Being a Mummy

My First Foods

2012-05-22T07:58:00.000+01:00

Sunday night saw a momentous occasion in our house, baby Neds first dinner. I was surprised how much he enjoyed his baby rice and stewed apple, rather than one spoonful he ate the entire bowl. He seems very pleased with his Stokke Tripp Trapp which was kindly given to us for review purposes and I must say, it's brilliant. Just one look at his little face as he now joins us at the dinner table for some baby led weaning speaks volumes...

Our Volvo #V60getaway Weekend

2012-05-16T19:17:00.000+01:00

This weekend I felt like I had won the lottery. A lovely red Volvo V60 D3 was delivered to our front door. We then used it to travel in luxury to North Norfolk for a fabulous much needed weekend away. This was all courtesy of Volvo who are promoting the V60 which is a new family car in the Volvo range. Next month Volvo are going to be running numerous activities with the Telegraph surrounding the idea of families using the V60 as a weekend get-away car for UK breaks and excursions.We were lucky enough to be the first family to experience the V60 as a weekend get-away car!

I have totally fallen in love with the V60 and was genuinely sad to give it back. I really enjoyed driving it and I can say with certainty its the nicest car I have ever driven, certainly the first automatic car which took a little bit of getting used to. For example, there is this ecodrive function which turns the engine off when you stop the car which is also a little disconcerting but felt worthy. The model we had was very luxurious inside with a leather interior and those special seats you get in Volvos which are very comfortable. North Norfolk is a two and a half hour drive from our house and to be honest we had such a lovely trip it seemed much closer than usual.

One of the reasons that I thought this car was really ideal for us was the fact that we could sit all three children alongside each other in the back. It has become a bit of a motoring ambition of mine to achieve this from a practicality point of view but also it frankly prevents arguments over seating arrangements amongst the kids. Of course, the fact that they could all sit next to each other also meant that we had the whole boot free meaning we could fit our large pushchair alongside, the clothes, nappies, moses basket, wellies and all the other things which you take when you have kids. The fact that it all fitted in with the shelf cover over the top illustrates just how large this space is, this would have been impossible in our Zafira.

So, not only was the drive comfortable with enough space for all of us and our stuff it was also brilliant fun. Volvos are well known for their safety features but I was surprised how much acceleration the car had, which made it great fun to drive. I really cant fault it. I especially like it because it doesn't look like a flashy car, it has a bit of class. Just great, if I had one I'd be tempted to spend every other weekend exploring the UK.

We were exceptionally lucky in that the weekend we picked to go away proved to have the best weather of the past few months. We escaped the rain and saw a bit of sunshine which lifted the spirits nicely. If you haven't visited North Norfolk you have missed out, its fast becoming a gastronomic capital and has some wonderful places to eat. We stayed at the Red Lion in Stiffkey and sampled the delights of their menu which was really good. We also had to eat at Boys favourite pub The Jolly Sailor in Burnham which serves up white bait, his all time favourite meal.

One of the nicest things you can do is take a trip to see the Grey and Common Seal colony at Blakeney Point, we try to do this at various different times of the year as its wonderful to see them at all their different life stages. The children always really enjoy this trip, as do I and this weekend was no exception. If you are thinking of a weekend away, the seals pup in June so if you go along then there is a chance you'll see some really cute baby seals.

We also spent quite a long time on the beach at Brancaster and visiting Titchwell Bird Reserve. Luckily for us it was the Wings over Titchwell event there this weekend which meant there were loads of birdwatchers eagerly waiting to identify all the birds for us. I bought the kids some little bug magnifiers and we had loads of fun.

All in all a fantastic getaway weekend in a brilliant car.

Brothers and Sisters

2012-05-11T10:50:00.000+01:00

I've been really lucky that both the children have really taken to baby Ned. There is no jealously, they genuinely love playing with him, feeding him and Fifi will also have a really good attempt at changing his nappy. As a third baby Ned is fairly indestructible, in fact there is nothing he likes more than being man-handled by his big brother and sister...

Review: Slendertone Arms

2012-05-11T10:12:00.004+01:00

The husband is very keen on using his Slendertone and I think it has actually really made a difference, that and his attempts at weight loss. I was given some arm pads which help to tone the triceps. As we all know this is a difficult area in women as they easily become quite sort of well, floppy ( I don't want to use the term Bingo Wings really). In the past I've had really toned arms due to an excessive amount of time digging holes and wielding a mattock in my job as an archaeologist, but in recent years its all gone, so this was a perfect opportunity.

I say its a perfect opportunity because i got them and then I was so busy writing stuff, feeding the baby and generally running around with three kids that I didn't even have a moment to take them out of the box. However, the past few weeks have seen a change of attitude and I have taken a step back and decided to focus a bit more on myself. So with this in mind I have decided to use the Slendertone arms whilst making the time to sit and read a book. I must say this is a win- win situation as you are exercising and relaxing!
As with all Slendertone products these could not be easier to use, all you need do is stick the pads in the appropriate place and then set the controller as you wish

I think it’s a brilliant little device and I can certainly feel it working, I’m no sure if its made too much of a difference yet but I think with fairly constant use over the next month it will. What's more, its given me the push I need to re-start my exercise regime. I'll write another post in a few weeks with some before and after pictures so you can make your own mind up.

My only criticism is that you need the controller, it doesn’t come with the set as this is merely an accessory so you have to buy either the Slendertone Abs or the Slendertone Bottom as well. I think that’s a bit of a shame as the Abs and Bottom are not really very appealing to myself but the arms are perfect. If you want to find out more have a look here.

Review: VUP Baby Kleen Kanteen

2012-05-09T14:04:00.001+01:00

VUP baby have a fabulous website full of the best baby products, all free of hazardous chemicals such as BPA. I actually shop there a reasonable amount and I do like their products because not only are they safe, they are also unusual and stylish for the money.

Boy was asked what he would like to test and we decided upon a new water bottle for school. The whole school water bottle is a new thing on me, we never had such things when I was at school, a water fountain was sufficient but times change. He was sent a Klean Kanteen bottle. The great thing about the Klean Kanteen bottles is that they are BPA free, a lot of the cheaper aluminium bottles you buy have liners which are choc full of BPA and thus not as environmentally friendly as you may think. The Kleen Kanteen bottle is food grade stainless steel and has a special lid which the boy loves because it has a built in handle.

The other aspect of this bottle that Boy likes is that it has a red colour and looks like a fire extinguisher! I must say though, it is really quite indestructible Boy has been using it for a long time for school and it looks pristine. I’m, so impressed I’m going to get Fifi one. If you want to have a look you can buy them here

Review: Vax Air Reach Vacuum Cleaner

2012-05-08T11:06:00.003+01:00

As part of the Vax Voice team I get to try out (and keep) all the best new products from Vax and I have to say, so far I have not been disappointed. Now I am a stay at home mum I do notice the mess and the dirt in our house a lot more and I am quite keen to find ways of tackling it.

The Vax Air Reach is a bagless upright Vacuum Cleane r. The idea is that the multiple cyclonic technology and 200 watts of cleaning power provide the extreme suction needed to get rid of all your dirt easily. Not only that its also very light, in fact it weighs a third less than conventional cleaners.

But what did I think? First of all I was a bit sceptical that it would live up to its claims. However, I've been really converted, in fact I have actually chucked away my faithful old cleaner in favour of this one. Part of it is because I really like seeing the amount of dirt that has been sucked up- the cylinder is clear and so you can see the results of all your effort both on the floor, but also in the cylinder. This is really brilliant, its making me feel very domesticated anyway!

The other feature which i thought was a stroke of genius was the feature whereby you can actually add a length of hose onto the cleaner. This means that you can leave the machine at the bottom of the stairs and easily reach up to the top. Considering we have three landings this is quite a feat in our house and one that it easily coped with. I was amazed by this because one of the problems I often have is balancing a cleaner on the stairs whilst trying to clean them. There was no loss of suction either which makes it even more impressive.

This cleaner, like all of the Vax range I have tested has a really long cable so you don't need to keep unplugging it, we can easily do the downstairs of our house, the stairs and most of the upstairs using the same plug socket which is great and a definite plus point. Certainly something I would now look for in a cleaner.

Although there are a couple of additional tools this hoover doesn't come with loads and loads, for me this gets a thumbs up because I don't know about you, but I just end up never using them and having loads of bit of plastic knocking about. I used the upholstery tool on the curtains and I thought it was perfect for the job.

Because this Vacuum Cleaner is so light, safe and easy to use the children have also had a little go. In fact there is nothing Fifi likes more these days than cleaning so its not hard to persuade her. However the fact that a three year old can push it along illustrates just how light and easy to operate it is.

I can honestly say that I'm really pleased with this cleaner, its taken pride of place in our house. I like using upright cleaners, there is far less temptation to crouch down and pull your back and the handle is adjustable so it means my extremely tall husband can also use it. One satisfied blogger here. You get a six year guarantee as standard with this vacuum cleaner and at the moment there are some brilliant offers available on this model so its certainly worth your consideration if you are thinking of replacing your cleaner. You can have a look at its features here. Next time I'm cleaning I'll get someone to take a picture of me using it!

Review: Powerspin

2012-05-08T10:16:00.000+01:00

I've put on so much weight with little baby Ned that I need to take drastic action. The only problem is that I don't have time to go out running, really I don't, I know people say you can make the time but Ned has 4 bottles of milk overnight and then Fifi wakes up at 6 ish every morning and then I am flat out all day. So when I was given a Powerspin to give a try I thought I may as well, because its the sort of thing that you can do when you are sitting them watching Cbeebies with a child clamped to you.

The Powerspin is basically a weighted small hoop are there are a series of exercises you can do with it. Now, like with all home sporting devices you do actually need to use it to make a difference and the beauty of this one is that its small, so its sort of there by the sofa which of course means its easy to use. In fact when you do use it not only do you feel virtuous it inspires the rest of the household to want to use it. As a result we have all been giving it a go and frankly its been quite good fun.

Of course, the aim of the Powerspin is to work those arm muscles in order to try to prevent those bingo wings we all get. Do I think it works? Well, I can certainly feel the muscles when I've used it properly for a period of time so I think, yes, if you are prepared to give it a go the Powerspin is worth the investment.

You'll find all the different exercises here if you'd like to check it out.

Review: Mike the Knight Deluxe Glendragon Playset

2012-05-06T22:48:00.000+01:00

Fifi and Boy were lucky enough to be sent one of the brand new Mike the Knight toys to play with. They were sent the Deluxe Glendragon Playset which is basically the castle with a working slide for the figures, and Mike and Galahad. Did this toy go down a treat! They loved it, after a hard fought battle over Galahad (Fifi loves horses, Boy likes being awkward) they settle down to play together with it nicely.

One of the brilliant things about this toy is that its well made and really quite robust, well, robust enough to withstand the attention of my two toddlers anyhow! They had loads of fun putting Mike down the slide and seeing if he would land on Galahad in particular. There was a genuine shriek of delight when Fifi found what the you needed to lift the bed in order to go down the slide.

I think one of the really great things about toys based on familiar television programmes is that the familiarity helps the children to learn how to play. By this I mean I have noticed how my children start off by re-enacting things they have seen in the television programmes and then start developing those stories further into more elaborate role playing. It's a real joy to see and one of the definite benefits of a toy like this.

If you haven't seen it yet, Mike the Knight is a fabulous Cbeebies show all about the adventures of Mike and his friends, our kids really love it and it has lots of subtle messages about friendship and challenging yourself. If your kids love the show then this toy would be absolutely perfect for them, its a good size for little hands but not so enormous that it will take over your house. I'm also a fan of sets which you can add to and there are lots of thing in the range which means you'll be able to ask for toys to go with it for Christmas and Birthdays.

This has made a brilliant addition to our toys, the kids love it and its well made, we give it 4/5...

Things to Make with Yogurt Pots

2012-05-03T11:05:00.000+01:00

We are enormous yogurt fans in this house and literally get through hundreds of pots over the course of a year. This all seems a terrible waste and yogurt pots are absolutely perfect for all sorts of crafting activities from making pin cushions to bird feeders there are literally hundred of things you and the kids can do.

This week I thought me and Fifi could go back to basics with two projects, learning about plants and learning about animals, I hope they inspire you.

Learning about Plants
The most basic thing that you can do with kids is to make sure they know where their food comes from and how plants can grow. Of course there are many ways you can do this and yogurt pots make absolutely excellent little containers for growing seedings in for autumn vegetables and we have a few little pots of seeds on the go with the intention of planting them out when they are a bit bigger.

If you want to have a long discussion about seeds and growing things with a three year old or under, one of the best things to plant is mustard and cress which can be planted in damp cotton wool. So for our first activity we decorated a yogurt pot very simply. All we did was to wrap some tissue paper around the pot, this enabled us to draw on it, we decided to draw a smiley face.

Fifi then placed some damp cotton wool inside and she scattered the seeds inside. Everyday Fifi and I looked at the seeds and saw how much they had grown, its been a brilliant activity and formed a little routine which we both looked forward to. I think he needs a haircut now...

Learning about Animals
Boy is in reception and the emphasis this term is on animals. As a result we have been doing a lot at home on the theme of animals. I know that yogurt pots make great mobiles so I set out all our crafting materials on the table and tasked Fifi with making some animals in different ways. I helped her do cutting but left the rest down to her inspiration. She came up with the idea of making a sheep, 2 frogs in different ways and a monkey. I think its fairly self evident how to make them and frankly the beauty of home crafting is that you can do exactly what you like.

In order to make the frame for the mobile I cut some bamboo into three lengths which I fastened together using string and sellotape, I think of all the things I have used to make frames for mobiles this works the best and it also provides a nice bit of rustic charm.

It is my intention to try to make a new animal for the mobile every day that Fifi is not at playgroup. Soon we will have a whole zoo!

This post was inspired by the number of yogurt pots we have acquired, possibly down to eating lots of yummy Yeo Valley yoghurt's as part of their brand ambassador programme.

Rushed Off My Feet and a new Focus

2012-05-02T06:28:00.003+01:00

Firstly I need to apologise for the endless plugging of my husbands competition to win a car. We are waiting to hear from an independent adjudicator who won so we will see, there were some good motivations behind it (not just personal ones) which will be revealed should we win.

However that on top of everything else has meant that I have spent the last few weeks in a mad rush. It occurred to me on Monday that I hadn't even had my haircut for five months and that I need to slow down and re-focus my life somewhat. So the first of May marked a new chapter for me, I revived my personal financial planning spreadsheet, looked at my potential new blog banners, dug out some of my crafting books and put one of the novels I have been trying to read in a prominent position beside my bed. I also started a big clear out of the people who I 'don't know' on Twitter to cut out the general noise. I have plans to write a blog about Archaeology for Pre-schoolers which I hope will be of interest. My other decision was to write a lot less reviews, I've actually started passing on stuff to blogging friends in the hope that they will enjoy doing them as much as I have. This should give me a chance to focus my time a bit on my new projects. So after the little flurry of review activity in the next few weeks the blog will be back to basics.

Before I had kids I used to do lots of running, yoga and healthy eating cookery. I hope to get back into this and inspire the kids to join some sports classes. I think I have come to realise that I am rushed off my feet and stressed not because I'm trying to work with three small children, but because I have no relaxation time to do the things that I really enjoy doing. It's odd how the wet weather and spending time indoors can get you thinking!

Independence

2012-04-30T11:33:00.000+01:00

How cute is this? However, it's a landmark moment, he doesn't need me as much any more. Little Ned is also determined to roll onto his front and try to crawl at four months we think that he's very advanced. I got the shock of my life when I looked over and saw him about 2 metres away from his baby gym the other day, it turned out that Fifi and Boy had moved him to trick me. Wish me luck for the next eighteen years, they are already ganging up on me....

A Couple of Films About Chocolate!

2012-04-30T11:00:00.000+01:00

Over Easter the postman appeared with a lovely package from Warner Brothers containing some chocolate eggs and two films; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I could have jumped for joy, the kids dont like chocolate but I do. However, they do absolutely love films, they are total film buffs and I would not be surprised if one of them ended up either working in the film industry or being a film critic.

I like the idea of watching different interpretations of the same story or in fact films based around themes. I think this helps my children at least structure and formulate ideas for their role playing and attempts at amateur movie making.These films were great for that, especially as they are based on the Roald Dahl stories which my children love ( I know they are either love them or hate them books).

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory starring Johnny Depp and directed by Tim Burton has been the biggest hit with the kids, they must have watched it about twenty times already. At bath-time I often hear Boy singing some of the songs! I must admit i was surprised by this because I did wonder that it might be a little bit dark for them and I thought they'd find the oompa loompas scary- well I do at least! Its a brilliant film, visually stunning an well worth acquiring for your DVD/ Blu-Ray collection because you'll watch it time and time again- not only at Easter.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder is a film of my childhood. I can clearly remember endless school Easter holidays watching re-runs of this on the television. Again its a great film with some catchy tunes. However, not quite as true to the 'feel' of the Dahl books as the Burton remake. I think its a lot more of an innocent film so perhaps more suitable for little tots though and although it has a seventies feel about it it has stood up to the test of time well.

I hope this has inspired you to have a think about the films you watch and the order you watch them. We are going to have themed weeks from now on as its worked so well.

A Little Yeo Tasting Session

2012-04-30T10:02:00.000+01:00

I'm currently using the Vax Carpet cleaner on the carpet. Its all Yeo Valleys fault. They decided, (since I'm one of their brand ambassadors) That it was a great idea to do a toddler tasting session on their new Smoothies and repacked yoghurt. You know, get it from the horses mouth and all. So, I found myself surrounded by toddlers and reception age kids armed with lots and lots of yoghurt. It wasn't all bad, their mums where there, wipes in hand and to be fair the carpet did need a good old clean anyhow as Fifi likes to wander around with the house with a Yeo Tube. So, to be fair, I am used to it.

So what did they think? The new Yeo Smoothies went down a treat with everyone and I have to admit the mums enjoyed those as well. The new packaging of the Tubes caused several fights as the pink and orange ones appeared to be most highly sought after. They loved the packaging of the 4 pack yoghurt and the mums (also testing- and why not!) thought that the flavours were much improved.

If you want to find out more about the range and find lots of yummy recipes and activities make sure you check out the Little Yeo website

The Worst Princess by Anna Kemp and Sara Ogilvie

2012-04-28T20:44:00.000+01:00

Fifi is a little tomboy and this book clearly struck a chord with her. Its basically about Princess Sue who is not all that interested in sitting indoors wearing pretty dresses. Like little Fifi she dreams of horse riding and battling dragons and that is precisely what she is determined to do.

Not only does the story subtly convey the message that girls can do whatever they wish and that they should not be confined to stereotypes, its also a joy to read. Written in rhyme there are plenty of subtle jokes and this is matched by vibrant illustrations.

Fifi loved this book as it was about a little girl who she could identify with. Boy liked this book because he could enjoy the story as Fifi was so engrossed in it she didn't sit there fidgeting and poking him. All in all, it's a winner.

We were sent this copy to review by Simon and Schuster, Being Mrs C also received a copy for her daughter and you can read her review here

ISBN: 978-1-84738-875-9

Maverick Childrens Books

2012-04-28T19:51:00.000+01:00

Fifi and Boy were sent a selection of childrens books from Maverick Publishing. All of them are beautifully produced and I have been encouraged to seek out others from their catalogue. These were our favourites:

The Fearsome Beastie by Giles Paley- Phillips
Written in rhyme this is a perfect book for kids in reception as I found it helped to reinforce the structure of words. Boy and Fifi loved this story and we spent quite a while discussing what they would do if the Beastie came to get them. It has wonderful illustrations and is a joy to read, and I for one will never look at grannies in the same way again. Fabulous, we like, a lot!
ISBN 978-1-84886-066-7

Mrs MacCready was ever so Greedy by Julie Fulton
This is another story written in rhyme and it has an ending which made my kids laugh out loud. However, I'm not entirely sure I approve of it, as I am having trouble getting the kids to eat at the moment after an over zealous lesson on healthy foods. If your kids are the other extreme then the message about eating in moderation in a good one. My children did enjoy it, in fact they have asked to read it again and again and it is charmingly illustrated. I think this is one to consider depending on your childs eating habits That's not to say I didn't enjoy reading it myself!
ISBN 978-1-84886-065

The Goblin and the Girl
This is the first children's book I have read aimed at this age group which deals directly with issues of confidence, for that its well worth a read. I felt that this was a story which I could have identified with as a child and it really gets the idea that friends will like you for who you are and not what you look like brilliantly. The illustrations are beautiful and reminded me of the books that I used to read as a child in the seventies and eighties. I thought this book was particularly appropriate for Boy who is very shy and can be unsure of himself in various situations. I think its a valuable addition to your bookshelf.
ISBN: 978-1-84886-078-0

If you like the sound of these books and would like to get hold of them and have a look at what else they publish you'll find Maverick Books here I've bookmarked the site because alongside the bookshop they have some fabulous blogs.

Is This the Future?

2012-04-24T13:09:00.003+01:00

When I was about seven I had an Usborne book all about the future. I was captivated by this book and used to spend hours and hours reading it imagining what the future would be like. Funnily enough I found a website where you can actually download the entire book: http://www.discovery-enterprise.com/2008/02/usborne-book-of-future.html.

I imagined a future of computers which didn't take hours to programme. One where a game of 'pong' would take 5 seconds to load instead of half an hour of beeping. A future where Major Morgan was a bit more sophisticated and my George robot would be easier to programme and actually make cups of tea or something. One thing that never crossed my mind was that the future might involve electric cars. This was mainly because as a child of the eighties I was convinced I'd end up with a flashy red sports car or maybe an Alfa Romeo Spider.

However, things happen and in some ways we are more advanced than the Book of the Future predicted and in some ways far less. I think robotics in particular has moved on faster than predictions. That brings me onto electric cars. I'll be honest, although I'm really interested in Green Issues the whole electric car thing has passed me by, except for a few mentions on Top Gear where they seemed to fail to go anywhere. So when the hubby came home with one as part of The Big Turn On I really didn't know what to expect.

Things which surprised me about #NissanLEAF21 (this is the hashtag of the fanclub on Twitter)

The fact it was so quiet, easy to get run over and easy to run things over. This might need some re-thinking. Although I suspect the Usborne Book of the Future may have predicted quieter cars.
The little reversing camera on the dashboard. Talk about futuristic compared to my Vauxhall Zafira!
The brilliant way it tells you the range of the car, this is much more advanced than my car which relies on luck/ gamble because the petrol gauge is a bit knackered.
The number of Mummy Bloggers that could fit inside with spare room. You can see video evidence here
That you can plug it into a socket at home, an ordinary electric socket! Although you can go to one of the growing number of 'fast charge points'. Isn't that remarkable when you think about it- I mean, just as you charge a mobile phone you can charge a car!
The fact that I really quite liked it. OK, I loved it. Its perfect for a car to nip around town on school runs and shopping trips. I'm really surprised I haven't seen more of them about.

The Future
I haven't found a book making predictions about the future since the Usborne Book of the Future. I guess these days people aren't quite so brave. Or maybe I haven't looked hard enough. However, I'd love to have one for my children. I can still remember the excitement and awe that book inspired within me. But what would be in this book? Well here are a few predictions, based on my entirely random thoughts.

Electric Cars with artificial engine noise. Safety First!
Even larger fridge/ freezers
The creation of artificial land- think Waterworld
Travel via space for long-haul flights
Robots which do DIY for you
Massive iPads to replace flatscreen televisions
A move towards a simpler way of life for many people, creating technophiles and technophobes (actually I've just described my household there)

I'm going to use our experiences driving around in an electric car to inspire the kids to do some futuristic artwork. I do believe its possible that little Ned is the youngest person to have ever travelled by fully electric car. Maybe I should make him some sort of certificate!

What are your predictions for the future? Did you have that book?

If you want to see all the blog posts relating to the campaign have a look here: http://www.daddacool.co.uk/p/nissans-big-turn-on.html

Of course if you want to make Ned one of the first kids to grow up having travelled almost exclusively via electric car you could vote for us here and tweet using the hash tag #NissanLEAFcar21

Review: Little Tiger Press Picture Book and CD set Written by Steve Smallman and read by Justin Fletcher and Sophie Thompson

2012-04-24T11:16:00.000+01:00

If your kids like witty stories then these two books from Little Tiger Press are for you:

The Monkey With a Bright Blue Bottom by Steve Smallman and Nick Schon
This tells the story of how the monkey got his bright blue bottom. It's a great book for kids in Reception learning about animals as part of their foundation stage because it encourages a bit of thought about how animals look like they do. We enjoyed it and the CD is really excellent, perfect for the car- we have been listening to it on the way to playgroup.

Smelly Peter the Great Pea Eater by Steve Smallman and Joelle Dreidemy
This story appealed to my kids because its essentially a tale of eating too much of the same thing and creating the most awesome wind, of the bottom variety rather than the weather variety. Peter gets taken by aliens to another planet and his lack of green trumpetting makes them send him home, where he finds a new foodstuff to love. This story appealed as much to my husband as it did the kids and the CD causes endless giggles on long car journeys. Just great, perfect for little boys and little girls who find a bit of 'popping' hysterical!

If like Fifi, you are a massive Justin fan you can see him reading from the books here and you can buy them from Little Tiger Press here

Review: Parragon Books Little Learners for Babies

2012-04-23T21:09:00.000+01:00

Little Ned was sent his first selection of books courtesy of Parragon Books and really gorgeous little books they are too!

I Feel Happy illustrated by Giuditta Gaviraghi £4:99
How do you feel?is a really cute book with chunky pull out tabs. To be totally honest we read this book with Fifi aged three and she totally loved this book. I found it a great way to start exploring her emotions with her, the pull out tabs held her interest and we talked about being shy and grumpy and sad. I wish I had seen this when Boy was her age it would have helped solve a lot of issues for him.

Mary Had a Little Lamb £3:99
If you are looking for the ultimate in cute books for your child or as a gift for a new baby then you can't go wrong with this little book. Not only is it amazingly priced its adorable. Based on the nursery rhyme each page has a cut out where a fluffy little finger puppet of the lamb lives. You can waggle your finger (the lamb) to delight your baby and toddlers. Fifi and Ned love it!

Touch and Feel; Colours £4:99
This is one of those books where children learn about colours, shapes and texture, it has appropriate inserts on each page. Again its a lovely little book. The thing we liked about all these books was the quality, feel and style of illustrations and if you are after one of these type of books then you won't go wrong with this.

Overall I really like the Little Learners collection of books, they are great value for money and really nicely produced. I'm off to see what other ones I can buy little Ned as I found them a delight to read with him.

In case you find it interesting I have copied the press release here rather than re-draft it:

Parragon launches Little Learners, the vibrant new interactive range for babies
· Devised with key learning concepts to guide babies through the crucial development stages of ages 0-2 years
· Developed in conjunction with educational experts, tested by mums
· Created in seven fun formats including cloth, pull-out picture play, finger puppets and a bath book gift set
· Great books at great value available now at all major retailers including Tesco, Amazon, WH Smith, Sainsbury’s and Early Learning Centre

Parragon, the publisher with a history of engaging and beautifully crafted children’s picture books, are this month releasing Little Learners, a brand new range of colourful, playful and interactive books for babies and toddlers.

With alarming stats such as the National Literacy Trust’s recently poll indicating that one in three children in the UK don’t own a book, Parragon aims to ensure that these fun books will ignite a passion for reading and a familiarity with books at the earliest stages of a child’s life.

Designed in partnership with educational consultants and tested by mums and babies, each book in the range focuses on a different level of child development during children’s most crucial learning stages. From young baby through to toddler, the bright, bold and colourful books encourage education and interactive play between parent and baby, and can be used anytime and anywhere. Education and engagement remain at the heart of every book in the Little Learners series, stimulating a child’s curiosity about life and language – always with a primary focus on fun.

Each of the seven formats in the range offers a different experience for small children. Slide and See features bright animal artwork to help parents teach their children about sharing and feelings. Finger Puppet books have their lively designs and engaging soft puppet characters who feature throughout the nursery rhyme stories.

Touch and Feel Board Books include encouraging textures and gentle artwork, and Foam Books introduce first words in an easy to hold design. The range is completed by a Bath Book with Rubber Duck Toy, Cloth Books, and Stroller Books, all designed to help children learn that books are toys in themselves and can go wherever they do. What’s more, the entire range is sturdily constructed, making this a reliable and safe option for young children.

Little Learners aims to make key learning concepts easy for parents as well, with icons on each book indicating its learning functions: interactive play, hand-eye coordination, language development, first words, knowledge of the world, listening skills and a sense of touch. Rachel Worgan, Head of Children’s Books, at Parragon, said: “Little Learners will not only delight little ones, parents and grandparents will feel a sense of accomplishment at seeing babies and toddlers engage, interact and develop through playing with these beautifully illustrated books. The tactile and novelty play elements are perfect for little hands, whilst the cute characters and fun storylines will engage their young minds.”

Tested extensively by parent focus groups, one mother commented: “They’re bold and eye-catching, so perfect for this age and having the added extras, especially the toys, will help keep him and engaged and entertained.” The Little Learners range will continue with more titles planned for August 2012 and March 2013, including stunning gift sets that all feature exquisite, detailed illustrations to delight children of all ages - making them ideal presents.

The full range is available at all major retailers including Tesco, WH Smith, Sainsbury’s, Amazon and Early Learning Centre with books ranging from £2.99 to £6.99. The range is also available internationally throughout Europe, the United States, Australia (as Little Me), &; Latin America (in Spanish).

MoneyVista Review and Competition

2012-04-20T07:58:00.001+01:00

If like us your finances are in a bit of a muddle and you are getting a bit worried then MoneyVista might be for you. MoneyVista is a financial planning website that is really easy to use, with simple menus, an uncluttered look and some useful tutorials.

MoneyVista starts off by asking you for some really detailed information about your income and expenses. It asks you your age, your gender and loads of other things that you wouldn't tell just anyone. First off it will give you a life expectancy, plot your retirement age, and predict your earnings (presumably based on an inflationary increase from now until retirement).

The more information you put in, the more complicated things get. Own a house? Put that in with the current market value and the size of your mortgage and interest rate, and it will calculate how much your house will be worth by the time you die. Add more expenses in, your salaries, and it becomes a powerful budgeting tool with a twist- you can see how small changes will affect longer term targets. The default emphasis is how well you'll do at retirement with the standard paltry state pension.

Things start to get really interesting when you click on the button that says "compare our budget to others. Okay, MoneyVista hasn't asked enough detailed questions to be able to put you into socio-economic groups for tighter comparison but it does give the national averages but broad category that you can then drill down. I found it interesting to see that we spend significantly more of food and our children than the national average but considerably less on restaurants and going out. It's interesting to see where we spend our money compared to the average, even though after reading the assumptions, it should be taken with a pinch of salt.

MoneyVista is a great tool, if for no other reason than it gets you thinking about how, why and when you spend your money. It's complicated enough that ten or fifteen years ago it would have come in a box and installed itself on your computer. That is works as well as it does as a website it a testimony to how far the internets come in the last few years.

Once your 30 days free trial has expired, you can subscribe monthly, quarterly or annually for £8, £20 and £75 respectively. That is quite a lot of money but it is the kind of site that gives you use depending on what you put into it. A month or a quarter of usage might be enough to set you on the right path, with a month in a years time to see if you're still doing okay. Alternatively, you might find it invaluable and if people spent on average £166 eating out a month, then £75 a year isn't really that much is it?

Competition
We think MoneyVista is a great financial planning too and I think you probably will too. One lucky readers of Being a Mummy has the chance to try out MoneyVista for 6 months for free and also win £100 John Lewis voucher! All you need to do is have a look at the MoneyVista website and tell me who is behind the site. If you want an additional entry please tweet "I want to win @moneyvista subscription @zooarchaeologis http://bit.ly/Jc4Xhn "

The competition closes UK mid-day 30th April 2012 and the winner will be chosen at random using the Random Number Generator. Entries without contact details will be disqualified, the winner will be contacted directly and if they do not respond within 7 days another winner will be chosen.The prize will be sent directly by the PR agency and there is no cash alternative. UK entrants only

And this is exactly why I continue to blog

2012-04-16T08:00:00.007+01:00

I'm sure you are very aware that we are doing our best to win a car for our family and also electric charging points for the city in which we live. Despite local newspaper coverage, radio interviews, an amazing Twitter campaign and loads of blog posts across a number of different blogs (some inspired by those which my hubby has written, some inspired by the car) we are still in second place. I mentioned this to a friend of mine who is also a local blogger and she came up with an idea to boost morale and turn the whole thing into a bit of fun.

The result was the 'How many mummy bloggers can you fit into a #nissanleaf21?' challenge, so on a slightly damp Sunday afternoon the blogging community of St Albans came together to complete the challenge and have a lot of fun. And you see, that's what blogging is all about; making new friends and having a laugh along the way. It's these girls who keep me sane, these ones who I ask when I have a parenting dilemma and these ones who I know from experience will help me out in times of crisis. I thank each and everyone of them. Now, enjoy!

Photos courtesy of @Tall_Rich

Some of the other blogs:
Daddacool
Being Mrs C
Choc Ice and Chips
The Vegetarian Experience
Mediocre Mum
Actually Mummy
Muddling Along Mummy
Just Annie
If you want to vote for us click here

Happy Moments thanks to Mr Kipling!

2012-04-15T11:31:00.000+01:00

I'm behind with keeping my diary of things and so I forgot to mention the brilliant day a few weeks ago when cakes, a flower for some vouchers and a voucher for a day out at a theme park appeared. It was like Christmas and Easter and Birthdays all rolled into one. Its a rare day when someone sends me a cake, but to be honest I'd much rather have cakes than flowers any day! Our little package was courtesy of Mr Kipling, who have as far as I can tell re-packaged their lovely cakes meaning that instead of seeing the box you can see each cake. This is a bad thing for me, as I cant resist eating them if I can see them.

We have enjoyed cakes and flowers and the kids have done some craft activities provided, we are planning a family trip on the London Eye which I will write about soon. The package was all in honour of their new Happy Moments campaign which encourages everyone to enjoy a few Happy Moments. I like this idea, at the moment due to the pressures of family life they are few and far between in this house and it has forced us to step back a bit. I cant wait to go on the London Eye, if you want to find out more about the campaign check out their Facebook Page www.facebook.com/mrskipling

Thank you Mr Kipling!

Beauty Secrets with Elizabeth Arden (and a competition)

2012-04-15T11:13:00.000+01:00

Being known for my natural beauty I am often asked about how I manage to look so young. OK, that's all lies but there are a few things that I have managed to discover over the years and one of them is the importance of moisturiser.

I was sent a sample of Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream to try. This is fragrance free and can be used on both the face and hands. I thought it was pretty handy to have something so versatile to pop in my handbag and found that it works a treat on cracked lips. Fifi is addicted to the stuff, expensive tastes my girl, but I have to admit it does seem to help with her eczema as she is keen to use it when we are out and about. That's a good thing as far as I'm concerned. Then again, I like Elizabeth Arden Lipstick ( I wore it at my wedding) and I've always found that to be good at moisturising. Next time you are in one of the big department stores I'd suggest you have a try of a sample.

Anyway, they asked me for my top beauty secrets. I don't have many, but I am blighted by acne and I find that Sudocrem or toothpaste overnight works a treat on drying spots out. I never leave the house without mascara which makes an enormous difference and a bit of moisturiser (tinted is best for speed) and those are really my daily staples. I have read all sorts of tips from celebrities such as using olive oil as a moisturiser or butter, but frankly who wants to smell like they have been stuck in the kitchen.

I'd love to hear your top beauty tips and Elizabeth Arden have offered some Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant Fragrance Free as a prize to one reader who comments. You have till Mid-day 23rd April to tell me your top beauty tip, leave a comment and some way of contacting you- twitter handle if possible. Usual terms and conditions apply, winner chosen at random, UK entrants only, prize sent out by PR agency directly, no cash alternative....

If you’re a Boots customer and have an Advantage card, we have just launched a promotional offer on the Eight Hour Cream UK Facebook page. Fans can redeem 500 Advantage Card points with a purchase of Eight Hour Cream Fragrance Free on the Boots website. The voucher can be seen here – http://on.fb.me/HNQ7hM.

The Importance of a good bed

2012-04-13T11:45:00.000+01:00

As adults we all know how important our own beds are, and the beds of our children are considered even more important.; not only do they provide an all-important sense of comfort and security but they are also the places where your child grows and develops into a bigger and better person every single day.

Although little people beds are places of safety and comfort, they cannot always shield our children against allergens such as dust mites and bacteria. Though it is a well-known fact that children have better immune systems than ourselves, they are also more susceptible to allergies in their younger years and it can often take a parent weeks or even months to discover the source of the discomfort.

That’s why official Silentnight bedding offers a range of hypoallergenic bedding for little ones that suffer from allergies. Combining a range of ‘anti allergy’ duvets and pillows, the specially designed products offer dual protection against dust mites and bacteria. These are excellent offerings for children who not only suffer from hay fever but also from conditions such as asthma and eczema. With the products being fully machine washable, they also offer a grand bonus to your washing pile. Along with anti-allergy pillows and duvets you can also find anti allergy memory foam products, mattress protectors and toppers.

Allergies aren’t everything however, as already discussed, it is the comfort and security in that the bed offers your child, which is one of the most important attributes to any bed.

A revolution that is sweeping the United Kingdom, as it has already swept the world, is the wonder of memory foam bedding. The material, made from a high-density foam formula, is a specialised component of the bedding world that displaces weight and pressure evenly along its surface area. Originally made for NASA during G-force take offs, the foam is one of the most comfortable and reliable materials in the bedding world.

You may very well have heard of memory foam mattresses which are brilliantly comfortable mattresses but you may not of heard of memory foam mattress toppers. As not everyone can afford the luxury of memory foam mattresses, Silentnight also provide foam toppers, which are excellent sheets of material that stretch over the mattress and provide the occupant of the bed with a wonderful sense of comfort and relaxation.

These are brilliant materials for children, especially those that have difficulty sleeping. Most people imagine that tiredness throughout the day is mostly caused from lack of sleep or irregular sleeping patterns, what they do not know however, is that this can also be caused by the quality of sleep that a person has had throughout the night. As all children need a good nights sleep, you may be interested to know that memory foam can reduce tossing and turning within the night by up to 80%. This is important as in our sleep, we go through a series of cycles and if all but one of these is broken, it can lead to an impaired nights sleep and can caused drowsiness the following day.

Of course, there’s nothing like a quality duvet. Silentnight also offer a huge range of quality duvets that cater for individual needs. The All Seasons Duvet for example supplies your little one with a duvet that is designed to keep your child snug as a bug in a rug throughout all four seasons. Thanks to specially designed hollow fibre material, the bedding is perfect for all types of weather and as it is also hypoallergenic, the bedding is also great for children with the aforementioned allergies.

Girly Days – Polly Pocket Best Day Ever

2012-04-13T08:41:00.000+01:00

Fortunately for us, Being a Mummy was unable to make it to Chessington for the ‘PollyPocket Best Day Ever’ party. As Small Boy was booked into rugby camp, myself and Baby Girl (now 4!) jumped at the chance to ‘guest blog’ and go to try out the toys, website and loads of fun stuff laid on by Mattel, and Polly Pocket. What a wonderful Girly day!

When we arrived at Chessington World of Adventures, who have teamed up with Mattel for the fabulous Polly Pocket Best Day Ever Competition, we were taken to small (and not so small) girl paradise! There was jewellery making, face painting, crafts, lots of laptops with the new PollyPocket Best Day Ever website, cakes and of course, enough toys from the new Polly Pocket range to keep little girls amused for ages.

Whilst Baby Girl took full advantage of all on offer, the grown ups were given a short presentation about how Polly Pocket has evolved from the tiny dolls in compact cases, so popular in the 80’s, to the exciting, adventurous (and considerably bigger!) character that she is today. The lovely Gary explained about ‘deity play’ and other such marketing things, which, if I’m honest, went a little over my head, but what I do know is that Baby Girl played and played and didn’t want to stop. She has been given quite a lot of the ‘vintage’ Polly Pocket, which she likes, but she adored the new range. They are bright and colourful and, being bigger, are much easier for her little hands to cope with. She really took to the ‘Carpool Cruiser’ and was lucky enough to be able to bring home a ‘demo’ – which, with water added, is even more fun!

Once the party had finished we were let loose into Chessington World of Adventures, where the competition winners will spend the first day of their prize package. The second day will be spent having their ‘Best Day Ever’! We didn’t have loads of time as we had to be back to collect Small Boy from rugby, but had a lovely time looking around the aquarium, going on the Safari Skyride and the Merry-Go-Round and eating the most enormous hot dogs we have ever had. In our limited time, we encountered only short queues, friendly staff and a really good atmosphere. We will return to Chessington World of Adventures when we have the full day to spend, and the boys in our lives to share it with!

Incidentally, in the car on the way home, I asked Baby Girl what her ‘Best Day Ever’ would be. She couldn’t decide between our local soft play area and watching LarryAcheki on television. Long may she stay so easily pleased!

Home front: do we really need to spend our holidays abroad?

2012-04-12T08:49:00.003+01:00

When I recently discovered that my mum - who turned sixty last year, and has lived in England her entire life - has never been to Scotland or Northern Ireland, it got me thinking. How many other Brits have yet to fully explore our own islands? We've grown so used to swanning off to foreign climes that the idea of taking our family holidays in the UK countries seems like a recent trend, something to do with the economic downturn, or David Cameron trying to invoke a sense of national pride. But I've always loved exploring Britain - it's certainly more than a trendy whim for me - and I was surprised (shocked, even!) to hear that Mum never really has.

Admittedly you need to be prepared for mixed weather, but perhaps the British climate is only a problem for people who try to have the wrong sort of holiday here. Our countryside - from beaches to mountains - is absolutely spot-on for getting active, with everything from stunning scenic walks and hunting for dinosaur fossils on the South coast, to cowboy-style horse-riding in the North Irish mountains, or high-risk water sports like kite-surfing, in Wales.

It's really a question of getting your expectations (and aspirations) right. If you head to Cornwall, dead set on a lazy loll in the sun, you'll end up grumbling when it's a bit too breezy. But if you rock up and book some surfing lessons for the kids, a coastal walk with maybe a bit of beach-combing for treasure on the way, and round it off with a boat trip to get an alternative view of the land... your odds of an excellent adventure are much higher. Work with nature, and she's far more likely to satisfy you.

And if Britain's sometimes muddy nature - and getting active in it - still seems a bit daunting, we have hundreds of more civilised town and city break options. Coastal getaways, like Brighton in Sussex or Cowes on the Isle of Wight, are full of lovely little boutique shops and markets, often selling cool alternative clothing that teenagers love, with plenty of boats and boardwalk-style attractions to enjoy with the youngsters, and nature nearby when you want it.

Inland, numerous UK cities are full of excellent, if more cerebral, activities for children; recently rejuvenated Glasgow, for example, has several nicely thought out child-friendly museums, while you only have to drive a couple of hours out into the Scottish countryside to find a wide selection of splendid castles and country parks, ripe for exploration. London is well-known for its brilliant free museums, with the V&A, the Children's Museum and the Natural History Museum amongst my favourites. London Zoo is also excellent - it's not cheap if you pay full price, but if you travel in by train you can get 2 for 1 at the Zoo, Tussauds, the Aquarium, and all sorts of other attractions.

One of my favourite aspects of exploring regional Britain is the food - locally run pubs, restaurants and cafes are great if you're getting fed up with all those Starbucks-clones on your high street, and fancy trying the best of British cuisine. I consistently find the freshest, tastiest meals are cooked by relaxed regional chefs who work with local produce, recently harvested and definitely not flown halfway round the world (losing flavour and vitamins with every airmile). And it's all for the price of a regular pub lunch.

Suzie Saw is an English writer who loves nature, being outdoors, festivals, gazing at maps, & planning her next adventure in distant (& not so distant) lands.