New Mummy's Tips

Picture Box – January

2012-01-27T17:00:00.000Z

If you haven’t signed up to Picture Box already then you really missed out this month. The Move Lounge was packed full of Director’s Cut films such as The Birds, Taking Woodstock and one of my favourite films National Lampoons Animal House. If you haven’t seen that yet join and watch it now!!

If that wasn’t enough like always there are 28 films to watch which is updated every week. We have been watching Dream Girls with the amazing Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson, Cry Baby with the delectable Jonny Deep and for BG Thomas and the Magic Rail Road.

PictureBox is a movie subscription service which is available on Samsung Internet-connected smart TVs, iPads and PCs.

It’s really simple to use, once you sign up you just click on the film you want to watch and it’s ready to. No downloading or fiddling around.

I know times are tough but at a mere £4.99 a month it’s a real bargain.

I can’t wait to find out what February’s movie lounge is!

You can find PictureBox on Facebook and Twitter.

Win a Fridge Friend

2012-01-27T15:10:00.001Z

I do love a good gadget and when I saw the Fridge Friend I got a little too excited.

The Fridge Friend from Ideasbynet.com is a mini message recorder. You can record a video message and leave on the fridge for someone! Wish them happy birthday or remind them to take the rubbish out.

You can save 15 messages up 80 seconds long. It cost £24.99 and you can purchase it from ideasbynet.com they are available individually from them by contacting a sales representative.

I have one to giveaway to one lucky winner all you have to so is fill in the form below and tell me what message you would leave.

Closing Date: 24^th February

Good Luck

*One Entry Per Household

*No Cash Alternative Offered

*UK Residents Only

Guest Post – My Worst Toddler Tantrum by Joanne Mallon

2012-01-25T13:00:00.000Z

When I was writing my book about toddlers, it was clear from the start that tantrums deserved a whole chapter to themselves. Are toddlers plus tantrums compulsory? Why do they happen? What's the best way to react? If I throw a tantrum too, can I get away with it? Parents know the answers.

True confessions - my worst tantrum

Here are some of the reasons parents told me that their child had had a meltdown:

I had cut his sandwiches into triangles and he wanted squares
He only wanted to wear green, but the green top was in the wash (mainly because he’d been wearing it for a week non-stop)
Her favourite TV programme had finished
I wouldn’t let her play with my glasses
You put her socks on the ‘wrong’ feet – every morning. Oddly, Granny manages to get it right
The ice cream had the temerity to MELT.
Daddy couldn’t fix the stick that broke
His sister has chicken pox and he doesn’t
The toilet seat was too cold

So whilst sometimes you can anticipate and avoid a tantrum before it starts, at other times – well, there ain’t a lot you can do. Though even with the most random of tantrum triggers, you may be able to detect their root in tiredness, boredom frustration or hunger – or all of the above. It’s an impulsive reaction

But if we look again at the list above, I think there is a common thread – it’s all about control. Your toddler is coming to terms with the fact that they’re not in control of much of their world. And this makes them ANGRY. In time they will learn to handle this, plus they will start to get a bit more control as they become more independent. But for now – well, you can see how a growing realisation that somebody else calls the shots of every aspect of your life would kind of tick you off, wouldn’t it?

So when you’re tackling tantrums, one way to approach it is to let your child have more control and choice over their lives. So maybe you choose their outfit, but they have last word on shoes and undies. Or maybe they choose it all, because they'll soon learn that a sundress won't work in November.

Joanne blogs over at www.joannethecoach.com

Her book Toddlers: AnInstruction Manual: A Guide to Surviving the Years One to Four is available on Amazon in paper back and kindle versions.

The book is also raising funds for charity, as a portion of the royalties are going to Home-Start, a great charity who provide practical support to parents under stress.

In 2012 I resolve to spend less money. Here is how.

2012-01-23T13:00:00.000Z

I’m keeping my resolutions short and sweet as I think this will make them much more do-able.

My first resolution is to spend less.

How I will do this;

I will meal plan each week so food is not wasted and money not spent unnecessarily. I will diary this in to do each Monday morning after dropping the kids at school.
I will make all our gift cards this year over several craft sessions with my kids thus saving about £60, I have pencilled in 2 crafty sessions with the kids over the next month and we are going to sort out the playroom and pool all the craft stuff together this Sunday.
I will stop using my tumble drier by keeping on top of the laundry and popping it on each and every morning before breakfast giving me lots of time to hang it around the radiators during the day

Photo credit: Vince Hoang

3 very simple do-able aims with direct planned action. I will tape this up on my fridge and vow to do all through January. 21 days are supposed to be enough for a new habit to take hold so the rest of the year should then be plain sailing. Definitely a couple of hundred pounds saved here. Do you have any budgeting resolutions?

By Becky Goddard- Hill

Tesco Baby Event

2012-01-21T10:00:00.000Z

The Tesco Baby Event is now on until the 5^th February. You can save on nappies, toiletries and feeding accessories including a Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature Electric Breast Pump now £49.99 from £99.99.

Some of the great offers include:

Pampers Baby Dry Carry Pack: was £6.49 each, now £4.30 each
Pampers Simply Dry Carry Packs was £4.50 each, now £3.00
Johnson’s Baby Wipes 64-Pack:was £2.44 each, now 95p each
Huggies Super Dry Economy Pack: was £9.98 each, now half price £4.99

Products on BOGOF:

Johnson’s Baby Bubble Bath & Wash, 500ml: £2.99
Johnson’s Baby Gold Shampoo, 500ml: £2.60
Johnson’s Baby Pink Soft Wash, 400ml: £2.98
Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Bath, 500ml: £2.50

Half Price Buys:

Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature Electronic Steam Steriliser: was £47.99, now half price £23.99
Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Microwave Steriliser: was £26.99, now half price £13.49
Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature Freedom Breast Pump: was £29.99, now half price £14.99

Make sure you follow @TescoBabyClub for your chance to win great prizes every day during the Baby Event.