Looking For Swimwear? Look No Further...

I can't believe how fast the year is flying by. 

Summer is well and truly here! It's that time of year for bearing some flesh. A time to enjoy the sunshine and catch a bit of Vitamin D.

One thing us women - well, most of us - don't enjoy about summer is buying swimwear. It can be a somewhat arduous task that fills us with dread. I had such a task facing me a while back when I needed a new swimming costume for Center Parcs. I wanted a new one as the one I had was starting to look a bit faded and ropey after countless hours at swimming lessons with the children. It was only a relatively cheap one but it served its purpose. I also wanted a new one that would serve me for our holiday to Florida. One that was pretty enough to be flattering and feminine but sturdy enough to stand up to the likes of Summit Plummet at Blizzard Beach. That thing can give you a colonic irrigation if you're not careful!

Anyway, I digress, I happened to be on social media at the right time and was lucky enough to be sent a David swimsuit from Patricia Eve (with matching sarong). I was thrilled as, after researching the company, I knew it would be difficult to be disappointed.

Now let me start by saying I would love to have the confidence (and the body) to show you a photo of ME in the swimsuit but I've just taken little glimpses. The main photo, at the bottom, is not me. Just incase you may have thought it was. Ha... I wish!

Beautiful detailing

As soon as I opened the swimsuit I loved it even more than the photo I'd seen of it online. It really was beautifully made. 

I am ashamed to say I hadn't heard of David Swimwear before but once I did some research into the brand I realised what a great collection of swimwear pieces they do. David is an Italian brand and that shows by the quality and beautiful Italian design - they also provide something for every woman.

The attention to detail on the swimsuit was immediately obvious. The glittering jewelled 'D' at the top of the thigh was perfectly placed and the cut of the swimsuit across the groin is extremely flattering.

The gorgeous patterned bust area

The swimsuit is black apart from the lovely pattern across the bust. Obviously black is  flattering but who wants a swim suit that's just all black? The detail on the pattern is exquisite and really sets the whole suit off beautiful.

What is great about this particular swimsuit is that it can be worn in a variety of ways. It has a tie halter neck from the patterned bust but it also has 3 different, totally removable, straps. This means that you can create a number of different looks and when you want to wear it completely strapless the halter neck twists and ties around the back of the suit.

It's quite low cut at the back but still high enough to cover your lower back so it's not too revealing. I've been using it each week for swimming with TC and I have to admit that I feel very glam in the pool - I've even had someone in my swimming class ask where I got the swimsuit from!

So, if you're looking for any swimwear in the future you can be sure of finding something suitable from Patricia Eve - they are also stockists for the 'Miracle Suit' which is the leader in swimwear shape-wear. They really do offer a great choice of high quality swimwear.

NOT ME, obviously (photo credit)

I was sent the swimsuit to review 

but all photographs (apart from image credited above), 

words, views and opinions are entirely my own.

Works Of Heart - A Bit Of Disney Magic In Our Home

Every now and again you discover something amazing. Something that you know you will love and you will want to treasure forever.

It's like this a lot of the time when MC brings home her artwork from school or sits down to draw something at home. She loves drawing and I have a large folder full of her work that I just have to keep.

The thing is, apart from the ones I display on our 'This week at school' board and the ones I have framed in the play room, they do just that, they sit in a folder never really to see the light of day.

This makes me sad.

Luckily my wonderful artist friend Minty has created something very special that every parent of young children should know about. I remember Minty testing the idea on Facebook and quite a few of us thought it was wonderful….

Take a piece of your children's precious artwork and bring it to life!

How amazing does that sound?

Well, wait until you see the actual work from 'Works Of Heart'. It's even more amazing.

Minty has a very special creative talent. She didn't demand I wrote this blog post but her work deserves to be shared.

As soon as I saw Minty's new 'Works Of Heart'' venture I knew immediately which piece of artwork that I wanted re-created. Regular readers of my blog will know how much we adore Orlando, Florida and our love for The Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World. We first went in 2012 when I was heavily pregnant - it was meant to be a last big holiday before or baby boy was born. We loved it so much we returned in 2013 with a 4 year old and a 13 month old and we are going back next year too. We are all completely hooked.

MC often draws pictures of Disney characters and earlier this year she drew Mickey and Minnie Mouse and I loved it.

One wall in our dining room was still blank. Awaiting the perfect picture or photo to sit opposite the family gallery on the other wall. I wanted Minty to re-create MC's Disney picture larger than the original so I asked for A3.

I sent over a digital photo of MC's creation and simply told Minty that I wanted it to show our love for Walt Disney World, Florida. That was it. She did the rest.

What I received was beautiful.

You can't really tell from the photograph of the artwork but Mickey and Minnie, all the flags and hearts actually stand out from the background. There is also so much sparkle on the artwork too and I love the fact Cinderella's Castle is the backdrop. It's amazing and I love it so much.

I knew I wanted to pay to have it professionally framed immediately. I took both MC's and Minty's artwork to the framers and they said it was incredible - asking who had done it. The framer put a large mount around it and, with some left over paint from our kitchen and dining room, painted the perfect frame. He even mounted MC's original drawing on the back so the two will always be together and I want to pass this picture down through the family over the years.

It looks absolutely amazing - far better than the photographs show.

It's now a fantastic talking point over dinner in our house!

Please head over to Minty's Works Of Heart Facebook page and see all the other incredible children's artwork she has recreated.

Please contact Minty at Works Of Heart for all size options and prices

Amelie - The Perfect Travel Bag From Mia Tui

Last year I bought a Matilda Mae bag from Mia Tui.

I loved it instantly.

Not just because by purchasing it I knew that 10% would go direct to The Lullaby Trust in memory of Matilda Mae but it was, quite simply, a lovely handbag. I was also sent the Lottie bag free which is great small strap across handbag which I find perfect for days out.

I loved it so much I raved about it on all forms of social media and friends and family bought one too.

So when I heard Mia Tui were looking for bloggers to review their gorgeous range of bags I just had to volunteer.

I was sent the absolutely beautiful Amelie which was originally designed as a large travel bag (Mia Tui also do the Minnie Amelie - a slightly smaller version more suitable for women under 5ft 5") and it did not disappoint. I asked for the 'Teal' colour as, when ordering my Matilda Mae bag last year, I was torn between the Aubergine and Teal. I eventually went for the Aubergine.

The Amelie Teal colour is just beautiful. Really vibrant and stands out. It also looks amazing with the bright pink interior.

Which leads me on nicely to the inside of the bag. It is brilliant! Roomy, practical and the attention to detail is just fantastic.

What makes the interior of the Amelie bag so unique is that it contains lots of different interior

photo: miatui.com

pockets and also comes with smaller bags inside - 2 clear PVC bags and a purse style bag that matches the colour of the Amelie. This means you can pretty much tailor make the bag to suit your requirements of usage. What's more, all the bags are waterproof inside and out.

I tried to get a really good photograph of the interior but it didn't do it justice like this one (left) from the Mia Tui website.

There's a large insulated water-bottle holder which is perfect for also holding an umbrella. There are many interior pockets as well as a handy clip for attaching your keys - meaning you'll never be rummaging around the bottom of your bag looking for them again. It also has a great phone holder and pen holders so you won't lose these items in your bag either.

The PVC bags contained within the Amelie are airline compliant which makes them great for putting your small bottles of liquids for aircraft carry-on. They can also be used for different things if you need them to.

I had the perfect job for the Amelie which makes my review even better…

I took it away with me on a hen weekend to London a couple of weeks ago (for those who don't know - I live in North Wales)!

I do have to admit I was worried that I wouldn't fit all I needed for 2 nights away. I also really worried about taking a shoulder bag all that way on the train and carrying it through central London on the underground tube. I knew that the other 9 girls I was travelling with were all taking wheeled suitcases. I was that worried that I also decided not to take the Amelie  But I did and I was glad I did.

Not only did the Amelie fit everything I needed for 2 nights away - including a pair of jeans, a pair of leggings, 4 going out tops (I needed back-ups!), 2 jumpers, underwear, a pair of shoe boots, all toiletries, make-up, hair straighteners AND a bottle of fizz! It was brilliant. I was really excited by the colour of the bag, so much so that I had my nails painted to match!

I needn't have worried about the fact it was a shoulder bag (it also comes with one long shoulder strap which I didn't take with me) as it was so comfortable. In fact, I think it was easier than having a wheeled suitcase as some of the girls struggled with them on escalators. The bag didn't ache my shoulder at all on the journey there and back and I really can't wait to use it for the wedding this weekend. Matt and I are staying over at a hotel and I cannot wait. This week has been emotionally challenging and I'm looking forward to letting my hair down and spending some time with my husband and my friends. And I'm thrilled the Mia Tui Amelie will be joining me!

The Amelie is priced at £63* but Mia Tui have a whole range of amazing bags and purses starting from just £15*.

So, if you're after a new bag (or even if you don't need one - but then what girl never needs a new bag?) then head over and check out the amazing range that Mia Tui offer.

Not only that, you can use my unique code 'SAHM15' to get a 15% discount on your order. How great is that? Just add your code to the discount box during the check-out process and you'll receive the discount.

I was sent the Baby Mia Tui Amelie 

but all photographs (apart from image credited above), 

words, views and opinions are entirely my own.

I also receive no financial gain whatsoever from the discount code -
it purely benefits you lovely readers.

*prices correct at time of writing

Back To School With F&F At Tesco

I don't do a huge amount of reviews on my blog, but those I do tend to benefit the kids or the house more than me. In actual fact, I can't remember the last time I had something that was just for me - if at all.

So, imagine how excited I am to be able to review something for little old me?

Okay, okay, so the thing for me was more of a treat for reviewing school uniforms from F&F (available exclusively at Tesco) but, so what?

I was able to spend £50 on school uniform and choose a 'school run' outfit for me for £50 too. Whoop!

So much excitement when the
uniform delivery arrived

I was excited for Mini Cheddar and I was excited for me! MC was beside herself...

MC starts reception class 4th September. She's been going to the nursery class at the school since last September and although they aren't required to wear uniform in nursery they all did. It was only 2.5 hours each morning so we didn't require much in the way of uniform but this year will be different. 5 days a week - 8.30am to 3.10pm. Eek.

'Big school' has been great for MC, she's been one of the top in her nursery class all year and, even though I'll miss her terribly each day, I'm excited for what the forthcoming years hold for her.

I'd been looking around at uniforms for a couple of weeks - pretty much as soon as the school holidays started - and the F&F range at Tesco looked like superb value for money.

I was right.

As soon as the items arrived I knew I'd made a great choice and I couldn't believe how much I managed to buy. In fact, I was struggling to spend the £50. I should have known when I saw the words 'Complete school uniforms from £10' on the website. Ordering online was really easy and the size charts were helpful too. MC will be 5 in March so I ordered everything aged 5-6 (apart from one pinafore and a pair of joggers) and they fit great with plenty of room to grow too. The plain white P.E. t-shirts are a tiny bit large but I think that's a good thing for P.E. as they don't want them too tight.

So here's what £50 (well, £51* actually) bought MC:

1 kilt school skirt (£4)
1 v-neck knitted school cardigan (£3)
1 ribbed waistband school joggers (£3)
2 belted flared school skirts (£5 each)
2 jersey school pinafores (£6 each)
2 pack of pique polo shirts (£2)
2 pack of school t-shirts (£2)
2 pack of cycling shorts (£3)
3 pack of super soft tights (£4)
5 pairs of pelerine knee high socks (£4)
5 pairs of trainer socks (£4)


Pretty impressive, right?

Struggling to hold the uniform haul

Well, yes.

I am impressed not only by the price but also the quality for the price. Obviously the uniform is yet to be tested by a 4 year olds full days at school but it certainly looks like it will put up a good fight so it will be really interesting to see how long everything lasts. I have heard pretty good things about the F&F uniforms though so I'm hopeful.

It's a dress so it got a big smile!

MC was really happy. She absolutely loved the pinafores but then she's obsessed with dresses!

I know she's wearing the pinafore without a polo shirt or jumper in the photo but I don't want to advertise her school colours on my blog (just my personal choice to protect her a little).

I would include a photo of her in her P.E. kit (plain colours) but she refused to be photographed in it. I'm sure she's 4 going on 14 sometimes!

Adjustable waistbands

I loved the skirts too. Not only are they super soft material and hang lovely, they have adjustable waistbands. Last year I bought MC a couple of school skirts from another well known supermarket and they didn't have adjustable waists to these really gets the thumbs up.

The only thing I was a little disappointed with was MC's school colours couldn't be found in certain places such as sock trims and dresses. It looks like I may have to rely on somewhere else to source these which is a shame.

But, the uniforms get the thumbs up from me and, more importantly, the thumbs up from MC!

I can't believe in a couple of weeks my baby girl is going to be in full time school. I also can't believe I'll have to face the school run at the two busiest times of the day.

*weep*

Good job that Tesco Clothing wanted me to choose a new school run outfit then, eh?

I've been making a conscious effort over the Summer to steer myself away from wearing jeans and t-shirts. I've even been sporting a few dresses - go me - so I thought I may treat myself to a dress or tunic for the school run. F&F had a huge range and I was spoilt for choice. After almost picking a red dress I saw a navy and cream lacy tunic that I fell in love with and the reviews looked fab. I teamed it up with a pair of blue leggings, some silver ballet pumps and also managed to get myself a lovely cardigan and a sequin scarf all for under £50.

Not many places you could get a full outfit, including shoes for under £50, especially one that looks this good.

Here's the exact run down on what I bought (total price £49*) with prices:

Two tone lace tunic (£20)
Plain leggings (£6)
Edge to edge ribbed cardigan (£12)
Sequin scarf (£4)
Metallic ballet pumps (£7)

Nothing but love for the tunic

The tunic is so lovely. I can wear it with jeans if I want to dress it down a bit or can even put it with a pair of heels for a night out but it will look so smart on the school run. It really is as lovely and as flattering as all the reviews say it is. I ordered a size 12 but I think I'm going to take it back and exchange it for a 10 as I think it will look even better a little more fitted.

The ballet pumps have already had plenty of use and the cardigan has on a couple of chilly evenings. I'm sure it won't be long and the scarf will be well used too.

Again, I'm impressed with the quality and value of the outfit. It looks like it cost a lot more than £49, that's for sure.

I know you're probably wishing I posted a photo of myself modelling the clothes but it's really not me and besides, my hair needs doing and it will just ruin the outfit. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

Delivery with Tesco Clothing online is free if you spend £50 or more which is great and it gets delivered in 2-5 working days. We ordered our items Tuesday and they arrived Friday morning. If you prefer you can have everything delivered to store for free and go and collect. You can also return items bought online to store which is really handy so I'll be taking my tunic back to exchange it for a different size.

We were sent 4 x £25 voucher codes to spend online

but all photographs (apart from Back To School logo), 
words, views and opinions are entirely my own.

*prices correct at time of writing

First Builders By Mega Bloks - Making Our New Build Move Easier

I knew moving house was pretty stressful. I'd done it 5 times before.

However, I'd never moved with children before.

So to move with a 4 year old and a 15 month old was hard going. My parents (thankfully!) had the kids for us the night before and the day of the move but we still had 1 or more of them almost everyday leading up to that. Everyone who knows me knows how stressed out I was before the move.

I was also wondering how the kids would settle in the new house and how on earth Matt and I were going to unpack with them both running rings around us.

In all the stress I'd completely forgotten to buy the kids a couple of 'new house' toys.

That's when The Entertainer came to our rescue.

We absolutely love Mega Bloks in our house. Mini Cheddar had the play table, lots of bags of bricks and an In The Night Garden play set when she was a year old and beyond. We'd not long put them away before TC arrived on the scene. Around his first birthday I got them all out again and he loved them. Surprisingly, so did MC.

So imagine the delight when The Entertainer sent us a bundle of the new Mega Bloks 'First Builders' toys to put to the test.

First Builders are new learning blocks aimed at 1-5 year olds and I thought both the kids would love them. I just never realised how much.



We were sent the following:

First Builders Big Building Bag
First Builders 1-2-3 Count!
Lil' Vehicles - Dylan Dump Truck

They have been perfect for keeping the kids occupied safely whilst Matt and I have been unpacking boxes (although I fear we'll still be unpacking by Christmas!).

As with all the Mega Bloks range they are bright, chunky and easy to assemble.

MC was actually first on the scene and was eager to unpack the blocks. I thought she may be disappointed that they were 'baby toys' but she loved them straight away.


I have to admit, that at 15 months, TC was more interested in the bags - which, are now environmentally friendly PVC bags - and loved putting taking the blocks out and putting them in again. He then discovered he could do the same with Dylan Dump Truck and, what's more, the truck could tip it's dumper so the blocks came out which amused him greatly! It also came with a few blocks which was a bonus.

The1-2-3 Count! bag was my favourite (apparently they do a letters version too) as, not only were there 30 blocks included, there were also over 50 stickers containing numbers and pictures to stick on the blocks. MC is due to move up to reception in September and has already started learning to add and subtract so these blocks are perfect. We got the Mega Bloks table out to stack them on and had fun practicing sums.

I think it's a great and interesting way to teach sums for pre-schoolers and I know we'll be getting a lot of use out of these over the summer holidays which start tomorrow. Yay!

Of course, the Big Building Bag was great too - 60 blocks of various shapes and sizes which have been primarily either thrown around the room (TC) or built into the tallest towers ever (MC).

All in all, we think these new range of blocks from Mega Bloks are fun and educational. What every pre-school toy should be.

You can buy the First Builders range from your local The Entertainer store or online (www.thetoyshop.com) for the following prices*


First Builders Big Building Bag - £15.00
First Builders 1-2-3 Count! - £10.00
Lil' Vehicles - Dylan Dump Truck - £10.00

We are part of The Entertainer review team and were

sent the Mega Bloks First Builders toys to review 

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

*prices correct at time of writing

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

Super Scooting Fun With Micro Scooters!

Double the fun!

You know when you have something that you really, REALLY want to try but you can't? You have to wait. And the wait almost kills you.

Yeah. That.

That's what the last few weeks have been like for poor Mini Cheddar.

Towards the end of March we were lucky enough to be sent two amazing scooters thanks to Micro Scooters UK.

Firstly, the 3 in 1 Mini Seat Scooter for Tiny Ched and the Mini Micro Scooter for MC.

There was no problem testing TC's scooter out as he gets plenty of use out of it around the house but with the 18.5" of snow (and illness) that hit us a few weeks back there was no way that MC could get out and about to really put her new wheels to the test.

The 3 in 1 Mini Seat kit

So we've had to wait.

But boy, was it worth it!

The 3 in 1 Mini Seat had already totally impressed me though. An ideal purchase for 1 to 3 year olds, the Mini Seat adapts into 3 different scooters for each age. A sit on scooter with an O-bar for 12 months plus, remove the seat for 2 years plus and then swap the O-bar for a T-bar from 3 years plus (probably up to the age of 5). All this is included in the price of £74.95* and, what's more, this is an award winning scooter. It won ' Best Toddler Toy at the 2012 Nuremburg Toy Fair'.

It's easy to see why.

TC loves it.

Loving it!

He's not doing so well with his walking - he's too lazy! His big sister was walking before her 1st birthday but TC is showing no solid signs, despite turning one at the end of March. He walks around cruising the furniture no problem and can stand unaided a little when he wants to but if you try and walk him, even holding his hands, he just sits down. The Mini Seat is helping him though, I think. He is actually starting to move his feet to walk whilst he's on it and it's great for a lazy boy like him as he can do it all sitting down.

Indoor scooter races - such fun!

The scooter is very well made. It's a Swiss design which is solid and sturdy and the O-bar has a great grip - TC also loves chewing on the O-bar and has become a teething relief! I'm seriously impressed with it and friends have commented on how fab it is and their babies love it too.

Moving onto the Mini Micro Scooter. As I said previously, we had to wait a while to test this scooter out properly as we couldn't get outdoors. We did, however, enjoy some indoor scooter races in the lounge which MC and TC both loved.

So, with a hint of Spring finally in the air it was time to take the Mini Micro Scooter for a test drive outdoors. Now I have to admit that MC isn't the best scooter rider. She tends to scoot far too fast and isn't co-ordinated enough to lean and turn properly but she got on great with the Mini Micro.

Easily goes under the pushchair

Again, it's really sturdy and well built and the handles are really comfy to grip for her. Obviously the best thing about it according to her was "It's pink"! The best thing about it from my point of view is the sturdiness of the design. I also love how easy it is to take apart and put back together. This means it fits easily underneath the pushchair so I can take it to and from school when I drop MC off or pick her up.

Lean and turn

The scooter is turned by leaning left or right with the handle which MC struggled with at first (she must get her co-ordination from her Daddy *cough*) but in no time at all she was whizzing up and down and loving it. The Mini Micro is the perfect size for her and I have no doubt it will be keeping her happy for the next couple of years. She's just turned 4 and I think the scooter is perfect for her age. They are marketed at 3-5 year olds and the one we reviewed was priced at £49.95*. The next size up scooter (the Maxi Micro) is marketed at 6-12 year olds so I think she may be a little bit too small yet.

Tongue out for added effect

It certainly is a hit with her and now she's discovered that there are lots of super cool scooter accessories and cool bits to add on. She already has a bike helmet so we will be using that with it to keep her safe but I think I'll have to buy her a zooter - how cute!

Scoot scoot!

What's great about Micro Scooters is there's a whole community to explore so you can really get involved. You can really tell that Anna & Philippa (the two mums who set the company up) have a real passion for all things scooter. They even have a community and blog which gives ideas on where to scoot and things to do so you really can get the most from your purchase. I can't wait to try out the Hen & Eggs scooter game which looks like great fun for young kids.

So, if you're looking for a great quality scooter for your kids then Micro Scooters UK definitely have the best scooters out there in our opinion. Super fast delivery and friendly service too. What's not to love?

We've already recommended them to quite a few friends and will continue to do so as we think they are fab!

This is not a sponsored post.  

We were sent both scooters to review 

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

*prices correct at time of writing

Win With The Green Door Bookshop!

Packaged with love

As a busy Mum of two it's sometimes difficult to find the time to read myself but I always try and encourage my children to love books. Mini Cheddar has so many books and is now pretending trying to read them herself.

There are some truly amazing books out there and it looks like one independent online bookshop has cornered the market with the best of the best.

The Green Door Bookshop uses the tagline 'Where the best books live' and looking at their selection I have to say I agree with them.

Even when she's poorly she
loves Belle & Boo

The brainchild of wonderful husband and wife team Gary and Caroline Black, The Green Door Bookshop delivers quality children's books that you can tell have been hand-picked with love. They are truly unique and sometimes quirky but one thing's for sure, they are pretty much guaranteed to keep the kids permanently entertained.

We were lucky enough to be sent 2 fantastic books that Caroline chose for us to review. They arrived beautifully packaged (complete with bookmarks) and I could tell that, not only had the books been picked with love, they had been packaged with love too.

Both captivated by
The Noisy Book

Belle & Boo books are a real treat and Belle & Boo and the Goodnight Kiss is no exception. Mini Cheddar loved it and it's now become one of her favourite bedtime books. The words in it are so beautifully soothing and the story of Belle & Boo's bedtime routine is just so cute.

One of my favourite pages
from The Noisy Book

The Noisy Book is an amazing book for babies and one that will last a really long time. Not only was Tiny Ched delighted with it, MC loved it too. It's the first 'baby' book that I've seen that has lots of pages. In fact, the book has over 100 pages! They aren't thick cardboard but thin and coated in plastic so they are really sturdy. The book is really great as it's different pictures and noises will make any grown-up laugh, never mind a baby or toddler!

We loved both books so much and I know they will be treasured by the kids for a long time.


*** WIN WIN WIN ***

So, now it's time for a little treat. "Oooooh" I hear you all cry!

How do you fancy choosing them or some equally amazing reads courtesy of The Green Door Bookshop?

I don't really run competitions on my blog but it's TC's 1st Birthday this week and I thought it would be nice to treat my readers. So how's about the chance to win £15 to spend online with The Green Door Bookshop?

To enter the competition simply tell me what your favourite children's book title of all time is.

Couldn't be easier!

PLUS...in addition to this you can have up to 4 more extra entries to the competition by choosing to do the following:

Liking The Green Door Bookshop on Facebook
Follow The Green Door Bookshop on Twitter
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The Noisy Book is priced at £9.99 and Belle & Boo and the Goodnight Kiss is £6.99*

This is not a sponsored post.  

We were sent the books to review but all photographs, 

words, views and opinions are entirely my own.

*prices correct at time of writing

Ahoy There Pushchair Lovers - It's The Cosatto Yo!

I hold my hands up...

*holds hands straight up and looks a bit ashamed*

I should have written this post a few weeks back. Things have been a little hectic lately but I also think that subconsciously I'm upset that my time as a Cosatto Brand Buddy has come to an end.

And I really don't want it to end.

I have to say that Cosatto products rock. And when I say that 'I have to say...' I don't REALLY mean I have to say...nobody is forcing me to say it..I want to say it...because they DO rock! Confused? Probably. I do have a tendency to ramble on my blog.

Excitement as soon as it arrived!

Anyway, what was I saying?

Oh yes...Cosatto products.

Well, Tiny Ched and I have had sooooo much fun. As a Cosatto Brand Buddy we've got to review the superb Noodle Highchair and the fabulous new Moon Unit travel cot/play pen. Also, before I was asked to be a Brand Buddy, we were sent to Swift Lite Supa pushchair which we fell in love with. I really didn't think anything could top it.

Until now.

We are certainly going out with a bang! Last month we were sent the incredible special edition Ahoy There Cosatto Yo! pushchair to review.

What do I think of it?

In a word...AWESOMENESS.

Yes, I'm just making up words now (sorry!). But it really is awesomeness.

Just the right size for MC's doggy ;-)

So much so that Matt and I are seriously considering taking the Yo! to Florida with us.

Now, I'm not saying we don't love the Swift Lite Supa. We do. It's just the Yo! has the edge on the manoeuvrability. It glides like an absolute dream. Yes, the Swift Lite Supa is a little more compact and lighter (I think...) but I've fallen for the Yo!

What's not to love?

Available in 6 eye-catching designs, the Yo! is the ultimate in funky design. It's lightweight aluminium chassis folds down umbrella-stylee into super compact easy to put in the boot (there's a mouthful!). It's got an automatic locking system which clicks into place when you put the pushchair away and it's even got a carry handle.

It's suitable from birth as it reclines fully flat but what's also great about the recline is that YOU can control it so there's no set positions - whatever works for you and your little one. It comes with a detachable head-hugger for small babies too.

MC even co-ordinated her hat and gloves with the Yo!

As with all the Cosatto products the attention to detail of the design is second to none. The 'Ahoy There' stripes and funky skull and crossbones go throughout the pushchair. They are even underneath the hood so your little one has something cool to look at. It comes complete with a funky fully fleeced footmuff (try saying that when you've had a few scoobies) with kangaroo pouch to keep little fingers warm in this crazily cold weather we've been having. It also comes with a rain cover (in a matching bag/bottle holder), reversible seat liner (fleece for winter and light for summer) and...wait for it *drum roll*...a matching change bag!

Seriously, the team at Cosatto have thought of everything.

The thing that we love the most (Matt and my parents have said this too) is how easy it is to push. It's just so lovely and glides along like it's on ice. I'm so pleased with it that it's my first choice when I'm out and about and will be forever, I think.

So, I'm going to leave you with my slightly rambling vlog review of the Yo! in which I am obsessing about the fact I didn't get chance to wash my hair this morning.

Yes, I've stooped to a new low.

I have no shame.

I tried to get away without unveiling my greasy mop on the world but, alas, it wasn't to be. Enjoy.

I wonder if I can become a brand buddy for a dry shampoo company next?




The Cosatto Yo! Ahoy There retails at £265 but is available online for as little as £207*

This is not a sponsored post.  

We were sent the Cosatto Yo! to review 

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

*price correct at time of writing

Date Night With Chiquito's

I have to be completely honest, I haven't been to a Chiquito restaurant in a very VERY long time. In fact, I think it was well over 10 years ago. Almost as long as I've been with Matt. It's his fault! Matt doesn't 'do' Mexican food.

So when the people at Chiquito offered me the chance to try out their tasty new menu I hesitated a little. Matt and I have promised ourselves to do regular date nights and this would have been ideal but I didn't even ask him because I knew what the answer would be. Then I asked myself "Why should I miss out because of Matt?"

I also had a superb idea!

Use it as an overdue GIRLY DATE.

I get to treat a friend and get out for a bit for some adult conversation. Win-win!

My best friend and I don't see each other as often as we'd like. I've blogged before about how different our lives are now and lately she's been jet setting everywhere. We've had one proper night out for dinner/drinks since TC was born, I think. The thing is though, we've been friends for 32 years now and I think we always will be friends - we have too much info on each other for a start!

So, the other week my friend and I headed out for an early dinner date to Chiquito's at Cheshire Oaks. We decided to go early as we were both tired (probably due to the fact we are both 40 next year!) and dealing with lots of personal stuff.

We were shown straight to the table and given a menu.

Wow!

I couldn't believe how much choice there was on the menu. It was like a book!

It took a while to decide on what we were going to order and we both changed our minds throughout the process.

It was a really extensive menu with a lot of food even Matt "I don't do 'fancy' food" Lucas would have loved. Ha! His loss.

We did have to wait quite a while to be offered drinks. In fact, by the time we were offered these we were ready to place our order. It would have been nice to have had the drinks whilst we looked over the menu.

I was driving (I'm such a good friend!) so my date ordered a White Russian which she was disappointed with as it came in a really small glass. She said it also just tasted like Bailey's (other brands of coffee liqueur are available, obviously!). She said it wasn't worth the £5.79.

But then came the food! Hurrah!

For starters we ordered Peri Peri chicken wings which came with a sour cream dip. They were amazing (really needed a finger bowl though). My friend ordered potato skins which she really enjoyed too.

There was definitely more than enough for a starter and my groaning hungry stomach was very satisfied.

Then came the mains. We'd both taken so long to decide what we were having and my friend changed her mind at the last minute and ordered the same as me. She was glad she did.

We both ordered the South-Western Meatballs and they were amazing.

What's not to like about this?

"Seasoned pork and beek meatballs in our signature tomato sauce served over sliced peppers, onions and Mexican spiced rice. Topped with sour cream, salsa and guacamole".

In a word. Yum!

And, because we were filling our boots we ordered a side of garlic bread with cheese.

Yup, that's how we roll!

So, I bet you're reading this and your mouth is watering? I bet you're also thinking that we couldn't possibly have room for dessert.

Well, you'd be wrong. Of course we ordered dessert...we're not mad!

My friend ordered the Banana Taquito (a whole banana fried in a cinnamon tortilla served with ice-cream). She said it was really nice but a little dry and could have done with some sauce.

I went for the Golden Nugget Cheesecake. Just look at it? Amazing or what? I sent that photo to Matt by text and I found him crying when I got home*

Our bill came to exactly £55. For a 3 course meal, drinks and a side for 2 people I think this is really good and I can't complain about the food or the atmosphere. I'll definitely be considering Chiquito's in the future. I did have a look at their Kid's Menu and it looks really good. I think MC would like it.

If, like me, you've not tried Chiquito's for a while then it's worth checking out their extensive new menu.

Also, it's a lovely reminder for me to make sure I get out more with my friends.

Thanks Chiquito's!


* Not really, obviously.

This is not a sponsored post.  

I did receive a £50 voucher to spend at a Chiquito Restaurant 

but all photographs, words (apart from quoting from the menu), 
views and opinions are my own.