Breastfeeding – and facebook.

Now, whether or not you are big on breastfeeding (and no, I’m not going to get into THAT whole debate), there has been a lot of chuntering in cyberspace recently surrounding FaceBook and its ban on breastfeeding images. Not gratuitous used-for-pleasuring-grown-men ones, mind. No. These are personal images in private albums. Or gallery images on breastfeeding fan pages with thousands of members.

Anyhoo, I read a great blog post this morning which sums the whole argument up – and just thought I’d share…

WHAT ECLECTIC EFFERVESCENCE THINKS OF FACEBOOK.

Spotted! – Perfect anti-dote to the ‘meh’ mornings

So here I am. Having one of ‘those’ mornings. You know the ones. Achey, grumpy, chilly, and just generally feeling… meh.

And then I saw this… and immediately felt I *needed* it. No, really, I do.

After all – there aren’t many things in life that can make you feel better than a hot water bottle, are there? Except, that is, one of these. A hot water bottle wrapped in oh-such-knitted-prettiness, offering a plaintive cry for Tea & Sympathy  on your behalf.

So here – have a warm comforting hug on us.

Maileg Mice – New Competition

We have the most adorable little competition to wave under your nose. We have teamed up with Armstrong Ward to offer a pair of perfect little Maileg girl mice in matchboxes to one lucky winner.

For those of you who followed on our blog the saga of Mustafa going missing, you’ll understand how very loved and cherished these these little mice can be by little people. So if you know of someone who would very much welcome a pair of Maileg mice in matchboxes then this is the competition for you.

Full competition details and the entry form can be found here.

Blog Love – I Should Be Folding Laundry

This week’s Blog Love is sent out to Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry. I found Beth’s blog in the best way possible – following links from blog to blog, exploring and clicking and just seeing where I ended up. Since I subscribed, it has become one of the favourite reads in my reader. An American blog, unusually for us, but one which is so worth a few minutes of your day; it starts with a blog design that makes me stroke my screen every time I see it, goes on with beautiful photography and finally tells the not inconsiderable tale of one family, who have been through so very much, and are about 4 weeks away from the birth of their fifth child.

So – not a riot of giggles this week. Peace, tranquility, beautiful writing, wonderful images, and simply a blog to make you stop a while. I Should Be Folding Laundry.

New Review – Breville Hot Cup

We’ve another honest and entertaining review by the lovely Keris. Here’s a sample of what she’s said about the Breville Hot Cup;

“At first I thought, “Well, it’s not that much different to a kettle really…” but it is and here’s why…”

Click here to to find out why! Nail-biting stuff, I tell ya….

A Happy Winner

Back in November we picked the winners of our Annabel Karmel Book Hamper competition and we’ve since received a lovely message from Wendy, one of the winners…

“I’m a bit of a health food freak and I have to tell you how very pleasantly surprised I was to see the lovely recipes they contained.  I know I’ll have many happy hours in the kitchen with little ones, making these fabulously easy healthy meals and snacks.  (I’m pretty sure the ice lollies will be a huge hit !!!). Thank you so much.
Kind Regards
Wendy”

Just wanted to share…

Spotted! – ‘Just Because’ notebook from the ever-lovely Jam Products.

I know I’ve waxed lyrical before about my Jam notebooks. I am happy to say Father Christmas was paying attention, as I have a pile of lovely fresh ones (here, sniff, new oh-so-pretty-paper, see?) to scribble on over the next few months. But a new offering snagged my attention when a sample plopped though the door this week. A rather slender version, titled ‘Just Because”.

I was a bit dismissive at first glance – only a smattering of pages long, it’s intended for you to pass to a child for them to complete, and then give as a present. But having taken this little (pretty, of course) notebook and flipped through it, I found myself imagining it full. In twenty years time, how much will I still love this little book filled with my child’s precious scrawling handwriting, telling me the things I do that makes him smile? Or looking at his own version of a portrait of me? Or seeing exactly what he would cook me for dinner?

And actually, I can’t really think of anything I’ll love (or treasure) more.

So – now you need to click on the link, open the page and leave it oh-so-casually right under the nose of a certain someone in charge of buying Mothers Day gifts. Of course, these would always be very special and treasured as gifts to Grandmothers too – and actually, I think  would make a really fun gift from me to a best friend; it would certainly be treasured long after another bunch of daisies has wilted.

But are you listening, Fathers All?  Honestly – for a smidge under £8, and a little of your time in getting it filled in, this is actually Mothers Day sorted, right here.

Blog Love – Baby Baby gets lavished with affection this week.

I was hunting for inspiration this week, and received some fab nominations from a Twitter call out – one of which reminded me of a blog I had overlooked, being under the impression I had already issued some Blog Lovin’ towards her pages. But I hadn’t (*tsk*), so this weeks Blog Love is sent billowing out to the lovely Sandy Calico at Baby Baby. In particular because she has just written the most fab post titled ‘A Day Out’ which every single mother out there will sadly be nodding along in recognition with.

So go – as always, click the daisy and enjoy.

And another one – Mamas & Papas Astro Cradle, which we were determined not to like.

So – frankly, I was rather glad it wasn’t me having to review this thing. I mean – a cradle which plays music and flashes? Honestly?

Still, as always, we agreed to give it a proper go, and had it sent off to Intrepid Claire and baby LG to have a squizz at.

Did she hate it and leave it gathering dust in the corner? Did she do her job properly but with no enthusiasm for the monstrous noisy flashy thing? Or did it surprise us all? (How dramatic was that? Just needed a big voice over, no?) Have a look at the review to find out what she really thought…

New Review – Beeyootiful Wooden Clutch Toys

How can you not smile at that sweet little face? Come on, you know you just felt that little bit happier simply seeing the picture, didn’t you?

Our intrepid reviewer Claire has been trying these out on the delicious LG – go and have a look , see what she says about Haba wooden baby toys.