My Funny Bunny Blog

1000+ Facebook Likes Celebration Give Away!

2012-01-15T12:09:00.000Z

Yes we reached 1000 likes on facebook yesterday!! Woohoo!!

So to celebrate we are having a GIVE AWAY, a £30 (2 months free) voucher for Lovefilm.com

It's simple, all you have to do is joins us over to our facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/myfunnybunny.co.uk

and look on the wall for the give away post and answer the question on there!

(http://www.facebook.com/myfunnybunny.co.uk/posts/10150692203136038?ref=notif&notif_t=feed_comment)

Hurry, hurry!!

***GIVE AWAY NOW CLOSED***

Monica x

If you haven't already noticed, the fantastic artwork above is by the one and only Mako Fufu!

I sooooo want to commission her to do a version of me in her amazing drawing style & of My Funny Bunny..... I soooo need to have a fat purse though I suspect!! Go visit her amazing website http://www.makofufu.com.ar

Competition Closes 25th Jan 2012, we reserve the right to extend it, either code by email or actual voucher will be sent by email to winner. Competition open for UK residents over 18.

A text for Action for the Wild

2012-01-11T15:12:00.001Z

In recent years, Action for the Wild has donated over £650,000 to conservation projects around the world. Some of these projects include an elephant orphanage, Free the Bears Foundation, Orangutan Foundation and Wildlife Vets International. Funds have also helped with the set up and continued running of the charity’s UmPhafa Nature Reserve in South Africa.

Now donating to Colchester Zoo’s charity Action for the Wild couldn’t be easier thanks to a new fund raising campaign which has just been launched and now a new text campaign will help to make a difference to endangered species!

Released Orangutan

Anyone with a mobile can help by sending a text stating “AFTW01” and then the amount you wish to donate such as £1 / £2 / £5 or any other amount to 70070. There is no charge to send the text and proceeds go directly to the Action for the Wild charity.

£10 could pay for Pepper Spray which is a non-lethal enforcement tool for field rangers protecting rhinos in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.

£25 will help cover the wages of a game guard on the UmPhafa reserve for half a week, helping to protect the wildlife.

£50 will buy daily food (coconuts, sweet potato, melons) for released orangutans in the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve

£100 will pay for a one day training course on artificial incubation for the Gyps Vulture Project

Action for the Wild cannot raise the funds for projects such as these alone. Text your donation to Action for the Wild today, and you can help support the future for animals in the wild.
Charity No 1105621

Hope you can help :)

M x

Happy New Year 2012!

2011-12-31T18:33:00.005Z

Top Baby Names for 2011

2011-12-30T13:16:00.001Z

Babatude Baby Clothing - available at www.myfunnybunny.com

BABY GIRL NAMES 2011

1    OLIVIA
2    LILY
3    SOPHIE
4    AMELIA
5    EMILY
6    JESSICA
7    GRACE
8    AVA
9    RUBY
10    MIA
11    CHLOE
12    EVIE
13    ISABELLA
14    SOPHIA
15    POPPY
16    ISLA
17    ELLA
18    LUCY
19    FREYA
20    DAISY
21    MAISIE
22    LILLY
23    ISABELLE
24    CHARLOTTE
25    ELLIE
26    SUMMER
27    MEGAN
28    HOLLY
29    LAYLA
30    EVA
31    ERIN
32    MILLIE
33    LOLA
34    PHOEBE
35    LEXI
36    LACEY
37    IMOGEN
38    SCARLETT
39    SIENNA
40    EMMA
41    MOLLY
42    HANNAH
43    ALICE
44    AMY
45    BROOKE
46    KATIE
47    ABIGAIL
48    LEAH
49    JASMINE
50    GRACIE
51    AMBER
52    ROSIE
53    SOFIA
54    MATILDA
55    FLORENCE
56    ELIZABETH
57    FAITH
58    AMELIE
59    GEORGIA
60    ANNA
61    MAYA
62    MADISON
63    JULIA
64    REBECCA
65    BETHANY
66    PAIGE
67    MADDISON
68    NIAMH
69    KAYLA
70    ISABEL
71    BELLA
72    ESME
73    ISOBEL
74    LEXIE
75    LAUREN
76    CAITLIN
77    WILLOW
78    ZOE
79    SKYE
80    ROSE
81    ZARA
82    KEIRA
83    ELEANOR
84    ELIZA
85    EMILIA
86    MARTHA
87    HOLLIE
88    EVELYN
89    HEIDI
90    TILLY
91    DARCY
92    EVE
93    NICOLE
94    ELSIE
95    SARAH
96    LIBBY
97    HARRIET
98    ABBIE
99    MAISY
100    MYA

BABY BOY NAMES 2011

1    HARRY
2    JACK
3    OLIVER
4    CHARLIE
5    ALFIE
6    JACOB
7    THOMAS
8    JAMES
9    RILEY
10    ETHAN
11    JOSHUA
12    WILLIAM
13    GEORGE
14    MAX
15    DANIEL
16    NOAH
17    OSCAR
18    LOGAN
19    ARCHIE
20    DYLAN
21    LUCAS
22    JAKE
23    SAMUEL
24    JOSEPH
25    TYLER
26    JAYDEN
27    LEO
28    LEWIS
29    RYAN
30    MASON
31    FINLEY
32    HENRY
33    ALEXANDER
34    ADAM
35    HARRISON
36    FREDDIE
37    BENJAMIN
38    CALLUM
39    LIAM
40    LUKE
41    ISAAC
42    MATTHEW
43    JAMIE
44    CONNOR
45    ALEX
46    THEO
47    NATHAN
48    KAI
49    EDWARD
50    TOBY
51    HARVEY
52    HARLEY
53    AIDEN
54    BEN
55    FINLAY
56    MICHAEL
57    AARON
58    OLLIE
59    CAMERON
60    SAM
61    DAVID
62    ZACHARY
63    LEON
64    OWEN
65    SEBASTIAN
66    TOMMY
67    RHYS
68    BOBBY
69    JENSON
70    KYLE
71    LOUIS
72    KAYDEN
73    LUCA
74    EVAN
75    JACKSON
76    BLAKE
77    KIAN
78    CALEB
79    DEXTER
80    LOUIE
81    JUDE
82    ZAC
83    TAYLOR
84    REECE
85    RORY
86    ASHTON
87    HAYDEN
88    FRANKIE
89    ARTHUR
90    BAILEY
91    GABRIEL
92    STANLEY
93    CODY
94    ELLIOT
95    JAY
96    BILLY
97    JOHN
98    AIDAN
99    COREY
100    JOEL

Kindly provided by www.Bounty.com, home of the Bounty Parenting Club :)

New Year's Resolution 2012

2011-12-29T14:51:00.001Z

Be yourself, just better, never change what is already awesome!

Help 5yr old Chiane fight a rare Brain Cancer

2011-12-21T13:45:00.001Z

Today I saw this video (below) on my friend's profile on facebook, she's a friend of Chiane's family, the video shows part 3 of Chiane's journey so far. A 5 year old little girl going through radiotherapy for her rare brain cancer, it moved me a great deal.

My family is also going through a cancer ordeal with an older member of the family, I usually keep it to myself but it's been very tough, I can't image what this family is going through with such a young child.

I have a five year old boy so this really hit home, as it probably will if you have a young child too.

Chiane is a little trooper, I hope she continues to be strong throughout all of her ordeal and well done to her family and friends for the support they give.

Please do help Chiane raise £100k for her special operation in the USA, anything would help, even just £1 will help them get closer to their target.

HELP CHIANE HERE: http://helpmefightcancer.co.uk/donations/

Find out more about Chiane and her journey on her website www.helpmefightcancer.co.uk

Visit http://helpmefightcancer.co.uk/ for more info on Chiane's journey fighting cancer.

Monica x

Extra £22k needed for FSID & GOSH!

2011-12-20T10:46:00.000Z

The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths, FSID funds research into sudden infant death syndrome and recently took part in The Big Give, a charitable event in which nominated charities were able to have all funds raised in a one week period, matched by The Big Give donors.

This year, FSID are requesting donations towards a ground-breaking research project to be carried out by a specialist team at Great Ormond Street Hospital, studying the causes of cot deaths.

During The Big Give week, a staggering £40,000 was generously donated and this has been doubled to £80,000. Despite this, another £44,000 is still needed to fund this piece of vital research.

To ensure the research can go ahead, The Gro Company has stepped forward and pledged to match up to £22,000 worth of donations made to FSID via their website, www.fsid.org.uk. If this extra £44,000 is raised, the vital research into investigating the causes of sudden infant death can go ahead.

Each year in the UK, 300 families are left without a reason for the sudden and unexpected death of their baby. Professor Sebire and his team at Great Ormond Street Hospital will use a new lab technique known as proteomics to see if infection may actually be a cause of some deaths. It has already been established that bacteria play a part in cot death but they are also found in babies who died of other causes.

The team will look at changes in the pattern of proteins found in tissue samples, which could identify those babies who did die as the result of infection. If they are successful, then it would be possible to develop a cheap and fast post-mortem test so that more families can have the answer to why their baby died. It would also suggest a genetic susceptibility in those babies that die as a result of infection.

To donate, please go to www.fsid.org.uk and help FSID fund research in to cot death.

Thank you for reading, hope you can help and have a fantastic Christmas!

M xx

Colchester Zoo lowest admission price ever this winter!

2011-11-10T14:45:00.001Z

In winter it's hard to get out of the house, so to encourage you we are bringing you this fantastic offer by Colchester Zoo, they are offering reduced admission prices this winter, the special rates are the lowest the zoo has charged since 2005!

You can now save a whopping 40% on the peak rate prices when you visit between the 14th November and 31st December. If you visit on any day during this period you will be charged just £9.99 per adult, just £6.50 per child (3-14) and only £7.99 for senior citizens (over 60).

The offers for Colchester Zoo don’t stop there! They are also offering you a fabulous breakfast offer which is available from 09.30am until 11.30am, enjoy an English breakfast at Cafe UmPhafa with 2 English breakfasts and 2 hot drinks for just £9.99.

These great offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offer or promotional voucher. Please note that admission prices on the following dates will be different to the winter rate due to the Magic of Christmas events, 26th, 27th November, 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th and 17th until 24th December 2011.

For more information on visit www.colchester-zoo.com

If you do visit let us know how the kids enjoyed it :)

Monica x

A Song... and 2 kids later!

2011-10-08T19:10:00.001+01:00

My darling husband was going through some old mini discs we found while sorting out the shed (Yes, I know minidiscs we all thought they were going 2 b so great didn't we?!?) and found OUR SONG, the song he asked me out to... I had no idea it was from Zorro the movie and I had no idea that I was gonna marry him at the time but the hopeless romantic that he is he already had that in his plans.

My husband didn't actually ask me if I would go out with him, he asked me if I would spend the rest of his lifetime with him...

After 11 years I'm still here, we have two beautiful children and I'm very much looking forward to the next 50 yrs or so.

As long as he keeps working out of course...Do they do gym memberships for 70 yr olds? ;)

M xx

B Organic Soothing Balm wins Best Nappy Cream GOLD Award

2011-10-07T17:52:00.001+01:00

As always we choose the best products for you and now an Award Winning Soothing Body Balm!

B Organics most successful, popular and multifunctional Soothing Body Balm recently won Loved by Parents Gold award in Best Nappy Cream beating well known high street brands Weleda and Sudocrem. “The products were tested by parents and the top 5 put to public vote making this award all the more poignant. I feel so touched that a product I developed to reduce the discomfort my daughter's eczema put her in is now loved by parents all over the country.” Aycin said.

If this win wasn't exciting enough the Body Balm is also short-listed in Mumpreneur UK Awards for Best Mumpreneur Product Award. One of the judges is none other than Duncan Bannatyne from Dragon’s Den and we know he knows a good thing when he sees it.

All the B Organics Skincare range including the Soothing Body Balm is Paraben-free, Ethoxylate-free, Propylene Glycol-free, Silicone-free, DEA-free and artificial colour free, no nasties here!

Made in UK - 60ml Jars - Organic ingredients - Free from nasty chemicals

Suitable for use on the most sensitive skin - Suitable for Vegans - Animal Cruelty Free

This multifunctional Soothing Body Balm soothes Eczema, Dermatitis, Skin irritations, Sensitive skin and Nappy rash due to being 100% Organic & Natural and Totally Chemical Free.
These properties not only make it popular with mums, dads and children but also within the industry having already won numerous awards including TIPS award and Highly Commended in the Natural Beauty Awards.

I do use this on my own daughter and this was the only thing that soothes her skin and takes away the Eczema so this award was no surprise to me but I wanted to share it with you!

Monica x

Baby & Children's Markets Taking Over the UK!

2011-09-11T19:08:00.001+01:00

Leanne and Steve Taylor set up Baby & Children's in the UK after starting a family in Australia, they found pre-loved markets helped them save a fortune and snap up all the baby equipment, clothes and toys their family needed for less.

"We've got about 16 mums on the books at the moment, organising and running successful markets in their home towns." says Steve.

The concept is simple: each market features stalls of cut-price baby essentials. Mums can sell on pre-loved, pre-owned items their children have grown out of; small businesses and mumpreneurs can book a stall to sell their wares; and, best of all, mums can mix and mingle while they pick up a bargain.

"The customer base is endless as there are always new mums or new families moving into an area," says Steve "Our existing mums tell us the markets are really sociable events, where people can meet like-minded mums and get support and advice, while shopping for a bargain or clearing the clutter."

We all have to be more savvy with our savings nowadays and this new network of markets offers more than just a day out. You can simply come to shop; hire a stall to clear outgrown and preloved baby and children's equipment to raise cash.

Their latest addition is Essex, this area is being run by Monica Strydom, a very enthusiastic mumpreneur who already has other businesses on her belt, one of them a children's online retail store.

"I am very excited about bringing the Baby & Children's Market to Essex, specially in the current economic climate, our local parents need this! We plan to have these events very regularly." says Monica "Our first event is planned to be before Christmas to help parents get some extra cash for shopping in this pocket aching season, it will also help local small businesses."

If you are in Essex you can join Monica on the Baby and Children's Market - Essex page here.

Why spend a fortune on the high street when you can buy a bargain and make friends at a Baby And Children's Market?

For a full list of Baby and Children's Markets, check out their website www.babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk or their Facebook page www.facebook.com/BabyandChildrensMarketUK.

Say 'Thank You' to your midwife

2011-08-31T12:55:00.001+01:00

Some of us had midwives that were a pain in the bottom, some of us were hacked like we were a cow in the butchers and weren't so lucky (I personally know at least one lady, that was treated like that!) and don't really give a rat's ** about the midwife that took part in our birth and would slap her if we ever saw her again.

Hopefully majority of us had a nice midwife, I hope, that treated us with respect and care.

Image Courtesy of NHS

The midwife that assisted in my daughters birth, just over 2 years ago was one of those.
She respected my wishes and almost didn't touch me and my daughter on my hospital water birth, with very little intervention, many kind words and encouragement, I gave birth to my daughter myself with the midwife only assisting the baby after she was born and I had a chance to hold her for a few minutes... I took my daughter out of the water and held her close to my body and it was the best feeling in the world.

It was thanks to my midwife that day that the room was quiet with only ambient music, and my birth was a pleasant (it did hurt like hell but I prefer not to concentrate on that!) experience.

Nothing like my boys birth (my first) which was a right nightmare. I actually feel rubbish that I didn't do more for my midwife, other than say thank you on that day. I sadly can't even remember her name, to do something now.

But if you gave birth recently and remember your midwife's name or simply don't have a mushy brain like me... you could still do something nice for your midwife!!

Send her a nice gift or perhaps nominate her for an award? Or both?

The Royal College of Midwives are holding their Annual Midwifery Awards 2012 and you can nominate your midwife over at https://m.johnsonsbaby.co.uk/midwife-of-the-year.php, closing date is 26 September 2011.

Was your midwife lovely or a terror? Would you hug her or bash* her?

Monica xx

*Bashing not actually endorsed, please don't bash anyone as this generally lands people in prison!

Naturalmat Coco Mat Review

2011-08-25T19:34:00.001+01:00

The Naturalmat Coco Mat Baby Mattress is recommended for newborns and babies up to
18 months. It provides children with gentle support and excellent breathability. It consists of
an organic coir (coconut fibre) core which gives the mattress spring whilst the organic lambswool tufting adds extra comfort.

The Coco Mat Mattress comes with a machine washable cotton cover and more importantly it is completely chemical free.
The Naturalmat Coco Mat Mattress can be ordered online and be delivered to your door within five days.
Naturalmat customers have provided the company with an overwhelming amount of positive
reviews. You can purchase Naturalmat products from www.naturalmat.co.uk.

Our opinion:

We got one of these mattresses for my daughter, she had a soft mattress which I wasn't very happy with in the first place and needed a new one right about now.

This arrived pretty quickly, when I opened the box and had a look at how luxe it was, I had an epiphany! I had to get her room sorted before we put on her cot bed... make her room look as lovely as the new mattress.

Silly I know as no one would actually see the mattress but it mattered to me! Maybe it's mummy syndrome, not sure, but we did end up painting her room, getting rid of loads of stuff and now her room looks pretty. Her mattress was put in and she went to bed that evening as normal.

I must say, as her old mattress was softer, I was expecting her to wake up but nothing, she slept until the next morning as normal... lovely. The cover on the mattress is a very nice cream and extremely soft cotton, the outer cover can be removed for washing which is nice and practical.

Even when I sit on the cot bed the mattress feels comfy to me, when I bought her first mattress I spent about £80 and if I had realised that I could have gotten a natural one that is super comfortable and totally chemical free for a bit more I would of happily bought one (Specially considering its hand made right in England, Devon to be precise)!

The mattress comes with a 5 year manufacturer's guarantee, and after a quick peek... they do adult mattresses now as well, although I would have to save up for a good while as my bed is king size!

The fact that the mattresses are Chemical Free is one of the most important factors to me and my family as well as comfort, there are already so much pollutants around us and we spend an awful lot of time sleeping and inhaling whatever is in our mattress, so this fact is reassuring.

It also might not matter to everyone but I was quite impressed how the mattress was packaged, it came wrapped in 100% biodegradable cornstarch "plastic" (instead of real plastic that stays around for years and years) and then in a cardboard box. Excellent, impressively eco friendly.

So a week later...

Rating: 10/10

Monica x

MOO - Awesome Printing & a Voucher Code!

2011-08-24T16:08:00.000+01:00

Yes you heard it right... MOO...probably the coolest printing company on the planet!!!

If you haven't heard yet MOO was born out of a love of beautiful, high-quality print.

MOO brings different to the table with the patent-pending ‘Printfinity’ technology, it helps its customers to showcase their business or brand, their products or personality, by printing a different image on every card in a pack!

Printing millions of cards a month, MOO has hundreds of thousands of customers in over 180 countries.

Well I guess you would like your promo code? Yes? Ok, there is one catch... you have to be my friend!

You are?! Great then go here!

See because you are my friend and I am ever so popular, my friends at MOO will give you 10% off your order! Neat isn't it? Go on pop over to the MOO website.

Business Cards
Business cards should be a conversation starter – don’t let
your cards let you! MOO allows you to upload your photos
or designs, logo and details to fully personalise your cards,
with a different image on every card in a pack!

Available in short print runs of 50 cards, MOO’s doublesided,
Business Cards are printed in full colour on a smooth,
premium 350gsm/16pt stock. Ideal for making a great first
impression.
Premium Business Cards from:
$21.99 / £10.99 (excl. VAT) / €12.79 (excl. VAT)

Greeting Cards
A personalised greeting makes a card come to life. Create
cards for your clients, your friends or your family by
uploading your own images or designs.
Haven’t got your own? Why not chose from a selection of MOO designs!
You can easily customise the cards with your logo or a
personal message. Available in short print runs of 25 cards,
with a different image on each card in a pack.
Custom Greeting Cards with envelopes from:
$39.99 / £17.79 (excl. VAT) / €21.45 (excl. VAT)

There's loads more on their website!! MiniCards, Eco Friendly Business Cards, Postcards, Sticker Books and loads of accessories... You have to see it to believe it.

We are regular customers, so we certainly recommend them!

Monica x

Radiopaq Duo's DJ Style Headphones Review

2011-08-22T11:08:00.001+01:00

Radiopaq extended their popular range of unique designer audio headsets by adding the Duos a classic over-head DJ style headphones available in five colours: High Gloss Copper, Candy Green, Candy Purple, Metallic Silver, and Soft Touch Black.

The Duo headphones are adjustable and easy to store thanks to Fold Flat Tilt and Swivel headphone cups, with soft 15mm cushions. Gold plated 3.5mm connector also added for optimal sound transfer.
Powerful 40mm sound driver were added to the Duos to ensure first class specification.

Radiopaq Duos are available for RRP of £19.99 in stores now at Carphone Warehouse, ASDA, Argos, WHSmith and www.radiopaqproducts.com.

Gadget Dad Verdict:

There are a lot of DJ style headphones out there and these new Radiopaq Duos really freshens things up for a change. The colours are really fresh and will be a great hit for both young and old during this summer. The headphones come in a great looking solid box and is packed very well without wasting packing materials.

The problem with the usual DJ style headphones are that they are very bulky and not so easy to transport but Radiopaq made it easy with the special Fold Flat Tilt and Swivel design. They fold so flat that there is no problem to fit them in a briefcase or student bag.

They are also comfortable to wear around the neck when not in use. The soft 15mm cushions are very soft on the ears but I think the cushions could have been a bit bigger as they did feel a bit uncomfortable around the ears if worn for a while, as if they were pushing your ears at the bottom and the top. I understand that they wanted to keep the headphones as small as possible and also still keep them comfortable but maybe if they made them oval shape they could have been a bit better. A microphone would have been a welcomed addition to these as a lot of people these days use their smartphones to listen to their music while on the go.

The build quality and the way they fold flat are excellent and the fact that they are available in 5 funky and stylish colours are a thumbs up!

The sound quality of the Duos are remarkably crisp and the base just hits the right mellow defined note and outside noises from the busy world are kept outside, feels like you are in your own little world without feeling like your damaging your ears to keep other noises out so you enjoying your favourite music.

Pros:

Easy Fold Flat, Tilt and Swivel design for storing away in a bag or briefcase.
Adjustable soft padded headband for secure fit.
Ultra soft 15mm deep ear cushions reduce pressure on ears.
Unbeatable crisp and superior audio for the price.
Gold plated 3.5mm connector for optimal sound transfer on: Apple iPad, iPhone and other MP3 Players.
Available in 5 cool colours: High Gloss Copper, Candy Green, Candy Purple, Metallic Silver and Soft Touch Black.

Cons:

The only thing I found could be improved with the Radiopaq headphones was that the cushions going around the ears could have been a tiny bit bigger or maybe oval shaped to make them a bit more comfortable around the ears and they could have added a microphone so you can use it with smartphones like the iPhone.

Gadget Dad Rating: 8/10

Till next time
Gadget Dad

Boots Active Stretch Nappies Review

2011-08-20T11:10:00.003+01:00

We were sent a pack of these nappies to try out, with my daughter a 2 year old girl.
In my opinion these performed just as well as the leading brand we normally use, there were no leaks, they seemed comfortable and absorbed everything well.

They had fun bear designs on them which my daughter was delighted with and were easy to fasten & kept fastened while in use. The stretchy parts on the sides of the nappy had just the right amount of stretch.

I am not sure how these perform on boys as my little girl has had very few problems with nappies while my son had all sorts when he was a baby.

Based on my experience with a whole pack of 24, I definitely give the thumbs up, they performed as well as the brand we normally use.

They are on special offer at the moment in Boots, at £8.00 for 2 packs of these, so pretty good value.

My Funny Bunny Rating: 10/10

Mini Lalaloopsy!! Sooooo cute...

2011-08-19T12:13:00.000+01:00

Seriously... how cute is this?! When I was offered this to review, I thought I have to have it!!!
Never mind the kids, such a terrible mother aren't I? Well I couldn't let anyone see me playing with it by myself so of course I had to give it to the kids and play with them, otherwise my husband would think I'm bonkers, naturally!

Since then I looked at www.lalaloopsy.com and the website is just as cute as the dolls AND I found a whole new range including a tree house which I sooooo want, for the kids of course.

Yes, ahem, diverting from the real purpose here, a review of course.

First, I mean after me showing my obsession already, I should tell you a bit more about them.
These cute 3” Mini Lalaloopsy™ dolls have moveable arms, legs and head. They each come with their own cute pet and accessories. The Dolls are priced around £5.99 and suitable for ages 4 plus.
Also available in the range are the fun Mini Lalaloopsy™ playsets, which include the Crumbs’ Tea Party™ set we got and others, priced at around £9.99.

There are many other accessories in the set like a ferris wheel, a tree house and so on, you can create your own little magical world, where houses are askew, animals are unusual sizes and colours, and everything is made from fabrics, buttons and thread, ahem, that came out wrong, I meant create it for your kids of course.

I really wanted my kids to love this, I love sewing and I love baking, so Crumbs really appealed to me and lets say brought out my inner child.

Luckily my kids loved it, I was relieved otherwise my excuse to collect and play with these would have soooo disappeared!

My daughter instantly started squealing when she saw it, and didn't stop bugging me until I opened it. They both loved playing with it, the only negative thing I found about it was that the chair legs come off, I think its good that you can separate the chairs and the table apart so you can store it away in a box while you are not playing with it but the chair legs are so teeny weeny they easily get lost.

Apart from that minor detail we are totally in love with these and we really want to collect these!

My Funny Bunny Rating: 9/10

If you want to get your hands on your own Mini Lalaloopsy (love the name by the way!) you can now find them in most toy stores or on Amazon.

Monica x

Join the celebrities and protect baby in style!

2011-07-21T18:35:00.002+01:00

Pregnancy Tips: Reduce Morning Sickness

2011-07-05T14:35:00.003+01:00

Jackie Fletcher speaks tomany mums-to-be who are overwhelmed by information around pregnancy andchildbirth. As co-author of ‘Secrets of Confident Childbirth’, she loveshelping them feel less daunted about what’s to come.

You were so excited: You found out youare expecting a baby, but now you feel ill. Just the wafts of food or the smellof coffee send you running. Maybe it isn't too bad and you just have a lingeringnausea. You are not the only one, it is estimated that 66% of women experience'Morning Sickness' during the first few months of pregnancy. It still doesn'tmake you feel any better.

Morning sickness does not only occurin the morning, you can feel its effects any time, day or night. You may vomitor just feel nauseous. It is also commonly regarded as a symptom of the firsttrimester, yet for some it continues until 18 weeks and for a few, willcontinue throughout the whole pregnancy.

Inthis article

So why do women suffer with “Morning Sickness”?

What is hyperemesis gravidarum?

How do I know if I am dehydrated?

Should I call the midwife or doctor?

Can I reduce morning sickness?

Sowhy do women suffer with “Morning Sickness”?

There is no definite answer andnothing has been proven, it is different for everyone. It couldbe a combination of different aspects. Here are some of them:

Hormonal changes
Emotions and emotional changes
The body needs to slow down
Protection from food borne illnesses
Change in the body's requirements
Low blood sugar

Whatis hyperemesis gravidarum?

Put simply it is when a womenexperiences morning sickness so severely that she either vomits excessively anddehydrates or feels so ill that she cannot eat or drink enough to avoiddehydration. Dehydration then becomes a concern. So if you are suffering withsevere morning sickness you must contact your GP.

Howdo I know if I am dehydrated?

I am going to sidetrack a moment.Now here's a very important point that applies to everyone, morning sickness ornot, pregnant or not, female or not; If you feel thirsty you are alreadydehydrated!.

So thirst is a sign of dehydration,as is dizziness and if you are urinating less and your urine is dark in colour.When you have enough fluids in your body, your urine will be very pale, almostclear.

Signs that you need to get medicalattention due to morning sickness?

If you:

Vomit more than 3-4 times per day
Notice that the vomiting is notgetting any better
Feel weak and faint
Are losing weight
Feel thirsty and are unable tokeep any liquids down
Haven't been able to eat or drinkin 24 hours
Have eaten but haven't been ableto keep anything down for 24 hours
Are urinating less and your urineis a darker colour than usual

ShouldI call the midwife or doctor?

If you feel you may be dehydratingthen get in touch with your medical caregiver. You can contact your midwife andif she is not available, then contact your doctor. If you do not have easyaccess to a Midwife, browse through Greatvine where you'll find a fantasticlist of Midwife's who are waiting to help you.

There are many things you can do to ease morning sickness whether severe or slight. I have 22 tips to lessen morningsickness; combining them with some understanding about morning sickness hugelyincreases the response. One tip is to listen to the relaxation CD ‘SimplyReducing Morning Sickness’.

For more details you can contact Jackie Fletcher via Greatvine.

(Image: Louisa Stokes / FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

My Cybermummy 2011 Experience

2011-06-29T18:26:00.001+01:00

Last Saturday was the first time I attended the Cybermummy conference, an event that attracted over 400 bloggers and unlike the name suggests, male writers were also welcome. It was a pleasure to meet the likes of Nick Coffer of www.mydaddycooks.com and Tim Atkinson of www.bringingupcharlie.co.uk amongst all the other female bloggers.

It was a really valuable experience, I learnt some interesting stuff and met lots of people that I had spoken to on social networks and lurked around their blogs, yes I do lurk! *hangs head in shame*

It was really weird though, lots of people that I had spoken to but didn't actually know what most of them looked like.

I was of course incognito as everyone thought I was a terribly cute bunny as my avatar suggests. No sadly not a cute bunny... I actually looked like this on the day although not with that funny face because I had a sweet in my mouth in this picture. (Oooh and I was slightly embarrassed as I asked someone whom I had just met to take this photo!)

It was quite hard to see who everyone was because their badges kept on turning around, next time I think they should have clip on badges so we can see who everyone is easier. At least the badge I was wearing about sponsors Create, was well visible and sparked a few conversations!

The day went by really fast with all the seminars, I missed some I wanted to go to because they would often clash, I am a bit of a sponge so I want to learn everything in one day, as one does!

There was some great speakers including Sarah Brown but my favourite seminars were ones presented by successful bloggers themselves like Tara Cain, Sticky Fingers, Rachael Lucas, Tales from the Village, Claire and Lucy McDonald, Crumbs and many others.

Unfortunately in between breaks there wasn't much time to mingle as you made your way around to meet all the brands and PRs attending, and getting a peek at some fabulous new products including the cool new LeapPad from LeapFrog, that I so want one for my son for Christmas and some cool new HP e-printers... my home office could use one of those too!

Ubisoft also promised to send us some games for us to try out and tell you about, so lets hope they keep their promise, because I can't wait to tell you what Dance Juniors and the sequel to Your Shape Fitness Evolved are like!! Eeeeeek!

I did look like a Christmas tree when I came home though with all the goodies I got, one of my favourites was the LeapFrog Fridge Farm which seriously entertains my 2 year old and my 5 year old too! He's actually learning about farms this half term in school so that was handy. Gosh I sound like a LeapFrog advocate!

I did forget to mention cupcakes, everyone loves cupcakes, our waistlines don't but we do so no wonder they were very popular at Cybermummy with HP, Johnsons Baby and Lego all indulging us with fabulous and yummy cupcakes.... Oooh the HP ones were the most delicious but the Lego ones, although tiny were the most fun to look at...

If we didn't meet this year at Cybermummy this year make sure to watch out for me next year. If we did meet make sure to comment so I can do a post on all the people I met and introduce you to everyone else too!

A big thanks to www.Create.net who were my sponsors this year, it was a pleasure to be sponsored by a company who's products I believe in. I cannot recommend them enough as I have had my website with them for over a year, do pay them a visit if you are in need of a website!
Maybe they will sponsor me again next year too ;)

Monica x

Cybermummy 2011 Meet and Greet

2011-06-24T18:07:00.000+01:00

Its Cybermummy time tomorrow and I'm really excited but really scared at the same time... is that even really possible?!

I am a Cybermummy virgin, so have no idea what to expect and really scared I wont recognize everyone without their avatars and what not, I am really terrible with names AND I am a bunny avatar on twitter and most places so I think people won't recognize me!

I will probably be the girl (saying woman just sounds so grown up ;) ) sitting in the corner all by herself trying to look pretty and inconspicuous but secretly wants to meet EVERYONE!

So here if you see me do come and say hello and be the braver of us, I am only shy to start with once you get me going I'm actually quite outgoing! (Yes I'm weird like that)

Name: Monica ( I am also known by Mummy to 2 lovely little beauties)

Blog: You are on it! www.myfunnybunnyblog.com

Twitter ID: @myfunnybunny

Height: Approx 5ft 5 and I don't wear heels (I can't) so I will probably be the shortest in the room!

Hair: Auburn and short

Eyes: Dark brown

Likes: People, My Family, Summer, Olives, Chourico, Potatoes, colour White and bright colours, South Africa, Portugal... I like lots of things!!

Dislikes: Trashy or Rude people, cold weather (Yes I know, I do live in England no need to point that out... cold is most of the weather) apart from that I'm not too fussy.

This is what I look like when I look all pretty, lets face it, I probably wont look like this tomorrow but pretty close anyway... you'll recognize me!

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

I have to also thank my sponsors Create for allowing me to be there.

Monica xx

Brain Boosters (Omega 3) Review

2011-06-22T12:00:00.001+01:00

Brain Boosters are little capsules of orange fruit bursts, packed full of Omega 3 providing concentrated levels of essential fatty acids DHA and EPA for improved concentration and brain function.

The DHA in Omega 3 fish oil is an important component of the brain. DHA plays an essential role in brain development, and also assists in maintaining healthy brain function and levels of concentration.

We got sent a pack of Brain Boosters by Healthspan and as I must say I was very interested to try them on the kids because we had previously bought some in the supermarket to give to the kids but they were really expensive and they didn't taste very pleasantly, so once the packet finished we kind of forgot about them.

The Brain Boosters were delivered in the box the actual vitamins come in, which I found really cool as its a eco friendly way of packaging and it fits through the letter box, kids loved these and we call them "sweetie medicine" so they know they are only allowed one a day but they taste great too.

As the kids like them so much I researched further and I found out some of the many ways DHA helps children's health:

Supports strong cognitive function by supporting optimal neuron function
Promotes ability to concentrate and focus
Affects the motor control part of the brain, playing a major role in muscle function and coordination
Supports normal social development
Promotes appropriate behaviour
Provides increased visual acuity

The packaging also came with a voucher to get discount off Healthspan's Children's Multivitamin Bear which I'm going to have a look at trying, I'm definitely going to order the Brain Boosters again, one months supply for a child at £9.95 is quite good considering that it includes postage.

I will be looking out to see if it does in fact improve his concentration and what not but because I still have "Baby Brain" I might order some adult ones too and see if it works for me too.

Do you already take or give your children Omega 3? Did you see a noticeable difference since taking it?

Monica x

Notes from you!

2011-06-14T13:47:00.000+01:00

Thanks to all input from customers and friends about our advert, this is what it looked like before here and now it looks like this...

Much improved I think :)

Do let me know what you think!

Monica x

Your 2 cents on new ad

2011-06-13T17:25:00.000+01:00

We have designed a new advert and would love your opinion on it!

I think its simple and cute but what do you think?
This particular one is designed for girls obviously but I hope to have one for boys too.

If you are a design buff feel free to give us some tips or if you are a friend feel free to use it on your blog/ website to link to us ;) www.myfunnybunny.com

Can't wait to hear what you think!

Monica xx

Captivating Toothbrushes for Kids - Firefly Review

2011-06-03T13:19:00.000+01:00

We got sent a pair of Firefly toothbrushes for the kids, a cool Spiderman one for Funny Bunny who is 5 and a Hello Kitty one for BooBoo who is 2 in a few days.

They were both over the moon when these arrived, they didn't just have a picture of the character like other toothbrushes, they were actually character shaped!!
When they realised that they lit up when you pressed the button, they were seriously jumping up and down ( Funny Bunny started it and Boo Boo being the copy cat that she is shortly followed!).

So here we are in the middle of the afternoon in the toilet brushing their teeth, because they are so excited about these tooth brushes that light up!!

The fun continues though, a few weeks down the line and my kids still have a great time brushing their teeth and actually brush their teeth for the recommended time, while the toothbrush lights up... I actually have to keep the toilet door closed otherwise Boo Boo goes and gets the toothbrush to brush her teeth a ton of times a day!

I was worried about if the light would break if the toothbrush got rinsed under water, but it has been used for ages and still working great!

Keep an eye out because we are going to be giving some of these fantastic toothbrushes away!

Product information:

Firefly has used distinctive light up technology to create a fantastic mechanism for getting children to brush their teeth for the recommended time. All a child needs to do is press the bottom of the brush and as it lights up, start brushing. The flashing light lasts for one minute, giving the child the right amount of time to brush either their upper or lower teeth. Then, they simply move the brush and press the light again, to complete their brushing routine.
Firefly toothbrushes come in a range of assorted colours as well as characters such as Spiderman & Hello Kitty – the PERFECT way to get children enthusiastic about dental hygiene!

RRP £1.49 - £2.49, available from Argos and Lloyds pharmacies

Firefly toothbrushes encourage good habits for life!

My Funny Bunny Rating: 10/10

Monica x

End of the Road

2011-05-31T12:50:00.000+01:00

That’s me finished my stint as a My Funny Bunny author, I’ve enjoyed every minute of it! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my posts. If you do want to read more from me (shameless plug) you can find me over at Curly&Candid.

Now while I have your attention I want to ask you if you’ve ever really explored the MFB blog?
Here you have a fantastic opportunity to not only read more about Monica (the brains and beauty behind it all) but also find fantastic, interesting and useful info for you and your family. There is a wealth of reviews, useful discount codes (let’s face it, we all like to save a few pounds where we can!), and great pieces from Monica and her talent team of guest authors.The MFB Blog is a great standalone site but also links to the truly fantastic My Funny Bunny online shop, a collection of must have items for pregnancy, birth, baby and beyond! I know Monica pretty well and am positive that nothing hits MFB’s shelves that she wouldn’t use with her own brood. MFB has a fantastic range of clothing, skincare items, accessories, toys, nursery items, gifts and more. So, stop reading now and go and explore! Have a proper look around the blog and visit the shop for a chance to see some gorgeous items at very reasonable prices.Monica – thanks for having me! It’s been a blast :)

Nicki
________________________________________________________________________________

I would like to thank Nicki for being part of our family on MFB, she is a great writer and a pleasure to have!

If you are a talented writer and wish to show off your skills by becoming part of our Blog family, please do get in touch :)

Monica xx

Create.net - Meet our sponsor to Cybermummy 2011

2011-05-27T15:50:00.001+01:00

Create.net are our sponsors for this years Cybermummy, I am glad they approached us because theirs is a product I believe in as I have been using their services for over a year and a half!

Create have been around since 1999, that is a lot of years and experience! Their aim is give you the tools to create the website you want. Whoever you are and however terrible you are at using computers, Create makes it easy for you and your business to create a great looking website.

www.myfunnybunny.com

Packages start at just £2.99 a month or £29.99 a year and that includes hosting (Starter Package), and they go all the way to Pro Seller. Not only do you get great support from Create but there is also the most amazing supportive community forum where members support each other.

Create is not just for novices in web design, it is also for those that have a little more knowledge or even the professional web designers, for these levels of expertise there is the Web Designers Kit (WDK), examples shown below.

www.uksilverjewellery.com

You can do any sort of website not just e-commerce, here is an example www.security-jobs.biz , its your website, customize it as you need it!

When we asked some of the members to comment on the service we were overwhelmed by the response! Here are just a few:

"I love the simplicity of Create.net, it's an amazing platform for mums in business. It has very affordable monthly plans and the layout and design is suitable for all techie needs. When I first started Charlie Moo's nearly 3 years ago I could barely turn on a computer but now I am able to write html codes and the beauty of Create.net is that it allows you to grow with it. I also love the personal aspect of the customer services. You can tweet or Facebook any queries and you'll get a response straight away. They are always happy to help. I recommend Create.net to everyone ;) " Joanne Dewberry, owner of www.charliemoos.co.uk

www.diddybears.com

"I've had ecommerce sites before but Create are by far the best. The level of support alone stands them out ahead of everyone else, and the features and constant improvements make it incredible value for money. I'm so glad I found them." www.babydreamcatcher.com

"Like many others I had no idea whatsoever about web design, but Create seems very user-friendly with plenty of templates and helpful articles. Would definitley recommend! Have had a few sales already too, so am well chuffed!" Sally, owner of www.halerholder.co.uk

"Since using Create, we have managed to gain national word association with our site, and as we are growing so are the features that can be used via Create. The community is great and the customer service is second to none." www.ethical-emi.com

"Making a website using Create is extremely easy to do, a total novice can have a website within a few hours." Elaine, owner of www.starsandroses.co.uk

So you see... it isn't just me saying so! If you need a website go to www.create.net now and get your 30 DAY FREE TRIAL!

Monica x

Graco Fusio Review

2011-05-26T12:51:00.001+01:00

The Graco Fusio arrived with us back in March, you can read all about its arrival with detailed pictures here. My kids got very excited when they woke up in the morning and saw it standing there ready for the school run, you would have thought it was Christmas!

It is a nice looking pushchair and very strong and sturdy, it has various reclining positions, you can have the seat facing you or facing forward, and a massive basket too.

An amazing feature is (specially considering that the seat can face either way) it folds up in a similar way to an umbrella folding pushchair, it ends up being quite big when folded but it STANDS ON ITS OWN!

This is a fantastic feature because I am able to keep it on my corridor when not in use and it doesn't bother anyone. One of my previous pushchairs was so big that it had to be kept in the car in the weekend but during the week when I do the school run (which I walk) it had to be kept in the corridor, problem was even when put down you couldn't really go past which was a nightmare.

Another great feature was the fact that the handles can also be swivelled any way you want for comfort, me and my husband had a bit of fun with this as when you swivelled them outwards it felt super comfy but it also felt like you were riding a Harley Davidson!

It is also very easy to turn the seat around, and recline, some pushchairs can be a bit of a nightmare when it comes to reclining, with little bits to pull but this one is easy and I never woke up my daughter when reclining it.

The only things I found a bit hard with the Graco Fusio were the front wheels move 360 degrees and they often get stuck when the wheels are completely forward, its hard to explain what I mean without showing you but I have to lift up the front of the pram quite a few times in one journey for the wheels to swivel back to its original position so I can continue going again.

The other thing was the weight when you push, I am not sure if its due the weight of the actual pushchair ( 6.5kg ) or something to do with the wheels, my husband complained about this but I actually used it to my advantage, I actually lost weight and got fitter, so turned into a plus!

For rrp £299.99 (but we found it for £230 here) this pushchair is suitable from birth as it lays down flat, comes with a comfy newborn liner and an apron. It also comes with its own rain cover and harness protectors.

You can also use the Graco Fusio as travel system by adding Graco's Logico S Deluxe Car Seat and can get accessories to match it or you can add your own too like these fabulous ones here.

Verdict:
The Graco Fusio is a very sturdy and versatile pushchair suitable from birth upwards. There are tons of fabulous features. A bit tough to push but can be used as a fitness aid. The only thing that really let it down were that the wheels can be a bit of a problem as they swivel 360 degrees and can get stuck the other way around.

MFB Rating: 8.5 /10

For full product information and a video on how the Graco Fusio works visit Graco.co.uk

A great accessory for the Graco Fusio is one of these pushchair curtains for sun protection as I found it very difficult to attach our parasol due to the shape of the frame, and when I eventually got it attached it would fall off after a short while!

New Release Titled "How to make a woman Happy"

2011-05-20T17:47:00.002+01:00

Apparently us women are difficult to make happy so much so that a book was written on how to make us happy!

Apparently it looks something like this...

Seriously?!? I think it looks more like this!!...

Les Petits Bonbons Massage Oil Candle & Cookies for the evening! ;)

B Organic Lavender & Chamomile Soothing Body Balm for any time!

See! Easy peasy isn't it?

Now if your other half needs a hint, be cheeky and send him the link to this page ;)

Monica x

First Time Mum... Again!!

2011-05-18T12:46:00.001+01:00

When Taylor arrived I was convinced Iknew what i was doing. After all, it had all been done before hadn’tit? Kieran is nearly five so we’d done all the firsts, weaning,toilet training, the lot. Second time should be a piece of cakeright?

Luckily for me it has been so far.Taylor is a very laid back and contented baby. This is fortunate,because while he is laid back, when it comes to his wellbeing, I amnot! I’d forgotten, or subconsciously tucked away the apprehensionthat comes with introducing a new life into the world. Am I doing itright? It worked with Kieran, maybe it won’t with Taylor? DidKieran do that? I’m sure he was rolling over by now..... Yes,guilty as charged, I’ve been being a comparer. It’s lethal, andthere is absolutely no point to it either as no two children are everthe same.

So now I’ve stopped, I don’tcompare progress between the two, I just worry about Taylor in hisown right. I’m a fairly laid back parent in most ways, but I don’tthink it matters whether you have one child or six, you are alwaysgoing to worry, always be on the lookout for small signs that all isnot well, and never more than you will when they are very little &unable to tell you if things are as they should be!

I’m more confident in all the stagesI’ve encountered before, I do things automatically, it’s apracticed art, but to be honest – the only significant differencebetween myself now and myself as a mum to a new baby nearly fiveyears ago..? I read less books about parenting now, I just get onwith it!

Are we all the same? Or am I justgetting soft? Have you found that you worry less with child 2+ orlike me, are you still in constant watch mode?

Nicki

Do you love the circus?

2011-05-08T16:38:00.001+01:00

I love the circus, I have since I was a child... it was my favourite place to go.

I was mesmerized by the beautiful sparkly costumes, the amazing acrobats and the funny clowns.

I also loved the animals, I believed that the animals were so smart and wonderful doing their shows but that changed when I grew up and realized that the animals didn't want to be chained up and displayed for our pleasure. I am sure that there are nice handlers that teach the animals tricks by reward but I bet most are cruel on the animal if they don't get their way.

One thing is for sure, I had no idea that people could be so cruel, just out of nothing turn around and beat an animal, how disgusting of a person can you be to beat an innocent animal? Without being provoked or it being self defence? That person clearly needs the same treatment themselves!

Here is a video of the treatment of one of the UKs famous circus animals... appalling.

PLEASE DO NOT WATCH WITH YOUNG CHILDREN - may be disturbing for older children.

Annie the elephant has now been moved to Longleat Safari Park.

Now please visit PETA.org.uk and urgently sign a petition to PUT AN END TO WILD ANIMAL ABUSE IN THE CIRCUS

Its better to watch wild animals in the zoo or the wild, I hope you agree.

Monica x

My 4 year old has to earn his treats

2011-04-29T13:00:00.004+01:00

Kieran putting the eggs away

What a mean Mummy! Kieran has a star chart and he knows that he has certain things that are his responsibilities throughout the day and that if he achieves these, and is well behaved, he will get a sticker. It used to be that when he got all the stickers, he could get a treat ie a 90p car from Tesco but now he gets cash. He asked if he could have some pennies instead of a car or small toy so he could save his pennies and buy something BIG! I was overjoyed when he approached me with this, clearly we’ve done something right!

The sorts of jobs he does are simple mostly, he makes his own bed and opens his curtains, helps make his own packed lunch, puts his uniform in the washing machine after school, does some tidying etc and any little jobs that I want him to do. Nothing too strenuous, but he is taking on responsibility for looking after his own things / room and is encouraged to help others.

I’m all for letting kids be kids but I don’t see anything wrong in this. Kieran is growing into a helpful & well-mannered boy who is keen to save up for the things he would like and hasn’t got that “I want/I need / I MUST have” attitude that I see so often nowadays (in both children AND adults to be honest!). I really don’t think wanting to “work” for what you get is a bad thing at any age.

What do you think? Am I pushing him to grow / mature too quickly?

*Incidentally – he is currently playing with his Lego vehicles which he made with the big box of Lego wheels we ordered from Amazon after he gave me £8 that he had saved up to pay for them.

Nicki x

Weaning, what age and method?!

2011-04-26T14:23:00.001+01:00

As a first time mum, you don’t ever know when the right time is to do things. Each baby is different and each parent believes things should be done at different times. So when it comes to weaning, when is the best time?

The government are now saying nothing until 6 months, yet all the packaging in the supermarkets sells food in from 4 months plus and if your baby needs bulking out, you can feed it baby rice earlier. Also, I had read up on baby led weaning, which is giving your baby solids, and basically what you eat from 6 months, without giving them pureed foods.

I had planned to do the baby led weaning route and had been told you can give them food slightly before 6 months (which my daughter is) and when she grabbed out for my food, I knew that she was ready, but it is scary to do, especially during the day when I’m ion my own as they do gag on the food sometimes and I’m worried she will choke and I won’t know what to do. So, being a bit of a cop out I went and got some pureed food and mushed up some rusks which she absolutely loved and gobbled a plate full straight away.

I’m going to introduce a bit more solid food, like pasta and rice and potato, all the things that can’t completely break off and choke her but she will be tasting more things and not having everything mushed up for her. So, tonight she will try a bit of fish pie and see how she gets on!

Has anyone else been frightened by the baby led weaning or not sure when to introduce things? I’d love to hear other people’s stories about what worked best for them and at what age.

Emily x
Image: federico stevanin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Use it or Lose it!

2011-04-21T11:00:00.001+01:00

Do you use your local library? When was the last time you visited? Do you realise it’s FREE!

Recently North Yorkshire County Council announced plans to chop library services across the county, to save money basically. I was horrified. We use the library regularly and a swift email to my local MP thankfully confirmed that our library wasn’t one up for the chop. Phew! It got me to thinking though. Our local services, which many of us take for granted, are not bullet-proof and could just as easy be taken away if we don’t utilie them!

I am an avid reader, as is Roy and I regularly borrow books to enjoy in those stolen moments of peace and quiet (if you are a parent, you know what I mean!). it is important to me that Kieran, who is 4yrs also has the opportunity to enjoy books. They open so many doors, to so many world, and help him with his reading, build his experience and knowledge and indulge his imagination. If the local library was taken away we would be bereft. Do you know what one book costs – I had a quick gander in WHSmith the other day £7.99 for an adult paperback, £8.99 for a hardback kids book (with 12 pages, 12!). Bereft and skint!

Libraries are not the quiet and solemn places they once were, there is no stern librarian glaring and hissing “shhhh!” at regular intervals. Ours has a large children’s area with low tables and chairs, beanbags, and a few toys. Children are actively encouraged to visit and they run regular storytelling sessions. We have book crawl where you collect stickers and stamps for continuing to visit and take out books. Kieran LOVES visiting! The staff are friendly, more than happy to answer his 30,000 questions and he would really miss not going. We can even rent DVDs from there (think poor weather and half-term bribery) for just £2 a week.

With the exception of DVDs you can access your library account online (yes seriously!) and renew your books up to three times so there is no excuse to run up fines or anything like that, It really is an invaluable service and one I will continue to use and support.

So if you haven’t visited recently, do pop in, make sure you use the library else you might find that when you do, it’s no longer there!

Niki x

Formula vs Boob

2011-04-18T11:00:00.001+01:00

I started off breast feeding my daughter and having thought it would be weird and I wouldn’t like it, I found it to be very natural and, to me, it was the best start in life I could give her.

After having enough milk to feed 10 babies at the start, my milk supply dwindled and I had to introduce formula to one feed a day, this then increased to two feeds and kept increasing until I was only breast feeding her on a morning. Then I became really ill with a tooth abscess which meant I was on really strong antibiotics and for a couple of weeks had family round to look after the baby as I kept getting severe migraines and couldn’t see, let alone look after a child. Thankfully, they went away, but after not being able to feed her on a morning my milk supply had completely gone.

By this point my daughter was over 3 months and had had all the goodness I could possibly give her, she was growing well and was in a great feeding routine and a fantastic sleep pattern so it didn’t seem to be bothering her one little bit.

I wish I had been able to feed her for longer, but I’m not ever going to beat myself up about it, because I know I have done the best for her and the best for me. I have got friends who have been miserable because they have a low milk supply and can’t feed their baby every feed and I have friends who have combated everything in a bid to breast feed for a full 6 months, whether they have to top them up with formula or not and I have friends who express and do bottle and boob. What I have learnt is that if you’re happy and the baby is happy, then do what your instincts tell you to do, never feel like you have let yourself or anyone else down and go with your gut feelings.

My daughter is the happiest little thing, she loves her bottle, she can even hold it herself now and her eyes light up when she sees it coming towards her, she is being weaned and her weight is fantastic, plus I am happier that she is actually getting food and not having a boob stuck in her face that can’t give her anything.

With my next child I will do exactly the same thing, I will breast feed for as long as I can and do what is best for that baby, not what was best for my daughter. Looking at the other girls in our NCT group, I have realised that each baby is so different, they do different things at different times and they all have their own personalities and above all, a happy mummy makes a happy baby.
Emily x
Image: Lavoview / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

How did THAT happen?

2011-04-15T11:00:00.001+01:00

In November last year I had this:

Now, four and a half months later, Ihave this:

A joke clearly? How can he have gonefrom  this small to ------- THIS BIG----------- in such a smallamount of time! And he has changed so much! His personality is reallybeginning to shine through now (he is a real giggle-pot and I have nodoubt will be a real monkey). What I realised the other day is that Ihave (fortunately) hundreds of photo of Taylor which document thischange. Unfortunately they are all digital. The only place I have him“up” is as part of a collage I did with Photobox recently.

Time to get my finger out I think andget some printed up. My printer has had it and the price of ink &photographic paper frightens the life out of me so I am going downthe “someone else can do it for me route”. I’m looking now atSnapfish, Photobox and the like to help me get my son’s firstmonths printed up and properly “documented”. Did you know thatwhen you sign up for many of these free photo developing sites youget 40-50 prints for free? They are only bog standard sizes but wellworth it!!

That is my mission for the next fewweeks – getting my photos organised, which I suspect will be amammoth task, as it’s not just the ones of Taylor but also ofKieran. I am constantly snapping him with something he has made or ina costume for school etc.

How do you all manage your pics andwhere do you store them? I’m tinkering with the idea of Flickr tohouse them unless anyone knows of anything better. Any ideas will beMUCH appreciated!! I should know how fast it goes, after all, I’vedone this before, but I don’t think any of us are prepared for howquickly our babies change and grow!

Niki x

Longing for a room she can call her own

2011-04-12T14:10:00.001+01:00

Currently, me and my partner live in a 2 bed flat with our nearly 6 month old little girl and my 16 year old stepson. Those of you who are good at maths will have worked out that the people out number the amount of rooms available!
We put the house on the market in October, just before my daughter was born, in the hope we would have sold and be out in around 6 months. Everything was going according to plan, until our buyer decided to pull out at the last minute. She had got nervous as she was a first time buyer and wasn’t from this country originally, so everything was different and she felt too far from home. This left us in a very tricky situation as we had fallen in love with our dream house.
We may still be able to buy the house of our dreams – which incidentally, to everyone else is a bog standard house on a bog standard estate in reach of nice schools, but to us, it has potential and is somewhere we can see us staying for the rest of our days, but my main disappointment when we lost our buyer was that I couldn’t do a nursery for my little girl.

I realise this is more for me than her, as she doesn’t give a hoot where she sleeps at the moment and having her own room is not on her list of priorities, but it’s high on mine. I feel a bit cheated that I wasn’t able to do it before she was born, and now that I have got my hopes up of a new house and, in my mind, have decorated it, I want to give my daughter a space of her own, I want to put up her big cot instead of the travel cot she’s using now, I want to put up the bunting with her name on that my friend made for her, I want to put the wardrobe that was her great grandfathers but is now a shabby chic wardrobe fit for a princess and the toy box that sits and waits and my parents house that my great grandfather made. It’s all there it just needs a room to put it in and I am getting more impatient by the day to put it all together.

I know it might sound silly, but this is the one thing that in my dreams I wanted to do, I wanted to be the mum who had the nursery all ready, with a chair in the corner where I would feed her during the night but I guess I’ll just have to wait for my dream and it will be in a bit of a topsy turvy order but one day she will have a room to call her own.

Has anyone else had a dream for them or their child that hasn’t quite gone according to plan?

Emily x
Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Freecom Mobile Drive Mg U&F for Mac

2011-04-07T10:35:00.001+01:00

Freecom has been striving to create innovative and professional digital storage devices since 1989. All of their products are designed, engineered and certified in Germany according to the highest quality standards to guarantee customer satisfaction. They have just recently launched the worlds thinnest mobile hard drive.

These thin magnesium beauties will be exclusively for Macs and will be available trough Apple Premium Resellers.

Available in three different capacities and connection options:
-320GB (10mm in height with a slim line 7mm hard drive inside, USB 3.0). RRP £69.99
-750GB (with USB 3.0). RRP £99.99
-750GB (with USB 3.0 and FireWire. 12mm in height). RRP £119.99

All the drives will feature the latest USB 3.0 interface standard, which offers rapid data transfer speeds of approximately 5000Mbit/s and the FireWire unit will transfer at maximum of 800Mbit/s. Ideal for both home and professional users who want to transfer large files quickly and carry their data on the move. The last on the list will have the addition of FireWire 800 technology. All drives are Mac formatted and 100% Time Machine compatible to make setup even easier for the user. Simply plug it into USB port and back up your data.

There is also no need to carry around a bulky power adaptor as these units are powered by a USB port.
On the power consumption side the unit switches off while not in use for a while. The unit is kept cool in the Magnesium enclosure and don't have any noisy fan to spoil the look.

Gadget Dad Verdict:

It is always difficult to find a perfect matching external hard drive for the beautifully crafted Mac products that is made of aluminium. For a while now I have been looking around for a worthy companion to complement my iMac. I got my hands on the Freecom Mobile Drive Mg for the Mac and must say, this looks absolutely stunning next to the iMac.

The packaging was almost the sort of Apple like packaging you would get and say to yourself, wow all is included and no space was wasted. It arrived in a sleek see trough perspex container and inside the package was the USB power cable, USB 3.0 cable and the FireWire cable.
Setup was just a matter of plugging the unit in as Freecom already formatted it for the Mac.

Once up and running there was no sound to annoy you from the fan like some other external hard drives as the unit is being kept cool by the magnesium enclosure. When the unit is in its powered up state and in use there is a tiny blue light at the back that matches the light on your Mac when a application is open. It is tiny little details like this that shows that Freecom really put a lot of thought into this product. Truly well engineered and if you have a look at the picture I took of it underneath my iMac it shouts out "made for each other!"

Backing up was very fast with FireWire and made backing up with Time Machine a breeze. This is a product that I would recommend to any Mac user and I am sure it will look just as good with the Macbook Air and Macbook.

Pros:

Sleek and stylish magnesium enclosure
Comes with all the cables needed
Super quiet and power saving
No need for bulky power supply

Cons:

Only con with this was not finding any cons!!

Rating: 10/10

Till next time
Gadget Dad

I'm MAD and Blatantly Begging for it!

2011-04-06T11:30:00.002+01:00

This is a blatant begging post, you see I am addicted to people liking me, I am a very likeable person you know... yes, really!!

Or maybe I'm like Marmite, you either love me or hate me... I'm not sure, maybe you could tell me which? I'm sure I won't take offence if you don't like me (blatantly lying).

I would like you to vote for us, yes not just me because I already know I am soo spantafulous (just joking!!!), but for all of the the My Funny Bunny Blog Family...

There's Nicki, she is very funny, witty blogger,

Vanda aka FunnyBanana Mum, who loves to cook and shares her recipes with us all,

Emily, she's a lovely new mummy and graphic designer,

Emile aka Gadget Dad, absolute bonkers about gadgets and all the latest stuff out

and finally moi... I am just plain flat out MAD!

Our kids also make occasional but extremely cute appearances ;)

We would love to be famous and take over the world!!!! Mwaahaaahaaa

So go on, nominate us... you know you want too... or do it because you have nothing to do for like a minute, just click on the linked image above!!

Yes I am begging!!! Pleeeeeaaaaasse do it... or I will be soo sad.

Monica xx

PS. How could you not? I mean even the name MAD clearly describes us!!

Can you put your childs mattress in the washing machine?

2011-04-04T11:00:00.008+01:00

No?! Why not? Far too big isn't it...

Don't you wish you could though?

You wash their clothes, their hands, their comfort blankets, their duvets, sheets and duvet covers, etc, so why not their mattresses too?

In their first two years, babies sleep for an average of 15 hours a day and spend a huge proportion of their early life in close contact with their cot mattress. However, while we excitedly choose their new pushchair or cot, we often overlook the significance of what - in terms of health - is actually the single most important purchase are are ever likely to make!

Not too long ago we researched into mattresses and the best options that are out there, one of them is without a doubt PurFlo - a unique design, which has managed to scoop various awards across the world as well as being acclaimed by leading health experts concerned with Sudden Infant Death Sydrome (SIDs) and allergies such as Asthma and Eczema.

The PurFlo mattress is the healthiest and most hygienic cot mattress available on the market today, that is why we have decided to add it to our range of mattresses on www.myfunnybunny.com, and they are now finally available.

Unlike any other mattress, the PurFlo is completely hollow with a fully breathable, chemical-free SleepSurface, which not only provides better support than a conventional mattress, but allows free air circulation helping babies to regulate their own body temperature and preventing the re-breathing of CO².

You can just throw it in the washing machine!
Washable at 60°c ensuring any spillages, fungi or nasty bacteria (which often lurk in traditional mattresses) are completely removed! Because of this it is safe to pass down to younger siblings - a great bonus for your pocket and the environment in view of the fact that around 600,000 baby mattresses go to landfill every year!

Recently awarded Gold in the 2010 Practical Pre-School awards with one of the highest overall scores of 97.3%, testers commented: "PurFlo is amazing! How great to have a cot mattress which can be washed in the machine and tumble-dried. We really like the fact that dust mites would be greatly reduced for babies with allergies and the hollow nature of the mattress means that babies keep cooler and also prevents them from rolling onto their front. It reduces parents' worries about cot death and is perfect for travelling too as you just fold it up and take it with you. Top marks!"

You can find out more about this amazing mattress here and and purchase it from www.myfunnybunny.com

My First "Real" Mothers Day Card

2011-04-03T10:14:00.000+01:00

Today is Mothers Day, mothers everywhere are getting treated to a sleep in, a day off the house chores and work, etc.

I am a mother of two and today I am not getting a day off, its work for me, looking after the kids too as normal and if I am lucky I will get to see my mum later on.

But today is still an amazing day for me because I received my first ever 'real' Mothers Day card from my oldest son which turns 5 this month.

Sure I have gotten cards all the previous years but they were bought in a shop by my husband who wrote some nice stuff in it and got the kids to scribble on it, still nice but this one is super special.

My son actually made this one, he painted a butterfly with his fingers, glued it on a card and wrote "To Mum, Love S... xxx", it took a lot of effort and its beautiful.

I'm going to keep it forever and it's made my day and my heart warm.

Can't wait to get my first 'real' Mothers Day card from my BooBoo, but seeing as she is only going to turn two in a couple of months, I have quite a wait, you know learning to write and all!

Have you gotten your first 'real' Mother's Day card yet?

Monica xx

Do I HAVE to have another baby?

2011-04-02T08:07:00.000+01:00

It seems as if every day someone looks at Taylor, pinches his cheek, coo’s and says “So, when are you having another one?”. They then address my four month old baby and say “I bet you’d love a sister wouldn’t you!”. Yes, it would appear that I have committed the cardinal parenting sin – I have had two boys, we don’t have a girl to even things up. Clearly I should throw away my contraceptives immediately and work on (for want of a better phrase!) conceiving a girl.

Now the problem with this is... I’m not sure I want any more babies! Don’t get me wrong, I love my boys and I know full well how blooming lucky I am to have them! I have fertility “issues” and struggle to get pregnant, it took three and a half years of “trying” to conceive both of them. We were told we might not ever manage to have kids naturally (I have PCOS and ovulate approximately once every six months or so – needle in a haystack trying to pin those lucky three days down), so to be honest I think we’ve done pretty well all things considered!

And I love boys! That isn’t to say I wouldn’t have been just as thrilled if either or both had been a girl, but boys are great! You get what is on the tin- mischief, mud, mess but also a lot of affection! I really don’t think I NEED a girl to complete me or my family, I wonder why other people think that?

Do people who have all girls get the same? Are they almost urged to go out and have a boy?

I think your family is complete when it’s complete. Right now we are perfectly content. We have two happy and healthy *touch wood*, little men, who absolutely adore each other, and I imagine will be the best of friends, when not killing each other over stolen toys / computers / girlfriends as they grow. I can’t see me having another child, and that doesn’t really bother me, although I’m sure I’ll get twinges when Taylor goes off to pre-school, but regardless – we would never try for another child on the chance it “may be a girl this time”.

I would love to say to someone, just once “Well we got pregnant again, after your insistence that we needed a girl, and we’ve just found out it’s another BOY! Gee thanks!”. Wicked aren’t I!?

Just a random mini-rant. I have to wonder if subconsciously some of us are still programmed into the “perfect picture” of Mum, Dad, Boy & Girl. That is not a “normal” family in my opinion, each to their own – I’m one of SIX siblings (three boys, three girls lol), but that is a post for another day.

Is it just something people say then, or is there more meaning to “you need to have a *insert sex* now”? Hmm, curious!

Nicki

Three by Nine Meme - Monica

2011-03-30T09:13:00.000+01:00

We’ve been tagged by the lovely Joanne Dewberry on this meme, thank you, I do love memes, specially like these that are easy to do and it lets you know a little bit more about me!

I did cheat on some of the answers by giving more than 3 answers but hey, what's the worst that could happen right?!

Three names I go by: Monica, Mon (Not particularly fond of it but all my friends call me this so what can I do?! ;) ) and Mama/ Mummy/ Angel (1st one is what BooBoo calls me, 2nd is what My Funny Bunny calls me as he's older and 3rd is what my husband has always called me, although I am for from an angel! ;) ) There are more names I go by but they are very embarrassing!!

Three places I’ve lived: Portugal, West London and now Essex

Three places I’ve worked: Planet Organic, Joslin Rowe and My Funny Bunny of course!

Three things I love to watch: Cougar Town, Raising Hope, True Blood (and I'm a sucker for Disney movies!!)

Three places I’ve been and love: Spain, Portugal and South Africa…. I'm a sun addict!

Three people that email me regularly: My mum, PRs and SPAM!

Three things I love to eat: Stuffed Squid my mums style, Torta de Cenoura da Avo Nene and Cozido a Portuguesa! Here I am really showing my Portugueseness! Lol

Three people I think will respond: Emily, Gadget Dad and FunnyBanana (Authors on this Blog!)

Three things I’m looking forward to: Our next family trip to South Africa and to Portugal, seeing my business grow and my kids thrive and grow! And my mum and dad's wedding!! (finally!!!!)

Monica xx

A Special Peppa Pig World Preview

2011-03-28T13:44:00.000+01:00

Back in November we told you that Peppa Pig World was coming to the UK and opening on the 9th of April and now we have come to tell you that we have been to the preview of it on Saturday!!!

It's only because we are A list don't you know? ;) Ahem, *flicks hair* really, we were invited along with celebrities and the like so we could tell you all about it!

We are in Essex so it took about 3 hours to get there and pee pee breaks because of the kids. I got up at 5:30am to start making our lunch and get things ready, I was really excited as we haven't gone on a proper outing for a while, last time we went somewhere was Legoland before BooBoo was born.

When we eventually got everything ready including leaving food and water for our beasts of the canine kind, I finally managed to get out the door.
ROAD TRIP Woo hooo!!! Before you think it,yes, I did act like a mother the kids would be ashamed of by putting my hand in "rock" sign and shouting that. If only they were older to actually complain how I was making a fool out of myself, really, even my husband looked at me funny and laughed! A girl's gotta have fun you know?!

Eventually we got there after a very long journey. When walked through a section in Paultons Park we saw some beautiful flamingos, pelicans and my favourite, a family of albino wallabies! Then just by the entrance to Peppa Pig World (part of Paultons Park) there is a wonderful painted wall which the kids loved and it got them even more excited!!

We went through a tent which was there specially for the preview day where we got our VIP passes with our names on which the kids were particularly proud of and we are going to keep them as keepsakes after all this was the preview of Peppa Pig World, the first in the world and this one is exclusive to Paultons Park in the UK!

This place really was heaven, I mean everything everywhere was Peppa Pig, I squealed with excitement and I am a grown woman never mind the kids! As we walked around the 'grass' and the dolls would speak to you, we heard Peppa laugh various times while walking around which was really fun, it added to the whole atmosphere. It wasn't just a park with a few rides... it was a real experience.

We went into Peppa Pig's House where we saw a life sized Peppa Pig and her family talking about pancakes. If you are a Peppa Pig fan you would have seen the episode where Daddy Pig flips the pancakes and they get stuck to the ceiling? That was it except you can see it in real life size, mega cool, the kids adored it!

We also went on George's Dinosaur Adventure, Daddy Pigs Car Ride, Grandpa Pig's Boat Ride and Peppa's Big Balloon Ride, the kids had tons of fun and we were super pleased because there was plenty of rides and stuff for BooBoo our 22 month old to do, so we were all winners!

We also had pictures taken at George's Dinosaur Adventure ride which we got one to keep from Pedro Pony's Ride Photos!

The kids loved George's Spaceship Play Zone but we all absolutely had a blast over at Mr Potato's Playground!! This was absolutely stunning, colourful and different things for all ages, we actually spent a lot of our time here and we had our lunch here too, there are picnic tables so you can have a chat and eat while the kids are playing around. The only down side to this I found was that there wasn't a gate on the actual playground... we were always with an eye on the kids but my little one wandered off to the exit of the playground a few times (we always got her just before she managed to leave though ;) ). Being a big fan of colours (as you can tell by My Funny Bunny!) I really loved the rainbow walkway, I would really love to have something like that done in my garden one day!

Muddy Puddles is also in Mr Potato's Playground and it's a fab place where the kids can go with their swim suits and splash around! But fear not because if you forget the kids swimwear at home you can always buy some in Peppa's Toy Shop!

Peppa's Toy Shop is a mine field beware your pockets!! Not only will the kids go crazy but you will too... pitty I didn't have that much to spend this time because I would have bought half of the shop, I specially loved their limited edition prints of Peppa and her family, but seriously if you think it, they had it Peppa Pig!!

We had tea and cake at Daddy Pig's Big Tummy Cafe with the lovely Joanne, Sam and their families. It was a lovely sunny day so we really enjoyed sitting at the tables outside just next to the Peppa's Duck Pond which ironically has a sign saying 'Don't feed the ducks' but the ducks are plastic!! We found that hilarious and I am sure it's meant to be. There are also tables inside where you can watch the kids play in George's Spaceship Play Zone while you have a rest and a chat over some yummy food.

After all that we went out of the Peppa Pig World area into Paultons Park, the day was almost over... but before we left we had to have a go in Wave Runner, which was a massive thrill!!! We had loads of fun and my normally scaredy cat son went on this an amazing 4 times! We couldn't believe it. I mean look at our faces! Definitely one for the thrill seekers.

At the Wave Runner while in the queue we spoke to a visitor and she said that their was plenty of rides for little ones so as we left the park (with a big car journey ahead of us), we saw at the entrance a big list of rides that BooBoo could actually go on at Paultons Park so now we are really excited about going to there again to explore the rest of the park!!

We had a fabulous and much needed family day out and it's all thanks to Paultons Park/ Peppa Pig World, it was worth the long car journeys, there and back!

Although I am not sure if they do birthday parties... I am looking forward to finding out as this is definitely a great venue to do it in!

Monica x

PS.To see more photo's of Peppa Pig World have a look here on the Peppa Pig World News.

The arrival of the Graco Fusio Pushchair

2011-03-25T13:31:00.000Z

We were chosen as one of five to test out the Graco Fusio, the newest pushchair from Graco (apparently pronounced Grey-Co! all these years I have been saying it wrong!! Lol).

When we first looked at the prospect of doing this I went looking for information on this pushchair, after all why would I want to test something that isn't appropriate for our life style? Even if it's free!

So I read the information and looked at the pushchair and it all looked good, although I had a pramette before with my son (almost 5 years ago now) from a leading brand that cost a fortune and wasn't totally impressed with the system once it was put on pushchair mode, so I was hoping for this to be better and looking forward to trying it out.

When it arrived I was desperate to get into the box to check the colour, my last two pushchairs have been red, so I have red accessories to go with it and would be disappointed if these didn't go with the new one! I opened the top of the box and to my amazement it was RED! Yaaay, I was so pleased and relieved!

I waited until my hubby got home so we could unpack it and take pictures so we could show you, but this was very hard as I am mighty inpatient as you may know by now!

So here it is, I thought it was a small box considering what was supposed to be inside and once we did take out all the stuff we wondered how they managed to fit it all in!

In the box came a cover for use when in pram mode (on the right hand side in the pic above), a comfy padded liner for when using with a small baby (one on top), the pushchair, full rain cover and best of all a full foot muff!

The foot muff caught me by complete surprise as I wasn't expecting this to be included! At this point I thought this is good value for money but of course I was yet to test out the pushchair.

Once we clicked the wheels in, yes literally clicked in (no faffing about with instructions), the Fusio was ready to go! One thing that bugged me when I first had a look at this pushchair was "how on earth does a pushchair that is umbrella style fold, stand by itself?" but it was dead easy, just literally stand it up! No levers or bicycle style stand up bits as I had imagined. It just simply stands on its own!

So now we had put it up and our first thoughts were:
Very sturdy frame, ginormous (gigantic & enormous ;) ) basket, wheels with smooth swivelling action, strong hood, handles can be moved 360 degrees in any angle you want for comfort, you can lock the wheels straight at hand height and the break is super easy to use, no need to push on different sides for locking and unlocking, just one stepping "button" to push for either function, super easy & convenient.

Now the handles sparked a bit of parody with my husband and I, we adjusted them so they were outwards (very comfy way to push in

The Graco Fusio can also be used with the child facing me which particularly interests me.

So just from opening the box and checking out the Fusio, it gets 10/10 from us but we have yet to tell you about using it!

Will it be all so easy and pleasant as it looks?
You'll just have to wait and see on our next Graco Fusio post!

Monica x

Meet our newest author - Nicki

2011-03-24T13:02:00.000Z

I was recently given a copy of Time Management For Dummies, and so far haven’t had time to read it. In fact, it is in my bathroom, as the only spare minutes I seem to have at the moment is when on the loo. Taking on anything else might seem crazy but when the lovely Monica casually mentioned she was looking for regular guest-posters I jumped at the chance, rescued the book from the loo, and got myself sorted, as this is a fantastic place for me to blog. Fresh, modern, quirky, a little mad – I will fit in here nicely I think.

So here I am, your newest “resident” guest poster. Monica thought it might be nice for you to know a little more about me so I’ll start at the top.

THE BOYS

I am the very lucky Mum to two fabulous boys, Kieran who is 4yrs old and Taylor who is 16 weeks old (ok he is 4 months to the day very soon but for now, I am sticking to 16 weeks!).

Kieran is possibly the funniest, cutest and most fearless 4yr old known to man (especially the fearless part) and I adore him! He has been at school since September ’10 and loves it! Taylor’s personality is already starting to shine through and if I had to use one word to describe it... mischievous. Oh joy! This one will keep me on my toes. A complete giggle-pot. Best of all, they are smitten with each other. Yes one very lucky and proud Mummy here!

The LSH

The Long-Suffering Husband (Roy) is a gem, he is a hands on Dad, knows how to use the washing machine, makes egg fried rice from scratch that would make our local Chinese takeaway sob in frustration and is a great support. I work from home full-time, writing, blogging and other miscellaneous things, AND am a full-time Mum, housewife, cook, accountant, personal shopper.... (basically the same as every other Mum really) and Roy is great because he recognises this and appreciates what I do, as I do with him. We’ve been married 8 years and we fit perfectly. One very lucky and happy wife here!

Oh yeah, ME!

Well, with me you pretty much get what’s written on the packet; 2 scoops of children, one of husband, a smidge of sarcasm, a pinch of wit, a handful of humour, a portion of craziness, a touch of wannabe-interior-designer , a slice of freelance writer and blogger... and I love to cook too!

You’ll get to know lot’s more about me, my kids and the hubby over the next few months, and I’m looking forward to finding out more about the My Funny Bunny Blog readers!

Nicki x

Edifier Sound To Go Portable USB Audio Speaker - A Gadget Dad Review

2011-03-23T16:00:00.000Z

Edifier introduces their ultimate portable USB speaker to take anywhere with you. This cleverly designed sound bar was crafted out of brushed aluminium and houses full range 30mm x 70mm magnetically shielded speaker drivers with an elaborately designed bass reflection port.

The sound bar connects to your desktop or laptop via AUX input and it gets power from a additional usb cable that comes supplied.

You are supplied with a elagent soft carry pouch to protect the sound bar during transit.

Edifier Sound To Go is available for the RRP of £39.99 directly from Edifier and Amazon.

Gadget Dad Verdict:

I'll take my sound to go please! Edifier just released this fabulous USB sound bar to take along where ever you go with your laptop and of course you can also use this with your desktop as well.

I opened up the box and was met with a black velvet pouch that housed the brushed aluminium sound bar. This was very sleek package presentation from Edifier and it felt more like this was a more expensive product than it actually is. The sound from this sound bar was very impressive considering the cost. For the RRP of £39.99 this is truly very good bang for the buck.

Set up was very easy and it is a simple matter of plugging the cable into the USB port and whoooop there it is! You can also connect other mp3 devices to the sound bar via the supplied 3.5mm-3.5mm audio cable.

I even had the sound bar connected to my iPhone without a desktop or laptop using the Freeloader Classic Solar Charger for mobile phones and ipads. This was very handy for those that wanted to take their sound bar with them to the park during summer for a picnic for example and still be able to enjoy their music while on the go without the need to take their laptop along.

Pros:

Sleek and stylish brushed aluminium design
Comes with carry pouch to protect unit
Very easy set up

Cons:

Would have complemented the design even better if the connection points could have been at the back of the unit some how as this spoils the design of the unit having the cables coming out of the side
Also would have been nice to have two more rubber bits under the unit in the centre so that it could fit under a iMac without being directly on the aluminium

Rating: 9.5/10

Till next time
Gadget Dad

Work Life Balance...

2011-03-22T10:33:00.000Z

As my daughter (now 5 months) gets bigger and more interested in things and demands more attention I am feeling ever more guilty that I am not spending as much quality time with her as I would like to.

But as I sit doing my work and take time out to go see the other mums from my NCT group, I realise that when they go back to work shortly, I will still be with my baby and see her all day, everyday – so should I feel guilty?

I try and spend as much time as possible and entertain her and she is such a good little girl who plays and laughs (mainly at me) and doesn’t seem to be missing out on anything, but it is so hard to try and get the balance right throughout the day, spending enough time on work and enough time on the children.

So, what does everyone think is right? Should I take an hour out of each day to go for a walk? Should I take 2 hours out, and have activity time? What is the right thing to do? And, would I feel like this if I spent 6 months to a year with my baby, then went back to work? Probably not, I would put her in nursery and spend evenings and weekends with her, so am I being too harsh on myself?

Comments and advise please? Do any of you struggle to get the work, life balance right as self-employed mums?

Emily x

Radiopaq Flex Sports Earphones - A Gadget Dad Review

2011-03-21T00:18:00.000Z

Radiopaq Flex Sports Earphones were designed to be unnoticed while you walk, run or train. The ear clips were specially designed to feel virtually weightless and comfortable at the same time.

The rear facing flow away cables reduces tangle and doesn't get in your way while training. It comes with two interchangeable cable lengths, for training and pocket use. They are fully compatible with the iPhone and the iTouch and come with a gold plated 3.5mm audio jack.

Radiopaq even added a genuine Apple remote chip and Mic to make skipping tracks and taking calls a breeze without interrupting your exercise routine. Also included in the packaging is three sizes of soft silicone earphone cushions to make sure you get the perfect fit to enjoy superb noise isolation.

Radiopaq Flex Sports Earphones are available now at radiopaqproducts.com and other good retailers for £24.99. They are available in three different colours: Graphite White, Graphite Black and Graphite Orange.

Gadget Dad Verdict:

The problem I have with most earphones is how they always get in the way or the way they always get pulled out of your ears when you are running or doing a workout with weights. Radiopaq seems to have come up with a very comfortable solution to get over this annoying obstacle so that you can get on with your workout.

Switching tracks and taking calls are very easy as Radiopaq used a genuine Apple remote chip and Mic so that you can use your iPhone and iTouch the way you are used to with the earphones originally supplied with the unit.

The rear facing flow-away ear clips are super comfortable and you barely notice that they are there due to their weightless design. I especially liked the two interchangeable cable lengths idea so that you can use it with and arm band without having the need to have a log wire hanging from your arm. If you want to keep your unit (eg. iPhone) in your pocket you simply add the extra cable length to it which comes with the earphones.

The design quality is good considering to the price tag of £24.99 and the sound quality match some rivals that are a lot dearer to the wallet!

Pros:

Ultra comfortable ear clips and rear flow-away cable design
Comes in three different colours
2 interchangeable cable lengths
Built in genuine Apple remote chip and Mic

Cons:

Some aspects of the design could have been a little bit less bulky and more stylish to compliment the stylish and streamline design of the ear clips and earphone jack, for example the Radiopaq branded plastic bit where the two wires separate into two and the female connection point for the extra lenght cable.

Rating: 8.5/10

Till next time

Gadget Dad

MumsClub.co.uk Article Feature!

2011-03-18T19:24:00.000Z

We are pleased to say our Founder and Director Monica Strydom was quoted in an article on www.mumsclub.co.uk about things working mums wish they knew earlier. Mums Club is a great website for mums in business to network.

Thanks Mums Club!

An extract from the article:
'That’s a sentiment shared by Monica Strydom, from Essex, who runs www.myfunnybunny.com, an online baby boutique. “I wish I had realised that the house doesn’t clean itself, that only an octopus could get everything done, and that you can easily end up working 24/7 between work and home,” she says.'

You know you are a mother when...

2011-03-16T18:26:00.000Z

..."Your mascara is smeared over the sofa :-(" @EO_NYROrganic

..."You go in your handbag to get your purse and find a half eaten gingerbread man and a pack of baby wipes" @Dawnie_Brown

..."You have a handbag full of raisins" @zooarchaelogis

..."You find a crayon in your make up bag! (happened to me today!)" My Funny Bunny

..."You dig around in your handbag and get a handful of crumbs :0" N. Mcarthur

..."Your once tidy and clean house now resembles a quagmire!" E. Newman

..."You can't keep clothes clean for more than 5 minutes without a mucky hand or snotty nose ending up all over it but you still wear it all day!" C. Carlin

..."The last book you read was about purée." L. Benn

..."You have never seen a fifty pound note" Y Redbourn

..."You take your car for an MOT with a tractor sticker stuck to your left breast" L. Shonfeld

..."You take a 30 min biz call in a changing room whilst BF'ing a baby in the dark (lack of movement sensor kicked in)" @bwebsites

..."Your hairdresser finds bogies in your hair :(" @saralotay

Collaboration of some of our fab followers on twitter and fans on facebook! Thanks for your help :)

Parenting is a lot of hard work and a lot of fun too... you just have to look at the funny and bright side of things!

What is your favourite quote from above or have you got one of your own that you would like to share with the rest of us?

Monica x

We were featured on SusanKMann.com!

2011-03-12T22:52:00.000Z

We are proud to have been featured on susankmann.com here.

Susan picked her favourites of our website and these were the Paperpod Den, Wicked Wizard Costume, BigBookLittleBookCardboardBox and our very own Tooth Fairy Pillow!

Thanks so much for taking the time to write a lovely long post on us!

susankmann.com extract

The Gallery: Gifts

2011-03-09T23:24:00.000Z

My chosen word is Gift for this weeks The Gallery challenge.

Yesterday I was looking for a category image for our new skincare range on our website, I looked everywhere but I couldn't find anything that suited, I'm very picky so I spent ages looking for that perfect image only to think at the end... Hold on! I have beautiful kids, a wicked photographer husband and the cream right here!!

I asked my husband to get snapping and tried to convince my almost 5 year old to let me put a dollop of cream on his face for the photos by putting cream on my own face and doing silly faces.
Well that didn't work!! But the promise of a little chocolate did the trick! Can you see the smile on his face? Its the though of chocolate!

Yes I know, BAD MUMMY *slaps own hand* using bribes to get what I want!

But now I look at this photo and many other that we took on this mini session (including the one here) and I think what a gift my son is, what a gift being beautiful is and what a gift my family is to me.

I have a tear in my eye as I am writing this, but I am blessed is so many ways as most of us are. The problem is we often concentrate on the negative things in our lives, the things that are in our face, problems we encounter, things that annoy us... when we should be focused on the positive in our lives.

So this picture highlights one of the gifts in my life and I wanted to share it with you. I am so proud of my family and the joy they bring to my life and heart.

Monica x

Top 10 tips for a better nights sleep

2011-03-07T13:11:00.001Z

Did you know that more than 10 million people in the UK suffer from insomnia*? That’s almost a fifth of the country’s population...and I bet all of those are parents!

Last week I didn't have such a great time sleeping so my husband kindly offered to give me a nice massage and who am I to say no to a no strings attached massage?? Nobody that is who!!

My dear husband has a broken toe so for his comfort he gave me a back massage while we were both laying on the bed which meant I had to switch sides to get both my shoulders massaged. This resulted in me falling asleep on his pillow and I had a lovely night's sleep!

In the morning I figured that our pillows had been switched since we had changed the bed, so my problem all along was that I had the wrong pillow, something as simple as that!

Monica x

If you are having trouble sleeping you can can try these top 10 tips to getting a better nights sleep:

1. Always get up at the same time - even at the weekend.
It might seem like you need a lie in to make up for the sleep you haven’t got, but to break a cycle of sleeping problems you need to train your body into a good sleeping pattern.

2. Avoid catnaps during the day. It’ll only make it harder to get into good sleeping habits.

3. Replace caffeine and alcohol with hot milky drinks. Alcohol won’t help you sleep properly. If you are having trouble cutting out caffeine, set yourself a time in the day past which you don’t have it.

4. Unwind with a hot bath and lavender bubbles. Both will aid sleep by helping you feel more relaxed.

5. Exercise during the day. Exercising at night will actually make you more awake and you’ll find it harder to get to sleep.

6. Get to bed at the same time every night. It’ll help your body prepare itself for sleep.

7. Make your bedroom a shrine to sleep. No TV, no reading.

8. Alleviate your worries. Try writing them down before you go to bed.

9. Invest in a decent bed. You spend a third of your life in it!

10. Don’t lie there frustrated. If you can’t sleep, get up and do something for a while.

If you are one of the many people who suffer from sporadic or regular sleeplessness, then new Kalms Night One-A-Night natural remedy could help restore your natural sleep patterns and offer relief from disturbed nights. It contains dry extract of the herb valerian, which is often used to help relieve stress, anxiety and sleeplessness due to its natural sedative qualities. As the product is herbal there are no drowsy side effects the next day, allowing you to wake feeling refreshed and ready to tackle work, chores or children!

Kalms Night One-A-Night is available in blister packs containing 21 tablets (RRP £4.99).
It is not recommended for children under the age of 18 or for use while pregnant or breastfeeding, for further information on natural remedies visit www.laneshealth.com.
*TGI Q3 data, covering April 2009 to March 2010
Image: graur codrin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Apple iPad 2 Arrives- A Gadget Dad Preview

2011-03-06T12:41:00.001Z

Images curtesy of Apple.com

Bring on 11th and 25th March!!

Apple released the iPad 2 on 2nd March and there has been some mighty good changes. Sadly for some peoples wish list's there is certain changes that did not make it to the iPad 2 like the USB port, SD card slot and Flash player.

Despite the shortcomings from the fans wish lists the new iPad 2 is truly remarkable.

I mean how did Apple manage to take the iPad and make it 33% thinner, 2 times faster, 9 times better graphics, lighter and also managed to give it the same 10 hours battery life!

Apple just amaze me each year when they bring out a new product for the current line and make it better.
The iPad 2 is aso thinner than the iPhone 4!!

The 4.3 iOs update will also be coming out with the release of the iPad 2 on the 11th March.

It will bring improved Safari browsing that runs twice as fast, wireless streaming through iTunes Home sharing, AirPlay improvements to help find your Apple TV with no configuration needed, PhotoBooth software for the cameras (back and front facing), FaceTime between most iOS devices (iPhone, Mac, iPad).

Apple also showcased a new type of case called the Smart Cover, these look really awesome and will be available in a rainbow of colours and finishes. The new Smart Cover attaches itself to the iPad by means of magnets and folds open so that the user can use it as a video stand for FaceTime or even as a perfect stand to do typing, it even puts the iPad to sleep when you cover the screen and wakes it up when opened. Unfortunately this will cover only the front of the screen.

Images courtesy of Apple.com

The new iPad 2 will be available in Black or White, this time we are promised that we will be getting the white one unlike the white iPhone 4 that was a bit like a white elephant, maybe they surprise us with the iPhone 5?

This is going to be a truly amazing device for 2011 and i dont think any other tablet is going to beat it.

For a more in depth specs please visit the Apple here where you can see a cool video of the Smart Cover in action.

Till next time
Gadget Dad

*All images courtesy of Apple.com

Phone and wi-fi Shields - A Gadget Dad Review

2011-03-03T18:20:00.010Z

Protection for the family

Using a mobile phone and using the computer at the office and at home adds up to hours of exposure each day to electro magnetic radiation (EMR) and scientific reports and tests show that over half an hour a day is seen as high usage. Many of us use a computer all day at work and then spend our leisure time surfing the internet at home. Radiation from mobiles, computers, laptops and other wire-less technology cannot be seen, heard or smelled yet is all around us. Scientifically proven, the Phoneshield product makes it really easy for you to take some precautionary action for yourself and your family against the dangers of EMR and give a loved one a conscientious gift this festive season. The quartz crystal technology aids to diffuse and eliminate some of the dangerous effects of EMR and give peace of mind. The PhoneShield works by emitting its own low frequency signal, which intercepts and cancels the phone's pulsed frequency pattern alleviating its harmful effect on the brain and the body's biological system.

Developed and manufactured in the UK, the Phoneshield (rrp £12.50) and the Wi-fi (rrp £14.99) Shields are available online from www.phoneshield.co.uk where you can also find lots of useful information and research on radiation and more.

Gadget Dad Verdict:

My wife was suffering from a lot of headaches and hair loss and we got these two products to review, they claim that this product will work against harmfull EMR.

Installation was very quick and easy, all you need to do is peel off the sticker from the back of the shield and stick it on the back of your phone or computer. One of the things that did not appeal to me was the size of the shield for the mobile phone, it would be nice if there could be a way to reduce the size for the next line of mobile shields. We have been testing these two products for about two months now and my wife's head aches and hair loss have stopped!

Its amazing that she is feeling better although this wasn't a scientific experiment or anything but we believe that it is related to the shields.

Pros:

Really easy to install just peel and stick
Comes in blue and pink
It seems to have worked with my wife's head aches and hair loss

Cons:

Could have been a bit smaller

Rating: 9/10

Till next time

Gadget Dad

Freecom Data Bar XXS 2GB -A Gadget Dad Review

2011-03-03T16:46:00.007Z

Super Small Slick Stick!

Freecom's DataBar XXS is an ultra-compact USB stick that is perfect for computer users who want to keep important music, photos, documents and even videos within arm's reach wherever they go. Measuring up at just 3cm x 1.2cm, the stick is both waterproof and durable, and can easily be slipped into a wallet or onto a keyring to make carrying information around more convenient than ever before.

Gadget Dad Verdict:

I received his little usb stick and was wondering... where is the other bits to go with it, surely this cant be it?!? They claim that this super small and indeed it is. There is no problem in slipping this into your pocket and wallet and forgetting about it. Putting it into the USB port takes a bit getting use to as it doesn't have the usual surrounding metal bit that usually guides it into the usb port.

After it is inserted it gets picked up very fast by your computer. It can also be used with USB 3.0 although the data transfer speed is limited to USB 2.0 specifications and no drivers are needed.

Pros:

Super small
Super easy to use
Comes with a keyring attachement
Still cant get over the size!!

Cons:

Takes a bit getting use to without the metal surrounding but it tininess makes up for that anyway
So small you might loose it (but i guess thats why it comes with the keyring)

Rating: 9/10

Till next time

Gadget Dad

A Business Mums Journal - Press Releases

2011-03-02T17:55:00.000Z

Today I had a conversation with my husband where we decided that if we could find some PR services that we could afford, we should take them up. I don't have much time to do much of it and to be sincere I am rubbish at finding newsworthy angles and not much of a writer either to be able to write a story in a way that would make journalists interested.

In my mind I need a pr person that has been a journalist or a journalist that knows what they are doing but here is the catch.... they have to be great at what they do but I can't afford much.

Impossible right!!!

No I can't afford to spend hundreds and I certainly don't want to pay for something that I don't think is spantabulous (spectacular and fabulous), so kind of hard really. As a small business I have very little budget to work with and it's tough to place the small budget you do have in the hands of someone not knowing what you are going to get in return.

Everyone seems to charge not less than about £50 but its hard to say to someone... OK go ahead and then you end up with something that you don't think is spantabulous, so if you don't think it is, how is anyone else going to think it's great? Then what do you tell that writer? "sorry that sucks"?

You can't just turn around and say "That's no good so I am not going pay you for it, because I'm not going to use it!", that person is going to think you're a nutter as they have spent time writing for you and they are going to thing you are going to thief their writing!!!

Arrrgh!!!

I can't just find a writer, I need to find someone that can help brainstorm ideas of newsworthy angles or stories. Oh and did I mention at a mouse budget?!

Impossible!!!!

Any journalists out there that care to help me find newsworthy angles for no particular reason?! Maybe just a general love for bunnies??

No? Right off to my desperation corner again.

This dilemma coupled with the fact that my son is off school with an ear infection (started just before he had to go back to school!) so he's in a very annoying kind of mood and a toddler that wont leave me alone.... I am having an awesome day!!! (did you notice the sarcastic tone at all?)

If you do know anyone that could help me, please do let me know.

Until next time.

Monica x

Top 10 Stress Busting Tips

2011-02-28T12:14:00.000Z

As a parent I think that stress just naturally waltzes into your life whenever it feels like it, never mind the bills to pay and chores to do....
Just think of the times when you turn around and your little one managed to get on top of something really high and she is imagining she is a bird! Stressed yet?

Naturally when I saw these stress busting tips I was interested in having a read and also sharing them with you!
Monica x

Top 10 stress busting tips

Visualize a time when you were completely relaxed and happy – revisit it during stressful times
Stop and think – often stress make us react without fully exploring our options
Take ten – whether at home or work, ten minutes of fresh air will help you gain some perspective
Be good to yourself – be your own best friend and reward yourself for working hard, even if it’s just a tasty cake and nice cuppa
Go with it – often events occur that are out of our control, but try not to panic. It’s surprising how often good things come out of an unexpected situation
Give yourself time – being late is a common cause of stress
Just say no – it’s better than promising something you cannot deliver or will resent doing
Keep it simple – do you really need eight different types of vegetable with your roast dinner?
Smile and socialize with cheerful people - Happy people generate happy feelings!
Have a laugh – call a friend and lighten the load. You don’t have to be miserable, even when you’re stressed!

If you need some help you can also try Kalms Lozenges are perfect for the modern, busy woman, they contain extract of the herb lemon balm widely used in Mediterranean countries to help keep you relaxed. Available in a handy blister pack, the lozenges are naturally flavoured with lemon and lime and can be enjoyed to at any time of the day. Kalms Lozenges contain no artificial colours or flavours and are suitable for vegetarians.

Feature on Tales from Windmill Fields

2011-02-27T13:00:00.003Z

We were featured on Tales from Windmill Fields on a birthday wish list!

The top 5 items chosen from our lovely online boutique were the Tropical Fairy Dress, the fabulous Red Glitter Angel Shoes, cosy Baby Brown Sheepskin Boots, the fun Wheelybug Tiger which 10% of the profits go to the Sumatran Tiger Trust and finally crafty fun with the Paperpod Aeroplane!

Monica x

Helpful Pregnancy Tools

2011-02-26T13:00:00.002Z

When I was first pregnant with my son back in 2005 I bought lots of books and researched a lot on absolutely everything to do with my baby.... typical first time mum!

One thing that was really helpful too was the pack that they gave me at my first midwives appointment, it came with lots of information booklets, some leaflets and an invitation to join Bounty.

Bounty for those that are not aware of it yet is a Parenting Club website, not just forums for mummies and mummies to be to share experiences, seek advice and so on but it is also a great website with some great tools for pregnancy.

The one I used most often while I was pregnant was the pregnancy week by week, this allows you to have a look at what is happening with your baby on any particular week and gives you a picture of a baby inside its mothers tummy to help you visualize what your baby can look like at that stage. I have since then used this tool again to show my son what his sister looked like when I was pregnant with her.

My little ones were planned and as soon as my pregnancy tests told me I was pregnant I wanted to know my pregnancy due date before I managed to get to the GP, I am very impatient as you probably know by now!
One thing I didn't use was their Ovulation Calendar its basically a ovulation calculator that lets you input details about your menstruation and then tells you when you are ovulating. This is a great tool if you are trying to get pregnant, so you can do it at the right time! ;)

Bounty was and is really useful to me it has lots of information that is really useful specially for first time parents but there are also special offers, discounts, competitions and great support forums for all parents.

I hope you get as much out of their website as I do.

Monica x

Vla - a Dutch Recipe

2011-02-25T16:53:00.000Z

When I was little my mum lived in Holland for a few years, so I went to stay with her on school holidays as I was living in Portugal with my grandma.

My fondest memories of Holland are a round bread that I used to get from the shop underneath my mums flat, playing with a girl outside my mums flat (she spoke no portuguese and I spoke no dutch but we were best friends), my mum making my hair curly, dressing me in a pretty dress and going taking me on a walk which we went past a river and Vla....

Vla, in chocolate, strawberry or vanilla.... seriously I could probably drown in the stuff I liked it so much! Its not custard by any means but its similar, only 100 times better...

A couple of days ago I popped over to Tales from Windmill Fields blog and saw the nice cartons of Vla as her Dutch thing of the week, I think it should be the Dutch thing of forever really, never mind the week but it did make me crave Vla. I went to search for Vla to see if there was anywhere I could buy it in the UK but had not much luck apart from coming across a recipe that looks simple enough to make here on Thomers' website, now I hope he doesn't mind but I had to share it with you and pop it on here for my future reference as I don't want to ever loose sight of it.

I'll certainly have to try and make it and tell you all how it worked out, if you make it before me, let me know how it went. Apparently in America they call this cornstarch pudding, not sure if theirs is the same but hey we won't know until an American tells us so!

Chocolate vla topped with whipped cream

VLA RECIPE:

Ingredients:

1 litre of whole milk
1/4 litre (1 cup) of heavy cream (or less, down to 50ml or 1/4 cup)
70 grams (1/3 cup) of sugar
2 additional tablespoons of sugar
2 eggs
40 grams (slightly less than 1/3 cup) of cornstarch
a half or whole vanilla bean (or plain old vanilla flavoring)
optional: yellow food coloring

Add a few tablespoons of milk to the cornstarch and stir until the cornstarchdissolves and the liquid is uniform. Heat up the remaining milk in a largepan with a cut open vanilla bean in it.

In the meantime, use a (hand)mixer to beat the 70g of sugar with the eggsuntil foamy—this takes a few minutes. Keep an eye on the milk. Whenthe milk starts to boil, lower the heat and dump in the cornstarch fluid andstir until somewhat gelatinous—this should take a minute or two, butdon't worry if it doesn't get gelatinous. Keep it on a very, very gentleboil.

Slowly pour in the foamy egg/sugar mix into the gently boiling milk; keep itlike that while gently stirring and beating the mix until the vla is uniformand somewhat gelatinous.

To cool it, pour the vla into a bowl and lower the bowl into a larger bowlfilled with cold water. Stir the vla every few minutes and replace thelukewarm water with cold water. Store in fridge.
Before serving, beat the desired amount of heavy cream with 2 tablespoons ofsugar until stiff and stir into the vla—use less cream to keep the vlalighter. If you want to make it look more like the real thing, add 10-15drops of yellow food coloring and stir.

Optionally sprinkle some hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles) on it for the fulleffect.
Enjoy the taste of Holland.

Monica xx

Lotus Olbas Facial Tissues Review

2011-02-24T20:49:00.000Z

We got a box of these to try out a little while ago, unluckily enough we all got sick straight after getting them, seriously, I could have tried them out without all the snot involved!

We all liked these apart from my 19 month old daughter who wasn't really fond of getting her nose cleaned with them, I suspect because of the smell, but it was no problem for my 5 year old son.

The more you crush the tissue the more of the Olbas oils gets released, to me this is an absolute marvel! My husband used them a lot while he was sick to hold it next to his nose to breath in to unblock his nose which helped.

Verdict:
All in all these are a fabulous invention, nice and soft and the Olbas on t is convenient and soothing, the only thing is you can't wipe your eyes with it because of the oils.

Since trying these I have already bought the pocket sized version too and I will definately buy them again when we are sick with the flu or a blocked nose.

Rating:
10/10 from us.

A little but about the product:
Lotus Olbas tissues combines the luxurious softness of Lotus tissues and the vapour releasing power of family favourite Olbas.

Originally available in a handy pocket pack it now also comes in the larger facial tissue box - meaning that you can always have a stash of this comforting tissue on hand at home – or in the office - as well as on the go.

The tissues are embedded with tiny oil capsules that when crushed release soothing vapours, so whether you’re busy ‘keeping all the balls’ in the air, or simply recuperating at home, they’ll help you keep breathing easy.

Crush the Tissue, Release the Vapours
Lotus Olbas Facial Tissues are implanted using ground-breaking crush technology. The mixture of natural vapours including menthol, eucalyptus, juniper berries and cajuput are only released when the tissue is crushed.
Lotus Olbas Facial Tissues are available at Boots, Sainsbury’s and other major retailers at £2.29 (RRP).

Cybermummy 2011 Sponsorship Opportunity

2011-02-23T00:45:00.000Z


Me after a very long day!

CyberMummy 2011, is the UK’s premier blogging conference devoted to parent bloggers and this year I would like to attend for the very first time!

If you don't know much about me already from reading the blog or stalking me on twitter, I am a work at home mum to a lovely bossy 20 month old and a precious almost 5 year old boy!

I am looking for an awesome company to sponsor me to attend Cybermummy 11!

In exchange for sponsorship, I can offer a variety of services, all detailed below.

Cost of sponsorship:
A CyberMummy 2011 ticket – £103.15
Travel (from Essex to London & Return) – £40
Total: £143.15

Services Offered:

A badge on our blog with your company logo stating you are our Cybermummy 2011 sponsor that will be displayed until end of October 2011. (worth £160)

All posts relating to Cybermummy 2011 will have you mentioned as a sponsor. (worth ££)

An introductory post to our readers about your company and products and the fact that you are our CyberMummy Sponsor. (worth £50)

2 blog posts about your products on this blog to be done throughout 2011. (worth £60)

Numerous tweets about your sponsorship of me to attend Cybermummy 11 and retweets of any of your Company’s tweets that I feel are relevant to my audience. (worth £100)

I will be your Company’s representative at the CyberMummy 11 conference, wearing a branded badge that you supply and informing other parent bloggers about your business (worth £££)

Total: Over £600 of services and exposure including the invaluable representation of your brand to other parent bloggers at the Cybermummy 2011 the UK's Premier Blogger Conference!

If you would like to sponsor me or have any queries, then please get in touch by email adminATmyfunnybunny.com , with a deal as good as this you better be quick and not delay!

I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Monica

Special Boy Boosters

2011-02-22T19:59:00.000Z

A few minutes ago I was in the kitchen cleaning up and as it is half term the kids are full of energy and driving me absolutely bonkers!

So as great as I am at multi tasking I am busy arbitrating my daughter and sons racing... one is almost 20 months and the other is almost 5 years old.

Here I am saying "Ready, Steady, GO!" a thousand times while my kids basically run up and down the sitting room and kitchen racing.

On the last race of the evening my son reaches the winning post first and rips out a massive bum burp... yep a fart!! I looked at him in amazement and with a smile on my face and said "What was that?!?" to which my son replied " That was my booster! A special fart booster for racing!"

I wish everyone had an imagination and sense of humour like him!

Boys... typical!

Monica x

We have been featured on Joanne Dewberry.co.uk

2011-02-17T14:56:00.002Z

We have been featured on www.joannedewberry.co.uk, a business mum's blog.

You can read our feature "A day in the life of Monica of My Funny Bunny" here!

Grandpa in my Pocket Volume 3 DVD Winner!

2011-02-16T20:49:00.000Z

The winner of our Grandpa in my Pocket Volume 3: Mr Marvelloso’s Magic Tricks DVD give away is....

Jumbly Mummy!

Congratulations!!!

We will get in touch and please make sure you get back to us within 7 days to get your prize.

Winner was picked at random by Gadget Dad.

If you didn't win this time, you can always get yourself a copy at your nearest retailer or online.

Putting all your eggs in one basket

2011-02-12T13:11:00.017Z

Image: m_bartosch / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Egg donation was in the news recently and whilst watching ‘Loose Women’ where they were discussing it and the procedure you go through, as I sat on the sofa, I thought – would I do that for someone close to me that was unable to have children any other way?

Later that month I was speaking to a very close friend of mine, who I have grown up with since being 5 years old and she mention egg donation and whether I would consider it. Now, this said by anyone else would be a general question but my friend has a genetic disorder which she could very easily pass on to a baby, they have been through lots of disappointing stages to try and have a baby both naturally and looking at IVF where only healthy eggs, without this gene were planted but their options are running out and their hopes have been slashed.

It got me thinking back to the programme and the procedure you have to go through so I looked it up online. I didn’t realise that it was such an invasive operation with quite a few risks, including damage to your bowel or bladder and potentially making you sterile, obviously there are always risks during any surgery but egg donation for a women is not like it is for a man, who has to wander into a private room clutching a cup and a magazine from the top shelf!

Also, being a mum – only 4 months into the job, but I can see characteristics of me, I can see little bits of me from baby photos and nobody in this world could prize me away from my little girl, how would I feel if I saw those characteristics in a friends child? I think I would be insanely jealous and part of me would want my child back. I know I couldn’t do surrogacy for this reason, there is no way I could hand a baby over that I had looked after for 9 months. I would also wait until I was happy that I had had all the children I was going to in case it did make me sterile.

On reflection I came to the conclusion that emotionally I don’t think I could do it and also weighing up the risks and potential problems of surgery, bearing in mind I have had a lot of bowel problems so have a very thin lining which could be punctured very easily, I decided that my answer would have to be no. Having said that, I feel desperately sorry for my friend and a bit selfish as I have a beautiful baby girl but I know that she would never expect me to do anything or think bad of me if she did come and ask me straight out and at least I can tell her my thought process.

What do you all think of egg donation? Would you do it for a friend or family member or would you do it for money? I look forward to your comments.

Emily x

Supergran is the Bom!

2011-02-10T11:05:00.002Z

I was on the phone with my mum yesterday and she told me about this amazing story that she saw in the newspaper about a lady (Ann Timpson of Northampton) in her 70s that beat up some robbers in motorbikes.

My mum told me someone had got it on video, the whole incident, so nosy as I am I went looking for it... here it is "Supergran to the rescue!"

Now the lady actually ran to the robbers and beat them with her handbag, she wasn't defending herself, she actually ran to and attacked them!

I admire this lady, she has, as they say in Spanish, big cohones!
It is also sad really to see that in our communities people can see all kinds of atrocities and stand back and not do anything about it, the people in this video only came to help once one of the robbers fell off his bike and went at her with a hammer. Now should it really take that much for someone to go and help?

When I was a teenager, I was talking on my mobile phone walking in Queensway (West London) from work and a kid on a bicycle punched me and grabbed my phone, I ran after the kid as fast as I could and kept shouting for people to help me, amazingly NOBODY did... until a guy that worked with me recognized me and then he ran after the kid with me.

Unfortunately we never caught him, but to this day I still think about the fact that no one cared, and that my work colleague only cared once he recognized me.

It depressing to think that people only care about themselves, and it scares me that if something happens to my children while I am not around, no matter what age they may be, no one around them will help.

I think that its depressing to think that human beings are not "connected" anymore.
But don't worry if I see something happening to you or anyone else on the street and I don't know you, I will help or comfort you if needed.

What are your thoughts?

Monica

Celebrate with me!

2011-02-07T10:04:00.000Z

Have you seen the Tots 100 icon at the left hand side of the blog yet?
I've had it there for a few months now very proudly displaying my position which has ranged from 200 - 400 and considering it's the Tots 100 UK Parents Blog Index... I was ranking pretty low, but hey, I had the icon there to help kick me into getting better!

So this morning when I go check out the blog and see on the icon position #84 I sincerely could not believe it... I had to check on www.tots100.co.uk to see if it was true or was the icon bonkers??

Yes! I was #84, I had made it in the top 100!!!! Yay!!!!!!!

Seriously, I am pretty pathetic really, I even did a happy dance sitting in my chair and called my husband over to see it on the website... I had gone up 265 positions!

I guess I can't loose rhythm now, I have to keep climbing ;)

I'd like to thank our resident and guest authors for helping us get there too, if you want to join us or just write a guest post for our readers, please do get in touch.

So go on, do a little happy dance in your chair for me... but please, do make sure nobody is watching you or I DARE YOU to do a video of your happy dance post it on your blog and link it here (so people know why you are doing it!) and come and tell us by commenting below ;)

Come on... I dare you... if someone does it, I'll show you mine too!!

Monica x

Born Free Coolflow Soother Review

2011-02-06T09:36:00.000Z

My little girl had taken to sucking herthumb to comfort herself – she was even sucking it on my scanpicture! We decided to use soothers as we have seen the damage thumbsucking can do to a childs teeth and as my partner always says “Youcan take away a dummy, but you can’t take away a thumb”.

I was asked to review these soothers,which I was really pleased about as I was using another leading brandand my baby wasn’t able to hold them in her mouth properly makingher more frustrated rather than soothing her. When I switched to BornFree at 2 weeks old, she took to it straight away and held it in hermouth a lot better.

I like the shape of the soother itlooks like my baby is comfortable and it doesn’t come too close toher nose like others do. Another bonus is that there is no ‘rightway up’ for the soother like there is with others, making it easyto pop in a frustrated babies mouth rather than faffing aroundworking out which way up it goes.

When I met up with other mums who havebabies of a similar age they were all envious of the soother andasked what brand it was as they had similar problems with the onesthey were using not staying in the baby’s mouth and were gettingannoyed with having to put it in a certain way up.

The colours of the soothers (purple andgreen) are very bright, which I was a little put off by at first buthaving used them have come to like the fact that if they do fall outinto her rocker or moses basket I can find them quickly and easilyunlike the transparent ones I was using previously.

They come with a little cap that fitsover the teat of the soother so you can carry them around easily andhygienically.

The soothers are also BPA, PVC andPhthalates free and are sold as being orthodontic which is a must inmy eyes.

Overall I would recommend the Born FreeCoolflow Soothers, they tick all the boxes are good value for moneyand I will be purchasing another pack and ditching the other brand Ipreviously used.

Emily x

BornFree™ CoolFlow Soother / Dummy / Pacifier Information:
An orthodontic silicone soother with a rounded cherry shaped teat. 100% free of BPA, Phthalates and PVC, this innovative BornFree™ soother features a breathable shield with extra large air holes to reduce moisture around the mouth and, raised soft edges to protect sensitive skin. Supplied with a hygienic snap-on cap, simply pop over the teat to keep clean.

Available Stages
Stage 1: 0-6 months
Stage 2: 6 months +
Twin pack £5.50 from www.babybornfree.co.uk

Win Grandpa in my Pocket Volume 3: Mr Marvelloso’s Magic Tricks DVD!

2011-02-05T13:30:00.002Z

Win the NEW Grandpa in my Pocket DVD!

We have a copy of Grandpa in my Pocket DVD to give away to our readers!
The NEW, Mr Marvelloso’s Magic Tricks, features Grandpa (played by James Bolam) and grandson Jason getting into even more magical mayhem than ever!

Jason lives with his parents, sister Jemima, dog and Grandpa in the beautiful seaside town of Sunnysands. Everyone thinks that Grandpa likes to spend all his time sat quietly in the armchair, but only Jason knows the truth about Grandpa’s magic shrinking cap. When Grandpa wears the magic cap, he becomes small enough to fit into Jason’s pocket and adventure is always sure to follow!

In Mr Marvelloso’s Magic Tricks, the adventurous duo team up to save Jemima’s party. Mr Marvelloso, the local magician is booked to perform, but when he turns out to be grumpy and not very good at the magic tricks, the party looks sure to be a disaster. It’s time for Grandpa to step in, put on his magic shrinking cap and try a little magic of his own! Can Grandpa and Jason turn the magic show into a success?

Read what we thought about the DVD on our review here

Grandpa in my Pocket, Volume 3: Mr Marvelloso’s Magic Tricks will be available nationwide from all good retailers from 7th February 2011. Suitable for children aged 4 – 6, RRP £7.99

Good Luck! x

To Enter:

Follow our blog and comment on this post telling us why you'd like to win the dvd and who is it for.
Tell us how to get in touch if you win by providing twitter id or email address or similar.

For Extra Entries:
Tweet " I've entered @myfunnybunny blog giveaway to win a @GrandpaAndJason DVD, u can too athttp://bit.ly/dRuSN4 "
Follow @myfunnybunny on Twitter
Follow @GrandpaAndJason on Twitter

Don't forget to tell us what you did by commenting below :)

Terms and Conditions:
Competition closes on 12th of February 2011.
You must be over 18 and reside in the UK to enter this competition, if you are under 18 please ask a parent or guardian to enter for you. We will contact the winner, if there is no response within 7 days we will select another winner. Winner will be sent DVD directly form Grandpa in my pocket's pr advisors.

Grandpa in my Pocket Volume 3: Mr Marvelloso’s Magic Tricks DVD Review

2011-02-05T13:20:00.000Z

We got a copy of Grandpa in my Pocket Volume 3: Mr Marvelloso’s Magic Tricks DVD in the post to review and our (almost) 5 year old boy wouldn't stop pestering me to put it on... eventually I gave in to all the jumping around waving the dvd in my face and put it on.

My Funny Bunny watched from beginning to end (with a couple of breaks for snacks) with lots of laughter and calling me to see what grandpa was doing in amazement!

I did find myself stopping what I was doing to see what grandpa was gonna do next too!

I do like Grandpa in my Pocket as it is entertaining but also educational, it teaches lots of things like not being greedy and other things. The characters are great and very good actors too.

This DVD definitely gets a 10/10 from me and my little boy!

Monica x

Don't know where to start? You need Joanne!

2011-02-03T10:11:00.000Z

Since I entered the world of Twitter I have met some fabulous and inspiring ladies, Joanne is definitely one of the top ladies on my list. She is everyone's cheerleader and always has "a virtual" smile on her face.
She offers really good value business services in social media and pr and when you see how successful she is doing it for herself then you will definitely want to give her a try!

I asked Joanne to guest blog for us and tell us all how she got about starting her business, and here she is. Over to Joanne!
Monica x

Unless you are mega rich or working a full time paid job funding your small business idea can be a real headache. For myself and other budding mumpreneurs - and I’m mainly thinking in terms of those who are full time mums with small children at home with them under 5, this can be the make or break factor when proceeding with a business idea.

So how did I get started??

Well as crazy as it sounds my initial ideas formulated during the end of my pregnancy with Megan, Charlie had not long turned one and I had enjoyed the first year of motherhood but was in need of brain stimulation. So what was my plan?? I bought £56.65 of wooden fillers from a friend who ran a shop and sold them at school fetes and village carnivals. Daddy Moo and Charlie would come along help me set up and come back towards the end and help me pack up.

I did this for 2 reasons:-

To gage interest in the fillers
Generate money I needed to drive Charlie Moo’s forward

I actually sold products at Ferndown Carnival 2 weeks before my due date. Once Megan was born (August 2008) I started working on my website … well what else do you do at 3am up breastfeeding. So now I had a website (www.charliemoos.co.uk) through which to sell but this doesn’t happen over night so I still needed to do local events. I would take Megan with me as newborns tend to sleep most of the day and Charlie and Daddy Moo would enjoy sometime together. But I still needed more capital to invest in things such as branding and my business identity.

I replied to a media request in January 2009 for Take a Break about career changes after children. I was paid £150 and generated National Media coverage for Charlie Moo’s. I had my first 100 bags made for me by a local crafter. These sold really well and quickly so I started making them myself. At this point I had a product, a website, a brand but I needed to take it one step further.

I joined the Prince’s Trust Business Mentor Scheme in April 2009, a four day intensive course at the end of which I received a fabulous business mentor and support for 2 years. I also benefited from a £200 ‘will it work grant’ where I made up x amount of pre-filled bags which I send out to businesses as samples and I sold at events.

I became an expert in PR and marketing via social media and ultimately have saved myself a lot of money. 2.5 years later I still haven’t needed to seek larger investments. Sometimes I have to wait to pursue new ideas as Charlie Moo’s funds itself, which I’m really proud of as I have not risked my families finances nor taken out loans etc … Now with the skills I have learned I'm keen to teach and share with other mums looking at taking the step forward into becoming self-employed business owners.
You can find lots of useful advice, tips and cases studies on my blog www.joannedewberry.co.uk and low cost services from me. So pop along and say 'hello'.

Joanne Dewberry

Dorset Business Mum of the Year
Highly Commended PR Comp mumsclub.co.uk 2009
Future 100 Young Entrepreneurs 2009
TGF Best Rated Awards 2009
Langtry Manor Best Green Business Finalist 2010
Nominated MADS Blog Awards 2010
Short Listed Make your Mark in the Markets 2010
Short Listed mumsandworking Awards Best Parent 2010

www.charliemoos.co.uk, www.networkingmummies.com and www.joannedewberry.co.uk

Lifft Baby Sling Review

2011-01-31T22:32:00.000Z

Cocoa & Coral Lifft Sling

I received my Lifft Sling to review and was really excited, it looks gorgeous, the colours are really nice, the fabric is soft and it looks really comfortable.

I then had to work out how to put it on, which I managed with guidance from their web page. The difficult part was getting my daughter into it, I followed the instructions to do a front lift and tried with a teddy bear first, but however I did it, I felt like I was squishing her in and she wasn’t too impressed about being in there.

I persevered with the front lift and did manage to carry her around and she fell asleep in there but I couldn’t get my head round her being squished. So the next time I used it I tried the little Buddha lift (from 3 months only), which is fairly complex in terms of getting the baby in there and I had to lift my baby quite high in order to slide her in but she seemed much happier peeking out of the sling and enjoyed it for longer. She wouldn’t stay in there for more than half an hour before getting a bit fretful, I don’t know if it is because she doesn’t like sitting cross legged for too long?

Whilst she would sit in it, the sling was comfortable and distributed the weight evenly, I didn’t have back ache at all and it enabled me to get on with things around the house whilst she was still close.

I think my Lifft sling will come in most handy when my daughter is 6 months old and I can do the side lift, where the baby is sat on your hip but the weight is distributed more and you have more support, I am looking forward to trying this position and think it will be the most successful.

I want to love this sling as it looks stunning but I have personally had a few issues with getting my daughter into it, at the moment she prefers her standard front carrier and will be happy in that walking round town in and out of shops for a few hours. Also with a standard carrier you can swap it over with someone else, with the Lifft Sling, you order it in your dress size and my husband isn’t a size 10 so he can’t carry her around at all.

As I’ve mentioned I think it will be invaluable from 6 months, I will update you on my progress and let you know what she thinks of the side lift!

Emily x

A little bit about Lifft Slings:
Your little one is carried at your centre of gravity and encourages you to stand up straight. The hip carrying position means you no longer need to 'kick' out hips to support toddlers and instead their weight is spread comfortably across your hip, shoulder and back. This means it also doesn't place any pressure on a baby's developing spine, keeping them in the recommended carrying position.

Easy to put on with no buckles clips or straps to do up, meaning the sling can be used without help and be put on with just one hand - also allowing for fuss-free and discreet breastfeeding.
The perfect fit...
The fit of a baby sling is crucial to protect both your posture and your baby's, so is available in a multitude of sizes and styles, for both mums and dads shape. The Lifft™ sling comes in a variety of sizes from 6 to 22 for ladies, or S, M & L for men and is sized to fit the wearer. Particular sizes can also be made specifically for you and your individual shape and size.

The sling is machine washable, made in the UK and folds down to the size of a nappy - perfect for squeezing in when you're on the run.
Lifft™ sling £49.99 also available in other colourways from www.lifftslings.com

5 Tips to improve your Google Page Rank

2011-01-29T09:48:00.000Z

Be it for blogs or for e-commerce websites, we all wanna be found easily on Google!
Here is Alison Rothwell, a seo expert with some tips...

Improving your Google PageRank will of course have a knock on effect to your position within the natural search results. But don't make the mistake of concentrating solely on PageRank. Improving PageRank should be a part of a well organized SEO strategy. With that in mind here are 5 tips to help improve your Google PageRank.

1. Create a Google site map.

Google has a great number of free tools you can use. So if you don't already have one, head on over to Google.com and create a free account, then follow the instructions to create a sitemap, it's actually quite simple. While your there take a look at some of the other free tools they offer.

2. Getting good back links.

It's common knowledge that the more links you have, the better it is for your PageRank. But while it's common knowledge, it's not entirely correct. It's not so much the quantity of links you have, but the quality. All links should be from relevant sites, preferably with a high PageRank themselves. A good way of getting quality back links is to post in relevant forums. Answer any questions that may have been posted and include a link back to your site offering more information. DO NOT spam these websites with links though, or you'll be banned.

3. Always check your spelling.

Goggle sorry Google doesn't like spelling mistakes. So always make sure your content and titles are spelled correctly. It was once common practice to optimise sites with misspelled words for popular search terms to try and fool the engines. Those days are over, if your site has misspelled words on it, your PageRank will be penalized accordingly.

4. Check out what your competitors are up to.

Do a search in Google for the search term you want to rank for. The people at the top of the list are doing something right, so lets take a look at what their up to. Type the following search string into Google link:competitor.com replace competitor with the url of the top ranking site. You will now see a list of sites that are linking to that particular webpage. Make a note of the links and try to get them to link to your site as well.

5. The PageRank of your homepage is important, but don't forget the rest of your site.

PageRank like the name suggests is an indication of the quality of the page you're on, not of the website as a whole. A common mistake is to concentrate on increasing the PageRank of your homepage, thinking that it will filter down to the other pages on your site. Well no it won't, try to get links into the whole of your site, for a number of different keywords. Do all this correctly and soon you'll start to see the fruits of your labours.

Alison Rothwell, online marketing expert, is founder of the SEO Training Club, the proven step-by-step solution to your internet marketing problems. To receive her weekly online marketing ezine to help get higher search engine rankings to increase your online sales, visit www.seotrainingclub.com.

Many thanks to Alison for this wonderful post.

Monica x

Our review featured on Cares website

2011-01-28T10:18:00.000Z

When we review goodies, be it for stuff we get sent to review or stuff we buy, we always give HONEST reviews, we will never be bought to post reviews to the manufacturers liking.

We say what we think, and yes there are products that we have come across that we have not found negative points but we have always been truthful, so when our reviews get featured anywhere I get super happy!

This to me means that people are listening, be it the brands themselves or the consumers, and that makes me happy. :)

So here you go, we are featured on the Cares website, guess they liked our review! You can view our feature here.

Monica x

Stylish Blogger Award - 7 things you didn't know about me...

2011-01-27T11:53:00.002Z

My new friend Carolin of Mummy Alarm and my long time friend Gauri of Blessing Tree have tagged me in the Stylish Blogger Award which is great but it means I have to tell you 7 things you didn't know about me...

I really had to think about this and it was actually quite hard. So here goes my attempt!

1. When I was three years old I was having fun on a cotton reel display watching all the reels fall down when I took one from the bottom, problem was I couldn't put them back in through the top as I didn't reach. Resulting in me putting them in my jacket pockets (unfortunately I had rather big pockets), when I got home, my nan found them in my pockets and made me go back and apologize to the shop owner.
I didn't know I was stealing until my nan explained when we got home... apologizing to the store owner was probably my most embarrassing moment ever.

2. I secretly dream about owning a country house with a pretty country cream kitchen, where I wear a pretty apron I made myself and I bake cakes all the time... those of you who know me will think this is totally unlike me!

3. I wanted to home school my kids but unfortunately have no time and thought they will miss out on socializing and other things school can offer, but I certainly would like to nurture and teach them all I can all the time.

4. I was a really good singer when I was younger, now I am out of practice I believe I sound like a howling dog in pain.

5. Marmite = Hate it, Vegemite = Never tried it

6. I absolutely love potatoes and this, I could probably live on those things!!!

7. I am very very impatient, it's annoying...specially to me!

Now I have to nominate 15 blogs.... that is a lot! Then they have to do the same as above and nominate other peeps too!

1. New but cool blog by @ChicUniqueUK Http://insideemmasattic.blogspot.com/

2. Rosa Pomar at http://aervilhacorderosa.com/ , this is a very cool blog with all kinds of cool crafty stuff and translated the title means "The Pink Pea" how can you not love that?! Click on the english tab at the top to read in english :)

3. The really cool family blog over at http://christopherandtia.blogspot.com/ , the baby blogs, the mummy blogs and the kids blog... loads of pictures = super cool blog!

4. Kathryn is great writer and a great lady, lovely blog... http://crystaljigsaw.blogspot.com/

5. A blog of a successful small business that started at home... very cool stuff! http://dotsandspotsdesign.blogspot.com/

6. A felt artist blog... simply love her birdies... http://feltmeupdesigns.blogspot.com/

7. A blog with some cool posts and wicked give aways http://giventodistractingothers.blogspot.com/

8. Insomniac mummy - interesting stuff... but you really have to stop over for her "Hot or Not?" posts... *drools* http://www.insomniacmummy.com/

9. Musings of a mummy... an interesting blog... and she has a baby on the way! Awwww! http://isthereaplanb.blogspot.com/

10. Fun foodie blog of a mummy http://blog.maisoncupcake.com/

11. Miss Lizzie B is a funny gal, trust me I've met her! http://missielizzie-meandmyshadow.blogspot.com/

12. Fellow mummy blogger and Quinny Caster Emma over at http://www.methemanandthebaby.com/

13. Great blog http://www.mellowmummy.co.uk/ a first time mummy

14. A mummy trying to juggle her many "hats" http://www.muddlingalongmummy.com/

15. An american mum in Glasgow http://transatlanticblonde.blogspot.com/

Phew! Thats it... many more people I would like to tag but I think this list is long enough! Now all you bloggers have to do the same! ;)

Monica x

If only child birth was this easy!

2011-01-24T15:40:00.000Z

How I wish it had taken me this long....

Enjoy! Monica x

Top 3 Gift Ideas - Feature on The Green Familia

2011-01-23T15:41:00.000Z

Only came across it now as Google failed to inform me, but we were featured in The Green Familia, a fabulous ethical green blog for families!

Their top 3 pics of our goodies were the Wilkinet Organic Cotton Baby Carrier in Chocolate Brown, Little Lamb Organic Cotton Nappy Kit and the Baby Peace Organic Protective Curtain in White.

I am glad The Green Familia like these!

Read the original article here.

Monica x

The Green Familia feature for Christmas 2010

2011-01-23T15:11:00.000Z

Only came across it now as Google failed to inform me, but we were featured in The Green Familia, a fabulous ethical green blog for families!

Here is a screen shot of the feature where you can see an image of our stunning Merino Wool & Silk Felted Soaps which we are exclusive retailers of. I am glad The Green Familia think they are fab too!

Read the original article here.

Monica x

Did I read that sign right?

2011-01-21T12:47:00.000Z

I have probably done a blunder like this.... reminds you to proof read before you put a sign up... or a blog post up!

Monica x

In an office:
TOILET OUT OF ORDER...... PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW

In a Laundromat:
AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT

In a London department store:
BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS

In an office:
WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN

In an office:
AFTER TEA BREAK STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD

Outside a secondhand shop:
WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING - BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?

Notice in health food shop window:
CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS

Spotted in a safari park:
ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR

Seen during a conference:
FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN'T KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE 1ST FLOOR

Notice in a farmer's field:
THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES.

On a repair shop door:
WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR - THE BELL DOESN'T WORK)

Now that you've smiled at least once, it's your turn to spread the stupidity and send this to someone you want to bring a smile to (maybe even a chuckle). We all need a good laugh, keep on smiling!

Author Unknown

Vovo Nene's Moist Carrot Roly Poly - Torta de Cenoura da Vovo Nene - Recipe

2011-01-20T12:23:00.000Z

This recipe is very special to me, I lived in Portugal with my grandma until I was ten years old, she gave me the best birthday parties ever, with beautiful themed birthday cakes handmade by the same lady every year and a "menu" of cakes and sweeties that I loved, year after year.

This year for my husbands birthday I decided I wanted to treat him to one of my childhood favorites, so I asked my grandma teach me how to make it, and it turns out it's really easy!

I am sharing my grandma's recipe with you because I think it's the yummiest ever and a great way to get the kids to eat carrots :)

Vovo Nene's Torta de Cenoura

Ingredients:
Carrots - 1.150 kg
4 eggs
Sugar - 500g
Baking Powder - half a teaspoon
Flour - 4 Spoons
Butter/ Margarine to grease

Equipment:
Oven tray
Greaseproof paper
Vegetable mill or food processor
Sift (or colander with really fine holes), if you have none of these improvise with an old kitchen towel.
Mixing Bowl x 2
Whisk / Hand Mixer

Peel & cut the carrots in smaller pieces and boil them. Once boiled, drain them very well, then use a vegetable mill or food processor to cut them all up so it resembles a carrot "mash". You then put the carrot "mash" into a sift (a sort of colander with really fine holes) and leave it resting over a container for the water to drain.

If you have not got a sift or a colander with fine holes, drain as much water as possible out while in the pan and then put carrot "mash" in an old and clean kitchen towel, bring the cloths points together and twist so you get as much of the water out as possible.

The longer you leave the carrots to drain, the better, my grandma says you should leave it overnight but I as I am not very patient I leave it for a few hours and from time to time I mix it around and push it down with a spoon to get as much water out as possible.

Once the carrots are well drained they should be roughly half the weight, so assuming you started with 1.15kg you should end up with around 500g of carrot "mash".

Take the carrot mash an place it in a large mixing bowl, add the sugar and mix it up.

Now take the eggs and separate the egg yellow from the white, placing the white into a separate mixing bowl and the yellow into the carrot mixture and mix it around, do this for all 4 eggs and make sure you give the carrot mixture a mix each time you put a egg yellow in.

Once that is done you should have a bowl with the egg whites, whisk until you get firm/ stiff peaks, you should be able to tilt or tip your bowl and the egg whites stay where they are, leave this to one side. (video on how to beat egg whites here)

Now add the flour and baking powder to your carrot mixture and mix well, take your bowl with the beaten egg whites and place about have of those to the carrot mixture and fold the mixture to involve the egg whites in, this is done slowly and in a folding motion as to keep the egg white air bubbles intact so you get a fluffy and airy mixture, add the remaining egg whites and repeat.

Now you should have a lighter carrot mixture, lighter in texture and lighter in color, its tempting but try and not taste it because if you are anything like me you will end up with a much smaller cake!!

Take an oven tray, it has to be a bit deep, (the one I use is 33cm wide, 26cm height and about 6cm deep) , cut a greaseproof sheet and cut it to size, remembering that you need it to cover the sides, grease it with butter or margarine. Place the greased sheet in the oven tray and then place the carrot mixture in it, spread it nicely so it goes to all the corners.

Now it goes in the oven at 180 degrees (mine is a fan assisted electric oven, may vary in other ovens) for around 40 minutes until ready. You can check if it's ready by taking a piece of spaghetti or a skewer and "stabbing" the cake in the middle, if the skewer or spaghetti comes back clean, it's ready, if it comes back with mixture, then it needs to stay in for longer.

When you take it out, let it cool down a bit, while still warm (as warm as your hands can handle, without burning yourself of course!) and roll up on the widest side, this is best done on a flat surface, using the greaseproof paper that it was baked on.

Let it rest, so it cools and settles and pop it on a serving tray or plate.

The picture on top is of about half the cake as we had already managed to eat the other half by the time I took it.

You can make it with less sugar for a healthier option, try about 400g of sugar, it ends up not so "sticky" and sweet but still tastes mighty nice! Any questions, or just to let me know how you liked it, please comment below :)

Enjoy!

Monica xx

Special Animal Tales At Colchester Zoo For National Story Telling Week

2011-01-18T13:39:00.002Z

On Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th January, Colchester Zoo is running special animal tales stories in the Discovery Centre as part of National Story telling Week! So why not get out from in front of the TV and join us at Colchester Zoo's Discovery Centre for some fun and interactive storytelling, as we present a number of staff-penned, classic Animal 'tales!'

Tales in store for the weekend include 'King of the World,' an interactive tale for children to enjoy, with costumes to dress up in and exciting animal roles to act out! 'You're too small,' a unique tale about Zamba our youngest member of the white rhino family and the mischief he gets up to on his quest to find somebody to play with! Other tales also include 'The lonely giraffe,' left out of the action due to his long neck, the giraffe and animals soon have to learn to work together when danger approaches and the river bursts its banks, and 'The selfish crocodile' who soon needs to learn the error of his ways when struck with a terrible toothache and needs to ask for help, plus many more!

These stories will take place during the day inside the Discovery Centre over the weekend, with plenty of chances for families to catch some of these exciting tales. After, they will be able to head out into the park and spot some of the main characters in their enclosures throughout the zoo.

Special story telling sessions are also on offer throughout story telling week from the 29th January until the 6th February for School groups to book and enjoy.

National Storytelling Week began in the year 2000, with the aim to increase public awareness of the art, practice and value of oral storytelling. It is held during the first week of February every year.
_______________________________

I saw this and thought our readers might be interested, we would love to go but I don't think we will be able to, will try my best though as my son would love it!!

Are you going with your kids?

Monica xx

Seriously, what's football all about?

2011-01-16T10:04:00.001Z

Yesterday I was admittedly really bored on a long drive to London to visit a friend of ours.

We went passed a golf course and it got me thinking about certain sports... ok, obviously first I thought about golf... golf is a great sport if you have plenty of time on your hands and friends to do it with, but if you go to a golf course by yourself, to play by yourself.... well, in my mind you have to be a bit of a loner (I thought loser was a bit of a strong word and someone might get upset at me!).

You don't exactly get a lot of exercise walking from one hole to the next, pushing a cart and swinging a bat around... I could get the same exercise walking around my local huge supermarket, pushing a supermarket trolley and swatting flies or smacking* other peoples screaming kids... admittedly people would think I was crazy but we are in a free country after all!

So yes, in my head golf is boring, specially to watch it on TV... unless I personally know the bloke who is playing, I couldn't care less if he gets all the holes in one or wins a big trophy.

But the title here is about football, and that is what came in to my thoughts next, I can say that I had a lot of time on my hands and was really terribly bored.

In my little family we don't watch football, my husband is more of a Formula 1 fan (which I don't get the point of anyway, but it's more bearable as it's only a few times a year), and therefore my son is a car fanatic and never took on to football (phew!).

Anyway, I do waffle on a bit but seriously, what's football all about?

Ok, I know what the actual game is all about, scoring goals and all, but what do people watch it for?

I get playing it, if you asked me to play a game of footie with you I'd be all for it, as long as it's not cold outside, but watching it?!?

Sincerely, why would I want to watch a bunch of blokes getting paid millions to kick a ball around?

On second thought I have been known to stop in front of the TV when passing by it at my parents' house watching a football game but what no one knows is that I am actually admiring the rears of the players. hehehe

Monica x

My honest opinion on the Quinny Zapp Xtra - A review

2011-01-15T10:31:00.000Z

A few months ago I was chosen as a Quinny Caster and got a Quinny Zapp Xtra to review. I was very pleased because I had a regular QuinnyZapp a few years ago which I used as a travel pushchair or when carboot space was paramount and I was really disappointed with the lackof a recline feature on it.

The Quinny Zapp Xtra came in a relatively small box and it was a doddle to set up... specially because I hate looking at instructions! You can view our attempt at putting it together quickly with my 4 year old while my toddler was asleep and I needed to wash my hair, yes, you can view the video right here!

The frame is the same as the QuinnyZapp but the seat is separate with its own frame, it is no longersmall to put in the car though, as the seat occupies a lot of bootspace compared to the Quinny Zapp but it has more features as now youcan recline it.

It also allows you to have your childface you, which is great but if you use it this way you can't havethe seat upright, it has to be reclined slightly or all the way backbecause of the frame underneath. I find this a bit of a shame as mytoddler doesn't like to be reclined unless she is sleeping, but I doprefer to have her face me, specially in the winter as then my bodyshields her from the cold harsh wind and if she is facing forward Ican't do that unless I put the rain cover on but then she doesn't getthe fresh air.

Yes, I guess I am somewhat of a fussymummy but I was expecting something different from this pushchairbecause of it's name. I expected it to be the same practicality andsize as the Quinny Zapp just with extra features but it is far fromthat. In my opinion they should have named it something else as toavoid disappointment of people comparing it to its predecessor.

As a different pushchair it is a nicedesign, I like the fact that it comes with it's own basket and a nicehood which has a little flap for the sun too which is removable, thiswas a really ingenious idea! You can see it on the pics above.

The rain cover is cool too as it onlygoes around the actual seat frame and not the pushchair framealthough if you use a foot muff it comes up a bit small, saying thatI am not using a Quinny Zapp foot muff as I already had my own , Ialso found it difficult to close it on the sides where it goes aroundthe joints of the pushchair frame.

One thing that I think has let thispushchair down has to be the small wheels, Since October I have hadat least 4 occasions where I have almost tipped the pram over andlanded my daughter on the floor face first! The worse of them is documented here, the front wheel tends to get stuck on cracks on tarmac oruneven pavements and if you are walking at a quick pace and notexpecting it you can land on the floor and hopefully not with yourchild hurt. Due to this I say you must never ever use this pramwithout strapping your child in properly and snuggly, but then again I wouldn't tell you not to strap your child in on any other pram either!

That is my honest view of thispushchair, the Quinny Zapp Xtra has many good points but it could bean even better pushchair by having a purposely designed frame for it instead of using the Zapp frame.

Now I have this eerie feeling that at Quinny Casters HQ they are gonna have a picture of me on their dart board to attack me on their breaks!!!

Monica xx
For more honest reviews visit our reviews page.

Are we too hard to please?

2011-01-12T12:33:00.001Z

Are women too hard to please or are men too easy to please?!?

Monica x

Husband Store

A store that sells new husbands has opened in New York City , where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates:

You may visit this store ONLY ONCE! There are six floors and the value of the products increase as the shopper ascends the flights. The shopper may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!

So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband. On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

Floor 1 - These men Have Jobs

She is intrigued, but continues to the second floor, where the sign reads:

Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids.

'That's nice,' she thinks, 'but I want more.'

So she continues upward. The third floor sign reads:

Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, and are Extremely Good Looking.

'Wow,' she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.

She goes to the fourth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help With Housework.

'Oh, mercy me!' she exclaims, 'I can hardly stand it!'

Still, she goes to the fifth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Gorgeous, Help with Housework, and Have a Strong Romantic Streak.

She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor, where the sign reads:

Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store. (scroll and keep reading!)

PLEASE NOTE:

To avoid gender bias charges, the store's owner opened a New Wives store just across the street.

The first floor has wives that love sex.

The second floor has wives that love sex and have money and like beer.

The third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors have never been visited.

(Unknown author)

Which of the seven deadly sins is gonna be your doom?

2011-01-10T17:09:00.001Z

After reading Slummy Single Mummy's blog on the quiz she took, I was far too curious to just close the page and get on with my work, yes bookkeeping is far too boring so I decided to have a teeny weeny break and do the quiz...

Here's my score:

Greed:	Medium
Gluttony:	Medium
Wrath:	Low
Sloth:	Medium
Envy:	Very Low
Lust:	Very Low
Pride:	Medium

So yes, obviously I have some bits to work on,
apparently I am greedy and a glutton... may it have anything to do with me having sweets after the kids go to bed?!? Well my view on that is if they don't see it then they don't mess up their teeth... mmmm... I am sure that is a perfectly good excuse isn't it? Don't all good parents do that?! hehehe

I guess there is a bit of sloth going on because I was taking the quiz instead of actually doing my work!! Hey but I have worked very hard today!

So there, I am mostly a goody two shoes ;)

Now take the test and tell me what you got!! If your brave enough that is! hehe

Seven Deadly Sins Quiz

Monica x

How to make a sucessful New Year's Resolution

2010-12-22T13:05:00.001Z

How to Make Successful New Year’s Resolutions – more about ‘why power’ than will power.

Answer 5 questions to make your 2011 resolutions successful.

Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution? Maybe you resolved to lose weight, stop smoking or get fit. Did you see it through? The vast majority of people do not and by the end of January they will be back into their old habit patterns after promising this year would be different.

Sound familiar? Ian Henderson, coach and professional speaker, says to make your resolutions stick you need to answer five big questions:

What do you want?

This must be specific (measurable) and focused on what you want to do or have rather than what you don’t want or don’t have.

Why do you want it?

This is the biggest question and gets to your real motivation. You need a big why or your efforts will fail at the first test. Your why might be that to continue causes you so much pain that there really is no alternative. It may be that what you are looking to achieve is so powerful for you that you will do anything to get it. The bigger your why, the easier the how is. Without a big enough why, the how becomes difficult.

Does your goal fit in with who you are as a person?

To be successful it must connect with who you are as a person and what you strongly believe in. If it doesn’t, you will find ways to sabotage your efforts to change and you will be making the same resolutions again next December 31st.

How will you do it?

This is about taking committed action. The good news is that your actions don’t need to be revolutionary. Break a big goal into smaller, achievable targets. Lots of small successes built on each other can make a big change over time.

When will you do it by?

As soon as possible does not appear in any diary. Putting a date on your goal increases your focus.

Ian says that, "With so many people giving up on their resolutions it seems that they look forward to the New Year to make a new start on old habits. Don’t let this happen to you this year.”

Weekend Offender Exclusive Dealer Jacket - A Gadget Dad Review

2010-12-21T16:47:00.000Z

Bring On The Rain?

Weekend Offender just launched their exclusive "Dealer" jacket, which is like all their jackets is looking very sharp, stylish and lightweight. But this one's got a hidden talent...

The Dealer jacket has a clever and unique transparent "Dry View" viewing cover to the front of the pouch pocket. This unique dry view pouch allows the wearer to clearly see the inside of the pouch pocket, thus enabling them to read text messages or to play games in the pouring rain.

Weekend Offender - The stylish Dealer Jacket

Features:

Specially coated, micro-ripstop fabric in airforce blue.
Unique double zip neck opening.
Unique "Dry View" window.

Unique Dry View Window

Check out the review video

(for HD viewing view directly on our YouTube channel)

RRP £80 Available from www.weekendoffender.com

Gadget Dad Verdict:

Weekend offender offers "bad boy" british style clothing. Their web site is cool and their blog is up to date with new products and celebs wearing their clothing range. Also had some funny YouTube videos!

Coming back to their new "Dealer" jacket, the jacket itself looks great and stylish. The 'clear view' pocket was a great idea, but while doing the short video outside for 10 minutes in light rain I came to realise that it had a few short comings.

First thing I realised was that it as a bit difficult to close the unique "clear view" compartment while in the rain without getting your device wet. What would have made this a clear winner to me would be elastics around the area for your hands to go in, so that you would push your hands and device through and the elastics would then "close" around your wrist. This would also make the 'clear view' area less prone to getting wet. The jacket itself also let water in after only 10 minutes in the rain. It seemed to seep water through as if the water repellant coating had come off.

I did like the idea of the double zip neck opening which made it a breeze to take off and put on without messing up your hair style.

Pros:

Really stylish design.
Unique 'clear view' window.
Specially coated micro-ripstop fabric in airforce blue.
Unique double zip neck opening.

Cons:

Clear view pocket could have done with some elastic openings for ease of use and more protection agains rainy days.
Water repellant coating could have been better.

Gadget DadRating: 6/10

Till the next rainy day!

Gadget Dad

Magical Santa Review - A Letter From Santa

2010-12-18T17:14:00.000Z

My son is 4 and a half and I have been doing everything I can to keep the magic of Christmas alive... that and fairies and everything magical out there. I reckon it's a much more interesting world while we are little, we believe in magic and everything is possible.

So it is my goal to keep magic alive... because the world becomes that much more interesting!

I told my son that he should tell me what he wants for Christmas and that I would write a letter to tell Father Christmas. He promptly went to give me a long list including a new ipod (yeah right! Talk about anything being impossible!) but amongst that he wants some Disney Cars Monster Trucks, so I told him he should stick to that because Father Christmas has lots of toys to get for everyone so he shouldn't be greedy.

I then went on to www.magicalsanta.co.uk and personalized a letter from Father Christmas for my Funny Bunny and had it sent.

Magical Santa offers four distinct letters, which can be tailored to each child (brilliant if you have more than one child so that they don’t look as though they’ve got the exact same letters as each other!). Each letter has been written by a published children’s author, and each is written for a specific age group and gender. You can add your child’s name, gender, friend or relative’s name, what they’ve achieved this year and what present they really want. You can even choose from four different designs of decorated letter paper.

The other day the letter arrived in the post in a beautiful envelope with a picture of a Father Christmas on it, it was addressed to my little boy (as I had entered his details), I showed him the letter and he read his name on the front... his eyes lit up and he said "a letter for me?!?" with a smile on his face, he then went on to jump around asking me who it was from!!!

I told him it was from Father Christmas and after even more jumping around he eventually stopped to open it, After he opened it himself I read it for him, it was a bit long but it was written in a way that he understood it and was extremely interested and excited so he listened all the way until the end!!

This letter brought much joy to my little boy and my heart warmed with happiness seeing my little boy so happy and excited... but most importantly it keeps the magic of Christmas alive in our house.

Now he is excited for Christmas Eve when Father Christmas visits us at midnight, we are very impatient and very special in our family, Father Christmas actually sits down and we get our presents directly from him, we even get a photo of us sitting on his lap with him giving us the first present! I'm not sure if it's a family tradition or a Portuguese tradition but it's what we do... and it's magical for the kids!

Rating: 10/10 for making my boy so happy!

The letters normally cost £2.99 (including free delivery* within the UK) when ordered directly from the site. But if you click on http://www.magicalsanta.co.uk/ref/mfogg, the rate is further discounted price to only £1.99!

Monica x

Jessops Launches Beautiful Baby Competition 2011

2010-12-18T11:17:00.000Z

Your tot's chance to star in Jessops' spring 2011 catalogue.

Jessops, the UK's leading photographic retailer, and parenting publisher Magicalia are pleased to announce the opening of their Beautiful Baby Competition 2011.

Launched to find the cutest cherubs and loveliest little-ones in the UK, one lucky winner will star in Jessops' spring 2011 catalogue. The winning baby will also become the face of Jessops' Kiddies Photobook which will be displayed in all Jessops stores.

As well as the knowledge that their little angel will put a smile on the face of thousands of shoppers around the country, there is also the chance for parents to win up to £1000 of photography equipment.

Twenty-five runners up will also be chosen to star in Jessops' Kiddies Photobook on display in-store, and each will receive a £25 Jessops voucher. To ensure no one gets left out, Magicalia will be showcasing a selection of the entries via an online slideshow in February.

To enter, simply click on the 'win & free' tab on the ThinkBaby or MadeForMums websites at www.thinkbaby.co.uk or www.madeformums.co.uk and upload your fabulous photo.

Best of Luck!

Monica xx

Baby's First Calendar Give Away Winner

2010-12-17T14:55:00.001Z

Congratulations to Carolin M. from Bristol who won our Baby's First Calendar Give Away!

The winner was picked at random by my 4 year old :)

Monica x

The Christmas take over

2010-12-16T12:35:00.001Z

PaperTigerNStitches Baby's 1st Xmas Ornament

This Christmas is my little girls first, she's not going to remember all the fuss at 3 months old but I will, and that's what's bothering me.
She’s the first grandchild for my parents and I can't help feeling that everything I'm trying to do to remember her 1st Christmas is being taken away from me.

My mum bought her a Christmas outfit, we'd already decided on a little dress we liked but not bought it yet, we then saw the perfect advent calendar with little doors to open that would last her years but through the post arrived an advent calendar made by my mum that she can keep every year instead, then we decided that instead of big presents this Christmas because she would get so much we would start a charm bracelet for her so that when she's older she'll have something to remember each birthday and Christmas by, along with that we'd get some books which the lead character has the same name as my daughter, they come in a series so would be a great addition and we could build those up every year, but on telling my sister our plans she announced that my mum had found those books and bought them already, my sister incidentally is making her a stocking which she will keep year after year. So now what is left for me to do?

This is my first child, my first Christmas with her and I want her to have a memory of one thing that mummy and daddy got for her first Christmas that she returns to every year, but instead we'll just have photos of everyone else’s presents.

I know they're all meant well and I love that she is being thought about and loved and I understand that she is a long awaited grand child but I just think we could have been consulted?

My partner thinks we should go ahead and get her the things we were going to and she'll just have duplicates but I'm reluctant as it isn't really the same. I think I'll just roll over like I usually do so I don't upset anyone and keep the peace and I am really grateful for everything anybody does for her so it's not like anyone’s done anything terrible! Plus I love Christmas and don't want anything to spoil it.

Having said that if my mum finds this blog (which is unlikely) I know she'd take it the wrong way and feel I'm unappreciative but all I want is to do just 1 thing for my daughter for her 1st Christmas.
Any ideas of keepsakes that I can make or buy for Christmas?
Emily x

Attempting to plan ahead...

2010-12-15T14:00:00.002Z

Yes, anyone that knows me knows that I am not too much into planning ahead... planning ahead to me involves writing something on my calendar and leaving it at that.

Not because I can't do it, it's more to do with "I never know what will happen tomorrow" syndrome... so I only plan ahead in detail when I absolutely have to.

Eating on a budget and with not much time to cook, lately we have been falling into the evil ready meals route far too many times than I have liked and this has resulted in particularly me and Booboo not having as many healthy stomach "turns" as is appropriate.
After having 2 kids that is not great for me as my digestive system is sluggish so I put on unhealthy weight and have trouble going to the loo, and then comes the "I am too tired to do anything" attitude too!!! So I need to get back in control and do the right thing.

Another thing is we have been eating far too much meat and not enough vegetables, we all know about animal cruelty and how cows massively contribute to global warming, but realistically I know that we can't be vegetarian, so I just want to cut down on our meat intake and really increase our vegetables, pulses, and other good stuff.

In my attempt to "fix" all of the above and I came up with a "Menu" for the week ahead, a menu that I hope we will achieve eating healthily on a budget.

For lunch we will eat left overs from dinner, I will make more to accommodate as I don't have the time to be cooking lunch and dinner.

Dinner Menu for a Week

Wednesday (today): Chilli con Carne with carrots & Rice
Thursday: Meat Free Sausages with caramelised onions & Fine Green Beans
Friday: Portuguese Pea Dish with Chorizo and Egg ( Ervilhas com Ovos Escalfados )
Saturday: Garlicky Potato, Carrot & Ham Bake
Sunday: Tomato & Red Lentil Soup with bread on the side
Monday: Salmon & Onion Fishcakes with Tomato Salad
Tuesday: Portuguese Dish - Gay Chicken (Frango a Paneleiro)
Wednesday: Tuna Nicoise Salad

So I will try to stick to the plan and tell you what happened next week!!
Hopefully a fresh pre planned menu will also restore my enthusiasm for cooking because I have been so bored and fed up with cooking!

What do you do to keep your "menu" fresh & on budget?

Monica xx

Compact Baby Changing Solutions

2010-12-12T10:40:00.000Z

Busy mums on the move will love the handy baby changing solutions offered by Koo-di, including the latest b.box®, which carries all of baby's changing essentials in one compact case and can conveniently be popped into a handbag.

Complete with a wipe clean changing mat which folds into its storage compartment; a built in refillable wipes container which can be accessed from the outside for sticky fingers and inside for nappy changing; plus room for two small nappies and a tube of cream, mums have everything they need for that emergency nappy change, without needing to lug around a huge changing bag.

The colourful, trendy b.box® is made from durable polypropylene plastic which ensures it holds its compact shape even when fully packed and a flexible arm within holds everything snugly into place.
So whether you are popping out to the shops or on an outing to visit friends, pop your b.box® into your bag or glove compartment and you can relax and know you are prepared for every eventuality.

With slightly more room, but still compact and ideal for travelling is the Koo-di Handy Changer which fits everything little one will need on a journey including nappies, bibs and a change of clothes.
Mums will love the cheerful polka-dot design of this bag plus the two removable matching pouch pockets (great for cotton wool and creams). It also includes an elasticated strap to hold bottles or food jars in place as well as a large wipe clean changing mat.

Koo-di Handy Changer fits under your pushchair!

Ideal for almost every occasion, the Handy Changer is extremely versatile and can double up as a baby toiletry bag!

All available now from www.myfunnybunny.com

Monica xhttp://www.myfunnybunny.com/ourshop/cat_286038-KOODI.html

Jeep Boy's Cotton Rich Socks Review

2010-12-11T10:25:00.000Z

Jeep JB701 Boy's Contrast Heel and Toe Cushion Sock

With he demands of school wear, sports training and that all important social life, it's no wonder that on average boys between the ages of 3-13 can get trough a whopping 50 pairs of socks every year!

Synonymous with the Jeep heritage, each style from the 4x4 leader has been designed for peak performance. perfect for keeping feet as comfortable as possible, these reliable and hardwearing socks are fashionable, reasonably-priced and long-lasting saving his parents bank balance!

Perfect for everyday 'back to school' wear, these socks have been designed for comfort. Each pack contains a black, charcoal and grey pair of socks to offer stylish choice every morning. They are available in sizes 6-8.5, 9-12, 12,5-3.5 and 4-6. The JB701 is made from a combination of 70% cotton, 20% polyester, 7% Lycra and 3% Nylon that's breathable and suitable for every day use.

Verdict:

Face it, boys will be boys and they will always go through everything faster than expected. That's why these rugged socks from Jeep will make them stretch their normal sock wear and tear limit to the brink of their "wooly" existence. These socks are good quality and at £4 for 3 pairs you can't go wrong, at just over £1 a pair they are good value considering the quality.

They are so padded and thick that my son even wears them around the house instead of slippers! Also nice and warm to wear with his slippers in these cold snowy days we have been having!

Pros:

Each pack comes with black, charcoal and grey pairs
Very thick and comfortable
Breathable
Great for everyday use as well as sports

Cons:

Could have done without the Jeep tags as stitching seems to come off with time. ( Could have done with the branding being embedded in the sock as it has on the sole)

Rating: 9/10

Until next time

Gadget Dad

Jabra Street BT3030 Bluetooth Stereo Headset - A Gadget Dad Review

2010-12-06T21:01:00.002Z

Music and talk meets the streets!

The white Jabra STREET is a stylish Bluetooth hands-free system that plays music from any enabled device such as mobile phones and Mp3 players.

Not only does it look good, it sounds great, finally a product that lets you listen to music from your mobile - without damaging your style!

Play, pause, skip - remote control your music without touching your mobile. Yep, that’s right - no wires!

No need for phone envy - keep it in your pocket! When a call comes in, your tune pauses and the call connects. A microphone in the dog tag picks your voice up, loud and clear, no hands, no missed calls.

The dog tag design keeps the wearing style simple, just wear it around your neck, but if that isn't your style, use the optional clip, clip it to your belt, your bag, your pants - you choose the look, you choose the style. You can also stash it in a pocket!

Great for those who are always on-the-go!

Features

Up to 7 hours of music playing
Up to 8 hours talk timeCreate your own style
Exchangeable earphones
Optional lanyard and clothing clip
One device for music and mobile

Check out the cool video presentation on their website here!

Also available in black with an rrp of £49.99 and available from most good retailers.

Gadget Dad Verdict:

Jabra specialise in bluetooth headsets and again came up with a great design to make yet another headset look cool.

The set up was a breeze and i had no problem pairing it with my smartphone. I also had no problem playing music on this and the sound was great. Music was paused when there was an incoming phone call and continued after the call. The in call sound was very clear and if your phone has voice activated dialling this unit supports it.

I have the white one but a black one is also available. This should also be a great stocking filler!

This is especially great as you don't have to have your phone on show, so hoodnickers* don't get tempted to steal you or your kid's phone.

I liked it so much I bought one for my brother in law as a Christmas gift! (I have 3 brothers in law so even if they read this they won't know if it's for them or not!!)

*Gadget Dad slang for thieves! lol

Pros:

Setup made easy enough for a little monkey to do!
Comes in Black and White
Can wear it around your neck or on a clip (even fit it in your pocket)
Comes with one year warranty
Can be used with iPod touch

Cons:

couldn't find any!

Rating: 9\10

Till next time and steer clear of the hoodnickers!

Gadget Dad