was intrigued by the title as, lets be honest, I’m always on the look out for tips to help me ‘negotiate’ with the toddler. I’m still trying to figure out my parenting style but the onslaught of the Terrible Two’s has left me looking for suggestions.

Everyone knows that children bring boundless joy into your life. However, they also bring temper tantrums, stubborn moods, sulks, and a level of mis-behaviour that would tax a saint at times – as any parent who has tried to get one to finish their dinner knows! It’s time to spare the aggravation and take some action. How to Con Your Kid shows how parents can con their toddlers to do anything. Want your kid to try broccoli? Serve a plate of “baby trees.” Want them to take a bath? Put on a swim suit and go “swimming” together. From simple “short cons” to more elaborate, step-by-step scams, How to Con Your Kid features tricks and tips for the home, travel, green vegetables, parties, walks, sitting still, teeth cleaning, sharing with friends, cleaning up, visiting the dentist, and so much more.

Written in a light-hearted manner, yet full of practical, proven methods to get your children to do what they should do, How to Con Your Kid collects tried-and tested methods to induce children to go to sleep, dress themselves, behave at the table, and watch TV with their siblings without quarreling. Written by two hands-on fathers with years of practical experience in small, wilful children, this is a boon to any parent. Plus, for those rare moments when everything fails, two sheets of “bribe stickers” have been included – guaranteed to transform the most terrible toddler into a well-behaved angel.

This a fun little book and I’ll definitely be trying out the tips on getting your child to keep their clothes on and how to make them stop whining – top of my list at the moment!

How to Con Your Kid RRP £9.99

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Baby Safe Homes UK review

jenny — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:00:34 +0000

We hear a lot about mumpreneurs but what about the dad-preneurs (I may have made that word up) – the fathers who have a great business idea, often as a result of the new challenges faced as a parent? Well last week I met one such man, Chris Jones, who runs a brilliant business offering practical solutions for baby-proofing your home.

Now, you may wonder why we would need this service as we are old hands with a 24 month old. Well I was interested to see what Chris thought of our own attempt at baby and toddler-proofing, had a couple of specific questions and wanted some advice on improvements for our on the move 5 month old.

We got through the crawling and inquisitive months with the minimum baby proofing – an essential stair gate, one lock on a kitchen cupboard and sticky corners on our coffee table which promptly fell off. With two children my attention is often split so I was grateful for some advice and a second pair of eyes to look at our home. Chris walked through our house, room by room, asking about any issues we have.

Chris drew up a list of his suggestions with prices which I was then able to decide whether I thought we needed or not. One of the major strong points of the Baby Safe Homes UK service is that the work is carried out on the same day so you don’t need to wait for any items to be in stock, or your husband to find time to fit them! The list of suggestions was perfect, ranging from simple burgla bar locks on windows which the toddler might lift and climb out of, to a cooker shield, an L bracket fitted to my favourite wobbily vintage cupboard, a strap on the back of the tv securing it to the wall and a clever door monkey to prevent the toddler opening his bedroom door. I also received some invaluable advice such as turning off the heated towel rail in our bathroom to prevent a burn hazard.

I was really pleased with the service. All the advice was helpful and trusted as Chris is father to an active toddler himself. After Chris’s visit our house doesn’t look much different but now we have extra locks on cupboards and doors, the tv is secure and I have some invaluable advice about staying one step ahead of the children and ensuring their safety at home.

About Baby Safe Homes UK

Learning what equipment is on the market and finding the right safety products for your home can easily turn into a frustrating and confusing research project, and it could then take several days or weeks of DIY to fix the safety equipment. Baby Safe Homes UK, a RoSPA member, provides a clean, fast and affordable service to baby safe the home.

The company will carry out an initial survey of a home and provide a consultation on safety issues to be remedied, for a nominal fee, from £25. A list of tasks and recommended products is provided and the company can then install all the required equipment, the same day, in a matter of hours. The company’s experience means they know the most appropriate and best quality safety products to install. If the same day installation service is chosen, the initial consultation will be free. Installation costs vary according to what needs to be done and equipment costs are competitive to those found on the high street or Internet.

Call 0207 559 1491 for more info, or visit www.babysafehomes.co.uk

Lalaloopsy Dolls review and giveaway

jenny — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 08:05:16 +0000

To be honest I hadn’t heard of the Lalaloopsy but when I heard it was perfect for any young girl, especially one interested in craft, fabric, sewing and friendship, I leaped at the chance to review it with my family.

If you haven’t heard of them before, Lalaloopsy are magical ragdolls who come to life when their last stitch is sewn. Each doll has their own individual personality created by the fabrics used to make them. They live in a colourful, whimsical world full of fun and surprises. Sew magical. Sew cute.

We really enjoyed watching Adventures in Lalaloopsy Land: The Search for Pillow and think it would make a wonderful gift for any young girl. In the film Peanut Big Top has a big surprise and everyone can’t wait to see what it is. But one of the gang is missing! It seems that Pillow Featherbed has sneaked off for a nap and is in danger of missing out on the surprise. The Lalaloopsy girls set off to find their friend but discover that everyone has their own ideas on the best way to search Lalaloopsy Land and it’s not until they work together that their plans start to work… The hunt for Pillow is on!

This brand new full-length feature Adventures in Lalaloopsy Land: The Search for Pillow, is available to own on DVD from the 26^th March (RRP £15.99). And to celebrate this special launch, a limited edition of the DVD is also available as an exclusive toy-pack which includes a double-sided colouring poster and your very own Pillow Lalaloopsy Doll! RRP £15.99

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Little Green Sheep sleeping bag review

jenny — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:46:18 +0000

Like many mothers I would love to clothe my children in organic clothes. Both suffer from eczema so we are really careful about the clothes we buy, the washing powder we use and cleaning products used around the house. I was offered some baby sleepwear from organic baby and bedding company The Little Green Sheep to try with Little Sis. Apparently their babygros are all organic and even the poppers are nickel free so I was happy to.

We were sent one of their lovely organic sleeping bags, which contain no nasties and are made from certified organic cotton. We always used sleeping bags with her brother so love the concept of sleeping bags for babies. They are a great way to ensure your baby keeps warm all night long, especially as Little Sis is a kicker and constantly kicks her blanket off at night.

The sleeping bag we were sent is beautiful. It’s made from 100% organic cotton to Soil Association standards and feels lovely and soft. They come in three sizes (0-6m, 6-18m and 18-36m) with either a plush or flannelette lining. We’ve been using the plush lining as the 1.5-2 tog equivalent is perfect for the cold winter nights we’ve been experiencing.

This is a lovely item and great value for money, it also washes well. The Little Green Sheep produce a range of organic sleepwear, bath time products, toys and gifts, mattresses, furniture, bedding and nursery products.

Elimination Communication?

jenny — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:25:36 +0000

I was reading the latest issue of Mother & Baby and there was an intriguing article about Elimination Communication. Basically it means not using nappies and just knowing when your child needs the toilet. Despite being a stay at home mum I just can’t imagine having the time to do this on top of everything else. Sorry but I love nappies – reuseable and disposable – I’m happy to use both on my children, but they will wear nappies until they’re potty trained!

We were sent the latest bumGenius freetime to review. You may remember some time go we tried the bumGenius v4 which we loved, the bumGenius freetime is the latest version of this great brand.

Features include:

accessible, replaceable elastic
overlap attached inserts to adjust absorbency
gentle elastic prevents leakage
soft stay-dry inserts and lining keep moisture away
extra layer of microfibre terry sewn into the shell
adjusts to fit babies from 8-35

This has to be one of the simplest reuseable nappies to use – adjust to fit your baby and away you go. The two inserts mean you don’t have to worry about absorbency and as they are attached to the nappy they don’t come loose in the washing machine. I find the bumGenius always wash well and I love the range of colours. We’ve been trying the dazzle which is a rich plum colour and looks great on my little one. I love this new version and can’t wait to watch it grow with my daughter.