Happy New Year!

My lovely school girl

January has gone so fast! Michela went back to school and soon started attending an after-school club, allowing me to plan my work/voluntary commitments at leisure. We tried once a week and have last week upped her attendance to three days a week. She loves it and would go every day but we are lucky to have got any day at all as childcare options here in Cambridge are oversubscribed. Still, being a transitional city for some (academics come and go), there is always hope that a place will turn up sooner or later!

Aside work, I'm back helping at the breastfeeding drop-in and at Michela's school. I also started a breastfeeding support course, which I have been waiting for a long while! Now is a good time as I have enough experience and hours to devote myself to it. I did a UNICEF course early last year, but it was a short one and since then I have been wanting to do further training.

In the last months of 2011 I had a 'midlife' crisis (I think I blogged about it - Shirley Valentine style) but I'm happy to report that I'm feeling much better. I have pledged to look after myself so I'm taking propolis  (which has helped with my serial cold/throat problems) and even started a Pilates class. As I work sitting at a computer for many hours, I needed to do some exercise and cycling was not enough. I also got over the palaver of the eye test, which is a long affair due to my 'complicated' prescription.

So, I'm feeling more energised and a bit more positive about this year. Let's hope it is a good one for everybody.

I was a shepherd, Michela was Mary...

Merry Xmas to everybody!

This photo came about through Mill Road Winter Fair. The place: Mill Road's Baptist Church. You can find out more about this national initiative at http://www.getinthepicture.org.uk/home.htm. I'd love to make something out of this picture. 

Michela got the star role and I made my debut!

Christmas shopping - savings, promotions and perfect LBD for pregnant mums

Bumptastic: scroll down for info about this amazingly versatile maternity dress

Christmas bargains

My Xmas shopping is not much of a chore as I get asked for specific things by most of my dearest and nearest. This year we have decided not to splurge on the grownups but focus on the little ones. So, if like me you are hoping to save while you splurge, check out these promotions....

If you are Christmas shopping on the web, you might be interested in these offers... Splurge and save in time for Xmas! Offers are on now, but do check the expiry date.

I will be updating this every day, but do check the side links too (on your right) for more promotions and discounts. There are great sales at BHS, Clarks...

has just realised a fantastic new offer – 30% off with free delivery! 

Offer: Save 30% at Boden.co.uk with Free Delivery
Expires: 04/12/11

Boden

A festive black dress - with a difference (or six!)

From maternity and beyond: 1 dress, 6 ways!

My very own festive pick (this is not a sponsored post)

I'm not pregnant but I wished I was! This elegant dress is so cleverly designed it can be worn for all festive occasions - night and day! Wear it as a skirt or as a glam gown -  this black beauty will see you through maternity and beyond. Breastfeeding friendly, easy to wash and pack, it's a Christmas cracker! 

Available for just £99 from www.glowmaternityandbaby.co.uk .

Breastfeeding books for children and competition

I support breastfeeding and have been volunteering at various drop-ins for over three years now. So I was delighted to find out that breastfeeding books for children were being launched by Pinter and Martin, independent publishers of psychology, pregnancy, childbirth, parenting, fiction and yoga books. I read both books to my daughter who breastfed well into toddlerhood and she really enjoyed them.

The Mystery of the Breast (£6.99) is a beautifully illustrated book where a little girl comes to grip with breastfeeding as she sees her mother nurse her little brother. This book received an award for its illustration in Spain, but I think the narration deserves a special mention too as it presents breastfeeding in a natural, nurturing and loving light.

You, Me and the Breast (£6.99) won the first prize for illustrated children's books in Spain. It's a captivating book that relies on a quirky, very original and colourful drawings to show the intimate bond and benefits that breastfeeding brings to a family. And the best bit is that there is a baby with teeth still breastfeeding and transitioning to solid food.

To stay in theme, I am mentioning a competition run by a fellow BritMums blogger, where you can win £40 of breastfeeding clothing and products. If you want to enter it, visit Yellow Days (just click the name of the blog).

Homeworking, juggling blues and bigger beds

Today I got an email in my inbox, which made me reconsider my latest posts and realise that I have overdosed on product reviews! This wasn't planned - products have been piling up for months and I dealt with them in a big push - a bit like tackling a big laundry mountain! Looking at the past month or so it seems like I'm reviewing for England, with just a few chatty posts in between. How did it happen?


School = more hours - not!
Before Michela started school a couple of months ago I marvelled at the amount of time I would gain, but have been finding out that it's still a struggle to fit work, household chores, volunteering and various other activities into school hours. My 'free' hours have gone up from 15 to around 30 but my list of things to do has not diminished. I suspect it has expanded and devoured the extra hours in a big gulp. I'm still lucky in that I work from home, if I had to factor in commuting to an office, it would be even harder.


Homeworking - is it the answer?
I have been mostly working from home for around three years now and although it's more flexible (if you don't mind working on weekends if required), it is not less demanding. In the past year or so I started to feel a bit lonely, so I relish volunteering at a breastfeeding drop-in for a few hours each week. 


When work is going on well, I'd like to be able to work throughout the afternoon - picture me typing away, glancing at the clock and jumping up because it's three o'clock and I need to go to pick Michela up. I did work in an office for a few weeks back in spring on a copywriting project, but could only take that gig on because my partner was around. If a similar job turned up now, I'd still need childcare for the rest of the afternoon. 


Perhaps a career change might be the answer for my homeworking blues. I will need to retrain next year, but I know I'd enjoy the challenge. By then Michela will be old enough to attend an afterschool club. She is quite keen on it, but most of the children are older so I'm not sure it's right for her.


I had to make quite a few adjustments to work from home as my previous occupation was inhouse, but it seems that many mums are ditching their pre-maternity job title/occupation to set up a business. Many are doing quite well by selling innovative products or even using their creative skills. I really admire their entrepreneurial spirit and I'm always glad to read about successful mumpreneurs (or dadpreneurs).


A funny press release? Read on, it makes sense

"The joy of extra space in bed – but this standard double gives each person just 2’3” of room"

Last but not least I want to comment on a press release I got in October from the Sleep Council. The headline screams: BUILDERS SCUPPER DREAMS OF BIGGER BEDS AND BETTER SLEEP. This is a dramatic statement, but it's sadly true. According to The Sleep Council, "Most couples would get a better night’s sleep if they shared a king-sized rather than standard double bed". 


However, most modern homes have tiny bedrooms with only enough space for  a double bed. Apparently the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) has conducted a study and dubbed many new builds "shameful shoe boxes".

So I finish this post with 10 reasons why a bigger bed leads to better sleep (kindly supplied by the Sleep Council):

1. Because a standard double bed (135cm/4ft 6in) gives each person just 2ft 3in of space – less than a baby in a cot.  Now how squeezed is that?

2. Ergonomic studies show that couples sleep better in a bigger bed. Before the trials only 15% said they would buy a larger than standard bed.  Afterwards 50% said they would. (Ergonomic pilot study by the National Bed Federation, 1995.)

3. Because you spend a third of your life in bed – by the time we are 50 we’ll each have spent some 16 years in bed. So, if you are going to spend all that time there, why take the trip to dreamland in tourist class when you can go first class?

4. Because it doesn’t necessarily cost a whole heap more to move up a size.  Over seven years, for every £100 spent on a new bed, it costs just 3.9p per night.

5. Because 16 other countries can’t be wrong!  That’s how many boast bigger average bed sizes than Britain.  Top of the league are Belgium, Greece, Holland, Iceland, Finland and Switzerland where most people sleep in a roomy 160cm by 200cm bed.  By contrast we Brits still buy more 135cm by 190cm beds.

6. Because you spend as much as you can afford on the best possible house, holiday, car, kitchen, TV and sound system.  So why so stingy when it comes to buying a bigger bed?

7. Because you wouldn’t want to get left behind! Although two-thirds of us still opt for the standard size, larger beds are becoming ever more popular among those with the bedroom space to take one: 33% of double divan and bedstead sales are now 5ft (king-size) or larger.  (GfK NOP Consumer Scope Beds and Mattresses Market Monitor, December 2010).

8. Because the average person wriggles and turns some 60 to 70 times a night – so you want to put as much space between you and your mate as possible to reduce the disturbance factor.

9. Because you may not be as young as you were – or as slim!  A 2009  report from the NHS Information Centre said almost a quarter of adults in England were classified as obese in which case the ‘two in a 4 ft 6ins scenario’ could be putting a severe strain on your relationship.

10. Because once you’ve slept in a king-size, you’ll never want to be a second class sleeper again!

As the Sleep Council is a body founded by bed manufacturers you might feel it's a bit biased, but  I'm a fan of the kingsize bed and I do dislike houses with tiny bedrooms - every time we have been househunting, it has been a right nightmare to find a decent-sized house to buy or rent.

Kodak Big App Challenge

My best creation... so far

Testing... testing Leapfrog Tag Junior - Scout

Michela makes friends with Scout

Moving house always creates some hassle with the post, even when you set up a redirection - letters and packages often slip through the net. This is why I missed the deadline for the Rainbow Awards. 

I was assigned Tag Junior Scout to test, but when I finally got the parcel from my previous address it was too late. Then the half term loomed and I thought it would be a good chance of testing it at our leisure and keep my little one occupied.

Recommended from 1 to 4, Michela was a bit on the old side at 4 and a half years, but as she can't read yet, she really got into it (as you can see from the video above). She even learnt the little jingle by heart. 

 

Getting it ready

When you get Tag Junior Scout out from its packaging, there is a bit of set up to do as you need to download an application and then the book's audio, plus you can customise this cute puppy (different book pals are available to buy) to say your child's name when it's switched on and switched off. You will need two AAA batteries too. So if you are planning to gift this for Xmas, you better do the 'homework' first to avoid disappointment.

Once switched on, Scout's base is rolled around the book page to discover sounds, hear what the characters have to say or read the story (no parental input needed and no funny reading voices!).

More books

You can buy more books, which retail at £9.99 each - however, click here if you want to take advantage of an offer of £2 off each book. The only niggle I'd have (and other parents have commented on this online) is that more memory would be nice - if you have more than five books you have to rotate them, which in practical terms means unscrewing the back of the pal and connect it to a computer.

Tag Junior - Scout

 What is Tag Junior for?

Tag Junior has been designed to encourage toddlers to acquire preschool skills through fun stories and playful activities revolving around a variety of books. Each Tag Junior book pal (there are other pals to be had, aside Scout) can store up to five books. Each book introduces a different preschool skill, such as the alphabet, counting or social play. 

And if you want to see how your child is doing, you can connect the Tag Junior's pal to the online LeapFrog Learning Path to see your child's progress and get printable activities for more educational fun.

Tag Junior's RRP is £29.99, click here for stockist info.

Awards:

• Tag Junior Violet Book Pal has won the following awards:
• 2011 Top Toy Awards Pass Award
• 2011 Toy Talk Awards Best Educational Toy
• 2010 Mother and Baby Magazine Mother and Bay Silver Award
• 2010 Right Start Best Toy Awards, Highly Commended
• 2009 Right Start Awards Highly Commended
• 2009 Practical Pre-School Gold Awards

If you want to try before you buy, click here.

 

Introducing the next stage....

Highly commended at the Rainbow Toy Awards, Leapfrog's Leapster is suitable from 4 to 9 years. Available from Amazon, Argos and Toys R Us, it retails at £49.99. Below is some information and the testing notes from the Rainbow Toy Awards.

More information           www.leapfrogstore.co.uk

The future of gaming is captured in the one-of-a-kind handheld that brings mobile learning and educational gaming to children.  Aimed at kids aged between four and nine, Leapster Explorer allows for a truly personalised learning experience with over 35 licensed titles to choose from and an innovative video camera accessory.

The testers said “Very robust, it’s been thrown and dropped on numerous occasions and we’ve had absolutely no problems” and “The play value of the games is endless! “ plus “The ability for parents to follow, track and even help their child’s progress is a fantastic move, overall a great toy”

Testing...Testing Arm and Hammer Spinbrush

My Way! Spinbrush for girls

Buying toothbrushes for a preschooler or school-age child is a tricky business. You might feel a bit out of your comfort zone as most children's toothbrushes that are clearly labelled with an age range are designed for babies or very young toddlers.

For a while I bought toothbrushes that were labelled as 2 years +, then I tried some generic children's toothbrushes, which proved a bit big headwise. 

Michela is now four but she hasn't a big mouth. So I was delighted to be offered the chance to try My Way! Spinbrush, an electric toothbrush that comes with 141 stickers! I was sent two samples, one for girls and one for boys (the head and base have blue details and the stickers are more boyish, but they are similar). As I have a small mouth we both had a go - I used the boy toothbrush, of course!

Michela loves brushing her teeth with me so she can copy what I do. At four, she is keen on learning to do it herself, so I'm teaching her to go up and down, right at the back, underneath... I wasn't sure if she was perhaps a bit too young for a vibrating toothbrush, but after introducing My Way! Spinbrush just before the half term, she has been requesting it every day, leaving her usual toothbrush parked in the mug. This is so reassuring... when I was growing up, dental hygiene was not as promoted as it is today, so I have a mouth full of fillings. 

The manufacturer claims that children brush up to 38% longer with the Arm and Hammer My Way! Spinbrush.  This makes sense to me, after all children love gizmos - a noisy toothbrush that moves around your mouth and can be customised with stickers is certainly more fun than a plain, no-frills toothbrush.

My Way! Spinbrush is suitable from three years. Children under three years can use it under supervision. It's priced £5.99 at Boots and Tesco.

 

Testing, testing.... OXO gravy/fat separator

OXO, which in the past year has launched products aimed at babies and tots, has brought out a range of kitchen tools to make Christmas a doddle for busy parents.
The new OXO range includes:

• a stainless-steel flour sifter, around £12, which is perfect for a keen baker and is child friendly too if you want to involve your child in making some yummy cakes
• a Y stainless-steel, soft-grip peeler, around £5, perfect for peeling not only potatoes but carrots and parsnips
• a digital instant read thermometer, around £15 - a nifty gagdet you can insert into your turkey and easily read the digital display. The storage sleeve includes readings for recommended internal cooking temperatures - great for added peace of mind
• a pro masher, around £15, which will make mashing potatoes easy peasy. It also features silicone side wipers - handy for mixing
• a six-piece measuring spoon set, around £5 - essential for precision cooking and baking, it also features bright colour-coded numbers so your little ones can have a go!
• silicone locking tongs, from around £10 for 9in size, a useful piece of kit to handle hot food, unless you have asbestos hands!
• a medium spatula, around £7, Rudolph red and heat resistant up to 600F/315C, so it won't melt, warp or discolour
• a gravy/fat separator, from £10 for 2-cup size - an ingenious piece of kit that can easily cut the fat for superior Christmas gravy!

 My partner and I tested the versatile gravy/fat separator to make two family favourites: curried chicken pieces, and lamb and spinach curry. While cooking the meat for these dishes you always get heaps of fat, which we previously tackled by using a needless syringe - a slow, greasy and offputting process!

The OXO separator, which comes with a strainer and a stopper, worked a treat - shaped like a jug, it makes it easier to pour in meat juices and dispose of unwanted fat. The fat rises and stays at the top, while the delicious gravy settles at the bottom. Easy to assemble and disassemble, it was much easier to clean too!

If you are impressed by this kitchen tool range, click here to check out the award-winning OXO Good Grips range, launched in 1990, which offers over 200 stylish and practical tools for the home. For stockist details visit www.oxouk.com or call 0114 290 1455.

Happy Halloween

Carved pumpkin and Halloween candle

We are not celebrating Halloween - perhaps my daughter is too young to be excited about it and in previous years she was scared of masks! That said we'll see what happens when I collect her from school, where they do celebrate all sort of festivals and traditions.

When we were living in Rugby, we did carve pumpkins and put them in the porch so children living in the street knew they were welcome to ring the bell and collect sweets, but Michela got really scared and she has just about stopped having issues with masks.

This has been tricky as many children's workshops or activities at children's centres revolve around making masks.... Now she really likes them and we make them very often, so if your little one shares her previous fears, don't worry... it's just a phase.