Making My New Kitchen Perfect Thanks To LakeLand Furniture

You know when an email drops in your inbox and even though you're in a public place you actually squeal slightly with delight?

Well, that happened to me a few weeks back now. It was before we moved house and my thoughts were consumed with moving and making our new house our future home. Anyone who knows me will know it's been at the forefront of my mind for the last month or so.

I had a list of things we needed to buy and a pair of red barstools was written on that list. Our new kitchen has an island (*squeals* I've always wanted one) and part of it is a breakfast bar.

So imagine my delight when Lakeland Furniture emailed me asking if I'd like to review a product for them. They specialise in reproductions of modern classic furniture and have a huge (and I mean massive) range of barstools and chairs.

I did actually squeal when I looked at their website and was very excited!

We knew we wanted red for the new kitchen and so the search commenced. The Lakeland Furniture website was simple and very user-friendly. Just selecting 'red barstools' on the website brought back a choice of 52 barstools. We couldn't believe the huge choice.

We finally settled on 2 Mars Red Padded Barstools (priced at £45 each*) which we thought would be perfect. We were also impressed they come with a 2 year warranty.

There was much excitement when they arrived. I'd expected the box to be much bigger but when I opened it I realised how well they'd been packed.

The chrome plated steel bases were really well packaged inside too so they didn't get damaged in any way.

The instructions of how to assemble the barstools were really simple and even TC wanted to help mummy.

It was simply put the pole with the footrest into the base, then screw in the pole with the gas lift handle onto the bottom of the seats (4 screws and Allen key provided) and then slot the two together.

Hey presto!

Even I managed to put them together effortlessly in no time at all.

I have to be honest and say that the colour of them is a lot brighter than how they appear on the Lakeland Furniture website but they still look amazing in our kitchen.

Most of our visitors to the new house have immediately commented on them and said how comfortable they are. I do have to say that they are extremely comfortable (they support your back unlike others I've tried) and are easy to clean - a must with 2 small kiddos. They are actually the most comfy barstools I've ever sat on...and I've sat on a lot!

We'd really recommend Lakeland Furniture if you want good quality products at great prices. Delivery is totally free within mainland UK which is great. I didn't realise, until I visited their website, that they supply to the TV industry. So when you see Mr Blumenthal in a fancy kitchen you know why.

I'm in love

Yes, it's totally an excuse to give you a sneak peak inside my new kitchen but forgive me *wink*

  

We were sent the two bar stools to review 

but all photographs, words, views and opinions are entirely my own.

*prices correct at time of writing

In A Stew About School

Those of you who follow my blog will know we moved house just over a week ago.

It's gone great, even better than we expected in fact (blog post to follow when I come out from under boxes!). We are totally in love with the house - it's perfect. It's one we have coveted since before TC was born. It's right next to where we used to live before our last house so we know the area very well and it's lovely to be living back here. We have everything we need and more. I'm happier than I've been in a long time.

Apart from one thing.

I'm in turmoil over Mini Cheddar's school.

We have only moved a couple of miles or so away. It takes a few minutes to drive down the road to our old house. The school that MC has her reception place at is near our old house. It's a really lovely school and she's been very happy there of a morning in her nursery class.

I thought when we moved I'd be happy for her to continue at this school. It means a short car journey - it's a bit too far to walk now - but it's been no bother.

The thing is, there is a school right around the corner from our new house. It's a smaller school. A lot smaller than her current one. Is smaller better?

The official reports say that her current school has the edge but people seem to rate the local school very highly and argue that this isn't the case.

I'm having sleepless nights at the moment trying to decide what to do for the best. The decision may be taken out of my hands - it could be that there aren't any places at the local school. I haven't checked but I'm going to investigate on Monday. In a way I'm hoping the decision is out of my hands, as selfish as that sounds.

I know MC wants to stay at her current school but she's only 4 years old and the reason she gave me (when she heard Matt and I discussing it last week) was that "the local school doesn't have a slide outside". The slide is in the nursery section anyway so she wouldn't have access to it in September - I've not broken that one to her yet!

Anyway, I'm worried that if she stays at her current school that neighbours children will be going to the local school so she'll have difficulty fitting in. I worry that in bad weather we won't be able to get into school. In the snow in March it was great to be able to sledge to school! I worry that when TC is old enough he won't get into the school as we live outside the catchment area and I would like them both to go to the same school. I worry that she may be missing out on more one-on-one education from a smaller school. Her recent school report said she's shy in school (anyone who knows my daughter in real life knows she's far from shy!) and I don't know if a smaller class would be better for this.

However, I'm worried that if I move her - she won't like it. I'm worried I'll regret it and then we are stuck.

What would you do?

Do you have any experience or advice?

I just can't seem to concentrate on anything else right now.

The BabaSling Lite - The Perfect Travel Companion

In a mad panic before our recent holiday I took took to Twitter (my saviour for advice) wondering if anyone could recommend a great baby wearing sling or carrier for our Florida trip.

You see, I'm not a baby wearer. It just doesn't come that naturally to me. Maybe I've just been unlucky with my carrier choices.

4 years ago, when MC was born, we bought an all-singing, all dancing carrier. It was one that could be worn in many different ways. MC hated it. I hated it. It was difficult to set up and when it was, MC just wasn't happy in it at all. Not on my back, or my front. I ended up selling it unused.

I tried a new one when TC was born last year but neither of us got on with that either.

With the forthcoming holiday I knew a sling would come in really handy though. Anyone who's travelled to Orlando International Airport with a small child will know that the layout of it doesn't favour those with buggies/strollers and, with TC still not able to walk unaided at this point, it made sense to try and find an appropriate sling. Also, I was unsure of what the queue times for the theme park rides would be. We'd have to leave the buggy in the designated 'stroller parks' whilst queuing and I didn't fancy the idea of having to carry TC for a huge amount of time.

Well, as usual, Twitter came to my rescue. There were a few slings and carriers that were mentioned but one that kept being mentioned and looked fabulous - just what I was after. Then, as luck would have it, the people at BabaSling were alerted by tweets from people recommending and asked if we'd like to review the BabaSling Lite.

Hurrah!

It sounded perfect for our holiday so we thought we'd put it to the test. What better test for a sling designed for travel? A 3 week holiday in Florida.

At Orlando International Airport

So, we picked a gorgeous turquoise colour sling (there are 5 more to choose from too) and it arrived super quick so we were able to give it a go before the holiday.

As soon as I opened it I knew it was going to be great. The material (100% breathable cotton) was lovely and the colour was stunning. It also comes in a carry bag too.

Tiny Ched took to it straight away and I loved the simplicity of it. A few adjustments (the tutorial videos are excellent) and we were pros in a matter of minutes. I actually felt like a 'baby wearer' for the first time in over 4 years. The sling has 5 different carry positions but, I have to say, that 'side saddle' works best for both of us given TC's age. It can be used up to 2 years - I just wish I'd found it sooner! As someone who breastfed it would have been brilliant as you can breastfeed discreetly with it too.

Loving the sling in the Florida sun

As the BabaSling Lite is more lightweight than the BabaSling Classic and the BabaSling Cozy it's perfect for doing jobs around the house with a clingy little one. Thankfully TC is happy to just follow me around the house but to test the BabaSling out before the holiday we tried it out. He was more than happy to be in it and I loved having him so close as he loves cuddles.

Queuing at The Magic Kingdom

The sling really came into it's own on holiday though. It was perfect for the airport. We whizzed through immigration and on the trams, up escalators  and to baggage claim with ease with him in the sling. It was a brilliant start and he didn't get too hot even though the weather in Orlando was baking. We also used it a few times at Disney theme parks - although not as much as I thought as the queues for rides were in our favout.

The BabaSling is my ideal sling. We really love it. And, what's more, it goes in the washing machine with ease and still looks brand new.

It's main use now we are home from holiday is when I need to mow the lawns and I can't have TC (who can now walk perfectly) running everywhere in the garden. He really enjoys mowing the lawn with me.

Mowing the lawns with mummy

I think it's a must have for an extensive travel holiday but also it's great for around the house.

We really wish we'd found it sooner.

The BabaSling Lite retails at £39.99* and can be purchased direct from BabaSling or from other retailers.

  

We were sent the BabaSling Lite to review 

but all photographs, words, views and opinions are entirely my own.

*prices correct at time of writing