Marshmallow Pops

Mmmmm mmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Ok, so we might not be throwing Charles a birthday party but we will have having his aunty and uncle over the Sunday before and then my mum the Saturday after, therefore I have a fantastic excuse to play with yummy nibbles.
I found these on the internet and thought they would look fab and taste rather lovely. Added to the fact they are easy and cheap to make.
They are too easy for me to need to tell you how to make them but I can at least give some tips to help you on your way.

Step one: Put the marshmallow on the end of a skewer.
Step two: Dip the marshmallow into some melted chocolate. My tip here is to dip and twist the marhmallow into the chocolate to guarantee more coverage. Obviously you can dip as much of the marshmallow as you like. I just wanted the top dipped on the majority of mine.
Step three: Dip the marshmallow + chocolate into the sprinkles. Again, dip and twist for maximum coverage. I tend to then leave the marshmallow in the bowl for around 5 minutes so it begins to set. This also means the chocolate is less likely to run and the sprinkles fall everywhere.
Step four: Transfer onto a plastic chopping board or into a plastic tub to set.
Step five: Place in a cup/vase/jar and serve

You can use any sprinkles you like. I also used chunks of apples too.
We will be making these with white chocolate for Charles' birthday celebrations too.

 

 

{My Week That Was Update}

For the record, I'm not pretending this is a big announcement, it's just easier to put it here for those who may (or may not if this week is anything to go by) come to find the 'My Week That Was' link up. I won't be continuing with it, for a few reasons.

The main reason being that it's making me feel a little uncomfortable and something isn't quite sitting right with me. I won't go into any more than that.

Thanks to those who have linked up. I've really appreciated it.

 

Four Years of Experiences

Looking back on the last 4 years in the run up to Charles' birthday I can't help but feel proud at the things we have done with him, the experiences he has had and the places he has gone.

Holidays to Centre Parcs (twice, in his first year)
We took our car on a train and went camping in France at 13 months old.
On a plane for a week in Lanzarote at 22 months old.
A weekend break to Drayton Manor.
A weekend break to London.
A couple of overnight stays at your aunty and uncles house in the Midlands and an overnight stay at Cambridge, at Silverstone and at St Neots.
A weekend break for his auntys wedding.
A week at Butlins, Bognor Regis.

We've visited some amazing places.
2 car museums, an air museum, various zoo's and farms, a secret bunker, the National Space Centre, Thomas Land, a Steam Museum a couple of times, a History Museum, a Science Museum, an old work house and two Sea Life Centres. Not forgetting 3 or 4 visits to the Dinosaur Park.
We've been to 3 different race circuits, visited castles, and once popped to London just for lunch.

We've been to many beaches along the Norfolk and Suffolk Coast, watched an air show every year and celebrated the Queens Jubilee on the beach.
We've walked in woods, and on marshland.
He's ridden a horse and a donkey.
We've visited a few country fayres, and the Royal Norfolk Show.

He's held a snake, touched a tortoise, touched a starfish, anemone and held a crab.
Fed a goat, cow, sheep and bottle fed lambs.

He's been on various theme park and fairground rides. Seen a few firework displays and had a day out on a boat.
He's been on various trains and steam trains.

And he's started preschool.

Plus lots more.
When I look at all of these things I wonder how or why I question my parenting and doubt myself as a mother.
I think I'm doing ok.

Stamptastic {Review}

With Charles starting Primary School in September I'm already starting a mental list of things we need to buy and arrange.

• Uniform
• Shoes
• Bag
• Lunchbox
• Sports Bag
• Those tricky annoying sew in name labels
• A decent pen to write Charles' name onto the name labels
• Cotton to sew the name labels in

Accept, the last three things on that list, which probably feature on other mums lists around the UK, are completely unnecessary thanks to a wonderful invention and product.

Stamptastic is the baby of Emma, Francesca and Rie, 3 busy mums who could never find the time to sew or iron labels and wanted to find an alternative, and something they could use on everything.
After a year of planning Stamptastic was born!

Stamping is so quick and simple that we decided to start with a personalised stamp and then create an ink that is usable on a wide variety of materials.

Each stamp can include up to 20 letters (including spaces) and ink is supplied with each stamp.
The prices are as follows:

1 Stamp £16.99 | 2 Stamps £25.00 | 3 Stamps £32.50
4 Stamps £39.50 | 5th Stamp FREE
Only one inkpad per order – NOT one inkpad per stamp
FREE P&P to mainland UK. £3.50 international delivery.

  You may think that £16.99 is expensive or maybe pricey when you can pick up sew in, or iron in, labels so cheap but you must consider the fact that these stamps can be used on everything.
Clothes, pencils, paper, lunchboxes, plastic rulers etc. For the ease of being able to quickly pick up the stamp, hold it on the ink then press onto the item required it is definitely worth the price. Especially as it is personalised of course.

The stamps are amazing quality and really easy to hold due to ridges down the side of the stamp. The ink again is good quality and I think will last a long time.

I was really impressed with this stamp and think it will save a lot of time when it comes to personalising Charles' clothes, bags and accessories ready for big boy school.

I was sent this product shown above for the purpose of this review.

#worryeater Sorgenfresser

I know what you're thinking. What is Sorgenfresser or what does it mean?

Sorgenfresser, which translated exactly means ‘worry-eaters’ is a German phenomenon and a truly innovative concept for children and young people. This truly unique collection of plush friends has been designed especially to bridge the communication gap between adults and children and launches in the UK this week. To celebrate a life size Sorgenfresser is visiting London!

When children are worried about something they can simply write or draw on a piece of paper and pop it into Sorgenfresser’s mouth before zipping it away - out of sight and out of mind. Whether it’s a bad dream, a worry about Mum or Dad or school bullies, children are encouraged to share their feelings with their Sorgenfresser. Given that 64% of parents said they like to comfort their child by discussing their worries this is a great way to make that first step.

In a new survey commissioned by Coiledspring Games it has been revealed that nearly 50% of parents think their children worry just as much as they did when they were younger and disturbingly more than a third think they worry more. The survey of more than 200 also exposed that over a third of the people who took part claimed that their children only shared their worries with them ‘sometimes’ and 18% of the parents asked said their children do not share their worries at all.

Understandably the traditional worries were cited with the dark, spiders and nightmares being the three most common. Parents know how to deal with these, more normal concerns, but what about those parents whose little ones are not always communicating about their worries. Children may not know how to express themselves or even understand their feelings making it harder to explain their worry; they may also feel uncomfortable or embarrassed talking about certain issues so they chose not to share their thoughts. If a child is keeping a worry to themselves it can easily manifest into something further down the line.

This week a life-size Sorgenfresser will be hitting the streets of London to help solve the nation’s worries! Visiting places such as the London Eye and Dungeons he’ll be on hand to help anybody worried about heights, ghosts or anything else. Sorgenfresser are on a mission to inspire children and adults of any age across the UK to share their troubles.
These are a few more of the statistics from the survey of 230 parents undertaken between 1st and 8th May 2013 on Survey Monkey.com

• 63% of parents used a teddy bear, comfort blanket or soft toy as a comforter
• 33.7% of parents think their children worry more than they did (48% think they worry the same amount)
• 40% believe their child is afraid of the dark
• Only 9.7% think their child is worried about family relations
• 37% of parents say their child ‘sometimes’ tells them when they are worried about something, 31% claim their child ‘always’ tells them
• 87% of parents comfort a child with a cuddle with 64% comforting them by discussing the problem
• 4% of parents said they used to worry about their physical appearance yet nearly 16% of them think that their children worry about theirs
• 8% of those asked use to be concerned about bullying but nearly 22% of them think that their children worry about bullying.

I think the statistics are very interesting. I for one expected the last two points to be a much higher percentage, mainly due to my own worries. What are your thoughts on the results?

Are there any worries you would put in Sorgenfresser’s mouth and zip away? Join in the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #worryeater

I'm Going To BritMums Live {The Link Up Post}

Name: Lauren

Blog: Real Housewife of Suffolk County

Twitter ID: @LaurenInSuffolk

Height: 5ft 5

Hair: Blonde

Eyes: Blue, surrounded by lashes covered in mascara

Is this your first blogging conference?
Yes 

Are you attending both days?
If Friday doesn't scare me too much then yes

What are you most looking forward to at BritMums Live 2013?
Meeting up (or simply just being in the same room) as other bloggers I really admire, and have been talking to for two years.
I'm also stupidly excited about being in the same room as Kirstie Allsopp, my idol-the reason I craft, learnt to sew, wear dresses and joined the WI! and Katy Hill, when I was younger my Saturday mornings consisted of staying in bed until lunchtime whilst she was hosting Saturday Morning tv and my evenings were spent watching her on Blue Peter (I didn't just watch those programmes for her I must add, I'm not some crazed stalker)

What are you wearing?
Well, I have two maxi dresses which I hope to wear, but will also be taking my bargain Joules skirt, a vest and cardigan in case I'm not brave enough to wear one of the dresses.
My Joules skirt also matches my notepad so it feels rude not to wear it.

What do you hope to gain from BritMums Live 2013?
Confidence and to be able to recognise which direction to take my blog as I have a few things I want to do, but I'm not sure how to do them.

Tell us one thing about you that not everyone knows.
I love love LOVE having my blood pressure taken.

I'm going to BritMums thanks to my wonderful sponsors Medela UK.

B is for Bento

Ever since our last Bento Box Charles has been begging me everyday for another 'garden lunch'. Even asking my mum if she could make him some ants, benches and apricot border.
We really enjoyed our garden theme and also the alphabet. I thought going through the alphabet will be an easy way to teach Charles which foods begin with each letter.
This time of course our letter was 'B'.
I need to buy some boxes to put the food in really. This pink one (yes, pink for a boy!) is just the bottom of a cheese grater tub but it was perfect to arrange his feast in.
I also found some mini weaning pots which I haven't seen for well over a year! These were perfect to place the biscuits and fruit in and will come in handy in the future I'm sure.

Once again Charles really enjoyed it and ate everything. I love how I can feel confident that he's going to preschool with a full tummy and he's getting a variety of foods rather than just a simple sandwich. He also takes his time with it and doesn't rush his food like usual.

We can't wait for C.

A Birthday with No Party

This year we are not having a birthday party for Charles.
*Sounds of gasps and tuts*
In fact last year he didn't have a party, alternatively he had a day out with two of his friends to the local Dinosaur Park (as well as various celebrations with family), but this year we won't be doing anything like that.

Although Charles now goes to preschool and has more friends than ever, and spending a couple of mornings at the school I can see that he is a popular boy, we have still made the decision to not have a party for him,
We considered, briefly, hiring out a local community centre, getting a bouncy castle in and getting some nibbles, but then who do and don't you invite?
Do I invite every single child at preschool? The ones he doesn't play with? The ones he doesn't really know or who don't know him? What if the friends he really wanted to come didn't turn up?

With him going to reception in September we know he will make more friends, and these friendships will be a lot more solid than the friendships he has now because he will be with these friends a lot more.
Anyway, I digress. So next year will be even more important for him to celebrate with his friends, so it makes it easier for us to accept that it's ok for him not to have a party this year.

There is also the fact that in June there is simple no time to really have a party!
Every weekend is full of plans and annoyingly the Sunday after his birthday, the day we would usually have his party, is Fathers Day, therefore everyone will be busy celebrating that.

The Sunday before his birthday we will be celebrating with his aunty and uncle, then on his birthday we will take him out for the day, the Saturday will be a celebration with my mum, then the Sunday we will do something for Fathers Day. The following weekend is BritMums Live and he will have 2 days in London for that, which we will also include as a birthday treat as he will be seeing my mother in law and celebrating with her.
The week after that we may have a day out at the Royal Norfolk Show and then the following weekend we are off to the theatre to see Chris and Pui.

AND THEN......
It will be Harry's 2nd birthday!

And then we will be having the mini celebrations with family for that. In a non-nasty way, Harry doesn't have any friends yet so a party isn't necessary for him anyway.
I am hoping to hire a bouncy castle for the boys one day in July, just for them to enjoy together.

Despite knowing Charles is going to have a fantastic birthday even though he isn't having a party I do feel the need to justify myself. I'm not sure why. I guess it's just something we, as parents, feel we need to do a lot when we feel that people are going to judge us based on certain decisions, and based on what people have said in the past.

Do you think children need to have a birthday party?
Am I depriving our children by not giving them a birthday party?

My Week That Was {19}

What a very odd week it's been this week. It's seemed shorter due to the bank holiday and I've felt really busy despite really not doing much or having anything planned.

Monday: Bank Holiday! In the morning I had a make up artist and photographer come round. We then went off to my mother in laws for the afternoon which was lovely. We went to the pub, Harry was extremely sick as soon as we got there so my mother in law kindly walked around a mile if not more to go and buy a new outfit for him. She cooked a lovely dinner for us when we got back to her house.

Tuesday: Relaxing morning and then Charles went to preschool. It was a nice day so we walked both ways.

Wednesday: Can't really remember Wednesday, I expect it was another relaxing morning and then preschool. Actually, I believe I went to B&M with the boys once Charles had finished preschool. I just bought some chalk and some plastic beakers as our dishwasher keeps leaving our glasses dirty, and I'm a bit odd and much prefer using a beaker.
I popped to Asda in the evening as we had nothing for dinner and accidentally bought a fabulous maxi dress.
I wanted to get my mums opinion on it so quickly popped to hers and ended up having a much needed breakdown about my weight and appearance.

Thursday: Thursday was again, lazy morning and grocery delivery day and then preschool run. After preschool I had to pop back to B&M because 3 of the beakers were jammed together so much that I couldn't prise them apart!

Friday: Lazy morning and then preschool for Charles. My husband came with me to pick Charles up and then we popped to Asda so I could get a birthday card for my mum and then we popped to B&Q.

Saturday: This morning I went to collect my mum and we headed to Gorleston Sea Front to do our Mile in Memory walk for Matilda Mae. I'm going to write a post about this once we have our fundraising money collected.
Once the walk was over we all sat in the nearby pub for a drink and a catch up.
We (me, mum, Charles and Harry) went for lunch at McDonalds and then went to Boots so I could buy some new concealer.
Epic fail here as I held up the queue at the till whilst I hunted in my bag for my advantage card, in doing so I found the concealer I thought I had lost and was just rebuying. After a few minutes and getting rather stressed the shop assistant asked if I was "looking for this" and showed me my advantage card.
Turns out I'd handed it to her in the first place.
My husband bought us fish and chips for dinner and I went to bed early as I was feeling quite poorly.

Sunday: I had a lay in (yay) and at 12 we went over to my mums to give her her birthday presents and cards.
After 2 hours there we came home and I cleaned the inside of my car properly for the first time in a year (my husband usually does it) whilst my husband and the boys sorted out his new tool box.
I now have tea cooking and we are going to have a proper family tea: all sitting up the table eating together.

How was your week?

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Bravado: The Sublime Nursing Bra {Review}

Since June 2009 I have been a wearer of nursing bras. I had around a 6 month break when I stopped feeding Charles and then when Harry came along.
I'm really fussy about nursing bras and tend to get frustrated with the less feminine designs.

I was recently sent a Bravado 'The Sublime' nursing bra and it oooooozes feminine-ness.

The design is really pretty and features lots of details.
Lace, polka dots, frills, florals and soft material. It's comfortable, pretty and wearing it really makes you feel attractive.

The clips are secure yet easy to undo when needed, and also easy to clip back together.
The bra is available in 4 different colour ways:

• French Vanilla
• Black Cherry
• Chai
• Black Purple

Bra's are available up to a J/K cup.

The bra also comes with a matching brief in sizes S/M or M/L.

The Sublime Nursing Bra is available to buy via the Bravado website and retails at £35.90.
The website is well worth a look not only for this nursing bra but also to look at the other beautiful bras available.

 

 Disclaimer: I was sent The Sublime Nursing Bra for the purpose of this review.