Olli is 2 Today! Oh, how time flys! Seems like only yesterday I was writing my birth story the Highway to hell! Olli has grown so much in 2 years and he's a real character! So for his birthday, we wanted to throw a little party with some friends and family and what better way than to personalise his party!

First, we decided that we wanted a little food spread, so we needed plates and cups etc, as well as little party bags and hats to go with it, so we found Personalised Parties and chose the personalised monster pack!

Back in February Tremo (short for Treasured Memories) contacted me and asked if I would be part of the beta test for their photo book service, of course as a parent who takes a million photos of her children daily, I was mega excited and automatically agreed!

quickly signed up and connected through Facebook and saw the coolest chat-bot ever! yes, that's right! A chat-bot, Tremo bot prompts you every few days to send photos, quotes and memories directly through the chat-bot service, it then sets up a whole photo book by adding what you've sent over! 

Tremo's prompts consists of things like "whats your favourite holiday activity?" , "how was your weekend? did you take any good photos?" , "send a funny story to remember" or "send a picture of your child's bedroom" all these prompts will help you fill your photo book up so quickly and with space for up to 200 photos you'll be able to treasure those memories forever!

Once you have got all your photos in your book you can then customize the front cover, the spine and the back cover too so it looks extra awesome!

Prices start from just £24 per book for the UK but hurry! because we have a 7-DAY discount to get a photo book for just £5 just use the code Lucky5 at the checkout!

My photo book took no time at all to come and I am so super impressed with it, it's stunning, its such a high quality and all the photos are printed well, yes even my Instagram and Snapchat pictures that I included were printed really really good!

Click Here to get started!!

I can't wait to fill up my next book I'm super excited!

What would you include in your book? Let me know below :D

Much Love
Mumma
X

*Disclaimer: Tremo sent me a photo book as thanks for taking part in their beta test, this review and all opinions are honest and my own.*

Random little notes sometimes mean the world to you, other times they make you roll on the floor laughing, those little notes can change your whole day in an instance and they come from the heart too! Here are a few notes from other people that made me giggle and will hopefully lift your day too!

Mike left me a little note and food on the side as id been so busy I didn't have time to eat! - Mumma

My husband writes me silly shopping lists and normally includes hugs and kisses etc - Eva - Https://www.captainbobcat.com

My mum once didn’t want me to use the computer when she went to work so left with the keyboard and wrote a note saying ‘no keyboard no computer’... she probably should have taken the mouse too as I ended up using the onscreen keyboard! Sarah- www.mummycatnotes.com

I sent my OH to the chippy with a list of things to buy for us all knowing that he would read it out loud to the women without checking it first. Thankfully / Sadly he clocked that I’d written ‘sex please’ as the last item before he said it and was still laughing about it when he got home. 
Charlie- www.ouralteredlife.com

 Because I said we weren't making slime today... Leanne - Www.secondtimemummy.com

This never fails to make me laugh. My husband left an empty tub of Hagen-Dazs in the freezer with this note at the bottom. Shame he can’t spell. Lisa - www.baremother.com

Mine's more romantic than funny but once in the throes of breastfeeding a newborn Misery Guts wrote 'I love you' in bath letters on the bathroom mirror because he knew I'd find it in the middle of the night Natalie- http://www.crummymummy.co.uk

My son was always leaving notes before he moved out 😂 Deborah- http://Countryheartandhome.com

We used this sticky note for several weeks to let others know that our cats were fed already
Adam- TheCoachingParent.Com

Who says romance is dead?! Cass- https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/

I once found a note in a library book, it said if you read this note you're not alone, your doing great....the book was about parenting challenges and it made me smile from ear to ear! - mumma!

My daughter quite often leaves me notes requesting things (like going to get Pick n Mix!) and she has done so for many years. She also leaves me little gifts with notes too Emma- Www.TheMiniMesAndMe.com

and my son usually just leaves insults ...

I hope this made you giggle as much as did for me and it has brightened up your day!

Try and leave a note for someone soon and feel good about it!

Let me know some of your little funny 'notes' in the comments below :D

Much Love

Mumma

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Once you children start school, activity clubs or even nursery headlice come around and what a pain in the ass they are! Creepy crawly little 1/2mm buggers and then they leave their eggs too! Oh lovely! 
Its always such a shock to find out your child has them the first time but don't panic! If you follow the saying 'Once a week, take a peek'  and make regular checks we can all fight headlice together!

If you're like me you've probably tried most or all the treatments on the market and they've either been terrible or just haven't done the job at all! well, it's not the brand's fault it's actually the headlice that get used to the same chemicals in the lotion over time, But we got a chance to use Hedrin Once, The spray lotion comes in a small bottle but goes a really long way, Lilli's hair comes halfway down her back and I covered her whole hair and still had spare!! WINNING!

The spray lotion only has to sit on the hair for 15mins then can be washed out but be aware to follow the full instructions on how to wash out otherwise it WILL NOT work.

 After following all the instructions for washing, we sat down to comb through Lil's hair and MY OH MY! it had totally killed them ALL!! I was super impressed and not only does it kill headlice it also kills the eggs too so all we had to do was comb them all out and they'd be gone!!

We used the Nitty Gritty Nit Free Comb from Amazon and its been brilliant getting all the eggs out too, its teeth are so close together it helps pull the eggs out and those little critters too!

So After a week of treating Lil's hair, we sat down to check and found none at all!! I was super happy and will definitely be checking more often and keeping on top of it and I urge you to do so too!

You can find treatments and protection sprays from the Hedrin range at your local supermarket or health stores or online at www.hedrin.co.uk.

Much Love
Mumma
X

Disclaimer: I was sent 2 bottles of Hedrin once spray gel to review in exchange for a written and honest review.
This post contains affiliate links.

So as you may know me and my friends both volunteer and run a Lego club at our local library, we’re always thinking of new ways of keeping the children focused and into it so we hopped on to Twinkl to find some of their brilliant Lego related recourses.

Twinkl has millions of amazing recourses and their Lego/building block related ones are no exception, we found games, challenges, certificates, maths, science and even art related printables, here’s what we chose.

Building Brick Challange Cards

Building Brick Activity Pack

Builder Certificates

The challenge cards and certificates had to be the most loved in our Lego club, the children loved to be set a challenge and got so determined when they found out it was for a certificate, the children made letters, staircases, bridges and so much more and seem to be so engaged in doing so too.

Lego Club Attendees Completing The Builder Challange.

Our next favourite was the Lego Addition sheets, whoever knew that children would love to do maths when they didn’t have to! 
But they seemed to enjoy it and were so proud when they had finished.

Lego Addition Sheets

Lastly we found The Lego board game, 3D figures and dice, we pre-made the dice and figures and laminated the board game so it was all ready to play and all the children had to do was colour in their 3D figure and read the rules, I’d say the game is from 7 years and up as the younger ones couldn’t get the gist of it but the older ones had a lot of fun! 

So if you want to have some fun and learn at the same time try out the Lego-related recourses, just type ‘Lego’ in the search bar and have fun exploring! 

Much love 
Mumma
X 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Twinkl and they have gifted me a 6 month membership in exchange for monthly reviews.
All links include tracking links by Twinkl to track the traffic they receive from this post to their site they do not collect any user data.
The Twinkl resources are not endorsed by LEGO in any way but can be used in conjunction.

Mental health for kids isn't talked about very much at all, But once your children get that little bit older you start to wonder whats going on in their little brain?!
So we've teamed up with WeParent to show you just what its like to have a 'Psychologist in your pocket'.

WeParent is your guide to the mid-childhood years, the most important years of your child's development. Whether you're facing a particular problem, or looking to get ahead on your child's development, our team of psychologist share their expertise through fun, interactive and tailored strategies you can apply at home.

 On the site, you start off by choosing out of 5 modules, whether its Emotions, sibling rivalry or even independence, you then go on to choose what section of that module you want to focus on.
After picking modules you then go on to steps on how to understand certain aspects, with activities to try and ways to find solutions.

I love that WeParent provides this its so great for parents in need of help, especially those that suffer from mental health themselves it's sometimes hard to ask for help so to have all this on hand is brilliant.
Parenting isn't always easy and you can literally find a module on everything and for only £6 per month to solve your problems isn't bad!

So to celebrate this awesome site were giving away 10 FREE 12 Month Subscriptions to WeParent.co.uk, The giveaway is UK only and will be open until 23rd May 2018

So ENTER NOW!! and Good Luck ;)

WeParent Membership Giveaway

Much Love
Mumma
X

Disclosure: This Tracking Link is to for WeParent to track the traffic to their site from this post.

This is a collaborative post with WeParent I received a free 12-month membership in return for writing this review and giveaway.

This week we have someone different on the blog, a guest post from Haley Stainton - Life As A Butterfly :D Hope you enjoy, You can visit Hayley's blog with the link at the bottom :D

Enjoy!

I have learned a lot in my first year as a mum! Most new parents quickly come to terms with everyday aspect such as which tog sleeping bag is best, which first foods to introduce or how amazing the jumperoo is! But when it comes to travelling many find it quite daunting. So I’ve compiled my list of top tips telling you everything you need to know for your first flight with a baby in tow!

1)Think about travelling times

If your baby is small enough to sleep on the go at any time of day. But once the baby has established their routine you probably want to avoid disrupting that too much if you can. A baby who is over-tired can be a real nightmare (trust me I know!), so avoid flights that are super early in the morning- a 6am flight will mean arriving at the airport around 4am and depending on your journey time to the airport waking up might have to take place a couple of hours or more before that. Such an early start will disrupt anyone’s body clock, baby or not.

Night flights are generally a good bet as baby can sleep and is less likely to get restless and want to play, although this does depend on the length of the flight. A 10pm-4am flight to Dubai might not be ideal but an 8pm-8am flight from London to Mexico could work perfectly.

2)Consider baby’s ears

Changes in altitude are likely to affect your precious one’s little ears, especially if their sinuses are blocked. It is a good idea to encourage baby to be sucking something during take-off and landing to avoid this where possible. This can be by breastfeeding, bottle feeding, using a dummy or sucking a thumb. We have always given Isla a dummy and have never had any problems.

3)Reserve a bassinet

Having a bassinet can be a lifesaver, especially if you have a night flight. If baby won’t sleep in it it is also a great place to keep all of those baby things you brought with you- toys, blankets, bottles etc. Bear in mind that there are weight restrictions, so this is generally for the younger babies only. An added bonus of getting a bassinette seat is that these are often ‘chargeable’ seats as you tend to get a little extra leg room, the downside, however, is that whoever you are travelling with might be seated separately.

4)Buy your milk and nappies in advance and collect at the airport

OK so you’ve already sacrificed a pair of shoes for baby’s favourite ‘blanky’, but where are you going to fit in those pots of formula and nappies?! These are seriously bulky items that will take up lots of room in your luggage. It might cost slightly more than you would usually pay but it is super handy to be able to reserve your baby bits online and then to collect them airside at the airport.

5)Buy some ready-made formula

On my first flight after I had stopped breastfeeding I was nervous at the prospect of being without my perfect-prep machine so I opted to order some ready-made formula for the flight instead. OK so this wasn’t warm, but luckily my daughter isn’t too fussy about this. It was super handy that I could order to collect at the airport as it meant I didn’t have to worry about liquid restrictions at security and it was much easier to use than formula when in a confined space with a baby who decides she wants her milk NOW. Seriously, can you imagine entertaining a hungry baby onboard an aircraft for half an hour while waiting for boiling water to cool down?!  

6)Take the baby carrier

They might tell you that your stroller will be returned to you at the aircraft door in London Gatwick, but when you arrive at the tiny Spanish airport in Murcia this could be a different story… there have been multiple occasions when I have expected to retrieve the stroller only to find that it has been taken to the baggage belt. Some airports have long distances to walk and long lines at immigration so having a baby carrier is a lifesaver.

So that’s it, my top tips for flying with a baby. For more on travelling with a baby, you can visit my blog Lifeasabutterfly.  

Welcome back to the series on mental health awareness for parents, if you're new here, hello! This week we're speaking to Nina about her mental health and parenting, if you've missed any of the series you can check them out here , Anyways let's get started.

Hey, I'm Mummy to two, yes, two sets of boy girl Twins. Born 2011 & 2017 Step mum to a teen and wife to a geek.

I survived the rare pregnancy complication Placenta Percreta. I had to have a cesarian Hysterectomy and 11 units of blood transfusion to save our lives!

I'm a stay at home mum dipping my toe into homeschooling, We are planning on travelling throughout the UK and bits of Europe. We are calling it a gap year!  I blog about all kinds of things parenting, travel, health, lifestyle & anything else that takes my fancy.

Grab a cuppa and come on over for a cuppa and a chat. You're more than welcome anytime. 

1) When did you realize you had a mental health problem? Back in 2004, I lost 3 family members, I was fired from a job I loved and I split from someone I thought I was in love with. I spiralled out of control and it wasn't until my friend took me to the doctors and said she wanted me sectioned for my own safety that something pinged in my head. When I got better from this episode Then When my nan died in 2014, I started having bouts of not being able to get my breath. I thought perhaps they were panic attacks but did nothing about it until on Christmas day I had one major anxiety attack. I thought I was having a heart attack. It was after this I knew I was suffering from my mental health.

2) How did you deal with it? The first bout was dealt with by attending counselling, The second time around I ended up on medication, attending CBT - Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, exercise, mindfulness, everything combined 

3)How does your mental health affect your parenting? I struggle I have to be honest, I often rely on my mum on dark days, I stress at the kids as my mind wanders into terrible thoughts.  I sometimes end up crying and then cant focus on what we are meant to be doing

4)Do your children notice when you have a bad day? Yes, My girl will often give me a hug when I'm low, She is also showing signs of worry like I do 

- How does that make you feel? Her hugs make me feel better but I wish I could hide my worrying better.I really don't want her to go through the same as me!

 -How do you deal with it? I talk with them and say that sometimes I feel down but that's ok. My girls worrying I just try to reassure her that things are safe and things will be ok.

5)How does your mental health affect your daily life? I fight daily battles in my head of worrying about symptoms, You know the old thing that vicious cycle where you have a symptom so you panic, the panic creates a symptom so you panic, the panic creates a symptom so you panic before you know where you are you cant get out of the cycle 

6)If you have, how did you get over your mental health problems? I haven't really, I don't think I ever will I just learn to live with it. I have a very understanding Doctor, and I just try and practice self-care (eating well, exercise, mindfulness, simplifying life which is something I'm going to be blogging about soon and I try to say to my self this is my anxiety speaking it will pass. 

If you liked reading Nina's take on her mental health you can find her blog here and on social media :D

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spencersarc.mummy/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Readyforacuppa

Much Love

Mumma

X

Food, plates, cups, drinks, wrapping paper, Planning a birthday party can be very stressful, so we've come up with some tips for the perfect toddler birthday party to get you right on track!  

1) Choose a theme: Monsters, princess, superheroes, even their favourite tv character they're all brilliant, try to make a list of you're toddlers favourite things and ask them what they'd like best.

If they can't talk yet try picking one out of a hat.

2) Choose a time: Timing is everything and toddlers love to nap, try to plan your party around common nap times to avoid grumpy toddlers or sleepy guests.

3)Choose good food: Not good food that we would eat but good food the toddlers would eat, we all know some toddlers (especially mine) are picky eaters so try to have a selection of sweet, savoury, fruit and veggies, we always find that cucumber, breadsticks and dip is a winner at parties! (i mean who doesn't love a good veggie dip?!)

4) Don't go all out on decorations: Poundshop decorations work just as well and unless you're planning another 1st or 2nd birthday party any time soon don't spend a fortune for them to just go in the bin!

5) Bubbles and balloons: Bubbles and balloons are the secrets magic to keeping toddlers entertained at parties, try balloon games such as keep me up or get some punch balloons so see whos the fastest.

6) Personalise your party: At Personalised Parties you can put your mind at ease for all the party essentials, your cups, plates, party bags (boxes), hats, invitations and so much more, there are loads of themes and you can actually personalise them too!

We got sent a personalised Monster themed party pack for Olli's 2nd birthday party in a couple of weeks, they got delivered and im so incredibly excited to see them in action, The pack contains: 

x8 PERSONALISED MONSTER PARTY PLATES for hungry beasts.

x8 MONSTER PARTY WRAPS & CUPS for dreadful drinks..

x8 PERSONALISED MONSTER PARTY BOXES for ghastly goodies.

x8 MONSTER PARTY HATS - because who doesn't love a hat?
x8 MONSTER PARTY MASKS - for upping the "Boo" factor.
x16 FOOD FLAGS of two different flag designs (x8 each); ideal for labelling party food, such as cupcakes or sandwiches. 

I cannot wait to see these in action at Olli's party they look so sweet, Personalised Parties also have 27 other party themes including ones for older children too! I'm very tempted to get the celebration one for my wedding it would be fab! I'm so glad we got these for the party it takes off a load of stress trying to find things and making sure you haven't forgotten anything because the essentials are right here! If you want to know more click on the link above :D

7) Don't Stress: After all these tips this one is very important, DONT STRESS! Make sure you enjoy the party don't rush around like a headless chicken and miss all the fun! 

I really hope you have a brilliant party and these tips were helpful, Look out for the full review of the party pack at the end of may, And If you liked this post leave a comment and share the love :D

Much Love
Mumma
X

Hello everyone,

I’m Joanne, a 20-year-old mum to two boys under two. I was more than interested in getting involved with parenting and mental health series because it’s SO important to raise awareness and In my opinion, it’s better to open up instead of suffering in silence. I have suffered from severe anxiety since having children. The following questions should explain a little more about that.

1)When did you realise you had a mental health problem?

I first realised something wasn’t quite right when I CONSTANTLY worried about my children. Yes I know everybody does but this was something else. I hated leaving the house, I imagined death, illness and the unimaginable. I imagined a car swerving onto the path whilst we walked, I imagined one of them being taken from me. I checked that they were breathing 24/7. I couldn’t relax, EVER.

2)How did you deal with it?

I didn’t. How could I deal with it? The only thing that seems to help is sitting alone in the bath and crying. That was my time. That was my time to relax and I spent it crying. It helped! It got me through to the next day but then the whole thing started again. It’s one never-ending vicious circle.

3)How does your mental health affect parenting?

I wouldn’t say it affects it in a bad way. I’m just overprotective, like way overprotective. I have my children 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. They’ve never had a planned sleepover with their granny or granddad, they’ve never been to play with their auntie or uncle without me. I don’t give myself the break that I probably really bloody need.

4)Do your children notice when you have a bad day?

No! The thoughts are inside my head. I never cry in front of them (hence the reason I go up to the bath) I never get stressed. The only thing perhaps that could be noticed is when I panic, maybe I’ll start walking quicker or squeezing their hand a little tighter.

5)How does your mental health affect your daily life?

Me and my partner have only ever been on 1 date since having the children. Don’t get me wrong he is SO understanding but it’s obviously not healthy. It is beginning to put a strain on our relationship I can see that from a mile away!

6)If you have, how did you get over your mental health problems?

I’ve still got it! I’ll admit that and say that it’s not as scary as it used to be or maybe it is but I’ve just taught myself to deal with it in a mature manner. Things are going to get better and things will look up. I’ve got to keep my head focused and realise that the life we live is the life that God gave us. I can’t live my life in a series of stress and worry. I’m stronger than that.

If you can relate to this and you enjoyed reading Joannes story visit her on the links below and say Hi!

Social Links are-

Blog- www.wingingmamahood.com

Instagram- www.instagram.com/wingingmamahood

Twitter- www.twitter.com/wingingmamahood

Thanks for reading and keep checking back for more mental health stories, you are not alone.

Much Love
Mumma
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