Fab Baby Products from Munchkin & Giveaway

Fancy winning some amazing products from Munchkin? Well if so, here's a quick round up review of what you could win!

Mozart Magic

This brightly coloured musical toy is fabulous from 0 months +. Ethan adores watching the lights flash on and off and loves hearing the different musical sounds the cube makes! It teaches how different musical sounds combine to make musical masterpieces! We love it, anything musical with the added bonus of flashing lights is a winner with my little boy! 

Twisty Figure 8 Teether

This fabulous figure 8 teether can be bent by baby in to many different shapes. It features an easy to grip handle for baby to grab onto. Ethan's teething can be pretty bad sometimes so this is the perfect teether, as it also helps him to develop his motor and sensory skills. 

3 Pack Stay Put Suction Bowls

How cool are these bowls? Brightly coloured, with lids and a stay put suction! The bowls are 3 different sizes and would be ideal for moving from weaning to self-feeding. For me there are no better bowls, what else could we possibly need from a bowl for Ethan? The suctions means that the bowl stays safely secured onto surfaces such as a highchair and that means that my little monster can't swipe his food off and onto the floor! I love the little lids too!

So, that's a little summary of the products that you could win! To be in for a chance of winning just enter the rafflecopter form below :)

*UK entrants only. Please leave your email or twitter user name in the comments section below so that I can contact you if you win! I will pass your details on to Munchkin who will then send out your prizes. One lucky Winner will win all three products. :)

Good luck! 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Dr Browns Bottles

*EDIT.

I used the bottle again this morning, making sure I had screwed everything up properly to prevent any leakage... but I'm really sad to say that it leaked again. Though, Ethan drank from the bottle again this morning and again he wasn't sick, so I really do think they could be good for reflux.

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We brought the Tommee Tippee starter set when I was pregnant and it has been great, but I've heard so many amazing things about the Dr Browns bottles. Literally, everyone I have spoken to that uses them always totally recommends them. 

My Son has terrible reflux - so we put a Gaviscon sachet in each of his bottles, but his reflux is still awful. Yesterday, we used the Dr Browns bottle for the first time and he wasn't sick for the first time in I don't know how long. I wouldn't be prepared to say that this was totally down to the bottle, because it could well have been just a coincidence, but I was certainly impressed. The internal vent inside the bottle eliminates the vacuum and air bubbles in the feed to help reduce wind related colic, so whether or not this helps with reflux I'm not sure, but I was happy with our test run. 

The only thing that I had a problem with, which could well have been my fault, was a little leakage as I made the bottle up. I'm still not sure why. I know that I didn't overfill it, so maybe I didn't screw the lid on properly? Who knows! But I re-did the lid and had no problems during feeding. 

I like the whole feel of this bottle.. the teat feels softer and looks a lot more comfortable for Ethan. I like the shape of the bottle and the fact that I feel that I can trust that Ethan is not taking in additional air. I feel confident whilst feeding using the Dr browns bottle. 

Depending what happens over the next couple of days of using it regarding reflux, I actually may well consider moving over to Dr Browns permanently for bottles and sterilising.

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Chicco Polly Highchair

We've tried a few stage 1 pouches with Ethan lately, not too many, as he is only four months, but just a few little tasters.. and let me tell you something - it is messy! So when Chicco's Polly Highchair arrived , it was a bit of a Godsend for my poor sofa which by then had been covered in spit-up puree's..

Quality

The highchair was an absolute breeze to put together - which is always a good sign. The fantastic quality of the highchair was apparent as soon as we opened the box, I found the same for the Chicco You and Me Back Carrier that  I reviewed previously. I always find good quality products with Chicco.

Size

 I was worried that the size of this highchair would be too big for our living room, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was wrong.. it's a fantastic size for a child up to 3 years old but somehow it doesn't seem to be 'too' big. In regards to it's size, it's also worth noting that this folds down without any hassle and then becomes a lot more lightweight in it's folded down form, which is perfect for Mum (or Dad) to pick up and move anywhere in the home. We keep ours behind our living room door and get out when needed. 

Features

The Polly highchair is an award winning highchair and I can totally see why.. 

• The seat has two 'phases', it features an outer padded jacket which offers comfort to younger children, then as they grow it can be removed to leave the second seat cushion, which isn't any less comfortable, it just allows for more space. 
• The Polly features 7 seat heights, so will adjust to fit most table easily.
• The seat back has 3 recline positions.
• The leg rest is adjustable for height and angle.
• The tray is wide and can be adjusted to 3 positions and it even features a removable food tray! 
• It comes in a choice of 5 of the most adorable colours and patterns I've seen for a high chair, see them here.

Specifications

Are as follows:

Dimensions Assembled: 63,5 x 82 x 104 cm;

Dimensions Closed : 63,5 x 25,5 x 92 cm;

Weight: 10 kg;

Suitable from 6 months - 3 years.

We love it

Honestly, I'm not all that clued up on highchairs, this is our first one, but we love it! It's everything that we would need in a highchair for Ethan and I love the fact that it'll grow with him. He's too little for it now, (although as you can see from the photos we have tested it out - for the purpose of this review). But I know this is something that will grow with him, it's not a highchair that is flimsy and is only going to last a year or so. This is a good quality, well designed, practical, bright highchair. I can't see what else you would need?! Ethan really enjoyed being in it, and though he is tiny for it right now (at four months old, it isn't recommended until six) he looked comfortable in it and loved making a big mess! I found that cleaning it was easy and not a hassle at all. I'm very pleased that we've had the opportunity to review the Polly highchair from Chicco and I would without a doubt recommend it to anyone looking to buy the perfect highchair!

Take a look at it further here. 

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* Product was sent to me for the purpose of review, as always thoughts are all my own.

Bird Feeding: Safety Tips

Feeding the local birds isn’t as easy as simply putting out some bird seed and leaving them to it. Birds are most at risk from predators when feeding and the position of the food impacts greatly on how safe they are.

I have four cats, so it goes without saying that we don't see many birds in our garden, in fact it is so rare that when I do see a bird it's a nice little treat!

I don't and I never would encourage birds into our garden, simply because of the cats. Asides from our four little rascals they are lots and lots of cats in the area, so putting bird food out for the birds really wouldn't be wise! 

Tops safety tips for feeding birds:

• Don't encourage birds into your garden if there are cats or any other predators about.
• Place feeders twelve feet from a brush pile, evergreen tree, or bush.
• Choose bird feeders with no sharp edges or points - try here for a great selection! 
• Bird feeders made from plastic, steel or glass are the easiest to clean. 
• It's worth trying more than one feeder to avoid over-crowding.
• You can help to prevent window collisions by ensuring that any bird feeders are more than 30 feet from any windows. This is because a bird feeder that is 30 feet or more from a window is a safe enough distance to help prevent them from confusing reflections. 
  Do you feed the birds in your garden? 
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Sources: http://www.humanesociety.org

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Dancing Pooh by Tomy

Ethan absolutely loves the Dancing Winnie the Pooh from Tomy. Okay, so he can't yet dance around it, but he gets so much from just watching Pooh move up and down, sway from side to side and sing the 'up and down' song out loud. If he's upset and I press Pooh's paw he instantly stops crying and watches Pooh dance. I was surprised with Ethan's reaction, I wasn't sure if he'd really be interested, as this toy seems to be aimed for older children who are at the age where they can stand up/sit and join in with the dancing. But I was totally wrong, Ethan thinks this is one of his best toys!

I like the way the toy looks, though it isn't as soft as I had imagined but this is likely to be down to the mechanics inside. Dancing Pooh takes 4 x AA batteries but comes with the first lot so he's ready to go as soon as you get him home! He has two modes, on one paw he will sing 'up an down, touch the ground' and on the other he has a musical statues mode. He would make a fab first birthday present! He is priced at £34.99 and is available at Tomy.

Ethan's way of dancing with him - in his door bouncer!

What kind of toys do your little ones like?

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Giraffe, Marylebone

During our overnight stay in London last week we were asked to review one of the Giraffe restaurants. Neither myself or Adam had ever visited a Giraffe before, we'd both heard of their restaurants and had even walked past them on many an occasion.. I'm now not sure why we'd never decided to head on in for a bite to eat because we had such a fantastic experience!

Location

We opted for the Marylebone Giraffe and we decided we'd go for breakfast/brunch. I had assumed that it would be rather close to the Marylebone train station, but it wasn't, there we're a few other tube stations that were closer - Bond Street being the closest, so this is something to bear in mind if you're looking to go. Although I didn't read it before hand, Giraffe do actually state on their website closest tube stations, which is actually really useful (shame I didn't read it! ha ha). They also list addresses and contact numbers for their branches, along with a link to find them via Google Maps, the managers name, booking, wi-fi and seating information.. Again this is all really useful. Their website in general is fab and I now know that that this is actually a reflection of their fabulous restaurants. 

At the restaurant we managed to get the perfect seating.. The weather couldn't decide what it was going to do, one moment it was hot, then cold, then raining.. We chose a table that was between being inside and being outside - it was perfect! We had the atmosphere and warmth of the restaurant inside, but as we we're facing outside, we were able to feel like we had more privacy as we watched London go by. It was chilled and we felt totally relaxed. When it comes to their seating options, they're perfect!

Food and Drink

I ordered a tea and Adam ordered a coffee, pretty standard.. however, from the moment we were brought our drinks we know we'd found a winner. This sounds perhaps a little crazy but even the tea pot was gorgeous! And just look at the coffee.. (I tasted it and it was as gorgeous as it looks!)

For food we ordered the bruschetta bites sharing board (pictured below). It was gorgeous, with such lovely flavours. This is priced at £5.95, which I can't quite believe and that's not just because of the taste but it's also huge as it is to share!

For brunch we both opted for the Veggie Brunch (as pictured below) we were kindly given the option of scrambled or fried eggs, which is a lovely touch. The food tasted as excellent as it looks. 

I also tried one of their gorgeous smoothies, mostly because I wanted to own the little giraffe that came with it (pictured), yes, I am a massive child -- I can't help it! The smoothie was totally not what I had expected.. I've never been a massive fan of smoothies, but this one was beyond tasty and I pretty much downed it in one. I have since been craving smoothies and have brought some on the weekly shop. 

Both their food and their drinks are presented perfectly, I couldn't fault them at all on taste or presentation. 

A Vegetarian and Family Friendly Restaurant

I love love love that they offer so many vegetarian options, some restaurants totally ignore us veggies and let me tell you.. it sucks! But with Giraffe there was just so many options to choose from, we were in heaven! 

I can't begin to tell you how much I can't wait to take Ethan to Giraffe when he gets a bit older. The family-friendly atmosphere at Giraffe was so fantastic, they offer colourful smoothies with free giraffes in, play packs, bookmarks and a purse-friendly yummy looking menu just for kids! Looking around the restaurant I couldn't help but notice how much fun the kids there were having! But don't let that make you think that Giraffe is a restaurant purely aimed at kids because it is most definitely not! As a couple, Adam and I were never made to feel out of place, the food and drink alone was enough for us to feel that this was definitely a place for couples and adults. It wasn't noisy whatsoever, the whole atmosphere was chilled and relaxed, even though they did get really busy - Giraffe is just obviously a very popular restaurant and I can see why! 

Price wise, Giraffe is a really affordable place to eat, which goes along way to show that they really care about their customers. To get more of an idea of prices and food available, take a look at their menus.

Have you ever been to a Giraffe restaurant? If so, what did you think? 

Or do you have any recommendations for any other fab family-friendly restaurants?

 

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*We received our meal free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All thought, opinions and words are, as always, our own.

UK Holiday Destinations you may not have considered...

I've said before, I'm not really a holiday-type person, but now that I had Ethan I'm starting to see the benefits of a good holiday. First of all, a break (What is that?) away from the jobs and the chores of everyday life. A chance to completely relax with the family and also to discover new places together and also a chance to stimulate our child senses with all the new and exciting things to look at and do. If you are a reader of my blog you'll be aware that we are off on a UK holiday break at the end of September and we can't wait. I am happy that we're staying in the UK as travelling abroad with our little man would be too much stress for us I think. So, I think we'll stick with and enjoy plenty of UK breaks, which leads me nicely on to the subject of this post..

Found yourself in a bit of a holiday rut, always going to the same places? Then it’s time to mix it up a bit and go somewhere new. Have a read of this and you’ll see that there are plenty of places to go in the UK that aren’t necessarily your obvious holiday spots – but just as great!

Somerset

Staying on a holiday park is as much about making the most of the park’s great facilities and activities as it is exploring a new region. Many people drive through Somerset on their way to Devon and Cornwall, but have you ever thought about making Somerset your next destination?

As far as traditional British seaside resorts go, you can’t get much better than Weston-super-Mare. No holiday (or childhood!) is complete without riding along the beach on a donkey and when you stay at holiday parks in Somerset you can enjoy the miles and miles of clean, sandy beach at Weston-super-Mare and loads of traditional seaside attractions. 

But Somerset’s not just about beaches; Cheddar Gorge is one of the UK’s and Somerset’s most famous attractions and if the photo gallery on the Cheddar Gorge website doesn’t convince you to visit, we don’t know what will!

Lincolnshire

If you live anywhere near Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham or Peterborough, make your next getaway in Lincolnshire. Not only is it within just two hours of these places, it’s also more exciting than you might think!

And it’s not named Golden Sands Holiday Park for no reason; this park is just minutes from miles and miles of golden Lincolnshire sand – the perfect place for building sandcastles, going for a paddle and letting your kids run free. 

And since Golden Sands also allows pets, you could even bring your four-legged friend along for an evening stroll along the beach.

Sussex

If you want to use your holidays to get outdoors and get active, your next getaway needs to be in Sussex. Like all of Haven’s holiday parks, it’s located a stone’s throw away from the sea but what makes Church Farm Haven so special is that it’s just minutes from the South Downs Way (the red line on the map).

Whether you prefer to be on two legs or two wheels, the South Downs Way is a 100-mile path along the South Downs between Eastbourne and Winchester that’s great for both walkers and cyclists. Pack a picnic and if you’ve brought your own bikes with you, you can enjoy a free day out in the great outdoors. Cycling is a fantastic way for the kids to let off some steam while you enjoy the scenery after all.

Have you visited any of these places before? If so, what do you think?

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What is in your Name?

Random fact about myself: I don't have a middle name. My brothers and sisters all do. But me, no.

I'm not really sure why, maybe my Mum thought that my first name, Alexandra was long enough..

I once asked my sister (who's ten years younger than me) what she thought my middle name was.. she replied with, 'Andra'. Haha, it still makes me laugh! But who can blame her.. I'm only ever known as 'Alex', apart from at the Doctors, where I get the 'Alexandra Gladwin' call when the Docs are ready to see me.

So that's me, no middle name Alex.

I think because I don't have one, middles names seem to interest me. My first name, Alexandra, was my real 'dad's suggestion; he had named his 2 previous daughters (my other sisters) after Queens (Anne and Victoria) and so I got Alexandra.. Which I am happy with, I like Alex and I think it suits me so much better than my Mum's suggestion of.. 'Hazel'. 

We gave Ethan the middle name, 'Adam', after my Husbands name.

Why? Well, simply because I adore my Husband and I also adore my Son, so my thinking was why would I not combine the names of my 2 favourite people?! Simple really. Adam agreed, as I think for him it was a much better option than my previous suggestion of 'Adam Junior'.

It was Adam who suggested 'Ethan' and at first I wasn't sure, but actually I now adore it and think it's the best name in the world, but I would, wouldn't I?! I also like the fact that we don't know any other Ethan's. 

So, I'm interested to know -- Do you have a middle name and if so, why did your parents choose it for you? Also is there a story behind your first name? Or your childs?

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Travelling With Baby: Toiletries

We're off to the Lake District with my Husbands parents at the end of September. It'll be our first family holiday and I can't wait! I'm not usually the holidaying type (I'm very homely) but since having Ethan I can't get enough of family outings. Plus, Ethan seems to love being outside, so I think he'll be in his element in the Lake District!

For our holiday, I've been looking for items to take with us that are perfect for travelling. We're taking one car between us, so packing room is going to be scarce, especially with the pushchair.

Knowing that I'm looking for the perfect travel items, the lovely people at greenpeople.co.uk kindly sent Ethan over their Hello Baby Boy gift set. 

The Organic Babies - Hello Baby set is, I suppose, more of a gift box, perfect for expectant mums and/or families with a new baby, especially so as it's available in 3 different sleeve types (neutral, girl and boy). But I think the products inside are the perfect size to take travelling, which is exactly what I plan to do with them. The box is presented perfectly, from it's recyclable box to it's adorably themed sleeves. 

On the back of the sleeve there's some information about the contents inside and best of all there's the good old 'Vegetarian Society approved' logo, although it is worth noting that this product isn't suitable for vegans, because of the beeswax content. 

Inside the box is: 

- Soothing Baby Salve – Lavender (30ml)

  This is perfect for use on baby's dry and/or irritated skin. I like to use this on Ethan's forehead as that's where he seems to suffer the most from dry skin. It can also be used on baby's bottom if it's a little sore and can even be used to help relieve soreness for breastfeeding Mums.

- Dry Skin Baby Lotion – Scent Free (30ml)

  This ultra-gentle moisturiser is ideal for massaging and moisturising baby. It is rich in Omega-3&6 fatty acids to soothe dry skin. Perfect for use all over baby just after bath time!

- Baby Wash & Shampoo – Lavender (100ml)

  This mild wash is gently scented with relaxing lavender and leaves baby's hair feeling soft and bouncy!

As you can probably tell from the photographs, these products are the perfect size to pop into your travel bag when travelling with baby. The fact that the baby wash and shampoo are combined into a 2 n 1 also helps to save vital space in your bags!

This set is priced at £15.95. You can find Organic Babies - Hello Baby gift sets here over at greenpeople.co.uk. 

What do you think of this gift set? Can you recommend any good travel items for baby?

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The Presents

Along with the DS that I brought for Adam for our anniversary, I also gave him a basket full of goodies, here's a breakdown of the items inside that basket full of delights.

The basket was from TK Maxx, priced around £8.

Sentimental heart-shaped maps frame

The above is my personal favourite out of the items that I gave to Adam. I found the inspiration for this amazing piece from the lovely Joanna over at My Little Rays of Sunshine after she made one for her friends wedding. The first map is where we met, second is where we married then the last is where we went for our honeymoon. I brought the exact same frame that Joanna had used and was so pleased with the result. If you'd like to create one for your home or for someone else, I totally recommend heading over to Joanna's blog to have a read on how it's done. 

The Dogs Doodahs Personalised Card

The card I gave Adam was from http://www.thedogsdoodahs.com. Before I used their services, I had always found myself drawn back over and over again to websites such as Funky Pigeon or Moonpig for personalised cards. But actually, I'm so glad I had the opportunity to review The Dogs Doodahs, the site name always makes me laugh, but that's the point, the website was fun. Every single step from picking the card, to designing, to ordering and checkout, even he the email receipt was fun! And although the website and service was 'jokey', the actual product and service was taken completely seriously. My order was dispatched incredibly quickly and the card itself was perfect, exactly everything you could want from an online personalised card service. I was worried about how the photographs would come out on the card on the inside cover, but I needn't have worried, they were absolutely perfect, almost glossy like. Adam even commented on this when he opened the card. The quality of the card was fantastic. The service was incredibly easy to use and the prices seem to start very low from around £3.50 for a standard card like the above.

Chocolate from Sent With A Loving Kiss

This gorgeous handmade chocolate gift is from http://sentwithalovingkiss.co.uk, it consists of a giant slab of the most yummiest chocolate I may have ever tasted.. think - Christmas chocolate on the morning of Christmas day tasty, it's so addictive. Sent with a Loving Kiss sell personalised luxurious chocolate for many occasions, anniversaries being one of them. I was able to personalise the side of the tin of my chocolate, which added a lovely touch for my gift. And that's just it, all of their items make the most perfect gifts, because who doesn't like chocolate?! And the fact that you can personalise like I have makes it that much more extra special. They sell a range of different chocolate such as truffles, white, milk, dark chocolate and much more. If you have someone that's hard to buy for, you can't really go wrong with the choccie-gifts available to buy from Sent with a Loving Kiss.

Anniversary Book - GettingPersonal.co.uk

I'm a romantic me, so this Anniversary record book appealed to me straight away as a lovely gift for Adam. It's from www.gettingpersonal.co.uk and costs £19.99. It makes the perfect present for newlyweds or for couples celebrating their first anniversary, especially so their first, as the first is 'paper'. Their is plenty of room inside the book to jot down thoughts and feelings from each anniversary as the years go by, I think it's a fantastic way of remembering what we did and what we brought each other. It truly is a very very sweet idea. The book itself is fantastic quality and is obviously made to last.  We look forward to filling this up each year and looking back at the previous years as they go by. 

Engraved heart keyrings - GettingPersonal.co.uk

These gorgeous engraved heart keyrings are also from www.gettingpersonal.co.uk They make the perfect gift for valentines, weddings or anniversaries and are a lovely way of carrying a reminder of a loved one with you wherever you go. They look absolutely fantastic on our keys; they are really eye catching and they look and feel expensive. They came beautifully presented in a little black gift box (which can be added on as an extra at the online checkout) and they made the perfect anniversary present, Adam was very pleased with them. They are fantastic quality.

Halfwine.com

Last but definitely not least in the basket where these lovely half bottles of red wine from http://www.halfwine.com. I cannot begin to tell you how nice they tasted, we took one with us to London for in the hotel and the other we opened last night on our actual anniversary. We absolutely loved the taste of both of these bottles. Wine, for Adam and I, can be a massive pain, as a lot of wine is not suitable for vegetarians because of the filtering process used. Every time we go out to a restaurant we can't have any wine as we don't know if it is or isn't suitable. When I was browsing half wines website, I was sad to see that they do not label their wines as vegetarian or vegan, though sadly this is no different to any other website/restaurant. I contacted them to be a pain and ask the question, 'Are any of your wines suitable for vegetarians?' I was taken very seriously and had an answer within a day or so. There wasn't as many as I would have liked, but these lovely two were suitable! The delivery was super quick and the bottles were packed with the up most care. They sell gift packs, single bottles, tasting packs and more.. to find out more about how halfwines.com works take a look here. I highly recommend them and would definitely use them again. Their half wine bottles make the perfect gift!

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*Some of the products featured in this post were sent to us for the purpose of review, all thoughts, words and opinions are 100% our own, as always.