How to save money in the January sales, my way

I'm not really a dedicated shopper, I do have good intentions and I do like a bargain but going to the shops really stretches my patience. Shops or a nice nature reserve? I know where I would rather be. This year money is exceptionally tight, but I still want the thrill of the chase and the excitement of bagging a bargain and there are a few things that we need so I have resorted to scouring the on-line sales. I think its proof that there is not a lot out there. In fact, nothing worth queueing from 5 AM in the morning for, I'm looking at you Next shoppers! I cant understand why you would buy a whole years worth of clothes in January, aren't you fed up with them by August?

Anyway, I've found that the best way is to make a list of the shops you would buy stuff from and then systematically work through them. Then do a Google search for '[insert shop] discount codes', you can often get a further ten or twenty percent off or free delivery, or sign up to Quidco which gives you cash back on purchases.

When all those options are exhausted I've discovered that the best thing to do is simply fill up your on line shopping basket with your purchases. The excitement! Then quietly close that window. There you go, all the excitement of sale shopping and bagging a bargain without any of the expenditure. I've found this particularly useful for the kids who have been on enormous exciting shopping sprees at places like the Disney Store and have forgotten what they ordered. Good job things get lost in the post eh?

How to save money in the January sales, my way

Review: The Adventures Of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

You'd have to have had your head buried in the sand for the last few months not to realise that Stephen Spielberg has just released a Tintin film called the Secret of the Unicorn. This is based on three(!) of the books and has proved hugely popular with the kids. Ubisoft kindly sent us the official licensed game of the film, The Adventures Of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, and we've spent a few days over Christmas playing it.

Right from the start your immersed into the world of Tintin; there's a storm and you're piloting an aircraft trying to get out of it to no avail. Then you flashback to the start of the adventure. The levels we played followed the film really closely- we discovered the model of the Unicorn (with Snowy's help and we actually got to control him!) and got set upon by the baddies after we found the secret map.

The game itself is a 3D action adventure game, with graphics really in the style of the animation of the film. The whole presentation is very film like and extremely polished.

Since the cut scenes integrate seamlessly into the game we got a really great feeling of being part of the adventure while we were playing it. The game itself is rated 12 (for comic violence) but isn't too difficult, the puzzles flow on from each other. We found the flying parts the hardest but that's probably because you need to worry about up and down as well as left and right.

Some of the later levels, like the ship, are a bit tricky but also quite funny. Although the Wii version isn't in 3D, I did play the PS3 version in 3D at Ubisofts summer extravaganza. The 3D is ace but the Wii version doesn't really lose out by only being in 2 dimensions.

All in all if your kids are over 12 and loved the Tintin film, this game is a bit of a no brainer.

Review: The Adventures Of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

Merry Christmas!

Hope you all have a lovely Christmas and a very Happy New Year from everyone in our household!

Merry Christmas!

Surprise Holiday Giveaway! Win an Conscious Newborn Outfit from H & M

Shhhh it’s a surprise holiday giveaway!

I'm pleased to be the first blog to announce Conscious Newborn, a new collection from H&M. It is made entirely from conscious materials, including those that are organic and free from chemical additives. The collection is in a nostalgic French style, with a separate wardrobe for baby girls and boys. There are also some extras, such as a newborn’s first teddy, a mouse-shaped rattle, and a floral printed blanket.

Conscious is H&M’s initiative to show that sustainable fashion is longevity, which means this Newborn collection makes even more sense. The range is part of H&M’s initiatives for a sustainable fashion future, with Conscious collections appearing across H&M’s ranges to show the breadth and value of sustainability in fashion both today and tomorrow. As such, I very much approve.

The Conscious Newborn collection will be available exclusively online on the 27^th of December. Two of you will win an outfit from the collection, perfect if like me you are expecting a new little one, or maybe a friend or relative is.

To enter the give-away all you have to do is leave a comment telling me why you deserve to win below by mid-day on the 1st January, @zooarchaeologis  on twitter, or post on my Facebook wall with a nomination for a new or expecting Mum who deserves surprise holiday gift from H&M Newborn. Of course, you can self-nominate!

The prizes will be sent directly from the PR company and you need to provide me with some contact details or your entry will be invalid. Good Luck, this is a lovely prize!

Surprise Holiday Giveaway! Win an Conscious Newborn Outfit from H & M

Christmas Tree Festival

One of our local churches has a Christmas Tree Festival every year, it features 90 trees which have all been decorated by parishioners and local groups. The church is full of music and people and it really is the perfect start to Christmas. I wont show you all the pictures as many of them are personal family ones, but hopefully these two will give you a flavour. If you live near St Albans you can go along its at St Saviours Church in Sandpit Lane. Well worth a visit, we are feeling suitably Christmassy now and it also reminded us about all the worthwhile charities which provide so much help and support to those in need. Now, where's that husband to answer all the difficult religious questions the kids came up with...

Christmas Tree Festival

Our Tesco Real Food Gingerbread House

Earlier on in the week I mentioned that one of our projects was to make a Gingerbread House using the instructions on the Tesco Real Food website as they kindly provided the ingredients. Finally we made it yesterday. It was great fun and my kids aged 2 and 4 absolutely loved it. In fact they did everything apart from melt the butter and treacle themselves. This of course lead to some interesting decorating!

It was a great family activity and one that I can see becoming a Christmas tradition in our house. The instructions were really clear and the addition of boiled sweets to make stained glass windows was just genius. If you want to have a go you can find all the instructions here.

Our Tesco Real Food Gingerbread House

My Christmas List; Which I shall try to purchase in the January sales...

It's probably wrong, I'm sure it is, but over the past few years I have implored my friends and family NOT to buy me anything for Christmas. I genuinely prefer to give rather than receive. I'm also incredibly mean and I don't like to see money wasted and there is nothing that causes a pain in the very pit of my stomach like seeing one of my Christmas gifts half price or more in the January sales. In fact, this causes me a little bit of distress if I have purchased the item for a friend or family. I try not to look at those things. The waste of money, just criminal. Heart-wrenching. 

That's not to say I won't be keeping a beady eye out for the following items with which to spend my Christmas cash in the January Sales.

Top of my list is the Fat Face Georgina Gilet, I love the colour, need a new one and this one looks perfect. I really hope they reduce this and they have it in my (estimated) size.

The People Tree Cosy Beret. How cute is this?

Lancome Tinted Moisturiser. I'm running low on supplies and this is the best I've found...

My dream item is this Ipad 2 I reckon it would be really handy for myself and the kids. If only they sold these half price...

There are any number of books I want, but I'd really really love a few Nigel Slater cookery books to stop me having to check out the Internet every time I want to  cook something delicious.

That's pretty much it, oh, I wouldn't turn down a bar of Dairy Milk chocolate if I cant get any of the rest and a night out with the hubby and without having to worry about the children would be one of the best gifts anyone could give me!

What did you ask for this year?

My Christmas List; Which I shall try to purchase in the January sales...

Why television is an essential parenting tool. Or, get yourself Sky on the Xbox 360

If you are a parent you'll know the scenario well, one member of the household comes down sick with something they have inevitably picked up at school and before you know it, a plague has descended. You may as well just be done with it as soon as you spot the first signs of a winter sniffle and paint a red cross on the door. Soon the house will descend into mess and you'll be stuck on that endless loop of torture which Cbeebies or Milkshake can become. Before you know it you'll be repeating all the words to Peppa Pig and Bob the Builder like a seasoned professional. That's why television is so essential, if it wasn't there you'd have to think of endless craft activities, talk to each other, they'd be no rest and recuperation.

Our television broke over the summer (it was mended) and that was quite honestly the longest four days of my parenting experience. Television is critical and now I have been introduced to the wonders of Sky  via the Xbox 360 Live as part of the ambassador programme I can see why people have it. Quite literally this new little feature has saved my sanity. We have a whole world of television variety all at our fingertips, there's tons of channels for the kids; Cartoon Network, Disney and Nickleodeon are proving popular. We also have Sky 1, Sky News, Sky Movies and MTV alongside loads and loads of other channels. I sound like I am gloating, well, to he honest I am. Sky on Xbox 360 Live saved my mentality this week. Have a look at this accurate re-enactment:

Why television is an essential parenting tool. Or, get yourself Sky on the Xbox 360

Sponsored Post: Good Energy

Recently I read a really worrying report in the newspaper which talked about methane being released from Arctic Ice. The discovery had been made by Russian scientists and could have a major impact on the environment because its a greenhouse gas. It's a really major discovery which could actually influence our climate during our lifetime. As usual with these things there wasn't a great deal of coverage, however it highlighted to me the importance of trying to be as green as possible in our everyday lives.

That's where Good Energy comes in, they an energy supplier which uses renewable energy to generate their power. That's wind, water, sun and biogeneration to the likes of you and me. They also have a handy shop which sells energy saving products for around the home. Now I've been introduced to their website I'm actually really interested in this idea. At the moment we use one of the 'standard' suppliers but I am seriously considering a switch.

One of the reasons behind my thinking is that we nearly had some solar panels installed on our house recently. We both thought this was a great idea until we considered the potential impact it might have on our ability to sell our house if we had effectively leased the roof space to someone else. It seemed too much of a gamble at the moment to risk this. So where do you go from there, if you want to play your part in the green movement and feel that you have done your bit for future generations? Well, this could very well be the answer. Good Energy have won loads of ethical awards, they seem a very responsible company and from reading their documentation I like their ethos.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one, do you use a renewable energy supplier? Have you considered solar panels? How do you play your part to combat climate change?

Sponsored Post: Good Energy

There he is...

...I cant see Teddy anywhere. First Teddy was stuck in a tree and now daddy is stuck in a tree' So says Peppa Pig for the millionth time today. At the moment I am stuck indoors on an endless conveyor belt of illness which seems to manifest itself in endless kids television. It's the sort of torture which they probably applied at Guantanamo Bay. Now I know why people splash out and have newspapers delivered. How I yearn for a bit of BBC Breakfast news, even Daybreak would be preferable.

I have to admit, I am not struggling mentally quite as much as I thought I would, although my patience is wearing a little bit thin. Aside from a trip to Butlins, the school run and a few trips to the doctors, I've not actually left the house for nearly a month. When I drove to the doctors yesterday for an appointment with the midwife it felt really weird outside in the real world. It must be how old people feel when they go to the day centre or something!

Anyway, at the moment all I want for Christmas is everyone to be well. Anything else would be a bonus...

There he is...

Sponsored Guest Post: Educational Tourist Spots to Visit on your Family Holiday to Vietnam

When considering where to take your brood on your next holiday, why not take a look at Vietnam? As a holiday destination, it has it all. Friendly locals, a fascinating history, beautiful scenery and of course, delicious cuisine. The cultural and educational experiences that Vietnam holidays offer is something that will be remembered by your family for years to come. Here is a list of the top five most educational experiences to enjoy with your children whilst visiting The Land of Smiles.

1 – Investigate the Cu Chi Tunnels, Ho Chi Minh City

This immense network of underground tunnels, which underlie much of the country, must be seen to be believed. The tunnels were used by guerrilla fighters during the Vietnam War and helped to secure the military success which resulted in US troops withdrawing from Vietnam. If you wish, you can explore the tunnels and cram yourselves into the tiny hiding spaces used by the troops. It’s also worth taking a look at the gruesome traps fashioned from bamboo spikes that were used in the conflict.

2 – Experience the Mekong Delta

This region in the south of the country is one of South East Asia’s most fascinating landscapes. A visit to the Delta provides young travellers with the opportunity to learn about the area’s culture in an interesting and interactive way. There are many tours to choose from but the majority involve travelling by boat through the winding canals of the Delta before hopping on bikes to explore the local villages.

3 – Sail Halong Bay

Located 170km north of Hanoi, Halong Bay is one of the Natural Wonders of the World. Jump aboard a traditional junk boat and weave between more than 1000 imposing limestone kaarsts and islands. Halong Bay is an area rich in diverse eco-systems including caves, freshwater lakes, mangroves and coral reefs.

4 – Cooking Course in Hoi An

This charming, traditional town is one of the best spots to learn how to cook Vietnamese cuisine. The plethora of cooking schools in the town offer day courses which take in the sights and sounds of local markets, teach you about the essential ingredients used to produce their delicious and healthy food and then guide you through the cooking process ensuring you all return home with a new skill.

5 – Visit Hill Tribes in Sapa

Sapa, in the north west of Vietnam on the border of China, is the main market town serving the numerous hill tribes in the region. The area’s beautiful landscapes consist of terraced paddy fields, sweeping valleys and imposing mountain ranges. Climb to the top of Ham Rang Mountain to get the best views of the town, explore the locals markets or don your walking boots and head out on another trek to get back to nature.

Many children only ever learn about history, geography and other cultures out of text books thrust upon them in stuffy classrooms. Take your children on a holiday to Vietnam and allow them to experience it for themselves.

Sponsored Guest Post: Educational Tourist Spots to Visit on your Family Holiday to Vietnam

Sponsored Guest Post: An anxiety-free family Christmas

This  post was offered to me and reading it, I wanted to share it with you all as I thought it was very topical and contained some really good advice;

When I was a kid, my parents went to the most extraordinary lengths to make Christmas utterly magical - to the extent that, when I finally discovered that Santa's jingling sleigh-bells were coming from their bedroom, not from atop our roof, I spent two further years pretending I still believed in him, just to avoid hurting their feelings. After my dad passed away, when I was fifteen years old, the festive season became something to be ignored, endured - a trigger for bouts of depression and a long-term struggle with repressed grief.

"Cheerful stuff", you cry! Just what we need to read, over our turkey sandwiches.

The point is, Christmas is a beautiful, magical event which can make emotional issues much harder to ignore, be they due to underlying, unrelated sadness, or because you or someone else has such high expectations of what Christmas should be like; what's expected of themselves and everyone around them - that someone ends up feeling stressed, instead of relaxed.

We all do it. Having resolved to relax, spend less, just go with the flow, we still get caught up in "what it all means"; we create all sorts of tasks; hurdles between ourselves and a genuinely relaxing holiday. How many times have you gone back to work in January with a certain sense of relief - that it's all over; you can now relax?

If this sounds like you, it's definitely time to reclaim the Christmas holiday for your own wellbeing. This might sound impossible, but it doesn't mean upsetting your mother-in-law or neglecting the kids. It's true that you may be unable to avoid your family's traditions entirely, which can be difficult if you're struggling to feel any festive joy yourself. However, with a little honesty - both with yourself and your loved ones - you can take back control over where you fit into it all.

The trick is to decide, first by yourself; then with your family, what your priorities are for the holiday season. Identify any traditions that you're doing because you've always been told to, or because Martha Stewart or the John Lewis advert told you to; drop them. If you need a place to start, try writing down what you enjoy about Christmas, alongside a list of what you don't. If there's anything on the "don't like" list that you can stop doing without any harm occurring, simply don't do it any more.

Some things, like washing up, might have to stay put. But if you're always the one who ends up cleaning the kitchen after Christmas lunch, while everyone else sits round watching telly; this makes you feel resentful - stop doing it. Speak to your family beforehand & explain how you feel; ask for suggestions about what to do instead. You'll either get offers of help or an invitation to the sofa. The washing up will get done eventually. If you can't stand the thought of being idle, take the opportunity to do one of your own projects instead - something that's been left on the back burner for ages because you've been dedicating all your time to life admin.

Sponsored Guest Post: An anxiety-free family Christmas

Review: Boots Mini Club clothing for kids

One of the best places I have found to buy kids clothes is Boots. Before children I would never have thought this but I have found them to be classic, well made and reasonably priced. It was good to hear then that Mini Club clothing is now available to buy online
.The Mini Club range is suitable for birth to 6 years and the sizing is proper British sizing, if you know what I mean! This means you don't have to stand there and measure and contemplate what size you need to buy, just go for the correct age.

The outfits we got were perfect for Christmas and if you are looking for a special outfit for the Christmas period I cant recommend Boots highly enough.Fifi was sent this gorgeous spot party dress from the Collectables range which has a third off at the moment and is a total bargain. It's well made, hangs nicely and looks very expensive. She loved it from the moment she saw it.

Boy was sent this lovely chambray shirt and jeans which makes him look just like his dad. He thinks he looks very smart, I think he looks very cute. Both fit really well and are well made I am sure they will wash and last which is what you need from boys clothes. You cant go wrong at the moment. I totally approve.

You'll have to wait for the Christmas Day pictures to see what they looked like, I don't want to spoil the surprise!

Mini Club is available exclusively at Boots, in over 350 Boots stores nationwide and online at www.boots.com/miniclub

Review: Boots Mini Club clothing for kids

Review: Air Total Home C89-MA-T Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner

I'm part of the Vax Voice team which means I get the chance to test out Vax products and provide a fair report back to you on them. A few months ago we tried their carpet cleaner and I have to say this has proved absolutely invaluable especially after a little boy sickness episode *ahem*.

Anyway, the latest thing we tried was the Air Total Home C89-MA-T Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner. This is a little compact cylinder vacuum cleaner which can be used all around the home. One of its strengths is that the filters don't get blocked which means it keeps its suction and all the dirt goes into a container which is easy to empty and saves you from buying more vacuum cleaner bags.

I have to admit this is rapidly becoming one of the best vacuum cleaners I have owned, not least because it is nice and small which means that it is easy to store. I liked the length of the hose and all the extra accessories and have been really pleased with the results. We have a lot of food dropped on the floor with two toddlers and it seems to tackle this really well.

One of the best features of this cleaner is that fact that the hose is so long you can leave the cleaner at the bottom of the stairs whilst you hoover. I think this is a brilliant feature and makes it very safe. I have to admit it isn't brilliant to move around in a position other than straight, but then for me that isn't too much of an issue as I have to be careful about vacuuming up the kids when I get too carried away!

Although the cleaner feels a little bit plastic compared to other ones I have used it does come with a SIX year guarantee which is one of the best I have come across and means that you don't need to worry too much. Regardless,  it does seem quite sturdy as I'm quite heavy handed and have been using it for a few weeks without any problems at all.

Now, I would show you some before and after pictures, but in a way these are quite meaningless apart from showing how filthy my house can get. I could offer you a picture of me as a domestic goddess with my cleaner but at nearly 38 weeks pregnant it would be more like a beached whale pushing a vacuum cleaner so on this occasion you'll have to take my word for it. I think this cylinder Vacuum Cleaner deserves 4/ 5, if you are looking for something small, powerful and practical its a really good buy.

Review: Air Total Home C89-MA-T Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner

Review: WHSmith Stationary, Great for Christmas Stocking Fillers

I've been struggling recently, there has been so much to do around the house with the new baby coming shortly and our slightly over ambitious plan to get the bathroom refitted and finished (mainly by ourselves) before its arrival that little Fifi has been somewhat neglected on the crafting opportunity front.

I think someone was obviously looking down from above and saw poor little Fifi and her scrooge like mummy because WHSmith very kindly sent her all these things to use: Colour & Co Glitter and Gels, 36 Assorted Colouring Pencils, Creative Hands Pack of 40 Foam Sheets, 30 Assorted Washable Coloured Markers, White Paper Roll, 4 Pack Super Clay.

Fifi loved the 4 pack super clay, which is air drying (although doesn't dry rock solid). She spent ages cutting out little shapes in order to make decorations for the Christmas tree. She also loved drawing with the coloured markers, which to be honest are not brilliantly washable, but are a perfect size for little hands. When the boy came home from school he set about cutting out snow flakes form the foam sheets which he absolutely loved doing. 

So, all in all a great selection. I reckon this little lot would make a wonderful Christmas gift if you are wondering what to get a child for Christmas; hours of entertainment and educational too!

Review: WHSmith Stationary, Great for Christmas Stocking Fillers

Making a Gingerbread House with Tesco Real Food

Myself and Fifi have a brilliant project to do this week, one which we have unfortunately had to postpone due to  illness, but one that we both cant wait to get working on. A gingerbread house! It's not something I have done before but Tesco Real Food offered to send us all the ingredients so we could have a go and I know that Fifi will love doing this as she absolutely loves cooking.

I reckon its a great activity for the kids now the schools are out so if you want to have a start check out how to make a gingerbread house and I will keep you posted with our results towards the end of the week! It looks fairly straightforward and I really cant wait,the box of ingredients has been sitting in our kitchen for several days, but I promised Fifi she could have a go so I must be a good mum and wait!

The Tesco Real Food website is really worth a look at the moment with tons of fab recipes and ideas, over the past year I have revolutionised our meals using the site. At the moment Tesco Real Food are also running  a Christmas Cake competition on Facebook   where customers can bake the perfect Christmas cake and upload their photos.  This will be in the Bake and Win application at: https://www.facebook.com/tesco.  The best entries win £250 in Tesco vouchers. I wish I was a better cook!

Now, if you are like me and are a bit prone to cooking disasters there  will also be an SOS team on the the Tesco Real Food Twitter account @TescoRealFood / http://twitter.com/tescorealfood .  The idea is that this team will be able to help you with any potential disasters.  The team will be online 10am-8pm on Christmas Eve and 8am-4pm on Christmas day. I wouldn't be surprised if we need their help in this household...

Making a Gingerbread House with Tesco Real Food

New Zealand Honey Co and Nature Remedies

I've been very poorly recently, however the kids and hubby have remained remarkably unscathed. It's probably partly because I am so incredibly run down. However I also like to think that it is in part because I have been giving them lots of New Zealand Honey Company products and natural remedies. Unfortunately, because I am pregnant at the moment I cant use them myself as you are advised again having honey during pregnancy.

Normally though, I swear by Manuka Honey which really does help you maintain your immune system and so I have been giving the kids a little bit of this on toast or on their breakfast. If you want to help combat a cold or sore throat then Manuka honey makes a brilliant hot drink.

Beech Forest Honeydew Honey has the most lovely smell and has a pre-biotic rating of 20+ which is one of the highest you'll find in a honey, its a brilliant one if you have been taking antibiotics and you want to maintain your gut heath. I've been feeding this one to the hubby in as he has a few digestive issues.

One of the things which came in our box was a little packet of dried blueberries. Now, I eat blueberries by the bucket load, I love them but I didn't even know that you could buy dried ones. They are packed with vitamin C and are a really great snack particularly as for some reason the kids don't actually associate them with fruit.

We were challenged to only use natural remedies for a few weeks and so I got the husband to forfeit his usual max strength over the counter stuff for honey and lemon drinks and some healthy stuff. I also fed the kids lots of honey on toast. I think it has helped, although this year the things going around have been particularly nasty. I'm really keen on this approach so as soon as the baby is born I'm going to make sure I have lots of honey and blueberries in particular. If you want to find out a little bit more and check out all the information about how honey may be able to make a difference to your general health have a look at their website: http://www.newzealandhoneyco.com/healthy_honey
You can also find them on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Zealand-Honey-Co/ 

New Zealand Honey Co and Nature Remedies

Review: uDraw for the Wii

Out of all the games consoles we have, the one I am best at using is the Wii, it might be because its really quite girl friendly. That's no reflection on the other ones, I'm getting really familiar with the Xbox 360 and I do like that a lot. I think the thing with the Wii is that its very very intuitive which means the toddlers can pretty much do it themselves with minimal intervention.

We were kindly given a uDraw tablet and a selection of games for the kids to play with and test.  I was a little bit apprehensive because I thought I might have to take the entire cupboard apart to connect it to the console. But no, its really easy, all you have to do is slot the controller thingy into the uDraw tablet. That really is it, once you have taught the kids how to do this you'll never be hassled again! Brilliant. I should say the uDraw is a pressure sensitive tablet, so you basically press down with your pen on the tablet and things react on the screen.

So anyway, once we had mastered the set up we started on the games. Since Fifi is Disney mad first up was the Enchanting Story Book. At aged two and four this proved to be the best game from our selection and he kids happily took turns and played with it. In fact they have been playing at at every opportunity since. I thought it looked very basic but they loved it. Its basically a book with different chapters based on different Disney 'princess' characters like The Little Mermaid and Cinderella. There are a few different things to do  in each chapter; match the number colouring, copy the sounds and so forth. Its hard to find a game which is so suitable for this age group and requires very little adult intervention. This is that game.

Next up was The Penguins of Madagascar, I had a lot of fun playing this one. You basically follow trails around and get points using the drawing pen. Its simple, the boy could do it (aged 4) Fifi at 2 was not able to join in. We liked the attitude of the penguins and it made us laugh. It was great to see how the uDraw pen could be used in a different way.

The Pictionary game provided myself and the hubby a fun night of gaming rather than TV viewing which I must admit I really enjoyed. The main problem with the game is that it relies on everyone being honest and not cheating as you need to shut your eyes at various points in the game.

uDraw Studio  comes as part of the bundle with the Wii but it was the one we tried last. That's because in this house we are total suckers for film tie-ins and I let the kids choose what to play. The uDraw Studio basically allows you to draw on your television screen and make decisions about what what colours to use and so forth. The kids really enjoyed playing with this and I think there is some clear educational benefits to it. However, whether its better than a simple pen and paper or chalk board I am not so sure. Certainly the boy enjoyed it and Fifi was desperate to join in with him. We saved their creations on an SD card and I guess now they are digital I can use them for infinite presents for the family!

We have really enjoyed using the uDraw tablet and its ideal for our little children. I'm not sure how appealing it would be to more sophisticated gamers. At under fifty quid I think its a reasonably priced addition to your computer gaming equipment compared to other options. If you want to see another view point why not have a look at what Pippa had to say here. uDraw is also available on PS3 and Xbox 360

Review: uDraw for the Wii

Review: It's a Wonderful Life: 65th Anniversary Edition DVD

During the Christmas of 1946 one of the greatest ever Christmas films was released to a population recovering from the effects of World War Two. It's a Wonderful Life is a film that I remember watching as a child in black and white and now the film has been remastered and if you buy the newly released DVD you can watch it either in colour or black and white. We were sent a copy so that we could entertain the kids with this classic film.

My children are little film buffs, its in the genes. They know a good film from a bad one and will happily sit and watch something from start to finish and then provide critique. I did wonder if this might be a little too adult for them, so I showed them it in colour (although I have to admit I wanted to show them it in black and white to show that there was life before HD, colour and surround sound!)

I probably don't need to tell you, but in case you are one of the few people who haven't seen it, the story revolves around James Stewarts' character a local businessman who through the plot, stops another businessman taking over the town but then looses his business. He contemplates suicide (the one bit I have to admit I did distract the children during) and an angel comes and shows him what life might have been like in the town without him. Obviously the James Stewart character concludes that in fact he has a wonderful life and means a lot to many people. Weirdly despite the plot line it is actually a brilliant Christmassy feel good movie.

I think this is a Christmas must watch in so many ways and I enjoyed showing the kids this little bit of history, if you want to get a feel of it have a look here:

Review: It's a Wonderful Life: 65th Anniversary Edition DVD

How ill do you need to be before you can't look after the kids?

I think I know the answer after this week. You can look after kids with the flu whilst pregnant. You can look after them with a suspected blood clot on your lungs and an infection requiring antibiotics which you have been wandering around with for a month. Thank you doctors. You cant look after them with the above two and winter vomiting bug whilst 37 weeks pregnant. It's impossible. You cant really get out of bed to be sick any more and once you reach the stage where you don't even have the energy to actually be sick you know you are in trouble.

So, that's where responsibility hits home, once I have this baby I shall make sure that I am in tip top 100% fitness so this disaster does not happen again. It's been a real week of health related upset this week. I do hope the baby is alright. I'm quite surprised as last time I was poorly at this stage of pregnancy I was admitted to the hospital and stayed there for 3 days. I think I am worse this time, by far. The doctors have been very apologetic, apparently they 'didn't have my full test results'. I wonder if this is actually the case or just a case of overlooking them/ getting an untrained receptionist to check through them? Who knows, all I know is that I did feel very unwell for a long time and the difficulty is that when you feel unwell for such a long time you begin to think it's psychological. A sort of laziness and mental weakness.

All I know is that at the moment I really feel like the worlds worst mother. I don't think the kids have watched so much television and films in a very long time. Craft activities are limited to pretty much none and I cant even manage to tidy their toys properly so they can find the different sets. It's all become a muddle. The kids have eaten so much junk food I hope it hasn't affected their health or their mental development. I am guilt ridden. I am unwell. It's a disaster.

How ill do you need to be before you can't look after the kids?

Been to the movies lately? Xbox Live with Love Film

No, neither have I unless you count Saturday morning kids stuff. In fact I'm going slightly crazy just watching kids film, just as well that I was asked to be an Xbox Live Ambassador which means I was encouraged to sign up to LoveFilm. I cant tell you how good this is looking, you get a thirty day free trail as well, so its absolutely no cost.

I've been really poorly again this week, it all stemmed from getting the flu a few weeks ago and at 37 weeks pregnant not being able to get back to full health. That's where LoveFilm on the Xbox Live arcade has been great. I'm not someone who is very confident with new technology, but its easy to use and we have a whole new load of viewing possibilities open to us. The kids are forcing me to watch introducing me to a whole load of kids movies and I can finally catch up with my list of films I have wanted to see over the last couple of years.

So far we have used it a lot more than I thought. This Xbox Live is winning me over, put one on your Christmas list if you don't have one!

Been to the movies lately? Xbox Live with Love Film

There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humour

One day, when I scrape enough pennies together, probably from turning the heating off and going without chocolate I'll be able to take the kids to Butlins on something other than a blog related trip. This might be nice as it would save me from wandering around wondering if I need to smile at random strangers in case they are the people that I talk to on a daily basis in this virtual world.

The Tots 100 Party provided plenty of chances to give strange half smiles to lots of people, as Butlins at Christmas is RAMMED full. On the three or four occasions we have been I have never seen it so busy. I was surprised at how many people were keen to freeze their bottoms off in Bognor for a bit of Butlins Christmas magic.

Tree Decorating Team A: Copyright S.Whittle

Christmas magic is what the Tots 100 party was all about, evil overlord Sally did her best to make sure that everyone would mix, would join in and would feel festive. Heck, she even got me, the worlds most unsociable and stand offish  person decorating a Christmas Tree with a bunch of strangers. From this I learnt that I am a quiet person and most new bloggers have no idea about the existence of this blog. I also learnt that if she does this sort of event next year, it's worthwhile to wear a top which features large pockets, as the decorations used were exceptionally nice and I quite regret my honesty failure to half inch a few for our tree. Oh yes, and white Christmas trees are not something to buy for home, unless you happen to have trained as a window dresser....

Anyway, for me, that was the end of my Tots 100 Party experience as I was charged with looking after the kids and having a nice sleep whilst the hubby went off for a swanky dinner with a large group of ladies. I didn't mind though, as we were staying in the Ocean Hotel. This is Butlins newest hotel and the one we visited when it first opened. The rooms are as fresh and clean as the day it opened. The en suite in the room is a thing of joy with very cool lighting and the kids have their own den complete with TV. This is brilliant as they were happy enough to stay in there and leave me to watch Strictly and The XFactor. No roughing it here. Perfect for our last trip away as a family of four.

A Christmas weekend break at Butlins seems to be a thing of surprising popularity. Actually, it's probably just a secret which I haven't been allowed to know until now. There are three ways for the kids to interact with Santa; a traditional meet and greet, a trip to the Enchanted Forest or avoid all of these and go direct to the pressie. I'll let you guess what my kids chose! There are Christmas related shows on the main stage, a pantomime and it has snowed at Bognor. The Christmas songs are on an endless loop, there simply is no escape from the festive season. Even I began to feel a bit festive. Certainly after stuffing myself at breakfast (the buffet is vast in the hotel) I had that tired, full up feeling you get on Christmas day.

I'm well known for my Christmas misery, I genuinely don't really enjoy Christmas as it upsets the status quo which I am happy with. I have got a bit better since having kids and this year I remind myself of this quote from one of my favourite Dickens books and think that our trip to Butlins at Christmas will not be forgotten in a long time:

"It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humour." - A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humour

Guest Post: Josephine from Slummy Single Mummy on Being a Mummy

Slummy Single Mummy is one of those blogs that I have been dipping in and out of for years. I love Josephine's sense of humour, her writing and her general style. I wish I could write as well as her. So I was genuinely thrilled when she wrote to me and asked if she could guest post on my blog. I asked her to provide her thoughts about being a mummy, something she has far more experience than me in...

I have been a mummy now for 16 years. That’s quite a long time. Half my life in fact. 

I was just 16 when I fell pregnant with my first daughter, and so being a mummy has just always been there. 

I’ve never been an adult and not been a mummy too.

So what does being a mummy actually mean for me? 

Being a mummy means that I have to think about two other people all of the time. Sometimes this feels relentless and scary and awful, but it gives my life a purpose and a structure, without which I’m sure I wouldn’t know what to do.

Being a mummy means I have a hideous foot-wide band of stretch marks right round my middle.

Being a mummy means I have so far spent about 390 hours of my life stood on cold playgrounds, waiting for a child to appear at the door of their classroom and tell me they only ate one of their four sandwiches, but managed the whole penguin bar.

Being a mummy means there is always at least one person on hand who’s happy to give me a hug.

Being a mummy means having to know the answers. Not just to the big things, but to the questions that come every day, like ‘Mummy, what kind of tree is that?’ and ‘Mummy, where do chick peas come from?’

Being a mummy means I have lots of lovely mummy friends, who saw me through the early days, comparing notes and offering reassurance. ‘Really, that’s nothing, mine woke up 13 times last night!’

Being a mummy means, (I hope!), that when I’m old I’ll have a family who will look after me, and have me to stay at Christmas, and visit me once a week in my old people’s home and bring me a bottle of Harveys Bristol Cream.

Being a mummy is who I am.

Guest Post: Josephine from Slummy Single Mummy on Being a Mummy

The best bit of Christmas for me

The excitement is starting in our house...

The best bit of Christmas for me

Sponsored Post: Chicago Town Takeaway Limited Edition X Factor Pizza

Tonight we thought that we would treat ourselves to a Chicago Town Takeaway Pizza. We quite like these as a special treat because they really do taste like authentic takeaway Pizzas for about half the price! Chicago Town suggested that we try the X Factor Pizza.  They told us it was made with Chicago Town Takeaway’s famous fresh dough that rises in the oven, it’s generously topped with extra-large pepperoni, spicy beef, peppers, red onion and a tantalising special BBQ sauce stuffed-crust and suggested it was a guaranteed winner. Sounded ideal for us as the kids actually really like spicy stuff.

We tracked down one of these pizzas which proved really worthwhile in itself because every Chicago Town Takeaway X Factor pizza pack comes with a free music download, plus opportunities to win The X Factor goodies, cash prizes, and pizza vouchers. The boy made instant use of the music download.

All you need to do with this pizza is shove it in the oven (in our case we only have a working top oven so there isn't a great deal of choice!). You don't even need a baking tray because it comes with a handy little tray in which to cook it. In terms of time to cook, it took longer than I anticipated. This was a challenge to keep the kids entertained but it did mean they were properly hungry...

Anyway, once cooked I dished it up, put it on the table and within the space of about 5 minutes the whole lot had been eaten up. The hubby really liked the stuffed crust, the kids ate every last scrap. I got to try a tiny slither which I thought tasted really like a takeaway pizza. That was that, all gone. If you like takeaway pizza's this is pretty good. I have to admit I tend to cook my own pizza from scratch so I can be critical, but this is perfect to stick in the freezer for a day when you don't want to cook.

Chicago Town TAKEAWAY The X Factor pizza is in most supermarkets with an RRP of £3.79. A bargain when you consider the cost of an actual Takeaway pizza!

Sponsored Post: Chicago Town Takeaway Limited Edition X Factor Pizza

Perhaps its because its third time around

...but this time the actual pregnancy has not been anywhere near as hard. My main issue is with the illnesses which the children keep coming home with. The other weekend the husband went to Abu Dhabi as part of his role as a Shell V- Power Network of Champions. Before he left I felt pretty rough, by the time he was on the plane I wondered if I would last the weekend. Literally laying on the sofa passing in and out of consciousness as the kids prodded me, demanded crisps and destroyed the house.

A trip to the docs confirmed my lung had got infected and I needed lots of antibiotics. I've finished those but still feel poorly. Anyway, what I am trying to say is that first time around there is no way I would have coped, the endurance training of all those nights clearly does something for you physically and mentally. This week I've been doing DIY, chopping down stuff, filling skips and painting not something I would have previously even dreamt of doing whilst poorly, looking after 2 small children and eight months pregnant.

I suppose this time it could be easier because Fifi is older than boy was when I had her. She is nearly three, he was nearly two and looking back over the year that year really makes a massive difference. Partly because she is potty trained which reduces the need to deal with smelly nappies which is something which my hormones wont really allow me to do without retching...

The other thing with a third pregnancy is the speed at which everything goes, there is no chance to sit and read a book detailing how many millimetres your baby has grown that week. You soon find out by the size of the bump and then before you know it you think you are going to pop at any moment.

I've a feeling this baby may be early, its definitely ready to come. I always think they are easier in than out, its arrival will be my real endurance test!

Perhaps its because its third time around

Sponsored Guest Post: Christmas Shopping Tips For Mums

Todays post is from Groupon who have some excellent deals which will help save you money:

Christmas is a great deal of fun when you are between the ages of 0 to 18, but after that things can get pretty stressful, especially if you are a mum and have to sort out presents for everyone as well as organizing the food and drink. The only ways to get through it is to have a few little helpers of your own or be immensely well organized. And definitely one of the best ways to avoid total and utter meltdown is to sit down and plan your Christmas with a to-do list. Make sure you do it in good time, it is no good doing it 2 days before Christmas! It is also important to do a budget as well, so that you know exactly how much money you have – there is no point spending way beyond your means, bankrupting yourself and your family just before the Christmas holidays.  

You can spend a fortune during Christmas if you are not on top of things. And with deals in London especially, leaving your present and groceries shopping to the last minute can be punishing. One extraordinary effective solution is to go online. There you will find thousands of bargains on just about anything you can think of, from toys, food, clothes and a great deal more. Groupon Deals, for example, provides thousands of gift ideas at a fraction of the original cost – so any mother would be wise indeed to first check their online Vouchers! Shopping online is most definitely the way forward, because trawling around the Oxford Circus looking for presents may be an exhilarating experience, but as an effective means to buy presents it certainly is not!

Is not fair that the festive season can be tarnished for many mummys because they have to deal with the demands of a family as well having to ensure everyone is happy and having a good time. Some mummys even dread Christmas coming around, because all it means is spending large sums of money and having to turn into Supermum! But you can find clever solutions to ease the stress. For instance try thinking outside the box when coming up with gift ideas – instead of buying your son the latest games consul, how about giving him the chance to experience a children’s adventure holiday. You could even talk to other mums and organize a whole group of friends to go at the same time and let them have a wild time together!

Buying presents for young children as well as teenagers is one of the loveliest things you can do as a mother. Seeing the happiness on your child’s face on Christmas morning is one of the delights of being a parent. But you should not be pulling your hair out trying to find the perfect gift idea, get your children to write a letter to Santa with their wishes for a perfect Christmas, then sneak a peek and you have the perfect present. Just cross your fingers that they don’t ask for a horse or a Formula 1 car!

Sponsored Guest Post: Christmas Shopping Tips For Mums

Xbox Live; Movies TV, sport and more

I'm not known for my computer game prowess. In fact I have said it before and I'll say it again if a game says suitable for 7 + then it probably isn't suitable for the likes of me. However, the hubby is a massive gamer and the boy seems to take after him so its all there at my fingertips should I feel the desire to attempt to learn and get better. I am trying, I have to, with two kids computer gaming is an essential life skill. Now though, I have a reason to really get to grips with the console because Xbox have just launched something genius, something which makes buying an Xbox a real solution for many people and not just gamers!

The latest update to the Xbox 360 dashboard will be vailable to consoles around the world. In addition to new and updated features, if you have Kinect you’ll be able to say it and Xbox will find it with Bing Search. At the moment you can get LoveFilm & Sky Go, then later in December will be 4 on Demand, blinkbox, Crackle, Dailymotion, Demand 5, MSN, Muzu.tv, VEVO, YouTube and in early 2012 the BBC will
arrive.

We have been lucky enough to be asked to be ambassadors for the campaign, meaning that over the next few weeks I'll get the chance to try out some of this stuff and tell you from a luddites viewpoint if it's really as good as the hype and also how easy it actually is to use. So I'd really appreciate it if you could leave a comment for me with anything that you want me to check out in particular and any thoughts on whether you think this would be the way forward for your family.

Xbox have a survey where you can win yourself some prizes here, well worth a go: http://survey.euro.confirmit.com/wix/p827409305.aspx?source=10

Xbox Live; Movies TV, sport and more