White Lily Green

Bizzy The Butterfly - audiobooks for babies & toddlers

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:08:00 +0000

Storytime is an important part of childhood; for the memories that are created as well as the childs development and learning. whether it's a tale told out loud from a book, from memory or listening to an audiobook, there is nothing like the magic of a story.

Little One LOVES storytime. She's learned over time to listen and she loves to 'retell' it later in the day and talk about the characters. It's wonderful to see her imagination almost bursting out of her as she excitedly recalls parts of the story and decides what might happen next.

Baby Girl is only 10 months old but she has had books introduced into her playtime and bedtime since she was very tiny. She loves to listen to my voice, and watch as I turn the pages of the book - she is at the grabbing age so that bit's becoming a little more of a challenge, that that's all part of learning too.

I have recently been introduced to 'Bizzy the butterfly' stories. These audio stories are especially for babies and toddlers, and are perfect to listen to in the car, as part of a bedtime routine, or ...well, at anytime, really! In fact, as the story is very interactive you could incorporate it into a fun activity; movement or craft, are just a couple of ideas. The time of day dictates the 'activity' for us. In the night-time we have catapillar fingers and during the day we use our whole bodies to pretend we are the Creepy Crawly Co-operating Caterpillar. This weekend saw us looking for caterpillars in the garden, once we'd finished our storytime, and next weekend we plan to create a collage picture with colourful flowers, Bizzy the butterfly and the co-operating caterpillar. I'm looking forward to that, just as much as Little One!

The stories combine the spoken word with beautiful, gentle music and they provide young children with the opportunity to use and develop their imaginations whilst having fun. We were sent the audio story, 'Bizzy the Butterfly and the Creepy Crawly Co-operating Caterpillar’which is the first title in the ‘Bizzy the Butterfly’ set of audiobooks, and I have to say, as someone who is not a big fan of audiobooks in general, I loved it as much as the littlies did! It is absolutely perfect to listen to in the car, at bedtime or when you want the kiddies to unwind. As much as it is interactive, it's also a very soothing gentle story, Little One was found tapping her feet to the music, sucking her thumb and almost drifting off to sleep, the first time we listened. The narrator speaks with a gentle and soothing voice and I happily listen along with Little One and baby Girl.

This story is all about working together, helping each other, and 'co-operating' to achieve a goal. We love it, and can't wait for our next Bizzy the butterfly story!

The stories are available as audiobooks and ‘bookeos’ for you to download and enjoy with your child.

'Bookeos act like a video, but look like a book. They enhance the music and the story with the visual stimulus of added games and learning using the delightful illustrations.'

I adore the use of multimedia to create these stories. It brings a whole new dimension to story time, grabbing children's attention and keeping them engaged as they learn and sing along. Absolutely brilliant!

Bizzy the Butterfly also has a shop where you can buy all sorts of Bizzy the Butterfly goodies. For more information, visit www.bizzythebutterfly.co.uk

Disclosure: I was sent an audio story free of charge for review purposes. I have not been compensated in any other way. All opinions are my own.

Ecover's Message In Our Bottle campaign

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Sun, 12 May 2013 18:19:00 +0000

Most of us are aware that our seas are becoming, more and more polluted. Plastics pollute the sea from littering, industry and waste from Landfill; Ecover have pledged to make a change. Their aim is to create a fully sustainable and recyclable plastic that will minimise the use of raw materials in their bottles. They also aspire to include waste plastic from the sea in the production of their bottles by 2014 - This, in my opinion would be incredible - not only will it ensure a greater use of recycled plastic, but it will help to clean up the sea at the same time.

Ecover's pledge:

'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'

Ecover have created this infographic to show the impact of the use of plastic bottles in the UK and what Ecover can do to reduce this.

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

I fully support Ecover and their Message in Our bottle campaign. You can read more about it here.

Disclosure: I have not been paid to write this post.

An hour of couple time thanks to @dreams_beds

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Tue, 07 May 2013 11:14:00 +0000

The fantastic peeps at @dreams_beds wanted to know what we would do with the hour we lost when the clocks 'sprung' forward recently. Sleep would be nice, a leg massage would be lovely; but what I really wanted to do if I could 'snatch' back that hour was to go for a gorgeous lunch and spend an hour actually talking to my husband.

With work, meetings and other exciting occurrences (side note: read with a slathering of sarcasm) we, like many couples, resemble passing ships in the night. I can't actually remember the last time we spent time together outside of our home so when Dreams Beds said they would like to treat us to lunch so we could reclaim our hour (of sorts; they are good, but not Doctor-Who-type good!!) I could've kissed them!

Last week, the hubster, Baby Girl and I visited Wahaca in Stratford, London for a mexican treat.

It was Baby Girls first proper visit to a restaurant and she was amazing! The atmosphere was lovely and relaxed which was odd in such a busy place, but it was SO good to spend time together; to eat ( we did A LOT of that) to chat; to just feel like we had no worries other than to decide what to order next... Just for that one hour. It was bliss!

I have to tell you about the food - if you love mexican food you simply must visit Wahaca. It's now my favourite place to eat and I can't wait to go back.

We ordered the Wahaca selection which is a selection of favourite dishes from the menu. A selection it was, but O to the M to the G, the dishes just kept on a-coming! If you don't know what to order, or you're not sure if you'd like certain things, I'd recommend that you have a try of this as you get to try a "little" of everything.

My favourite by far was the Pork pibil taco; not only did it look magnificent with its bright pink hue, but it tasted to die for. I also loved the Huitlacoche quesadilla - If you don't know what that is, don't google it before you try it, I almost made that mistake but I can honestly say, hand on heart, it is gorgeous! Mmmmm yummy!

We also had sides of Spicy hot slaw and Sweet potato chunks and Tortilla chips with guacamole to start - all of which were very nice, indeed. The drinks were amazing too; as we had baby girl with us and we went quite early, neither of us had anything alcoholic but that really didn't matter - we both highly recommend the Virgin mojito!!

On to dessert. I got a tad excited over the dessert menu - I wanted it all, but with mentions of 'dense chocolate cake' and 'peanut butter ice cream , the Chocolate tres leches cake won without too much deliberation. Hubby chose a refreshing mango sorbet which was set upon by Baby Girl with muster. I think hubby got some of it!!!! Hee hee!

An absolutely wonderful way to spend a much-needed hour off.

Thank you so much Dreams Beds!

Give them a Twitter follow - @dreams_beds

Disclosure: Dreams Beds paid for us to have a meal together. We have not been compensated in any other way. Our thoughts on Wahaca and their food are completely our own - this is not a review and have not been asked to write anything by Wahaca.

Working on getting my sleep back!

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Thu, 02 May 2013 08:40:00 +0000

As a Mum of 4, I have slowly become accustomed to the unattractive bags under my eyes; the zombie-like traits and the need for intravenous caffeine, but now I'm getting on a bit; I would really like my sleep back, thank you very much!

Baby Girl is 10 months old now, and still gets me up 2 or 3 times a night. Sometimes she's too cold, or she's lost her snuggle lion. Sometimes she's hungry/thirsty or just wants a cuddle. That's fair enough, I'm her Mum and that's what I do, but recently, I started to wonder if it was too light for her. Even if it's dark outside, the street lighting can keep me awake, so it was a possibility.

We thought about having a blind rather than curtains, but worried about the safety aspect of the cord near the baby. Then, a dear friend told me about the safety mechanisms that you can fit yourself, or have fitted for you if DIY isn't your thing. I found some online after a bit of googling, and there are various different types available from reputable companies such as Web-Blinds.

Well, now we have the light issue under control and I've also taken the liberty of buying Baby Girl some new lightweight sleep bags (any excuse to go shopping!) Just look at this one from George - isn't it cute? She tends to kick her blankets off and then as the temperature drops during the night, she gets chilly and it wakes her up, so these are great for her.

I can't do much about her wanting to nurse. I love breastfeeding and we both get so much from it, so I just have to hope that she starts sleeping through by herself. If I'm really honest I do enjoy those moments where it's just us, but a few extra hours in between would be most welcome!

When did your little ones sleep through? Did a blackout blind get you a few more z's?

Featured Post

I love babywearing

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Wed, 01 May 2013 10:18:00 +0000

I love going out and about with Baby Girl in her wrap; arms free and feeling close to each other.

We went out together on the tube with daddy yesterday and it was wonderful. Baby Girl even had a snooze on me on the journey home, which was adorable as I could feel her breathing, almost like a purr - as content as content can be.

I was putting all my photos onto Dropbox yesterday because my phone was complaining that my storage was almost full *cough* 2000 photos *cough* and I came across these two that I had snapped a couple of months back when we all ambled over to the park, kids on their scooters, Baby Girl in her wrap, warm and snug and absorbing the wonders she saw around her.

I adore trees; they always look beautiful whatever the season - and look! Blossom! A reminder that the sunshine wouldn't be far away....Yay!

One of my most favourite photos; it's actually my Twitter avi! - Baby Girl looking very serious as she watched the world go by.

I liken Babywearing to breastfeeding; it has that same closeness I feel when I nurse her, and it's certainly helped with it too. That's not to suggest that babywearing is only useful to those who breastfeed, of course. Not at all, I firmly believe that having that physical closeness is just as beneficial, regardless how baby is fed. Baby Girl feels warm, and safe in her wrap; she hardly ever cries when she's in there and the lioness in me, feels like I'm suitably protecting my cub.

It's not just about nurture though, Baby Girl benefits from constant interaction too. I am always talking to her, kissing her; stroking her face. It also allows her to socialise with others without it being too scary for her. Strangers will smile, or talk to her, and she will always smile back *heart-melting moments ahoy* She sees the world for herself and I love that.

I honestly believe that babywearing improves my mood too. I can't help but smile when my baby is close. There may be scientific explanations and hundreds of proven benefits for it, but these are the reasons that I love to babywear!

Just in case you're interested, I use a woven wrap from Uptown Mum. Stretchy ones were no good as Baby Girl got bigger, as woven wraps don't stretch as much, meaning she doesn't wind up at my knees!

Do you babywear? Or do you plan to?

Cool Family Activities for the Summer - Guest Post

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:10:00 +0000

When the children are off school for 6 weeks of Summer it can be difficult to keep them entertained without spending an arm and leg. Nowadays it is simple and easy to search for things to do online, so there are no excuses. From local events found on directory websites, activities promoted via social networking sites, and specialized events sites - you have an array of scouting tools at your fingertips, in order to be able to get out and about as a family for as cheaply as possible.

Do not be scared to compare places, activities and events depending on their prices, as long as it is an activity, and gets you out of the house, with a change of scenery, you will all have something to experience.

Another option is monitoring online competitions, which are often advertised via social media, such as this one from Wow247 where you can win an annual merlin pass allowing you entry into over thirty attractions for free for four people (normally costing £146!). This also means exclusive offers on short breaks within resorts such as Legoland and Chessington Hotel.

You could also find some free activities online to do such as arranged woodland park explorations to identify animals, trails and their habitats. Check out the top film releases and buy a family ticket to receive a discount.

If it’s enjoying your own home that you want to do then get baking with the kids, teaching them about ingredients, shopping for a recipe and culinary skills. What better excuse to invite friends and family round for a tea party afterwards to enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Hopefully, you’ve been inspired to keep your eyes out on the Internet for discount deals, as well as competitions and free activities to keep you all busy over the holidays for a realistic price.

Featured Post

Navigating the Empty Nest - A guest post from across the pond

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

Empty nest syndrome is hard to shake. We’ve built our lives around the lives of our children. Changing diapers, wiping noses, and bandaging scraped knees have gotten us this far, which makes the moment our child gets accepted into a university miles away from home pretty bittersweet. We've always wanted the best for our kids and we groomed them into the fine young adults they are. Coping with their departure when we've been there every step of the way is daunting. We call them relentlessly, just to check in. Of course, they prefer we text them, it’s a lot less meddlesome.

It’s tough to let go and takes some soul-searching to understand we've done our job at parenting. Every step of our child’s development has led to this point. We must let go so they can experience adulthood and learn all the lessons we did when we were their age. Sure, we’d do anything for them, but it’s time to step back and let them make their own lives. Giving our kids their freedom allows them to grow outside the scope of our watchful eye. It also allows us to go on, knowing we've succeeded in our duties as their guardian.

We want the best for our children, possibly even more so when they're away at school. They should have the finest things in life, as they've enriched our lives more than we ever thought possible. Our kids are who make us shine. Rightfully so, they should have only the best furnishings for their home away from home. We trust Pottery Barn quality for decorating their dorm room. Purchasing gifts of furniture, bed ensembles, and more is so conveniently affordable with a Pottery Barn coupon code. Plus, it allows us to leave an indelible mark on their first foray into the real world.

Our children should have the comforts of home and we'll have peace of mind knowing they’re happy with their new surroundings regardless if they’re studying long hours or sleeping snug in their beds. Providing them with luxury is possible with the wide array of discounted offerings at NerdWallet, where we can find hundreds of coupon codes from national retailers. Plus, when it finally comes time to book a trip to visit them at their school, NerdWallet provides us with a variety of travel tips so we can find a cup of java at the airport or locate ground transportation options once we arrive.

Meeting our children on their college campus is a wonderful feeling. Even though we've been in constant contact with our kids since the moment we parted ways, a few months can seem like a lifetime. We’re proud of our kids and to see their successes away from home makes our hearts swell. We've waited so long for moments like this.

When they ask if we'd like a tour of their campus and dorm room, we nod with a smile of satisfaction. This is what we’ve worked so hard for and now we can see the fruits of our labor. Our kids are equally happy to see us, their joy expressed across their faces. They, too, know the effort we've put into shaping them has finally paid off. And when it’s time to return home again, we’re all left with knowing the kids are just fine without us. The nest may be empty, but our babies are never far from home.

WIN tickets to MUMS SHOW LIVE! - A brilliant new show for families with school-aged kids

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:05:00 +0000

Mums Show Live! is a great new show for parents with school-aged children. It will give you the chance to discover great brands, including many not seen on the high-street, with special offers and a vibrant marketplace.

Information on a myriad of essential, interesting and entertaining topics will be presented and discussed in their theatres, and Mums Show Live promises a 'Tree House full of weekend activities for kids.'

Sounds great, doesn't it!?

When and where is it?

The show is taking place at Alexandra Palace, from 16th-19th May 2013.

What will you see there?

Conversation Theatre with expert and celebrity panelists. Including Sarah Cawood, Carrie Grant and Sue Atkins.
Inspiration Theatre covering topics from ‘Going Back to Work’ to ‘Family Vacations’, ‘Wine Tasting’ to ‘Understanding Homework’ and ‘Photography’ as well as numerous Dragons Den winners who tell their story.
The Tree House is full of activities for kids including face painting, circus skills, model car racing and the Sense Theatre.
100s of exhibitors from Joules to ASPACE, Photobox to Kurio, Microscooter to London Zoo.

TICKETS:

Adults – £10 in Advance / £15 on the door

Children – £3 in Advance / £5 on the door

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Advance ticket offer codes not available on the door.

OPENING TIMES:

Thurs 16th 16:00 – 21:00

Fri 17th 10:00 – 17:00

Sat 18th 10:00 – 17:00

Sun 19th 10:00 – 17:00

For more information, visit www.mumshowlive.com

I would personally LOVE to visit Joules, Microscooter & London Zoo, but sadly I can't make it! I can, however, offer one of you a pair of free tickets!

For a chance to win, simply complete the Rafflecopter widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and conditions

This competition is open to UK readers only.
The winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter which uses random.org.
There is 1 prize as specified in the post. The prize will be sent to the winner directly from the sponsor.
The winner is final and no correspondence will be looked into.
All accepted tasks must be completed correctly, or the entry will not be counted. I do check before finalising a winner.
A cookie may be placed on your computer when commenting & using Rafflecopter.
This competition will run until 12.01am on 5th May 2013. The closing date is displayed on the widget for your information.
If the winner does not respond within 2 days, the competition will be re-drawn. (This is because of the timing of the event)
As per my privacy policy, by entering this giveaway you give permission for your name & email address to be used for mailing list purposes by the sponsor.

BUYAGIFT GIVES YOUNG AUTHORS CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR STORY PUBLISHED AND RAISE MONEY FOR MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION® UK

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:24:00 +0000

You may have gathered that I'm a sucker for a competition, especially when it's creative and gets the kids involved. More importantly, I'm always up for raising awareness for charities so this has really appealed to me - I'm sure it will appeal to many of you too!

Specialist gifting website Buyagift.com has launched a new competition to find the next J.K Rowling... well, the next mini J.K Rowling, as Buyagift are looking for budding authors under the age of 10! Those interested are invited to submit their stories on a set theme, with the chance to have their work judged by award-winning writer Giles Paley-Phillips - the creator of popular stories like The Fearsome Beastie and leading picture book blogger Emma O’Donovan.

What's more, the winning author will see their work made into a professionally published book and sold on the Buyagift website with all profits going to children’s wishgranting charity Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK.

“I am hugely honoured to be judging this extremely exciting writing competition, which is set to inspire some budding new writers” said author Giles Paley-Phillips.

All entrants will be writing to a set title of The Unexpected Gift, with Buyagift paying all costs for the winning story to be illustrated and published. The book will then be made available on the Buyagift website, with all profits going to Make-A-Wish.

The competition will run from April 3^rd – June 3^rd and the winner will be announced by the end of June.

Middle Miss is now too old to enter as she has turned 11, but I'm sure many of you have little creative writers in the house and it's for a fantastic cause, so please do join in!

For more information on the competition and how to enter, visit http://www.buyagift.co.uk/youngauthors

In the wrong shoes? The importance of looking after young feet and choosing the right footwear

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 11:48:00 +0000

Some of you may know that two of my children have some degree of hypermobility, affecting their hips, feet and ankles, so good foot care in the early years when the bones are soft and developing is very important to me.

MM had the most severe hypermobilty ( it has improved greatly now she is older) and when she was little she was only allowed to wear boots. Back then, it was almost impossible to find children's boots in the summer so we were relieved when the hospital were going to have some especially made for her. Unfortunately though, even then lightest pair that they supplied were too heavy and they caused her legs to swing out and made the problems even worse. The pediatrician suggested we could ask a shoe shop to make them for us ....Yes, that was my facial expression too. Seeing as we were neither rich or famous, that wasn't going to happen - so, we were back to the drawing board.

A week or two later, I received my usual Vertbaudet booklet through the post and low and behold they had ankle boots, pretty pink ankle boots that softened the blow that my darling girl couldn't wear pretty sandals like the other girls; ankle boots that had proper arch support, paid particular attention to ankle support, and, if I remember correctly, they were also pediatric and podiatrist approved. I couldn't believe it, and to this day, they were honestly the best pair of boots we ever managed to buy her during those early years.

Vertbaudet contacted me recently with the following information about children's footwear and what I read made me want to write this post; to highlight the importance of looking after young feet.

"Parents may be putting their children’s health at risk by not providing them with the correct footwear.

While we all know wearing ill-fitting shoes can be uncomfortable on a day-to-day basis, causing blisters, ingrown toe nails and sores on children's feet, there are even more serious side effects to simply wearing a badly fitting shoe. Over time, foot deformities can develop, along with knee and even posture problems.

Feet are designed to take body weight and give mobility essential to quality of life. Whilst vast amounts of money is spent on educating people to look after themselves nutritionally and physically, little effort is made to educate them on the importance of foot-health, and their child’s.

Children’s feet aren't fully-formed until they reach their late teens; their bones are still changing and developing, therefore it is a crucial time to nurture the growth process.

According to children's clothing specialist, Vertbaudet, who are working hard to raise awareness of this issue, children’s shoes need to be designed to support the arches and back of the feet, they should have sturdy soles and be made from robust materials for even more support.

Many mothers find it difficult to choose the right shoes for their children, since not only the size but also the shape of the foot needs to be taken into account. It is vital to ensure shoes are fitted by a trained professional to safeguard against ill fitting shoes that can cause long lasting damage to a child’s feet. The children’s clothing specialist works with an in-house Podiatrist and shoe designer, to ensure every detail of comfort and support is taken into consideration.

“Children’s shoes need to have a good counter that is rigid enough to support the rear of the child’s foot. This will give the child vertical and dynamic balance. And the soles, which should offer an integrated arch system, also reinforce this balance and increase both the static and dynamic stepping of the child.” Philippe Pelligand, Vertbaudet Podiatrist

Choosing the correct footwear for your child really is a priority for mother and baby, and for the child’s future development."

An insightful video full of tips and information can be found at www.vertbaudet.co.uk/page/shoes-video.htm

Disclosure: I have not been compensated for this post.

Win a Science Party from Science Boffins - A fab competition for science loving kids!

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 09:44:00 +0000

I'm not hosting this competition, but when I heard about it, I knew lots of you would LOVE to enter so I am sharing the details for you.

Fun and educational kids party entertainers, Science Boffins are giving you the chance to win a children’s science party for up to 20 guests!! How amazing does that sound?!

Anyway, all you have to do is as follows:

Follow Science Boffins on Twitter and let them know that you want the Boffins to visit. They then will pick a winner at random and that person will receive a visit from a Science Boffin and enjoy a fun filled, spectacular science performance!

The winner will be announced on Friday the 17th of May.

For more information and to check the terms & conditions, please check here.

GOOD LUCK!

Please note: This competition is in no way affiliated with White Lily Green and I have not been compensated for this post - I'm just sharing a fantastic competition for those of you with children.

Images ©Scienceboffins.co.uk

Environmentally friendly toys - Fairy Tale Blocks from Plan Toys

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:23:00 +0000

"For more than 30 years, PlanToys® has been consistently developing its products and activities with a strong commitment that a company could ever made to contribute positively to the world."

You may have already heard of Plan Toys; they have only recently been introduced to my family, and I not only love their products but I love their ethos and commitment to protecting our environment.

Their toys are innovative and creative in both design and in the way they are produced and they are the first company in the world to manufacture wooden toys from preservative-free rubberwood, and it is one of the leading companies to create new material and process to minimize waste up to zero.

Absolutely incredible.

They encourage sustainable play which develops creativity and teaches children about natural resources and to appreciate and respect them, so they grow up knowing that they can make an environmental difference to the world.

Image © Plan Toys

Little One was sent the most beautiful Fairy Tale Blocks to review. They are amazingly beautiful, very tactile and encourage creative and imaginative play; develops social skills, language and communication through playing with others and of course they help with hand eye coordination and fine motor skills.

These blocks are suitable from 3 yrs +

Little One adores them; they are beautifully finished and we will sit building and role-playing together for fairly long periods - she thoroughly enjoys playing with them. They bring out her girly side as she talks about princesses and castles, but really they are suitable for both girls and boys. In my opinion, it's hard to beat a good set of building blocks because the possibilities are endless.

We adore this set and wholeheartedly recommend Plan Toys. Please do have a browse of their website. I could personally look through it, all day. Such fabulous toys!

Disclosure: I was sent the blocks set for free. Opinions are my own.

NEW Walkers Hoops and Crosses

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:04:00 +0000

Walkers is just the best crisp brand ever, and I have a photo to prove it. Look what they sent for the kids.... isn't that fab!?

AND...we had sunshine today for the first time in a very long time, so I'm sure the kids are going to love skipping and yo-yoing, sketching and playing noughts & crosses outside very shortly. Thank you, Walkers.

As well as the lovely goodies for the kids, we were sent some NEW Walkers Hoops and Crosses to try. I got quite excited when I saw they were baked and then almost hyperventilated when I saw 'Roast Beef' flavour *be still my beating heart* (They must have realised that, because they sent two *sits in cupboard with packet all to myself*)

These tasty little fellas are playful X and O shape crisps and have been specially designed to add a bit of excitement to snack time *ahem, yes....well, they work* As well as tasting scrummy, they also provide a source of wholegrain in every pack.

Walkers Hoops and Crosses come in three mouth-watering flavours - Roast Beef, Salt & Vinegar and Prawn Cocktail. They contain no artificial colours or preservatives, they are a source of fibre and are lower in fat than some crisps, which is great news for the kids lunchbox and great news for me! You may know that I follow the Slimming World Plan and these are only 4 syns a pack for Salt & Vinegar & Prawn Cocktail flavours and 4.5 for Roast Beef. Yay!

The Roast Beef flavour is by far the favourite in this house, with Salt & Vinegar coming in, in second place. The prawn cocktail is lovely too, with it's subtle tang, but the Roast Beef has a rich, meaty flavour that makes them incredibly moreish.

Thomas Barkholt, Senior Marketing Manager for Walkers Family Snack said: “Taking inspiration from the popular game noughts and crosses, we're excited to launch Walkers Hoops and Crosses and bring some fun into snack time. We appreciate that it’s often hard to get enough wholegrain into your diet, so we think Walkers Hoops and Crosses will offer both Mums and kids something that’s not only tasty, but is also a source of wholegrain”.

Walkers Hoops and Crosses are be available in packs of 6 x 23g multipacks, priced at around £1.59

Disclosure: I was sent some samples of Hoops & Crosses and some outdoor games for the kids. All opinions are our own.

Get 2 free packs of Huggies Baby Wipes!

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:33:00 +0000

We use a ton of wipes. Obviously for Baby Girl when we change her nappy, or to wipe sticky hands and faces. But I use them too; to remove make-up, clean the coffee rings on my desk, polish my shoes - you name it; they really are a great invention.

Everything seems to cost more these days, so it's always nice if you manage to grab a bargain or even better - a freebie! Quidco is offering you the chance to pick up 2 free packs of Huggies Baby Wipes - yes 2! One for the me, one for baby!

To learn more about how you redeem this exclusive offer, click here

With over 3 million members and more than 3,500 retailers, Quidco is the UK’s largest free cashback website. From insurance to mobile tariffs, utilities to travel, fashion to day-to-day essentials, you can earn cashback on just about anything.

Win a £25 Sainsburys Voucher! Taxi Calculator Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:27:00 +0000

Oh I am very excited tonight! I have a brand new giveaway for you all! I’m running this giveaway for Sainsbury’s Bank Car Insurance and the Sainsbury’s Bank Family Blogger Network.

Sainsburys Bank recently introduced the ‘Taxi of Mum and Dad Calculator’ - a fun way to see how much you could earn in taxi fares, if your children were ‘on the clock.’

But of course, it’s not just about the money, Mums and Dads time is also precious (and don't we know it!) So, if you weren't playing 'taxi', what would you do with that time? Finish 50 shades, do a bit of gardening, enjoy some crafting or catch up with some zzz's ?

I'd probably blog - but that's just me! What would you do? Tell us for a chance to win!

To enter, simply log in to Rafflecopter and enter the draw by leaving a comment on this post with your ideas for:

What would you do with your time saved?

You can also enter by tweeting about the giveaway, and by referring a friend to enter the giveaway. The more times you enter, the better your chance of winning the £25 Sainsbury’s voucher!

Even if you don't win, your affordable family activity ideas could also potentially appear in a future Money Matters Blog post!

The winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter (which uses random.org) and announced on this page.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

T&Cs

This giveaway is open to all readers in the UK.

Rafflecopter will accept entries for this giveaway at 12pm on Tuesday 23rd April.

Rafflecopter will close the competition at 12pm on Tuesday 30th April.

Sainsbury's Bank will run this competition via Rafflecopter.

The winner will be chosen by Sainsbury's Bank via Rafflecopter (which uses random.org) and announced on this page.

Entrants must have a UK address to enter. No bulk or third party entrants.

The prize is non-transferable, and will be sent out from Sainsbury’s Bank.

The giveaway winner will be contacted by the blog host to retrieve name and address.

The name and address of the winner will not be used for marketing purposes by Sainsbury’s Bank.

All entries may be featured on the Sainsbury’s Bank Money Matters blog post without further payment.

The winner will be contacted by e-mail, if they do not respond within seven days another winner may be chosen.

Entries using any software or automated process to make bulk entries will be disqualified.

Disclosure: I am being sent a voucher as a thank you for hosting this competition.

Giving up smoking - A little bit of help

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:46:00 +0000

Advertorial content

My better half is no longer a smoker, or an ex-smoker which is the correct term, I believe. Having a new little bundle to hold was the incentive he needed to give up and keep it that way. When I had given birth to Baby Girl, the midwife came round with all the relevant forms and leaflets about breastfeeding, contraception and pelvic floor exercises. After she took my blood pressure and I willed it to be lower than the last reading, she said that she needed to discuss smoking with me. "Oh, I don't smoke." I said proudly, "and neither does my hubby, he's quit smoking!" The midwife smiled and said, "I know, it says in your notes, but what about visitors?" Confused, I listened and then read the photocopied gumpf from cover to cover.

I would never allow anyone to smoke in my house; near my children, but it never occurred to me that a visitor could have smoked on the way to see us and that the chemicals would be on their hands and clothes. "Make sure smokers wash their hands before they hold your baby and if they go outside for a ciggie, get them to put a jacket on so they can take it off when they want a cuddle". Hubby said, if he hadn't had already given up, that would have pushed him to quit there and then; quitting smoking was far from easy for him and I'm incredibly proud of him for his determination and success.

Anything that could help and support him during the hardest part was most welcome, and he found e-cigarettes really helpful for social events where his mates were smoking. When they were all having a beer and a laugh, and it was all too tempting to reach for a cigarette; which is what he was used to doing in those situations. Stress was also a tough part. Hubby would find smoking stress-relieving and that part of smoking is hard to replace. Anything that could have provided a bit of instant support would have been really helpful, so that is why I wanted to tell you about an app I've recently downloaded called iCoach. It's part of an EU campaign called ExSmokers, to help people quit smoking. It's completely free and has been proven to be effective. In fact, more than 30% of users have given up smoking, which doesn't sound too bad at all, and the best bit, it's been created by ex-smokers so they know what it's like.

We all know the health implications caused by smoking, but even if that's not enough to make you take that step, think of the cost and how much you could potentially save if you didn't smoke - something to think about, at least.

See my Disclosure policy

The trouble with teething - Neckerchew review

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:25:00 +0000

Baby Girl has been teething like a trooper recently, dribble, chewing everything that she can possibly get into her mouth, nappy rash and oh my, the grumpiness!

Teething powders seem to take the edge off and anything cold, such as juice, yogurt or fruit purees straight from the fridge seem to help too, but the thing that gives her the most relief is chewing on something.

She has numerous fantastic teething toys but I am forever picking them off the floor and having to wash them a million and one times throughout the day!

This is where a product like the Neckerchew comes to the rescue. 'What's a Neckerchew?' I hear you cry! Well, we have all seen and probably used dribble bibs of some description; the Neckerchew uses this concept but takes it one step further by incorporating a chewy teether with a funky dribble bib design.

The Neckerchew is fashionable yet practical and is really soft and comforting for teething babies. Thanks to the innovative attached chewy teether, the days of constantly picking up and washing dropped teethers are a thing of the past.

The Neckerchew is the brainchild of two Edinburgh 'mumtpreneurs', Julie Wilson and Amy Livingstone. While on maternity leave with their first children, they spotted a gap in the market for an attached teething product and their initial idea for the Neckerchew was born. Nine months on and with patent pending, their company Cheeky Chompers has officially launched; you can visit them at www.cheekychompers.com

Baby Girl was sent the most gorgeous pink/blue (004 Baby Baby) Neckerchew to review but they are available in eight other colourful designs as well. The Neckerchew is a perfect stylish addition to your baby's outfit and as it is fully reversible, you can choose which side best suits what your baby is wearing. It is made from super-soft jersey cotton that is both gentle on delicate skin and highly absorbent which means baby can wear it all day, if they need to. It has a special absorbent middle layer which keeps dribble away from the skin and therefore, reduces irritation.

Baby Girl is very comfortable in her Neckerchew and it always looks so cute no matter what she is wearing, which is great, but for us, the best bit about it is the textured triangle-shaped teether found at the base of the Neckerchew'. Baby Girl loves to chomp on it, as it's firm enough to give comfort when she bites down but it's soft enough that she doesn't hurt herself. The innovative, dimpled design massages sore gums and encourages those pesky teeth to break through.

As the teether is attached to the bib, it can't get dropped or lost and Baby Girl instantly picked up the teether part and started to chew on it, the second I put it on her - she loves it, and so do I!

The Neckerchew teether contains no phthalates, and is completely safe for babies to chew. It fastens securely with a double popper and is suitable for both babies and toddlers.

The Neckerchew costs from £9.99 and in my opinion is worth every single penny.

Disclosure: I was sent a Neckerchew for the purpose of this review. Opinions are my own.

Panasonic NE Series Blogger Competition entry - My Playlist for Kate & Wills Wedding Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:21:00 +0000

Panasonic are running a fun competition which ends on Sunday 21st April. I don't normally enter these types of competitions but with a Panasonic NE Series Speaker up for grabs, I thought I'd give it a go.... It will definitely get me some brownie points with hubby if I was lucky enough to win, that's for sure!

Anyway, Panasonic are looking for light-hearted playlists to celebrate the Royal couple's second wedding anniversary on the 29th April ( TWO years already!? wow!)

Here's mine:

OK, I have thought long and hard about this; maybe a bit too long (no life, moi?) and I've come up with a little playlist that celebrates their marriage and the fact they they will soon welcome a baby into their lives.

1. The Best Is Yet to Come - Frank Sinatra

Yeh, OK... a bit mushy, but it's true. They've been through the mill a bit with paps & those photos and a difficult start to Kate's pregnancy; but they will soon have a gorgeous bundle to love, so the best is definitely yet to come.

Can't beat a little bit of Sinatra.

Timeless.

2. With Arms Wide Open - Creed

One of my most favourite songs, EVER. Listen to the lyrics; it's about becoming a Father. It makes me cry. A lot.

3. Blessed- Elton John

Another gorgeous one for the Royal baby. And besides, Elton was bound to have an invite, right?

4. Your Love is King - Sade

'King' Geddit?... quite a soul classic this one, and something for Kate ( and thousands of Prince Wills fans) to swoon to.

5. Celebration - Kool & the gang

It had to be done. Don't fight it.

Check out the hashtag #panasonicNESeries or follow @PanasonicUKPR to find out more.

Age UK - Special memories and insurance advice for the older generation

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:44:00 +0000

Today I'm writing about Age UK and their campaigns which highlight the importance of contents insurance and travel insurance for the elderly. I think that sometime in this day and age, the elderly often get forgotten, so a charity such as Age UK has my full support.

I don't go on holiday with my parents anymore; in fact, I don't go on holiday at all, but that's a whole other post! One of my fondest memories from my childhood was a family holiday to Clacton; a good old-fashioned British seaside holiday. It was absolutely perfect; sunshine, seaside, fish & chips and sticks of rock. I remember winning a silver plated horse in one of the grab machine things with the giant claws and to this day it's still one of my favourite things - well, the memory of it, anyway; I don't think it made it with me when I moved house :(

We used to holiday a lot as a family; always in the UK but that's how we liked it. I remember that my Grandad drove us to our destination once. I loved his car, I don't know why I loved it so much; maybe because my parents didn't drive, so it was a novelty, but I really loved it.

Sadly, both my sets of grandparents are no longer with us. I never met my Dads parents as they passed away when he was quite young, and my Mums parents both died when I was in my late teens/early 20's. I miss them both terribly and often wish I'd spent more time with them. That's why it's important to me for my own children to see both sets of grandparents as often as we can. Those special memories are the ones they will cherish in years to come when they are no longer with us. I try and see my parents as much as possible too. I'm lucky that we live quite close by, so we are able to see each other quite often.

When we were kids, we never worried about things like travel insurance, but nowadays it's really important. It covers you and your family against cost caused by delays, lost property and medical bills when travelling abroad. As we get older, illness gets more likely, so it's really important that everyone, including those over 60 are properly covered.

I had no idea that Age UK can provide help to families who travel with a family member over 60. They can help you find the right policy for you. They say that the cheapest policy might not always be the best policy as there are often restrictions on when you can claim and how much for, so it's vital that you know what your policy covers.

This is making me think about when I get older - when the kids are all grown up and off doing their own thing; hopefully happy and settled with families of their own, or chasing their dreams. I wonder what I'll be doing? I've often dreamt of emigrating to Australia or somewhere equally beautiful; with a beach close by so I can feel the sand between my toes as the sun rises and warms my skin as I breathe in the brisk sea air; pottering about with Mr Whitelily and enjoying amazing food.

Sounds wonderful doesn't it? Maybe one day, but in reality, my heart will always be where my babies are. Even when they are grown up and living their own lives; I know I wouldn't want to be far from them. I'd want to see my grandchildren grow up and watch my children live, love and laugh as adults; be there for them through the good and the bad.....I'm welling up, now, so I'll stop there!

Like I mentioned earlier, I'm extremely lucky that my parents live just a stones throw away so I can see them pretty much as often as I want to. They were over at my house just last weekend and I visited them at their house just before Easter. I need to say a big thank you to Age UK, who provided us with pizza and a movie so we could all get together and have a treat. It was a great evening, so thank you!

I love spending time at my parents house; it's always so relaxed. I can guarantee that I will forget all my troubles; all the things that stress me out within 10 minutes of arriving. They have only lived there for 4 or 5 years, but it feels like they've always lived there. It feels like my childhood home, which is such a lovely feeling.

We were actually talking about home insurance quite recently. Mum had a letter through from her insurance company so it started a conversation on the subject. They didn't have any home insurance many years back and so when they suffered the devastation of being burgled, they had the added upset that nothing could be replaced - it was just gone. The whole insurance thing confuses the hell out of me, so it must be a struggle for older, more vulnerable people. Age UK can provide help and advice on home insurance for the over 60's too. Nobody wants hidden fees or nasty surprises if they ever need to claim.

My parents are sorted and have a good policy, but if you need advice on insurance for elderly family members, do have a look at www.ageuk.org.uk

Disclosure: Age UK provided us with pizza and a movie for a family night in. All opinions are my own.

Colour Splasherz Carry Case Review

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:22:00 +0000

Both my eldest two Daughters love craft and they are both very girly, so when we were asked if we would like to review a Colour Splasherz Carry Case by Character, you can imagine the excitement.

Colour Splasherz is a funky Jewellery range that you can transform using just water! Simply dip the beads in warm water and watch in amazement as the colour of the beads instantly changes before your very own eyes! Then when you want to change back simply dip in cold water and reverse to its original colour. The jewels will keep their colour until you reverse the temperature.

The colour Splasherz carrying case allows you to keep all your beads in a cool purse so you can take them to a friends house and create some fabulous colour changing jewellery. This also me and they won't get lost, or left lying around; which is very important when you have a baby or young toddler in the house like we do.

The case also opens up to becomes a water container for the hot and cold water and has a strainer so you can create pretty patterns with no mess! (yay!)

The set includes enough beads to make 2 necklaces and 2 bracelets which for £12.99, I think it's incredible value. The girls loved it and they are (almost) 5 and 11 years old. It's really simple to use; no mess (the table did get a little wet due to over-excitement, so a cloth or paper to protect the surface would be a good idea) and the end results are rather lovely; so big thumbs up from us all!

The set is designed for 5 years and up.

What's in the box:

1 x Carrying Case set that opens into a dunking station with built- in strainer,

2 x Colour Splasherz pendants with settings

10 x Large Colour Splasherz beads

90 x Non colour-change beads

Chains with built in lanyards for 2 bracelets and 2 necklaces.

Disclosure: We were sent a Colour Splasherz Carry case for purposes of this review. Our opinions are own honest thoughts on the product we used.

RHS National Gardening Week - Miffy's Garden iPad app review

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:04:00 +0000

Today sees the start of Royal Horticultural Society’s National Gardening week (15th April- 21st April). I think it's always great to encourage children to have an interest of the outdoors, and gardening is a great way to do this; even the smallest hands can get involved in some way and my own children have all found growing something very rewarding.

Everyone's favourite bunny, Miffy can help little ones love the outdoors too! Little One and I adore Miffy as we've mentioned time and time again on the blog. We love the stories and the simplicity but most of all we love Miffy herself.

We have been reviewing 'Miffy's Garden' app on the iPad over the weekend. It's reminded us of spring, and today, as we got ready for school, we are hopeful for sunshine and look forward to seeing some daffodils on the walk there.

The app features the classic story of ‘Miffy’s Garden’ by Dick Bruna as well as interactive games to keep little ones entertained. The ‘Miffy’s Garden’app is suitable for children over 2 years old, and brings to life the story of when Miffy first discovers the joys of gardening with her parents. Little One is 4 and still enjoyed playing with it; it would actually make a very good 'first' app when introducing your child to a tablet or touchscreen, because it is very simple to use. In the app, Miffy learns to turn over the soil, plant seeds and watch her crop of carrots grow. Children can help Miffy out too, by ‘digging’ ‘raking’, ‘sowing’ and ‘watering’ the garden, using simple stroke, swipe or tap actions on the screen.

We love the app. It really brings the Miffy story to life! There are 3 sections; reading, reading out loud & record and games. The 1st section features the wonderful 'Miffy's Garden' story with beautiful images and the story is read out with a gentle voice. The story is interactive as it goes along; for example, children can 'dig up the soil', 'rake the ground', 'sow the carrot seeds' and 'water the garden' by following simple instructions.

The 2nd section allows an adult (or older child) to record their own voice whilst reading the story aloud. This is great because it means a child can get bedtime comfort even if Mummy or Daddy can't be with them. Or maybe a favourite aunty or cousin could record it for them to listen to another day!

The 3rd section features 3 simple games; 'Counting carrots', a matching 'Shadow game' and 'Make your own garden', where children can drag and drop images to build their own 'Miffy's Garden' scene.

We love it, and at £2.99 for the iPad (£1.49 on iPhone) it's firmly on our 'Top children's apps list'!

Miffy’s Dutch creator, Dick Bruna comments: “It is 57 years since I first drew Miffy on paper, so I’m delighted that she is now being introduced to a whole new generation of readers in this way. The App brings the story of ‘Miffy’s Garden’ to life, and gives children the chance to interact with the book and enjoy the Miffy character through the games. Anything which makes the learning to read experience more fun and involving is really rather wonderful.”

‘Miffy’s Garden’ App for iPad is available to buy from the App Store priced £2.99.

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/de-tuin-van-nijntje/id495662581?l=nl&ls=1&mt=8 .

For more information visit www.miffyshop.co.uk

Disclosure: We were gifted this app for purposes on this review. Opinions are our own.

Cook with Organix - New Recipe Bases and Paste Pots Review

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:18:00 +0000

I use a mixture of jar/pouch baby foods and home cooked foods to wean Baby Girl. She's not been the easiest of babies to wean so when I find something she really likes, I literally do a little dance and want to kiss the person who made it.

I do prefer to give her meals that I have cooked from scratch but it can get a little disheartening when you spend most of an afternoon concocting multicoloured purees you think she will love, only for it to be spat back at you after one lick of the spoon.

I think I might have found a happy medium with Organix Paste Pots, which we were sent to review. They are lovely little pots of herbs and spice combinations (paste) that provide a base to your own recipe (or you can follow the ones on the pack) It makes cooking for your baby really easy as all you really need to do, is throw in a handful of ingredients, cook, blend (if you need to) and serve! Simple!

They are actually quite a good way to try out new tastes with your baby without needing a million different ingredients. We've recently tried the Tomatoey Red & Herby Green Paste Pots and Baby Girl seems to like green foods more than red, for some reason.

Below is a collage of photos I took during cooking. The pack comes with the two paste pots and a recipe card for each one. You don't have to follow the recipes, but I liked the sound of 'Green Vegetable Pasta' so off we went.

You can literally throw in anything that needs using up; veggies, cheese, meat (if your baby eats it), anything that is age appropriate for your baby.

I didn't have everything in to follow the recipe exactly, so I tweaked it to accommodate. Baby Girl is 9 months old and isn't used to lumps but has her food mashed, or lightly pureed so it has no lumps but plenty of texture. The photos above show the veggies cooking, then the food mashed, and finally pureed. All in all it took no longer than half an hour from chopping to serving.

The Paste Pots are suitable from 7 months.

I used:

Some cooked baby pasta (you can use regular pasta instead)

1 tsp olive oil

A small, finely chopped red onion

A big handful of frozen peas

A whole, medium sized Courgette, grated.

60 ml water

A dollop of full-fat cream cheese

Small handful of baby spinach leaves, washed.

25g of grated cheddar cheese.

Following the instructions on the pack, I fried the onion in the olive oil for a few minutes until soft.
I then added the contents of the Herby Green Paste pot, stirred in and cooked for a further 2 minutes.
I then added the peas, courgette and water and brought it up to a gentle simmer.
I covered the pan with a lid and cooked for another 5-10 minutes until all the veg was lovely and soft.
By this stage, the liquid had thickened, so I added the pasta, cream cheese, spinach and grated cheese and mixed through.
Once cooled a little I mashed the food, but decided that Baby Girl wouldn't manage the peas, and so pureed it until there were no lumps but still had a nice texture to it.

There was enough for 2 small meals and a small pouch worth that I put in the freezer for another time. Shock horror! Baby Girl ate it! I wouldn't say from the faces that she pulled, that it was her most favourite meal in the world, but she ATE it! *Does a little dance, and kisses self.....not really*

Organix Paste Pots are available in other flavours such as Mild Tikka & Korma and Mild Green & Red Thai Curry.

We also had some Organix Recipe Bases to try. These were hard for me to part with, because once cooked, they looked so yummy! The Recipes Bases contain a portion of pasta or rice mixed with organic veggies, plus herbs and spices. We recently tried the Tomatoey Spaghetti Recipe Base and I served it to my 4 year old (Little One) for a quick lunch. As each pack contains two portions, Middle Miss had some too. You don't have to cook the whole thing though, you can save half for the next day, or freeze it

According to the pack, all I hate to do was heat it in the microwave and add mozzarella chopped basil and cut up cherry tomatoes. I was a bit skeptical when I opened the pack but once it was warmed up and had the fresh ingredients heated and stirred through, it looked like I had been slaving away for hours like an Italian mama - It was scoffed in record time, Little One was full and satisfied, and I was happy that she had eaten a good meal. Middle Miss asked me to buy some more for her as well, so it must be tasty!

It literally look 5 minutes to cook, and as they are suitable from 10 months to 3 years plus, they are handy to keep in the cupboard for when you need a speedy meal.

Organix Recipe Bases are available in other flavours, such as Mexican & Sweetcorn, and Herby Vegetable Pasta.

I will definitely buy both of these products again - I really liked them, and so did my girls!

For more information, visit www.organix.com

Disclosure: I was sent some Organix Paste Pots & Recipe Bases to review. All opinions are my own.

Hush, Little baby

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:14:00 +0000

This post is a special one. It's a post supporting FSID who today have changed their name to the Lullaby Trust, which I think is perfect for such a wonderful charity.

The Lullaby Trust provides specialist support for bereaved families and promotes expert advice on safer baby sleep.

Working with the NHS they run a national health-visitor led service for bereaved parents, Care of Next Infant (CONI) programme, which supports families before and after the birth of their new baby.

They are committed to supporting research to understand why babies die suddenly and unexpectedly and to find out more about how to prevent these tragic deaths.

The Lullaby Trust also runs an information line for parents and professionals (0808 802 6869) and a dedicated line for bereaved families (0808 802 6868). Both are free to call from landlines and mobiles.

Susanne from Ghostwriter Mummy and Jennie from Edpire have asked bloggers to show their support by writing a post on the theme of lullabies. Many of you already know that Jennie tragically lost her beautiful little girl, Matilda Mae to SIDS in February this year, and I would like to dedicate this post to Matilda Mae, Jennie, and her precious family.

To me a lullaby can any any song; one that's sung gently to my little ones. Sung with love and warmth in order to comfort and soothe my precious bundle.

I do have a favourite lullaby - Hush little baby. It,s a very well known lullaby so you probably know it already but here are the lyrics...

Hush, little baby, don't say a word.

Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird

And if that mockingbird won't sing,

Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring

And if that diamond ring turns brass,

Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass

And if that looking glass gets broke,

Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat

And if that billy goat won't pull,

Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull

And if that cart and bull turn over,

Papa's gonna buy you a dog named Rover

And if that dog named Rover won't bark

Papa's gonna buy you a horse and cart

And if that horse and cart fall down,

You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.

Funnily enough, even though I knew the first few verses from my own childhood, I didn't learn the whole lullaby until I became a mother myself. I've sung it to all my babies but it is particularly special to myself and Baby Girl. I would sing this to my bump, as daft as that sounds. Singing it and feeling her move inside me, was comforting to me.

When Baby Girl was born it was the first thing I sang to her to comfort her. I remember even at a few hours old, how she would peep up at me with her big, beautiful eyes and look at me intently. It has always soothed her and I wonder if she remembers it from the womb. It might just be my vivid imagination, but its what I like to believe.

To me, it doesn't mean that I'd buy her whatever she ever wants; to me it means I would give her the world, my absolute everything.

To Grown Boy, Middle Miss, Little One and Baby Girl - you are my world, you are my everything.

To precious Matilda Mae and all the other angel babies - be free, fly high, smile and play. twinkle brightly like the stars that you are.

Please support The Lullaby Trust in any way you can, read Jennies gorgeous messy play post here and join in with the linky.

Shupeas - the world’s first and only expandable and adjustable baby shoe

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:06:00 +0000

When Shupeas contacted me last month to ask if I'd like to review a pair of the world’s first and only expandable and adjustable baby shoes, I jumped at the chance. I'm a lover of all things unique and anything that is clever and innovative on the baby market, always gets my attention.

So what are Shupeas?

Well, simply put; they are the only pair of shoes you will 'need' to buy your baby until they are 18 months old. Yes, really.

They are the only expandable and adjustable baby shoes on the market and fit babies from 0-18 months. The innovative technology offers a customised fit every time and the adjustable velcro closures ensure that they don't rub or pinch delicate ankles.

They have slip-resistant, flexible soft soles for comfortable first steps with good balance. They are made using 100% leather and manmade materials for durability and protection.

They are also podiatrist and paediatrician recommended, which speaks volumes to me. Foot care is very important to me as a Mum of children with hypermobility, and good quality shoes which promotes early foot care are vital.

This video will explain how they work better than I can. I have included some photos below to show them in use.

Not only do they look lovely, they are an economical choice and most importantly, care for my babies feet.

Big thumbs up from us!

Shupeas are £29-£32 a pair. To see more styles avaliable, please visit shupeas.co.uk

Disclosure: I was sent a pair of Shupeas in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Hotter Shoes review - the sporty edition

noreply@blogger.com (WhiteLily) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:13:00 +0000

Regular readers will know how much I love Hotter Shoes and a few weeks ago I was sent the most amazing Octavia 'trainer-style' shoes to review. I chose the vibrant Rosso red shade and I LOVE them!

Now I'm getting into weight loss and hopefully start to get fit too, they are perfect for me to wear when I'm walking (my main form of exercise) or to wear at home when I'm doing my Davina DVDs. They are great for a amble round the park with the kids too.

They look fabulous on and are SO comfortable. Like all the shoes and boots I own from Hotter Shoes, they don't need 'breaking in' - I just put them on, and off I go; even for long walks. It's something that I'm used to when choosing Hotter shoes, I never need to worry about blisters or rubbing - it just doesn't happen.

The Octavia shoes are ultra light weight, which is especially useful if you're wearing them for activity. They have a moulded footbed for support and total comfort, and moisture wicking properties to keep sweaty feet at bay!

I've never bought a trainer-style shoe from Hotter before, but I wouldn't hesitate to do so in the future. I love the colour as its so vibrant, but they are also available in Denim, Liquorice, Lunar Grey, Soft Beige and White/Iced Aqua.

The are priced at £69, which might sound a little expensive but they will last and last. My first pair of Hotter shoes are still going strong and I've had them for more than a year - they get a lot of wear too.

Hotter Shoes have recently launched a new TV ad; you may have seen it - if not you can watch it here (theres also some interesting behind the scenes photos; it looked like a lot of fun (if a bit chilly) The Octavia shoes were featured, along with some other gorgeous styles such as Amethyst, Gaby Wedges (which I think might be my next purchase) and Jewel.

Amethyst - £69 Gaby - £70

Jewel - £69

Aren't they gorgeous!?

Disclosure: I was sent the Octavia shoes for review purposes. My opinions are my own and honest as always.