What’s not to love about Dr Seuss? And on a t shirt? *squee!*

Loving the small  “the cat in the hat” detail printed inside the collar too!

Dr Seuss t shirt available from Fabric Flavours in ages 1-6yrs, for sixteen of your pounds.

It’s the last day of Raspberry Red’s sale, and this fantastic (100% Organic no less) nightgown (probably the MOST practical sleeping wear ever invented for babies) is reduced to under £8!

And we’ve not even mentioned the HEDGEHOG on the front…

Organic Blue Hedgehog sleep gown on sizes between 0 and 12mths from Raspberry Red

The last four fantastic competitions from our 2011 Christmas Advent Calendar close tomorrow.

You snooze, you lose…. enter now!

Click here for our KIDSEN Rice Garage Toy Storage Box competition

Click here for our Parent & Child Bath Robe Set competition.

Click here for our Kodak Easyshare Touch Digital Camera competition.

Click here for our Keycamp Family Holiday competition.

Good luck!

As any parent knows (or very quickly learns) there are some things you just don’t cut corners on. And felt tips are one of the high things on my Only-Buy-This-Brand list. I’ve been buying them for 12 years now, and only one brand will cross my threshold, as it’s the ONE brand I can guarantee really will wash out of nice tops, pale skirts and dining room chair seats when it says it will (except for green. Why oh why is the green so evil about leaving a faint stain behind?).
So when Bic offered to send me some ‘ultra-washable Kid Couleur‘ felt pens, I may have laughed at them.
Washable?
Hmm. We’ll soon see.
But blow me down with a feather if they’re not.
They really DO wash out!

Not only that but they come in great colours, are a joy to use, and there’s all sorts of sets. We LOVE the ‘plasti-decor’ triangular-shaped crayons; perfect for left-handers, and also learning-to-writers as they’re so easy to grip correctly. They don’t shed minute coloured flakes, and they really don’t snap easily. most importantly of all, they colour beautifully
And click here to see how they make their woodless pencils – yes, woodless. And chew resistant, and the ‘lead’ doesn’t snap when it’s dropped, either. Truly.

Bestie best of all? They’re cheaper!
You may notice a distinct lack of the Other Brand in our house in future…

Well, it is, isn’t it?

I’m lucky – I married a good’un who thinks about nice flowers on a whim, not because the calendar tells him he ‘must’. But for an awful lot of people (men AND women – yes, yes, I buy him flowers too), 14th February is Where It’s At on the flower diary.

And, yes, half the red roses of the world who have been teased and encouraged into believing “yes, it’s summer, honest” are about to be beheaded in the name of love.

But, gentlemen, please, remember there is more to it than a dozen red roses, even if you ARE pottering around the Interflora site. Seriously – look at this amazing gift box in the Gifts for Her range…

Oh yes. someone did their homework. This gorgeous box contains a bath preparation with Himalayan green tea and soothing rice starch, a 100% cashmere eye mask, Organic hand lotion , a handmade pewter leather journal and some Belgian chocolate. And NO roses. £100

But maybe it’s not THAT time of year for you? Maybe you’re hunting for Birthday Gifts?

A white grapefruit and May Chang essential oil reed diffuser, vodka liqueur from Chase Distilleries, Prestat dark chocolate Marc de Champagne truffles and a handmade 100% linen napkin from Thornback & Peel. £80 - and stress free.

Or of course there’s the most tricky of them all – the wedding anniversary gifts. What DO you get the woman who already has everything original you could think to get her? The woman who KNOWS you’ll be plumping for a nice safe bouquet – and probably has the vase all ready and waiting? Well… okay. Sometimes, flowers really ARE the right thing to do… (just do something else as well, okay?). And personally, I’m loving this vibrantly gorgeous hand-tied bouquet – none of your wishy-smishy pinks for me, thank you…

***Sponsored Post ***

Last week the daughter turned 5 (*gulp* FIVE!), and so, as per the Rule, we had to have a party. Naturally, upon questioning, the theme was to be typically girlie – “FAIRIES!” was shouted before I’d even finished asking the question.

Pink. And sparkly. Of course. *eyeroll*

And so, I started the checklist. As it grew longer, I started getting a little concerned – I’d left things a little late (two weeks to go) to really get my organised efforts into line and sort this out… But then in stepped Dreambox Parties.
Initially I was a bit sceptical – seriously, they were going to give me EVERYTHING I needed in the one box? But heck, it would at least give me a head start, so I said yes please to a review, and waited for the box to arrive.

When it did, I was even more sceptical… it really wasn’t that large. And I had six fairies (plus a home-grown one) arriving in four days time…
But, opening the box was like opening a  treasure chest. Only for a fairy party. She didn’t want Pirates. Though Dreambox have one for that too (and after 3 boys I’m a dab hand at a pirate cake…). Anyhoo, I digress. The box. Looked like this…

And as we removed everything it soon became clear that those clever bods really had thought of everything. Seriously! Room decorations, tableware, games (AND game prizes)… the only thing I needed to sort out was the food. *relief*

More to the point, the items were GOOD. None of your nasty fall-apart rubbish, these were good quality. And there were extras I would not have remembered to get – the room decorations were incredibly pretty, very effective, and were carefully taken down again post-party to be stashed away for decorating her bedroom with.
The balloons were excellent quality – and I loved that separate ones were provided for the games. In fact, the method of the games was really excellent – the box comes complete with a booklet which will lead you through two hours of games and food, making you an instant children’s entertainer (though we tweaked it a little, as I had promised some craft activity – I picked up some cheaper-than-chips little lidded wooden boxes, and they decorated them with sequins and glitter to make tooth fairy pots).

We already had the helium - and the 10yr old willing to be balloon-whacked by 7 fairies is home-made I'm afraid (though am happy to hire him out) *NB - we had the helium for the balloons already, that doesn't come with the box.

We also added Pass the Parcel – but the prizes were in the box, and I used the tissue paper to wrap alternate layers of the parcel in (you all KNOW to do this, yes? Alternate layers to make sure only one layer comes off at a time?). The lily pads for a fairy version of musical chairs was a big hit, and the balloon-popping game was hilarious (suggesting anyone too shy nominated someone to pop on their behalf worked very well too).

The table looked totally brilliant, and caused much “oooh!”-ing when everyone came to sit down for their Fairy Tea.

everything except the food is supplied - from plastic-backed tablecloth, to wooden toadstools, leaf platters for the food and straws with flowers on.

Honestly – the party was a breeze. I felt organised, in control, and totally ready.

I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to use Dreambox Parties again, and have been loudly singing their praises to all and sundry ever since. they make it so EASY!

I *may* have overdone the pink thing with the food, though...

You go to the website, pick your theme, pick the number of guests and hey presto – you’re good to go! They also do a range of costumes and extra’s if you’re looking for them, but the box is all you need. The one thing that I would suggest was missing was small guest party bags for the cake. What I love best is the lack of branding in any of the themes – there are no Disney characters, no TV tie-ins. Just plain, simple, recognisable fun themes. Even the fairies and princesses are more more quirky-fun than gaspingly-beautiful. And not everything was pink either – there was plenty of green and purple too, which worked really really well.

But seriously? These Fairy teacups were the HIT of the party *proud face*

A standard Dreambox Party Box is £99 for 6 guests – which when broken down into everything you get for me is really reasonable. Add in the time you’ve saved, and the lack of a need for any kind of extra entertainment and it’s a total no-brainer. Themes are generic and simple – fairies and princesses, pirates and knights and a universal Jungle too. Extra guests are simply £6 each.

Pink was just a little sad when it was all over...

Frozen microwaveable jacket potatoes, McCain? Seriously?

Well, I promised I would try them out, so I did… but there was no way I was going to like them –a jacket potato for me is food from the gods.
In fact, my last meal on earth would probably be a crisp, fluffy, slow-baked jacket, oozing butter and sprinkled with some strong cheddar. *pauses to salivate*

I have been known to nuke a potato for lunch – but it’s just not the same, is it? The skin is thin and soggy, and the potato just doesn’t have that lush baked flavour.
So, in all honesty,  I didn’t hold out much hope for a microwaved frozen version.

When I opened the box I got my first pleasant surprise – the potatoes were at least of a decent size, and actually looked like… um… a jacket potato.
No, really, they did (though I’m not sure what I expected them to look like?).

I microwaved both, and ended up needed double the time as stated on the box. But once they were hot through, I added butter… and stuck in a fork.

They tasted… like a jacket potato. Really, they did! The skin wasn’t as good as it looked – there’s no way it was going to crisp in a microwave, but it was at least quite thick and the right colour. But the potato itself? Lovely.
Although still no substitute for a slow baked fresh-from-the-oven version, it is a gazillion times better than a straight microwaved anaemic imitation of a jacket potato. Definitely not the fool product I first thought, this is actually a great idea for quick lunches.

£1.29 for a box of two, £1.99 for four – from all supermarkets, good ones and bad ones.

It’s always this time of year that we start to get hit by the ‘bugs’. You know, once a cold or sore throat or cough enters the house it morphs and changes, not stopping or resting until it has infected everyone at least once.
It’s the time of year when our resistance is at its lowest, of course, when our bodies are at that low end-of-winter-and-yearning-for-spring ebb, and they maybe just need a little extra boost.
I have to say I’m not one usually for supplements – I firmly believe that a healthy balanced diet provides all a child needs in terms of nutrients. But I do admit that at this time of year I’ll take any help I can find in keeping the family healthy – with six of us for the bugs to pass around, an infectious illness is really no joke in our house; they can last for WEEKS.
But of course there’s all those scare stories in the media about what else is in the supplements besides the nutrients – yet another reason to put me off. So I was interested when Nordic Naturals sent me some of their Omega-3 gummies, specially designed with children in mind. The orange pastilles can easily be accepted as a daily ‘treat’, and I’m safe in the knowledge that they contain nothing except Good Stuff.
The fish oil is collected totally responsibly – every day before sunrise, Sea Trolls swim out past the wave break to gather essential nutrients along the bottoms of the deep Norwegian fjords to make the gummies. And of course fish oil is one of those wonder-substances – not only is it fab for the immune system, but it’s also really great for children’s concentration and brain development.

So if you’re going for supplements, I think you’d be hard pressed to find better one’s than Nordic Naturals – no Bad Stuff, packed full of fresh pure Good stuff – and they taste good too!

 We found them for under £14 for a pot of 60 from Chemist Direct

Would you just LOOK at this Betty the Bunny newborn gift set by Olive & Moss? *meep!*

The romper is 100% cotton,  and is Far Too Cute, really.

One size only, sadly, which is a generous 0-3 months – but what a perfect newborn gift! Not to mention the fact that it’s half prize in the sale, down to just £16!

Betty the Bunny newborn gift set, £16, is available from the gloriously named  Burp! Boutique…

The penultimate batch of our advent calendar competitions close tomorrow.

Do it now – enter – go on!

Click here for our Babes with Babies Funky Cow Washbags competition.

Click here for our Verbaudet Children's Coats competition.

Click here for our Luxe Tie Maternity Sweater from Isabella Oliver competition.

Click here for our Aspace Oak Newbury Dresser competition.

Good luck!

*squeee!*

Talk about comfy… and LOOK at those orange planes!

Mala blue airplane baby pants for a propeller under £15 (only in size 0-2yrs) from the fantabulous Tootsie & Fudge.

We have got five packs of three new Skylanders characters to give away in our new competition! Squeeee!

Skylanders Dino-Rang!

Skylanders Hex!

Skylanders Wrecking Ball!

Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure is the video games success story of 2011. A massive hit with families, this is the first time a video game and toy have combined to provide a brand new innovative way of playing. With more than 30 characters to choose from, players can explore mysterious new worlds, battle enemies and solve fiendish puzzles. And, now sees the arrival of Skylanders Spyro’s Universe, an even more imaginative way to play, even if you don’t own the game.

Click here for further details and entry form.

Yes, it’s been a while, but this is the very last in our Carless Whispers series, in which Keris went from two cars to no cars inside a fortnight – and so decided to save the money and remain carless. You can go back and see the series here if you’ve missed it – but here’s the Very Last One. *sob*

I’m not sure whether it was the week with the Skoda Roomster, the relentless rain, or the prospect of another snowy winter, but I finally had to accept it was time for our carless experiment to come to an end.

We lasted out for over a year, which is much longer than I ever would have imagined we could manage without a car and I am actually glad we did it. You could read back over the columns to find out why, but I know you’re busy so I’ll just summarise:

- The boys got used to public transport. It was often a massive pain in the backside, but I think it was good for them to have the experience of waiting. And of other (sometimes unpleasant, sometimes drunk) people.

- Walking the school run made me fitter, but I didn’t actually lose any weight. Possibly because I often stopped at the newsagents. In both directions. On both journeys. Ahem.

- The conversations with the boys while walking the school run made the whole thing worthwhile. We talked about everything, we laughed, we sang, we even danced. And we saw lots of wildlife and other things (like the plumber’s van with a trompe l’oeil door featuring the  bottom half of the plumber sitting on the loo) that we probably would never have seen from the car.

So we bought a car. Second-hand obviously – and sadly not a Skoda Yeti – but it’s rather lovely all the same.

There were a few teething problems: the inside lights didn’t go out, the back wiper didn’t work, the battery ran out as I was driving home and I mounted the kerb while squeaking out a swear, but it was all sorted out quickly and easily (albeit expensively) and now we’re fully mobile again.

And honestly? It’s so much better.

Aren’t these brilliant? JUST the thing for small chilly toes. Handmade in the UK from soft stretchy fabrics (which make them easy to put on and the “sock” part makes it very difficult for babies to kick them off!), they will keep babies  and toddlers feet totally cosy and warm.

The baby sizes ( 3 and 6 months) are all fabric (and machine washable), and the bigger  12, 18, and 24 months have a leather sole.

Just the NICEST baby and toddler slippers we’ve seen in AGES…

Rather keen on these fab spotty ones too!

A range of Tiny Tulip Booties is available from the brilliant Bubbahub, all priced at £17.

Contrary to popular opinion, I am not currently pregnant (yes, sadly, that baby belly is all me, me, me). But fortunately the lovely Nicole (rather unwillingly, as you can imagine) stepped up for us, and offered us the use of her delicious 34 week bump to drape the Isabella Oliver review over…

When I was asked to review the Isabella Oliver Luxe Tie Sweater  I immediately went on their website and emailed a picture of it to my husband – could I, too, look as elegant and poised as the lady wearing it on the website?  I had glamorous images pervading my mind of lovely days out in the city, and coffee with the girls…  This vision I have to say rapidly crumbled when I took a look around me at the washing that needed doing, and the children that needed feeding…  However I continued to look forward to my parcel with high hopes.

The day it arrived I eagerly opened the package and came across a lovely box with tissue paper – isn’t it funny how much you already know you’ll like what’s inside when something arrives wrapped in tissue? Any expectant mum would be delighted to receive such a package (a point to remember for the husbands!).  I then took the sweater out and modeled it in front of the mirror.

WIN me by clicking here!

The luxurious wool was so soft to touch, the large neck was sumptuous, and I looked forward to being able to show off my new item of clothing to my friends.  Unfortunately this is where my lack of girly shopping days in lovely cafes was at fault…  The weather turned cold and dreary, and this delicious piece of clothing did not benefit from being paired with paint splashed dungarees, frequent downpours of rain on the school run and the weekly Sainsbury’s trek.   I substituted, and showed my family instead, safe in a warm house, and got a lot of oohs and aahs (they’re very good). Truly, the sweater simply looks and feels fantastic.

I have since come to see this as my ‘ John Lewis’ attire – and indeed it is lovely for wandering around the shops. For me, it’s far too lovely for a practical day to day piece for dashing in and out of cars and managing a family.

Having said that, naturally THOSE  mums who are able to look glamourous in the playground (you know who you are…) would carry it off with style, so please don’t take this as the fault of the tunic – just me!

It is perfect for spring and autumn type weather, an instantly glamorous touch when things get chilly.  I have washed it and dried it as per instructions (purely for review purposes, and nothing at all to do with an accident with a dunked digestive… *ahem*) and it looks as good as new.  Overall a lovely item to have, and to make you feel even more special throughout those precious months of pregnancy.

The Luxe Tie Sweater is currently reduced from £115 to £80.50 over at Isabella Oliver.

Another four of our fabulous advent calender competitions are closing tomorrow.

Don’t miss out!

Click here for our Flexibaths from Whitestep competition.

Click here for our MiniLineLights Pirate Ship Ceiling Light competition.

Click here for our £75 Spin Collective Wall Stickers Gift Voucher competition.

Click here for our Children's Wigwam from The Gifted Penguin competition.

Good luck!

Oh, just look at these gorgeous organic cotton butterfly PJ’s from Lush Baby. Reduced to £20 in their sale, I love love LOVE them. Sadly they’re only available in size 1-2yrs though… But if you have an appropriately sized small person, I suggest you scurry on over to Lush Baby and snap a pair up quick!

Organic Cotton pink butterfly pyjamas in size 1-2 yrs, available in the Lush Baby sale for £20.

I admit it – I have a bit of a thing for Hares.

But look at him – how could you NOT want him?

And look at the price! *WANT*

The Huey Hare Sculpture is £32, and available from Candle and Blue’s rather excellent shop over on not On The High Street…

We’ve decided that as a large proportion of our readers are NOT bloggers, it would be a nice idea to run a series where we introduce you to a new blog every Friday (we’re struggling for a catchy name for the series though – feel free to send any ideas our way…). To kick the series off we’d like you to say hello to Jo…

Jo Middleton is a freelance writer and marketing consultant, and mum to two daughters. She writes the award-winning blog, Slummy single mummy .

Name three things you like that start with the letter B.
This is one easy peasy, as both my daughters’ names start with B – Bee and Belle – and they’d never forgive me if I didn’t choose them! Just getting one free choice makes it harder though – books or biscuits or bed?? I think biscuits, but that could be just because I haven’t had lunch yet.

Tell us one beauty product you can’t live without.
My charming boyfriend very helpfully suggested ‘a paper bag’ for this one. He is a lovely man. I don’t actually wear make-up much, or use loads of lotions and potions, but I ALWAYS moisturise. I like the daily fluid from Olay as it’s really light and has SPF15.

Tell us about your pet(s) and/or share a photo.
We don’t have any pets at the moment. We did have a goldfish, but he died about three months ago and I carried him up to the toilet in an empty fishfinger box. I thought it was fitting. I never actually even wanted a goldfish – my mum bought it for Bee when she was about seven and the damn thing lived to be nearly ten years old. He jumped out of the tank twice, and always looked fairly miserable, but he just wouldn’t let go…

What are five of your favourite books?
I love books, and have fairly eclectic tastes, so it’s really hard to choose five! I’m going to be cheeky and include collections as one choice…
- The Chronicles of Narnia
- The Time Traveller’s Wife
- The Adrian Mole diaries
- Silence of the Lambs
- Nancy Drew

If you could cross-breed two animals, which ones would you choose and why? What would you name your new hybrid?
Blimey, what a question! I think I would cross a cat and a parrot that could talk. A carrot maybe? It would look like a cat, and be able to sit on my lap for cuddles, but it would be able to chat back to me.

Share a photo you’ve taken that you’re proud of

I’m really proud of this photo of folk singer and musician Seth Lakeman, which I took at Glastonbury festival a few years ago. I’m normally rubbish at photography, so this was a really lovely surprise! I was there with Bee, who was then about 13. She was a massive Seth fan at the time, so we’d arrived about two hours before he was due to start, and stood through the act before him, so that we’d be in prime position ready to get to the front. He’s an amazing live performer. We’ve seen him about ten times and he’s brilliant every single time.

Do go and visit Jo’s blog, it’s a fab read. Don’t forget to say hello, and tell her we sent you – she’ll no doubt put the kettle on…