#WeirdestPlaceToSleep Competition

I'm sure he won't appreciate it, or maybe he will. But this is my lovely Husband Adam, on a friends stag do a couple of years back. This photo was uploaded by one of the guys on the trip with him, who captioned it, "Adam's already KO'ed under a bunk bed, and it's only 2pm in the afternoon.." Welllll - I guess if you can't do it on a stag do, when can you?!

- .. and this kids is what too much alcohol does to you!

Anyway.. asides from posting a photograph of my rather drunken Husband and having a right old giggle about it.. I am currently working with Carpetright who have a competition running at the moment called #WeirdestPlaceToSleep, which is literally all about weirdest places people have been found falling asleep! Just like my lovely Hubby and his 'comfy spot' above. ^

They have some AMAZING prizes up for grabs for the winners of the competition - a £700 voucher to spend on a bed at Carpetright or a luxury family glamping holiday courtesy of Mill Farm luxury holidays! Pretty amazing, right?!

So - what have you got to do to win?

Well, it's actually incredibly simple..

All you need to do is get in touch with Carpetright via social media using the hashtag: #WeirdestPlaceToSleep and share a picture of someone you know or even yourself falling asleep in a bit of a weird place. You can do this by...

• Tweeting @Carpetright 
• Tagging Carpetright in a Facebook status
• OR Including @carpetright in your Instagram captions 

Remember that you MUST include the hashtag: #WeirdestPlaceToSleep for your entry to count! :)

The CLOSING DATE is: 3rd September 2014 11:59AM (So hurry!)

You can click on the link bellow for more details of the competition and to check out the wall of sleeping madness to find out who has the weirdest of them all: http://www.carpetright.co.uk/we-want-to-see-your-weirdest-sleeping-place

Good luck! Oh and I'd love it if you could include me in your tweets or mentions too as I love seeing all of the fantastic (and rather funny!) entries. :)

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Attitudes towards both Bottle-Feeding and Breastfeeding

Sometimes I think that the whole breastfeeding topic is a bit of a sensitive one and  that's probably because everyone has such different opinions on it.

Some people are very pro breastfeeding and some people aren't really into it. And both are fine.

Personally, I didn't breastfeed. To be totally honest, I'm one of those women who just really isn't in to it. I tried very hard to be, but it just wasn't for me. I also tried to breastfeed Ethan when he was born, but I really struggled to get him to latch on and I felt so poorly in myself that accepting help from other people to bottle feed Ethan seemed like the best choice for me.

I also had to go back in to hospital three days after Ethan was born because I blacked out and fell in the shower, I couldn't do anything for myself and I couldn't stand without falling. So Adam changed all of Ethans first nappies and he did all of his feeding. He took Ethan home with him when I went back to hospital, because I wouldn't have been able to get out of bed to tend to him if he woke up in the night. And so bottle feeding worked out really well for us.

I've never been made to feel guilty about bottle-feeding Ethan. But I do know other Mums who have been made to feel guilty for their choice to choose bottle over breast -  which is something that really just baffles my mind.

And it's the same for women who choose to breastfeed - I've heard stories of photographs being removed from Facebook that are of Mothers breastfeeding their babies and I don't quite understand why this happens? I have seen such disgusting things go un-removed by Facebook, yet they remove something that is natural and in no way offensive? I simply can't get my head around it. I've also heard stories of breastfeeding Mums being asked to leave shops because they're feeding their babies and other people don't feel comfortable about it.. how is that even allowed to happen? What do people expect breastfeeding mothers to do? Leave their babies to cry out in hunger and simply ignore them?

It seems to me that there can sometimes be quite a lot of negativity towards how us Mums decide to feed our babies, no matter if we choose to breast or bottle feed.

At the end of the day, all that matters is a healthy happy baby. People need to stop judging Mums who bottle feed and they need to stop judging Mums who breastfeed. Us Mums will feed our babies using the best method that works for both us and our children. And we certainly don't need any negative input from people who should know better than to judge.

Have you ever received negative feedback about the way you choose/chose to feed your baby? How did you deal with it?

Ethan's Room Inspiration & Finds

I am always browsing the web looking out for inspirational and fun, decor and toys for Ethans bedroom. His room is one of my favourite places in the house and I just love filling it with personalised items and things that help him to develop. The only problem with my constant desire to browse is the amount of money everything costs to purchase and how much I spend in one go. So rather than get everything all at once, I've made a little inspiration board here on my blog so that I can refer back to it when I next have a little money to spend on his room. 

Adventure Awaits Hoop Art | - I love this because of how much Ethan loves to be outside. He's an explorer. It's his favourite thing to do, so this would make a great reference and look perfect in his netural themed nursery. 

Custom Ombre Name Banner | I would love something like this to hang in Ethans room, again I love how neutral it is and the personalisation. I am also massively in to using banners as decor. 

Pop Up Castle Play Tent | I have a feeling Ethan would love a little hide out place, and I love this castle pop up tent I found on eBay. It's just finding the room for it, which I am actively working on!

Aeroplane Storage Box | We always need more storage and the aeroplane storage box from yorkshirelinen.com would be perfect for either in our living room or Ethans bedroom to store in Ethans room. 

Racing Car Nursery Art Print | Ethan LOVES cars at the moment, he's always carrying his toy cars around, and I (as you know) love art prints so this would be perfect in a white ikea frame in his bedroom. 

Chef's Play Kitchen - I REALLY want to get Ethan a toy kitchen for christmas. We haven't fully decided if that's what we're going to do, but I am totally learning towards it. I really feel that he would have so much fun with it. He is always opening our kitchen cupboards and walking around with his bowls and spoons using them as toys. So I'd love to get him his own little kitchenette!

What have you currently got your eye on for your little one? Have you thought about Christmas gifts yet?

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Hospital Care During Childbirth: My Experience

I knew from the moment that we had our labour ward tour at the hospital that I would feel comfortable giving birth to Ethan there. Looking back, I'm so pleased that we had and accepted the opportunity to have a tour of the ward a few weeks before Ethan was due. It really put my mind (and Adams mind) at ease. The volunteer showing us around went through all the different types of birthing rooms, all the facilities that we're available and even answered our silly questions about things like parking. And it's the little things like parking etc that new parents just don't want to have to worry about!

When the day came that I went into labour, the staff and midwives were all brilliant. I felt that their support was there the whole time I was in labour, and even when the midwives changed over, it was as if the new midwife had been with us from the very beginning. Having a baby is one of the biggest things we can do! What our bodies are able to do as women is absolutely amazing and in turn it's one of the toughest things we go through. And it's not only physically hard but emotionally too, so receiving the right level of care, like I felt like I did, is just essential.

I will always be grateful to the staff for their amazing level of care and support whilst I had Ethan and I will also be grateful to the hospital for providing such a clean and personal environment for me to give birth in. Personally my experience makes me wonder why there are sometimes so many hospital negligence claims. But I suppose it's because not every single person has the type of experience that I had and when things do go wrong it's nice to know that there are great, professional companies to  lean on like www.hospitalnegligence.co.uk for help and advice.

Where did you give birth? And what was your experience like?

                             

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I'm on a boat!

I recently read this article by LOOK about the top 5 sailing locations in the world (see here), which firstly blew my mind - who knew such stunning places in the world existed? And secondly, it threw me right think back to a time when I was in the Lake District (which is also a stunning place to visit), more specifically the time I spent on a boat on sailing across one of the many beautiful lakes. Because there's nothing more therapeutic than relaxing on a boat, with the sun beaming down on you and the glistening, calm water all around you. 

I remember the time we first took Ethan on a boat in the Lake District - We hired out what I think was a pedalo? But I'm not all that clued up on different types of boats so please do forgive me if I'm wrong!

But anyway, it was so lovely. We were there with Ethans Grandparents (Adams Mum and Dad). Ethan was around six months and even the smallest life jacket was absolutely huge on him!

...I think he must have thought we were all mad putting him in it! But he looked totally and utterly adorable in it. ;)

Adam took control of the boat and off we went into the middle of the lake.. it was stunning!

There really was such beautiful scenery and stunning views all around us. 

We were also so lucky with the weather, as it was a beautiful sunny day.

Adams Mum captured this photo, which is one of my favourites from that particular holiday. I love Ethans squished face, the massive life jacket, the beyond beautiful background and the reminder of the wind that wasblowing through my hair as we sailed across the stunning, peaceful lake. 

Just looking back through these photos makes me want to go back tomorrow. I think I will visit the Lake District again and again and again. Until maybe one day I might just decide to live there? 

Where's the most beautiful place you've ever sailed or hired a boat at?

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Why I am happy in my skin after pregnancy & birth..

I'm not really one for discussing weight. I've never had issues with my own weight, other than when I failed to get a job I'd applied for and passed at 17 years old. I was too 'light' for the role and failed to put on the requested weight in the time frame they gave. At the time it sucked, but now I'm glad it didn't work out as I later found out that the job really wouldn't have been for me. But apart from that, I've never really given my weight too much thought. 

Perhaps I'm lucky that I'm naturally quite slim, and perhaps that's why I've never cared about the bathroom scales and what they have to say. But does being slim mean that I have the 'perfect body'? Of course it doesn't.. 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I have many flaws that I just accept as part of the make up of me. For one I have particularly small breasts.. and though this might be seen as a flaw to some people, I see it as quite the gift and spend everyday happy in the fact that I don't have to wear those horrible uncomfortable devices known as bras! 

I could list many things about my body that I could say was a flaw.. things I shouldn't be happy with. Things that annoy me from time to time to the point where I sulk about it for a day and then forget it the next. (Us girls are very good at that!).

But the thing is that I'm actually rather happy in my skin. I'm okay with having no boobs, and pale skin, and weird feet, and so many stretch marks that it's impossible for me to count them all. I'm okay with having put on some weight after having Ethan. My body made a baby, it carried him for nine months and then gave birth to him - that's unbelievably amazing! I'm eternally grateful to my body and all of it's 'flaws'. I'm grateful that it made, carried and then delivered my healthy baby boy to me.  After all it's done for me - how could I not be happy with my body?!

And I know that not everybody who reads this will feel the same. I totally understand the want to lose weight (if that's the issue) as I've watched my Husband Adam, who wasn't happy with his own weight, stick to a very strict diet day in and day out for months. It took him a lot of will power and determination but he lost the weight that was bothering him and is now back to feeling comfortable and happy in his skin. He told me that it was the hunger cravings that would sometimes be his downfall... appetite suppressants can be found in the form of foods such as almonds and they would help him to feel fuller for longer. And he also considered using weight loss pills which included ingredients which are often natural, to help suppress his appetite. But in the end he didn't need them. (If you or anyone you know is considering using this option, please make sure you research it fully and use this useful guide to choosing the best.

I know that body image is such a personal thing, it took me a long while to feel comfortable in my own skin (I suffered with body dysmorphia when I was in my teens, which I do intend to one day sit down and write about). But however you feel about yourself, it's important to remember that it's being beautiful on the inside that matters the most.

How we spent our 2nd Wedding Anniversary

It was two years on Tuesday since I married my soulmate and my very best friend. I can still remember our wedding day so clearly in my head. Time seems to have just flown by so quickly.

On Tuesday we decided to take a last minute trip to a local farm with Ethan. I had my Husband, my Son and animals around me - so it was the perfect way to celebrate! Afterwards we dropped Ethan at his Grandmas (Adams' Mum) and headed out for a meal and then to the cinema to watch The Inbetweeners 2 (which is great by the way!).

Here are a few pictures that we took from our day at the farm..

My guys! 

Five ways fibre optic broadband can make your blog better!

Being a blogger can be wonderful torture. It’s hugely satisfying to share your thoughts and experiences, but you’re also at the mercy of your internet - and broadband can be a fickle mistress, frustrating you by dropping out or slowing down, usually it seems when you need it most…

Unless you’ve got fibre optic broadband, of course. If you haven’t, it’s a great investment for any serious blogger - here’s five reasons why…

5. You can surf the web faster and more smoothly

As a blogger, you no doubt use the internet for research, checking facts and the like. Standard broadband deals do the job when it comes to that sort of thing, sure, but fibre optic broadband can makes all the difference when it comes to efficiency. Pages load faster, video less likely to buffer, images take less time to appear - you get an all-round faster and smoother experience, which means less time spent waiting, and more time for actually getting things done.

4. You can make the blogs you want to make

If you use a lot of images or video on your blog, fibre optic broadband can be a godsend. That’s because it’s not just download speeds that are better - upload speeds - the rate at which you can upload things to the web from your computer, tablet or phone - are too. 

That means you’re free to make the posts you want to make - you’re not constrained by technology, so you can let your imagination run wild.

3. You’ll experience fewer interruptions

If you’re a blogger, there’s nothing more frustrating than your internet going down. You may have lots you want to say, or be looking to respond to breaking news, but if you can’t get online you’re going to have to wait and hope that creative spark reignites, or that your readers are still interested in that story, later on.

However, one of the best things about fibre optic broadband is that it’s considerably more reliable than standard broadband. It’s less probe to interference, meaning you get a more stable connection, so if you have an idea, you’ll be able to get online without having to worry about your internet going walkies and get it out there.

2. You can collaborate with others 

One of the best things about blogging is that it can be a fantastic way to enter a wider world by interacting with fellow bloggers. Meet ups and writing circles are common practice, and a good way to share experiences and ideas, support each other’s work and make friends in the process.

If you do connect with other bloggers, fibre optic broadband can be a boon, because it makes it a breeze to communicate with your peers. From sharing work using an online storage service like Dropbox to video calling one another on Skype, you can be sure fibre will support it.

1. You can work when everyone else is online

Getting work done while the family’s around can be a struggle at the best of times. Not because they can be noisy and demanding - although of course that can be the case! - but because if they’re  online at the same time as you, it can really slow down your internet.

If, for example, one of the kids is watching something on BBC iPlayer, while another is playing a game online on the Xbox, you may find there’s not much bandwidth left for what you want to do. Fibre optic broadband eliminates that problem - it’ll still slow down when everyone’s using it, but because it’s so much faster to start with, you’ll feel the impact far less.

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How to: Remove Pet Hair from literally anything!

Ever wondered how you can effectively remove pet hair from carpets, the bed, clothes, and everything else (including the stairs!)? Well, I have only very recently discovered myself what I think is the very best way to do it. The hoover no longer seems to be powerful enough, the lint roller just falls apart, but this very small (and rather cheap!) pet hair removal tool does the job perfectly! 

It was whilst browsing for an anniversary gift for my Husband that I came across it actually, (I know! - How random!). I was on a website that sell gifts for men just scrolling through (as you do) when I came across it. All of the reviews were raving about it and so I thought with four cats of my own and what seems like millions of strands of pet hair flooding my house on a daily occurrence, why not give it a go!? 

And I am so pleased that I did, it's honestly brilliant. It removes pet hair from literally anything. It even removes hair that you didn't even know was there! I did my entire stairs with it the other day and I was utterly shocked! I wont post photos of the results because, well, it's slightly embarrassing and totally gross but seriously for £5.99 this thing is pure magic!

Oh and on a totally unrelated subject I also picked this book up from the same website. I am looking to do a whole series of 'How to:' blog post write ups and this is really really interesting - really worth a read! Available here for £14.99.

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How to : Prevent & Treat Heartburn during Pregnancy

I remember times when I suffered so bad with heartburn, to the point where I would be crying! It's a common symptom of pregnancy, heartburn, and it's something that many people want to know how to prevent. So with that in mind, lets first have a look at what can be responsible for causing it by reading this brilliant article : Causes of Heartburn, which gives us a list of some of the other things (asides from pregnancy) that cause that dreaded heartburn!

My Beauty Favourites July/August

Today I am going to a quick run down for you of some of my new favourite beauty products that I've used this month and last. I am very fussy, so there are only actually 4 new products that have made it as far as this post. And they are as follows..

Eye of Horus Goddess Mascara

Do primary schools offer enough after school extra-curricular activities?

The national curriculum is broken down into four main key stages with one and two being taught at primary schools. Teachers have a very strict body of work to cover during this time which is why many schools introduce extra-curricular activities to cover anything that might not be included during the school day – but do they offer enough for children outside normal hours?

Well, this subject has been debated heavily over the years but it’s safe to say that steps have been taken to ensure children get the stimulation they need. While extra-curricular clubs are popping up left, right and centre, educational apps like ParentMail make online payments for activities easier than ever, and offer online communications so you can reach parents on their mobile or by email letting them know about new activities, so let’s delve deeper into this issue.

Government funding
Sadly, opportunities for youngsters rely heavily on funding. If there’s a lack of money, non-essential activities seem to be put on hold or stopped altogether. This has happened in the past; however, things are looking up with the UK government spending over £450 million on improving physical education (PE) and sport in primary schools over the three academic years: 2013-2014, 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. As the extra money is being allocated directly to primary school head teachers, schools can decide how to use their funding, be it to hire qualified sports coachers to improve PE lessons or to run after-school sports and holiday clubs.

Change4Life Sports Clubs
Thanks to Change4Life Sports Clubs for primary schools, less active seven to nine year olds are being given the chance to increase their physical activity levels. These extra-curriculum initiatives encourage children to get moving and provide an exciting, competitive and inspirational environment for them to thrive. The clubs centre around five main themes: Adventure, combat, creative, flight and target. They encourage kids to try out a wide range of sports and are proving to have a significant impact on the behaviour attendance and attainment of little ones.

Teacher access to free training
While many people consider extra-curricular activities an essential part of learning, it’s worth noting that teachers often give up their free time to run particular clubs and classes. They’re organised and led by professionals who sacrifice a lot for children, so it’s good to see plenty of teachers being supported by outside organisations. Matalan TOP Sport, for instance, provides primary school teachers with free access to training and resources so they have the skills necessary to run clubs that are compatible with the national curriculum. This not only improves key stage lessons, it helps after school activities become educational and beneficial.

It can be difficult to know if enough extra-curricular activities are being offered but as you can see from the information above, things are improving. With additional funding, specialised clubs and teacher dedication the future looks positive.

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Keeping Toddlers + Children Entertained Outdoors

When the weather is nice you will want you and your little ones to spend as much time outdoors as you possibly can. As with any type of activity, you want to ensure that your children have plenty of variety so that they do not get bored very quickly. There are a number of ways that you can keep your children entertained outdoors, spending quality time with them while making lasting family memories together. Here are just a few ways to enjoy the good weather with your kids.

Utilise Garden Equipment  

Children always enjoy spending time outdoors, even if it is just playing in the back garden for a few hours. There are a lot of toys and games that children can play within the confines of your home garden. Ranging from playing on large pieces of equipment such as Wicken Toys Climbing Frames to simple games such as skittles, giving children the option to play with what they want will prevent them from becoming bored very quickly. You could place everything from skipping ropes to basketball nets and a playhouse out in the garden and see what kind of games they can dream up. If they are out in the garden for most of the day chances are they will play with everything at some point or other.

Take them Walking 

Going for a walk is a simple, free activity that you can enjoy with children of all ages. Babies can be pushed in their strollers and older children will be able to walk by themselves while taking in their surroundings. It is also an activity that can be carried out anywhere. Even if you live in quite a built up area, your children will still enjoy the opportunity to be out in the open air and there may be points of interest that you can point out to them along the route. If you have friends that also have children you should consider inviting them along for some extra company and incorporate a game such as eye-spy into your walk for some extra fun.

Local Playground  

Taking your children to a local playground will give them the opportunity to interact with other children. They will also have access to equipment that they may not have at home such as slides and swings. Children can easily spend hours at the playground if you let them, so it might be worth considering bringing something with you to break up the playtime. If you take a picnic then you can give the children some time to play before they sit and have lunch in the open air. 

Spending time with your children outdoors is always an enjoyable way to pass the glorious sunny days. By varying the activities that you do, this time can be made even more enjoyable. The suggestions listed here are just a starting point. There are quite literally hundreds of things you can do with your family when the sun is shining. Think about where you live, what facilities are nearby and you’ll quickly see there is no shortage of ways to keep your kids entertained outdoors.

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Recent Purchases

Those random days out in to town where you end up returning home with bags of purchases that you probably didn't need but just HAD to get anyway - are the best, right?!

One of my favourite stores to go to on these types of days is New Look. I so much prefer it over places like Topshop as they are have such lovely stuff, but the price tag doesn't make your mouth drop!

Here are some of the things that I picked up on my last shop..

Preparing Your Home For Parenting

Glass chandeliers. Cream carpets. ‘Feature’ walls. All things we’ve most likely dreamt of at some point or other as being part of our home. But when kids come along, suddenly priorities change. Suddenly *sob*, we’re thinking about space. Safety. Security. The grown-up stuff! As much as we still keep house proud where we can, it’s inevitable that things that are a little too fancy can get ruined by little ones. It’s not their fault! It’s just what they do!

PRACTICAL THINGS YOU CAN DO

You’ll most likely want to start thinking about practical things, such as carpets that won’t stain when there are spillages or ‘little accidents’. As for getting a baby gate – if you have stairs, these aren’t really ‘optional’, they’re pretty much a must have. Then there are plug sockets to think of. Have you covered these up? They can look especially inviting to tiny little fingers. Minuscule objects should be hidden away, pets should be kept at a distance and any dangerous substances should be locked up completely. It’s exhausting, yes, but it’s got to be done – all part and parcel of being a parent!

SPACE

When it comes to space, you may even find that your current home isn’t quite big enough. A lot of us, especially the so-called ‘Millennials’ out there (those of us in our twenties and early thirties), have already struggled to buy a place as it is – mortgages don’t come cheap, so a lot of us stay renting. But if you are lucky enough to own a place of your own, there’s nothing to say you can’t convert rooms or even build extensions to accommodate an extra human being! Good, local and reliable builders like Steve Gilbert are ideal here, as they’ll work with you to your exact requirements. Every town will most likely have someone similar – word of mouth is your best bet in these situations, as other people in your boat can tell you the pros and cons. 

ELIMINATE RISKS

Every little thing in our world that we take for granted is new – and potentially exciting – to a child. Of course, you can’t keep them in a bubble forever, they have to see the world and learn for themselves! But while they’re too little to know right from wrong, you can of course eliminate risks, keep them under a watchful eye and keep them out of harm’s way as much as possible! They’re you’re most precious thing, after all… everything else is worth sacrificing.

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The Living Room: How to Create a ‘Sound’ Space

If you’re thinking about redecorating your living room, then you’ve likely got furniture, carpet, curtains and light fixtures on the brain. However, have you ever stopped to think about the value of a good sound system? 

You can pump up the latest toddler hits or connect the system to your TV — making sure you hear every pint pulled on EastEnders. It’ll even add value to your house! Here are some tips for how to arrange your living room to make the most of a sound system:

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wickenden/3726226749/sizes/z/ 

Receiver
The positioning of the sound system is crucial. You want leads out of the way of any curious children, but you also want to make the most of the sound. The central receive is the essence of an audio-video (AV) system. Every source (the TV, speakers, game console and more) connects to the receiver so you need to put it somewhere accessible. A television unit or full entertainment unit is designed for technology such as this, so you may want to consider getting one of these. 

Alternatively, head to an estate sale or flea market and see if you can get a vintage bookshelf. Place the receiver on a shelf amongst the books, photo frames and stuffed animals so it will blend in. As long as it’s high enough and the cords all trail down the back, it should be safely out of the way. 

Speakers
You’ll want to disperse your speakers around the room so that no matter where you sit, you hear quality sound. The shape of the room plays a big role in deciding where to place speakers. The natural speaker setting for a square living room, for instance, is in each of the corners. If you have a rectangular room or room with a sloped ceiling, you’ll have to think a bit harder about placement. Never underestimate the old ‘trial and error’ method of arranging your speakers in a variety of locations to test the sound and go with whatever sounds the best. 

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brunogirin/70455646/sizes/z/ 

Go wireless
Finally, to get a system that is truly child-friendly (in other words — out of the way!), consider something wireless. You won’t have to worry about children tripping over leads and it’s easy to install the system throughout the rest of the house, or even the back garden! 

With some careful thought and preparation, anyone can set up a quality, child-friendly sound system. Only thing left to do is get the Peppa Pig and Postman Pat soft toys out for a dance party! 

(Images by wickenden and Bruno Girin, used under Creative Commons licence.)

*Rosemary Swithenbank is a mum of three who is passionate about music and technology. When not changing nappies or taking the kids to school, she loves getting to rock gigs. 

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Balancing Baby With Business

No matter whether you’re a working mum, or you prefer to stay at home and take care of your little one, you’ll know what juggling a million different things at once is like! (A potential nightmare, to say the least!). But you’ve no doubt managed to find loads of different ways to compartmentalise the different aspects of your life and make it work for you. If you’re looking for a few tips, look no further! We could all do with a little helping hand from time to time.

When You Run Your Own Business

A lot of mothers decide that it’s the perfect time to go into business once the baby’s born. This often isn’t an extravagant pursuit – typically, a lot of these mums will be using skills they’ve already got to make a bit of extra cash, which can make a whole lot of sense when things like nappies don’t exactly grow on trees! But if the business starts to grow, you’ll most likely be looking at expansion – which is fab, but definitely a bit too much for a new-mummy plate! Loads of companies out there are on hand to help. If you’ve just got a small business, outsourcing an assistant or someone to help with your paperwork can come in handy. If your business is starting to get a big for its boots (in a good way!) though, then some management consultants like Camford MC might be what you need.

When You’ve Got A Tough Boss

When you’ve got a tough boss, it can be a bit of a pain – especially if they don’t have kids of their own. Employers have to expect a certain standard from their staff, or course, but there should be an element of give and take there to give you flexibility at much needed times – the little emergencies that can crop up. If scheduling is a problem, you can suggest that your boss implements a better rota system to suit you AND them – Webroster is a fantastic one which can actually be more profitable for them (they’ll love that one!). If things really get too hard to bear, don’t feel forced out. If you really do want a change though, loads of online job sites have new opportunities all the time – something fun and fresh from Indeed or Hales Group could be totally up your street. 

When You Want Time For YOU!!

It’s easy to think of what’s best for baby. Or your husband. Or you mum and…. The list goes on. But what about such much needed ‘me time’?! There’s no harm in taking some time out. So long as the baby is supervised (obviously…) there are a number of things you can do. Binge watch some TV, head on out with the girls or even hop on a train to meet some old uni mates for a spa weekend. You still get to be a person, too. 

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Cosatto Supa Review

Over the past month or so Ethan and I have been testing out the Cosatto SUPA, which we were sent in exchange for our honest review.

We choose the 'Cuddle Monster' design to review because it's probably the most cutest an best suited for a little boy. As with all of the Cosatto products that we have reviewed, it's the design that we absolutely love the most! :)

Getting to grips with the TEFAL Infinity Press Juicer + Win your own!

TEFAL Infinity Press Juicer Review

I like fruit, but I sometimes find it a bit of a chore to eat. I end up throwing so much away, as it gets put in the back of the fridge and then a week later I find it rotten and completely out of date..

So when TEFAL asked if I'd like to try their newest fruit juicer, I wasn't sure if it would be my type of thing. But then I thought of how much fun it would be to do with Ethan when he's a little older. And I also wondered if perhaps it would end up being the sort of thing that was for lazy-fruit-eaters like me.

The box came with a little recipe booklet full of lots of ideas for juice to make. This proved to be super handy as without it, I wouldn't have had a clue what fruit to put together. 

We chose the Energy: Muti fruit juice recipe, minus the carrots as they didn't sound so appealing. We also used half of the ingredients so that we got half the juice in case it wasn't to our taste. 

We used:

1 x Pink Lady apple

1 x Pineapple

1 x Punnet of strawberries

2 x Clementines

After cutting up all of the fruit, we set the juicer up. I'm going to have to say here, that although I've never used a juicer before and neither has my Husband, the TEFAL infinity press juicer really does feel like it's amazing quality. And when we began using it, it was brilliant with no issues whatsoever. I absolutely cannot fault it! But then I also can't compare it to any others.

Once the juice jug was nice and full, we obviously had a cheeky little sample which tasted seriously good. We chilled it overnight in the fridge and all had a glass this morning -  it tasted literally amazing! I am absolutely converted to using juicers! And I also feel so healthy for finally getting my fruit! It will be so amazing to use with Ethan when he's a little older, juicers are a brilliant way to get kids into their fruit!

Technical specifications

• Power: 300W
• Juice Press Technology
• 3 Feed Tubes
• 2 Stainless Steel Filters (thin/thick) 
. 2 jugs, one with a foam separator
• RRP: £199

Available from Amazon, Tesco and Littlewoods

To be in with a chance of winning your own TEFAL Infinity press juicer, just enter via the widget below!

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10 Basic HTML Codes For Bloggers

 

Are you a blogger who gets a little nervous at the thought of manually editing your blog’s HTML?  If so, don't be. HTML can look quite scary when you first take a look at it, but you don't need to be a coding genius to achieve a few basic blog enhancements with the help of some common easy to use html tags. 

Here are 10 of my most frequently used HTML tags, that you might just find useful..