Wordless Wednesday - Its nearly Easter

The post where you all go "Eurgh!"

If you are related to me, or don't want to hear about the female reproductive cycle then please look at this picture and then go and read this post about Why Daddys Are Always (Never) Right. Forget you were even at this post.

How do you like them apples?

A while back now I was trying to work out how I could cut down the cost of our monthly bills. I have a few posts on the blog about being frugal but the one area that I felt I could cut down on the most was personal items.

I suffer from Menorrhagia (really heavy periods) and always have done and was looking on the Internet for some ideas because the monthly bill for sanitary products was starting to make me wonder if being pregnant all the time or having a hysterectomy would be the only solutions.

Somewhere I read about Mooncups.

Yeah a Mooncup.

The thought didn't actually make me go "Eurgh!" as it does to some people, but it did remind me of a story I had heard many years ago about a woman who used her menses to fertilise her roses (that did make me go Eurgh) but I figured that a £20 one off payment would actually save me if I used it for more than three periods (that was how much I would spend on sanitary products for two months) so I went to my local boots and brought one.

They sell them in two sizes depending on your age and if you have ever had a vaginal birth. I got size A not the small size B and went home excited with my package, even if slightly worried what Daddy was going to say.

You need to sterilise the cup first and so I set about doing that. I was wondering what the heck anyone would think if they walked into my kitchen and saw me boiling a plastic funnel like object in a new saucepan but I carried on. I played with it after it had cooled down trying to fold it as I would need to to insert it and found it to be a lot more flexible than I had thought it would be.

Finally came the time for me to use it for the first time.

I followed the instructions in the very detailed leaflet and put it in. I knew that I hadn't put it in right so I removed it and tried again. Second time lucky it got in the right spot. It made me giggle because in order to put it in you kind of fold it in on itself and then when it is inside you it pops open and I didn't think I would feel the pop as clearly as I did!

I managed to wear it for about twenty minutes before the stem was really annoying me and so I had to remove it to cut the stem down a bit (which it says you can do in the leaflet) and at the same time I was able to see how much of the menses it had collected. I emptied it into the toilet and gave it a quick rinse under the tap before inserting it again.

This time it went into place straight away.

It took a few days for me to get use to using the cup, but the one thing that it didn't do which I would normally have a problem with is leak. In the past I would have to wear a tampon and a towel in order to feel protected but the Mooncup was handling the heaviest of periods.

It was when we went to Sweden on Stage on July 4th, that I realised what a great piece of equipment this was. It was a hot day, I was on the first day of my period and there were only going to be portaloos to use. For the entire time that we were there I emptied my cup once, just because I thought I should. It was quick it was private and best of all I didn't have to carry around tampons or towels or spend hours in the queue for the toilets!

This was the only picture of me that I could find from that day that didn't involve me dancing with abandon.

I would recommend a mooncup to anyone female. I think that it is great for saving money, time and the environment. Sure it sounds gross and the sucky noise that you sometimes here when removing it isn't my favourite sound but it helps me see just what I am losing each month and you know that horrid dry feeling you sometimes get when taking out a tampon? I've not had that since using a mooncup!

Baby Boy Giggles - A Big Tease

Every morning Baby Boy and Top Ender have fruit after breakfast. Today for some unknown reason Top Ender took less time to eat hers than Baby Boy.

Baby Boy noticed that Top Enders bowl was empty and passed a piece of his melon to Top Ender.

"Here Top Ender, Fruit!" said Baby Boy exuberantly
"Thanks Baby Boy!" said Top Ender gratefully

A few minutes later and Baby Boy was offering again

"Juice Top Ender?" asked Baby Boy
"Oh yes please Baby Boy!"
"Joke!" teased Baby Boy snatching away his juice

The meme that makes you all think twice about me

Over at Mediocre Mum I've been tagged in meme.... Now I don't want you thinking that just because I am doing this meme quicker than some of the others that I have been tagged in that my mind is in the gutter or that I love Mediocre Mum more than you because it just isn't true.

What is true though is that I can name five fictional characters that I would like to erm... be friends with without having to think about it. I can actually name ten. You know that game where you are allowed to have guilt free erm friendship with a list of fantasy people if they should ever come knocking at the door? Yeah, I also play the what about if you were a fictional character game too.

So in reverse order like they do in posh awards (which you can totally nominate me for if you wanted to);

5. Handy Manny and Bob The Builder

Why Handy Manny? Well not because he thinks that talking tools (No real tools like Hammers and stuff not *his* tool) is normal, or because he has a robot dog. Not because he speaks Spanish and English, can play the guitar or because he never pays for anything or is ever paid for jobs. Actually it is just to mess with Kelly who obviously has a thing for him. In fact to really mess with her I would ask Elliot (her brother) if he wanted to join us. The Tools would not be invited.

Manny in bed

And its pretty much the same story with Bob the Builder. Well he does invoice people at least (as he always has a lot of paperwork in his office) it would just really make Wendy jealous. Instead of asking her brother (does she have a brother?) I would ask Bob's twin brother Tom to join us. Again the talking machinery wouldn't be invited. Nor would Spud or Pilchard, but maybe their Dad as he is quite sweet.

4.Severus Snape and Gregory House. I have a thing for men with long hair. And for men who are magic. And for Alan Rickman look-a-likes. And for men that are mean. That is why I also like House. Also he is clever.

3. Mr Tumble. Technically I would want it to be Justin but as we can't have real people it shall have to be him. I just want to be taught how to sign rude words.

Can you sign that's the spot?

2. The Wiggles. Yes all of them. Actually not Jeff because he falls asleep all the time and getting friendly with someone who was snoring just wouldn't be fun. Oh and Captain Feathersword would be included, but Henry, Wags and Dorothy wouldn't. I can hear you all sneering, but think about it, have you seen them live? They are an energetic bunch and dead friendly and once when we went to see them Anthony was so giving me the eye.

You can't see because it is dark, but he is really looking at me with come be my friend eyes.

1. Bear from The Big Blue House.

I know I am only encouraging him by talking about him again (if you don't know what I am talking about look and see how I have a TV Stalker) but I am thinking that maybe he isn't so bad after all... I mean look at that face with the puppy dog eyes and the little grin and the fur. And he has his own house.

And he has made such an effort to follow me around, he tracks my movements during the day and then talks about me in code in his TV programme. I guess that a little reward for him wouldn't go amiss now would it!

And now here are some taggings!

Super Single Mum (how many Twilight characters are there?)
Ramblings of a Mum on the run
Cherished by me
Whos The Mummy
Snaffles Mummy

And because I am naughty and can't count Single Mummy
So rules are name Five Fictional Characters you would get friendly with and tag five people. Just don't list the actors, as that is a different meme altogether!

Top Ender Giggles - Top Enders Epiphany

Top Ender asked first thing this morning:

"Can we go to the park?"
"Not really Top Ender its been raining" I answered
"You never let me go to the park when its been raining!" huffed an angry Top Ender.

A bit later we were at Brent Cross shopping centre and decided before we went to the car, we would sneak into the local park to burn off some energy.

 

Top Ender and Baby Boy (and Daddy and I!) enjoyed our play and it was just as we were starting to get ready to go that Top Ender started to get a little over excited. Top Ender ran off to go on the four sided see-saw (teeter totter) and slipped on the wet ground.

A few moments of crying whilst we checked over the extremities brought forward the insight from Top Ender;

"I guess this is why you don't want me going to the park when its been raining then!"

Uncle Giggles - That's reassuring!

Big Cousin had woken up after a nightmare which Auntie assumed had been about ladybirds as Cousin said there was one in her bed. Cousin was quite upset about it and so after a check in the bed and under the bed, and in Little Cousins bed and under Little Cousins bed, Auntie knew she was going to have to bring out the big guns and grabbed a bottle of talc.

Sprinkling it on the beds and the floor she told Cousin that ladybirds don't like talc and so they wouldn't come near her. Uncle Daddy joined them to just check everything was okay and to say good night again. It was as they left the room that Uncle Daddy said;

"Night night. Sleep tight. Don't let the ladybugs bite!"

Don't take Uncle Daddy to the woods, he is strangely at home.

Luckily a sleepy cousin didn't hear that last bit!

Christmas Club - March

That's right the third month of the 2010 and Easter is just around the corner! Hopefully by now you have brought your Easter Eggs or organised Easter gifts (if that is something you do in your house) and remembered last month after the February post to organise some treats for the Easter Holidays or childcare if it is needed!

Last month I said that I was starting to save money more seriously for Christmas. Daddy and I are planning to save stamps in Tesco and Icelands (they do lots of wheat free ready meals which he likes) and I have started a card in Wilkinsons and one in Tesco's of my own! Every time I go into either store I just add a couple of quid to the relevant card and come Christmas I should be able to buy a few extras.

This month is about crafting for Christmas and I am looking to what I am making as gifts for Christmas. I want to make alphabet letter initial pillows for Baby Boy and Top Ender and for the Cousins (I will buy the pattern pack), and if I can manage them I was hoping that I could make some sock monkeys too! This will be an addition to the small gifts that my Sister and I will discuss nearer the time!

I figured that the pillows would take me three months in total (I have a couple of tricky initials to do!) and the sock Monkeys two months as I would be doing them all by hand. If I start in April, this will bring me up to September. I have some cross stitch pictures to do (four of them) and I will start those now when I have a spare half an hour or so but in September I will re-evaluate where I am with them and if they aren't on schedule then I will have a re-think. The other things that are being made (gifts that I can't talk about because I know that my family are reading) are going to be made between September and November.

So if you are planning on making gifts for Christmas this year, start thinking about it now so that come the week before Christmas you aren't rushing!

As always if you do write a Christmas letter don't forget to make a short note now so you don't forget what you did this March!

Wordless Wednesday - New use for an old car

Top Ender Giggles - Bad Dreams

"I had a nightmare last night Mummy!" said Top Ender
"I know Top Ender, you got in my bed and woke me up!" I answered
"Oh yeah." she said whilst remembering the cuddle in the middle of the night
"What was it about?" I asked
"Well; It was about me!" she answered
"I often have Nightmares about you too!" I laughed

Top Ender didn't find it funny for some reason.

Daddy Guest Post: Why Daddy's Are Always (Never) Right

Hello, Daddy here! Mummy has foolishly generously let me take over for a moment, to bring you a pearl of wisdom about the way men's minds work..

Back in 1999 I saw a Rover 75 car for the first time. It had quaint oval dials, a walnut dashboard, white leather seats, and a distinct air of old-man about it. Mummy liked it. I didn't. I couldn't buy a car like this.

Fast-forward to 2007, and I am phoning Mummy to tell her about a decision I have made. She thinks I am asking permission to trade in my trusty, but old, Ford Fiesta for another car. At least, she did until I wrote this. She now knows that I have already done the deal, and I am hoping she doesn't say "no", else I have a heck of a lot of explaining to do.

"Nice, isn't it" is the remark, as she takes a seat in my new Rover 75. "I've always liked these, and always wanted one. Thank you for letting me buy my dream car".

The "Dream Car". Photographed just before we sold it!

Only, those words were not uttered by Mummy. They came from me. Because in the intervening 8 years, I seem to have forgotten that I didn't like this car, and even more disasterously forgotten that she DID!

Still, it couldn't happen again.

"There", I said, putting the final screw in the shelf and switching on the power. "See this, it's a wireless music player - it's connected to my server in the loft, and it can play back all our MP3's and connect to Internet radio too. Trust me, it'll revolutionalise the way we listen to music in this house".

"Oh yes, just like the one I told you I wanted after we saw it at the Smart Homes Show in Birmingham last year".

Bugger.

"Like my new Psion Wavefinder?" I said, pointing at the glowing blue alien-shaped device on the window-sill that was burbling Planet Rock. "It's a DAB digital radio, but it's connected to the PC so you can....". I stopped. She already knew what it was. As she pointed out, she told me about them.

Is it just me that this happens to, or is it in fact the case that men don't actually have any of their own ideas, they just store up the good ones that their wives come out with, only to promote them as their own later on, with a big fanfair and lots of kudos for themselves for coming up with such amazing plans!?

So, in order to counter this, I am now learning two new things - 1, to listen to Mummy's suggestions properly and 2, to come up with loads more suggestions of my own first just so I can claim everything for myself. I think it's working.

Me, last week: "I want to put a comfy armchair in that corner, with a footstool and lamp, so we can sit there and chill out"
Mummy: "Yeah, I cleared that corner for that exact reason 2 years ago, but then you put a bookcase in it".

Oh.

Mummy and Me at a Restaurant that *I* suggested we go to...

PS. I think I had a (now closed) blog way before Mummy, so I am not always last...

PPS. Editor's Note (by Mummy): No, he didn't.

Daddy Giggles - Anatomy isn't his strong point

"Ow ow ow!" I said whilst walking round Ikea
"What?" asked Daddy
"Its my foot, my elbow, ahh the things half way down my body!" I answered
"Your boobs?" he offered
"They are not half way down my body!" I snapped
"Not yet!" he quipped

Look they are Baby Boy eye height.

Making Friends Sucks - Part Three

I did something the other morning that I haven't done since I was a grown up. I went round to someones house after school.

Last week you see Chatty Mum invited herself round after Playgroup. The house was a tip, but I agreed because, well I like Chatty Mum.

This week she invited us all round to hers. There were three of us that ended up going, all chatting together and having a giggle, talking about decorating and real life Jeremy Kyle stories and children's toys and goodness knows what else.

It was only later that I realised that what I had just done would be the mark of a friendship. I mean you don't invite strangers into your home (well other than to read the Gas or Electric meters) and you don't swap stories about your life with someone you don't trust in some way.

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship...

There is a rainbow in this picture... honest!

The day I died

Whilst I was pregnant with Top Ender I read about every single problem that could go wrong with the birth. I wanted to be prepared just in case. I wrote a letter to Top Ender and to Daddy that I hid in my underwear drawer just in case anything happened to me during the birth. I kept these morose thoughts to myself because Daddy is a natural worrier and I didn't need him knowing anymore than contractions start, baby comes out.

Top Enders actual birth was quite normal. Well her cord was wrapped around her neck (which I knew as I could see on the monitor after every contraction her heart rate dropped a little and I told the Midwife that the cord was around the babies neck as the heart rate kept dropping but she told me it didn't mean that, but I could tell from the panic in her eyes I was right) but that was resolved without any hassle.

Top Ender and I moments after her birth

I held Top Ender in my arms before passing her to Daddy as I was going to be stitched up, as I had a couple of small tears. A trainee midwife was going to do the work and she warned me that this may hurt more than the labour itself and that I should use the gas and air. It was at this point that she said that I wasn't using the gas and air properly and had basically just given birth without any pain relief. Take long deep breaths she said.

The first stitch went in and I remember thinking that she was right this hurt more than the labour and took a long deep breath of the gas and air and another and another...

As I took the deep calming breaths of the gas and air I could feel myself getting lighter, floating away from the pain and the bed that I was reclined on.

Time. slowed. down.

I could see Daddy holding Top Ender, I could see the trainee midwife busy working and all I could hear were my own thoughts which were suddenly interrupted by a long high pitched beep.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP

I suddenly realised that the monitor next to me was making the noise. Only one machine in a hospital makes a noise like this. The only time that you hear this noise is when a heart monitor is tracing your heart and your heart stops.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP

The first thought that went through my head was that I had held my daughter before I had died and that her Daddy would look after her and love her for the both of us. I was so sad that I was going to leave Top Ender and Daddy behind but was so calm about it because I knew that they would be okay.

I focused my eyes on them wanting them to be the last thing I saw before I died.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP

It was now that I realised that I was taking an awfully long time to die and that neither the trainee midwife or Daddy seemed too bothered by my sudden lack of heart activity.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP

I turned to look at the heart monitor next to me and then remembered that it wasn't a heart monitor it was a fetal heart and uterine contraction monitor. It was no longer monitoring anything and had decided to alert those around that there was no activity by emitting a long high pitched beep.

The trainee midwife saw me looking at the machine and lent over and turned it off, whilst I put the gas and air tube down and braced myself for the rest of the stitches.

After nearly dying a few stitches wouldn't be that bad.

Baby Boy Giggles - Opposite Day

"Hi Baby Boy! Did you want to sit down" said the Group Leader about to read a Poppy Cat story to the group
"No!" said Baby Boy placing his right foot in between her crossed legs
"Would you like to sit on my knee?" she asked
"No!" he said lowering himself down to sit on her knee
"Are you comfy?" she asked
"No!" he said having wiggled until he was
"Baby Boy do you think you might have your Yes and No's mixed up?" I asked
"No!" he answered quite definitely and gave me a hard stare

Wordless Wednesday - Thinking about the Summer Colours

Top Ender Giggles - She's in a bad way

Baby Boy woke up with a grizzle. Being 5:30am and Sunday meant that Daddy got up to see him. I could hear a whispered conversation and then Daddy and Baby Boy appeared at the bedroom door. Baby Boy had a temperature and was still sleepy so he got in the bed with us for a bit of milk and hopefully some more sleep. It turned out that Daddy was also feeling ill, so I decided that I would give up my lay in (on Mothers Day too!) and take Baby Boy down stairs when he woke up.

When Top Ender came down I realised that I was feeling a bit ill, with a headache and a sore throat and so I wanted to check that Top Ender was okay.

"Top Ender, how do you feel?" I asked
"I'm fine" she answered without looking up from her magazine
"No sore throat, no running nose?" I pushed seeing as last night she was very snotty
"Oh...Well...my heart hurts. Just here" she said pointing to her left knee
"You'll live!" I answered

Top Ender Giggles - Dead Head

"Did you know that Barbie Doll hair is made from real hair?" asked Top Ender
"Really?" asked Daddy
"Yes!" answered Top Ender
"Where do they get the hair from?" asked Daddy
"Dead people I guess" answered Top Ender

Top Ender hair, not dead people hair

Mothering Sunday

Its Mothering Sunday today. Here in the United Kingdom we have linked this religious celebration with the holiday that Anna Jarvis really got going in the United States (and as always we have borrowed the idea!).

Up and down the country Women are getting boxes of Chocolates, bottles of Wine, Plants, Flowers, Gift Vouchers, breakfast in bed, The Sunday Roast cooked for them (instead of by them) and possibly more than one of these things if the Television adverts are to be believed.

I am lucky that I will have my family around me for the day and they will give to me hand made cards and a drawing or three. I believe they have listened to me and haven't purchased gifts for me because even though the calender says today is Mothers Day, every day in this house is Mothers Day.

You see I got to celebrate the days that I got this;

No this isn't a clever way of telling you I am pregnant, this is an old test!

And everyday since!

So to whoever you are Mother, Auntie, Grandma, Step-Mother, Friend of the Family or the woman who lives next door, Happy Mothers Day.

Daddy Giggles - Reason #2675 Not to let Daddy go shopping on his own

Daddy and I decided that we would give our Mums a Boots gift card each for Mothers Day. Whilst I was busy in another part of the store Daddy went to buy our gift cards.

The female shop assistant passed Daddy a box of cards, so that Daddy could choose the one that he wanted. Daddy flicked passed the ones that said Happy Birthday and Congratulations and discovered two with a pretty bird picture on.

He passed them back to the assistant and once she had rung up the transaction she nonchalantly said;

"Christmas motifs"

That's right. Daddy choose Christmas gift cards.

Best Day Ever!

There is a song that Top Ender and I heard in Sponge Bob Square Pants many moons ago. It was a song that straight away caught our imaginations and we had to go and learn the words to. We learnt them very quickly and will quite often start singing the chorus at appropriate moments.

Last weekend as Daddy and I went to bed we both spoke to each other just telling each other that we had had the best weekend ever. Both Baby Boy and Top Ender were on fine form, we had a good giggle at Daddy when he went to a meeting an entire week early and we had some good food too.

So because I expect this weekend to be just as good here is our song for you all to enjoy too!

edited to use new video!

I won't beg (unless you really want me too!)

Today I should be posting my blog post about my trip to London last week and how I met lovely bloggers and how I ate Nestle Cereals... but I'm not because its not quite right with what I want to say and so here is a very very short story.

Once upon a time there was a lady who made a video. In fact it was this video

And the lady entered it in to a competition. In fact you can read all about it in An Instructional Video.

The most amazing thing happened, the lady (alright me) found out that she was in the Top Two and so she asked all her friends to vote for her at Cafe Bebe (vote for A Mothers Ramblings) so that she could win a Slanket so that she and Top Ender wouldn't have to share one anymore.

And all her friends voted for her and they felt loved, because the lady told them she loved them.

I love you.

The End.

Wordless Wednesday - But I was following you!

An Instructional Video...

So Karin at Cafe Bebe and Heather at Notes from Lapland said "Teach us Something" in a Vlog and we'll run a competition and then one of you will win a slanket.

Now the last Slanket that we got was one that we won at Sleep is for the Weak and since it arrived it has lived in Top Enders room (unless I have wrestled it from her to use whilst sitting on the sofa to watch my grown up programmes that I sometimes have to hide in the Slanket from) or on the back of the sofa... so if I am lucky enough to be chosen as one of the two finalists vote for me in order to save family harmony by letting Top Ender and me have a Slanket each!

So here it is, not the video that it was meant to be but a video that teaches something none the less...

Now go and try this out, before you forget how to do it!

Top Ender Giggles - Three Parent Family

Whilst watching Grease Top Ender made a comment that you can rely on your Dad and your Brother (After Frenchy told Sandy you can only rely on your Dad), but that they wouldn't know that as they didn't have a brother but she did.

"He use to be a Baby Brother, but now he is a Toddler Brother" she said
"Well he will always be your Baby Brother, because he is younger. Although he won't like it if you call him that in front of his mates." I answered
"He won't be cool you know!" she laughed
"Pardon?"
"Baby Boy won't be cool when he's older." she stated
"Oh. Why not?" I asked
"Because I don't like cool and I am helping to raise him." she stated.

That's me told then.

The day I met famous people and ate Nestle!

Before we start this post, let me just explain that this is a Sponsored post, but that the views expressed are my own!

"I am going to be kidnapped and nobody will know what has happened to me!" I said
"Who would want to kidnap you?" asked my Nan
"Are you saying that nobody would want to kidnap me?" I asked
"Well maybe someone would... but I think it highly improbable" said my Nan
"Cheers Nan! Way to make a girl feel loved" I sulked back

You see I had been invited to an event in an area of London I didn't know too well (but looked up on Google Street View) to talk to some celebs about the Nestle Cereal Partners campaign about getting families to eat more wholegrain.

A few days later Laura from Are we nearly there yet Mummy? sent me a Message on Twitter asking if I was going to the Nestle Event. I replied back that I was and also that we were going to be kidnapped. I kind of got excited that I was going to be kidnapped with Laura... I can't help but feel that she didn't feel the same for me. I think I came on too strong.

As we pulled up to where we were having the event I bumped into the beautiful Nataliya from Suburban Mummy UK with her very lovely children and we walked in together. Unfortunately she also ran off from me saying that it was so she could take Eliza and Jeremiah to the toilet. I guess I came on too strong again there too.

Luckily for me Laura was just finishing making muffins with Lesley Waters and so she and I chatted for a few minutes before Greg Searle (you know the good looking rower Go Team GB!) was introduced to us. I am ashamed to say that I didn't recognise him as being a Rower as I was far too interested in just looking at him... but that's enough of that as Daddy is reading the blog and maybe Greg Google's himself every so often and I don't think he wants to read about what I was thinking.

Anyway I got chatting to Nutritionist Juliette Kellow about bits and pieces next and asked her lots of questions about wholegrain diets, getting five a day, eating cheaply by eating seasonally, protein, oily fish and all the other questions that I had about my families diet and she told me a lot about the benefits of eating a wholegrain cereal for breakfast or as part of a meal and pointed out that the Nestle Green Tops on the cereal boxes is a handy visual reminder for knowing that the Nestle cereals are wholegrain.

I then managed to talk to Sally of Who's the Mummy fame (who had Flea with her) and Susanna of A Modern Mother fame and briefly to Nixdminx and they were all very lovely and I suddenly wondered why the heck I was there compared to these five fantastic other Bloggers, but I couldn't bring myself to ask just in case they realised they had made a mistake and threw me out of the very lovely kitchen!

Leslie Waters was next to chat to me, which we did for ages. We talked about making wheat free goodies for Daddy and Top Enders current dream of being a chef when she is older (well its now changed back to being a Fashion Designer) and again I got some great tips! I was a bit gushy with Leslie (but she took it all in her stride) and I told her that my Nan loved her (and so did I) and in return she recorded a video message to my Nan which my Nan was chuffed about!

I then got some time with one of the greatest women on earth the wonderful Annabel Karmel. I have loved her books for so long (I have five!) and Top Ender, Baby Boy and I love to make several dishes from them and I even told her about the Salmon Fishballs that we love to make! I did try to persuade my taxi driver that he wanted to take me home in her car but he said that one day I would be rich enough to buy my own. I liked that taxi driver.

I had a brief chat with Zoe Ball (who is really tall and really pretty and super skinny) and thought that I might change my ideal look from Audrey Hepburn to Zoe Ball... I mean I have met her husband and everything so you know we are like the same person already!

Anyway when I got home the very lovely Muffins that Leslie Waters had made were eaten by Baby Boy.

 

And here is how to make them!

Ingredients

100g Fruitful Shredded Wheat (80g Shredded Wheat biscuits, 20g Fruitful fruit mix)
140g self-raising flour
2tsp baking powder
3tbsp light muscovado sugar
75ml semi-skimmed milk
1 medium egg
3tbsp sunflower oil
2 bananas, mashed
100g blueberries

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200oC/fan 180oC/400oF/gas mark 6.
2. Lightly oil 9 cups of a muffin tin or line with muffin paper cases.
3. Crumble the Fruitful Shredded Wheat biscuits with your hands.
4. Sieve the flour and baking powder into a bowl. Stir in 55g of the crumbled Shredded Wheat biscuits, 20g of the Fruitful fruit mix and the sugar.
5. Whisk together the milk, egg and oil.
6. Mash the bananas and fold into the dry ingredients with the milk mixture.
7. Gently mix in 75g of the blueberries. Do not over mix.
8. Divide the mixture between the muffin cups/cases, not quite filling them. Top with the remaining blueberries and scatter over the remaining 25g of crumbled Fruitful Shredded Wheat biscuits.
9. Bake for 20 minutes until golden, risen and firm. Leave for a few minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

• You can replace the blueberries with other berries such as blackberries, raspberries and loganberries.

One of *those* Mothers

I am one of *those* Mothers.

You know the ones that bake cakes with the children and say it was fun.

One of those ones that make their children dressing up costumes even when there isn't a party or school event.

Well I know who she is supposed to be.

One of those ones that turn shopping into learning experiences.

One of those ones that read books to their children that they want to read but are just too young for.

One of those ones that make paper plate faces.

One of those ones that make paper plate cafe food.

One of those ones that spend hours searching the shops for a special ribbon.

See that Gold present there with the rainbow ribbon? Yeah hours that one took.

One of those ones that saves toilet rolls and asks others to save them too so she can build a castle.

One of those ones that spends Friday night watching a film with the children.

One of those ones that knows what is going on at school.

One of those ones that talks to their child and the child talks back.

One of those ones that I didn't ever want to be but it turns out I am and I wouldn't have it any. other. way.



With thanks to Chatty Mum and Fashion Mum for pointing out I was one of *those* Mums last Thursday!

Blogging to record memories

Daddy and I were talking the other day about our Princess Dancing and about how we both want Top Ender and Baby Boy to have memories of us being fun, to have memories of us doing things together as a family and for us to set a great example to them for when they have families of their own.
Both of us have treasured childhood memories that we have made sure we have our own version of with Top Ender and Baby Boy and of course new memories special to just us four. Everything we do we try to make fun. It might be eating Chinese with chop sticks (one of my memories), sneaking snacks into bed (one of Daddy's), going for walks in the countryside, family dinners, spending quality time with one parent or even surprise trips out for the day as a family.

Daddy was explaining that he was pleased that we do fun things like the Princess Dancing and going to the Hundred Acre Woods and that I record them and share them on the blog. He has mentioned several times how some people ask him what he did at the weekend because what we do is always exciting compared to what they did.

And so it I thought that maybe Daddy should start writing the odd post or two... and I suggested it to him and he agreed! So before this month is out there is going to be a post by Daddy. Please make him feel as welcome as you do me and just don't let his head get too big.

Oh and talking of Princess Dancing, it turns out that I won! Thank you to everyone who voted or mentioned me and so I won't feel guilty about showing you all and getting the "aaahhh" factor votes here is Princess Top Ender and Prince Baby Boy doing their version of Princess Dancing.

Aren't they sweet?!

Guest Post: Being a gorgeous mummy (on a budget)

Today I have a guest post from the lovely Becky at Baby Budgeting, in fact Becky also has a guest post over at hers today by me! Becky has two beautiful children aged 5 and 2 and she is very happy to be a stay at home mum and writer. Becky’s blog centres on budgeting with 0-5’s and she is on Twitter too you can find her at babybudgeting.



Prior to having kids if I needed a ’perk me up’ in the looks stake I would have my hair cut and coloured, hit the high street for some new clothes, purchase a pair of shoes or two, refresh my make up bag and perhaps buy a new handbag or maybe some jewellery. It would work a treat and I would feel all glowing and good looking and my confidence would soar.

That was then.

Now when I am more tired, older, greyer and lets be honest chubbier than I ever was I have no money for glamour pick me ups. My hubby has cut my hair, my kids need shoes, I sew holes up in tops and most of my clothes bear some old food stains. Lately it has been getting me down. But what is a girl to do when she feels frumpy but needs to be frugal?

I could and would normally get creative and resourceful and go down the route of home made face packs, swishing parties, home hair dye and intensive self- affirmation. This month I have been marking essays whilst my kids sleep, trying to write a book proposal, spring clean and be a stay at home mum. I am tired and just can’t be bothered with the effort of getting gorgeous on a budget.

Yesterday however, as I was reading my lovely Annalise (aged 2 ½) her bedtime story, I stopped part way through and told her I loved her. She stroked my face and said;

"Mummy you pretty."
"Thank you," I said "You are very pretty too."
"You more pretty Mummy" she said "you got pretty hair" (it looked like a bush) "and pretty eyes" (baggy and puffy?). "I love you Mummy" she continued sleepily, "you so pretty."

Who needs make up and new clothes? I have it on good authority I am a gorgeous mummy and it didn’t cost me a penny!

This is me in my most fabulous outfit

Becky

Daddy Giggles - Winds of change

"Excuse me!" said Daddy "I have wind this evening" he continued. "That's alright, I did yesterday" I added
"Was it after something particular that you ate?" he asked
"No, just general wind" I answered
"Well sometimes you do" he said distractedly
"Pardon?!" I asked
"Well not you, people in general..." he quickly clarified.

Better stop digging now Daddy.

Wordless Wednesday - Best Marketing ploy ever!

Princess Mummy (and Daddy)

What did I learn in February? I learnt that I need to learn when to keep quiet. Actually no, I learnt that I need to learn when not to leave comments on blogs and then to follow my comments up in Twitter.

The Internet is forever don't you know?

You see it all started the other day when I was reading Living with Kids and there was a great post about the British Dance Council and Disney supporting each other with the creation of the Disney Princess Dance. It is all about encouraging our children to get active and as we all know we should lead by example!

I commented;

"I am so going to vblog this!"

And just over four hours later I was involved in another Twitter Dance Off (I won the last one I tell you, look its here if you don't believe me. I am the one in the nappy and its not true about the camera adding weight. I also look several years younger and more male...)

So here is my entry (with a little help from Daddy.....) into the Living with Kids Princess Dance Challenge... and if you want to see the competition I'm up against then take a look at Karin at Cafe Bebe and Manda at Flying Start who have also filmed themselves dancing to this.

Unless, of course, they were lying and its just me.

Top Ender Giggles - There's only one way to find out!

Top Ender was in the car with Daddy and were talking about taking lessons to learn an insturment when she is in year two.

"What would you like to learn?" asked Daddy
"Well maybe the flute, or the recorder or the Violin" answered Top Ender
"Well they are all nice!" answered Daddy
"Yes but which is better? There's only one way to find out.... Fight!" answered Top Ender

We are going to have to stop Top Ender watching TV.