two become four

Guest Post | The Health Benefits of Acai Berries

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Thu, 31 May 2012 21:15:00 +0000

This post has been brought to you by http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/

Acai is a type of berry which grows on palm trees which you will find in South and Central America, mainly in areas such as floodplains and swamps. These trees, which are known by the name ‘acai palms’ are able to grow to levels of anywhere between fifteen and thirty metres tall and have leaves whose shape resembles that of feathers and which can grow to around three metres length. The acai palm tree is quick to grow and produces acai berries which are small round and purple, looking a little like small grapes, and which are utilised for a variety of different purposes. Amongst other things acai berries are used to produce drinks, as the juice has a sweet flavour. However they are also utilised in natural health and fitness products available from such major outlets as http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/

The health and nutrition products containing acai which are sold at places such as Holland & Barrett include capsules, tea bags and juice drinks, and the berries contain a number of very useful nutrients. These include amino acids and protein, omega -3, 6 and 9 oils, vitamin A, B1, B2, E and fibre. It is considered by many within the health and nutrition industry to be one of the finest sources of organic nutrients available in this market. When it comes to the health benefits offered by products containing acai, one of the primary things that acai does it to act as an antioxidant – meaning that it helps to kill those molecules in the body that are referred to by the term ‘free radicals’. The build-up of these molecules has been shown scientifically to contribute to the development of a number of illnesses and diseases – including cancer. Although there have been some claims made for acai as an aid to weight loss, there is less evidence to support this than there is of its usefulness as an antioxidant.

Disclosure: this is a guest post for which I received compensation.

Team Weight Watchers... Time to get serious

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Tue, 29 May 2012 23:37:00 +0000

There's something I've not been telling you. Something that's been on my mind for the last few weeks, but I know if I speak of it here it will make me more accountable... and I've been desperately been trying to ignore it!

But then at the same time I don't want to ignore it...

I'm fed up with being heavier than I was when I was pregnant with Tilly and Jasper.

I'm fed up of having boxes full of clothes that no longer fit, and very few clothes that do... because I keep promising to myself that I will not be this size for much longer, and what's the point in spending the little money we have on clothes that I supposedly won't be wearing for long... yeah right!

I'm fed up eating for the sake of eating... yes, I know I have a reason to be emotionally eating, but I need to use it as a motivation to get slim, fit and healthy again.

... So about 3 or 4 weeks ago I joined Team Weight Watchers - a group of bloggers who are using the online Weight Watchers ProPoints Plan to help them get back to their ideal weights.

It's been a shaky start for me. I have never really dieted in my life and couldn't possibly tell you how many calories were in a Mars Bar... or anything else. For most of my twenties I was a size 8/10, could eat as much or as little as I wanted and not have to worry about a thing. And then the inevitable happens... settling down, slowly starting to fill out (and ignoring it because 'that's what happens'), two babies... at the same time... and bam... I'm not the person who I was 5 years ago!

If I am brutally honest with myself I am a size 16... but my head refuses to believe that I could possibly be any larger than a 12... and I tend to ignore mirrors as much as possible!

So I started the plan at 12 stone 7... lost 3lbs the first week... put 2lbs back on the second week... and lost 0.5lbs the following week... which gives me a total loss in three weeks of 1.5lbs... woo! (That was a sarcastic 'woo' by the way!)

This week I have given myself a good talking to. I am keeping a closer eye on what I'm eating and sticking religiously to my points limit. Fingers crossed... we'll see when I weigh myself on Sunday!

I've downloaded the Weight Watchers Mobile app to help keep me in line, and I've been using the recipe builder (really useful) to work out the ProPoints values of the meals that I normally make on a regular basis. I'll also be going back through all my blogged recipes and adding the ProPoints to them as a get around to them.

I know I need to add a bit of exercise into the equation... but I thought I would let myself get used to eating probably less than half of what I normally would before I inflict more drastic changes to my routine!

The plan is to update the blog with my progress and thoughts... so it would be right to assume that if all goes quiet, then I'm still struggling! But I'm getting into it now, so hopefully that shouldn't be the case. I know there will be blips... fingers crossed there won't be too many! My short term goal is to lose a stone by the end of August... in time for Tilly and Jasper's birthday.

So please feel free to wish me luck... and offer any advice and support... I need it!

Disclosure: As part of Team Weight Watchers I have been given a 6 month subscription to Weight Watchers online, and will receive products to use and review... but as this is an emotional subject anyway, my views and opinions will be open and honest, and entirely my own.

Trendy Toddlers Wear... MASH Junior

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Mon, 28 May 2012 23:37:00 +0000

^ That there is Tilly looking like she's posing perfectly for Mummy, where as in fact I was just getting in her way and she was trying to look around me at the television!

She is beautifully modelling a rather scrumptious outfit from MASH Junior... an Italian childrenswear brand favoured by celebrity parents of the likes of Sandra Bullock and Sarah Jessica Parker.

I'm actually quite taken by the outfit... I love that the t-shirt is girly and yet charcoal grey with a cute Tweety Pie cartoon detail, which is such a coincidence as we've been getting into Looney Toons recently and Tweety Pie is Tilly's favourite.

The trousers were a total shock to me as they are not something I would have considered buying... they are a cotton/silk mix and pale ivory... not the most practical for toddlers who like to get anywhere and everywhere. Or so I thought! We headed to a car boot sale shortly after taking these photos... on a sweltering hot Sunday... in the middle of a dusty field. Surprisingly the trousers stood up to it amazingly! They are light and loose - I think Tilly found them very comfortable in the heat and they avoided the dirt amazingly well!

Jasper was a more reluctant model, but I think I managed to get a few decent pics of him putting his outfit to the test.

The plaid cargo shorts are perfectly coloured for this year's festivities and look rather cute on his short little legs and the rugby shirt is a great cover up from the sun and stylishly preppy.

The little details are beautiful... rhinestones, ribbons, silk and sequins and subtle branded tags and embellishments.

The quality of the garments is fantastic, and although they would be out of our normal price range I think they would make great outfits for special occassions... Tilly's in particular.

Disclosure: We were sent these two outfits from MASH Junior for the purpose of this review, but as always my opinions are honest and entirely my own.

♥♥♥ ... linking up with ... ♥♥♥

Trendy Toddler Tuesday at Very Busy Mama

Make it | Comforting Eye Mask

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Mon, 28 May 2012 21:07:00 +0000

It's been a while since I've got crafty, let alone share any of my recent makes.

The truth is I haven't really felt like it since making my teddy bear in memory of Dad. I still have a half-made teddy stashed away and I just can't bring myself to finish him off yet. And I promised my sister I'd make her one for her birthday... which was in March!

I have been furiously pinning away on pinterest in the hopes that something would spark me off... and then last week I came across a gorgeously simple, but oh so lovely, comforting eye mask from one of my favourite embroidery blogs - Wild Olive. It was late at the time, but I knew what I'd be doing the following night.

And here it is...

I added a few drops of lavender oil to mine, in the desperate hope that it might help me sleep better! Simply heat in the microwave, or chill in the freezer for the perfect soother in this ~~barmy~~ balmy weather.

Quick. Simple. But so satisfyingly soothing :)

Guest Post | How to Choose your Bedding

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:37:00 +0000

Most of us spend around eight hours a night in our beds, if we’re really lucky we get to spend a few more over the weekend too. Given all this time in our beds, it’s important to pick out the most comfortable and suitable bedding. There are several factors that should be considered when picking out bedding. Without considering them you may find it difficult to get those precious eight hours without interruption. Firstly, it is important to consider if the person using the bedding has any allergies. Many people in the UK suffer from dust mite allergies, which cause sneezing and swollen nasal glands. This can be very uncomfortable when you’re trying to get to sleep and can contribute to snoring due to breathing being restricted. To overcome this problem you can purchase hypoallergenic bedding that is sealed to prevent dust mites from entering it. This reduces the build-up of dust around and within the bed and makes it a much more allergy friendly area. As well as buying the appropriate bedding it’s essential to clean it regularly and to occasionally turn over your mattress. This will keep your bedding fresh and dust mite free.

The second important thing to consider when purchasing new bedding is the thickness of your quilt (or duvet). If you’re someone who gets cold easily then look into purchasing a quilt with a very high tog rating, such as 10.5 or more. Equally, if you get extremely hot while sleeping buy a quilt with a much lower tog rating, say 7 or less. There is nothing worse than shivering all night long or dripping with sweat while you sleep. Another factor that can contribute to a comfortable quilt is the fabric from which it is made. Cotton is generally deemed much more breathable than polyester, though it is often a little more expensive too.

Finally, the kind of mattress you choose will greatly affect the quality of sleep you achieve each night. The amount of support your mattress provides is also an important factor to consider, especially if you have back or neck problems. A firm mattress is not necessarily the best, as it can result in your body lying at odd angles. The best mattresses are now considered to be the ones that absorb your body shape, such as memory foam mattresses do. You can find a great collection of these mattresses from the Bedding Company, which also supplies Silent Night Bedding. Of course, another consideration when choosing a mattress is whether or not you find it comfortable. Trying out a friend’s can be a great way of determining the sort of mattress that suits you.

Now that you have all the key information for choosing the appropriate bedding you are ready to enjoy a great night’s sleep, wake up well rested and ready to get on with the day!

Disclosure: this is a guest post for which I received compensation.

Looney about Looney Toons | A Tots100 Film Club Review

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Thu, 24 May 2012 22:08:00 +0000

Last week, and this, we have mostly been getting nostalgic and working our way through the Looney Toons Big Faces DVD Box Set.

"Oh. My. Goodness." - Tilly's words on seeing the box!

Tilly's reaction on receiving the box was priceless. She then proceeded to take each DVD out and closely examine it before putting them all carefully back in the box... making sure they were all facing in the same direction. I guess our slight OCD tendancies are rubbing off!

I wasn't quite sure how Tilly and Jasper would take to the cartoons... they are a bit different to what's on offer nowadays, but I thought the variety would be good to use as distraction without them quickly becoming bored and shoved to the back of the shelf.

It turns out that each of the 10 DVDs is well over a hour long and can provide hours of endless entertainment for a housebound invalid with a bad back... and the twins are huge fans too! Tilly's current favourite is Tweety Pie, while Jasper can't decide between Taz and Bugs Bunny. They have both decided however, for some unknown reason, that they "no like" Tom and Jerry!

It has been a lovely nostalgia trip re-watching all these cartoons again. It takes me back to Sunday evenings as a kid, wrapped snuggly in a towel after a bath, eating chicken sandwiches (the remains from Sunday lunch) and waiting for Rolf's Cartoon Time to come on. Ahhh... those were the days...

The verdict? A massive hit all round! I was extremely surprised by the length of each DVD. I was expecting them to be half an hour each, but instead you get almost three times that! I think the twins will enjoy watching these for a good while to come... Tilly is asking daily to watch one of her "new films" and she doesn't seem to be tiring just yet.

Disclosure: We received the Looney Toons Big Faces DVD Box Set to review as part of the Tots100 Film Club, but my opinions, as always, remain honest and my own.

Giveaway | 3 Little Dish toddling shoe packs

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:00:00 +0000

The Barnado's Big Toddle is the country's biggest charity event for small children and is sponsored by Little Dish - fresh, natural food for kids. As part of the campaign, from today (May 23^rd) and for the next ten days only, Sainsbury's will be selling limited edition packs of Little Dish Chicken and Butternut Sqaush Pie with a pair of toddling shoes for just £5 and with proceeds going to Barnados.

As part of the Sainsbury's Bank Family Blogger Network I have been given 3 of these packs to give away here on the blog courtesy of Sainsbury's Bank Car Insurance.

How To Enter:

To enter simply log in to Rafflecopter with your Facebook account or your email address and leave a comment with your favourite place that you like to toddle with your child(ren) and also the size shoes you require should you win - small (4/5), medium (6/7) or large (8/9).

Extra Ways To Enter:

Once you've completed the mandatory entry above you can complete the Rafflecopter form below to confirm your additional entries made via blog comments, Twitter, Facebook etc.

This giveaway is set to run until Monday 28^th May 2012 and is open to UK and ROI residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly and announced shortly after, once the prizes have been claimed.

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

img src: Little Dish

Recipe | Steak and Mushroom Pie

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:56:00 +0000

A couple of weekends ago we were visiting my step-mum and she packed us up with bits of Dad's bits and pieces from the freezer.

She's a vegan, so has no use for fish or meat. Amongst our 'loot' were a couple of rather lovely looking steaks... so last week I made a steak and mushroom pie.

This was the first time I've ever made a savoury pie, so I consulted my various cookbooks and came up with a Mrs Beeton/Gordon Ramsay hybrid recipe. An unusual combination, but I wanted to follow the Mrs Beeton cooking method because it didn't involve pre-stewing the beef... therefore less dishes to be washed up!!

The results were impressive, if I do say so myself... with Keith even commenting that it was the kind of pie that men get married for!

So, if you want to keep your man happy... here's the recipe:

Steak and Mushroom Pie

Prep time: 30 mins

Cook time: 2 hours 10 mins

Serves: 6 portions
9 Weightwatchers ProPoints per serving

Ingredients

1 1/4 lb beef chuck or braising steak, trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch cubes

3 tbsp seasoned flour

1 onion, finely diced

4 oz mushrooms, finely sliced

7 fl oz stock

1 tbsp tomato puree

1 tbsp worcestershire sauce

few thyme sprigs

375 g ready rolled shortcrust pastry

milk for glazing

Directions

Preheat oven to 230^oC.

Place diced beef and seasoned flour in polythene bag and shake until evenly coated.

Take a 1 1/4 pint pie dish (I actually used a pyrex casserole dish without the lid) and layer the beef, onions, and mushrooms alternately.

Stir the tomato puree, worcestershire sauce and thyme leaves in to the stock (I used chicken OXO because that was all I'd got!) and pour into the pie dish to about 1/3 of the way up.

Cut a thin strip (about 1 cm wide) of pastry and line the dampened rim of the pie dish.

Use the remaining pastry to make a lid and place on top, using any trimmings for decorations.

Glaze with a little milk, and make a small hole in the centre.

Place into the oven for 10 mins until the pastry is golden brown.

Lower the oven temperature to 180^oC, cover loosely with foil, and cook for a further 2 hours until the meat is tender.

Remove from oven and serve immediately with a selection of fresh vegetables of your choice.

Enjoy!

Silent Sunday | 20120520

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Sun, 20 May 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Silent Sunday... one photo from the last week... no words.
For more follow #silentsunday on twitter, or go to the linky

Giveaway: 3 Future Friendly hampers from P&G

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:22:00 +0000

Last year we had great fun taking part in P&Gs Sustainable Living Challenge... a challenge to make you think about your daily lifestyle, and the simple little things you can change to make a big difference to the future. Everyday little acts like turning off the tap while you brush your teeth... only boiling enough water in the kettle for what you need... reusing, recycling or repurposing wherever possible. The list is endless! (Visit the Future Friendly website for even more sustainable living tips)

I was also extremely fortunate to be invited to the Future Friendly awards ceremony, which was an inspirational day. I was the only blogger there and felt a bit like a fish out of water... and ~~ever so slightly~~ very anxious! Thankfully I was sat with a lovely group of people, including last year's winners.

The awards celebrate individuals and groups who are making an effort to promote sustainability and are currently in the process of receiving nominations again this year... nominations close on May 21st.

'So, what's this got to do with a giveaway?' I hear you ask. Well P&G have very generously provided 3 hampers packed full of their products that have been designed with sustainable living in mind, and a few other little goodies too.

Each hamper contains:

Ariel Gel - you can save as much as 50% energy when turning from 40^o to 15^o
Ariel Stain Remover - takes care of tough stains and save as much as 30% energy when turning from 40^o to 30^o
Lenor - increased concentration and larger pack sizes means less packaging per load
Fairy Platinum Dishwasher Tablets - you can save as much as 30% energy on eco-cycle instead of intensive wash
Fairy Liquid - for hands that do dishes... and more concentrated, so less packaging per wash
Flash Clean & Shine - save as much as 50% energy when used with cold (20^o) water instead of hot (40^o) water
Food Kozy - the reusable wrap to help cut down on the use of non-reusable film, foil or bags for your family's lunches
Hippo the Water Saver - a water saver for your toilet... save as much as 3 litres of water for every flush
Tap Aerator (not pictured) - reduces water flow, and unnecessary water consumption... easily installed and fits almost all household taps

How To Enter:

To enter, simply leave a comment with your favourite tip for sustainable living. For example, we save water by throwing the kids in the bath with Daddy before he goes to work in the morning... and often I'll end up using the water afterwards too... it also saves on valuable time!

Extra Ways To Enter:

Once you've completed the mandatory entry above you can complete the Rafflecopter form below to confirm your additional entries made via blog comments, Twitter, Facebook etc.

This giveaway is set to run until Monday 21st May 2012 and is open to UK and ROI residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly and announced shortly after, once the prizes have been claimed.

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Silent Sunday 20120513

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Sun, 13 May 2012 09:26:00 +0000

Silent Sunday... one photo from the last week... no words.
For more follow #silentsunday on twitter, or go to the linky

Wise Words Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:00:00 +0000

(Source: google.com via Rebecca on Pinterest)

Getting creative with Lego Duplo

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:50:00 +0000

At the beginning of the year we were incredibly lucky to be asked to join the fabulous team of Lego Duplo bloggers. Being a huge fan I could hardly say no, and shortly afterwards we were sent a couple of items to test out and review.

Jasper got to try out the Creative Sorter... a cute Duplo box that has 3 different lids that sort the blocks to create a selection of animals.

Up until now we had only had the basic boxes of Duplo, so it was a bit of a novelty to begin with... Duplo that had a task behind it! It didn't take them long to get to grips with the idea and they were soon having fun building elephants, giraffes and birds.

The elephant then later became an astronaut in some kind of cakey-rocket battle of the planets scene... the creativity was flooding out, and Lego Duplo was being flown around the kitchen with all manner of sound effects!

I have always loved the quality of Duplo (apart from when you accidentally tread on it... then you wish it was a just a little bit less solid!), and this doesn't disappoint. It's a great little set to get creative, inquisitive little minds working.

Tilly was sent the Creative Cakes set... a scrummy box full of plastic cakey goodness! The blocks are an assortment of chocolate browns, fruity reds, pinks and purples, and a splash of minty green. The lid also doubles up as a tray for serving all of your cakey creations.

Initially I though 'uuugghh... why do we need to make it girly?'... but then it dawned on me that it wasn't 'girly', but just true to life. Jams and fruits are reds, pinks and purples... a fact you can't deny, or even 'boyify'.

Needless to say none of this bothered either Tilly or Jasper, and they both enjoyed baking up a selection of wonderful cakes. I may have also got quite into this set too!

They can, and do play with these for hours at a time... and it's even more fun when Mum and Dad join in too!

We have since discovered the Lego Duplo facebook page... which is full of random facts and useful building suggestions... very useful for a bit more inspiration.

Disclosure: We were sent these sets to review as part of the Lego Duplo 2012 blogger team. I will always blog with integrity, and as always my opinions remain honest and my own.

Tots100 Film Club Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:10:00 +0000

There have been a few posts in blogland recently questioning which of the two Willy Wonkas was the best; Gene Wilder or Johnny Depp.

I'm not going to ask the question... I already know the answer... to me, Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka is the creepier of the two... he just makes my skin crawl!

Yes, the 2005 interpretation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has the obvious attraction in Depp (and totally the reason I chose this film to review... selfish mummy!), but it also has the unmistakable Burton touch... dark yet psychedelic, and keeping true to Roald Dahl's writings.

The songs may not be as saccharine or as memorable as those in the original screenplay, but I think they have managed to capture the essence of another of Roald Dahl's great books - Revolting Rhymes (one of my childhood favourites).

Arguably, the back story into Wonka's past may be a little unnecessary and does add that gruesome element(children in full-head teeth braces anyone?) that perhaps gave it the PG rating... but at two and a half, Tilly and Jasper happily sat and watched the whole film - perhaps their interest in chocolate and sweeties was something to do with that!

The verdict? A fab family film that appeals to all ages... I can see this being watched many times.

Disclosure: We received a copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as part of the Tots100 Film Club, but as always my opinions remain honest and my own.

Wise Words Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Wed, 02 May 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Source: Uploaded by user via Rebecca on Pinterest

Trendy Toddlers Wear... M&Co Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:51:00 +0000

When Dad was ill, Keith took Tilly and Jasper to stay with his family which gave me the chance to spend as much time as possible with Dad during his last few weeks.

It was incredibly difficult being away from them all for so long, but at the same time it was a great way for Keith and his family to build stronger bonds with the twins without me being around.

Keith doesn't need much of an excuse to spoil them rotten... and the afternoon after I'd got a call from the bank to discuss how they can help us with our account, I received a text showing a rather large haul from M&Co... it's a good job they had a sale on!

I love our local M&Co for kids clothes... we've picked up some rather fabulous items in the past.

So for this week's trendy toddlers here are a few snaps of them putting their latest spoils through rigorous testing.

Hoodies... perfect for chillier weather... playing in the sand or out for a hike

M&Co Kids' T-shirts... great for some playground fun...

... or for toddlers who lunch!

♥♥♥ ... linking up with ... ♥♥♥

Trendy Toddler Tuesday at Very Busy Mama

Wet woodland walk

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 08:00:00 +0000

We braved the weather yesterday and took a surprisingly enjoyable, wet woodland walk at our local country park.

We tracked baby dinosaurs, ate fudge, and generally had too much fun to notice the persistent rain that was trying to dampen our spirits!

The woods are springing back to life after the winter and there was lots to look at and forage.

squirrel-nibbled pine cones

more pine cones

posing!

catkins

cuckoo pint (Arum maculatum)

peculiar tree fungus... possibly jelly or Jew's ear fungus

♥♥♥ ... linking up with ... ♥♥♥
Country Kids from Coombe Mill

Currently...

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:05:00 +0000

... 00:49

... located: front room

... eating: donuts

... drinking: sweet fennel tea - to revive and revitalise... ha!

... watching: words form across the screen in front of me

... listening: to the tap tap tapping over the sound of a house silent with slumber

... loving: my new iphone (it couldn't go unmentioned!)

... enjoying: me time

... wanting: to turn back time (for many reasons)

... needing: sleep

... preparing: blog posts for the coming week

... thinking: morbid and sad thoughts, and fearing the future

what are you up to right now?

Inspired | Mike the Knight

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:02:00 +0000

We are huge fans of Mike the Knight in this house... in fact it has spawned many games that Tilly and Jasper love to play together... mostly involving running up and down on pretend horses shouting 'be a knight, do it right' and 'gibbedee-up'!

I've noticed some rather fabulous knight-inspired toys on my wanderings around the web, so I thought I'd put an inspiration board together of some of my favourite finds. So if you're on the look out for some toys and books for your little Knight in Training, then look no further... I've done the leg-work for you... Huzzah!

1: Mike the Knight - Knight in Training DVD

We were sent a review copy of this and it has seen a lot of use already. The DVD features 5 fun-filled adventures with Mike and his friends and a selection of songs sang by Glendragon's resident bard (who Jasper always insisted was 'Daddy' when it first hit our TV screens!).

2: Lilliputiens Walter Wall Stickers

I am a lover of all things dragon... I guess it might be to do with being born in the Chinese year of the dragon - who knows! Lilliputiens have an amazing Walter the dragon range (we bought the pram toy for a friends recent addition - also born in the year of the dragon) and I love the flexibility of wall stickers for decorating rooms. We haven't really got around to decorating the twins' room yet, but when we do these would be my stickers of choice... bright and cheery, and with elements to keep both Tilly and Jasper happy.

3: Schleich Catapult

No castle would be complete without a catapult and trebuchet, and Scleich have a fantastic range of perfectly detailed figures and weaponry.

4: Pintoy Wooden Medieval Castle

There is lots of choice out there when it comes to castles, but this one, by Pintoy, kept drawing me back. I love the simple, classic design and the tactile natural wood finish.

5: Trudi Dragon Puppet

Tilly has an imaginary pink dragon... what can I say... the girl has taste! I think she'd quite like this one too... and if it's like all other Trudi plushes, it will be super soft and cuddly!

6: The Usborne Official Knight's Handbook

A must-have for all wannabe knights! I'm hoping that they'll still be into Knights in a few years time so that I can get them this.

7: Savo & Pomelina Green Canvas Dragon Costume

One word. AWESOME!

8: Castle Play Tent

Great indoors or outdoors (weather permitting!). Another great prop to feed the imagination.

9: Melissa & Doug Knight Costume

For when a tin tray, wooden spoon and pillow case is not enough!

10: Lamaze Play and Grow Sir Prance-a-lot

Colourful, tactile and stimulating... Sir Prance-a-lot is the perfect toy for baby knights.

11: Usborne Touchy-Feely Hide-and-Seek Dragons

This book is has been a fixture at my Mum's for nearly 5 years now. The first book Tilly and Jasper ask for whenever we visit, there is so much going on in all of the pictures, that even though they know where all the dragons are hidden now, they can still spend ages studying the pages.

Wise Words Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:58:00 +0000

Source: piccsy.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

Trendy Toddlers Wear... Emma Bunton Clothing from Argos

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:54:00 +0000

Earlier this year Argos launched an exclusive range of kid's clothing designed by ex-Spice Girl Emma Bunton. After searching unsuccessfully for affordable, practical, cool clothes for children, she decided to design her own range.

We were asked if Tilly and Jasper would like to try out some of the range, so as the emphasis was on practical and cool I thought hoodies and jeans would be the best items to put these claims to the test. The girl's range does also have a lovely selection of skirts and dresses, but as the weather is still a bit on the cool side I thought the hoodies would be the better option.

Jasper tried out the black and white striped hoodie with the black skate jeans.

The jeans have an adjustable waistband and feel a good thickness (I'm not too keen on flimsy jeans for children - knees can wear through very quickly). The skate styling is cool and comfortable.

Keith practically lives in hoodies and has several striped ones, so I thought it would be fun for Jasper to have a striped one too! Again, the quality feels good and I love the styling of the hood. The pockets are the perfectly sized to fit 2 Hot Wheels cars... although you can fit 3 in at a push! My only concern on the hoodie is how white the white stripes will stay after multiple washes, but I guess only time will tell.

Tilly tried out the navy hoodie with the skinny turn-up jeans.

The navy and pink colour combination of the hoodie is gorgeous, and Tilly particularly loves the little poodle logo!

The skinny jeans look fab and fit perfectly (thanks again to the adjustable waistband). I love the patchwork pockets on the back too.

Jasper wore: Striped Hoodie and Black Skate Jeans ♥♥♥ Tilly wore: Navy Hoodie and Skinny Turn-up Jeans

The quality and pricing of the clothes is great, the styling is cool and a little different to the usual high street offerings, and the sizing fits perfectly for their age. I wouldn't have thought to buy clothes from Argos but will definitely consider it in the future.

♥♥♥ ... linking up with ... ♥♥♥
Trendy Toddler Tuesday over at Very Busy Mama

Disclosure: We were sent these items to review, but this does not affect how I write and will always blog with honesty and integrity.

Noted: The little things that make me smile

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:52:00 +0000

It's been a tough few weeks... and life seems to keep wanting to throw spanners at us.

Big, effing, heavy ones.

I'm finding it difficult again. Just wanting to curl up into crash position and brace myself for the worst.

But I can't. I've got two annoyingly, infectiously joyful little people stopping me.

I guess that's a good thing?

As ever, I've been noting down all the little moments that bring big smiles... something for me to refer back to during those darker moments:

♥♥♥

Tilly (to Mummy): 'Let's tell Daddy Basper's been naughty' <insert smug, butter wouldn't melt face here>

♥♥♥

Tilly: 'Don't talk with food in your mouth, Daddy' ... that's him told then!

♥♥♥

Tilly: 'Don't say that word Mummy... it's not nice' ... and that'll be me told then! and thankfully she hasn't used that word since we told her off many months ago, and she obviously understood!

♥♥♥

Mummy: 'We need to cheer Aunite S up... what do you think will make her smile?'

Tilly: 'Tongues'

Mummy: 'OK then... get your tongues out, we're taking some photos!'

♥♥♥

Tilly (heard over the monitor): 'Mummy... Tilly's got a bogie nose!'

♥♥♥

Mummy: 'Would you like to talk to Auntie S, Jasper?'

Jasper: 'Basper's too busy' ... reading the Argos catalogue (AKA Hot Wheels book!)

♥♥♥

Mummy: 'Could you bring me your cups so that I can refill them please'

Jasper: 'Here you go, mate'

♥♥♥

Asking them to go put their shoes on... and being met with this sight...

♥♥♥

Two hours of fun at soft play, watching them sliding down the big slides feet first and on their tummies and shouting (extremely loudly!) 'yippee!' and 'wicked!'

♥♥♥

And, possibly an early contender for Tilly quote of the year...

Tilly: 'That was the best trump. Ever.' ... thanks for that Tilly!

♥♥♥ ... linking up with ... ♥♥♥
Reasons to be cheerful at Mummy from the Heart

Wise Words Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:19:00 +0000

Source: myrevelment.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

Style Inspiration | Roses for Grumps

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:54:00 +0000

Roses were always a big feature in Dad's life... He worked at his local rose nursery in his younger years, and his Mum's garden, which became his garden in later years, was always full of the beautiful blooms.

This is why we decided that roses would also be a big part of his final send off. The coffin flowers were an enormous spray of roses in all colours, and there was a small posy from each of his four grandchildren. It was beautiful... the spray was then broken down and given out to the many friends and family who came to share the celebration of his life as a little memento of the day.

It was the funeral on Tuesday. Dad wanted it to be a celebration and not be gloomy and morbid... I think he would have been pleased :)

Dad's wife - my step-mum - wore a stunning jade dress... a colour that he loved to see her in. And after a lot of searching I found a dress that fitted perfectly and actually made me feel good about myself... and as an added bonus had roses on it too.

I put together an outfit based on the rose theme... rose lip-balm and perfume, a rose hair clip and my extra special purchase... an Orla Kiely bag in Ash Rose that will be now be treasured for it's sentimental value.

For the first time in years I also felt good in what I was wearing... and I think Dad would have been proud of us all.

♥ Joules Sylvia Floral Dress ♥ Red Potato Bead Necklace ♥ Dior Creme de Rose Lip Balm ♥ Mini Glitter Rose Clip ♥ Paul Smith Rose Eau de Parfum ♥ Nails Inc. Savile Row Nail Polish ♥ Orla Kiely Frill Posy Handbag ♥ Carvela Nude Kooper Wedges ♥

♥ ... linking up with ... ♥
What I Wore Wednesday at Transatlantic Blonde
What I Wore Wednesday at The Pleated Poppy

Wise Words Wednesday | Miss me, but let me go

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca McLuckie) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:04:00 +0000

This was the reading from Dad's funeral yesterday... of course I couldn't not cry... in fact this is what set the tears off!