Review & Giveaway: Beaming Baby Facial Wipes!

It's giveaway time and my very first giveaway for this blog!

I LOVE Beaming Baby products. Organic and natural and perfect for my babies sensitive skin. We have been using a whole array of Beaming baby  products for a couple of months now and we love so much about them. We love the fact the are so green. The products on the inside are made with the best in quality organic products but their packaging is made from recycled packaging and they encourage you to recycle again. They do everything they can to reduce their carbon foot print where possible including printing their brochures on to Elephant poo paper - now that is dedication!
All products are suitable for Vegetarians/ Vegans as they do not use any animal by-products nor are any of their products tested on animals.

Another Fabulous thing is the fact that they give a whole 10% of their profits to Charity. Currently they are supporting SANCCOB and Baby Lifeline. Another fabulous reason I love my Beaming Baby products. Not only am I reducing my own carbon footprint but I'm also helping to support 2 fantastic Charities every time Charlie has a Bubble Bath :).

We have been recently road testing Beaming Baby Facial wipes on myself and Charlie (I apologise for lack of photo's I'm having some technical issues). I have been using them of an evening when I have been to exhausted to do my usual routine and have kept a packet for hands and face when out and about. Really handy for Cloth nappy users when out and about. These have now become a staple in my 'I need this child's face cleaned and I need it done now' kit.  Even the other half can use them to wipe his brow when digging in the garden (we have tried that to :D). They are literally suitable for anybody and extremely versatile - especially for that teenager that point blank refuses to wash that make- up off!!

Now onto the giveaway. I have here 3 packets of Beaming Baby Facial Wipes for ONE lucky winner! This is up to a months supply. There are 25 cleansing wipes per pack and entering this Giveaway couldn't be simpler. But please Read the T&C's at the end!

                                'Follow' this blog and comment below to let me know your in it to win it!

How easy is that?

Now for a few Terms and Conditions (Sorry)

This giveaway will open immediately and Close at 8pm on Monday the 22nd of August. All entries will be put into Random.org to decide a winner and keep things fair for everyone. This giveaway is open to UK Residents only. PLEASE keep and eye on our Facebook page as this is where we will keep you updated with the progress. Please leave someway of contacting you. A blog address or Twitter name will be fine.

Good luck everybody :) x

Who says CBeebies is bad for them??

He TALKS. I am finding myself having more and more conversations with my 20 month old munchkin. 

I will admit, until recently I was one of those mothers who said. TV is bad for them, get them outside, Sit and read or play blocks and use the TV for a bit of music in the background. That has all changed now though!

When Charlie reached the 18month mark my already lack of housework management took an all time plunge as Charlie decided to NEED my attention more and more. He needed his mind stimulating like never before and I began to find it impossible to keep him constantly entertained with toys that now seem to young for him, crayons and books!

I THEN decided I HAD to go against what everyone advised and get him into something he could do himself or something that could just distract him for a small amount of time whilst I ran the hoover round! CBEEBIES became my saving Grace!
At first Charlie didn't pay much attention to the TV when I first put CBeebies on for him!

He did stop to dance to the music and would occasionally pause to look at the bright colours. I was determined that one way or another I was going to find the time to Bake and prepare proper meals again and to do that he HAD to like something, anything, just ONE programme. Finally One day it just clicked, he fell in love with Mr Tumble (Something special)  and just sat cross legged with blocks in his hands. I took the opportunity to sneak out of the room and get stuff done. I did and was able to get back before he even noticed I was gone.

8 Weeks later he has developed so much. His speech is coming on at an incredible rate and he has recently started to recognise objects such as Duck, Clock and Car. Now I know he still has a bit of catching up to do, when I compare him to my friends daughter I'm like OMG he's so far behind. But he is now learning so many new things everyday it's just amazing! I know all the attention and effort I put in at the start had a positive impact on his development  but I honestly think that a small amount of CBeebies each day has helped him grow in confidence and help him learn new words and numbers and how to recognise objects. He now Loves to watch Show me Show me, Something Special and the Teletubbies (downside to that is when I read him his bedtime story at night I'm greeted with again again!)

Allowing your child a small amount of TV a day doesn't have to be followed with a lifetime of guilt. Watch it with them so you can carry on the 'learning' they have done during the programme or use it to have 15mins catch up on Housework or sit with a cuppa. It isn't the crime of the century that everyone makes it out to be. I only wish I had found CBeebies sooner.

Charlie 20 Months

My Baby Loves....

Weaning!

My Baby isn't actually such a baby anymore! He'll be 20 months old tomorrow ~ but he'll always be my baby of course!!
This blog post has been inspred by Love in the Nest who tagged me in thier version  talking all about what thier little girl, Evie, loves!

My little boy loves lots of things. Eating is one of them. Weaning was a breeze. Our doctor reccomended we started weaning at a very tiny 17 weeks. Our littleman was super hungry but he suffered with Reflux causing him to bring up most of his feeds and leave him crying for hours on end!
He took to solids like a duck to water. The pic to the left and up a bit is a pic of his very first taste of baby rice. He is an amazing eater now. He will eat anything and everything ~ even things with a bit of spice!

Co sleeping with mummy is most deffinately something he loves. We only recently got him into his own bed! Even now though he ends up in bed with me at some point!

He has co slept one way or another since he was about 6 months old- maybe before. When he's not sharing with us I fret all night and hardly sleep because im constantly worrying about him. There's alot to be said about co sleeping. It is safe as long as you follow the gudlines. No smoking, No alcohol, No deep sleepers. Im not a deep sleeper. Nor do I or have i ever smoked or Drink! Ever since I was a child I have easily been awoken by the smallest of sounds! Personally I love co sleeping too and i miss him now he's in his big boy bed!

Walking. Charlie NEVER stops moving. I mean never! Even Watching TV, on the rare occasion he notices it, he still jigs about or wanders in circles. We go for at least a 1.2 mile walk everyday and he just loves it. he hates it when we get home even if we stop at the park for half an hour in the middle of it all. You would think he would sleep like a log. But No. He still wakes 5 times a night. i think he's just gunna grow up an energetic Boy. Which is good because daddy wants him to be a Rugby star!

Eater 2011

CHOCOLATE! Well we did almost make it to his first birthday without him touching the stuff but not quite. Im so glad that he can't ask for it though. He doesn't seem bothered by it unless someone actually gives him some or is eating it infront of him. So we do mostly get away with it but he is older now, so we allow him the occasional pleasure. He does love it though. His little face lights up but he does share. Which is a good thing.

DADDY! Daddy id Little Charlie's everything. When he's here he wants to do nothing but play with him and when he's not - well all hell breaks loose to be honest. When Daddy is on a 6.30am start he leave's at 6am. So we miss him by an hour. On these days Charlie has what I call tantrums at Dawn! Seriously the kid goes wild. Crying and screaming for his daddy. I usually have to bribe him to calm down with a piece of toast to throw around. He does calm down of course but it does upset me that it upsets him this much just because daddy isn't here first thing in the morning. The day then proceeds with lots of Where's daddy? Daddy in the car? Daddy work?.

Charlie is very much a daddy's boy. I can't wait till I pack them off to the rugby together! :D

If your a blogger, continue this post on your own blog and tell us what your baby loves :) x

Getting to Know You!!

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6.15

2. How do you like your steak? Well done. With Onion rings and Ketchup!

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Hangover part 2.

4. What is your favorite TV show? Gilmore Girls and The Soaps.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? by the Coast.

6. What did you have for breakfast? 2 Bourbon biscuits and a sip of Apple juice. (they joy of having a hyper toddler!!)

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Chinese.

8. What foods do you dislike? Cheese

9. Favorite Place to Eat? Angel Chef, Gloucester

10. Favorite dressing? a light squidge of lemon!

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? None at the moment!!

12. What are your favorite clothes? Jeans t-shirts

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? America

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? 1/2 full

15. Where would you want to retire? Not in the Forest of Dean!

16. Favorite time of day? bedtime!

17. Where were you born? Coventry.

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? None

19. Who do you think will not tag you back? Everyone!

20. Person you expect to tag you back first? No idea

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? Love in The Nest.

22. Bird watcher? No

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night

24. Pets? None at mine

25. Any new and exciting news that you'd like to share? We are trying to concieve baby no2.....but then again we've been doing that over a year so not really new news!

26. What did you want to be when you were little? A midwife!

27. What is your best childhood memory? Going to the Social Club with my Nan and Grandad.

28. Are you a cat or dog person? Neither if i can help it. More Dog then Cat though!!

29. Are you married? No

30. Always wear your seat belt? Always, absolutely

31. Been in a car accident? No

32. Any pet peeves? Men

33. Favorite pizza topping? None really. I rarely eat it as not the biggest fan of cheese!!

34. Favorite Flower? Gerbera!

35. Favorite ice cream? Coconutterly Fair Ben and Jerry's

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Burger King

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test?  Once

38. From whom did you get your last email? A customer

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Mines maxed out!

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? Bought a new pushchair without OH's permission. (I paid for it.... believe me!!!)

41. Like your job? Being a mummy?? Of course!

42. Broccoli? yes!

43. What was your favorite vacation? Butlins. We dont get to go far tbh!

44. Last person you went out to dinner with?  partner

45. What are you listening to right now?  Gordon Ramsey on Hell's Kitchen!

46. What is your favorite colour? Pink- I long for a baby girl to dress up in all pink things. Poor little mite :p

47. How many tattoos do you have? None

48. Coffee drinker? No, tis the devils necter

49. How many children do you have? One son - Little Charlie!!

50. Are you in love? Occasionally! :p xx

Find a penny pick it up....

Everyone seems to be tightening thier belts lately! Us included! My attentions are turning to christmas. Especially with my toddlers second birthday just 3 weeks before i've already started the how many presents to buy him? Which ones are birthday and which are xmas? debate.

There are lot's of simple ways of saving money.

1. We have a finished Baby Formula tub in the cupboard which I washed out and now we pop all our small change in there. Closer to xmas we'll empty it into a coinstar!
2. Keep the lights off. If your just sitting watching the TV in the evening then turn the rest of the lights off unless you need to get up for something. The amount of people I know that have every light in the house on all evening.....- turn them off and save ££££'s.
3. Switch to cloth nappies and wipes. Tiny Nippers is one of my favourite cloth nappy shops. They also do wipes, Rock - A - Thigh baby socks and bandana bibs with some fabulous exclusive deigns and in the long run this can save you ££££'s. Read thier page Why Cloth Nappies? page to see the savings you could make aswell. Save even more by joining thier Facebook page and keeping your eye out for some fantastic offers.
4. Ebay Ebay Ebay! If you no longer need it- but someone can make some use of it sell it on. Dn't just chuck it out. Dig out those jeans and boots you bought for a splurge and make a few £££'s from them rather then them sitting in the back of the wardrobe doing nothing. Get's you a few pounds and someone else gets a bargain!
5. Don't Hide it. Swap it! There are lots and lots of Swap Shops on facebook these days. If you no longer have a use for something thier may be someone who could, for e.g., swap you some toddler clothes in exchange for some of your baby clothes etc. need to Swap your Single for a Tandem? Well chances are you'll be able to come to a deal there too!!
6. Water. I don't know about you but we're on a water metre here! Key's to saving money here are. Turn off taps when brushing teeth. Have a shower instead of bath for a few days a week. Don't leave the cold tap running to get 'colder water' for your drink! Fill a bottle and keep in your fridge.
7. Gas. Well it's coming up to winter sooo. My advice is set a timer for the morning before the earliest riser usually gets up. If you wake up feeling freezing cold you are more likely to keep that heat blasting all day! Getting out in the chilly air for a walk is great for the whole family and also will make your house seem a lot warmer when you get back. it's always worth setting an evening timer too. Especially if your going out. You want to come home to a cosy house. But Don't set the thermestat so that it ends up clicking on every two mins. I suggest starting at 24 and work your way down. if there is a baby in the house start at 21 and work you way down until it's a comfortable temp. Try not to flick it on more than 3 times a day. So Morning Timer- Luch time re heat and Evening timer. No later than 7. You can always take a hot water bottle to bed- having a cover on it will keep it warmer for longer!! Those jumpers nanny knitted for xmas last year might just come in handy!!!
8. Bulk it out. I don't know any meal, even burger and chips, that cannot be 'bulked out' with veggies. Encourage kids to eat them first so that the 'more appealing' parts of the dinner are more satisfying and veg isnt the last thing they remember. This worked for me as a child. And still does to this day!! This should keep everyone full and hopefully cut out snacking and evetually save you money. Also try cheaper brands. You may find you like them just the same and make sure to keep reciepts if your supermarket has a comparison offer. A penny's a penny at the end of the day!!
9. JOIN BABY CLUBS. if you have a baby or are pregnant join EVERY baby club you can possible find. Evey voucher, free jar of food or free spoon will go a long way to helping you save those pennies. Especially Join nappy clubs if you decide not to choose Cloth. Nappies and milk are about to become one of your biggest outgoings....don't say I didn't warn you!!

There are many many ways of Saving money. As my blog prgresses I will do more and more posts like this. Now go turn the lights and heating off and slip a jumper on!! x