Red Rose Mummy

HABA My First World Fire Station Large Playset - A Review for Izziwizzi Kids Play Fest

2013-05-21T13:09:00.000+01:00

We are big fans of Haba toys in this house and, as a result, were delighted to be asked to review a toy from their new for 2013 range. Bud is really starting to play imaginatively and using role play at the moment so, when we were sent the My First World Fire Station Large Playset I was fairly sure it would be a hit.

Firstly, this is our video of Bud playing with the set with some information from me too. Read on for a few close ups of the toy and a few more of my observations on it.

We've been playing with the fire playset for quite a while now and it has been played with daily, for a good length of time. Bud doesn't actually have a lot of 'real world' small play toys so I wasn't sure if this would be interesting to him as it doesn't feature pirate, knights or animals. He understood instantly what the set was and what to do with it. When you see him shouting 'it's a fire station' that was the first time he had seen this toy.

The set is excellent quality. I worry about the box being how you store the toy as Bud has good form for destroying toys. This box is made out of really toughened cardboard and it has been fine so far. I do hope that by encouraging him to be careful with it, it should stand the test of time and a heavy handed three year old. The pieces are really well crafted, measuring about a centimetre in thickness with clear, colourful decoration. They fit into the box for storage well and then the handle comes through to secure the lid which folds over. The detailed illustrations on the outside and inside of the box really enhance the play and my son has used them to tell stories when he is playing in addition and alongside the play pieces.

As we have played with this toy I see more and more different ways to do so. The blue hose can be used as a threading game by feeding it into the fire engine, the fire fighters or the hydrant and the stories that Bud tells when playing are so funny to hear. I was surprised at how well he understands the processes that fire fighters use to tackle fires and rescue people and cats. I didn't even know that he knew about cats getting stuck up trees but he straight away put the cat in the tree and said that the fireman had to come and rescue it. Haba have thought of everything, I love that you can turn around the fire blocks when you have put the fire out to show just smoking sticks instead of a full blaze.

If I had any concerns about this toy it is for the box. It is perfectly fine now but I would hate it to get worn and, when you are using it as the background for play in this way this is likely to happen more quickly than if you were just getting it out and playing with the pieces. That said, the box is a crucial element in this set and I don't actually see how it would work as well if it was made from, say, wood.

I really feel that this toy is a great addition to our collection. I'm hoping that, once Bud is finished with it, Little Miss will love it too. Haba toys, generally, are built to last and be passed on and I am sure this is no exception.

Disclaimer: We are Izziwizzi Kids Toy Testers and this is a review for Playfest. The toy was received for the purpose of this review but all our thoughts are honest and unbiased.

Bury Family Life Magazine - A Review

2013-05-20T20:31:00.001+01:00

We're lucky to have a really great local network of bloggers in the North West and, especially in Bury where they must put something in the water as there is loads of them! One of these Bury bloggers, Heather from Note from Lapland, has a new project and, alongside her partner, has launched a new free magazine for Bury families named Bury Family Life.

Excuse the condition of the bottom magazine, Little Miss took a shine to it too.

The magazine is now on the second issue and is a great resource for local parents. It mixes features, comment and local advertising to form a really good read which reaches over 10000 local families. The website backs up the magazine by adding new content all the time. I particularly like the website as, a lot of Bury content is relevant to us living over the border in Bolton and this is an easy way of accessing it as the magazine isn't distributed here. There's also lots of competitions, links for local bloggers and ideas for fun days out. Lots of these magazines seem to be an excuse to just publish pages and pages of advertising which, of course, is how publication is funded, but Bury Family Life strikes a good balance between advertising and content.

The only downside to Bury Family Life that I can see is that there isn't one for Bolton too. Maybe we'll move to Bury and add to the Bury blogger numbers!

Disclaimer: Despite Heather's attempts to bribe me with very welcome chocolate this is an open and honest review of the magazine.

Our Day at The Baby Show NEC Birmingham 2013

2013-05-20T00:20:00.001+01:00

On Friday Little Miss and I got up early to get the train to Birmingham to visit the Baby Show at the NEC. I was quite excited as I knew I'd be meeting up with a few bloggers and brands 'in real life' rather than just catching up via Twitter or Facebook.

We had an uneventful train journey and arrived at the show just after 11am. I've only ever attended the Manchester version of the Baby Show in the past so I was really surprised by the sheer scale of this event. It is huge. If you're going wear comfy shoes, we walked miles!

My highlights were:

Meeting some gorgeous bloggers - including Emma from Mrs Shilts, her lovely mum and Baby Shilts, Bryony from Love Bryony and the beautiful Georgie, Jo from Slummy Single Mummy, Ryan from Transatlantic Blonde and Zoe from My Mummy's World with her handsome Jack. As we travelled down on our own I was delighted to meet up at the show with Dawn from Mummy's Little Peeps and, as she's a local blogger, it meant Little Miss and I had company on the train journey home too.

Seeing the fabulous stands from some of my favourite baby companies - I didn't actually manage to get around every stand - too busy chatting with people - but I loved seeing the fab Mia Tui bags and the Cosatto stand with grass carpet and a fantastic collection of their prams. Little Miss even got in on the act and modelled two of the fantastic Cosatto Giggles as they both matched her outfit on the day.

The people from Vital Baby and their great show prices which allowed me to stock up as my fussy daughter gets really grumpy when we use anything other than their spoons. The Fisher Price stand had a giant baby rocker which lots of people were having great fun trying out. Cuddledry had some fantastic show offers but I didn't take advantage as I have my eye on their gorgeous pink polka dot towels which will be out soon. At the Mamascarf stand I finally decided which colour snoodie we wanted and bought a purple one. I was really pleased to meet a couple of companies that I will be reviewing soon too, including BundleBean and Peter Rabbit Organics.

Show discounts - I picked up the show goodie bag, and one for my new niece and her Mummy too. For two pounds this was a terrific bargain including a Kiddicare toy, two copies of Prima Baby and Pregnancy magazine, Aldi Mamia nappies and wipes and a few other samples. I also picked up some beautiful soft leather shoes for Little Miss from DottyFish, the bangle I've been eyeing up from Gumigem, and two lovely dresses from Pumpkin Patch.

We had a fantastic, if tiring, day at the Baby Show. I'm just trying to decide on whether to go to the Olympia Kensington show in October, now, where are those train timetables?

Sunday 12/5/13 - Sunday 19/5/13 Days 193 - 200 of Project 365

2013-05-19T23:59:00.000+01:00

Sunday #193 'A New Cousin' - We went to meet my new niece today. I couldn't resist comparing Little Miss with her new little cousin. She is so tiny that she makes my dainty dot of a girl look enormous!

Monday #194 'Grumpy' - Little Miss is struggling a little wit her teeth. We often have hot cheeks and she struggles to sleep a little. We had a very quiet day today and I took this when she was down for a nap.

Tuesday #195 'Bread Sticks' - We are trying lots of different finger foods in weaning Little Miss. A recent discovery is bread sticks. She is remarkably adept with them and doesn't struggle to eat them at all.

Wednesday #196 'Sponge Painting' - Wednesday is toddlers for us. Bud often doesn't join in with the craft as he's quite independent and loves to do his own thing. He's so keen on painting at the moment and this was the first time he has used sponges to do so. He loved it.

Thursday #197 'Haircut' - A terrible self portrait but the incident of biggest note today was a snap decision to cut all my hair off. You can't really see it in this but I'm gradually getting used to it and I do like it. Now I have to decide whether or not to keep it short!

Friday #198 'Change at Crewe' - Little Miss and I went to the Baby Show at the NEC in Birmingham. We had a lovely day. I have a thing for train station platforms and stations. I think it's the abundance of horizontal and vertical lines converging and diverging all over the place.

Saturday #199 'Big Eyes' - We were quite tired today and the weather was miserable so we spent a lot of time snuggling on the sofa. Little Miss was struggling with the teeth again, there seems to be no sign of them yet. I love her eyes in this shot.

Sunday #200 'Bathroom Break' - We went to the Foodies Festival at Tatton Park today with both mine and Red Rose Daddy's parents. The lovely people from Ecover were there and had a fake bathroom set up ready for photo opportunities. Bud was happy to pose and this photo made me smile so much.

For Better or Worse?

2013-05-16T22:08:00.000+01:00

Osborne's Solicitors have come up with a fun new app to get couples, or friends chatting about their happy memories and how well you know each other. Do you remember where you met your partner? I met Red Rose Daddy in a nightclub! I was out for a drink and a dance with my cousin and he kept smiling at me across the dance floor. I went across to talk to him (what? I'm a modern woman!) and the rest is history. Here we are nearly five years later with a beautiful family.

I asked my partner a few of the questions and I'm pleased to say he did quite well. He remembered where we met and what I was wearing the night we met. The idea is that you login to the app below using either Facebook or email, answer ten questions then send them to your partner to answer. You'll be notified of their responses and compare them to your own. It's just a little fun but it might take you on a happy trip down memory lane.

Disclaimer: This is a featured guest post

Walkers Hoops and Crosses - A Review

2013-05-15T23:34:00.000+01:00

Last weekend we received an intriguing parcel. A box shaped like a shoebox (leading Red Rose Daddy to accuse me of buying shoes online again...who me?)

We quickly opened it up to reveal inside, not more shoes, but a little book, a snack and a new friend.

The little green book told us all about these new snacks. They are made from wholegrain which is something I have been very conscious of ensuring forms part of my family's diet since we completed the wholegrain challenge back in February. The snacks are baked and don't contain any artificial colours or preservatives which makes them lower in fat, and generally healthier than traditional fried crisps. Each pack weighs in with only 85 calories so they definitely seem to offer a good option for lunchboxes. They are available in three flavours - Roast Beef, Prawn Cocktail and Salt and Vinegar and all flavours are suitable for vegetarians.

Included in the box we received a pack of the Roast Beef Hoops and Crosses, and a new friend - Monty the Monkey. We've all tried the snacks now and they were met with a mixed response. Bud claimed not to like them but it didn't stop his hand creeping into the bowl until they were all gone. I wasn't sure at first but after I tried a couple I found them quite more-ish. Red Rose Daddy said he liked them straight away and that they reminded him of Monster Munch in texture. We do buy crisps in our house as Red Rose Daddy likes to take one in his packed lunch for work and I like the odd pack of salt and vinegar. I think that the pack size is really handy for lunches and they offer a change from traditional crisps.

As for Monty? Well the only member of our household who couldn't try the snacks has really taken to him. Little Miss has been saving some of her best smiles for him, I think he is a hit!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored review but all opinions are open and honest.

Happiness is...

2013-05-14T16:53:00.000+01:00

Happiness is...

Smiling, beautiful brown eyes, hugs from chubby arms. A million firsts, a daily adventure Life, love and laughter with Bud and Little Miss.

Thirty Years of Special K

2013-05-13T23:25:00.000+01:00

Special K is thirty years old this year and has invited us bloggers to celebrate with them by looking at our last thirty years and reflecting on how we've changed in that time. This is my entry into the BritMums/Special K How I’ve changed Linky challenge.

This is me, thirty years ago, on holiday in Rhyl.

and this is me now.

Ask my mother and she'll tell you I haven't changed a bit. I don't think my smile has changed much but, obviously, I'm a lot taller and a lot older!

I've been thinking about this post for a little while and reflecting on what I would say to my six year old self if I had the chance to plant some ideas in that mind. I wouldn't change my life now for the world but I would be interested to see where I would have ended up if I'd made a few decisions differently so here goes...

Dear Philippa

Actually, we'll start there. You love your name right now but you'll get over it by high school and when you get to my age the only people who will call you that are your parents when they are talking about you. It will be Pippa or Pip to everyone that knows you and that's how you'll refer to yourself.

Keep reading - books will take you on some of the biggest adventures you will ever have, without ever leaving your home. They are a window on worlds you will never know but will be offered to your imagination.

Keep writing - you'll struggle with this for a while but, when you are me, you'll be writing more than you have done at any other point in your life. You will love it. Don't let anyone else try to take that away with pettiness and harsh comments. It will leave you without a creative outlet for far too long.

Try not to take the easy option - I've done that a few too many times and, while I don't regret it, sometimes I look back and wonder if I would have achieved a few things that I let slide or didn't try hard enough at. When you're looking back over thirty years it can be the outcomes you don't know which weigh heaviest on your heart.

Be a better friend - you are good enough and you are loved. You'll spend an awful lot of time wondering about both of these things and that self doubt will lead you to losing some of the people you have loved most. Don't let that happen, cling on to them with both hands. People are working on a thing in a lab somewhere called the internet right now and that will change everyone's lives. It will also make it easy to keep up with these friends. Just wait until you get email when you're eighteen! There will also be Facebook and Twitter but you'll spend quite enough time on them when you're thirty-six without me talking about them when you're six.

Give your all - Not everyday, no-one can do that. When it matters though. Again, you'll regret those times when you didn't do your best and, while you can happily live with the regret, imagine knowing that you tried your hardest!

Children - You'll have the biggest adventure of your life in your thirties. Being a Mummy is amazing and will be the best thing you'll ever do. It has answered so many questions, and asked lots more. It's hard, but completely worth it. Try to love every second of it!

Geography - Yes, you will be really good at it but ignore that weaselly English teacher who tells you you won't pass your English Literature A Level and puts you off applying to read English at university. You will get an A. The pleasure of telling him you proved him wrong will be even sweeter if he knows that you are off to study 'his' subject.

And finally...

Tequila - no good will ever come of it. Avoid. That's absolutely all you need to know on that subject! Oh, and those green Dr Martens you throw away aged twenty-six? Big mistake, huge.

I've never been a massive fan of breakfast cereals, I tend to go through phases of eating them and not. Special K has always been a favourite when I am eating them though. To celebrate its thirtieth anniversary Special K has changed and now includes a mixture of three grains, making it into a portion of your wholegrain for the day. I actually think that this has improved the flavour of the cereal and have been really enjoying breakfasting on the box that we were sent.

Our Fresh Week Meal Plan

2013-05-13T14:43:00.003+01:00

We are supporting Fresh Week this week and, as a result I have pledged to ditch the processed food and cook fresh ingredients for our family meals this week. We won't be eating any pre-prepared food - out go the frozen pizza and chicken nuggets which Bud loves sometimes, and the ready meals I often turn to if I my partner is out for the evening - in comes meals cooked from scratch every lunchtime and evening, with the aid of our Tefal gadgets - the Actifry and Fresh Express.

Monday

Lunch: Baked potatoes with grated cheese and side salad

Dinner: Herb encrusted salmon fillets with fennel gratin, runner beans and new potatoes. Bud will have salmon flaked and the vegetables. Little Miss will have salmon and mashed potato.

Tuesday

Lunch: Pitta Pockets with cooked chicken, lettuce and cucumber. Little Miss will have the same but as finger food.

Dinner: Slow cooked gammon in cider with mustard mashed potato, purple sprouting broccoli and carrots.

Wednesday

Lunch: Scrambled Eggs and Mushrooms on Toast. Little Miss hasn't tried eggs before, she may have cheese on toast instead.

Dinner: Chicken Risotto with whatever veggies we have in. we'll be shopping tomorrow.

Thursday

Lunch: Leek and Potato Soup, providing the weather is still cool. I'll rethink if it is a lot warmer.

Dinner: Cottage Pie with Potato and Swede mash topping. Green beans to accompany.

Friday

Little Miss and I are out at The Baby Show all day so will be eating on the hoof.

Bud is at Grandma's for lunch.

Dinner for Daddy and Bud will be chicken stir fry with rice.

Saturday

Lunch: Bacon Sandwiches, finger food for Little Miss

Dinner: Homemade burgers, coleslaw and wedges. Little Miss will have some haddock, potato and sweetcorn puree from the freezer.

Sunday

We're out at Tatton Park Foodie Festival during the day so lunch will be eaten there.

Dinner: Roast Lemon Chicken with all the trimmings.

Luxurious Cashmere Childrenswear (Guest Post)

2013-05-13T11:56:00.000+01:00

Having two small children means that I'm constantly on the look out for beautiful, and unusual children's clothing. Although neither of my two have particularly sensitive skin I still want to be able to find lovely, soft, natural fibres to dress them in. Cashmere could be an option and this guest post will tell you a little more about it.

From goat to coat: the cashmere journey

The kindly Cashmere goat has been giving us some of the warmest, softest and long-lasting garments you can make for thousands of years. Fine in texture, and very strong, it’s no wonder the word is so commonly associated with luxury and a regular favourite with top-end designers across the world. You might wear it every day, but how much do you know about how your favourite scarf or jumper was actually made?

Kashmir wool

The name cashmere comes from the region of Kashmir, which is administered by India, Pakistan and China.

90% of the cashmere of the world is produced in China, Mongolia, Iran, Afghanistan and Tibet, today only a very small part comes from the Indian part of Kashmir.

In order to make an authentic cashmere garment and label it as cashmere you don’t only have to use the hair of the cashmere goat but follow and go through different steps.

100% cashmere wool needs to be the fine de-haired undercoat fibres of a Capra Hircus Laniger (Cashmere goat to you and me), with the average fibre diameter not exceeding 19 microns. The length of the fibre has to be at least 2.5 cm and the average diameter has to be between 14-18 microns, which is quite thin if you consider that the Lana merino has an average of 24 microns. The coarser guard hairs need to be removed, usually by machine. There can’t be more than 3 percent of fibres with diameters exceeding 30 microns, and the average diameter “may be subject to a coefficient of variation around the mean that shall not exceed 24 percent.” Complicated stuff, but all designed to ensure that if the label says Cashmere, it’s super soft.

Combed and dyed

The soft fleece hairs that are used for things like children’s cashmere clothing is removed with a comb, brushed through during the spring moulting season. The coarser hairs are usually then removed with clippers and used for other end results. Combing takes between one and two weeks, it is done mainly by hand and one goat gives around 200 grams of pure fibre per year. It takes between one and two weeks to comb a Cashmere goat, hence the price premium on any cashmere product. The yield is then sent for dying at a factory, and either spun into yarns or woven into fabrics.

The end result

Yarns can be knitted like any wool, into hats and jumpers and socks – in fact anything you like – either by hand or knitting machines. Fabrics tend to be reserved for more tailored items like coats, jackets, pyjamas, blankets and trousers. Girls cashmere clothing – and boys cashmere clothing too – are increasingly popular for fashion conscious parents, and everything from romper suits to coats can be found for a range of ages.

So the next time you’re nice and snug in your favourite cashmere cardigan on a cold day, spare a thought for the Capra Hircus Laniger who helped make it.

The beautiful cashmere children’s clothing brand, Cashmirino, have created this lookbook to showcase their Spring/Summer 2013 cashmere collection.

Disclaimer: This is a featured Guest Post

Ecover's Message in Our Bottle

2013-05-13T10:10:00.000+01:00

We try to live in as environmentally friendly way as possible in our house and recycle just as much as we can. We always recycle our plastic bottles into the collection that our council provides but many people don't and many of the two million plastic bottles used every day in the UK end up in landfill.

Ecover have pledged to start cleaning up the environment, one plastic bottle at a time:

We pledge to constantly innovate, evaluate and future proof our products; from the ingredients we choose, the processes we use to the bottles in your home.
We're hooked on plastic - future proofing our bottles with the clever mix of Plant-astic, Recycled Plastic and reclaimed Sea Plastic will set new standards in packaging, closing the loop in everyday recycling making it the easy choice for you.
Our pledge to you is that we will never stand still when it comes to sustainability.

Philip Malmberg, Ecover CEO

They've launched an innovative mix of plant content derived plastic, recycled plastic and sea plastic and I'm pleased to share this information which will tell you all about it.

Cleaning the seas, one bottle at a time. Visit The-Splash for more information and to read our pledge.

Disclaimer: I received a small gift from Ecover in exchange for sharing this information with you.

Monday 6/5/13 - Saturday 12/5/13 Days 187 - 192 of Project 365

2013-05-12T23:13:00.000+01:00

Firstly, no photo for Sunday. I have a new phone and I can't work out how to sync it to my laptop so I'll have to add it to next week's!

Monday #187 'Playing in the Sun' - We enjoyed beautiful weather today and the children had a wonderful time playing in the sunshine while Red Rose Daddy and his Dad decorated Bud's new bedroom. Little Miss sat in our sun tent for quite a while, it was lovely for her to have bare arms and legs!

Tuesday #188 'Daleks' - My parents were both off work today so Bud, Little Miss and I went out with them. We went over to Media City and spotted two new daleks in the foyer there.

Wednesday #189 'Snuggles' - Both children were in bed with me. I left them both asleep on opposite sides of the bed and went for a shower. When I cam back this is what I found. Both of them are fast asleep! It's a good job the cot is right up against my side of the bed so Little Miss couldn't go anywhere!

Thursday #190 'New Wheels' - I was lucky enough to win a Cosatto Yo! Pear Drop stroller a few weeks ago and, as they are only a few streets away, a member of the Cosatto team called round to drop off my prize today. We're really pleased with the stroller and Little Miss was very excited to try out her new pram.

Friday #191 'Waffle' - Little Miss and I went out for lunch today with some of the other lovely Blogs Up North ladies. We had such a lovely time chatting and eating the yummy food. This was my wonderful dessert.

Saturday #192 'Steps' - We attended the North West walk to remember Matilda Mae in the morning then headed into town as I needed to upgrade my phone. Bud was fascinated by the steps outside our Town Hall and spent quite a while climbing up and down them.

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo with Discovery Foods

2013-05-10T16:42:00.002+01:00

We eat a lot of Mexican food in our house. It is probably Red Rose Daddy's favourite cuisine and, as it is quite easy to cook, we eat fajitas, enchilidas or chili at least once per week.

I always enjoy trying to match our meals to various events happening in the world. Little Miss and Bud are too young to understand but I'm hoping that, as they get older, we'll be able to talk about each country, the food and why that day is special to the people of that nation. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on the fifth of May (obviously) in Mexico and the United States and celebrates Mexican heritage and pride.

Our favourite Mexican range, Discovery Foods, kindly sent us a bag of products to help us celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year.

We recieved 'The Perfect Fajita Kit' (which includes tortillas, salsa and seasoning), a jar of Fajita Season and Sauce and their brand new product, Garlic and Herb Soured Cream.

As mentioned before, I usually use Discovery Foods when I'm cooking Mexican Food and I tend to use them as a basis for the meal, tweaking them as required.

On 5th of May we had friends round for dinner. I always feel like Fajitas is perfect meal for these occasions as it is sociable and sharing. I decided to use the Perfect Fajita Kit to create our Mexican feast.

Chicken Fajitas with Peppers, Onion and Portobello Mushrooms

For the Fajitas you will need:
The Perfect Fajita Kit from Discovery
4 chicken breasts
2 small, or 1 large onion
1 red pepper
2 portobello mushrooms
2 teaspoons of garlic paste or 2 cloves of crushed garlic
1 teaspoon of chili paste or 1/2 chili deseeded and finely chopped.
Half a can of sweetcorn
Can of chopped tomatoes

To serve:
Salsa (from the Discovery Kit)
Garlic and Herb Soured Cream from Discovery
Grated Cheese

I used my Tefal Actifry to cook my fajita mix but you can use a wok or a heavy bottomed frying pan.

1. Chop the chicken breasts, peppers and portobello mushrooms into strips. Finely chop the onion. Add all of these ingredients, and the garlic and chili paste to a hot pan (or into your Actifry) with some oil.

2. Fry until the chicken is cooked and everything is nicely browned (in the Actifry this took fifteen minutes), then add in the Fajita seasoning from the kit, the sweetcorn and a can of chopped tomatoes. Stir thoroughly if you are using a pan. You don't need to do this in the Actifry as it stirs it for you!

3. Cook for a further 5-10 minutes, ensuring the ingredients are fully coated in fajita seasoning.

4. Serve with the accompaniments.

For Cinco de Mayo I decided to add fresh pineapple to the salsa included in the Discovery kit. This gave the mix a sweetness and freshness that cut through the spiciness of the salsa beautifully. I will definitely try this again.

5. Then roll your Fajitas however you prefer!

We really enjoyed the new Garlic and |Herb Soured Cream, it offered a new flavour to the typical soured cream we would use and I am pleased to see that it keeps in the fridge for up to a week once opened so it lasts longer than fresh soured cream too. I would definitely buy this again for our next Mexican meal.

Disclaimer: I received these products for the purpose of this review, all opinions are open and honest.

Looking Forward to a Family Summer Holiday

2013-05-09T22:30:00.001+01:00

My little family hasn't done terribly well at getting away on family holidays. In fact, since Bud was born three years ago we've only managed to get away for more than two nights once. This year I want things to change and I'd really like for us to get away properly, and take an August holiday to the coast.

Whilst we've visited the seaside many times it always seems to have been Winter or we've been in a hurry and Bud and Little Miss have never been able to play on the beach properly, to build sandcastles and enjoy the feeling of sand scrunching between their toes.

As I don't want to fly while Little Miss is still so small we'll be holidaying in this country and I've been thinking about areas of the country that I haven't visited. This means the East Coast, East Anglia or the South East. A few bloggers have been visiting Butlins recently and I've started to seriously consider it as holiday destination. Seeing the photos, and reading about all the fun the families have been having in the three Butlins resorts is leading me to think that it might be the perfect destination. Its been great to see children of a similar age to Bud enjoying themselves, I'm fairly sure he would love it and I'd be able to slope off to the spa for a couple of hours which would be wonderful too. We'd be able to take Little Miss and Bud swimming lots too, something they both enjoy but we don't always manage to find time for it on our busy weekends. There is so much to do at Butlins, with the different shows, activities and characters to meet that I'm sure we would have a wonderful time whatever the weather.

If we don't manage a week or two away then we might look to take a few cheap short breaks, I sometimes prefer that as it allows you to visit different parts of the country. No matter what we choose I am determined that we will be having a lovely holiday this year. We'll be taking the opportunity to really enjoy being together as a family and having fun wherever we go and whatever the weather.

Eat Fresh in Fresh Week

2013-05-08T23:49:00.001+01:00

As mentioned in a previous post, I am very happy to be a member of the Tefal Innovation Panel and will be working with Tefal over the coming year to bring you posts about their great product range.

When we attended the event in Windsor in April we were introduced to the idea of 'Fresh Week'. This is a campaign launched by Tefal aiming to encourage people to pledge to ditch the processed food in favour of homemade food, cooked from scratch. Fresh Week runs from May 13th-19th and Tefal would like families to sign up and take the pledge. Everyone doing so has the chance to win their own Fresh Express and a Riverford Organics Veg Box which will help the winning famiies to feed fresh food to their families quickly and easily.

We've taken the pledge and have been supplied with these same tools to help us out. Cooking from scratch is something that I love to do but I do fall into the trap of just grabbing something from the freezer on busy days in the mistaken belief that I don't have the time to cook properly. Bud's diet, especially, is quite limited at the moment and I'm keen to expand the dishes that he will eat and get him to try a wider range of foods. I'm going to use Fresh Week as a concerted effort to leave the fish fingers in the freezer and try tempting my boy with some lovely ingredients instead. I'm also going to be putting the baby food pouches back into the cupboard and only cooking fresh for Little Miss too. The pouches are incredibly convenient but we don't have a busy week planned next week so she will definitely be sharing in Fresh Week.

Tefal have supplied me with my own Fresh Express Max and I'm really amazed how much preparation time has reduced from using this terrific gadget. The Fresh Express sits on the counter in my kitchen and, since it arrived, I have used it at least once (but usually five or six times) every day. From grating cheese to dicing onion, to grating chocolate, the Fresh Express Max has really helped. I always hate standing over a chopping board crying as I'm very sensitive to onions. What used to take me up to 10 minutes now takes me less than a minute and the resulting diced onion is way finer than I can manage with my blunt old knives. I'll be posting an in depth review of the Fresh Express with a video to show you just how well it works soon.

I'm really looking forward to participating in Fresh Week and I'll be sharing our menu for next week. I'm going to avoid all those cardboard boxes in the freezer and trying out some new recipes so we can expand on the usual favourites that we cook most weeks.

Whether or not you are taking the pledge, keep an eye on Tefal's Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest profiles to see other ways to get involved with Fresh Week

Disclaimer: I was provided with a Fresh Express Max and Riverford Organics Veg Box to support my pledge to participate in Fresh Week. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Giveaway - Two Pairs of Tickets to the Tatton Park Foodies Festival

2013-05-07T22:43:00.000+01:00

Tatton Park is a favourite haunt of ours, it's a lovely place to visit and I'm really excited that we will be visiting there next weekend to attend the Foodies Festival for the third consecutive year.

The Foodies Festival returns to Tatton Park on the 17th to the 19th May,

Top chefs, including David Mooney of the New Moon Pub Company, star of the BBC’s Great British Menu Mary-Ellen McTague of Aumbry, Thai restaurant Chaophraya’s executive chef Kim Kaewkraikhot, celebrity chef Rachel Green, Brent Hulena from Hipping Hall, Malaysian chef Norman Musa of Ning, and brownie queen Justine Forrest will cook their signature dishes live in the Chefs’ Theatre and explain how amateur cooks can prepare the same dishes at home. The theatre will be compered by Blue Peter presenter and Celebrity Masterchef star Zoe Salmon, she commented: “I have a passion for all things food so I am absolutely thrilled to be involved with Foodies Festival and can't wait to see what's cooking up a storm in 2013".

This year's festival will also see new elements including:

a spectacular Cake and Bake Theatre in association with by Electrolux
a special AEG cookery school run in conjunction with the Cheshire Cook School
a dedicated Chocolate Theatre to showcase the world of chocolate and confectionery
A specially-designed BBQ arena featuring hourly BBQ classes and competitions
A Wine Village and a Homeware Villlage

With the new additions, as well as the usual attractions the Foodie Festival seems like it will be a terrific day out.

Ticket Information

2013 Foodies Festivals tickets are now available from www.foodiesfestival.com or by calling 0844 995 1111.

Ticket Prices:
1-day adult ticket £12.00 (£10.00 concession)
3-day adult ticket £18.00 (£15.00 concession)
1-day VIP ticket £38.00
There is a charge of £5 per car to enter Tatton Park.

VIP tickets include a free glass of champagne on arrival, access to the VIP tent throughout the day, a taster meal from one of the pop-up restaurant tents, a goody bag and reserved seating in theatre and masterclass sessions, as well as a private bar with great views of entertainment stage.

Accompanied children aged under 12 are admitted free of charge.You can use the code below to buy discounted tickets or I have two pairs of tickets to give away. To enter, please complete the Rafflecopter.

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ThePrizeFinder - UK Competitions

Monday 29/4/13 - Sunday 5/5/13 Days 180-186 of Project 365

2013-05-05T22:59:00.000+01:00

Monday #180 'Be A Knight' - Bud has discovered the joys of role play recently and takes every opportunity to dress up. He is a little obsessed with Mike the Knight and had to put his helmet on and bring his sword and 'Galahad' when we walked up to Grandma and Grandad's after tea tonight.

Tuesday #181 'Blank Canvas' - Bud has drawn on his sister twice recently! This was today's effort. Luckily he only has Crayola Washable pens so it comes straight off but we're trying to discourage it, obviously.

Wednesday #182 'Happy Birthday Matilda Mae' - The weather was gorgeous today and we took the opportunity to play outside after toddlers. It was a very special little angel's first birthday today and we blew bubbles up to her in the sky and pottered for a couple of hours.

Thursday #183 'Chasing the Sun' - Red Rose Daddy and I had a rare opportunity to go out together tonight. I left the children with their grandparents and went into Manchester to meet him. Amazingly I managed to arrive 45 minutes early so I got the chance to sit on a deckchair in Spinningfields in the sunshine. The sun was rapidly disappearing behind the tall buildings and I kept having to move my deckchair along so I could stay in the sunshine.

Friday #184 'Baby in the Box' - I received a large box with lots of shredded paper in it today. It was the perfect size for Little Miss so I couldn't resist trying her out in it. She thought it was completely hilarious and chuckled for ages. So funny.

Saturday #185 'Decorating' - We are decorating Bud's Big Boy Bedroom at the moment and he wanted to help. He got to work 'painting' the walls with some water and a brush and was quite pleased with himself!

Sunday #186 'Breakfast' - Little Miss and I were having a bit of a lazy morning today while her Daddy helped Grandad to finish lining the walls in Bud's bedroom. I adore her in this sleepsuit and she looked so sweet, I couldn't resist a quick snap.

Cheeky Harry Loves... - A Review

2013-05-04T23:54:00.002+01:00

Cheeky Harry Loves... is a new board book for young children featuring a very lively lion as the main character. Written by Laura Payne, with illustrations from Ian King, the book is bright and colourful with striking illustrations and a great rhyming story.

Harry is a curious little lion and the book takes you through everything Harry loves, each page rhymes and lends a lovely rhythmical quality when reading aloud. There are ten pages in total and it is made of good quality board. Little Miss is enjoying exploring her first books at the moment, and as with most babies of her age, the first way she does this is with her mouth. I'm confident letting her loose with this book as I know a little drool won't damage it!

Bud wasn't terribly interested in this book as it was a little young for him but Little Miss loved it. The bright colour scheme and Mummy's reading skills were, apparently, a winning combination and she chuckled throughout. It's lovely for her to have a shiny, new book to add to her own collection and I love having some quiet time to read to her as I did her big brother/

A range of Cheeky Harry and his friends products is planned and I can see this being successful, especially with the under two market. They are engaging, colourful characters and I know Little Miss would like to see more of them.

Disclaimer: We were sent this book for the purpose of this review, all opinions are open and honest.

The Rekoderlig Summer Cider Garden Opens in Manchester

2013-05-04T00:17:00.001+01:00

Earlier in the week, thanks to a nicely timed email, I was invited down to the VIP launch of the Rekoderlig Summer Cider Garden in Manchester. I met Red Rose Daddy from work yesterday evening, having managed a wonderful 45 minutes sitting in the sun with my book and an iced coffee, and off we went.

The Summer Cider Garden has its temporary home in Great Northern Square, near the junction of Peter Street and Deansgate. The Garden is entirely open air with the bar made from two of the log cabins that most locals will be more familiar with from the Christmas Markets season. Serving Rekoderlig in all it's varieties, alongside Swedish Abro beer, it is the perfect spot for a drink in the sunshine.

Rekoderlig were sampling their brand new Passion Fruit flavour cider and, oh my goodness, it was delicious. The perfect accompaniment to a warm Summer evening. Be warned though, it slips down all to easily. The bar was well stocked and I discovered another flavour of Rekoderlig that I haven't tried before - Raspberry and Mango. I think that is my new favourite. It's a refreshing fruity blend of the two flavours, I really enjoyed it. Abro was a new beer for both of us and we enjoyed that too.

The evening was really successful, the venue was packed out and had a real buzz about it. I can imagine this will rapidly become a favourite with both locals and visitors to the area. In sunshine, as we were lucky enough to experience yesterday (the hottest day of 2013 so far), the combination of parasols, day chairs and picket fences is so successful, offering a really relaxed atmosphere to catch up with friends over a drink. I can imagine it will be really popular immediately after work, before the sun disappears behind the neighbouring buildings. Don't be put off if it has disappeared, the nature of Great Northern Square's design means that it traps the heat and it is reflected back from neigbouring buildings. We didn't leave until 8pm and it was still pleasantly warm in the garden.

The garden is open throughout the summer, from 3pm until 10pm on Thursdays and 3pm until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. There are lots of different activities and events planned too so keep an eye on their Twitter feed @McrCiderGarden or 'like' their Facebook page to be kept informed.

Disclaimer: We attended the event as winners of a Twitter competition, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Happy Birthday Matilda Mae

2013-05-02T23:35:00.000+01:00

Today we took time out in the beautiful sunshine to remember a very special little girl who should have been celebrating her first birthday with her wonderful family today.

We went out into the garden to play and we blew bubbles to Matilda Mae. We collected stones and dandelion heads and, all the while, I thought of Jennie, David, Esther and William who were celebrating the little life of their darling girl today. I told Bud and Little Miss about the beautiful angel who was having her birthday today.

I wanted to share a song that has been running around my head all day too.

Happy Birthday Matilda Mae. Shine bright little one.

Sleep well.

Bank Holiday Family Fun Infographic

2013-05-01T18:38:00.001+01:00

We're about to enter Bank Holiday season with two coming up this month. It can be an expensive business funding family trips so I'm pleased to bring you the following infographic which shows the results of a survey where more than seventy bloggers (including me) were asked about their family days out.

Now, all we need is some sunshine!

Image source: MoneySupermarket Travel Insurance

Father's Day Giveaway - Win Covert Dog Tags from Gumigem

2013-04-30T23:29:00.000+01:00

In the run up to Father's Day I will be bringing you a few posts with gift suggestions for your little people to treat their daddies with.

Gumigem, who make and sell fantastic teething jewellery for mums, also have a range of teething dog tags for dads and I'm delighted to be able to offer a set for one of my lucky readers.

The Gumigem dog tags are available in five different colours - Commander (black), Marine (blue), Trooper (grey), Covert (khaki - as pictured) and even GI Jane (bright pink and great for mums who might fancy a different look). The dog tags are supplied on a long cotton cord with a breakaway clasp.It is possible to cut down the length of the cord and re-tie the clasp to your preferred length. They are available on the Gumigem website where they currently retail for £12:95.

I have one set of the pictured dog tags to give away to one of my readers. To enter please complete the Rafflecopter below.

Good luck!

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ThePrizeFinder - UK Competitions

Polarn O.Pyret Spring/Summer Collection - A Review

2013-04-29T23:42:00.000+01:00

I'm a Mummy with very firm ideas on what I like my children to wear. I won't bore you with my 'rules' but, once I find a brand that I like I stick with it. One of my 'go to' brands for bright, colourful children's clothes is Polarn O.Pyret. I find this Swedish brand to tick every box as far as design, quality and functionality is concerned.

Polarn O.Pyret pride themselves on making good looking clothing which makes life easier. They try to make the best examples of each item of clothing they sell, offering truly unisex items putting function, fit and versatility above gender stereotyping. I especially love that they offer effective layers and realise that some children run hot (like mine), whereas others feel the cold and will need the warmth of an extra base layer. They have a stated aim to provide clothing that can be handed down, from brother to sister, withstanding wear and tear. I'm continuously passing on clothes to my nephews that Bud grows out of as so little of it is truly unisex so there isn't any point in keeping it for Little Miss. We obviously need to buy more Polarn O.Pyret so I can save all Bud's clothes for her!

Recently Polarn O.Pyret sent Bud and Little Miss some items from their Spring/Summer collection to try out. We received the Creatures Short Sleeve All in One Pyjamas for Little Miss and the Happy Days T-Shirt and Jean Shorts for Bud.

The Pyjamas have been wonderful for Little Miss. They are soft and comfortable, made from 95% Organic Cotton, with short sleeves and legs, perfect for Summer sleepwear. They have a bright and colourful butterfly print with a strawberry red leg and sleeves trim. I like that the sleepsuit has poppers all the way down the suit which makes it easy to put it on. The round neckline is very comfortable too and the seams are really soft against her delicate skin.

Bud was sent a full outfit for the summer. A funky t-shirt and some jean shorts. Jean shorts are a staple in Bud's summer wardrobe and I love the versatility they offer. I do sometimes find them quite heavy and warm and uncomfortable around the waistline. The Polarn O.Pyret version couldn't be further away from this. They are made from cotton instead of denim so give the appearance of jeans but without the heaviness. They fall to just below the knee and the shorts are shaped at the knee (pre-bent) for extra comfort. I love the adjustable button waist as I often find that trousers and shorts which fit Bud in length are too big on the waist. Having a fully adjustable waist usually means that they will fit well and, in the case of shorts, you can often get two Summers' wear from them as you adjust the waist and the leg length just gets a little shorter.

The t-shirt is a really bright turquoise colour with various words for happy in a square pattern on the front. I'm known in my family for my loathing of slogan t-shirts as I really dislike so many of those available for boys. I really don't want to put a t-shirt saying 'little monster' or 'here comes trouble' on my little boy! I much prefer this sort of slogan, happiness is a message we could all spread more. Again the t-shirt is 100% cotton so really breathable and cool for Summer. The colour is a lovely shade of turquoise which would work equally well for a boy or a girl. I'll definitely be keeping this one (and the shorts) for Little Miss to grow into.

I'm so pleased with all of the items we were sent and I know Polarn O.Pyret is a brand that we will return to time and time again. The clothes are more expensive than the supermarket pieces we tend to buy most of the time but I do think the quality of these clothes makes them worth the money. I tend to choose items for Bud that I know Little Miss will be able to wear in the future as I know that they will last well, and I'll be able to pass them on after she has worn them too.

We've had our items a little while now and all have washed beautifully. I'm just hoping that the weather improves significantly so we can really make the most of them.

I will be hosting an exciting competition with Polarn O.Pyret in June so check back, or sign up for email updates (top right) to make sure you don't miss out.

Disclaimer: We were sent these items for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are honest and unbiased.

Monday 22/4/13 - Sunday 28/4/13, Photos 173-179 of Project 365

2013-04-28T22:06:00.002+01:00

Monday #173 'Cupcakes' - Bud has been keen on baking lately so we got to work making orange spiced cupcakes today. This was a kit left over from Christmas and he really enjoyed the mixing, and eating the results!

Tuesday #174 'Hand in Hand' - We were out for a walk with my Brother and his family and Bud was holding hands with his cousin. They looked so sweet running along together.

Wednesday #175 'Planting' - Bud loves helping his Daddy in the garden and is very excited whenever the tools come out. They did some planting after work today. The only difficulty Bud has is in a little patience waiting for things to grow.

Thursday #176 'Yum' - Little Miss is really enjoying weaning. She loves trying out all the new flavours I have been introducing to her. We've had some pouches for review and this was a new one that we were trying out today.

Friday #177 'Gloom' - Bud went to play with his cousins today so Little Miss and I went for a walk. The sky was a really interesting mix of blue with gloomy, grey storm clouds.

Saturday #178 'Titanic' - We had a family day out in Liverpool today. Bud loves all the museums and adores a dressing up box. I took this in the Titanic exhibition at the Merseyside Maritime Museum where he created this interesting mixture of sailor and first class lady.

Sunday #179 'Afternoon Nap' - We've had a really busy weekend and Bud and his Daddy crashed out on the sofa this afternoon. They looked so sweet curled up together.

Welcome to the Tefal Innovation Panel

2013-04-26T22:44:00.000+01:00

A few weeks ago I applied to join the Tefal Innovation Panel which was being launched in partnership with the Mumsnet Bloggers Network assuming I'd never be chosen but crossing my fingers in the hope that I would be. Imagine my surprise when, during our visit to Kiddicare Aintree a few weeks ago, I got a message inviting me to join the panel with a rather exciting request to join them in Windsor for the day.

Last Thursday Little Miss and I got up very early to get the 7am train to London and on to Windsor to attend a meeting at the headquarters of Groupe SEB, the parent company of Tefal UK. We had the pleasure of travelling with Tina and lovely Syd from The Mother Geek who, as well as being excellent company, also helped me to have the confidence to navigate the London Underground with a pram!

On arrival we were welcomed by the team and introduced to the company with a very interesting presentation. Groupe SEB is the parent company for Tefal, Rowenta and Krups and has its global headquarters in France. The company has a long history dating back over a century and pioneered non-stick technology when Marc Grégoire a frustrated fisherman wanted to make sure his line didn't snag when reeling in a fish. His wife was intrigued by the reel coating he developed and wondered if it would work on her pans and non-stick cookware was born. They also took us on a trip down memory lane with a look at some of their old advertising campaigns, including the Scientists.

Following this introduction we were taken through to the amazing kitchen where we were treated to four demonstrations of the Tefal range.

First was Linencare. Now, let's get something straight here. I don't iron. I can iron but I hate it so we tend to hang up a lot of things while they are damp in the hope that the creases drop out by themselves. I really thought nothing about an iron could get me excited. How wrong I was. The brand manager, Chetana Raj treated us to a demo of the steam generator irons and I was amazed! The irons do look rather space age but the steam that they generate cuts ironing time in half and makes ironing hassle free. I was sold as a few of my fellow bloggers (including other ironing deniers like myself) took to the board and made very short work of the sample garments available for us to try out.

Next we were shown Tefal's range of cookware. This is probably the area I was most familiar with, I even own a couple of items already. Stefan Kaczmarczyk talked us through the range and showed us the unique Thermospot that was added to frying pans in 2000. Contrary to popular belief this doesn't glow when it reaches the ideal temperature of 190°C but instead the concentric lines vanish and the spot turns red. He also discussed the exacting standards of their partnership with Jamie Oliver and showed us a pan that the chef rejected fourteen times before agreeing on the fifteenth version. He uses Tefal ranges in his cookery programmes and won't put his name to anything that isn't right. Stefan cooked an egg without oil in one of their pans with excellent results. The non-stick technology really does live up to its name. We were also shown how easy it is to clean burned milk off the non-stick coating. Quite handy for me as I often burn things!

The Actifry demonstration was next. I was quite excited to see this as I've heard really great things about these appliances but was yet to see one in operation. I thought that the Actifry was, essentially, a replacement for deep fat fryer and just good for food that you would normally cook in these. André Silva was quick to explain that the Actifry is so much more than that. In addition to chips you can cook casseroles, stir fries, curries, desserts and more. The Actifry is the UK's number one small appliance and uses a unique paddle to stir the ingredients while cooking and ensure that everything cooks evenly. André explained that he uses his Actifry everyday and doesn't actually own an oven! Tefal have just launched the Actifry 2-in-1 which allows you to cook two different dishes at the same time - great for chicken and chips!

The final product shown was one I had investigated when I was reading up on Tefal prior to our day with them - the Fresh Express. Let me explain something, I hate grating cheese and I hate chopping onions. I do one or the other almost every day. Just imagine if there was a device which meant that I didn't have to do it? This is where the Fresh Express comes in. Maria Montero showed us the UK's number one food preparation product. It works brilliantly with different cones for grating, slicing and grinding. It can grate cheese or slice an onion in seconds! Seriously, every kitchen should have one.

Following the demos we were treated to a very healthy lunch featuring dishes that had been made using the appliances while we were being shown them. Just fantastic! The marinaded chicken and homemade coleslaw were terrific and showed the capabilities of the Actifry and Fresh Express really effectively.

Tefal have launched a new campaign called Fresh Week which is asking families to give up processed food for the week commencing 13th May. If you make your pledge on their website you will have the chance to win a Fresh Express and a Riverford Organic Fruit and Veg Box to help you achieve it. I've made my pledge and I'd love it if you would consider doing the same. I'll be posting about Fresh Week again nearer the time.

I'm delighted to say that I have received a Tefal Actifry, Steam Generator Iron and Fresh Express Max to try out at home and I will be sharing my thoughts on all of these very soon. We also brought home a 21cm Tefal Frying Pan and a One Egg Wonder, both of which have transformed the way I use a frying pan! The One Egg Wonder has me frying eggs which was previously just a job for Red Rose Daddy.

I'd like to thank Tefal for making us so very welcome in Windsor and I'm really looking forward to working with them over the next year.

Look out for the posts from my fellow panellists - The Mother Geek, Seasider in the City, Crazy with Twins, Mum in the Madhouse, Boo, Roo and Tigger Too. Madame Gourmand, Recipe Junkie, Romanian Mum, Jacintaz3, Emmy's Mummy and Attachment Mummy

Disclaimer: We were invited to spend the day with Tefal and our expenses were covered. We received the Actifty, Iron and Goodie Bag as gifts. All opinions are honest and unbiased.