Weaning - The Messy Truth

Weaning brings fear to my heart!

Why you ask?

It's so bloomin messy no matter how well you're prepared.

I started weaning Eliza at 6 months and she was quite a nice eater, choosing not to spit it out but to savour the flavours - then her siblings taught her to blow raspberries!!

I'm sorry, but have you ever tried to protect the baby, yourself, the highchair and any other surrounding furniture (or animal / child / daddy) when a child blows raspberries with a mouth full of food? 

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE I TELL YOU!!

Many a nice pale coloured top has been ruined by splatters of orange spaghetti bolognese or a smear of mushed vegetables.

Now the culprit is older, we have reached a whole new level of mess!

If I feed her, her hand goes straight into her mouth to reach in and grab said food.  She examines it carefully, rubs it through her fingers and then either puts it back in her mouth, or smears it around her face or in her hair.

Want proof:

Here is last nights picture:

This is my entry into the Appliances Online messy kids competition

If she feeds herself, well it pretty much goes the same way, but the cats get a treat as she has a throw to rival Fatima Whitbread!

My tips for weaning are:

• An easy clean highchair
• Washable floor (or plastic mat if you have carpet)
• Bibs, bibs and more bibs
• Dustpan & brush
• A washing machine that is prepared to work hard!
• Patience

 This is my entry to the Me, the Man and the Baby and Mother's Always Right messiest kids competitions with Appliances Online

MP3 Shuffle

The very lovely Mummy Constant has tagged me in a post to reveal the first five songs that come up on my iPod when it's on shuffle.

Here is the scary part - my iPod is used as much for me as it is the kids, so I have a variety of random music on there from Justin Fletcher and Disney to The Goo Goo Dolls and Adele.

Here goes..............................................................

Song 1:  Little Bit of Luck - DJ Luck & MC Neat



I love listening to tracks from when I was younger and working in bars and clubs.  This isn't one of my favourites, but I was singing along when it came up!!

Song 2:  Fall At Your Feet - James Blunt (Live)



OK - I come clean.  I Love James Blunt.  His back to bedlam album was the soundtrack to our honeymoon and I have seen him live too.  Our first dance was to Your Beautiful!

Song 3:  I Won't Let You Go - James Morrison



I love James Morrison for his easy listening tunes.  My eldest daughter adores him and has been to his concert locally.  His signed poster still adorns her wall!

Song 4:  Messy Little Raindrops - Cheryl Cole



OMG - can't believe I still have her album on my phone.  I like the songs she has released, especially Fight for This Love (who can forget Rufus Hound parading around the stage for Sport Relief 2010)

Song 5:  Hometown Glory - Santogold (Radio 1 Live Lounge)



I love Radio 1's Live Lounge albums.  I always find it interesting how another artist interprets a song.  I have to admit in this case that I prefer Adele's original

So there you have it.  None of my firm or current favourites, but not bad!

(Thank goodness it stopped on song 5, as 6 was Digga Tunnah from the Lion King lol)

The yummy mummy's I pick to continue are.........

@mummyglitzer
@mummy_blogger
@him_me_three

Good Luck x x x x

Silent Sunday 29th January 2012

Mothers Guide to Football with the Kids

It has come to my attention that there are a few mums (and dads) out there who are just venturing into the territory of kids football.

Here is my essentials guide:

Top 5 For matches: (Parents)

1. A good pair of wellies (preferably with a good thick lining to keep your feet warm) - you will be stuck in the middle of a freezing cold muddy field for at least 2 hours and Uggs just don't cut it!
2. A long length warm coat (preferably waterproof) - horizontal driving rain and howling wind will always find you!
3. A good quality flask filled with the hot drink of your choice - other parents will look on enviously as you enjoy your steaming hot drink
4. A camping chair - you will want to sit down and it makes a good windbreak too
5. Thick hat & gloves. It doesn't matter how warm your coat is - you need to keep those hands toasty and those ears covered.

Top 5 for Players:

1. Skins - this is a tight fitting long sleeved vest and shorts to be worn under the kit. This keeps them warm whilst playing
2. A nice warm fleecy tracksuit to wear over their kit if they're subbed - those little legs get cold!
3. A boot bag - you won't want those muddy boots anywhere near the car!
4. Gloves - these will get muddy but essential for keeping those extremities warm and snug
5. A change of clothes for the car journey home (or several bin liners to cover the seats)

Top 5 - Other essentials:

1. A bag for the dirty kit so you can transport to the washing machine without leaving a trail of mud through the house
2. Old newspaper to rest those muddy boots on whilst the mud dries! Don't bother cleaning them whilst wet (although beating them together when first off gets rid of the worst)
3. An old screwdriver or piece of cutlery to remove the dry mud
4. An old toothbrush to polish the boots up
5. Make sure you have hot water ready for when you get home - your child will be filthy and cold!!

I'm sure I've missed some top tips - feel free to add yours below!

Thinking Slimmer Update

I am the first to admit that I've not been consistent with Thinking Slimmer. I try to listen everyday, usually on the school run, but have been thwarted by various things, such as missing headphones and mums wanting to chat.



I had my weigh in on Tuesday as am taking part in the New Year, New Body support group set up by @LizJarvis and was disappointed that I have only lost 1lb in the last two weeks, taking me back to what I weighed before Christmas.



Yesterday was spent hoiking up my jeans and getting annoyed that they kept falling down, so today I measured myself.



I am high waisted and have lost nothing from my waist, but I have lost an incredible 7cm from my stomach!!! I am amazed.



I also need to be re-measured for a bra as I've lost 3cm there too - I thought I was uncomfortable. Shame I can't afford it!



I'm not sure I'm ready to ditch the scales just yet, but I'm pleased with my progress and it's given me the incentive to carry on!

Saturday is Caption Day

My Tutus and Superheros

When I saw Mummy_loves competition with Appliances Online Washing Machines I thought this would be perfect for my dressing up loving son.

Isaac is 3 and adores dressing up, be it Woody or Buzz from Toy Story or all sorts of scary things from our Halloween box.

Which outfit do I choose?

It could only be this one:

Isaac has loved the Gruffalo ever since he performed in it for his Nursery school play in 2010.  He can tell you the story word for word, although sadly not when a camera is pointed at him so this has to be our entry.

Seeing as the competition is called Tutus and Superhero's, who could resist a pic of my Princess in her Tutu:

Thank you for the idea Sonia - I have some great pics of Eliza.

If you fancy entering too, just follow this link http://thismummyloves.blogspot.com/2012/01/enter-my-tutus-and-superheroes.html and you could be in with a chance of winning £100 Amazon vouchers!!

Kian and Isaac's Entry into the Appliances Online Cookers Yummy Food Competition

The lovely Madhouse Family Reviews and A Boy with Aspergers running a competition in conjunction with Appliances Online Cookers  for children to draw there favourite meals.

Here are our entries:

Isaac - Aged 3 has drawn Chicken Nuggets, Chips, Peas and Ketchup.  I had a very proud mummy moment when he was drawing this.  He told me that chips were rectangles!

And here is Kian's entry - he is 11 and has even written the ingredients down the side (the spelling needs some work though!!) - His entry is Sausage Jambalaya and this is his favourite dish.  This is also the one he is desperate to help me cook!

I shall be posting our recipe for Sausage Jambalaya very soon, so keep your eyes out for it!

Tasty Thursday Week 1 - Lemon and Lime Drizzle Cake

The gorgeous @mummy_blogger has started a new challenge of posting a new recipe every Thursday and I have decided to join her.

For my first recipe, I am going to share my simple Lemon and Lime Drizzle cake which I made earlier this week in preparation for Eliza's birthday.

Ingredients:

• 110g unsalted butter, softened (leave out at room temperature to soften but keep covered)
• 170g caster sugar
• Lemon zest from 1 lemon
• 2 whole eggs
• 4 tbsps milk
• 1 tsp baking powder gluten free
• 170g self raising flour
• Juice from 1 lemon
• 1 lime grated just zest
• 6 tbsps icing sugar

Method:
Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius/ gas mark 4.

Grease and line a cake tin (or loaf tin) approximately 20-25cm in length and 13cm wide.

Using a mixer, add the soft butter, sugar and lemon zest and mix together. Next add the eggs and milk, then the baking powder and flour and mix to a smooth consistency.

Pour into the lined cake tin and place into the oven for approximately 45 minutes, until the sponge springs back when pressed.

Warm the lemon juice and lime zest gently in a pan, and then add the icing sugar.

Remove the cake from the tin and whilst still warm, pour over the lemon, lime and sugar mix.

Allow to cool and slice into portions.

Now for the best bit...................Enjoyed with a cuppa!!

Playdates

The lovely @charliemoos has asked me to review a new FREE parent network with a difference, where you can join local playgroups, meet friends and plan playdates using the unique scheduling features on the website.

Why not ask your local school, nursery, playgroup, club or class to register their group today - it's a FREE, fun, friendly local website for parents and carers of children in the UK. Using Playdates, you can meet up and make friends within the playgroups.  Yes it's all about 'Playgroups'.

This is new in the UK but NOT throughout the world so be one of the first in UK to tell your friends.

Playdates.co.uk will be promoting socialising outside the web, increasing events and physical social activities both parent/carer and child can do together. Essentially, using the site to arrange playdates with your child’s friends parents/careers, or as a tool to promoting groups of parents meeting up locally via the playdate groups created on the site.

There will be lots of info for us parents as well loads of things going on in your local town. As a mother and a childminder I think this tool will be invaluable. I cannot wait to see the app and I shall update you with all with how I get on with the Dorset area. I am forever moaning that I miss events as I have not seen or heard about it, so this should make it easier!

Why not have a look for yourself .................

The cutest things

As a parent of a range of ages, I feel really quite sad that I haven't got much footage of my older children from when they were young.  What's more, the footage I have is on video, so I really need to get it transfered onto a DVD.

Whilst messing around with my phone last night, I recorded what is a daily rhyme said in our house every day by my three year old.

Do you have any sayings or rhymes you always use with your little ones?

If you do, record them for posterity - they'll make you smile when they're taller than you!

My Photography Resolution

I have read a couple of blog posts already regarding others Photography resolution, and it got me thinking as to what mine would be.

I am a big photograph taker on my phone and love apps such as Instagram, where you can add gorgeous effects to your photo's.  The problem with that is that the pictures are not a good enough resolution to get blown up and put into picture frames.

I have also fallen into the habit of not taking our "big" camera out and about with us, as we have our phones.  Plenty a good photo opportunity missed there.

Why am I always the one behind the camera?  Sometimes we go for days out and there is not one photo of me!  I admit that sometimes I shy away from having my picture taken as I always think I look a mess, or over-weight etc.  But my family loves me for who I am and I want those sorts of pictures!

Lastly, and most importantly, I can never get my children in the same place at the same time.  I think the only family photograph I have is from Eliza's Christening in April last year, and it isn't a very good one.

So, my photography resolution for 2012 is:

1.  To take our lovely nice big camera out, whenever we go on a day trip - and sometimes at home

2.  To make sure that I am IN FRONT of the camera on occasions.  Even if it means accosting a stranger to take our photo

3.  To take every opportunity to get my whole family together for a photograph!

4.  To take part in the wonderful Gallery every week!

What a difference a year makes

Happy 1st Birthday Eliza Annabella Louise x

My 2011 Highs and Lows Meme

I have been tagged by the lovely @mummyconstant http://mummyconstant.com/my-2011-highs-lows-meme/



1.  What was you happiest event?



It has to be the birth of Eliza on 24th January.  I had gestational diabetes throughout which was managed by diet and insulin and there is always a worry about the baby and birth, but she arrived safe and well and only 7lb 3oz!



2.  What was the saddest thing that happened?



My eldest daughter moved out of home and my eldest son decided he wanted to move to his dad's.  I can't pick between these and both were devastating.



3.  What was the most unlikely thing that happened that you actually went and did?



My 11 year old son won a competition to be a player escort for Manchester City at the Charity Shield at Wembley.  It was an amazing proud mummy moment.  I found myself sat with thousands of Man City supporters with a 3 year old and a baby in a sling and I thoroughly enjoyed myself despite being a Chelsea fan.



4.  Who let you down?



My eldest daughter and my MIL in equal measure.  They had a massive row and refuse to speak to each and sort it out.  It's still rumbling on now and causing tension.



5.  Who supported you?



My gorgeous husband.  He isn't perfect and we've probably had more downs than ups this year, but he has stood by me through all the family bickering.



6.  Tell us one thing you have learned.



Teenagers know their own mind and it doesn't matter how much you try to advise them, they will ignore you and do it anyway. Best to let them learn from their mistakes but be there to help them pick up the pieces.



7.  Tell us one thing that made you laugh.



We were watching Kian perform in his school play Aladdin (he was the Sultan).  When it had finished the headmistress got up to do her thank you's, but there was an awkward silence when she finished.  At the top of his voice, 3 year old Isaac said "Uh Oh" - the whole auditorium erupted in laughter!



8.  Tell us one thing that made you cry.



Eldest son telling me he prefers living at his dad's. 



9.  Tell us three things that your children did to make you proud



Can I have 5 (as I have 5 children).  Eldest daughter passed her A-Levels, eldest son has turned a corner at school and is doing really well.  11 year old for standing in front of thousands of raucous fans on the pitch at Wembley and taking it all in his stride.  3 year old for finally conquering potty training and as for the baby - it has to be for her constant chatter!



10.  Tell us one thing thing that made you proud of yourself



I started my blog.  I am a complete techno phobe, but I'm getting there and am very proud of what I have put together!



11.  Tell us one challenge you overcame



Trying to run a family of 7 with very little sleep! 



12.  Tell us three things you would like to change about your life from 2011



I am setting up my own business as a childminder, so am equally scared and excited at the same time as I no longer have the comfort of a steady income!  I need to focus more on the positives and not the negatives in life.  Finally, to try and spend more time with hubby and have some "us time".



Now to tag some more fabulous mummy bloggers.....



@mummyglitzer - new to blogging and super lovely http://mummyglitzer.wordpress.com/



@tiredmummyoftwo - we are doing our thinking slimmer journey together although i've been a bit slack (oops)  http://tiredmummyoftwo.weebly.com/



@luckylauraQ - she keeps saying she is going to start blogging, so is this the push she needs??

Silent Sunday 22nd January 2012

The Gallery - Eyes

Everyone comments on my daughters beautiful coloured eyes and long eyelashes and I have really struggled to get a good photo of them.



I can't resist this one though as it also highlights her gorgeous chubby cheeks too!

One Born Every Minute - Am I a Rulebreaker

Last week I spoke about my last labour and my pain relief choices. This week OBEM is talking about rule breakers, so I am going to tell you about my first.

I don't want to go into the ins and outs, but at 18 years old I found myself pregnant and the dad didn't want to know. I found out when I was 16 weeks gone and to say it was a shock was an understatement, I had just discovered that my boyfriend was involved with a married woman and I was obviously devastated, but my friends were all wonderful and all rallied round to help me.

The pregnancy was an easy one physically, but I struggled to come to terms with the infidelity. As I had been living with him I suddenly found myself with nowhere to live and no idea where to start looking. I found myself living with a friend of a friend in a flat with no heating in the middle of winter. If I am honest it was a really miserable time, but after having my scans and seeing my baby for the first time I began to look forward to meeting him/her.

Things started to turn a corner when I found myself a flat. I was the first of my group of friends to have my own place so everyone used to visit. I was certainly never lonely!! My colleagues all rallied around and bought me loads of beautiful and useful things for the baby (that's working with lots of other mums for you). I worked right up until two weeks before she was due, but baby let me have all of 5 days off work before she decided to make her entrance.

I woke at 2am having twinges but was coping well. I was bored at home so I decided to head off to sit with my ex colleagues at work in the Petrol Station when it opened at 6am. No one believed I was in labour as I wasn't making a fuss and was just happy being with other people. When their shift finished at 10am we headed out to meet some other friends and ended up having a picnic on the beach (yes really).

At 2pm I was starting to get really uncomfortable and one of the group lived really close by so we set off for there. I managed another hour with his mum telling me they were Braxton Hicks and nothing to make a fuss about!!!

Around 3.30pm we set off for the hospital. Sarah driving my car and the boys leading in theirs. They went to the wrong hospital (funny even at the time!). We got to the hospital at 4pm and I was put on the monitor in the labour ward whilst my friends made jokes about horse racing etc- it really kept my spirits up!

One went off to find a pay phone to phone my mum (yes, this was pre-mobile era). The midwives soon realised that was in labour and finally examined me to discover I was 7cm and off I went down to the labour ward. Sarah stayed with me whilst we waited for my mum but decided against staying once my mum had arrived.

I'd started on the Gas and Air by then so didn't mind. The rest of the labour was a bit of a blur. I remember asking the midwife if I could go home. She said No! I remember asking for pethidine. She said No! (it was too late), then at 17.45, weighing 7lb 3oz my beautiful Abbey was born and from there my journey into motherhood began!

Silent Sunday

Family Frolics - A trip to the Seaside

The lovely @Multiplemummy has come up with a wonderful linky that comes out every Friday.

Being caught up in modern day life we often forget what fun we have had with the kids during the week so it's a wonderful way of documenting an activity or trip you have done with them that week.  For more information go here:  http://multiplemummy.com/blog/family-frolics-1/

Here is my Family Frolic for this week:

Living where we do, we often take the local attractions for granted but this Sunday the weather was so mild and sunny that we decided that a trip to the beach was in order.  The plan was to take a brisk walk along the promenade and enjoy the fresh air, but with a three year old in tow, it was more of an amble!

We arrived in Boscombe and took a short stroll through the beautiful gardens down to the beach and decided that our first port of call would be the Pier.  I am not sure why the children love the Pier so much, maybe it feels like they are out at sea, or maybe they just like looking through the gaps in the planks at the waves passing underneath, or trying to spot a fish.

It was a fairly quiet day, so the kids had lots of room to run and soon began a game of chasing each others shadows.  This is great fun, although it can get rather raucous with shouts of "I just jumped on your head!" etc.

Then came the best game of all..........Shadow Monsters.  It basically means trying to make Monster Shapes using your shadows, but ever one to make the biggest and best monster were hubby and the boys.  Here are our results:

And here is our finished monster:

After shadow fun, we then headed off to the beach for a bit of wave chasing.  We just made sure that the waves wouldn't catch us with it being January after all!!

And finally after a short stroll along the promenade we finished our day at the best restaurant / cafe in Bournemouth with a first class Hot Chocolate and a bowl of huge chips for the kids!

After we had a brief rest we headed back to the car, full of fresh air and worn out!

And this is what happened next:

One Born Every Minute - Pain Relief

I will start with my most recent labour - well I have done it 5 times!!

With my last two pregnancies I have had gestational diabetes so sadly I have had to be induced at 38 weeks.

I was really lucky to have such an understanding midwife. I didn't want to be put on drips - one for Glucose and one for synotocin as I found they really restricted my movement with my last labour, so we agreed that she would see how I progressed naturally and I had to check my blood sugar every 15 minutes.

I had a pessary put in at about 6.30 am to soften my cervix, which caused me to have very mild contractions throughout the morning. I did some bouncing on a birthing ball to try and get things moving along and went for a walk with hubby but I wasn't convinced anything was happening.

To cut a long story short, the pessary had done its job and I was examined and taken downstairs for my waters to be broken. This was about 14.30 and it didn't take long for my contractions to start!

By 15.20 I was in active labour as they like to call it, but I was comfortable just rocking by the bed, chatting to the midwife and my husband.

By 16.30 I really wasn't convinced that my contractions were strong enough as I'd been studying the monitor and my contractions were only lasting about 45 seconds. We joked with the midwife that we'd be here a while and she asked if I minded her disappearing to go and get her sandwich. I agreed and hubby disappeared to phone his mum to check up on the other kids (it was about 17.00)

The poor midwife was gone all of about 5 minutes when things stepped up a gear. I pressed the buzzer and back she came, eating her pilchard sandwich (I hate fish)! And I told her I was starting to feel like I needed to push.

This is when things get a bit hazy. I sort of went into my own trance as things were getting intense, but I still felt I didn't need gas and air.

By now it was time to push. And push I did. I was aware of what was going on and got very frustrated with the midwives who were telling me not to push. When your body is telling you to push its very difficult to stop!!

I remember the stinging - the worst part of giving birth and for that I wanted pain relief, but it was all over very quickly in the end and Eliza was born at 17.35, after just 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Why was I told to stop pushing?? - she was born like superman, with her arm up next to her head - no wonder it stung!!

Phone Photo - The Gallery

I was so excited about this weeks Gallery as I love taking photo's on my phone.

It is very rare that we get our trusty Pentax out, unless we are going somewhere special and there are so many phone photo apps out there you can have so much fun with them.

I am currently doing a photo a day for Project 366 on Instagram, which I plan to add to my blog once a week for those that don't have smartphones.

I have so many gorgeous phone photo's that I can't choose just one so I am adding my top 5 below.

My Childminding Adventure Part 2

Yesterday was a bit of a shock to the system. I had a lovely phone call from Ofsted saying the wheels were in motion and they were dealing with my application. Then came the news that I needed to pay them £35 to register.

I also had to pay out for my Health certificate (£30 - thanks to my lovely doctors for less than 2 pages of questions) and £102 for a Paediatric First Aid course.

Even when I was working this would have been a struggle but now with no income at all it's a nightmare!

Before Christmas I had the pre-ofsted check and I was advised that there are certain things I need to get changed. I left it as Christmas was on its way, but have started getting quotes now it's the new year.

If I'm honest I want to curl up in a ball and cry now. It's looking like its going to cost us at least £1000 and that's without giving the house a lick of paint.

Our intention to buy a "doer upper" of a house has turned round and bitten us in the bum! Six years on and we are still nowhere near!

Silent Sunday 8th January 2012

Our Best Family Holiday

Sat at the computer trying to write my Childminding policies, I found myself flicking through snaps of the children when they were younger and I happened across our Euro Disney photographs.

This is the only holiday abroad we have ever been on as a family and I was quite shocked to find that it was all the way back in 2003.  Believe it or not we went for hubby's 30th Birthday (not that he is a big kid or anything *ahem*)

I cannot remember all the minute details, but I do remember struggling on the train from Bournemouth to Waterloo with numerous suitcases, three very excited children and a buggy.  The sheer annoyance in London that stations and tubes are not particularly child friendly (especially when travelling with a buggy) and the relief when we finally got on the rather packed Eurostar.

The train journey was uneventful and fairly fast and then we were there!  We were shown to our Wild West rooms at the Hotel Cheyenne, which were small but perfectly formed.  Of course we couldn't wait to get exploring, so off we went.

The sheer wonder on the children's faces as we reached the main park will stay with me forever.  One of our first stops was to a shop to buy autograph books and then off we went!

Day One was spent getting to know the park.  Kian, who was 2 at the time, discovered his favourite ride - It's a Small World.  We had to endure this ride on numerous occasions over the three days we were there, but I for one secretly enjoyed it every time!

Day Two we explored the Studio's Park.  This was almost certainly my favourite.  The shows were amazing and captivated our young audience, with the exception of the Stunt show.  Callan, who was 6, hated every single minute of it.  He screamed, he cried, he hid and just generally made a fuss as he was scared of the noise that the cars and motorbikes were making.  Now he is a strapping almost 15 year who is car and bike mad!



Everything about Disney caters for the family and I was most impressed that I could get to ride the roller coasters too, without having to queue a second time.  This was unheard of in the UK at the time, but I went off with the little ones whilst hubby and Abbey queued and then we swapped at the exit.  My favourite was the Rock N' Roll Coaster.  The ride is exhilarating - being shot from a catapult from 0-60 in just a few seconds, it's certainly not one for the faint hearted!  The Indiana Jones one was great too, as not only did it send you round the right way, you then went round the same course backwards!

Of course, the kids adored meeting the characters more than anything else.  Stitch was Kian's favourite at the time and I have found this picture of him dancing at one of the parades!

Euro Disney did have it's downfalls.  The on site restaurants were all very similar and not particularly good.  Disney Village had some lovely restaurants but these were mostly very expensive and we missed Buffalo Bill's Wild Wild West Show as it booked up very quickly.

We went for 3 nights but next time I would love to go for longer next time as I really don't think that we covered it all. 

I would not have missed this experience for the world.  It really was the perfect family holiday and I cannot wait to do it all over again for hubby's 40th now we have two more little ones to introduce to the delights of Disney!

This is my entry into the Tots100/Al Fresco Holiday Competition.  If you fancy a chance to win - enter here:  http://www.thomsonalfresco.co.uk/

My New Adventure

I have mentioned it a couple of times on twitter but as of 28th December I am no longer employed.

I fell out of love with my old employer when I returned to work following the birth of 3 year old Isaac but persevered in the vague hope of it improving. It didn't improve so I decided to undertake a Childminder training course.

I got my qualification but not long afterwards I discovered I was pregnant with Eliza so I battled through doing a job I no longer enjoyed with management who were not familiar with "work / life balance"

Almost 18 months later, here I am no longer employed, about to start on a new career as a childminder. I've been busy writing policies (no mean feat), booking first aid courses and filling in forms.

I was going to wait to name my fledgling business but it seems I will need a website, a logo and business cards etc which, along with Ofsted registration takes a while to do!

This is where you come in my lovelies. I need you're help. Is there any name that would really put you off (my per hate is odd spellings)?

I loved the name Mini Beasts (refers to ladybirds, bees, creepy crawlies) but hubby thinks this could be misconstrued. He likes Bears in the Wood, but I think this could be linked with Babes in the wood, which isn't a particularly good Fairytale.

What do you think??

All suggestions welcomed!!

My Twitter Journey

*stands up in a room of strangers* "Hello, my name is Kara and I'm a twitter addict"

Hubby is forever moaning at me "Are you tweeting again?" and normally the answer would be yes!

I don't neglect the children, in fact I tend to tweet whilst feeding the baby, when they are happily distracted by something else or when they're in bed.  I shall admit to perhaps missing the odd bowl of washing up though!

I joined twitter in February 2009 although didn't really "get" it.  I followed the likes of Stephen Fry and a host of other celebs, but apart from the odd tweet back from some minor celebs like Jason Manford (not one of those tweets), there was little interaction.

By the end of the 2009, I finally "got" it.  I was following like minded people, mainly engaging in football banter and random chat.

Twitter really took off for me when I was pregnant with Eliza and on maternity leave.  I discovered the parent blogging world and without exception they are the nicest, most supportive bunch of people I have ever not met!  Thanks to them I have also been introduced to some really fab companies too, who I don't think I would ever have found otherwise.

My plan over the next few days is to introduce you too some of these companies and their products.  Coming from a customer Service background, we are all to quick to complain, but we rarely shout about the good service!

So, thank you twitter - for the highs, the lows, the competitions (I have been to Wembley twice this year thanks to them) and most of all, all the lovely friendly tweeps I have met!

In case you are wondering, I've been on twitter for 2 years, 10 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 20 hours and 23 minutes at the time of writing this post!

Silent Sunday 1st January 2012