Project 365 - Week 13

It has been an odd week, the kids have been at school despite it being Easter and didn't break up until Thursday lunch time and by Friday they were ready to go back!  

I am starting to wind down my work in the run up to Maternity leave as well, so have said goodbye to a couple of children who will be starting Nursery in the new term - a whole new adventure for them and a couple of unexpected days off for me!

So here is my week in pictures:

83.  Future Olympian?

84.  Oi!! You are supposed to be looking at me!

85.  Yes Mum - the cat will fit through this hole!

86.  Mum look, it's Peppa Pig!!

87.  Starbucks and a Lemon and Poppyseed muffin - just what the doctor ordered (honest)

88.  The new reading corner

89.  My three boys + Lego = Concentration and silence!

Silent Sunday

Saturday is Caption Day - 30th March 2013

On Tuesday I had an unexpected day off, so we decided to take Eliza to meet some of her very favourite characters at Peppa Pig World.

We took some fantastic photographs throughout the rather chilly day, but can you give this one the caption it deserves?

Silentnight Superspring Mattress Topper and Pillow Pair - review

There is nothing quite like a good nights sleep and being comfortable is a good part of getting those all important x number of hours.

I was offered a Silentnight Superspring Mattress Topper and Pillow Pair to review and finally got to throw my old one away that was threadbare and on its last legs.

The mattress protector is fitted and therefore fits the mattress snugly and I could visibly see that it was lightly padded as soon as I put it on the bed.  It is made with spring-like fibres which return to their original shape time and time again, ensuring comfort every night.

It has made a real difference and the bed is so much more comfortable to sleep in. You sink into the sheets now and the topper will prolong the life of the mattress by adding an extra layer of comfort.

The pillows have a cosy hollow-fibre filling, which I have to admit isn't for me - I like my goose down ones.  However, we have given them to the boys and even they have remarked how much more comfortable they are!

The Mattress topper and pillow set is available from thebeddingcompany.co.uk for just £28.99.  They specialise in Silentnight bedding and bed linen and can be found on facebook and as @Bedding_Company on twitter.

Black Faux Leather Ottoman Storage Box - Review

My kids have so many toys and things in general, that I often struggle to find adequate storage for everything.

I even have to clear out every month or so and would love to know where some of it comes from.  Toy boxes are just not enough.

This is where homestorage4u.co.uk comes in, with their fantastic range of home storage ideas.

I don't like toy boxes in my lounge - I find it nice to be able to sit and relax without all the paraphernalia that comes with having children cluttering up my eyeline.  With this in mind, I was sent the Black Faux Leather Ottoman Storage Box to review.

It arrived flat packed and I was immediately concerned that it was going to be a nightmare to put together, but I was pleasantly surprised.  It simply popped into shape and then you put on the lid - voila - a sturdy storage box which doubles as a seat or a footrest!

Of course the first thing the kids wanted to do, was see if they could fit inside it!!

 They soon decided it was better to actually sit on it!

This single Ottoman is perfect for small toys, books and magazines (Isaac has his Skylanders in ours), but they also a two and three seater version, which have collapsible compartments so can can store whatever you need to.  What's more, if you don't need to use it, simply fold it back up and store it away.

I am impressed with the quality, and it doesn't look like "toy storage".  The only issue I do have is I need another one, as the kids argue over their new seat, but I am going to get the bigger double one which should solve the problem.  With prices starting from £25.49 it won't break the bank either!

HomeStorage4U also stock a wide range of vacuum bags, storage boxes and even suitbags, so if you are struggling to find storage space, I recommend you take a look.  They even have some offers on their faux suede ottomans.

For more information and offers, you can like them on facebook or follow them on twitter @Homestorage4U

A Chilly Trip to the seaside

This time last year we were basking in glorious sunshine and no longer needed a winter coat. This year, the winter coat, hat, gloves and scarf are still firmly attached - but that doesn't mean we can't have fun on the beach!

Spurred on by the quest to encourage my children to have a Natural Childhood and enjoy everything our surroundings have to offer, we wrapped up warm and headed for the beach to find it almost completely deserted.

It gave us more room to have an adventure though - we followed some tractor tracks to see where they went.  We found it digging a giant hole and decided it was looking for buried treasure!

Some of us even lay down to inspect the sand more closely!

We practiced writing our names in the sand!

We even had an unsuccessful attempt at skimming stones - partly as it was too rough and partly as there are very few stones on a sandy Bournemouth beach!

It may have been extremely cold and very blustery, but we certainly had fun!!

FIRST UK VITAMIN D DAY LAUNCHED TO EDUCATE PARENTS

At the dawn of British summertime 2013, growingupmilkinfo.com launches the UK's first Vitamin D Day (31 March) to raise awareness about the importance of the vitamin for toddler development.

With a recent survey highlighting that the majority of UK mums (91%)i don't know the recommended daily intake of vitamin D for toddlers, Vitamin D Day has been created to address misconceptions, and educate the nation's parents, about the role of diet in providing the essential vitamin.

Health expert and ITV's This Morning regular, Dr Chris Steele, who is backing Vitamin D Day, stressed the importance of dietary intake of vitamin D for toddlers. He said: "Many parents don't know how much vitamin D is needed for the normal growth of toddler bones and teeth.

He added: "The low levels of vitamin D in toddler diets is a growing health concern and we need to ensure that our toddlers are getting the best from their diets. Presently, the average British toddler is only getting 27% of their recommended daily dietary vitamin D intake ii and the sun cannot be relied upon alone to fulfil a toddler's vitamin D needs."

Vitamin D Day aims to educate Brits on the food sources, like oily fish, liver and eggs, as well as foods and milks fortified with vitamin D, such as fortified breakfast cereals and Growing Up Milk, to help top-up vitamin D levels in our little ones' diets.

To support Vitamin D Day growingupmilkinfo.com has launched its new website which includes vitamin D rich recipes for toddlers and expert health advice and tips, as well as a vitamin D Q&A video with Dr Chris Steele.

For more information on the importance Vitamin D and toddler nutrition, visit growingupmilkinfo.com. 

Zoflora - Concentrated Disinfectant

Just sometimes, you are sent something to review that becomes a vital piece of equipment almost instantly.

This happened when we were sent some Zoflora Springtime Concentrated Disinfectant to review.

Personally, I really dislike the smell of disinfectant, but it is a necessary evil when you have kids and pets, but (and it is a BIG BUT), I was pleasantly surprised by the Zoflora - it smelled lovely!

Zoflora smells pleasant, without being overpowering and gets rid of the unwanted smell that you needed to be rid of in the first place.  It also kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses.  What's more - because it is concentrated a little goes a VERY long way.

We have used it to clear up vomit and pet smells and it has worked a treat.  Looking at their website, they also have many other tips of how to use it, and I love the idea of using an empty spray bottle and using Zoflora as an everyday cleaner!

You can use it on bathrooms, toilets, bins, work surfaces, floors, doors and more!

I will definitely be purchasing Zoflora again - no more unpleasant smells in my house!!

Did you know they are on twitter as @LoveZoflora and even on facebook where you can get more cleaning hints and tips!

Adventure Wonderland - Bournemouth

Adventure Wonderland has long been a favourite destination for my children.  Both my older two had birthday's there when they were small and it was called Alice in Wonderland.

It has grown since we first started going there and now there are dozens of fairground type rides, a cuddle corner farm, a huge indoor play area, a theatre and the maze!!

We normally go as a treat in the summer months, as it can get quite expensive, but this year they have a fantastic offer on their facebook page.  Simply like the page and you get access to a voucher entitling you to an adult season pass free when you buy a children's season ticket, just look for the offer picture - you have to hurry though as the offer stops on 15th April!

Children's and adults passes are £44 and 2 year old passes are £25, so it really is worth doing.  I saved over £100 for my family and we can use the park as often as we like until November!

Admittedly, it has been a little cold for some of the rides, but here is an idea of what we got up to at the weekend!

We met the Mad Hatter, Alice and the Queen of Hearts........

Charged around the Soft Play area......

Drove a caterpillar (as you do)......

Played some Croquet........















Cuddled a Guinea Pig and a Rabbit........

Discussed hair care options with an Alpaca.......

We even got to ride a Pony!!

Eliza wasn't as keen!

Kian prefered the Runaway Train....

We were there a good three hours and also rode the Flying Elephants, Yoyo's, bounced on trampolines and threw ourselves down a giant inflatable slide.  It isn't really a park for big kids, but Kian did enjoy himself really!  There is even a live show to see.  You can easily spend the whole day there as we didn't even see half of the park.

They also have character days throughout the year, with special visits from Peppa Pig, The Octonauts and many more - simply follow @wonderlandparks on twitter, like the facebook page or just have a nose at their website http://www.adventurewonderland.co.uk/ to find out more.

Swimwear365 - Female Attraction #sp

Swimwear365 have dug deep into the mind set of us lovely ladies out there and unearthed some unbelievably interesting information - for example, did you know that more than half of women eye up other females to see how they compare, rather than checking out guys? 

Apparently, we're nosiest on the beach with 43% of women making swimwear their number one point of comparison - so make sure you've got yourself a stunning swimsuit to top the spying charts this summer. We've got hundreds of swimwear styles to suit all shapes and sizes, so have a browse and get yourself beach-beautiful. 

Female Attraction via Swimwear365

The Gallery - Walks

I love this weeks's Gallery Choice - Walks and I have many a photograph that could be entered as we love to get some fresh air in our lungs and explore the local countryside.  The problem is actually choosing one!

One of our favourite places to go for a walk is the beach, and this shot was taken walking along an abandoned Boscombe Pier in Dorset in early February.  

Much as it was cold, there is nothing quite like being on a desolate beach, listening to the waves rolling in and breaking on the shoreline, interspersed with giggles from the little ones as they watch through the planks on the pier.

The beaches here are very different in the summer and you can barely move for tourists, so it all looks very different then!

Going Gaga for Fashion

Finally the sun is here! At long last we can start planning yearly vacations and get set for summer. Maybe you’ll think about having a spring clean, swapping those winter coats for a super set of sandals, or perhaps start planning your summer wardrobe? Well, whatever your indulgence, don’t worry; your fashion aspirations can’t be as bizarre as the notoriously quirky Lady ‘Meat Dress’ Gaga. 

Recently she’s announced that even for her own wedding she’s breaking convention, forgetting about Disney Princess dreams of beautiful white ball gowns, and instead opting for a haunting black and gold number. As a testament to this pop queen’s unusual taste in attire, here’s a selection of our favourite Gaga fashion oddities.

Meat Dress

As we’ve mentioned previously, there’s no getting away from discussing Gaga’s wardrobe without mentioning the infamous ‘meat dress.’ If you’re unfamiliar with the piece, it’s pretty much what it says on the tin; a dress made purely from meat. As if she’d literally been plucked from a butcher’s window, Gaga strutted to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards with nothing but a gown of raw beef. As you can imagine, it caused quite a stir!

Whilst TIME Magazine declared it as the fashion statement of 2010, vegetarians were raging in anger across the board. According to Gaga herself, the purpose of the dress was to encourage the nation to fight for what they believe in. But did it work? Who knows!

Giant Bat

That’s right; you read correctly. Whilst performing at the X factor, Gaga thought it would be appropriate to dress as none other than a giant bat. Sporting an outfit that Bruce Wayne would be proud of (well, except for that the fact that she couldn’t move in it) Lady Gaga’s typically eccentric performance didn’t disappoint. Commanding the stage from the centre of a giant bath tub, surrounded by zombie- like dancers, Gaga definitely wowed the audience with her batty antics.

Bubble Dress

Everybody loves playing with bubble wrap (it’s the best part of getting something in the post!) but have you ever thought about wearing it? Thought not. Well surprise, surprise, one woman who did was none other than Ms Lady Gaga. Sporting the see-through number during ‘The Fame Ball’ tour, Gaga took to the piano with nothing but a nude leotard covered in a coat of Perspex bubbles; god help her if there was anybody with a pin around!

Well, as outrageous as Gaga’s fashion choices can be, it’s safe to say that she never fails to get heads turning! So be inspired, and find a few statement pieces for your summer wardrobe in 2013! 

**This is a Guest Post**

BigJigs Farm House Sorter - Review

I love wooden toys - they are practical, hardwearing and most of all fun, so when I found out we were one of the 12 finalists to become a BigJigs' Play Patrol Agent, I admit I let out a little scream!

We were sent a BigJigs' Baby FarmHouse Shape Sorter to review, and it was a big hit as soon as it arrived.

The first thing that struck me was how striking it is.  The variety of colours make it really appealing to little ones and it is beautifully made, strong and sturdy, without being too heavy.

There are 9 chunky pieces, perfect for little hands to sort and try and get through the relevant shaped hole.  Eliza was frustrated that it wasn't quite as easy as it looked, but she is slowly mastering it and there are plenty of other games you can play too.

We started off by identifying each shape and making the relevant "noise or action", which the turned into a very noisy rendition of Old MacDonald had a farm, where the children had to choose which animal came next.

The shapes are easily identifiable and we had fun naming the colours as well as the animals.  We even count them back into the farmhouse before it gets put away, as someone keeps trying to disappear with the cat!

Even packing the shapes away and putting the roof back on the farmhouse is fun!

As the children get older, each animal has its name on the reverse of the piece., which encourages early letter identification which then builds to words.  Isaac (4) is learning to read and managed to identify most of the animals by the words alone, although if he got stuck he could look at the shape for help.

Isaac also enjoyed balancing the shapes in the relevant holes, and was surprisingly good at it until his sister came up and poked them back through!

The BigJigs Farm House Sorter is the first toy both little ones ask for when they get up in the morning, and today they set it up as a working farm with a toy Mr Tumble as the farmer.  It was lovely seeing them playing so nicely together and goes to show how versatile it is.

The BigJigs Farm House Sorter is available at all good toy shops and online at the BigJigs Shop.

For more information about BigJigs toys, offers and competitions you can like them on facebook here, follow them on twitter at @bigjigstoys or simply visit the website bigjigstoys.com.