Sept Countdown

For all my mummy readers i can imagine you are creeping towards the end of your tether (i know i am) with having the kids incessantly nagging at every possible opportunity so the Sept countdown begins!
With only 2 weeks to go for me the nerves are also starting to set in.  This will be Emma's first term at 'BIG' school and as excited as she is I'm absolutely terrified!
Now i know her support is all put in place, the t's have been crossed and the i's dotted but every time i look at her i can't stop worrying!
Am i doing the right thing by her sending her to mainstream school? It doesn't matter how many times people say to me, " its whats best for Emma in the long term" i can't help feeling I'm making a mistake!
Now, knowing me as i do, i know i am completely over reacting! i know she will love it, i know she will flourish but she's my baby and she's not ' school ready'!
She is still refusing to use the toilet at home, as much as her language skills are progressing beautifully she still isn't talking as id like for her age, and as we are STILL waiting for appointments regards her health we are just stuck in limbo while they get their finger out their ass and sends us an appointment!!
So for all you first time school mums out there, breath deep and practice not crying!! As in a few weeks that tiny person will suddenly not need you quite as much ... it'll be a sad day indeed!
Also...WOOHOO we'll be able to drink a whole brew thats still actually warm!!!

L xx

Moaning

At present i seem to do a LOT of moaning.. yesterday was the kids with chicken pox and before now I've had a good old rant about well ANYTHING but today has seriously got my goat!!
I can hear you all now sighing deeply but my two pet hates for the day have been none paying customers and none returning of emails!!
I'm not a name and shame sort of person (plus they may read my blog and that would totally be ARKWARD!!)
But i often get asked to make special customer requests which are usually for holidays or a special occasion and i ALWAYS jump through hoops to make sure its EXACTLY as they want it, if not ill change it!! So when you get the go ahead on a design to make it WITH matching items its exciting but you also expect to be paid for this work! i don't charge a fortune and ALWAYS double check with the customer before going ahead with anything so off i went made this AMAZING set and well I'm still waiting for payment, this goes right back to the beginning of the year and despite 4 promises of payment in the post tomorrow it still hasn't arrived and now I'm being completely ignored. I wouldn't mind so much but she is a crafter herself, I'm sure she wouldn't tolerate this if it was her goods she was waiting payment for!
So would you just pop it on the website and sell it or hold onto it indefinitely? I hate the idea of selling it to someone else but i also know that's the BUSINESS way of doing things, if it had been in a shop it would of been up for sale the following day... (grow some balls woman!!)
Now none returning of emails... i don't always have access to the mac during the day with the kids and what not under my feet but i have one of these new fangled devises where u can pick your emails up any time of the day, and best of all it TELLS you when you've got one! so can someone explain to me why some people find it impossible to return your emails? i mean you wouldn't pick up the phone and just say nothing would you? You wouldn't open the front door and just stare blankly with your gob open to your visitor like some sort of pig ignorant zombie?
So as you can see I'm kinda riled by today, I've had nothing but bullshit, ignorance and brick walls! i even had the strangest convo regards a sale item...not mine there's... totally wasn't the response i expected but for once i kinda just said it how it was! i mean FFS! (was that to cryptic?) also GREEDY FUCKER came to mind to but i wasn't quite THAT honest!
Sometimes i just don't GET people, why they do and say the things they do and why everyone is after making others feel shit or after ripping them off.

I TOTALLY worry I'm not cut out for this.....

L xx

day 14... fathers day makes

So i had all these fabulous ides for fathers day this year as we where hand making but i realised a few days a go that we are away that weekend and with wholesale orders mounting up and the usual jewellery work i wont have time to do what i had in mind so me and the girls rustled up something cute for him today!

This is a photo that i took this afternoon and edited with a light sepia tone filter and printed on to photo paper. mounted it into the frame (these r 1.99 from b and m bargains!) they super glued our message in scrabble letters to the glass and the wooden frame.
We then made this cute card!

I hand cross stitched the little picture of daddy and we stuck it onto some photo paper. We then printed out a cloud and some cute little birds and glued them down. We then used magnetic scrabble letters from the travel edition to spell out our message and pop the girls names on. Its no Picasso but its cute... i just hope he likes it!! And the girls had fun!!!

Lxx

Living with Emma

As some of you may know our middle daughter Emma has a rare genetic condition called Prader Willi Syndrome, and tonight's post is dedicated to her...
When Emma was born, at 3.30am weighing 5lb 14oz i was as happy as any mother could be but it soon became clear that there was a problem. She didn't feed the whole time we where at the hospital and she was really limp. i mean babies are, obviously, but differently floppy if that makes sense. But at 23 and with a 2 1/2 yr old already i tried to put it out of my mind, the doctors ok'ed us to leave and i went home to my simple life. But she was increasing hard but easy work. She fed consistently every hour or so throughout the day, and slept the rest of the time, sure its fine during waking hours but at night it was a killer and even after being released from the midwife etc it wasn't getting any easier so after endless upsetting trips to the health visitor and funny looks every time i said she was feeding this way yet her weight gain wasn't supporting that we took her to the doctors to be checked over for the millionth time.
The doctors couldn't find a reason for her behaviour so we where transfered to the hospital under specialist consultants, 9 pain staking months of screaming blood tests, sweat tests and any bloody tests they could find we where still at a dead end.
Finally we where transferred in Pendlebury children's hospital for a second opinion and praise the lord after one more blood test they found a reason... prader-Willi syndrome. Like you are now i googled it, yes i cried too, then took stock and figured, shes beautiful and shes mine who cares what labels they stick on her she will always be special to me.
Then 2 years of physio therapy, occupational therapy, dietitians, specialists and equipment later and this is who she became..

here she is about 3, she was sitting, crawling, feeding herself but couldn't stand for longer than a few seconds and wasn't talking. It was a painful time, more for me than her, she cruised along without a care in the world, nothing fazed her and with each new mile stone a glimmer of hope that she wouldn't be severely effected by her "label".
Emma is now 4 and 3/4, shes walking but it causes her pain in her upper thighs, she gets tired so easily when playing, she has amazing social skills and laughs uncontrollably over the stupidest things! She loves books and dolls and has a huge love of fashion like mummy. Shoes are her fave and she has a massive soft spot on Mr tumble, she isn't talking but tries very hard and has taught herself sign language and has made up her own too :) she surprises me every day with what and how she learns and really enjoys nursery. She has the brightest eyes and has a big smile for everyone. She also loves cuddles and having her hair stroked, she could also spend half her life in the bath!!!
But there is another side to Emma that has been slowly rearing its head more and more and even though i want to say its an overwhelming urge to eat its not, its her constant repetition, obsessive compulsions, strict routine, aggression and general naughtiness.
Its getting to the point where i cant cope with it, for hours she will repeat the same signs and gestures over and over again, her constant yearning for the next part of her routine is so painful and if you dare say something along the lines of NO then all hell breaks loose. She will cry and scream uncontrollably and hits and kicks. Now i don't know if this has anything to do with PWS or whether its something that she has picked up. Shes spoilt, especially by daddy, hes always over compensated for her. She cant do no wrong and for all the things he THINKS she wont be able to have or do he gives her now. Don't get me wrong all the girls are spoilt daddy's girls, (in a nice unbratty way!) and i do understand but shes such hard work! Can i break these habits for her, does she need to start seeing the specialist again for more support? Am i just doing to much and not spending enough time on her? I just feel like a ball of over worked under appreciated emotion right now i cant see the wood for the trees?? Are all 4 yo bossy gits? am i just blowing it all out of proportion because she has a "label"? would i treat her differently if she didn't have this hanging over her?
Every child is indeed different, labeled or not and 9 times out of 10 shes an angel but at others she reduces me to uncontrollable tears, more for failure than anything else. I don't care what she has or doesn't have and i really appreciate how her nursery have accepted her and worked with her to make it accessible for her, i love how she has friends and they all make such a huge fuss of her i just wish we had more of that at home instead of the anger and frustration.
i can only imagine what its like for her in that little body wanting so badly to do what all the other kids do but even through all the tears and pain i wouldn't change her for the world!

So this is for all the mums and dads and brothers and sister of very special people...

L xx

mum... is it a job or a way of life

I've been a mum now for 7 and a bit years, i started with 1 and ended up with 3 very beautiful and very clever little girls.
Now from time to time I've had part time jobs, more of something to do than for the money, there is of course only so much baby babble and day time TV one person can take!!
Now as much as i love my girls, any mother does, at times it all feels a bit like a chore than a joy! The 5am starts are GRIM and the working conditions are pretty dire. You don't get a lunch break and there's always little feet right behind you where ever you try to hide!
Now don't get me wrong, once they are in bed and all is quiet in my nest i wouldn't have it any other way but surely if i did a job in these conditions it'd be against the law?!
I'm always broke, I'm constantly feeding and watering and changing nappies, i look as rough as a bears arse dragged through a hedge with a hangover! i don't even own a pair of heels or an item of clothing that isn't stained by chocolate or tomato sauce... in fact i don't even own a pair of trainers!!! that's how unloved i am fashionably right now and to honest its starting to become a slight obsession. Each day brings a new low and my poorly dyed blonde streaked hair looks like something off Jeremy Kyle's sofa!
You may think I'm totally over reacting and surely this poor girl has more time for herself and doesn't just drag on the closest, clean(ish) thing to hand at 8am right before we leave for the school run...well you'd be wrong, very very wrong! Yes it is that bad. So bad in fact that i haven't worn make up in the day for oh at least 2 years, i don't have a skin care regime and i defiantly aren't in the yummy mummy category in the school play ground.
To be fair it isn't the girls fault... yes they run me ragged and i barely have time to scratch my arse but its not written in the unwritten mummy handbook that u have to look like shit to have kids, I've grown lazy and well totally uninspired by the high street.
Nothing lasts or looks stylish or practical longer than one wash, and being short and slim and with 3 kids in tow at all times in trackies i look like some chavvy throw back!
Yes i am crying out for style! Ive lost my way and I've become complacent! I was ALWAYS the funky, quirky hippy type in my younger days and well basically i didn't care what ppl thought! But having kids made me aware how ppl stop, stare and judge not just how well behaved your children are but what you as a mother look like on the outside.
Sure, i shouldn't let this bother me in any way shape or form! I have never followed "crazes" and I've never wanted to look like everyone else, NEVER, so why now at pushing 30 and 3 kids and a Mr Geek Pants later I'm suddenly so bothered how i look??

OH MY GOD... I'm having a midlife crisis.......

*weeps into my mug of tea*

Poppy Cat Review

When i was so kindly asked to review some fabulous Poppy Cat merchandise in the run up to the new TV show coming to Nick Jr I was all over it like a rash as my eldest LOVED the Poppy Cat books when she was little.
We fell in love with her by accident really as one of the lovely board books came in one of those first readers bags you get from the health visitor way back when.
We read it over and over until the board pages where frayed and splitting and i was positively sad when she eventually outgrown those simple books. Relieved for more content for sure but so sad to leave little Poppy Cat behind.
Who's Poppy Cat you are probably now screaming through the screen at me well here's a little bio:

The first Poppy Cat book was published in 2003 by Campbell Books (Macmillan). Written and illustrated by Lara Jones, the series has sold over 2.5 million books across 30 titles to date. 1.5 million of these have been sold to a number of international territories, including Spain, France, Italy and Brazil.

Poppy Cat books have won many awards including: Book trust Early years Award – Poppy Cat’s Farm Practical Pre-school Awards – Swap the Scene, Poppy Cat

Right Start Best Toy Awards – Poppy Cat Hug Prima Baby Reader Awards – The Poppy Cat series

By Kate Boutilier & Eryk Casemiro Poppy Cat begins where the Poppy Cat books left off. Lara Jones’ colourful and appealing characters spring to life from the page to the small screen in stories of friendship and fantasy play. The series is aimed at the upper end of the pre-school age range, but the stories are suitable for children of all ages.

Seen through the eyes of Poppy’s young owner, a little girl called Lara, each story is a celebration of imaginative play as Poppy Cat and her friends embark on fanciful journeys through fantastical lands. Told with humour and great heart, these stories give children a glimpse of their own potential for imaginative play and creativity through the tales of a very special cat and her equally interesting band of friends. Each episode is eleven minutes long and comprises an ensemble cast of three boy and three girl characters.

At the beginning of each story we meet Lara, a girl who invents fantastical and extravagant stories for her beloved cat, Poppy. Created with a child-like whimsy, Lara’s stories feature a hero named Poppy and are the sort of adventures she believes her own cat would have in a make-believe world. But whilst featuring fantasy-play adventure, the stories of Poppy Cat are primarily about friendship, focusing on social and emotional development relevant and familiar to a four year-old child. As the leader of the group, Poppy approaches every situation in an enthusiastic, creative way, and her imagination takes them all to the most exciting places.

Each of the main characters is broadly drawn to maximize their comedic personalities while allowing a core curriculum to be addressed. The characters are Poppy Cat’s best friends but most of the challenges arise directly from their real and relatable flaws: fear, vanity, recklessness, self-importance or naivety, and these are played out in their adventures.

While our friends never fight amongst themselves, their character flaws will often steer the adventure, for good and bad. It’s then up to Poppy and her non-judgemental, compassionate stance to lead them to safety, leaving our characters with a greater awareness of themselves and the world. In the world of Poppy Cat and her friends, modes of

transportation can appear in a flash, distant locations can be travelled in one day, and there is no problem that Poppy Cat encounters that cannot be solved.


And now to my utter surprise (I'm so not on the ball when it comes to Nick Jr now a days as my youngest two are cbeebies mad!) She now has her very own show!!!

Joanna Page becomes the voice of Poppy Cat

on Nick Jr.’s new adventure packed show

Launching on Monday 2^nd May at 10.00am on Nick Jr and shown every weekday throughout May

An animated series full of adventure and fantasy for preschoolers

Joanna Page, who won the nation’s hearts in Gavin and Stacey, will make her preschool TV debut in May on Nick Jr.’s new animated series Poppy Cat. Joanna voices the show’s leading character, Poppy Cat, a cat with a thirst for adventure and a colourful eclectic mix of animal friends. Based on the award winning books by Lara Jones, which have sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide, Poppy Cat will take preschoolers on fantastical adventures and excite their imaginations. The series features 26 x 10 minute episodes.

The show revolves around Lara, a young girl who invents stories for her beloved cat Poppy. Once she starts reading, preschoolers are transported into the fantasy world of Poppy Cat where animals walk upright, talk and have extraordinary adventures. With a flick of Poppy Cat’s patchwork bandana, fantastic vehicles appear, such as sailing ships and hot-air balloons. Poppy Cat and her friends then travel to magical destinations, including the Marshmallow Mines and the Trumpet Tree Forest, where they encounter other animals - pink dolphins, royal toads and even giant space squids! 

Poppy Cat celebrates the fun and power of inventing and sharing stories. Preschoolers are encouraged to use their imagination as a way to solve problems and pursue their goals. The stories of Poppy Cat also focus on friendship, and on social and emotional themes which are relevant and familiar to preschoolers. But above all, Poppy Cat is about Making Adventures Extraordinary!

Poppy Cat premieres Monday 2^nd May at 10.00am

…only on Nick Jr (Sky 615, Virgin 715 and TalkTalk 318).

Now here's a little interview by Joanna herself on the lovely new series:

What is the Poppy Cat series about?

The Poppy Cat series is about Poppy Cat’s adventures with all of her friends. They all play together but then every episode something happens — there's a bit of drama. Then Poppy Cat unfurls her bandana and magics up a ship or a rocket or a submarine and they all go off on an adventure together and solve the problem.

What was it that attracted you to being the voice of poppy cat?

I was attracted to being the voice of Poppy Cat because Poppy Cat is just brilliant! I’ve always wanted to play some sort of animated character and I adore animals, so to play a cat is just fantastic. But I also love Poppy Cat because she’s strong, she’s determined, she’s not scared of anything, she’s very brave, she’s lovely and kind, she’s not selfish, she looks after her friends and she doesn’t back down from anything — and I think I’ve got some of those qualities! It’s just really exciting to play a cat who is so strong and really up for it. 

And also everybody loves Poppy Cat; the books have been such a success. So to actually play Poppy Cat is such an honour – I’m over the moon.  

What preparation did you need to do for the role?

My preparation for Poppy Cat was actually to study my Jack Russell dog! I’ve studied her for about ten years of her life and I think I’ve incorporated all of her animal ‘things’ into my voice. Listening to all of the other characters it’s really funny because everybody is so suited to their character. And it’s so well written, that you just say the lines. And they’ve cast it so well that naturally you’re very similar to your character. So I find that when I’m reading Poppy Cat I would probably react the same way as she does about lots of different things.

I think my research is to make sure my voice is okay and to make sure that I don’t go too fast and that I get the right feel for it because it’s aimed towards children. Just to try and get the story, try and put across what you want to put across, and make your voice understood. Try and get the essence of Poppy Cat; try not to be too giggly or too scared — just know the way that Poppy Cat would play the story.

How different is being a voice artist to appearing on stage or on television?

Being a voice artist is completely different to performing on stage or on TV. You’re very lucky – if you’ve got to be in very early in the morning, you could turn up in your pyjamas if you want to! You don’t have to wear any make-up or look particularly good because it’s all in your voice. 

But because it’s just your voice that people hear you have to know what you’re playing. You have to know the story, completely commit to it and know what’s going on. Because if a voice artist is feeling a bit nervous, or they’re not confident, or they don’t know what they’re doing the audience will hear it straight away and you won’t believe it. Whereas on TV and in the theatre there’s so much going on and the audience is watching and listening to stuff so you can get away with a lot more. But if you’re on radio or you’re voicing a character you really have to be spot on.

How long does it take to record an episode of Poppy cat?

With the rest of the cast recording an episode of Poppy Cat can take all day because we’ll be giggling and messing around a lot! But the other day I was on my own – I went in at 1.30 and I worked until five and I recorded 12 scripts, because I don’t like to stop; when I’m in the flow of it I like to just keep going and doing all of the episodes. So it takes a good few hours and I’ll probably go through and record about 12 episodes.

Who are your favourite characters from the series?

I love Egbert because he’s so sweet! I love his voice. And I feel so sorry for him because you want to include him. All the other characters are really sweet because they do try and include Egbert and he’s the one who doesn’t really want to be included. And I also absolutely adore Owl. I love it that he’s so wise but also slightly sarcastic. I do think that adults watching will like Owl as well. He does make me laugh! I can’t listen to Chris [Neill – voice of Own] because when he’s speaking to me all I see is a big owl and that makes me laugh so much! And I love Zuzu’s voice! But I’ve got to be honest: Egbert and Owl are my favourite characters.

What are you favourite moments from the series?

My favourite moments from the series are always when we’re in a submarine and we’re underwater. I think it looks absolutely hilarious when we’ve got our scuba diving helmets on – and when we’re swimming. You can see Zuzu's feet and Poppy cat’s feet just sort of floating and it looks so comical! I adore all of the scenes when we’re all under the water.

How does it feel to hear your voice spoken by an animated character?

I always think it’s really strange hearing your voice spoken by an animated character because I don’t think I sound like I do – especially when I’m doing Poppy Cat’s voice which is slightly higher and a bit cuter. In my head I think I’ve got a very deep mature-sounding English voice. And then I hear my voice as Poppy Cat and think, “Oh my gosh, I actually do sound like I’ve got quite a lilt in my voice and my voice is quite high.” 

If you could be an animal which would you be and why?

If I could be an animal I would like to be a dog because they get a brilliant life. I would basically like to be my dog because she gets fed amazing things, she gets smoothed all the time, she gets to sleep in bed and she’s carried around everywhere. My life revolves around making her life really good fun — so she gets amazing clothes, amazing food, she gets pampered, she gets to sleep and I massage her all the time as well. So I would like to have the life of my Jack Russell dog called Daisy.

So after all that reading and background info, lots i clearly didn't know, me and the girls sat down for a snuggle and watched the two episodes that i was so kindly sent.
Well the girls certainly loved it, we had peace and quiet for the entire episode and like me they marvelled at how well the characters came alive. We are used the reading the books so seeing how well it translated into TV was glorious.  They had managed to keep the lovely bright colours and the glorious charm of hand drawn characters from the book. The voices all worked well and i was as equally happy to sit and watch as the children where. I find with most book adaptations that a lot of the appeal from the books is lost once it reaches TV but not this, the whole charm and loveliness is there and i think that's what children find endearing. You can now go away and read the books and match the characters with real voices and personalities. Long may children's TV be as glorious as Poppy Cat!

You would be mad to miss this lovely show so stop by Nick Jr weekdays in May for a chance to catch all their exciting adventures!!

L xx

Parenting.. PC minefield

Being a mum to 3 girls of varying ages i am hypersensitive to the political correctness gone wrong.  But i fear it has made me slightly judgmental of others and the way their bring up their children. I'm not saying these people are doing bad or wrong but more of not totally taking as much care of these little packages as they should do. I'm not saying I'm perfect, I'm far from it as a mother as well as a person but i do try and live by values and morals and pass these on to my girls. I'm a stickler for manners and i hate cheek, i don't give in to paddies and i always put their needs and wants before me own, regardless of well, anything else really.

My 7 year old is like a waif, she eats like a pig but there's not an inch to pinch yet quite frequently she will ask if she is fat, FAT???? How does my 7 year old even understand what that word means. No doubt from the older age group she shares a playground with. The same children that explained to her what snogging (yes snogging) is and the same children that dress more seductively than i do!
I appreciate every mother has their own parenting technique and every mum has the right to use them but sometimes there are times when i cant help but tut and shake my head.
For instance me and Zoe are strolling through the park on the way to pick Emma up from pre-school. There is a group of mums with about 8 kids all under 4. They seemed to be having a lovely time in the sun, no screaming or fighting just a lovely time in the park, until i spotted 3 of the aforementioned children with their head stuck in a green bin not far from the road. Now it all sounds like a unoffensive children playing scenario but i couldn't help but think that this was a total mummy fail. The park is used frequently by dog walkers, who use said bin to dispose of their dogs mess, drunk teens use the park in the late evenings to give the locals cause to complain and god knows what else yet no one batted an eye lid while these 3 small children where sticking their hands and heads into it.
Now does that mean all the PC has gone to my head and making a mountain out of a  mole hill or is this just something that shouldn't be acceptable whatever the time or place. I know i wouldn't want or accept my girls to behave that way or am i having a total mummy fail??

Now i know the majority of mums out there wouldn't let their four year old where hot pants and a sparkly padded bra but some do, some even think its cute even though it sexualises children and they seem totally oblivious to the social implications it has, not just morally but the well being of our children. these parents also seem to think its OK to have a new baby, naked, out in the blaring sun at the middle of the day and they wonder why its screaming blue murder!
Maybe in a way we are all to blame. We are letting teenage girls give birth everyday, and as i know 90% of them do a stand up job that would put most of us to shame,  but theres the few that don't have a clue and bring that child up like its a toy! Maybe we should be educating these girls instead of tutting in their general direction, surely theres always a story behind a face or situation and given the right advice and support they to could be better mums. Maybe babies should come with a manual of simple dos and dont's. I remember being told when my eldest was weaning, by the health visitor, not to puree McDonald's, I mean who actually does that!!!!! it had never even crossed my mind, i was in a vegetable and fruit day dream until she dragged me back to earth with such a candid comment. When she saw the exhasberated look on my face she simply said, "yes that does happen".
Another thing that gets me is breast feeding. Now i couldn't breast feed any of mine, i just didn't produce enough milk for them so i was left with no choice but to bottle feed and even though i was happy with that, to a degree, some women are more than proud to breast feed and id be there behind them waving a huge support banner! Yet PC has gone so mad that these poor women are frequently asked to stop or leave, cafes and restaurants when they are feeding. Now tell me how you could find that offensive? Cos i seriously don't understand what the problem is. Its discreet and its also better than listening to a screaming baby! I am also appalled that these woman are forced to feed in toilets and baby changing rooms as people find it rude, RUDE are you kidding?? And its always those people who where breast fed themselves at a time when there was no alternative.

Don't get me wrong I'm not preaching, I'm no where near perfect... i am sat here eating cupcakes (homemade of course!) and i appreciate you cant please all people all the time but these children will be in charge one day.. they will be doctors and PMs or more importantly, parents themselves and if we don't instill some old fashioned morals and values the whole would will be taken over by the "Jordan's" of the world and everything will be pink with diamante's!

Shapewear Review for Tightsplease

I woke up one morning, after 3 children and quickly approaching 30, with an unwelcome bulge around my middle. I've always been a slip of a thing, as my mother likes to say, so an extra 2 inches around my once flat as a pancake tummy, was slightly unnerving.
When i saw that Tights Please where looking for some ladies to road test some Shapewear i jumped at the chance in the hope that it would save me from myself, even if just for a little bit ;)

I received an amazing slip by Trinny and Susannah. These body shaping slips come in black and nude and a multitude of sizes from skinnies like to me to the volumptious ladies out there.
The quality is beautiful and the elasticity is amazing! I had to physically wriggle myself into it!! It seriously worked wonders on my jelly belly and made a beautiful flat tummy silhouette but it didn't do much for my love hand

It was however, very comfortable to wear, it didn't hurt my tummy and it didn't make me feel restricted at all around my middle. Being short though and with the little skirt it was difficult climbing the stairs as it was so tight. It looked beautiful beneath a t-shirt dress and it smoothed my figure beautifully..

I love the support of the bra straps to keep it all in place and it doesn't move or bunch in places due to the strong elasticity on the material.
I would be happy to recommend the Trinny and Susannah Shapewear to friends and family looking for a way to look trim and smooth and i would highly recommend Tights Please to anyone for their lovely customer service and exceptional postage service.


Thanks to the lovely Lauren at Tights Please for giving me the opportunity to road test this lovely body shaping underwear, it has become a staple piece for me :)


L x

Being me...

Right now being me is a bit like being a sporadic, crazy, cartwheeling moron! one minute its all chocolate box cottages with roses round the door, the next I'm clearing up after someone Else's bullshit!
They say 'everything happens for a reason'. this i have lived by my entire life, through my own choosing, and everything, however shit things have been, have always worked out in the end. No nothing worth doing has ever been easy, no I've never been handed anything to me on a shiny silver platter and no I've never had a free ride. Ive scrimped, saved, worked my fingers to the bone, done without, made sacrifices and made tough decisions to be where i am now, no its not perfect, i don't have what i want but underneath it all i am happy and i am very content in my boring, mundane life style working within my daughters routines and spreading myself thin to keep everyone happy. Would i swap it for fame and success? No probably not. All i ask is a little respect, maybe a touch of admiration and a tiny amount of gratification for digging deep and helping ppl that, well lets be honest, will never help me out in return. No i don't do it for these things, i do it cos it makes me smile, i do it cos i feel karma is alive and kicking and id rather be on the good end, and i do it cos id like ppl to do the same for me, not in return but i believe you should treat ppl in the way you want to be treated. Have i been shit on from a great height regardless of these things?? hahaha well yes of course, who hasn't been shit on! whether you deserve it or not we have all had miss happenings with people we would rather not happen. Do i hold grudges.. no i don't think i do really. Sure, theres some people i cant forgive and forget, some things cant be undone no matter what you do or say but like i said, KARMA! they will get theirs in the end, whether they deserve it or not, what goes around comes around!! manners don't cost a penny, or a thought or even time yet ppl don't use them? Why?? has society bred a generation of inconsiderate, manner less brats that expect a free lunch? Or am i to old skool to accept that things aren't like they where once upon a time when kids believed in fairy's at the bottom of the garden and the lady next door always brings an apple pie on a Saturday tea time? Maybe if we concentrated more on what we do have and not what we don't have then ppl wouldn't be as angry and self absorbed.. maybe if ppl did more for others for no return the world would be a nicer place... maybe i was just born 60 years to late.. maybe I'm just dissillusional about life and i need a slap!!! maybe, like the hubby says, I'm to soft and i should harden up!! maybe i should just go hide under my duvet and cry and accept that throughout my life ppl will take advantage, at least i know, regardless of what shit happens i have someone i can turn to, rely on and moan to....my gorgeous, lovely hubby! Now can you say that? mr and mrs i dont give a shit who i hurt to get my own way!..  Now to you all out there that have used and abused me.... in the words of you me at six.. You've made your bed so sleep in it.....


L xx

Featuring ... The Bumblejums

MPM cares about the planet and is doing something about it. The ‘something’ they are doing is educating toddlers and youngsters about the environment and how not to be careless consumers of its resources.

It started as a daydream...Des Shanahan, founder of MPM, was contemplating the perfect gift for his soon-to- be-born son and as he looked out of the airplane window through the billowing clouds, the droplets of rain and then the bright sunshine a magnificent rainbow appeared and his thoughts drifted to the wonder of nature and how incredible it was. That was it, the perfect gift – sharing stories with his son about both the power and frailty of nature.

Not only was the Shanahan son born shortly after that daydream, but so were the Bumblejums, four amazing characters each with natural superpowers – Jem, Jo, Jay and Jon - who work together in harmony taking care of the word around them in Bally Bo. The Bumblejums are guardians of the environment and use their great powers to help their friends and foe understand and respect the environment.

The Bumblejums characters were designed to be representative of their elements (earth, air, water, sun) by Mike Collins who has worked on hit shows at Cartoon Network. The backgrounds were created by Oliver Akuin an animator at Warner Brothers Online. Shanahan who studied World Musics and Media at the University of Winchester in Hampshire creates the story lines.

In addition, Shanahan creates the lyrics and music for each adventure, collaborating on production with Marcus Cliffe whose resume includes numerous heavy hitters: Eric Clapton, Mark Knofler, Rod Stewart and Phil Collins.

MPM is set to launch the first of its series of books and music CDs in October 2009, titled, Meet the Bumblejums. The book will be printed using 100% recycled paper and soya ink. The CD will include numerous songs accompanying the book’s storyline but is also envisioned to be the perfect sing-along for car journeys.

MPM is targeting children 2 years to 6 years and each story will focus on respect and responsibility toward nature and delivered with song, humor and a moral.

The Bumblejums books and CDs will be sold through their website www.bumblejums.com and through selected retailersAbout My Planet Media Ltd (MPM)

My Planet Media Ltd (MPM) is a privately held company established in 2009 and located at “The Barn”, 489 Station Road, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7QR. MPM creates media with environmentally friendly themes for the next generation.

MPM partners with 1% For The Planet, an alliance of businesses donating at least 1% of their annual net revenues to environmental organizations worldwide. The Bumblejums are licensed exclusively by My Planet Media Ltd (MPM) All rights reserved.

For more information, contact Des Shanahan at des.shanahan@bumblejums.com or visit us at The Bumblejums website, www.bumblejums.com

This gorgeous book was a true delight to read with my daughters, it was fun and informative and was educational too. We went and learnt more about the planet and recycling after reading Bumblejums and it seemed to really make a difference to the girls about what happens with their rubbish after they dont want it anymore. The drawings inside where lovely and bright and caught the attention of all my daughters who age from 18 months to 7 years, and i also found them endearing. 

The CD was a lovely collection of songs that where cute and strangely soothing and the girls really enjoyed dancing about to it in the lounge.

Their website is lovely to navigate with lots of info, a shop and lovely images throughout, there is even the lovely Bumblejums sound track playing on though the pages. My 7yr old thoroughly enjoyed navigating though the bio of the characters and there is even a tab for Eco tips! There is a parents section at the bottom of the pages which gives you a mission statement to what Bumblejums is all about encouraging parents to get children on board to take care of the planet we live on.

I would most definately recommend this lovely book to other mums and dads for children of all ages! And would love to see something in schools.

Thanks to Des Shanahan for letting me and my girls review this lovely book and CD

and you can buy your very own set here Bumblejums Shop

L xx

Featuring....@BabyCalenders

Baby's First Calender is one of the most ingenious baby gifts I've come across in a long time.  Its a fully customisable baby's first year calender where you can add photos, personal info, you can add dates and milestones and it even has an integrated baby thermometer.

 This amazing calender arrives in a corrugated printed cardboard tube, that has been made from recycled products no less, and gives you the basic info of whats inside. There are contact details and product details along with lovely pictures and photos.

 The Gorgeous woodland characters are so cute and really bring this calendar alive. The simple room thermometer is  a life saver with young babies, i wouldn't be without one with a young baby now. Its so easy to let them get to hot and this will give you peace of mind.

The stickers provided give you the months of the year so you can place them to fit your babies birth etc. The cute little milestone stickers are a real treat and the boxes are plenty big enough for you to write your own appointments or milestones.

There are two places along the bottom for your own photos and babies birth details, on the other side is baby at 1 years old.

Its not just practical but its a keepsake to map your new babies first year of life. They grow so fast those special milestones are often forgotten in a haze of sleepless nights and projectile vomit.  It's the perfect gift for that mum and dad to be or just a gorgeous keepsake for yourself to look back on when they are 16 and wonder where the time went. Any parent to be should not be without one of these awesome calenders. I just wish something of this size and simplicity was available when my girls where younger, they all would of had one!
You can buy yours now direct from http://babysfirstcalendar.com or contact @BabyCalendars on twitter for more info.


One lucky reader can win this amazing baby keepsake... all you have to do is tell me why you think you deserve to win and follow @babycalendars to be entered to win! Winner chosen at random at Friday 11th March.

not so yummy-mummy

i'll set  the scene, me zoe n emma sat on sofa watching australian come dine with me eating choc digestives, phone goes.... fabulous lis has been sick at school.

As u do u throw on coat, shoes kids in pram..(well the kids in pram part took a while longer than anticipated, emma coat n shoes shes ready, i turn my attention to zoe who runs off leaving a stench behind her, GREAT! chase after fore mentioned stench change and clothes, coat and shoes on)

..only to find emma has changed coat and now has lost the shoes (i think shes more style concious than the rest of us :) )

so finally after wrestling with these 2 for 10 mins we are out the door and power walking the half mile to school. Its amazing how long 15 mins feel when ur picturing all the possible states im about to recieve my daughter in.

Arrive at school, hot, flustered, out of breath and slightly desheviled to find aforementioned and worried about daughter dancing about  full of the joys of spring.

I thank the lovely receptionist have a quick natter n hurry back home full of thoughts of hot brew n finishing my biccis!!

I then unload kids, uncoat and shoe kids and flop on the sofa for a minute before heading off for the kitchen to make tea!! only to realise that i rushed out of the house that quick that i went out in my scruffs, (hubby is on the 12pm start so with no need to leave the house at 8.30 this morning i threw my trackies n an over sized shirt on, only to not offend the post man!)

i hadnt brushed my hair (having a pixie crop brushing tends to be neccassary!!) and from all the naughty gorging before rushing out the house amid these fashion faux pas i missed the choc crumbs down my face! OH BLOODY FABULOUS!! the only thing that made this that little less tragic was it wasnt picking up time!!! I would of DEFINATLY lost ALL playground style respect!!

So that happened to me this lunch time, how was ur hr off???

L x